Disclaimer: We own nothing. Really.

A/N: Yes, it's been a couple of years. We got busy. Please accept our humblest apologies and suffer us to live a little longer. Sploogal's typing up the few chapters that we wrote a couple of years ago and didn't get around to putting up, then we'll see about writing some fresh stuff.

And now, the long awaited continuation…

Chapter 60(!)

"What have we got next?" Sirius asked.

James glanced at his friend's timetable. "Care of Magical Creatures," he groaned, "with the Hufflepuffs."

"What's wrong with Hufflepuffs? Helga's a Hufflepuff," Sirius protested at James' tone.

"Exactly.'

The girls joined them on the way to class.

"Hey Sirius! How are you?" Lily asked cheerfully.

"Good as possible," Sirius replied and was about to continue when Professor Kettleburn began talking.

"Today we will continue learning about Hippogriffs. Please divide into groups of two and I will allocate you each a Hippogriff."

As the professor began calling out names, Helga hesitantly approached the boys. "Sirius? Could I partner with you?" she asked timidly.

"Sirius is going with us as he needs friends to guide him around," James said, glowering at Helga.

Helga looked from one face to another, her eyes finally resting on Sirius. When he said nothing, she turned away with tears in her eyes.

"Why'd you guys tell Helga to go away?" Sirius asked. "Where is she? I want to talk to her."

"Well, we'd rather not talk to her right now, and since we have to go everywhere with you, we'd have to put up with it," James snapped.

"Oh, so now you have to go everywhere with me, huh?" Sirius retorted. "If it's such a big deal for you, I can find my way around without your help!"

With that, Sirius pulled a long cane from his pocket and, with the cane out in front of him, began walking towards the sound of Lily's voice – where he figured Helga would be.

"Lily?"

"Oh, Sirius. Where are James and Remus?" Lily asked with a frown.

"You're asking me?"

Lily blushed. "Good point."

"Is Helga around here?" Sirius asked.

"No, she went off with some other Hufflepuffs when you came over," Lily replied. "Did you two have a fight or something?"

"I honestly have no idea. Maybe you should ask James and Remus. They seem to know more about it than I do," he said bitterly.

Lily shrugged, but the effect was lost on Sirius.

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Sirius looked around out of habit, then shook his head and scowled darkly when he realized how pointless it was.

"You might want to sit out for this lesson, Mr Black," came the voice of Professor Kettleburn.

Sirius snorted. "Of course."

Lily handed him his textbook and charmed it to read aloud at Sirius' command.

"Thanks," Sirius said dryly, sitting down on the spot with the book in his lap.

A while later, Sirius heard footsteps coming towards him. He stood up.

"Are you talking to us again or what?" James asked.

Sirius shrugged. "Only if you'll tell me what you've got against Helga. Then I'll consider it."

James and Remus exchanged glances.

"We think that she might have done this to you," Remus offered.

"Why would you think that?" Sirius asked, dumbfounded.

"Because you had that fight the day before it happened, and she looked pretty pissed off at you."

"So? Helga would never do anything like this!" Sirius said with a glare directed in the general direction of a nearby tree.

"Let's go back up to the castle," Remus suggested.

"I'm supposed to visit the Hospital Wing at the end of classes," Sirius reminded them grumpily.

"Ok then," Remus said, "we'll go there."

James and Remus sat off to one side as Madam Pomfrey checked Sirius' eyes and administered eyedrops.

"Madam Pomfrey?" James prompted.

"What is it Mr Potter?" the nurse asked briskly.

"You don't think it's possible that a curse did this, do you?"

Pomfrey frowned. "Well, yes, it's certainly possible. Why do you ask?"

"Would you guys just drop it?" Sirius yelled. "She would never do this!"

James shut up quickly.

A/N Hopefully that was satisfying. Let us know what you think. I'm off to my first shift at a new job, so wish me luck! I'll type more when I get home.