Disclaimer; I don't own Hp.

Claimer; I officially own Kerkera she is mine! All mine! You may only use her if I have said you can! And please credit her as mine if you're using her!

Chapter 5; A little flickering flame.

James was too shocked to do much more than stay quiet. Kerkera, Sirius and Remus guessed that something had happened between Lily and James because not only had Lily returned home and stormed straight to her room, but also James had returned looking lost and having forgotten the floor cleaner. Kerkera had had to go to the shop herself and get the stuff. James had stayed away form the kitchen and Lily never came back down, leaving the clean up to the others. Remus had had a headache and left for bed early at about quarter to seven. Yep, it had taken all day to tidy the damn kitchen. Now, at eight o'clock,it was down to Kerkera and Sirius to clean it and get dinner ready.

"There's no real reason to have to cook for them lot," sighed Sirius as he finished scrubbing a patch on the floor, "Seeing as they promised to help out and they didn't. Fancy that! It's Lily's fault that the kitchen's like this, and James obviously got her mad so it's his fault she's skipped out, you…" he looked up at Kerkera. She had stopped cleaning a cupboard and was bent over the counter. She seemed worn out, even though Sirius couldn't see her face.

"This'll take all night," she whispered, her elbows shaking from having to support her body,

"You don't have to do this," said Sirius gently, wrapping his arms around her and resting his head on her shoulder,

"I have to," she whispered, leaning against his face, "I wouldn't be earning my keep,"

"I want you to stay, don't worry about earning your keep. We should leave them to finish this tomorrow." Said Sirius, turning her around to face him.

"We can't," she sighed, sounding disappointed, "There will be rats, mould, damp, soot…it wouldn't be safe to eat here. And anyway…it's almost done."

The kitchen had been almost all black and soapy but now there were only a few medium patches to clean away.

"I…I'll do it all, you go to bed," sighed Kerkera turning away from him to scrub the counter, sounding close to tears through tiredness.

"Kerri?"

She shuddered, pushing her arm back and forth over the patch. Sirius stepped back to avoid her elbow when suddenly she collapsed.

"Kerkera!" shouted Sirius, picking her up at the shoulders and turning her to face him again. She had tears flowing down her cheeks, her dark hair covering her face. She shook as he held her.

"I'm sorry," she breathed into his neck. Sirius stroked her hair. It was dry at the ends because she didn't have enough money for a haircut. The poor girl.

"Stop," he whispered hugging her to him. "Why are you crying?"

"I…I promised mum…not to be sad." Sniffled Kerkera, resting against him, "That was the last thing she said I love you Kerri, don't be sad. I'm so glad to have had you. I watched her…Sirius. I watched her close her eyes. I heard her last breath. I saw the heart measure draw a flat line. But I tried not to cry. I hid it. I'm sorry,"

Sirius could feel his own heart breaking. She hid it? She didn't want to be sad; she hadn't mourned her mother's death…because she'd promised not to be sad. She had been left without a family, without anything…but she never cried. Sirius couldn't remember seeing her cry at school…after the news.

"Let it all out," he whispered, "You'll feel better, just tell me everything. I'll listen."

He practically carried her into the lounge and he hugged her against himself as she told him.

"I couldn't be sad…" she whispered, curling up against him, "I couldn't…for mum. But…I watched her die. No person could see that and not cry. She was all I had left. My dad died long ago and as family goes…she was an orphan. I lied when I said family would pick me up from the station, but I didn't want to trouble Lily. I guess I had hoped that someone…anyone, would have offered me a home. But no one came. That was when I wanted to cry…but I didn't. I couldn't. That had been the last thing mum had asked of me." She sighed shakily into Sirius' chest, then she continued, "I guess… I used to think about quitting school to work for money to keep me going. I knew that when the holidays would come I would have no money. I lied through my teeth to Lily. But then…I remembered. Mum had told me she'd never finished school. She had always wished that she had. She told me no matter what… she wanted me to finish school so that I could have a good chance at life. So I stayed… for her…I… I won't lose…I will finish school, get a job…a life…for her…and I won't stop…smiling," and with that Kerkera's body lost all strength as she fell asleep on Sirius' chest.

"Oh my…"

Sirius turned round slightly. Lily was standing in the doorway.

"Am I really…so blind?" she asked, sitting down next to Kerri's sleeping form.

"No," whispered Sirius, stroking Kerkera's hair again. "She just a good actress,"

"But…how comes she told you all that stuff?" asked Lily, looking lost, "am I bad friend? Doesn't she trust me?"

"She probably thought you had to much other stuff to worry about. She didn't want to add to the list of worries you already had. James, school work, James, boyfriends, James," he said, counting them on his fingers. Lily hit him, hard, on the arm.

"I have more to worry about than James Potter," she snapped,

"Then why did you storm off today, leaving us to do the work no less," he said, indicating towards Kerri.

"I am so sorry," whispered Lily, touching Kerri's arm, "But please let me explain,"

And she did. Sirius listened, staring at her, and by the time she'd finished his mouth was just hanging open.

"Oh my god," he said.

"I know," sighed Lily,

"James was rejected! Phahaha!" he laughed, pointing at Lily, "You…haha…slapped James! Phaha! Right after he…snogged you…senseless!"

"Hey!" she snapped, "Why are you thinking about that? I was nearly bloody killed! Stop thinking about James and his ego!"

"He's never…had that…done to him before," said Sirius, between breaths, "And he thought that you…were…the one,"

"Don't talk bullshit!" snorted Lily, "The one! Honestly! He has a different whore every other day! How can he believe in the one just for me?"

"He does." Said Sirius, who had finally calmed down, "Don't you?"

"I…," Lily stopped. Did she? She had never been in love before so…how could she know what real love felt like? "I…oh just drop it Sirius! I'm going to bed!" and she stormed out of the room.

"Well, if you don't know then why not just tell me?" he called, he knew she was standing in the hall, he could see her shadow, "Is it James? Are you scared to admit it?"

Then he saw her shadow move slowly up the stairs.

"Women," sighed Sirius leaning back in his seat and continuing to stroke Kerkera's hair. As he watched the flames in the fireplace he was already planning the next day's events.

A/n; Dun dun duuuuun! Ok, ok, a bit of a crappy cliffy but gimme a break! As promised I will mention everyone who has commented on the last chapter!

Forever Faith in Harry; Just wait and see! I promise that wasn't the last time you see Lucias!

Moony4Moony; Oooooh yeah! James is defiantly a hunk

The almighty and powerful M; Look! I've updated! Whoot! Uhha go Kerri! It's your birthday! Not for real real! Just for play play!

Thanks guys for making me feel so special and important! That feeling doesn't happen to me all the time! Just looking at these gr8 reviews just makes me wanna smile o/ Please keep them coming! I don't care if it's just the same people again! Please just tell me what you think! (especially about Kerri!) cos I wanna know!