"Truthfully, wicked people reveal themselves in words first, to inhibit speech would inhibit us seeing the wicked before they act."

― Leviak B. Kelly

Chapter 4: In trouble again, Mr Black

Sirius knew he shouldn't push it too much with Devery but she made it incredibly hard for him to stop touching her. He initially stopped the kiss ages ago but Devery grew unexpectedly curious with his mouth. She kept kissing him and when Sirius opened his mouth, just a little, he felt her tongue swoop in.

All gloves were off then and they had their first serious snog session on the hospital bed.

Sirius gently guided Devery to lie down with him and he couldn't stop himself. His hands were in her hair and hers were in his. Devery was a great student. She learned quickly how he liked to be kissed and he started to learn her secret spots, which proved to challenging.

Sirius had no vocal cues to go on from Devery. For the first time in his life, he was snogging a girl who literally could not moan.

"Devery?" Sirius whispered and he tried to sound urgent to get her attention. At this point, Devery was in a blissful world of her own. She really liked it when Sirius kissed her jawline and neck.

"Devery?" Sirius tried again but this time a little more loudly and Devery looked up at him in alarm. Sirius was poised above her face and his hair tickled her cheeks a little. Devery then raised her eyebrows, as if to say 'what is it?'

"Um… I am not really good at mindreading," Sirius muttered unsurely and Devery waited patiently for him to explain further. When he didn't, she made a come hither motion with her hands, feeling a little impatient. She wanted to go back to snogging.

"Um… Devery, you need to let me know when you like or don't like something I do to you. I want you to enjoy this as much as possible," Sirius breathed. He felt unsure in that moment. Devery's muteness was new territory for him and it looked like he would have to communicate more than he has ever done with a girl before.

'Oh… okay,' Devery mouthed and then smiled brightly at his thoughtfulness.

"Yeah," Sirius laughed to relieve some of the tension he felt and smiled back.

"Pinch me or something if I do something you don't like and maybe wiggle when I do something you like."

Devery raised at her eyebrows when he mentioned wiggling and gave her signature odd look. Sirius figured he will be seeing that look a lot more now.

"Or dance?" He suggested before he let out a surprised yelp when Devery suddenly tapped his behind. She looked up at him with mirth in her eyes.

"Or that. I don't mind that at all," Sirius compromised with a chuckle and Devery gently tugged his head down for another deep kiss. Devery tapped his behind again and Sirius laughed. He laughed so hard that he had to stop the kiss, which did not please Devery one bit so she pinched his side, a little bit too hard.

"Ouch!" Sirius lightly smacked her hands away.

"I am more delicate than I look, love," Sirius rubbed his rib. It was bright red and there was no doubt that the mark was going to bruise over by tomorrow. But Devery didn't take him seriously and thought he was playing around so with a smirk, she pinched him again.

"Mind the goods, Devery!" Sirius gave her wide eyes. He had nothing against play fighting but he never saw that coming with Devery. She was a lot tougher and childish than he expected which suited him just fine. Sirius loved to wrestle so when Devery went to pinch him again, he tackled her with a roar and looked for her ticklish spots.

"You started it, love!" Sirius grinned mischievously and Devery threw back her head in silent laughter. Sirius found her main ticklish spot very easily around her waist.

'Stop it, Sirius!' Devery started to mouth at him in her laughter but Sirius didn't relent one bit and he took much delight in getting her back. Devery quickly took notice of this and fought back by whacking him with a pillow. She grinned at Sirius's shocked face and whacked him again.

"Oooo now you're gonna get it!" Sirius accepted the challenge with dark eyes and Devery had no warning when he pinned her to the bed with his much bigger body again. Sirius pinned her hands down with his above her head and he rested in-between her bend legs.

"Gotcha!" Sirius grinned and Devery wiggled against him but it was no use, Sirius was solid as a rock. Particularly, a certain appendage of his downstairs. Devery blushed bright red when she realized what it was and so did Sirius. He quickly moved off of her and cleared his throat awkwardly. He then moved to clutch his knees to his chest. His body felt like liquid fire in that moment and he needed to calm the hell down but that proved difficult with Devery so close to him still.

"Think none sexy thoughts! Think none sexy thoughts!" He yelled at himself mentally and stared at the ground. He just kept screwing it all up. Sensing his embarrassment, Devery quickly grabbed her notebook and pen to write.

"It's okay, Sirius."

"No it isn't, Devery. I shouldn't have done that… I got carried away and for that I apologise," Sirius looked concerned and he stiffened a little when Devery moved to sit beside him.

"You're being silly. It's not your fault. I know that boys sometimes can't control how they react," Devery pointed to her notebook and Sirius smiled at her understanding.

"You're just too hot for me to handle, Leafwood." Devery nudged his shoulder playfully.

"If it helps… I do feel flattered," Devery smiled and Sirius barked out a laugh in relief.

"Well… next time, I will endeavor to have more self control," Sirius promised and Devery kissed his cheek for his thoughtfulness. That warm buzzing feeling then came back in the pit of her stomach and she was thirsty for something that could only be found in Sirius's skin. She kissed her way back to Sirius's mouth and she coaxed him into another kiss.

"Merlin's beard!" James suddenly blurted and with red cheeks, Sirius and Devery broke apart. James was there with Remus and Peter. Remus was the only one not looking like he just got stupefied.

"Surprise!" Sirius exaggerated and Devery shyly started to hide behind her notebook. Peter took out his wand and looked at them quite seriously.

"This can't be right," he muttered and walked towards Devery. Sirius frowned darkly at his friend immediately and jumped to his feet. Devery looked between the two boys nervously.

"That's close enough mate," Sirius warned and he shielded Devery with his much bigger frame. No one could get away with threatening Devery now; she was his girl as far as he was concerned.

"Riddikulus!" Peter casted loudly and nothing changed. He thought he was looking at a boggart. Sirius still stood in front of Devery in full bodyguard mode and Peter shook his head in disbelief.

"Did you use a love potion to bewitch my best friend or something retard?" Peter accused. Devery gasped at the insult. She knew Peter didn't like her already but she didn't think it was this much.

"What did you just call my girlfriend?" Sirius clenched his fists and started to advance on Peter with anger building in his face. James and Remus quickly shared a knowing look before they tried to separate the two friends. But Sirius was faster. He threw out a good left hook and broke Peter's nose. Peter clutched his bloody nose with a curse and Sirius went to hit him again but James and Remus were able to hold him back.

"You will pay for that!" Sirius growled.

"She has bewitched you, padfoot! There is no way you like the mute girl!" Peter forced out and Sirius angrily tried to advance on him again. James and Remus nearly lost their grip on him if Devery didn't step in. She finally got over her shock at Peter and stood in front of Sirius. His grey eyes softened when she entered his line of sight and he stopped struggling against James and Remus.

"Take Peter to Madame Pomfrey," she signed to Remus and he nodded at her logic. Devery reached for Sirius's hands when Remus let him go and when James didn't see Sirius trying to attack Peter again, he let him go as well. A divide was suddenly created between the Marauders and they all knew it. Remus then left to help Peter with his broken nose.

"I didn't see that coming at all," James said to break the tension.

"What?" Sirius demanded still feeling angry but he started to calm down when Devery wrapped an arm around his middle. He found her touch peaceful.

"You breaking wormtail's nose," James's tone grew serious and Sirius clenched his jaw. James's answer surprised Devery and she started to sign again.

"Sirius and I, liking each other and going out, doesn't surprise you?" She signed.

"Who else do you think would put up with this one's whining about how he found the girl of his dreams but was too chicken shit to say hello," James rolled his eyes and Devery looked at Sirius with avid interest.

"Ah… what did my girl ask you prongs?" Sirius looked between them unsurely. He really needed to learn BSL.

"To be honest Devery, I am just relieved to see that you somehow like this muppet too. You are literally saving me from another year of enduring his unrequited love and brooding over you."

Sirius took offense at that. "I do not brood," he interjected and James looked at him like he was crazy.

"You acted like your puppy died, admit it you muppet," James muttered and Sirius grew red from embarrassment.

"And put a shirt for Merlin's sake, padfoot. You are a sight for sore eyes, mate. Unless this is how you are bewitching Leafwood to go out with you. Is it some sort of skin charm?" James asked in all seriousness and Sirius punched him playfully on the shoulder.

"Shut it," he grumbled and James smirked at his expense before returning his gaze to Devery.

"But in all seriousness, my best friend hasn't bewitched you with a spell or potion to like him back?"

"James," Sirius warned with a frown.

"You are a Marauder, Sirius, just like me and you love nothing more than to get up to mischief so forgive me but all of this is rather sudden," James said.

"I can see your point, James," Devery signed and Sirius looked down at her hands with curiosity. He really wished he could understand her and he was about to ask James to translate for him when Devery stood up on her tippy toes and quickly kissed his cheek before she left his side. Caught off guard by the display of affection, Sirius stared dumbly at where she used to stand. James chuckled and his laughing eyes said it all: he was completely at Devery Leafwood's mercy.

"Shut it, prongs," Sirius grumbled.

"I didn't say anything," James laughed.

"Yes, you sodding did," Sirius narrowed his eyes.

He still wasn't in the best of moods. He needed another snogging session with his girlfriend to feel better again. Yes, he was calling Devery his girlfriend now and he knew that was going up against his promise of taking things slow but when Peter called Devery that terrible word, a switch flipped for him. He protected what was his and that included the people he felt the closet too.

Devery then clicked her fingers to get their attention and Sirius turned to see her holding up her notebook and pen again. He couldn't help but smile at her thoughtfulness.

"A notebook and pen? That's the dark ages for you Leafwood," James raised his eyebrows.

"I don't want to leave Sirius out," Devery wrote. Needing to touch her again, Sirius moved to kiss her forehead and Devery smiled back. Sirius then wrapped his arms around her waist and held her gently. He rested his chin on her curls and concentrated on her notebook. In a way, James still couldn't believe what he was seeing unfold so he went to take a seat.

"This will take some getting used too," James confessed.

"We're going to take it slowly and see what happens," Devery wrote and Sirius backed it up with a nod.

"Then you're definition of slow is vastly different to mine," James pointed to Sirius's constant displays of affection. His best friend wasn't usually so affectionate or Devery for that matter.

"It feels natural," Sirius confessed.

"Sirius is not pushing me to do anything I don't want to do," Devery wrote and showed James.

"And if I do anything to upset her, Devery and everyone else has my permission to hex my ass for it," Sirius muttered and James felt his eyes widen at his words. Sirius's feelings ran far deeper than he thought.

"Or, turn him into a frog," Devery added with a silent giggle.

"Only if you promise to be the princess to break the spell with a kiss," Sirius gave her middle a squeeze and Devery felt another blush coming along.

"If you're a clean frog then I might consider it," she wrote for Sirius's eyes only and he laughed when he read that. Only Devery existed for him in that moment and he rested his face in the crook of her neck.

"Oi! I am still here!" James called out and broke Sirius out of his trance.

"Shouldn't you be out and about doing Head Boy things?" Sirius blurted and James shook his head at him. His best friend was definitely wrapped around Devery's little finger and the guy didn't even know it yet.

"Are you okay with us, going out?" Devery asked James and Sirius frowned a little at her words.

"We don't need anyone's permission to do what we like, love. This is a free world," Sirius told her gently. Devery sighed.

"I know but James is James. He is one of your best friends and I don't want to come in and ruin another one of your friendships," Devery wrote and Sirius hummed in understanding.

"Peter can be a prick sometimes though, he'll come around and try to get in our good books again, you'll see," Sirius added and James nodded.

"Wormtail loves to be dramatic but not me," James said.

"That's because you love to be overdramatic, prongs," Sirius rolled his eyes and James scowled.

"You will pay for that," he vowed and Sirius perked up with mischievous eyes.

"Lily won't like that since technically I am dating her best friend now," he spoke in a singsong voice and James scowled again. His best friend had him there and despite his recent disagreement with Lily Evans; he didn't want to anger the witch too much further.

"Unless… Leafwood can you please breakup with Sirius for a couple of hours?" James requested with puppy dog eyes and Devery shook her head with another silent laugh.

"Damn it!" James cursed.

"My girlfriend is not that mean, James," Sirius grinned.

"But her boyfriend is," Madame Pomfrey suddenly scolded with folded arms behind James. Remus also stood beside her, wearing a curious look. The matron tsked at the couple for hugging each other and Sirius released Devery with a defeated look in his eyes.

"In trouble again, Mr Black, why doesn't that surprise me?" Madame Pomfrey raised her eyebrows.