A/N: Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling. I do own these words though.
rkom1147- thanks again for saying you like it, and I've just demonstrated my obsessive compulsiveness about all things marauderish...
Chapter 4
Sirius slowly padded through the village. It was a small, out of the way place. Peaceful in its own dullness. Just the sort of irony she would appreciate. He would have smiled had it not been for his doggy shape. This had been where she had lived all those years ago and inside he was sure she still did. Although a nagging voice in the back of his brain suggested it was just desperate hope that made him sure of that.
He had reached the end of the road when he saw her. The pain in his chest was so tight he couldn't move. She looked exactly the same. She hadn't changed from that last fleeting glimpse he'd had of her, walking away, all those years ago. She looked around, pulled her thin coat around her tighter and disappeared into her cottage.
Trotting up closer he got to the fence. Every fibre in his being was calling him to her. Telling him to risk it. To believe she was still the same person. The same woman he had loved and still loved so desperately.
With a nimble paw he pushed the catch of the gate open and trotted up the path. There he could sense her, smell her scent, a mixture of flowers and oranges. Sweet, seductive, misleading. Just like her.
He longed to touch her, feel her soft skin. Kiss her lips. He remembered the first time he had spoken to her. Really spoken to her. It had been down by the lake, just after the first snow before Christmas.
888
Sirius had just finally received the owl he'd been expecting for weeks.
There will be no need for you to return for Christmas.
Father
He stared at the words, not sure if he was angry, upset or relieved. What ever it was it stung. He took the family eagle owl up to the owlery and wrote a quick reply.
Was going to stay anyway.
Sirius
He knew it was petty and a little pathetic but it made him feel slightly better. James had offered for him to go and stay at the Potter's but Sirius had refused. For some reason he wanted some peace and quiet. Wanted some space, and there really wasn't any better place for that than Hogwarts at Christmas.
Wandering out into the grounds he didn't feel like going back to the common room to face the look on James' face. Concern. He was too concerned with his friend's problems. He took Remus' 'furry little problem' to heart, was always berating Peter to stand up for himself and he hated the way Sirius' family treated him.
Snow had fallen and the land looked peaceful and still. He was halfway down to the lake when he realised someone was already standing there, wrapped in a thick cloak.
He moved closer and caught a flash of white blonde hair and icicle eyes.
"Sorry, didn't mean to disturb you." He muttered, turning to leave. But she called him back.
"It's ok. Just being pathetic and wallowing in my own self pity. What's wrong?" He turned back and looked at her; her eyes had softened and appeared darker and warmer.
"Nothing." He muttered, but went and stood beside her anyway. Suddenly he didn't want to be alone. "Have to stay here for Christmas."
"Oh, is that all?" She smiled, seeing his look she shrugged. "It's same with me. Got the letter this morning. Mother and father are going to see my grandparents in Bulgaria, while my brother is staying with his lovely girlfriends' family. She's your cousin isn't she, Narcissa?"
"Yes. She's my adorable cousin. Her and her sweet sister Bellatrix are wonderful. Can't you go to Lily's?" He asked.
"A muggle born? Stay with Muggles?" She laughed, short and sharp. Sirius nodded, he had just realised how lucky he was that James family was almost entirely magical. "Yes, that would go down well with my parents. At least you get to get away from your family now and again with James." She said bitterly.
"Maybe if you stopped insisting they call you Lucy, they might feel more generous about your friends." He pointed out.
She laughed, "Yeah, you're a fine one to talk Black." The look on his face warned her she had touched a nerve. "Sorry. I know it's harder for you."
"I hate it there." He said with so much anger Lucretia stared at him. He shook his head. "I'll bet your father never used the cruciatus curse on you while your mother and brother watched laughing." He snapped.
Her eyes widened, he could read her expression perfectly. She'd known the Blacks were dark wizards but she'd never thought they'd mistreat and abuse one of their own. "They think I'm a disgrace to the ancient and noble house of Black family, as far as they're concerned I'm a waste of space muggle lover." He paused, half regretting his outburst of self pity. "A blood traitor."
She put her hand on his arm lightly. "But everyone else knows differently, don't they?" She murmured. He turned his head to look at her; they had never been this physically close. He looked into her eyes which were deep blue; the colour the colour of cornflowers, her hair hung around her face in soft golden blonde curls. She was beautiful. In a delicate way, a way which made him want to protect her from the hurt in her, for once, open face.
"Do they?" He murmured back.
"Yes." She nodded. "You may be an arrogant, stuck up, full of himself; spiteful git,"
"Thanks." Sirius nodded, his lips twitching.
"But you're our git. Your loyal, kind," she stopped "to a point and to whom you choose, and your brave." She added. "Plus, you're a great friend." She finished.
His eyes widened. "Are we friends?" He asked surprised, he'd always assumed she had hated his guts and only put up with him for Lily and James' sake.
She nodded. He sighed at her grinning. "I think I liked you better when you hated me."
She slapped him on the arm playfully. "Sirius, you should be proud that your family don't consider you a Black." His laugh was more like a bark.
"That's grand coming from a Malfoy." She blushed slightly and pulled her hand away. He wished she hadn't, he got tingles every time she touched him.
Turning she began to walk back to the castle. Giving himself a mental shake he followed.
And from then on he did feel her cool lips on his when he kissed other girls. And when they looked up at him adoringly, he only saw bright blue eyes the colour of cornflowers.
