As daylight trickled through the trees a ray of dawning sunshine found its way to wake up a fox sleeping contentedly alongside a resting dog. Though to strangers the sight might seem odd, it was endearing none the less.
When Gwynne woke she immediately noticed her wounded paw had been licked clean of its blood. Wondering who did so she turned her head to the warmth beside her.
She remembered the night's prior events, Sirius, Sirius was the dog, he saved me…but then it occurred to her, he lied to you…
Moving herself away from the sleeping animagus, she limped out of the tree. After stretching her hind legs she looked around cautiously and proceeded to change back to her normal shape.
Looking down at her left hand she saw it had been broken or hurt badly, she was no healer so she merely cradled it in her hand.
Holding her hand to her bosom she kneeled down and began to pick up the flower crowns and place them back in their baskets. As she gathered her mind fumed with anger, Sirius's deceit bothered her immensely, she reasoned that she shouldn't be upset, he owes you nothing you hardly know him, but it pained none the less.
As Sirius woke he noticed immediately that the little fox was gone and changing from his animagus he quickly left the hollow in search of her.
There she was, well not the fox, but Gwynne, gathering the fallen garlands while grumbling incoherent things to herself.
Sirius leaded against the tree, arms crossed, watching her. Gwynne stood and spun around, clumsily almost dumping the basket over again.
Sirius laughed and she glowered at him which only seemed to make him more amused.
She stalked angrily over to where their cloaks lay strewn on the forest floor and set the basket down. She then crossed her arms not turning to face him.
Sirius noticed her behavior and thought she was joking and only laughed more. Marching straight up to him, Gwynne shoved Sirius up against the tree with her free hand.
"How dare you laugh at me, you, you…"she cried; unable to find words to describe her irritation with him.
Sirius's eyes widened, she is genuinely upset!
"I, I thought…"he stuttered, about to apologize for the wrong thing.
"What, you thought what, that you would lie to me?" she yelled. Sirius remembered he had chosen not to tell her of his animagus situation, during his little confession the day before.
"I, I didn't lie, I just didn't tell you" he said, slightly afraid of the woman's fury.
She turned away huffing and mumbled "I call that, lying."
Sirius stood behind her, head hung in disgrace, "If—if I told you, I would have had to explain why I became one illegally in the first place, which I promised a friend I never would tell a soul."
She didn't turn around and it scared him. He stood in front of her trying to catch her gaze, when he finally did so; she saw how pained he looked.
Her anger began to rise as she realized his dishonesty was really loyalty. She could hear him take a deep breathe before he spoke again, "There's more though, now that you know, but before I tell you, you must know, I didn't reveal this to you because I was in high spirits for once that someone new didn't scream at the sight of me."
Her eyes were wide as she waited for him to continue. "Do you remember those friends I told you about, you knew Lily, and well James and Remus…there was another, Peter Pettigrew, he was an illegal animagi with us too, he, he was the one who sold James and Lily to You-Know-Who, everyone thought I had…"
"But you would never…"Gwynne stated, their faces were mere inches apart.
"The truth was, that I was their Secret Keeper and in bad judgment I made Pettigrew the it instead, when I found out what he did to them, and to poor Harry, I, I hunted him down; cornered him actually, he killed the muggles around him and faked his own murder; hiding as his animagus, a filthy rat…"he looked away his heart hammering with rage.
"Everyone thought I did that too, killed him and all those muggles, I never had a fair trial," he stopped to breathe again.
"That bastard Barty Crouch was so power mad and increasingly unjust, that he threw me in Azkaban."
"Veritaserum, what about veritaserum, couldn't they have used it?" she asked in shock.
"They did, and even under the influence of the potion, Crouch insisted I was using dark trickery to render myself immune to it."
Sirius then pulled her to a fallen tree; sitting her down on it with him. He continued to tell her of the dreadfulness of Azkaban, using his animagus to escape it and help Harry, and of the regret of Pettigrew's escape.
The most painful part about verbalizing his memories was the look of pure horror on Gwynne's face as she tried to comprehend his miserable life.
Finally Sirius breathed deeply, a comforting silence came over them.
Now I feel completely wretched, she thought, such horrid things he's seen, if only there was something I could do…
Gwynne then reached her unscathed hand out to rub his knee. "I'm sorry, so sorry." She croaked.
Sirius looked up at her finally; he took her hand in his and ran his thumb over the velvet skin of her knuckles. He felt as if her were worshiping her creamy silk like skin.
She stood, not letting go of his hand, pulling him up with her. He stared into her silver eyes in confusion from her sudden movement; she just pulled him into a tight and warm embrace.
The breathtaking scent of her filled his senses as he buried his face in the locks, letting out a faint sob.
This woman is a goddess, yes that's what she is, a goddess among mortals, Merlin help me, stop me I don't think I can control myself…yet somehow I can, how can I touch her, my skin should be burning for touching her…
Sirius pulled away and Gwynne noticed his eyes looked glazed, "Sirius, Sirius what's wrong, are you…"
"Your hand…" he croaked his voice seemed slightly higher for a moment. He took her injured hand in his. He turned it over in examination and she winced.
"Sorry…" he said letting go of her hand. He ripped off his sleeve and began to wrap her hand in it.
"Sirius, what are you doing, don't," she protested as he ripped off his other sleeve and made her a sling.
She grimaced; I don't deserve this kindness…
"We should go now" he said quietly, backing away from her, he looked as is he were afraid of her.
Merlin, help me, my stomach is tossing; my mind is whirling, why does this feel so good? She…she's hypnotizing me, please don't stop, ill die, I think ill die.
What is happening to me, what is this woman doing to me, Sirius, your losing your mind, I know I haven't been around a woman in awhile, but get a hold of yourself man!
Sirius's mind raced as they kept a distance through the rest of their journey.
He could smell the sweet blossom garlands, as they walked, he had silently offered to carry them.
Gwynne gave Sirius a side glance, He's angry with me, why is he angry with me, oh now what have I done?
"Si—Sirius?" she asked meekly as they walked.
His eyes remained on the road ahead, "Yes?"
"Have I done something to, to upset you, if I have, I never meant to." She said anxiously.
Oh, Merlin, "No, no Gwynne, you've done nothing…I'm just…distracted." He said, and in truth he was, distracted by her.
They reached Hogsmeade during midday, and it looked like a ghost town.
This was not the Hogsmeade Sirius remembered; it was older, more medieval looking. Many of the stores were missing; he did though, see the Hogshead.
"In here" Gwynne called to him walking into the pub.
The pub looked the same and few people were gathered in it. They all grouped by the fireplace.
Upon entering, the inhabitants' heads turned. A woman of about 40 wearing clothes that were from the 50's sneered at Gwynne.
"So you finally realized you're not too good to stay with the rest of us?" she scoffed.
"You of all here know why I left, Madelyn" Gwynne stated lowly.
"That is enough now," said the voice of an older man. "Gwynne what brings you back here?" he asked.
Gwynne gestured to Sirius, "Isaac, this is Sirius, he fell through, two nights ago, he would like to know what is going on, and I'm afraid I'm not sure how to explain to him…"
"Very well, Sirius?" the old man called.
A younger man stepped out behind him, grinning maliciously at Gwynne. The man cut off Isaac, "Well welcome back my pet, I see you have missed me." Taking a step towards Gywnne.
She stepped back quickly and he turned to Sirius. "Your friend Gwynne has not told you she knows more than she lets on, so I suggest you ask her and not waste our time man."
"Alder, please let me speak" said Isaac to the man, sternly. Alder sneered at the elderly man but then unwillingly stood down.
The old man continued "This place, we are all trapped here, it is an enchantment made by those who created Hogwarts, their ghost inhabit the castle here, some of my comrades think this place is punishment for our deeds, I myself think it is a misunderstanding, but all we can do is wait, wait for someone to figure out that were still here, behind that veil, fading away."
As Sirius listened he couldn't help but look around the room. The man Alder was glaring at Gwynne, his greasy graying hair was unkempt, and his beady brown eyes looked at Gwynne as if he wanted to have her all for himself.
Gwynne was obviously disgusted by his staring, had that been the way she felt when he stared at her before?
The woman beside Alder, Madelyn, appeared to be sizing him up, her black eyes stared into his, and she licked her lips, repulsing Sirius to no end. She had long straight brown hair, nowhere near as thick as Gwynne's, in truth the woman looked rather sickly, her bones sticking out in areas where they ought not.
"Has Gwynne here told you of those who could no longer wait?" Isaac asked. Sirius nodded then turned to Gwynne.
"Can we talk, in private?" he asked looking from Isaac then back to Gwynne. She nodded and Isaac said "Gwynne your room is still upstairs, if you need it"
"Thank you Isaac" she said leading Sirius up the stair to the room she had once inhabited.
Closing the door behind him Sirius became enflamed, "Please, Gwynne Explain to me what is going on?"
She choked on her thoughts and sat down on the tattered bed, looking up sadly at Sirius.
"What do you want to know, there so much I can tell but would rather not"
"Well, who is that Alder man and why did he call you his pet?"
Gwynne was surprised that that was the question he chose first, was he jealous? She knew he had no reason to be Alder was the epitome of repulsiveness.
"He, was one of the reasons I left this place, he would, well, pursue me to no end, harass me," she then paused.
Is she?... Merlin, she's quivering, Sirius thought.
"He would say things like Madelyn didn't satisfy him any longer and that I was next,"
Sirius sat on the bed next to her "It scared me, so I, I left, you must think I'm so weak" she said looking away from him.
"I could never…"Sirius whispered to her soothingly, stroking her raven tresses.
After she calmed herself again Sirius asked "What did Alder mean, you know more than they do about this place?"
She looked pained "Years ago, they sent me up to Hogwarts, none of us had dared venture up to it while here before, they welcomed me, the founders, their spirits still inhabited the place…I asked them all the questions the others had sent me with and they answered, only because Ravenclaw favored me as one of her own, but then I was made to swear not to tell the others what she revealed, when I returned the others where furious, Alders harassment became unbearable, so I told Isaac I was leaving, he asked me to guard the entrance, in case another person fell through. I would venture back to Hogwarts to borrow books and food, things to help me live on my own; the others in the village would not help. That's how it's been ever since."
Tears welled in her eyes "I wish I could tell you…please don't hate me like they do…, I don't think I could bear it if anyone else hated me Sirius." She sobbed.
"Shhh, shhh" he crooned softly "I could never hate you, listen to me, you can come with me up to Hogwarts tomorrow and I'll ask them all my questions myself."
Gwynne nodded; her eyes issuing a thousand thanks as Sirius scooted closer to her.
"Let's look at your hand" he offered, taking off her sling gently.
"How did this happen?" he asked trailing his finger along the tips of hers.
"When I became my animagus, something grabbed my hand while I was morphing" she whispered, wondering if it was just her or if Sirius was awfully close to her.
His hand unraveled the cloth from her hand and he soothingly stroked her palm. Why is he doing this to me? Can't he see? This shouldn't be so wonderful…her mind raced.
They sat there for what seemed like days of blissful silence; each reveling in their vast emotions for the other.
Sirius couldn't recognize the feeling he felt when she looked at him; he had never felt it before, or the way his stomach clenched when she touched him. These sensations terrified him but he never wanted them to disappear, ever.
Gwynne's thoughts were making her dizzy, this man, came out of no where, and now he was all she could think about. Her skin was enflamed in the fiery inferno of her emotions yet as much as she burned she felt she was desperately freezing.
"I should go and let you rest now…" Sirius said sadly, looking at the floor, ashamed of letting his sense take over.
"Oh…sure, I could conjure up a room in the closet…"
Sirius shook his head; grabbing his cloak and wand. He opened the closet "Creatus spatium" he said softly. The closet space became larger, enough so for a cot to be fabricated.
Gwynne still sat on the bed, wishing he had never left.
"Sleep well…" Sirius murmured, closing the door behind him gently.
Gwynne's voice was lost, only after he was gone could she find her words, "Sweet dreams…" she whispered.
She then removed her dress, placing it neatly on the chair in the corner of the room. She shivered slightly; her slip gave her little warmth, so she slipped beneath the temperate covers of the bed.
Meanwhile, Sirius lay on his small cot, his hand cradling the back of his head. He stared at the ceiling for hours, his mind never straying from one woman, and his stomach never relaxing because of her.
Gwynne's mind felt at ease as her thoughts of Sirius lead her to serene slumber. Her dreams were filled with his touch and his embrace, how she longed to feel them again.
A hand ran across her hip, smooth at first, "Sirius…" she moaned. The stroke became rougher, "Not quite…" said a voice behind her. Her mind said SCREAM, but a clammy hand covered her mouth and a hand snaked its way around her waist.