Written In the Stars | s.b |

FIFTEEN

The stars above Ariah's bed twinkled in the darkness of her room. She spent the first half of winter break between Meeka and James' house, hoping that the first half of break would be the half Sirius would be at the Lupins. Unfortunately, the stars were set on laughing at her misery.

It was Christmas Eve and instead of spending time with her family downstairs, she was laying in her bed, lights off and stars shining bright on her.

"Ariah..."

She sat up, glaring at the curly haired boy standing at her door.

"Come to tell me how you don't need me some more? Because to be frank, I really couldn't handle that again..."

She went from hard and hostile to heartbroken in a matter of seconds.

"No... I'm sorry Ariah. For what I said — I didn't mean it, really," Sirius said.

Ariah rolled her eyes, tearing them back to two specific stars above her head.

"For the last few weeks you seemed so set on not needing me — you know how horrible it feels to hear someone you care for say something like that to you?!"

Sirius looked to the ground, sighing. "I can... and I'm so sorry I made you feel that way Ariah."

Ariah sighed, her heart breaking at the fact that he knew how it felt. But she was angry that he knew yet still did it. She sat up, crossing her arms over her chest and staring at the boy in front of her.

"Why did you say it, if you didn't mean it?" She asked.

"Because... I thought I was protecting you..." he said. "I thought that if we weren't friends — then people wouldn't say such awful things about you...."

"You git! I don't care what people say about me!"

"You obviously do — I saw the way you reacted when we told you what Felton said."

"Okay... so I may care a little," she said with an eye roll. "But I care more about your friendship so if it came down to you or stopping the rumors — obviously I'd take the rumors any day!"

"I'm sorry... I don't want to loose your friendship either, Ariah.... but I understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore. I said some really awful things to you..."

Ariah sighed. She knew she would forgive him, and she hated herself for being so invested in Sirius Black.

"Of course I forgive you, git."

Sirius shot his head up excitedly, a bright smile on his face. "You do?"

"Duh... what would you do without your bestest friend?"

Sirius' smile spread. "Probably murder somebody."

Ariah laughed, smacking her friend on the shoulder. "Don't you dare ever murder anybody."

"No promises." He chuckled.

Ariah tossed and turned all night Christmas Eve.

Now that her and Sirius were friends again, all she could think about was the boy sleeping on the floor between Ariah and Remus' beds.

She let out a deep sigh, rolling onto her side to check the time.

2:45.

She groaned, flopping aggressively onto her back. The enchanted stars glowing bright over her head. She glared at Sirius and Ariah shining brightly right over her eyes.