Disclaimer: Don't be an idiot, you know what's mine.
I dedicate this chapter to my dear friend: Narita S
-Chapter Fifteen-
Audrey had only been back to school a week, and she was getting glares from almost every girl she passed. She noticed the glares increase when she was with Sirius, too.
She knew this had to be a side affect of making the school's number one bachelor, not a bachelor anymore. She figured it was the idea that if they can't have him no one can. And it reminded her terribly of her first days at Hogwarts, when Lily and James had started dating.
'What's wrong?' Sirius asked, bringing her out of her daze
'Uh, nothing,' she said, avoiding his eyes. They were in the library, and so she said, 'I think I need to get a different book.'
She hurried from their table to a random section of books. She looked up to see a sign which read, Divination. She didn't even have divination, but she was so lost in her thoughts that it didn't even register.
She wondered blindly towards the potions section, but saw someone there, and turned quickly in the opposite direction. As she turned she landed herself against someone's chest. She looked up into his confused grey eyes.
'You're not looking for a book,' Sirius stated lamely.
'I know,' she whispered, looking at the ground.
'So what's wrong?'
'Can't you tell? She's just trying to get away from you,' someone sneered from behind them, Sirius turned so fast it seemed almost unreal.
'Bugger off, Snivellus; we were having a private conversation. Just because you don't have anyone to have one with doesn't mean you have to butt in on other people's.'
'Sirius, stop it,' Audrey said, quietly.
'Yes Sirius, stop it,' Snape said mockingly.
'You can shut the bloody hell up, too, you creep,' she said, even louder, to Snape.
'What's going on over here?' the voice of the old librarian came swiftly around the corner.
'Oh, nothing, we were just talking, it was nice to see you Snivellus, dear,' Audrey spat sarcastically as she pulled Sirius away from Snape. She did also manage to kick him swiftly in the shin before turning the corner towards their things.
They heard Snape swear, quietly, but apparently not quietly enough, since they next heard, 'What was that young man? You will not speak to me like that-'
They left before they could hear the rest.
'What did you do?' Sirius asked her with a smirk.
'Kicked him in the shin, and apparently harder than I thought, or he's just a big sissy…' Sirius looked at her, as if to say, Is that even a question? 'Never mind, that was stupid.'
They both laughed, probably a little more than was necessary, but why not?
By the time they'd reached Gryffindor Tower it was time for dinner.
'You coming?' Sirius asked, halfway through the portrait hole.
'Uh, no, I'm not really hungry,' she told him.
'Ok,' he said, with a smile. 'Just don't get into too much trouble.'
She smiled back as he climbed all the way out and set off towards the Great Hall. She walked towards the fire, and sat down in one of the comfier armchairs. She pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs, staring into the fire.
Suddenly she was in a damp and dark room. She looked around and near the fire saw an armchair much like the one she had been sitting in, except she definitely wasn't in Gryffindor Tower now.
She walked slowly to the chair, which was facing the fire, but before she got there, a door to her left swung open and, of all people, Severus Snape strode in. He looked worried, and his face seemed to be marked by age.
He walked straight passed her, to the armchair, and began to speak, but no sound was emitted from his mouth. Audrey stared for a moment before moving forward, wanting to see who was sitting in the chair.
But as soon as she got close enough to see, Snape's head snapped towards her, and he raised his wand. Audrey gasped, and felt a sharp pain in her knee. She struggled for a moment before opening her eyes, and realizing she was lying on the ground in Gryffindor Tower.
'Audrey?' someone said behind her. 'Are you ok?'
She sat up and realized she must have hit her knee on the table, she also realized that there were tears in her eyes. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, and tried to stand. She was about to topple over when a pair of strong hands grabbed her from behind.
She turned around to see James looking concerned.
'Are you ok?'
'I- I think so. I just had a bad dream. Hit my knee on the table, I'm fine,' she said, unconvincingly.
'Where's Sirius?'
'Dinner,' she informed him.
'Want me to go-'
'No, I told you I'm fine,' she insisted.
She pulled from his grip and began towards the stairs to the girl's dormitory, but nearly fell over again.
'Come on,' James said grabbing her again. He helped her to the stairs, 'I can't go up there, so are you ok to go by yourself?'
'I'm fine! It was just a dream. I have them all the bloody time! They're just stairs!' She yelled stomping up the stairs, James looked bewildered. But not for very long as Audrey came right back down, holding the railing for dear life.
'Ok, so maybe I shouldn't have stomped,' she said sheepishly as James chuckled. He walked her over to one of the couches, though she was finally regaining her balance, and could do it herself, James insisted.
'Now… What are you going to do?'
'Um… I don't know, why?'
'Well we don't need you to have a bad dream and almost die again. I can't always be here to save you, you know,' he said pompously. 'And I'm hungry.'
Audrey rolled her eyes. 'I'll be fine, you loser. Go eat.'
He smiled at her one last time before exiting the room. Audrey waited a minute or two then stood. She cursed herself for being so weak; those dreams didn't usually affect her that much.
Once she was sure she'd be fine, she strode to the portrait hole and headed towards the Headmaster's office.
----------X----------
When James entered the Great Hall, he immediately began to search for his best mate. He found him kind of accidentally. He was sitting with Lily, who you could always see from a mile away.
'Hey, Padfoot, your girl… Might need your help,' he said, unable to think of anything better to say.
'What?'
'I was on my way down here, and I found her freaking out on the ground in front of the fire in the common room. Said she had a bad dream. I think she hit her knee pretty hard. Could hardly stand at first,' James informed him. 'She's mad determined though, isn't she?'
'Yeah, that she is. So, wait. Is she ok?'
'She said she was, but she didn't really seem ok. Kind of shaken up, you know? Guess it was a really bad dream.'
Sirius stopped for a moment, 'Where is she now?'
'I left her in the Common Room. She was lying down on the couch,' he said, as Sirius got up, and turned towards the doors.
He didn't even have to go all the way to Gryffindor Tower to find Audrey though. He was walking down the corridor, when she ducked out from behind some massive stone gargoyles that Sirius knew led to Dumbledore's office.
'Hey, Audrey,' he called after her. She tensed and whipped around. Her long brown hair swirled madly. She calmed though, when she saw who it was.
'Hey.'
'What were you doing in there?' He asked, 'I thought I told you not to get in trouble.'
Audrey smiled. 'Couldn't resist.'
Once Sirius reached her, he put his arm around her shoulder, kissed the top of her head, and began to walk towards Gryffindor Tower.
AN: Ok dears. I am sorry. I truly am. It's been a month since my last update and this makes me sad because I was supposed to get one up sooner! So yes, I am sorry, but here it is. Focused more on Sirius/Audrey as you can see; good or bad? I know this is supposed to be a Lily/James story, but I just love Sirius, and I need him to get some story time too, lol.
AND guess what kiddies? I have a new story. WOOT. It's not up yet. I am super lazy when it comes to typing these things up. Xd I am almost done with chapter 2… And it is Sirius/OC. So hopefully I can get out my need for Sirius in that one, and focus more on Lily and James in this one. Unless we like both together…? Let me know.
And of course, first reviewer gets chapter dedication, so get to it. :)
Love always, Lady Carmilla.