And There Were Always Two... - oc x r. lupin & oc x s. black

- 31 -

Mavis used the vines growing up the wall of the Potter's residence to climb up to Sirius' window. The grunted as she pulled herself up the final stretch.

"Sirius!" she whisper-shouted. She could see him brushing his teeth through the open door of the bathroom. "Sirius you slow bastard! Open the fucking window!"

He turned around and was shocked to see Mavis peeking through the window. He spit his toothpaste into the sink and placed the toothbrush on the counter, before rushing over to open the window. He pulled her through.

"What are you doing here?"

"Couldn't stay at my father's house any longer."

Sirius smirked, "I know the feeling."

"Well, I got out without a scratch."

"Fine, don't gloat. Why didn't you just use the front door like I did?"

"I like the drama?" she said, hoping he'd believe her but the look on his face told her otherwise. "Okay, I wanted to talk to you."

"Since when are we on talking terms?" he asked, gloating himself now.

"Since I decide we are, now don't change the subject," she scolded him, walking over to the bed and sitting down on it. "I wanna finish our conversation at the Astronomy Tower."

"Oh really? Cause I thought it was finished with 'You complete bastard! You fucked up bastard! You're worthless! I hate you! Stay away from me!'" he quoted her in a high-pitched voice.

"First, that's not how I sound. Second... sorry, about that. Ashley seems to have forgiven you, so I should, too."

Sirius shrugged.

"I'd keep punishing me if I were you, but it's your choice."

"Ah, that self-loathing. It's not healthy, I'd stop it if I were you."

"Easier said than done... especially when I seem to ruin everything everytime I get a chance."

There was a pause, a brick of silence dropped between them. Mavis climbed over it.

"So... I think we ended with you realising I don't like James and then, ironically, James burst in and you had to leave. The bastard ruins it everytime, doesn't he?"

She laughed half-heartedly.

"I don't understand why we're having this conversation."

"Because like you and I want to figure out if you still like me, you fucking dimwit."

Sirius dived in and kissed Mavis. She was almost knocked over, but she supported herself with her hands. One of her hands wrapped around the back of his neck, toying with his curls.

"Merlin, why did we wait so long?" Sirius groaned.

Mavis grabbed his collar and pulled him closer.

It felt like eternity and a day, and yet no time at all when they both had to draw back for air. They lay on the bed. Mavis pulled Sirius' arm around so that she could rest her head on it, and he wrapped it around her shoulder and pulled her close.

"Wanna sneak downstairs and eat ice cream?" he asked.

"I like the way you think."

Mavis started to get off the bed but Sirius stopped her. He got off first and then crouched to let her climb onto his back.

"I could get used to this," she told him, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her chin on his shoulder.

"We really need to get you some ice cream, you'd don't weigh anything," he told her.

"Hey, I'm not that small," she said, sitting up straighter.

"Whatever you say."

Mavis messed up his hair with her hand.

"Not the hair," he complained.

"Careful, you sound like James."

"Not a bad move for me if you used to like him."

"A bad move since I can't stand him."

"Good point, keep destroying my perfectly black, voluminous curls."

Mavis relaxed her head down next to his again.

"I was meaning to ask, what dye do you use?"

"That's a low blow. You know my hair is one-hundred percent natural. I'm sorry if my genes are just spectacular."

Mavis held on tighter as Sirius went down the staircase. It was a bumpy ride, but much less energy-consuming than walking. He set her down on the counter top and handed her two spoons before setting out to get the ice cream.

"They've got blackberry, vanilla, and... chocolate," he told her. "Which one do you want?"

"Blackberry."

"Great, me too."

He took out the entire tub of container, peeled off the lid, and set it on the counter. Effortlessly, he jumped onto the counter as well. The two of them started scooping the ice cream straight out of the tub with their spoons.

"I've never done this, you know?" Sirius told her.

"Ate ice cream? What a tragic life you've lived."

"Oh shut up, that's not what I meant. I've never done this whole 'dating' thing."

"So we're dating now? A little presumptuous."

"Fuck you."

"Gladly."

"Really?"

"No."

Sirius smirked as he shovelled more ice cream.

"I want to take you out to Hogsmeade again," he told her. "For real this time."

"Don't even try acting cute, it doesn't suit you," Mavis told him.

Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Fine, I've told you I've never done this whole relationship thing."

"What have you done?"

"Snogged girls senseless and ignored them the next day?" he told her, cringing.

"I like the first part, not the second part."

"Noted."

Sirius put his spoon back in the ice cream and scooted it away.

"Now? Okay." Mavis shrugged, and put her spoon in the ice cream as well.

Despite her audacious attitude and show of not-giving-a-shit, Mavis was scared out of her wits. The boy who liked her had probably kissed half the girls at Hogwarts, while she... Well, to be frank, she had had her first kiss today during a game of spin the bottle. If you discount kissing her own sister, he'd have been her first kiss.

Now, he was slowly leaning closer and Mavis was being torn about between fear and her audacity.

Audacity won.

Soon she was basically in his lap.

"How about when we get back to Hogwarts, you can switch back seats in potions?" Sirius asked her later.

She looked up at him.

"I think I can get Ashley on board with that idea."

Mavis let Sirius rest his chin on her head as they sat on the counter peacefully.