Chapter 7

"Slow down Sirius!" I called as he dragged me through the empty hallways. The people on the portraits eagerly followed our movements with curiosity, some laughing and running along with us, others turning up their noses at our 'irresponsible behaviour'.

A few more turns and we were stopped in front of a portrait of a fruit bowl.

"Uh wow Sirius, this is amazing." I said after a moment. He was that excited to show me this painting of fruit?

He rolled his eyes.

"Tickle the pear." He ordered.

"Excuse me?"

"Tickle. The pear."

"I hope you can understand with how odd a request that is."

"Bella!" He urged, getting flustered, "trust me, just tickle it!"

With a heavy sigh and a very sceptical shake of the head, I stretched out a finger and stroked the pear once. I immediately retracted in shock when I heard a giggle.

Looking at Sirius with wide eyes, "I hurt it!" I proclaimed, shocked.

Sirius, who looked like he was caught between ripping his hair out, and bursting into laughter, grabbed my left hand and reached out to the pear, forcing me to tickle it mercilessly.

I stood speechless as it writhed in the fruit basket, erupting into obnoxious giggles. I looked up at Sirius, for a moment assessing the absurdity of the situation. Here we were covered in muddy quidditch robes, emphatically ticking a painting.

"This has really got to be the oddest thing I've done." I said after my introspection.

He didn't bother with a response, he just nodded his head towards the painting, indicating that I should look at it, when I did, I saw that the painting had swung open, revealing a doorway.

Sirius impatiently led me inside, boyish excitement etched upon his face.

I gasped as hundreds of happy elves greeted us once we were inside.

"Hello Mr Black, hello lady" they chorused.

I beamed at them all, "this is Bella" Sirius introduced. After the greetings, the kind elves implored us to take a seat and asked what we would like to eat.

"Eat?" I asked dumbly. It was only then I looked up and noticed the lines of stoves, sinks, and the four long tables identical to the ones in the Great Hall.

"Ah. I think I understand now. You've taken me to the kitchens! How on earth did you find this place?" I asked Sirius, impressed.

"Secret Bells," he said, looking equally as impressed by my reaction.

"Pumpkin pasties please" Sirius asked an elf who was standing close by. They immediately bustled off to see to out order.

I beamed at Sirius. He winked, "no better way to celebrate getting selected on the team than with your favourite snack."

"In that case, excuse me" I called over another elf, "can we please get some cauldron cakes as well?"

"Of course miss Bella" The elf bowed politely and left.

Sirius smiled. "Don't be too touched" I said, "I only know they're your favourite snack because I had to clean up about a thousand wrappers this summer."

"Well I only know about your love for pumpkin pasties because I walked in on you stuffing your face with about three at one time"

I blushed and we laughed.

It was so easy with Sirius. Too easy. The elves brought our food and we ate and talked merrily. I didn't even care that I laughed so hard that I choked on my pasty. It was so comfortable like this I could have stayed there for the rest of the day.

So when we did get up to leave, thank the elves and exit the kitchens, we did so reluctantly.

Later, the marauders and I were reclined in the common room. Peter and James were playing chess and I had just finished Charms homework with Lily. She had gone off to prefect rounds with Remus so Sirius and I were left idly chatting before the fire.

I heard someone clear their throat in front of me. I looked up to see Rodger shuffling his feet nervously.

"Hi Bella, I was wondering if you could help me a bit with the Potions essay? If it's not too much trouble? I just need a bit of direction…"

I smiled at him, I could tell he genuinely needed help whether whatever Lily and Mary said was true about him trying to get time alone with me.

"Sure Rodg, lets grab a table." I turned to see Sirius glaring intensely into the fire and decided not to say anything more, I was still confused about his outburst when Rodger had come up to me in the Great Hall the first time, and I know any time he comes up in conversation Sirius turns unusually grumpy. So I gave him a cautious pat on the shoulder and got up to sit at a table with Roger.

"Alright your argument seems logical, it's just that you've confused some of the facts. See you've mixed up the properties of asfaloth juice with lacewing flies," I began. I looked up to see Rodger looking at me with such a fierce admiration that I stopped midway with my sentence.

Sensing my hesitation, he immediately cleared his throat and began staring intently at the paper, nodding emphatically. I smiled as I spotted a nervous blush.

Our lesson continued in a similar fashion. I found it strange how nervous Rodger was around me, but something about him made me never want to refuse his company. Perhaps it was the way he always seemed to think he was bothering anyone who talked to him, or the way he was kind to mostly everyone he met.

As Rodg packed his parchment and quill away, he thanked me profusely as he always did and stumbled away.

I got up from the chair just as Lily re-entered with Remus.

She spotted me waving to Rodger and smiled wickedly at me.

Oh boy I thought. I was going to get grilled tonight.

And just as predicted, she continued to hit me with her pillow as I tried to lay down to sleep later that night.

"What happened, what happened, what happened?" She demanded.

I groaned and sat up.

"Lils!" I said, exasperated. "I just tutor him for Potions from time to time. Possibly one of the most un-romantic activities imaginable!"

"Rubbish. He's definitely interested. This is his way of making a move."

"You think so?" I asked, giving up the façade that I didn't want to talk about it. "I don't know how I feel about him to be quite honest. He's cute"

"That he definitely is" Lily agreed, cutting me off. "His chocolate curls could get any girl."

Raising my eyebrows at her poetic interlude, I continued, "and he's genuinely such a kind person. So many girls say he's boring and yes, maybe he's not that loud funny guy but he's incredibly nice and caring."

"He definitely strikes me as a long term guy. He respects girls that's for sure." She agreed.

I smiled at that. I'd never been one who wanted to date around or play the field for the sake of it. To be honest I was too absorbed in quidditch and food up until now. I still am, just my radar is expanding a bit.

"But what about Sirius?" Lily asked quietly.

I looked down. Only Lily knew the confusion I was in about Sirius. My relationship with Sirius is ambiguous. We were definitely close, everyone knew that. In a very different way to the platonic bond I share with James. At times I think we may possibly get together. And other times I think there's not a chance under the stars. I didn't even know if I liked him or not.

"I really think you should talk to him about it." She said, after I said nothing. "It's the only way to find out." She finished. Of course she could read my mind.

"You really think so?" I asked, knowing the answer already.

"Yes."

Perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea.

I headed back down to the common room. Miraculously, as if Merlin willed that it would be, Sirius was the only person who remained, sitting by himself in front of the fire. Exactly where he was when I left to help Rodger.

It was so funny. I kept telling myself what a great person Rodger was. But as soon as Sirius was mentioned, I knew it was different. I didn't need to convince myself why I should like him, I knew.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped down the stairwell and called his name softly.