Chapter 8

"Reducto," said a voice. James dodged aside just in time as the spell blasted a hole in the door.

"Nice one," James remarked as he stepped inside. "Nearly got me there Padfoot." He looked over at Sirius, grinning. Sirius scowled and turned his back on him. "Unfortunately for you though, your plan to blast me into next week went awry. Not only did the spell miss, you have now destroyed your best means of avoiding me." James sat down on the bed beside his best friend. "What's up?"

There was no reply. James sighed. "Look Sirius, I don't know what happened between you and Roseline, but I do know that it's about time you stopped taking your anger out on your friends and the furniture. It's not fair, we just want to help, and the door and the sofa never hurt you."
If he had been in a better mood, Sirius would have smiled at this. But as it was, he was furious, so he didn't. He knew James was right, however. "I'm sorry mate. I'm just a bit pissed off, that's all."

The look on Sirius' face told James that he wouldn't get any more information. "All right then," he said. "We'll be down in the common room if you feel like coming down later." Sirius nodded, and James retreated down the stairs. When James' footsteps had died away Sirius picked up his ink bottle and threw it across the room. It smashed, staining the wall blue and covering the floor in broken glass. Whatever he told James, he was still fuming. He flung himself onto his bed and lay there, spread-eagled on his back, staring at the ceiling.

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Some time later, Sirius came back down to the common room. Most people had already gone to bed, so it was empty apart from Remus, who was sitting at a desk, studying. Sirius sat down in an armchair. Remus remained silent. There was a creak on one of the staircases, and someone else entered the common room. The atmosphere in the room tensed instantly. Roseline Kehst was standing in the doorway, glaring daggers at Sirius, who was shifting in his seat with a definite air of a man readying himself for a fight.

"Been enjoying your spare time?" spat Sirius.

"Yeah, my evening was perfectly delightful," replied Roseline sarcastically. "But at least I was saved the sight of your ugly face."

"At least now you're being honest about your feelings. Makes a nice change." Sirius retorted, his words practically drowning in sarcasm.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Roseline said, her voice rising dangerously.

"It means that I've got a life of my own without hanging around waiting for some stupid bimbo who can't even make sense of her own thoughts!" He yelled. He was on his feet before he even realised he'd stood up.

"Bimbo?" Roseline almost shrieked. "Bimbo? You're calling me a bimbo just because I didn't want to go around wearing a sign saying Property of Sirius Black? I can't believe I ever thought there was any possibility that I might like you even as a friend, let alone anything more, you selfish, big- headed git!"

"You're calling me selfish? You're the one with no respect for other people's feelings. Nobody deserves to be treated the way you treated me, nobody! And you know what? I'm glad you've finally worked out what you think of me, because now I don't have to put up with you any more, you stupid bitch of a heart-breaker!"

"Heart-breaker?" Roseline laughed, and she sounded almost hysterical. "Sirius Black hasn't got a heart. You're just upset because I'm not good and obedient like the sluts you're used to. You don't want anyone to think for themselves, because you think you know everything, and you think you're always right. But guess what? You're WRONG, for once. And I'm never talking to you again, you bloody son of a DEATH EATER! You make me SICK!"

And with that she turned on her heel and disappeared upstairs. Sirius was standing as still as though he had been carved from stone. His face was deathly pale, but his eyes were scary, so furious and angry that you felt he was about to shoot flames from his pupils. "Death Eater," he whispered. Then he too returned to his dormitory.

"Well," said Remus softly to himself. "That was informative."