A/N: Just to remind you guys, in case you can't remember what is written in chapter 5, Rainzzi is very close to Neville as she is sympathetic to the similar mishap that Alice and Frank Longbottom suffer.

Chapter 11

Rainzzi was working in her cubicle when a round of wolf-whistles and cat-calls broke out in the Auror Department. She looked up irritatedly and soon understood what the fuss was about. Tonks was walking in…with a bunch of flowers in her arms. A gorgeously decorated bunch of lavender and white roses so gigantic that she could hardly see where she was heading.

"Hey, Tonks," Williamson called from his cubicle, "Who is so fortunate to be infatuated with you?"

Rainzzi sniggered and chimed in, "Yea, is it from an admirer?"

"How do I know if you don't?" Tonks answered, smirking back. Rainzzi looked at her in puzzlement and focused on her project again, shrugging, but she was prevented from doing so when Tonks lay the flowers, practically occupying the whole of her desk.

"What are –?"

"This is for you, Rainzzi," Tonks whispered in a suggestive tone, then winked at her confidentially, "Sirius sent it."

Rainzzi could feel all the colours drained away from her face.

Dear Rainzzi,

Hey, there. You didn't come to the Order meeting again yesterday, what is it this time, Delanuit? Another voluntary Azkaban interrogation, huh?

Anyway, there's something I have got to ask you. It's Harry's birthday today. Remus and I are going to organize a birthday party for him. Do you think you can make it at 7:00 p.m. at my place?

Love, Sirius

Black,

Familial commitment.
-No can do. I promised to have dinner with the Longbottoms.

R.D.

Rainzzi was gazing into space, with a little smile tugging unconsciously on the corner of her mouth.

Although it had just been two weeks since they had met in the Leaky Cauldron, there couldn't be more alterations between them. As a start, Sirius had started sending her letters on a regular basis (with a little exception when Sirius learnt that Rainzzi had volunteered for an Azkaban visit and was infuriated) and she would occasionally reply them, depending on her current mood. They talked little when they met each other face-to-face in meetings, but always with special importance and significance. For them, it was a big advancement, but members of the Order had yet to discover it.

In fact, surreptitiously Rainzzi had half expected Sirius would insist that she should come to Harry's birthday party, but he didn't even make a reply. It's not like you mind, woman, Rainzzi reminded herself idly.

She was currently seated in the crowded kitchen of the Longbottom's house where all the other attendants were either Neville's friends or relations. She wouldn't have even come if Neville hadn't invited her personally, as one could guess that a dinner with the Longbottom family, however informal it might be, wouldn't be enjoyable; Neville's relatives are all staggering blows, serene and serious. And among the Longbottoms, Algie and Enid, Neville's great uncle and great aunt, looked the most acrimonious. There was a reason or two why Neville was afraid of them so deeply, Rainzzi concluded as they continued their monotonous lecture, commenting on how bad their great nephew was doing at school.

"When will the O.W.L.s results arrive, Nev?" Uncle Algie was asking, through his mouthful of mashed potato.

Rainzzi could feel Neville, who was sitting besides her, tensed and stiffened up. He nearly dropped his fork and knife on the table. "In early August…I think…"

"Wish the day will never come, huh?" Aunt Enid suggested harshly, making a laugh that was only joined by her husband. Mrs. Longbottom looked at them sharply, silencing them with a stern think-before-you-speak look. But she didn't do anything to redeem her grandson. Rainzzi felt a surge of outrage on Neville's behalf.

"I am sure Neville has done very well in the O.W.L.s," Rainzzi chimed in, nodding her head appreciatively with a kind smile at Neville who then reddened slightly, "He has been doing consistently better last year. And I won't be surprised if he gets an 'O' in Herbology."

Algie and Enid interchanged a doubtful glance but they decided to leave the topic mercifully at that since it was Neville's birthday afterall.

"Don't worry, Neville. I am sure you did very well in Herbology and I know you've tried your best in all other subjects," Rainzzi added to Neville in a small voice, as he looked deflated by nervousness.

Neville shook his head miserably, "I've always flunked in Potions. And Snape assured me I'll never make it to N.E.W.T. level."

Rainzzi took a glimpse at him, feeling sympathetic and laden. She knew that the only reason he was so fascinated by becoming a healer was that he wanted to invent a cure for his parents one day. But unfortunately such a job required good grades in both Herbology and Potions, that's why he had been so mindful of the Potions grades although he hated the master so much.

Rainzzi wanted to say something to retrieve his self-esteem and confidence, but she found no opportunity as the dinner was interrupted by an unexpected knock on the door. Everybody turned to look at it curiously, it wasn't everyday that they got a nighttime visitant. One of Neville's cousins had gestured to open the door and the chemistry of the party changed immediately as the shadowed figure stepped into the light.

It was Sirius Black. He seemed to have the habit of walking into others uninvited and enjoy the way his arrival surprised everyone.

Mrs. Longbottom stood up and strode quickly to meet her guest. "It's my pleasure to have you here, Sirius." She held out her hand which Sirius shook.

"The pleasure is mine," said Sirius courteously as the old lady led him into the kitchen, much to the fright of every other Longbottom. Neville's cousin receded quickly as Sirius bypassed her, but Rainzzi couldn't help noticing the little girl had put on an admiring look after she dared a second look at him.

"Happy birthday, Neville," Sirius said pleasantly as he drew nearer to the dining table. His face was dignified and majestic, but the way his eyes searched over the table betrayed the fact that he didn't even know who Neville was. Rainzzi jerked her head to her right meaningfully. Having caught her hint, Sirius casually handed Neville a beautifully wrapped gift.

"Thank…thanks," mumbled Neville, staring perplexedly at the ex-convict. He received his gift very cautiously

"Please take a seat, Sirius," Mrs. Longbottom requested politely.

"In fact…" Sirius hesitated, appearing to be thinking hard. However, Rainzzi could swear she had captured an eclipse of a wink in his face, and she soon understood the meaning behind. "I am supposed to be on a date with Rainzzi tonight."

Following his answer was a gawking speechlessness as Rainzzi stared at him in bizarre fury, as if trying to telegraph 'What the hell are you talking about?' All the Longbottoms looked back and forth from Sirius and Rainzzi and exchanged inquiring glances among themselves. But Mrs. Longbottom nodded with a knowing smile.

"Sirius you have a luxurious sense of humor," Rainzzi said urgently, ready to vindicate; nonetheless she didn't seem to have convinced anyone. Sirius stared at her as if she was the one being absurd.

"Do you think you can excuse us, Mrs. Longbottom?" he turned to the aged hostess, his voice deep yet mischievous.

"Sure."

As Rainzzi glanced around, she found that everyone was staring at her like they were anticipating her departure in no time; Sirius shot her a victorious grin secretly as he pulled her up from her seat. Rainzzi had no choice but to leave. She bid the Longbottoms an enjoyable night and departed with Sirius into the black of night.

"So," Sirius broke the ice when they were both outsides; he then realized that he was still holding her arm. The feel of her skin underneath his fingers was intoxicating. He didn't ever want to let go…and she didn't swung his hand off immediately like he half dreaded, but Rainzzi gave him a discontented pout.

"Just because it's your godson's birthday party doesn't mean that you can force me anywhere you wish. And it is also Neville's birthday, whom I treat more or less like my little brother while I am not really acquainted with Harry. And –" she glared at him. "A date, honestly! You could have made some better excuses."

"I happen to like the sound of it," replied Sirius, his index finger drawing random maps on her arm. He peeked at her from the corners of his eyes, but he spoke with a cool voice, "Like the flowers I sent you today?"

Rainzzi looked up at him, she had an expression of someone being caught offhanded. She looked away when he met his eyes, "I don't like flowers."

Sirius sniffed besides her, "Yes? But you smell of lavender."

"Perfume," Rainzzi muttered and shifted uncomfortably, "Anyway, how are we going?"

"Where?" Sirius raised his brows heedlessly, as if he had no idea whatsoever of what she was talking about. If Rainzzi didn't know better, she would have been fooled that he was genuinely intending to take her out on a one-on-one date.

"To your home," said Rainzzi, her temper a little instigated by his impudence that she swept Sirius' hand off hers.

"Uh-yes, my home of course," Sirius said, somehow deflated. "We are going on foot."

"What?"

"It is in a muggle-inherited area, you can't apparate there, can you?" Sirius analyzed slowly, "And I don't fancy traveling by the Knight Bus. Besides, it takes longer to walk."

Rainzzi shrugged, her annoyance was quickly replaced by pure amusement.

"Come on," said Sirius carelessly, tugging on her sleeve to direct her to the adjacent street.

Once or twice in the journey, Sirius' hand brushed against hers, but her hand remained in place very comfortably. In fact, Rainzzi had kind of kept swinging her hands obliviously on purpose and sweeping pass his.

Rainzzi peered at Sirius under her long lashes from time to time, thinking how preposterous it was that things were always turned upside down when one least expected it.

Before Sirius had intruded into her life again, she had been convinced that she would never need a romantic relationship to make her life a complete success. Even when she stayed close with Remus, she regarded it as an enhancer instead of an essence. But in these previous weeks, she found herself doing a lot more nonsense musing. She would just stare at the flowers with her chin on her palms and daydream, about nothing in particular. But it alarmed her that the last time she mused, she actually imagined what might have happened to Sirius and her if only he had been given the justice he deserved and that she had not been ambushed.

Zany, wasn't it? Rainzzi demanded to herself resentfully. She had sworn just the other day that she would never fall for him, but there she was, feeling a bit exhilarated at the sight of him. And she suspected…if he hadn't been her ex-fiancé already and that she hadn't always claimed so outspokenly that she would never reunite with him, she might have surrendered to him for long.

Rainzzi peeked at him more boldly, in search for an answer for the abrupt changes in her attitude towards him. No doubt he was hypnotizing and exquisitely good-looking, but she was sure it was more than meeting the eyes.

Instead, she thought the sudden changes might be attributed to his heedlessness, his eloquence, his arrogance and the reticence when he felt like it. Not that those qualities were good things, but she found herself adoring the explicitness in his character, since it was approximately something she lacked.

"We're nearly there," Sirius' voice brought her back from her silent musings. Rainzzi looked at the surrounding very curiously; the street where Sirius' house was located at looked friendly enough. It was a muggle-inherited area where everything looked quiet and peaceful, and standing in a territory like this would probably make one forget the forthcoming of the presumable decade of wars and destructiveness in another world.

Rainzzi walked side by side with Sirius into the pathway that led to his house, she glanced still more nosily around. A luxurious car was pulling up in the next neighbourhood; there came a tall and bony woman and a gigantic and neckless man, closely followed by an equally tremendous boy in his late adolescence. The woman was the first to have caught Rainzzi staring at them. She gawked at her for a moment, appearing terrified. As soon as she had recovered, she turned her back to Rainzzi, shifting ever so slightly to block her family's access to Rainzzi and ushered them insides.

"The Dursleys are Harry's only relations alive," Sirius explained. "Vernon still doesn't know we are living just next door."

"Hmm," Rainzzi nodded nonchalantly, politely making a small response to indicate that she was listening. She didn't realize he had come to a halt until Sirius slipped his arms around the crook of her waist. He pulled her close, obliging her to stop alongside her outsides the door.

"Rainzzi, do you fancy a real date or do you really want to attend Harry's birthday party?" Sirius asked casually, but there was perceptible an undeniable amount of expectations.

Rainzzi crooked her eyebrows in mild surprise, "You can't possibly be absent on Harry's big day, can you?"

Sirius ran a hand over his face then grinned shamefully. "Harry can wait. And he has a birthday every year," Sirius shrugged flippantly, giving her a lop-sided smile that had more of an effect on her than he could beg for.

"And you said you're a responsible godfather…" commented Rainzzi mockingly, feeling lighthearted as Sirius stared intently at her.

"I am a lovable fiancé," Sirius leaned down a bit and whispered in Rainzzi's ear, his hair tickling her cheek. Rainzzi had a mad urge to look at him thoroughly, she wanted to hunt in his face some trace of jokiness, but she repressed it.

"Whatever. Are we going in or something?" Rainzzi hissed with more ostensible vexation than she had intended and looked away uncomfortably.

"Just another moment," Sirius clasped the doorknob firmly, and turned to face her directly."Rainzzi, do you know how long I have waited?"

She wasn't a dumb woman, and she found no reason for pretence here. "Just one month at most."

"Are you kidding?" said Sirius incredulously, "I've waited for like forever."

"Have you?" Rainzzi said mildly, "Perhaps that's the problem, we're holding on to two very different verions of our acquaintance."

Sirius sighed in a bid to calm down but he failed to swallow down his desperation. "I don't care. You promised you will give me a chance if I start chasing you out again. But you've been consciously resisting me. You can't keep denying me like that!"

Rainzzi stayed in her muteness.

"You like the flowers but you deny it. You enjoy dinner with me, I could tell, but you reject the next invitation." Sirius slid his hand onto the back of her neck firmly and looked at her with pleading eyes. "Please… just let it be and see what happens…"

Rainzziglanced over at Vernon Dursley's car as though absentmindedly. "I have been unaware of my inconsistency in behaviour until just now…" she said slowly, a bit perplexed. "Maybe I should have given you more justice."

"Yes, you should."

"Okay, I will try." Rainzzi finally locked her eyes with his, a bemused and unsure smile on her face, but the expression was softened and delicate. "But no promise made," she added hastily. "So, can we go in now?"

"Of course," Sirius said, turning on the doorknob.

At the second he turned his back to her, the feeling of bemusement and uncertainty immediately engulfed Rainzzi again. She didn't know whether the decision she had just made was right or not. But as she walked into the Lyttelton Mansion on Sirius' tail into the welcoming arms of their fellow Order members, she couldn't help justifying what Sirius had once said, as sardonically she found herself enjoying the cheerful atmosphere and the company of the crowd, although she had always thought she hated parties. Maybe she really didn't know herself as thoroughly as she had thought. Plus, she was starting to believe in the existence of miracles.

……………………

Rainzzi looked over her shoulder; Sirius was too busy helping Harry to unpack the birthday gifts to notice her disappearance. With a little hesitation, she stepped into the backyard of the Mansion gingerly. There, sitting on the dry grass, was a figure she was only too familiar of. He was not facing her, but one could guess that he was part musing and part gazing unseeingly into space.

Rainzzi approached him cautiously, all the while thinking of something interesting to break the ice. However, all she could manage was, "Remus…" She laid her hand comfortably on his shoulder, passionately willed him to turn over and meet her glance.

"Rainzzi," Remus acknowledged, but he didn't swivel around. Rainzzi grasped the goblet more steadily in her hands and settled down besides him. She handed him the Firewhisky which he instantly took. "Beautiful night, huh?" he said conversationally, sipping all of the Firewhisky in one gulp.

"Yea…" Rainzzi nodded flatteringly, budging slightly to seek a more comfortable posture. "Remus, what've you been doing out here?" she added a second later.

Remus turned finally and stared at her. As the warm moonlight shone on his dirty blond hair, a few strands of grey were revealed and somehow the lines on his forehead seemed to be more announced than ever. "Thinking," he turned back to face the satiating moon.

"Of what?" Rainzzi asked softly. Part of her was curious, but another part of her wished that she hadn't asked, as she was not sure if she liked where the conversation was leading to.

"Of the future," replied Remus, his voice earnest yet sober. Color was already rising in his cheek, as a result of the consumption of alcohol. "Rainzzi, have you ever thought about the future?"

"Well, it isn't like I have a variety of choices, is it? I would have nothing to think of besides the future," Rainzzi said, trying her best to keep the irony away from her tone. "Because I am dissatisfied with the present."

"So what do you see?"

"You know what I want to be, Remus. Don't lure me to say it again, it's too embarrassing."

"You still want to be the head of the Auror Department?"

"It's my ultimate goal," Rainzzi said dreamily, her voice suddenly passionate.

"And you desire for nothing other than that in the future?"

"I am not a greedy person."

"What about your love life?" Remus faced her directly again, but his intense stare lasted much longer this time. To be exact, it had never left her face.

"I am not interested in it," Rainzzi hissed self-consciously and couldn't help blushing a bit.

"Think of it now," Remus prompted. "Or else you may end up marrying Brice Fudge."

"Ha-ha! As if!" Rainzzi made a sarcastic laugh at Remus' off-color joke, and insuppressibly threw him a very dirty look. "I can assure you that it would never happen. It's not like Brice will marry me while he can enjoy his eventful bachelor life eternally."

"So…" Remus began hesitantly. He knew he was on dangerous ground, but now that he'd started, he couldn't stop everything pouring out. "What about us? Have you spared any thought about us lately?" He squinted tautly at Rainzzi, eager for an answer. But all he got was an annoyed frown.

"It's a bit off the topic," replied Rainzzi unwillingly.

"It's not." Remus could see her face hardened, as though she didn't know how to package her response.

"You walked out 2 years ago when things might have brightened up," Rainzzi whispered eventually, her expression impenetrable.

"And you didn't protest for once."

"Why should I?" Rainzzi shot Remus a very sharp look, her lips wobbling as if it's taking all her strength to restrain her anger from demonstrating. "You're the one who took the initiative. I didn't understand it at that time, as you didn't seem to be exhausted of me yet. But come to think of it now, Remus, I think I comprehend it." She paused unnecessarily for a few more seconds before she carried on. "You so totally bawled me out all of a sudden. It's all because you have reunited with Sirius, and you were afraid that our being close would offend Sirius. It's clear that you've valued Sirius more than me; why do you have to complain now?"

"Rainzzi…" Remus mumbled sadly, recalling the memory seemed to be extremely painful for him. He leaned closer, and looked at Rainzzi pitiably. All at once, her heart softened and she regretted; she shouldn't have been so harsh. "I didn't just walk out. Yes, my reconciliation with Sirius affected me. I used to hate him. He was no friend of mine, and I never felt guilty falling for you. But that night in the Shrieking Shack changed everything. I knew I can't have it all, you and Sirius. I wanted to know in case Sirius got indignant at me, was it worth it, because I was not going to risk Sirius' friendship for some silly lousiness."

"It wasn't 'some silly lousiness'."

Remus held up a hand to stop her, "Yes, it was just lousiness. Whenever the feeling started to get intense, you backed a little, getting distant for a while until the flame was gone." He paused and murmured, "Not the point…I asked you to seriously choose between Brice Fudge and me before I walked out. I pleaded for an answer, which you failed to give."

"It was a tricky question. To choose between you and Fudge meant a choice between you and career. I liked you more than a friend, but that was a time when my career was at a trough. I was in dire need of a boost." Too ashamed to meet Remus' eyes, Rainzzi gazed up at the sky, "And you know I hate to make absolute decisions."

"But everybody has to."

"I know, that's why you made the final decision for me," Rainzzi whispered carefully, halting every now and then to stop anything impulsive to come out, for Remus' sake. "And I am glad you did." The volume of her voice was ceasing substantially she could hardly hear the end of her sentence.

"Rainzzi…"

Rainzzi mumbled something unrecognizable.

"Tell me, did it have anything to do with what I am?"

Rainzzi didn't look up at him, she did not dare. "No. It's not even a matter of who," she started tentatively, placing her hand on Remus', "It's a matter of whether I want this kind of magic or not. And the answer I tell everyone is no, I neither want it nor do I need it."

Rainzzi caught Remus giving an inaudible sigh. "I used to believe that you don't want it. But looking at how things nurture between you and Sirius recently, I couldn't help…

"Sorry, I don't know what I am fussing about," Remus apologized in his croaky voice, then he gazed up at the sky again. "I mean, I should have understood it. He's brilliant, he's great and he's loyal. He's everything I am not," he added, abasing himself cruelly.

Rainzzi made the mistake of observing Remus' insulted countenance; she could no longer repress herself. She grabbed his broad shoulder and shook it.

"Listen to me. You are Remus Lupin and he is Sirius Black, two completely different entities. You can't make a comparison like that. And promise me you will never demean yourself again…" Remus could feel her breath tickling his skin, and the scent of her hair was spread to him as the breeze howled over. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her closer. "You're a great person. You're just too great that I don't deserve…" at these words, Remus almost laughed out loud, but he didn't, as the atmosphere was so precious that he didn't want it to disintegrate. "You have been the only one that's always there when I am in need of help. I really appreciate and cherish your help; I would have never stood up again if it wasn't you.

"I may have appeared as if I don't care about you, but believe me, I always do. I am just not very skilful in expressing myself," Rainzzi beseeched, carefully avoiding any unnecessary mention of Sirius, which would inevitably bring hard feeling to Remus. She tailed off feebly. For what seemed like hours, neither of them said anything.

They sat side by side, absorbing the whole starry sky that was splashed above them. It was a silent night; as Rainzzi leaned nearer on Remus, they could almost hear the breaths of each other. Although she was still angry at Remus that he had neglected her in the previous two years, she still loved having him as a good friend. A sense of nostalgia attacked her awkwardly; it was almost like the old days had come back. Lord, how much she missed the old days where they would just sit together and chatted about everything.

"How's work?" he would asked her absentmindedly, but she would never give a decent response besides an irritated groan. And then he would start telling her about how much Harry resembled James and Lily, she would mumble something nonsense occasionally and drift off to sleep. She would wake up only to discover that the holidays had already ended and Remus had returned to Hogwarts…

"Hey, Remus," A distant voice called out to the dark, awaking both of them from their seas of mind. Rainzzi and Remus detached instantaneously almost at the same nanosecond, as though they had spiritually agreed upon and turned around. Sirius was sticking his head out from the opened French door, looking curiously out for his friend. His eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of Rainzzi accompanying Remus.

Rainzzi launched herself up from the grass crisply and dusted off the front of her cloak. She inclined her head at Remus in farewell, but he didn't respond. She strode to where Sirius was.

"I have to go back. My parents have been keeping an eye on me," Rainzzi hushed in a nonnegotiable manner, she didn't even wait for an answer from Sirius before she made to the entrance door.

For a reticent moment, Sirius stared at Remus with a deadpan expression. Great, Remus thought miserably, I am not only losing Rainzzi, I am going to lose my best friend as well.

"Come on in, Remus. We miss you inside," Sirius gradually said, a grin creeping into his amicable face. Remus wasn't going to lose his best buddy afterall.

A/N: Firstly, thank-yous go to my great reviewers – kiwiknight, annoriel, siriuszsecretlover, Nicky Black, padfootedmoony, SiriusLives001 and EmEm – I LOVE you guys! And please never doubt that I've turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to your opinions or suggestions, I am always rereading your reviews!

So here's the delayed update! How is it? I inwardly hope it helps explaining a bit about Rainzzi and Remus…does it confuse you more? LOL Sorry if it does…:(

Lastly, let's talk about something more important! Reviews! PLEASE REVIEW and criticize it honestly if you find anything under-standard! I promised you I won't keep you for another month or so before chapter 12 comes out…o'v'o wakakaa…