Never Let Go-Sirius Black love story-

5-Smiles

"You're insufferable, Black!" A voice boomed from the big dark oak doors of the Dining Hall. Sirius sighed; he was pretty sure that he deserved what was coming to him."She sounds pissed." James said as he crunched down on a treat-- even if it was breakfast. Sirius nodded."I tried to keep her away from the Willow, but she's too bloody persistent, that's for sure." He mumbled, and then bit into an apple.

"And who does that remind me of..." James inquired, tapping his chin."If you're looking for a hint, he's sitting right in front of me." Sirius glared at his friend."I'm not an idiot-"

"Are you sure about that?" An angry voice from behind him asked. Crap. Sirius turned, a bright smile replacing his frown."Well hello, Rowan. How was your night? Pleasant dreams, I hope?" Rowan's angry expressed hardened as she sat down beside him. "You. Are. So. Stupid!" She said, hitting him with a thick book in her hands with every word.

"How dare you? How dare you stupefy me?" James's eyes widened."Bloody hell, Padfoot, you stupefied the poor girl?" He then tsked and walked away, leaving his friend in the clutches of a very, very angry Ravenclaw. "Are you going to answer me?"

"Look, I said I was going to do it if you didn't leave; I'm the kind of guy that keeps to his word, Rowan, even if it is a surprise to you." Rowan clenched her jaw, looking like she was about to deck him right then and there. That's just one thing that Sirius found attractive about her.

She was one of the few girls in school that wasn't attracted to him(openly, of course. He was sure that she liked him under her rough exterior.), and she was a challenge. She seemed a little prudish, but he bet that if things got serious enough, she would be more than willing do "open up" to him.

"You're devious, Black."She said, getting up and turning sharply...

... and right into Remus. Her hardened face visibly softened, but not by much. Remus had caught her in the nick of time and smiled down at her."You okay?" he asked. She nodded and stood up fully, flattening her skirt."As much as a girl can be when her best friend ignores her."Her face hardened again and she turned the other way and walked over to the Ravenclaw table, sitting next to a boy with gold hair and black eyes.

Remus then narrowed his eyes at nothing in particular and sat down."Padfoot, it would all just be easier if I told her. And thanks, you know, for keeping her away. And on second thought, she might want to come during the phase. And I could never live with myself if I ever hurt her,"

"No offense mate, but her feelings looked pretty hurt when he stormed away. And besides, no problem. You would have killed me if you had killed her. Oh, and I tried being friends--"

"Failed, didn't you?" Remus asked. Sirius nodded. "It was going so swell until she got stubborn and I had to stupefy her."Remus sighed."Maybe it was because you used stupefy on her? Yeah, she's bound to be angry at me, but probably furious at you. If she agreed to be friends, then she gave her trust out to you. And you using stupefy on her took that away."

"I said I was going to. I gave her fair warning," Sirius said. He then picked up a piece of a biscuit and stuffed it into his mouth. Remus shook his head. "I know Rowan, Sirius. She's had a hard life, and she doesn't really trust people. At all. If only you knew,"

"Care to elaborate?" Sirius asked. Remus sighed heavily."It's not my place to say, Sirius. It's Rowan's. I'll talk to her again later, and then if you get close enough, she might tell you."

Sirius nodded and watched his friend leave the Gryffindor table and head over to the Ravenclaw's. He sat down next to Rowan, who stared blankly at her empty food plate. The two boys beside her left, looking a little peeved off. Sirius distantly wondered if they liked her as well. He wouldn't be surprised if they did; lots of guys talked about her, but she was too naïve to actually tell.

He watched closer: Remus took Rowan's hand in his and held it tightly, looking absolutely sorry. Rowan nodded occasionally, and then a light smile came across her dark pink lips. Involuntary, Sirius smiled lightly as well."Whatcha smiling about?" A high pitched feminine voice from behind asked.

Cybele Peltier stood behind him, a pale hand on her thin hips. She smiled a very cat like smile and sat down on the bench, straddling the seat. Sirius's eyes trailed her, from her head, low-cut blazer, stomach, and then at the short school skirt that revealed two long, pale legs. "I haven't seen you in forever, Sirius. I was beginning to think that you were ignoring me."

Sirius smiled, but it was forced-- not at all like the one he had shown Rowan, or the ones where he though of Rowan. What's the matter with me? he asked himself. Have I gone completely bonkers? Why think of her when I could have this? Sirius used his hand to bring her closer, bringing a seductive smile to Cybele's face.

All thoughts of Rowan were gone-- for now, at least.

-----