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Moria bit her lip as she worked on some of her homework for Charms. This year was tougher than the last six years.

"Flitwick just enjoys torturing us doesn't he?" She murmured to herself, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She glanced up as she saw Lily come in, her face red.

"Hello Ms. Head Girl." She teased, closing her charms book. "What's up?" she asked. Lily glanced up in shock, as though she hadn't seen the other girl and then pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Oh hi Moria. What are you doing here?" Lily asked. Moria gave her a look, an eyebrow raising.

"It's the common room for Gryffindor. I sort of sit here every day doing homework Lily. Or did you forget?" Moria asked. "You okay? You seem a bit…jumpy all of a sudden." Moria stated, pressing her hand to her cheek. Lily looked around, ensuring that no one else was sitting around before sitting down on one of the couches her back to Moria. Merlin, if anyone heard what she was about to say…Moria looked at Lily confused. It had been two months since school started. Lily and James were by all accounts on good terms with each other. Lily didn't call James a rainbow of names, and James had even stopped asking Lily out every two seconds much to Lily's shock. That couldn't be the problem…could it.

"I...I think I'm starting to fall for James." Lily finally admitted.

"Nothing is wrong with that Lily."

"Yes there is!" Lily exclaimed. "I shouldn't be falling for James! He's arrogant, conceited, funny, a cute smile, handsome, great body..."

"And we have crossed the threshold of feelings that Moria agrees with into the feelings that Moria feels uncomfortable with." Moria interrupted. "Come on Lil, there is nothing wrong with having feelings towards James. People change as they grow up. Some for the worse…others for the better."

But it just feels…weird. I mean it would be like you falling for Sirius." She exclaimed failing to notice Moria flinch.

"Lily…you're over-thinking this. There is nothing wrong with starting to like him. To be honest I think you've been gaining feelings for him since that summer when you guys stayed with me." She explained, leaning into the sofa with a smirk.

"But you being your stubborn self, denied that." She said and Lily looked at her. "Look, I'm not saying this because I'm trying to hook you up with him." She continued. "Yes he's…a git…a lot and he's hot-headed, and sometimes his jokes aren't actually funny to anyone who isn't him or Sirius, but in all honesty he is a great bloke. Out of the blokes here, I think he's a good pick. You're a lucky girl Lil." Moria finished with a soft smile and then grinned playfully.

"And you never know. I may get together with Sirius." She said a slight edge of hope in her voice. However her hope dimmed when Lily only laughed, shaking her head.

"I can't see you getting together with him. No offense but he's a randy git. Can you see him getting a girlfriend? That would be a true miracle." Lily stated. Moria forced a smile and a small laugh.

"Yeah…a miracle." She murmured softly. "Anyway…" She started, changing the subject. "I still think you should give James a chance." She said with a cheerful tune in her voice. Lily nodded slightly a blush evident on her face.

"It will be worth it to see his face." She said and Lily laughed, before nodding.

Later that night Moria lay in her bed, absently petting Ashes, who lay on her side, purring softly in her sleep. She kept replaying the conversation she had had with Lily and let out a soft sigh. She honestly wished she could tell Lily about her and Sirius, but she had promised him. And she understood his promise…where he was coming from. Still, it didn't make it any easier. She wanted to talk to someone…anyone. But telling her aunt would inevitably lead to her uncles finding out which was a bad idea, her friends couldn't know, and telling a teacher relationship problems were too weird.

"Why do relationships have to be so difficult?" she murmured out as she rolled over onto her side. Maybe she was overthinking this, but something in her mind was telling her she was right to be having those doubts. She groaned slightly and sat up knowing she needed to go down and get a snack. Do something to relieve herself of this pent up stress. Quietly she snuck down the stairs and went to the portrait that housed the secret passage. She checked to make sure no one was around before tickling the pear, remembering how Sirius would do that whenever she went with him on one of their 'dates'. As the pear became a handle, she let herself in, walking over to a bowl of fruit. Carefully, she picked through and finally found an apple. She bit into it closing her eyes slightly as she chewed.

"Do you always do that? Close your eyes when you eat an apple?" A voice whispered out and she chocked on the apple looking up quickly.

"Do you enjoy scaring the crap out of me?" she hissed out as Sirius walked out a grin on his face.

"Maybe. You give such a cute expression when you're caught."

"I do not."

"Yes you do. You give the 'it wasn't me' look quite well when you're startled. Who do you get that from? Your mum or dad?" he asked and she smiled slightly.

"My mum. My dad would have a 'oh shit I've been caught, but I'm going to try to look like an angel' look." She remarked taking another bite of her apple smirking as he laughed. "Normally that face was associated with my mother catching him giving me a cookie before dinner." She finished.

"I bet. From what you told me during the summer, your mother was quite the wild one."

"She would take that as a compliment."

"I bet she would." He replied with a chuckle taking another apple and promptly began to eat it. She glanced at him then at her lap.

"They would have liked you."

"Hm?" he asked one cheek slightly round from a piece of the fruit, looking at her questionably.

"My parents." She clarified, resting her cheek in her hand. "They would have liked you. Granted my dad would have tried to act all macho and most likely threatened the removal of a certain organ if you hurt me at all." She commented with a chuckle. "And he would have probably kept that promise, and have had his brothers back him up. So you're lucky." She continued taking another bite of her apple. Sirius was silent. Sure…his relationship with his biological parents was shit. Absolute shit. He had no feelings for them whatsoever. But Moria…Moria's past was different than his.

"You miss them don't you?"

"Of course I do. When they died they had been my whole world."

"Didn't you have friends?"

She shook her head, looking at the apple that lay in her hands. "I didn't really have a lot of friends my age. And then with Malcolm…that pretty much killed any chance of a normal childhood I could have. But…even though the ache gets less and less but it won't ever really go away." She replied and then shrugged. "Reminds me I'm still alive."

"You know for a seventeen year old you are awfully wise." He commented and she snorted.

"Like I haven't heard that one before." She retorted and glanced at him. "So practice is at normal time tomorrow right?"

"Yup. James can't wait."

"Still can't believe that the last captain switched James from Chaser to Seeker."

"He's caught the snitch more times than Fortescue ever did. And that's just last year. He caught the snitch for all of the games in his fifth year."

"True. Irving did always have the problem with trying to show off for the ladies." She replied finishing her apple. He grinned and finished his own apple.

"We should probably head to bed." He stated and she nodded. Hesitantly she took his hand as they walked down the corridor towards their hall. He returned the grip, offering a soft smile. They finally made it to where the dorms separated from the guys and girls dormitories.

"Good night." He whispered to her quietly and she smiled softly, reluctantly letting go of his hand. She turned to go up to her dorm.

"Moria…"

"Yeah?" She turned to look at him and he pulled slightly back on her wrist, dragging her to him and claiming her mouth. It was soft and quick. She relaxed in his hold, before he moved away.

"See you tomorrow."

"Yeah." She murmured in reply. He offered a smile and with that, disappeared into his corridor. She sighed and then returned to her own room, quietly lying down. Slowly she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Moria glanced at James curiously as he all but skipped from the Quidditch mound after practice. An eyebrow raised, she grabbed her own broom and went towards the entrance, meeting up Lily and Alice. She then looked at Lily whose face was as red as her hair.

"Okay…so I'm going to make this wild bet and say that you agreed to go on a date with him?" she commented.

"What makes you think that?" Lily said offhandedly.

"Oh I don't know…" Alice stated, tapping a finger to her cheek. "Maybe it's the fact that James is nearly floating without his broom, right now." Alice replied and Lily's face became a deeper shade of red.

"Okay so maybe I did say we could go out for some hot-chocolate when we go to Hogsmeade this weekend."

"Aw how cute." Moria stated a smirk on her face.

"Shut up, Moria."

"Oh and Alice, you owe me two galleons."

"Oh right…I forgot about that."

Lily looked at her two friends stunned. "You…you bet on me?!"

"Technically." Moria stated. "We made a bet on who you would end up dating. Alice bet on Johnson."

"The bloke who picks his nose?"

"In my defense I didn't know that when he was placed in the betting pool."

"I was rooting for the underdog." Moria teased. Lily huffed and then smiled, almost apologetically at Moria.

"Moria, I'm really sorry, but can I ask you for a favor?" Lily asked. Moria looked at her confused.

"Uh…sure?" she asked.

"Can you distract Sirius? I don't want him following us around." Lily asked her eyes pleading. Moria blinked and smiled.

"Sure. I don't mind dragging him around with me." She stated nonchalantly and grinned as Lily smiled in thanks.

"Aw Lily has a boyfriend now!" Alice cheered, and Lily blushed as the trio walked back towards the school.

"He's not my boyfriend!"

"Yet." Moria replied. "Before we know it, we'll be finding you two snogging all over the place."

"Agreed." Alice added. "Now all we need is for Moria to get one." Alice said jokingly and Moria groaned in annoyance.

"Not this again."

"Come on M…you haven't let a guy get to your heart at all throughout Hogwarts."

"I have to keep my reputation somehow."

"What the Ice-Queen of Gryffindor? That should change. Which means you should let one in. It's nice to have someone who gets you." Alice said.

"Well…let's first help with Lily…besides you never know. I'm full of surprises." Moria stated with a casual smirk.

"Hey I don't need help!" Lily exclaimed her blush back on. Moria laughed as Alice went to tease Lily. She then glanced back at the Hogwarts castle. If only they knew.

"So you're supposed to be keeping me away from Lily and James? Really?" Sirius asked as they walked around Hogsmeade.

"Yup. Apparently you can't be trusted." Moria replied grinning as he pouted. "Oh relax. My company isn't that bad." She commented, flipping her hair behind her back. "Right?" She questioned. He grinned playfully and lifted her up causing her to laugh.

"Not bad at all." He stated.

"What are you doing?" she asked laughing.

"Can't you tell? Lifting you up."

"I can see that. Why?"

"Can't escape if you don't have any ground." He commented a grin on his face. Moria laughed a slight blush rising to her cheeks.

"Well you've 'captured' me, Mr. Black. Now what?" she asked playfully. Not answering Sirius continued to walk down the street, earning curious glances from everyone who they walked by. Finally, when he saw no one in a nearby street, he set Moria down. She looked around and went to move out of his arms. He however kept her trapped there, pulling her to his chest.

"Well it seems we're all alone Mr. Black." Moria commented as she looked around before looking up at him. "But I have a feeling you wanted that." She mocked and he grinned, pulling her close.

"Oh you have no idea Miss Prescott." He murmured and drew her into a kiss. She smiled softly, going on her tiptoes to respond, gripping his jacket between her fingers. Neither of the pair noticed a trio watching them, their eyes staring at Moria then slowly shifting their gaze to Sirius as they parted. They glared at Sirius as he kissed her forehead causing her to laugh before they continued on their walk. A few minutes after Sirius and Moria had disappeared, Lucius, Dane, and Narcissa stepped out.

"That…that blood traitor!" Narcissa hissed out.

"Snogging a filthy mudblood. Disgusting!" Lucius agreed with his girlfriend. Dane was silent glaring at where Sirius had been. So THAT was why she had continuously denied his advances. Well…if some bloody blood traitor had her…she was going to have to be punished.

"That disgusting mudblood! She should be taught a lesson! He should too!" Narcissa hissed out. Dane glanced at the pureblood witch, apparently unamused with her comments. Then an idea sparked.

"Lucius…you think you can get us into Madam Hooch's office?" Dane finally said. Lucius glared at him.

"Of course I can!" He snapped. Why? You have an idea?" Lucius asked. Dane smirked.

"Oh yes…yes I do…I warned her that when she least expected it."

Looks like that time is now.

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