Forever Young (Sirius/OC)

Chapter 4

It was a few days later when Lily walked out of the Great Hall in floods of tears. Every student was sat at their respective tables and waiting for a long awaited Sunday Lunch when the all too familiar sound of hooting owls and packages and letters being dropped down in front of students. The vast array of delicious foods appeared on the table and the Great Hall was immediately filled with the content buzzing of the students enjoying a meal together. Lily, taking a bite out of a Yorkshire Pudding, opened her package to reveal a copy of the Daily Prophet. Her startling green eyes scanned down the front cover quickly until they suddenly stopped and she placed her fork slowly down on the plate. Remus gently nudged Alex and tilted his head towards the her.

"Lily?" She asked. "Are you okay?" Alex glanced over her best friend's shoulder and followed her unmoving gaze as the pretty red head traced each letter with wide, frantic eyes.

Alex's brown ones fell on the bold lettering printed on the front page.

'Third Attack on

Muggles This

Month'

Lily didn't reply; she just held the newspaper in her small shaking hands and stared at it with unbelieving eyes - as if she could make it disappear.

"Lily?" Dorcas spoke up as the small group of people around them began to take notice.

Lily just shook her head weakly and stood up, wobbling as she did so. Her food forgotten, she turned and left the Great Hall. Alex stood up immediately and with one shared look between Marlene, Dorcas and Tammy, she followed after her.

Alex could feel all eyes on her as she sped towards the open doors but she didn't care, she caught a glimpse of red hair and almost tripped over her own feet as she quickened her pace.

"Al!" Footsteps sounded from behind her but she ignored them. "Alex!" She readjusted her bag over her shoulder and hurried up the stairs. "Alexandria Briggs, don't ignore me!" She stopped abruptly and pressed her lips together in a tight frown as she slowly turned around. He had never used her full name like that. Alex looked up at him with his dishevelled hair and his worried eyes beneath his glasses.

He sighed in relief and made her way to her two steps at a time.

"James, no," Alex didn't even have to hear what he had to say. "You being there will just make it worse."

She spun around again, ignoring the offended frown on James' face. Before she could get very far James grabbed her arm and spun her around. "Fine," Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise; that was easier than she thought. "But tell her this is from me." James buried his hand in his pocked and brought out a neatly wrapped package. "In case she gets hungry." He said at Alex's confused reaction.

Alex smiled wryly up at him and turned around again. She found herself stopped in her tracks again. "And tell her-"

She interjected. "Yes, James. I'll tell her."

~

"Hello, you," Lily looked up and Alex's heart ached at the sight. Her shoulders were shaking uncontrollably and her eyes were red and puffy from crying. She had a piece of blank parchment in lap and she was holding a quill with shaking hands. Lily opened her mouth to tell her to leave but Alex walked slowly towards her bed and sat down.

She passed Lily the brown package. The red head took it hesitantly and undid the bow to reveal several sausages and a slice of meat pie. She sniffed and gave a watery smile. "You didn't have to, Al."

"Actually," Alex said. "It was James. He thought you might be hungry and he said...he said he hopes you're alright."

Lily looked up at her and rubbed at her eyes. "Oh...that's very-"

"Un-James-like?"

The corners of Lily's pink lips twitched upwards slightly.

"See," Alex nudged her light heartedly. "There's something."

Lily let out a drawn out sigh and lay down on her bed, her red, teary eyes fixed on the ceiling above. Alex lay down next to her and stretched her legs out.

They lay in silence for a few moments until Lily reached over to the small table by her bed and opened out the crumpled newspaper, holding it out to Alex. She glanced at it. Beneath the article was the haunting image of Lord Voldermort's face, grinning wickedly in a way that made Alex's heart race from fear.

"Staithes," Lily said and Alex looked over at her. "that's where the attack was. 24 dead. It's...it's where my grandmother lives."

Alex sat up. "Lily, I'm so-"

Lily shook her head. "No,no don't say it. She might not be...might not be," she reached over and grabbed the blank parchment. "I was writing to my parents, I just wanted to see if she was alright." She looked over at Alex. "Do you mind...?"

Alex smiled knowingly and left the dormitory, leaving Lily to her writing.

Alex wasn't entirely surprised to see James Potter sat alone on the couch, watching the dormitory steps warily. He jumped up when he saw Alex.

"How is-"

"She's fine."

James slowly sat back down and Alex joined him, curling up on the comfy seat. "You should be in lesson."

James glanced over at her. "So should you." Alex glanced behind her at the stairs distractedly. James stood up and offered her a hand. "I'll walk you to class," he gave her a charming smile and she accepted his hand, smiling. "We should both take a break from worrying."

James wrapped an arm around Alex's shoulder as they walked down the corridor. "It's been a while since it's just been us two."

Alex scoffed at his sudden sentimental behaviour. "Eight years to be precise." Eight years, she thought, eight years since it happened. Her expression grew somber for a moment.

James chuckled and ruffled Alex's hair. "You've been counting, have you? I'm honoured."

Alex laughed as she ducked away from his hand. "You were my only friend growing up, I say I have every right to have some bitterness."

James laughed heartily and pulled his old friend into a side hug, he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "I guess you do."

They were almost at the door to their classroom when James' arm dropped from Alex's shoulder. "Do you think me and Lily will ever work out?"

Alex glanced over at him, wondering how that boy could change in a second. "Not in a million years," she said with a light laugh. James shot her a look and frowned. "Seriously?" He nodded and Alex sighed. "I don't know James, honestly I don't. Lily's harder to read than any other girl...but I hope you do."

James nodded slowly and gave her a genuine smile. They reached the door of the classroom and he opened it for her. "After you m'lady."

Alex scoffed. "You're such a loser."

~

"Briggs," a voice from behind Alex hissed as something hit the back of her head. She spun around in her chair and arched an eyebrow at Sirius. "Is Evans okay? She seemed pretty out of it at lunch."

Alex's dark eyes softened slightly in wonder at how Black could think of anyone but himself. "She's fine, Black," she told him. "Since when did you care anyway?"

Sirius shrugged and looked over to the other side of the classroom where James was sat with his chin in his hand. "James is pretty boring when he's moping," he said and Alex scoffed at the look on James' face.

Sirius opened his mouth to say something else when Professor Flitwick's sharp tone interrupted him. "Miss Briggs, turn around please," Alex rolled her eyes at Sirius who chuckled lowly as she turned around in her seat and asked her partner what they were doing. Flitwick turned on his pile of books to address the rest of the class. "You will all be taking your O.W.Ls at the end of this year so I expect you all to concentrate and work incredibly hard this year."

Alex heard Sirius laugh from behind her. "Yeah, Briggs. Concentrate."

She rolled her eyes and flipped him off without sparing him a glance.

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