Chapter Thirty Nine

The Easy Way Out

Lainie woke up and lay there, listening to her room mates breathing. She remembered what she had discovered. Remus, a werewolf. How did he survive? She hauled herself out of bed and wandered down stairs, still in her pajamas. Sitting in the common were Lily and the four boys. They all turned to look at her, as she grabbed a drink and flopped onto the couch.

James cleared his throat, "Um, Lainie. We've been discussing stuff. About what you found out last night."

"And we decided that you can't tell Livvy." James finished.

"What." Lainie exclaimed looking at Lily. Lily nodded.

"She doesn't know, Lainie, and I should tell her myself." Remus said, meeting her eyes for the first time.

She nodded silently, looking at him differently than she had ever before. He looked tired and older. They all sat in silence.

"Okay. But please do it soon, she deserves to know." Lily said, solemnly.

"I know that." He said.

"Come on Lil. Lets go get some food." James said, leaving with Lily. Remus left as well, to finish some homework.

"So." Lainie said, getting up and going over to sit next to Sirius.

"I'm sorry, Lainie. I'm so sorry." He said, taking her hand.

"Didn't you trust me or something. Did you not want to let me in?" she asked.

"No. I just hadn't thought of it. Please believe me,."

"It hurts, cause I tell you almost everything, but one massive thing, you just forget to tell me."

"Lainie, I'm sorry, what else can I do?"

"There is nothing else you can do."

"So we're good?"

"Not really."

"Why?"

"Cause, well, I think that maybe, we should, go on, a break.." Lainie said, slowly, staring at the carpet.

"What, so your giving up? Do I mean nothing to you?"

"No. of course not."

"Then whats the problem."

"I told you everything, everything. I never do that. and I thought you did the same for me. And you didn't, and…..."

"I never meant to hurt you. Really I didn't, it just slipped my mind."

"I'm just not sure that it's me you really want, or whether I'm just a conquest."

"Why would you think that I would do that?."

"Because you're, well, Sirius Black. You have been through so many girls, and I won't be one of them."

"Don't you trust that I have changed. Or that I really care about you?"

"Well… we're going to be busy after school finished and, it will be different." Lainie tried to convince him, and herself, too.

"So, you think, end it before anything has the chance to go wrong." He said, bitterly.

"Yes, well, no…. And before you chuck me." she said.

"Fine, I'll give you space. Since you think you need it. I don't get it though, you give up at the first obstacle. I thought you knew me and I thought you were tougher than that." And with that, he turned and walked out, leaving Lainie wondering, why the hell she had just done that. Her reasons were so clear last night, he didn't seem to trust her and that next year, it would be different, they wouldn't see each other as much, something else which she couldn't remember and probably more stupid than the first two.

Lainie stuck her head in her hands. How had she managed to screw it up this time? It was a miracle. She knew, that now, after what she had discovered, something was different. She was hurt, and she knew, that she now, cared about him a bit more than she had planned on. And she felt, that he was always waiting for her to catch up. So was it better to break it off, than wait for him to tire of her. After all, he was the Sirius Black, womanizer extraordinaire. Some time soon, he was going to tire of waiting for her, I mean, he still had girls throwing themselves at him. It was inevitable really, he used to go through girls like there was no tomorrow, why would he change so suddenly? A little voice in her head, told her, maybe it was for her. She then told that voice to shut up, that was stupid, guys don't do that. Except in movies.

She dragged herself up and back to bed. She could survive, after all, she did for so long previously. Why, she could even go out and flirt with all the guys she wanted. She changed into her hideous tartan pajamas and curled up under her blankets. She lay in bed, tossing and turning, as light streamed in through her curtains. After an hour, she got up, disgruntled and with red eyes from crying. She grabbed her broom and hopped on, then kicked off from the window sill. She flew off, still in her pajamas and much to the surprise of the people below.

Whilst this was going on, Lily and James were having breakfast. Lily was frowning, what was going to happen to her, Livvy and Lainie's friendship. When she discovered they had lied to her about something this important. Would she even want to be friends anymore?

"Don't look so worried," James said, leaning over and giving her a hug.

"It's hard not to be. Do you think Livvy will even want to be friends with us after this.?" Lily said, voicing her concern, as she leaned into James.

"She will forgive you, it's Remus I'm worried about. I mean, he asked you not to tell her, hows she going to react to that?" James said, frowning.

"Oh god. And they were so happy. That's awful. They are so perfect for one another."

"I know. Do you mind, that you didn't know." James said, anxiously.

"I can see why you did it. But it wasn't your secret to tell. So I understand. Just don't do it again." Lily said, looking sternly at James but ruining it by smiling.

"Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you." James said, grinning and kissing her briefly.

They lapsed into silence for a while as Lily ate her toast and James watched her. Then they heard some ones footsteps arriving. They both looked up to find Sirius striding in, looking furious but also there was something sad in his eyes, which they rarely ever saw.

He sat down opposite them and stared at the table, almost boring holes in the table with his stare. Lily and James exchanged wide eyes worried glances.

"You all right, Sirius?" James asked, gently.

"Does it look like it?" he said, heavily.

"What happened?" Lily said, concerned.

"Well, um, Remus is worrying heaps and, oh, Lainie just broke up with me. " He replied, sadly.

"She broke up with you?" James echoed.

"Why?" Lily said, aghast.

"She said that she didn't trust me. Thought I was going to chuck her. It was too serious. You know, the usual Lainie thing." Sirius said, looking up at his two friends with sad eyes.

"Was it about the moving out thing?" Lily asked.

"Yeah. And I don't know why I didn't tell her about it. Even just as a friend. And so now, you two are the only ones likely to be together at the end of the year." Sirius said, smiling sadly. He knew Lainie would be hurt but break up with him. And he thought things we good between them. They were good, he reminded himself. Lily and James looked at each other again, as their friend lapsed into silence.

"I'm going to go see her." Lily said, getting up. "Just so I know, did you do anything to her. Pressure her into something or the like?"

"No. why do people always think that?" he said, exasperated.
"Well, you were kind of, um, forward in the past." Lily said, awkwardly.

"No. nothing that I can think of." He said, sadly.

"See you later then." Lily said, leaving the room. She walked up to their dorm, so deep into her thoughts, she didn't notice Professor Dumbledore walking past.
"Good morning, Miss Evans." He said, pleasantly.

"Oh, hello, professor." Lily said, looking up and managing a half smile.

"Having a good weekend?" He said, smiling but it didn't have its usual brightness.

"Oh yes, I suppose." She said, scraping her hair off her face and she tried to seem indifferent.

"Miss Evans." He said seriously.

"Yes, professor." She said, really wanting to just leave.

"I know what you and Miss Robinson discovered last night."

"Oh"

"Yes. I would appreciate it if you kept it to yourselves."

"Of course, Sir."

"But I also know that Miss Barnette has to be told."

"Yes, Sir."

"Yes. Well, then, I will let you go. I believe you have a friend to attend to."
Yes sir. But, if you don't mind, how did you know?"
"Ahh, yes, well I did catch Miss Robinson coming in on her broom, still in her nightwear and looking a little, well, off. And of course, who couldn't hear Mr Black walking down the corridors this morning. So, I put two and two together." He said, very seriously but giving her a small smile.

"Goodbye Sir." Lily said, turning and walking down the corridor. When she arrived at her dorm, she stood for a moment, what would Lainie be doing. Hopefully not something crazy.

She opened the door and frowned as she was met by a perfectly tidy room and Lainie at her desk, writing. She walked over to her and sat down in front of the desk. She now saw that though Lainie looked fine from behind, her paper was splattered with tears.

"Oh Lainie." Lily said, giving her friend a hug and stroking her hair. Lainie started sniffing and then began to sob into Lily's jumper. "Don't worry, it'll all be fine."