…I bet you didn't expect an update so soon?

Well, I'm back guys. I got given a laptop from a friend to keep… yes, I am very lucky indeed.

By the way everyone, I'm actually in the middle of my exams so until June 13th onwards, my posts will be erratic… but I'm not gone! Just busy.

So busy this chapter is short… but enjoy it anyway.

Warnings in General: Homosexual relationships, multiple pairings (SSxJP, SSxSB & SSxLM), Crack moments, slight OOC? And MAYBE DESCRIPTIVE SEX LATER IN STORY, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

Warnings this Chapter: Snarky and kind of depressive Snape, Awesome Sirius and admittance… AND SOME STUFF TO MAKE THE PLOT GO FORWARD, at least a little haha

Chapter Ten – Inner Turmoil and Outer Revelations

I'm halfway back to the castle before I realize tears are falling from my usually unemotional dark eyes and dripping slowly on the cold ground.

Don't be so stupid, Severus… I think bitterly, wiping my eyes until it starts to hurt, self hating and dark thoughts crossing my mind. Don't be so pathetic… you're better than this.

As my thoughts internally eat me up, I don't notice the oncoming person, walking closer and closer to me until I bump into him; tears are still streaming down my face as I look up into Sirius Black's very concerned eyes.

"Whoa, what's the matter Severus?" Sirius asks, noticing the tears I'm trying to cover up, as I feel utterly pathetic being caught crying of all things.

"It's nothing," I hiss with venom, my harsh tone making Sirius jump with surprise. "Don't concern yourself with something you can't understand."

I try to walk pass Sirius, but my hands are quickly taken hostage and I'm pulled into a tight embrace. I struggle against Sirius, going as far to hit him harshly but Sirius lets me take my anger out on him, until I'm just a puddle of a embarrassing, crying mess.

"That's better…" Sirius whispers, his pained expression making me feel some semblance of guilt. "What's wrong?"

Untangling myself from Sirius' embrace, I step back and refuse to look him in his eyes. I don't answer at all for a moment, feeling conflicted and angry.

"It… doesn't matter," I sigh. I rub my eyes until all tears are gone. "You don't really need to know."

"I do need to know!" Sirius retorts, coming closer again. I faintly blush as he begins to stroke my hair. "Whatever upsets you is very important to me Severus. I want to know."

Feeling strangely comforted by both Sirius' words and soft, gentle caress, I sigh in defeat, trying to think of the right words to say.

"I'm…" I mumble, looking down to my feet. "…confused, despite both you and James offering to give me some weird trial, I can't figure out how I feel for the three of you…"

"Wait, wait, wait…!" Sirius interrupts me. "The three of us…?"

His words make me realize my mistake; I go quiet as I try to think my way out of this situation. But it seems that Sirius will not forget it.

"There's another person involved?" Sirius asks, pressuring me to answer. I sigh yet again in defeat.

"Well… yes," I admit, crossing my arms defensively. "It's… well… Lucius-"

"Malfoy!" Sirius bursts out, looking appalled. "That pompous git!? But, he's not right for you Sev. How can you even think of liking him-"

"BECAUSE I DO!" I yell back, shutting Sirius up. "Don't judge me Black, it can't be any different from liking both you and James! I wish I didn't have these horrendous feelings!"

Sirius gapes at me, noticing my use of his last name. I glare at him, daring him to say anything else to upset me.

"I'm… sorry," Sirius apologizes, surprising me; I didn't expect that kind of response, at all. "You must be feeling pretty low… it was rude of me. I just don't understand how that rude snob could take your affections?"

"I don't know either," I agree. I still don't know how I could like him, even after he forced his affections on me. It must be some kind of messed up Stockholm syndrome…

Quiet descends between me and Sirius, the wind picks up, making a shiver course through me. Looking up, my eyes meet Sirius'. His dark eyes fill with emotion, such a strong emotion it is hard to tell that he's controlled by a potion at all!

"…I…" I croak, shaking myself out of the stupor I put myself in. "…I really can't be with you, James or even Malfoy… not like this…"

Sirius' almost giddy expression turns to one of absolute horror, which tugs at my heart-strings which I thought I've never had. I look to the ground, feeling guilt at uttering the truth.

"B-but…" Sirius mumbles, uncharacteristically stuttering slightly. His sudden change in voice makes me look up, into his widened dark eyes. His voice gains confidence as I stare at him. "I don't believe you."

I gape openly at Sirius' out of the blue statement; I arch my eyebrow at him and sneer… a fake sneer though.

"Don't act like you know me…" I whisper, clenching my fists so hard my fingers begin to puncture the skin on my palm. "Please… just leave me alone…"

My voice ends on a pathetic note, my sudden change from anger to utter depression seems to shock Sirius into silence. I have an urge to take my anger out on the Gryffindor, but I also have a sudden urge to ask for forgiveness and comfort.

They're never going to forgive you for using them… My bitter thoughts snidely remark, reminding me that no matter what I choose to do, my three 'love interests' will never forget any of it… and will most likely not be happy about what has happened so far when they are revived to normal… if that happens at all.

"I'll…" I speak up, trying to ignore the guilt crashing down on me. "…I can't… I'll speak to you later… maybe…"

I quickly run from Sirius, towards the castle and dungeons so I can mope by myself. I'm halfway down to the Dormitory as I realize that I can never escape 'them' as Lucius will most likely be in the Slytherin Dormitory or Common Room… waiting for me.

Sighing, I slide down the cold, stone wall, not even caring that the temperature is below zero and that I could freeze at some point if I stay here for too long. I close my eyes anyway, feeling tired and drained from today…

Thump!

Bolting up at the sudden noise, I look on both sides of the Dungeon corridor to find the cause of the loud noise that suspiciously sounded like someone falling over…

"Who's there?" I say aloud, sounding more confident than I actually feel. There is no response to my question either…

Following where the noise came from, I turn a corner and nearly trip over a dark, thick, soft material pooled over the dungeon floor.

"What…?" Muttering to myself, I pick the material up; now noticing it's a part of a robe that must've ripped off. The second thing I notice is a pink and purple emblem with the initials Y and C…

As I curiously search the piece of clothing, I find a small envelope, a fancy pink wax symbol stamped on the back. The most intriguing part is that the wax stamp is two male gender symbols interloped. Opening the letter, I gape stupidly at the content:

01011001 01000011 00100000 01101101 01100101 01100101 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00101100 00100000 01101101 01101001 01100100 01101110 01101001 01100111 01101000 01110100 00100000 01101111 01101110 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01000001 01110011 01110100 01110010 01101111 01101110 01101111 01101101 01111001 00100000 01010100 01101111 01110111 01100101 01110010 00101110 00100000 01111110 00100000 01001100 01101001 01101100 01111001 00100000 01000101 01110110 01100001 01101110 01110011

I look at the numbers, the longer I stare the less sense it makes. Why would a random piece of parchment be left on the ground beside a piece of ripped cloth?

This whole situation is suspicious, so I pocket the cloth and letter, and quickly make my way to the Slytherin Common Room, feeling unsafe in the dark and dank corridors.

Something strange is going on.

And I don't like it.

TBC

(Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, hopefully I should be updating soon.)