A/N: Here we go, chapter 27! It'll bring a few reveals, a slight bit of fluff, and some drama! As usual, a huge thank you to everyone who has favourited, followed and reviewed. Hope you'll like this chapter!

"Oh, for Salazar's sake, Aurelia! I knew you had poor taste, but this is just plain pathetic."

The disgusted tone rung through the McKinnon family library like metal smashing against a stone floor, causing the enamoured seventeen-year-old to hastily pull away from the captivating boy next to her. The blonde turned her gaze up towards the tall figure in the doorway, at this point convinced that the firewhiskey was causing her to hallucinate.

"You sneak off to a cheap bloody party to snog the worst blood-traitor in Britain? Mother is going to be so proud."

"What are you doing here, Augustus?" the girl asked coldly, as she stood up, straightened her clothes, and crossed her arms over her chest – her grey eyes not leaving her brother once in the process.

"I'm taking you home before you humiliate us even further. Now, get away from that poor excuse of a wizard."

"Sirius is my friend!"

"Even worse. Now get your arse over here or so Merlin help me I will-"

"Expelliarmus!"

Augustus had barely gotten his wand out of his pocket before Sirius had flung himself to his feet and disarmed his opponent, who looked positively shocked at the fact that a blood traitor had the guts (or the skill) to do so.

"I'd say that's your cue to leave," Sirius hissed, stepping up in front of Aurelia, wand at the ready.

"Well, lucky for you, blood-traitor scum, nobody asked your opinion."

"That's enough!" the small seventeen-year-old roared, as she pushed past Sirius and pressed her wand into her older brother's chest – nothing but fury in her eyes.

"You get out of this house, and this bloody country this instant – otherwise I'm sure the Ministry would love to hear what you've been up to lately," Aurelia threatened, pressing her wand harder into his chest.

"You wouldn't…"

"Try me."

"I'm not done with you," the twenty-two-year old muttered, narrowing his eyes at the two teenagers before picking up his wand from the floor and disappearing with a whoosh.

"Wow," Sirius breathed, pushing his dark curls away from his face.

"That was intense," he added, glancing at the spot where Augustus had just stood.

"Let's just get out of here before he brings backup."

"Backup?"

"Lucius bloody Malfoy. I can't argue with the two of them."

"Sure… We can go to my place."

"No, just… never mind. I'll just go home. How bad could it be?"

"Prongs won't be there…"

"No? Are you sure it's okay?"

"It's not okay, Fawley, it's brilliant. Come on!"

The young witch woke up with a pounding headache the next morning, to the warm form of Sirius – who she was sure had been Padfoot when she fell asleep. He was like a whirlwind of soft arms and legs wrapped around her, not too unlike Padfoot – who she remembered used to take up darn near all the space in the Gryffindor dorm bed.

"Morning," Sirius grinned, stretching his arms over his head before wrapping them back around her, pulling her in towards his chest – which held at least two new tattoos since she last saw his chest him.

"Morning," she replied softly, running her fingertips over his shoulder, thinking that she wouldn't mind waking up to him every day. If only she could.

As his lips connected with hers, she gave in for a second, before hearing the fireplace roar from the other room.

"Padfoot? Bro, are you here?"

The words echoed through the apartment, and Aurelia would recognize that voice anywhere. She had been plain stupid coming there, thinking that James wouldn't show up. He bloody well lived there!

"Sirius, we… I can't do this," she mumbled incoherently, grabbing her wand off the nightstand as she got up from the bed and disapparated instantly, leaving nothing but her cloak and shoes behind.

"What's Remus' deal?" Regulus asked a few days later, as the two friends spent their first night back at Hogwarts in the Room of Requirement, chatting into the early hours as per usual.

"What do you mean, his deal?" Aurelia asked, fully aware of what Regulus was referring to. And while she hated lying to her best friend, she couldn't very well reveal a secret like that. It wasn't hers to reveal.

"You know… The scars, the attitude…"

"What attitude?"

"Oh, you know, the whole 'pushing someone away, even though you probably really like them, but it's for their own good'-kind of attitude…"

"Merlin's pants, Regulus! Please don't tell me you shagged Remus?!"

"Not… exactly," the young wizard grimaced.

"What do you mean not exactly?"

"I mean… do you want the details?" he asked hesitatingly, rubbing his neck.

"NO! No, fine. Sirius is going to kill you, though. He can be really overprotective, you know."

"Well, I know, Aurelia. He's my older brother. Trust me, I know."

"So… Remus really likes you?" she asked, breaking into a smile as she teasingly poked her friend's arm.

"Those are only suspicions on my behalf."

"And what about you? Do you really like him?"

"I think I do. But he's been pushing me away ever since that party and I don't know what he's thinking."

"So that's where you went! Do you realize my brother came rushing through the door threatening both me and Sirius that night?"

"You… and Sirius, huh? What were you two doing? Come to think of it, I did hear rumours that he brought a girl home with him that night. Well, not as much rumours as it was bragging…"

"He did what?! I swear to Salazar I'm going to avada him!"

"So… I suppose that makes it true then? I mean I can't say I'm happy about it, but it was sort of inevitable."

"Shut it, Black. We were sleeping, nothingelse. Besides, I've made it clear to him that all that's over now."

"All what? All the sleeping?"

"If you mustknow, Regulus: we snogged. That's it. It wasn't the first time, but it was bloody well the last!"

"Why? I mean, sorry, Aurelia, but it's kind of obvious that you like him – for whatever idiotic reason. And he clearly fancies you. Don't you think you deserve just a wee bit of happiness?"

"He lives with James, for Merlin's sake! They're best friends, and they do everything together!"

"So?"

"I love him," she explained, eyes wide open as she shook her head rapidly. She knew she shouldn't, and she felt insane for doing so, but she did still love him; so much that it hurt her physically.

"I love James," she continued, eyes settling on the wall behind her friend as she tried to accept what she had just said.

"And Sirius?"

"Him, too," she admitted, turning her grey gaze towards the floor as she couldn't bare meeting his eyes. She felt guilty about it, guilty and ashamed. You weren't supposed to love two people at once. It wasn't right, and she was probably more fucked up than even Regulus could've ever anticipated.

"So, just tell him that! You can't keep pushing him away like this."

"Yes, I can! Do you know what he told me when he'd broken up with Marlene? That it wouldn't have been fair to her not to, because he was in love with someone else!"

"You do know that he was referring to you, don't you?" the Slytherin asked, eyeing his friend carefully as she let out a sigh.

"You don't know that. It was years ago. Besides, it doesn't matter. What matters is that it wouldn't be fair to him."

"I don't think this is fair to either of you…" Regulus mumbled, leaning back in the sofa and crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well, frankly, it's none of your business. I'm trying to do the right thing, and I don't want you to give me grief about it."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"So, will you at least tell me what's up with Lupin?" he tried, raising his eyebrows in anticipation.

"I think you should ask him that yourself, Reggie."

"Fine," the boy repeated, rolling his eyes at the girl – who, from time to time, was too much of a Hufflepuff for his liking.

It would be another few months before she saw Sirius again, on a Hogsmeade weekend. He had come alone, apologetic, although he was the one much more deserving of an apology after Aurelia had just rushed out of his apartment months ago.

"Look, Fawley. I know I came on too strong, and I… it won't happen again, alright? Can't we just try the friends-thing again?" Sirius looked tired, as he spoke. Almost as though he, just as well as she, knew that there were too many obstacles there. The whole 'being friends' had never worked before, not for long, and there was nothing to say that it would this time. And arguing with him was far too draining – she simply couldn't take it; spending months apart without speaking, and then making up, only for a day or so. It meant that ninety percent of the time, she was in misery, and he probably was, too.

"Oh, Sirius. You are my friend, you always will be. And if you ever need me, I'm here. I just don't know if it's the right time, you know?"

"But I do need you, Fawley. That's why I'm here. With the war and… Prongs moving out, I could use a friend. And I know you graduate soon, so I figured you might need one, too, going back home and everything."

"Wait, James moved out? Are you… you're not arguing, are you?" Aurelia asked, scratching the back of her head as she looked at her friend with concern.

"No, it's not like that. He… he's getting his own apartment. With Evans." Sirius sounded hesitant, like he was completely aware of the pain those words inflicted. The fact that these things still stung probably hurt him, too – she could see it in his eyes.

"Oh," she mumbled, her gaze settling on the foam in her butterbeer on the table in front of her. It shouldn't surprise her anymore – James and Lily. James had been in love with her forever. Long before they had gotten together. And yet, somewhere deep down, there was a part of her that still hoped to win him back. It was an awful thing, she knew that. He was happy, Lily was happy – and they deserved that. But Aurelia wasn't happy, not without him.

"I'm sorry," Sirius added with a low voice, reaching out to take her hand in his.

"Don't be sorry, Sirius. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Well, I told you, didn't I?" he muttered, taking a sip of his butterbeer.

"I'm glad you did. I feel like I haven't got the slightest what's been going on lately. I barely see any of you anymore, and it's not like Regulus tells me anything."

"Sounds like you need me too, huh Fawley?" Sirius teased, as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Fine! Let's try the friends-thing again. Who am I to deny a friend in need?" Aurelia grinned, unable to tear her eyes away from that gloating smile of his.

They kept in touch after that, as friends. There were no drunken snogs or cosy sleepovers - not even with Padfoot. But they met up in Hogsmeade, catching up, taking a break from all the dramatics brought on by the war.

And after she graduated, his apartment was a safe-house, a place to run to when her mother lost her temper or when Augustus dropped by. In a way, Sirius had always been a safe-house to her, ever since she first befriended him and James. He had been there for everything since then, and continued to be; without ever asking anything in return - other than her friendship.

A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope you liked this chapter. In my opinion, it was a bit slow, but that's because it's leading up to some MAJOR drama, so stay tuned for chapter 28! Please do leave a review, and follow & favourite if you liked this chapter, I love to hear your opinions!