Chapter 9
Three days later Olivia's ankle had grown twice its size and she couldn't put any pressure on it at all.
Sirius was the first to point it out.
"Your foot looks about ready to explode." He snickered. Olivia was lying on a couch in the Gryffindor common room, her foot propped up on the edge.
"I would smack you but I can't reach you." She glared.
He poked her foot playfully and she cried out in pain. His face fell and he sat down on the table by the couch. "I didn't realize it was so painful. Why don't you go to the hospital wing? Your ankle has to be broken."
Olivia sighed. "It's fine. I just need to walk it off." Olivia tried to sit up, but winced in pain and thought better of it.
"Olivia, your foot is now a cankle. You need to go to the hospital wing." Sirius argued.
"Is it supposed to be purple?" Olivia asked, looking up at Sirius. "Never mind, don't answer that."
Sirius stared at her with eyebrows raised.
"It is not that bad." Olivia said defiantly.
"You're incredibly difficult." Sirius said as he stood up and scooped her up into his arms. "Come on then." He began walking toward the portrait door.
Olivia screamed in protest. "Put me down! What do you think you're doing!"
Sirius looked down at her with a smile. "Your ankle is broken, and you're too bloody stubborn."
Olivia held on to him tightly, obviously in no position to struggle.
"I shouldn't feel sorry for you, you know." Sirius said, trying not to smile at her. "You had it coming."
"Yes, I do tend to go around begging for dreadful things to happen to me." Olivia said, rolling her eyes.
"You shouldn't have come out that night." He said flatly.
"You're right. I shouldn't have." Olivia pressed her lips together. "I don't know how many times I have to admit I was wrong, but apparently I'll never live it down."
Sirius smiled in spite of himself. "Probably not; but, it's so nice to hear you say how wrong you were."
Olivia smacked the back of his head as hard as she could without throwing her weight backwards.
He laughed as they finally reached the Hospital wing. He sat her down on one of the beds as Madame Pomphrey came over to them, hands on her hips.
"Well it's obviously broken." She chided.
Sirius looked over at Olivia with a triumphant smile.
She crossed her arms and stuck out her tongue at him.
Madame Pomphrey went to work, rubbing a cream onto Olivia's ankle that smelled horrible. The swelling went down dramatically. She waved her wand over the ankle and Olivia felt her bones snap back into place painfully.
She winced and bit her lip against the pain. Sirius grabbed her hand and she squeezed it hard.
"There, you're better." Madame Pomphrey said with a smile. She walked off and Olivia stared down at her foot. It was completely normal looking again. She rolled it around a few times and smiled.
"That wasn't so bad I suppose." She said, looking over at Sirius. He was still holding her hand.
Awkwardly she pulled away from him and stood up.
"See." He said with a grin. "Sometimes it's ok to ask for help."
"I don't believe I asked; I was dragged here against my will." Olivia argued.
Sirius shrugged. "You're better now."
They walked out of the hospital wing together, stopping outside the door so Olivia could take off her other shoe.
She wiggled her toes. "Well at least I can still dance." She looked at Sirius, he was staring at her.
"You still dance?" He asked curiously. "I remember when you used to drag me to your little dances in the backyard."
Olivia laughed. "I was seven; I had to have some kind of an audience."
Sirius smiled thoughtfully. "That seems like so long ago now."
Olivia looked around and sighed. "Yes, well; Things change."
Sirius stared into her eyes. "People change." He stepped closer to her and grabbed her hand lightly, rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand.
She tried to remember how to breathe, but staring up into Sirius' curiously grey eyes had her mind slowly melting into goo.
Olivia bit her lip, knowing if she didn't she'd kiss him again.
"Livvy-" Sirius whispered as he lowered his head to hers.
With a small gasp she yanked her hand out of his and stepped backwards, her eyes wide and her lips trembling. "Don't call me that." She said quietly.
Sirius stared at her, confused. "I used to always call you that."
Olivia took in a steady breath. "Like you said, people change." She turned around and walked away quickly.
Sirius stood there, his mind reeling. Just when he thought he could get close to her she would shut him out. She was cold, and distant once again, and all Sirius could think about was feeling his hand in hers.
Lily frowned as she looked in the common room once again for Olivia. She couldn't find her anywhere. As she made her way to the portrait, she saw James come through and head her way.
"Have you seen Olivia?" She asked immediately.
James shook his head. "Have you seen Sirius?"
Lily's eyes narrowed. "No. I haven't."
James tried to step passed her. "Well then, I guess I'll meet him down at the quidditch pitch. Game today."
Lily put her hands on her hips and blocked his path. "She's going to kill him when she finds out, you realize this don't you?"
James' eyes widened. "I-I uh don't know what you're talking about." He said quickly.
Lily glared at him. "Potter I've never seen you lack for words, what exactly is going on?"
James shifted his eyes around trying to look innocent. "Nothing really it's just-"
She looked at him steadily and he swallowed hard.
"I may have accidently goaded Sirius into a bet." James confessed.
Lily rolled her eyes. "So typical." She began to walk off.
"If it makes you feel any better, I put my money on Olivia." James called after her.
Lily stopped and whirled in on him. "How is that supposed to make me feel better James? You betting on girls to see how long it takes them to give it up to your friend? It's disgusting! We females have feelings believe it or not."
James waved his arms around in a panic. "I didn't mean to really! It just fell out of my mouth, I mean-" He sighed heavily. "I'd never do that to you, if that counts for anything."
Before she could say anything, James leaned into her and kissed her lightly on the cheek. His eyes lingered on hers for a moment before he brushed passed her quickly and walked out of the room.
Lily stood there, wide eyed. Her heart fluttered and her face was hot.
"What in bloody hell is going on?" She asked the empty room.
"You look like you've seen a nudist." Olivia said nonchalantly, as Lily walked in the room. She was lounging on her bed, her hair cascading over the side.
Lily bit her lip. "It's nothing."
Olivia flipped over onto her stomach, eyes gleaming. "It's definitely something."
"Well there is something." Lily said quietly, trying to collect her nerve. She sat down next to Olivia and looked around. "I overheard something and well, you remember when you said to just say the word?"
Olivia eyed Lily suspiciously. "You have my attention."
Lily leaned into Olivia and told her about the conversation she had overheard. She had expected Olivia to jump off and immediately take action, but was surprised when Olivia just smiled off into space, laying on her stomach with her hands clasped together in deep thought.
"This makes perfect sense." She finally said.
"I um, also heard him say that you kissed." Lily said shyly. "And slept together."
Olivia's eyes widened. "He said that?" She took a deep breath. "Ugh, I'm going to kill him."
"So it's not true?" Lily asked.
Olivia frowned and rolled herself into a sitting position. "That's not the point." She pulled her knees into her chest and smiled. "I wondered why he was being so extra friendly these past few weeks. This is going to be entirely too easy."
"What do you mean?" Lily asked warily.
Olivia grinned. "He's been trying to get me into bed correct?"
Lily nodded.
"So I play his game. There is nothing that an egotistical bastard like Sirius loves more than a good game to play." Olivia slowly lowered herself back onto her bed, propping herself up on her elbow. "I'll make a beggar out of him yet."