September passes rapidly. Nothing changes for Sirius and Corinne. They get into fights whenever they have direct contact, which isn't very often, considering they avoid each other at all costs. The only time they're forced to be in each other's company is in classes, and there are quite a few regrettable interactions between them.

For the first time in six years- and one month to be specific- Benjamin begins to suspect that Steven has feelings for Corinne. However, instead of voicing his opinions, he observes their interactions and finally concludes that Steven does, indeed, fancy Corinne. He isn't sure how deep the feeling goes, but he's sure it's there. As for Corinne, he sees no partiality on her behalf. He senses that may, in the future, be a source of tension among their group, but he hopes that he's wrong. They've all been friends since first year; he doesn't want that to change.

Jenna's prediction about Alicia proves half true. She spends half of her time with Jeremy and his friends, and the other half with some Hufflepuff girls. She and Jeremy aren't going out, but it's only a matter of time. Corinne struggles with the thought, but she forces herself to smile and pretend to be happy for him.

During her free hour the first Monday of October, Corinne marches to the common room, tired and sleepy. She sighs as she drops herself onto an armchair, taking out her assignments for the day.

"How are you doing?" Jeremy asks her, pulling up a chair.

"I'm exhausted. All this homework we're getting and all the studying . . . I don't know how you do it, with Quidditch on top of it all."

"I have one class fewer than you, so that helps a lot."

"True. How are things with Alicia?" she asks, afraid of the answer. They haven't been serious lately, but the changes have already started. For instance, this is the first time they've had a conversation alone in weeks. They used to talk all the time and now she feels as if she's losing him, and it hurts.

"I'm not sure. She's a nice girl, but we don't know each other very well yet. I want to take this slow."

"Are you going to Hogsmeade with her?"

"I'm not planning on it, but I have four days, I might change my mind."

"Right, it'll be strange not having you with us," she says, trying to laugh it off.

It's a hidden message: I'm afraid I'm losing you.

Jeremy catches on and responds with one of his own. "I know. That's part of the reason I don't want to ask her. This is our last year together; I don't really want anyone to come in between the five of us. But then again, I mean, things change and we can't stop them. Just because I get a girlfriend doesn't mean I'll forget you lot." You won't lose me completely, Corinne.

"No, but it would still be different. You would have to make time for her." She'd be your priority.

"I don't have to be with her every second of the day though, and think about it, it'll be the same way when you find someone." I'll still be around, but maybe it's time the two of us start letting go a little. Maybe we're too close.

Corinne forces out another laugh. "That's true."

There's no message in that for Jeremy to pick out, and all he can assume is that she's hurt. Of everyone in the group, they're the closest, and though there are no romantic feelings on either side, it still hurts to have to let go. But they have to, and he knows that.

ooooo

The next day in Defense, Jenna leads Steven to an empty table, Jeremy sits with Benjamin, and Corinne is left to find a table for herself. There was a time when Jeremy used to sit next to her, but since their conversation things have been different between them. She's appalled to have to sit next to Black though. Potter is sitting next to Evans, Pettigrew isn't in this class, and Remus . . . she doesn't know where he is. He tends to miss class a couple of days a month. She mumbles angrily all the way over to him, but doesn't even bother making a comment about how she loathes him, and neither does he. They sit as far away as possible and Sirius turns to talk to Potter, as usual. Corinne contents herself with staring at a box in the front corner, wondering what's in it. She can hear something inside and assumes it's a creature for one of the classes. Professor Grant walks in soon after, and all attention turns to him.

"Professor, what's in the box?" someone asks.

Grant uncovers it to reveal a harmless looking one-legged creature.

"That's a hinkypunk right?" a Hufflepuff asks.

"Yes," he replies. "It's for my third years."

"I remember when we studied them," someone else says. "The professor closed the curtains and all we could see was the lantern."

"That is correct, if you look closely, he looks like he's made of wisps of smoke so that when it is dark he isn't seen and the traveler follows the light, unaware of the danger," Grant tells them.

"Oh can you show us? I don't remember how it looked."

Corinne lights up. If Grant takes long enough on this subject, they won't have time to duel like he said they would this lesson, and she wouldn't have to be paired with Black. Of course they would do it next lesson, but she'd make sure to sit next to someone else and they would be her dueling partner! She crosses her fingers, hoping that Grant shows them the awful creature.

"I don't see why not," he shrugs.

Corinne grins, happy for the first time since she took a seat next to Black- which, really, wasn't very long ago. Grant flicks his wand and all the curtains close, leaving the room in darkness. Two seconds after the room is engulfed in darkness, the lantern lights, and sure enough the hinkypunk is barely visible if one knows it's there. As hideous as it is, Corinne marvels at its sheer genius.

"Oi Johnson, get your hand off my thigh! I'm not interested in you," Sirius says suddenly, loud enough for the class to hear. Grant immediately covers the box and flicks his wand to open the curtains.

Corinne blanches as the class erupts into giggles. She doesn't know what to do or how to respond. She decides to act indifferent. "Sod off Black, I wouldn't touch you if you were the last man alive," she says haughtily with a flip of her hair.

"Didn't seem that-"

"Ten points from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Keep it up, you two, and it'll be worse," Grant threatens.

ooooo

"I cannot believe Black!" Corinne practically shouts back in the Ravenclaw common room.

"That was a bit much," Jeremy admits. He would have found it humorous if it had been anyone other than her.

"It was a joke," Jenna soothes her. "You know how the Marauders are."

"No, Black is trying to ruin my life! He will pay."

"Corinne, you really don't want to mess with him."

"He's right, the Marauders are known for their pranks . . . I don't think that's the best idea."

"I'm not going to prank him, I don't know what I'm going to do, but it'll be good."

Her four friends exchange concerned looks. "Right, well make sure he knows I have nothing to with it," Jenna finally says.

"Hi everyone," Alicia says, taking a seat next to Jeremy on one of the couches.

"How are you?" Jeremy asks her, giving her all of his attention.

"I'm doing great, but . . . well I don't mean to intrude, but is it true that you fancy Sirius, Corinne?"

She closes her eyes and rubs her forehead, trying to keep a calm voice. She's going to get Black if it's the last thing she does. "Are those the rumors going around now?"

"Er, yes."

"I'm going upstairs to plot," she says abruptly.

ooooo

Three days later, Corinne still can't think of some way to get Black back. She can't think of a single thing she can pull off. She crumples up the parchment she'd been plotting on and chucks it in the fire.

"I take it I don't want to be on your bad side today," Jeremy chuckles from behind her.

Her heart lightens at the sound of his voice, and her hopes soar, thinking that maybe she can get him back. "No one wants to be on my bad side any day," she laughs. "But I've decided to give up on trying to get revenge on Black."

"Smart girl," he says, "mind if I take a seat?"

"Not at all. What's up?"

"Not much. You know what's funny?"

"What?"

"That we're in seventh year now, and you still let Sirius get to you."

"I can't help it, he's just so . . . ugh. I don't even want to think about him. Let's talk about something else."

"Sure, what do you want to talk about?"

"You're going to Hogsmeade with us this Saturday right?" she asks, confident that he will.

"Er, no, I decided to ask Alicia after all, and she said yes."

"Oh, that's great," she tells him.

Jeremy sees her forced smile. "Corinne-"

"Don't worry about it Jeremy. It doesn't matter. If you want to forget about the rest of the world now that you're going out with Alicia, then go for it."

"I'm not forgetting about the rest of the world. I still spend most of my time with you lot. It's one Saturday Corinne, one Hogsmeade trip."

"It's okay Jeremy, I completely understand. You like her more than us, whatever."

"You're being ridiculous."

"And you're forgetting who's been there for you since first year."

"I'm talking to you, aren't I?"

"For now," she says before leaving to her dormitory. Maybe that was an overreaction, but this loss makes her irrational. But then again, she feels she's right. It's true that he spends time with them now, but that's because they weren't serious. Once they become boyfriend and girlfriend, it'll all change even more, and that thought kills her.

"What was that about?" Jenna asks Corinne, who followed her after having seen what looked like an argument between her and Jeremy.

"Nothing," she grumbles from her bed. "Absolutely nothing."

"Is everything okay between you two?"

"Yes everything is fine between us," she snaps, "it isn't as if we're seeing each other for anything to be other than fine between us."

"Do you love him?" she asks bluntly. Corinne would never lie to her.

"No," she scoffs. "He's a friend. I don't see him as anything more."

"Right, well it just seems that way because, well, you two seem . . . tense . . . around each other, I guess. I don't know what it is, but I feel something is different with you two."

"It's nothing," Corinne says gently, finally having calmed down. Either they were being obvious, or Jenna has some excellent observational skills no one knew about. Corinne is leaning towards the former.

"Hmm, well don't let Steven see you acting like that. Who knows what he'll do if he thinks you love Jeremy. He's so protective of you," she says, continuing her essay.

Corinne, unwilling to even think about Jeremy, grasps the change of subject. "I don't understand why he's like that. I didn't say anything when he went out with that one girl last year."

"Which one?"

"I can't remember her name. She's a sixth year now, I think, but I can't remember which house. Might've been Gryffindor."

"Ah, yeah I remember, it was actually Hufflepuff. She was nice; I wonder why he broke it off."

"Jeremy said Steven told him that it was because he couldn't get over someone he was into or something like that. I can't remember exactly."

"I wish he would ask me out, but I don't think he will. We've been friends for too long."

"Or maybe he doesn't know how you feel. If you hadn't told me how you feel, I would have never guessed that you fancy him."

"Call me crazy Corinne, but I think I might even love him."

"Are you serious?"

"Well yes, I've known him for years, and I think I love him."

"Wow, I don't know what to say. I could tell him, if you want," she grins, knowing it's the last thing Jenna wants.

"Sure, and I'll tell Sirius you're madly in love with him," she says nonchalantly.

"You win," Corinne mutters, "I'll keep my mouth shut."

ooooo

"Ooh, we should get some Cockroach Clusters for the Halloween party!" Jenna says, pointing at the jar with the foul sweets in them.

Ben looks over at her. "We're in a shop full of delicious chocolate and candy, and you want to buy the worst thing in here?"

"It's for Halloween! You're supposed to get horrid things!"

"You can get whatever you want, but I'm sticking to some good, old fashioned, Honeydukes chocolate," Corinne says, emerging from behind a shelf with a stack of chocolate bars.

"Now that looks good," Ben says.

"You're right, I think I'll go for some chocolate frogs," Jenna agrees. "What are you getting, Steve?"

"I'm not sure yet, probably just some of these," he says, pointing at a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

"Classics," Ben says.

"Exactly, now I don't know about you three, but I fancy some butterbeer," he tells them.

"To the Three Broomsticks it is then," Jenna says, looping her arm through his.

They pay for their sweets and walk out into the fading sun, Jenna still holding on to Steven. Corinne and Ben walk behind them, keeping a comfortable space between them.

"Where do you reckon Jeremy is right now?" Ben asks.

"Probably stuck in Madame Puddifoot's," Jenna laughs.

"Poor bloke," Steven says.

"He's the one who wanted to go out with her," Corinne says, unable to keep the twinge of bitterness out of her voice.

Jenna shoots her a look before turning to Steven. "So you're saying you wouldn't take a girl there if she wanted to go?"

Ben sees the glance Steven gives Corinne, but she's too upset to notice it. "I would, actually."

They reach the crowded pub and Steven holds the door open for them.

"There's Jeremy with Alicia," Ben says, pointing over to a corner. "Guess he wasn't in Puddifoot's after all."

"We'll find a separate table, I'm sure he wants to be alone with her," Steven tells them.

Corinne sighs. All she really wants to do is pull out her wand and hex the girl, but that wouldn't exactly help the situation. She has to learn to let go, even though it hurts. "Look, there's a table over there."

"Go get it before someone else does," Steven tells her. "I'll get your drink. You go too Jenna."

They nod and push their way past people, tables, and chairs. She reaches the table and pulls out the chair, but Sirius Black beats her to sitting on it.

"You!" she hisses.

"Yes, me. Hi Jenna, pleasure to see you."

"Hi Sirius," she says. "It looks like we're going to have to fight over the last table, eh?"

"No, we can share," Remus says, coming up with James and Peter behind him.

"I am not sharing with Black," Corinne says stubbornly.

"Find your own table then," Sirius tells her.

"I was here first!"

"But I sat down first."

"I am not leaving-"

"What's the problem h- oh," Ben says, seeing Sirius and Corinne glowering at each other.

"Remus is right," Jenna says, "we can share. It's big enough for the eight of us if we pull up some chairs."

"No thank you," Corinne says, "I'm going back to the castle."

Jenna rolls her eyes at her friend's immaturity. So what if she has to share with Black for a couple of hours? It isn't as if she's going to be stuck with him for the rest of her life. "Okay, I'll see you later then."

"I'll go with you," Steven volunteers.

"You don't have to Steve," Corinne says.

"I know, but I want to."

"Come on Steve, stay and have fun," Jenna tries to persuade him.

"No thanks, I'll see you back at the castle though," he says, eager to spend time alone with Corinne.

Jenna shoots Corinne a look, but she shrugs and sends her a look that says 'you wanted to share'.

"Oi, does Bran fancy Johnson or what?" Sirius laughs once they're gone.

Jenna ignores Ben, who swallowed too much butterbeer in shock, and answers Sirius's question. "No, he probably didn't want her to walk alone. He's a gentleman."

Sirius and Remus however, did notice Ben's reaction, and though they don't openly contradict Jenna's assumption, they clearly see she's wrong. James would have noticed it if he hadn't been gaping at Lily and Peter was too busy staring at Jenna.

"That's good because Remus here is interested in seeing Corinne," James says, joining the conversation.

Remus chokes on his drink. "No, I'm not. She's a nice girl, but I'm not interested in seeing anyone right now," he says hastily.

"Don't lie, Remus! You know you want her."

"Oh that would be so cute!" Jenna squeals. "You were made for each other!"

Remus scowls at his friends. Of all the embarrassing things they've done to him, this falls in the top ten.

ooooo

As Corinne predicted, Professor Malone postponed the dueling session for the next time they meet since the deviation with the hinkypunk took away valuable time. However, she was wrong about being paired with someone else. She is stuck with Black.

"Come on Johnson! You can do better than that!" he taunts.

Corinne throws more jinxes at him, but he deflects them lazily. She's known Black is good at dueling, but she thought she would at least be a match for him. She wishes he would stop playing with her. If he's going to beat her, he should do it already. His cockiness is infuriating. She throws another hex and he blocks it again. He throws a curse at her and before she knows what's happening, she's lying flat on her back. The class applauds for Sirius as she knew they would. She stays on the grass, looking up at the sky.

Sirius sneers at her as he walks by with his friends. It takes all of her self control not to hex him while he's walking away. She sees a hand in front of her and she takes it. "Thanks Steven," she grumbles as he helps her to her feet.

"That was an interesting duel."

"Yeah, interesting. Why was everyone around us anyway? Didn't you all have your own duels to attend to?" she asks as they walk into the Great Hall.

"We all finished before you did. No one played with their opponent like Sirius did with you," Jeremy tells her.

"I thought I would at least be some competition, but he beat me in seconds."

"Eh, you just have to practice dueling more."

"Oh I will, I'll beat him if it's the last thing I do," she says, taking a seat with her friends at the Ravenclaw table.

"Are you talking about your duel with Sirius?" Benjamin asks.

"You've heard already?"

"Everyone's talking about it," Jenna says.

"What are they saying exactly?" Corinne asks through clenched teeth.

"Oh that Sirius kept deflecting anything you threw at him and that he beat you in two seconds flat!" she says, not noticing the twitch in her eye.

Jeremy elbows her. "You aren't helping," he whispers.

She shrugs. "Oops."

"W-"

"These mashed potatoes are to die for," Steven cuts Corinne off, hoping to get her to forget Sirius.

"I'll tell you who's going to die," she mutters darkly.

"Have you ever noticed how your conversations tend to revolve around Sirius?" Benjamin muses.

Jeremy shoots Steven a look. He's the only one who knows how he feels about Corinne.

Steven shrugs, trying to act nonchalant even though he feels crushed. Benjamin is right. Not a day goes by without her saying something about Sirius. She says she hates him, but he finds it hard to believe. What chance does Steven stand against popular, good looking, Sirius Black? He doesn't, and if Sirius wants Corinne, he'll have her. And chances are that he does want her. Who wouldn't? She's beautiful, intelligent, funny, kind . . . . Then again, those could be the words of a man in love, because no matter what he pretends, he loves her. He has for years.

"They do not! He's an insufferable-"

"I don't know why you hate him so much. He's a decent person. Most of the Gryffindor crowd is really nice."

"If you like them so much why don't you go with them?"

"Because I like you lot better, now don't snap at me. I've done nothing to you."

"You're right, I'm sorry. It's just . . . forget it. Let's change the subject."

The group stays at the Raveclaw table long after dinner is over. The Great Hall clears slowly and finally a prefect tells them they should go back to their common room before curfew.

"Let's get going," Benjamin says, "I don't want to get a detention like last time."

"I know," Jeremy mutters. "It was five minutes after hours and Evans still gave us a detention."

"I'm going for a walk," Corinne says. She needs to clear her mind.

"Haven't you been listening to our discussion about detentions?"

"I don't care. I'll see you all later," she says.

"I'll come with you." Steven follows her out.

Jeremy sighs. Steven makes it so obvious, it's a wonder no one else has figured it out yet.

Corinne and Steven walk in silence until she speaks. "I love the castle at night. It's so quiet and peaceful. And all the memories . . ." she murmurs. "Like here, this is where we first met. Remember?"

Steven stares at the door to History of Magic. It was their second class and it was with the Gryffindors. "Yeah, that was the day you and Jenna first saw Sirius."

"Oh it is, isn't it? She had dropped her book and he picked it up for her."

"Yeah, you were both so into him."

"No we weren't! That was all Jenna!"

Steven thinks back to that day.

-

"Thanks." The loud girl smiles flirtatiously at the Gryffindor boy.

"No problem," he winks before walking away to see his friends.

"Did you see him?" the loud girl asks her pretty friend.

"Yes! He is so-"

"Sexy!"

"Who is he?"

I decide to step in and answer the question for them. "His name is Sirius Black."

"Even his name is sexy," the pretty girl says.

The loud girl is now examining me. "You know, you're not bad looking yourself."

"Er, thanks?" I say, hoping that her pretty friend thinks so too.

"I'm Jenna and this is my friend Corinne."

"I'm Steven," I tell her.

"Well Steven, it most definitely is a pleasure to meet you," she says coyly.

-

Jenna was always very forward, very honest, but he had no interest in her romantically. The girls met his friend Jeremy and they all became friends.

"No, it was you too," I grin. In all fairness, this was before she knew what he was like.

"That was the class I met Benjamin in!" Corinne says. "I remember now. I sat next to him in class because Jenna so graciously left me alone to sit next to you. He was drawing and that's what caught my attention. They moved."

"Yeah, that's when he joined our group, right?"

"Oh great," Corinne mutters, seeing Lily Evans standing in front of them.

"You know it's after hours right? I'm going to have to give you two a detention."

"Just get it over with Evans," Corinne says impatiently.

"Oh, you can go," she says coolly. "I'll have a word with Flitwick and he'll let you know when you'll serve."


Chapter three :) So this is starting off slow, I know, but it'll change as it goes on. Any questions, comments, concerns can be expressed in a review :D