It's Love

The next morning, Ashley was the first to awake in her dormitory. She sat at the window seat looking out at the day. The breeze blew all of the leaves around, and she wished that she had the will to smile, but she wouldn't allow herself. Her night was too crummy for a smile to spread across her face. Ashley was confused about everything. Deep down she felt as if she loved Sirius, but she was just too scared to admit it. Would it ruin the friendship? Or what if the same thing happened to her with Sirius as it did with Michael?

Wait a second. If it were so wrong for Sirius to compare himself to James, then why wasn't it bad for her to compare Sirius to Michael? Maybe she should just give Sirius a chance. Maybe if he were actually in a real relationship, he wouldn't be such a jerk. Ashley thought back to the day they had kissed. She wished she would stop thinking about that. She and Sirius had disaster written all over it. Or did it?

The next day was a trip to Hogsmeade. "Padfoot, Just come with us. You need to get out, you're pale as a ghost these days!" scolded James.

"What's the point? I've lost the first girl I've ever loved, just because I'm a huge moron," Sirius said solemnly, and he went back to staring off into space. That was what Sirius did most of the time these days. Sometimes he couldn't even hear what was going on in the real world.

"Love?" James said. He stopped what he was doing and looked at Sirius with wide eyes.

"Er - I said that out loud?" said Sirius sheepishly.

"You love her?"

"Yeah, James. I love her," Sirius responded a bit embaressedly.

"Did you tell her that?" questioned James.

"No way! She's with Sean now," Sirius whispered hushedly.

"One date doesn't mean she's 'with' him," James pointed out.

"Yeah but she likes him better," Sirius stated flatly.

"How would you know that unless you talk to her?" responded James earnestly.

"Fine, If you want me to talk to her that bloody badly, I will," said Sirius hotly, and he marched out of the room.

Sirius walked downstairs and into the common room. Most of the Gryffindors were already downstairs, getting ready for their trip to Hogsmeade. The only people still in there were four kids too young to go to Hogsmeade, and Lily, Erica, Alaina, Remus, Fallon, and Ashley.

"Er - Do you guys mind if I talk to Ashley in private?" asked Sirius jitterly.

"Sure - uh - Tell James we'll meet him downstairs," Lily replied, and they all scurried out of the common room. Sirius looked around and even the younger kids had gone.

"Something you wanted to say?" Ashley asked angrily.

"I'm a jerk. I know that, okay? But you know how I feel about you, and I can't control it! I'm really sorry, I never meant to make you feel bad. That's the last thing I'd ever want to do. I've honestly never felt this way about anybody else. Do you really think I'd be after one girl for this long if I didn't have feelings for you? If it were anyone else, I would have moved on quite a while ago," Sirius told her silently yet sternly.

Ashley was at a loss for words. What could she say to that? She sighed and said the first thing that came to her. "I believe that you have feelings for me."

"Then what's the problem?" Sirius asked perplexedly.

"The problem is a lot of stuff. Like, ruining the friendship, for example," answered Ashley instantly.

"Nothing in the world could ruin our friendship," Sirius responded sharply, "Next problem."

"I - I'm scared," Ashley admitted quietly.

"What is there to be scared of?" asked Sirius, just as quietly.

"Fine, you want the truth? The truth is, I'm scared because I never loved anyone the way I love you, and that scares me because usually I can keep my feelings and my emotions under control. But not now. Not anymore," Ashley replied wistfully, and she put her face in her hands.

"Wait a minute. You just said you love me?" Sirius asked, a broad grin spreading across his face.

"Huh?" Ashley asked, looking up.

"You just said, and I quote, 'I've never loved anyone that way I love you'," Sirius reminded her merrily.

"No I didn't!" lied Ashley sheepishly.

"Yes, you did. This is great. I love you, and you love me!"

"What's that now?" Ashley said, now smirking herself.

"Er - You love me?" Sirius replied confusedly.

"No, no, no. The 'I love you' part," Ashley smiled.

"I already know you love me, Ashley, but thanks for saying so again," Sirius said, covering up what he blurted out with a joke.

"Why can't you just admit that you said it? Just tell me how you feel!" Ashley prodded.

"Fine! I - I love you," Sirius said, looking into her eyes.

"And I love you."

"C - Can I k-," but he was cut off by Ashley pressing her lips against his. After several seconds, Ashley backed away, blushing. Sirius too looked oddly pink. "Er - Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me?"

"I'd love to," Ashley replied. "But first, tell James we're going." Sirius nodded, went upstairs for a minute, and came back down. They smiled at each other, and Sirius put his arm around Ashley. They walked downstairs and within the hour, everyone knew that Sirius Black and Ashley Benedettis were a couple.