Angel (Sirius Black Fanfiction)

Chapter 1: Lost

Shadows come with the pain that you're running from.

Love was something you've never heard enough.

~ One Direction "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?"

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"Greetings, class," Professor McGonagall's lips turned up in what could be a smile before returning to her usual stern expression.
Just like the four years prior, Aria Cathal was sitting near the back of the class absentmindedly tapping her fingers until something the Professor said made her head snap up.
"We're getting a partner assignment?" she asked, shrinking back as everyone turned around. She hardly ever spoke out of turn and part of her was convinced she had the power of invisibility. "Why?"
Professor McGonagall paused for a minute and pursed her lips, "It is for an end of year assignment. To help further prepare you for your O.W.L. S. you and your partner will be required to study together for the theory and practical portion of the exam. To ensure students are putting in the required time, a portfolio is due at the end of the year with all the notes you and your partner have taken throughout the year as well as sketches of the results of the spells." The whole class began to chatter excitedly, some pointing to their friends to place dibs on a specific partner. However, their hopes were crushed when McGonagall made an additional statement.
"I will be choosing your partners." Cries of outrage sounded from the students while Aria merely rolled her eyes. Gryffindors always got fired up about the littlest inconveniences.
Zoning out until McGonagall called her name, Aria froze as soon as she heard the pairing.
"Aria Cathal and James Potter." Whispers fluttered around the classroom and several girls shot the curly haired girl disparaging looks as she awkwardly picked up her things and sat next to the bespectacled boy. Aria fidgeted slightly under their scrutiny completely ignoring the boy next to her. Yes, she knew who James Potter was. It was impossible not to. He strutted around Hogwarts like he owned it and despite his mischievous nature he was still incredibly bright. The Marauders were infamous. Aria, however, was a simple girl known for having her face stuck constantly in a book.
"I'm James," the dark-haired boy held out his hand, smiling brightly as she shook it.
"Aria."
"It's a pleasure," he replied smoothly, giving her a sly wink as Aria rolled her eyes.
Skillfully opening her sketchbook and placing it out of McGonagall's sight, Aria let everything around her fade away as her hand flew across the page. The image in her head wasn't correctly transferring onto the paper and she huffed at the final result. Just as she was about to crumple the page up, someone snatched it away. Glaring at James, who was admiring her work thoughtfully, Aria couldn't help but feel flattered.
"This is amazing," he whispered, looking at the drawing and carefully flattening out the edge Aria had started to crumple. It was a rough sketch of one of her closest friends, Lily Evans. Her messy red hair was a little too messy in the drawing and there was something off about her green eyes.
"You're just saying that because you want to marry Lily," Aria joked, grinning as James blushed. "You can have it if you want."
"Really?"
"I don't see why not. I was going to toss it," she replied shrugging.
"Thanks," James gave her a warm smile as he tucked the drawing in his Transfiguration book.
Giving him a small smile, Aria opened her sketchbook up to a new page and glanced around the room looking for someone to draw. Finally, Aria's hazel eyes fell on him. There was something so inexplicably intriguing about his solemn expression. Tears filled his eyes as they flicked over a piece of parchment over and over again before he swallowed. Aria's hand flew across the page, a picture taking form as the boy appeared on the page. She was a woman possessed. Aria was so enthralled with this boy and his look of silent sorrow as she wildly sketched him. A soft smile fell on her lips as she looked at the finished product.  Sirius Black's look of contemplation filled the page, his lips pulled down in a frown.