A/N: Hello lovely readers. I apologize about the delayed update. This one is brought to you by: Lexi's Birthday! Happy birthday Lexi!

Okay, so I have QL to work on, then I'll continue my rotations! Enjoy

Chapter Five

Evelyn took one last look in the mirror before attempting to leave the common room for the second time that day. The other girls in her house has heard she was going to be having a butterbeer with Sirius Black and told her "there was no way she was going in pants and t-shirt and that she had better go back upstairs to dress more girly one they would do it for her."

So this time she entered the common room wearing a simple black skirt just past her knees and a light blue blouse. She has also managed to pull her crazy curls back into a simple ponytail.

"You look so much prettier, Evelyn!" exclaimed the girl who had forced her to go back upstairs in the first place. Mary, she thought.

"Thanks. But I'm going now."

"But you didn't bother with makeup!"

"I'm not trying to impress anyone."

"But you're going out with Sirius Black!"

"Going out? No, we're not even friends. He just said that I owed him a butterbeer because he stopped a bludger from hitting Sev and I."

"Whatever!" Mary exclaimed as she flicked her wand in Evelyn's direction.

Evelyn felt the subtle feeling of make up on her face and silently cursed Mary.

"Why does it matter what I look like. I don't care about impressing him!"

Mary looked as if Evelyn had just stabbed her in the heart instead of stating a fact. So before Mary could get another word in edge wise, Evelyn quickly made her way out of the common room and down the tower stairs.

Halfway down she almost ran into Sirius as he ran up them, skipping two steps at a time.

"Sorry, Evelyn."

"Yes, well watch where you're going. You could have fallen down the stairs," Evelyn lectured, a bit annoyed at his behavior.

"I didn't know you cared," he said with a wicked grin.

"I don't, I just don't care to get in trouble since I was the one you bumped into."

His smile died just as quickly as it came into being and he turned to walk down the stairs with her. She followed, a few steps behind him.

"You look really pretty," Sirius said softly as he turned his head slightly to look at her. And he truly thought that she looked lovely. The simplicity of what she wore only emphasized what a natural beauty she was. If she wanted to, she could have any guy in school...well if James would let them within ten feet of her.

"Oh, thank you. Mary wouldn't let me leave the tower unless I dressed up."

So she's not dressed up for me.

"Well, I'm sure you still would have looked very pretty."

Evelyn ignored the last comment and kept walking behind him. Even as they left the castle, she made sure to remain a few steps behind him. Honestly, she was dreading this. She didn't want the attention that came with being seen with her brother or his friends, and she hated the glared she was receiving from several of her female classmates as they watched her and Sirius pass by.

"Why don't you go find us a table," Sirius said as they entered The Three Broomsticks. "I'll go get us some drinks."

Evelyn reached for her purse, prepared to give him the money to cover her drink, but he put out a hand to stop her. "It's on me. I just want your company."

"But-"

"No buts. Just go find a table."

He walked over towards the bar, leaving her to survey the place. It was crowded as usual, one of the reasons she always avoided it, and very few tables remained open. She spotted one in a corner that was a little out of site, hoping to use that to her advantage and not be seen with Sirius, she made a break for it.

The take was a little dingy, as were most of them, so she cast a quick scourgify to clean it up before she took a seat. One she was seated...comfortably, she folded her hands together and placed them in her lap and waited.

As she waited, she watched the people around her. She noticed the couple occupying one of the other corners showing just a little but too much occupation as the boys hands were just a little too forceful. Evelyn cringed at the thought as she turned her attention away and towards the other people in the pub. Several groups of friends sat at far too crowded tables laughing and drinking. She had only come once or twice with Lily and Severus, but like her, Severus didn't like it much. He only went for Lily, and Evelyn only went for him.

Sirius finally made his way over to the table she had picked out, holding two overflowing pint glasses before slamming them down on the table causing the contents to slosh out. Evelyn scooted away in an attempt to keep the sticky liquid away from herself and then grabbed an abandoned rag off the table next to them, wiping up the liquid.

"Sorry, Ev."

The use of the nickname made her cringe. She much preferred Evie, and even then only her closest friends were permitted to call her that.

"It's fine. And please don't call me that."

Sirius was hurt by her tone. Clearly she was uncomfortable and would rather be anywhere else, he needed to change that as soon as possible.

"So, what did you do while locked up in your room all summer?"

"School work. And I read. And I didn't stay locked up there all summer. I just waited until you and James were too busy to notice me leaving."

"What were you doing?"

"Trying to hang out with Lily without James wanting to tag along," she said as she finally sipped her butter beer. Sirius of course was already taking massive swigs and wiping his mouth off on his sleeve. Evelyn's stomach churned at the thought. "And hanging out with Severus."

She took small pride in making Sirius choke on his drink when she mentioned that.

"And what exactly do-did you two do together?"

She was certain that he used the word 'did' to remind get that Severus was no longer speaking to her. "Mostly went for strolls or laid down by a lake near his and Lily's home. It's really peaceful staring up at the clouds."

"What do you even see in him?"

Evelyn shot him a glare before looking away. "Do you remember our first ride on the train?"

"Yeah, of course I do. Snivellus insulted us for wanting to be in Gryffindor."

"Don't call him that! And if I recall, you shot back just fine. Well, I doubt if you noticed, since we already knew each other, but James was trying very hard to ignore me and hoping that nobody noticed me. I've always been slightly annoying, I do know that's what people think of me."

"I don't think that."

"Anyway," Evelyn said, ignoring the plea for her to return her attention to him, "Sev was the one who noticed me. He included me in that conversation. And besides, he's really a brilliant boy. He could be a Ravenclaw if he wanted. And...let's just say I'm impressed by several things in his personality. You just never gave him a chance."

"He didn't give us a chance."

"He doesn't give many people a chance. I know why, but a few puerile have somewhat gotten through."

"Well, I think you should try to make some other friends. It will be awfully lonely with only Lily."

Evelyn decided that she was done. She didn't mind casual conversation, but if he was going to insult her friends, and she still considered Severus a friend, then she was done.

"I'm sorry, but I think I'm done here. Thank you for the drink, Sirius, but I think I'm going to take my leave."

She stood up and started to walk away, but he grabbed her wrist.

"Wait, please, don't go yet. You haven't finished your drink. I promise, I'll stop mentioning him."

She ripped her hand from his grasp. "That remains to be seen. Besides, you make an excellent point. Being friends with Lily will be interesting. Especially because I think she'll soon be occupied by another's attention. So I'm going to fix my friendship. Enjoy the drink, I've never been a huge fan of the stuff anyway."

"Wait, what?"

But Evelyn had already left the pub. Sirius sat there dumbfounded. He'd never had a date go do horribly wrong.

"What did you do to piss off my sister?" James asked as he, Remus, and Peter made their way over to the table.

"I-I don't really know. But she said that Lily might be occupied with other interests soon. I think some bloke it's making a move."

None of the others noticed the flash of guilt that filled Remus' eyes for a moment.

Evelyn sat on the floor outside the Slytherin portrait, waiting. Most of the students ignored her, a few have her curious or dirty glances, but no one spoke to her. She waited patiently for Severus.

Finally he rounded the corner of the dungeons and Evelyn scrambled to her feet.

"What are you doing here?" he sneered at her.

"Severus, I know you're angry. And I understand why. I...I was almost certain that I knew what was going on, and with that in mind, I never should have sent you that way. But I wanted so desperately to give you exactly what you wanted, and it was the only thing I knew that could help you. And because I didn't know for sure, I couldn't say anything. I also realize I'm not making much sense right now. Let me start over.

"Severus, I'm sorry that I put you in danger. Even though I didn't know for sure, given that there was any risk of danger, I shouldn't have sent you there. I did follow though. And I tried to run after you. I'm so sorry Severus. I'll try to make it up to you anyway I can."

She fell to her knees and bowed her head. She wasn't begging, but she was emotionally exhausted.

He stood there for a moment before moving to walk past her.

Her heart fell a little, but she was desperate.

"I'll come back every night, even if it means breaking curfew. Besides, I know how you feel about Mulciber and the rest of them. We're all each other has."

He stopped. "You have Lily."

"For how long? Besides, she has other friends. You and I don't."

"What about Black? You seemed pretty cozy together earlier."

He had seen her? He cared that she was with him? A little seed of hope sprouted in her heart against her better judgement. "I told you, he wants to be friends. I don't particularly care about him either way."

"Would you never speak to him again?"

Evelyn stood up and turned to face Severus.

"Would it mean we could be friends again?"

"I'd be willing to consider it."

"Done."

Sirius meant nothing to her. She could easily ignore him if it meant having Severus back in her life.

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