Author's note: Another chapter! I hope you enjoy and keep reviewing, please. I'd really like to know what you think.
Changes
The next morning Niamh wasn't at breakfast and Sirius was now swimming in guilt, which was another frightening feeling for him. He had never felt guilty about any girl.
After Muggle Studies he walked to the Transfiguration class room to meet up with Remus and James – Peter was still in the infirmary – when he suddenly tripped. Landing on all fours he swore loudly and grabbed his bag. He got up and looked around for the culprit, but there was nobody around.
Muttering unpleasant things about insolent students with no respect for seventh-years he stuffed his books back in the bag. Before he knew it he was hurled into an alcove and pushed against the wall.
He stared in two dark blue eyes that twinkled with mischief.
"Niamh, I'm so sorry. I should never -- "
"Oh, shut up." She undid his belt and opened his pants. He immediately reacted to the touch of her hands.
"What are you doing?" he hissed.
"You know, for one of the smartest students in our year you do ask surprisingly stupid questions," she mimicked him.
She dropped to her knees and Sirius thought about teachers catching them like this. Then he just stopped thinking at all.
Ten minutes later he was leaning against the wall, sweating and panting, trying to remember where he was.
A voice whispered in his ear. "A little reminder that I have a hold on you as well." A brief sensation of her lips against his and then she was gone. It took him another ten minutes to calm down sufficiently to go to Transfiguration and he walked into the class room much too late.
"Mr. Black! Why are you late?" McGonagall snapped. "Do I have to add another week to your already impressing list of detentions?"
"I'm sorry, professor, I was held up." He glanced at Niamh, who was looking very smug. He gripped the door knob so tightly his knuckles protested when she ran a finger over her lips.
"Don't let it happen again."
"You look like you've seen a ghost," James whispered to him when Sirius sat next to him.
Sirius didn't answer. He was still in shock. He had just realized why Niamh's denial had bothered him so much. It had hit him when she had whispered that she had a hold on him as well.
He liked her. He had told her she was caught, but now he knew that he was too. With a loud grunt he dropped his head on his table.
Three seats ahead
Clunk!
I jolted out of my reverie.
The whole class burst out laughing. I turned in my seat and saw Sirius rubbing his forehead with a pained expression. I couldn't help but laugh too.
McGonagall looked suspiciously at Sirius. "What are you doing, Black?"
"Sorry, professor, I was aiming for my arms. Not the table."
A new howl of laughter came from the students and James wiped the tears from his eyes. "You know, Padfoot, if you find your head to heavy for your neck, which I sincerely doubt given the hollow sound it just made, you should see Madame Pomfrey. I'm sure she has a potion for you."
Sirius scowled and even McGonagall had trouble to keep a straight face. "Will you be able to sit up straight, Mr. Black, or is Potter right and do I have to send you to the infirmary?"
"I'll manage, professor."
Still sniggering at Sirius's embarrassment I turned my back on him and went back to daydreaming. The incident in the storage room had affected me more than I had thought and I still hadn't sorted out my feelings. Of course I wanted Sirius. The mere thought of him made me want to -- Don't go there now, you're in Transfiguration class, for Salazar's sake! I sighed. Right, focus!
Sirius presented a very large risk to my life. Continuing to see him meant sinking deeper and deeper in this mess, which I had created for myself. I should have put a stop to it after that first kiss. I had been trying to stop it ever since, claiming I didn't need him, didn't want him. I chewed on my lip. After last night I couldn't just deny the whole thing anymore. Sirius had taken good care of that. I was quite sure I had paid him back, though. I chuckled.
Anyway, Sirius had achieved what he wanted. I had stopped denying my need for him.
But nothing else needed to change. If I just kept it a secret, we could go on with what we were doing. He was much too good in bed to give up already. And taking my inescapable marriage to a pureblood wizard after graduation in consideration, I was even more sure of it. I deserved all the distraction I could get!
And that was exactly what I was getting. Sirius and I sneaked out on every occasion and those two weeks and three days of detention were not so awful as I let everybody know. I had a hunch McGonagall had paired us together on purpose. I never thought I would be grateful for anything a Gryffindor had done…but there's a first time for everything.
When spring finally arrived Sirius borrowed James's Invisibility cloak and we sneaked out of the castle for walks around the lake.
"Doesn't James need the cloak? You know, with Lily," I asked him on a warm night when April was drawing to its end.
"Are you kidding me? They've got their own common room. I've confiscated this thing."
I laughed and we stopped by the water a long way from the castle. He sat down, leaning his back against a tree near the water and I settled myself between his legs, resting my head against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me. I sighed. Sitting like this was really nice.
"You know, I don't even know your birthday," Sirius said.
"It's the 13th of May. And yours?"
"October 25th."
"Didn't you throw an enormous party in your common room? I heard people talk about it for weeks!"
"Yes, I did," Sirius affirmed. "It was great. The week of detention that followed was not so great, however." His voice was a bit sour.
I giggled. "I really think that you and James have broken some detention-record."
Sirius grinned and kissed my neck. "I wouldn't be surprised if we had. You know Dumbledore actually made Remus a Prefect to keep us under control."
"Oh, that worked well," I laughed.
"You're no saint either, miss Carden. You've had a lot of detention in seven years too."
"Well, that was for a good cause."
"What cause?"
"Kicking your butt."
"You did not kick my butt!"
"Not literally, no. But I have put you in the infirmary a couple of times," I sniggered.
"I put you there as well!"
"Yes, you did. You really have an abominable set of manners. Hexing poor, defenceless girls, tsk, tsk."
"Defenceless! You nearly got me killed once. It took madame Pomfrey a week before she found a way to grow my… you know back." He sounded truly indignant now.
"So you felt you couldn't live without your… er… equipment? I knew I was right about that," I purred, satisfied.
"So you planned it?"
"Yes, I felt it was my duty to all the girls in the school to get back at you for being such a big-headed ladies-man."
"Ah, but you failed. Even you can't resist my charm."
"Pfff, you might want to stop talking like that, before your fat head explodes."
"That's it. Insulting the man of your dreams, eh, little wench." He started to tickle me. I squealed and writhed out of his grip. I got up, but he grabbed my ankle and I fell flat-faced to the ground.
I turned around, but Sirius was already straddling my hips and tickled me ruthlessly.
"No, stop it, stop it! Aahh -- no, Sirius, prat! Let me go!"
"Still insulting me? Who's got the bad manners here?"
"Bad upbringing, not my fault. Eek! Stop it. I'm warning you, Sirius…"
"What are you going to do?"
I produced a wicked grin, grabbed his ears, and pulled him to me, kissing him thoroughly. Immediately his hands stopped tickling and started to stroke.
I pushed his head back and he laughed in spite of himself. "Quick thinking."
He rolled off me and I nestled myself against his body. He lay sprawled on his back with one hand under his head and the other around me. I buried my nose in his chest.
Hmm, he smells nice. A mixture of soap, cologne and some indefinable scent that was his own.
"So, about your upbringing -- "
"I don't want to talk about my family," I interrupted him.
"Okay, I'll talk about mine."
Surprised that he was willing to let it go so easily, I asked, "What do you want to say about your family?"
"Besides the fact that they're a bunch of stuck-up, conceited, maniacal idiots, you mean?"
"I can see you're close to your family."
Sirius snorted. "I don't consider them family. I haven't spoken to them since I was sixteen, if you leave out the little visit my mother paid me when I had got my own place to live. But screaming and howling that I was a filthy blood traitor doesn't really count as a visit, does it?"
"Not really. Where did you go after you left home?"
"I moved in with James. His parents kind of adopted me."
"So you do have family."
He looked surprised at me. "That's a sweet thing to say," he said softly. I smiled. He just stared at my face a long time, until he cleared his throat and said cheerfully, "Well, you must know a lot about my blood-treacherous behaviour. I would be surprised if my mother hadn't warned all pureblood children about my bad influence."
"Oh yes, you are the main character in the scary tale that parents tell their children. Sirius Black, the son gone astray." I shook my head in a mock sad way. "Such a waste."
"Doesn't seem to have scared you off."
"Please, as if I would be scared by you."
"No, you'd rather jinx my head off."
"That's true, but that has nothing to do with you being a traitor."
"With what then?"
"It was your insufferable arrogance."
"Arrogance! I am not arrogant, you are!"
"I know I am, and I'm good at it," I winked, "but like it or not, you are just as arrogant as I am. Maybe even more."
"I'm not, I'm just -- "
"Self-absorbed?"
"Shut up. Besides, I know what you're trying to do."
"What's that?
"Changing the subject, because you don't want to talk about your family."
I sighed. He was right. And I should've known he wouldn't let it go that easily. Sirius never avoided anything.
"Fine, what do you want to know?"
"Are you happy at home?"
My face darkened immediately.
"Niamh?"
I hadn't realised I had been quiet for a while and I said carefully, "Happy? I suppose so…"
How can I tell him I suspect that my brother's a Death Eater, killing and torturing Muggles, that my parents want me to marry as soon as possible for the sake of connecting themselves to equally prominent families, that I want to get away from them to live my own life, but that I don't know how?
"What do you mean 'I suppose so'?"
Quickly I came up with, "They're still angry I broke up with Lucius. They had our entire future planned out already."
"And you broke up with him because you didn't want that future?"
How come he can look right through me? I can never seem to keep my thoughts hidden from him.
"Of course I didn't. Would you like to pretend you're the perfect wife of Lucius Malfoy for the rest of your life?" I snorted.
"Now that is bringing some rather disturbing images to my mind," Sirius said, shaking his head.
I grinned at him. "Besides, I never loved him. I just dated him because he is what good pure blood witches want. Handsome, rich, from good stock..." I noticed how cynical my voice sounded.
"I thought there had to be something behind it," Sirius grinned. "No one in their right mind would date Lucius Malfoy for fun."
I chuckled. "Enough about me. Tell me about your love-life."
Sirius sighed melodramatically. "What's there to tell? Nothing much going on there."
I lifted my head to look in his eyes. "I can't believe your nerve." I rolled my eyes and said, "You've broken more than one record, if you know what I mean."
"Would that record involve something about the rather high percentage of the female population of Hogwarts that I have… er… been acquainted with?"
I snorted. "More like the female population of the U.K."
"Hey, no need to exaggerate things. The female population of England will do."
I burst out laughing. "You're hopeless, Mr. Black."
We sat there for another hour, poking fun at each other, before we headed back to the dorms.
Three weeks later I woke up excitedly.
"Happy Birthday!" Lana and Narcissa exclaimed.
"Thanks," I beamed and opened their presents. Lana had got me a book about medieval wizarding history. I squealed in delight. "Oh, it's wonderful, Lana, thank you." I kissed her.
Narcissa had given me a fabulous blue tank top that I decided to put on right away.
It was Saturday and we agreed to lounge around the whole day. At breakfast I received lots of owls with cards and presents, including one from Evan Rosier. I'd been receiving letters from him for a few months now. They were always funny, light-hearted letters that I liked answering, although I realised it was my family's business he was truly interested in. I knew he was corresponding with my brother as well.
Lana and Narcissa smirked suggestively at me. I stuck out my tongue and opened his parcel. A very fine, silver necklace with an even finer pendant in the shape of a rose lay in a velvet box.
Lana and Narcissa gasped simultaneously.
"It's gorgeous," I said, utterly surprised by his expensive gift.
"Oh, he wants you," Lana deducted. "A lot."
I snorted. "Ever heard of bribery? Probably wants a favour from my father. I'll send him a gushing note about Evan's generosity."
After breakfast Lana opted for a stroll outside and I ran to my dorm to get a jacket. There was a letter on my pillow.
Curiously I opened it.
Happy Birthday, Niamh
I will give you your present tonight. Wait for me outside the dorm at eight. No robes!
Yours,
S.
Still not the most polite letter I had ever received, but definitely an improvement. I wondered what he was up to, but then remembered that Lana and Narcissa were waiting for me. I hid the letter and returned to the Great Hall, Evan's necklace already forgotten.
After dinner – with lots of glances between Sirius and me – I took a quick shower and put on a black miniskirt and a green top.
"Where are you going?" Lana's head appeared around the door.
"Er... the library?" I tried.
"Sure you are, dressed like that. Tell Black I said hi," Lana giggled.
"Bugger. I thought you didn't know."
Lana pursed her lips. "How stupid do you think I am?"
I grinned devilishly. "You really want me to answer that?"
"Ah, away with you, you impertinent witch. Go and have some fun."
I smiled and gave her a hug. "Don't wait up for me."
"Not for you, no. But I will wait up."
I chuckled. "Well then, tell Devon I said hi."
"Devon?" Lana asked bewildered. "I'm going with George. You need to pay more attention."
"Sorry. We'll talk about it later. Have to go now, you have fun too."
"Bye."
I dashed out of the common room, only to find the corridors empty. I checked my watch, it was five past eight.
Where is he? Did he get caught?
I was starting to feel disappointed.
"Psst!"
I jumped three feet in the air. The voice came out of nowhere. Sirius dropped the Invisibility Cloak and I smiled, feeling relieved.
"You look great," he said, eyeing me eagerly.
"Are you going to tell me where we're going, or are you going to use that cloak to get to my dorm?" I teased.
"Don't tempt me, lass," he said in a low voice. "Come on, we have to get out of the castle."
He put the cloak over me and pulled a piece of parchment out of his pocket. I leaned over to see what it was.
"Oh my God," I gasped. "Where did you get that?"
"The guys and I made it," he said proudly, noticing how stunned I was.
"But that must be incredibly advanced magic."
"Well, you may have noticed Remus keeps his nose permanently buried in books, and no matter what you say, James, Pete, and I are gifted with a nice pair of brains too. It took us a while to figure out a way to write it, but it's definitely worth it."
"It's amazing." I couldn't keep my eyes off the parchment, while we were walking out of the castle. There were numerous tiny dots moving across the map, all labelled with names. Not too far from us I noticed two dots that said George Fairfax and Lana Landon. I sniggered and pointed them out to Sirius.
He laughed. "That's a broom closet they're in."
I chuckled. "No surprises there."
"Shh, Filch is heading this way." Sirius pushed me to the side of the hallway and we waited silently for him to pass us.
After Filch had passed, I noticed how close Sirius was standing. My cheeks flamed. He saw it and grinned naughtily. "Not until after we celebrate your birthday."
I punched his arm. "I wasn't thinking of that."
"Sure you weren't," he drawled.
Suddenly I thought of something. "Hold on, how did you get that letter in my dorm anyway?"
The grin that appeared on his face was without doubt the most roguish I had ever seen. "Well, you know James is Head Boy, right?"
"Yeah," I said, not sure what he was aiming at.
"And the Heads know the passwords of all Houses."
My jaw dropped. "He didn't!"
"He did. Gave me password and I sneaked in under the Invisibility Cloak, while all your slithery little friends were at breakfast. After that it was easy. I recognized the clothes on your bed, so I knew where to put the letter."
"I can't believe you. You would've been in serious trouble if you were caught."
He made a dismissive gesture. "Of course they wouldn't catch me. But I was a bit anxious about whether I could enter the girls' dormitory. I've tried it a couple of times in the Gryffindor common room, but alarm bells would go off and the stairs changed into a glide."
I sniggered. "Serves you right. I suppose Slytherins don't have high moral standards like Gryffindors do."
"Thank Merlin for little things," Sirius said serenely.
"Although you don't have high moral standards either. Sneaking out of the castle at night. What would your Head of House say?"
"She'd probably have a heart-attack. But ignorance is bliss, right?"
We had made it outside the castle and soon after we were standing outside the gates.
"So now we have to Apparate to your London bedroom. I take it your family isn't there anymore?"
"No, everybody is at the manor for the summer season."
"Ah, the predictability of the upper wizarding class…"
I giggled and with a loud crack we both disappeared.
