Chapter 32 – I'm Gone, or 'In Which Sirius Tries to Ask Maria Out and Has a Really Weird Dream'

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"Jaaaaames, can't we just skip Divination? Just once?" Sirius pleaded. "It's so hot in there, and Verone's such a bi-"

"Sirius, you say that every class." Remus interrupted, opening the trapdoor and letting Maria go in ahead of him, James trailing behind her. Noel and Lily had opted for something harder, Ancient Runes. The guys and Maria were lazy.

"I know, Remmie, but come ooooon!"

"We're already here, Sirius." Remus climbed up, leaving Sirius alone in the hall.

"Well, jeez." Sirius muttered, and followed his friends.

Maria and James had chosen a table in the back corner, next to the only window in the classroom. Sirius noted their closeness and became instantly jealous.

'You're such an idiot,' he chided himself. 'James is your best friend. Maria is your…whoa. What is Maria!?'

Sirius had never stopped to think about it before. He remembered, back at the beginning of the year, a bet that their friends had, who would ask who out first. Sure they'd kissed, went to the dance together, and she wore his necklace. But he had never asked her out!!

'Oops.'

Well, that would just have to be fixed. Sirius pranced up to the table and threw himself dramatically into the seat on Maria's other side.

"Maria," he whispered.

"What?"

"I-"

Professor Verone chose that moment to begin class. "Shut up, shut up everyone, you cloud my Inner Eye!!"

Sirius cursed under his breath. This would be harder then he thought.

"Take out your crystal balls! Get a partner and try to divine what is in store for them in the future!"

Remus and James paired up, leaving Maria for Sirius.

"Perfect," Sirius grinned. Maria was sitting in front of him expectantly, waiting for him to begin, so he put his hands on the ball. "Um…I see a lot of white fog…so, you're going to have to turn on your brights if you drive anywhere tonight…"

Maria giggled. "Sirius, get real!"

He smirked, still 'reading' the ball. "I see…a man. A tall, handsome man, who is getting ready to ask you out…and you will say yes!" He gasped as Maria rolled her eyes.

"Now you're just being ridiculous."

He looked hurt. "But I'm not!" He leaned over the table. "Maria, will-"

"Aiiiieee! The Grim!!"

"Damn!" Sirius pounded his fist on the table. Everyone knew that Verone thought James had the Grim. She never missed a chance to bring it up. He laid his head down on the table.

'This isn't fair! Everything is getting in my way! And those fumes are making me sick! All I want to do is ask her out! Whyyyy! Why me!?' He started to slip into sleep, oblivious to Maria's annoyed glances and tsk-ing.

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Sirius stood on the grounds, by the lake. It was really cold, and he was wearing only a thin black T-shirt and jeans. He shivered, wondering what he was doing there.

"Sirius…"

Sirius turned in a circle. "Maria? Is that you?"

"Sirius…I'm here."

He turned around again. Maria stood there, in a simple white sundress and sandals, although it was the middle of winter. Her dark hair flitted about her face, and she was smiling like the world was a joke that only she got.

"Maria, what are you doing? It's freezing out…"

"I'm not cold, Sirius."

He stood, uncertain of what she wanted.

"Sirius, do you think I'm pretty?"

"What…? Yes. No. No! Maria, I think you're beautiful!"

She kept smiling. "That's nice. But Sirius, do you love me?"

He nodded vigorously. "Yes. Yes!! Maria, god, I love you so much!"

Maria nodded, too. "I know. But Sirius…don't I cause you pain?"

Sirius tilted his head, thinking of Voldemort inside his head, tormenting him with visions of her death and making him hurt her. "Yes, Maria, you cause me pain. But I love it. I look forward to every minute I'm with you, whether you're kissing me like it's the end of the world, or you're screaming at me like you could just die, or even…" he trailed off.

Maria smiled at him, then turned and walked away. Sirius tried to follow, but he couldn't. "Maria, where are you going!?"

He couldn't see her anymore. He could hear the tapping of her sandals, and her voice floating back to him on the cold winter wind, freezing him to the bone.

"To die for you, Sirius."

"Maria, please!!"

"Sirius...I'm gone."

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"I think he passed out, Professor. Maybe we should take him to see Madam Pomfrey."

"Well, I suppose. Can you three carry him?"

"Of course…"

Sirius had the sensation of being lifted by strong hands. He thought maybe he should wake up, but his mind was just too fuzzy.

"Come on, guys, be careful! Don't bang his head off anything!"

"Oh, Maria, don't get your knickers in a twist! Sirius is fine!" That was Remus.

"But I bet Maria would like Sirius to get her knickers in a twist!" James.

"Ooh, yeah, and then he'd take them o-"

"GUYS! Stop talking about my knickers!"

Sirius smiled faintly, trying to open his eyes. "Whassamatter, Maria? You havea…problem…with me and your knickers?"

"Sirius! Go back to sleep!"

"But Maria…I was gonna ashk you…to go…out with meeee…'

"Aww, that's so sweet."

"Yeah, I reckon our knicker-talk gave him a bon-"

"REMUS! JAMES! Enough!!" Silence. "Sirius. We're at the hospital wing…"

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Sirius woke up a little while later. Maria was dozing in a chair next to his bed, her hair falling over her face. He reached out and stroked it, remembering what had happened in the moments before he fell asleep. He was trying to ask Maria out. The fumes were making him dizzy. Then he had a weird dream…

Why was Maria asking if she was pretty? She knew she was. She also knew he loved her. And…she was going to die for him? No, it was supposed to be the other way around!

He reached over and shook her gently. "Maria…Maria! Wake up…"

She stirred, eyelids fluttering. "Sirius…? What is it?"

He looked seriously at her. "Maria, look at me."

She tilted her head up to look into his blue eyes, her own brown ones (she'd lost the contacts) still glossy with sleep.

"Maria, I love you."

She tilted her head.

"Will you go out with me? I was thinking…I know you're wearing my necklace, and we've kissed, and things like that…but it was never really official. I want it to be. I want everyone to know that I love you."

Maria smiled softly. "Sirius," she murmured, "yes. I will. I would've walked behind you forever if only you would've spared me one glance. I know you saw me, but it wasn't how I wanted you to. And now, I finally believe you do."

Sirius stared at her. "Maria, I always saw you. It was you who never noticed me! I saw you on the platform on the day of our first year. You had long black hair and wore a black T-shirt and jeans. I saw you second year, and you actually glanced at me. I saw you third year, when you were sitting with Noel and Lily, and you said hi to Remus. I saw you fourth year, when you hugged Remus, only sparing one small smile for me. I saw you fifth year, in your black halter top and jeans, your summer tan glowing. I saw past your make-up, past your arrogance, and to you. Straight to you. And I always loved you."

Maria was speechless. "Sirius."

"Maria, just say you love me too and I will die for you."

She closed her eyes. "Sirius. I love you, too."

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a/n: Awww, ain't that SWEET? I could die. I'm really on a roll here. Please review, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.