Beautiful Mistake Chapter Thirteen

Leave it On the Pitch

The week passed without much incident. Chloe and Sirius returned to their usual state of ignoring each other, though on occasion when no one was looking Chloe caught Sirius watching her with a light smile. It was strange, to say the least, how much Chloe didn't mind this interaction. As much as she knew it wasn't right or good for her, she couldn't deny that she missed Sirius. Not anymore she couldn't.

Early Saturday morning Chloe awoke to the shrill sounds of Kathy and Nadine arguing over who would get to use the shower first, as the others had all been taken up. Lily was sitting up in her own bed looking quite groggy, and angry that the two had woken her up.

"I have to be on the pitch in one hour, Kathy." Nadine was red in the face as she stared down Kathy.

"Well I have to get ready before I meet Remus." Kathy said as if it was one of the most important events of her life.

"You're not meeting him for another two hours! I still have to eat breakfast!" Nadine retorted loudly.

Crawling out of bed Chloe moved across the floor and exited the seventh year dorm and went across the hall and entered the girl's lavatory. Girls stood at sinks brushing their hair and teeth while steam rose from where the showers were. Most people in the room were watching Nadine and Kathy as they struggled in front of the last shower, in great interest laying silent bets on who would win.

"Stop it you two right now!" Chloe shouted, agitated.

Nadine and Kathy stopped their struggle immediately, surprised by how much she sounded like a mother. Everyone in the room was silent as they watched Chloe walk over to the two girls, all which could be heard, was the sound of running water.

"Kathy, let Nadine go in, you can have it after. Besides, I'm sure someone else will be done soon." Chloe ordered.

Nadine rolled her eyes, but took her chance and stepped into the shower, closing the door and locking it behind her. Kathy grumbled loudly and faced Chloe with a pout.

"You don't understand, this is going to be a real date – with Remus!" Kathy finished with grin.

Chloe blinked. "Really?" She didn't remember Remus once saying anything to her about liking Kathy, but then again, in the last few weeks they had spoke very little too each other.

"Yeah, he asked me on Monday. We're going to Hogsmeade after." She beamed.

Chloe nodded, happy that Kathy was so excited, but feeling a little hurt that she had missed something as monumental as Remus finally getting the nerve to ask Kathy out. Was that really what their friendship had become? Well, she truly couldn't blame him. They weren't speaking after all.

"That's great, Kathy." Chloe smiled, and then pointed behind her. "I'm going to go try and get back to sleep now."

"Oh sure," Kathy grinned and moved over to one of the vacant mirrors and started fiddling with her hair putting it in to different styles.

Chloe silently exited the lavatory, and crossed the small stretch of hall before entering the seventh year girl's dorm.

"Is everything settled?" Lily asked annoyed from her bed.

"Oh yeah; it was just a usual Nadine, Kathy row." Chloe told her getting back into her bed. "I think I'm going back to sleep."

"You're not going to the game?" Lily asked, now out of bed and searching for some fresh robes.

"No, why would I?" Chloe asked bewildered.

Lily shrugged; it seemed she knew something Chloe didn't. She had chosen not to tell her or anyone about the meeting with Sirius because she felt that Lily would only get mad and give a bad response. Not only that, she was aware that Sirius had kept the meeting to himself as well, and she felt as if it would betraying him – something she never thought she would care about again – if she told Lily about it. Besides, if Remus ever found out he would surely use it to his advantage – which was the last thing she needed.

"Well," Chloe pushed, hoping Lily would explain her reasoning.

"I just thought you would want to go. You did enjoy Quiddtich before," Lily explained.

Chloe had to admit, she did enjoy Quidditch. How could she not? It was an exciting game and it was never a sure thing. She and Remus would sit with Sirius and Peter and watch as James flew around passing the Quaffle back and forth cheering loudly and proudly. It was a rush. And she enjoyed every second of it, even if she knew she would never be able to play the game herself.

"I did," Chloe started, choosing her words carefully. "I still do. But I don't really feel like Quidditch right now. Besides, who would I sit with?"

"Chloe," Lily gave an exasperated grin. "You can sit with me – did you not realize I was going?"

"Oh, yeah, right. I just thought-" Chloe had never felt so daft before.

"You just thought because James would be playing I wouldn't go. If that was the case, don't you think I would have opted out of going since First Year, when James started asking me out." Lily laughed, and Chloe joined in.

"I guess I could go then," Chloe decided. It really was quite stupid of her for refusing to go – she wasn't going to let the row between Remus and she get in the way of this. "Yeah, I'll come." Chloe grinned, and got back out of bed.

Half an hour later Chloe sat at the Gryffindor table with Lily and Nadine, while Kathy was still getting ready for her date. The hall was much nosier then usual, and Chloe had to strain to hear Nadine as she talked all about the game.

"There is no way we're going to loose this match. If we do, I'm ordering that James stop with all the practices." Nadine grinned.

"You'll come up with any excuse to get out of practice won't you?" James had taken the empty seat next to Nadine, Peter trailing behind him. Sirius and Remus were no where near, and Chloe had a feeling it had to do with her presence.

"Of course! If you didn't have us practicing five times a week I wouldn't say that. I thought with you having Head Boy duties it wouldn't be so bad, but of course, you find a way around that too." Nadine grumbled, but wore a smile.

Glancing away from the two Chloe noticed how Lily was focused on her food, barely looking up from her plat. She was wearing a strong expression, and Chloe knew she was still angry at him for the other night. She had refused to talk to him on duties, which Chloe personally felt was a little immature, but knew she would probably do the same – she would be a hypocrite if she told her so.

"So you're coming to the game?" James had turned to Chloe.

Chloe nodded, looking semi-partial to the idea. "I've got nothing better to do. Besides, I missed Quidditch while I was at ho-Beauxbatons." Chloe caught herself quickly, and glanced at Lily who had noticed her near slip-up.

James hadn't. He smiled at Chloe, nodding understanding. "Aren't you glad your back at ol' Hogwarts?" he laughed and started putting food on his plate.

The other Quidditch teammates (Melissa Kennedy, Alec Sherman, Ryan Smith, Joshua Taylor, and Joan Tilley) joined them at the table, and they were quickly surrounded by the rowdy crew, and at once Lily begged to leave and meet Mary, her friend in sixth year. She agreed, feeling a little disappointed that Sirius hadn't shown, but knew that it was for the best because she knew it would do her little good.

They got their cloaks, gloves and met Mary in the Gryffindor common room. Mary was a pretty girl, with soft blue eyes, and light brown hair. She was small, just like Lily, and she too had the same fiery temper.

"I can't believe you've managed to drag me to this." Mary grumbled as we exited the castle, and the cold wind blew hard against our faces.

"Oh be quiet Mary, you know deep down there you love Quidditch." Lily laughed, as they huddled closer together to keep warm.

Once on the pitch they followed the hundreds of other students of finding seats in their respectable stands. Chloe followed Lily and Mary as they went to a spot that was on the top row and had a good view of the Gryffindor goalpost. Below Chloe watched as more students arrived on the pitch separating and going to their different stands. The colours of red and blue were vibrant throughout the crowds, and Chloe noted how the Slytherins opted to wear no colours but black.

Shaking her head at their arrogance, she took to look at the people in the stands. Many of them were young, the older students having either seen too many Quidditch games in their lifetime, or knowing that there will always be seats for them even if they came late.

"There goes Sirius and Peter," Mary said, nodding towards to figures that were walking across the pitch separately from the rest. "I'm surprised; I thought they would all be doing some strange boy thing with James to get him all pumped up." Mary laughed.

"Oh, I'm sure they were up to something," Lily said and looked at Chloe. "Have you talked to Remus at all since the fight?"

Chloe shook her head no. "I don't think there is any reason to. He'll just act as a broken record, and personally, I'm tired of listening to the same track." Chloe felt bad saying it, but Lily knew what she meant.

"I understand," Lily replied, "He will come around eventually though, and see it your way." Lily added, trying to make Chloe feel better.

Putting on a small smile to show that she appreciated what Lily was doing. "He should have done so a long time ago; he is one of my longest friends and knows me well… at least I thought he knew me well…" Chloe trailed off, frowning.

"Stop," Lily said sternly, putting her arm around Chloe. "This is supposed to be fun, let's not ruin it." She finished with a smile.

Before Chloe could say anything the crowd burst out into cheers as the announcer said all the names of the Quidditch players as they came on to the pitch. The noise was nearly deafening. She watched as people came zooming up into the sky in bright red and yellow uniforms before going back to the ground to hover in centre pitch. Soon after them the Ravenclaw team in their blue robes came flying on to the pitch and the announcer shouted their names.

"Where's Remus?" Mary asked to Lily and Chloe, pointing downwards to the front seat. Chloe looked where Mary was pointing and saw Peter and Sirius. Peter was talking quickly to Sirius, looking all around in wild excitement while Sirius sat looking serene, leaning back slightly on the empty bench behind him, gazing across the pitch blankly.

"Oh, he's on a date with Kathy. They are probably sitting in the other stands – trying to get away from all of us." Lily explained, laughing a little.

Chloe looked away from Sirius, and tried to follow the game that had just begun. She watched as red and blue blurs flew up and down the pitch, balls flying every where. A bludger went whizzing past the stands only to be hit back again by Alec Sherman with his wooden bat clenched in his fist tightly.

"Chloe."

Chloe froze upon hearing Sirius' low whisper behind her.

"I am going to get up and go down to the ground." He breathed in a deep breath. "Ten minutes after you will leave and meet me there." He took another breath. "Please come."

She stared forward, her ears tuned not to the thundering cheers around her but to the sound of moving floorboards as Sirius stood and mad his way to the steps. And she waited.

Ten minutes passed and Chloe continued to watch the games as if nothing had happened. She had no idea why Sirius had chosen this time to talk with her, or what he wanted to talk to her about.

"I have to use the loo," Chloe told Lily and Mary after Ravenclaw scored tying up the game.

"Oh, all right. Hurry though, your going to miss the game." Lily replied as Chloe stood up.

She made her way down the aisle and up the steps to the stairwell. She glanced behind her at Lily who was still looking forward, cheering loudly with Mary. Turning back around she entered the wooden stairwell and raced down them to the bottom. Once there she found Sirius standing a few yards away staring out at Forbidden forest, a look of slight worry etched on his face.

"Sirius," Chloe said, moving over to him.

He turned around, the worry slipping away slightly as a smile slid on to his face. "I'm glad you came."

"Don't act so over dramatic Sirius." Chloe countered, now standing only a yard away from him. "Why did you want meet? I'm assuming you have something you wanted to say to me."

"You assumed correct." Sirius smiled. Chloe waited for him to continue but when he said nothing else she rolled her eyes.

"Well out with it then," Chloe pushed him on, exasperated.

Sirius chortled lightly, but quickly turned more serious. "I wanted to talk to you about what's going on between you and Remus."

Chloe groaned loudly, turning around and stomping away from Sirius. "If I had known this is what you wanted to say to me, you were right, I would have never come." She shouted, looking behind her as she headed back towards the stand.

"Chloe wait one moment, there's more I have to say." Sirius said racing after her. He met her in front of the stairs, his face close to hers. "I'm not telling you to talk to him again, or why you two are even fighting. I just wanted to tell you don't let the friendship you two have over something that has to do with me. I'm not worth it." Sirius finished an earnest look upon his face.

Chloe breathed heavily, clinging to the rail and watched as Sirius stepped away from her, the look of worry reappearing on his face. If he only knew, then this would all become so much easier. He would understand, if he knew. They wouldn't be having this conversation, if he knew.

If he only knew.

The words were on the tip of her tongue, aching to escape her lips, and she knew if she let herself go he would know everything, and the clenched fist that held her so tightly would let go. She would be free.

"If only it were that simple," Chloe managed to say through shaking lips.

"Let it be," Sirius retorted quickly.

"I can't, Sirius! I can't let it be that simple, and you know it." Chloe moved toward him. "You can't tell me that deep down that you don't believe there is more to all of this then you know." She searched his eyes.

"Tell me then," Sirius replied softly. "Tell me why this is so bloody complicated."

Chloe took in a breath, and looked away. "I can't do that, Sirius."

"Then I guess my position still stands. Don't ruin a good friendship over me. I can't have that burden on my mind." Sirius whispered.

Chloe looked back at Sirius, her heart aching. This was too much. Her hand traveled to her mouth as a sob escaped her lips. Tears ran down her cheeks, and Sirius pulled her into a hug.

"Just leave what ever it is here. Just leave it on the pitch to be washed away by the morning rain." Sirius murmured in her ear as he held her.

"I will," Chloe managed to say. "I'll forgive him," she said truthfully. In her heart and mind Chloe knew that it was the right thing to do. Remus was her friend, and Sirius could plainly see what the fight was doing to them both.

She pulled away, and Sirius held her face in his hands. "I would kiss you if I could."

Chloe reached up with her own hands and pulled his away. "But you can't."

"I can't," Sirius nodded, their hands dropping by their sides.

Chloe quickly wiped the tears away, pausing to ask Sirius if it looked like she had been crying.

"No, you're all right. You better go though, I'm sure Lily is wondering where you've gone." Sirius told her, stepping away.

"Aren't you coming up?" Chloe asked as she moved towards the stairs.

Sirius shook his head. "I'm going to wait for James."

Chloe nodded, and smiled. "Goodbye Sirius," she said as she turned to the stairs.

"Goodbye Chloe," he returned, giving a small smirk when Chloe glanced back at him.

Turning around Chloe made her way slowly up the stairs. As she did the crowds grew louder, and she became aware of the struggle that was taking place on the pitch. When she reached the top of the stands the crowd all jumped cheering loudly as Melissa Kennedy, the seeker of the Gryffindor team, flew high into the air, her arm outstretched, the Golden Snitch clasped tightly in her hands.

"You missed it!" Lily shrieked when Chloe got back to her seat. "She had been high in the air and just dived straight for the ground where the Snitch was hovering just a few meters above! Ah, it was just fabulous!" Lily cried incredulously.

Chloe laughed, and pretended to be upset that she had missed such a thing. With the rest of the crowds they were herded out of their seats and down the steps to the ground below. Rather then going out to the pitch they went straight back to the castle, all happy to be in the warm indoors.

A/N: This chapter has been so much fun to write!! Okay, I had to let out just because at the beginning of writing this chapter I had very little idea of what I was doing. But now, I've got it all under control. Yah! The next chapter should be out soon (fingers crossed), and hopefully you'll enjoy it. I hope you liked that I had some more interaction between Sirius and Chloe. I really thought that since they had this understanding and 'chemistry' again that Chloe would allow herself to be secret friends with him. I promise you all that they will get that kiss. Eventually. Thanks for reading!