Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Harry Potter series and any of the characters. All credit goes to my hero, the wonderful J.K. Rowling! :D

Sorry I haven't updated for a while, I got slammed after syllabus week. Thank you to everyone who reviewed! It means so much!

Hpov

I would have preferred it if Sirius and I could have gone to my room, but I knew that despite the fact that my father obviously liked Sirius, he would never have allowed it. In fact, I thought the whole of the upstairs was to be avoided so instead Sirius and I were on the back porch. While it was cold, the party had been starting to wind down as we left, it was cold and no one wanted to go back outside so we were guaranteed at least a little privacy. Slowly but surely everyone was starting to head home.

"Look Hallie, before you say anything." He said quickly as I turned on the outdoor heater and sat next to it. "There's something I want to give you."

He took out his wand and gave it a slight flick, and suddenly a present appeared in his hands. It was wrapped in bright red paper and seemed to be rather heavy.

"Sirius you didn't-"

"I know I didn't have to." He interrupted. "I wanted to and I want you to open it now," he said quietly. "Before things have a chance to get weird."

"Sounds fair." I said and he handed me the present. I was right, it was heavy. "What is this?" I asked curiously.

"Just open it." He said rolling his eyes.

"Alright." I said tearing back the paper and I felt my mouth fall open. "How did you get this?" I asked.

I was holding an original copy of 'Magical Medicine and it's Advancements' James Roana's latest book. I knew it was an original copy because it had been signed.

'To Hallie Benson, best of luck with your ambition to become a Healer P.S. make sure you keep Sirius in line. ~ James Roana'

"Remember when I said his name sounded familiar?" Sirius asked grinning and I nodded. "Well, turns out, your James Roana was an old friend of my Uncle Alphard, only growing up I always knew him as Jimmy Ro. He'd always liked me so when I figured out who you were talking about I sent him a letter seeing if he could give me a copy for you and he sent back this."

"Thank you." I said still looking at the book in shock. I glanced up at Sirius who was looking a little relieved for some reason. "I got you something too. But it's not nearly as good."

"I'm staying at your house over the break and taking me to a concert in three days Hallie," he said rolling his eyes. "You didn't have to get me anything at all."

"Still," I said shrugging while I also took out my wand and gave it a flick. A thin package appeared in my hands and I handed it to him. "Everyone should have a present on Christmas."

"Thanks." He said grinning. He tore open the white wrapping and laughed when he held up the large black t-shirt inside that had the AC/DC logo on it over the words 'Back In Black' in bold letter print.

"Is it too corny?" I asked.

"No Hallie I love it." He said continuing to smile, he too sat near the heater so that he was facing me and he gave me a thoughtful expression.

"What?" I asked cautiously.

"Nothing it's just, can I ask you something?" He asked hesitantly. "You know, without you freaking out and completely shutting down like always?"

"That depends on what it is."

"How can you keep up with it? The different names I mean. Katie and Hallie, it seems like a lot of effort."

"I guess the same way people just get used to nicknames." I said shrugging. "You just do."

"Maybe but honestly, they seem like two completely different people you know?" He said and I couldn't find anything to say. I did know, being around Sirius, especially over break, made me feel like I had when I was a little kid, before my mother had died. Adventurous, borderline reckless, and wild. But that wasn't who I was anymore, at least that was what I thought. "I guess I just don't see why you feel like you have to hide all of this all the time."

"I'm not the only one with things to hide." I pointed out.

"What do you mean?"

"How's your chest feeling?" I said and he looked away, clearly debating what he wanted to say next.

"You're right, you're not the only one with secrets."

"And I'm just supposed to accept that?"

"They're not all mine Hallie."

"So?"

"So you expected me to keep the fact that your real name is Katie from everyone at school, even your best friends and I did. That's the kind of person I am. I keep my word to my friends, and I don't tell secrets. Especially when they're not mine."

There was a tense moment between us that was only broken when he sighed.

"You know I'll always have a thing for Hallie." He said quietly. "She's smart, she's clever, and she knows who she is and that she doesn't need anyone but herself to get what she wants, and I love that about her. But it was also nice to meet Katie." He glanced at me. "As bizarre as this sounds, I think you're is happier when she's around. And I like seeing you happy Hal."

"I only ever feel like Katie when I'm around you." I admitted softly. "I've been trying to get away from that crazy little girl for years now, but then you come along and bring her right back out."

"Is that a bad thing?" he asked.

"I used to think so, but now I'm not so sure."

"Why?"

"You said it yourself." I said looking up at him. "I'm happier when you're around. At least everyone keeps telling me so."

"I never actually said that." He said brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. Again I was hyper aware of his touch and I felt my breath catch as his fingers traced my jaw line softly, causing my heart to skip a beat. "What I said was-"

"Shut up Sirius we both know it means the same thing."

"So I guess that means I should stick around."

"I guess." I said quietly.

"Well that might be a problem." He said.

"What? Why?" I asked quickly feeling my eyes go wide.

"Because it's very difficult to be around someone you're just friends with, when you want something more."

I felt very dizzy again as he leaned closer.

"Look Hallie I know I'm not supposed to ask you out any more."

"I still owe you a date." I said stupidly and he grinned.

"Yes you do, and I'm going to hold on to that for as long as possible. But in the mean time I was wondering-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence though. I didn't know what made me do it, but I suddenly leaned forward and pressed my lips against his. Immediately I was hit with that electric sensation that ran throughout my body. He was surprised at first, but that quickly faded and he pulled me closer to him as the shocks running through me intensified. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before, I wrapped my arms around his neck and ran my fingers through his hair as he put his arms around me. I didn't want this moment to end ever. All of the confusion and frustration I'd been feeling about him for so long just seemed to fade away as his lips touched mine. There was nothing complicated about this feeling, it was the surest thing I'd felt in my whole life. I was here, and he was here, that was all that mattered.

Much to quickly the kiss was over. We broke apart and looked at each other and I realized that I no longer felt even the slightest bit cold.

"You were saying?" I asked quietly and he smiled.

"I was going to ask if you thought me asking you to be my girlfriend counted as asking you out."

"Your girlfriend?" I asked hesitantly. Surely that was what was to be expected after all this, but hearing the actual word sent up a red flag in the back of my mind. His girlfriend, did that mean one of many?

"My only girlfriend." He clarified.

I knew I should have said no, this could only end in disaster I was sure of it. But I was also sure that no one had ever made me feel this way. No one else could make my heart pound like this, or my thoughts race, no one but Sirius seemed to be able to get under my skin and unleash emotions I'd worked hard for years now to keep in check. And for the first time I realized that it was because no one understood me like he did. Some how, in a matter of a few short months of being my friend he'd learned more about me than my closest friends, even my family. Where others had backed off, he'd been the only one who wasn't afraid to keep pushing me until I reacted to him, something no one else had dared to do. I'd found it annoying at first thinking he was just being an idiot, but now I was starting to wonder if there had been a more meaningful reason behind it all.

"You do realize that this is going to cause a whole lot of trouble?" I said and he raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

"Well now that hell seems to be freezing over, I expect some very strange things to start happening."

He laughed.

"So is that a yes?" he asked grinning and I nodded.

He pulled me into his lap and rested his chin on my head.

"Sirius?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yeah Hal?"

"What are we getting ourselves into?"

He chuckled slightly whiled sliding his arms around me.

"I don't know Hallie." He said softly and I could tell he was smiling. "But I can tell you it's bound to be interesting. Everything with you always is."