October, 1976

"I'm actually annoyed myself," Marlene was saying.

Marlene, Lily, and I sat under a large tree on the grounds of Hogwarts. Marlene and Lily were complaining about James and the most recent of the Marauders' pranks. Marlene and Lily were there to witness it and apparently it was quite the spectacle.

I listened to them complain while pulling at the grass. My mind wandered involuntarily and I really wished they would stop talking about the Marauders, because then I thought about the Black Plague.

"Anyway," Lily said. "I have hope Potter will one day realize he needs to stop pursuing me. Until then, perhaps you can explain to us why you're so quiet. Reesa?"

I forced a smile. "I'm fine."

Marlene gave me a look. "You really think we'll fall for that?"

"No, but I hoped you would put two and two together," I replied. "I don't want to talk about it. I'll tell you when I'm ready."

Marlene, I thought, was about to argue but Lily stopped her by touching her arm and shaking her head. Marlene wasn't pleased but she sighed and nodded.

"Fine. I'll wait like a good little girl."

I smiled for real this time. "Thanks, Marlie."

We talked a little longer after that before I grabbed my things and went. Lydia and I planned to study with her Hufflepuff friends.

When I arrived at the common room, Lydia let me in and after talking a while, we started to study. However, we didn't last long before I wanted to do something other than studying all the time. It got so tiring at times.

"How's your brother?" I asked.

A smile sprung to Lydia's face. "He'a doing great. Believe it or not, but Johnny has been spending a lot of time with Regulus Black. They're something of friends now."

I smiled and then asked, "How is he? Reg?"

"Good, I think," Lydia said.

"I should hope so. With a Lane as a friend how could you be anything but good?" I said with a smile.

We talked/studied a little while after that, before I decided I wanted to take a nap. Therefore I wished Lydia and her friends goodnight and then made my way to the Gryffindor dorms. I hoped that this time I wouldn't find Sirius with yet another girl.

But when I saw him as I turned a corner, I almost ran the other way. However, he wasn't with any girl this time. In fact, he seeked to be a man on a mission. When he spotted me, he smiled and jogged over to me. I didn't stop walking to talk with him, because I had no desire to. But Sirius still walked beside me and he said,

"I was looking for you."

"Congratulations," I said flatly, hoping he would go away.

He didn't and there was silence for a long moment. "I'm sorry," he replied quietly.

I didn't let his words get to me, I didn't allow myself to fall victim to his innocent exterior. Instead, I said nothing and allowed him to continue.

"You were right," Sirius added. "If I really wanted to protect you from myself I wouldn't have talked with you in the first place, but to be fair, I didn't realize how much I would grow to care about you."

At that I slowed my walking and hated myself for it.

"In truth, I could've stopped talking with you loads of times, but I didn't because I didn't want to. I wanted to be your acquaintance and maybe even your friend. Until last year when I decided friend wouldn't nearly be enough for my feelings."

I sighed and stopped walking, facing him. "Why are you saying this, Black?"

"Because I have a hunch you feel the same way about me."

"I do, but it doesn't change anything, Black," I told him determinedly, before my voice gradually became softer. "Like you said, you don't like commitment, especially of the romantic kind. So even if I admit I care about you more than I should, it doesn't mean a bloody thing."

I waited for Sirius to respond, but he didn't. Instead, his grey eyes peered into mine and my breath caught. I knew what was happening, of course. I was being stupid by allowing myself to fall victim to the Black Plague once again. I knew this, but I didn't do anything to stop it.

After a short moment of silence, Sirius pushed a strand of hair away from his face and then trailed his fingers down my cheek. His touch sent shivers down my spine and when his hand trailed down my arm and when he took a step closer, I found myself unable to move. I found myself not wanting to move.

He was dangerously close to me now and when I finally found my voice, I whispered, "Sirius..."

Before I could continue, Sirius placed his lips on mine. The kiss was gentle and chaste, earning my entire family's approval. When he pulled away for just a second and our eyes met, that was when he kissed me again, harder and more passionate this time.

He placed his hands on my waist, pulling me closer as I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck. I got on my tiptoes to deepen the kiss, not wanting the contact or the moment to end any time soon.

But then it did when Sirius pulled away just far enough to look me in the eye. I could've sworn he would flash me his mischievous smile, but instead he merely looked at me with admiration in his eyes. We didn't kiss again, but instead stood there, holding each other in complete silence.

"Sirius," I finally said, my logical mind beating down on my feely heart. I recluntantly pulled myself from his embrace and avoided eye contact. "I should go."

Sirius nodded in understanding, still holding my hand. When he realized he was doing so, he quickly let go. That was when he cleared his throat and offered me his charming smile as though we didn't just kiss.

"See you around, Kaiser," he said, his voice hoarse, presumably from the kiss.

I nodded and then quickly walked away. When I was out of his line of sight, I ran to the dorms and once I entered, I raced to my dorm room. Once inside, I locked the door and then leaned against the door, breathing in relief.

"You okay?"

I jumped with fright but relaxed when I saw if was just Marlene, sitting up on her bed. I almost nodded but then I decided that if I could tell anyone, it would be Marlene. So I shook my head and then sat legs cross on her bed beside her.

"What is it?" Marlene asked.

I didn't know how to start so I just said it. "I kissed Black." I looked at her and her surprised expression. "And I liked it."

Marlene seemed to be paralyzed before she let out a shaky breath and looked straight ahead. "Holy crap."

I nodded in agreement. 'Holy crap' was right.