Red-gold hair was draped over a snow-white pillow. Fingers spun through it, fanning it out, separating hair from hair. A sigh escaped the prim, cherry-red lips that belonged to Lily Evans, her emerald green eyes sparkling in the dim light of the overhanging chandelier.
His arrogance lingered there. His touch was still felt on her smooth cheek, upon the curve of her neck. A small smile appeared upon her face. He was not yet gone. Whilst it was true he was not present, she could still see him looking at her intently, with that glint in his eye, with his cocky smile.
How long had it taken her to become smitten? She could not recall. Perhaps it had only been a few minutes. It went against everything she had ever said, ever done. She had only kissed him for the first time about an hour ago, yet she found herself wanting more. Craving him, like drugs.
What had he been thinking of as he swaggered away, hands thrust in his robe pockets, as he did normally? Was it her that occupied his mind? Did he think of how he had laid his quivering, perfect kiss on her?
"You kiss by the book." Romeo and Juliet, one of her beloved books, or rather a play, entered her head. That could be how he kissed, she did not know.
She did not have much to compare it to.
Undoubtedly he did.
Sirius Black.
His hair had not long ago tickled her cheek as his mouth explored hers. His hands had not long ago held her gently around her robe-enclosed waist.
She knew it was wrong. She knew Sirius was not meant to be hers, that it was James she should be intended for.
Yet something about the fact that Sirius did not stalk her, that he was not besotted with her every move attracted her to him. True, he was as arrogant and bloody bigheaded as James, but she didn't know. With Sirius it just seemed to ooze charm, make her heart thud in her chest faster. But with James, it just made her think he was a downright git.
Twinges of guilt flashed through Lily as she thought of James, his sticky-up hair, his white-toothed smile. He could get over her, couldn't he? It seemed unlikely. Yet now, Lily cared not. Well, not that much, anyway. How could she, after what had happened today? It was not her fault she had succumbed to Sirius' charms. Was it? Yes.
She could have stopped his exploring hands, strong and beautiful as they were. She could have pushed his overpowering body away. But what was done was done, she could not change it. Lily sat up, her hair tumbling across her back; smile again erupting on her pale, pristine face.
Lily gave some sort of happy sigh. How had this started? It seemed decades ago. The yellow-bright sunbeams drifting down slowly as they sat at the lake. Or rather, as she had done. Sirius had arrived later, full of himself, yet different slightly as there was no James about to impress.
"Lily." He had begun. Something to note there, in the first word he had said to her. He had not called her Evans, for once. Perhaps….just perhaps, she could go back down to the lake. He might be there, the light shining on his jet-black hair. He just might.
Wandering down the corridors of the great castle, Lily's mind strayed further into the last few hours. How on earth had they moved so quickly? Why had they done it? For reasons Lily could not fathom, she was now pretty much besotted. Well, she might not go that far. But she was thinking about him pretty much all the time. Rolling her tree-green eyes, Lily blinked as she stepped out into the sunlight, and shielded her eyes from the offending rays. Hurrying across the grass and to where she had sat at the lake before, Lily placed herself down, keeping an eye out for Sirius.
He should be here. Well, maybe he shouldn't, but wouldn't he usually be outstretched on the grass, basking in the sun, laughing along with his friends, or them laughing at something he said. And here she was, alone, and remembering.
She wouldn't even mind if James and Remus and Peter were there. Just to see him, to talk to him, would be enough. But then James might suspect something, as she never usually talked to them, except to chastise them. She hated James. The whole school knew that.
So why did she feel so guilty?