The Loyal and Just

Chapter Seventeen

I didn't want to get up the next morning. The idea of going to class, having to see Daphne again, having to see any Slytherin for that matter, was revolting.

I sigh, forcing myself to get out of bed and changing into uniform. One thing's for sure. I don't think I should stay here. It is nice to have a place to stay, but I don't trust it to vanish when I'm not here. So instead I pack up my stuff and leave, carrying Buffy in my arms.

I obviously didn't know what time I had woken up. I looked outside and there was a pinkish hue in the sky, the sun had just risen, when normally, the sun would've already been up. I sigh again and drag my trunk behind me. Where the hell could I go? I obviously can't go back to the Slytherin common room and I'd never go to any other of the houses. I could bunk in an empty classroom but a teacher would probably catch and force me to go back to the common room. I think of Sirius. I could join him!

I race outside, praying that no one catches me. And no one does. I make it to the forest and start wandering around, wondering where Sirius usually stayed.

Luckily, I didn't have to walk around too long.

"I didn't expect to see you this early," He says, I spin around. At first, I see a hint of revulsion, probably at my uniform, I don't remember if he's ever seen me actually wearing uniform. The second thing I saw in his face was of worry, probably his eyes running over my black eye.

"I, uh," I stammer awkwardly, running a hand through my hair, "I didn't have anywhere else to go. I was wondering if I could stay with you for a while."

Sirius scoffs, "Well, I don't exactly have a place to stay, I've just been sleeping on the ground."

"Oh," I say, I don't think I'd stay with him if it meant sleeping on the forest floor.

We both kinda stand there for a bit, awkwardly, then Sirius pipes up, "Although, I do know a place where I think we could go. You could unpack there."

My eyes light up, "Really? Where is it?"

"That's the thing," Sirius grins, "It's the Shrieking Shack."

For a split second I thought he had lost his frigging mind, but then again, there must be some kinda passage there. "Uhh, how do we get there?"

Sirius smirks again, "There's a passage under the Whomping Willow."

This time I knew for sure he'd lost his mind.

"Um, yeah, sure," I say, skeptically, "I might as well just go back to the castle-"

"No, seriously," Sirius says, before chuckling to himself for a second, "Come on, I'll show you."

Still skeptical, I drag my truck after him, by the time we reach the edge of the forest, Sirius turns into a dog and runs for the whomping willow. Somehow, the branches don't swing violently to hit Sirius 50 meters away. Sirius reaches the other side, paws at a knot on the tree, and suddenly the branches just stop. He barks at me. Might as well.

I followed Sirius into the small passage, which seemed to go on forever. Eventually, I reached the end.

The inside of the Shrieking Shack looked totally trashed, possibly even worse than the outside. Well, it's the only place to stay. I go upstairs and find a bed. I shrug, "Well, it's not terrible." I say,

"So you're going to stay here?" Sirius remarks,

"It's the only place I have," I say mournfully,

"So are you gonna tell me who gave you that black eye?" Sirius says, finally,

At first, I don't want to tell him, but I probably should. I mean, if I'm going to stay here with him, I probably should tell him why.