Chapter 6

Authors Note: I don't own anything that you recognize from the Harry Potter series and I don't own the lyrics below.

"Get up, get out, get away from these liars
'Cause they don't get your soul or your fire
Take my hand, knot your fingers through mine
And we'll walk from this dark room for the last time

Every minute from this minute now
We can do what we like anywhere
I want so much to open your eyes
'Cause I need you to look into mine

Tell me that you'll open your eyes"

Lyrics from 'Open Your Eyes' Snow Patrol

Joan

"What's so great about Robert?" Sirius was keeping up with my quick pace with his long strides. We were walking to Transfiguration on a cold Friday morning. Lily hadn't been too impressed when I told her about my 'date' with Robert but she insisted that it would be a fitting punishment for me to be forced to go much to my despair. At least she had let the subject drop which was more than I could say for the person walking beside me.

Sirius wasn't letting it go, I'm sure he enjoys teasing me and reminding me of my fate every single solitary moment of the day.

"He's sweet, funny and kind. What's not to like?" He fell silent and didn't talk for the rest of the walk. We were the last to arrive, James had saved us seats next to him on the back row, and Lily was sat in front of me next to Alice. She was just turning round when McGonagall walked in from her office.

"Today we will be studying animaguses in a more advanced way." I had switched off before she even uttered another word. I knew an awful lot about animaguses as I discovered (by accident of course) that three of the Marauders were them. I found out in fifth year just after OWLs they were being just a bit too loud when they were planning their next midnight outing. I haven't found any other Marauder secrets out they've stepped up the secrecy one notch too far for me.

Sirius tapped my hand which was laid on the table and quickly slipped an old piece of parchment under my palm. My eyes pulled themselves in to focus and quickly looked around to see where McGonagall was in the room. I could see that she was at the front talking to a Ravenclaw that I didn't know. I opened the note.

'Why are you going to go?' Sirius's handwriting was a black scrawl that I could barely read. I looked over at him and tried to catch his eye but he was busy talking to James.

'Because I have no choice' He smirked when he read my reply.

'You always have a choice' He countered back. Signing with frustration I turned back to my work. Why is he so damn infuriating? I could feel him grinning at me every once and a while until it got to the point that I was praying for the lesson to end so I could get away from him. It was the little things that were annoying about him, when he grins it particularly gets' to me.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity the bell rang. Faster than anyone else in the class I swiped all of my books, parchment, wand and ink into my bag and ran out of the classroom. Robert appeared just as I walked through the door. Great this day is just getting better and better. Note the sarcasm.

"Robert" I was startled by his sudden appearance, he was wearing the same bored face as always his voice was the same too.

"Can I walk you to your next lesson?" he asked in that bored monotone, he he Mr. Monotone. I'll have to tell Lily that one, give her something to laugh at during Quidditch practice.

"Umm" I was desperately looking around trying to find an excuse not to be left alone with him. I know that sounds incredibly stupid seeing as in three days time I'm going on a date with him and will be in his company for hours on end but I really, really don't want to spend more time with him than necessary. I felt an arm slip around my shoulders and my eyes widened in fear, surely he wasn't gutsy enough to do that.

"She already said she would let me walk her." Sirius's voice was close to me. I quickly glanced up and with wide eyes saw that it was Sirius with his arm around me and not Robert. Thank Merlin for that, I could have hugged Sirius. Why was he saving me? I had just run out on him and snubbed him so why was he saving me?

"Didn't you?" Sirius shook my shoulders a little forcefully. Robert was staring at me strangely, his eyes moved from me, Sirius's arm and then to Sirius.

"Yes" I said nodding at Sirius who was staring at me "Yes I did." I looked back at Robert who seemed completely indifferent to what I had just said. "I'm so sorry Robert" I lent forward and gently touched him on the arm to show how sorry I was. He didn't even say anything he just turned around and walked off. Seriously what was wrong with that guy?

"Feel free to say thanks at any time." I turned to face Sirius who was smiling smugly down at me. So this is what I get for Sirius interfering in my life, yet more teasing and agitation. I pushed his arm off of my shoulders and turned to face him angrily.

"What were you thinking?" I asked him "You just made us look like a couple!"

"Oh come on Adams you were looking for a reason not to walk with him so I gave you one" He crossed his arms. That same smug look was taunting me.

"I…wasn't" I stuttered, he barked with laughter "I wasn't!" I hissed with more strength to my voice but it didn't stop him laughing. "I was just trying not to seem too eager."

I finished and raised my nose in the air. He wasn't going to get to me, he really wasn't, and I'm going to ignore how nice it felt to have his arm around my shoulder. He brushed my comment off.

"You can keep denying it all that you like but I just saved you for having to walk to your next lesson with Mr. Monotone and you know it." My mouth open and closed, I was sure that I was looking like a fish out of water but how, how did he know that I called him Mr. Monotone? Could he read my mind?

"How… Mr. Monotone..." I managed to gulp out. Was this some kind of joke?

"I thought it was quite original" He sounded a little hurt "I thought it up last lesson"

"Oh it's just…" I shook my head.

"It's just, what?" he was smiling down at me.

"Nothing." I looked him straight in the eye. He took a step towards me and was staring at my arm then he looked back up at me. He took a step back and offered his arm to me.

"Can I walk you to you next lesson?" He asked jokingly, I slapped his arm away.

"Not in this lifetime." I turned and started to walk to potions before it would be too late to grab a seat next to Lily. I heard Sirius sign behind me and mutter something under his breath but I didn't turn back I still couldn't shake the feeling of his arm around me. He was getting too close, first finding me in the tower and then saving me from Mr. Monotone, it had to stop.

Authors Note: Hey everyone! Sorry that there isn't any Lily in this chapter but she will be back in the next chappie when it'll be time to find out what prank James decides to pull on Robert for keeping them back at practise! Thanks for the reviews on previous chapters I appreciate them all!

SJRR