Sick Inside

Clemence sat in Ancient Runes trying her best to pay attention to the Professor. She could feel Sirius' eyes on her though and the one time she had glanced back to look he had fixed her with the most intense stare she had every seen. So now she kept her eyes glued to her text book. She planned to keep it that way for as long as necessary.

Remus sat in the back with Peter and James sat in front of them with Sirius so there was no way to signal help from Remus. She was stuck next to Oscar Tule. An overly friendly Hufflepuff who knew everything you could possible ever want to or not want to know about Arthimacy.

Amos had complained about Oscar more than once...she just hadn't imagined him being this annoying.

She thanked god when the professor announced the end of class and, shoving her books in her bag, and made a dash towards the nearest exit in a attempt to lose Oscar. Of course fate had hated her every other day of the week why be nice now? But it wasn't Oscar she ran into, rather it was Amos.

"Hey! Emmy...wait up." Clemence stopped short on her way down the stairs.

In a minute Amos Diggory was walking beside her. "I was thinking about last year."

"What about it?" She asked nonchalantly, adjusting her book-bag.

"Well" He started off, her tone made him uneasy. "...I was hoping you'd consider giving me a second chance? I really shouldn't have broken up with you. What do you think? Hogsmeade is coming up this weekend."

"Sure. I guess so."

Amos smiled before leaning down to give her a kiss. "I'll see you tonight!" With that he hurried off to talk to some friends.

She heard a laugh behind her and turned to see James Potter leaning against the wall and wiping fake tears from his eyes.

"Awww..you made up and worked passed your differences. It's so hard seeing you grow up like this. I'm so proud of you!" He cooed laughing again.

Sirius was sitting over on a bench with Peter. He sent them both a dirty look.

"Shut up Potter. Amos isn't not that bad."

"I heard Sarah broke it off with him because all he ever talked about was you." Peter said, coming over to stand next to James. Sirius had gotten up to 'greet' Melanie who had come skipping over.

"Really? Oh well, Sarah was a slut."

"Was? You mean is and besides...you and Amos are just so cute together." She turned in surprise to see Remus standing behind her.

"Shut up and why aren't you in Muggle Studies." Clemence turned and poked Remus playfully in the chest.

"How can I shut up and answer you at the same time? Besides, I stopped taking it before Christmas. Did you not listen to me at Christmas dinner when I said 'did I tell you I dropped out of Muggle Studies' and you said 'finally'?"

"You could have just said you dropped out. Obviously, if I seemed surprised when I saw you, chances are I don't remember. And besides, how could I? My grandmother spiked the eggnog...no one could even stand up straight by the end of the night."

"Aww!! I remember Moony owling me about that one! Haha, he said you were more pissed then everyone else put together!" James laughed out, Remus shaking his head in warning in the background.

"I WAS NOT PISSED JAMES POTTER! YOU BLOODY WELL BETTER RUN!!" James yelped and took off running, Clemence tearing behind him.

They ran all the way across the bridge and to Hagrid's. James beat her there and ran inside, slamming the door shut before she could reach him. Hagrid stood there a bit startled by the sudden appearance of James Potter in his hut, leaning against his door trying to keep it shut.

"POTTER!! YOU FOUL LITTLE COCKROACH!! DON'T BE A NANCY BOY AND GET OUT HERE BEFORE YOU'RE A NUT LESS AND I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT MONEY!!"

"Why is 'at Miss. Sweeney shoutin' out thur'?" Hagrid asked recovering slightly from the sudden shock.

"Oh you know how girls are. They can't keep their hands off me."

"THAT'S A LOAD OF CRAP POTTER!"

"James you can open the door I've got her." Another, calmer, less pissed-off voice came through. James cracked the door open to see Remus holding Clemence's arms from behind.

Clemence glared at him before yanking herself out of Remus' arms and turned to look at him. Hagrid stood at the door and boomed out a laugh at the three seventh years.

"Hi Hagrid. Sorry for startling you. James was being a git again and someone had to put him in his place." Clemence stated, pulling off a sweet smile as she spoke.

"It's alrigh' Em. Quite use' to bein' startled." Hagrid smiled again and bid them goodbye before going back into his hut to feed Fang.

James nodded at the closed door and began to walk back up the path with Remus and Clemence following behind him. They were more careful walking back up the path because of all the snow that sat on the ground.

Clemence laughed as they ran into the courtyard and she dodged a snowball from James. She ducked behind a statue and made a snowball, throwing it back at James. Remus, James, and her went on snowball fighting for awhile until dinner.

James went back to the common room to get Sirius while Remus and Clemence walked to the Great Hall. Lily was already seated in at the Gryffindor table and reading a book while everyone else was filing in. Clemence rushed over to her friend and Remus sat across from them next to Frank and Alice.

"What are you reading?"

Lily, without breaking concentration, shifted so she was facing Clemence and held the book up more so she could read the title.

"Magic through the Ages Vol. II., Lily. Why are you doing homework at dinner?"

Lily glanced up and gave her one of those that's-a-stupid-question-and-your-interrupting-me looks before going back to reading again. Clemence rolled her eyes at Lily and turned to pay attention to Frank and Remus, who where discussing the DADA lesson.

Clemence turned back to the doors to see Peter come in with James and Sirius, who was attached to Melanie again. The four of them sat up toward the front of the Great Hall, James waving to Clemence and Remus as he passed.

After dinner Sirius left with Melanie to walk around the lake and Clemence went back up to the common room with James and Remus.

Sirius walked toward the lake, trailing behind Melanie a bit. She was gushing about something Sarah had said in Herbology. He really didn't care, he didn't like Sarah all that much anyway. He almost wondered if Melanie was like this when he was talking about him and James. If she just nodded when she thought the moment was right but otherwise didn't bother paying attention.

He didn't share the notion with Melanie, after what Clemence had sacrificed for him and Melanie to stay together he wasn't sure he should say anything at all. He could tell Melanie didn't trust him anymore, she wouldn't dare let him out of her sight if she could help it.

He sighed and took her hand, making her shut up and smile at him. He plastered on a smile and leaned over to kiss her. There wasn't much else to do.

Clemence sat on the couch in the common room working on her potions homework with James. Remus was upstairs in his room showering. She didn't mind James, she had never really hung out with just him. It was always him and Sirius or him and Remus or once even him and Peter.

"So why aren't you and Sirius talking?"

"Were you not in the room the other night when Melanie screamed her ass off at Sirius?"

"Yeah I just don't think that you're the type to go around snogging guys who have girlfriends. Sirius on the other hand..."

"So much for being best friends." She rolled her eyes at him.

"Hey! Sirius is my best friend. I'm just being honest alright. I don't know why you let him get back with Melanie though. If you like him so much."

"I don't know if I do." Her gaze moved toward the staircase leading to the 7th year boy's dorm.

James followed her gazed and sighed. "Listen, I don't care who you love but don't go pitting the two of them against each other alright. They're both my best friends and I don't want you using them."

"I'm not that type of person!"

"I never said you were. Listen just don't drag Remus around like a doll just to make Sirius jealous. Don't stoop down to his level."

James gave her one final glance before gathering his books and walking up the stairs. She sat there staring ahead at the fireplace before dozing off to sleep.

Sirius came in the common room around eleven at night. He was heading up when he saw Clemence sleeping on the couch.

"Em?" He shook her shoulder lightly and stepped back.

"Hmm..."She rubbed her eyes and looked around, the room coming into focus. "Sirius? Hey, what time is it?"

"A little after eleven. You alright?"

"Yeah, fine. I was studying with James and must have fallen asleep. Well..."She stood up and grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. "Goodnight Sirius."

Sirius watched her walk toward the steps, he closed his eyes and took a breath before opening them again to see that she had stopped at the bottom step and was just standing there.

"Clemence." Sirius stepped toward her.

She turned and looked at him and she thought she must still be tired because right now Melanie wasn't even in her mind. Sirius reached out, closing the gap between them and kissing her on the mouth. Suddenly James' voice and that look on his face were the only thing she could think of. Not Sirius and how much she was sure about him or anything else, just James.

She shoved Sirius back the same way she had in the library. This time though she didn't yell and rush out.

"I suppose I should start to get used to being shoved in the stomach."

"No. Sirius I just...I don't think I like you that way."

She could swear as she turned away from Sirius and began to walk up the stairs that she could hear James telling her she did the right thing. But when she turned back to see Sirius looking up at her, his eyes reflecting the broken feeling inside him, she wondered if being right was worth it.

This chapter is a bit longer than the last one. Hope you enjoyed anyway.

Please review and let me know what you think.

Thanks tons to everybody whos read and everybody whos reviewed...love you!

And thanks to xKristinax for beta-ing this chapter.(That's why it's so good!lol)

Okay...I should go...I have math class!