Siriusly in Love

The Timing's a Bit Off

Sirius and Ascella walked into the room beyond the door. It was a long narrow room, lined with beds, each with hangings around them. Some hangings were closed, but most were open, showing the empty beds within them.

The Healer led them to the back of the room. Ascella glanced at the closed hangings and wondered what had happened to these other people. She didn't really care though. She only cared about her sister.

"Did the book work?" Ascella asked the Healer.

"Yes, darling, her cuts and bruises are all healed," said the woman. They had arrived at the very last bed on the right hand side. The Healer frowned a little and pulled open the hangings. "I'll be in my office if you two need anything."

Ascella watched the Healer walk away. She turned back to look at her sister. Sirius was sitting in a chair beside her bed, holding her hand. Delphinia was pale, her normally tan skin was drained of color. Her hair was matted together in awful clumps. She looked weak, and Ascella couldn't look at her. She looked down at her feet. She couldn't do this.

"I'm going to go," Ascella said.

Sirius looked up. He was going to protest, but Ascella had already begun walking toward the door. He looked back down at Delphinia. She was still beautiful, despite the sickly look she occupied. He held her hand in both of his. Sirius lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly, letting tears fall.

"Hey, Delph, do me a favor and don't die on me, ok? Because I can't live without you," Sirius whispered.

The door at the end of the room opened and Remus, James, and Carri came through it, carrying blankets and pillows. Each of their faces fell when the saw her. James put the extra pillow and blanket he carried in the chair beside Sirius, then took another seat, just as Remus and Carri had.

For hours the four sat around their sick friend, slipping in and out of sleep. The only one who never fell asleep was Sirius. He held Delphinia's hand all night. He had learned how to stay awake all night, though, so as long as he could help it, he wouldn't drift off.

• • • • •

The sun was slowly rising. Sun was shining in through the long, narrow windows in golden squares. Carri, James, and Remus were all asleep. Sirius was still holding Delphinia's hand, resting his head on her arm. He seemed to realize it was almost morning though, so Sirius sat up and gazed at Delphinia.

"You've been unconscious for almost a day now. Delph, you have to wake up. You can't stay like this. I need you, I need you awake and smiling and telling me how stupid my hair looks. Delphinia, you can't die when I haven't told you how much I love you. Because I do. I love you more than anyone in the world. You make me happy and strong and mushy. And I don't know what I'll do if you don't wake up... so please... come back to me..." Sirius finished. He continued to gaze at Delphinia for only a few seconds before he looked down at their hands.

"I would totally kiss you... but I feel like the timing is a bit off," said a low and croaky voice.

Sirius's head shot up. Delphinia's eyes were open, her beautiful blue eyes warm. She was smiling weakly; Sirius noticed she was gripping his hand just as he was holding hers.

"You're awake?" Sirius said. He smiled, hardly believing.

"I've been awake long enough to hear your whole speech... Beautiful, by the way," Delphinia smirked.

Sirius's cheeks blushed slightly. "Yeah... I did mean it though."

Delphinia gazed at Sirius. Both of their beautiful eyes sparkled in delight at being in each other's presence once more. Sirius sat rather stiff, opposed to Delphinia pulling herself up, so that she was sitting on her bottom.

"If you're waiting for me to say I love you too, I don't really see the point, as you've already heard me confess my love for you," Delphinia said.

Sirius stared, aghast. "Y-you know about that?"

"I figured it out on the train. It's why I figured you and Carri'd already broken up," Delphinia said, wincing as she tried to adjust herself.

"You didn't say anything," Sirius said, looking concernedly at the place Delphinia had winced.

"I was kind of preoccupied," she said, her body tense. Delphinia tried to move again, but when she did, she let out a muffled yell. Deciding to stop moving, Delphinia slumped back onto the bed frame. She then moved her eyes along the new scars that adorned her body. Tears slowly filled her eyes.

"Delph," Sirius said, still holding Delphinia's hand.

Delphinia tried to stop crying, but it was very hard. "Sirius..."

Sirius didn't waste another second. He let go of her hand and proceeded to wrapping his arms around her torso. Delphinia instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder. Sirius felt Delphinia's whole body shake.

James, Remus, and Carri had woken up. They all watched as Delphinia slowly calmed down and pulled away from Sirius. Her eyes were red, contrasting to her newly recolored skin.

"Well, this is awkward," she said quietly, smiling bashfully, wiping tears from her cheeks.

They all laughed lightly. The five friends chatted for a couple hours, avoiding the subject of Delphinia's scars. Finally, the Healer came back over to the bed and demanded Delphinia need rest.

"Honestly, ma'am I'm fine," Delphinia said, but when she brushed her elbow against her side, she winced.

"Another night won't hurt," the Healer said. She walked out of the hangings, and stood just outside them to make sure everyone left.

James and Remus both hugged Delphinia and walked out of the hangings. Carri hugged her lightly and whispered, "Don't hold back because of me. You love each other."

Sirius was the only one left. He was still sitting in the chair beside the bed.

"You have to go," Delphinia said. She gazed at him, making it obvious she didn't want to him to leave.

"Not yet," Sirius said. He moved to sit on the bed next to Delphinia.

"What are y-"

Delphinia was cut off by Sirius's soft lips on hers. His hands were on her neck, holding her to him. Their lips moved passionately for what felt like a lifetime. Delphinia was in heaven.

Delphinia was disappointed when the pulled apart. "That was long overdue..." she said, gazing at Sirius.

Getting up, Sirius walked over to the entrance of the hangings. Before he left, he turned around, and said, "We'll be doing that again soon." He winked and walked away.