Grey Eyes

2. Incendio

In his fourth year at Hogwarts, just before Christmas, Sirius was returning from Herbology, walking alone across school grounds when Severus ambushed him. The Slytherin boy relished any opportunity to face one of Potter's friends alone, and this time, he had Bellatrix with him as backup. Sirius slowed as the two revealed themselves, slipping out from behind a tree. "Well, well, well," Severus drawled.

Bellatrix smiled. "If it isn't my dear cousin."

Sirius flicked the seventh and fourth year a brief look of distaste before continuing on his way.

"Not so cocky without Potter to back you up, are you?" Severus asked, falling into step behind the young man.

"What's that, Snivellus?" Sirius said without sparing the other boy a look. "I can't understand you. Your voice is too nasal."

"Your mother's looking forward to seeing you," Bellatrix said lyrically. Sirius paused at that and turned to look at his cousin as she sauntered up to him. "She's been absolutely desperate to get her hands on you ever since she heard about your little spat with Regulus."

"That was nothing," Sirius replied, the chilly wind whipping his black hair about his face.

"Oh, Sirius," Bellatrix crooned, leaning in close. "Don't you see? That was everything. You know how your mother favors her baby boy."

"I didn't –"

"You really think your side of the story matters? Regulus has already written home about how his horrid older brother embarrassed him in front of the whole school."

Sirius clenched his jaw. He'd hardly seen Regulus all school year and desperately missed his brother. The last thing he wanted was to hurt him. "That wasn't my intention."

"Wasn't it?" Severus asked. "Why would a Slytherin ever willingly eat with the Gryffindors?"

"Because I'm his brother. We're meant to stick together. I only thought he might –"

"Might what? Enjoy being laughed at by all of Slytherin for eating at the Gryffindor table?" Bellatrix cut him off. "Honestly, Sirius, your stupidity never ceases to astound me."

"How's that teeth cleaning going?" Sirius shot back. "Having much progress yet? Looks like you missed a spot everywhere."

Bellatrix cackled. "Is that the best you can do? Oh my poor little cousin, you're a lamb to the slaughter."

Sirius rolled his eyes and turned on his heel, marching back towards the castle.

Bellatrix's dark eyes grew wide. "Don't turn your back on me," she growled. Sirius ignored her and kept walking. "Sirius Black, don't you ever turn your back on me!" When Sirius still didn't stop, Bellatrix whipped out her wand. "Incendio!"

Sirius hardly had time to drop to the ground before the jet of flame plumed over his head, singing the back of his robes. "Bella!" Severus shouted, grabbing his friend's arm and forcing her to end the spell.

Sirius rolled over, his robes smoking, and couldn't hide the surprise on his face. The shock that his own family, his old playmate, had just tried to seriously maim him was only just beginning to nibble at his heart.

Bellatrix yanked her arm out of Snape's gasp and pointed it at Sirius again. "Stupe –"

"Protego!" Sirius countered, blocking her stunning spell that would've rendered him unconscious.

Bellatrix yowled in frustration and raised her wand again. Before she could utter the curse, however, a pair of legs blocked her from Sirius' view as someone stepped between them, shielding his prostrate form. "Enough, Bella." Sirius knew that voice. He squinted in the overcast light and caught a glimpse of Annie's dirty blonde hair.

"Out of my way, O'Hare," Bellatrix growled.

"Go pack your things," Annie countered. "The train leaves soon."

Bellatrix narrowed her eyes, as if she was considering hexing the fourth year Slytherin girl. Severus caught the look in her eye and tugged on her arm once more. "She's right. Let's go." Bellatrix didn't move for several seconds until she at last spun on her heels and marched back towards the courtyard. After sparing the other two one last glance, Severus followed her.

Once they were several paces away, Annie turned back to Sirius and stuck out a hand to help him up. "You all right?"

Sirius took her hand and climbed to his feet, his robes still smoking slightly. "Yes, I am, thank you."

To his surprise, Annie pulled on the back of his robes, checking to make sure he hadn't been burned. "Good luck getting the stench out," she said with a smirk as she let go. He'd forgotten how husky her voice could be.

Sirius smiled sheepishly, trying to hide the fact that now that his heart was no longer hammering, the hurt of his cousin's aggression was beginning to weaken his armor.

The smile didn't seem to fool Annie who folded her arms over her chest, fixing him with a worried look. "Didn't see that one coming, did you?"

He shook his head. "Should've, though."

"She's failing all her classes. She'll be lucky if she graduates. Spends all her time studying the Dark Arts."

Sirius took a deep breath and nodded. "We haven't been close in years. I suppose I ought to have expected as much."

Annie shrugged. The pale sunlight was catching the specks of orange in her eyes, making them glow like flecks of amber amidst the brown. Sirius found it hard to reconcile his image of the girl who had laughed at him from the top of the stairs with the young woman before him. "Can't choose your family, you know?"

He nodded, raking his hair back.

Annie glanced about as more students began to meander out of the school. "Well, seeya then. Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas."

Annie smiled then headed back towards the castle.

"Annie?"

She paused and looked at him over her shoulder, trying to tuck her hair behind her ear as it fluttered.

"Thank you."

Annie smiled then let out a small laugh. "Seeya, boyo." She winked then resumed her walk.

A corner of Sirius' lip slowly lifted in a smirk as he felt a brief light amid the turmoil in his breast. Annie O'Hare, the girl who had laughed at his fall down the stairs, was flirting with him.

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