Sirius's Tomboy:

A/N: Thank all you lovelies for your reviews/messages, I don't know how you put up with me.

Disclaimer: I only own my week's pocket money, a couple of books and that's it.

Drowsy realities.

Faith.

That grin didn't leave his face but he nodded and put his pinky in mine.

I looked at the contrast in the colours for a moment, coffee and milk, but I egged him on. "Go on: say what you're promising."

He sobered up a bit, the smile on his face dimming slightly. "I, Sirius Orion Black, pinky promise to you, Faith Wilson, that I will not tell anyone about what happened with those four girls as well as the fact you have been hurt worse than this by them and haven't been to the hospital wing before today— is that all?"

"Yeah," I looked away from his serious gaze. "That's it."

He broke the pinky hold and took my hand to hold it normally, his other hand unraveling the jacket sleeve. "The punishment for me if I break our pinky promise is you giving me a haircut - like you said - but I want to add on me apologising to Snape in front of everyone at dinner for always pissing him off."

I blinked multiple times trying to just understand what he said when his grey eyes caught mine. "I'm that serious."

He was willing to swallow his pride if he broke, I'm sad to say, a measly promise, and say sorry to Snape. Was he okay?

My lungs decided to stop working then and I could only stare before I forced them to start again. "You don't—"

He raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me 'I don't have to' because me being serious only comes once a year and this is where I'm using it."

"But you could use it on something more... important. It's the first day of the school year after all." I weakly argued.

The look in his eyes made me swallow my words.

"As far as I'm concerned, the is the most important thing I'll face this year is you."

I couldn't reply to that and I was glad that I didn't have to when Pomfrey came in with her arms full of bandages, potions and ointments with more than a few following her. "Alright chickpea I've got everything I need for you— oh, Sirius you're still here."

"Of course I am." I was surprised to hear it come out defensive and Pomfrey noted it too.

"Don't get in a tiff," the nurse tutted. "I thought you would have followed Minvera to annoy her some more."

"I'm focusing on important things right now."

He needed to stop doing that. Throwing around the word 'important' as if it was easy to label something as that. I doubted he even knew what he was saying.

"Good to see."

She eyed our joined hands with a small smile and I felt my self darkening but Sirius just squeezed and winked.

I silently scoffed but I couldn't stop the smile on my face. This guy was ridiculous.

"Well I'm sorry to say that you need to step out so I can bandage up some ribs, or if you're already close enough you can stay..."

I couldn't even worry about Pomfrey telling him about my injuries because what she was implying was just—

"No! It's fine! We're not that close! Ha ha! I'll go, it's fine!" Sirius looked as ruffled as I felt.

He didn't waste time standing outside the curtain, his red cheeks making me laugh at the fact he could be embarrassed too.

"Ha," she triumphantly placed the materials next to me on the bed. "Finally got the dog gone."

I spoke up, smiling at Sirius's receding shadow. "If I didn't know any better I would say you didn't like him."

She chuckled. "If I didn't act like this his ego would be larger than it is now."

I decided then that I liked Madam Pomfrey.

I nearly jumped when I felt a weird sensation moving over me from head to toe. "Don't worry chickpea it's just a light scan for me to see all your injuries."

I stopped myself from squirming since that wasn't going to help her or me. Anyway I'd already made my choice in trusting her. And (most of the time) I stuck with my choices.

"Hmm." That was the only noise she let out, and it was neither surprised or judging and my shoulders relaxed.

"This'll heal your bruises." She ran her wand over me again, the bruises and aches in my legs and arms soothing out and leaving me . "But you'll feel a bit woozy afterwards just so you know."

She rooted through the shelf on the side, pulling an emerald bottle before turning back to me. "I've got a plant-sourced potion for you to drink for your ribs, you have a few that are fractured."

She handed me a potion and it looked silvery through the bottle, a label scripting it as what she told me: Bone-fixer (calcium enhancer).

It seemed like Pomfrey was more practical when it came to naming things.

Nevertheless, I drank it down, noting the almost milky taste and watched Pomfrey arrange and pick up some ointments. Then a hot feeling followed courting around my chest and I knew it was my ribs growing to smooth out any cracks.

"Now chickpea, can you remove your shirt so I can use these bandages on those ribs."

She was much more gentle than I'd thought she would be as she lathered the bottom of my ribs with an almost minty smell from one of the ointments she had brought. I still grimaced as a cool feeling covered my front.

When it was as thick as she wanted she grabbed the bandages and wrapped them around my torso, keeping the strengthened bones in place.

"That's it," she moved back with a clap of her hands before picking up a small tub. "All you need to remember is to take one of these every morning, now off you go poppet."

I pulled my school shirt back on. "Thank you Madam Pomfrey."

She waved her hand in a flurry of potions and bandages, "No need poppet, it's my job."

Nonetheless I lightly shrugged, "Still you healed me."

She hummed before turning around and asking, "Should I call the dog for you?"

I let out a laugh at that. "You might as well, he'll track me down anyway."

She didn't waste time, using her large lungs. "Black, your company is waiting!"

It was quiet in the whole of the wing for a moment before I heard the familiar sound of someone falling and the scuffle that came with standing up.

"Alright, you didn't have to shout, nearly gave me a heart attack, jeez." Sirius mumbled as his shadow grew on my curtain.

"It is my hospital wing Sirius, I'll do what I like." She sniffed at his appearance.

He didn't look offended in the slightest as his eyes landed on me. "Is Faith ready to leave?"

Pomfrey nodded, going to organise the items in the side cupboard. "Yes, and Black? Don't get too frivolous, she needs her rest."

I snorted at his crimson face, ignoring the heat in mine as I got off my hospital bed. "Thanks for that piece of advice Pomfrey."

She turned to smile at me before shooing us out. "Go on, get going now."

Sirius reached out for my hand, pulling me out of the curtain-pulled space with a long drawl of, "Goodbye Pom-Pom!"

The stares that followed us when we walked in, doubled as we walked out.

"I think we're giving them the wrong idea." I murmured as one fifth year's face turned devastated at the sight of our joined hands.

I did try to pull away but he only just pulled me closer and earned me more jealous glares. They were somehow even worse than the ones at breakfast.

"Who cares?" Was all he responded with, sending me a carefree smile that I shook my head at.

He was so stupid.

We left the wing behind and Sirius still hadn't let go of my hand when he hummed, "What should I tell the others?"

I was beginning to feel drowsy and I knew it was because of the bruise-healing spell. I still churned my head for an answer though. "You can tell the girls that I hurt myself on one of the plants... On, the Sylvites, yeah."

Sirius chuckled as I yawned through the sentence and did it again. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder to stop me from falling asleep while I stood up. "Can I ask you something?"

I nodded my head against his shoulder, raising a hand to cover my mouth. "Yeah, sure."

He was mulling over whether he should as I could tell so I prodded. "I'm not going to be awake for long so ask me."

"When we were in the wing, why didn't you tell Minnie about what really happened?"

It took me a few moments to understand what he asked and when I did, I wished I didn't.

"Well there's no point is there?" I finally muttered, rubbing my eye.

I could tell Sirius was more into my answer than I thought when I felt his heavy gaze turn on me.

"What do you mean?" He whispered as we traveled along the corridor.

"No one would believe little, old me anyway." I murmured. "Four against one: the odd aren't the best."

I didn't tell him the complete truth, that I wouldn't win because they were popular and I wasn't.

That I was lonely and they weren't.

Sirius appeared to believe me when he ruffled my head, oblivious to my thoughts. "I would believe you, do you know that?"

My throat constricted a moment as I looked up at him, "You would?"

"Of course!" His eyebrows were raised as we went around another corner. "And the guys would too."

"Are you sure?" I couldn't stop my disbelief from bleeding into my tone. "Sorry."

Sirius brought us to a stop in the middle of the hallway and he turned to me. "I'm ignoring that sorry. Why do you think they wouldn't believe you?"

My gaze swam between the carpeted halls and his concerned gaze. "The girls are connected aren't they? People know them right?"

I blame my sleepiness for my honesty.

He started to say something but I carried on, trying to undo what I said. "You know what never mind—"

I was cut off when Sirius shook his head, lightly taking hold of my shoulders. "You shouldn't stop yourself from telling the truth, especially when it's how you feel."

I blinked twice, feeling another wave of tiredness hit me even though I wanted to respond. "Can we talk about this later? I'm feeling awfully lightheaded."

His eyes widened before he grabbed my hand and pulled me down another empty hallway. "Sorry I'm too nosy. Pom said you needed sleep and I'm not helping."

"You're right to be curious."

"Not when you're about to drop on your feet."

I only hummed and let him lead us all the way to the Fat Lady. She looked surprised to see us coming to the Common Room while it was the start of third period. However Sirius wasn't concerned in the slightest, grinning at her before saying the password.

"Sherbet Lemons."

My eyebrows ruffled when the portrait swung to the side to let us in. "How do you know that? I haven't had a chance to be told about it yet."

He just winked. "I have my ways."

I just followed him through to the Common Room putting that aside to think about later- after I'd gotten some sleep.

In the Common Room he turned to me, gaze nervous. "You're going to be alright?"

I watched him in drowsy amusement as he scratched the back of his neck. "Sure I am, just..."

He stepped closer as I struggled with my words, speaking softly. "I won't say anything. I promised didn't I?"

I couldn't met his eyes, grateful that he didn't seem offended at my wavering trust. "Thank you, well again."

He clasped my hand, tilting up my head with his other. "I hope you believe me when I say I don't beak my promises."

I struggled to get any words past my lips with his imploring gaze so I nodded, knowing I felt more vulnerable when I was tired. Thus feeling more suspicious of everything and everyone.

"Sorry."

"Don't apologise." He repeated, going to hold both of my hands. "I need to stop asking questions you don't want to answer. Anyway Pomfrey would have my neck if she knew you weren't in bed yet."

He looked mock-offended when I went to move to the girls staircase, pulling me back to pull me into a hug. "Don't worry, I've got your back."

I barley had time to realise it was a hug and wrap my arms around him when he stepped back, only a brief feeling of warmth telling me it had even happened. "Now go, be free, go sleep."

"You're not making sense." I couldn't help but mutter, turning around and walking when Sirius didn't respond.

He only kept a grin on his face and raised his eyebrows. "You gotta sleep, so go."

I stopped at the foot of the girls' staircase turning around when I remembered. "Look after my cat because if she dies, you die."

He only waved at me but his eyes showed glimmers of fear. "Right yeah, I know Moony has 'Berry so she'll be safe."

"Right." I should have kept her with me, I couldn't sleep without her around. She always looked out while I slept anyway.

She would have looked out while I was in the Greenhouses too.

"Sleep Faith."

The soft words snapped me out of my reflection and I looked over my shoulder to see the guy who helped me, smile on his face.

I never would have dreamed I would talk to him, never mind telling him a lick about what happened concerning them. Or out of any person in the school that he would help me.

"Bye Sirius."

His face softened, giving me a lame wave that I snorted at. I carried on trudging up the stairs until I couldn't feel his gaze on me anymore.

Going to the end of the hallway, I stood in indecision. McGonagall had said I was moving dorms but did she expect me to take my things out of the dorm? And where was Bertha and Ebony's dorm anyway?

I just wanted to sleep for pete's sake.

Pushing open the door to the dorm I'd shared with the people who'd 'cornered' me earlier. I kept my gaze low as I trudged straight to my bed. Just having my gaze wander would bring back memories.

Bad memories.

...

"Hey Tarty-tart! Wake-up!"

...

"Like are you stupid or something? You made me get a nine out of ten on purpose didn't you!?"

...

"Guess who's waking up to tomato juice~?"

...

I shook the spiral of different memories from my head, wrapping my arms around myself. I still couldn't believe I'd left them— or even that Sirius knew a bit of the situation.

When my eyes finally found my bed, they widened. My cover I'd fixed before I'd left the dorm this morning wasn't there and neither was my chest for my clothes. My heart started racing and I immediately blamed those four. I wasn't a stranger to the original three hiding or taking my things whenever they felt like it.

My eyes began to prickle and I hated that I felt weak even though they weren't here. I didn't know what I was doing anymore. Hanging out with Sirius? The darn Marauders?

I couldn't even move away from toxicity because my stuff was gone—

I was just about ready to pull my hair in a jumbled mess of frustration when I caught sight of a folded piece of scroll next to my headboard.

I angrily rubbed at my eyes before swiping the papyrus. I hated feeling weak, crying, and this confusion while I just wanted to face-plant the ground wasn't helping.

My breath caught as I realised it was from McGonagall, her cursive script iconic:

Faith,

By the time this reaches you the house elves will have moved your belongings to Jorkins' dorm. It is four doors down from yours, on the right.

Although I don't believe you were completely truthful in your explanation of how you were injured, as your Head of House my main concern is your safety.

Even though I cannot force you, please alert me of any unsavoury behaviour. Hogwarts has a no-bullying policy and I ask of you to tell a teacher if you know of anything.

Make sure you get sufficient rest before you think of going back to your lessons.

With concern,

Minvera McGonagall.

My eyes were swimming again and I blamed it on my sleepy state; I didn't let out tears unless in pain otherwise. But the reason behind why I was feeling a rush of gratitude was something I would have felt affected by even in my normal state.

She cared.

Not even that she believed me.

Having no more reason to stay in a room that just reminded me of the things that haunted my dreams, I left, pushing open the door for - hopefully - the last time.

At the start of the day, I didn't believe anyone would look my way— unless it was to ridicule me.

How wrong I was.

Victori and Edward.

I'd made friends out of them, by myself. I was capable. Despite what I had been etched into me, the lies I'd been told.

Bertha and Ebony.

They were people whose relationship was a complete opposite to the ones I used to be involved with. Not one with an angry atmosphere or fiery individuals who wouldn't let you say anything negative about their points. Healthy.

Filled with darn laughter.

But even though it took another attack by my ex friends for people to notice, I was glad Sirius had stumbled onto my path. He'd helped for the most and that was more than I could say for my ex-friends. Much more.

And with that thought I entered Ebony's dorm with a brief glance around before face palming the spare bed. More relaxed in this room I'd been in less than a minute than the one down the corridor I'd been in for years.

Much more relaxed.