𝕐 𝔼 𝕃 𝕃 𝕆 𝕎 | 𝐒𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤

23. Y o u !

Nora wished she could part take in Quidditch, seeing how much excitement it gave a lot of students and the team spirit that also came along with it, but alas she wasn't the biggest fan of heights and her heart was set on the ground and dirt than the sky and clouds.

Gryffindor and Ravenclaw were due to have a match that afternoon. Preparing her bag for morning lessons, Nora hadn't noticed that a tall figure was standing by her, hovering near the table where she was sorting her books. Looking upwards, she bit her lip and blinked several times.

"Long time no speak.." Garrett's nervous chuckle had a strange effect on the room. Although they were the only ones around, it was almost like it echoed 2-3 times, each time stinging Nora harder. They hadn't spoken properly since before Christmas, around about the time that Sirius and Nora became exclusive. Nora nodded at his remark, wringing her hands together out of habit.

"h-how've you been?" She wasn't one to stutter yet here she was struggling to talk to someone she once cared for dearly.

"Each day at a time. You look really well! Then again, you always do..." He was kind and confident with his words but you could hear a faint sigh at the end. Nora smiled a fraction, glad that despite their awkward history, he was able to remain kind.

"You going to the game today? Excited?" Brushing past his compliment, she turned the focus on the game in hopes to avoid any further ones. He nodded, his eyes locked on hers as his searched her, a small flutter still ignited within him.

"Well, on that note.... I better get going." Nora tried to be quick in her departure, her feet were almost over the threshold of the common room exit when his words shot through her like a flaming arrow, igniting the target wildly.

"It's quite impossible to get over you Nora and honestly I don't think I ever will or want to."

She turned back, ice daggers glared in his direction, an uncomfortable wave hitting her as someone came down to witness the encounter. Nicholas paused on the spot as he too hadn't seen the pair of them in the same room (apart from lessons) in a long time. "Everything alright?" He half muttered, half regretted saying anything at all.

"It's fine Nicholas. I was just leaving..." Nora announced her departure again. Stepping forward, Garrett sighed once more

"Nora..." He tried to speak.

"Don't." Tears began to spill from Nora, her breath shaky and anger boiling within her so hot she could scold anyone in her path. Nicholas walked over to Nora see if she was okay but she pushed past him and squared up to Garrett.

"Do you think this is easy! Do you think you can keep grovelling in hopes to win me back? You. Ended. It. You! So now you can suffer now because you made that stupid call. I was nothing but loyal and showed some interest, you only showed interest in being the only one to have me and don't you dare even deny it. I'm no-one possession, not even Sirius'. I make the shots in what I want. I don't care how hard it is for you to get over it, you jealous mess! I was happy with you! I actually liked you!! But.. you made your decision, you made your bed now fucking lay in it because I'm not having you make me feel guilty for having feelings. Now quit being an asshole and feeling like you're entitled to something. I just want nothing more than to go back to normal and hope one day, a friendship can form again instead." Nora wasn't one to blunt or harsh but she had enough.

She just wanted to be left alone to love who she wanted. For ages she questioned whether she should have felt guilty for getting over Garrett quickly but in her time of being with him she was always faithful, showed all of her attention towards him and never gave a reason to be questioned. He, however, only saw Sirius' side of feelings towards Nora so made assumptions that Nora was in love with Sirius instead of him and that was gospel.

In the back of her mind she always questioned what the strange feeling was towards Sirius was but she gullibly believed it was the excitement and joy of how strong their friendship was. It wasn't until Garrett shouted that Sirius wanted her that it all clicked.

She was restless in that guilt but there was nothing to be guilty of. She never cheated on him, she didn't leave him for Sirius and she didn't break up with him because she made a mistake. She was dumped because a guy didn't believe her faith so she decided to accept someone who would never doubt her for a second.

Nora and Garrett stared at each other, both red, frustrated and pissed off. Finally sighing, Garrett gave a defeated nodded and walked upstairs. Nicholas gave her a sympathetic smile and winked before going to comfort his sad best friend.

Now alone again, Nora let a breath out and legged it out of the common room to find Lily to ease her panic attack.

—————

The girls, as well as Remus and Peter, waited around at the back of the pitch by the changing areas for the boys to come out, happy that they won the match again Ravenclaw, knowing how hard James had been working the team that term. Coming out; they cheered for the two boys, grinning and clapping. Sirius grinned as he spotted Nora's bright face, laughing excitedly at her flowery team make up, all Gryffindor colours of course.

"Very cute - the question is now, which side will you sit for when we play against Hufflepuff?" He pecked her lips before they took each other's hand and descended towards the castle with the others. Frowning, Nora sighed as she was stumped. The air was light and fresh, a slow warmth etching it's way in; spring was around the corner.

"That's like asking who my favourite sibling is! That's just absolutely impossible!" She groaned, a little pout jutting out. Sirius clutched his chest playfully. Truth be told, he loved how adorable she could be when she pouted.

Together the group made it to the Great Hall, students around them ascending to their house tables, ready to eat dinner. Nora and Sirius hovered by the hall entrance, fingers interlocking with each other as they played around with their hands, shifting their weight back and forth as they tried stall from leaving each other. They were smitten, they were smug and couldn't keep their hands to themselves most days. Nora told Sirius of her encounter with Garrett earlier that morning, grabbing hold of his quidditch jumper to restrain him knowing full well that he wanted to get other actions in there.

"Are you okay though? Nora, baby, you should have told me earlier." His finger brushed away a hair stuck to her cheek, her rosy cheeks so sweet and soft.
Nodding, a small shoulder shrug and inaudible sigh slipped in, catching his attention.

"I am, really! It's just ... have you ever had to deal with a girl begging for you to come back? It's embarrassing and makes you feel like you've done something wrong instead!" Her shrug grew into agitated fidgeting, unable to stand still

"Thankfully not, but in my case it sounds better than getting people constantly begging me to dump you so they can 'have a go' - I'm not a fucking fairground ride. Actual joke. I'm not letting you go. Ever. Sorry!" Sirius pouted, cupping her cheeks as they chuckle. Even when they were bombarded with the typical teens problems, together they always remained lighthearted.

Giggling together, Nora sighed as she spotted James and the others in the corner of her eye, waiting for Sirius to join them. Following her gaze, Sirius nodded at his friends, telling them he'd be right over.

"We better go. Bloody flufflepuff..." he groaned for the millionth time about Nora not being in the same house.

"For the last time, I never will be!!" She shook her head. Before she could say another word, Sirius pulled off his Quidditch jumper, her eyes catching a view of his torso for a wonderful second and pulled it over her, putting her in Gryffindor colours for the first time. Standing there unsure and confused, Nora looked up at Sirius as she felt his warm jumper cling to her body and her large eyes lock with his hungry one

With a wicked grin and simper, he lowered his head to her ear and whispered "Meet me in our spot later. Only wearing that, woman" before swagging to his seat and watched her walk to her house table looking very lightheaded and smiley.