Chapter Six:

Sirius

"You really didn't have to come," Torie said over the phone. She paused for a moment, then said, "And why is that?"

Jared watched her as she turned pink. "But really-" She paused again. "Fine, you win."

Jared knew who she was talking to. She only went pink when she talked to him. "No, I won't be able to leave for a few days. Dr. Jacobs said that once she's been awake for twelve hours straight, she won't need one of there at all times." She made a mock-sad face. "Auntie Kathy is at work. And Grandma lives too far away. Plus, she has to look after Granddad." She sighed sympathetically. "I know, I know. And I'm sorry." She paused. "Probably Monday or Tuesday, why?" She smiled. "Why do I need to be there? It's my present you know." Her eyes lit up excitedly. "And you want to take me! Oh, that's going to be so much fun!" She waited again. "Serious? Him? Isn't he the crazy one?" She laughed. "That'll be good. We'll have to go back to the hospital if she doesn't wake by Tuesday." She paused. "I'm excited. But, I've got to go. I'll see you then. Bye!" She paused, then hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" Jared asked, accusingly.

Torie ignored him and flounced out of the room.

"Wake up Sleepyhead! Wake up!" Torie laughed, shaking Remus into the world. "It's time to go!"

"Already? Your mum's better?" He yawned.

"No, but she was awake for ten hours, and so Julie insisted I come. I think she was tired of hearing me talk about it all day. Though, Jared isn't pleased."

Remus grimaced. "I don't think he likes me."

"No, he doesn't. He doesn't like any of my boyfriends, or friends that are boys. It's that whole father/older brother over-protectiveness thing. And he works extra hard at both, trying to be our dad. Bit stupid, really."

Remus looked apprehensive as he asked, "What happened to your dad, anyway?"

"He ran away right after Mum found out she was pregnant with Jules. She was 'a mistake' to him. He didn't want her," Torie answered lightly, "Wasn't much of the fatherly-type anyway. He was almost never home." Remus nodded. "Now, you hurry up and get ready. Your mum's cooking waffles. And the train leaves in an hour, though we should be out of here in thrity-five minutes."

"Yes, Ma'am, yes!" Remus saluted her.

"Ha ha," She said dryly, "Go get ready."

Torie bounced on her seat. "Oh, this is so exciting. I've never been to London except when we were there with Mum, and at Uncle David's funeral."

"Really? I go there a few times every year."

"Now, tell me about Sirius. I want to know what I should be expecting from him."

"You'll only be with him for a couple of hours. It may seem like he's hitting on you, and you can either ignore it, because it's not like he's going to date you, or you can reply with a smart remark. It'll make him amazed that you aren't falling for that 'Siriusly Sirius charm'. The only other person who has done that is Lily Evans, and now they're close friends."

"Okay. Now, what will we be doing?"

"Just hanging out at his flat. Maybe play chess or something, I dunno. But, just make sure that you act as if you're in charge. He likes that, and it'll put him in his spot. And, insult dogs a pile. He loves them, and takes it as a personal offense. It's hilarious watching him trying to come back with an insult."

"Okay."

"And, he'll make you up a stupid nickname, but just act like it's nothing. He'll try to get a rouse out of you and call you by it all day. By the end, it'll become second nature to answer to it."

"And, what's yours?"

"Moony."

Torie smirked. "What else has he come up with?"

"Padfoot, Prongs, and Wormtail."

"Oh, I'm in for it."

"He also says a pile of weird things. Like, stuff about Merlin and muggles. He's just weird."

"Well, this'll be an adventure for sure." Remus chuckled.

"Padfoot! Open up!" Remus called, banging on the door. Torie stood behind him, slightly apprehensive about meeting Sirius.

"Coming! Coming!" Came a voice from inside. The door opened. "Hello Moony, ole' buddy ole' pal. What brings you to my humble abode?" His eyes went over Torie and they widened. "Well, you've brought such a fair maiden to my place Moony! I'm so happy!" He bowed low to her. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"It would be a whole lot better if you were wearing something more than your boxers," Torie said, laughing slightly.

"I'm hurt!"

"Don't be." Torie entered the house. "Wow, this is a nice place. You bought it on your own?"

"Yeah, I figured I can't live with the Potters all my life, like Prongsie's going to do, so I found it. But, I'm only renting it for the summer. Then I'm going back to Hogwarts!"

"Go get dressed, Padfoot," Remus said.

"Yes sir!" Sirius leapt out of the room.

"I'll be back in two hours at the latest," Remus told Torie, "If he really starts to get on your nerves, just lock yourself in the bathroom. It has been done before."

Torie laughed. "Oh, I don't think it'll be that much of a problem. Bye! Have fun!"

Remus waved to her as he walked out of the apartment. She went into the next room to find a living room. There was a t.v. sitting on a pile of books. Instead of couches and chairs, there were a pile of bean bags in the corner. She sat in one of them, and soon Sirius bounded in. He took a bean bag for himself, and asked her, "So, what's going on with you and Mr. Moony?"

"Nothing, we're just friends," Torie said, colouring slightly.

"Ah, but you like him. You're going pink!"

"No I'm not!"

"Yes, you are."

"No!" Torie glared at him.

"Fine, subject change. Do you like cheese?"

Torie raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, I guess."

"What kind is your favorite?"

"I dunno. Marble."

"Ah, the old classic, marble cheese. I'm not one for cheese myself, it doesn't digest well in this amazing body of mine. Could I get some cheese for this pretty girl?"

Torie looked at him amusedly. "Er-no thanks, I'll be fine."

"That's too bad. So, have you kissed my friend?"

Torie's eyes widened. "What! No!"

"You have."

"No I haven't!"

"Yes, you have. I can see it in your eyes."

"Okay then. Fine. I did kiss him."

"How was it?"

"It-I'm not going to tell you! That's disgusting!"

"Where were you?"

Torie sighed, realizing that he wasn't going to give up. "We were by a pond."

"In bathing suits?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"You're really annoying, you know."

"I know sweet cakes. But, what were you wearing?"

"Our underwear."

Sirius' eyes twinkled and his grin widened. "Thank you Flame. Now, I have some excellent blackmail material against him."

Torie sighed, then asked, "Flame?"

"Yeah, that's your nickname."

"Why Flame?"

"Well, your name is Torie. That sounds like torch. And, on top of a torch is a flame. So you're Flame."

Torie waited, then laughed. "Remus was right. You are crazy."

"I try," He said dramatically.

She rolled her eyes. Suddenly, there was a banging on the door. "Sirius Black! Open this door this very instant!" A female voice called.

Sirius chuckled as he walked over to the door. "Hello Thorn! How are you doing this lovely day?"

"Shut it Black. Look what your stupid friend sent me." The red-head shoved a piece of thick paper into Sirius' hands.

"Come in, Thorn. This is Moony's friend, Flame."

Torie rolled her eyes. "Torie Malaekey."

The girl took her outstretched hand. "Lily Evans. Er-do I know you from somewhere?"

"I'm not sure. If I do, it'll probably come to me in the middle of the night."

Lily laughed. "Same with me."

"Now, about that nickname of yours, Thorn, where did you get that one, Sirius?"

"She's a flower. But, you don't want to hit her thorns. So, she's Thorn."

"What did he give you?" Lily asked.

"Flame. Torie sounds like torch, and on a torch there is a flame."

Lily laughed. "Well, it's better than Padfoot, at any rate. Mangy mutt."

"Hey! You can insult Padfoot all you want, but don't you dare insult the delicate animal of dogs."

"Delicate?" Torie asked, "Okay."

"Plus, Padfoot is a dog. Therefore, I can insult dogs, because I can insult Padfoot," Lily said.

Sirius looked confused for a minute, then said, "Oh shut up. You know I don't get it."

"Exactly. Look, I'd better be going. Mum is going to be worried sick if I don't get home. She's been acting strange lately."

"Bring her to me, I'll make her better," Sirius said.

"No, you'd make her worse. Crazy, like you. I'll stick with what I have." Lily began to walk to the door. "Good-bye Torie, it was nice to meet you!"

"Same with you, Lily."

The door opened and closed again. "Now, what are we going to do?" Sirius asked.

"Why don't we go for lunch?" Torie suggested, "I think I saw a café just down the block."

"Okay, let me just get my money."

Torie was laughing at Sirius' joke about the hag. "Torie?" A voice asked.

Torie looked around and saw Lila and George walking up to her. "What are you doing here?" George asked, "And who's that?" She was looking at Sirius dreamily.

"I'm here visiting with a friend."

"Is this the Lupin boy?" Lila asked incrediously.

"No, not him," Sirius said, standing up, "I'm his friend. Sirius Black." He took her hand and kissed it. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Lila pulled her hand back quickly, looking at him full of disgust. "Are you hitting on me?" She asked. He looked at her, dumb-struck. "Look, girls with asses like mine don't talk to guys with faces like yours. We'll see you later, Torie."

Sirius was gaping at her as she walked away, his mouth moving. "Sit down," Torie said, laughing, "You look stupid."

"Is she always like that?" Sirius asked her.

"Yeah, pretty well. You get used to it."

Just as Torie and Sirius finished eating, Remus came. "Hey guys, I'm done. What have you been up to?"

Laughing, Torie and Sirius told Remus what they had done that day.

A/N: I really liked this chapter. I think it's my favorite of all the ones so far. I love writing Sirius, he's a riot and you can do so much with him! I just got the movie, She's the Man, and it was hilarious! I stole a couple of lines from it, if you hadn't noticed. The whole cheese thing, and the one Lila says to Sirius at the end: 'Are you hitting on me?' To, '…Faces like yours.' Yeah, it was fun. But, please tell me what YOU think in a review!