Disclaimer: you know the routine.
XxXxX
Aly's first week back was just a continuation of the past months. She hadn't even had a chance to go see her own dormitory since Logan had returned to the castle, Head Boy pin on his chest.
Amos had taken to acting much like Logan towards Lily. He refused to let her out of his sight and, as far as Aly could tell, he was treating her like crap. If the thought of kicking his butt hadn't slipped into the fog that constantly filled her mind, she would've done it.
All of September stayed very hot. One day, Aly had taken off her uniform sweater and forgotten to put it back on before seeing Logan. "What's with the bracelet?" he asked.
Aly didn't look up from her book and mumbled, "Huh?" She never really paid any attention to the fact that every morning she clipped her bracelet around her wrist. It was just another part of her day.
"Is it from your dad?"
Again, Aly didn't answer. She merely was heard making a "Mmmh" noise.
Logan dropped the subject, and Aly sighed with relief.
It didn't end there though. Lily asked about it at breakfast the next day. "Why are you still wearing Sirius' bracelet?" She had said it offhandedly.
"What?!" Logan snapped.
Lily shrunk back.
"What do you mean?!" Logan yelled, and Aly's shoulders sunk as she sat and let him bark at her.
"He gave you that bracelet you always wear?" he finally asked, grabbing her wrist. "I thought it was from your dad."
"I never said that," Aly pointed out.
He reached for the links and tried to tear it off of her. She reacted out of instinct and pulled away quickly. His nails, going for the clasp, raked the soft skin of her arm. Aly let out a low hiss and jumped up. She began to bleed from the rows of open skin.
She left without a look back. She arrived at the hospital wing with tears rolling down her face.
The nurse cleaned and bandaged her up without a word and then asked, "What happened?"
Aly merely wiped the tears from her face and said, "A fight."
"Someone did this on purpose?" the nurse asked in shock.
"No!" Aly exclaimed. "It was an accident!" She ran out of the hospital wing and headed to class.
She found James sitting in her usual seat, next to a very unhappy Lily.
"Miss Dumbledore, you missed divisions."
"For what?"
Before McGonagall could answer, Sirius came running in right behind her. McGonagall frowned and said, "5 points each. Take the open desk, please."
They sat down and McGonagall explained the project at hand. "As a historical project, we will be studying family histories, wizard born or not. So, you are now ---" she took a breathe and steeled herself up, "You are now married to your partner."
The room buzzed. Girls giggled. Boys groaned. James let out an audible "yes!" Aly turned to look at Sirius wondering what his reaction would be. He was still facing forward, and his face was twisted oddly.
"So," McGonagall said, cutting through the chatter, "The first part of the project is to get to know your spouse."
Aly waited for Sirius to turn to face her. She was actually feeling intrigued. She wanted to learn more about him and his family.
"So, Mr. Black, care to share?" she asked, nudging him slightly, trying to sound excited.
He turned, but his face was still twisted. "I saw what he did to you," he said darkly.
Aly instantly slide her arm off of the table.
"Why?" he whispered.
"What?"
"Why?" he growled loudly.
People around them turned to look.
"Because," she said simply, smiling at the people who had turned to look. Once they had gone back to their own conversations, Aly told him simply, "Because of the bracelet."
Sirius closed his eyes tightly. "What a prick," he mumbled.
"I think I should give it back," Aly said meekly.
Sirius turned and glared at her, studying her. "What happened to you? You're letting him take control. You're stronger than this. Don't let him walk all over you."
Aly merely looked at him. Her foggy mind had trouble registering what he had to say.
"Stand up to him," he said slamming his fist down.
"Stop that," Aly ordered, her head spinning, putting her hand on top of his fist. "Tell me about yourself."
"What do you want to know?" he asked still angry.
"What's your favorite color?" she asked quickly.
"You already know that it's green," he said with an eye roll.
"What kind of green?"
"Emerald." He was calming down.
"Favorite food?"
"Bread."
"Bread?" her eyebrows went up.
"Any type," he said with an added shrug. "I just like it."
She smiled at him. For the first time in what seemed like years, something had not been sucked into the fog of her mind. Sirius seemed to be invincible against it.
"Your favorite color is silver, and your favorite flower is a daisy. You have a bird name Fawkes. You never knew your mom. You don't get along with your dad--"
She swatted at him playfully, "I'm suppose to be telling you about me. Not you telling me about me."
He smiled at her. "Then go ahead. I'm listening."
XxXxX
"Take that off," Logan snapped as he came upon her in the library.
She had decided against going to meet him for lunch. Aly had, instead, wandered around the grounds, rethinking her conversation with Sirius over and over again.
Sirius' words were still running through her head, and she snapped, "No. You're just going to have to get used to it and get over it." She felt her nerve failing almost instantly.
He frowned deeply, and slide into the chair across from her. "I just worry about you," he said taking her hand.
"Worry?"
"That you're mixing into the wrong crowd," he explained.
"But I haven't talked to Sirius since February," Aly told him.
"Well, I still think you need to stay away from him and anyone like him," he kissed her hand.
"Well, I can't," Aly stated. She felt Logan's hand tighten. "He's my husband for the rest of the year." Logan's hand was a vice grip upon hers, and she complained, "Ouch, Logan. You're hurting me."
He dropped her hand immediately. "Sorry," he mumbled. He added, "I hate that stupid project."
"You trust me though. Right?"
"Of course," Logan grumbled. "I just think you can do better for a husband. Much better."
Aly forced a smile, and he kissed her forehead and left.
XxXxX
Sirius yawned.
"You could work if you're so bored," Aly told him. They were in Professor Binns class looking through books for famous family members.
"I'll just use a True Tree spell," he said looking off into space.
"That's dark magic," Aly scolded.
"Only when used for bad," Sirius corrected.
Aly scoffed. She had been working with Sirius for two weeks and was ready for him to actually do some sort of work.
"How's Logan?" he suddenly asked, staring at the ceiling.
"Fine," Aly said tightly.
"Hit you lately?"
"Nope."
"Still wearing that bracelet?"
"Of course."
Aly saw him smile in triumph.
She rolled her eyes. Lately, all Logan wanted to talk about was what Sirius had said or done to her, examining every detail with deep scrutiny, trying to find something he could use as an excuse to attack Sirius. Aly never gave him any. What made things worse was that all Aly had to talk about was what Sirius had said and done that day. This was because he was still the only thing not getting sucked into her fog. So, she wasn't particularly pleased when Sirius decided to talk about Logan.
"Does he leave a bruise whenever he sees it?" Sirius asked.
"Look," Aly sighed, "Can we just not talk about him?"
Sirius looked at her and the words that followed spilt out of her mouth before she could stop them, "This is the only time I get away from him, and I don't want to spend it talking about him. Alright?"
"Sure," he smiled.
She felt annoyed by his goofy grin and asked harshly, "So, which girl you got your eye on for today's hook up?" She determinedly flipped though her book.
He didn't say anything, pulled a book towards him, and opened it.
"No answer?" Aly asked before class ended.
"Was it an honest question?" Sirius asked.
Aly shrugged.
"Ask Remus, if you wanna know so bad," he instructed as he grabbed her book and took it with his up to the front of class to be placed back on the book carts.
"Ask me what?" Remus asked.
"Nothing," Aly said grabbing her bag and leaving in irritation before Sirius got back to their table.