Yeah, yeah... I know. WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG!

Chapter 9- Gerry's Temper

The rest of the week dragged by slowly for Sirius. He wasn't sure if Friday would ever come. Everyday, Beth ignored him in every class and in the halls, save for a wink in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Once, during lunch, while Beth ran into the bathroom, Sirius noticed Gerry standing by himself, playing with something in his bag. As soon as he was sure that Beth wasn't listening, Sirius approached Gerry.

"Hello, Gerry." He said, leaning against a wall near the older boy.

"… Um…" Gerry stuffed whatever he was toying with in his bag, and closed the pack quickly. "Afternoon, Sirius." The two boys stood in silence for a minute and then Gerry cleared his throat. "Did you need something?"

"Well, Gerry…" Sirius said, turning his body toward him, and holding a hand out in a business-like manor. "I was just wondering if you and Beth were, as I have heard, a serious couple."

Gerry looked a little frightened by the bluntness of the question, and then he cleared his throat and fixed his shirt. "Why, yes, Black. I have been seeing Elizabeth for nearly a year now."

"Hmmm… is that so?"

Gerry looked as if he was getting annoyed now. "Yes, that is so. Do you have a point, Black?"

"Oh… well yes… I do…"

All of the sudden, Sirius found himself pinned against the wall. He was unsure how it had happened, but it seemed that Gerry had gotten him against the wall, and was no holding him there, with a strength that seemed beyond the boy.

"Listen, you overly pompous little slug." Gerry hissed into Sirius' ear. "I can't stand pigs like you trying to tell my girl that I'm not good enough. You asses know nothing about me."

Sirius was close to laughing, and yet some flame behind Gerry's eye was holding him back. Sirius had never seen this kind of reaction from Gerry. "You hear me, Black? You come near Liz again, and you may find yourself in a load of trouble that you never expected."

Gerry let go of him, and walked over to the bathroom, just in time for Beth to walk out. He put his arm around her waist, and they started off.

Beth turned back, and seeing Sirius standing there, looking rather confused and extremely angry, she gave him a look that said, "What happened?"