Chapter Three

Recap:

Once in the Great Hall, she went off to sit with Lily and the other girls from their year, so as Peter couldn't follow her, with no more than a 'Ta' to her twin.

Sirius ate hurriedly as though the whole partaking in the natural, yet necessary gesture was the most painstaking thing he'd ever put himself through.

While Peter started into his food, sighing a little sadly at seeing Atria go off with the other girls of their year.

"Atria, he didn't!" Lily shot Sirius a terrible look.

"I can't believe he'd do that to poor Peter. Poor boy has no idea you're not interested in him! Oh, geeze, what a pity..."

"Yes, it is... and look at him... it's pathetic!"

"Oh, I think it's endearing, Atria! He clearly adores you to the point of no return!" She said, dramatically.

Atria rolled her eyes, "Oh, say it isn't so!" She mocked and rolled her eyes, "Please, Lily, do something about it, before I'm the one moping around." She pleaded.

Lily nodded, "I'll let him know." She sighed, "How's Remus? Did you visit him?"

Atria sighed, "He's been better, told me to keep Sirius out of trouble, so I am. And it's not been easy. He's got the attention span of a piece of fuzz."

Lily nodded in agreement and giggled a bit, shaking her head, "But it's charming. I know what Annee sees in him. But I still think James is much more capable."

"Oh, please... only because James would break his back for your every whim."

The girls all giggled and chatted for the remainder of the meal.

Sirius finished his meal and swung around on the bench. "Peter, lend me your wand, would you?" He asked unable to take it any longer.

"And make sure Atria won't see!" He hissed, casting a nervous glance over to the group of girls on the opposite end of the table.

"S--Sirius, I'm not so sure I should..."

"Dammit Pettigrew!" He sighed, watching as Snape waltzed through the large oaken doors into the great hall. It was almost as though that big nose could sense Sirius didn't have his wand as he watched Severus come his way, and stop, giving him a glaring once-over.

"You seem, oddly vulnerable today, Black." Snape said coolly. "Now why on earth would one get that impression?"

Atria looked up, hearing Snape's drawling voice, and made a face. Don't you dare lay a hand on my brother, or I swear to Gods... She just hoped Sirius didn't try anything terribly stupid... She bit her lip slightly.

Lily looked up, too, and moved to stand, ready to tell the Slytherin to keep walking. No one liked him. James hated him so naturally, she loathed him, and only on a very rare occasion did she ever take pity on the likes of Severus Snape.

"I haven't the slightest idea, Snivellus." He said acidly. "But you're honestly thick if you're planning on trying anything in front of the staff." He said, glancing at the headmaster and the other professors dining.

"Very true," He said just as coolly as before, getting incredibly close to Sirius's face, he whispered. "You have to leave sometime, don't you? At least I don't take orders from my sister." His lip curled in a smile as he could see anger mounting itself behind Sirius's steely gaze.

Atria watched, but couldn't hear the conversation.

Very pretty and very Slytherin, the platinum blonde French bombshell that was Annee Peri entered the hall then. She stopped by Snape, but only to push him out of her way to give Sirius a soft kiss on each cheek, as she squeezed between him and Peter.

"Sorry to interrupt, boys," She glanced distastefully at Snape, "But Sirius, I was wondering, if I could take you with me tomorrow to Hogsmeade?" She asked curiously, acid-green eyes boring into his steel-gray ones.

Severus huffed indignantly at being upstaged, trotting off to the Slytherin table to get something to eat.

Sirius found he was suddenly speechless his cheeks becoming rosy where she'd kissed him on either side.

"I'd love to." He said with a handsome smile, one he seemed to reserve especially for her.

Annee grinned big, clearly happy, and she kissed Sirius on each cheek, once more, "Ah! Bon chance! Thank you! Meet me here, tomorrow morning... around 8-ish." She said, brushing her fingers through his hair a bit, with a lovely smile, before she moved to take an orange from the table and get up with a soft flourish, as she hastened to her own friends and house table.

"Oooh, Siri got a date..." Atria teased, moving to her brother, quietly, and slipping his wand discreetly back into his pocket, sitting by him, "About finished?"

"I got a---a--what just---did I just?" He stammered, his mind feeling hazy; thoughts ransacked.

"I'm done!" Peter piped up, rising from his seat.

Atria winced, at Peter's voice, but looked to Sirius and smiled, "You did just. Come on, let's head off." She suggested quietly, pulling her brother from his seat. Hoping she could get some sense into him lest Peter followed them.

"Okay!" He said jovially, stumbling along with his sister out of the Great Hall. Suddenly his thoughts flew blindingly together, causing him to dig within his robes, gripping his wand, eyes alert for Severus, lest he snuck out and was going to try and pull something.