Chapter 15: Secrets
"What do you mean?" said Ariadne, trying and not really succeeding at playing innocent.
"I just saw you get off a broom after a secret joyride with Sirius Black. Explain."
"James Potter's broom," piped up Sophie. "How did you get him to let you fly it, by the way?"
Ariadne ignored Sophie for the time being. "What's there to explain? He asked if I wanted to see how it flies, and Potter wasn't around, and I…said okay."
"So you just held onto Sirius Black and flew off into the sunset together."
"I let him fly because I'm not that great at flying."
"What's going on with you? Since when do you party all night and lie to McGonagall and steal broomsticks and…" she took a deep breath, "hang out with Sirius Black and the Marauders?"
"And sleep snuggled up on Sirius' chest!" added Sophie happily.
Priya turned to her. "WHAT?"
Ariadne hastily tried to explain. "I don't really remember what happened, it was the night of the party and I guess I was drunk and fell asleep on the couch in the common room…next to him…"
"You were upstairs, so you didn't see it," Sophie informed Priya.
Priya turned to Ariadne with a wordlessly open mouth.
Ariadne felt a bit stung. "You say all of these things as if they were so terrible. And I don't think you of all people can criticize me for suddenly hanging out with the Marauders a lot more."
To her surprise, Priya broke into a huge smile. "No, silly! I'm not criticizing you! This is AMAZING! I'm so glad you finally got the stick out of your arse and are starting to have some fun at Hogwarts."
"I don't know if I should be relieved, or offended by the 'stick up my arse' comment," replied Ariadne, glad her friend was being honest with her (if brutally so.)
"Oh, Ari, you know what I mean. Always worrying about school and your grades, trying to be the most perfect prefect, laser-focused on your academics but never having time to just enjoy being young. And so fixated on the rules. If you told me a month ago that Ariadne Morrigan would be dating Sirius Black, I'd have told you to go get the anti-jinx to your Confundus spell."
"Whoa whoa. Slow down, Priya. Sirius Black. And I. Are Not. Dating."
Priya raised her eyebrow. "Sure you're not."
Ariadne sighed. "Don't be ridiculous, Priya. Me? Dating Black? How could you even seriously entertain that idea?"
"Who's being ridiculous? Sneaking off on Potter's broom? Holing up in his dormitory during the party? Sleeping with him on the couch? I saw how he was looking at you that night. Honestly, Ariadne, I know you're tons smarter than me, but do you really think I'm that dumb?"
"It's not a question of being dumb," said Ariadne in exasperation. "You're just completely misinterpreting those events."
"Am I really? Because it looks to me like you two are spending an awful lot of time together."
Ariadne sighed. "He brought me up to the dormitory to show off this…thing to try to prove he's as good at magic as I am. You know what his ego is like. And just now, with Potter's broom…I guess I just wanted to see what it was like. It's supposed to be an amazing broom—I'll never get that close to a Shooting Star 7 again for the rest of my life."
"So he took you up to his bedroom to show you his 'thing' and then took you for a ride on a broomstick," said Priya, smirking.
Ariadne frowned. "You're making a mountain out of a gnome hill. Besides, dating generally involves two people who like each other. However, as you're well-informed, I cannot stand Sirius Black, and I'm fairly sure I'm not his favorite person, either."
"I'm pretty sure you were his favorite person to stare at the night of the party, judging by how he couldn't keep his eyes off you."
"You're confusing lust with love, dear."
"I mean, if it's a thing about wanting to keep it secret and on the down-low, you can trust me with that information, Ariadne."
"Like the way I trusted you with the answers to the practice Charms exam and the Yule Ball's secret theme?"
Priya waved her hand as if to brush off the accusation. "Those are silly, unimportant things. You can trust me with stuff that matters."
"Well, Priya, I swear to you on our friendship that Black and I are not secretly dating," said Ariadne.
Priya didn't seem to be listening. "I have to say, I've been busy with spending more time with Remus and everything so we didn't really get to talk, but I've been dying to know…does he live up to his reputation?"
"What reputation? If you're referring to his arrogance, recklessness, and total disregard for life and limb, then yes."
"No, Ari, I mean his reputation. His amorous skills. The reason why every girl from fourth to seventh year dreams of just a few minutes with him in a broom cupboard. His sexual prowess."
Sophie's eyes got wide. "Marjorie said that when Catherine Whipple hooked up with him…"
Ariadne's sincere expression quickly turned into annoyance. "Priya. We haven't slept together." She internally shuddered at the very thought.
Both Sophie and Priya's faces fell.
"Oh. Well I guess you really were telling the truth, Ariadne. You and Sirius Black aren't dating."