deceit - sirius black

six

Walburga,
In order for your son to trust me, I need to pretend to have fun with him - trust me, in no way could I ever enjoy the company of someone of your kin.
I do not appreciate being watched, nor do I appreciate having my every move criticised. If I have a problem, I will write to you. Otherwise, I'd prefer to be left to handle this alone, as I'd say it's going quite well.
Sabrina Wraith

"You actually enjoyed the date?" Natalia queried as Sabrina scribbled down her reply.

"I said it wasn't as bad as I'd expected." Sabrina snapped. "I definitely did not enjoy spending time with Sirius Black."

"Do you think the plan's going well?" Adeline asked.

"Well, Step 1 is complete, and Step 2 is in progress, so I'd say it's going quite nicely." Sabrina replied smugly.

"Wow, one of your plans is finally going well." Natalia commented, receiving a sneer in return.

***

"I think I'll ask Wraith out again." Sirius said, out of the blue at breakfast, a few days after their night at the Quidditch Pitch.

"Really?" James said, eyebrows raised and eyes pleading.

"Yeah. I reckon it'd be interesting to get to know her better."

"Pads, we all want you to be happy, really," Peter said, "But, I dunno. She seems dodgy."

"And maybe she is," Sirius said, "But maybe she isn't. And I'll never find out if I don't try."

"And what if she is?" Remus challenged, "Do you really want to find that out the hard way?"

"It's like I said, if she wanted to kill me, or do anything 'dodgy', she would've done it the other night when no one else was around. I think I'll be okay."

Soon enough, it was time for their first lesson, Potions, which they shared with the Slytherins, to Remus, James and Peter's dismay. With full knowledge that Sirius would use the lesson to talk to Sabrina, they reluctantly entered. Professor Slughorn waited at the front of the room, smiling absentmindedly as students filed in.

"Sit somewhere else." Sabrina nudged Adeline quickly when she noticed the Gryffindor boys enter. Adeline followed her eyeline and took the hint, standing, and looking for somewhere else to sit. Sabrina and Sirius locked eyes, and, leaving James at their usual desk alone, he sat next to her.

Adeline took the opportunity to strut towards James' desk, fully aware that Sirius' friends were all watching her every move, and sit down. He moved his chair away slightly, to make his opinion of her clear.

Sirius, however, was oblivious to his friend's discomfort, or even that he would have a reason to be uncomfortable. His attention was on Sabrina, who intrigued him for a reason he could not explain.

Maybe it was the fact that she had taken an interest in him when it came to her first date. Or that there was so much about her he didn't know, and their night on the Quidditch Pitch was only the surface of what she had to reveal to him: he wanted to know more.

And just like that, he was lost in thought when it came to her. His head rested on his hand, angled towards her but eyes looking forwards dreamily. Coming to his senses, he turned to look at her properly.

"I had fun the other night." he announced.

"Good," she smiled smugly, "I.. didn't hate it as much as I thought I would."

"If you thought you'd hate it, why'd you ask me?" he queried, a hint of humour laced into his words.

"I'm messing with you," she responded, realising her mistake. "I had fun too."

"We should do it again," he offered, "D'you like ice cream?"

"Who doesn't? Saturday good for you?"

"Saturday's perfect." he smiled.

From behind, James watched, concerned by the dreamy look in his friend's eyes when he looked at the Slytherin. Something was up. A love potion? Surely not, where would she get the chance? But what else could it be? Sirius would never willingly date a Slytherin, would he?

Adeline, however, was silently delighted that her friend's plan was going well. She didn't like where the plan led, as she didn't support the Dark Lord and his teachings, but she did support her friend. And when Sabrina (or Natalia) was happy, so was she.

"You don't trust her, do you?" she commented, turning to the boy beside her.

"No." he replied bluntly. "And I don't trust you, either, or your other friend. I think you're all up to something."

"And what malicious thing could we possibly want with a couple of Gryffindors like you?"

"I dunno." James said, stuttering, "But you seem like the sort to be Death Eaters, so excuse me if I'm not entirely keen on you all."

"Why's that? Why is it we seem like the sort to be Death Eaters? Because we're Slytherins?"

"Well, wasn't You Know Who a Slytherin?"

"And Albus Dumbledore was a Gryffindor, but that doesn't make all of you old nutcases with long beards, does it?"

"That's completely different." James spluttered, trying to sound more confident than he was.

"How so?"

"Dumbledore's a great man. He's one of the most powerful wizards in the entire wizarding world, and he fights against evil, instead of instigating it."

"That's your opinion." she said calmly, "Personally I think he's a biased old pig who needs to be introduced to a hairdresser."

"What, so, You Know Who's any better?"

"I didn't say that," Adeline snapped, "I hate him as much as you do, trust me. I just hate Dumbledore a fair amount, too."

James huffed, but let it go, leaving the two in silence for the rest of the hour, while Sirius and Sabrina got on perfectly fine in front of them. He wasn't sure whether to carry on warning Sirius about Sabrina, or to suck it up and be happy for him: sure, Sirius hadn't always had the best taste in women, but how much worse could it get?

And as much as James hated to admit it, Sirius looked a whole lot happier with Sabrina than he had with his past girlfriends. His happiness wasn't so obvious: it was more the evident dreamy look in his eyes, the way he listened to what she said so intently, even the smallest things. Maybe it would be better for all of them if he put aside his views on Sabrina and trusted Sirius' judgement.

***
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