Loverboy

So do I.

"What do you mean?" Sirius looked at Ollie, a strained expression on his face.

"What if we... start dating, and it... doesn't... work out," Sirius explained.

"I don't think we'll let that happen, Sirius."

"I know, but... what if it does?"

"It can't happen if we don't let it," Ollie repeated, looking at Sirius. "We just can't date until we know we can commit, I guess."

"That's the thing," Sirius said, turning over to his side and facing Ollie fully. "Right now, I think I could commit. But I don't know if that's gonna last forever."

"I don't want a right now, Sirius," Ollie replied, turning so she was facing Sirius fully as well. "I want to figure all of this out before I jeopardize our friendship."

"That's what I want to do, too, but... At the same time I want to just... I want..."

"I understand."

"I feel like I'm forcing my thoughts on you, I'm sorry, I-"

"You're not. You've got nothing to apologize for, Sirius. You never have to apologize for having emotions," Ollie said firmly. "You're a person. You feel things. Don't ever feel guilty for that."

"Ollie, I love you."

"I know, Sirius."

"I just don't know if it's as a friend or if it's something else."

"I understand, Sirius."

"I just want you to be happy," he said.

Ollie sighed. "So do I."

The edges of the sky began to lighten and tint pink.

"We should go inside," Sirius said, slowly rising. He helped Ollie up, helping her brush off the deep blue gown. The two walked slowly to the castle, not saying a word to each other.

When they arrived in the common room- the Fat Lady had lots of questions- they hugged goodbye and went up their respective stairways. Ollie was just changing her clothes in her dorm when Lily woke up and looked at her oddly.

"Ollie, why are you- Why are you taking that dress off? When did you put it on, how early did you get up?"

"Oh, I'm just getting to bed," Ollie said weakly, putting on the first t-shirt she saw in her trunk.

"The sun's just coming up," Lily pointed out. "What have you been doing if you haven't- oh Lord, no, don't tell me you- you- oh God, Ollie, no, please say it isn't so."

"It's not that," Ollie assured her friend, kicking her shoes off. "I was outside."

"On the grounds?" Lily asked. "Alone?"

"I- Well, I wasn't alone, but yes, on the grounds."

"Who were you out with, then?"

"Sirius," Ollie replied, picking up Cinnabon and sitting on the bed, putting him on her chest as she lied down.

Lily's thin eyebrows shot up at least two inches. "Oh?"

"We talked, you know," Ollie continued, shifting around to get comfortable on her back. "About... stuff."

"Good Lord, you guys are going to get in so much trouble one of these days," Lily said, flopping back down.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... you and Sirius. Sneaking around on the grounds at night, doing stupid things around school, always with the flirting and oh my God, the sexual tension between you two is so obvious. How come you two don't just shag already? I overheard some Hufflepuffs in Dorcas's year talking about it." Lily crossed her arms. "Fourth year Hufflepuffs, Ollie. 'That Sato girl and that Black boy, they've got something going on, haven't they?'"