Chapter 14 – Planning to Win

Before you read this chapter I must explain a few things….I have lost the plot ( not mentally ) I can't seem to find my notes anywhere! Damn parents for coming up and making me clean my room! So the story has gone off course but I hope you like it all the same! Thank you for all your reviews on the ending they have been great ideas so I might pinch one or two! Please review to show that you like the way its going!

"Sara means nothing to me Raine! She was drunk and caught me unaware at Potter's Ball. I couldn't embarrass them by shouting at Sara to stop!"

"You didn't have to shout, just say no….which you have no experience in." spat out Raine in bitterness. "I thought we were friends."

"We are!"

"Really? What kind of friend kisses another then goes after her best friend who he knew was besotted with him!". Raine's voice was rising in anger. She was angry with everyone and anything. Sirius was a good place to start. "And to think I had daydreams of actually meaning something to you."

"You do."

Raine pushed herself out of Black's comfortable hold and stood up. "I'm sorry but I can't…my life has been messed up to many times…dad, now you and my brother…"

"He hasn't been threatening you, has he?"

"Why should you care?" demanded Raine. "You're just like him you know, screwing everyone's lives for your own benefit."

"I'm not a death eater", retorted Black.

"You're as bad as one!"

Black was shocked out of speaking. There in front of him was the woman, he thought he could love, hurt and angry and connecting him to the vile people on earth.

"I'm sorry", he said with remorse.

"Sometimes sorry isn't enough Sirius", said Raine softly, "forget about me and everything that has happened and maybe…." She cut off fully frustrated at her whole life. "Goodbye Sirius." With that she walked back up to Hogwarts not once stopping in her stride to glance back at the broken state of Sirius Black.

"Sirius. Sirius! Earth to bloody Sirius!"

"Miss MacGregor would you please not shout in my classroom", snapped Professor Pyro of DADA. "Ten points from Ravenclaw."

Zelda MacGregor glared at the professor believing that he couldn't resemble more of a boggart if he tried.

"Sorry" whispered Black when Pyro turned back to the board he was teaching to.

"What is wrong with you!" asked Zelda in concern.

Zelda was one of a few female friends (the other being Lily) that Sirius had not thought of using his charms on to have a little bit of fun. Next to James, Zelda was one of Black's oldest friends and therefore didn't want to ruin such a beautiful friendship – not that it would matter because Zelda had a crush on Moony. She denied it but Sirius could tell.

"I didn't get enough sleep last night and this class is boring", lied Black hoping that it would satisfy her curiosity.

"So you haven't been getting any sleep since you hurt that sweet girl…what's her name…Ryan…no…Rachel…" Zelda forgot everyone's name. A natural talent.

"Raine!"

"Don't bit my head off!"

"I'm sorry." Black hid his face between his arms on the table and sighed.

Zelda took pity on the famous lover-boy Black. He had been mopping around for a whole month now and nothing seemed to lift his spirit. It was only last night that James had cornered her before Potions to ask for assistance. She didn't believe that after all these years at Hogwarts where Black ruled supremely over the female population that a normal girl could rip him apart.

But if she was honest, Zelda was jumping up and down for this girl, Raine. Finally someone has cracked the ego of Mr Black! Now all she needed was to piece them back together and they could get married. Sirius married for life that would be a picture! And have adorable children – let's face it any child of Padfoot is going to be a heartbreaker…I'm reading way too much into this. Damn IT!

"What's your plans for Valentine day? It's a week away", queried Zelda as if Black was his usual bubbly self.

"Do I look in the mood for cupid", said Black. His handsome body screamed 'leave me one to wallow before I decide to jump' as he slumped on top of the desk. "The only girl I want to make feel special hates my guts."

"Well, that's just one obstacle", muttered Zelda. A spark had been ignited in her brain and it wouldn't extinguish itself. A plan was needed and a lot of the Black's charm could just possible win this fair maiden's heart.

Sirius's eyes peaked through the folds of his arms to glance at Zelda in confusion. Did she not hear me! Raine hates me for the stupid things that I have done. She's never going to forgive me. Black's face contorted into completely bewilderment as Zelda looked like she was talking to an invisible person beside her – nodding in agreement and then shaking her head violently to say no, her fingers were being used to do sums and difficult equations. After two minutes of this display Zelda turned round to see Sirius' head tilted her way.

She smiled. Black paled. I know that smile. It's 'I have the perfect plan' smile.

"I have the perfect plan", whispered Zelda, "but it needs a lot of commitment and brains. Thankfully you have me for the above."

"Hey", complained Black, "I'm clever just too lazy."

Zelda nodded at this. "True. However to win…"

"Raine"

"Raine for your Valentine date there needs to be focus. No longer are you friends with her," Sirius was about to protest that he would love to be on chatting terms, " but her admirer."

"Ok." Sirius was unsure at where this is going but still was slightly intrigued.

"First of all I want you to write all the romantic things you can think of which will sweep Raine off her feet. The we will put that all into practise for the next fortnight making her fall madly in love with you."

"I don't think Raine would appreciate me fawning over her since I ruined her life", grumbled Sirius totally giving up on Zelda's plan.

Ignoring his dejected state, "I will befriend her so that I can guide her to the right direction when you," pointing to him, "dazzle her with your wit and charm."

"This isn't going to work, I'm out."

"Fair enough," shrugged Zelda, "I'll do it all by myself."

Sirius opened his mouth to argue but the class was dismissed and Zelda had made the choice not to listen to him anyway. As she disappeared into the crowds, James and Remus stopped Sirius from following by dragging him to the Great Hall for lunch.

"What's wrong with you mate?" asked James. "You looked like a bee stung you on the arse."

"Zelda is planning to make Raine fall in love with me for Valentine", Sirius looked at James beseechingly.

Humour sprung into Prong's eyes and a small giggle escaped his mouth before Sirius' face put a stop to it. "I'm sure it will be fine."

Sirius snorted and laughed as well for the first time in months. One of Zelda's plan never really worked out, at all, ever. "I know but I still thought that this one could work." He sighed. He would give anything to have Raine at least look at him again. After their argument Black had tried to talk to her but Raine would flatly ignore him and any emotions was devoid from her face. Now any time she saw him Raine would take another route. It hurt deeply.

The library was quite just what Raine needed. Half way through her homework she stretched her arms above her head to let the tension escape. It worked for a few seconds but nothing could remove the complete loneliness that Raine felt at the moment.

Sara had not been speaking with her since she had left the hospital wing in fact Sara was enjoying her new friends - the group of girls who were the Black fan club. Raine could not go and apologise for what she had done and therefore was thankful in some ways that Sara had not made a move to save their friendship.

The aching feeling of hollowness in her stomach was for Sirius. She knew that she had been harsh in her words and deep in her heart he missed him greatly. But her pride wouldn't allow her to make the first move even though Black tried to apologise at the beginning she wasn't ready to accept it and now Raine found that it was too late. Sirius barely acknowledged she existed.

This was the real reason she was in the empty library instead of the common room. Seeing Black with all his friends to support him and making him laugh added fuel to pent up anger.

"Hello there!" Raine glanced up to meet a very cheerful light brown hair girl with the most amazing violet eyes ever. "Can I sit here?" She plonked her body on the chair across from Raine. "I hate sitting in the library on my own."

"I understand", said Raine.

"Oh. By the way my name is Zelda. Seventh year Ravenclaw and you?" She held out her hand to Raine.

"Raine Jenkins Sixth. Gryffindor."

"Nice to meet you."