Go me, lots of chapters in one night! (Sighs) Okay... I think this is the last for tonight... but I put a lot out so you should have plenty. (Throws popcorn at the people glaring) Okay, well, let's continue, shall we?

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Rating: PG-13 for swearing and some abuse later on

Child of the Stars

Chapter Three: Black Encounters

Sadira had been waiting in the kitchen for an hour. She had served the coffee and desert long before, but she needed to be close by just in case she was needed. She let out a sigh, wondering when she would be able to leave.

"Are you bored out of your mind yet" Serverus asked as he tried to surprise her.

"You're getting better at that, but you're still not good enough. I've known that you were there for past five minutes" she said as she turned around to look him in the eye. He was smiling at her.

"I will never be able to tell how you do that."

"And that's how it should be. And in answer to your previous question, I am coming very close to walking upstairs and playing the piano."

"Sadira- They've been invited to spend the night."

"What" she said, trying her best to keep her voice down.

"Father thought it would get them in better terms. They will stay in guest quarters and expect breakfast in the morning, though that seems fairly normal for you."

"I just hope they don't wake up at the crack of dawn."

"But, aren't you up by then"

"I am, and I am the only one up, saying goodbye to the last traces of night as the sun creeps over the horizon."

Severus sighed. "I'm afraid you can't play the piano until late tonight, when we're sure that everyone is asleep. And even then we will have to put a silencing charm in the room."

"I keep hearing the word we..."

"You don't think I'd let you go alone, do you"

She smiled as she ran to give him a hug.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, just holding each other, before he drew away.

"I have to return to the table. Meet me outside the ballroom at midnight" he whispered as he quickly kissed her forehead and left the room.

She smiled at his retreating back, wondering how the boy in the other room could hate him so much. She shrugged it off before turning to look around the kitchen. She had finished the dishes earlier and put them away, so now she had nothing to do. It was almost ten o'clock and she looked out the window to see the stars shining in the night sky.

"Samantha! Dessert is done, you may clear the table now"

She quickly left the room to do as her father bid.

When she had cleared all of the plates and glasses from the living room she returned to the kitchen to wash them, but found that she was not alone. One of the visiting boys was sitting at the counter.

"Excuse me, are you lost" she asked him softly.

His head jerked up at her appearance. "Uh, no. No, I'm not lost" he stammered.

She offered him a sweet smile, which he returned, though his was smaller.

"Do you need anything"

"No, just wanted to get away from them" he said as he nodded his head in the direction of the sitting room were the adults, Severus, and the other boy were still talking.

Sadira looked him over. He was the boy from dinner who had disobeyed his mother. She noticed that his hair was a very dark black, almost like her own, but that instead of being wavy it gracefully fell into his face, where it was longer. His eyes were a stormy grey, the color of the clouds right before a huge thunderstorm hits. He had high cheekbones and near flawless skin. Slightly baggy black slacks and a button up black shirt was all he wore.

"I'm sorry if I was disturbing you, I can leave"

"No. No you're not disturbing me. I was just about to do the dishes. Would you like some butterbeer? I noticed you didn't eat too much."

"Sure" he said, though he looked uncomfortable about what she had said.

"I'm sorry, but when you only serve two people, you get used to them and notice more things about others" she said with a laugh. He relaxed slightly and even smiled a little as she brought him a bottle of butterbeer.

She walked over to the fire and rekindled it, before taking of her cardigan to do the dishes. She wore a black skirt, with a black camisole, and a black cardigan almost every day. It was almost like a uniform, though some days she was allowed to wear things she chose herself.

About half way through doing the dishes she looked up to see that the other boy had entered the room, but that he was in the shadows, as if he did not want to be seen.

"Yes"

"Hmm"

"Not you, him."

"How did you do that" the younger boy asked as he stepped up to the counter.

"It's a secret," she said with a smile. "Do you need anything"

"No, just came to find my brother... And to get away from Snape."

The first boy muttered something under his breath that sounded like "Bloody Git".

"I swear he invited us on purpose just to torture us" he continued.

"I wouldn't put it past him."

"Why must he hate other people so much"

"I have no idea" he said as he sighed. "Excuse me, but is he always like that"

"Who? Severus" He nodded. "No, but he does seem to hate you for some reason. He is usually very pleasant company to those he is close to."

He snorted at this comment. "And are you close to him"

"Yes, actually I am, and I would appreciate it if you didn't make snide comments about him, especially when he is not here to defend himself" she said as her temper rose, the dishes all but forgotten.

"Why? You seem to be doing a pretty good job of defending him. Tell me, why do you like him so much? It can't be because of his looks."

"You don't even know him, let alone know me."

"Regulus, please go back into the den."

"But–"

"Go."

"Fine" the younger boy mumbled as he went back to the den.

Sadira stood there, glaring at the boy in front of her. He was at least four inches taller than her, and that difference became even more pronounced as he walked closer to her.

"Fine, I don't know him. And I don't want to know him. He's a bloody, good-for-nothing Slytherin, and a slime ball. He is mean to me and my friends for no reason. He struts around the school with his nose in the air because he is the teacher's pet in potions. Well I don't give a damn, he can strut all he wants, but when he bothers me during the summer, which is bad enough already, my hate for him only increases."

"And I'm guessing that you never tried to understand him?"

"No, actually I haven't."

"Well based on your current attitude, I think you haven't because you think he's below you for some reason. You're nothing but a pompous git yourself."

"I am not worse than him, and I never will be, do you understand me?"

Sadira glared at him. She knew she shouldn't judge him when she didn't really know him, but he got her so mad that she couldn't help it.

He glared down at her for a few seconds before his gaze softened and he grinned slightly.

"I'm sure he would be glad to know he's got at least one friend in this world," he saidas he sat back down.

Sadira knew she couldn't physically hurt him, so she glared at his buuterbeer and saw with some satisfaction that it started to boil. He, however did not notice. When he took a sip a few seconds later he choked and spit it back out.

She suppressed her laughter as he glared at her. He didn't know that she had done it, but he obviously did not like his drinks to be boiling hot.

They were silent after their argument, Sadira doing the dishes as the boy stared at his butterbeer, waiting for it to cool down. She was washing a large plate when the door suddenly burst open and her father came in. The sudden noise made her hands slip and the plate fell to the floor, the shards flying up and one of them cutting a deep gash on the inside of her lower arm.

"We need more coffee, and hurry up. And clean up that mess" He had not seen the boy sitting at the counter, but the boy hardly noticed him either, for he was staring at the girls arm, which was bleeding heavily.

When her father had gone, Sadira let out a small gasp as she felt the pain in her arm flare up. She pressed her hand down on it to try and stem the blood flow as she slid down to the ground and leaned against the cabinets.

"Here, let me help" the boy said as he knelt down next to her with a dishtowel in his hand.

She gingerly help out her arm as he wrapped the cloth around it. His hands were large and warm as they caressed her arm.

"Thank you" she said softly.

"You're welcome... Is he usually like that"

"Always."

He gave her a sympathetic smile. "I don't believe I've told you my name. I'm Sirius Black."

She had to stop herself from telling him her real name. "Samantha."

"It's nice to meet you Samantha."

"It's nice to meet you too."

He helped her to stand up.

"Are you going to be okay"

"Yes I'll be fine, thank you. I have to ask you a favor though."

"Sure."

"I need you to return to the sitting room. Tell them that you were wandering around upstairs, but whatever you do, do not tell them that you were in here with me."

"Why"

"Just do it. Please."

He looked confused, but nodded at the pleading look she was giving him.

When he left, she waved her hand and the shards of glass and blood were gone. Another wave and the coffee was made. Finally she waved her hand over her arm and there was a proper bandage on it. She quickly put the tray of coffee on the end table next to Severus. He looked alarmed when he saw the bandage on her arm, but she shook her head very slightly to say that he shouldn't ask. As she left the room she saw Sirius was also looking a her curiously, but she simply bent her head low and walked out of the room.

Okay, just a note. Sirius wanted Regulus to leave the room because who wants to have their annoying little brother, who just happens to be in Slytherin, around when they are insulting the Slytherins? See my point? I hope so... Bye! And Goodnight!