Chapter 29

The excitement from the Halloween Ball quickly fizzled into stress of upcoming exams. I personally, being the nerd I am, was startled with my strong feelings for Sirius that were resurfacing, and pushed aside that confusion and put all my concentration and energy into studying. Every time I thought I had everything figured out with Sirius, something happens and throws me right off course once again. Deciding to postpone that mass of questions until at least after exams, I spent every spare moment in the library, poring over notes and textbooks. Frankly, I was thankful for the distraction.

But now exams were coming to an end. Before I knew it, Wednesday night rolled by and it was the eve of my final exam for the year: Potions.

It was no surprise that I was found at the back of the library, furiously scribbling notes on potions.

"Hey Bells" I looked up as James sat down next to me, brushing aside several of my books so he could rest his feet on the table.

Giving him a withering stare, I wordlessly returned to my notes.

James snatched my quill and sat on it.

"HEY!" I said, annoyed now.

"Listen I've got something important to discuss with you."

"You can't just barge in here and break my quill and expect me t-"

"Bella."

I quietened at his tone.

"Why aren't you and Sirius dating yet?"

I stared back at him gobsmacked.

"P-pardon?"

"He obviously likes you, you obviously like him. So why is it that you spend half the Halloween ball secluded in the balcony together and now you haven't spoken for three weeks?"

Shaking off my initial shock, I tried to sound indignant, "th-that's none of your business!"

"Come off it Bells. You two are my closest friends. And Sirius has liked you for ages. It's just common knowledge now. At first I was protective and didn't want him near you but merlin does he care for you, it's plain to see now. I don't think anyone could care about you more as a matter of fact. So I need you to finally do exactly what I know you're dying to do and just go and make babies with him."

I didn't know what to say. So I decided to go with sarcasm.

"….Is that an order?"

"No. its-"

"Is what an order?"

We both turned around to see Sirius walking up to us.

James shot me a rather long, hard meaningful look, before getting up, tossing the two halves of my quill onto the table, clapping Sirius on the shoulder, and leaving.

They must have silently communicated because James shot him the same look, and Sirius looked rather determined now.

I watched him as he approached and gave him a small smile.

"Reparo" he chanted, mending my wand and handing it back to me.

"Thanks." I couldn't help but return his soft smile, and I leisurely reminisced on how that tender look seemed to be reserved only for me.

"No problem. I came to tell you and James that Harvey stopped by me earlier, if looks like Johnson's gone and pulled a stunt in his Defence class and landed himself in the Hospital Wing until the end of term. He's going to be transferred to St Mungo's soon."

"That's terrible! What did he do?"

"They were by the lake earlier and he dived in. Bloody idiot. He kept swimming too far in and the professor couldn't get him before something dragged him under. Took three hours and five teachers to find him."

"Oh Merlin! Poor Eric!"

"Yeah poor Eric. Meanwhile we're down a beater just two days before the Quidditch Final game."

I gasped, realising that was true. "What are we going to do? We would never win with one beater, I mean you are great but…"

"Well…I would disagree, but in the interests of our captain, I'm to select one of the fifth years who was half-decent at try-outs."

"Oh." We've got no hope.

"How is the studying coming along?" He inquired.

"Pretty stressful but it will be a relief after tomorrow. You still have Transfiguration on Friday don't you?"

"Yep. But I don't really need to study for that" he dropped a wink.

I knew he was right but I admonished him anyway, "come one Sirius, you have to study!"

"Do I?" He whipped out his wand, and pointed it at a chair. In a flash it transformed into a giant Niffler, identical to Niffy but on a larger scale, and before I knew it, it changed into a chair again.

"Sirius…that's….really advanced. I don't do transfiguration but I thought large objects until next year? And with non-verbal incantation too…" The more I thought about it, the more questions popped up into my mind, but Sirius grabbed my hands.

"Listen Bells, I need to tell you something."

"…Okay."

"I wanted to wait until after your potions exam, but I have to tell you now."

"…..Okay…"

I was growing nervous.

"Be my girlfriend?"

…

"What?"

I could feel his palms becoming sweaty, and those clammy hands were somehow making the reality of the situation dawn on me. Without thinking, I retracted my hands from his.

I could see a brief flash of hurt in his eyes, but he continued.

"I really like you Bells, for a long time now. You already know that by now. And I couldn't stand it when you were dating that puff-face. I'm so crazy about you."

"Sirius I….. I don't know." My brain seemed to have stopped working. Panic was setting in.

I was surprised to see that the steel in his eyes hadn't disappeared.

"Please, just give me a chance. Look, I'll make you a deal"

"A deal?"

"I'll go solo as beater in the game on Saturday. And if I can stop every single member of the team from an encounter with the bludgers, you have to go on a date with me."

"Th-that's absurd! You'll hurt yourself, and we could get hurt too! And Harvey would never allow it!"

"I'll deal with Fletcher. And don't you worry, I won't even let any of you feel the wind of them rushing past."

"Sirius, this is completely unnecessary."

"So then you'll go out with me anyway?"

"….."

"Right. So do we have a deal?"

"Sirius…"

"All I'm asking for is one chance Bella. I won't bother you after that, I promise."

I could see the weight of sincerity in his eyes and I knew I was bending.

"…Okay."

"Good." He immediately rose from the table and left without a second glance.

Stupid stupid stupid. Why did I agree to that? Someone is going to get thrashed on Saturday. And if no one does in the game, Sirius will get thrashed in the locker room by Harvey after we inevitably lose.

…..Why didn't I just agree to go out with him?

I shook my thoughts as I climbed through the portrait hole. I saw Sirius and Remus walking up to their dorms, I glanced down at my watch. Blimey it was late, I sat in the library doing nothing but mull over my thoughts for hours!

I waited until the boys were out of sight and then I crept across the common room and began to climb the stairs to the girls' dorm.

But something caught my eye and I stopped.

A piece of parchment was lying on the floor at the foot of the stairs. It must have dropped out of someone's robes.

I bent down and picked it up.

I recognised the St Mungo's crest.

I'll just check who it's addressed to and return it to them.

But as soon as I opened the letter I stopped.

Was that..? It can't be…

It definitely was my mother's handwriting. There was no mistaking it.

Without hesitation, I began to read it.

Dear Sirius

Sirius?

We don't know how to thank you.

What you've done for us was above and beyond what we'd expect from anyone.

I wish you would let us return the money to you but it seems you had anticipated that and put it into work on the new house and paid the debts immediately.

Yes, we found out. My husband went to a lot of effort to trace back that mysterious donation and we were shocked that it was you!

We have nothing to offer you in return but our most sincere gratitude, my dear boy.

You are a welcome member of our family and can ask anything of us, think of us as your own.

We are immeasurably indebted to you.

Once again, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

Take care of Bella

Affectionately,

Simona and Edwin Harper

The parchment fluttered to the ground but I remained stock still.

That's how Lily found me, minutes later.

"Bella? There you are! I was just about to come look for you. Are you alright?"

She approached me and realised I was staring at the parchment on the ground.

Her eyes followed my line of sight.

"What's that Bells?

Review, review, review please! Thank you to everyone who critiqued my last chapter, that was enormously helpful!

Also sorry updates are a bit slower, I have uni exams! :( :(

- Stay sweet :)

Sugar~~