Disclaimer: You all know the drill, people you haven't heard of are mine, people you have heard of are JK's. Unfortunately. What I could do if Sirius was mine...
Chrissie sighed with relief as she walked back to the common room. She had survived breakfast without seeing Sirius. Lily was chatting mindlessly, not worried in the least that James was watching her every move. He had promised not to do anything to embarrass her and Chrissie believed him but that didn't stop him from watching her longingly. Chrissie however, didn't have the luxury of chatting away. She was keeping her eye out for any sign of movement, just in case Sirius turned up. Chrissie sighed. When had she become a prisoner at her own school?
Chrissie suddenly saw a figure looming ahead of her on the stairs. Sirius was walking down. Quickly, Chrissie grabbed Lily's arm and dragged her down a different corridor, one which led to the other side of the school.
"Wow, Chrissie?" Lily asked, confused. "Any reason why you're leading us down here?"
"Because" Chrissie started, unsure of where she would take this one, "I thought I saw Milkshake run down here"
Milkshake was Chrissie's kitten. Who never left the common room.
"Really?" Lily asked, glancing around. "I don't see her?"
"Well of course not!" Chrissie exclaimed as she led them around a corner, "she runs pretty fast!"
"Sure Chrissie" Lily replied, looking Chrissie up and down. Great. Her best friend thought she was crazy.
Chrissie and Lily eventually made their way to the common room, Chrissie taking them around the whole castle. Lily collapsed onto the armchair exhausted.
"Why are you tired?" Mary McDonald asked as she came through the portrait hole. Lily and Chrissie looked at each other, an eyebrow raised. Mary was always the strict, annoying one. They never talk to each other.
"Chrissie led me around the entire castle" Lily replied shortly.
"Oh, why?" Mary asked. This was suspicious.
"I thought I saw Milkshake" Chrissie replied, eyeing Mary up and down.
"Oh, right" Mary replied, nodding. She turned to go up the dormitory stairs but paused. "Wait"
"Wait for what?" Chrissie asked, knowing Mary was getting around to the main reason why she was talking to them. She wasn't looking forward to it either.
"Sirius gave me this to give to you" Mary said, handing Chrissie a box. Great.
"Oh, okay" Chrissie mumbled in reply, placing the box on the coffee table in front of her.
"Bye!" Mary called as left to go upstairs. Neither Lily nor Chrissie replied, they were too absorbed in the box.
"What could it be?" Chrissie asked nervously.
"I don't trust it" Lily replied, sitting as far back in her seat as possible. "If it's something from the Marauders, especially Sirius, It's probably dangerous"
While Lily had a point, Chrissie doubted it was dangerous. Embarrassing perhaps, but not dangerous. Chrissie picked up the box and placed it on her lap. It fit comfortably and Chrissie pondered over it. What on earth could Sirius give her? What did Sirius know about her anyway?
"Oh open it already!" Lily exclaimed impatiently. Chrissie looked up to see Lily watching her in anticipation. Despite of herself, Chrissie smiled. At least someone wanted to know what was inside.
Chrissie opened the lid and found herself sigh in relief. It was nothing bad, just a simple red rose.
"What? Just a rose?" Lily asked, glaring into the box. "What an anti-climax! Sirius should be ashamed of himself!"
"Lily!" Chrissie exclaimed. "I much prefer a rose to a singing quartet!"
Lily blushed and sat back into her seat, remaining unusually quiet.
Chrissie put the box back onto the coffee table and sighed with relief again. If this was all Sirius was going to do, everything might be okay. Chrissie's stomach suddenly flipped. She knew Sirius. This wouldn't be it.
"What are you going to do?" Lily asked quietly. There was a faint hint of a smile across her face.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Chrissie asked, a little annoyed.
"No, of course not" Lily replied, grinning. "But it is good to see someone else be pestered"
"Thanks Lily" Chrissie mumbled, "Thanks"
Lily just grinned.
"You know what I'm going to do?" Chrissie announced suddenly. Lily looked at her anxiously.
"Yell at him?" Lily asked hopefully. "Get him into detention? Hex him?"
It was quite obvious to Chrissie that Lily was living through her.
"No" Chrissie replied as she watched Lily crestfallen face. "I'm going for a walk"
"That's it?" Lily asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Yes that's it" Chrissie replied. "There is no sense in yelling or hexing. And I'm not a first year anymore, I don't tell on anyone"
"Yeah, but a walk? What sort of idea is that?"
"A terrific one. I love walking, don't you?"
"Sure, walking is good…" Lily replied, sounding worried. She was definitely thinking she was crazy.
"Did you know walking keeps your mind off things?" Chrissie asked, putting the lid on the box and picking it up as she got up herself.
"If you think it'll work" Lily answered reluctantly, also getting up. They walked up to the dormitory silently and entered. Only Mary was there, studying. Haylie and Suzie were out already, probably with their boyfriends.
"What was it?" Mary asked, looking up from her book.
"A rose" Chrissie replied shortly. She stormed over to her bed and shoved the embarrassing yet quite pretty box under her bed.
"Really? That's all?" Mary asked, setting her book down. Lily fell into a fit of laughter but quickly silenced herself when she saw the look Chrissie was giving her.
"Yes that's all" Chrissie spat before marching out of the dormitory. Why wouldn't people let this rest? It really wasn't helping her plan to forget about it. Lily jogged after her as Chrissie slowed down a little to let her catch up.
"So" Lily started once she had caught up, "where are we walking to?"
"I was thinking we could walk along the forest until we get to the gates, then back up by the lake" Chrissie replied, her path set out in her head. She loved that route, she walked it whenever she wanted to get out of the castle and distract herself. Which was a lot.
"Okay, great" Lily replied monotonously. She seemed less excited. Chrissie mentally shrugged. It was probably best for the both of them to get out. God knows they needed the distraction.
CinderellaAtTheBall - Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad you were so keen on reading it... It really inspired me to continue.
Thanks everyone who read the last chapter too, I love knowing that others are reading my work!