Disclaimer: All ideas are based on characters and events belonging to J.K. Rowling.

Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 27: Tutoring, a Walk, and an Obsession

Olivia trudged her way back up to the common room that afternoon in a serious mood. She and Regulus had set up a time to meet in the library the following evening to get started with her tutoring. She sighed, she couldn't believe that Slughorn had made Regulus her tutor. Not that she didn't need a tutor because Merlin knew she did but why Regulus? Sirius was not going to take this well at all. She made it to the portrait of the fat lady, snapping the password and moodily going through the portrait hole.

James and Sirius were sitting on the couch by the fire, looking like they were having a serious conversation. She approached them slowly, not wanting to rudely interrupt their 'guy time'. When Sirius noticed her, his face broke into a smile. "Ready for dinner?"

"Yea, where's everybody else?"

James stood and rubbed his hand back and forth over her head. "Not everyone loves you enough to wait for you, kiddo."

She swatted at his hand playfully. "Well, come on, I'm hungry."

Sirius stood and kissed her quickly on the head before wrapping an arm around her waist. They had decided to try and keep the public affection to a minimum around James with the hopes he wouldn't have a total coronary. As they walked down the halls on their way to the Great Hall Olivia played different scenarios through her head, trying to figure out how to tell Sirius that she was going to be spending a lot of time with his brother. By the time they reached the Gryffindor table she still hadn't succeeded.

They found seats with Kiley, Remus, and Peter and Sirius started piling his plate high with food. Everybody was joking and the conversation was lighthearted but Olivia noticed that Sirius kept glancing toward the Slytherin table just every few minutes.

She placed her hand on his arm to inconspicuously get his attention. "Everything ok?"

He took the hand on his arm and held in with his own. "Regulus keeps staring over here."

Olivia sat quietly. This was it, this was when she was supposed to tell him. She cursed herself when no words left her mouth. Come on, it wasn't that big of a deal was it?

Sirius looked down at her in between bites and his glances at Regulus. "He's not been giving you any problems in Potions has he?"

Olivia shook her head robotically. Why couldn't she find it in herself to tell him? "No, he's been very polite."

Her answer must have satisfied Sirius because he continued his eating, this time with only minimal glances toward Regulus. Kiley elbowed her in the ribs to get her attention, giving her a questioning look. Olivia shrugged her shoulders and looked sheepish, she didn't really know what to say. She watched Sirius, laughing and joking with James, and looked back at Kiley shaking her head. She couldn't ruin his good mood. Not right now anyway.

Sirius squeezed her hand, getting her attention. "Do you want to go for a walk with me tomorrow tonight, love?"

Olivia laughed. "What's wrong with tonight?"

James interrupted his chance to answer her however. "We have detention. Hexed a couple of Slytherins on the way back from Herbology."

Olivia rolled her eyes and pecked Sirius him on the cheek. "Yes, tomorrow night would be great."

James' face looked horrorstruck, "Eww. Not in front of me!"

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The following day Olivia felt slightly nauseous as she made her way to meet Regulus after making an excuse to everybody as to where she was going. She felt unbelievable guilt over not telling Sirius but she just couldn't figure out how to tell him. She knew it would upset him and he had been in such a good mood, she hated to wreck that.

She reached the library ten minutes before Regulus was supposed to meet her so she found an empty table in a secluded part of the library where the books had inches of dust on them from sitting untouched. She sat for several minutes, wondering where Regulus was. She got her Potions book out and a roll of parchment to write her assigned essay on and waited. Fifteen minutes later, she was starting to get annoyed. Thirty minutes later, she was frustrated. Forty-five minutes later, she started packing her things back up to leave. Just as she placed her book back in her back, Regulus came around the corner.

She looked at him expectantly, waiting for an excuse as to why he'd kept her waiting so long but one never came. He sat down across from her and pulled out his book. She stared at him incredulously. "You're late."

He looked up briefly before flipping through the pages of his book. "I know. Sorry." She wanted to question him further but thought better of it. She had to meet Sirius in less than two hours and she desperately needed to get this essay done and she knew she needed Regulus' help to do that. Regulus instructed her to open her book and began going over basic information for brewing the Draught of Living Death.

An hour and fifteen minutes later, Regulus sighed in frustration. "Olivia, are you even trying at all?"

She laid her quill down and ran a hand through her hair. "I just don't get it. Why does bat spleen make it do that?"

Regulus propped his head on his hand, making one side of his face smush up. "It just does." Olivia would have laughed if it wasn't for the fact that he was doing this because he now thought her to be unteachable and he was frustrated. Suddenly, he perked up. "I have an idea." He began gathering his things up. "Meet me back in here tomorrow."

Olivia looked at him incredulously. "What's the idea?"

"It doesn't matter. I'll be waiting at this table tomorrow directly after dinner. Make sure to be here."

Olivia began gathering her things as Regulus started to walk off. "Regulus?" He turned back to her with interest. "Thanks." She looked down embarrassed. "I really do appreciate the effort, even if I am a failure at Potions." She tried to laugh her statement off, realizing how pathetic it sounded even if it was true.

Regulus looked at her sincerely though. "You're not a failure Olivia, and I will prove that to you tomorrow."

Olivia watched as he disappeared around the corner, wondering what in the world he had planned for her. Realizing it was almost time for her to meet Sirius, she finished gathering her things and hurried out of the library.

She found Sirius in the common room waiting for her. She ran up, pecked his lips before going to her dorm. She yelled back to him. "I have to drop my bag off and I'll be back!"

A few moments later she was rushing back down the stairs and into Sirius' arms. He laughed at her enthusiasm. "Where've you been?"

What he interpreted as enthusiasm though was actually guilt. She was overcompensating for not telling him about Regulus and her tutoring. "I was in the library, attempting to finish an essay." She grabbed his hand and began pulling him toward the portrait hole. "Are you ready to go?"

He laughed at her again. "Well, ready or not it looks as if you're not giving me much choice in the matter."

She stuck her tongue out at him but stopped attempting to drag him. He wrapped his arm loosely around her shoulders and they made their way down the many halls of Hogwarts and out onto the grounds.

They walked for hours, until it was way past curfew, not caring that they were risking detention but just wanting to be with each other. She watched him closely as they walked, reveling in the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed. She smiled to herself. She was truly lucky to have him.

By the time the sun had completely disappeared from the sky, they were on the quidditch pitch. Sirius removed his arm from her shoulders, where it had stayed for the biggest part of their walk and he took her hand, threading their fingers together. "So you're going to try out next week, right?"

She blushed and looked away. "Yea, I guess so."

Sirius stopped walking, causing her to stop and stare back at him and his soft smile. "What's wrong, love?"

She walked back to him and snuggled her head into his chest. "I'm just nervous. I'm not that good."

His hand found its way under her chin, lifting her face so their eyes could meet. "You're definitely not bad, love. You fly wonderfully. You can't throw worth crap…OW!" He laughed after her hand had made contact with his shoulder. "What? You know its true."

She playfully glared at his for a few seconds before they were both laughing. "Yea, it is true."

He pulled her back close to him. "As I was saying, though, seekers don't have to throw. You just have to catch, which you can do just fine."

They stood there for what seemed like a lifetime, in the middle of the pitch, just holding each other. Olivia buried her head into his chest and inhaled deeply. He smelled of a scent that was purely Sirius and nothing else. She made a deal with herself that she would tell him about Regulus tomorrow, after she found out what his big plan was and hope he didn't get upset. It was for her education after all…

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The next day Olivia, Sirius, Kiley, Remus, and Peter were sitting in the common room relaxing before dinner when James came running through the portrait hole, looking excited. He stopped in front of them his mouth moving and lots of noise coming out but none of it making any sense what so ever. Sirius stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Prongs, breathe. What's wrong?"

He shook his head frantically. "Nothing. Nothing's wrong. Guess what just happened."

They all exchanged looks. "I don't know, what?"

As soon as the question left Sirius' mouth the portrait hole opened back up and Lily walked through. James immediately pulled himself together and ran his hand through his hair, trying to make himself look cool in front of the love of his life. "Evans."

Lily looked at him as she passed but didn't show any special interest. "Potter." Olivia rolled her eyes. This was definitely pathetic.

The second Lily disappeared from sight James was a mess again. His eyes were wild but there was a huge smile on his face. "Me and Lily had a whole conversation without her calling me one name or cursing me or anything!"

Remus looked at James sympathetically, "Yea, we just witnessed that. Too bad it wasn't more than two words."

James scowled momentarily. "No, no. Not just now, about fifteen minutes ago, in the library!"

Sirius looked skeptical. "Why were you in the library? Weren't stalking her were you?"

James glared at him before picking up a pillow from a nearby armchair and throwing it at him. "It doesn't matter why I was there. What matters is that I was and we had an actual conversation."

Sirius genuinely smiled for his best friend, taking the pillow to the face as a yes, he had been stalking her.

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Author's Note: Sorry this was a little late. Thanks to everybody that reviewed, they all mean a lot to me and keep me motivated. I'd like to hear some ideas from you all, about what you think and what'd you like to see happen, if you prefer you can PM me. All ideas would be seriously considered and I think it'd be kind of fun to hear some different ideas. Please review!