THE LOST DOG ' s. black

[4] getting used to

"YOU should probably refrain from going in the east part of the castle," I spoke, taking a bite of the treacle tart the house-elves made.

  Sirius and I were in the kitchen again, for some reason, it was the only place we could fully talk without worrying about other people seeing us.

  Also because we had the map and the cloak.

  "What business would I have with the east part of the castle?" Sirius snorted, laying down on his usual spot on the long table.

  "You're a Marauder for a reason," I said with a raised eyebrow. "Fred and George placed lots of traps in there.. every third day of the first week of school. Peeves usually warn students not to go in the west part."

  "Wicked." Sirius nodded in approval, grinning. "Why the east part?"

  "That's usually where Professor Snape handles his classes." I replied.

  Sirius burst into laughter, standing up to clap.

  "Ah, I love those twins already!" Sirius shook his head in amusement. "Me and my mates never thought of doing that before.."

  "You're welcome for the idea."

  "Those Slytherins better be ready when I come back." Sirius smirked, before reaching inside his pocket. "Also.. look what I knicked from a fifth-year."

  Sirius wiggled a medium-sized white stick in front of my face.

I quickly grabbed the cigarette and threw it in the garbage bin next to me. Sirius frowned at this.

  "Smoking burns your lungs.. it's better to go back home with healthy lungs." I scowled at him.

  "Oi, I smoke almost everyday! I'm used to it!" Sirius whined.

  "Well, I'm not. Call me a prude all you want, second-hand smoking is serious.. and I do not want to damage my lungs." I replied curtly.

  "Now, aren't you a healthy lady?" Sirius teased.

  "Not my fault I want healthy lungs ten years from now.. while you struggle to breathe at age 30." I smirked, crossing my arms triumphantly.

  _____

   Another day in our kitchen rendezvous.. Umbridge has shown her true-er colors.. if that's even a word, because that woman has got so much more underneath that pink fluffy irritating cardigan.

   The kitchen at  was quiet, save for the occasional pop from the fire. I sat with my arms crossed, scowling into my tea.

   Across from me, Sirius leaned back in his chair, looking far too amused. 

  “And then,” I fumed, “she made me rewrite ‘I must respect my superiors’ fifty bloody times.” 

Sirius snorted, swirling the dregs of his tea. “You know, you’re lucky. In my day, Filch just chained us to the ceiling.” 

  I rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t tempt her. She's a sadistic woman, who knows what else she could do? Hex us into using toothbrushes with razor blades?” 

  Sirius leaned forward, grinning. “You can’t let someone like Umbridge win, Eloise. You have to fight back—make life hell for her. If there’s one thing I learned at Hogwarts, it’s this: The trick isn’t just breaking the rules. It’s breaking them so well that they never figure out it was you.”