The next morning Sirius sat in the common room waiting for Riley. When she emerged from her dorm, she swept past him with an air of indifference.
"Riley, wait. We need to talk." Sirius said.
Riley stopped walking, but didn't turn to face him. "There's nothing to discuss."
"Yes, there is. We need to get some things straight." Sirius paused. "Please, Riley."
Riley sighed and walked over to him. "Alright, what is it?" She asked sharply.
Sirius beckoned to the couch. "Here, let's sit." They sat down, and Sirius took her hands in his. Sirius searched Riley's face with his eyes as she avoided his gaze. "Look at me." Riley tore her eyes away from the floor and met his eyes. Sirius's dark eyes held the pain that she knew well. "I love you, Riley." His voice was strained; every word difficult to say. "I thought you loved me too." Riley's eyes filled with tears. "I guess it wasn't true, though."
Riley shook her head and hugged him. "Dear Sirius. I do love you. But as a friend – a brother; not a lover. I'm so sorry."
Sirius shook his head. "It's not your fault...no one can make you fall in love. Your heart decides."
She released him and sat up straight. "You're so good to me. So good...I wanted to love you so much! But I couldn't – not that way. How will you ever forgive me for hurting you so?"
Sirius shrugged in an attempt to appear carefree. "It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all, right?" He laughed bitterly.
Riley looked at him sadly. How it hurt her... "I know the pain, Sirius, I know..." She stopped abruptly.
Sirius looked at her. "Yes?" He waited but she didn't continue. "Do you want to talk?"
Riley shook her head. "No, Sirius. Thank you, but no. I have nothing worthwhile to say."
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I find this part so very sad, but it will get sadder, I fear. ::sniff::
Dang. This thing looks really short here. In Word it looks like a good length for a chapter....sorry.