DollFace080: I agree that things would be cleared up if they just talked to each other...but that would be too easy, wouldn't it? ;) Besides, Niamh isn't fully aware of what she feels for Sirius, yet.


Preparations

I watched my calendar that flashed 'eight days till NEWTs' at me. My head was so crammed with all sorts of details about Potions, DADA, Ancient Rhunes, and the rest that I could not think straight anymore. I desperately needed some time to relax with Sirius. We had been spending a lot of time together lately. Although I was completely stressed out because of the oncoming exams, he always found a way to make me laugh and loosen up.

He himself was entirely unconcerned about the NEWTs, making fun of me and Remus when we studied in the library. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

Lily and James were still together. She pushed him into studying for his exams, which, to Sirius's utter dismay, he actually did.

Sirius's friends all knew about him and me, and while Remus was very kind to me and seemed fine with it, James and Peter were not. I could understand why so I just kept my distance.

I decided to go for a walk around the lake. I couldn't help myself and brought a book with me. I walked to the other side to a secluded place to study and sat at the edge of the lake. Most students never came here, because it was so close to the Forbidden Forest.

"Don't frown like that. You'll get wrinkles, get old, and die before your time."

Without looking up from my book I smirked. "Hello, lover," I said. "You always pay me such nice compliments."

Grinning, Sirius sat next to me and nuzzled my neck. "What are you reading?"

"History of Magic," I sighed, "and it's just too much to remember."

"How long have you been studying?"

I looked up, guiltily. "Since eight this morning."

"Madwoman!" Sirius chuckled.

I closed the book with a smack and threw it aside. "Have you got something better to do?"

"Always," he smirked deviously, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I laughed and rolled my eyes. "Besides that," I smiled, poking him in the side.

"Argh! Fine then, we can just sit here and talk about stupid things."

"Like what?" I inquired.

"You," he laughed.

I elbowed him in the side.

"Ouch! Hey, come on, that one was too easy. I had to say it," he grinned.

"GRRR," I said and pushed him on his back.

"Ah, you've changed your mind, I see." He looked very pleased.

"Has no one ever told you that you talk too much?"

"Every day. But I never listen."

"Indeed you don't," I sighed and kissed him. He made a satisfied sound and pulled me on top of him, tangling his hands in my hair.

With a growl he turned us around. The feel of his body on top of mine sent a flash of heat through my belly. I pushed my hips up to his, causing him to moan.

"You need to stop doing that," he mumbled in my neck, "or the people on the other side of the lake will have something else than the squid to watch."

I chuckled and pushed him off me. "I'm very sorry, sir, I did not mean to cause any discomfort."

"Discomfort!" Sirius said, rolling on his back. "That's a bit of an understatement."

I jerked my head to the tree line behind us. "Did you hear that?" I said worried. I thought I had heard footsteps.

"No, now get over here," he said lightly, pulling me close to him.

I shrugged it off me and snuggled close to him.

"Have you decided yet what you're going to do after the summer?" he asked me suddenly.

I flinched. It was a subject I rather not discussed.

"Find myself a decent man," I grinned at him.

He narrowed his eyes. "Very funny." He gave a deep sigh. "I have decided what I am going to do," he announced pompously.

I raised an eyebrow. "Find yourself a pair of brains?"

"I am trying to be serious," he said exasperated.

"I thought you already were Sirius?" I sniggered when he glared menacingly at me. "Alright, I will stop. What are you going to do?"

"I am taking one year off and then I'm trying out for Auror training."

"Yeah, you should do that. You're incredible when it comes to DADA and Charms."

"Thank you."

"It was not a compliment," I said.

"Then what was it?"

"The truth."

"Thank Merlin," Sirius laughed. "I thought you were getting soft."

I tugged softly at his hair. "I still want to do something with books," I said.

Whether I will have the chance is another story.

"Little Miss Bookworm," Sirius smiled.

I lifted myself onto my elbow to look him sternly in the eye. "You do realize that the written word is one of man's greatest achievements, don't you?"

Sirius rolled up the sleeves of his robes. "Come on, give me the lecture. I can take it," he growled fiercely.

I rolled my eyes and put my head on his shoulder. "Barbarian," I muttered.

"Indeed. I shall throw you over my shoulder and take you to my cave!" he declared eagerly.

I snorted. "Haven't you already done that?"

"Hmm, good point." I felt him shrug. "Well, I can always do it again."

I chuckled. We fell silent and I wondered about how at ease I felt around him. I sighed when I snuggled a little closer. This was going to be really hard to give up.


At dinner that night, Lana and I discussed the exam timetable.

Narcissa was acting very strange. She avoided my eyes and only gave one-syllable answers. This was such a strange thing for Cissy that even Lana noticed it.

"Are you alright?" Lana asked her.

"No, I'm feeling sick," she hissed. She glared at me. I raised an eyebrow. Why was she glaring at me?

Narcissa quickly averted her eyes, hiding her face in her cup.

Odd…

Gareth strolled by and bent over Lana to kiss her. "Hi, girls," he said to us and walked to his friends.

I goggled at Lana. "Still with Gareth! That's got to be three weeks by now! Are you ill?"

Lana giggled. "No, I'm not ill. He is just - we have fun. That's all." Then she blushed. Lana had never blushed in her entire life.

My jaw dropped. "You're in love with him," I whispered in shock.

"No, I'm not," she denied, but she blushed even deeper.

"Yes, you are. You're blushing," I said accusingly.

Lana clapped her hands on her cheeks. "Am not. Now stop it."

"Fine," I grinned and started to hum a marital tune.

She shot me a warning glare, that I returned with a wide grin. "Have you decided on your wedding dress yet?"

She laughed. "Nah, but I know what cake I want," she retorted. "You, my little tart."

I threw a piece of bread at her.

After dinner, I went back to studying. The next week I buried myself in the library, only leaving for lunch and dinner. Narcissa was still acting strange. I asked her several times if I had done something wrong, but she would deny she was angry. I decided to put it off for a while, since I had a lot on my mind.

When the day of the first NEWT exam finally came, I was so nervous I couldn't eat. Sirius sauntered into the Great Hall five minutes late, very relaxed. He gave professor McGonagall the smile that had made many a girl swoon at his feet when she looked sternly over her glasses at him.

I hid my smile behind my hand.

To my absolute relief, the Transfiguration exam was not the hell I thought it would be. In fact, I thought I had managed pretty well.

The rest of the week passed in a blur. I had done rather a good job, I thought, besides Potions, which I had screwed up. But maybe that had something to do with Sirius dragging me to an empty class room at 8.30 right before the exam. I was not particularly focussed after that.

Now I was laying sprawled on my back on my bed, completely exhausted. My last exam had been History of Magic and I feared my hand would suffer permanent damage from all the writing I had done. The seventh-year students would have a week off, before the graduation ball at Hogwarts. Family was invited of course.

I rolled into my bed early that night. The next morning at breakfast I received a letter from my mother.

Dear Niamh,

I trust you have done well on your exams. Your father and I are looking forward to your graduation ball.

There is, however, another matter I must speak to you about. Since it is rather important, I have written to professor Dumbledore. He has invited me to come a day earlier and spend the night at Hogwarts, so we can talk about it. I will arrive on Thursday evening.

Love,

Your mother

I frowned.


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