Disclaimer: Is unnecessary. The day I start saying that I own any of this is the day that you can ship me off to a nice room with padded walls…
Author's Note: I'm getting good, aren't I? This wasn't even a month for the wait! See, see, I promised! So it's looks like there will be at least a chapter a month, if not more for the rest of this ride. I hope that's good for everyone, because I would feel terrible making my betas do my edits before their schoolwork, thus getting them kicking out of their very expensive and prestigious colleges.
IMPORTANT: In regards to where the story is going, I have been writing like a maniac for this baby, and I will just say that this story is taking me many interesting and wonderful places. It's not the story I had originally planned in my head, but the good news about that is that it is a better story than when I started. So if you were expecting certain things that aren't showing up, just bear with me. It's always a good sign when your stories start writing themselves…. And when you make your beta readers cry… poor betas…
IMPORTANT AS WELL: I would like everyone to keep in mind that according to the HP Lexicon and other sources, Bill Weasley would have been in school while the Marauders were there (clearly five or six years younger), so if you see him anywhere - and I'm not saying you will… :cough: - don't get confused and tell me that he wasn't in school at the same time. And this chapter contains references to the Jekyll and Hyde sections of the story that came before this, Echoes In Eternity. If you haven't read it, this will be confusing for you. As for the football, I tried to make it as accurate as I could, but I know very little about - at leastI chose names of real teams and players! Okay. I think that covers that.
ALSO! For anyone who wants to know how the first section of this chapter came about: One of my lovely betas, Kate, and I were talking about HP, as we do often. As usual, funny sequences with the Marauders surfaced, because really, they're just so much fun to think of crazy scenarios for ;) At one point one of us made the comment that it would be really funny to see the Marauders high. I think I ended up saying that it would be even funnier if Sirius got Remus high without telling him (brownie style, because we all know that Remus wouldn't smoke, and would know when something didn't smell like tobacco). Thus, this scene was born. I hope it makes you laugh ;0) And now onto your reviews!
anubis04: It will never be abandoned! Never:insert evil laugh: It was your first and favorite? That makes me all blushy and stammery… gee… thanks… ;) I'm glad you liked the flashback with the singing. 'Cause let's face it, Sirius and Bowie just work so wonderfully together. Wow, now I'm seeing it really made into a musical. That's awesome. How about we team up and produce it on Broadway right now? And thanks for keeping the pressure off me. Really, I just needed to get my muse back for a while back there. But now it's back and I just have to get my betas used to getting lots of material again so they beta faster. I'm so bad – it's during midterm time, and I just can't stop writing. I get very little sleep for this, but it's worth it :)
Brielle Lupin: Oh, I'm sorry that your review got mostly erased! I hate when this website acts up like that, it drives me nuts (especially when you take a long time to do something)! But I'm glad you let me know 'cause I love getting your reviews. Hopefully it will be good to you this time… or I will beat it with my wand…
Alora05: Yay, I made you happy and sunshiney! That's my goal in life, you know. And you like Sirius and Gwen, which makes me supremely happy because I'm having too much fun with them. And Sirius is a precious baby – he gets hugs all the time (in my head…). Punching Clayton is certainly allowed. Draco has some stuff to work through, naturally, and it will take time. I'll be interested to see what you think of it. Now go onward to get your personal dose of Sirius on drugs!
MackenzieW: Ooo, what were you running lights for? The only job I've ever done on the full tech side is props master (and stage manager and ass. stage manager, if you count them there). Otherwise I'm out on the stage because that's the way it works in my family – we're all performers. But I love crew, they're the best people in the world. Hmm, compare notes, eh? Jackson and Clayton… they sound like no-good, smarmy, tricky bastards. I hope they both get their just-desserts… A baby Molly! Aw! I know what you mean about Harry and Ginny, I was ecstatic when they got together. And I'm not worried about Book 7 because he still loves her, so they have to end up together. They just have to! And poor Gwen indeed. As far as her ex is concerned… well, I won't tell you, but I will say that it was too much fun to write. They're special, the two of them. And I'm glad that you liked the conversations that Remus had – I love having Albus' painting around to play with, and Snape is just always fun (but don't tell him I said so, or he'll never let me write him again). Unfortunately, Ivy has a habit of being a bit dense about everything – don't expect her to understand Remus' distance (that's my way of explaining that this doesn't get solved for a while, sadly). I hope you enjoy what's next!
Sirius-Ella: Oh, I'm happy you liked! Yeah, I love writing anything with Charlie and Sirius, so I'm glad that you enjoyed it. And Snuffles with Guinevere, of course. Because I just couldn't resist writing that ;) Enjoy the next chapter!
Camilinha: Aw, thanks so much for your compliments! Yes, Clayton is very much an asshole. This I know, as I did design him that way ;) As far I Ivy is concerned, her not noticing it is one of her major character flaws from way back in the story that came before this. It's gonna take a while for her to find out. And don't worry, there's lots more coming up with all of them. Sirius and Guinevere are going to take some time, naturally. They're not in the right place to really open up to each other yet, but they'll get there, I promise. And Remus and Charlie will meet, that's also coming up soon. Remus does sing too (he's sung before in the first story, so his voice is gorgeous, of course, because I would never write him any differently:) ), in this chapter, actually. Hope you like it!
Rotae: Yay, you picked out my favorite snarky Remus line from the last chapter! I would say that the only reason that POA is my favorite over HBP is because I miss Sirius so much. Because I loved everything about HBP, really, it was so well done. I worry for Draco and Snape, though. I have this unshakable feeling that she's going to kill one of them (and I keep thinking that it's Draco). I don't think that Draco and Harry will ever be friends and if they work together, it will be the most amusing situation ever because they'll just get on each other's nerves the whole time. And you liked Sirius and Bowie! Yay! Yeah, I don't see Sirius as a true glam rocker (going all the way with the clothes and the makeup and actually sleeping with boys), but it was just too much fun to play with – you know he'd love the music and he would love being androgynous. And I'm happy that you thought James' reaction worked, because there's no way that boy would understand that :giggle:…. Yay, Firefly! Yeah, I'm hooked on that series. Don't know much about Whedon-verse besides it, though (I've always watched more of what was on sci-fi, like Farscape and Quantum Leap and Star Trek and the like). But I love Firefly far too much. Probably have some more fic in the works for that one soon. It would be hilarious if Joss directed HP 7! He'd love getting to kill everyone (starts crying as I remember Serenity)! Yeah, they should let him do that one ;)
abesapien: Thank you! I'm glad you liked the Sirius/Remus interaction. I love writing their friendship, it's so interesting (and there's more to come for the two of them). And, of course, you're right Ivy wouldn't mind the wolf side coming out more (because we all know how sexy that is), but it's Remus and he's getting paranoid. And I'm glad you liked the dinner, and Bruce and the rest. And that you like Sirius and Guinevere, of course:) And yay, you think Clayton is written well, even though he's a big jerk – you always get worried that you're not writing a character well when they are not likable, so I'm glad you think he comes off well. Now onward for more chapterness!
Radiant: Yes, I made you love Sirius even more! I so glad! Because I love him very much ;) Thanks for letting me know what you thought, and thanks reading my Firefly fic! I was a fan before the movie came out (which made Wash's death the worst crushing blow ever – I was bawling for the rest of the day), but I'm glad that Serenity got you into it, it is such a wonderful show.
LadyLupinLover: Thanks! ;)
TheMysteriousPhoenix: Oh, good, you liked Sirius and Charlie! I love them way too much. And you're liking Guinevere, which gives me much relief, of course. I'm glad that you enjoy her complexities, I think they make her far more interesting as a character. As far your hint goes, you're absolutely right, she does need a nice make out session, and she's going to get one and great deal more on top of it, it'll just take some time (my little hint to you ;) )…
SchnugsAllAround: Best compliment ever! You've found the way into any writers heart – by telling them that the feelings of their character are tangible and you empathize with them. I'm so flattered. And I agree, I get very annoyed with people's tendencies to portray Sirius as such a shallow character. He has so many wonderful layers that people choose to ignore, and that seems so wrong to me. So I'm glad that you're liking him, and I hope that this chapter continues to entertain!
A.C.L.T.: It's Chii! Hi! Oh, I'll happily take the blame for reigniting Bowie obsession – I'm pretty bad myself, totally in love with the man. And you definitely brought up my favorite Sirius line from that chapter, so brownie points for you! I'm glad that you're enjoying him – I keep saying that the way people write him usually makes me uncomfortable because they write him so shallow, and while he can be arrogant and egotistical, I would never say he was shallow or uncaring. I mean, his key characteristics that Rowling continually shows are his loyalty and his guarding of those he loves and the buoyancy he had in his youth. Why do people write him like a bastard so much? You borrowed the past/present style for your story? How's it working for you? And I'm happy that you're enjoying Charlie, I love that little boy. I'll be interested to know what you think of the next new character who is coming into the story now. And you like Bruce! Oh, good, because he's a special guy, and his hints always make me laugh. And it's good to know that you think everything with Remus and Ivy is going well. I liked the idea of putting Remus in a position where the wolf would have reason to merge and put him on edge. It's something that I've seen people handle very strangely, and I wanted the opportunity to try it my own way, so it's relieving to know that you think it works (PS – thank you for not asking me why Ivy does not know Clayton is a jerk – I think people have forgotten that it's one of her great character flaws, which makes her a real person, and I was so glad that you know that). And now I'm blushing because you gave me such wonderful comments, and if I ever do write a book (I've actually had an idea for one – it would take a long time to get it all out, but you never know), you will be the first to know about it! goes to the corner to feel humble and special while you read chapter
Chineselaquer: Wow, hi! It's so good to hear from you (I can understand your frustration with – they infuriate me all the time, and it's hard to wade though all of the so-so stuff on here and get to the good stuff):) And I can't thank you enough for such lovely compliments. Just knowing that there are people who appreciate this the way that you do makes me remember why I wrote it in the first place, so thank you again. I'm interested to know what the difference is in our writing styles, since writing style in itself is such a fascinating topic – what would you depict your style as? Hope you like this chapter as well!
Aldavinur: Yup, David Bowie. Listen to him. He really is a god, Sirius wasn't joking ;) And I'm glad that you liked the section still even though you'd never heard Bowie and thank you so much for such a wonderful compliment! You definitely got all the right things out of the scene with Charlie. I'm happy that you liked Sirius with him, and that you thought the transformation worked well. Charlie is definitely supposed to remind you of Remus Yeah, I know the whole thing with Remus and Ivy is tough right now. You're right, Remus should talk to her… but Remus has never exactly been good at admitting that something or someone makes him upset. So it's not going to work out so easily, unfortunately. But don't worry, it can't stay bad forever! Read and enjoy!
Valhalla96: I'm glad I got your favorite Bowie song! Gosh, what's my favorite Bowie song…? brains fries as it is impossible for me to name only one And you thought it was funny, yay! Oh yeah, I remember biting the back of my hand to keep from laughing when I read fic late at night at home. It's nice to be in college – don't have to worry about it anymore ;) I'm so happy that everyone is responding so well to Charlie and Sirius. I love those two, and I really think that Charlie makes some interesting points as a character, so it's good to know that everyone likes him. And you're right, Remus needs to talk to Ivy… that won't happen for a while, sorry to say. I promise that there's an overarching reason, though, and while it will seem to get much worse, it also gets much better… if that made any sense… I'm glad that you like Bruce too. As for Guinevere's past, it is harsh, but I saw no reason why she would have had an easy-going life up until that point – and in my brain she always struck me as the kind of person who could get hurt easily because she just isn't good at reading people and understanding them. She wouldn't see the signs that her marriage was a total sham until her husband started pushing her away. She's sad that way, poor girl, despite how tough she seems to be. Now go onward to find out what stoned pups are like! Thanks so much for telling me what you think!
Amber Magic: Heeheehee! Sneaky devil! I couldn't have put it better myself. You're absolutely right, it will take a while for Sirius and Guinevere to get it, but so far (I've written a lot more than has been posted – it's just getting the betas to edit it) I love how they've been developing. Nice and slow, and realistically. You like my OCs! Oh, that makes my life, just so you know. Bruce is such a cutie, I'm glad you like him. As for Ron and Hermione, they haven't been coming up yet (I had originally planned them to, but suddenly they weren't fitting in with how everything was working – I'm hoping they'll show up later, but right now I want to make sure that they don't show up in a place where they shouldn't be, which would be worse). Oh, I will make you love Sirius! One of my primary goals in life is to make sure that people understand why he's a great character – they keep writing him as a shallow, nasty bastard, and it makes me angry, because JKR did not intend him that way. He's flawed, but in a very understandable way. He needs slack. So I'm really glad that you're liking him, it makes me five hundred kinds of happy. Remus is my favorite too, of course, so I certainly will do a joyful dance because you're liking him. Ah, kicking Clayton's butt. I wish he would… Now read and I hope you like it all!
AND NOW, COMING AT YOU LIVE FROM… A COMPUTER SCREEN: a chapter?
Right, a chapter.
Chapter Six – Brownies, Invisibility, and Football
THEN – Marauder Seventh Year
James was practicing on the Quidditch Pitch. He'd likely be out for hours. So Sirius came up with a small plan to further his friendship with Remus.
He had tried so many times to get their bookish Marauder to share more with him, but Remus seemed intent on staying tight-lipped about everything. And Sirius really wanted to talk with him. Just to find out what really went on in that cautious, calculating mind.
He was waiting on the far side of the grounds, only three trees away from the Whomping Willow. It was secluded enough there that Sirius knew no one would bother them. He took a knife and cut into the baking pan in front of him. Oh, he definitely had a plan.
A few minutes later, a head of light brown hair appeared, making its way steadily over to where Sirius was sitting. The young man stopped in front of his friend on the ground and stared down at him with a look of bewilderment.
"You sent your owl to get me? That's a new level of laziness, even for you, Sirius."
Sirius rolled his eyes at the almost-scolding. "Oh, spare me, Remus. Sit down."
Remus did as he was requested, but he still eyed Sirius with suspicion. "Why are we here?"
"Because the common room is always crowded, and everyone always barges into our room without asking."
"That would be James and your fault. I can't help that you're the two most popular boys in school."
Sirius put up his hands, as if to defend himself from the incoming lecture that he knew was forming in Remus' head. "All right, I give up. So we're out here instead, okay?"
Remus' eyes found the baking pan at Sirius' feet. "What are those?" he asked, pointing.
Sirius smiled. He did have to give himself a certain amount of credit – he knew that Remus wouldn't be able to say no to chocolate, especially so soon after a full moon.
"Brownies. The house elves made me a batch. They claim that this is the best batch that they've made all year." Well, not really, but I'm sure that they are, considering that I told them what to put in them, and they didn't ask questions about the ingredients I gave them. Bless Andromeda for sending me the best birthday presents.
"There's chocolate chips in them… they're all nice and melted…. Want one?"
"Sure."
Sirius tried his best not to laugh as Remus took the brownie he had lifted from the pan for him and bit into the corner. He licked the crumbs from the corner of his mouth and allowed himself a moment to assess the flavor of the dessert.
And he was clearly satisfied because he took another bite.
Sirius got one for himself and proceeded to eat with his friend.
"So why are we out here again?"
"I never really told you the first time you asked," Sirius reminded him.
"Oh. Right." Remus was apparently okay with that answer because he didn't pursue the line of questioning any further than that.
Sirius was waiting for some sort of sign that everything was taking affect. It took another minute or two for him to get the response that he was looking for –
Remus started to giggle. For no apparent reason.
"You all right, Moony?"
"Oh, fine, just fine."
Sirius was beginning to feel the effects of the baked goods himself, so he was confident that he had not misread Remus' signs. Especially when Remus started giggling again.
"All right, what is it?"
Remus pursed his lips and tried to laugh through his nose to muffle the sound, which made him sound like an elephant. "Quidditch."
"Quidditch?"
"I just realized what a hilarious sport it is," Remus began, still laughing. "I mean, you spend the entire game trying to get a ball through a ring. How pointless is that?"
Though Sirius was well aware of the fact that he himself loved Quidditch, he had to admit that the brownies were doing their job, because at that moment, he found Remus' comment absolutely uproarious.
"You're right! Wow, I think that we should go tell James!"
Remus nodded and then put a hand up to stop Sirius. His body language was becoming comically exaggerated. "Yes, but not… right now…"
"Yeah, not now…"
"Padfoot, did you know that chocolate is an aphrodisiac?"
Sirius blinked stupidly. "Really?"
"Um-hm, and I think it's working because I feel better than I've felt in a long time."
"Meaning that you haven't been feeling good otherwise?"
Remus waved around a dismissing hand for a good while. "Well, the show definitely made my life far more complicated. I'm really glad it's over. The only thing left to stress out over is the N.E.W.T.s."
Sirius leaned forward in a conspiratory fashion. "The show made your life more complicated? What the bloody hell does that mean, Remus? Why do you always talk like everything has to be in bloody code?"
Remus giggled again, this time clapping a hand over his mouth to stifle the noise. "Because I'm a werewolf," he said rather loudly, Sirius fortunately having enough common sense left to shush him. "That makes me reluctant to say anything about how I feel."
The back of Sirius' brain was very happy about how far he was getting already into his friend's brain. "Why's that?"
Remus' over-bright demeanor suddenly changed to a drunken-and-confused-sort-of-angry manner. His eyes scrunched up and his mouth twisted nervously. "Oh, how should I know! That's just the way it is. But the show made me very uneasy because I thought that Ivy and I wouldn't be friends anymore once it was done."
"Why's that?" Sirius realized that he had repeated himself, but also realized that he didn't care.
"Because!" Remus shouted exasperatedly. "Well, I mean, it's just…. Well, you know, I think I'd be a little uncomfortable if one of my friends was feeling me up a few times every day."
"Ah-ha!" Sirius exclaimed. "So you admit to feeling her up!"
"Diana told me I had to! It wasn't really serious feeling up, just sort of the general idea!"
"A likely story!"
When Remus rolled his eyes they went all the way up into his head before coming back. "Oh, Sirius, I really don't care about what you think of the whole thing. You're probably just jealous because that show allowed me to go farther with a girl than you ever have."
Sirius' mouth dropped open, but he found he had nothing to say to that. When Remus was right, he was right. Instead, he donned his best social worker voice. "We're not here to discuss my problems with intimacy at school, Remus. We're here to talk about you."
Remus laughed harder than necessary, but remained on subject. "What is it with you anyway? You have half of the school falling at your feet, but the most you've ever done is snog with a few of them at inopportune times. There's got to be some deep-rooted reason for that kind of paranoia."
"It's not paranoia!" Sirius retorted. "The next time some girl asks you to snog with her, you see how comfortable you feel about doing it on the Quidditch pitch. Or the common room. Or the rooftop. Or the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Every place in this school is tainted by your own experiences. No place feels romantic or even like a good place to 'get in the mood'. You just think about the time that you and your friends sat up there all night telling stupid jokes, or the time that you had class or detention there, and then McGonagall's face is in your head, and that ruins the entire experience."
Remus shuddered. "That would make me sterile, I think."
"Precisely."
There was a short pause before Sirius finally blurted out something that he had wanted to know since fourth year.
"So when are you just going to snap, take Ivy up to our room, and shag her?"
Remus did a dramatic double take before grabbing another brownie from the baking pan. "What?"
"You heard me."
"Are you sure that wasn't a question that you intended to ask Prongs?"
"No, I'm practically positive that Prongs has no intention of shagging Ivy."
"I meant that you would change Ivy's name with Lily's and – "
"No, I definitely meant to ask you."
Remus took a bite of brownie before starting again, an incredulous look crossing his face. "Padfoot… Ivy and I are not that way…"
"Why not?"
"Because we have a perfectly fine friendship, that's why!" Remus exclaimed. "And we're not attracted to each other like that – "
"Not attracted to each other, my arse," Sirius mumbled under his breath quite loudly. "Are you really sure that's the reason?"
Remus nodded resolutely. "Of course it is."
Sirius sighed. "And you've never wanted to, then? With anyone?"
"My mind doesn't operate on that level," Remus said stuffily, though Sirius could tell he was about to laugh, and he wasn't sure if it was because Remus wasn't being serious or he was just being affected by brownies.
"Yeah, right," he shot back. There's not a teenage boy alive whose mind doesn't operate on that level…
Remus laughed oddly again. "I'm not gentlemanly all the time, am I?"
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "The only times I've ever seen you be uncivil were during the show and the time after I got Snape to go into the Whomping Willow."
Remus' eyes darkened somewhat at the mention of that, but his addled brain wasn't able to stay there for long, and he was soon off again. "Well, my thoughts aren't always saintly."
Sirius' head perked up. They were about to go somewhere intriguing. "Really? Like when?"
Remus shrugged. "There are just certain thoughts that I don't voice out loud."
"Such as…?"
"They don't really bear discussion, Sirius."
Sirius's head lowered. Every time he thought Remus would say something worthwhile…
"Ivy has this one nightgown that she has to watch out for," Remus began. He beckoned Sirius closer with a finger so he could whisper, though his whisper was very loud, which he clearly didn't realize. "That white one? When she stands by the window and there's enough moonlight – " he held a hand up to the side of his mouth as though he were whispering to Sirius alone, even though anyone within thirty feet could have heard him. " – it gets very see-through. I don't think she notices, but some of the other gents in the common room are beginning to stare."
Sirius widened his eyes in mock amazement. "Wow, I'm really surprised that you think about things like that, Remus. The rest of us blokes, we were beginning to wonder about you."
Remus looked slightly affronted. "I'm fucking human, Sirius…" he retorted in a lazy drawl.
That was exactly what Sirius wanted to hear. "So then you must think more about stuff like that than you let on to."
"I suppose," Remus responded before looking down at his hands. "These are really good brownies," he began, bringing his up to his face so he could stare at it properly.
"Amen to that."
A few seconds later, Remus started giggling again.
"What?"
"Your name is Black!"
Sirius nodded slowly. "Yes…"
"Your name is Black and your robes are black! That's hilarious!"
Sirius slowly understood and started laughing too. "You're right! How could I have never noticed that before! We should tell James!"
"Yes, but not right now."
"Yeah, not now…"
Sirius stared at the night sky for a moment, and another question snuck into his head. "What's your favorite color?"
"What?"
"Favorite color. We've been friends for so long and I've never asked you."
"It's blue."
"What kind of blue?"
"What kind of blue?" Remus repeated confusedly.
"Yeah, what shade like?"
"Periwinkle blue."
Sirius grinned slyly. "Like the color of Ivy's eyes?"
"Yeah…. Her eyes are really entrancing. I remember being shocked when I met her – it's not every day that you meet a person who has eyes that are your favorite color – and I thought, 'she has the most beautiful eyes of anyone I know'."
"No, Lily has the most beautiful eyes of anyone we know."
"Hmmm…" Remus pondered that for a moment, as if he couldn't make up his mind.
"Well, my favorite color is black," Sirius tossed in.
"As if no one could guess," Remus said with an eye roll. He started to laugh again.
"What?"
"Your name is Black, your robes are black, and your favorite color is black too!"
They both guffawed loudly, Sirius tipping over on his side.
Suddenly, a voice came from a dozen yards away. "Sirius, Remus, what you doing?"
They turned and spotted a young boy with bright red hair and a navy blue sweater sporting the letter 'B'.
"Bill, go back to the common room!" they hastily shouted in unison.
"All right, all right!" the boy cried with his hands up in the air. He turned around and took off like a shot toward the castle.
Sirius shook his head and ran a hand absentmindedly through his perfect hair. "Second years," he mumbled, as if they caused him trouble on a daily basis.
"He's a good student," Remus threw in randomly.
"Remus, how do you feel about Ivy, then?" Sirius blurted out. He dazedly realized that he was coming back to that subject a lot, but he wanted answers, and he wasn't getting enough. He hoped that his comment was unexpected enough to throw his friend off-guard.
Remus paused for a moment and seemed to be thinking it over. But what he said was, "Sirius, let's sing something."
Sirius could see that Remus was getting particularly disjointed now, and it was probably a good idea to humor him. "What do you want to sing?"
"I don't know. Pick something."
Sirius sat still, pondering his possibilities. Finally, he came out with –
"I am the very model of a modern major general – "
"No!" shouted Remus, cutting him off. "Not that one! Please! Anything but that one!"
"Okay."
Sirius took another minute or so to think of a new one.
"I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in
And stops my mind from wandering
Where it will go…"
Remus smiled and sang the second part of the verse.
"I'm filling the cracks that ran through the door,
And kept my mind from wandering
Where it will go…"
Sirius came in with an "Oooooo", and then they both joined in on the chorus.
"And it really doesn't matter
If I'm wrong, I'm right.
Where I belong I'm right
Where I belong
See the people standing there
Who disagree and never win,
And wonder why they don't get in my door?"
"And what are you two doing out here?"
Sirius shrieked like a girl and Remus cracked up again.
"Ivy!" Sirius cried. "What are you… - it is way past your bedtime young woman!"
Ivy raised an amused eyebrow. "Really? I could say the same about you, I suppose. Now what are you two doing out here?"
"Padfoot," Remus whispered in the same overloud voice he had been using earlier, "don't tell Ivy what I said about her earlier."
"Okay, Moony," Sirius whispered back at the same volume. "I'm sure that she can't hear you right now."
Remus nodded. "It's a good thing too."
Sirius rolled his eyes.
Ivy glanced back and forth between the two of them interestedly. "Okay, I have a feeling I don't want to know, so why don't you two just come back with me to the common room. Lily says that if you two aren't back before ten, friends or no friends, she will perform her duties as Head Girl and report you."
"Lily's no fun," Sirius said quite seriously.
"Well, you better come with me anyway."
Remus and Sirius stood up giggling, and began following Ivy back toward the castle. As they were walking, she happened to glance back at what Sirius was carrying.
"Sirius, is that what I think it is?"
"What?" Sirius said nonchalantly, hiding the pan behind his back.
"Hold it." Ivy stopped and turned to face Sirius. She took out her wand, and muttering "Lumos", she used the lit tip to examine his eyes. "Sirius! You didn't!"
"Oh, we're fine!" Sirius exclaimed. "Stop pissing your knickers about it!"
"Does Remus even know what that was?" she questioned scathingly, turning her wand on the brown-haired young man who was trying his best not to laugh.
"Er… not exactly…"
"Sirius!"
Ivy began checking Remus closely, as if she were frightened that he was going to have an allergic reaction or possibly explode.
"Oh, Ivy, you needn't worry yourself, I'm fine," Remus assured her. Sirius thought that maybe the effects were wearing off his friend, but then Remus kissed Ivy on the forehead. "But it is very sweet of you to worry."
Ivy smiled at Remus good-naturedly, although her eyes were glaring daggers at Sirius. "Thank you, Remus. But I think it's time that we all got back to the castle." She pulled James' Invisibility Cloak out from her bag.
"Where'd you get that?" Sirius asked hazily.
"James let me borrow it to get you two back."
"Oh."
Throwing the cloak over the three of them and kicking Sirius when he stepped on her foot accidentally, Ivy led them up to the doors of the castle.
NOW
"Ouch! Sirius, you stepped on my foot!"
"Sorry!"
Harry let out a deep breath through his nose and stepped tentatively on his just-injured foot. "I can't believe I let you two talk me into this."
"It was Sirius' idea!"
"Oh bollocks, Remus, you practically jumped at the idea when I suggested it!"
"And in case you didn't remember, Sirius, just because no one can see us at the moment, does not mean that no one will hear us!"
"Both of you, be quiet!" Harry hissed. The two men went silent instantly. "Better…. Was this how you were with my dad when you went out under this thing?"
"Actually," Remus supplied, "I was usually the one trying to quiet Sirius and your father."
"And there were usually four of us," Sirius added. "Well, up until fifth year when Remus had his growth spurt and it became practically impossible to fit four of us under the cloak."
"I had trouble fitting just three under it in my third year!" said Harry, exasperated. "How did you fit four for so long?"
"By moving very slowly," said Remus.
"That and we taught ourselves how to cast Disillusionment Charms in our fifth year," Sirius said with a sly half-smile.
"So why aren't we using those now?"
"One of the uncanny abilities Ivy brought back from her travels in the east," Remus explained. "She has a knack for being able to spot people using Disillusionment Charms. It's like she has another sense that picks them up."
"The two of you," Sirius moaned. "Couldn't use them on you either because you could always hear us a mile away."
Remus flashed his Marauder grin.
"Yes, smile all you want, you tricky devil, but now you need to be more worried about how we're going to spy on that wife of yours."
"We're not spying!" Remus insisted. "We're just keeping an eye out for her."
"Otherwise known as spying."
"It is rather like spying, Remus…" Harry conceded carefully.
"I just want to make sure that Mr. Wilcott doesn't try anything. I have a right to protect my spouse, and I think he could be dangerous."
"Yeah right, dangerous how? With his 'Flirtation Method of Death'?"
"Bugger off, Sirius."
The three made their way slowly outside where they knew Ivy would be walking around with Clayton. She was reinforcing the protective charms on the grounds to make sure that no intruders could get into the castle, and had asked the Texan to join her so he could observe proper methods of shielding and defending a school.
Ivy was near the front gate, wand held aloft, muttering incantations. The spells guarding Hogwarts were very complicated, and required time and concentration. However, as the three men approached, Ivy lowered her wand and began glancing around.
"Somethin' wrong?" Clayton asked.
Ivy's eyes searched the area meticulously, but she could not see anything. Still, the sounds of the wind and trees seemed incorrect.
"No…" she said quietly. "I just feel strange."
"Strange how?"
Ivy shifted her shoulders uncomfortably. "I feel like we're being watched," she confessed.
Clayton took a step closer to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and drawing her to him. "Well, why should that bother ya? We're not doing anythin' we shouldn't be doin', right? So it's not like you got somethin' ta hide from anyone. We're just standing out here makin' sure that the school is safe. We're not locked in an intimate embrace or anything like that – "
Ivy allowed a small smile and laughed lightly. "That's a silly thing to say," she said, stepping out of his grasp and back toward the gate, wand at the ready once more.
Clayton shook his head, as if he were dazed, and stepped up right behind her. "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry, that was a strange thing to say, it's just… well, you remind me of an old love of mine. You look a lot like her, and you sound like her too."
"What happened to her?" Ivy asked absently, her mind already at work on beginning the incantation again.
"She died," Clayton whispered.
Ivy halted and turned back around to face him. "My God, I'm so sorry. How did it happen?"
"She was mauled to death by a werewolf."
Ivy gasped and covered her mouth with a hand.
Sirius muttered "Muffliato" in Ivy's direction to make sure that she wouldn't hear them.
"I can't believe Ivy's falling for this! That's one of the oldest tricks in the book, the good old 'I lost the love of my life, please comfort me' ploy."
"And it's just the thing that Ivy would fall for," Remus said, shaking his head sadly. "After all, we were lucky that we found each other again. We could have had the same story." He tried to listen again to what Clayton was saying. "Why would he say that a werewolf killed her, though?"
"A good way to make sure that she writes off any nasty thing that he might say to you in a heated moment," Harry suggested.
Remus nodded slowly. "Yes, I suppose that makes sense. She'll be less likely to think about the rude things he says to me now."
"He's tricky, all right," Sirius muttered. "The real question is, what are you planning on doing about it?"
"I can't do anything about it, Sirius."
"Why the bloody hell not!"
Remus sighed. "She really does need the help – "
" – So tell her to find someone else to help."
"No, Sirius," Remus said firmly. "If I did that, I would have to explain why I would want her to do that, and I can't tell her what I think of Clayton."
"Why not?" Sirius asked exasperatedly. "She's your wife, you're supposed to share everything with her!"
"Because it would make me sound like a jealous cad, that's why not!" Remus barked.
"You are a jealous cad! That's why we're out here on this beautiful, sunny day underneath an Invisibility Cloak with an impressionable youth!"
"Er, could we please leave my impressionability out of this?" Harry interjected.
"Sirius, you don't know the first thing about marriage, so I don't think you're the one to lecture me on how to handle my own wife!" said Remus, his voice rising with each word.
"You haven't been married very long yourself, mind you," Sirius sneered back. "And if you had listened to me a long time ago, you might have been married much longer, so maybe you should try listening to me for a change and see how it works out!"
Remus' eyes widened angrily, and he was about to come out with something quite rude to tell his friend, but Harry stepped in before him.
"Both of you stop it right now!" he shouted. "This is not helping anything, least of all the rather large headache I've developed while listening to you two. Now, I think that we should go back to the castle, since it looks like Ivy is fine and doesn't require any assistance, invisible or not."
Remus and Sirius both blanched for a few moments, wanting to argue, but too caught up in how much sense Harry had made to do anything about it. They turned tail, and slowly made their way back up to the castle.
Once inside and in an empty hallway, they pulled off the cloak and looked at each other.
"Remus," Sirius began, "you really need to watch it, mate."
Remus passed a hand over his face, letting his fingers rest against his lips for a moment. "I know," he said quietly.
"Because that side of yours that you don't want anyone to see is coming out quite often now."
"I know."
There was a long silence.
Harry's head suddenly perked up. "Did you hear something?"
Sirius and Remus both shook their heads. There was another long pause.
"Harry, you want to go find Ginny, or something?" Sirius suggested.
Harry took the hint and slipped away.
"Come on, Moony," Sirius whispered, trying to find his friend's eyes, which were currently searching the floor with intense fervor. "Tell me what's going on. I can't solve anything, but you shouldn't keep it to yourself."
Remus bit his lip for a moment before staring up at the ceiling, still not comfortable looking his friend in the face. "Sirius, she belongs to all of me. As horribly chauvinist as that sounds, it is still very true. I belong to her and she belongs to me. And when he's too close, it's all of me that feels angry. It's all of me that is sickened…"
His voice dropped to the softest whisper as his eyes slowly drifted to the hem of his friend's robe. "…It's all of me that wants to rip him to shreds for even the smallest touch."
Sirius nodded. "It's okay to feel that way, you know."
"No, it isn't," Remus said urgently. "It isn't because of what I could do."
Sirius sighed. "Remus, we both know that you wouldn't – "
"I wouldn't?" Remus interrupted. "Are you so sure? You don't really understand, do you, Sirius? The stakes are so much higher now. I have more to lose. So much higher…"
"Remus," Sirius started reasonably, "you can't let him have that kind of control over you. He's not worth that, not in a million years."
Remus finally looked up at him gravely. "We'll see, won't we?"
The shack was beyond repair. He was surprised that no one had decided to tear it down, as it was clearly no longer serving a purpose. The back half was on the ground and the front half looked prepared to fall any minute. Still, it would provide shelter against wind, and some rain and snow, provided it wasn't too severe. Weeds and overgrowth were standing tall around it, so no one could see in through the windows, even if they had not been boarded up.
Sirius eyed the place suspiciously before turning to his partner. "How do we know that she's here again?"
Guinevere walked slowly and carefully toward the shack's door, glancing around her every few feet. Her violet gaze pierced through the out-of-control shrubbery. "We have people who try to keep an eye on this one. She's a special case."
"I'm still not quite sure I understand what you mean by that."
She stepped on a twig, the cracking noise it made causing her to jump and snap her head back over her shoulder. When she realized what happened she shook her head and looked back to Sirius. "Didn't you read the report?"
"Of course, I did," Sirius replied, irritated. "But you've had first-hand experience with her, and I want to know what you know."
Guinevere sighed. "She doesn't trust strangers. That's the first thing that you need to know."
"Oh. Wonderful."
"She is very skittish and has a terrible temper. Sometimes she bites when she's not transformed. You see, her parents didn't believe in the whole magic thing, and when she had her first transformation they threw her out onto the street. It scared them too much."
Sirius paused behind Guinevere. "That's horrible, how could they do that to their own child?"
Guinevere shrugged. "Some people just don't make the best parents. And since she's spent her time being raised by criminals mostly, and some of the most dangerous werewolves in the United Kingdom, we have to watch our step with her."
She stopped outside the door, dropping her voice to a tiny whisper. "The reason that we're going in this time is because of you. We've been trying to find someone to connect with her so that she'll listen to us better, but she either fears or hates everyone from our office. We're worried that if we don't get through to her, one of these days she'll do something stupid or dangerous. Then she'll be in the hands of the Werewolf Registry and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. We don't want that to happen."
Sirius nodded resolutely. "Got it."
Guinevere shot him a saddened look. "Keep in mind that she's really only a girl. Seventeen, and never lived in the real world as we know it. She may try to act older, but she's still a child."
Guinevere opened the door with great effort, as the hinges were rusted and the frame had tilted enough to make it hard to move. She lit her wand, but kept the light low. Sirius followed her example. After taking a few steps in, she stopped.
"Sorsha? Sorsha, are you in here? We need to talk with you. It's Guinevere, Sorsha. Please answer if you can hear me."
They waited for a long time. No sound reached their ears.
Then finally, a small, hoarse voice came out of the darkness.
"I'm not a child."
"What?" Guinevere responded, now trying to find out where the voice was calling from.
"I heard what you said outside. I'm not a child."
There was something in that small voice that made Sirius' stomach turn. It was so calm and young. Yet it gave him the feeling of a predator pretending to be tame and sweet while stalking it's prey. He raised his wand, trying to find something in the darkness. But he saw nothing, and he could not pinpoint where the voice was coming from. It seemed to be on the air itself.
"You brought someone new with you."
"Yes," said Guinevere, still looking around carefully, now searching the ceiling. "He's my new partner, he has a lot of experience with your kind."
"Experience?" came the curious and smooth inquiry. "What does that mean?"
"One of my best friends is a werewolf," Sirius called out, trying to break the ice. "Perhaps you've heard of him, his name's Remus Lupin."
A depraved cackle sounded through the house, beautiful but full of sin. "Lupin? That docile little cub? He's not a real werewolf."
"Why's that?" Sirius asked, thinking that it was probably good just to keep her talking.
"He doesn't embrace the madness. He's afraid of what lies within." The sultry laugh echoed again. "I met him once when he was having trouble staying on his feet. He was so frightened of himself. He wouldn't even howl at the moon!"
Sirius didn't want to hear about how Remus had lived in the years that he had been in prison. It was the one part of his friend's life that he feared learning about because he knew that he would blame himself.
"But you…"
Sirius' back stiffened and he spun around. How she had managed to sneak up on him like that, he would never know. What he did know was that there was a skinny girl standing in front of him, whose ribs showed through the thin shift she was wearing. Her brown hair was tangled and matted, her face covered in dirt. Her eyes were round and sunken in, and the nails on her hands were long and looked quite sharp. The shoes that she wore were clearly not hers, as they were about three sizes too big and made for a man. However, she still retained an eerie beauty about her, partly due to her youth, and party because of her eyes. They were brown and wide, with flecks of gold throughout. Full of anger and passion.
Sirius backed away one step.
"…you are different from all the other people who have come to talk to me."
Sirius found that he was leaning back away from her out of instinct. He had the distinct impression that she was smelling him. "How's that?" he asked, angry at the unbidden tremor that had found its way to his voice.
She leaned forward and stared into his eyes carefully. Sirius could not have moved, even if she had placed a wand up against his heart.
Her eyes opened wide and she backed away. "You…"
Somewhere inside of him a voice came up, demanding that he stop acting as though he were frightened of this girl. He took a step toward her. "I…?"
She stumbled backward even further. Something in her head had sounded off as she took in his scent and gazed into his dark eyes. Something had shouted caution and threat. She did not want him there anymore. She often found it fun to play with the men who came to see her, especially since most seemed to find her strangely attractive. They served their purpose. But this one needed to leave. Right now.
"You stay away!" she shouted, holding out her hands and clawing the air in warning. "You can't be here, you're a monster! A monster with secrets! You have secrets! Get OUT!"
Guinevere stared at Sirius in confusion. She wondered why someone would say that about him, of all people. The man who kept everything on his sleeve.
And then something happened that she would have never expected. A strange look came over Sirius' face. An oddly perceptive look. Without taking his eyes from the girl, he spoke.
"Guinevere, I need to you leave."
"Leave?"
"Yes, I'll let you know when you can come back in, but right now you have to leave."
Guinevere did not know what was going on, but she was sure that she didn't like it. What was he going to do with Sorsha anyway?
"Why?"
Sirius still kept his eyes focused on the girl, who was now backing into a corner and sinking to floor.
"We have to reach an understanding."
"What sort of understanding?"
"Guinevere… leave."
She could not argue with the tone in his voice and the way his jaw had set. She just knew that she couldn't. Not when he looked like that.
When Sirius heard Guinevere's footsteps creak at the doorframe, he approached Sorsha slowly.
"No! Stay away!"
"You can sense it, can't you?"
The girl looked up, confused and furious.
"You can probably smell it too." When Sorsha looked at him with more hostility and confusion, he tried to explain. "Tell me what I smell like."
"Leather," she answered impudently.
"And?"
Her eyes narrowed. She hated stupid games. "You smell like firewhiskey and other werewolves. And you smell like grass, and parchment and ink, and your own scent. And oil and smoke from a car or a motorbike."
He smirked at her. "You're leaving one out, aren't you?"
"No."
"Yes, you are. Tell the truth."
"You don't tell the truth, I don't have to tell you the truth," she mumbled quickly, like someone who was accustomed to talking to herself.
"If you tell me the truth, I'll tell you my secret," Sirius baited.
"Can't trust you…"
"Why not?"
"Because you're a man. Because you're not one of us. Because you belong to that stupid bureau that pretends to help us. Because you look like the kind of man that uses people. Because she doesn't trust you."
Sirius felt a quick sting at the fact that Sorsha could sense Guinevere's distrust of him, but he pressed on. "And?"
"Because you smell like a dog."
Sirius grinned. "Ah… a dog."
"Yes, now go away."
"But I promised I'd tell you my secret."
"I don't want to know your secret. Go away."
Sirius shook his head. "I can't take it back, I made you a promise. So now you're just going to have to watch."
She glanced up sharply at him. "Watch?"
"Um-hm."
And with a resounding "pop" there was a large black dog on the floor, wagging its tail eagerly.
Sorsha stared at the animal for a moment before trying to back even further into the wall.
"No! Go away! I don't care about your secrets! I don't want to know about your magic! Get out, get out, get out!"
Sirius popped back into existence and came over to crouch beside her. He smiled kindly. "Now, why are you so afraid of a dog?"
She shot forward, her face only a few inches from his. "I'm not afraid! Not afraid, but dogs are bad…"
Sirius cocked his head. "Bad how?"
"Police have dogs…" she mumbled quietly to herself.
"I see."
"No you don't see!" she shouted fiercely. "You don't see anything!" She paused for a moment, then looked up at him again. "And you still have secrets…"
"What secrets?" Sirius asked carefully.
"You have them. I can smell those too."
"What are you talking about?" he inquired anxiously.
The girl leaned forward, and Sirius was afraid that she was going to try and kiss him. Instead, she did something much worse.
In one swift motion she pushed his jacket off his shoulders and down to the floor. Grabbing his arm and yanking it toward her, she used her sharp fingernails to rip off the buttons on the cuff of his sleeve and push the fabric back. She cried out when she found what she was looking for, and she traced her fingernails over it harshly, bringing back memories that Sirius had thought were buried forever…
"Get off!" he shouted, drawing his arm back with such a force that her nails scratched into his flesh and drew blood. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I know what those marks mean," she said slowly and deliberately. "You were in that prison. They marked you…"
"Yes, yes they did," Sirius snapped hastily. He used his wand to repair the buttons on his cuff, and pulled his sleeve as far down as it would go. He then pulled his jacket off the floor, slipped it on and stood up. When he began crossing to the door, she stood and walked in front of him.
Why does that bother you?" she asked with a wicked smile. "I know men who've been far more disfigured. I've known people with marks all over their bodies."
"They probably wanted them there," Sirius hissed.
"You shouldn't be ashamed."
"I'm not."
"They hurt you," she said suddenly, a real look of sympathy crossing her features. The look faded, and was replaced by a seductive stare. She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I can make the pain go away…"
Sirius grabbed the girl by the shoulders and pushed her upright. "Sorsha, stop this. We're here to help you. Why don't you want to be helped?"
Sorsha's eyes narrowed confusedly. "People don't help," she whispered. "People take. People hurt."
"Not all people," Sirius whispered back, searching her eyes. "Some want to help. They want you to be safe."
Sorsha stepped back. "Why?"
Sirius smiled. "That's a stupid question."
The girl tilted her head questioningly. "What will you do?"
"We will be here for you, whenever you need us," Sirius told her. "Do you want that?"
She took a long moment. Then she nodded hesitantly.
"Will you be staying here for a while?"
The girl nodded again, glancing around at the walls as though she had never really seen the place before.
"Then we will be back to check on you."
Another nod.
Sirius moved to the door, which was still open, shedding the last day's light into the shack. "Guinevere?"
His partner came back in, a curious look on her face. Sirius ignored it for the time being.
"Sorsha has told me that she will be staying here for a while. She's says that it's all right if we check on her."
Guinevere's features took on a look of amazement. She turned to the girl, smiling. "Well, that's… wonderful news. We look forward to seeing you again, Sorsha."
"That would be good," the girl responded distractedly.
"Then we'll be back soon," Sirius said, coming to her side.
Sorsha looked up at him, but this time her gaze was clear. "Yes. I will see you soon."
Sirius grinned and winked at her. "Good."
As he and Guinevere left the shack, Sirius could feel eyes on him. Upon looking to his left, he was surprised to find that the eyes were his partner's.
"What?"
Guinevere shook her head. "How did you do it?"
Sirius smirked smugly. "Whatever do you mean?"
"We've sent twenty of our people to her in the last two years. None of them were successful. How did you do it?"
"I talked to her like a person instead of a case file. And she learned some of my secrets. That made her more comfortable."
Guinevere raised her eyebrows at him. "Oh, I see. So when do I get to learn some of your secrets?"
"Never."
"Why's that?"
"Can't trust you."
Guinevere's mouth dropped open. "You can trust that girl, but you can't trust me?"
When Sirius finally turned back to look at her, she could see his smile by starlight and it resembled that of a Cheshire cat. "No, can't trust you. You know too much about me."
"Why do I get the feeling that I've been wrong about that?" Guinevere said softly. She instantly hoped that he hadn't heard that. It wouldn't do to become friends with a man that she hated so extraordinarily.
But walking two paces ahead of her, Sirius Black allowed himself a small victory skip, and called the day very well-spent.
Sirius was not used to being out in the muggle world like this. Certainly he had hid among farmers and other rural people in the time he had tried to avoid recapture before his name was cleared, but he was not used to being in cities, or large stadiums like the one he was entering. And to top it off, he was there with the only person in the world who could make him feel more uncomfortable than he already was.
They had actually been getting along rather well. Almost too well, if truth were told. He was waiting for the next explosion. They hadn't had a good screaming fight in nearly a week. And she was starting to seem like a rather nice person to him. That was disturbing on a whole other level.
"We have to go up another flight before we get to our seats," Guinevere called out over the mumble of the crowd, snapping Sirius out of his haze.
Sirius looked up above him to see how far the stairs went up. "The stadium isn't quite as high as a Quidditch one," he mused out loud.
"Well, your dealing with a game that's played on the ground," Guinevere stated reasonably. "The better seats are actually the lower ones in this case because you're closer to all the action."
Sirius smirked at how she seemed to calculate everything without any hint of emotion behind her words. "Ever the logical Ravenclaw."
She wagged a finger at him, a smile playing at the corners of the mouth. "Ah-ah, Black, we've been refraining from house insults very well lately. I haven't called you an ego-centric, fame-seeking Gryffindor in quite some time, so I think you should bite your tongue when referring to my house."
"It wasn't an insult," Sirius said honestly.
She blinked for a moment, having to look back on his exact words, as it was clear that she didn't believe him. A bashful look had the grace to flit across her features as she realized her misunderstanding. "Oh, I… well…. We better find our seats."
Sirius nodded, fighting back the urge to grin playfully. They didn't argue so much now, but what was replacing the fights was… intriguing. He wasn't sure what it was yet, but it gave him a real thrill in the pit of his stomach every time he got the upper hand.
They finally reached the top of the flight and Guinevere moved down an aisle and some stairs to get them to their seats. Sirius got in next to her and gazed out over the grassy field, his elbows on his knees.
"So break it down for me."
"Beg your pardon?"
That little thrill in his stomach showed up again. This time he did grin. "Tell me what we're going to be watching here."
Guinevere nodded in understanding and leaned forward like him. "Well, we're watching the Reds – Liverpool – and the Gunners – that's Arsenal – play against each other in this match."
"And they're trying to get one black and white ball into the giant net of the opposing team?" Sirius asked in a disbelieving sort of voice.
Guinevere rolled her eyes at the very-near jibe. "I know the nets are bigger than Quidditch rings, but they're kicking the ball from the ground. It's harder to aim with your feet."
"And there are ten players?"
"Eleven if you count the goalie."
Sirius snickered. "What a strange name for a Keeper."
Guinevere sighed exasperatedly. "Look, if you keep comparing it to Quidditch than there was really no point in you coming because you aren't going to enjoy the match."
He held up a hand defensively. "I'm just kidding. Really, I'll be good, I promise."
She snorted. "Good is not something that I think you're capable of being, Black."
He glanced at her sideways. "No, I suppose not."
Guinevere caught the look he had thrown, and rolled her eyes at him once more. Then she clasped her hands together and placed her chin on them, gazing intently at the field.
Sirius frowned momentarily. "Something I said?"
She shook her head. "Just waiting for the players to get out on the field."
"Who are we rooting for?"
"I'm a fan of the Gunners, personally. The Reds are a good team, but I like Arsenal better. And we're at their stadium, so they'll hopefully have the advantage today."
"Sounds good. What's the standard formation?"
"They call it a 4-3-3."
"Which means?"
Guinevere was clearly enjoying knowing more about a sporting event than Sirius did. She pointed to the field accordingly and explained. "Four defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards. The forwards usually are two wingers, who assist the one striker. The striker is the player who scores most of the goals. We'll probably be seeing Thierry Henry today. He's the striker for the Gunners."
The players all came out onto the field and the crowd went wild. Sirius heard cheers and chants, and various crazy fans that were holding banners and wearing funny hats. It wasn't so different from a Quidditch game after all.
He ended up being surprised at the amount of fervor the players showed. At one point, one of the players dove to the ground and let the ball bounce off his head to make sure that his team would still have possession of it.
"What do they call that move?" he asked, impressed.
"A diving header," Guinevere called back. Soon she was yelling at the field referee. "Come on! Give him a yellow card for that! He's not allowed to charge someone from behind! Call it!"
Sirius smiled at her exasperation. It was interesting to see her get passionate about something. She was just as bad as the fans around her.
"Chip shot! Come on, Henry, you can do it! Right over his head!"
"Whatever she said!" Sirius shouted, clapping his hands toward the field.
All in all, they were having a great time. Guinevere explained things whenever Sirius got lost, and let him know when he should be pissed off or elated. He eventually got the hang of it, and started shouting with her.
"Fabulous cut off! Keep him on the sidelines, that's it!"
"Great defense, Lauren! Now, get it out to Bergkamp so we can score before the period is up!"
Unfortunately, Arsenal lost the game. That still didn't stop Guinevere and Sirius from leaving the field in stitches.
"Did you see the guy who was so smashed that he fell into the row below him and squashed some ten year old kid?"
Guinevere nodded, clapping a hand over her mouth. "I don't think you could've missed it. That child will be scarred for life; the man was four times his size and covered in body paint."
"That I don't understand," Sirius managed to get out through his guffaws. "I mean, we always had people who painted their faces and the like during Quidditch matches, but the entire upper half of your body? That's something we could all stand to not see."
Guinevere was laughing so hard and she tripped on some uneven sidewalk and grabbed hold of Sirius' shoulder to stop herself from falling. Sirius' arms flew to her waist to keep her steady.
"Whoa!" he laughed, releasing her against his instincts. "You all right there?"
"Yes," Guinevere giggled. "I just missed a step. Sorry, I nearly pulled you with me."
"Nah, it'd take a lot more than a little tug from someone as slight as you to throw me off-balance."
Guinevere stopped short, a sharp glint in her eye. She stuck her foot out in front of Sirius' and swept back, knocking Sirius way off-kilter. He yelped and braced himself against the brick wall next to him to keep from tipping over.
She chortled hysterically at his near-spill. "That sounded suspiciously like a challenge," she explained. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."
Sirius pushed back from the wall, looking rather angrily at her. Guinevere stopped giggling immediately, afraid that she had gone too far.
Then he cracked a lop-sided grin that made Guinevere's head go a little fuzzy. "Minx."
She flashed a coy smile. "Only when provoked."
Sirius stepped closer, smile still in perfect place. "That sounded like a challenge…"
Guinevere wasn't a fool. She could read body language just fine, and she wasn't sure that she was okay with where this seemed to be going. She was already having a hard enough time processing the fact that she had just flirted with Sirius Black without even thinking about it. She wasn't the sort of person who flirted all the time, or even flirted on occasion for fun. She never did anything without a purpose, but she just had with him.
She stepped back. Sirius had the sense to pause.
Guinevere was glad that he hadn't touched her. If he had, she wasn't sure that she would have been able to control herself. Not because she was desperate or really needed attention, but Sirius Black was just one of those men. She knew that one touch with the right intentions behind it, and she would have a hard time saying no. He had that sort of effect, that sort of charisma. And she really didn't even know if they were friends yet. It wouldn't do good to lose her head already over some silly high after a football game.
"No challenge," she said carefully. Sirius took the hint and backed off gracefully, managing not to look slighted in the process. She was jealous of him for that. "Just the suggestion that maybe you don't know the real me."
He nodded slowly, the corners of his lips tilting up gently. How he was able to keep his composure at times like this was beyond her. She was so easily embarrassed and angered and hurt that his self-possession really did infuriate her.
He looked down the avenue, watching the fans disperse into various pubs and nightclubs. Music was pouring in from all sides of the street, along with the drunken rumblings of the bar patrons. Sirius wasn't about to give up in the midst of such perfect surroundings. He had to keep her out a while longer.
"Want to get a drink?"
Guinevere looked around suspiciously. "Er, I don't know if – "
"Come on, one drink won't kill you," he argued easily.
"I'm not good at holding my liquor," she confessed. "A glass or two of wine is usually okay, but one shot of firewhiskey makes me easy to take advantage of."
Sirius smirked. "Good to know." Guinevere looked like she had a smart comeback for that one, but he was too fast for her. "But I don't think these are the sort of places that serve firewhiskey anyway. Let's just do it, don't think about it. I'll get a beer and you can get a spritzer or something."
Guinevere growled in frustration. "God, you are relentless and unprincipled!"
"Thank you."
"How do you manage to take everything so lightly?"
"It's a good survival skill. You don't get hurt as easily."
Guinevere blinked. But this time, Sirius had no smartass way to change the subject. He didn't even look happy with himself for revealing the information. He was staring carefully at the sidewalk, as if the cracks in it were the most interesting thing in the world.
Guinevere tried cautiously to think of something to say. Just as she took a breath to say who-knows-what, Sirius cut her off again.
"Let's just pretend that last bit never happened, okay?"
She nodded uncomfortably. "Right. You were never a real person tonight."
"Good. I can keep my reputation as a heartless, womanizing bastard."
She smiled at his obvious attempt to make the conversation lighthearted again. "Undoubtedly."
He looked up at her and motioned down the street with his head. "Come on. The pub up there looks like a good place. One drink."
She hesitated a moment more before beginning to follow him down the street. He seemed thoroughly pleased with his convincing skills, and tried to make her feel comfortable by not gloating about it. Once they got to the pub door, however, Guinevere paused. The sound was very loud. And there were so many people. Just the sight of the crowded room made her want to gag.
"I don't think I can do this."
Sirius grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Yes, you can."
"I get claustrophobic in the supermarket sometimes. Have I ever told you that?"
Sirius was truly astounded at that confession. "Your brother's right, you know. You really should get out more, it would be good for you."
It was the wrong thing to say.
Guinevere's eyes widened, and she stepped back in disgust. "My brother…" she whispered. "My brother…. You've been talking to that little prat, haven't you? He asked you to do this, he's trying to get you to loosen me up. That sneaky little wanker, I'll kill him."
Sirius shook his head. "No, that's not what this is about."
"And you," she hissed, backing away from him entirely and leading him down the block while she walked backwards, "you have been playing me like a bass drum in a marching band, you cowardly, evil – "
"All right, despite the fact that I have no idea what a marching band is, I want to get this completely clear: Bruce did not tell me to do this." Well, he did, Sirius admitted. But that's not the reason I'm here.
"I don't believe that for a second," Guinevere cackled cynically.
"Oh, please, I'm tired of doing this!" Sirius said exasperatedly. He reached out to grab hold of her. Maybe he could shake the paranoia out of her.
But he never got the chance. She ran.
"Guinevere!" he called chasing after her.
He had run three blocks before following her into an empty alley. By the time he got there, she had Apparated away. He had a funny feeling that he'd heard something akin to a sob before he had reached the alley, but he wasn't sure.
Bloody brilliant, Black, he swore at himself. One step forward and two steps back, as usual.
There we are! Hope you liked drugged brownies and Inivisibility Cloaks, and Sorsha, and Football games! Lots more to come! Next chapter is a bit (okay, really) depressing, but we're getting into a lot of the dramatic tension soon, so prepare yourselves. Please review, I love hearing from every one of you (as I'm sure you realize because I take such pains to answer you back – I love talking to you guys ;) )! Oh, and before I forget, credit goes to David Bowie for the song Rebel Rebel, used in the last chapter, and The Beatles for the song Fixing A Hole, used in this chapter.