Sorry I haven't written anything in a while. It's been a rather tough couple of months.

To sum it up, my grandma died. I've been kind of a mess, haven't had a desire to do much of anything. We were very close and everyday is kind of a hurdle, if you know what I mean. Anyways, I'm just now getting back into the swing of things. So, expect a few more chapters and edits.

I Solemnly Swear,

LBM

"Sirius Black, you are the foulest boy that ever lived!" The sentiment was followed by a smack that echoed outside the Great Hall before Dina Harman ran bleary-eyed and tear streaked up the staircase. It did not seem to faze Sirius whatsoever. He rubbed his cheek as he made his way to the Gryffindor table wearing a smirk.

"Well that's the least original one we've heard," said James with grim humor.

Remus did not look amused, "To tell you the truth it's getting a bit old, and term started a month ago."

"Well what would you have me do, Remus? Anchor myself down to one bird and waste away miserably like you?" Sirius laughed, "No. I'd rather live the way I am thanks."

"Right, because you're not miserable at all," shot Remus in a low voice as he chanced a glance down the table. Sirius narrowed his eyes but said nothing as he scooped potatoes onto his plate. He knew what Remus was getting at. He knew who it was he would see if he looked down the table. Having her on his mind was enough.

"I don't think Sirius is miserable. I mean, I can't see how anyone could be with as many girls as he's snogged just this week alone!" said Peter in unsubtle admiration.

"That's because girls never snog you," snapped Sirius. Peter's face fell. He was used to Sirius's remarks toward him being short and sometimes teasing. But as of late they had just grown to be unkind. He missed Evie terribly now that she wasn't around as much. She had always put Sirius in his place. The small boy made a low whimpering excuse about forgetting a book before making his way out of the Great Hall.

James looked disappointed at his friend. "At the rate you're going you'll have everyone driven out of the hall in a matter of minutes."

"He gets on my nerves sometimes, you know that."

"Yes, but that was just cruel," said Remus evenly.

"You're clearly not over this, mate, and I'm not saying that she is either. But whatever it is, you've got to get yourself together. I mean it's not like Evie knows or-"

"Just drop it, James," snapped Sirius, "I don't care about her. I don't care if she's with that wanker. She can do whatever the hell she wants. I couldn't care less."

"You certainly have a funny way of showing it," muttered Remus as he noted the brief look of hurt that crossed James's face.

"Hey you lot," the boys looked up to see Fabian Prewett, the newly positioned Quidditch Captain, "I've decided we'll have tryouts tomorrow night instead."

"What's wrong with tonight?" asked James.

"Well, Gideon can't make it tonight and I'd like for the whole team to be there."

"Why not?" asked Sirius with forced casualty. Even though he knew this was Fabian he was talking to, the fact that he was identical to his brother made Sirius grit his teeth slightly.

"Dunno. Said he needed to plan something for Evie. I didn't ask."

"Well now that's just irresponsible. You should let him off the team," said Sirius without a trace of humor. James began to laugh loudly and forcibly to the point of turning a few heads.

"Wouldn't that be a laugh?" Said James after a few moments, "Well, you know Sirius. Quite the practical joker this one. We'll be there tomorrow night then."

Fabian gave a half-hearted wave before walking away.

"Right, Sirius. You obviously couldn't care less," said Remus simply.

"Sturgis is so…handsome, you know? But not like overtly handsome. He's more of a subtle handsome but you definitely know it's there. Not that it's obvious or anything, it's just admirable enough so that you…Evie, are you listening?"

"What? Oh sorry, Mar. Just dozed off a bit I think," said Evie. Both girls had been sitting at a table working on homework since dinner, Marlene prattling on all along about Sturgis Podmore, her boyfriend.

"Oh you were thinking about Gideon, weren't you?" Marlene giggled, "Sturgis said he's been planning a surprise for you."

"A surprise? What for? Our anniversary just passed. I can't think why he'd do anything," said Evie stiffly getting back to her Defense essay.

"Well, he'd do something because he's your boyfriend, silly! That's what he's supposed to do! It's rather sweet."

"It's rather tiring," said Evie shortly, "I appreciate it, I really do. But he always gets himself worked up about surprising me with things and then he works himself into thinking I don't like them and we end up fighting."

Marlene looked to her friend skeptically, "Is he working himself up? Or are you just bored?"

"I'm not bored," she replied quickly, "Really I'm not. He respects me and we care about each other. I've known him for ages and I trust him. Not to mention the snogging is good."

Marlene gave an unladylike snort. "Really? I hadn't noticed. You only go at each other all the time, you know. Drives Tilly up the bloody wall."

"Thanks," said Evie sarcastically, "What I mean to say is that...he doesn't have to do all these things for me. The roses, the sweets, leaving papers on my desk that serenade me all through class…I'd rather he didn't do them at all."

"What are you getting at, Evie?" asked Marlene. Evie shuffled a bit uncomfortably in her seat.

"What I mean is that I don't think I deserve it," she said in a hushed tone, "And every time he fixes me with something new and sweeter than the last I feel more awful than I already did before."

"What's got you so guilty? You haven't gone and cheated on him, have you?"

"Of course I haven't cheated on him!" whispered Evie, "I just feel inadequate. Like I'm not giving enough of myself in the relationship."

"Why would that be?" asked Marlene. Evie shot a brief look across the common room to the fireplace. James was beating Peter at exploding snap, Remus was taking notes on Potions, and Sirius...she'd never seen him look sulkier. It suited his insolent good looks though, that was for sure.

Marlene followed Evie's gaze and gasped, "No!"

"Shh!" cried Evie.

"But, Evie, I thought you were over him. You're never around him anymore and you stopped talking to him."

Evie rolled her eyes, "Correction, he stopped talking to me and started favoring arguments instead."

"Well you've always argued, Evie," said Marlene, "That was always just a part of your chemistry with Sirius."

"What do you mean?"

Marlene gave her a sly look, "Sexual tension. I mean I always figured you argued so much because you both cared so much. And you know, because you wanted to jump each other."

"That's never been the case, Mar," Evie said hurriedly, "He's never felt that way about me. Anyways, I don't want to talk about him. What were you saying about Sturgis?"

"Oh right! So Sturgis's jawline is really appealing. Very strong but just delicate enough to the point that it's inviting…"

But Evie wasn't listening. Marlene was so immersed in what she was saying that she didn't notice Evie glance longingly at Sirius. She wasn't quick to look away this time. In her own mind she could admit to herself that she missed him. He had been her best friend, truly and incomparably. She still had James of course. He hadn't taken sides in their ridiculous fight- a fight that she couldn't find cause to. And anyways, James was more her brother than anything else. Her relationships with Lily and Remus, as close as they were, weren't the same either. The bond between Evie and Sirius was unquestionable. They had cared for each other more than anyone else and that was something that she had felt to be true. She could tell him things, anything really, that she couldn't bring herself to talk about with Gideon. And they had been going out for the majority of a year now! But she knew then, as she always had, when Sirius felt her looking and held her gaze with soft unaccusatory gray eyes, that she would never quite feel the same about another human being.

Sirius was bored of watching James beat Peter every game they played. He wanted to ask Remus how the animagus potion was coming along, but that would give invitation to bring up Evie. He missed her deeply. If he was being honest, he was madder at himself than he was with her. He had waited too long. He had wasted his time chasing other skirts when he only really wanted her. The rejection he was so used to with his family had unwillingly transferred over to her, and because of the fear he had hesitated. She wasn't an option now. She was with stupid-gingered-older-talented Gideon Prewett, and she was happy. Or so it seemed. They didn't speak anymore, unless it was to argue. They'd learned their lesson not to even bother communicating in McGonagall's class because every altercation ended in detentions. However, every time he looked at her, really looked, he saw in her eyes that something was lacking. She wasn't the same buoyant Evie that she'd been with him. And for that he damned Gideon Prewett.

Noting that neither of his friends would notice, he dared to look at her. He'd noticed her sitting with Marlene and chatting, probably about their boyfriends no doubt. But he was pleasantly surprised to see her looking right at him. His gray eyes never left her brown ones. How he'd missed the very shape and shade of them! He could stare at her forever, and he would have. But the moment was cut short.

"Oi, Sirius! Watch me singe the nonexistent stubble off of Peter this time!"

"Hey!"

He turned his gaze to James and gave a half-hearted smile. When he looked back at her she was already talking animatedly with Marlene, a smile dawning on her flushed kissable lips. He gripped the arm of the chair tightly. He needed her back and he refused to wait any longer. Something needed to be done.

"So it's settled then!" called Fabian to the group of mounted players, "The new Gryffindor beater is Sturgis Podmore and our new seeker is Bethany McKinnon. Thanks, everyone for showing up. I'll post the back-up positions soon."

"That was an interesting hour, wouldn't you say?" laughed Gideon as he and Evie dismounted their brooms and began walking hand-in-hand back to the locker room.

"If by interesting you mean a waste of time then yeah, I'll allow it," she replied with a smile.

"I know what you mean. It was kind of clear from the get go that Beth and Stu were the best we were going to hope for."

"That poor second year!" Evie shook her head laughing, "How he managed to hit the bludger at the post so that it shot right back at him, I will never know!"

"Well at least he didn't hit you, right?" he said with clear relief.

"Sirius wouldn't have let that happen," she replied confidently.

Gideon scoffed, "I'm not convinced. You both go at it like cats and dogs. He has no respect for you, Evie."

"Gid, I really don't want to talk about this."

"We need to talk about this," he said bringing them to a halt, "What am I supposed to do? Sit back and watch as another bloke disrespects my girlfriend?"

Evie shot him an exasperated look. They'd had this conversation before. "He doesn't mean anything by it, and at any rate I can take care of myself."

"You shouldn't have to. I'm here, you know. And it's my responsibility to look after you."

"Godric, Gid, you sound like we're married or something," she laughed pushing her sloppy ponytail over her shoulder.

"I know, but I mean we've been going out for nine months now. It's not totally out of the question to think that could happen someday," he said as he pushed loose strands of hair behind her ear. Her face grew as tinted as Gideon's hair at his admission.

"We're still too young to talk about things like this," she said hurriedly.

"I don't think so. I'll be of age next year. And well I've liked you for a long time, Evie. We've known each other all our lives. It's not ludicrous to suppose-"

"It is! I'm fourteen. Look, can we just not talk about this now, please?"

He swallowed audibly, "Fine. I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable-"

"-It does-"

"Because the last thing I'd want to do is make you uncomfortable," he said in husky voice as he closed the gap between them. She gave in as she always did. Leaving their brooms discarded on the ground they began to kiss furiously. Gideon walked her backward so that she was between him and the stadium. Her fingers tangled themselves in his ginger curls as his hands grabbed hold tightly on her waist. The hard pressure of his lips on hers gave way and she opened her mouth to him, letting his tongue slide with hers.

"Ahem."

The two lovers sprang apart to see a rather embarrassed Lily and a disgusted Matilda.

"Now that you're done snogging my friend, I'll kindly steal her, thanks, bro," said the latter before snatching Evie away and marching up the lawn.

"Honestly, Evie, in public no less! What if a prefect had seen you?" cried Lily indignantly. Evie only smirked in response. That was, until she looked back down the field to where commotion had erupted. Gideon was struck down on the ground clutching his left shoulder, a bludger looming overhead. Fabian, Sturgis, Marlene, and Bethany were running towards him shouting. Across the lawn perched on a broom was Sirius, beater's bat in hand.

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Thanks for reading.