Sorry it has been such a long time between posts. I also apologize for the length of this chapter but I wanted to keep with the flow, so here it is. Thanks for the feed back, please let me know what you like or dislike, it can only help me.

Sirius entered the steadily filling Potions class and made his way over to his group of friends who had converged on their grouping of tables at the back of the room. He had entered unnoticed and as if demanding recognition he let his books fall noisily on the table causing Peter, who had been busy trying to convince Alice Hampton to spend the day with him on their next trip to Hogsmeade, to jump in startled surprise. Alice giggled at Peter bringing her hand up to try to hide her reaction and save Peter's pride giving Sirius a wickedly seductive look. Sirius taking the seat next to Peter met James and Remus' curious faces and grinned in satisfaction as he came to rest on the backwards chair folding his arms across the back of the seat.

"Well, well, welcome back we were beginning to wonder if you had been expelled." Said James as he leaned lazily against the thick worn table eyeing Sirius who was sitting at the opposite corner looking much to smug for James' liking.

"Yeah, could you not have stayed away for just a few more minutes, I swear every time I try to talk to Alice one of you has to go and botch things up for me." Peter complained grumpily receiving comical looks from the group.

"I'd watch out for her Peter I think she's more than you can handle." Said James teasingly as Peter grimaced at him before glancing over at her once again. Alice was a fairly small harmless looking girl who had just started playing on the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a chaser. To look at her with her thick shoulder length chocolate hair, which always looked neatly brushed, her warm brown eyes, and her rosy dimpled checks one would have thought her easily pushed around. After having seen Alice in action on the Quidditch Pitch James had made the assessment that she would have made a formidable Beater if they had been looking for one.

"So come on Sirius how'd it go with Beltane, we were really worried." Remus said trying hard to look concerned while fighting a grin that was forming at the corners of his mouth. Sirius gave him a suspicious look before answering.

"Actually I think you'll all be surprised to know that I in fact was not in trouble at all and more so it was not Beltane but…well a relative that wanted to see me." Upon saying this groans immediately issued from several of the Gryffindor boys that had been eavesdropping on the conversation. Remus' face faltered showing stunned disappointment mingled with disbelief as he starred at Sirius. The only one who seemed to be happy for Sirius' fortune was James who was laughing heartily at everyone's dismay especially Remus. Sirius furrowed his brow in confusion not understanding the strange reactions of his friends.

"Okay pay up!" Said James chipperly as Frank Longbottom, Benjy Fenwick, and Gideon Prewitt all chucked assorted sweets at James who greedily gathered them in front of him, then grinning wickedly at Peter and Remus.

"Come on you two, this should teach you a valuable lesson." James said in a playfully condescending tone.

"Yeah, and what's that?" Peter asked glumly as he tossed a chocolate frog at James who caught it in front of his chest.

"Never bet against a Black." James said smiling with pride at Sirius, then turning his gaze back to Peter "Oh yes, and I never loose." He finished, his smile becoming huge and causing his eyes to twinkle behind his silver framed gasses.

"I'm shocked that you two would place a wager against me." Sirius said sounding aghast but smirking in confidence. "By the way James, where's my cut?" James expecting such things from Sirius threw the chocolate frog that he had just caught from Peter to Sirius who caught it easily in one hand and began unwrapping it. Remus still looked completely baffled, unlike the rest of the boys whom had only heard what they were searching for in Sirius' answer Remus had paid attention to the whole thing.

"Did you say…a relative? One of your family members?" Remus asked looking directly across the table and meeting Sirius' suddenly uncomfortable gaze.
"Is everything okay?" now genuinely concerned for his friend knowing all to well how Sirius' family felt about him and imagining that an unplanned meeting with one of them could possibly have been much worse than time spent with Beltane.

"Yeah, everything's okay." Sirius said with slight scowl. "Seems my aunt, Gwendolyn didn't take kindly to me fracturing Bella's ankle."

"It was fractured?" Laughed James, "God you two are dangerous, I wonder how you'd act if you truly hated one another?" James continued, rubbing his chin as if in deep thought.

"What did you do when you saw it was your aunt instead of Professor Beltane?" Remus asked with interest. Sirius ran his hand through his hair smiling gorgeously then looking up to James and Remus who were both starring at him wide eyed.

"I thought I was a dead man." Sirius sighed with a little laugh shaking his head slightly as his mind wandered back over the events of the day. Peter looked puzzled glancing at each of his friends in turn.

"Cause you hurt your cousin's foot in class?" he asked in utter confusion without any understanding of Sirius' current situation with Bella other than the kiss that they had shared. All three boys starred at Peter in silent and disgusted amazement that he had not caught on, at times Peter could be totally oblivious to the things going on around him.

"What?" Peter said crinkling his forehead and feeling perplexed, knowing that he had missed something huge. Peter suddenly wanting the attention off of himself looked at Sirius and leaned towards him slightly sniffing in his general direction.

"You know I wasn't going to mention it but…are you wearing perfume?" He asked giving Sirius an uncertain look with his brow still furrowed. Both James and Remus leaned in quickly following Peter's lead and looking at Sirius curiously.

"Is that what I smell, God it's like I'm sitting in a rose garden I thought maybe Professor Satyrion was trying to get rid of the musty smell in here." Said James beginning to chuckle through his speech tears starting to glaze his eyes. "Sirius do I even want to know, why do you smell like a flower?" Sirius looking a bit embarrassed opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Remus.

"You used it! Isn't it brilliant, that is one of the best perks of being a prefect!" Remus said in excitement, "But honestly Sirius there were loads of taps to choose from, why that one. Word to the wise my friend pink is for girls." Remus said this raising both eyebrows for effect and beginning to snicker at Sirius who sat grinning with out defense, he was just relieved not to have to explain himself.

"So what's all this about." Demanded James suddenly left out of the secret and not at all happy about it, with Peter nodding indignantly still trying to catch up to the conversation focused on what he had missed before. Remus leaned in coaxing the rest of them to do the same so that they wouldn't be overheard.

"I gave Sirius the password to the Prefect's Bathroom yesterday on the way up to the Hospital wing, figured it would help if he was still a bit sore today. That's why he smells like a bloody flower shop, the git used one of the girl's taps." Said Remus snickering again at Sirius.

"Oh that's fair." Complained James, "do you intend to share the password with us all?"

"I can't! If I got caught Malfoy'd bloody murder me, besides I hadn't intended to give him the password I just felt so bad for him yesterday." Remus said scrunching up his face in distaste. "It just looked so damn painful, did you hear the pop when his ribs broke? God it makes my side ache just talking about it."

"Yeah, mine to, so if you don't mind." Sirius said with a slight wince remembering the excruciating pain that he had been in the day before due to the kick in the side that he had taken from Rudolphus Lestrange while dueling in Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

"Sorry Sirius." Remus grinned apologetically.

The room had become deafeningly loud seeing as this was the first class after the lunch break and everyone was always a bit rowdy after having an hour to eat and gather there things for the final classes of the day. Sirius had only left Bella right before heading to Potions, happy to know that she would be back in his care in no time. It had already been close to thirty minutes since he had kissed her good bye and he was beginning to worry that she had been intercepted by Rudolphus who was also still missing from the dreary Potions chamber. Sirius sat watching the door determined that if she didn't show up he would excuse himself with Professor Satyrion and set out to look for her.

A wave of relief washed over him as Bella entered the room walking briskly to take a seat her robes and ebony hair trailing after her hypnotically. Rudolphus came through the door directly behind her looking as though he had been trying to catch up to her pace the whole way to class, and Sirius assumed that Rudolphus had been once again trying to bully Bella. To Sirius' surprise though Bella seemed completely unshaken were as Rudolphus appeared to be a bit upset as he took his seat.

The class quieted immediately as Professor Satyrion entered greeting them all blandly and heading to unlock the 5th year potion cabinet, which contained all of the ingredients that they had worked on in the last class.

"By this time you should all have sliced your Trifolium so that it would have sufficient time to dry for you to be able to create your draughts today. I would like for everyone please break into the groups of two that you have been working in and I will bring around what I collected from you so that you may start." With this everyone got up and began to move around the room to their partners Sirius stood and glanced down at Bella who had yet to make any sort of eye contact with him, then quickly grabbed Peter before he could walk over to take his seat next to Alice.

"Slip her a bit of the potion and then ask her, I know her she's way to nice to take it back once she realizes her mistake." Sirius grinned slyly, he had meant this as a joke but Peter brightened at the prospect.

"That's a great idea!" Peter said smiling and clapping Sirius hard on the shoulder. Sirius just shook his head smiling in pity on his friend knowing that Peter, not being known for his subtlety or tact, would most likely end up getting caught and be subjected to a severe and public tongue-lashing.

Sirius turned to take his seat next to Bella who continued to act as if he was not there. He watched her twisting one of her long silken locks of hair about the fingers of her right hand letting it curl around the gold ring that he had bestowed on her earlier in the day. Sirius was a little put off by her apparent disregard but was forced to grin when he noticed her glance over at him from the corner of her eye in the midst of her hasty search of one of her books for the notes on the Love draught. Seeing that she had been caught Bella smiled biting her lip still refusing to turn and look at him for fear of being noticed by several sets of watchful eyes.

Sirius loved her smile and how she obviously fought to keep her focus anywhere but on him. Deciding to play her game he turned and began uncorking the small thick glass bottles of ingredients and pulling a sheet of parchment and a quill from his things to begin working. Sirius glanced around to see that everyone had started on their potions and the noise level had gone up as the conversations between partners got underway. He slyly pushed the quill off the edge of the desk causing Bella to snort laughter as he slid off his chair to kneel by her picking up the quill and then gazing up at her with a wicked smile.

"I can not believe you just did that." She whispered down to him her bright green eyes sparkling as they finally came to meet his.

"You know that I can not stand to be ignored by you." He said teasingly as he remained crouched looking up at Bella he had the sudden urge to pull her down under the Potions table with him but decided against it.

"Sirius get up before someone sees you." Bella commanded in a giggling whisper. "We are supposed to be discreet, remember? This hardly qualifies." She said in a mock-scolding voice still giggling, then quickly looking up as if sensing someone's eyes on them.

Bella's gaze fell immediately on Remus who was staring at her with an eyebrow raised in disbelief that they would be so risky in their actions. Bella glanced over to Rudolphus who was sitting safely with his face turned away from her and Sirius then looking back to Remus she grinned, slightly embarrassed to be caught yet again by the Gryffindor prefect. Bella took a handful of Sirius' robes and pushed him back towards his chair never breaking eye contact with Remus.

Sirius peeked over the table's edge before slipping casually back into his seat smiling at Remus trying hard not to laugh. Remus shook his head mouthing the word idiot as he focused his attention back to his potion and the pretty Gryffindor girl with chin length chestnut brow hair beside him. Sirius turned back to look at Bella who did not look at all amused as she lit the fire under the small caldron in the center of the table with a whisper.

"Incendio."

He was just about to ask her what was wrong when he noticed that his Potions notebook was laying open with something scribbled on it.

Please stop if we are caught I'm the one who will pay.

"Bella, I'm not going to let us get caught." Sirius whispered in surprise, watching her once again ignore him, but slipping her hand over to write on the notebook.

I'm being watched! Rudolphus already suspects us!

"So, let them watch and Rudolphus is lucky that he doesn't get his nose knocked off always sticking it where it doesn't belong." Sirius scowled tired of having to hide how he felt for Bella and continuously bothered by Rudolphus who was just angry that Bella didn't feel the same way for him.

Please don't get angry, can I talk to you about this later? Will you meet me somewhere tonight? Bella wrote again in the book. Sirius grinned suddenly picking up his quill and writing in the notebook as well, his eyes sparkling.

The Prefect's Bathroom?

Bella stifled her laugh but smiled devilishly shaking her head slightly as Sirius continued to write.

There's a great broom closet in the Astronomy Tower that's just big enough for two.

Bella was forced to bite her lip trying to contain a huge smile, as she began to blush violently turning away from Sirius to continue working on their potion. Sirius was also smiling to himself glancing up at her teasingly as he ground the dried Trifolium into a fine powder stopping suddenly with a grimace.

"Damn!" He said sounding severely disappointed then snatching up the quill he began to write in the notebook again.

I have detention tonight directly after super in the Defense Chamber.

Bella glanced up at him allowing her eyes to grow mischievously seductive as she leaned in close to Sirius.

"Don't worry my love, I'll come find you." She whispered letting her warm breath blow against his neck and kissing him quickly on his check using their cauldron as a shield.

"Okay who's being the instigator now? Smiled Sirius bending forward to catch her lips before she had time to pull away, both of them quickly glancing around the room afterward to see if they had been noticed. Once they were sure that no one was the wiser their eyes meet again and they smiled at one another continuing to work quietly together on brewing the love draught.

Dinner in the Great Hall that night passed quickly as the conversation had focused primarily on the upcoming Quidditch match pitting the Gryffindor and Slytherin House teams against one another. There had been an intense discussion about the newest additions to the Gryffindor team and all of the changes that had taken place on the Slytherin team who had lost there Seeker and team captain who had graduated the year before.

There was a lot of controversy over the fact that Lucius Malfoy had rightfully taken his place as the Slytherin Quidditch Captain but had somewhat unceremoniously elected himself to be the new Seeker as well. There had been an emergency practice called by Chisolace Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, on this cool breezy evening to help the team prepare for their first game of the season which would be happening Saturday morning. Since the practice was unplanned Chisolace or Solace as everyone called him, had decided to do a quick run through of the practice strategy while everyone ate.

Solace had the undivided attention of the entire far end of the Gryffindor table including those not on the team. He was a seventh year boy with tan skin and dark brown shortly cropped hair that fell perfectly smooth against his head. His face was extremely hansom with dimples and sparkling blue eyes that always looked to be smiling, and after playing Quidditch for the Gryffindor house team since his second year at Hogwarts he was very well built. Solace had just finished explaining the practice schedule for the days before the match when Sirius addressed him from across the table.

"So Solace, any word on the Slytherin's performance in practice so far...you know with their new Seeker and all?" Sirius asked with a sly smile. Solace glanced up fighting the devilish grin that had become apparent on his smooth face.

"Now you know as well as I do, I don't get t'sit in on their practices." With this there were a few disbelieving looks exchanged between those sitting around Solace.

"Come on, Mac didn't say anything about them? I know how he is, it would've killed him to keep it to himself if Malfoy is really as terrible as we think he is." Questioned James eyeing Solace pointedly who was turning pink about his ears and smiling viciously.

"Yeah and you expect us to believe that you haven't been asking Mac how they are looking every chance ya get?" Smirked Fabian Prewett, Solace's best friend and one of the Beaters for the Gryffindor team. Gideon his younger brother and the other Gryffindor Beater was sitting next to him trying to hide his laughter knowing all to well that it was all Solace had been able to talk about since school had started and the teams had been announced.

Both Prewett boys sat smirking back and forth at on another looking very much alike with darkly tanned skin, light green eyes and sandy blond hair, the main differences between them being that Fabian was a bit taller with broader shoulders and straight hair that was fashionably over grown. Gideon on the other hand had a mop of overgrown curly hair and a spattering of freckles on his nose and checks aside from being slightly smaller than his brother. The two of them were a fierce force to be reckoned with on the Quidditch Pitch.

"Alright you all know how Mac is, he won't tell me anything." Then pausing for dramatic effect he raised one eyebrow and smiled. "Except that we are in for a good laugh to see slow ass Malfoy up against James here." Everyone broke into excited laughter except for James.

"Did Mac really say that or are you just putting us on Solace." James asked suspiciously really wondering if Macalister Wood, the Hogwarts Quidditch Coach, Flying Instructor, and father to Solace, had really said that Malfoy would be no match for him. Solace grinned heartily clapping James on the back and pulling him in to speak in a low voice.

"If you plane to be Quidditch captain next year my friend you will need to be a little more trusting of your fellow teammates, as well as your own ability. Don't go loosin that ego on me now James, trust me were gonna need it." James grinned back at his friend, he would truly be disappointed to see him go at the end of this year even if it would make him Quidditch captain for his final two years at Hogwarts. Then checking his watch Solace began to rise.

"Alright come on you lot, let's get going we don't have much time so we best make the most of it." The group of Quidditch players began to rise and move from the table.

"You all coming?" Solace asked back to the group of boys left sitting glumly after hearing the rousing speeches and talk of Quidditch. Remus, Frank, Peter, and Sirius all looked up in surprise at Solace smiling down kindly at them.

"I thought that you didn't like people sitting in on practices." Frank stated in astonishment.

"Well let us just say that I have changed my evil ways, and I just walked ya through our entire strategy so I'd be smart to keep my eye on ya." Solace grinned his dimples more apparent than usual. "Besides never seemed to make a difference to this one." He smiled teasingly at Sirius.

"Yes, well if you hadn't noticed I seem to have an aversion to the rules, or at least that's what everyone keeps telling me." Sirius said grumpily now quite upset to miss the practice that all of his friends would be going to.

"That's why he has detention tonight, so he can't go but we will." Said Peter jumping up without another thought to Sirius who shot Peter a nasty look as he ran off to catch up with Alice and James. Solace made a disappointed face at Sirius.

"Too bad man, maybe next time." Then turning he headed toward the high doors to the Great Hall. Sirius leaned his head in his hand and the noticed Remus still sitting a few seats down from him.

"Aren't you gonna go Moony?" He asked his friend giving him a quizzical look as Remus sat picking at his food.

"Oh yeah, I'll head out there in a bit." He said seeming a bit out of sorts, Sirius scooted down so that he sat only a few feet from Remus.

"What's the matter Moony? Loose your prefect badge?" Sirius said trying to force a smile out of him. It worked Remus shot him a scathing look but smiled all the same.

"I need to know something Sirius." Remus said becoming somber once again to the point that Sirius knew that he was not joking.

"What is it?" Sirius asked apprehensively. Turning to look Sirius in the eye knowing that Sirius could not look him in the eye and lie to him.

"Did you take her with you today?" Remus asked pointedly.

"I don't know what you're talking about?" Sirius answered beginning to look away not wanting to have this conversation.

"Don't play dumb, you know what I'm talking about! I asked you not to tell anyone that I'd given you the password and you swore to me that you wouldn't!" Grumbled Remus as he scowled down at his plate.

"I didn't tell her the password, or anything about you giving it to me, in fact your name was never even mentioned." Sirius beamed at his friend hoping to cause him to laugh.

"I don't think that it's funny Sirius, if you had been caught it would have been my head to roll for it and that just doesn't seem to matter to you at all. Not to mention that you've desecrated a place where people…where I bath!" Remus said in disgust.

"Worst of all you swore to me and I believed you and now I know that you can't be trusted, especially when she's involved!" Remus said in a disappointed and hushed voice striking a cord in Sirius making him feel like a small child who had disenchanted his parent.

"Moony, I'm sorry…I didn't think, well I didn't think that you would really be upset with me, but I hadn't thought that anyone would know it was you if we got caught. I really wasn't trying to piss you off I'm really sorry." Then grinning Sirius said "Do you understand now about the GIRL'S TAP?"

"Ha!" Remus snorted, "I didn't realize how close to the truth I was."

"I thought you knew…by the way how did you find out, if you don't mind me asking, so I can avoid the mistake in the future?" The mood had again relaxed between the two friends and Remus was smiling at his own unnoticed brilliance.

"Oh well that parts easy, she smells just as lovely as you do, it was pretty obvious I passed her leaving Potions, and I was ready to kill you…but what's done is done, and I should have known better!" Remus said smiling and shaking his head.

"Thanks for not bringing it up in front of everyone." Sirius said appreciatively.

"Sirius, are you really willing to risk so much for this girl, I mean it could get severely uncomfortable for you if the wrong people were to find out. Is it true that she is engaged to Rudolphus Lestrange?" Remus asked cautiously.

"Who said that?" Sirius answered in surprise.

"I just over heard some talk, plus she has that gigantic diamond and he does act like she belongs to him. I hope that it isn't true cause that is just bad news." Remus said with concern in his eyes, Sirius pulled his hand through his hair and sighed.

"It's more like she has been promised to his family by her parents, she hates him." Remus winced at Sirius' answer.

"You mean to tell me that you are sleeping with…"

"In love with!" Sirius corrected.

"…whatever with your COUSIN, who is engaged to be married to Rudolphus Lestrange only one of your most hated enemies from one of the wealthiest, most sinister, and cut throat families around?" There was a long pause as the boys both looked at each other.

"Excuse me if I don't sit too close, you're a danger to yourself and anyone around you." Laughed Remus getting up to head out of the Great Hall.

"Thanks for you vote of confidence once again Moony." Sirius said in annoyance as he followed Remus out of the Hall, parting from his friend at the huge stone staircase and heading up towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts chamber for detention.

A few moments later Sirius stepped through the giant doors to the Defense chamber which were standing open signifying that Dumbledor was already there waiting on him. Upon first glance the huge chamber seemed empty and pristine, the light from several torches reflected in the huge ceiling of multicolored glass casting wavering splashes of muted mingled color on the practice floor. Sirius was just about to check for Dumbledor in his office when he heard footsteps hurriedly approaching, he turned quickly to see Severus Snape advancing toward him through the chamber doors his attention focused on a small tattered book which he read as he walked.

Glancing up Severus scowled to meet Sirius' eyes and snapped the book shut. Severus was always so outwardly annoyed with Sirius and usually for no apparent reason making him an easy target.

"Latest romance novel?" Sirius inquired impishly without batting an eye. Severus smirked he had expected such a comment from the ridiculous, spoiled, and immature boy whom he had known from childhood and never liked. Sirius had always been the cherished heir to the Black family and in Severus' eyes never deserved his noble station in life because everything seemed to be handed to Sirius while Severus had to work diligently and without recognition for everything he had.

"Actually, Sirius, this is some light reading that I'm doing for my advanced Transfiguration class, of course I wouldn't expect you to know anything beyond your current mediocre levels of training. It seems that you have been proven to be substandard, and…well for lack of a better word disappointing as you always have, at least you are consistent." Severus smiled calmly and gazed in a very superior manner at Sirius who had clenched his jaw repressing his anger. Severus knew just the right buttons to push with Sirius and wallowed in the act of knocking the divine smug smile off of Sirius' face.

Before Sirius could defend himself both boys attention was redirected to the doorway of Dumbledor's office. Lily Evans had just emerged looking very pretty and well manicured wearing soft light gray sweat pants and a matching jacket her thick firey hair pulled into a perfectly brushed ponytail with out one strand out of place. The boys looked at Lily in shock to see her in detention, as Lily stepped forward to greet them coolly.

"Have you two already started in on one another?" She asked sounding like an annoyed professor.
"Honestly I should just let you fight it out here and now, but Dumbledor seems to think you two should be made to work together. I personally think that my suggestion is much more interesting, but oh well." Lily said this shrugging her shoulders giving the boys an innocently sweet smile, then quickly resigning back to her look of maturity she put a hand out to each of the boys.

"Wands please." She said curtly.

Neither boy moved they just stood starring at her as if she had lost her mind, Lily sensing that she was getting nowhere fast cleared her throat deciding to explain to the two trouble makers what was going on.

"Dumbledor had an important matter to attend to so he asked me to come in his place, he mentioned that he felt he could trust both of you not to disappoint him and that you would do an excellent job of polishing the weapons…together…using no magic." At saying this Lily let the corners of her mouth turn up ever so slightly as she held her hands back out to the boys to relinquish their wands this time much more softly than she had before.

Sirius and Severus glanced suspiciously at one another then Sirius grinned at Severus.

"Same time then?" Sirius said pulling his wand from his robes, Severus let out an exasperated breath and thrust his wand into Lily's outstretched hand heading over to one of the stone benches where some ordinary muggle polish had been laid out with several rags.

"You must excuse him Lily, we are taking him away from his newest romance novel and he is all broken up about it." Sirius said loudly gently handing Lily his wand and giving her a sweet smile.

"Quit flirting with your prefect Black, and come help me with getting this case from the wall." Severus growled in disgust. Lily gave Sirius an unamused look, pretending that she was immune to his charms.

"I'm so sorry Lily, I wasn't flirting with you I swear it!" Sirius said in a stressed voice looking extremely upset, Lily furrowed her brow looking up into Sirius tense face as if he were out of his mind.

"Um…you're forgiven?" Lily said sounding bewildered by Sirius' strange reaction, but feeling a little insulted seeing as Sirius would usually flirt with any girl regardless of who she was. Sirius was desperate to make Lily believe that he would never ever flirt with her, if James thought for a second that Sirius had expressed any kind of interest in his beautiful and unattainable Lily it would kill him.

"Sirius please…go help Severus." She said finally still eyeing him with confusion but deciding to just wash her hands of the incident.

Sirius helped Severus maneuver the heavy glass and mahogany case, which housed Salazaar Slytherin's sword and dagger, from the wall both boy's working together laying it gently on to the floor and unlatching the sides of the case to swing the frame open. They stood gazing over the treasure as if entranced by the ancient weapons. Salazaar's light and simple Katana sword, with it's silk fibers in green and silver and two long tassels hanging from the hilt stretched out above small all black dagger including blade, created to look like an emerald eyed Basilisk.

"Severus, can I take the sword…it's my favorite piece here…and?" Sirius trailed off knowing that Severus had no reason to do him any favors, but to his surprise Severus brightened.

"Sure…that's lucky, the dagger is my favorite piece, My grandfather fashioned blades like this and he was the first person to ever tell me of it…" smiling Severus delicately plucked the dagger from it's fasteners in the case and surveyed it lovingly. "I'm sure he never got the privilege of handling it." Severus said, a bit of sorrow denoted in his voice as he turned to carry the piece over to the bench and sit still gazing at it.

Sirius focused back down to the katana blade still lying on it's bed of black velvet and grinned to himself.
"That is lucky." He bent to lift the sword and let his hand take the hilt feeling the weight and holding it out in front of him for inspection. Sirius then turned heading to take a seat on the long stone bench just down from Severus tring hard not to notice Lily who had removed her fleece jacket to reveal a burgundy tank top which exposed her lightly tanned shoulders. Lily had begun doing some basic stretching exercises in the center of the practice arena in prelude to her work out pretending as if the boys were not there.

Sirius sat thankfully with his back towards Lily and began applying the thick odd smelling blue polish to one side of the sword with a rag. Glancing up at Severus noting that he had not moved for several moments Sirius smirked. Severus' eyes were huge and focused on Lily who was completely oblivious to his presence, the shadowy chamber causing him to look more human and not as starkly pale.

"Severus!" Sirius said in a harsh whisper a knowing smile on his face. Severus jumped quickly rubbing his eyes as if tired and focusing back down on the jeweled dagger causing Sirius to shake his head laughing lightly to himself as he watched Severus' face go from it's normal pasty white color to a vivid red noticeable even in the low light. Suddenly a new voice interrupted the now comfortable quiet that had come between the three students and it caused a chill to run down Sirius' spine.

"Well aren't we all cozy this evening." Bella said striding in to the Defense chamber caught off guard upon noticing Lily who stood in the center of the arena just as surprised to see Bella. Sirius turned so fast on the bench to see that it was really her he almost sliced Severus knee open with the tip of the sword that sat on his lap.

"Sirius! Pay attention!" Severus yelled the hatred returning once again to his eyes.

"Sorry Snivilly." Sirius answered absently never even glancing back to see if he had caused Severus any damage.

Bella stood in the open doorway her skin glowing and checks flushed. Her hair had been pulled into a thick ponytail perched high on her head her shining curls spilling over her shoulders and blending into her small thick black fleece jacket.

"What are you doing here Bellatrix?" Questioned Lily suspiciously but not making the same mistake of using the superior tone. Thinking fast Bella smiled brightly at Lily walking directly for her, kicking her shoes off before reaching the practice floor, unzipping her jacket as she walked toward Lily. Both boys were transfixed on the situation unfolding before them absolutely unable to look away.

I'm actually glad to find you here Lily." She said sounding slightly winded, "I just came up in hopes to practice, you know test the ankle. Dashid said that I should try it a bit before getting to involved in class again…and I can't show my face in class unable to fight because my cousin got a bit rough with me. I'd be humiliated!" Bella said this in a pleading tone, as Lily stood gazing at her seeming unmoved.

"So how does the involve me?" Lily asked.

"Well…spar with me. You're really good, and I usual don't find many girls that challenge me." Bella replied honestly. Lily narrowed her eyes and smirked slightly glancing over to Sirius causing both boys to jump at the focus being brought to them and quickly looking back down to there weapons.

"So is this egotism just a personality trait of your family?" Asked Lily in what sounded to Sirius to be teasing annoyance, but he knew he was probably mistaken. Without an upward glance Severus spoke.

"Yes." Both Bella and Sirius shot Severus a scathing look, which he missed for feigning preoccupation in the dagger that he was cleaning. Lily's smile grew large and beautiful exposing her perfect pearly teeth against her smooth pink lips, as she turned back to Bella.

"Alright Bella, I'll put you through your paces." Lily said with a confident grin now matching Bella's.

"Will you?" Smiled Bella slyly as she removed her jacket and threw it to Sirius who grinned at her arrogance. Bella wore a set of black sweatpants that seemed a bit big for her, they had been cinched tight at the waist but still hung low on her narrow hips, but it was her shirt that caused Severus to snort aloud in laughter. Once Bella had removed her jacket Lily was surprised to see that she wore a thin fitted black t-shirt baring a "G" in gothic lettering on the left breast, and Gryffindor written in the same black gothic lettering across the back of the shirt. Lily just starred at Bella open mouthed, completely befuddled as to why anyone would where another house's name or crest other than her own.

"What can I say. I'm a fan." Bella answered Lily's confused look, both boys sat stifling their laughter at Lily's shock concerning Bella's fairly standard behavior.

Bella had begun quickly stretching in preparation for the sparing session with Lily grinning at both boys as she did. Lily noticed this and was a little annoyed Bella seemed so confident that she would prove to be the more talented of the two in the Defense arena and for some reason she got the distinct impression that both her young charges did as well. This incensed Lily who nonchalantly looked down on Bella.

"Let's cut the sparing Bella, boring workout as far as I'm concerned. Why don't we just have a friendly rematch. Same rules and all…that is if you think your ankle will be up to it." Lily said letting a sly look come over her face as she met Bella's eyes, which glinted oddly in wild excitement.

"Whatever you say Lily, you're the prefect." Bella answered her animalistic green eyes not matching with her calm sweet smile and cool relaxed tone. She shot up quickly no longer interested in Sirius or Severus who were surveying the scene with slightly uneasy interest now completely neglecting the historic weapons which rested in their hands. Bella and Lily stood poised neither having drawn their wands yet starring at each other in assessment.

"You sure you don't need more time to warm up?" Questioned Lily this time with genuine concern for Bella and her injury in mind. Bella's fierce expression softened a bit as she sensed the true kindness in Lily's inquiry throwing her off guard for a moment.

"I'm ready, I just came back from jogging the grounds" Bella said as she let her hand visibly slip to the side of her right leg signifying that she would very soon brandish the wand that was slipped securely in the long thin pocket of her sweatpants. Lily smiled no longer feeling threatened but excited to do battle with the talented and mysterious Slytherin girl. Sliding her own hand down to reach for the hilt of her own wand she easily pulled it forth holding it steadily in front of her never taking her eyes off Bella who followed Lily's movements perfectly.

Bella did not hold her eleven-inch rosewood wand stretched in front of her like Lily, but slightly out to her side her arm bent instead of fully extended. Lily had noticed this difference in style during their last battle and had quickly noticed when Sirius had gone to fight Bella that they had exactly the same posture and stance. Bella felt empowered with her wand in her hand and wanting to use a more advanced means of disarming an opponent than she had shown in class she threw her left hand out as if to block and whispered inaudibly.

"Accio Wand" giving her own wand the slightest flick causing Lily's wand to shoot out of her unsuspecting hand and into Bella's outstretched left hand where she caught it easily. Bella grinned fighting a laugh as Lily stood in question feeling unfairly tricked. Bella relaxed her posture now that her opponent was so easily disarmed and let Lily's wand spin between her fingers in proud mockery.

"So do we continue on or would you like to start over?" Bella asked raising an eyebrow and smirking smugly. Lily didn't answer she stepped forward looking annoyed as if she were going to say something in retort to Bella's arrogant teasing but instead used the same rounding kick that Bella had disarmed her with in there last battle. Lily had executed the move perfectly knocking her wand free of Bella's grip and catching it in her wielding hand before Bella knew what hit her.

Lily then grabbing the hand which she had just kicked and, knowing from past experience that it would be ringing with pain, twisted it behind Bella's back slamming her face first to the floor and coming to sit on top of her. Lily grabbed Bella's wand and flung it several feet across the arena then putting her own wand in her mouth she proceeded to fix her ponytail as if not in a battle at all. Sirius and Severus both broke into applause laughing between themselves in stunned amassment causing Lily to turn and give them a look of "I told you so" along with a small seated bow.

Lily returned her attention back to Bella just in time to see that she had some how gotten her wand back and had it aimed directly for her perfectly ponytailed head. Bella's face was still pressed hard against the mat an impish smile forming as she assessed her target with her one eye. She had patiently waited for Lily to turn around to get the full view of her surprise as she spoke her spell lightly.

"Affligio"

Lily was thrown backwards several feet from Bella who shot up immediately poised for attack and heading stealthily towards Lily who was trying to regain her composure after having the wind knocked out of her by Bella's spell. Lily stood bent resting her hands on her knees being sure to hold her wand tightly.

"How did you get your wand back?" Lily asked with a pant.

"If you win, I'll show you." Bella said with a smile as Lily again took a defensive stance and returned the grin. Against all better judgment Lily really liked this girl, even though she knew all to well the type of wizards she was involved with.

Bella shot a stunning spell at Lily while leaping forward to hit her extended arm trying again to free the wand from her grip, Lily successfully blocked the spell and held tight to her wand shouting in pain at the force Bella had used to jolt her with. Trying to twist out of reach Lily was caught in the stomach with a high kick pushing her backward and causing her to feel sick. She turned quickly on Bella in anger from her pain and grabbed Bella's ponytail hard flinging her back down to the floor and standing over her wand pointed menacingly at Bella's chest. Bella looked up at her wincing rubbing her head in pain and grinning.

"So you can play dirty." She said teasingly. Lily, panting, began to smile pulling back her wand and offering her hand to help her opponent up. Bella excepted Lily's hand and smiled once she was facing her back on her feet.

"Do you think I'm ready for Defense training?" Asked Bella a bit wide eyed.

"Bella, I think that you're ready for actual battle." Lily said with a laugh sheathing her wand and flopping down on the floor to face the long windows the stars now twinkling beyond the glass in the dark purple sky. Bella following her lead took a place beside the tall thin girl, quickly glancing back to see Sirius gazing at her intently as he worked at polishing the sword. She shot him a quick smile before turning to gaze out the windows next to Lily.

The girls lounged in the center of the arena leaning their elbows into the cushioned floor regaining their breath, the warm multicolored light dancing over their bodies. Bella released her now wild ponytail easily with one hand from the elastic band that held it in place letting it spill on the mat around her. Both boys still struggling to stay focused on their assignment would randomly glance at the two lovely girls occasionally catching one another and being forced to grin at their strange fortune at being the sole witnesses to this unexpected event.

"So what's with the Gryffindor envy?" Lily asked grinning and raising an eyebrow in question, Bella sighed a small laugh and turned to look at Lily their green eyes meeting with a friendly sparkle.

"Okay I'll tell, if you promise not to laugh." Bella whispered excitedly as she rolled to her stomach to address Lily more intimately not wanting the boys to hear. Lily nodded in acceptance for Bella to carry on.

"I am in love with this beautiful boy, and he is a Gryffindor." Bella said smiling dreamily as she gazed off as if in deep thought dropping her head dramatically to rest on her arm. Sirius' face went pale out of nervous fear of what Bella would say next as Lily's face lit with interest.

"Who is he?" she asked greedily "Is he a fifth year? Do I know him?" Bella feigning dramatic embarrassment scrunching her face up in discomfort as if she were truly torn whether to tell Lily or not.

"Oh I can't tell you, it's to humiliating he doesn't even know that I'm alive and it makes me sick!" Bella frowned then unable to suppress her sly smile. "I just can't stop thinking about him though, he is so gorgeous, God he's like no other man that I've ever met so sweet, and tough at the same time." Bella sighed longingly.

"Okay well he can't be a fifth year then." Lily snorted, causing Sirius to make a sound in disapproval, Lily covered her lips with a finger tip giggling. Bella's eyes were wide and innocent looking as she gazed at Lily in surprise.

"But he is a fifth year." Bella blurted out covering her mouth quickly seeming shocked at what she said.

"Alright already then I defiantly know him, who is it?" Lily asked anxious to know the gossip.

"You swear you won't tell anyone."

"Bella!" Lily said exasperated and out of patients, Sirius held his breath knowing that she was way too smart to be doing something so stupid.

"It's James." Bella said as though she had forced the name out of her mouth then sighed as if relieved. Lily looked as shocked as Sirius both of their mouths hanging open in disbelief at what Bella had just said. Severus continuing to shine the dagger smirked with a short laugh.

"I know some people who would be interested to know that." Severus grinned.

"Oh it doesn't even matter you're the only girl he pays attention to, you're so lucky. It's like the rest of us don't even exist." Bella huffed in frustration letting disappointment show on her face. Lily blushed her checks going bright pink as she glanced up at Sirius who was smiling to himself shining the blade of the sword, now understanding exactly what Bella was up to and adoring her for it. Lily gave Bella a sympathetic look, changing quickly to confusion.

"But I thought that you and Rudolphus…" Lily picked up Bella's hand holding the large diamond ring up to catch the light. Bella's face darkened upon looking at the evil thing.

"Oh yes. I almost forgot about him." She said flatly, Lily sensing that Bella did not care to talk about her fiancée and understanding the complicated things that happened in some of the pure blood families decided to drop the subject.

"So I won!" Lily said with a proud smile.

"So you did!" Bella replied with same intonation.

"So give it up Bella! What's the secret? I wanna know how you were able to get your wand back?" Bella's face changed to a large and mischievous smile.

"It's actually fairly easy. You see Lily when you cast, the magic comes from within you, not your wand or your words we just use those things as tools for helping us focus our power on one target or thought." Lily nodded in agreement already understanding this.

"Well many people don't bother with learning how to refine their powers so that they are able to cast without using words or a wand, mainly because it is very draining and it is only really useful in battle. It is also very hard to control, most wizarding schools don't usually touch on it because it's just too dangerous, and many students are not advanced enough to have any results." Then Bella turned to look at the two boys who were starring at her listening to her intently her beautiful smile looking alive in the flickering torchlight.

"There are many families who do consider this type of training important and teach their children these techniques at home usually under the supervision of an experienced relative. Isn't that right? Bella directed the question to both boys who nodded their agreement slowly both uneasy to talk about such things in a public place.

"It's all very hush hush of course, but I'm sure that you can tell who's trained and who is not." Bella focused this statement back to Lily eyeing her quizzically. "I bet you could do it Lily, you are powerful enough you know." Bella said the excitement apparent on her face.

"All you need to do is start trying to cast spells with your thoughts. Thought manifests. You should start slow whispering spells with your wand, then move on to doing it without your wand once you've mastered that, eventually you won't need to say a thing." Bella enlightened looking at lily with friendly interest.

"Your wand is always easy to get back because it wants to return to you, it takes very little effort. You can practice by setting it across the room and willing it back to you, you'll be surprised at how quickly you are able to do it." Interjected Sirius as he laid the sword aside finally having finished his work on it. Bella grinned at him, he looked so inviting with his white shirt rolled up at the sleeves and completely unbuttoned down the front revealing a thin ribbed undershirt that clung nicely to his chest.

"Or better yet have someone hold on to it, and try willing it away from them." Interjected Severus having finally looked up from his work on the dagger, which was now gleaming, Sirius grinned in agreement.

Lily looked a bit astonished she had known that there were wizards able to work magic in this way but she had no idea that anyone her age would be training to do anything of the sort. Then Bella getting up from where she had sat walked over and knelt by Sirius too pick up her jacket. He couldn't help but watch her as she pulled the soft fleece over her arms her hair falling like night around her. She peered up at him wanting badly to kiss him good bye but forced to turn away from him due to their audience.

"It's getting late and I must meet with the good doctor before I turn in for the night." She said seeming a little down to leave. Lily getting up looked at Severus.

"I should walk you down to your common room Severus it is getting late. Sirius could you put Salazar's weapons away and get yourself back to your dorm without my supervision?" Lily asked pointedly to Sirius, he shot her a mockingly sweet look tilting his head.

"I will try my best." He said sarcastically. Lily grinned he really could be cute if you looked at him for too long.

After a few moments of bustling around the chamber was again quiet and empty, and Sirius was alone. Using his wand that Lily had left out for him on the bench he moved the case easily back to the wall, then exhausted he collapsed at the far end of the padded floor near the long windows. He sighed, closing his eyes and stretching out, his hands behind his head ready to sleep right there on the floor of the Defense chamber. He must have fallen asleep for a moment because the next thing he noticed was whispering in his ear, Sirius turned opening his eyes on Bella who had lain down beside him her head resting on her outstretched arm.

"Hi." She said dragging her soft fingers along his jaw and curling his hair behind his ear. Sirius smiled letting his eyes come into focus on her face the only thing that he ever wanted to awaken to.

"Well if it isn't James Potter's girlfriend." Bella smiled viciously scooting closer to Sirius letting her eyes settle seductively on his.

"I just thought Lily could use a little push in the right direction." Bella smiled as Sirius reached over grabbing her thigh and pulling her on top of him, Bella let out a soft squeal as she caught herself with her hands on the mat. Her hair falling gently around them barely brushing the floor. Sirius let his hands glide up Bella's thighs coming to rest on her hips then slipping his fingers sensually along her stomach then under her shirt. Bella sucked in a quick breath and closing her eyes against the ecstasy that Sirius caused to tare through her body.

Gripping her hip in his free hand he pressed Bella against him forcing her to lean in kissing his neck roughly and letting her lips make their way to his.

"Um…maybe we should all head back to our dorms." A voice came from the side of the chamber causing the two intertwined lovers to jump in terror at being discovered. Both Sirius and Bella shot up to see Lily standing just beyond the stone benches looking uncomfortable.

"Right…well I'll just be going then." Bella turned swiftly to head out of the chamber completely distraught about be caught by Lily tears of shame beginning to well in her eyes as she quickened her walk to a run leaving Lily and Sirius standing in the chamber. Lily suddenly saw Sirius in a different light, she had never thought of him as passionate or loving but she could tell from the entire scene that she had just witnessed that the love between the two of them was very real.

Lily had gone back to the chamber to lock up when she noticed Bella slipping through the slightly ajar doors. Curiosity getting the best of her Lily had entered the chamber silently watching and listening to everything that was exchanged between Bella and Sirius. At first she was shocked to see such a display but as she watched them she was unable to look away being the victim of an internal conflict feeling that she had to prevent this type of thing from happening but hating herself for destroying the passionate moment between these two strange lovers.

Lily looked at Sirius sweetly his attention focused after Bella, she could tell that he was desperate to go after her but trapped because of her presence.

"Sirius, I will see that she is okay…please go back to the dorm. I will be checking in on you to be sure you haven't wandered off to someplace you shouldn't be." She said in a soft tone meeting Sirius' eyes reassuringly.