Things were running smoothly for a couple of weeks. I was reading all about the death eaters in the paper every morning trying to figure everything out. I wanted to know why my parents were targeted to begin with. Sirius and I kept our distance while still writing notes to one another. We usually exchanged them during Muggle Studies when no one was looking. Almost everyday in class he would walk by me before class and slip a note inside of my bag. He was always so careful not to let anyone see or to get caught by even one wondering eye. And before class would end, I would always hide a note inside of the textbook that the Professor made us share. A couple of weeks ago, Sirius came to class a little early to talk to the Professor claiming that his book had accidentally exploded when he was doing his homework the night before. After a very long talk involving a lot of hand waving and blushing from Sirius. The Professor finally sighed and pointed to me before turning back to the class. Sirius was trying to hide his grin as he took the seat next to me and started to look over my shoulder while trying to read my book. I slid the book between the two of us and since then we shared the same book.
"Ashleigh. Please pay attention or you will get a weeks of detention." Professor Hanman said looking at me. I glanced down at my book to avoid his stare. Sirius and I kept meeting late at night and that cut down on my sleep. So I was always so tired.
"Ash. What is up with you lately?" Drew asked as we packed up our books at the end of class.
"Nothing." I said defensively because I didn't want anyone knowing about Sirius and I. I trusted my brother enough to keep the secret but I didn't want to take any grief from him.
"Are you sure? You seem so distant." He said grabbing my book and handing it to me. His eyes rested on the note that was tucked in the middle. I swallowed hoping he didn't see. He looked up at me grimly as if he could read my mind.
"I don't suppose that is from Lily." He said pointing to the letter. I sighed and looked around to make sure that no one was within ear shot.
"No, its not. But its not a big deal." I said quickly trying to explain myself.
"Ash… he has a girlfriend. Is this really how you want to be portrayed at a new school?" He said quietly. So quietly that I barely heard the last part.
"She is blackmailing him. He doesn't even like her." I said reciting the words that I had been reciting to myself every time I read one of his letters or every time we were kissing in the darkness.
"Why is she blackmailing him and with what?" Drew asked. This is why I didn't want him to find out. He asked too many questions and I didn't have any answers.
"She wants him and the only way to do that is to blackmail him and its about something that he and his friends did… or something." I said lamely at the end.
"Really? So lets think about this. Obviously what they did was bad. So bad in fact that one can blackmail them. That's a winner Ash." He said before angrily leaving me behind in the classroom. I stood there full of anger at him for not understanding and then anger at myself for trying to fool myself into thinking that what Sirius was being blackmailed for was something stupid. And then all of my anger turned to Sirius for making me feel all of these emotions all at once. This whole thing was supposed to be a fling and something fun. But not it just carried so much weight and emotion. Not to mention all of the risk. It was too risky if Amber found out and then all of this would be gone.
"Miss Cox, you are late for your next class. I believe that calls for a detention." The professor said pulling me out of my own thoughts. I looked at him with a fallen face. And then I realized that Sirius had detention as well.
"Hey, do you want to study with tonight?" Lily asked once I was settled in next to her during the next class. The Professor just told me to take a seat right away.
"I cant. I have detention tonight." I said looking straight ahead at the back of Sirius' head. I saw his head cock to the side and I could only imagine the smile on his face.
Detention was being served with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest. I had heard that detention with Hagrid was always the easy one. Tonight we had to search the outskirts of the forest for a Hippogriff that had escaped earlier. He broke us up into two groups and luckily Sirius and I ended up in the same group. As Sirius and I walked along the forest we kept bumping into each other. It would start off with bumping into each others shoulders and ended up with us against a tree making out. Every kiss from him was electrifying, causing my whole body to shake with anticipation of where his hands would land.
"Sirius, wait…" I tried to talk against one of his kisses. His lips paused before trailing down to my neck.
"Seriously… we cant… I don't think…" I kept blanking when I wanted to say something. Every time I tried, my mind would fog over with pleasure. Finally I was able to get enough strength to push him away. He looked stunned that he was actually being pushed away. I got the feeling that no one ever pushed Sirius Black away.
"Whats wrong, love?" He asked laying on the charm, which started to draw me in . I sighed putting more distance between myself and him.
"What's wrong is this! This whole thing is wrong." I said tapping into the anger that I had earlier. I needed to stay straight and get what I wanted to say out. Even though all I really wanted was his arms wrapped around me once more and his lips to continue their trail down to my neck… No! No, stay focused. I told myself.
"What? Here in the forbidden forest? We are alone Ash." He said coming closer once more. I put my hand out to stop him.
"No, us being here. Us, doing this. Its wrong. You are with Amber and I don't know what she has over your head but its too risky." I said with my hand now resting on his chest. He blinked a few times and then his face softened.
"I know its risky. Trust me, everyday I wait to hear news that she knows. But I cant help myself when I am around you. I am just completely attracted to you." He said brushing a piece of hair out of my face. He looked so sincere that I wanted to completely agree with him. And then he cupped my face with his strong hand.
"What Amber is blackmailing me with has to do with one of my best friends. It will destroy him is this information got out. Its nothing bad, just deeply embarrassing. I promise that is it." He said still cupping my face. He smoothed his thumb over my cheek, causing me to close my eyes. We then continued to make out and I didn't mind one but. Risky or not.
There was news that Dumbledore had entered our school into a Quidditch league and we were going to play schools from all around the world. It was the same league that Drew and I used to play before we moved to a different school. And when I heard try outs were for tonight I got really excited. I suddenly felt as if things were going to be ok once more with Drew and I on the same team as before.
That night I walked down to the field with my whole team and some others who thought about coming onto the team and some people who just wanted to watch. When we arrived there were all four Quidditch teams and about 20 other people. The separated us into different positions. I hung out with James and Derek, all three of us were going out for Chasers. Everyone got to try out and they were either dismissed right away or were told to wait. It came down to me, James, Derek and 3 different Slytherins for chasers. We played against each other and then we sat down on the edge of the field waiting for the judges to finish their list of players. They got rid of the three slytherins and it was just we three, we had made it. For the keeper they chose Drew and for the beater they had Sirius and a girl from Hufflepuff. And the seeker was some guy in 3rd year in Slytherin, I couldn't remember his name but he and Sirius looked somewhat alike. The team was picked and we all had alternates for the positions too. I was so happy I gave Derek a big hug that almost knocked him to the ground but he caught me by the waist and twirled me around anyway. I smiled and he smiled back. He was cute, and nice and my brother liked him. That's three for three; maybe I should ask him out. This thing with Sirius was nothing and to be honest we couldn't keep it up for much longer.
"You know our first Hogsmeade weekend is coming up. Would you like to go with me?" He asked and I blushed, then I looked to the floor and nodded.
"I'd love to." I said continuing to blush. We then went our separate ways and I followed James and Sirius to the common room.
"Aren't you guys excited?" I asked jumping up and down. This was the happiest I had been since I had come to this school. I was jumping up and down on top of their backs. James was welcoming, he didn't care. He was just as happy as I was. But Sirius was a little stiff and I knew that I had to tone it down.
"Sorry, i'm just so happy." I said. He gave a weak smile, said he had to do something and ran off in the opposite direction.
"Does he really not like me that much?" I asked keeping up appearances even in front of James. We were close to the common room now and I couldn't wait to see Lily.
"Its not that. He has a girlfriend. They have been on again and off again since puberty. And, well, she has him wrapped around her little finger. And somehow she always knows what happens. So he gets a little weird when girls touch him." James said. I gave him an 'uhuh' look because I knew the whole truth. Sirius must not talk to his friends much when it comes to me.
"He's Whipped!" I said increasing the volume on the word 'whipped'. James chuckled. James stepped through the portrait hole after I had muttered the password. We smiled, our friendship was growing but we had to go our different ways. Me with Lily and him with his friends. I left him and went straight for Lily. I heard a lot of loud cheering and Lily's eyes lit up when she saw me.
"So?" She asked me expectantly. I kind of frowned, just to trick her though.
"Oh, no, Ash. I'm sorry." She said rushing over to give me a hug.
"I'm made it! I'm on the team!" I said laughing. She hit my arm and shook her head.
"You're horrible." She said.
"I know. But it was funny huh?" I said.
"Are you ready for the game tomorrow morning?" She asked me. I nodded excitedly. I was ready. I was pumped. I was just plain excited. I didn't know how I would be able to sleep through the night.
I did eventually sleep and in the morning I woke up early. I snuck up to the boys' dormitory and I found Sirius' and James' room. I knocked really hard and then heard something fall to the floor. The door opened and a sleepy looking Remus was standing there. He motioned for me to come in.
"Sirius' its for you!" he barked and collapsed on his bed with a thud.
"Actually its for both Sirius AND James. WAKE UP! First game is today!" I said. James looked at me and rolled his eyes. Sirius wasn't moving. I walked up to him and whispered in his ear. He popped up and that wasn't the only thing that had popped up. I fumbled backwards and tripped over something on the floor.
"Sorry." I muttered, quickly exiting the room. I went down to breakfast, I was hungry but I was too excited to eat. Professor Dumbledore was already at the head table eating some porridge.
"Good morning Professor Dumbledore." I said politely. He looked up and smiled.
"Good morning. Are you ready for today's match?" He asked me. I nodded.
Drew came walking in with Derek. I wanted to go there but at the same time I was feeling a tad bit shy and embarrased when I thought of Derek last night. But I shouldn't let that stop me from going around my brother. I sighed and gathered as much courage as I could and walked over to them.
"Are you guys ready to tell me that I'm the best and that Gryffindor rules the school?" I asked both of them, neither one in particular. Derek choked on his orange juice and Drew silently chuckled.
"No 'cause you're going to be the one who says we are the best." Drew said in a taunting tone. I rolled my eyes and went back to my table. The captain was there at this time and he was glaring at me.
"No fraternizing with the other team." He said. I rolled my eyes.
"Corey, you know you're the only one I fraternize with." I said batting my eyes. He laughed and walked away shaking his head.
Half way through the game we were down by 2 goals. It was getting harder and harder to get the Quaffle into the goals. I had managed 4 points already. I was thinking of another way to get it passed him. I got the Quaffle and I passed it to James who passed it to Simon who had passed it to me. I was getting closer and closer to the goal when a bludger came right at me and knocked me off my broom. I felt myself falling more than 40 feet and I couldn't find my broom in sight. I looked up and saw everyone's attention looked toward the seeker except for Drew who was flying toward me. Too late. I thought as I hit the floor. Pain reverberated thorough my entire body.
Drew's POV
I saw her falling toward the ground and I briefly thought that maybe it was a trick but when I realized no one on her team was helping her I knew that she was in trouble. I had to save her, she was the only thing I had left in the world. I zoomed past everyone, I didn't care whether anyone scored while I was away as long as I helped Ash. I realized I was too late when I saw her delicate body hit the ground and bounce, her back arched from the hit and her eyes closed.
"Ashleigh! No, please, this cant be happening! Ash wake up!" I said shaking her a little. She still wasn't moving. The nurse of the school was rushing to my side. She put a hand on me and examined Ashleigh. The Headmaster came to the side and I heard the game stopping. Her team and mine gathered around us. The nurse conjured up a stretcher and carefully placed Ashleigh on it. I was crying and I didn't care who saw. I wiped my eyes and I followed the nurse.
"I'm sorry but you are going to have to stay here." The nurse told me. I got this intense look in my eyes. I could have killed her.
"NO! She is my sister. I'm going with." I told her. She was about to protest when Dumbledore spoke.
"He's entitled to be with her." He said simply. I knew that he was the same guy that helped us that night when our parents…. I still couldn't admit it. I just can't admit that hey were…. It would make this whole thing seem real. But right now I had to concentrate on Ashleigh.
"Is she ok?" I asked the nurse when we arrived at the hospital wing.
"I'm going to keep her asleep for a while. Her bones need to heal and it might be very painful if I let them heal while she was awake." She said.
"How long will she be sleeping?" I asked her. She shrugged her shoulders. I wasn't going to leave her side. She was my twin sister, she needed me. And as much as I hated to admit it, I needed her too. I sighed and sat down in a chair next to her bed.
Hours went by and she still didn't even stir in her bed. Lily came to see her and sat with her for a while until the nurse kicked her out around dinnertime. My stomach wasn't even asking for food. And if it had I wouldn't have left Ash.
"How is she doing?" Lily asked coming back. I glanced around the place for the nurse.
"I don't know." I said. I was sure that my eyes had bags under them from all the worrying and I probably looked exhausted. It had been over 8 hours and Ash still didn't move.
"I'm sure she is going to be fine. She's a fighter." Lily said. I smiled. Ashleigh was blessed to have such a great friend in Lily. And Lily was very beautiful too. She had shoulder length wavy red hair and bright green eyes that were very striking. We talked about a lot of stuff and we stayed up well past 3 am before the nurse decided to kick Lily out and make a bed for me. I didn't want to fall asleep but the exhaustion over took me.
When I woke up in the morning Ashleigh was still in the same spot. She looked very vulnerable, her eyes had developed into two large black eyes. Her hair was limp and greasy and her whole body seemed as if it was going to break in half. All I wanted to do was take her pain away. I could take it and spare her. I grabbed her hand.
"Please Ash, you need to come back. I can't survive without you." I said. She stirred a little. And then her eyes snapped open.
"Did we win?" She asked half smiling. All I could do was laugh and hug her a million times over and over. I was so happy that she was alive and awake that I didn't care that we had lost.
"Yes you did." I said with tears in my eyes.
"Don't cry." She said giving me