Winter finally melted away and spring rose. The grounds were a vivid green and the sun warmed the students. Spring may have warmed most of the students but it couldn't warm all of them. The past winter left two students frozen in particular. Sirius seemed to become void of any emotion. He was barely able to get through the days and having Riley in most of his classes served as a constant reminder of what he lost. Riley separated herself from reality. She relived the days or the nights she spent with Sirius before their escapades were discovered by James and the shit hit the fan but Riley never took her day dreams back to that morning.

It's after hours; Riley sat in the back corner of the library working hard on her potions essay that she had put off. The shadows that the candle cast gave the library a sense of forbidding but Riley didn't have time to sit around scaring herself she had to finish the essay so she could at least get some sleep. Riley thought she heard the library door close; she strained her eyes to see through the darkness that surrounded her. Riley convinced herself that she was just hearing things. She finished her essay and hurried out of the library, forgetting to blow out the candle. Sighing at her sudden exit, Sirius walked out of his hiding place, blew out the candle for her and left…alone.
Many students spent their free time after classes and weekends outside in the warm weather, which left the common room empty for those looking for some alone time. Riley was just that person. Riley was lying on the couch listening to music when she heard the portrait hole open. She sat up to see her brother walk in. Riley laid back down figuring that he would walk through the common and not give any inclination that she was even there-was she wrong. With a wave of his wand her music ended and she sat bolt up.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Riley asked.

James rolled his eyes, "Your brother. Now calm you ass down."

Riley snorted, "Now, your my brother. What's gotten into you?" James sat down on the couch next to her.

"I was wrong." Riley looked at him suspiciously, "Sirius hasn't been the same since that day. He tries to fake it in front of me and Remus but I can see it in his eyes, in the way he walks and even in the way he talks. He's just lifeless. He's heartbroken."

"You were right. I realize it now. I do just fuck up everyone lives."

"Ri," Riley looked up at him. He hadn't called her Ri since before they left for Hogwarts six years ago. His expression was soft and his voice spoke with compassion, "I know you miss him too. Just give him a chance." James gave her a small peck on the cheek before he left her. Riley stared at the portrait hole, shocked at what just happened. She knew he was right but she wasn't sure if she could bring herself to do it. Once again the portrait hole opened, Riley was expecting to look into the same hazel eyes as hers but she met a pool of dull gray. Riley's breath caught in her throat and she did the first thing that came to her mind; she dashed up the girls' stairs in a flash.

Sirius watched her dash up the stairs; he barely had time to register who it was before she took off. Sirius never got to spend much time around her anymore. He had to come up with ways to be around her without her knowing, like standing in the shadows while she studied late in the library. It took all the self control he had in him to not run up and kiss or hold her in his arms. Sirius realized that he ran out of self control, it was all gone and he couldn't stop himself any longer.

The seventh year girls' dorm was empty when Sirius burst through the door. He knew she was up here; his eyes scanned the room finally resting on the bathroom door. Sirius threw open the door to the bathroom and ripped open her shower door.

"What the…" She cried while she tried covering herself up. Sirius didn't realize that he would be paralyzed when he opened the shower door, "You could have the decency to at least look away." Riley said angrily.

Sirius was able to regain him self and think of other things besides her naked body, "Its nothing I haven't seen before." She turned her back to him and turned off the water.

"Can you give me my towel?" Riley wrapped herself in the towel he handed to her, "What do you think you're doing in here? Come to watch me shower or something?'

"Not this time." Riley looked disgusted but Sirius could see the amusement dancing in her eyes, "Go out with me." Riley was at a loss for words, "Just give me the chance." Riley bit her lip which always drove Sirius crazy. Riley took a deep breath.

"Okay." Sirius cried out in joy and picked her up in a huge hug, his five o'clock shadow rubbing roughly against her face.

"Tonight, six o'clock in the common room. I'll be waiting for you." He put her down and hurried out of her room.

Sirius was waiting for Riley a half and hour early. Riley didn't come down the stairs until six exactly. She had on a pair of tight jeans with a stud belt and black button up cardigan over a white cami underneath.

"Am I under-dressed?" Riley asked, "I wasn't sure of what to wear."

"No you look great." Sirius said kissing her cheek, "lets go."

Sirius took her to dinner in Hogsmeade then a walk up to the shrieking shack.

"Oh, this is just a lovely place to take a date." Riley told Sirius while he conjured up a blanket and pillows. Sirius walked up to her and turned her around so her back was pressed against his chest and he rested his hands on her hips.

"Look up." He whispered in her ear. Riley gasped. The sky was crystal clear and millions upon millions of stars shone I the sky. Sirius was happy that Riley wrapped his arms tighter around her. They lay down on the blanket to watch the stars.

"I'm going to have to admit, you did good Black." Riley said back in the common room.

"Enough to change your mind?" Sirius asked hopefully

"Please Sirius lets end on a good note."

"But its not over." Sirius pulled Riley close to him, lifting her chin and kissing her gently. Riley's stomach flipped flopped at this simple kiss. They both missed kisses like this. Sirius ended the kiss.

"Good night" he said.

Sirius was waiting for Riley in the common room the next morning.

"Hey" He said as she stepped off the stairs. Riley gave him a hug.

"The date was great last night."

"Who said it was over?" Sirius scoped her up; Riley squirmed in his arms but he wouldn't put her down until they arrived at the room of requirement. Sirius pulled Riley into the room that was set up with a table for two with a variety of fruit and an arrangement of tiger lilies in the center. Sirius saw the affect the room had on Riley and knew he was doing something right.

"Lets eat." Sirius said as he pulled out Riley's chair. Riley ate her food absidmindidly battling herself inside. Riley didn't want to stay, she knew where things would lead after this and Riley knew she wasn't capable of that. The longest relationship she had was with Scott and that wouldn't even count as a real relationship since she had no feelings for him and she ran into Sirius's bed every night.

"Food okay?" Sirius asked.

Riley smiled sweetly, "You out did yourself. You know, you really didn't have to do all of this."

"I wanted to do something special."

"Sirius you need to stop trying to out do yourself. Its really not you."

"How do you know its not me?" Sirius asked, "Maybe I never had a reason to do all of this before?"

'He had to say that' Riley thought 'How could anyone resist that.' Riley came to terms with the fact that she couldn't resist him any longer. "Well this was a nice breakfast." She said playing with the last couple pieces of fruits.

"What do you want to do today?" Sirius asked

"Who said I was spending the day with you, Mr. Black?" Riley chuckled, "Actually I have to finish Defense homework this afternoon."

James and Remus were waiting for Sirius to return from his breakfast with Riley. The two walked into the common room together but Riley continued up the stairs while Sirius took a seat next to Remus.

"How's it going?" Remus asked him.

"I dunno, maybe it's me." Sirius said, "She shows no emotion she's like a freaking rock."

"Riley will break don't worry." James said, "It takes her longer to come to her senses." Sirius sighed.

"C'mon Sirius, I'm almost done with my Defense homework. You can copy it." Remus said. Remus, James and Sirius went up to the dorm.

Riley couldn't concentrate, Sirius kept wanderingintoher thoughts. She probably read the same line in her text book a dozen times. Frustrated she threw her book across the room.

"Whoa." James said walking into her room as she threw the book, "Books don't fly."

"How to you guys get up here?" Riley yelled agitated.

"Defense can't be that hard." James said, "Chill. Here I brought you this." James tossed her a rolled up parchment.

"Thank god." She sighed. James laid out on her bed.

"So tell me how are you feeling?" James asked

"If you're going to play shrink then I should be the one lying down."

"Ri, I'm serious." James said, "Spill." Riley snorted. She had a look of concentration on her face.

"Confused, I guess. I don't want to screw up."

"If I can do it then you can too." James said
"But you had seven years, I've know him for less then one year."

"Who said we were talking about Sirius?" James asked, "last thing were talking about was defense homework." With those words James nonchalantly walked out. Riley growled and threw her pillow at the door.

That night didn't get any better; Riley couldn't sleep. She would be too hot and throw off her covers then she would be too cold. On her back, side, stomach, anyway she laid she couldn't get comfortable. Riley couldn't get comfortable. Riley sighed sprawled on her back. She stared up at the ceiling, she wanted to sleep. Riley had an idea but that was her last resort; twenty minutes later, Riley was ready for her last resort. Riley climbed out of bed.

How boys slept was a wonder of nature, their snores echoed through the room like stampeding rhinos.

"Sirius." Riley whispered next to him, "Sirius."

"Huh…" Sirius said groggily, "Riley what's wrong?" he asked urgently.

"I can't…uh, never mind." Riley chickened out, "Sorry I woke you."

"Hey wait." Sirius said sitting up on his elbows, "Can't sleep?" Riley just shrugged from across the room, "I have plenty of room." Riley gladly accepted his invitation. She laid with her back to him and kept some space in between their bodies. She still felt tense and couldn't relax. Sirius's fingertips ran over the skin on the small of her back. His fingertips slowly made their way over her hip to her lower stomach and back again. Sirius repeated that a few times before leaving his arm on her hip. Riley scooted back, resting her small curves in his and his arm tightened around her. Riley woke the next morning facing Sirius with his arms still around her. Riley laid there for a few minutes watching Sirius. She gently crawled out of Sirius arms to got to the bathroom when she got back Sirius was lying on his back, awake.

"I didn't mean to wake you." She said standing at the foot of the bed.

"I always woke up when you left at night. Your body kept me warm." Sirius said, "and I'm freezing now." Riley smiled and climbed on the bed, lying on top of him.

"Warmer now?"

"Burning up." Sirius said. Riley smiled looking into his eyes.

"I don't want to screw this up." Riley told him not breaking their gaze.

"I won't let you."

"I don't know how good I'm going to be at this." Riley admitted

"It doesn't matter." Sirius said, "I'll never give up."