Thanks for being so understanding about my exams guys, I was a bit scared I'd get rude PM's and reviews but everyone was so sweet so a massive thank you for your patience :)

Chapter 30

I tried to talk to Sirius, I really did. After showing Lily the letter from my parents, and explaining everything that happened at the library, I decided I had to tell Sirius to stop this stupid deal. I also had to tell him that there is no way in hell that I would be refusing to go with him to Hogsmeade now. After everything he had done for me I realised how barking mad I had been.

With all this going through my head, I almost forgot I had a potions exam at 8:00 this morning.

Rushing to the classroom on the fifth floor, I ignored my growling stomach as it protested the lack of breakfast.

Finally making it to the door, I beamed as I saw Sirius leaning against the stone wall.

He must have finished his exam already, since we were to be called in groups according to our surnames.

"Sirius!"

He raised his head and smiled at me.

"Hey Bells, you made it. For a moment there I thought you were going to miss it completely. And after all that studying!"

"Well. Here I am! How did you go? Anyway, there's something I need to tell you-"

"Shh. Not now, you need to concentrate on potions. Also you skipped breakfast so I brought some toast for you." He held out the pieces of toast for me.

"But this is importa-"

He stuffed the toast in my mouth before I could say another word.

"mmf! mmphf-"

"Oh goodness, how rude. Talking with your mouth full. Tsk tsk. Anyway, I best be off, it may be your last exam but I still have transfiguration to study for. Good luck, even though you won't need it!"

And with that, he was off, speeding down the corridor.

I sighed as I chewed on my toast.

"Oh and one more thing-"

"AHH" I jumped as he appeared right in front of my face again.

"Make sure you don't have any plans with Lily or the other girls on Saturday, I'm planning on stealing you for the whole day."

My mouth dropped open and the toast fell out onto the floor.

I blushed as he smirked at me.

"Miss Bella Harper, Mr Ben Ingreaves, Mr Thomas Ipson and Miss Penelope Jerriworth. Please proceed into the classroom to conduct your exam." Professor Slughorn called with a chuckle.

I glanced back at Sirius before I headed in, he dropped me a casual wink and mouthed 'saturday' at me.

I left the classroom with confidence. Luckily I was able to pull my head together and recall the information I spent tireless hours memorising.

I didn't get a chance to talk to Sirius.

After Potions he and the rest of the marauders were nowhere to be seen, presumably practising for their transfiguration exam the next day.

But even after that exam, I couldn't catch hold of him.

I stayed up late friday night waiting for him to return to the common room but I ended up falling asleep, and Lily woke me up at 3am to take me back up to the dorms, lecturing me on how I'll ruin my back right before the finals.

So here I was, standing next to my fellow Gryffindor quidditch team members, about to step out to compete in the last game of the year.

"SO." Captain Harvey Fletcher bellowed. "Even though...We have only ONE BEATER. Thanks to SIRIUS BLACK." He paused, trying to regain his composure. "We. Can. Do. This. Somehow. WE MUST WIN. IT'S BLOODY SLYTHERIN OUT THERE AND IF WE GET OUR ASSES HANDED TO US THERE IS NO WAY THOSE SCOUTS IN THE STANDS ARE GOING TO RECOGNISE ME DO YOU UNDERSTAND" he fumed, his fragmented anger boiling into full, blown out rage.

I didn't pay attention to the rest. I was staring at Sirius.

I didn't end up telling him, and now he was about to face the harshest team in Hogwarts without another beater.

"Hey" Sirius whispered beside me, "what's up, you don't look so good."

"It's nothing...I wanted to talk to you yesterday but I couldn't find you after your exam."

"Oh yeah, sorry I was practising all night. So you ready for our date?" He winked.

I opened my mouth answer but,

"SO LETS MOVE OUT!" Harvey had finished his spiel and the rest of the team started to walk out into the stadium, so I hastily followed.

"Aaaand here we go everyone! The Hogwarts Quidditch Final!" The commentator boomed.

We kicked off the ground and launched into the air.

Merlin, I hope he doesn't get hurt.

"AND SLYTHERIN ON THE EARLY ATTACK. IT SEEMS THEY PLAN TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE ABSENCE OF A BEATER ON THE GRYFFINDOR SIDE! BLACK IS IN FOR A ROUGH GAME TODAY FOLKS."

"BELLA!" I looked up just as the quaffle was about to land on my face. I instinctively went to catch it, but my hesitation cost me, and a slytherin chaser swooped it out of my awaiting hands.

"AND POSSESSION QUICKLY CHANGES. WHAT HAPPENED TO HARPER? THIS IS UNUSUAL. AND TOTALLY DETRIMENTAL SEEING AS EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE ON THEIR TOP GAME WITH ONLY ONE BEATER. AND OH! GOAL BY SLYTHERIN! THE FIRST GOAL GOES TO THE GREENS. AND WITHIN JUST TEN MINUTES, GRYFFINDOR NEEDS TO UP THEIR GAME PRONTO."

I winced. Damn!

"WHAT WAS THAT BELLA? IT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU" Harvey screamed.

Sirius flew beside me, "Bells don't worry about me, everything will be fine, just concentrate."

I gave him a sharp nod and flew in the direction of the slytherin chasers. I was going to make up for that mistake if its the last thing I do.

"THE THREE GRYFFINDOR CHASERS ARE IN FORMATION HEADING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE SLYTHERINS. OH! AND THE SIDE TWO FEINT AND BELLA HARPER IS LEFT. THE SLYTHERINS ARE LOOKING CONFUSED! OH WHAT'S THIS! GRYFFINDOR'S IN POSSESSION! HARPER SWOOPED IN AND STOLE THAT LIKE AN OWL CATCHING A MOUSE! HARPER TO POTTER, POTTER TO EDWARDS, EDWARDS TO HARPER AND THERE WE HAVE IT! GOAL TO GRYFFINDOR! TEN POINTS!"

"NICE JOB!" Havey bellowed over the crowd.

Sirius was having a difficult time, but I couldn't believe it. It had been an hour and he had managed to deflect every single bludger attack.

The crowds had noticed and were rapidly cheering him on.

The score was 140-130, Slytherin's way.

Sirius was growing tired by the minute and both sides knew it. We needed that snitch now.

"OH AND THE TWO SEEKERS HAVE TAKEN OFF! IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE SPOTTED THE GOLDEN SNITCH. WHO WILL WIN? IT COULD BE EITHER AT THIS POI-

IT'S GRYFFINDOR! GRYFFINDOR HAS DONE IT! UNBELIEVABLE! WITH ONLY ONE BEATER GRYFFINDOR HAVE MANAGED TO WIN THE QUIDDITCH CUP! AMAZING! SIRIUS BLACK IS THE STAR OF THE GAME, AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE!"

I don't believe it. That reckless fool.

I couldn't help but hover there on my broom, staring at him in awe.

As soon as we touched down on the ground, we were greeted by rushing students, pouring out of the stands, cheering.

They lifted Sirius up first on their shoulders, and then the rest of us.

The trophy was placed in Sirius' hands and he held it up to be met with even louder cheers.

We looked at each other, and his victorious grin faded into a tender smile, one which I returned.

After I was showered and changed, I exited the change rooms to be enveloped in three bone crushing hugs.

"Guys, I can't breathe!"

Lily, Mary and Marlene didn't release me for another two minutes.

I had told Lily to inform Mary and Marlene about the date, so I knew the real reason behind their excitement.

"You did great!" Lily exclaimed.

"But did you see Sirius, oh Merlin. That's a man!" Marlene gushed.

Mary rolled her eyes. "Anyway, we have to get you ready for a date!"

They dragged me back up through the castle and into the Gryffindor girls' dorms, only to spend forty five minutes getting me primped and polished and glowing.

I wasn't wearing anything special, despite the girls' insistence. Just a pair of jeans, a warm top and a jacket. But with all the squealing and screaming it felt like I had spent an afternoon at the boutique.

So I walked down the stairs at 11:00, and searched past the milling students, for one Sirius Black.

Someone bumped my shoulder, "hey."

I smiled before I turned around. Of course I could recognise Sirius' voice anywhere.

"Hey."

"You look nice" he complimented.

I gave him a quizzical look. "I look normal."

"Exactly. You always look nice."

"..Thanks. You also look nice." I told him honestly. I was glad for my choice of clothing because he had dressed just as casually as me. I mentally hi-fived myself.

"Well, without further ado my lady, let's go."

We walked out of the portrait hole, ignoring the snickers and murmurs that could be heard from the stairs, unmistakeably from the marauders and my friends.

"You were so amazing out there today Sirius. You must have heard that a billion times by now but it's true." I said as we waited for the staircase to move.

"Well I said I would do it, didn't I? There's no way I would pass up a chance to finally take you out."

"Yeah...about that. I was trying to find you to tell you that you didn't have...um Sirius? Why are we stopped by this statue?"

"Because, my dear, I am about to reveal to you one of the most coveted marauder secrets. Now, close your eyes, put your right hand on your chest and say that you promise never to divulge this information to anyone."

"...Really?"

"Yes." He answered defiantly.

I sighed and placed my hand on my chest and closed my eyes as he had instructed. I was about to repeat what he had told me to say, but my eyes flew open as he pressed a light kiss to my cheek.

"Only joking" he winked.

I stood there stunned with my hand still on my chest.

He took that hand and led me behind the statue of the one-eyed witch.

Waving his want over it and muttering something, I watched in wonder as it moved to reveal a narrow, dark passage.

"Um Sirius. Where does that lead? And how did you find it?"

"Shhh, questions later. Come on."

I followed him through the tunnel for about five minutes, never letting go of his hand.

When he finally stopped, he moved something on the low ceiling and light shone into the passageway.

"Climb up there."

I gave him a look, but did as he said.

He swiftly followed after me.

"This is..!"

"Yep. Honeyduke's cellar!" He began to whistle as he placed the tile back where it was.

I looked around, transfixed at the barrels of candy and chocolate I was surrounded by.

"I want some!" I began to move towards the chocolate frogs but he grabbed my hand.

"That would be stealing?"

"Oh..." I pouted and he chuckled.

"Don't worry, I'll buy you whatever you like. Come on."

We walked up the cellar stairs and crept into the store.

I immediately gravitated towards the fudge, but Sirius was two steps ahead of me, already purchasing two large bars of double chocolate caramel at the counter, my favourite flavour.

Hmm so that's how it is.

I snuck away into one of the aisles and grabbed a few bags of cauldron cakes, when Sirius had left the counter and begun searching for me, I purchased the sweets and went and found him.

I waved them in front of his face with a triumphant grin.

"Hey, you're not supposed to buy me anything on this date." But he had a smile on his face. We exchanged sweets and left the store.

This was the best date I had been on. But it wasn't because of anything special we were doing, I mean, apart from the secret passageway, we were enjoying a normal afternoon and I knew it was because I was with Sirius that I was having such a good time.

After lunch at the Hogs Head, we explored nearly every shop in Hogsmeade. Sirius was a clown as usual and I found myself laughing until my sides hurt. For the first time in a long while, I felt completely unburdened and at ease.

We found a path beside a grove of trees, which didn't have too many students milling about so we decided to take a walk along it before we headed back up to the castle.

"Sirius..I have to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"I really wanted to tell you before the game, you didn't have to go through all that. I found out what you did for my parents..and Sirius I...I don't know how to thank you."

"Wha-? How did you find out?"

"You dropped a letter on Thursday night. And it was from my parents, thanking you for the money. Sirius you really didn't have to do that."

"I know. I wanted to. You know I did it for you right?" he turned to face me and took my hands in his.

I felt my insides melt a little as I gazed into his sincere eyes. What was this boy doing to me?

"I do know."

One of his hands left mine to cup my face.

He began leaning in.

My eyes drifted to a close.

"You two! There's five minutes left before you are to be inside the castle! I suggest you start heading back up NOW!" A teacher bellowed at us.

I blushed fiercely, trying to hide my face behind my hair. I hope they don't recognise me. What if they take points off?

I looked up and had to suppress a laugh as Sirius was glaring daggers in the direction of the professor's back, through the curtain of my hair.

"Come on Sirius" I said with a chuckle.

We held hands as we walked back up to the castle, and despite the yet-again failed attempt at a kiss, I didn't lose that warm fuzzy feeling inside.

"It's actually a good thing he interrupted. There was a tree right behind your head so you might have gotten a concussion if you slammed it backwards again."

I blushed at the memory of our first almost-kiss and shoved him in the side.

"Ahhh I'm so stupid." I covered my red face with my hands, laughing.

He pried my hands away from my face. "No. You're brilliant."

I found myself unable to react as his comment caught me off guard. He was being so kind to me lately. I mean, our usual playful vibe was still there but I found that there were some moments where he was genuinely so sweet that I didn't know what to do with myself.

"Hmm. I remember you once told me that I was so stupid that I wouldn't be able to recognise something if it hit me across the face." I poked my tongue out.

"Ah. I did didn't I?" He scowled. "Sorry. That was because I was so jealous of that puff face Rodger Lee. And you were so oblivious about my feelings for you it was irritating." Was that actually a blush on his face?

"Stop calling him that. I'm not with him anymore" I pushed gently, giving him a light punch on the arm. "And well, you can't blame me. How could I just assume that the great Sirius Black likes little old me?" I said with a sarcastic laugh.

"Hmm that is right I suppose, even though the great Sirius Black made it completely, totally, horrendously, blaringly obvious. I will forgive you."

"You are too gracious."

"Hey, let's go for a fly." Sirius said as soon as we entered through the portrait hole.

"Now? It's dark out..."

"I said I'm stealing you for the whole day, it'll be fine!"

"Okay, well let me go throw on a scarf."

I raced up the dorm room stair, heart thumping with fresh excitement.

I was immediately tackled by the girls and asked a million questions.

"..AND DID YOU KISS?"

They all stared unblinkingly at me awaiting a response.

"Uh...no."

"WHAT"

"Marlene, calm down" Mary said.

"We almost did. But we were interrupted. But we're about to go for a fly so I'll see you guys later." I grabbed my scarf from my trunk and rushed out of the room and down the stairs.

"...How long do you think it will take her to realise she didn't take her broom?" Lily asked the girls with a smirk.

"OH NO. I forgot my broomstick!"

We were standing in the middle of the grounds and Sirius was mounted on his broomstick.

I had been so distracted chatting away as we snuck out of the castle that it slipped my notice that I left it behind.

"That's alright, hop on." Sirius said casually, shuffling backwards a little bit and indicating the spot in front of him.

"What? B-but that's-"

"Stop babbling and just hop on Bells!" He grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him.

With a start, I sat down with both my legs on one side, so I was facing outwards and he was facing my side.

"Here we go" he grinned and wrapped him hands around me to grip the handle of the broomstick, and kicked off powerfully.

Since we were flying directly upwards for a while, I felt myself sliding backwards into his body and I was unable to stop myself so I ended up flush against him.

We began to fly faster and I smiled as the cool evening wind whipped past my face.

I looked down and noticed we were right above the Great Lake.

I looked to Sirius, "what are you doing?"

"Scared?" He asked teasingly.

"Not a ch-AAH" I grabbed onto his shoulders as he accelerated downwards and for a few terrifying moments I felt like I was about to plunge into the depths of the murky water.

Sirius pulled up and threw back his head and laughed his signature bark-like laughter.

I mock-glared at him and pouted, turning my head in defiance.

"Aw, come on Bells that was funny!"

"No, I have been humiliated, I can't look past this." I said, trying desperately to smother the smile that was creeping on my face.

He paused and stifled another chuckle, "but you should have seen your face."

I cracked and started laughing, and we ended up laughing like lunatics for a good while.

I felt a surge of affection for Sirius as I looked at his tender expression which was making me blush every time he looked my way. And when I felt the chilling breeze once again, I leaned completely into Sirius and buried my face in his neck in a warm hug.

He reciprocated by holding me with one arm across my back.

I heard him sigh, "I really like you Bells" he mumbled softly into my hair.

I said nothing for a while.

Slowly pulling back, I looked him square in the eyes and told him what I should have told him months ago back in the kitchens when we were surrounded by pastries and elves.

"I really like you too."

And this time, we both leaned in at the same time, and just like that we kissed slowly under the moonlight, hovering fifty feet above a deep and dangerous lake, overlooking a gigantic castle and a dark expansive forest.

And there's no other way I would want it.

I pulled away with a smile, and I didn't try to hide my crimson face from view.

Sirius smoothly tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.

"I've wanted to do that for so long" he whispered.

I just smiled, swimming in my blissful reverie.

We spent so long just flying slowly over the grounds and yes, kissing and embracing occasionally.

We were drifting near the edge of the forest, Sirius was careful to avoid the towers where he knew we would be in view of the teachers if they looked through the window, but for once I found myself without a care in the world, just laying back with my head against his chest.

"It's getting really late, we must have lost track of time, we've been out here for hours!" Sirius remarked.

I yawned, "yeah, that's probably for the best" I said sleepily.

He chuckled and kissed the top of my head, flying us over to Gryffindor tower.

"Hmm, how do you know which window is mine Sirius?"

"In first year you and Marlene dropped slime on us from that window" he smiled as he reminisced, "I've always been meaning to get you back for that by the way."

"Well, not to tonight at least I hope." I smiled.

"No, tonight you are lucky."

"How gracious" I teased lightly.

I gently pushed the window open and Sirius helped me climb through, into the room.

I turned back around to face him.

I briefly reflected on how a few years ago if Sirius was found floating outside my window on a broomstick, we probably would have been throwing dungbombs at each other with childish laughter. So much had changed, but at the same time, just the right things had stayed the same.

"Goodnight Sirius," I smiled at him.

"Goodnight Bells" He replied, affection burning equally as mine reflected in his stormy grey eyes.

I leaned forward and gave him one last kiss, when I pulled back I watched him fly over a few windows and disappear into his own dorm.

With a sleepy and contented sigh, I shut the window quietly, changed into pyjamas, and headed for bed.

I was surprised to see the bed curtains drawn on all sides. Maybe Lily did it so if any teachers come in they won't suspect anything?

When I pulled back the curtain though, I gasped.

There was a beautiful, ornate glass bowl sitting on my pillow.

Underneath it, was a note.

I carefully extracted it from under the bowl and opened it carefully.

My dear Bella,

You couldn't have picked an easier flower to be your favourite?

This was near impossible to find! But it's just like you, rare and

beautiful.

I hope you enjoyed your day with me, but more importantly I

hope you are willing to be my girlfriend and make me the

happiest male in Hogwarts.

- SB

I felt tears sting my eyes as my mind drifted to our conversation in the Forbidden forest when I was babbling about my grandmother's flowers while he was treating my freshly mauled leg.

I picked up the glass bowl with complete awe, admiration and strong affection.

I smiled.

For in the bowl was water.

And floating in that water was a beautiful purple lotus, encompassed in a warm and subtle glow, indicating that it was charmed to live forever.

Well there you go guys, it happened!

Good news, THIS IS NOT OVER.

There will be more so keep reviewing!

-Stay sweet!~

Sugar :)