Chapter Three: Well, That's Not Very Nice

It was well into November when Taryn cornered Sirius in the Room of Requirement one afternoon. "There you are," she said, out of breath from running up and down the staircases, having to change her route several times since the staircases kept changing while she was trying to get to the seventh floor. "Sirius, we need to talk."

He looked over at her from his large, deep red, winged armchair next to the fireplace. He was reading Quidditch Through the Ages. "Oh, look who's here," he said, sticking a bookmark in the pages of his book and setting it on the floor near his feet. "You finally decided to grace us with your presence, did you?"

She looked around. They were the only two in the Room. "Um…" she said slowly. "Why are you talking in plural? I wasn't aware that you were crowned King. Should I bow or curtsy or something?"

He smiled and waved her over to him. "Nope," he said as she joined him by the fire. A forest green upholstered dining chair appeared for her to sit in. "What's wrong, Tar? You're looking rather upset. Did you need a Cheering Charm?"

"No," she said quickly. Then she nearly broke down in tears. "Sirius, you have to let me break up with Snape! I'm going insane! He keeps trying to kiss me and hold my hand and hug me good night! I'm going to lose it soon and murder him or something!"

Sirius didn't look impressed. "Well, he is your boyfriend," he said lightly. "I don't think you should break up with him just because he's trying to fulfil his role as your boyfriend. You should give him another chance."

Then she really did start to cry. "Sirius, please," she begged. "It's been eight weeks already! You know how much I can't stand him. He's going to drive me over the brink of sanity, just you wait. Please, you have to let me dump him!"

He thought about it. "No, I don't think I will," he said slowly. "Unless you can give me one good reason why."

"He keeps trying to kiss me, Sirius," she said. "Isn't that reason enough?" Sirius shook his head. "When I was younger, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't kiss a boy, or a guy, or a man until I was positive I could actually see myself happily married to him. And then, magic gets into it and now it's almost like an Unbreakable Vow with myself. Do you understand?"

"Have you explained this to Snape?" he asked her.

She nodded. "It only made him try harder," she said, wiping at her tears. "Like he's convinced that if he could get me to kiss him, I'd marry him. Can you see me married to Snape?" Sirius nodded, grinning wickedly. "I marry him, I will see to it that you are cursed with a Complex every week for the rest of your life, Sirius Black. It will be like you're a pregnant woman, only worse because half the time, no one will be able to understand a word you say."

"All right," he said, looking pale at the thought. "You can break up with him. Happy now?"

"Almost," she said. "I want you to stop dating my sister."

"Why?"

"Because I know you only got her to agree under false pretences," she said. "It isn't fair to her, Sirius. And you're not good enough for her."

"Well, that's not very nice," he said, picking up his book. "But there's another reason you don't want me to date her, though. Isn't there?"

She shook her head. "Nope," she said almost too quickly. "I just want her to be happy. I don't want her thinking all you're doing is tricking me into paying attention to you guys when I'm breaking up with the reason why I've been ignoring you. I don't want her thinking that it isn't real, when for you, it is. It's wrong to do that, Sirius. It's predatory. And icky."

"There you go, being childish again, Taryn," he said, gesturing to her. "Icky? Is that even a word?"

She felt slightly flustered. It wasn't often that someone questioned her vocabulary. "Of course it is," she protested. "It's been a word for years! It means really gross. Obviously."

"Oh obviously," he repeated, sarcastically. He leaned forward and looked her in the eye. "I'm curious, Tar. Who is it you think you could marry happily?"

Her flustered feeling increased. No one had asked her that, either. "I suppose…" she began, then changed her mind. "Well… I don't know. Maybe, well… I don't think I can answer that, Sirius." She stood and walked out of the Room of Requirement.

Sirius watched her go with interest. She hit the doorframe with her shoulder on her way out. He leaned back in his chair and thought. "That's interesting," he murmured after the door closed.

"Severus, we need to talk," Taryn said, pulling him from his dormitory and out into the Common Room. No one in the Slytherin House ever paid much attention to anyone else unless it pertained to them, so they wouldn't be overheard. She could've talked to him in his dormitory, but that might have given him ideas and she didn't want to risk that. She pushed him onto one of the black leather couches and sat nearby, putting at least one cushion between them. "We have to end this," she said. "I'm going insane. Mainly because it's not working out for me… And because my cousin and our friends won't stop harassing me about it. But it's not working out for me, I guess because I don't like you as much as you like me."

He didn't answer right away. He didn't even look at her directly. He sort of looked around the Common Room before he said, "So, that's that? You just want to end it? No, I'm sorry, but I'm in love with someone else or anything? It's not you, it's me? That whole pile of shit?" He looked like his Jekyll & Hyde Complex hadn't worn off even after two months.

"Look, Severus, don't talk to me like that," she said, getting a little irritated.

"How am I supposed to talk to you?" he asked. "You're dumping me after someone saw you walk into the Room of Requirement after Sirius Black. It's him, isn't it? He's the reason you're breaking up with me, isn't he?"

Taryn was shocked. "What? No," she said. "Ew. He's dating my little sister!"

"Not anymore, he isn't," Snape countered. "He broke up with her after dinner." He sighed. "So, after dumping me, are you gonna run into his arms and live happily ever after?"

"I don't believe in happily ever afters, Snape," she snapped. "So, no. I'm not. I don't like him anymore than a best friend. So, I'm breaking up with you for my sanity. Not so I can date Sirius. Don't flatter yourself, Snivellus." She stood and stormed out of the Common Room, grateful it wasn't after hours yet and shocked that she called Snape Snivellus. That was James and Sirius' name for him. She generally called him Snape or Severus—you know, his name. She went to the Room of Requirement and collapsed on the cabin bed waiting for her.

"Taryn, wake up." Someone was lightly shaking her shoulder. She mumbled something, but didn't wake. "If you don't wake up, I'll curse you into oblivion!"

She sat up, wide-awake and irritated. She glared at Remus. "You can't use someone else's catch phrase, Remus," she said. "What do you want?"

"You've been sleeping here all night," he said. "The others are worried about you. Are you all right?"

Remus climbed up to sit beside her as she said, "I suppose so. But, I'm terribly confused. Does it look like I like Sirius?"

"No, you two got into a cursing competition at the last Quidditch match and it was Hufflepuff verses Ravenclaw," Remus said lightly, grabbing a pillow to lean against. "Why?"

"Because that's what Snape said I broke up with him for," she explained. "But I don't like him. I was just wondering if it looked like I do."

"Nope, you're in the clear," Remus said. "Although it is suspicious that you broke up with Snape the same day Sirius broke up with Colleen. She didn't care anyways. She said she was just happy to be single again. Dating isn't her thing apparently."

Taryn smiled. "I could've told you that," she said. She sighed and rubbed her head. "Remus, I'm so confused. I don't know what to think anymore. I know I'm glad to be rid of Snape, but lately, there's been a void I've never noticed before. And every time Sirius is around, I can feel the void grow larger and larger and it gets increasingly painful every time I see him, but I'm not sure why. What do you think?"

Sirius entered the room, but ignored Remus and Taryn. "Hick-a-bick-a-boo?" Remus asked in an undertone. She whispered a quiet, "Hoo-sha." And he continued. "Dybia ach yn cerdded 'n orffwyllog, 'n sylweddol. Beth ach yn darlunio ydy rhywbeth e s chwedleuedig am chen a Iago amdanat. Namyn, m mo 'n ddiball ai e 'n weithredol caredig Colleen ai ai bu 'n annichellgar yn amseru 'i at gwna 'ch 'n eiddigeddus." He winced. "Ddylaswn mo wedi deud a." (I think you're going insane, really. What you're describing is something he's talked about with me and James about you. But, we're not sure if he actually liked Colleen or if he was simply dating her to make you jealous… I shouldn't have said that.)

Sirius looked over at them and rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, I can't understand you," he called over, searching for his book.

Taryn looked at Remus, puzzled. "Beth feddyli? Paham brofai at gwna 'm 'n eiddigeddus?" she asked, watching Sirius out of the corner of her eye. (What do you mean? Why would he try to make me jealous?)

"Dydy mo 'n bwysig, Taryn," Remus said. "Namyn beth ydy 'n bwysig ydy a ach mo yn amseru Snape anymore a a ach 'n ddedwydd." (It's not important, Taryn… But what is important is that you're not dating Snape anymore and that you're happy.)

"Yeah, namyn ddeudaist rhywbeth amdano yn ceisio at gwna 'm 'n eiddigeddus," she pressed. "Beth chwedleui am?" Yeah, but you said something about him trying to make me jealous… What are you talking about?)

Sirius made a noise of triumph and held his book aloft. "Found it!" he said, happily grinning. "All right, you two can quit with the Welsh or whatever you're speaking. I'm leaving." He flashed a not-unattractive smile at Taryn and left the room.

Taryn shoved Remus. "Tell me!" she said as he nearly fell off the bed.

"No need to shove," he muttered, pulling himself back onto the bed. He adjusted his uniform as she glared at him, waiting for an answer. "Besides the fact that there's nothing to tell. He's never outright said anything. James seems to think there's more to what he's not telling us."

"Oh, really?" she said. "And what does our esteemed Sir James Potter think? No tricks or lies, Remmie."

He sighed. "All right," he muttered. "But, tell no one I told you. James believes that Sirius was pretending to like Colleen so much because he knew how you felt about relationships and he's afraid of what you would say if he ever confessed to you how much he's in love with you. But I think he really did like your sister and unconsciously loves you."

"Really," she said quietly. "Interesting. Very interesting." Then she became instantly cheerful and very un-Slytherin-like. "Thank you!" She jumped off the bed and literally skipped to the door. In response to Remus inquiry, she turned and said, "I'm going to take a nice, long shower and get ready for the day!" She went through the door. But she stopped and stuck her head through the doorway again and asked, "What day is it today?"

Remus looked confused. "Saturday…" he said slowly.

"Thank you!" she chirped and was skipping down the corridors on her way to the Common Room. It's a good day for jeans, a nice jumper, trainers and a day by the lake, she thought. Or on the pitch… Yeah, I feel like flying.

After her shower, Taryn cheerfully made her way to her dorm to pin her hair up, swinging her wet locks over her shoulders and leaving driplets in a trail behind her. She was humming and so distracted that she didn't see Niccolai Bixby, a Ravenclaw 7th Year, until she nearly knocked the teary-eyed witch down the stairs. "Holy cricket, Niccolai!" she said, helping her to regain her balance. "I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"

The Ravenclaw shook her head. "I'm fine," she replied. "Thank you."

Taryn saw her tears. Niccolai wasn't a girl who cried openly or in public. She tended to keep to herself. "What's wrong? Is everything all right?" she asked gently. "Did Sean do something to you?"

"No," she said. "Everything's fine. Sean didn't do anything. Don't worry about me, Taryn. Thank you, though." Then she left.

Shrugging the odd scene off, Taryn continued on her way. She turned a corner and saw Sean Wood, the Gryffindor Keeper, walking quickly towards her and looking for someone. She was going to ignore him, but he stopped her and asked, "Have you seen Niccolai? I can't find her."

Taryn pointed. Sean started running. "But don't pressure her into telling you what's wrong!" she called after him. "Sometimes, girls just need to cry!"

"Perhaps this is one of those times for you, Love," a cold voice drawled behind Taryn. She spun around and saw Lucius Malfoy sneering at her.

"Should I feel intimidated, Malfoy?" she asked, crossing her arms and tapping her foot lightly. "Because it's really difficult for me to be intimidated by a skinny pretty boy with blonde hair longer than mine like you." He was a 7th Year Slytherin, true, and, also true, she should be respecting him, but his hair was long and blonde and he was in reality a wimp underneath his bloody pureblood façade.

Immediately, Malfoy's wand was out, its tip pressed against her throat. Taryn froze and didn't speak. Malfoy sneered at her. "You know, it's interesting," he said. "What everyone is saying. That Snape broke up with you. Some seem to think that you broke up with him. Which is, of course, absolute rubbish." He pressed his wand harder on her throat. "It seems no one in your family is good enough for anyone. Your cousin can never seem to find himself a girl. Even your own sister was dumped. Seems a pity. Colleen's a pretty girl."

"Leave me sister alone, Malfoy," Taryn said through gritted teeth. "You have a girl. You don't need another."

"Perhaps not," he said idly. "But I feel it is my painful obligation to tell you that you're not even worthy to be in the noble House of Slytherin. You're too sweet to others, you keep your time around your filthy Mudblood-loving friends. Who knows where you'll end up, you disloyal whore."

Taryn managed to grab Malfoy's wand and threw it out the nearest open window. "How can I be disloyal to your hideous master if I was never loyal?" she asked coldly. "And I'm going to request for the final time that you leave me alone." She quickly set off for the Quidditch pitch without waiting for an answer, grabbing her broom from the girl's locker room on her way.

When she reached the pitch, Sirius and James were already there, practicing. Sirius was an excellent Beater and was proving while working with James, an excellent Seeker. But Taryn chose to ignore that fact. Even though she was a Keeper, Taryn grabbed a Beaters' club and mounted her broom. "Hey, Taryn!" Sirius called, flying over to her. She raised the club, preparing to swing, and beat a Bludger at Sirius. He cursed and weaved out of the way.

"Cripes, Tar!" James called, dodging the Bludger as well. "What's your problem?"

Sirius tried to get to her again, but she beat the Bludger at him once more. For the following hour, whenever Sirius or James flew near her, they had to dodge the Bludger. "That's it," Sirius said. "Prongs, I'm off." He gathered his things and flew off to Gryffindor Tower.

Taryn flew close to the ground and fell off her broom, dropping the club. James landed and sat next to her in the newly fallen snow. "Hey, Tar," he said. "Are you all right? Did Snivellus do something?"

She started to cry. "No, James," she sniffed, sitting up. "It wasn't Snape. It was Malfoy. He said such awful things about Colleen and Remus and our family. And I was in such a good mood before."

"Why did you take your irritation out on Sirius?" he asked, pulling Taryn out of the snow and onto her feet. "He used to only make you laugh, but now, the two of you are almost always at each others' throats. Is everything all right with you both?"

She shook her head. Then she nodded. Then she shook her head again. She sighed and grabbed her broom. "I don't know, James," she cried. "I hate him for making me date Snape for so long. But I love him for respecting me enough to stop dating my sister when I asked even though he really liked her. But I hate him for being so self-centred and arrogant. But I love him for being Sirius Black and my friend…" She and James began to walk back to the castle. "I don't know why I take out my aggression on him when it isn't his fault. I just do. I can't explain it. For some reason, he is my outlet for every emotion that runs through me."

"Including love?" James asked as they reached the castle steps. She gave him a confused look. "You said he was your outlet for every emotion that runs through you. Does that include love?" She didn't answer. "I'm only asking because it seems like the two of you are either dating or married without realising it so neither of you get to enjoy the full benefits of either such arrangements."

……