"I don't know…." Charlotte clutched her wand in one hand and swept her fringe to the side with the other, facing the compartment door. Sirius stood beside her. In the wand light, he looked tired; there were bags above his perfectly crafted cheekbones. He, along with her, had yet to change into his robes, instead wearing jeans with many holes in them accompanied by a black leather jacket.

Before they could act, a loud voice filled the train.

"This less than favourable weather has caused an untimely power outage. There is absolutely no need for panic or qualms of any kind, and this error should be rectified within the next few minutes. Please remain in your compartments for the duration of the power outage. Do not enter the corridors until the train once again begins moving. Thank you for your cooperation."

Neither Sirius nor Charlotte relaxed, however. They continued to face the compartment, wands at the ready, each listening intently for any unusual sounds. After a moment, Sirius tried to open the door, but it was locked from the outside no doubt to keep students in their respective compartments.

"This is a magical train," he said, annoyed. "How sodding thick do they think we are? Sounded like a bloody Ministry official…."

She thought he was right. They stood for another moment in silence before Charlotte sat down. She sensed no immediate danger and, at the moment, there was nothing to do but wait. Her lips began to itch after a few more moments of silence, and she reached in her pocket for her cigarettes, mumbling, "Damn it," when she couldn't find them.

"Something wrong?" Sirius asked, following her lead and resuming his seat in front of the window.

"I must've dropped my cigarettes out in the hall," she said, tapping her fingers, irritated.

He reached into his pocket and revealed a pack. She leaned towards him and took the one he offered her gratefully before lighting it with the tip of her wand. He did the same, blowing out a smoke ring as he clutched it between his middle and index finger.

They seemed to come to a silent understanding, as neither spoke. Charlotte closed her eyes in the darkness, enjoying the peace. Though if she had been told that morning that she would be smoking in an train compartment with Sirius Black, she definitely wouldn't have believed it.

"I didn't know you smoked," he said after a awhile.

She leaned her head back against the wall and blew out a train of smoke. "I don't."

He cocked a handsome eyebrow. "Really?"

She smiled bitterly, tucking a light red curl behind her ear. "It's my summer habit. Exclusive to long periods of time spent around my family."

"I can relate to that." One of his arms was draped elegantly along the back of the seats as he turned his body to position his cigarette out the open window, tapping the end lightly before taking another drag. "My dear old mum and I never quite got along."

Charlotte knew Sirius had problems with his family. It wasn't exactly a secret, but she still couldn't help but feel that he didn't talk about it with many people. She would be right, of course.

"I pretty much told her to go fuck herself last summer," Sirius continued with a calm expression. The only thing revealing this to be a sore subject was the firmness of his jaw. "I thought it would feel great, you know. I had been running the conversation we would have when I finally left home over and over in my head since I was eleven." He laughed bitterly. "It sounds childish, but...whenever she'd send me to my room, that's what I'd to. Plan my speech." He took a drag. He didn't speak for a few moments.

"Did it?" Charlotte found herself asking.

He took a slow drag. "Not in the slightest."

She didn't know what to say to that, so she took a drag. They sat in silence in the darkness. Charlotte wondered if she should feel awkward sitting alone in a train compartment with Sirius Black, who she didn't really know, but didn't really have anything against. They were in the same House, and she recalled being partnered with him a few times in class, but they didn't know each other. If she should feel awkward, though, she didn't.

By the time their cigarettes were gone, the power was back on, but neither made to leave.

Sirius drew two more cigarettes from the pack. "Fancy another?"

-…-

"I wonder what that was all about," Mary said, moving her hair out of the way to peer behind her out the window into the corridor as the power turned back on and the train began to move. Many other students were doing the same.

Lily dug the Ministry pamphlet out of her beaded bag. "I'm guessing it has something to do with this," she held it up.

Marlene leaned over to read the title. "The Ministry of Magic's Guide to Defensive Magic? Where did you get that?"

"Prefect's meeting," Lily analyzed the cover herself. "Melanie said it was rubbish, but I'm not so sure."

"Let me see that," Dorcas held out a hand and Lily handed her the pamphlet. After a moment of reading through it, she said, "I'm not surprised Melanie didn't approve—a first year could perform anything in here."

Mary thought for a moment. "Do you think that was a Ministry Official? The one that spoke?"

"I dunno…." Lily said. Though, if she could bet on it, she would give more than just a few gallons that this did have something to do with the Ministry. "The Prophet's been a bit evasive lately, so I wouldn't be surprised."

"We should ask Josh…." Dorcas thought aloud, her eyes still scanning the pamphlet.

Mary smirked quite uncharacteristically. "I'm sure Mar would love to,"

Marlene, who by now had fizzled down from her episode, narrowed her light brown eyes. "I told you—I hate men."

"Oh, we all know you fancy him," Mary continued, smiling now.

"You know because I told you, Mary." Marlene's arms were crossed against her chest. Her rather low-cut blouse could have used another button. "In confidence, I might add."

Lily propped her elbow on the seat armrest. "Someone should ask him, he probably knows something we don't."

"He is quite handsome," Dorcas offered, handing the pamphlet back to Lily who stuck it back in her bag.

Marlene nodded somewhat dreamily, momentarily forgetting her anger. "He smells good, too." She had a thing with boys and how they smelled. She once broke-up with her boyfriend because he smelled badly after he had an unfortunate mishap in Potions. Unfortunately, that was also the subject they had to remain partners in for the rest of the term, making their post-romantic relationship quite awkward indeed. "Like….grass."

"He smells like grass?" Mary asked, grinning slightly at the absurdity.

"Grass is a good smell!" Marlene said defensively. "Like a field just after it's mowed…."

Marlene was the definition of a hopeless romantic. At the young age of eight she had made a pact with herself to find the one she was meant to be with, and she had been searching ever since. Convinced that it could happen at any time, she never went anywhere without her makeup bag, determined to look her best when the moment occurred. She was sixteen, and like most girls her age, she was unsurprisingly superficial. She had had many boyfriends, yes, but she was committed to believing in true love and soul mates.

"Dave is mates with him, I think," Mary said.

"Speaking of current love interests," Lily began, "how was it this summer?"

Mary shrugged. "We're just friends," Her eyes scanned the pile of candy on the seat beside her that was much smaller than it had been a few hours ago, and she broke off a piece of a chocolate bar. "That's all we've ever been."

"Is that the backdoor way of telling us nothing happened?" Marlene asked, tugging at a blonde curl.

"No," Mary smiled a bit.

The three girls listening waited for her to elaborate, and when she didn't, Marlene said, "So?"

"So….we kissed."

Lily grinned. "But that's great!"

But to everyone's dismay, Mary shook her head.

"It wasn't like that…." She tried to explain. "I mean, the kiss was. We were on the roof watching fireworks when he just leaned over, and…." She tilted her head. "But he said he just wanted to be friends afterwards. That a relationship would risk our friendship, and he didn't want to lose it." Mary studied her dorm mates' faces and added, "It was really sweet, and I know he meant it."

"Mary, he is your bloody soul mate." Marlene said, her arms still crossed. She meant not to say it bitterly, for she truly was happy for Mary, but it came out a bit strained anyway. She wanted that kind of relationship.

Lily idly glanced down at her watch and jumped up when she realized what time it was.

"Shoot—I was supposed to patrol at five-thirty…." It was quarter to six. They would be arriving at Hogwarts in about an hour. "I'll see you in a few minutes," she waved, before exiting the compartment.

-…-

It was strange how at peace he felt at the moment. He wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was the alcohol, or the cigarette. He was tired of always being around non-smokers—not that James minded when he smoked, but he never wanted to join in, said it made his breath smell bad. When he did join, you couldn't get him to shut up. Sirius loved him like a brother, but James just didn't understandthe art of smoking. It wasn't something you just did for the hell of it. It was calming. Charlotte seemed to understand this.

The thought of alcohol popped into his head, and he unscrewed the cover to his flask, taking a swig. He held it out for Charlotte. "Care for some?"

She transferred her cigarette into her other hand and took the flask. He was surprised when she didn't flinch as the alcohol slid down her throat, but smiled slightly. Then laughed quietly.

"What a way to start the term," she took a drag. "Drunk and addicted."

He grinned at this. "Everything's better while intoxicated, love."

She looked up at him, cocking her head slightly. She was quite beautiful; her long, light red curls falling across her shoulders, dark copper eyes (studying him) with long lashes, a defined nose that looked a tiny bit sunburned, and rose colored cheeks that were the same shade as her lips. She looked towards the window and he found his eyes wandering down her figure: a graceful neck, proportional amount of chest, legs that seemed to go on forever (his favourite), and that little strip of skin showing between her jeans and her tight tee-shirt.

Sirius took a drag his eyes not leaving her. She removed her gaze from the window and met his eyes. Slowly, a smile filled her lips. "What?"

He smiled slightly, eyes not leaving hers. "You're a piece of work, Hartry."

She took a drag, assessing his expression. She tilted her head. "The feeling is entirely mutual, Black.

There was fire behind her eyes. Rebellion. Defiance. And something he couldn't quite put his finger on. She was different. He liked things that piqued his interest and Charlotte Hartry had done just that.

-…-

The flask was empty before Charlotte knew it. She recalled it being quite heavy when she had first arrived in the compartment and vaguely wondered how much time had passed between then and now. She could hold her liquor—in fact, she was a bit known for it—but large amounts of liquor mixed with a summer of remaining completely sober mixed with being cooped up in her parent's house for three months did her in. She was feeling reckless, and her common sense was a bit dull, which made getting shitfaced with one Sirius Black seem like a perfect outlet.

That was why when Sirius Black moved to sit next to her, she did not protest. That was why when he placed his hand on her upper thigh and drew close to her, the only thoughts in her head were of how good he smelled: cologne, smoke, and leather. That was why when he began to kiss her she began to kiss him back, his stubble rubbing fiercely against her cheeks, his mouth tasting of whiskey and cigarettes. That was why when he thrust his hand under her shirt, she only thought of how soft his fingers felt against her skin. That was why she laid down on the seats and he maneuvered himself on top of her, adrenaline and lust coursing through both of their bodies rapidly; intoxication and the heat of the moment consuming them.

-…-

Lily had gone the length of the train and back again without any trouble. Nor had she, thank Merlin, run into anyone unfavourable. She vaguely wonders where this streak of good luck is coming from as she is nearing her compartment, when she spots Dave Connors exiting a nearby compartment.

"Dave," Lily approached him with a smile. "Good Holiday?"

Dave Connors, the subject of Mary's affections, smiled back. "Brilliant—Mary's told you, yeah?"

Lily did not have time to respond, because just then a girl exited the compartment that Dave had previously vacated and linked her fingers in his.

"Hullo, Lily," the girl smiled. "How are you?"

She was Annette White: The one and only. The same Annette White that was nearly as famous for the amount of boyfriends she had had than Sirius was for his girlfriends. And she was holding Dave's hand.

"Er—fine," Lily managed to say.

"Right, well, it was nice seeing you." Dave said after a few awkward moments. "Say 'hi' to Mary for me, yeah?"

"Bye, Lily." Annette smiled sweetly. Sickeningly.

The two set off down the corridor, leaving Lily with much more to think about than before their encounter.

Surely a love potion was involved?

-…-

It was dark. He blinked several times before sitting up. His vision blurred for a moment as blood rushed to his head while he attempted to take in his surroundings.

The train was stopped. He groped for his wand, his fingers finding something else in the darkness: his shirt.

His shirt?

His shirt.

Fuck.

The memory came flooding back to him and he groped for his wand more frantically.

"Lumos!"

The compartment lit up, but there was no one else in it. He shivered at the cold September air and pulled his shirt over his head before locating his jacket, then sat down on the window seat, running a hand through his hair. He was sitting on something: it was the flask. He put it in his pocket and leaned back against the window.

Fuck.

A light shone in from the corridor, and he jumped to his feet. Lily Evans opened the compartment door and looked oddly at him.

"Sirius?"

He relaxed. "Evans. What are you doing here?"

She gave him another funny look. "I'm a Prefect. What are you doing here?"

He sighed. He wasn't feeling up to pulling a lie out of thin air, so he pulled the flask out of his pocket and shook it. She rolled her eyes. "Really?" He shrugged. She analyzed him. "Why aren't you dressed?"

"I wanted to make an entrance."

Lily didn't seem to buy this, but she sighed and stepped out into the corridor. He followed, glad not to be probed by more questions.

"I just have to check a few more compartments," she said curtly when they were both in the corridor. "There's only one carriage left, so please don't take it without me."

Sirius watched her begin to walk down the corridor, opening and closing compartments as she went by them. He stepped out of the train and onto the platform, lighting a cigarette. He was half-way through it when Lily appeared beside him.

"You shouldn't drink so much, you know."

He raised an eyebrow. "Is that concern I hear, Evans?"

She crossed her arms. "Drinking kills brain cells." She smirked slightly. "And we both know how little brain cells you have to spare, Black."

He took a drag. "I suppose you approve of smoking, then?"

"Not in the least, but it's better than intoxication." She began walking towards the carriage that was waiting for them just beyond the gait to the platform. Sirius took one last drag, threw his cigarette down on the ground, stepped on it and then followed her, thinking she probably wouldn't wait for him.

Lily stopped walking when she was about five steps from the gait. Sirius caught up to her and was about to speak when she grabbed his shoulder, her eyes focused on something in the distance. He followed her gaze. There was a man standing just within their sight, and he was saying something to someone positioned so neither Lily nor Sirius could see him. Sirius listened intently.

"I've said already—I don't bloody well know, do I?" the man they could see said heatedly. "Your mate was there, ask him!"

"I have already questioned him, rest assured Mr. Thelbit." The man in the shadows said. Unlike the other man he spoke slowly and precisely.

The other man—Mr. Thelbit—sighed exasperatedly. "Gus. Are we done here?"

The man in the shadows nodded curtly. "Very well, Mr. Thelbit. You may be hearing from me in the future." He stepped into the light just long enough for Sirius and Lily to see his face before he disapparated.

"Like hell you will," Gus Thelbit grumbled before he stomped away down the dimly lit street.

Sirius and Lily said nothing for a moment, processing the conversation. Lily spoke first.

"That was the train conductor, Mr. Thelbit—Gus." Her eyes were still focused on the spot where the man had disapparated. "I don't know who—"

"He works for the Ministry." Sirius spoke. "I saw his face in The Prophet over the summer. Can't remember the name…."

Lily set her eyes on him. "He wasn't the one who spoke on the train, though."

"No," Sirius thought. "That must've been his 'mate.'"

They stood in silence for another moment.

"It's strange…." Lily voiced. "The Ministry has been acting odd all summer, and now this?"

Sirius nodded. He really didn't want to think any more of the situation at the moment, however. He had a slight headache, and the thought of dealing with the repercussions of the train ride had already overloaded his thoughts along with everything else he had to deal with. Not to mention he was starving. At this thought, his stomach gave a loud lurch. Lily smiled at him, her eyebrow slightly raised. With a joke about his appetite underway, the two climbed into the horseless carriage and started on their way to the castle. And despite everything, Sirius couldn't help but be glad to be back; though he was craving another cigarette, and he desperately hoped some fourth year (in an attempt to be funny) had spiked the pumpkin juice.

Author's Notes:

I know what you're thinking: where the hell are James, Remus, and Peter? Don't fret. They are going to be the larger part of the next chapter.

Thank you to live4dance for your lovely review! As well as xIceeyou!

I implore you, faithful readers, to drop me a line (in other words a review), and let me know what you think. It not only helps to improve my writing, but greatly influences me to get moving on the next chapter. Let me put it into a better perspective for you: Reviews are better than cake. Yes, I believe that should do it.