𝕐 𝔼 𝕃 𝕃 𝕆 𝕎 | 𝐒𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤

18. B l a c k

Thankfully dodging any serious injuries from that frightful night prior, James was walking around with Lily as they did their mid-morning rounds, making sure the younger students got to their classes okay and answering any questions they had. The younger students loved James and Lily; always asking if they were boyfriend and girlfriend to which Lily would protest, James would say yes and the pair of them would blush. Like Nora and Sirius, they were beyond the stage of fighting anymore, seeing a mutual connection and now, it was at the awkward but cute flirty stage.

"Lily. They have mistletoe for Christmas... do they have anything for Halloween to make someone kiss?" He stuffed his hands into his robes, a playful smirk peering at her from the corner of her eyes as he bounced and rocked on the balls of his feet

"You wish!" She snorted, shoving him slightly. He laughed, wrapping his arms around her and picked her up over his shoulder, ignoring her protesting squeals as the first and second years giggled at them. Lily had moved on from all the previous years issues, including Snape, and had found comfort in James as the summer went on; the two of them bumping into each other in Cornwall on a small holiday with their families.

James looked around and opened the nearest cupboard before putting Lily down and casted Lumos. Lily, still giggling, looked up to see a small pumpkin leaf hanging above them. She looked at James who gave a sheepish grin. Lily's heart melted and couldn't resist anymore.

"Cute, Potter. Very cute." She wrapped her arms around his neck, James eyes wide and his mouth hang open slightly. She reached up on her tip toes and pressed her sweet lips to his, pulling him closer to her. Casting Knox non verbally, James put his wand away and took the lead, showing just how much he wanted Lily.

Needless to say, they were in there for a while.

- - - - - - - - -

Sirius had been laying on the hospital bed all morning, one cot over from his torn up friend, thinking about what to do with Nora; he was aching to just put his feelings out there. It wasn't something he was used to doing but after James had showed him just how soppy he had been recently, Sirius had shrugged it off and admitted to it. He kept Remus' company as Nora's sister tended to Remus' wounds; the lanky boy blushing as he wasn't aware that Georgia knew of his condition.

"Sirius, you've got class in 20 minutes. You better get going before your late!" Georgia kept her eyes focused on Remus' wrist, her brow scrunched as she was pulling out splinters.

"Will do..." He blinked, snapping out of his daydream. He sat up and stretched, catching her smirk as she shook her head. "What!" He chuckled, adjusting his tie to make it looser instead of presentable.

"You're an open book Sirius and you had been muttering my sister's name all morning... You know what to do, don't overthink it." Remus watched the pair of them look at each other with a knowing look, a bigger blush forming.

"I want to .... you know. But what if it doesn't go the way I think it will..." He didn't protest, he didn't make a sarcastic comment or banter to hid the blush worthy comment. He was, as Georgia said, an open book.

She smiled at the boy, seeing innocence, questioning and bravery.

"Nora is so ... difficult with people but you... I think it will go exactly the way you think it will. Besides. She's beyond bonkers about you. You must be special." Georgia shrugged with a smug smirked. It was all he need to hear. He knew now.

With a grin and a swift fist bump with Remus, he made a run for the door, focusing on getting to his Transfiguration class. Now, more desperate than ever, he pushed through the crowd of students and just like that he was directly behind her in the hallway, walking beside Lily. His hand caught her's on her back swing, catching her off guard and sprouting a thumping in their hearts. Letting go of her hand he smugly pulled her to his side, loosening his messy tie again and walked them towards Transfiguration.

"Nice skirt, short arse!" He playfully purred in her ear, his lips brushing ever so slightly against her skin. Their heart beats increased at the contact, the temptation to stop and talk somewhere quietly

"Good morning to you too!" Nora was slightly breathless, an excited twisted feeling in her stomach growing bigger and bigger. Feeling the euphoria run through his blood, he winked and let his arm dangle over her shoulder as her hand held onto his. A first for them, especially out in the open.

Taking his seat behind Nora and Lily, wanting to be as close to her as possible whilst still sitting with James, he went over in his head what he wanted to say to her after class; was he going to kiss her then ask her out? Ask her out first then kiss her? So many options came to mind and he was stuck for choice.

The class was taking too long so naturally, Sirius was fighting from nodding off. Just as he was about to let his head drop, Nora's head leaned back and rested on his desk to look back at him.

"Sirius, I thought I said to be safe last night..." she yawned, her small finger reaching up to touch a small cut on his cheek, covered by a plaster. He looked down at her, grabbing her wrist, finally at a loss of words as he studied how unbelievably beautiful she was. With full acceptance of being in love with her and his dying need to touch her, he stood slightly and leaned forward to hover over her head, brushed some hair from her eyes before placing his hands on the desks by either side of her face. He smoothly leaned down, a content smoulder on his own lips and  pressed his lips to hers, the need to kiss her longer ached through him like a need to breathe after being pulled up from the depths of the deepest sea.

Around him were excited gasps, chatting and mutters. Below him was a wide-eyed, red-raw blushing girl staring up at his closed eyes. Leaving a much needed sweet and lingering kiss, he pulled back, sat back in his seat and waited for the punishment proudly as he swept back his hair; smug and sexy didn't even come close to it.

"BLACK! I understand you are young so will naturally have urges but control yourself when you are in my classroom, for Merlin sake!" Professor McGonagall snapped sharply, shaking her head.

"Professor, you're right! I do have urges because I'm hot and bothered and very happy. 20 points from Gryffindor? Detention? 7'oclock?" His grin never left his face as his confidence echoed around the room, causing a chaos of cries and further gossip.

Nora sat upright, turning in her seat to look at him. His eyes never left hers and the swirling madness around them continued. Her blushed faded and now, unable to contain it, a grin as wide as his greeted him. The pair stared at each other, smitten and delirious with excitement. Reality quickly snapped back to them as detentions were dished out to both James and Peter as well for running around the room, screaming excitement at the top of their lungs.

He sent her a quick wink before turning his attention back to class, the excitement died down for now as Nora slid down in her chair, taking Lily's hand and squeezing tightly to refrain themselves from squeaking.