Chapter Seventeen

"Why do we keep going around this same corridor?" croaked James, whose legs were stinging from standing and walking around for so long.

"Shut up, and keep thinking; we need to find a place where we're not overheard," demanded Hart, ignoring James' pitiful wails.

It was their third walk on the same corridor, and suddenly they were facing a large door.

James' mouth dropped open, as he prided himself for being one of only a few students to know all the places in Hogwarts. He, however, did not know about this.

Hart flung open the door, and James' gasp was barely audible from Hart's squeak of delight.

In front of them was a vast, long green meadow, and James saw a rushing, beautiful waterfall close by.

"Perfect," Hart said, as she walked into the green…field. James accompanied her, slamming the door behind him.

The brown door looked out of place in the green surroundings. James sat down speechless on a log that had suddenly appeared. Hart sat next to him, her face alight and glowing with happiness.

"This is exactly what we want," she told James, who was still in shock. "There's no students to distract us while we talk. Perfect," she repeated.

As soon as James recovered from the surprise, he asked; "What is this…place?"

"Room Of Requirement," Hart supplied him; "a room that changes when someone goes in there and asks for a specific place. It never stays as one place."

"If only Filch didn't take the map in Sixth year, I'd order Moony straightaway to put this magnificent place on it," he mused, and saw Hart looking away.

"It isn't exactly a room, is it?" he told her, nastily. Hart sighed.

"It was the only room I could think of that I knew no-one could listen in."

James picked up a shred of grass and looked over it. He felt calm and peaceful in the meadows. There were no noisy kids to distract from the beauty.

"What about Sirius do you want to talk to me about?" James enquired, throwing the shred of grass into the pool that the waterfall had created.

"I'll get there in a second," Hart said, in a business-type tone. "I'll help you to be Lily Evans' boyfriend if you keep Black away from me."

James' eyes turned round. "How did you know that I like-"

"It's obvious," Hart intervened. "So please? For my sake as well as your own?"

"Why do you want Sirius away from you?" James asked her, with interest.

Hart closed her eyes. Without opening them, she replied; "It's perilous. That's all you need to know."

"Okay, Hart. I'll do it. But I can't promise you that Sirius will stay away from you just because of me. So, what day and time should we meet here?"

000

Mauve was sick with grief. She truly did love Sirius, and was furious that he had kissed that cow.

During her life in Hogwarts, she had wanted nothing more than Sirius to hold her and kiss and love her. So when she was given the chance, she had a few days of happiness with him- until that brat took him away from her.

Mauve stared ahead at the rising sun, her mind full of hideous plans. She was a pureblood, and was damn proud of it. No Mudblood could take anything away from her.

Mauve laughed.

000

"Oh no," Lily gasped, as they headed to their first lesson. Hermione, who had no time to get out her timetable, had asked Lily what was their first lesson.

"What?"

Lily turned to her, paling. "We've got Potions next."

Hermione wondered why her life was so unfair. But her life had turned unfair ever since she had to go back in time.

They entered the dungeons slowly, and Hermione very slowly sat down next to Sirius.

"You remind me of an ugly snail," he jeered her quietly, while Professor Adams was talking about what they had to do for their project. Hermione ignored Sirius' insult.

"You're so slow," Sirius went on. "Is your mind made out of fluff? Is your intelligence as slow as your walk?"

Just ignore him. Whatever you do, don't fight back. Hermione watched Professor Adams and tried to block out Sirius.

"I don't see why Mauve should find any threat in you, Hart. You're no threat to anyone. How could you be? I just kissed you out of spite."

Hermione was itching to grab her wand and curse Sirius' head off. She faced Sirius, a plastic smile on her face, to smoulder down her anger.

"I wouldn't care either way, Black. You're a horrible kisser," she lied, but she made it sound so convincing that it made Sirius' eyes darken.

"How could anyone not enjoy a kiss from Sirius Black?" he remarked, cockily.

"Easily," Hermione said, underneath her breath. "The girls only think they're enjoying it because they're turned on by your looks."

Sirius smirked, and Hermione realised instantly he was one of the few boys who wouldn't get angered by that comment.

"Aw, you think I'm handsome, Hart? I'm flattered."

Hermione bristled. "You're NOTHING but; Black. Don't give yourself false credit."

She turned back to Professor Adams, a small smile of victory on her lips.

000

Hermione went to bed, feeling happy she had got the better of Sirius Black. When she closed her eyes, she thought back to what he said to her in the future:

Hermione was growing restless. Harry was coming tomorrow, and she was eager to hear about the fight he had had with the Dementors.

She sat on the table with Ginny, who was laughing at Fred's joke. Sirius sat down next to her, and Hermione looked at him, her eyes full of questions.

"You remind me of someone," he blurted out, "someone who I knew long ago."

Hermione raised her eyebrows, which encouraged Sirius to go on. "She was so prim and proper, a bit like Lily. But she was different. Much different." A wistful smile appeared on Sirius' face.

"She hated me, but it was understandable. I was much too arrogant in those days. She was friends with Lily Evans. She was just as clever as Lily."

Hermione bolted up, her heart pounding, her eyes wide. How could she have forgotten that talk with the future Sirius?

Sweat poured down her forehead, Hermione got up. She needed something cold to drink.

A/n: sorry for the long (ish) update, but I had loads of hwk to do. SO…what'll happen in the next chapter? More Hermy/Siri stuff, or would James keep them away? Would Hermy do the lessons with James? And what about the memory? Stay tuned…

Thanks to:

HannahCimsGwendolyn: hehe, yeah, she did, didn't she? BexyLou: thanks PadfootsSidekick: will do Rinnya: well,now you found out! Yourheartsdesire: soz if it sounded a little confusing, but I meant it was the half-tearm holidays for ME ;) Skadesake: yeah, I liked the mocking part too. amrawo: lol, well you just have to wait and see! Jaceyandpaceyforever: thanks –Kasandra2- : I know its short, but I just can't seem to do long chapters! I usually run out of Ideas ;( enchantedlight: thanks Kates Master: ;;afraid of the pecking, quickly goes onto Word;; childoftheorient: lol, you got banned? I wouldn't survive if I was banned! Prettigurl7: well, the question: would she? She might… JTBJAB: lol, thanks Serendipity-England-1922: lol, thanks LunaLovegoss: yeah, I liked that part too Cheyann28: here it is! PandlyBas: lol and thanks CrystalShard: hehe….Sirius the Denailist…scuze my weird ramblings… Shadowed Child Of Flames: will do Potter 's-Puppet-Pal: We should call Sirius Mr Suspense …lol, probably not. Fiona McKinnon: thanks screwtheperfectlife: lol, she can be, can't she? Swirlywhirlynutcase: ;;looks nervously across her shoulder;; little mimi: thanks ben 'n' Jerry: lol, yeah… SweetMary: yeah, it IS kinda gross if they're not the same age…thanks. LibbyRoxMySox: lol, will do!