The next morning I'm the first one up. I look around in the dark and then at the clock on my bedside table. I realize it's about an hour before sunrise. Mrs. Daisy always said that physical excursion is a good for the body and mind. So I throw on my running shorts, a tank top, and pull on my trainers. I start at the castle and run to the lake. I run all the way around it and back to the castle towards the Quidditch Pitch. I run around and complete a lap before running back to the castle and to the bedroom. I don't really stop, I'm on too much of a high I just peel off my clothes and jump into the shower. I stand under the scalding water and let it wash away the dirt, dreams, and the frustration. I use my favorite apple blossom shampoo and body wash. When I'm done I wrap myself in my fluffy towel. I walk back to the bedroom and pull on my uniform. I grab my wand and dry my hair and clean off the mirrors and start on my makeup. When I'm done I grab a barrette and clip it to hold my bangs out of my face. I look at myself happy with the final result. I grab my lipstick and write confused in bold letters under my name.
I don't say a word to the other girls as the start to wake up and get ready I just head to the Great Hall.
I manage to eat a few bites of the bagel on my plate before I rush off to class. I check my schedule relieved that the only advanced class I have today with Gryffindors is Ancient Runes. I'm almost eighty percent positive that Black wouldn't choose Ancient Runes as an elective. I some how manage to get through divination without falling asleep and I even managed to take a few useful notes. Professor Bryan is nice and really smart but he is also incredibly monotone. He makes the future amazingly boring.
I sit threw History of Magic with Professor Bins next, I got a full sheet and half of parchment full of notes. His class on the goblin rebellion of 1882 was especially interesting today.
By lunch I feel as if I'm going to collapse with exhaustion. I skip instead for a nap. I'm late for Ancient Runes and arrive just after class has started. There is only one seat left, next to Lupin. I sit down and try to ignore him.
The professor assigns us some questions and a paragraph out of the textbook to work on as partners. Lupin pulls out an apple and a handful of chips wrapped in a napkin.
"Here I noticed you weren't at lunch or breakfast. I thought you might be hungry." He says handing the food to me. I take it with a grateful smile "Thanks." I say quietly.
We finish quickly and I start on the apple.
"I'm sorry about Sirius yesterday." He says as soon as the words are out of his mouth I freeze.
"Thank you." I say blushing.
That night at dinner Sirius asks me out again and once more I tell him no.
Over the next few weeks we fall into a pattern of Question and answer. Lately I've started saying no as soon as I see him coming towards me just to save myself some time. With the first Quidditch match approaching the school is practically buzzing. Marie and Isabel and I sit in the library trying to find some peace and quite. I look up as I realize something.
"Black hasn't asked me out in almost a week. You think he's given up?" I ask hopeful.
Marie darts off to find another book and I repeat my question to Isabel.
"Well do you think he's given up?" Isabel shrugs her shoulders.
"Maybe or it might just be the upcoming match that's distracting him." she says.
"Huh I hadn't thought of that. Let's hope it's the first rather than the second." I say closing my book and replacing it on the shelf before exiting the library.
I walk up to the Dorms and put on my jogging outfit. I head outside and smile at the feel of the crisp fall air. I run to the Quidditch Pitch hoping to do some laps there. I do a few sprints up the stairs in the stands for a while before moving down to the grass. I get to lap fifteen before I'm stopped by none other than Sirius Black on a damn broom.
"You just can't stay away from me can you Elizabeth?" He says floating in front of me.
"Your so conceited Black I'm here to run not to watch you fly in circles." I say trying to move past him.
He blocks my path again and grins. Even I have to admit he looks kind of hot with his Quidditch uniform on and that damn grin on his face. Not that I'd ever let him know that.
"Why won't you go out with me Elizabeth?" He says with that damn grin that makes me want to melt.
"Why do you only use my full name? I don't see anyone else ever calling me Elizabeth." I say teasing.
His eyebrows shoot up in shock at my teasing and he holds out his hand.
I look at it confused. "Hop on ride with me." he says
I back away quickly.
"No way Black I hate brooms." I say letting a little of my terror creep into my voice.
He grins and moves closer, before I know he has my arm and has somehow gotten me onto the broom.
I cling to him terrified. "Sirius let me down." I say starring at the ground not even two feet away.
He laughs "If you want down sweetheart just jump down."
I hold him tighter at the thought.
"Sirius I mean it." I say the fear in my voice not making me sound as firm as I wanted to.
He laughs again. "Hold on sweetheart." He says
I burry myself into his shoulder and close my eyes as he takes off higher towards the top of the Pitch. When we finally stop I open my eyes slowly and wish I hadn't. I'm at the top of the Pitch almost sixty feet in the air.
"Sirius take me down I'm serious." He chuckles "Sirius please." I say a tear escaping from my eyes.
I'm sure what made him take me down. It might have been the complete terror in my voice, the tears that were starting to fall down my face, or the fact that I'm now violently shaking. He flies down towards the ground and I scream. As soon as he's landed I jump off and run to the side of the grass I kneel over and vomit.
I feel someone holding my hair and rubbing my back. Before I can tell who it is I faint.
Flashes of that horrible day invade my dreams. Her beautiful blonde hair cut short the pieces scattered around her, her screaming at me when I caught her cutting herself that morning, her sobbing on my shoulder as I wrapped her wounds again, the taste of the stale cornflakes I had for breakfast, the Ministry official offering to Obliviate my memory after I found her, and perhaps the worst of all finding her.
I jolt straight up and start screaming. I don't realize that anyone is there until I feel someone's arms wrap around me trying to calm me down. I scream harder and try to fight to get away.
"Elizabeth, Hey it's just me I'm not going to hurt you." A deep velvet voice in the dark says. I scratch whatever skin that I can get at and finally he lets me go I dart off the bed and across the room as far away as I can get. Suddenly all the candles light themselves and I can see where I am, the hospital wing.
I see someone kneeling over in pain on the bed I just vacated. I look harder and recognize the black hair.
"Oh my god Sirius, oh I'm so sorry." I say running to him.
"Madame Pomfrey, Madame Pomfrey, please help." I scream. The young nurse runs out and pulls Sirius up onto the bed. She heals some of the lesser cuts and bruises. As she bandages the worse ones she scolds him.
"Mr. Black you love struck fool I told you to alert me when she woke up not deal with her yourself."
Sirius chuckles "I didn't think she'd attack me." He says still trying to make jokes even in pain.
I roll my eyes at him and smile fondly.
"I'm so sorry Sirius." I say
"Don't worry princess I'll heal." He says grinning at me.
Madame Pomfrey shushes him and finishes his bandages.
"I have to write up an injury report in my office. You both need sleep I will come and check on you both in an hour or two. Go to bed." She says before turning the lanterns down and walks back to her office.
"I'm so sorry Sirius if I had any idea it was you." I say moving to the chair next to his bed.
He sits up and smiles at me. "What's a few bruises for a beautiful woman?" he says.
I blush furiously.
"You can't deny we have a connection Elizabeth." He says leaning closer.
I bite my lip to keep from moaning. I want to kiss him, but I know that I can't.
"I never said that we didn't Sirius." I say
"Good" He says and before I can stop him; or myself we're kissing again. This time I don't stop him or pull away I kiss him back just as desperately as he kisses me.
After a while we both pull away for air.
"Go out with me Elizabeth please." He says his voice pleading with me.
A single tear runs down my face. "I want to Sirius I really do, but guys like you bring nothing but pain and trouble. I'm so sorry." I kiss his cheek and walk away to a bed at the far end of the room.
When I wake up in the morning he's gone. Madame Pomfrey lets me go on the condition that I come to her immediately if I have any self destructive tendencies. I tell her I will and head towards the dorms. Luckily I was done with all my classes yesterday when I had my free period so I didn't miss any and today is Saturday.
I change out of my clothes and tell my friends what had happened.
"I can't believe that idiot took you up that high and after you asked him not to." Isabel says while she sits next to me on my bed.
"He was being an ass but it was really sweet of him to stay with you all night, I mean he was still there when we left at ten. Marie says.
I shake my head at her romantic mind. Then I remember the kiss and smile to myself.
"We kissed later that night after I woke up." I say quietly remembering his lips on mine.
"OH MY GOD, YOU HAVE TO TELL ME EVERYTHING." Marie says bouncing up and down on her bed in excitement. I laugh.
"Well I had a nightmare and I woke up screaming and he tried to clam me down by wrapping his arms around me and talking to me but it didn't help it actually made things worse I fought him and starting scratching him. Anyway his all bruised and scratched up now. Finally I got away from his and Madame Pomfrey turned up the lanterns so that I could see. God I felt so bad I kept apologizing as she bandaged him. He just kept blowing it off and after she left he said I couldn't deny that there was a connection between us and I said that I never had and he said; good and then we just kissed."
Marie stops bouncing and squeals. "Oh my god that is so cool how was it was it a good kiss; are you guys like dating now oh my god he is so cute I'm so jealous your so lucky to have Sirius as your boyfriend Lizzie." Some how she manages to say all that and more in just one breath I cut her off before she can start fabricating wedding plans.
"Whoa hold on he is not my boyfriend and we are not dating it was just a kiss. A really good kiss yes but still just a kiss" I say.
Marie spends the next three hours grilling me about the kiss with Sirius she's determined to get me to go out with him.
"No Marie you know I don't date bad boys they bring nothing but pain and trouble." I say as she tells me for the eighth time how much of a cute couple Sirius and I would make.
Isabel claims boredom and starts' painting her nails a deep green.
"I know but this bad boy is practically begging for you on his knees Lizzie how can you resist?"
Flashes of last nights dream come back to me and I shudder.
"Easily" I say hugging my pillow to my chest.
Isabel finishes with one hand and starts blowing on them.
"You know I'm starving, what time is it Lizzie?" Marie asks.
I check the clock on my bedside table.
"It's almost twelve-thirty, why?" I ask
"Isabel won't let me go to lunch until late because she's afraid I'll embarrass her in front of this Slytherin she's got a crush on. Please can we go eat Isabel?" She says making puppy dog eyes at her sister.
"No he's still bound to be there and I don't want you to embarrass me yet." She grumbles.
"Who, who is it you have to tell me." I ask my curiosity getting the better of me.
"Just a Slytherin I met." She says blushing as she finishes painting the rest of her nails.
"His name is Max, Max Myers. He's in his seventh year." She says.
I jump off of my bed and grab her arm.
"Now we have to go to lunch I want to see this guy that's got Isabel blushing so brightly." I say and we all fall into giggles. One we all calm down Marie and I pull her out the door and down to the Great Hall.
We sit down at the end near the door for a quick escape in case we embarrass Isabel to much. None of us are eating despite our previous hunger were all to excited, to catch a glimpse of mystery Max. Marie is the first to spot him.
"Oh there he is there's Max." She whispers pointing to a very good looking brunette sitting next to Severus Snape.
I grin "I think I have an idea, come on." I say grabbing her wrist and walking across the Hall and sitting down across from them. The two boys look up at us in shock.
"May we help you?" Severus says with a sneer.
I want to make a rude comment about where he can put that attitude and sneer but I ignore his and put on my brightest smile.
"Yes actually my name is Elizabeth, and this is my friend Isabel. Were having some trouble in potions class and Professor Slughorn always goes on about how good you to are in his more advanced classes. I suppose we were wondering if you could give us some help, you know like tutor us. Please it would be a huge help. I say sweetly.
"I'm Max and I'm assuming you know Severus here." He says pointing to a sour looking Severus Snape. "We'd be happy to help you young ladies with your potions." He says promptly elbowing Severus in the ribs. He winces but other than that shows no sign of annoyance.
"Sure it would be our pleasure." He says not even trying to hide his reluctance.
"Great we'll meet you two boys at the library in an hour and a half then how that sound?" I say cheerfully.
"Perfect" Max says before Severus can even get a word in. I grab Isabel and walk back to our table and promptly sit next to an astonished Marie.
"I can't believe you did that Lizzie way to go." She says before taking a bite of her half eaten sandwich.
"Neither can I." I don't even have to look up to recognize the velvet voice. I look up and there he is.
"What's wrong Black Jealous?" Marie says taunting him.
Sirius scoffs. "Of who, Myers and Snivellus, Yah right."He says. Sirius sits down across form me.
"Look Elizabeth I know you don't date bad boys, but please give me a chance, Let me prove to you that I'm not going to hurt you. Please I'm begging you one date, if you don't love it I'll never ask you out again I promise. Just give me a chance Elizabeth."
I stare at my empty plate trying to come up with the courage to say no. I try to remember all the reasons for my rule. The late nights sobbing, the isolation, the hurt and anger, and last but not least the … I look into his eyes prepared to shoot him down and, I can't his bright blue eyes are so full of hope and love, all my reasons vanish and I can't say no.
"Okay Sirius, just one date." I say suddenly exhausted.
"Wahoo, yes" He shouts causing people to stare at us. He runs around the table and pulls me up to my feet and kisses me. My whole world melts in that kiss and I swear I could make it last forever. We part and I plop back down in my seat in embarrassment. "Hey Prongs she said yes!" He shouts even louder to his friends across the hall. By now everyone in the Hall is starring at us. He dashes off to his friends and they run out laughing and congregating Sirius.
Marie looks almost as excited as Sirius and Isabel just gives me an; I told you so look.
I tell her to shut it and I grab some peaches and a sandwich even though I kind of lost my appetite after that spectacle.
Latter after lunch, in the library I convince Severus to help me look for a book so that Isabel can flirt with Max. I wonder around Severus following me slightly annoyed.
"You don't really need help with your potions work do you Lizzie?" He says after we've passed the eighth self in without even looking for a book.
"Not really I'm actually quite good at potions; Isabel just really has a thing for your friend Max. You just kind of got caught in the middle; sorry about that." I say as I stop pretending to look for a book.
"Well I suppose the afternoon wasn't totally wasted then, Max; how did you put it? Has a thing for your friend as well." He says boredom leaking from his voice.
A few minutes pass in silence before Severus finally says something.
"So you finally gave into Black; You lost me my bet by the way." He says
I throw my head back laughing not sure why I find it so funny. I suppose it's because I'm really not surprised that people have been betting on me.
"Sorry, I suppose that just what you get for betting." I say.
He chuckles "I suppose your right, in my defense I thought it was a pretty safe bet. You've held out this long." He says.
"Yah I suppose I just got tired of saying no." I say smiling.
"We should head back and pretend to study some more before they think we've ditched them." He says.
We walk back only to find them gone with no sign of return
I chuckle. "Not much of a chance of that happening we've been ditched." I say
"I guess I'll see you around then Lizzie." He says grabbing his stuff and heading towards the door. I wave goodbye and gather up my stuff.
I hurry out the door with a set of note Severus left behind and run straight into James Potter.
"Come on Snivellus do something about it." I look around and see all of Severus things scattered around the hall. I watch as his had twitches towards his wand.
"Hey Potter why don't you and your oversized ego and go bother someone else." I say stepping in between them.
"This is none of your business Lizzie." He says.
He points his wand past me and fires a spell at Severus. I fire a few spells off at him.
Severus fires off a particularly nasty spell and trips screwing up his aim. Potter pushes me out of the way and falls to the ground with painful burn marks all over his body.
"Severus, damn it, I told you two to stop now look what happened. Get out of here Severus now." I say as I heal the burns.
Potter faints and I drag him into an empty classroom. I heal the rest of the visible burns and cut open his shirt and get to work healing the newly visible burns. After about an hour I hear footsteps pounding down the hall.
"James, Elizabeth where are you?" I recognize Lupin's voice.
"Remus were in hear help please I can't get to his back." Remus barges in and takes one look at James and swears.
"Damn it I knew he'd cause trouble where's Severus?" He asks.
"Gone I sent him away now help me turn this idiot over." I say. Lupin and I manage to get James flipped over onto his front and I rid him of the rest of his shirt. Once I'm done with his back I cut his pant legs off as high as I can while keeping him covered. I get to work on the back of his legs.
"What happened?" Remus asks.
"I ran out and ran into them and James was trying to start a fight. I got in the middle and the started firing off spells. I tried to stop them but Severus tripped and fired off a pretty bad one and James knocked me out of the way. I sent Severus off earlier. I've been here for a while. The burns are slow to heal and there's so many of them. He passed out almost immediately. He's come too a few times but not for long. Really it was James that started it.
I spend another half an hour healing the burns on his legs in silence Remus helps me move James as needed. Other than that he lets me work in silence.
"There, that's as good as he's getting. I say exhausted. There might be more under what's left of his pants but I don't feel comfortable healing those, we should take him to Madame Pomfrey, I don't want Severus to get into trouble though." I say nervous.
"Don't worry I'll heal the burns he should be fine after that it doesn't look like there was any internal damage. Come on can you help me get him up to Gryffindor tower?" We hurry and try to get him up to the tower as fast as possible, but it's difficult with James unconscious. When we finally get there Remus and I part ways.
"Thanks for all of your help Lizzie; sorry about James causing trouble, I'll see you later I should probably get him up to bed." He says
I take the hint and say my goodbyes. "See you later Remus thanks for your help. Good night." I say turning to leave.
When I get back to my dorms its dark and an hour until curfew; Isabel is still gone and Marie has run off somewhere. Caroline and Constance are flipping threw a magazine.
"Hey guys how's it going?" I say plopping down on my bed exhausted from the extensive healing.
"Fine, June Summers the model for witch weekly is pregnant again." Caroline says.
"Is she the blonde one or the brunette from last issue?" I ask trying to recall her face.
"The blonde with the honey highlights." Constance says.
I snort. "Figures for a model she sure spends a lot of her time being pregnant." I say.
I get up and grab some nail polish from the bathroom and sit back down on my bed and start to paint my nails for the Quidditch match tomorrow. When I get halfway done a loud booming voice causes me to jump spill half my bottle of Cranberry Crimson on the floor.
"Lizzie Black's outside he wants to talk to you."
"Shit, damn it "I say annoyed. I grab my wand and clean the mess up and set the bottle on my nightstand what's left of it anyway. I recognize Trevor's voice; Trevor Mc. James is a sweet third year with a big mouth and a loud voice.
I walk down the stairs and sure enough there he is curly brown hair, freckles, glasses, and puppy dog eyes. It's almost impossible to stay mad at Trevor.
"Thanks Trevor." I say and head out to the hallway.
I step out only to be lifted off of my feet and spun in the air. I giggle.
"Sirius put me down." When he finally sets me down and the hall stops spinning I step out of his arms.
"So what did you want?" I ask
"Are you going to the Quidditch Match tomorrow?" He says his voice full of anticipation and his eyes full of mischief.
"I suppose." I say hiding my hands with their gold and crimson painted fingernails. "Why?" I say curious.
"I was kind of hoping you'd cheer for me." He says pulling a box out from a bag I hadn't noticed earlier on the floor. He hands it to me and I take it with caution.
I open it and my jaw drops when I realize what's in it. A red and gold cheerleading outfit complete with spanks and the name Black of the back.
"No way, am I wearing this where did you even…" I say not even sure how to finish the sentence
"Marie may have let it slip that you were a cheerleader when we were talking about you last month." He says with a shrug.
"So not happening Black not even in your dreams." I say.
He chuckles "Too late although you didn't wear it long in my dream." He says wiggling his eyebrows at me.
I smack his shoulder "You pig is there anything else you wanted?" I ask.
"Yes actually there was." I motion for him to continue. "After the game I was hoping we could celebrate Gryffindors victory with our date." He says.
"I don't know Sirius I'm not real into parties." I say shyly.
"Okay no parties, just you and me, how that sound?" He asks
I smile "Perfect; that sounds perfect. It's a date." I say. I smile and he kisses me. I'm about to pull away when he pulls me closer so our bodies are touching. I drop the box and moan. I wrap my hands around his shoulders and deepen the kiss. His hands snake around my waist and settle on my lower back. My knees start to give out and he holds my up supporting my weight. We stumble back and hit the wall. I intertwine my fingers with his hair and gently tug. This time it's his turn to groan.
He spins us around so it's me pinned against the wall and starts to attack my neck, nipping and sucking his way down to my shoulder. I let go of his hair and grab his hips and pull him closer and wiggle my hips against his. He hisses.
"If you keep doing that were not leaving here for a while Liz" He says his voice husky and deep. The clock tower in the village tolls loudly, alerting Hogwarts that it's Nine O'clock and the student's curfew time.
"Curfew, you're going to get in trouble Mr. Black." I say trying to sound disapproving.
"Only if I get caught Miss Canes." He says
I kiss him again not able to resist with the playful smile on his face.
"Go if you get a detention we won't be able to go on our date tomorrow." I say playfully pushing him towards the middle of the hallway.
"I wouldn't want to miss that now would I" he says. I pick up the forgotten box and uniform.
Sirius raises his eyebrows in shock.
"You're actually keeping that?" He says hope leaking in his voice. I laugh
"Yup If your good and maybe with a little bit of luck we can reenact that dream of yours." I say with a wink. His jaw drops and I can see the wheels in his brain turning. I laugh.
"Night Black" I say turning towards the door.
"Night Liz" He says. I freeze and everything south of my stomach clenches in lust.
He laughs knowing he got the upper hand. He struts off and I head back into the common room and straight up to bed I put the uniform on top of my trunk and fall asleep.