A/N: Yes, I know it was a long wait for a cliffhanger. I hope this chapter is worthy enough of your forgiveness, though :)


Rachel tried desperately to hit her assailant, waving her arms around like a maniac. His, she had decided that her assailant was a he by his tall stature, grip only tightened and Rachel struggled for air. She tried pulling at his arm and desperately tried to scream out, hoping someone would hear her.

She heard Lily's familiar voice as she shouted, "Rachel? Where are you?" her voice carried over the room and echoed. Rachel tried so hard to respond, but nothing came out. "Potter, Black, if you think this is a funny joke you are mistaken!" Lily yelled.

"Lily?" she heard James call. "What the bloody hell happened?"

"I don't know! That's why I'm asking you, you prat!" Lily shouted back. She heard footsteps.

"Oh, shut your mouth for once," Sirius shouted.

He was so close to her, Rachel could tell. She tried to reach out to get his attention; she only needed to get a small tap on his arm. She stretched her arm out as far as she could, her air supply slowly running out. She felt her head get heavier and the black room turning even blacker.

And right before Rachel could pass out, there was a bright blaze and all the lights in the room were restored.

Rachel felt the grip on her loosen and she broke away as quickly as she could. She stumbled forward and crashed into somebody else, who caught her right before she could fall. It was Sirius, of course.

In that moment, she was a bit thankful rather than resentful.

Rachel looked up to see her assailant. Immediately, she saw red.

"Malfoy!" she screeched. Before she could run and give him the beating of his life, Sirius held her back.

"Mr. Malfoy," she heard Slughorn's voice say sternly. "What is the meaning of this?" he turned to look at Lily and James. Behind them, Nott was standing there looking quite disappointed. "And you, Nott? I demand an explanation!"

"I'll gladly give it to you, Professor," Rachel cut in; her anger was quickly reviving her from the incident. "We were just serving our detention when the lights were blown out and I was attacked. Strangled, to be specific. By Malfoy."

"She's lying!" Malfoy quickly shouted. "It was Nott!"

"He's on the other side of the room, you arrogant toerag!" Rachel shouted at him.

"Ms. Fredricks, language," Slughorn warned. "As for the two of you, harsh punishment should be expected. As for now, fifteen points from Slytherin. Each. Your parents will be informed."

"Good, they'll be proud!" Malfoy shouted. "The mudblood deserved it! I'm only sorry we didn't get her filthy friend and the two blood traitors!"

Rachel quickly looked over at Lily who, besides her best effort, looked downtrodden, as if someone had thrown her into a muddy ditch. Rachel could tell she was trying not to cry and not to care, but Rachel also knew Lily. She was too kind to not let the insult get to her.

Before Rachel turned away, she saw James cautiously put his hand on Lily's shoulder. She didn't move away. Rachel let a small smile slip.

Until she noticed her situation.

She quickly stepped away from Sirius. Slughorn handed back her wand and she walked off as quickly as she could.


"Oh, Dorcas," Rachel whined, her face muffled by her bed sheets. "What do I do?"

"Well, first of all, I'm surprised you came to me," Dorcas said. "Second of all, snog him, for Merlin's sake!"

"I only came to you because Marlene was busy," Rachel replied after a long pause and a glare. "And I'm not snogging Sirius."

"Ah, but you want to," Dorcas replied, "and that's your real problem."

Rachel groaned and buried her face in her pillow. "Don't mention it ever again."

"Does he snog better than firewhiskey?" Dorcas asked, not backing off of the subject.

"No," Rachel replied with a defiant glare.

"Stop trying to convince yourself," Dorcas replied smartly.

Rachel looked up at her friend and sighed. "Am I actually falling for Sirius Black?" Rachel asked resentfully.

Dorcas shrugged. "Maybe. But would that be such a bad thing?"

Suddenly, the door burst open and Marlene, Lily, Mary, and Alice walked in. It was a girls' night; Rachel had almost forgotten. So, she tried to put her conversation with Dorcas out of her mind as she brought out the sweets and alcohol stash and Lily set up a record player.

But Dorcas' reply kept nagging at her. Would falling for Sirius Black be such a bad thing?


Rachel sat with her legs crossed on a large table in the dungeons. A large pewter cauldron was sitting in front of her, small wisps of smoke rising out of it. Rachel gently stirred the potion two more times before leaving it to brew.

She heard the door creak open and quickly turned her head to see none other but Sirius Black entering.

It had been a week since the incident. Finally, Rachel managed to find time to finish her potion. On a Friday, nonetheless.

"Hey there," he greeted somewhat quietly. His attitude had been altogether softer the past week. It sort of scared Rachel.

"Hi," Rachel greeted cautiously. After a pause, she added, "Don't come near my potion. We wouldn't want it ending like last time."

Sirius smirked. "You wouldn't… but maybe I would."

Rachel rolled her eyes and turned around so she was facing Sirius and her legs were swung over the table, swinging back and forth mindlessly. "Why are you here?" she finally asked.

"I heard you were here," he replied.

"And…?" Rachel coaxed.

"Wanted to see how you were," Sirius replied.

"Fine," Rachel replied quickly. Her reply was jagged and she came off as confused and slightly offended.

Sirius didn't seem phased. "That's good," he said. After a long, silent pause, Sirius added with a smirk, "Better than firewhiskey?"

Rachel looked up at him with wide eyes. "What?" she asked sharply.

"Irene. That's what she said, right?" Sirius clarified.

Rachel calmed down as a plan formed in her head. "Yes, she said that," Rachel started, "but it's absolute rubbish. You don't snog better than firewhiskey."

That was the first time that Rachel had seen Sirius be phased by anything she said to him.

"Not anything too special, to be honest," Rachel lied. "It was quite the ordinary snog. Could get better from a Hufflepuff."

Sirius looked as if he was in a state of shock. Suddenly, he seemed to recover and quickly walked over to her. He came up to her so that he was right in front of her, their faces only inches apart. Rachel backed up instinctively and out of shock. Sirius leaned on his hands that were on the table on either side of her.

Rachel wasn't sure if this was completely unplanned or secretly her incentive the entire time, but she found herself enjoying it.

"So you don't think I snog to well, do you?" Sirius asked, his voice a hoarse whisper that Rachel found herself attracted to.

"No," she replied, but only after a long pause and the reply came out as more of a sigh as they only got closer.

And when he was close enough, Rachel smelled it. The familiar, fresh scent of rain and dust. Instead of scaring her, she only felt herself being pulled closer to Sirius and forgetting about every little thing that he did to bother her.

He was so dangerously close; Rachel could almost feel that kiss in Hogsmeade. It almost felt as if it was still snowing and she was still drunk. She almost felt the same delirium and ecstasy.

She was so close. She hadn't jumped or stayed rigid, but gotten closer and relaxed. It surprised Sirius. It surprised him that her eyelids were slowly dropping as her copper eyes clouded over with lust. It surprised him that she kept leaning forward until their lips were almost gently brushing. Sirius wasn't touching Rachel. His hands were remaining right beside her, unmoving. Rachel fought the urge to grab his face and just kiss him already.

And this was absolute teasing, on both their sides.

It was then that Sirius smelt a welcoming scent. It was ever so soft, but incredibly noticeable as he breathed in the familiar tanginess of firewhiskey.

And that was enough for him.

Until the door flew open and the two jumped apart.

"Padfoot!" James exclaimed. "I told you to meet us in the Great Hall for dinner! We can't make any plans without you!"

If Sirius didn't look murderous, then Voldemort was a fluffy teddy bear.

Rachel was flushed red out of embarrassement as she turned back to her potion and began working on it.

Sirius walked out of the room quickly and James followed.

Once the door closed behind them, James said, "Mate, you never—"

Sirius whacked him over the arm. "Bloody hell! Out of all the moments in the world, you chose that one to ruin!"

"Well, sorry mate, but…" James trailed off as he realized what happened. "Shit, that was Rachel."

Sirius sighed. "It doesn't matter. Let's go steal some firewhiskey from the Three Broomsticks."

And so the two walked off, not mentioning the subject again.


A/N: One person said they regretted being Team James last chapter... I think you regret it more now. Sorry :/

-Grammar/spelling?
-Yes, the ship is finally moving along now... this is still sixth year, mind you.
-Excited for chapter 9 (I honestly hope it isn't as boring as I think it is)?

Thanks for reading! :)