Hello everyone! I am back on schedule, thank god. I hope I can keep it up, but I know I have mixed feelings about a chapter that's coming up. Let's see whether it works.

Anyway, thank you for being so patient with me. I am glad you guys are liking the story so far. And again, I am everyday grateful to my beta junieyes.

Guest reviewer 1: ahahahaha, we all love fanfic cliches for a reason! You're going to see some more in this chapter, not gonna lie. Be patient with our boy Sirius, he'll figure it out. And thank you, things are a bit easier for me now, so I shouldn't have too much trouble publishing for the next few weeks.

Guest reviewer 2: It's confrontation time :D


A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration by Emeric Switch II

He stared at the fire.

Remus and Peter were sitting on his right. He pretended not to notice all the nervous glances between James and the others.

June was missing all day. She didn't come for classes, she didn't attend anything. Sirius had turned up for everything hoping she would, too, but even he had given up around fifth period. She wasn't even in the dormitory. When he returned to the common room that evening, he had checked the map for all the usual places, scanned Hagrid's, the Astronomy Tower, and the grounds. Peter was bent over it now, engaged in the same pursuit. They'd seen Sarah Freegood in a corner of the library, but no sign of June. She'd found a good corner to hide in, wherever it was. Lily said she had no idea where she was, and Marlene told him straightforwardly that he'd fucked up. Mary was a little kinder, but that was just her prerogative.

On the other hand – he had no idea how to find his reader.

Lily entered the common room with her friends. She hesitated before making her way to James, sitting down next to Sirius. There was a quiet sort of consolation in the way Marlene and Mary sat down on the carpet, in how Lily pretended to not be paying attention to him.

This was… not fun. He had been confused and muddled, and he'd messed up both his relationships with the two girls he seemed to be actually interested in. There really was no proper consolation for this sort of thing – he only had all of his thoughts and nothing to sort them through with.

He was bent over, really feeling terrible. He knew Evans was looking at him with some pity. He didn't have it in him to tell her to fuck off, not when she was sitting next to him, not saying anything. Mary Macdonald and Marlene McKinnon weren't speaking either, but he suspected that it was because Evans had commanded them very strongly not to say a thing.

"I'm sorry, mate," said James, and he sounded both matter-of-fact and sincere.

"What's the matter, though?" asked Marlene. She had held back for as long as Evans could make her.

"Oh – that – that girl that Sirius was exchanging books with?" Peter said. "She just returned his book to him. The – the first one that got misplaced in the mishap."

"I don't – I don't understand," said Mary, exchanging a look with Mary.

"I got her copy of Pride and Prejudice, she got my Guide to Advanced Transfiguration," said Sirius, his voice rasping. "She didn't return my book – she just kept giving me other books. She's given me my book back. No more book exchange."

There was a silence.

"That's funny," said Mary Macdonald with a frown. "Didn't June have someone else's copy of Advanced Transfiguration in the beginning of the year?"

A beat.

Slowly, almost menacingly, everyone's eyes slid to Mary. "What?" she said, instantly nervous.

"What did you say?" asked Remus, his voice soft.

"I – um – I think June had someone else's copy of A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration?" said Mary timidly. "I mean – she said something about it when she sat with me, and I told her it wasn't the time to look for the person, so we focussed on the lesson."

Sirius was staring at her. His mouth opened and closed, and then opened and closed again, before finally, "And you never had the good sense to say something?"

"I didn't know you were missing a transfiguration textbook!" said Mary, defensive. "You never told us! You only said you had a copy of Pride and Prejudice."

"Fuck," said Sirius, with feeling, jumping up to his feet. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! It was her? Her? His reader? June? No fucking wonder -

"Wait!" commanded James. "How are you certain it's her, Padfoot? I've never seen her reading anything that isn't classwork."

"Come to think of it," said Lily, a look of dawning realisation on her face, "Why did I not think of her before? All she does is read. She has so many books in the bottom of her bed, it's insane."

"Fuck – you're right," said Marlene. "But she's not been reading as much lately."

"That's more damning," said Remus. "If she had continued reading all the same titles, it might have actually aroused suspicion. She probably stopped reading in broad view because she knew you were looking for her."

"Oh my god," groaned Sirius, his face in his palms. "You room with her – how did you not think of her?"

"You're friends with her," said Marlene defensively.

"This is nobody's fault," Remus cut in. "She blends easily, Sirius, you know this."

"And she's changed her desks," added Marlene, with more revelations blossoming. "She doesn't sit next to any of us anymore. She didn't want anyone to be reminded of her handwriting. Oh, that sly little minx."

"But she always sits with Sarah Freegood!" said Lily. "I thought they had become friends, that's why I didn't say anything about that."

"I will bet you all of my birthday galleons that Sarah Freegood already fucking knows everything," said Marlene.

"Plus," said Mary quietly. "Remember Jobber and Knoll, Marlene? How Sarah Freegood accosted you out of nowhere?"

"Oh god," Marlene complained. "Oh God. She must have been covering for Williams."

Peter tugged at Sirius' sleeve. "I found her!" he hissed to him alone. "Blimey – she's in the North Tower. No wonder you couldn't find her, Sirius – she's holed herself up at the top, and no one thinks of that tower."

"I'm going –" said Sirius abruptly. He mussed his hair, ready to be off and hunt down this idiot before she could starve herself in the North Tower.

"Where?" asked James.

"I don't know. Wormtail – you said Freegood was in the library?"

Peter nodded.

"I'll find her first. I'd better confirm my suspicions before I hunt her down. Wish me luck!"

"Luck!" yelled Lily as he disappeared from the portrait hole.

James looked at her crossly.

"What?" demanded Lily. "He needs it."

"And when I needed it two days ago in Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff, suddenly it wasn't your job to hand out luck to others," he said, folding his arms in a huff.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," said Lily, getting up. "I'm going upstairs. Essays to finish." She swooped down to James, kissing him swiftly on the cheek. "Luck," she said, her voice neutral.

Her hair danced as she disappeared upstairs. James couldn't tear his eyes away.

"Bring a pan, Mary," said Marlene dryly. "I'm going to make an omelette on Potter's face."

"Shut up, McKinnon," said James. But his cheeks were still red, and his heart was still beating a little too fast.


It was late when Sirius headed out to hunt for Freegood. It wasn't time for curfew, so he was speeding through the corridors. He knew that Freegood would be in the library – it was just the sort of thing she'd be doing without Williams.

Evans' wish of luck must have worked, because he found her. He collapsed on the chair opposite her with no ceremony whatsoever, and she looked at him, unimpressed.

"I already told you," she began. "I'm not saying a word."

"It's a good thing I don't want to know where she is. I need other information. Right now."

"Or what, you're going to threaten me hamhandedly?" she sneered.

"Dammit, Freegood –"

"Shh!"

Irma Pince blinked at them angrily from behind a few shelves.

"Apologies, Madame Pince!" he hissed. Then, he turned to Sarah again. "You come with me," he demanded.

They crossed shelves and shelves of books, heading into the corner where he spent most of his time with Williams.

"What?" questioned Sarah immediately, crossing her arms.

"Was she the one sending me the books?"

"What are you–"

"You'd better be straight with me, Freegood."

"I am not telling you anything until you explain, and you tell me all your intentions."

Black ran a hand through his long hair. "Fucking Merlin. Alright. Fine, since you're such a fucking hag. Your friend – I like being around her, I like listening to her jabber, I like her smile, I like her eyes. I snogged her at the party – I want to do it again. I know she's the one writing to me all this time – fucking convenient that the two girls I wanted to kiss are the same person. Are you satisfied?"

Sarah's eyes were wide. She blinked once, blinked twice.

"Are you satisfied?" repeated Sirius, through gritted teeth.

"She's in the North Tower," said Sarah dismissively. "And yes, she has been the one engaging in your book club. Don't think your speech convinced me. I'm tired of enabling her capacity to run into the highlands and change her name to escape you."

"Thank- hang on. What highlands? We're already in Scotland."

"Higher lands," said Sarah with a roll of her eyes. "Don't ask, Black. This is the girl you want to snog."

"Believe me, I've had second thoughts," said Sirius, getting ready to run out. "Top of the tower, isn't it?"

"There's apparently a trapdoor. I'm sending her an owl to tell her I'm coming to visit. She shouldn't be too surprised to have the thing open, then."

"You're a national resource," said Sirius. "Bye!" he said, and dashed off.


Sirius would have been furious to know that June's day went fantastically well. She spent most of her time curled up in the armchair, finished all of next week's homework, and reread Anne of Green Gables. She had crisps intermittently, and sandwiches for lunch. She saved the drumsticks for dinner, along with the chips. Sarah sent her an owl sometime during lunch, asking her if she was okay, and June sent one back promising that she was blissful, and she had no intention of leaving until tomorrow morning. Sarah disapproved, but didn't say no – which June took as tacit compliance. She then promptly conjured herself a blanket and pillows, made herself a bed in the chair, shut the windows, and started a fire in the old grate to warm the room. The moonlight peeped from the windows – everything was almost surreal.

It was late – well, later – when she got another note from Sarah's owl – one that said she was coming to visit. All by herself, June had become a little lonely – a circumstance that filled with some wonder. She had never felt lonely before this.

June waited. She still had some of her cake left, but she had polished off most of the other food. The trap door opened slightly. She took a deep breath and hopped off her armchair.

"About time," she said, dragging the trap door open. "What took you-"

Sirius Black looked at her, in all the moonlit glory of the North Tower.

June kicked the trapdoor shut and folded her arms. "How did you find me?"

"You aren't invisible, Williams –"

"It was Sarah, wasn't it?"

"Not really, but she helped."

June stomped her foot. "Merlin help me, I am going to make her regret being born. And I thought Lily would be the sneak."

"Evans knew where you were?"

"No," said June. "But she's very cluey. She would have found me – I think."

"Oh. Yeah, probably. Evans can be a real bee in the bonnet."

"What do you want, Sirius?"

He frowned at her, and she was immediately uneasy. It wasn't one of his usual frowns – she had the strongest sensation of not really being on solid ground. June became very suddenly aware that he was taller than her. She was small by most standards – shorter than someone like Peter Pettigrew. The top of her head barely tickled his chin. He wasn't advancing on her or anything, but he tied his hair back with a hair tie.

"You tell me, Williams."

"I suspect you're here to tell me one more time that you don't actually want anything with me –"

He took a step forward. She took one back.

"Guess again."

She swallowed. "You're here to annoy me about something your reader said –"

He took another step forward, shoving his hands into his pockets. She took another step back.

"You're playing with me, Williams."

"I am not –" she took a breath. He rubbed the back of his neck and stepped forward again. Automatically, she stepped back. Her back hit the wall.

"Macdonald said something very interesting a while back."

"Did she?" asked June. She wished her voice didn't sound so breathy and frazzled.

"Apparently, you had a copy of A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration that wasn't yours?"

"Oh – well, that's. That's interesting."

"Isn't it?" he drawled.

The silence was long, and the moonlight was far away. June's corner was dark, she was looking up at the most handsome boy of Hogwarts' face, and she couldn't even appreciate the fact that he had that look in his eye again.

She hesitated, met his eyes. He stared back down. Grey met yellow.

"Sirius –"

He kissed her. She had been expecting him to be gentle, but this time there was an urgency – his lips fit hers, his teeth were gliding on her bottom lip, she could feel his hand touch her waist, bringing her closer. Involuntarily, her arms wrapped around his neck, her body balanced on her toes, her breathing hitched. His other hand spread across her hip, and with a squeak, she found herself on her toes. He was holding her up with nothing more than whatever his upper body strength was, which June could not believe was this strong.

He stopped to look at her again. Her feet were still off the floor.

"Sirius, I –"

His lips were on hers again.

"Siri-mmf."

"Why didn't you say anything?" he demanded, between breaths.

If he intended her to answer, he sure had a strange way of showing it. What was she supposed to say when she was being thoroughly snogged?

Sensing that she couldn't exactly say anything with his tongue down her throat, he stopped.

"Could you – could you put me down?" asked June in a daze.

He grinned, in that awful, arrogant way of his – and put her down. She held him by the elbows to regain balance.

"Hi," she said.

"Hello."

"Um. I understand you made some inquiries?"

His grin was even more arrogant. "I did."

"To clarify," said June, her formality somewhat undercut by the fact that she was still holding him by his elbows for support; "I didn't say anything because I did not know how. I was blindsided by our real friendship as much as I was by our correspondence. And after your poorly worded responses to both, I thought it was in the best interest of both parties for us to withdraw all semblance of closeness."

God help her, she sounded like she'd swallowed a dictionary. This was a new side to her she had not been expecting.

"You're turning me on, Williams."

She blushed pink. "Um – I – erm, that is – er – oh fuck off."

"See, now I think you're doing it deliberately."

She pushed his chest ineffectually. She bit her lip.

"Why did you – which one of me did you like?"

It was asked with a lot of trepidation. His eyes were analysing her again.

"I liked you, Williams. Whether that came with fudge or the history of print now seems immaterial."

"Then why were you so confused?"

"Because the real you happened. And the magical you could not always compare. It's a good fucking thing you're the same person."

She blinked.

"You mean that?"

He nodded.

"I – so – so now…"

He smiled slowly. "You should head to your dormitory."

"Right," she nodded. "But also -?"

"We have transfiguration tomorrow, first thing."

"Of course. But Sirius –"

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

Her shoulders slumped. "Okay."

She headed to the chair and began packing her stuff.

"What were you reading?"

"Anne of Green Gables," she said thoughtlessly, stuffing the book in her bag.

He held her wrist, and she looked at him again. "Most ardently, isn't it?" he asked with a gleam of his eye. "You free for Hogsmeade next weekend?"

"I – I suppose – I think –"

"I'll pick you up in the morning?"

"Um – I – Okay…?"

"Fantastic," he said. He swooped down and kissed her soundly. June nearly fell off her balance and into the chair. "See you tomorrow!"

He floated out. June stared at the trapdoor.

"What the fuck," said June to the room at large.


See you guys SUNDAY!

Honourable mentions for tropes I used: I think all of us read The Line Between Hate, Love, and Womanly Pride by Elliebaby once upon a time - and the kissing high up in castle towers, in an abandoned and moonlit setting was something that really had my heart beating back in the day. This scene is genuinely a homage to that story, it gave me such joy to read it. Even June's semi-formal speech is a homage to her OC Rose Logan's short speech, but I'll talk about that more later.

As for why I chose to put them in North Tower - I figured North Tower would be abandoned since canonically speaking, Dumbledore only hires a divination professor after Trelawney makes the fateful prophecy. I didn't want to stick June in the Room of Requirement, even though it would possibly be smarter - since it doesn't show up on the Marauder's Map, but I chose not to because I liked the setting of the North Tower more, and because (I know canon is the least of anyone's concerns) - but from what I remembered, when Neville used the Room of Requirement to get away from the Carrows they had a near impossible time finding the door again. I wasn't sure if Sirius would have been able to figure it out, or even if Sarah would have known how to? I don't know, I did try to write myself out of that technicality, but I worry that it might be a touch sloppy.