Sorry, I haven't updated for a while, but writing has been slow... Thanks as always for the reviews, I'm glad you're enjoying it! Please excuse Sirius' atrocious language, I just don't know what to do with him! :)

Chapter Twenty-Three: Dodgy Dealings

"You say that, but can you look at my fucking eyes and tell me you're not up to anything dodgy?"

Adriana stared at Sirius, aghast. He'd come looking for her in the library, to find her in a secluded corner working for a change, on some late Charms work. Apparently Peter had told him she was often in there; lucky she had been, then, and not with Severus and the others. Peter may be a little dim, but she knew Sirius was onto her. She definitely knew now, anyway.

"Sirius, I don't know what you are talking about," she said, widening her blue eyes at him. "And I wish you wouldn't be so aggressive. I can't believe you would doubt my feelings for Peter." He wasn't convinced. As soon as he'd found her, he'd sat down and asked if she was cheating on Peter. No dilly-dallying about or anything; straight out with it. Of course, she'd denied it. She wasn't going to admit to any of his accusations, however on the mark they may be, and besides, it wasn't true.

"So you say you're not fooling around with anyone else." Sirius glared angrily at her, his brown eyes full of fire. "I'll believe you. But tell me this: what's going on with the Slytherins?"

Adriana put on her best little-girl-lost expression. "The Slytherins?" she gave a light, musical laugh. "What are you talking about now?"

"I'm talking about your little rendezvous with Snape and my brother and a couple of others." Sirius felt some triumph as he saw something flicker in her clear blue eyes. "Yes, that's right – I saw you meeting with them, months ago, and it didn't stop there, did it? You're up to something."

"Don't be so bloody narrow-minded, Sirius," Adriana snapped, letting some anger out. "Just because you and James and the others have some ridiculous, unfounded hatred for the Slytherins, doesn't mean I can't have friends from other houses."

Sirius glared her right in the face for a moment, then shook his head, making his hair fall in front of his face. "No, you're lying. You're still fucking lying!" He banged his fists down on the table in frustration, earning an angry warning look from the librarian on the other side of the room. Sirius leaned forward, so his face was close to Adriana's. "Okay, you're not going to tell me anything. But I will find out, and I'll tell everyone, you hear?" He rose from his seat; Adriana's blue eyes were still on his face. "I'll see you in the common room later." He swept from the room, knocking some books over in the process, much to the further annoyance of the librarian.

Adriana sat looking at the place where he had been moments before. It was a shame, she thought, that she'd had to shack up with Peter, out of the group. But he was the most gullible, and the other Marauders were way to smart; Sirius had proved that now. But Sirius was so much more attractive, with those dark eyes and perfect hair. Especially when he was angry; and the way he cared so much for his friends! But it didn't matter either way. She already had a real man, with real power, and she couldn't let him down now.

She looked at her watch and saw it was time to go. Gathering up her books, she left the library soon after Sirius, and made her way in the opposite direction, to meet Regulus and Bellatrix. They'd have to know what danger they were in of being found out.

She reached the usual meeting place, which was just at the bottom of the steps leading from the Entrance Hall to the dungeons. It was dark down there, and hardly anyone but Slytherins were usually found there; this made it ideal for their purpose. Adriana saw two dark figures waiting at the bottom, and as she drew closer saw that one was Bellatrix and the other was not Regulus, but Lucius Malfoy.

"Evening, Adriana," Lucius greeted her in his lazy drawl, while Bellatrix barely smiled. "What news do you bring us of the mighty Lions?"

"Where's Regulus?" Adriana asked. She would rather the younger Black brother were here, instead of Malfoy, simply because Lucius' careless manner and cold, grey-blue eyes made her feel so strangely uncomfortable.

"He had other commitments." Bellatrix remained unsmiling as she answered in her deep voice. "In the form of a detention from McGonagall. Severus got one, too."

"You'll have to make do with me, Adriana," Lucius added softly. He towered above her, his long, light blond hair shining with a bluish tinge from the dim light at the top of the steps. She had to exercise a lot of self-control to keep herself from stepping backwards, away from him.

To calm herself, Adriana turned to Bellatrix and said hurriedly, "Sirius suspects me. He has done for a while, but he confronted me about it just now in the library."

"What did he say?"

"He saw us meeting together, months ago. I don't know why he hasn't done anything until now, probably too preoccupied with himself. But I think he just thinks I'm cheating on Peter – that's what he was talking to me about, but he might suspect something more, because you're involved."

"I wouldn't blame you if you were cheating on Pettigrew," Lucius said derisively. "I don't suppose he's giving you too much satisfaction. I for one could show you a much... better... time..." He stepped closer to Adriana, so their faces were almost touching, and put a hand up to rest on the stone wall behind her head.

Adriana ducked out of his reach, squared her slender shoulders and replied, "I don't think my boyfriend would be too impressed with you then, Lucius." She was pleased to see a faint look of alarm flickering in the grey eyes.

Lucius leant back against the wall with his arms folded, while Bellatrix continued, "So Sirius doesn't really have any clue what's going on?"

"I'm not sure." Adriana furrowed her brow, thinking. "He was talking about my loyalty to Peter, but I don't think he really believes that. He thinks it could be something worse, in which case he would be right."

"But what on earth could be worse than little Pettigrew getting his heart broken?" Lucius asked mockingly, his eyes narrowed with scorn.

"Shut up, Lucius," Bellatrix snapped, before turning back to Adriana. "You'll just have to keep an eye on my dear cousin, see how he acts around you, and report back to us again. If you need to, continue this act of cheating on Pettigrew, it might put him off the scent."

Adriana sighed. "I wish I didn't have to go out with him, it's torture, he's so repulsive. If only I could use Sirius instead, that might be more enjoyable." Seeing their faces, she added, "I know, he's too smart to use in the plan."

"Only marginally," Lucius scoffed. "Besides, I doubt you boyfriend would be too impressed with you, Adriana." His eyes glinted maliciously as she blanched.

Just then another figure materialised out of the gloom. It was Professor Harlem, dressed in dark blue robes which had helped to blend him into the darkness of the stairs. On seeing the three students, he stopped in surprise.

"Hello, what are you three up to, lurking in the shadows?" He spoke pleasantly and had meant it as a joke, liking to get on with all his pupils, but Lucius didn't take it that way.

"I don't see what it's got to do with you, Professor," he replied coldly. Malfoy had never taken much to Harlem, despite – or perhaps because of - the Astronomy teacher's absurdly laid-back and congenial nature.

Harlem was taken aback by such hostility; he blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry, Lucius," he said, the bright blue eyes still warm. "I had no idea I would rouse such offence in you. Forgive me." With a swift smile and the barest of winks at Adriana, he continued on his jaunty way, disappearing into the murk of the corridor.

After a few seconds of quiet, Adriana turned to the two Slytherins. "Do you think he heard anything?" she asked.

"No, that idiot doesn't notice anything this close to the earth," Lucius answered in his usual contemptuous manner. "He may as well be a centaur, for all the use he is to this school."

"We can handle him, anyway, if he's a problem," Bellatrix added. She pushed Adriana gently towards the steps. "Now go, get back to the Gryffindor common room and carry on what you're doing. We'll meet again soon."