Combat Rock

The first week back at Hogwarts was strangely quite and humorless. Suzie hung about with Lucy and George, trying to understand their political discussions, but failing miserably each time. She missed the way James used to chase after Lily, the way Peter used to stuff his face with marshmallows every time she left the room, but when she entered, he'd spit the nasty goop into his hands and hide them behind his back. She missed the good times when Sirius would snitch a bottle of wine from Hogsmeade and share with her, she missed James' lunacy antics.

The way it was looking, it seemed like she had traded Simon for her friends. If she wanted her friends back, she'd have to dump Simon and get back together with Sirius.

Because, as you know, Suzie is that type of person that thrives off of confrontation, so she got Lily, James, Peter, Sirius, and Remus all together into the Room of Requirement exactly a half an hour before curfew. "Why aren't we friends anymore?" she asked simply, leaning back on her chair and lacing her fingers together primly.

Sirius snorted but didn't answer.

Remus shot him a dirty look and replied: "Yes. I believe Suzie does have a point. I haven't spoken to any of you in ages. Practically the only ones in touch are James and Lily, and Peter and I."

"Suzie, are you sure you can handle why I can't speak to you?" Sirius asked softly, looking at the bookcase of books drearily.

"Most definitely."

"I've always loved you from afar, even when you were head-over-heals in love with Simon. You and Simon break up because he was a drunken bastard who reacted with anything but welcome to your being a witch. I see my chance and seemingly, you return my feelings. We become a couple, for me, everything is going good. That is, until that scoundrel Simon pops right back into your life. You seem to hate him still and I know you're lying. I had had my suspicions that you still had feelings for the guy, but I also 'knew' that your feelings for me would overcome them, that we could jump over that hurdle together. In, fact, I practically knew this. Until, that is, I pick up one of those muggle tabloids and see you and 'KING OF THE JUNGLE LEAD VOCALS, SIMON COSTELLO' kissing. I get angry and drunk, I was hurt like fuck and once I saw a girl who had been chasing after me for seven years, I realized that there was a way to get you back: I could sleep with her. And I did. Honestly, I wasn't thinking. Once I woke up, all I thought about was: I hope she slept with him, I hope she'll forgive me, I hope she won't rip my heart out, I hope…" Sirius stopped. Suzie stared at him blankly, wondering what she should do. He was selfish, he was cruel, and he was out of control. He was just like Simon in the early days. The similarities were mind-blowing. It all shocked her. What shocked her the most though, was when she rushed to Sirius and hugged him tightly as he tried to hide the tears sparkling in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Suzie." He whispered into her shoulder. She hugged him tighter.

"I know." She said back, wishing that the others weren't there to see it all. "It'll be okay, you know. We'll always be there for each other. Always. Remember our promise." Tears pricked at her own eyes.

"There'll be no other girl, Suzie. You'll always be my last."

"No, Sirius. Jenna Kelly will." She hated to admit it, but it was true. Sirius sobbed harder and tightened his grip around her waist.

"Is that what you think? You think I was talking about sex!" he shouted abruptly. Suzie shifted away. "I was talking about love, Suzie! I'll always love you! Always, always, always, always, always, always, always!" he was like a four-year-old during a rabid fit. Unstoppable.

"Sirius…" This was Suzie, of course, no one else could do anything.

"You know what? I should remove myself from your life forever. All I ever do is cause problems." He stood, awaiting her comments. That's what Suzie loved about Sirius, he wouldn't leave unless you made him or wanted him to.

She smiled, the corners of her mouth perking up. "There's only one problem with your plan." Suzie folded her arms across her chest.

"And that would be?…" he sighed.

"That I don't want you to. Don't get me wrong, I'm madly in love with Simon, but I don't want you gone. You've always been there. And, hopefully, you always will." Sirius' jaw slacked a little but Suzie remained firm. "Hey, remember that time I got totally wasted at your Aunt Myrtle's New Years Eve Party, we were like, what, eight? I think that's about right since Lucy was at that braids-only phase and Regulus kept on streaking. Good times." This made them both break out into laughter at the hysterical mental image of baby Regulus Black running around the groggy Aunt Myrtle's kitchen with his pants down at his ankles, and his diaper atop his head.

"You see. We're friends again." Sirius managed to say through laughs.

"There's only one problem." Said Suzie, looking at them all, one at a time. "He's a musician, he's my boyfriend, and he's ultimately depressed at the moment. If you haven't realized who it is, our problem is the one-and-only Simon Costello. Known of you have ever met him and he's a bit on the magically unaware side. After graduation you all will have a chance to meet the dude who made a fool out of himself by running, starch naked down the President of the United State's street." The way she said this all, made it easier for Sirius to deal with. Sure, he would manage not to blow Simon into oblivion, as long as Suzie's eyes were fixed on him and not that bastardly Costello.