Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of its trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse for impossibility, for it thinks all things are lawful for itself and all things are possible." ~Thomas A. Kempis
Sirius slowly scanned the dining hall, searching for Scarlett. Of course he knew she had said she wasn't hungry and she would be studying. But, he couldn't understand how the girl could say something like that when she hadn't even eaten breakfast. Sirius wasn't even quite sure if Scarlett had eaten dinner last night either. Sirius frowned, she had been doing a lot of that lately, avoiding meals throughout the day.
"What's troubling you mate?" James asked, mouth full of toast.
Sirius shook his head, shaking off the thoughts of Scarlett. He would have the rest of his life to worry about her once they were married, why start now?
"Is it Scarlett?" Peter asked softly, afraid he would strike a nerve in Sirius with the very mention of her name.
Remus sighed, why couldn't they clearly see this was not a conversation Padfoot wanted to be having with them. "Good grief, let Padfoot be! Can't you see he obviously doesn't want to talk about it?"
Sirius nodded in agreement, beginning to nibble on his toast. Suddenly a hot flash ran through his body, taking him by surprise. Damn, having to wear these long sleeves under my robes, he cursed to himself softly. Wearing these long sleeves allowed Sirius to remain in control, his utter inner-hatred and self-loathing kept locked away tight.
He watched James babble on carefree, so lucky he is, he thought. James would never have to know what it was like to be hated by your parents, despised for simply being who you were, for being a Gryffindor. What it was like to have to give up a chance at deciding your future simply because of your bloodline. Yes,Sirius envied James so, he just would never show it.
"Go find her…" Moony offered with a soft smile, wisdom and reason were his expertise.
Padfoot smiled softly, nodding in thanks before dashing off to find Scarlett.
"She's not even my wife yet and she already has be chasing after her!" he whispered to himself with a chuckle as he made his way with haste to the library.
Sirius dashed as fast as he could towards the library, nearly plowing through several first years in the process.
"Sorry mates" he shouted hurriedly, "trying to get somewhere!"
"Black! Slow down!" He heard Professor McGonagall screech as he nearly knocked her wand out of her hand while running by.
"Sorry Professor no time!" He shouted, he had no clue what his real hurry was it why for the first time in his life he felt so anxious to see the girl he was forced to marry. Sirius normally had a habit of spending his days chasing other girls, playing quidditch with James, and studying with Remus and Peter.
For the first time in his life he truly felt intrigued by this girl, curious to what she really thought about life. Interested in what was running through her mind, see who she really was; not who she pretended to be.
"So, it appears you weren't lying…" he chuckled as he made his way to the table where he found Scarlett buried within her books.
"Go away Sirius, I haven't the mental capacity to handle your obnoxiousness right now…" she murmured, not even bothering to look up from her mountainous stack of books.
"What? I'm sorry, couldn't hear you from behind all these books!" Sirius shouted, beginning to take the books one by one down from her giant stack that surrounded her.
"Sirius!" she squeaked, leaping out of her seat to grab the books back from Sirius. "Keep your voice down!"
Sirius just chucked softly, pretending to give her the books back, only making them hover way over her head when she tried to reach them.
"Sirius!" Scarlett hissed, struggling to counter his spell, "this isn't a joke!"
"Come to dinner." he then said sternly, his once gleaming smiling face now struck with stern expression.
Grey eyes met ice blue ones, time seemed to stand still. Scarlett stared in shock, unable to prevent her mouth from gaping. Sirius? Concerned? Demanding she eat dinner? How dare he!
Scarlett was fuming, "How dare you! You're not my parent! I'm not some child you can just order around and expect it to be done!"
Sirius let the harsh words sink in, utterly confused by the sudden outburst Scarlett displayed, simply because he asked her to eat.
"What audacity you have Black, coming up here to act like a child with me. Preventing me from studying in order to demand I go and eat!" she hissed, the word eat rolling off her tongue like pure poison.
"Fine." Sirius spat, "I came to honestly make sure you were okay. You seem to be shrinking these days and I thought I'd try to help...after all. That's what husbands do right?" he added with a low whisper, making a slow turn to leave the conversation at that.
Scarlett's fury began to subside at these words, she felt her inner rage begin to shrink. She felt horrible for being so rude, so rash. She had always seemed to be a little on edge lately, her inner hunger always made her take a lean on having a foul mood.
"Sirius! Make sure you care for those wounds…" she murmured while gathering up her books, earning a look of pure shock from Sirius.
"What-" he started to ask, utterly surprised she knew about them. Sirius believed he had done a good job covering them up, hiding them from all.
"I noticed...the same way you noticed me Sirius…" Scarlett interrupted mysteriously, rushing past Sirius.
Sirius stared at her scurrying figure, her words running through his mind over and over.
0o0o0o0o0o0o
Scarlett hastily made her way down the cold corridor, feeling her anxiety rise as she ran her encounter with Sirius over and over in her mind. Her outburst was quite unlike her usual self, and she was rather well accustomed to Sirius antics by now, so why blow up now?
She felt rather ashamed of herself, embarrassed by her knee-jerk reaction. However, at the same time; Sirius had quite the nerve. Demanding things from her, using the word husband also didn't do him any favors. She sighed as she clenched her books closer to her chest as she drew closer to the Gryffindor common room. She smiled to herself as she spotted the fat lady in the distance. It was her sanctuary, her own safe haven at best.
"Hey Letty!" she heard a familiar voice sneer loudly.
She felt her smile shatter to an utter sneer at the mention of the horrid twist on her nickname, only one would ever dare to use it. She slowly turned around to face the offender, "Why hello to you too, Bellatrix."
"Oh my dear, what have you done to your hair!" Bellatrix sneered as she made her way closer to Scarlett, Narcissa at her side as usual. "My, My, Auntie is not going to like this…" she tisked as she reached to grab a strand of Scarlett's blue hair. "Wouldn't you agree Narcissa?"
Narcissa shook her head coldly, keeping her status of Ice Queen in check. "Auntie would not approve…" she admitted bluntly.
"What do I care what she thinks?" Scarlett hissed, slapping Bellatrix's hand away from her hair. "It's my hair, I can do as I please…"
Bellatrix suddenly burst into laughter. A laugh so horrid and insane, a laugh that could never be forgotten.
"Scarlett…" she seethed, finally recovering from her hideous laughter. "I see you have much to learn about being a Black. However…" she stated darkly, "I suggest you start appreciating the generosity our family has extended yours. You should consider yourself beyond lucky you are to marry my pitiful cousin. Otherwise, you'd be nothing more than a washed up pureblood…"
Scarlett felt her jaw begin to clench, her fists starting to tighten. She felt the same rage she had towards Sirius building up again. This time she'd have no regrets at what she would unleash upon the two Black sisters.
"Well, if you ask me, you're the last person I should be taking hair advice from. If you don't watch yourself, Dumbledore may confuse you with an escapee from Azkaban with that crazed look you're sporting." she sneered with a grin, making it known she would be the one to get the last word as she felt her wrath subside at the facial expressions the two girls wore at her words.
"And by the way…" she started as she made her way back to the Fat Lady, "At least I'm guaranteed a husband!" she giggled as Bellatrix fumed. "Couldn't say the same for you Trixi!"
Author's Note: Hey there again! Here's the next chapter! More chapters to be reread and edited as needed!