A/N: Hey all, so sorry for the delay! But here you go :) Hope you enjoy! And please review when you're done reading, I love that people have my story on alert but it would be nice to get some solid feedback :)

CHAPTER 4

The first Hogsmeade weekend was Hallowe'en weekend, as it always was. Vesper and Kyler headed up to breakfast early to get an early start to their visit. Sara was stuck in detention with Flitwick all day with James Potter, for which Vesper was silently grateful. She hadn't been looking forward to figuring out the logistics of spending time with Sara while hiding it from her housemates.

"Anyone up for Zonko's today?" Sirius was calling loudly down the Gryffindor table as Vesper and Kyler passed.

"Oh yes," Vesper said, sneering at him. "Heaven forbid you should have to come up with an original prank."

Kyler smirked as James, Sirius, Charlotte and Chloe glared at them as they passed. Charlotte and James both had their hands in their robes.

"As a prefect, I have to advise against pulling out those wands," Vesper warned quietly. "It would be truly terrible if you weren't able to go to Hogsmeade because you were in detention...or worse, if your Captain were out of commission for the Quidditch match next weekend."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you, Malfoy?" Charlotte demanded, losing her cool. "Considering the only way you could possibly beat us is if James is out."

Vesper gave Charlotte a condescending smile. "We'll see about that, Reese," she said calmly. "No takers on the detentions? That's what I thought."

She and Kyler made their way to the Slytherin table, smirking, and Neil raised an eyebrow at them as they sat.

"What was that all about?" he asked, looking worried.

"Oh, you know," Kyler replied, "The usual. Harassing Gryffindors. Vesper using her powers for evil. That sort of thing."

"Did you threaten them with detention again?" Neil asked, fixing Vesper with a stern glare.

Vesper shrugged. "Maybe."

"You're not supposed to do that! Also, Potter is bloody Head Boy!"

"They were all reaching for their wands, what was I supposed to do?" she demanded. "They would've hexed us otherwise. And Potter always forgets that he's Head Boy. What a moron."

Neil shook his head. "You're hopeless," he muttered.

"I'm hopeless?" she demanded. "What about Remus Lupin? Two years he's been a prefect and not once has he managed to stop those hooligans he calls friends from doing something stupid. Not once."

Neil shrugged. "Maybe he's got better things to do with his time."

"Seriously, Potter!" Charlotte burst out. "You're freaking Head Boy! Why didn't you stop her?"

James looked up from his toast, understanding dawning on his face. "Oh yeah!" he said. "I keep forgetting about that!"

Remus rolled his eyes.

"It's too late now," Char snapped. "She's moved on. Only a complete and total idiot forgets that he's Head Boy."

"Hey!" James snapped defensively. "I'll put you in detention for that if you're not careful."

Char rolled her eyes as Chloe and Alice stood.

"Well, we're gonna head down to Hogsmeade. Anyone else interested?"

The rest of their year-mates (minus James, who did actually have detention) stood and joined them.

"Maybe if you're good I'll bring you a sweet," Char said, smiling sweetly.

"Fuck off, Charlotte."

"No sweets for you."

Vesper, Kyler and Neil made their way down High Street, laughing and looking in the store windows.

"Oh, I need a new quill," Kyler said as the passed the shop. "My best one broke in half yesterday."

"How'd you manage that?" Neil asked incredulously as they entered.

Kyler shrugged. "I have no idea. I suspect my sister."

"She's a wimp," Vesper countered. "I suspect Kieran. I bet Taylyn put her up to it."

"Kieran would do something like that," Kyler agreed, looking around at the different quills. "Oooo this one's nice."

Vesper raised an eyebrow. "A peacock feather? You're going to use that to take notes in class?"

"I guess not," Kyler acceded. "What about an eagle feather?"

"Much better," Neil agreed. "Anything else?"

Vesper shook her head and Kyler went up to pay for her quill before returning to them.

"Okay, where to next?" Neil asked.

"I need to go to the apothecary," Vesper replied. "I need some Potions ingredients."

"Oh, me too," Kyler agreed.

"Off to the apothecary then," Neil agreed, grinning at the girls.

Sirius, Remus and Peter were walking up High Street and came across a group of Slytherins in the road. Sirius smirked until he realized what was going on.

"I said leave us alone, Rabastan," Vesper said in a dangerous voice. "I mean it. Get lost."

"And if I don't?"

"The lady said leave them alone, Lestrange," Sirius said, stepping forward, flanked by Remus and Peter.

Rabastan Lestrange turned to him with a smirk. "Well, well, well. What do you want, Black?"

Sirius glared at him. "The lady said get lost," he replied. "I don't like guys who mistreat girls."

"Girls in general or just this one in particular?" Lestrange demanded.

Sirius' lip curled. "Like I have any reason to help Malfoy," he spat. "Guys who pick on girls are cowards."

"You calling me a coward?" Lestrange hissed, furious.

"I guess I am," Sirius agreed.

Lestrange stepped toward him, flanked by Travers and Mulciber. Sirius, Remus and Peter stared them down, though Peter was shaking.

"Enough," Vesper snapped. "Rabastan, get lost. And I don't need help from Gryffindors," she added, glaring at Sirius and his friends. Sirius, however, saw the terror in her eyes, and backed down. He knew anger was how she dealt with fear.

"I'll leave when he does," Lestrange snapped.

"What's going on here?"

Both groups turned as Neil Hayden and Snape entered the fray from the robe store.

"Nothing," Lestrange snapped, turning to leave. "We were just leaving."

"That's what I thought," Hayden snarled. "Ves? You okay?"

"I'm fine," she replied. "He's was just being annoying."

"You sure?"

"I'm fine, Neil."

"Good." Once he'd realized his friend was okay, he turned to the three Gryffindors. "What are you three doing here?"

Sirius shrugged. "We saw Lestrange picking on Vessie and came to investigate."

"My name is Vesper," Vesper hissed, glaring at him and raising her wand.

"Lestrange is gone now, and I suggest you do the same," Hayden said firmly. "Move along."

Sirius glared at him, but did as he'd said. Truth be told, Sirius was more than a little afraid of Neil Hayden, and not just because of his fierce protectiveness of Vesper. Hayden was an exceptional wizard and Sirius knew exactly who would win in that fight.

As the three friends walked away, Sirius could feel Remus' eyes boring holes in his back.

"You okay, Padfoot?" he asked quietly.

"Fine. I need to go to the Quidditch Supply shop."

"What the hell was that?" Neil asked, turning to Vesper and Kyler after the Gryffindors had disappeared. "I leave you alone for two seconds!"

Vesper shook her head. "It's not important."

Neil put his hands on her shoulders, turned her around, and marched her in the direction of the Three Broomsticks. Sev and Kyler followed.

Neil turfed three third-year Hufflepuffs out of their seats to get a table in a back corner for their group. Sev went up to the counter to order drinks for them all.

"Start talking," Neil said firmly.

Vesper sighed in irritation. "It's really not a big deal, Neil," she said calmly. "Lestrange wanted us to go to Honeydukes and we told him to sod off."

"That's it?" Neil asked, incredulous, as Sev showed up with four Butterbeers.

"I told you it wasn't a big deal. He was a bit insistent and that's when Black and co showed up and turned it into a big deal."

"Sorry, what happened?" Sev asked.

"Nothing," Vesper sighed. "Rabastan wanted Kyler and I to go to Honeydukes with him. We told him to sod off, he didn't, Black showed up and picked a fight. You showed up. The end. And we don't need another rant about Black and co from you, Sev, thank you very much."

"I wasn't going to," Sev said haughtily.

"Oh please," Neil snapped. "You had that look on your face. You were about to launch into a full-scale rant about the Gryffindors."

Sev glared at Neil, but Vesper put her hand on his arm and he drank his Butterbeer instead of replying.

"Are you still going to try and convince us there's nothing with you and Vesper, Sirius? Remus asked conversationally as they walked back to the school.

"There isn't," Sirius replied. "I just don't like guys who pick on girls."

"Yeah, you mentioned that," Remus replied. "So that's it?"

"Yes, that's it," Sirius snapped. "Drop it, Moony!"

"Dropping," Remus replied, but he gave Sirius a look that made Sirius think this was not the last his friend was going to say on the matter.

At the feast that night Rabastan kept shooting Vesper quizzical looks, like he was trying to figure something out, and it was freaking her out.

"Neil."

"I know. I'll deal with it. Don't worry about it."

Vesper nodded. "Okay."

"Eat."

Knowing that Neil was going to take care of things made Vesper feel much better, and she found that she really was hungry, and attacked her food with gusto.

The Marauders were leaving the feast when a voice caught their attention.

"Black."

They all turned to see Hayden leaning nonchalantly against the wall behind the staircase.

"What do you want, Hayden?" James demanded.

"I wasn't talking to you, Potter," he said snidely. "I need a word with Black. Privately."

"Not bloody likely," James snapped.

"It's alright, Prongs," Sirius said quietly. "What do you want, Hayden?"

"Walk with me."

"I'll meet you guys upstairs," he said as he followed Hayden out the front doors onto the grounds. "It's a bit chilly for a nighttime stroll, Hayden."

"I won't keep you long," Hayden sneered. "What the hell was that about today?"

"What?"

"Standing up to Lestrange. You realize he's going to make Vesper's life hell now, right?"

Sirius shrugged. "I did it with Higgs and Morton last week. Just tell Lestrange I'm just a guy looking out for the fairer sex, no matter what colour they're wearing."

"This was not what I had in mind when I told you to keep trying with Vesper," Neil hissed, moving so his nose was less than an inch from Sirius'. "If you hurt her, I will end you."

"You sent me that owl?"

"Not the point," Hayden snapped. "Did you hear me? I will have no qualms whatsoever about ending you if you break her heart."

"Bit of a crush there, Hayden?"

Hayden's upper lip curled. "Vesper is like my sister."

"Well, I guess you're a better brother than the one she's got," Sirius conceded.

"I don't like you, Black-"

"Trust me, the feeling's mutual."

"-but for some reason Ves loves you. You make her happy. The moment that changes, you're a dead man. Got it?"

"Loud and clear," Sirius snapped. "Trust me, Hayden. I have no plans to break her heart."

Vesper waited in the common room for Neil until well past midnight. Rabastan had returned hours earlier and Vesper had no idea where Neil could be. He finally climbed through the portrait hole and she shot him a questioning look. He nodded once and made his way up the stairs to his dorm.

"Neil!"

"Ves, I have to take care of something, okay? I promise we'll talk tomorrow. Don't worry about anything, I've got it all under control," he said, though he did come over to kiss her forehead. "Get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."

Strangely, Neil's words did little to calm Vesper's nerves.

Sirius didn't go back to the dorm until he was sure most of his friends would be asleep. James, of course, was awake.

"Padfoot."

"Prongs."

"Let's walk."

They exited through the portrait hole, Sirius following his best friend reluctantly. He didn't really want to talk about what he'd discussed with Hayden.

"So, what'd you and Hayden talk about?" James asked conversationally as he sent a group of Hufflepuffs back to their common room.

"Nothing important," Sirius replied, sticking his hands in his pants pockets and leaning against the wall.

James raised his eyebrows. Sirius shrugged. "I told Lestrange to leave Vesper alone. Kinda made a big thing out of it. He was not impressed."

James stared at his best friend for a moment as though he had never seen him before.

"The woman told him to leave her alone. He didn't. I stepped in."

"Who says chivalry's dead?" James asked sarcastically.

"That's all it is," Sirius said. "I did the same thing last week with Morton and Higgs. Not a big deal. I don't like guys who pick on women. It doesn't matter what colour they're wearing."

James locked eyes with Sirius. "Look me in the eye and tell me it's nothing more," he challenged.

Sirius glared at him. "Even if it is, it doesn't matter. She's not interested. She made that very clear."

"When?"

Sirius shrugged. "She told me to leave her the fuck alone. Then I kissed her, and she told me again to leave her alone."

"Vesper Malfoy told you to leave her the fuck alone?" James asked, looking skeptical.

"Well, okay, maybe not in those words," Sirius conceded. "But that was her general message."

"And then you kissed her?"

"Yes."

"Ah," James said, a light going on in his brain. "VC."

"Very good, Prongs."

James nodded. "You need sleep, mate. And you need to get over this woman."

"If only it were that simple," Sirius muttered.