I really do apologise for not updating sooner. I think it has been two weeks since my last posting and in that time I have managed to loss the plot of the story (not my head) and been drowned with so much essays that my hands have petitioned a strike of 'no writing!' Anyway to cut my rambles I would like to say a huge thanks for every review that I received! They mean so much to me and there has been a few with good advice on them too. Thanks! I will try and read some of your fan fiction but please that might take time (something that I don't have) so for now enjoy this chappie!

Chapter 15

Since from the beginning of time, when the concept of Cupid arrived in the minds of men there have been cupid-wannabes. Among these is one Zelda MacGregor. Her plan of action was clear – to lock the two lovebirds, namely Raine and Sirius in a room until they proclaim their undying love for each other…or died of starvation. One way or the other they would be together. In the early hours of the morning of Valentine's Day, Zelda woke up in her comfortable bed in Ravenclaw's tower with a mischievous smile on her face while her exotic violet eyes twinkled with suppressed glee.

Today of all days. My plan will work. I will be crowned matchmaker of the Universe! she mused as she made a quick dash into the bathroom to have a hot shower. Poor Sirius he won't know what's hit him.

Sirius was puzzled by the note he had received ten minutes ago from his fellow Marauders, asking him to come to the Room of Requirements for a final brain storm on the prank which they were going to perform with their usual grace and flare at this evening's dinner. It was strange because an hour before he had waved off James and Lily, as well as Remus and a very beautiful Hufflepuff giggler, on their way to Hogsmeade date. And being the gentlemen that Prongs and Moony were, it was seriously out of character for them to leave their dates. Particularly for James, who had waited seven years for Lily to say yes and spent a whole fortnight discussing every minor detail that he had arranged for this day.

Sirius shrugged the worries off his back as he made his way to the destination. At least I wouldn't have to mope around all day by myself now, he thought, amused by his predicament. Any other year, any other Valentine's Day, Sirius Black, the only sex god in Hogwarts' history, would be juggling several dates at once. Sometimes he would get caught, but inevitably he would never get the blame…the girls would just start fighting over him.

Now they were fighting over who could change his mind about not going to Hogsmeade. The announcement that the gorgeous and single Sirius Black preferring to stay at Hogswarts on Valentine brought shock to the female population. Even Black was surprised at his own intention, but he only wanted Raine Jenkins to be his date and nothing could fill those shoes except for the lovely lady herself.

Sirius ran a hand through his dark locks, brushing them out of his eyes as he sighed at his unfortunate luck. I, the womaniser of many beautiful girl, have fallen head over heels with a quiet, reserved girl who happens to be best friend with my sworn enemy Snivellus and has an older brother who is high up in the Death Eaters' group…but I love her. Damn it!

Opening a door hidden in the wall below the Ravenclaw's common room, Sirius was surprised to find the Maurader's meeting place deserted.

"James? Moony? Peter? Where are you?" shouted Sirius.

Before he could react quickly enough, the door to the Room of Requirements closed with a loud bang and Sirius definitely heard a key turning in its lock. Sirius cursed at his stupidity. Snape probably set this thing all up! And being a moppy git, you walked right into it, Padfoot. You are a fool!

Sirius knew it was useless but still he tried to force the door open with several incantations, and then by ramming his body against the door and shouting at the Room to let him free, but on each occasion only a ghostly silence answered.

There was only one thing to do. "Can I please have some chocolate frogs and pumpkin juice?" he asked the room politely.

"You know Zelda, it is really nice of you to stay behind with me, especially on Valentine's Day," said Raine, smiling at her friend.

"Not a problem," answered Zelda as they walked to the owlery to send Raine's letter. "It's not like I had a hot date or anything and really I didn't want to have Daine Blossom pointing out how I am so dateless again this year."

"Well, still I think I would been pretty lonely in the common room by myself," stated Raine as they continued up the spiral staircase to the open tower.

"From what I heard, said Zel slyly, "I don't think you would be so alone as you think. Sirius isn't going to Hogsmeade either, as he is seemingly still pinning after a certain someone."

Raine blushed. "He's forgotten over me, Zelda. I saw him flirting with a seventh year - dark hair, Hufflepuff. Not so heartbroken, from what I see."

"Jealous?" queried the purple-eyed girl.

"No," said Raine, a little too quickly, so that even she could tell it was an outright lie.

They had reached the tower and Raine began coaxing one of the school owls to deliver this letter to her brother. It wasn't a happy reply to his demands, but it was firm in its answer. Raine would not leave her mum and would not change her name back to their father's. She had a new family and asked her brother to respect her decision. The last couple of letters were beginning to frighten her a little. Theo has not tried to hide his dislike for mud-bloods and his support for Voldemort's actions. She felt herself being drowned in quick sand with no one able to pull her out.

She was scared and apprehensive at telling Zelda her problems concerning her brother. What if Zel wanted to distance herself from Raine if she revealed that her brother was a Death Eater and probably a murder? Raine couldn't handle the isolation as well as the continual taunts that she suffered from Sara. Then out of the blue Sirius popped into her head.

"He already knows and he said that he would protect you from anything," said the voiceinside her mind.

"Yes, that was before I told him that he acted like a Death Eater."

"But he's always loyal to the people he loves," argued the voice

"But does he love me?" Raine mused on this for a while as she tied the message to a brown owl and watched it fly into the think clouds. In silence the girls turned and started their journey downwards to the library where Zel was showing Raine a few difficult moves of the wand for transfiguration. However before long Zelda was speaking again in her chirpy way.

"I know for a fact that that girl is actually Remus' date. Sirius was doing him a favour by asking her out for Moony. You know how shy Remus is, and anyway Sirius already dated her, in fifth year I think."

"How do you know this?" Raine was intrigued by the information.

"Sirius told me over our DADA assignment together. We've been friends for years."

"What!" Raine fought to keep her voice under control. "You never told me that."

"You never asked," replied Zelda calmly, "and anyway I didn't think you would be interested in hearing how miserable he's been since your parting. In fact it's quite depressing."

"Have…have you been talking to him about…about what we have discussed," enquired Raine. She couldn't believe that Zelda hadn't informed her of her friendship with Black. Did Sirius set her up to become my friend and then persuade me to...to…I don't know!"

"No," said Zelda solemnly, "I wouldn't do that. We're friends… and Sirius would never stoop that low. I became your friend cause Sirius informed me about your friend Sara. And if anyone knows about how backstabbing your best friend can get its me. Daine Blossom was my buddy since I was born, but now we can't hold a civilised conversation usually because I feel like cursing her into infinity."

Raine chuckled as she imaged the scene. It would be close to the one that Sara and she had had in front of the whole school. Instead of carrying on down the stairs, Zel turned round and started walking backwards and forwards, muttering to herself.

"Are you ok?" questioned Raine.

"Yep, just looking for my one of my earrings. I must've lost it on the ground."

Raine stepped forward and stooped to get a better look on the floor. Something was niggling itself in the back of her mind. "You don't wear earrings. You don't even have your ears pierced."

Raine stood up to see a wicked smile on Zelda's smile. "My gran said I was the worst liar." Zelda pushed Raine through a doorway which Raine was positive that hadn't been there before. "You know Raine everyone wants a tall, dark, handsome man to sweep them off their feet. But your's seems to be begging for your attention."

Raine started to argue over the absurdity of the statement, however Zelda continued.

"You're especially lucky because he's falling in love with you."

With a final push towards the door, Raine closed her eyes waiting for impact on either the door or the floor, but she was suspended by strong arms gripping her waist and shoulders.

"Thank god for some company. I thought I would go crazy listening to myself, " a deep voice laughed.

Raine knew that certain timber of sound. It was from the man who pestered her in her dreams and where her mind always wandered to when thinking.

"Raine?" said Sirius surprised. "I thought…I thought…"

"What?" asked Raine. "One of your many girlfriends coming to say hello?" Her hand flew to her mouth clamping it shut before it became obvious that she was a tad jealous of other girls swarming over him every day.

Still trapping her between his arms, Sirius took in the feel of Raine's body so close to his. Her mouth was mere inches from his, but that was blocked by her hand. She smelled wonderful as always. Vanilla. He breathed in deeply trying to forget that he should let her go, and her outburst caught him off guard. Was this jealously that I'm hearing?

He smirked down at her, a bit of the old dog returning to his features only to highlight how absolutely handsome he was. His laugh showed off his smile while his hair fell forward into his eyes, making Raine want to reach out and brush it behind his ears.

Great Raine. Next time why don't you hand him a plate with a cake iced "I LOVE YOU" on it - that would be subtler! But you will not give in… don't look into his eyes…don't….don't look into his goddamn black eyes that makes you want to do anything he asks. Look down at the floor…the floor is interesting….look at FLOOR!

"Envious, Raine?"

"No," she struggled against his arms, finally he released her, making her stumble backward onto the couch. She was thankful for a soft landing. Sirius moved himself to sit across from her on a cushioned chair and begun his relentless staring. The tension grew as Raine found herself being watched and tried everything to combat the eerie feeling growing in her stomach. She fiddle with her clothes, which happened to be her jeans and a old jumper, wishing that she spent a little longer thinking of what to wear, she then allowed her hair to be released from the clasp so that she could block out the emotional charged eyes across from her. She wiggled her body into the folds of the couch but she couldn't find any comfort. By the end of what seemed eternity but was three minutes, Raine stood up and paced the room.

He knew that she was uncomfortable with him, but he didn't know how to proceed. If it were any other girl he would say a witty sexual remark and the girl would flutter her and then jump upon him. Raine, he gauged, could either blow hot or cold and a very angry Raine was not what he wanted, so he sat and watched and wished until he could figure a Marauder's way out.

"Have you tried opening the door?" queried Raine, her mouth gone very dry at this moment. Sirius did not answer but stared at her with a look said 'come off it, of course, I did.' "Silly me that would be the first thing anyone would do. I will kill Zelda for this."

"Who?"

"Zelda MacGregor," said Raine. "I believe she's a friend of yours."

"Zelda put you up to this." inside Sirius' mind it dawned on him. Didn't Zel warn you that she would do it alone? I must congratulate her. Thank you, thank you!

"Yes, you think I would stumble into any old room that I didn't know existed?" snapped Raine.

"Now, now Raine don't lose your head. We will be in here for a while," smirked Sirius. "Is there anything you would like to do to occupy the time?" He leaned back into the chair, crossing his arms over his chest while his eyebrows suggesting what he really wanted.

Involuntarily Raine blushed. She hated how it crept up her neck to her cheeks. "Umm… lets…lets…."

"Yes?"

"Duel," Raine popped out with, "Yeah duelling would be good because I have to practise for DADA test coming up." What are you thinking off! Duel! Duelling with one of the most intelligent person in the year who regularly goes around cursing Snape and any Sytherin! Raine Jenkins you are insane, when you get out of here you will go to St. Mungo's!

Sirius' face broke out into a huge grin. He was going to have some fun. "Ok then let's see what you can do."

Raine gulped some air into her lungs. Great he wasn't even going to help her out of her own grave. Raine nodded in defeat and started to head to one end of the room. She was slightly frightened with Sirius' large smile on his face.

"After ten," shouted Sirius from the other side. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven eight, nine, TEN! Impedimentus!"

Raine was scared out of her mind but she ducked luckily and survived. She pointed her wand and shouted "Exspelliarmus!"

Sirius blocked it by bringing up a safely shield. He sent another one which hit Raine squarely in the stomach making her giggle uncontrollably on the floor. Letting the shield drop, he made a move towards her to lift the spell as she tried to scramble to her feet.

Standing to see Black venturing here Raine sent another spell at him. This time he dived behind the couch for safety and when he pocked his head over the top, Raine started to giggle even louder at his dishevelled appearance.

Again he made his moved towards Raine but she had the sense to move backwards allowing her to gain some room to use her wand. But her wand was now on the floor since she dropped it to laugh. Unknown to her she had cornered herself in the room and was defenceless. Though through her hysterics it was hard to notice.

Her first idea that she has lost it was when she noted a pair of feet entering her line of vision. She sobered up slightly and looks up to stare right into those dark eyes which were full of loving laughter and a bit of arrogance.

"I won," he said simply. Raine rolled her eyes in response. "Now," he took a step closer so their bodies were barely touching, "I collect my reward."

Raine face and eyes were confused at the request. I hope he isn't going to turn me into a ferret! I hate ferrets. What about a butterfly…

Her thoughts stopped.

Sirius gently kissed Raine on her soft lips, taking delight in their sweet taste. He brought his arms around her waist with one hand resting against her back pushing her body into his. Raine's mind was a swirl of emotions. She stiffened as he continued to kiss her face and neck with feather kisses but soon relaxed.

For once I'm going to do the thing that I want, declared Raine inside herself. Slowly unsure if she was being to forward, Raine slid her hands up onto Sirius, well-muscled chest, around his neck and into his silky hair.

Sirius groaned at the movement which made him deepen the kiss, catching her bottom lip and tugging softly onto it. He unceremoniously pushed them against the wall. For the first time in his life Sirius could feel fireworks going off in his head.