Chapter 17
(A/N: Thanks to my reviewers, DimTwilight and Ella Palladino. And just to clear something up, Roseline doesn't know that Snape was the one that cursed her. This is because firstly: she was flying in a storm, so the visibility was very poor. Secondly: Snape came at her fast and took her by surprise so she didn't have much time to register appearances before she was knocked from her broom. Thirdly: Sirius only sees that it is Snape because Snape cuts right in front of him and is talking to him-they are very close together. Basically, Roseline didn't see who cursed her, but Sirius did.)
Sirius was not in the dormitory when they woke up the next day, and he was absent from every class. By dinnertime he still hadn't been seen, and his friends were starting to get worried.
That evening, a couple on the edge of the Forbidden Forest (who happened to be Daniea and her boyfriend Patrick) were rudely disturbed as a large stag appeared out of the trees nearby. It tossed its head and pawed the ground in warning, and Daniea and Patrick decided to find a more secluded bush where they could continue their unfinished business.
Once they were gone, Prongs continued his patrol of the grounds. He had been searching for over an hour and was starting to lose hope. Then he stopped in his tracks as he heard an ominous creak. He darted out of the way just in time as a branch crashed into the ground. He cantered away into the trees as the Whomping Willow took another wild swing at him. Casting around for something he could use, his eyes fell on a broken hazel limb. Taking it in his mouth, he left the cover of the trees and, dodging between the madly flailing branches, got as near to the trunk as he dared. He stretched forward and prodded the knot with the end of his branch, causing the tree to freeze. Feeling rather pleased with himself, he trotted forward and disappeared into the tunnel at the base of the tree.
About an hour later, James clambered up through the trapdoor. He brushed the dust off his face, and then quietly lowered the trapdoor back into position. He straightened up and looked around him, but there was no sign of movement. He shrugged and set off upstairs. He searched all the rooms to no avail. With a sigh of frustration, James crossed over to the window and looked out towards Hogsmeade, its candles flickering in the dusk a short way off. Then he saw it. A dark shadow rounded a corner and emerged onto the main street. James gave a smile of grim satisfaction.
"I've got you, Padfoot," he said softly.
A few minutes later James shut the back door behind him. He transformed and set off towards the village at full speed. He slowed down as he reached the streets, his hooves clattering on the cobbles as he looked around for the fugitive. He left the street and investigated the bins behind the Three Broomsticks. As he turned back to the road he suddenly caught a glimpse of a pair of pale eyes, watching him from the darkness of the shadowy alleyway opposite. He sped up and as he did so the creature bounded away, heading towards the woods on the outskirts of the village. Prongs followed close behind but lost sight of Padfoot as they entered the trees. Slowing to a walk he peered around him in search of his friend's hiding place.
And then he heard it. Ragged, broken sobs, coming from somewhere near by. Transforming back, James drew closer and the noise stopped abruptly, as though Padfoot had sensed his presence. But James no longer needed to follow the sound, he had got his bearings. He took a route through the undergrowth to avoid being seen and stopped when he caught sight of his friend. Sirius was sitting alone in a clearing, sitting with his back against a large rock. His head was bowed and his dark hair fell forward, hiding his face from view.
"Well, well, well," said James, stepping into the clearing. "Look what I've found, all alone in the woods."
Sirius' head shot up. There was no sign of tears but his expression was troubled.
"Prongs," he said quietly.
James nodded, sitting down beside him. "Padfoot. What brings you here, mate?"
Sirius allowed himself a wan smile. "I could ask you the same thing yourself," he replied.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, and then James spoke again.
"Why have you been avoiding us?"
Sirius shrugged, unwilling to answer.
"Come on, Sirius," said James. "I'm not stupid; I know it's something to do with Roseline."
When Sirius made no reply, James continued.
"And anyway, you know everything that goes on between me and Lily, so why can't you tell me about you and Roseline?"
Sirius sighed heavily. "It's nothing mate."
James raised his eyebrows. He wouldn't be put off that easily.
"Look, it's no big deal, all right? We just....." Sirius trailed off, trying to look as though it made no difference to him.
"Well?" James prompted after a minute of silence.
"Oh, we just had an argument and she never wants to talk to me again." Sirius said all this very quickly and quietly.
Shit! Thought James, wishing Sirius hadn't told him. Where's Remus when you need him? He's the bloody agony aunt, not me!
"Um......." Said James, his brain working frantically for something suitable to say. "....well, um......why don't you, er........try saying you're sorry?"
Sirius looked at James, who realised that he wasn't doing a very good job on this. He tried again.
"Well, er......you could.......um........." James screwed up his face in concentration. What was that expression Remus had used? "Be a knight in shining armour and sweep her off her feet?"
Sirius stared at James for a moment, then burst out laughing. James frowned. Well, it hadn't sounded that ridiculous when Remus said it, he thought to himself. But Remus had a way with words, they all knew that. James shrugged, and then grinned as he watched Sirius, who was now rolling on the ground, howling with mirth. Well, he thought, it might not have worked the way he intended, but at least Sirius had cheered up.
Sirius sat up eventually, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "Where did you hear that, mate?" He asked, panting slightly.
"Moony," said James, feeling slightly abashed. "You know what he's like with his flowery phrases."
"And why the hell was he talking to you about knights in shining armour and all that shit?" Asked Sirius incredulously.
James flushed. "He, erm, was talking to me about Lily."
Sirius let out a snigger, but caught sight of James' expression and hurriedly rearranged his features into a look of concerned innocence.
James grinned. "Come on, Padfoot, we'd better get back to the castle. And don't worry, Roseline'll come round, we'll make sure of it."
Sirius opened his mouth to ask what they were planning on doing, but James had already transformed and was trotting away through the trees. With a sigh of resignation, Sirius transformed and followed suit.
(A/N: I'm really sorry everybody, but I'm going away again, for nine days this time, and I won't have access to a PC. It probably won't take me as long to get the new chapter up as it did last time though, so give me ten or eleven days and there'll be a new chapter. Also, if anyone feels like having a look at my new story, Heading for Trouble, I'd love to get some reviews (hint, hint). Thanks you guys and I'll see you with a new chapter when I get back!)
