A/N: So sorry that it's been forever since I've last updated but It's been a crazy couple of months and it took me awhile to get this chapter how I wanted. I hope you haven't completely forgotten about me and this story though. Thank you of course to all of the reviewers, you guys are great and make my day. Enjoy this newest chapter!

Our friends would all make fun of us
and we'll just laugh along because we know
That none of them have felt this way

Hey there Delilah – Plain White T's.

Chapter 6

"Merlin, are you two nearly ready?" I called, impatiently, staring at my reflection in Gidget's full length mirror. I had taken extra time on my appearance this morning. My hair looked shiny, and I had just left it alone, instead of pulling it back or clipping it up, for once. I had on my favorite navy jumper, which I zippered down a little lower today and my least ratty pair of cords.

"Fuck, Malone" I heard Dara exclaim, as she stumbled out of the bathroom door. "You woke us up, at nine o'clock on a Saturday and you've been nagging us ever since" Dara had on a pair of faded out jeans, a grey t-shirt that was too short for her with a hole at the collar and her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. "What's the special occasion?" she eyed me wearily.

"No reason" I lied, sucking my cheeks, while still staring at myself in the mirror. "You have toothpaste on your chin" I informed her, tossing my hair over my shoulder. "Like I give a flying fuck" she moaned, collapsing on her bed.

"You're awfully vulgar this morning" I quirked an eyebrow. "What's up?" I asked, tearing myself away from the mirror and flopping down next to her. She glanced up at me wearily. "Normally you wouldn't be out of bed until noon, and you don't normally dress half-way presentable on the weekends" Dara said meekly, propping her chin up with her hand. "I just don't want you to change because of Sirius" she added, carefully.

"Mendara Elizabeth" I said, exhaling a big breath. "I'm not changing. We've only been dating for less than a bleeding week!" and I saw her break into a rueful smile. "This is the first time he's seen me, in something else than my robes since the hamburger pajamas incident an-" I rolled into a tangent, but got drown out by Mendara's giggles. (Yes, she would laugh any time it was brought up, and James was still calling me the hamburgler)

"Promise?" Dara asked, extending her pinkie, a genuine grin gracing her lips. "Promise" I repeated, linking my stubby finger with hers, our Kodak moment was ruined, by Lily emerging from the bathroom in sweatpants and lopsided pigtails and a surly disposition. "I'm bleeding starving" she said, shoving her socked feet into an ancient pair of trainers. "Why are you two so happy?" she snapped.

--

I heaved, what must have been my millionth sigh, and poked my scrambled eggs listlessly. "Billee, honestly" Dara said wearily "You can't expect a sixteen year old boy to be up before ten on a weekend" she chided lightly as she took a bite out of her toast.

"Yeah you look like your owl died" Lily said with an amused smile as she sipped from her glass of pumpkin juice. "My owl did die!" I exclaimed, widening in eyes in disbelief. "I cannot believe you'd be so insensitive to bring that up".

"Bill, Horace died in fourth year" Dara said with a chuckle. "Still" I scowled, petulantly. "Who was Horace?" I heard James ask, as he slid in across from me, next to Lily. "Billee's dead owl" Lily said conversationally. I pouted giving my eggs a particularly sharp jab. I felt someone's hands come to rest on my shoulders, and I felt a slow smile stretch across my lips.

"You guys aren't teasing my little buttercup are you?" Sirius said sliding into the empty spot next to me, as Remus followed suit. "Morning, lovely" he said, planting a kiss on my blushing cheek as I mumbled good morning in return.

"Oh how perfectly nauseating" Dara grumbled, dropping her half-eaten piece of toast on her plate. "Oi, Mendara" Remus said, leaning across the table, much to Dara's alarmed look. "You've got something on your chin" he said wiping away the dried toothpaste with his thumb, while Dara promptly turned pink. I remained silent, but chose to wink at Dara when Remus resumed his seat; his cheeks were a similar shade as hers.

"So what are everyone's plans for the day?" Sirius asked abruptly, pinching a piece of bacon off of my own plate. "Staying as far away from you two" James said matter-of-factly. "Yeah, we wouldn't want to lose your lunch and supper as well as our breakfast" Lily said in agreement. James looked shocked that Lily would have a similar opinion.

"Perhaps we ought to give them a show now, Billee" Sirius announced, a familiar smirk making its way onto his lips. I shook my head, knowingly "You and your public displays of affection, shameless" I teased. "That's me, Darling" he said, grabbing my shoulders and planting smacking kisses all over my face as I giggled uncontrollably, failing to push him away. When I wiped off my face, I saw that Mendara and Remus were half way out of the great hall, presumably off to the library. Lily had her face buried in James' shoulder. "Oh are they finished yet?" she asked meekly, and James looked like he was going to faint any second at the nearness of his long-time object of affection.

"Deep breaths, Mate" Sirius advised as Lily tentatively lifted up her head, shooting death glares as Sirius and I. "I need to get out of here, you" she said pointing at me "and you!" she added, glaring at Sirius "are way too vomit-inducingly cute" she said standing up, from her seat. "Potter, want to come?" she asked, carefully. James leaped up from his chair so fast that he nearly sent it toppling over. "Milady" he said, extending an arm, to which Lily eyed hesitantly, eyeing it with a mixture of displeasure and amusement. "Okay!" James said retracting it "We'll get there, my flower" ushering her away from the table in great haste, before she could realize her mistake and change her mind.

I glanced at Sirius with a soft smile, as he slung an arm around the back of my chair, pinching another piece of bacon. Before breaking out in a grin and announcing what both of us already knew, and what we had been hoping for "Alone at last, my little buttercup".

--

Somehow we had ended up on the grounds, the early December sky was gray and overcast, stretching on forever, and snowflakes were lazily drifting down, avoiding my tongue with persistent determination. Sirius was watching on as I did some sort of strange jig, trying to get at least one miniscule snowflake on my tongue, in what I hoped was fond amusement. But I'm sure it was just the regular kind.

He had promptly nicked my pink ski hat as soon as we had stepped outside, and it was now sitting, at home on his head at a jaunty angle. We had subconsciously made our way over to the stone wall. The place of one of our first encounters. I launched myself up on the ledge, and with me sitting and him standing we were nearly the same height. An advantage I had never had before.

"Look, at you" he said with a wide smile "At a normal height" he added, teasingly. "Shut it!" I said, flailing my legs in his direction, almost connecting with his leg but he jumped back. "Feisty" he said with a smirk. "But that's what I like about you, Billee" he informed me, stepping forward again. "Oh, so that's what you like about me" I said jokingly, resting my hands on his broad shoulders. He smiled, and leaned in kissing me softly. His mouth was hot against my own, and I was grateful for some warmth. Normally I would have stolen my hat back but he just looked too adorable wearing it, so my ears would have to pay the price. "Yes, amongst other things" He answered with a soft smile, that I was beginning to realize was reserved for me, as he brushed a few stray strands of hair out of my eyes.

"Oh do carry on" I said rubbing my hands against the material of his jacket. "I so love hearing my virtues" I added, jokingly. "You know, your starting to remind me of my ex-girlfriend" he replied, trying his best to look innocent, but the effect of it was lost on me. "I seem to recall your previous girlfriend wasn't able to manage three syllable words" I responded only somewhat bitterly. "Jealous?" he asked with a smirk. "Always" I pouted, trying to conceal a smile. "Don't worry, Malone" he said taking one of my hands off his shoulder, intertwining our fingers together. "You're the only girl for me" he added with a cheesy grin and to punctuate this he tenderly kissed my hand.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Sirius Black" I lectured in a matronly tone "Exactly how many poor girls have you fed that very same line?" I asked incredulously. He grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "A few" he said, shaking some hair out of his eyes. "But I mean it this time" he said. "Well good" I said with a smile, kissing the bridge of his nose.

"Oh look, a Bloodtraitor and a mudblood sitting in a tree. K-i-s-s-i-n-g" I heard a deep voice recite. When I whipped my head around to see just who this talented poet was, I couldn't help but suck in my breath.

Of course I had seen Regulus Black around the school before, it was hard not to. He along with the newly graduated Lucius Malfoy, Evan Rosier and Rudolphus Lestrange were Syltherin's answer to the Marauders, only they focused less on pranks and more on bullying students.

Regulus looked quite a bit like his older brother; he was a tad bit shorter than Sirius, was more wiry and lanky than muscular and kept his hair neatly trimmed. But the shape of their face, jaw line and cheekbones were identical. And what distressed me more than that was the fact that they both shared the same bright blue eyes.

"Hey Reggie!" Sirius exclaimed, his voice laden with sarcasm. "I guess you would be familiar with kissing, I'm surprised your lips aren't puckered from kissing our dear mummy's arse" He shot back as I climbed down from the ledge watching the exchange quietly.

"This one looks a little young, big brother" Regulus said his eyes sweeping up and down me critically, a sneer evident on his lips. "Could you be running out of mudbloods to screw?" he asked with mock horror. "How would you get your attention fix then?"

This kid was pissing me off, more so than the Slytherins usually did. Maybe it was the striking resemblance to my boyfriend, but every acid dripping word out of his mouth was only lending to the anger building up inside. Sirius moved to stand protectively in front of me, his mouth half open to retort something witty I'm sure, but I beat him to the punch. "Maybe he could torment some first years, I'm sure you could show him the ropes" I responded, stepping out from behind Sirius to stand next to him once again.

"Did I ask you to talk mudblood?" He enquired through gritted teeth. Sirius shot me a look, as to say 'I can handle it' but that little comment had struck a last nerve. "Listen here, you little twat" I spat "I don't recall asking you to come over here and interrupt us with your failed intimidation, so you can just get back to what you were doing before. I'm sure Snape's sponge bath can't possibly wait any longer" I finished my tangent, my cheeks flushed and brow furrowed.

"You just wait until Mother hears about this" Regulus said, ignoring me once again, focusing his venomous gaze on Sirius instead. "Can't hardly wait" He responded with bitter smile. "Come on" he said, taking my hand and I gave it a little squeeze as I let him lead me away from his little brother, who I'm sure ten to one, was glaring at the back of our heads.

I glanced up at him warily and was surprised to find him smiling down at me, looking quite amused. "What?" I asked suspiciously, and he just gave my hand a little squeeze breaking into a full fledged grin. "Little Billee Malone, I can assure you that you are in fact the only girl for me" he said, letting go of my hand and instead wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"Wait, you're happy that I can't stand your brother?" I asked incredulously. "No, happy is the wrong word" he corrected me, as I leaned into him while we continued to make our way towards the castle. "Thrilled would probably be a more suitable one" he said, and I knew that he was grinning. "And also a little turned on" he added, and I giggled as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Your always a little turned on" I teased and I heard him laugh, his throaty laugh. "At least when it comes to you, my little juicy hamburger". I rolled my eyes and heaved a humungous sigh. "When is that going to get old to you people?" I cried.

"Never" he answered "Come on I'll race you!" he declared, starting to run up the steep hill. "Not fair, you have longer legs!" I whined, but took off anyways. I was choosing to forget about disapproving siblings and irritating pet names, and just decided to focus on the moment.

Because it felt like nothing would be more perfect ever again.

--

"Do it Padfoot!" James encouraged loudly. "Sirius Orion Black, do not do it!" I lectured, crossing my arms over my chest. "It's not funny you guys" I whined, as my friends as well as his egged him. He studied both groups, the first consisting of James, Remus, Peter, Dara and Lily chanting "Do it, do it!" and then the second, consisting of poor little me, complaining "Sirius! So help me god!"

Over the past few days of dating me he had developed something called the Silly Billee, which just consisted of him sneaking up behind me picking me up in a bear hug, and swinging me around so my limbs swayed to and fro. I dunno it must have been comical because the Silly Billee became quite a crowd favorite; meanwhile it just managed to both piss me off and give me a mild case of nausea.

I saw a grin flit across his lips before he said "Sorry darling" before slipping his arms under my armpits and lifting me straight up into the air, my back pressed hard against his chest. And then the shaking started. I surveyed the group of divs that somehow I had become friends with, as they rolled on the floor laughing.

"Shh, best part, best part!" Remus shouted over the laughing voices as Sirius gently set my feet back on solid ground. I shot him a glare and tried my hardest not to, but the sudden change from being shaken and then abruptly back to stillness was simply too much. I couldn't help but stumble slightly. This only sent my audience into hysterics once again.

I only scowled, flopping back into the armchair that Sirius and I had been previously sharing. When he came to reclaim his spot next to mine, I only arched an eyebrow. My boyfriend was a lot of things but he wasn't daft, so he changed directions and promptly plopped down on James' lap with a casual greeting of "Hello there, big boy".

I tried not to giggle as James ran a hand over Sirius' chest, seductively. I watched as Lily rolled her eyes, the corners of her mouth twitching. "Oi, you lot get a room" Remus instructed, with a look of good-natured humor. "Well we do share a room" James said thoughtfully, lifting a hand to stroke his chin. "No worries, Remus mate. We'll let you join in"

Dara snorted "And they think we have the porno dorm!" she exclaimed. "Honestly" Lily agreed "I mean we have one little pillow fight in our skivvies and…" she trailed off with a mischievous smile. "W-wha-wha" James stuttered his eyes wide, "Can you repeat that please?" he asked, his voice cracking as he managed to get a hold of his words.

"Don't do it" Remus warned, studying James bewildered face with a smile "He looks like his head's about to pop off"

"It's just the nearness of Sirius" James deadpanned, his eyes focused on Lily, who was staring back, a soft smile playing on her lips and her cheeks rosy. This was not lost on me or Dara who exchanged incredulous looks. Remus' response was to clear this throat, and Lily's eyes darted away from James' like a flash, her face reddening. "Uh, Lily I think it's time we patrol" Remus reminded her gently.

"Oh of course" Lily said standing up, from her place on the floor next to Dara and brushing off her robes brusquely. "Good night, everyone" she said looking from me to Dara and then Sirius, and then ever so slightly lingering on James for a brief moment, before she seemed to catch herself doing this.

"Night" I echoed, as the others in the common room bid them good night as they made their exit. As soon as the sound of the portrait hole shutting was heard, James leapt out of his chair, sending Sirius tumbling to the floor. He then proceeded throw his hands over his head, and start shimmying frantically while singing "Lily thinks I'm sexy!" in a high falsetto over and over again.

"Yeah…" Mendara said, rising from her place on the floor. "When James starts doing the happy dance, it's my bed time" she said, hurrying up the steps before he could try and persuade her into joining in with him.

"I take it that's my cue as well" James said, heading towards the opposite staircase. "No, James you don't have to go" I called up to him. This was the second time today, our friends had not so subtly left so we could be alone. "No, it's quite alright, I'll expect the same sort pf privacy for when Lily and I hook-up" he said confidently, continuing is way up the steps and out of sight.

I glanced over at Sirius rubbing his elbow with a scowl evident on his features. "What's got your knickers in a twist?" I teased quirking an eyebrow. "In James' excitement, I bashed my elbow on the floor" He said moodily, as he tenderly massaged it. "It really smarts" he added "Wanna come kiss it better?" his scowl turned into a full-fledged smirk, as he extended his elbow.

I tried to fight away my impending smile, but like so many times with him, I just couldn't contain it. So instead I wiggled my index finger, signaling for him to come closer. He grinned, genuinely pleased with himself. He scooted across the floor on his arse until he was perching directly below my armchair. He held out his elbow and I chastely pecked the spot where a bruise was sure enough blooming.

"Better?" I asked, my voice laced with weary sarcasm. But he just ignored it. I was prepared for any flirtatious or teasing remark, but not for the way he was looking at me in the firelight. "Yeah, much better" he managed to mumble out before my lips came crashing down on his, surprising him as well, and myself I suppose since I knocked myself out of my own chair in my fit of passion, and rather unceremoniously landed on him, sending him toppling him to the ground, and leaving him grimacing and clutching his sore elbow.

"Oh! Sweetie I'm sorry!" I cooed apologetically, but he just grinned his white beaming smile at me. "Did you just call me Sweetie?" was his incredulous expression. I blushed furiously and clamped my hands over my mouth. "Oh bullocks. Did not mean to say that out loud" I said, squeezing my eyes shut. "So what you think of me as a Sweetie?" he asked the teasing voice but when I warily opened my eyes I saw he was looking at me with soft eyes. "Sometimes" I mumbled, my fingers splayed over my lips muffled the sound. "What was that?" he asked cheekily and I rolled my eyes dropping my hands onto my lap.

"I said, Somet-"I started but was cut off by his lips over mine and I smiled as he cradled my head with his big hands and kissed me lightly. When the kiss broke off he looked at me with a victorious smirk. "Very sneaky Mister" I chided. His smirk grew considerably "Am I really dating an eighty year old woman?" he teased, and then to punctuate his point sometimes smushed my cheeks together. "I think this proves that I look like an obese chipmunk" I mumbled, the cheek pinching was affecting my ability to talk properly. "Ah, but a very cute obese chipmunk" He said fondly, releasing his death grip on my cheeks.

I flopped down on the floor, and rested my head on my arms. "I should go to bed" I said, a yawn interrupting my sentence. He smiled, lying beside me, tracing a finger along my jaw line. "Then go to bed" he advised. I smiled, closing my eyes and said "Come with me". "The staircase" he reminded me. "Oh yeah" I said keeping my eyes shut, "We'll just have to cuddle here then" I said opening my eyes briefly and saw him grab a throw off the back of a chair and taking his spot next to me once again, before draping the blanket over us. I squirmed closer to him, and rested my head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around my tightly. It felt nice to be so close to someone and I let the rise and fall of his chest, slow and steady lull me to sleep.

--

I woke up to a crick in my neck, and I saw that Sirius was still awake, staring up at the ceiling; I sat up stretching my arms up over my head. "How long was I out for?" I asked, stifling another yawn. "Only about twenty minutes" he responded. I nodded, running my hands through my hair, only noticing now that he seemed to be in deep thought. "Hey Bill, how come you never talk about your family?" he asked softly. I was caught off guard. I froze my hands still in my hair. "Things are complicated" I said finally.

"Yeah but that's true for most families" he insisted. I felt myself start to get angry. No one in school except Lily and Dara knew about my dad and I felt due to keep it a secret. And Sirius' sudden prying was making me panic. "It's none of your business okay" I said my voice sounding stronger than I felt, I was glad the anxiety wasn't showing in my voice. "Not all of us want to talk about how fucked up our families are, like you" I said standing up, throwing the blanket off me. "So piss off and good night" I added before storming up the stairs to my dormitory and only then, after I changed out of my pajamas and crawled under the covers, did I allow my self to shake.

--

I felt like shit. Not just on the outside, but I was sure I was the biggest shittiest person on the planet when I woke up the next morning. Not only had I gotten about two hours of sleep, but I had just replayed the whole scenario in my head last night. Around four o'clock in the morning I got physically sick, dry heaving into the toilet for so long that when I finally vomited, it felt like a relief. The realization that I might lose Sirius over something to trivial, as my pride or a family secret that wasn't even that tawdry, made me start for his dorm a total of six times collectively over the night. But each time I was too chicken. Or chickenshit rather.

So when a concerned Dara woke up, telling me it was time for classes, I whipped my clothes off, changed into robes at a light speed rate, combed my fingers through my knotty hair, hurriedly. I raced down the steps and was face to face with a somber looking Sirius. "Billee" he started but I threw myself in his arms. "Okay" he said sounding confused, and I felt his arms come hesitantly around me. "I'm sorry, Sirius!" I rushed out "I was a first class prat, last night. I said awful things, and I'm so mortified I told you to piss off. Please, please, please forgive me" I begged, my eyes filling with tears.

"Oh course Billee" he said pulling away, looking concerned at the tears spilling out from my eyes now. "I was just coming to apologize myself" he said wiping away my happy tears with his sleeve. "If you don't want to talk about it then-" he started but I interrupted him. "No! I do want to talk about it with you" I rushed to say, a happy smile gracing my lips now. "Better yet, I want you to meet them" I thought of suddenly. "Come home with me for winter break?" I asked going out on a limb. "Are you sure?" he asked and I could see him fighting a smile. "Absolutely positive" I answered. "Then yes I would love to" he answered formally. "Good" I said wiping away a stray tear and pulled on his tie, kissing him passionately.

"Those two are crazy" James observed from across the common room.

"No, they're in love" Lily said somewhat wistfully.