Loquacious\\ Harry Potter Marauders

Twenty Eight\\ The Yearning of a Young Heart

Adelaide wished she could be the kind of person who stuck to her word- sometimes she wished she could be like Lily Evans, who was through with Severus as soon as she said so. But Adelaide was different. Weaker, her mother used to say. Too forgiving. She wanted to desperately to be able to cut people off from her life, but it was something she had never been good at. And that didn't change, even when Regulus Black approached her in the common room the day before their holidays, wearing a sheepish expression.

Adelaide looked up from her perch in an armchair, her legs tucked beneath her. When she saw Regulus, she dropped her eyes again. He sighed.
"Adelaide-"
"I don't want to hear it," she said, turning the page of her book. Regulus closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Adelaide," he said softly. "Please."
Slowly, elegantly, Adelaide sighed and closed her book, marking the page with her finger. She hoped he would realise this meant a short conversation.

"I wanted to apologise-"
"Apologise? Regulus come on."
"I know! I know, but-"
"There's no but about it Regulus!" She whisper yelled at him. His friends had begun flooding into the common room through the door.
"I've never been more embarrassed in my life! And as for Lily, Regulus Black I knew you were raised by scum but I didn't think you'd ever turn out the same way."

Her last sentence seemed to hit Regulus hard. His eyes widened ever so slightly, his shoulders slumped- he was speechless. Even Adelaide herself swallowed and felt a pang of remorse, as she saw that their friendship was surely coming to a close in these moments. Regulus looked her up and down once, then met her eyes.

His deep blue eyes hardened suddenly and he clenched his firsts, suddenly savage. His cheeks were tinged red and Adelaide knew his well enough to see his anger.
"Do you know what Adelaide?" He asked rhetorically, as eloquent as ever. She stood up to face him, still shorter but facing him boldly.
"You've changed, and not for the better. You've-"

"Started respecting other people? Started making other friends? I haven't changed at all Regulus, don't be such a child. I am the same person I was at the start of this year, and I was good enough for you then so I should be good enough for you now. It's you that's changed, Regulus. Don't be angry because I have the courage to do what I want and not be influenced by my family or my so called friends," she spat. Regulus was raging by now.

Part of him knew she was right, part of him wanted to back down and apologise and admit he was wrong. But then he thought of his family- of his father's disapproving eyes and his mother's twisted sneer when she saw Sirius. He thought of his friends and their jeering and teasing. His clenched fist shook in his hand and his head pounded. Then he looked at Adelaide, her expectant face, impatient eyes glaring.
"Well you don't have to worry about that Adelaide because it's not as if you've got any family to influence you either way," he said quietly.

Adelaide was at a loss for words. She never thought Regulus would turn out this way, never. She felt the breath catch in her throat but refused to let it show that she was hurt. Instead, she studied him coldly, eyes bright with defiance.
"Congratulations, Regulus Black. You've gone so far down their path that you just lost the only person left in your life who believed in you. I can't believe you. Now please, please, just get out of my sight."

                                   *****

"Adelaide. Adelaide!"
It was Sirius. He was jogging to catch up with her, a boyish grin on his face. Adelaide knew that look all too well, having dealt with it for so many years. Now though, it bought a different feeling to her. One of joy, curiosity almost.

"Hi Sirius," she replied, waiting for him to be beside her so they could fall into step. Even with the thought of her fight with Regulus hanging over her head, Adelaide couldn't help but feel her heart lift when Sirius began talking excitedly, his eyes alight, his hair falling in strands over his face.

"I've been thinking.. It's kind of stupid honestly, and I know it makes me sound like James, it's so sappy. In fact I was going to forget the idea altogether until Moony told me that if I didn't take you out over the holidays we'd hardly see each other, he reckons girls are sensitive, you know? So what I was thinking was, being the charmer I am, would you.."
Sirius seemed to falter suddenly, as if drawling for the first time that he was going to have to ask her a question. Adelaide watched him fondly, tilting her head to the side. He squirmed uncomfortably.

"Well considering you don't live, like, too far away from James, you should, maybe drop by, or something. I don't know, it's stupid, but.. yeah."
Sirius, seeming to realise that he was making a fool of himself, and a second later that he was very good looking, followed this question by awkwardly stretching one arm behind his head, running a hand through his hair, and fixing Adelaide with a charming smile.

She rolled her eyes and returned the smile, equally as charming.
"What are you getting at here, Sirius?"

Sirius dropped his hand and rolled his eyes.
"Aw come on Tanner, you know what I'm getting at. Come out with me over Christmas?"

"Now we're getting somewhere!" Adelaide laughed as she began walking again. Sirius jumped quickly to follow her.
"So that's a yes?" He asked. Adelaide turned to face him, ceasing her walking again as they reached the Entrance Hall.
"What do you think?" She teased. Sirius groaned, throwing his eyes up to the ceiling.
"Fucking girls," he muttered, and Adelaide's smile grew. "Why are they all so complicated?"

Adelaide laughed again and fixed him with a smile, her eyes full of adoration. Over time, she was beginning to feel more for Sirius than she had ever felt for anyone.
"Get over yourself you great oaf. Of course I'll meet you over the holidays. When?"

She leaned against the wall to wait for his response, feeling excitement build up in her stomach. Sirius was thinking.
"Well.. the Potter's keep Christmas Eve and Boxing Day and all that for family, but.. before or after that works for me."

Adelaide couldn't help the small smile that slipped onto her face at Sirius' inclusion of himself in James' family.
"Well Albert is pretty relaxed, I'm sure. What about Christmas Eve eve?"
"Sounds great," Sirius smiled, "and I can give you your present."

Adelaide started. "Sirius no!" She told him, wide eyed. "You can't get me a Christmas present."
"Too bad," he smiled, then, ever the charmer, he placed his hand beside Adelaide's head, leaning against the stone wall. Adelaide looked up at him, smiling, her eyes shining with an undeniable fondness.

"Sirius," she said, "we aren't even going out-"
"Not yet," Sirius interrupted teasingly. Adelaide tried to mask the joy she felt as her heart jumped. She tried to look exasperated.
"We aren't even going out yet," she repeated, "you can't go spending money on me."
"I can if I want to," Sirius said stubbornly. Adelaide couldn't keep the smile off her face- it wasn't that she happy about getting a present, although, of course, she was. It was the thought that kept her smiling, the fact that Sirius was insisting on getting her something, a symbol of his care and affection for her.

"Well you don't have to," she smiled up at him. Sirius' eyes met her and, taking advantage of his position against the wall, he slid an arm around her waist and leaned in, to kiss Adelaide deeply on the lips. She melted just for a moment, her hand sliding up to hold his face. Then Sirius dropped his hand from her waist suddenly, and sprung away from, grinning.

"See you Christmas Eve Eve at Jame's place then. Owl me!" Then just like that, he sprang away, leaving Adelaide breathless and surprised, looking after him. Sirius walked into the Hall with a smile- he had always prides himself on his ability to leave people wanting more.