Under the Sapphire Moon
By Rayven Darkheart
Author's Note: There, do you all forgive me now? Thank you for all that have stuck with me through the period of No-Updates.
Chapter Seven
On her way back to the Gryffindor dorms, she felt a hand snake around her bicep and pull her into the shadows. She cursed herself for not having her wand when she saw who owned the hand. It was none other than Lucius Malfoy. "Hello, Ebony is it? I've wanted to talk to you but I haven't gotten a chance. It's as if you disappeared off the Hogwarts grounds."
Her eyes widened a bit but she tried as hard as she could to keep a façade of indifference. "I've been busy, just like I am now. If you'll excuse me Lucius." She pushed away from the wall only to be slammed back by a strong hand.
Lucius gave her a wicked grin. "Why, have to go see your bookworm? Let me ask you something. Masters, that's an old name, is it not? One with a history rich in the dark arts? Your father was a legend here."
Ebony's cerulean eyes became as hard as diamonds as she looked into the gray eyes. "Not that my father is any of your concern Malfoy, but yes, he had a strong liking for the dark arts." She wrenched her arm away from him.
This time he let her. "Ah yes, and families that love the dark arts stick together, don't they? I'm surprised you aren't a member of the Slytherin house."
Staring hard at the much taller boy, she shrugged off his comment. "My father stopped for my mother. He had no aspirations of me becoming a dark witch, nor do I. Now if you will kindly excuse me, I have better things to do than stand here and be assaulted by your halitosis. Good day."
Lucius gazed after her retreating figure. 'I'll get her on our side one way or another. Even if I have to blackmail her, her and her soul shall belong to Lord Voldemort.'
Sirius jumped and was jolted awake from his dreamless slumber as the fat lady's portrait opened. He gazed over the back of the sofa to see Remus walk in sullenly. "Hey mate, nice to see you up and around again. James set your assignments on your bed."
Remus nodded his head and stood, staring out one of the windows before he regarded his friend. "Paddy, have you seen Ebony around? She ran out of the hospital wing earlier and, well, I wanted to make sure it wasn't because of me."
Sirius sat up finally and looked past his friend to the setting sun on the horizon. "No, but I do need to track her down to give her that potion of Pomfrey's. I just hope it doesn't turn her into a newt or something."
The ghost of a smile formed on Remus's lips. "Good luck with that one. She wasn't anywhere I looked, so maybe check the astronomy tower or down by the lake. She seemed happy enough down there last time."
A nod was all the confirmation Remus got that his friend heard from him before the shaggy haired boy ran out of the common room with a slam of the fat lady. A shadow of doubt crossed Remus's face. 'Maybe now wouldn't be the best time to talk to her. She always seems to get on with Sirius better anyway.' He then went toward his dormitory to find his assignments.
After looking down by the lake, Sirius settled on the astronomy tower. What he found made his pulse quicken for a split second before his more rational side kicked in. He responded to his surroundings in a flat, emotionless voice. "Wait, don't do it. You have so much to live for, Masters. Don't jump."
The girl winced, surprised to hear his voice. She replied in the same tone of voice from her seat on the edge of the windowsill. "But, but, our love is unrequited, Black. Whatever shall I do if the great Sirius Black does not love me?" She pressed the back of her left hand to her forehead and pretended to swoon before swinging her legs inside. "What's up, Sirius?"
Sirius tossed the bottle of potion to her. "You're supposed to take this before the sun sets. I guess to take away the soreness."
At his comments, her usually clear cerulean eyes clouded over with some emotion. She started to speak but when she found no words, she pulled the stopper out of the bottle and downed it in one gulp before tossing it back to her friend.
As he caught it, she swung her legs back over the edge and watched the horizon. The grief from her was so palpable, Sirius could almost feel it. "You know, no one cares about what you are. We still love and accept Remus."
Ebony shook her head slightly. "I don't care that you are fine with it, Sirius. I'm not! That's what matters. I've been a lycanthrope for as long as I can remember, and I can't accept it. I keep hoping there's a cure."
Sirius chuckled despite himself. "Ebony, you sound more like Moony everyday. You two need to spend less time together." He hefted himself up onto the sill next to her, watching the sunset. "It's not the end of the world, is it?"
"I keep hoping that it isn't, but now with the dark wizards rising to power, one never knows. Why were you and James out last night?" She smiled at the look of shock the Sirius immediately started to suppress. "I'm not stupid. There's no way two boys would be out with a werewolf unless they had a way around being attacked. Are you animagi?"
"Yeah, James was the one that broke the… fight up and I was the big black dog." He smiled at the light of mischief that suddenly appeared in her eyes. 'At least I can make her smile.'
She snickered softly and hopped off of the sill before she spoke, as if ready to bolt. "I know what I'll get you for Christmas then."
Sirius stared at the girl wearily. "What?"
"A dog collar!" Ebony giggled and started to run but Sirius was too fast for her and tackled her against the floor, tickling her until she begged for mercy. He slowly stopped moving his fingers, but kept his hands firmly on her hips.
They stared into each others eyes. Cerulean met gray. Sirius leisurely moved closer to her and pressed his lips gently against hers. She gladly returned the kiss, keeping it soft and sweet. Neither of them noticed the pair of shocked eyes that beheld them as they parted.