Back to Samantha's POV

I glared at Sirius as he walked out of the Great Hall.

No, he strutted out of the Great Hall.

He was so infuriating. He thinks he can go around and do anything, just because he's Sirius Black.

Whatever.

I knew I didn't like Sirius anymore. When I thought about him, I felt a surge of dislike instead of the butterflies I used to get.

I told my friends about what had happened between me and Sirius. Obviously they took my side and Remus did too. I think even James felt sorry for me but he stayed out of the conversation about Sirius.

"Earth to Sam." Lilly said, waving her hand in front of my face.

I looked up at her.

"Who do you want to go to the ball with?" Lilly asked.

"Ball?" I asked confused. How much of the conversation did I miss?

"Sam you really need to stop daydreaming." Lilly said and she chuckled.

She had no idea how true that statement was because more times than not, I'm daydreaming about Sirius. Once I even imagined what our kids would look like. That sounds really creepy but I couldn't help but wonder.

"There is going to be a retirement ball in honor of Slughorn's retirement." Remus said.

"Oh I think I'll just go with you guys." I said, sounding disappointed. I hoped they couldn't hear my disappointment.

But by the way Lilly looked at me, I knew that she noticed.

"No, we are going to set you up with a really hot guy," Lilly stated.

"Yeah someone who is ten times hotter than Sirius Black." Mary added.

Good luck with that, Sirius is the best looking person I know.

I had thought about asking Remus but I like his friend and I think he should take a girl who likes him to the ball. He already had to deal with me last ball which is more than I could have asked for.

I guess I'll just see who Lilly and Mary think I should go with. Maybe I'll actually like the guy.

I was sitting in Charms, bored out of my mind, chatting to Lilly.

I glanced at Sirius and saw that he was talking to some girl in Ravenclaw. Usually I'd get a little jealous but I didn't care. At all.

Instead I pitied that girl because she'd probably end up like every girl Sirius dated. Or the girls he used, I thought bitterly.

When the class ended I grabbed Lilly's hand and headed to the Great Hall for lunch. I was starving. That's when I realized I'd left my charms book and I had to run back to get it.

As I ran around a corner, I ran right into Sirius and fell on my butt, dropping everything.

Sirius tried to help me but I flicked my wand and everything came back to me. I didn't even look at him as I got up and headed back to the Charms classroom.

"Sam we need to talk." Sirius said, grabbing my arm and spinning me around to face him.

"There's nothing to talk about." I snapped.

"Yes there is. I shouldn't have kissed you, I know that. I had just had a really bad day and-"

"I don't care." I said, interrupting him. "You used me and I was stupid enough to fall for it. But you know what? I don't like you now. I dislike you and I hope you have fun shagging every girl in this school. Who knows, you might actually find someone worthy of the Great Sirius Black."

Maybe what I said was true. Maybe Sirius would actually find a girl he thinks is good enough for him. Luckily that girl isn't me.

"Sam, it isn't like that. You're great but-"

"Not good enough for you." I finished. "Thanks, I got the memo."

I walked around him and hit his arm when he tried to grab me.

I ignored him calling my name and continued walking towards Charms without looking back.

At lunch, I told my friends what had happened between me and Sirius on my way back to Charms. I was glad James and Remus weren't with us. It made it easier for me to talk to them.

"Well maybe you should forgive him." Said Rachael hesitantly. I glared at her but she continued. "Forgiving him doesn't mean you condone his actions, it just means you're willing to look past his mistakes to preserve your friendship."

"If I want to preserve it." I retorted. I really didn't care about our friendship at this point. If he was my friend, he wouldn't have done what he did.

"Well maybe you should hear his side of things," suggested Mary.

"Really?" I asked disbelievingly. I couldn't believe my friends were trying to defend him. Especially after they were the ones telling me to stay away from him. I can't believe after some lame apology they think I should forgive and forget. Well that wasn't happening. "He is a teenage boy and he did what all teenage boys do. I was just too stupid and trusting to see it. The end."

"Sam I might not like the guy very much but you really should hear his side of things," Said Lilly. "And it's obvious you care for him. You talk about him all the time."

"I don't like him anymore," I said.

"I can tell you do, it's killing you not to talk to him." Lilly said in a playful tone.

"It's not killing me not to talk to him. I don't like him anymore." I said firmly.

"Then why are you so mad at him?" Lilly challenged.

She had a point. Why did I care so much if I didn't like him? But deep down I knew I liked him. It was just easier to act like I didn't care. But under all the anger I was feeling towards Sirius, I knew I still liked him.

I didn't answer Lilly's question, instead I looked down.

"It's ok to still like him Sam." She said softly, hugging me. "But please be careful. We all know his reputation and we don't need him hurting you. Again."

"Trust me when I say that I will never kiss Sirius Black again," I said truthfully. I meant those words, I would never kiss him again and I would vow to never think of him as more than a friend. My feelings for him only hurt me.

Later that night I was sitting in the common room when I felt someone sit next to me on the couch.

"Hey Sam." Sirius said casually.

"Hey," I responded skeptically. I didn't look at him and continued to stare into the fire.

What was he up to?

"Aren't we going to get started?" Sirius asked.

I was confused at first but then it dawned on me. Our tutoring sessions.

"No, actually." I said. "I told Slughorn you didn't need anymore help and he said your grades proved it." I continued to look at the fire.

"Oh," is all Sirius could say.

"Well now you're free to go off with your friends at night," I said. And hookup with people. I thought resentfully.

"Oh cool." Sirius said, unsure. "Well anyways I wanted to apologize. For you know, what I did. I know I shouldn't have used you like that. I care about all my friends and I didn't mean to hurt you. I had just found out that my parents removed me from their will. I acted out and I know that's no excuse for what I did. Please don't hate me, we're friends and you're the only friend who doesn't make me feel damaged."

Despite how upset I was, my heart melted a little. Sirius must have some type of family issue, like me. I didn't think now was the time to ask him about it though. Instead I looked up at him and put my hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

"It's ok," I said in spite of myself. He then did something I wasn't expecting. He hugged me.

At first I froze but I hugged him back lightly. We pulled apart smiling.

"Friends?" Sirius asked.

"Friends," I agreed.

I know I still like Sirius but it was better to have him as just a friend. Relationships were overrated anyways.

Hey, just wanted to say thanks to everyone who reads this. Please keep reading! I know this chapter was a little boring.