Thank you all for the positivity and feedback I got on my last chapter! It seriously made my day. Enjoy! Also, the Sirius shippers are going to love this chapter.

Chapter 18

I stood up and walked over to him. As usual, he looked perfect. But he was staring at me, blankly. A look that he had mastered for a long time exclusively for his relatives and I absolutely hated that look. It pained me to see him like this, cold and emotionless. Whenever a problem would arise in our group, a fight maybe. Remus and I would sort it out quickly, he was forgiving. He hardly held a grudge. Peter and I never fought. James and I eventually would work it out because we never stayed mad at each other. But Sirius, however. Sirius was a whole other problem.

Sirius was the kind of person who hardly let anyone in, of course if I had grown up in a place where I was treated like I was a mistake, I would act the same way too. To me, Sirius Black was always wearing a mask. To the students, he was the ultimate bad boy - the one everyone either wanted to be, or wanted to be with. To the teachers? he was a troublemaker. But to us? The people who actually saw him? Sirius Black was hurt. How did he mask his pain? By acting like he didn't care. The best way to describe him is by an expression I had once heard: Either be a wolf or get eaten by wolves.

I could only imagine how painful it was to hear one of your only friends tell you that you meant nothing to them.

I fumbled with my hands, "Sirius, I- we need to talk." I said, earnestly.

He raised a brow and crossed his arms nonchalantly, "What is there to talk about?" Sirius asked, coolly.

There it was. His 'I don't care about anything attitude' with also a little bit of 'why are you even talking to me' - the same attitude I received when I first became friends with everybody. It was the first clue that he was shutting me out. James cleared his throat and somehow got the profound idea that Sirius and I needed to talk because he stood up and said, "Well, I'm going to go explain everything to Remus and Peter. You can deal with him." He gave me a thumbs up as he walked up the stairs.

I took in a deep breathe and looked at the ground, I had planned out what I wanted to say to him. I was in control.

"Sirius, I- what you thought happened. Was not what really happened." I said, hoping that made sense. It didn't.

His face contorted to a look of confusion, "What do you mean?"

Like a kettle blowing off steam, I said all too quickly: "Sirius I didn't do anything it was Kenneth he did something to ruin my friendship with everyone because he's an evil little cockroach and I swear I didn't say those things and I didn't mean any of it I swear I don't know if you'll believe me or not but also Kenneth preformed a memory charm on me to make me forget. I would never say that you guys are my best friends in this entire world and I love all of you - I don't hate anyone - I'm innocent, I swear!"

"Kenneth did something to you? If he performed a memory charm, how do you know?" He said suspiciously, his eyes narrowing.

I looked up at him, "Well, so - I went outside and I saw the grey lady who somehow knew about my bruised hand," I lifted up my hand.

His eyeballs almost shot out of his skull and instinctively grabbed my hand, scanning it. "What the- Merlin, Winnie- how'd you manage to do that? Can you go one day without hurting yourself?" He asked, concerned.

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly, "That's not the point - The grey lady saw me and Kenneth fighting, she said she heard running and it was me. Kenneth was chasing after me, then we started to fight. I don't know about what, though. I slapped him and he took out his wand and at the same time I punched him. Which I guess is why the memory charm wasn't perfect. I could still remember bits and pieces." I said, honestly.

His eyes trailed back up to my face, "What do you remember?" his voice somber.

I shut my eyes for a moment, trying to see if there was anything else. Another flaw in his plan, but it was only the three things that I could remember. A feeling of utter hopelessness, a feeling of complete rage and a flash of Kenneth's face. I told Sirius just that.

He gently let go of my hand, "Promise me, promise me you're telling the truth." he said, almost pleading.

I didn't hesitate in complying, "I promise you that I'm telling you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Kenneth, has always wanted revenge on me. I should have known he would've done something. But, I - I don't know, I don't think he could have managed that alone."

Sirius bit his lip, "D'you reckon he had an accomplice? But you're right, he wouldn't do something like this alone. Especially considering the fact that his father works in the ministry. He would never do anything to jeopardise his family's reputation." he said, logically.

Like a kettle on a heater, I exploded with steam. "Screw him and his stupid family's reputation. I hope the earth opens up and swallows him, but you know what I don't think the earth would want him so it would probably un-swallow him and leave him to die on the worst place on Earth where he'll get eaten by crows and bugs. Good! He deserves it. He ruined Ravenclaw with his face." I crossed my arms, annoyed.

A moment later I realised how fast I was speaking and how he probably didn't understand a word of what I was saying. I felt my face burn hot. My eyes flashed up to his. I was surprised when I heard his familiar chuckle, I looked up and saw his grey eyes shining with amusement.

I gaped at him, dumbly. "You- you're not mad?"

Sirius threw his head back in laughter, "Honestly? I knew something was wrong with you the second you walked into the great hall, Winnie. You were crying for Godric's sake, you never cry like that. I suspected you were under something - I just didn't know how long you were under that something. Also, you're right. He did ruin Ravenclaw." He said, a small smile playing on his lips.

I got on my tip-toes and hugged him, he wrapped his hand around my waist and my shoulder. It was like hugging a toaster. Warm. I could almost fist pump the air out of happiness. I was so shocked, I didn't expect him to believe me. But he did and I was so happy. There was only a few things I hated in this world: losing my friends and family, crows and Kenneth. Of course those are only some of the things because I couldn't remember all of them right this moment.

"I'm so sorry," I mumbled, still stuck in his embrace.

He answered me when he pulled away a moment later, "For what, Dot? You have nothing to be sorry for. I doubted you at first but then I came to my senses. I knew - I know that you wouldn't do that. Kenneth, however. Consider him dead." he said, twirling a strand of my curly hair.

I dipped my head, a bit embarrassed actually. "Okay," I laughed awkwardly. "So I take it the dream team is back on?" I said, a smile growing on my lips.

He chuckled, rolling up his sleeves. "I had no idea that the dream team was off." he said, grinning.

"So, what are we going to do? Go out there and kill Kenneth? I don't want him to know that I know. I do want to get revenge but in a more subtle way." I said, leaning against the wall.

Sirius raised his brow at me, shock splattered across his features. "Really? Subtlety is not really your forte. Remember when I told you to-"

I cut him off by putting my hand on his mouth, "Details of my past do not interest me. Stop living in the past, Sirius Orion Black. This is the present! We shall move on and we shall prevail. Also, that story is awful. Never ever speak of it again." I said, removing my hand.

He grinned, "Is it really because I remember-"

I cut him off once again, "Quiet child, the adults are trying to think here." I said, rubbing my temples and pretending to be thinking of a master plan.

His eyes darted around the empty room, "There's no one in here besides you and me, Winnie."

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever that's besides the point," we both laughed an I decided to ask, "So, are we okay? I just don't want to fight with my best friend anymore." I said, giving a small smile.

He reciprocated the smile with ease, "Yeah, we're okay. If Kenneth thought that this was enough to break what we have, he was wrong." his eyes widened and he cleared his throat, "I don't mean what we have as in relationship wise - I mean," He furrowed his brows, like he was deciding what he was going to say. "No, I mean eh- you're important to me."

I beamed. I wasn't sure if it was because he was acting all flustered (which was was hilarious by the way) or because it was the fact that he admitted that I was important to him. Like I said, he wasn't a very emotional guy - so when he said things like that to me, to any of of the marauders. You knew he was being truthful.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, "Thanks Padfoot, I think that's the first time I've ever heard you say that." I couldn't help my smile. I wondered how many girls would have loved to hear those words coming out of his lips.

He hovered above me, pouting. "That's not true, I always tell you how great you are. The other day I told you you were great at transfiguration."

"You were being sarcastic! I tried to do the spell to change the flower to a duck and it became a lizard, remember?" I said, scrunching up my nose in disgust as I remembered how the lizard looked like, it wasn't nice.

He laughed huskily and I realised how close he was standing, he was literally towering over me. I felt myself freeze, like the engines in my body stopped working. I could hear his breathing from how close he was. I could see the slight freckles that were splattered across his nose. I could see the scar he had on the left side of his face where he had fallen from a tree in second year. I could see everything. I could feel his gaze on me - deciphering my every move, observing my face. I wondered if he knew what I was thinking, it felt like he did.

"Kenneth." I blurted out.

Of all the names I could have said right now I had to mention him. There was a million words in the dictionary, a million things I could have said. But nope, I had to say Kenneth.

He immediately backed off, "What about Kenneth?" he said, searching my eyes.

I coughed, "What- what are we going to do about him?"

He traced his lip with his finger, deep in thought. "There's not much we can do, the christmas holidays are in less than a week. But we'll all meet up, of course. We can figure something out, then."

Just like that a lightbulb went off in my head, "Sirius, I have an idea." I grinned madly.

Remus's eyes widened, "You want to do what?! Winnie are you insane? Am I the only one questioning her sanity right now?" he said, eyes darting around the room trying to see if he was the only one who thought my plan was a bad idea.

James scoffed, "What sanity?" he asked, making everyone laugh - including myself.

We had stayed up all night, Sirius and I. Coming up with a plan that was going to crush Kenneth. Maybe crush was a bit too harsh - we were going to disintegrate Kenneth. Yeah, that sounded better. After thoroughly explaining what had happened to me to Remus and Peter, we all decided to pretend it never happened. Remus of course apologised thirty million times and even wrote me a sorry letter, all in one day. I didn't know how he had time to do that.

My plan of course was as devious as me, if I was devious. Which I doubted. The plan was to act like nothing had happened, we would walk around and it would seem like another day. Kenneth would start to worry, why was everyone acting like this? Why were the marauders suddenly back together? Of course, we had to convince everybody that the things I said was an elaborate prank - but they'd believe it, of course they would. Kenneth would start to go insane, did he actually do something to me? Was he imagining things? Eventually he would go insane and be sent to St. Mungo's psychiatric ward.

I grinned, "You know what they say, scratch my back and I'll murder your family." I said, changing my eyes to my yellow cheetah eyes just to emphasise the crazy glint in my eyes.

Remus looked at me concerned, "That's not what anyone says. That analogy isn't just misused, it doesn't make sense." throwing his hands up in desperation, "Is anyone here listening to what she's saying?"

Sirius cackled, "I actually think it's a pretty good idea. Harmless too, I mean what's he going to lose? Other than his sanity, of course." he said, twirling a ball in his hand.

James shrugged, "Why not? If it doesn't work we'll just let him get a taste of Winnie's bat bogey hex." He said, looking at me and laughing.

Peter shuddered, "I never want to experience that. Fred Griggins said he still has nightmares because of you, Winnie."

I slammed my hand down on the desk, making everyone jump up. "Fred Griggins is a conniving snake. First he 'accidentally' gets into the girl's bathroom. Which by the way doesn't make sense! Who accidentally enters the bathroom - three times!? Then he thinks it's funny to try and kiss girls without permission! Who does he think he is? Going around kissing girls without consent? Stupid boy. I hate boys."

They all looked at me like I had just landed from another planet, "Winnie, what do you think we are?" James asked, raising his forehead.

I batted my hand as if batting his comment away, "I meant that you're not as stupid as Fred Griggins. You're all stupid but you're not as stupid, get it?"

Sirius snickered, "Thanks, that's probably the nicest thing you've ever said to us."

Remus sighed and I knew that he had given in, "So you guys are really going to do it then? Fine, okay. I guess he kind of does deserve it. But when?"

I glanced up, "After the holidays."

Peter decided to speak up, "Speaking of the holidays what are your plans for christmas guys?"

Thats when I decided to zone out, not because I didn't care about anyone's christmas plans. But because I felt like I really needed to step back and appreciate everything. Appreciate the fact that I had my friends, the people I loved and trusted most in this world. Losing them was like losing a part of me, even though we had our differences. We made it work and I never wanted to lose them.

I realised at that moment I didn't want to have the best year ever. I was making unnecessary expectations that I wouldn't bother reaching anyway. What I really wanted was to have a good time. I wanted to be with my friends. I wanted to enjoy every moment with them because that could disappear, dark times were ahead of us and I didn't want to waste my life.

I wanted to live.