"All love that has not friendship for its base, is like a mansion built upon sand" - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Chapter 2: Friends

"First quidditch game is tomorrow." Faith said as she and Severus began to pack up their things after an afternoon of studying.

"Yeah. Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw." Severus added.

"Are you going to come?" Faith asked. Severus's mouth went dry. He always went, but why would she ask him if he was going?

"I always come." He muttered looking down at his feet. 'If only my heart would stop pounding for ten seconds, maybe I could think of something intelligent to say to her. Damn my heart!'

"You do?" Faith asked with her smile.

"Yeah I can only hope that Potter gets smacked with a bludger." Severus put in coolly as they left the library. Faith laughed and remarked

"I'll see if I can make it happen. I've been wishing for the same thing all year. His head's gotten quite big when it comes to quidditch. He thinks he's the best 5th year chaser to ever come to school."

"Are you sure he doesn't think he's the best chaser ever to walk the Earth?" Severus added sarcastically. Faith smiled and replied

"Yeah I'm sure he thinks that too."

"Ready for the school year?" McGonagall asked Severus as he sat at the teacher's table for breakfast.

"More or less." He responded.

"This looks like it will be an…interesting year." She said as a copy if the Daily Prophet fell onto the table. The headline blared "VOLDEMORT AT LARGE!"

"Just like every year." He replied flatly as the students began to swarm into the Great Hall

"No..I think this year will be truly special." She said with a smile as Faith Sloom came and sat down at the table.

"Your going to need to pick partners for this." Professor McGonagall said standing at the front of a 4th year class.

"You and your partner will practice the Binding Spell." She said writing the incantation on a blackboard that already said Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"I don't know if letting you pick your own partners would be a smart idea though…" McGonagall said trailing off. James Potter was already making eyes at Lily Evans. Lily gave a pleading look to her friend, Faith Sloom. Faith shot a venomous look at James and Sirius Black, who sat behind James, flashed Faith a wink. Faith rolled her eyes and turned around to stare towards the front of the classroom.

"Yes…I am thinking that I will pick your partners." McGonagall said thinking of the many disasters if they picked their own.

"James Potter and Frank Longbottom." She said. James and Frank wouldn't cause much trouble.

"Sirius Black and Henry Juvick." And so she went on, pairing people with others that they wouldn't kill, annoy, or talk to.

"Thank God I didn't get Potter." Lily muttered to Faith as they got up to join with their partners.

"Minerva isn't stupid she knows not to pair you two together."

"Miss Sloom! I will kindly remind you that you are to call me Professor McGonagall." McGonagall snapped when she heard Faith call her by her first name.

"Righto." Faith said with a smile.

"Hey partner." Faith said jumping onto Severus's desk. Severus looked up from the book he was reading.

"Miss Sloom! Do you want another weeks worth of detention. Desks are not for sitting on." McGonagall scolded. Faith quickly jumped off the desk and gave McGonagall an innocent look.

The class began to practice the binding spell. Professor McGonagall walked along and inspected the pairs. When she was done inspecting Severus and Faith, Faith immediately pocketed her wand.

"Better keep a close watch on her. Don't want to have her catch us slacking off." Faith whispered as McGonagall went over to help a girl with raven black hair and stunning blue eyes.

"Shes never caught anyone except Potter and Black." Severus put in as he leaned back against the wall.

"Beautiful flying you did on Saturday." A voice said as an arm came and found it's way around Faith's shoulders.

"What do you want Sirius?" Faith inquired.

"Only to take the most beautiful girl in the world to Hogsmede this weekend." He said coyly with a smile.

"Is that right?" Faith muttered turning her head away from him.

"So how about it? Go to Hogsmede with me?" He asked. Faith turned and smiled a fake smile at him

"I can't I have to wash my hair. Lather rinse repeat." She commented in a fake overly happy voice. He seemed to get the point that she was making fun of him.

"Mr. Black! Stop conversing with Miss Sloom and get back with your partner." Professor McGonagall snapped.

"When will he learn?" Faith said shaking her head.

"He is Sirius Black…so probably never." Severus put in crossing his arms across his chest.

"When will the men of the world learn that the cheese ball stuff doesn't work?" She questioned to no one in particular.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, like Sirius's little line, 'Only to take the most beautiful girl in the world to Hogsmede this weekend' I mean please. A girl likes to hear that she's pretty and what not but not every ten seconds of her life. And I have heard Sirius use that line on plenty of girls. A girl doesn't want to be romanced all the time. She wants a smartass guy sometimes. A guy she can have an intelligent conversation without him giving her some cheesy line to try and get into her bed. A guy she can have fun with. Those sappy romance moments are good…but only used very sparingly. Not all the time like most guys think. That's not what girls like and I wish the male species would recognize it." Faith said putting her hands on her hips and then collecting her things as the bell ran.

Severus gathered his things and thought about what Faith had said. He wondered how he could use that to his advantage.

Severus sat in the teacher's library after all his classes that day. He had been fortunate and only had two classes to teach while most of the other teachers had four.

"How is Potions?" a voice questioned. Severus looked up from the book he was reading, and watched as Faith took the seat next to him. He could feel his mouth go dry as he answered, "Fine,"

"No one blew anything up I hope," she commented with her charming smile playing on her face.

"Well," Severus replied closing his book, "It was all first years, so I don't usually let them near the cauldrons. They're might clumsy,"

"As were we all," she laughed. She looked around the empty library and then stood up. "I'm going for a walk, would you like to come? We could catch up on old times," she offered. Severus could feel his heart stop. He would love nothing more than to go any where with Faith.

"S-s-sure," he stuttered. He could feel his heart trying to beat its way out of his chest as he folded up his book and went to follow Faith.

Faith smiled as the left the library, "So tell me, how much did everyone miss me? It must have been a lot. I'm a pretty memorable person," she joked.

"Wait," Severus put in, thinking of something witty to say, "You were gone?"

"Oh very funny, Well, fine then. How much did you miss me?" she teased with her bright smile. Severus could feel chills run up and down his spine. 'Hmm..well let me think about that, I've missed you more than anyone could even imagine.'

"Nahh...didn't even notice,"

"Ouch...that hurts," she commented jokingly.

"The truth does sometimes,"

"Oh Severus you crack me up," Faith laughed as she bumped into Severus twining her arm in with his. "Makes me glad to have you as my friend,"