Author's Note: Thank you for being here, readers! Enjoy Chapter Four! Read and Review and Please and Thank You Very Much. Have fun!

Chapter Four

Walks and Talks

"Sirius, wait!"

Narcissa nearly missed her cousin as the staircase suddenly decided to switch landings. Fortunately, she managed to catch her footing just as the steps broke off. Muttering curses, convinced that those animated staircases were conspiring against her, she grabbed hold on Sirius outstretched arm to steady herself.

"Are you alright?" he asked, holding back a fit of laughter. It was, after all, a funny sight to see a girl like Narcissa practically flying over several steps at once in order to reach him.

"Yes, I'm fine," she replied, looking at him. "Thank you." She remembered how odd it used to be to look him straight in the eye. They had inherited their eyes from their fathers, and were exactly the same shade of deep ocean blue that darkened and lightened depending on their mood. And seeing her own eyes on Sirius always felt as though she was staring into a reflection of herself.

Sirius chuckled and then embraced her. "I have missed you, Cissa." She was his favorite cousin. It would suffice to say that he adored her and doted on her. It was like having a darling little sister, even though their age gap was only a year. And, fairly enough, Sirius was the older brother that Narcissa wished she could have had. Narcissa never could look up to her elder sisters, Bellatrix especially.

"And I you, Sirius," she answered with a kiss on his cheek. "You never replied to the letters I sent you over the summer…"

"I had no idea what to say," he said, scratching the back of his head. He had been guilty about not writing to her. He knew she was looking for comfort, that she needed someone who would listen and take her side and tell her everything was going to be alright.

They started walking along the corridors.

"Can I ask you something?" she said softly.

Sirius braced himself, but the question was not what he expected…

"Does James ever talk about me…?"

"What…?" Sirius asked incredulously, laughing. He had been caught off guard. "That was definitely not what I expected you to ask. Do you like him now…?"

The blush on her face came and went before she could reply. "No. But… I would be shocked if you have failed to notice this, because you cannot be so dense. There is something strange about the way he looks at me…"

Sirius could not deny that. He noticed it as well. The moment that James catches sight of Narcissa, he would clam up, as if he had developed a nervous tic triggered by her presence. He always wondered whether to voice out his curiosity but thought better of it.

"Honestly speaking, he never talks about you. Not in an unusual way, at least. He likes Lily, you know that," said Sirius, smirking. Just as James could pry every secret out of him without even trying, the same went for Narcissa. But he realized that she was an excellent confidante, and after a while he spoke with her as freely as he would if she had been himself, even with matters involving James and his other friends.

"I see," was her quiet reply. Still, it was unsettling, and she did not know why. James was just a boy, an irascible and irrational boy. To be so bothered by him in this way was simply ridiculous. Back when she was eleven, in her first year, she had thought he was quite a charming lad. But as the crush was fleeting, she later attributed this to the idea that perhaps she had been attracted to him only for his closeness with her cousin. After all, Sirius was quite in awe of James and praised him often.

"Narcissa," Sirius began, "about your recent engagement…"

She bit her lower lip as Sirius went on.

"You did not have to say yes. Do you honestly believe he loves you?"

She sighed. 'No. But I believe I can learn to love him. Lucius is a powerful man, and it is an honor and great privilege to be his fiancé."

"You stole those words from Cygnus." Sirius never could call Narcissa's father Uncle.

Narcissa laughed lightly. "Yes, I did."

As they rounded a corner, they heard a familiar voice coming from the adjacent hallway. Narcissa almost stopped at realizing it was James. He was talking to a girl from Gryffindor – she could tell by the red and gold insignia on her robes – but she did not know who it was. She was familiar, though, perhaps one of Lily's friends.

"Hey, James!" Sirius greeted, at seeing his best friend. Narcissa marveled at how he kept his face straight, despite the curious matter they had just discussed about him. Then again, she had little reason to be surprised. Being calm and composed, and having an unshakable poker face, ran in their family.

James turned in their direction. Narcissa could not be certain if she imagined it or not, but James looked as if he stopped halfway through forming a smile and then decided to keep a blank expression. She was certain, however, that this had much to do with her being with Sirius.

"Hi, Sirius," the girl greeted them shyly. Narcissa noted her face was slightly flushed, that she had a small smile and that her gaze was directed downward. She smiled; this girl liked Sirius. That was alright, though. She was fairly lovely.

"Hello, Harriet. Where's Lily…?"

So her name was Harriet. Narcissa remembered now. She was Lily's best friend, Sirius had mentioned her in passing and Narcissa recognized her from their group when they were at the Great Hall. But as she was not interested in Lily, it did not occur to her to be acquainted with Lily's friends.

"She's in the library. She's been there for a while, I was thinking of running over there to get her. Want to come…?"

Narcissa suppressed a titter. Sirius had reached up to scratch the back of his head. Narcissa, sensing a refusal coming on, tapped his arm lightly and smiled. Sirius looked at her and it was as if an unspoken message passed between them. Not only was it a great time for Sirius to pay attention to a girl attracted to him, it would give Narcissa a moment alone with James. Thankfully, her cousin could read her well enough to understand.

"Sure, Harriet, come on."

The joy Harriet felt showed in her demeanor.

"Later, James," Sirius said with a grin.

"Good luck," James mouthed, as Sirius walked off. And with that done, he turned on his heels and was just about to hop off when Narcissa's voice resounded in his head.

"Wait. James. I need to talk to you…"