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It had been nearly three days since Moria had been injured in Quidditch. And like Sleeping Beauty, she remained trapped in what seemed to be an everlasting sleep. Nothing anyone would do seemed to work. "She still hasn't woken up?" Lily asked as she and Alice walked to the Hospital Wing, seeing Madam Promfrey. The older nurse shook her head, glancing at the form that was resting in the cot nearby.

"She had a serious head injury. It's not surprising for her to still be like this." Ponfrey stated. Lily and Alice glanced at each other, and then into the wing. They could see Moria in a bed, still as stone.

"Do you think she'll ever wake up?" Alice murmured.

"Of course she will. This is Moria. She's way too stubborn to not wake up." Lily stated folding her arms. She had to wake back up. She just had to.

What a strange prison she had created, Moria mused. She was at first, only floating in the darkness, everything around her a strange mist. Her hair had been pulled out of the normal ponytail she sported, and she was wearing a white dress that flowed down to her ankles. Normally, she would hate this. She hated when her hair was down, and she hated, HATED wearing dresses. Yet, she was perfectly fine with this. Weird. It must have had something to do with this strange castle she was walking around in now.

Down the hallways she went, looking this way and that, for a way out, an escape. But all she could see in this macabre-Hogwarts impersonation was dark closed doors and luminous tapestries on the walls. When she moved, it was though she moved through water. How long had she been walking? It seemed like years. It was deathly quiet, and nothing was stirring except herself and she made ripples in the water-like walls as her feet stuck to the floors that she couldn't feel.

She stopped.

A voice. It was short, and muffled as though trapped beyond this watered prison. She looked around, hopeful for the sound to be repeated, and that it would guide her like a beacon.

"Hello?" She called out. However her voice merely echoed through the silent halls. She sighed angrily, exasperated with her predicament.

"Why?" She called out, the anger finally entering her voice. "If you knew this was going to happen to me, why did you let me survive that godforsaken car crash!? Why did you put me through all this just so I could wind up here?!" She screamed. Nothing answered, no one came to her call.

"ANSWER ME, GOD DAMMIT!" She screamed. Tears slid down her face, though she didn't acknowledge them. She slid down to the ground, the water rippling around her, distorting the images and tangling her senses. It tore away the castle, destroying the labyrinth she never could find a way out of, wrapping coils around her form, and anchored her to where she sat.

She needed to find her way out of this dark hole.

But for what?

Why should she return to the world of light? To do what? Continue hiding a relationship? Live without her parents? At least in the dark she didn't have to hide anything.

She was just Moria in the dark.

Just Moria.

And in all honesty…that's what she wanted…

That's what she wanted.

Sirius glanced up from the seat he was currently in, glancing at Moria's face. To his surprise he saw tears creeping from the eyes of the sleeping girl, and gently he wiped them away.

"Moria?" He called out softly, hoping that that was a sign she was close. However she remained still. So far she had eluded death, much to his relief, however consciousness seemed to also evade her. Still he and the rest of their friends took shifts to stay near her in case she did manage to wake up. It would be better if she woke up to a familiar face instead of being alone.

"How is she?" He heard and turned to see James. Sirius sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Still asleep." He responded.

"It's not really that surprising…with a hit like that-"

"I KNOW Prongs." Sirius retorted. James glanced at his best friend in confusion.

"You aren't blaming yourself are you?"

"It's my job to make sure things like THIS don't happen."

"In your defense, Prang was there. You made sure that Moria at least had a guard."

"But the moment Prang was down, I should have gotten over there."

"Moria would understand, Padfoot. She understands the risk of the game just as much as we do." James replied, his tone even.

"But this wasn't part of the game. Some bloody bastard deliberately hexed that Bludger and made sure it went after her. That isn't even close to being part of the game."

James flinched at the memory. "Sirius, Moria wouldn't blame you. You did all you could. You're going to have some faith in her. There's always hope, Sirius. Even in these situations, there's always hope."

He was silent, standing up and patting his legs to clear off the unseen dirt and dust. He then left, rubbing the back of his head. James watched him leave and then sighed; taking the spot that Sirius had just been in. He glanced at Moria, staring at her placid face.

"Prescott, you better bloody wake up. I don't think Sirius will ever forgive himself if you don't."

He couldn't concentrate. It had been nearly a week since Moria had been attacked by that bludger. She hadn't woken up…and whoever had hexed the Bludger hadn't been caught. Sirius tapped his quill against the desk he was using, trying in vain to do his homework.

"If I find that bloody bastard, detention and possible expulsion will be the least of his worries." He thought angrily. He barely managed to stop himself from jumping when a hand was placed on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Remus.

"Remus? What's up? Did Moria…?" he trailed off not trying to seem too hopeful. As expected Remus shook his head, but continued to stare at him.

"You can drop the act around me Sirius. I know." Remus stated and Sirius was silent. "My biggest question is why you haven't told anyone…especially us." He finally asked. Sirius sighed, his charm's homework forgotten.

"It was my suggestion. My family already hates my guts for how I am, and honestly I could have cared less…but…then when Moria came into the picture…"

"You worried that your family would use her as retaliation for your rebellious nature." Remus finished leaning on the table. Sirius's silence answered his question.

"At first it wasn't really much of a worry…or as much of a problem for us to keep it a secret. But I kept falling for her…I didn't expect to fall in love with her."

"Have you told her?" Remus asked and Sirius looked up at him.

"What?"

"Have you told her that you loved her?" Remus asked again, clarifying and Sirius looked at him shocked. Remus rolled his eyes. "You are an idiot you know that?"

"I…I didn't think it needed to be said…I thought it was pretty easy for her to see that."

"…for some…hearing those words mean a lot more than just assuming they know." He commented and paused. "I made that mistake with Bryn…I know that she and I could have never been together…but I still cared about her…I assumed that even if I didn't say anything…she would know that. Now she never will, and I'll have to live with that." Remus added softly. Sirius just stared at his friend who then just sighed.

"I don't fault you for hiding your relationship with Moria. But don't hide it from her. Trust me…if you of all people are in love with her…chances are she is too." Remus said and with that left the room. Hours later when it was the middle of the night, Sirius stared up at the ceiling, Remus's words echoing through his head. He sat up quietly making sure Remus and Peter were asleep. He grabbed his wand and tip-toed out of his room, carrying James's Invisible Cloak. Granted James didn't KNOW that he had taken it, but he would get over it…he hoped. He would figure out a way to apologize…or sneak the cloak back to James later before the Potter figured it out.

Right then he had a different agenda.

He was quiet managing to sneak in and was happy to see that Pomfrey had gone to her room. He then looked into the wing and saw the single form lying in one of the cots. Quietly he walked to Moria's cot, sitting down next to her and glanced at her face.

She looked as though she was simply resting, her arms resting against her sides; her hands partly closed, the light from half-moon glowing through the windows, down onto her form, giving her features a soft look. They had tied her hair back but several loose strands were spread around her face, as though framing it. He swallowed roughly, shifting a strand of hair from her face. He would think that telling a girl who was unconscious would be easier but it seemed to make him only more nervous. He gently grasped her hand.

"Moria…" he whispered out and felt a tremor slide through her. He vaguely remembered that Madam Pomfrey had said that Moria could hear them…she just couldn't answer them. But that couldn't be right…how could unconscious people hear?

"Hey Moria…its Sirius…you know…your boyfriend?" he whispered out, smiling at the joke. Still no response and he swallowed hard.

"Moria…" he murmured out. "Moria you have to wake up. Please…I…" he whispered, running his hand over hers.

How could he tell her that he loved her…like he had told Remus, they had never used those exact words to describe them caring about each other.

But every time he glanced at her it felt like the breath was taken away from his lungs, the way she smiled felt like the world was smiling with her and on the rare occasions when she cried he wanted to hex whatever or whoever had made her cry. She never judged him, even when finding out he had been a Black, and so many had done that, even James when he had first found out that Sirius had been a Black. It had been forgotten of course when he had gotten into Gryffindor, but many people still judged him because of his family. But she had always seen him as Sirius…just Sirius.

"Moria." He said softly. He felt another tremor travel to her fingertips. He smiled slightly then moved another stray hair from her face and took a deep breath. It was now or never.

"Moria…I…I guess I never told you…and even though I think that you know…I might as well tell you…I love you Mori. I love you so much." He whispered softly and kissed her gently, then sat back down next to her still holding her hand, feeling peaceful. He then glanced back towards the entrance of the wing. He looked back at her.

"I have to go Mori…I'll see you tomorrow…okay?" He said. She gave no response, and he kissed her forehead once, before quickly dawning on the Invisible Cloak and leaving, glancing one last time at Moria before leaving.

The prison was loosening its hold. She had felt its power weaken and the coils that had held her into this world began to vanish. She was still in the twilight, halfway between the dream world and her mental prison. She had been drifting in the shallow water, looking at the moon, when a new shape came in. Dark, but less dark. Where had-

Her thoughts were interrupted with the sensation of her hand being touched.

"Moria…"she heard someone say and her eyes widened. Sirius? He was actually there. She swallowed lightly and glanced behind her, in the direction of Sirius's voice

"Hey Moria…its Sirius…you know…your boyfriend?" he whispered out.

"Moria…" he murmured out. "Moria you have to wake up. Please…I…" he whispered and she felt his hand running over hers again.

"Moria." He whispered out again and she blinked, and felt her heart hammering in her chest.

"Moria…I…I guess I never told you…and even though I think that you know…I…I love you Mori. I love you so much."He finally said and her eyes widened and the tears that had been gathering finally fell.

He had said it…he had finally said those words she had been holding back on saying and she was incredibly happy. She pressed her fingers to her mouth as she felt the sensation of being kissed.

"I have to go Mori…I'll see you tomorrow…okay?" He said and she felt him kiss her forehead. She laughed with a slight sob mixed into this and felt his presence leave. It was as though he had been the key to her freedom. Because as his presence left, a door open in the farthest corridor, shining with an intense light, almost as though it was a lighthouse.

She stood, staring at the light for a few seconds. Then a bright smile covered her face and she began to walk to it, guided by that simple light.

The next day was a sunny Saturday day in November. Alice had gone down to Hogsmeade to go and visit Frank as he had finally gotten a break in his training to be an auror and she wanted to go see her husband. The others however were headed to Moria for a short visit.

"So no change?"

"Not since I last saw her." Lily stated. Sirius was silent. They all gathered around Moria and Sirius blinked, confusion spreading across his face for a second. Her expression seemed to be a bit different than last night almost as though she was contemplating something. Nonetheless, he sat down on her right side, his hand gently pressing against hers. None of the others seemed to take notice as James and Lily began to discuss something as did Remus and Peter. He stared at Moria then blinked in surprise, looking down at his hand. Did her hand just flinch under his? No…he had to have imagined it. But the moment he glanced at her face, his heartbeat began to move faster as he saw her face had scrunched as though she was struggling.

"Moria?" he called out, summoning the others and they looked up gathering around her. It was so still, as though she was still trapped in the world of darkness. Then, she shifted slowly and a few seconds later her eyes opened just a bit. She looked around in confusion, blinking slightly to get used to the light.

"Wha-?" she whispered out and then her eyes opened a bit more when she noticed everyone. James, Lily, Peter, and Remus looked ecstatic at her waking up, while Sirius looked as though a heavy weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, relief apparent on his face. She had scared him badly apparently. She would have to make it up to him somehow.

"Moria! You're awake!" Lily said happily.

"Thank goodness! You had us worried!" Remus stated right after her. Sirius was quiet for a minute, almost hesitant to blink in fear that this was all some elaborate dream.

"How are you feeling?" he finally asked, his voice quavering a bit. She grunted as she began to sit up, aided by Lily. She rubbed her left temple, wincing slightly at its soreness.

"I'm fine…really." She said reassuringly. "As soon as I catch the git who hexed that bludger-!" she began to say but was cut off as Sirius suddenly pulled her towards him and promptly kissed her. She blinked in shock before returning the kiss. Several seconds later he moved away.

"Never…never scare me like that again." He murmured his voice gruff. She began to say something, but a rather elaborate cough caused her to notice that about three of their friends were now staring at them with open mouths, though Remus was just smiling. She blushed heavily.

"So much for keeping it a secret." She hissed out and he shrugged nonchalantly.

"What…the bloody…hell?!" Lily finally managed to say and Moria couldn't help it. She laughed before looking at her friend playfully.

"Some friends you guys turned out to be. Didn't even notice that Sirius and I have been dating since summer before our sixth year." She finally said and heard Sirius laugh as the Peter, Lily, and James began to ask questions simultaneously. But at that moment Sirius didn't seem to care as he kissed Moria again, just happy to have her back.

"So…how are you feeling?" Sirius asked a few hours later sitting next to her. James and the others had promptly left after the big reveal, deciding to let those two have some…privacy.

"I'm fine…honest. Just a headache." She responded, pushing her hair back. She was silent for a few minutes, before looking at him. "You do realize that there were other students in here when we kissed right?"

"Yes."

"They're probably telling their friends, who are probably telling others about this…so that means your family will know soon."

"Yup."

"And…" She trailed off, looking at him in confusion. "You're okay with it?" she asked. He looked at her and grinned before kissing her cheek.

"They can all go to bloody hell for all I care." He finally said and she smiled. She then looked at him questionably, might as well ask if what she had heard was true or not.

"Now that that's settled…I have a hypothetical question to ask."

"Ask away."

"Let's say that sometime last night…you snuck in here to visit me." She said and saw him stiffen. She held back a smile. So she hadn't been imagining it.

"And let's just say…that for some odd reason….I heard you say three words. Three very certain words…" She finished and he looked up at her. "Would you say that I was dreaming?" she asked. "Because as far as dreams go, that one was fairly elaborate." She added. He was silent for a few minutes before reaching over and pulling her to him, kissing her.

"I love you Moria Prescott." He said after they parted. She smiled happily and then grinned playfully.

"Well what a surprise Sirius Black…I love you too." She finally said and he laughed which sounded like a bark mixed with a laugh and he kissed her again.

And at that moment, Moria couldn't be any happier to have returned to the world of the light and living.

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