Author's Note: Thank you, as always. Here's Chapter Six. Have fun!

Chapter Six

Kisses and its Aftermath

"Cheer up, Harriet. You know Sirius was never interested in girls."

It was a fruitless attempt at coaxing a smile onto her friend's face. Lily had run into Sirius and Harriet just as she was leaving the library. And it was just in time, too. She had no idea what could have happened and what she would have done if her friends had seen that she and Severus... She roughly pushed the thought out of her mind and returned her attention to Harriet. Her poor best friend had been making advances on Sirius for the longest time but the boy simply would not budge. In fact, the moment that they saw Lily, Sirius had hastily excused himself and headed to the Great Hall for supper.

"He's such an insensitive prick!" Harriet practically yelled.

Lily laughed. "He is not. He just really isn't into girls."

Harriet frowned in contempt. "We'll see about that."

"You aren't planning to hex him are you?"

"No. But that's good, too."

They laughed.

"So… How are you and James?" Harriet asked with a wide grin on her face. It was almost as if she was just asking about the latest piece of gossip rather than inquiring on her best friend.

Lily rolled her eyes and sighed. "There is no 'Me and James,' Harriet. I thought there was something, but I'm starting to feel like I guessed wrong."

"You should've stuck with Bailey," replied Harriet, matter-of-factly. "He hasn't done so much as look at a girl after the two of you fell apart."

It provoked another laugh from Lily. "You say that as if he and I were going out for years."

"Well, for a guy like him, that was probably a few years. He's head-over-heels crazy for you, Lily," Harriet answered. "You should listen to me for once and try going out with him again."

'He isn't the only one head-over-heels over me,' Lily thought. 'There is Severus.' And again, her thoughts turned around, back to when they were in the library. But just as she had done a while ago, she let it slip right out of her mind.

"Think about it, Lily!" Harriet was insisting now. "You and Bailey are so perfect for each other!"

As they were about to enter the Great Hall, their paths crossed with Narcissa's. A friendly smile lit up her face as she greeted the two Gryffindors before heading to the Slytherin table. Her friends were waiting for her. Lily never guessed that only a few moments before, she had been kissing James.

Sirius saw his cousin walk towards the other Slytherins and studied her carefully. But her disposition fed him no information, not even a hint, of what had transpired between her and James. She was as calm and composed as ever. She merely smiled when she caught his gaze and he could do nothing but smile back. There would be time to ask her later. And even if there weren't, there would definitely be time to interrogate James. The thought pleased him when he saw his best friend approach moments later.

"Hey, James, what took you so long?" Sirius greeted with an implicating grin, as he made room on the bench for James.

"Wouldn't you know?" James answered, taking his seat between Remus and Sirius. His lips were pressed in a smile and his movements had a sort of spryness to them. The cheerfulness in his expression was a telltale sign to Sirius, who knew him best. Remus and Peter noticed, but did not comment. James, unable to help himself, stole a quick look at the Slytherin table. Narcissa was seated with her back towards them, but he spotted her immediately. Who could mistake that exquisite blonde for anyone else? The flicker in his brown eyes was unmistakable.

Watching James from the corner of his eyes as they ate, Sirius thought it best to question him in the privacy of the Gryffindor dormitory. He saw Lily looking at them discreetly with Harriet whispering things to her. He was a hundred percent certain that Lily now knew that Narcissa and James had been alone together. If there was anyone who knew James as well as Sirius did, it would be her. And just as Sirius knew James acted strangely around Narcissa, Lily was sure to have noted that as well. His sudden change of behavior was as clear as a glittering billboard that something was definitely up.

In the comfort and silence of their room, James told Sirius everything. And he fell backwards on his bed with his arms outstretched, uttering a sigh of pure contentment. He gingerly pressed his fingers against his lips, remembering the feel of Narcissa's on his, those soft, delicious lips that tasted of strawberries.

Sirius watched with slight disbelief. After hearing James' talks about Lily and dreams about Lily for so long, he found this unexpected occurrence quite difficult to absorb. And the knowledge that his cousin was already engaged to be married caused a stitch to poke at his side.

"I never thought this was going to happen, Padfoot," James said, beaming as though he had just won the lottery. "Does it bother you, though? I know she's like a little sister to you…"

Sirius punched him lightly in the chest, but with just enough force to drive a bit of his breath out of him. "If it was any other guy, I'd hex his guys out."

They laughed and Sirius, although elated that James was overjoyed, was worrying about Lucius Malfoy. He was a powerful man, just as Narcissa said. What would happen when Lucius found out that Narcissa was giving up a marriage and life with him for James Potter? And then there was Lily. James and Lily had always had hidden, mutual feelings for each other. Why now did James decide to throw his chances with her for Narcissa?

"There was a catch, though," James said, sitting up. Sirius silenced his thoughts and urged James to go on. "She said that we needed to keep this a secret."

"Did she say why?" Sirius asked. Apparently, Narcissa was still sane enough to keep in mind that there were factors stabbing swords against the idea of a relationship between her and James.

"No," James replied. "She told me to trust her and wait."

Sirius felt a jolt of apprehension. "Do you trust her?"

"Strangely enough," James said, lying back down, "I do. Wholeheartedly."

Later, when James was asleep, Sirius sat in bed, still wide awake. What did Narcissa stand to gain from a relationship with James? There was simply no motive. He loved his cousin dearly, but if she hurt James, he would retaliate against her as he would to James if he hurt Narcissa. His head pounded. Narcissa had never done anything immoral, despite the cruelty of her lineage.

Just as he was lying down, knowing he seriously needed sleep, a tap on the window broke the silence.