A/N: I finally found the time to finish this chapter. I apologize for taking longer than usual, but sometimes life is just hectic. Hope you'll enjoy it!

Later that year, in June, the Marauders graduated. The school year had passed incredibly fast as summer approached, yet again. A summer which, much like the previous one, would prove quite lonely. The last thing Aurelia wanted was to go back and live with her parents, but despite being of age, she couldn't very well go about buying herself an apartment while still at Hogwarts and quite frankly, not in a position to ask for allowances.

To her disappointment, Sirius had gotten an apartment with James right after graduation, and Regulus stayed with his parents over the summer, meaning that the young witch had no refuge from her mother's many set ups. Well, except for the times when her oblivious mother attempted to set her up with Regulus, that was.

It was strange, spending time at Grimmauld Place. There was a certain atmosphere to the house, a grey mist hanging over everybody's heads; one you could still see in Sirius' eyes if you looked closely enough, and one that effortlessly passed over Regulus' emotionless wall. And yet, despite the discomfort that being there caused her, she would take it over Fawley Manor any day, because at least there, she had one friend.

"Regulus, why don't you give dear Aurelia here the grand tour?" Mrs. Black inquired after a few glasses of wine served with the main course, and the Hufflepuff had never been more thankful about being asked to leave the table before dessert.

There weren't a great many situations where the Blacks and the Fawleys could be referred to as daft, but in this case, they most certainly were. Aurelia's parents had no clue that Regulus was one of her best friends, and in particular, the kind of friends they wanted to keep her away from. And Regulus' parents, well, they had yet to figure out that their youngest son had more interest in any of the Chudley Cannons players than he did girls in general. That boy was about as straight as a boomerang.

"Certainly, mother," Regulus replied, jumping to his feet with a straight back, leading his friend out of the dining room only to release a breath it seemed he had been holding for hours.

"I swear, that woman makes me want to burn this house down," he muttered, grinding his teeth in frustration when they had finally made their way to the library.

"Are you okay?" the boy continued, wrapping her in his arms after closing the door behind them.

"Just fine. You?" Aurelia replied, relaxing into his embrace, as though it was her first chance to breathe since arriving at his house earlier that evening.

"I'm alive, aren't I?"

"Yes, and thank Merlin for that! I've been worried sick. Have you… been summoned?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"Sure, sure. I'm sorry. Did you… Have you seen him at all?" she asked weakly, hesitation apparent in her voice.

"Sirius? Once or twice. Have you?"

"Of course I haven't! He moved in with James sodding Potter, didn't he? And besides, he doesn't even write me back."

The pair made their way up the stairs, actually taking the tour of the house, one that felt oddly nostalgic for the girl who had never been there before at all. Sirius' room looked untouched, literally. It was a right mess, and one that reminded her of the Gryffindor boys' dorm back at Hogwarts. Decorated in red and gold, with muggle objects and clothes thrown across the floor. It even smelled like him. It was as though the scents of his cologne, cigarettes, and dog fur had stuck to the walls in one last rebellious act against Mrs. Black.

Reggie's room was quite the opposite. It was neatly tidied, but rather dark. The walls were painted dark green, with decorations in silver, and the furniture was old, statuesque, and presumably very expensive. In a way, it reminded her of him. Just like that room, the exterior he put up was dark, noble and tidied. Any sign of the bright, kind boy underneath was well hidden away, in everything but his eyes. Those loving, grey eyes said it all, and despite everything happening in this war, he was still that same innocent boy.

"It wouldn't be so bad, would it?" the young witch asked, as she walked along the room, running her fingers over the spines of his books.

"What wouldn't?"

"Us… Married. I mean, I trust you, and I suppose you trust me too. It's what they want, and we'd be sort of free, wouldn't we? You could find a boyfriend, and I wouldn't have to marry Lestrange or any other monstrosity of a man."

There was a relief to the girl's voice, a sort of hopefulness, yet there was also a sadness to it; dejection perhaps.

"Don't, Aurelia. Don't give up yet. You've got, what- four years? You'll find someone. And I… I'll be lucky if I make it out of this war alive."

"I'm not! It's just.. It's a solution, isn't it? And you're not going to die, Regulus. I won't let you."

"It's really not. Instead of bugging us about marriage, they would be nagging about children and… and what about Sirius?"

"What about Sirius?"

"Come on, Aurelia. You know he loves you, and while you might be lying to yourself about your feelings, you can't lie to me. If anything, he's the one you should be marrying."

"I know no such thing. He has been ignoring me all summer, and besides, you know very well that my parents would never approve of a blood traitor like him."

"He's just trying to keep you safe…"

"Well, he has a funny way of showing it."

"Perhaps. But I swear, Aurelia, he really is."

"Safe from what?" the blonde demanded, grey eyes narrowed as she stared down her best friend.

"It's not my place to say."

"Safe from what, Regulus?"

"Well… It's… He joined an Order."

"What kind of order?"

"The secret kind that I can't tell you about."

"What kind of order, Regulus?"

"I really can't tell you, Aurelia."

"But why would he tell you if you can't even tell..."

The girl stopped mid-sentence, suspicious eyes glaring into those of the boy in front of her. They weren't much for keeping secrets. Ever since they had first become friends, that was the major thing keeping them so close; they didn't keep secrets from one another. She had told him about the whole pregnancy ordeal, and he had told her how he was a death eater and that he was trying to find a way to take Voldemort down. Those weren't small secrets. In fact, those were secrets kept away from the rest of the world. And now, it seemed as though Sirius had told him something about this order, and suddenly, she was excluded from their circle of trust. Unless there was a spell of some sorts… a vow of secrecy. Unless…

"You're in it too? For fuck's sake, Regulus. What did you do now?"

"It's not like that. It's just… we're just fighting on the right side of the war, that's all."

"Oh, so you're fighting both sides now? That's comforting, really. And neither of you thought to tell me about it, never the less invite me?"

"Invite you? You're joking, right? There is no way you're joining."

"Really? That's how little you think of me?" the blonde spat out, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Of course I don't. But you've got family on the other side, Aurelia."

"Well I presume that you do, too. Am I right?"

"Not my brother, I don't."

"Augustus made his choice. That shouldn't stop me from making mine."

"I can't put you in that situation. We can't. It would not only endanger you, but everyone else."

"I could spy on them."

"That's far too dangerous, and besides, what do you think they have me for?"

"Merlin, Regulus. You're not even seventeen yet and you mean to tell me you're spying on the most powerful dark wizard of our time?"

"It's a bloody war, Aurelia! Now, I'm sorry to tell you this, but it's not safe for anyone!"

Aurelia knew he was right. That damn boy was always right, whether he was nagging her about Sirius, their families, or in this case, the war. He was too smart, and too proud for his own good. And much like his brother, he would always choose what was right over everything else – something Aurelia was convinced she was much too weak for. Despite the disgust she felt knowing that Augustus and Lucius had pledged their allegiance to the Dark Lord, she couldn't help but to worry about them, too – just as much as she worried about her friends.

"I know that," she finally mumbled, turning her gaze away from the raven-haired boy, and onto the floor.

"I just wish it were," she added, a sad smile gracing her lips as she hesitantly looked up to face him again.

"Me too," the boy responded, with an equally sad smile, as he softly wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

It would be another three weeks before Aurelia saw Sirius again. Three lonely, summer weeks at Fawley Manor, which were mainly spent avoiding her brother and attempting not to upset her mother.

The Three Broomsticks was a perfect escape, especially now, seeing that she was seventeen and didn't have to suffer through a Knight Bus ride as soon as she wanted to go somewhere without her parents knowing.

And there he was, leaning against the bar desk, his long curls shielding his face like a curtain. Remus was standing beside him, and they were laughing at something before simultaneously throwing down a shot of firewhiskey. Yes, there he was, having fun, not a bloody care in the world about the friend he had simply ditched upon graduating.

"Sirius Orion Black, you arrogant bloody twat! Did you really think you'd get away with ignoring me?"

Without much thought, which was uncommon for Aurelia, the girl had grabbed him by the collar of his leather jacket with both hands, ripping him away from the bar and his friend. It wasn't long though, until the taller, much stronger one of the pair had taken the upper hand, backing the girl into a corner. His lips were hovering over hers, so close it had her fingers shaking and her stomach twisted.

"Why, Fawley, I haven't been ignoring you. I've merely avoided you," he finally replied with a low voice, the familiar scent of firewhiskey clear in his breath.

It wasn't that she despised having him that close, quite the opposite, if she was being honest. But she did despise how smug he was; smug and bloody perfect. His dark hair forming thick curls around his face, his butterscotch skin smooth as ever, his grey eyes unforgivably piercing, and his teeth just too bloody straight. If only he weren't so damn perfect, then perhaps she'd be able to stay angry with him.

"And how is that any better, if I may ask?"

"You may not," the boy grinned, smugly, as he pushed a loose string of white blonde hair behind her ear.

"Argh, you're impossible, do you know that? I've been alone all summer, surrounded by death eaters, and you're too busy with your secret little clu…"

Perfect, soft lips interrupted her as he finally closed the space between them, kissing her for the second time. And for a moment, just a short moment, the young witch was caught up in the sensation – in the scent of firewhiskey, cologne and dog fur, in his determined hands on her body, in the desperate urge to get closer. But only for a moment. Because he was James' best friend. Hell, he was her best friend. And he was pissed. Just like he had been the last time he kissed her. And that seemed to be the only state in which he wanted anything to do with her nowadays. So, the blonde pushed him away, despite every inch of her body telling her not to, and she crossed her arms firmly across her chest, as though determination and strong will could forbid that single tear from leaving the corner of her eye.

"I will not be one of your bloody slags, Black."

"One of my slags? Really, Fawley? That's how you want to play it?"

"Alright, Pads, that's enough. I'm taking you home before you say something you'll regret," Remus chirped in, reasonable as always, despite his failing sense of balance.

"Stay out of it, Moony! Now, you…" Sirius hissed as he turned back to face the girl, pointing his finger to her chest, a furious storm building up in his eyes.

"Don't you come here and 'all your slags'-me. You've known for a good, bloody year how I feel about you, and it isn't my fault that you're just still hung up on bloo…"

"That's enough, Sirius," Remus warned, grabbing his friend by the arm, attempting to pull him back.

"Hung up on what Sirius, huh? James? The bloke who said he loved me and then shagged Evans in a broom closet? The one you chose to move in with? I mean if you were trying to push me away, you could've just said so!"

"Wait, wait! Le'mme get this right. So, I'm not allowed to live with my brother because he broke up with you, but you're allowed to share soap with a death eater and a murderer?"

"Merlin, Padfoot! I'm sorry, Lia. He's had a lot to drink, that's all," Remus explained, dragging his friend away from the blonde, who looked just about ready to jump him.

"Fuck you, Sirius. I never want to see you again! I'll just stick with the better brother," the girl finally spat out at the raven-haired boy who was being dragged out of the pub by his friend. The drunk, rude, mean, scared, and bloody beautiful boy she wanted nothing more than to hate, but simply couldn't bring herself to. So, as she left the pub minutes later, she couldn't stop the tears from falling as she worried her words would become reality.

A/N: There it is, chapter 25! Thank you so much for reading, and sticking with me even when I'm low on imagination. I hope you liked this chapter, and if you did, please do favorite, follow and review - because nothing gives me more motivation! You guys are the best, and I just love to hear your thoughts on everything!