Alex had found herself wandering the corridors aimlessly. She hadn't a clue where she was going but, to be honest, she didn't mind. It was time to let herself think, time to let her mind wander. It was her time. She took sharp turns where she pleased and didn't bother thinking about the fact that she probably wouldn't be able to find her way back to the dormitories.

She was quite glad she hadn't run into anyone. Especially Lily, because though she seemed nice enough, it was a bit too much. She was an overachiever as far as Alex could tell and Alex had never gotten on well with overachievers. It must've had something to do with their inability to have fun according to Alex. However, it was mostly because she didn't want Lily to feel bad because she chose to wander on her own rather than be given the grand tour. Alex just needed some well deserved time for her, even if she did nothing to earn it.

Alex had always had a bad habit, a popular one at it; she always stared at her feet. No matter where she went she paid hardly any attention to anything when she was walking. This is why it wasn't a surprise when she turned a sharp corner and crashed into something. Wait, not something, it was someone.

"Sorry about that," she said taking in the boy in front of her. He looked about her age with shaggy black hair and grey eyes. He was handsome that was a given but he had a look that spoke mischief in his eyes. The same look her teachers used to say she had. She had lost it since then though but that was inevitable as she had seen far too much.

"Lost?" He asked, with a smirk.

He took in this girl with interest; he had never seen her before. Hogwarts may have been a big school but everyone tended to at least know those who were in their house. However, it wasn't that, that gave her away.

"Why would you think that?" she asked quirking an eyebrow.

"Because you aren't from here," he responded swiftly a smile playing at his lips.

"How would you know that?" she asked, "Are you the local stalker?"

He laughed then, a bark like laugh that was fairly unusual.

"Hardly," he said still laughing, "though if your uniform is any indication you don't exactly go here."

She looked down at herself and chuckled, "forgot about that, I'm Alex Skye. I'm new and in Gryffindor."

"Pleasure," he smiled, "Sirius Black, Gryffindor as well. Though, I'm not new. Are you a sixth year?"

"Yes, I am" she responded curtly.

"Well," he asked intrigued, "where were you headed?"

"Nowhere, everywhere" she responded vaguely.

Sirius couldn't help looking at her questioningly. She was odd, he could tell already. He thought her pretty too, rather fit. Her haircut was worth a laugh, you could tell she'd done it herself. But it was her eyes that spoke to him most. They were bright, brighter than he'd ever seen. But they held pain and he wanted to know why.

"Ah I see, mind if I join you in your endeavours?"

"Uhm, I actually," Alex started wondering how not to be rude.

"Wanted to be alone?" he offered slightly disappointed but hiding it nonetheless.

"Very well, if you change your mind..." he smirked then the glint returning to his eyes. "Tickle the pear."

"What?" she asked thoroughly confused. What was he going on about?

"You heard me, tickle the pear! You cannot ask any more questions! I can hear you no longer. Blah, blah, blah!" he said laughing and walking backwards the opposite way.

What a strange, strange boy Alex thought idly. Nevertheless she continued walking the way she was heading. It was only a few minutes later when she got bored. She couldn't help thinking about the boy. He seemed odd, but she wasn't one to judge. Perhaps she could make a friend. In a split decision she turned and started walking the way she had come. Once she got to where they had met she followed the path he had taken looking for a pear that looked like it wanted to be tickled. She felt ridiculous.

Sirius didn't think she'd show. Yet, he decided to enjoy a rather extravagant meal from his favourite house elf, Effie.

"Ah, what would Master Sirius like?" Effie asked in her sweet but squeaky voice.

"Well, Miss Effie, I would like something extravagant, special, please."

"As you wish Mr. Black!" she said walking towards the main area of the kitchens.

Sirius sat at the small table they had brought down there second year. It had four chairs, just enough for the Marauders. They had never told anyone else about down here and, as far as they knew, no one else knew how to get to the kitchens. But, Sirius had just gone and screwed up as he had told a complete stranger how to get in. He was surely a prat. He groaned, he was so daft and why? Because he was intrigued. What rubbish.

He laid his head on the table and couldn't help thinking how completely ridiculous he was being. He was waiting for this girl, some random girl he had just met, when he could have been shagging someone more fit in a broom closet.

It was then that Effie returned shooting him a smile. She slowly and deliberately placed a box of chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk down for him. He couldn't help it he laughed loudly.

"Effie! I asked for something extravagant!" he laughed.

Suddenly, doubt crossed Effie's face, "Effie had just thought master was sad and when master's sad, or confused, he likes cookies. Effie was silly. Effie apologizes to Master Black!"

"Oh, Miss Effie!" Sirius cried, "You mustn't apologize! I love it, better than what I imagined!"

"Really?" Effie asked hopefully.

He nodded vigorously, "thank you Effie"

"Master is welcome," she said regaining her composure, "Now Effie has things to do, she'll be off!"

Effie walked away and Sirius smiled to himself. Effie was definitely one of his favourite house elves. He had tried getting her to call him just Sirius but she refused. So, of course, he started calling her Miss. Sirius smiled again as he took out a cookie from the box and dunked it in the glass of milk.

Fifteen minutes Alex sighed frustrated, where was this stupid pear? She had expected something like a dog named pear, so she had called out a couple times but honestly? She felt ridiculous. She tried everything she could imagine. So, in defeat, she leaned on a wall and put her head in her hands.

"Ugh! This is rubbish," she cried.

She looked up on the verge of giving up when she saw a painting. It was a painting of fruit to be exact, fruit...which included a pear. As ridiculous as it seemed she approached the painting and looking around her she tickled it. Then, it laughed. Laughed, no, giggled was more like it. It was completely absurd. At that moment, a doorway was opened behind the frame and thinking, what the hell, she walked in.

As soon as she entered she could tell that she had entered the kitchens. There were house elves everywhere bustling around. She stared shocked. She had never seen the kitchens at Beauxbaton in the five years she was there and here, at Hogwarts, she had entered them on her very first day. She shook her head slightly trying to clear it of all its shock. Finally, she noticed Sirius Black sitting at a sole table a few feet away from her eating...cookies. Normally, she would've been amused but seeing as how being happy always made her feel guilty she just swallowed her laughter and approached him.

"Hullo," she said, as he hadn't noticed her. How would he? It was incredibly loud in here and the idea of hearing someone come in was absurd.

He looked up at her and grinned broadly, she couldn't understand why he was happy to see her.

"You came," he said, "have a seat," he added then gesturing to a chair.

"What would you like, you name it, anything!" He asked her.

"I erm, uhm..." oh what the hell, she thought, "I would like to share those attractive looking cookies with you." She finished.

He laughed that same bark like sound, "Effie!" he called.

Quickly a petite house elf appeared wide eyed, "yes master black?"

"Would you get my friend here a glass of milk?" he asked her.

"Of course, Effie will get milk for miss...?"

"Skye" Alex offered.

"Of course Miss Skye," Effie said running off.

She appeared soon after with a glass of milk and then left the two of them to talk.

Sirius looked at her cautiously wondering what he should say, and then finally he decided to ask the obvious.

"Where did you go before here?"

"Beauxbaton," she answered not offering him anymore.

He nodded, "France, you move here with your family?"

"No, alone," she said bluntly.

"Oh."

She nodded.

Feeling awkward he focused his attention on the cookies.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He looked at her wide eyed, "what for?"

"For...telling me to tickle the pear," she said slight amusement clear in her face.

He laughed again, full out and she couldn't help but ask, "Why is your laugh like that? So bark...like?"

"Curiosity killed the cat," he said.

"Yes, but cats don't bark," she answered.

He laughed, "Stick around long enough and you'll know," he said.

"Fair enough," they devoured the box of cookies in content silence.

"Suppose we should head back now," he said when they were dead.

"Yeah, but I don't exactly know how,"

He chuckled, "follow me then Miss Skye."

She did as he said memorizing the route to the kitchens the entire time. It could be quite useful one day.

"I'm assuming you share a room with Lily?" he asked.

Alex nodded, "she's a bit..."

"Eager, too smart for her own good, suck up?"

"All of the above?" she asked unsure.

He nodded, "James completely taken with her though."

"James?" she asked.

"You'll hear about him from Lily I'm sure," he said smiling, "he's one of my best mates. You'll meet 'em soon enough. James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, Remus Lupin, and myself...we are the marauders."

"Marauders?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," he nodded completely serious, "we are that cool."

She couldn't help it she laughed a bit, at this Sirius looked at her completely perplexed. They had just spent hours together and this is the first time she laughed, sure the amusement could be seen on her face. But she had never laughed, she had a pretty laugh.

However, just as quickly as she started, she stopped. A look of guilt crossing her features and then she blocked off all emotions and looked completely...composed.

Sirius however knew this act; he had used it once or twice. So, knowing how it felt, he didn't comment on her stopping.

"She laughs," He said, "incredible."

She shot him a look of appreciation as they reached the common room and when she entered she whispered, "don't get used to it," thinking, hoping he wouldn't hear. A shame he did though.

Sirius followed her into the common room and sat on one of the couches. He had watched her go up to the girl's dormitories and he couldn't help but think of all the things he could've asked her. Where are your parents? Why don't you have a French accent? Why won't you let yourself enjoy yourself? He knew he could've asked all these things but the one he wanted to ask, the one he wished he had was why are you sad?

He groaned at his stupidity. It was then however that his best mates walked in. They each took a seat on the couches beside him.

"So how are you, mate?" asked James, running a hand through his untameable black hair.

"Yeah, are you alright?" added Remus while Peter nodded his head.

"Fine, just fine, Prongs, Moony, Wormtail," Sirius said addressing each of his friends by their nickname.

Sirius had completely forgotten about what had happened at dinner. He shuddered at the memory.

"SIRIUS BLACK YOU MAN WHORE!" Elizabeth, his girlfriend until a few hours ago and screeched at him.

Sirius looked at her shocked, "What did I do?" he asked.

"What did you do? Are you mad! You cheated on me...with that slag!" She cried pointing at Mary MacDonald who was smirking.

Sirius had no idea what was going on. Sure he had an awful player reputation but he actually did like Liz, he hadn't cheated on her.

"But, love I didn't..." he started.

"Don't 'Love' me Black!" She screamed.

At this point Sirius was getting angry. The entire great hall was staring at them and he stood up.

"Let me finish Liz," he said warningly.

"Why? So you can lie?"

He had groaned, why was she so daft? "No Liz! So I can explain!"

"No need Black, we're done." She said and then walked out of the great hall.

Everyone in the hall was staring at him, for the first time ever Sirius Black had been dumped. He hadn't even done anything wrong. Sirius had looked around him, at everyone staring. He then walked out the Great Hall. After that he had roamed corridors he knew no one would be in...until he bumped into Alex. He smiled at the memory of the pretty girl.

He was tired of his reputation, of how everyone used it against him. Honestly? He was tired of it all. He was going to have to change and maybe, she'd help him do it. Maybe, he hoped.