Chapter Six

It was now mid October, Elliot kept her promise to Remus, after their conversation Elliot began to go back to his classes, even if she didn't feel like it as it was too awkward for her. She was still having nightmares about her father but she just continued with her life, acting as if nothing was wrong, even though it was now noticeable to her other Professors and the twins.

Fred and George reminded her daily that she needed to go to the Hospital Wing, to see if she could sort out her nightmares but she didn't want to seem weak or afraid of her father, even though she secretly was. She didn't want to tell more people why she couldn't sleep. Fred, George, Remus and Sirius already knew and that was enough people for her to know about the things that happen at home.

Elliot was in the Common Room with Fred, George, Lee Jordan, Harry, Ron and Hermione. It was 9PM. Elliot had Astronomy in a few hours so she was waiting for the lesson as she sat with her friends.

"Have you still been seeing anyone, Elliot?" Lee asked as he wiggled his eyebrows.

"I have and I haven't," Elliot laughed, not really knowing where she was at with any of the people she met on a regular basis.

"A certain Mister Diggory keeps on asking about you," Fred asked as he looked over at the witch.

"Don't even start," once again the girl laughed.

She was conflicted with her emotions. Was she falling for two different Professors at the same time? She couldn't tell.

"Is there something we're missing?" Ron asked his brothers.

"Well, my dearest Ron. Elliot and Cedric meet once every week." George started, with glaring looks from Elliot.

"Seriously? These three are thirteen!"

"Technically only two of us are thirteen," Hermione added, as her birthday was in September.

"Same thing!"

"Elliot, might I add that it was this time two years ago when you started to fuc-"

"Right! That's enough! No more talking about my sex life!" Elliot interrupted George.

She didn't want her sex life being told to the younger students. Everyone already knew her by that already. She shook her head and looked at her lap. She was only shagging around because of what her father does to her. She was only doing it to forget what he does to her.

It was nearly midnight, so Elliot was making her way up to the Astronomy Tower, Marauder's Map in hand. She knew that she was allowed to be wondering the castle at this time, but she didn't want to explain that to any prefects or teachers as she would have been late for her lesson.

When she reached the Astronomy tower it was a minute until midnight and it looked as if she was the last one to arrive. It was only a small class, a few Slytherins, two Ravenclaws, four Hufflepuffs, including Cedric, and her being the only Gryffindor.

"Now that everyone is here, shall we start?" Sirius asked the rhetorical question.

Elliot placed herself away from everyone, she needed to concentrate, she wanted to concentrate. But she just couldn't. It was like her and the Professor had a secret arrangement, they both would go for their cigarettes and if it was a weekend, then they would sit there for hours on end, talking about everything and nothing. It had started a few weeks ago, after her conversation with Remus and when she opened up to him about her family.

Sirius couldn't help but look over the girl every now and then as he was teaching. She seemed drained and tired. He cared about the fifth year student, but how much did he care for her? That was starting to bother him. He can't ruin his marriage again like he did a few years ago. It broke his wife's trust.

Sirius sighed as the students were looking up at the sky, writing down what they could see and writing about the constellation or the start itself. He looked back over at Elliot. Her hair was in a messy bun, but it looked perfect, as if she did it on purpose, she had navy jeans on with a black tank top, a grey hoodie covering her as there was a slight chill in the air tonight.

"El?"

"Yes, Cedric?"

"What are you doing Saturday evening?"

"Depends on your next question love." Elliot teased him.

"Wanna hang out? I can have the dorm by myself," he added.

Elliot laughed and shook her head. He was impossible.

"Sure, why not."

"Make sure you don't have any other plans,"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"C'mon El, you know what I mean. Remember last year? I heard a story that you had four different guys in one night."

"Yeah, I did but I don't think it's your business who I sleep with and when."

"Enough now guys, time to pack up." Sirius said as he clapped his hands, interrupting an argument that may have happened before it started. "Miss Smith, stay behind a minute, please."

Elliot sighed and walked over to Sirius. When he knew it was safe to speak her looked over her and saw how drained she really was.

"You're not sleeping," was all he said.

"I don't want to sleep, I'm not tired."

"Don't lie, Elliot. What's really bothering you? Stress?"

"I don't want to sleep...I don't want the nightmares."

"How often do you have them?"

"Every single bloody night. I'm sick of it. I don't want to go to the Hospital Wing to tell another person why I don't want to sleep."

"Hey, hey, hey, hey. Calm down." Sirius said softly as he brought the younger girl in for a hug.

Sirius was stroking her back, trying to settle the girl.

"I just don't want to keep on remind myself what goes on,"

"That's why yo do what you do," Sirius said knowingly.

"You know?" Elliot asked, shocked.

"Most of the Professors know, hun."

"Oh,"

"I'm not judging you, I used to do it myself."

Elliot just nodded her head. Sirius pulled back a bit and looked at her face. Even though he could see how tired she really was, he found her beautiful. Her bright blue eyes were memorising, her tanned skin looked as if she's just been on holiday, her dimples, all of her.

He looked at her plumb lips then back to her eyes. He was debating with himself. Should he? Should he not? But before he made up his mind, he did it anyway. He kissed the younger girl. Elliot was shocked at first, not knowing what to do. But once her Professor asked for entrance with his tongue, she allowed him.

They both battled for dominance with their tongues but only one could be in control. As always, it was Sirius who won. To him, Elliot was intoxicating, she tasted like cigarettes and vanilla. Sirius bent down slightly, still kissing the girl and lifted her up. Elliot's legs wrapped around his waist right away as he pushed her up against the wall.

Remus was on his duties for the night, making sure that no students were out of their dorms after curfew. He saw the students from Astronomy make their way back to their dorms but said nothing to them, as they had a perfectly good reason why they are out in the corridors.

Remus neared the Astronomy Tower and was going to see Sirius after his lesson, he could do with one of Sirius' famous whiskeys. His head was rattled what he wanted to do with Elliot. Should he ignore the girl?

As he walked up the stairs he heard Sirius.

"I'm not judging you, I used to do it myself."

It went silent for a few moments so Remus thought he'd check, to see if he was okay. Once he had a clear view he stopped dead in his tracks, like a deer in the headlights. He didn't know what to do. Sirius was kissing Elliot.

After Sirius lifted Elliot up and pushed her against the wall, Remus knew he had to do something. He cleared his throat. Sirius dropped Elliot carefully and the two of them looked in the direction of the stairs.

"Remus..."

"Really, Sirius? Are you that stupid?"

Elliot stood there awkwardly, not looking at either of them.

"Do you really want to fuck up your marriage again? Do you not remember last time?"

"Remus, not now." Sirius growled, as he didn't want Elliot to know any of this.

"Why not, Sirius? It's...You...Ughh. Do whatever you want. But seriously, what's going to happen if...no, when Harleigh finds out?"

Sirius sighed and moved away from the young girl. Remus was right, Harleigh could find out about this, then it would get messy.

Elliot looked at both of the men in front of her, not knowing what to do. Should she say something? Should she leave?

"I...I best be going back to my dorm." Elliot grabbed her book bag and tried to walk past the two.

"We need to sort this," Sirius grabbed her arm softly, stopping the girl.

"Fuck yes we do," Remus nearly shouted.

"Remus, really? What is your problem other than Harls?"

Remus snorted. He looked at his best friend then at the girl. He then shook his head. He felt jealous, but he had no reason to be, right? He pretty much rejected the girl.

"It is true then, what James and I have been saying." Sirius laughed dryly.

"Let's talk about this somewhere else," Remus said as he walked down the Astronomy Towers stairs.

Elliot and Sirius followed him. She shot a look behind her to see Sirius, he smiled weakly at her. She sighed and continued to follow the Professor in front of her. They reached his classroom in a matter of minutes. Remus opened the door for the two behind him then looked both ways of the corridors, making sure no one saw.

"Do we really have to talk about it?" Elliot asked, knowing the questions answer.

"I feel like we do, Elliot." Remus said as he looked at the girl. "Sirius, what were you thinking?"

"I was comforting her,"

"You call that comforting her?"

"You don't know the full story Remus,"

"Then one of you can tell me."

Elliot looked over at Sirius. She didn't want to speak, all she wanted to do was cry in the corner with no one around her. Sirius sighed and looked at Remus.

"Look at her, carefully." Remus did as Sirius said and looked over the girl. "Now tell me what's wrong."

"Sleep deprivation,"

"Yes, and Elliot doesn't want to go to the Hospital Wing. She doesn't want anyone else finding out about her family, as that's all she dreams about. Nightmares of her family, more particular her father."

"So, that gives you the right to kiss her?"

"I wouldn't have kissed back if I didn't want it," Elliot said quietly.

Both of the Professors turned to look at the girl.

"I was starting to get upset so Professor Black hugged me. He tried to calm me down. After a minute or so he pulled back and kissed me. But like I've just said, I wouldn't have kissed him if I didn't want to."

"Elliot, it doesn't make it right though," Remus tried to explain.

"It doesn't, but people can't help who they like. I felt rejected by you, Sir. One reason why I skipped classes, because I was humiliated, embarrassed and I felt rejected."

"I'm sorry, Elliot," Remus said as he walked over to her.

He had calmed down slightly, knowing that Sirius didn't force himself on her.

"So we all good?" Sirius asked.

"Like fuck we are," Remus said as he turned to him. "We all obviously still have some other things to talk about."

"Like,,,?"

"Like the fact that we both fancy a teenage girl that is our student."

Elliot looked over at Remus, he fancied her? After he rejected her? She was shocked.

"What do you want to do, Moony?"

"I don't know, Pads. It would just feel...not right."

They were both now looking at Elliot. She was still shocked that the Professors fancied her.

"Keep it casual," was all she said.

"Casual?" Remus raised an eyebrow.

Sirius smirked, knowing exactly what she meant.

"Yeah, I see both of you but casual. If we don't want to do something, then we don't have to. I'm still going to do what I do but add on you two as well, either separate or together."

"I have one condition." Sirius said, whilst looking over at Remus. "Harleigh or the kids do not find out. At all."

Remus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, he could feel a headache coming along.

"Fine,"

Sirius then looked over at Elliot.

"Only if you're sure,"

"I am."