Disclaimer: harry potter= not mine at all.

Chapter Four:

I awoke with a major headache- one that is unfair punishment for a night spent crying in agonizing misery. I realized that the numb sensation I had felt was one I could not keep- if I were going to have to live with another human being I couldn't bare to be insufferable. This is not to say, however, that I didn't feel unendurable pain- I just needed to hide it. I looked in the mirror; to my complete horror my blonde hair had taken a new position atop my head and remnants of black mascara were lined down my cheeks. Wonderful, I thought, I couldn't have looked much better last night…No wonder he was smiling…I went to wash my face and put my reluctant hair in a ponytail.

My stomach gave a large growl in protest to the lack of food I was providing it, so I exited my room in search of the kitchen. After a few wrong turns and locked doors, I saw a refrigerator in the distance. It couldn't be later than seven, so I assumed the kitchen would be empty. I was wrong.

Around a large oak table in the center of the room sat three men: A glaring Sirius Black, a man with tattered clothes, a semi-receding hairline and a grim look upon his face, and the last, the familiar scarred face of Moody. They were sitting in silence, apparently all lost in their own thoughts. My first instinct was to turn around and leave but before I had the chance to act upon the urge Moody noticed my arrival.

"What are you doing here? I thought Oxford sorted you out," he growled (I truly believed he had no other way of speaking), rising from his chair.

"I…erm… He didn-" I stammered, unable to think why David Oxford would keep this information to himself. A now awakened Sirius Black quickly interrupted me.

"Oi, come off it Moody- the girl's been through one hell of a night. It's hardly her fault you weren't informed that she's staying here!"

"Arg…You're right," he looked over to me, "I'm sorry, this thing with the Ministry has got me all riled up-" he went back to addressing the others, "stupid Cornilius Fugde, what the hell does he think he's doing? Telling the Prophet he thinks Harry's lying about Voldemort- WHY WOULD HE DO THAT?"

"He's just trying to keep panic to a minimum-" the man with tattered clothes replied, "stupid, yes. Awareness, even if it were panic, would at least keep some people safe." He finished his thought and spoke to me, "I'm sorry, how rude are we, I am Remus Lupin," he outstretched his hand across the table, "And you are?"

"I'm Abby," I offered shaking his hand.

"Please, Abby, have a seat." He motioned to a seat opposite him. "So what brings you to Grimmald Place?" He sat back down and I took a chair across from him.

"I..um…well," I couldn't bring myself to say it- God! Why couldn't David had filled them in, so useless!

"She's staying here on Ministry business- She is not allowed to discus it, Remus- not even with you," Moody intercepted. Thankful for his help, I smiled weakly.

"I didn't mean to intrude, just trying to be polite; so, on my next attempt, are you hungry?"

"Oh, more like starving, really!" I replied, now more energetically given that food was the topic.

"Do you not feed your guests, Sirius? I suppose manners will have to be reprogrammed," Lupin joked and Sirius grinned and got up.

"What can I get you? Eggs? Sausage? Toast? I pour a mean bowl of cereal," Sirius looked down at me awaiting my response.

"Well if cereal is your specialty, then I will have to give it a try," I said, growing much more comfortable with the situation. I hadn't noticed before, but Sirius had a real charismatic charm about him. It was rather intriguing.

He laughed and poured me some cereal and milk, making a real show of it. Coming around the table, he placed the cereal down as if it were his masterpiece and continued to watch me until I took my first bite.

"Wow! Best I've ever had! Those milk pouring techniques really change the taste of the corn flakes…" I sarcastically added to his performance.

He laughed and grinned widely. Lupin interrupted our act, "Now that I see someone will take my responsibility of putting Sirius in his place, I must leave and attend to some pressing issues elsewhere. Abby, it was nice meeting you- don't hesitate to chastise Sirius if he gets too fresh with you! And Sirius try to be nice to your company- feeding them is always a good start."

"Ha, ha, Remus- You can leave now that you've had your fun," Sirius got up to escort his friend to the door.

"I must go as well… The Ministry needs a shove in the right direction." He nodded at me and left without another word. Sirius came back and sat next to me this time.

"So… why are you here?"

"I'm not sure you actually want the answer to that question…" And I wasn't sure I actually wanted to give it…But I suppose the only way to get over my problems was to face them…even if it were reluctantly. Sirius waited, probably not wanting to push something out of me, I began to tell him about my life altering night. He listened patiently, full of expression. Once I reached the end, my eyes swelled and my voice cracked… "And now I'm here, waiting for David to find me somewhere to live, I suppose." A teardrop fell into my lap.

I felt a consoling hand on my shoulder, "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked." I leaned closer. His arm reached around my shoulder blades and I rested my head on his chest. I cried. It felt like it would never end. He stayed, unmoving until I finally sat up and wiped the ocean of tears from my face.

"Thank –" I started.

"Don't- you should go get some sleep. C'mon- if you need anything I am right down the hall." We stood up and went silently upstairs. I went to my rooms and shut my door. Sleep would undoubtedly be simple tonight.

***

Dreaming… so pleasant…when an attractive man involved… Oh God, yes…

Knock, knock…

I immediately woke from a rather heated dream involving a certain someone who was with no doubt on the other side of my door. I hurried to get a robe on and went to open the door. Surely enough, I was now staring into a pair of gorgeous gray eyes.

"I was wondering if you ever planned on waking up? Seeing as it is now 1:50 in the afternoon, I assumed you were just avoiding me in here." He smiled and I blushed… Why was I blushing? How embarrassing! Stop, stop! Maybe he can't tell- yes he can! AH.

"Well, you can now see you were wrong- I was just sleeping," and totally dreaming about you- wearing less.

"Now that that isn't a problem- lets have lunch, I'm starving- I almost waited on you for breakfast, but then I realized you were hibernating and ditched that plan." Thankfully he ignored my obvious redness and resumed his sharp humor, so I tried to act normal as well.

"Aren't you desperate for company?! I'll be down in a minute!" I finished and shut the door, hurrying to dress myself.

I went downstairs, fully clothed, and ate breakfast with Sirius. We had a nice conversation- He tried to explain wizarding things such as Quiddich and Gringotts- only the latter of which I could honestly say I understood. I tried to explain muggle sports, but to no avail, he found them extremely boring seeing as there weren't 5 million chances to die every game. Slowly the conversation evolved into family.

"You've met my mum-" He motioned to the yelling picture hanging near the front door. "Not exactly the pleasant type. My dad was worse and my brother was a Death Eater, so you can imagine how keen I was about school and not so much holidays…"

"I see- yeah, your mum's a real peach… I don't even understand half the things she calls me, which is probably a good thing." He smiled and nodded in agreement. "My parents and I weren't really close either, we sort of had completely separate lives yet resided under the same roof… Their death has left me empty- but to be honest, thinking on it, I've really been alone for a long time now." Being honest with myself hurt.

"Being alone changes a person. It makes them stronger, self-dependent. At the same time you can grow used to it and not remember what it feels like to have someone else to help you- you can become bitter."

"You say that as though you are- I haven't seen an ounce of bitterness at all."

"I am not bitter towards people, I am bitter towards life; my whole life was stolen from me…and now I may never experience anything but loneliness ever again." He bowed his head and looked away.

"That's cynical… You won't be alone forever; just wait- once this war is won, you will have loads of women flocking all over- just like I'm sure they did in school!"

"Because their husbands died?"

"Morbid, much? No; because… gosh! You are so thick!" When he looked at me however, I knew this much was not true. His face was etched with a glowing smirk- he was just waiting for a compliment- he knew he was attractive, and so did I, but I wasn't about to go feed his ego. Especially now that he conned me!

"I'm what? Finish your thought, I can take it."

"Such a git! So how long were you leading me on then, hmmm?"

"Not long, just from, 'I will only experience loneliness'" He dramatically reenacted his line, hand clutching his heart. I laughed, I couldn't help it, he was so theatrical and amusing…and attractive.

A/N- what did you think? First real Sirius/Abby conversation! Notice how he doesn't know her age yet! Whoo- Soon the flashback will end and things will get really interesting 3 please review!!