Chapter 35

I couldn't stop thinking about what happened with Regulus and Thaddeus. What had they been discussing? Why did many of the Slytherin students seem to know what was going on? What was being plotted?

With these questions dancing around my head, I could hardly focus on my potions homework.

Potions homework. Potions was a subject I loved but ever since Abigail Florence brewed that potion to make my hands blister up last year, I have been enjoying the subject less and less. I suppose I had never truly considered how potions could be used for evil as well as good. It wouldn't really be true to say that Abigail brewed the potion, she's terrible at potions, so who did it? It's a question that has been on the back of my mind ever since the incident, no matter how much I try and repress the memory.

"Bella?"

I blinked out of my reverie. I had been dazedly staring out of the library window, my quill raised in mid air and my parchment still half blank.

"Oh, sorry Sirius did you say something?"

Sirius looked at me with a fond exasperated expression.

"I only asked you if you want to take a break for the third time."

"Sorry," I grinned sheepishly. "I'm feeling a bit distracted."

He grinned back, "excellent, let's pack up for today then. I feel like visiting the lake."

We packed up our supplies and dropped them off at the common room before strolling down through the grounds and finding a nice shady spot under my favourite beech tree by the lake.

I sighed contentedly as I felt the wind rustle my hair as Sirius played with my fingers.

"We need to do this more often Bells, I feel like you're getting way too stressed lately." He affectionately tucked away a strand of my hair that had been flying into my face.

"It is seventh year Sirius. Everything will change next year."

"Which is exactly why we should enjoy every bit of this year, because everything will change soon."

I looked up into his eyes, "except you," I smiled at his quizzical expression, "you're always the same old Sirius to me."

"I'm taking that as a compliment."

"Good, it was meant as a compliment."

"You have such a way with words my dear," he laughed as I punched his shoulder.

"I meant you're always so certain of yourself, I wish I could be like that. And I just...I don't know," I paused, blushing at his expectant smile, "I still kind of can't believe we're together, but then we spend time together like this and I become so sure that it's real." I couldn't meet his eyes as I cringed hard inwardly at my incoherent words.

Finally, looking up, I blushed even more as he was staring at me with soft eyes and a gentle smile.

He said nothing but leaned in and put his lips on mine softly.

"It's always going to be real Bella, you can't believe we're together? How do you think I feel? I never thought you'd like me back, you're way too good for me."

"What?" I pulled back in surprise. "What are you saying, you're the 'Great Sirius Black'"

He rolled his eyes, smiling, "of course I am, that will never change, but you? You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Wow," I said after a few moments, "I thought I had a way with words."

I shrieked with laughter as he tickled me until my back was pressed against the tree.

Calming down, we both continued to enjoy the afternoon breeze together. Sirius told me how he'd spent two whole nights mastering the charm that makes plants glow. I smiled wide, remembering that detention last year, and thinking of my beautiful glowing purple lotus that sits on my bedside table.

My smile faded as I saw Thaddeus and Druella Parkinson walk past us. I stared as they sauntered away, staring back at me with matching sneers. "What is she looking at?" I heard Parkinson sneer.

Thaddeus turned to sneer at Sirius who returned it with a fierce glare. They both walked off before anything else could happen.

"They're up to something." Sirius murmured menacingly, watching after them.

"What?" I looked at him, startled. Did he know something after all? Had Regulus talked to him? No that couldn't be-

"Can't you just feel it?" He said, turning to me, "they're shifty, the lot of them. Thaddeus isn't the only Slytherin I've seen skulking around suspiciously."

"They've always been vindictive," I said carefully, after a pause.

"This is different," he said immediately, "James and Remus reckon so too, they're planning something. I keep thinking of something one of my stinky Aunt's told me the last Black family gathering I attended two years ago. She said things will be different soon, Salazar Slytherin's legacy will continue at last. I don't know what she meant, but I do know something is going on with the pureblood Slytherins, and it isn't going to be pretty whatever it is. I wish Regulus didn't lap up their codswallop and have some sense like me." He finished bitterly.

"Have you ever talked to your brother about it?" I asked him.

"A little bit. He's the golden child though, he's too far in deep with their brainwash, the dolt."

"Maybe he doesn't want to be, though. Maybe he just doesn't know better, if you talked him again-" I cut off as Sirius turned to me sharply.

"What do you mean? Has he spoken to you about it or something?"

"No! No I just meant that maybe he doesn't know what he could be getting into.." I said lamely, regretting saying anything at all.

"We grew up in the same house Bella, he's been exposed to the exact same things I have, but he's chosen to follow the path of my dear old parents. There's nothing that can be done now."

"So you're just going to give up on him? Doesn't he deserve a chance?"

Sirius' eyes flashed, and he turned to look out at the lake and was quiet for a while. I felt my heart sink and the silence was suffocating.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." I said quietly.

"You're right." I turned to him, surprised. He spoke while still looking out at the lake. "I have given up on him."

Neither of us said anything more and we sat together in an uncomfortable silence until he sighed, got up and brushed the dirt off his pants and extended his hand toward me. I took it and got up as well, looking worriedly up at him. He offered a smile, but I wasn't convinced he had moved on from our last conversation, yet I knew I definitely wasn't about to bring it up again any time soon.

The following weeks passed by in a flurry, and there was an ever-growing amount of school work to be done. I never felt so busy in my life, between school, quidditch, and Hogsmeade weekends.

I was currently at Hogsmeade with Lily, Mary and Marlene. After a long day of shopping, eating, and shopping again, we were walking back to the carriages to return to the school. We had just made it in time and the sky was darkening.

"I can't believe it's already been one month of our seventh and final year here," Lily said wistfully.

"I know! I don't know what I'm going to do next year, I don't even want to think about it!" Mary added.

"I wish we could just stay here forever" Marlene sighed, and we all hummed in agreement.

"So," Mary said slyly once we had gotten into a carriage, "are you spending the evening with your Romeo tonight?" The girls squealed with laughter as I rolled my eyes and grinned with them.

"No, he said he's going on a late night adventure with the boys tonight."

"Oh such a shame, whatever will you do," Marlene mocked. The girls laughed even louder as I tried to kick her unsuccessfully.

"Oh shut it you lot," I said while laughing.

Unfortunately, I continued being mocked throughout the carriage ride, though I countered with my own banter. The carriage stopped and we all piled out and began to walk to the common room.

I started as I saw Regulus stalking away heading towards the grounds, with his shoulders hunched and his hands deep in his pockets.

He wore and unwelcome expression and I bit my lip as I considered following him or not.

Never one to be able to suppress my curiosity, I yelled out to the girls that I needed to find Sirius to tell him something.

Ignoring the hoots, kissing noises and ooooh's, I ran off towards the grounds, looking to catch Regulus.

His silhouette looked sad and forlorn against the glow of the near full moon.

"Regulus!" I called out, "Reg wait!"

He immediately turned, looking annoyed, "I told you not to call me that! We're not-"

"I know, we're not friends," I panted, catching my breath, "I call you that because it's easier to say. Less syllables."

He blinked. "Right. Well, what do you want?"

"Just to see how you're going," I cringed as I saw his expression immediately darken.

"I do NOT need you to check up on me-"

As Regulus began his predictable tirade, some movement past his shoulder caught my eye. My eyebrows furrowed as I saw three boys a few hundred yards away, down at the lower parts of the grounds, walking towards the whomping willow. My eyes widened as all of a sudden the willow froze, and to my disbelief, the three boys one by one crawled into a hole at the base of the tree and disappeared. I blinked twice, not believing what I saw, and in a flash the tree was unfrozen, shaking its limbs as if stretching.

"-do you understand?!"

I turned back to Regulus who was looking at me with frustration as he realised I hadn't been listening.

"Um..You're right," I gulped, still reeling from what I saw. Regulus now looked confused. "I won't bother you anymore, I have to go."

"What…" Regulus looked surprised and strangely disappointed, but I couldn't think about that.

I turned and fled toward the castle, my heart pounding.

It couldn't have been them, no way! I thought to myself. But even though they were a fair distance away, there was no mistaking the fact that I had seen the backs of James, Remus and Sirius crawl into that tree.

I raced to the common room and asked around if anyone had seen Peter, to ask him where the others had gone. Everyone said he was with James, Remus and Sirius. Confused, I asked if anyone knew where they were going tonight, but as I thought, no one had a clue.

Everyone started to head to the Great Hall for dinner, but I was decidedly not hungry after all the chocolate and pastries I had stuffed myself with earlier today.

I crawled into bed and lay staring at my glowing lotus.

They're fine, they're just going on a late night adventure like they said… Through the whomping willow… away from the castle. Oh Merlin would they be in the Forbidden Forest? At night?

Unable to sleep I walked over to the window outlooking the grounds and stared at the Forest in the distance, hoping I'd actually see my friends and my boyfriend the next day.