Siriusly in Love

Suspicions

Days had passed since Delphinia's panic attack, and she was almost back to normal. She was still a bit jumpy, but other than that everything was fine. Thursday morning classes were Delphinia's least favorite: double Potions with Slytherins, Ascella in the midst of them all. The only good thing about the class was she had Lily, Sirius, James, and Carri. The rest of her friends had other classes at the moment.

"Delph, are you sure you're fine?" Lily asked.

Delphinia knew exactly why she kept asking this question: Her hair was a mess of chestnut brown knots, her face was a lot paler than her usual honey complexion, and she had bags under her eyes. Even though her conscious state was getting back to normal, her unconscious was full of nightmares. Not much sleep had been attained in the last week, a lot less than usual.

"Lils, I told you, I'm fine," Delphinia said.

"You don't look so hot," a silky voice said. "But then again, I think I'm the one who got the good genes."

Ascella Clarke and her gang of Slytherins were already standing at the entrance to the Potions dungeon. She twirled her long blonde hair around her finger, and scanned her eyes over the small crowd in front of her. "Blacky? You've got a new girlfriend? At least, I've heard."

Sirius was standing with his arm around Carri directly behind Delphinia and Lily. "You heard right," Sirius said loudly.

"Ooooh, blood traitor and proud of it. I really couldn't believe Delphinia would hang out with a guy like you... but then again she hangs out with at least two mudbloods," Ascella said. She pointed at Lily and Carri. "Oh look! Another blood traitor! Potty!"

James had just come running down the corridor; he was out of breath. He had obviously heard Ascella's remark, though, because he sneered at her, then put his arm around Lily.

"What's the racket out here?" Professor Slughorn boomed. He had just come from his classroom, and was looking around at his students. "Oh! Well, if it isn't Miss Ascella and Miss Delphinia Clarke!"

"Why, hello, Professor!" Ascella said sweetly. She gave one leering look at Delphinia, then glided past Slughorn and into the dungeon.

"Well, come on in, Miss Clarke!" Slughorn said. "Everyone else, come, come!"

The Gryffindors and Slytherins all filed into the room, and took seats at each table. There were 5 tables, with only two seats at each one. This was fine, considering there were only 10 students.

Filling tables, Sirius sat with Carri, Lily sent a fleeting glance toward Delphinia but sat with James. Ascella's entourage sat together: A blonde haired girl named Erin Wilkins sat with a dark skinned boy, Kit Marks. Two other Slytherins (friends of Ascella) sat together in the very back of the class.

Delphinia glanced around at all of her friends, then at the two tables occupied by Ascella's friends, and finally at the empty seat beside Ascella. Slughorn grinned and nodded at the seat. Delphinia gulped, and took her place beside her sister.

Ascella grinned slyly. Turning her head downward and to the side, so her hair curtained her face, she whispered, "Sis, you really have to lighten up. I don't mean any harm."

"I'm sure," Delphinia snarked quietly as Slughorn cleared his throat.

"Alright class today we will be making a simple cleaning potion. All of your ingredients have already been set out on the tables and the instructions are posted on the board. You may begin!"

Students slowly reached for their cauldrons and pulled them toward the edge of the table. Ingredients were grabbed one by one until everyone was almost completely finished with their potions.

Delphinia leaned over her and Ascella's cauldron. The contents of the cauldron were bright blue, as they were supposed to be at this stage of waiting.

"Quite ironic isn't it?" Ascella asked. "That we are making a cleaning solution, and I'm the one that usually makes the mess you have to clean up?"

"Wow Ascella, I guess you're not to evil to disregard the fact that you do make a mess. A mess that I have to clean on my own," Delphinia sneered. She glanced at her sister then looked back at their potion.

"You were in my position before we were Sorted. You were always the favorite, but now I am. So get used to it, I'm not going away for a while."

"I wish you would."

"I know you do," Ascella said. "But I just have to make sure I'm the only one causing harm on my twin."

"How considerate," Delphinia said sarcastically.

"You want something to consider? How about the fact that during this entire class period, Carri Wood has been so completely invested in making her potion that she hasn't noticed her boyfriend staring at you the entire time?"

Delphinia gasped slightly. She turned quickly to look at Sirius, who had just turned his gaze back to Carri as Delphinia turned back to Ascella.

Ascella smirked. She arched her left brow and said, "How come even I can tell that you both love each other when you can't even figure out what you feel at all?"

"Stay out of my life," Delphinia whispered.

"Happily, as long as you do something about that feeling in your gut..."

"I-"

"Class is over! Everyone out!" Slughorn announced.

Ascella got up from her seat and walked out of the classroom, along with everyone else in the class except for Sirius and Delphinia.

Delphinia slowly gathered her things, and was still packing her bag when Sirius came up to her.

"What was up with Ascella?" Sirius asked suddenly.

Delphinia looked up from her now fully packed bag. "What do you mean? Nothing was up," Delphinia said. She walked past Sirius. What was his deal?

"Delphinia!" Sirius called. He was still in the middle of the dungeon when Delphinia was at the door. Delphinia turned around.

"What?" She said exasperatedly.

"You know you can talk to me about anything right?"

"Oh really? This again? And here? Sirius Black I told you I'll tell you when I am ready," Delphinia said. At the look on Sirius's face she added, "And that is not now."

"Ok. Fine," Sirius said walking fast to catch up to Delphinia as she began her walk back upstairs. "I have a date with Carri today."

"You guys have dates everyday," Delphinia said. A familiar feeling in her stomach struck her. Not now!

"Yeah... But I really do enjoy them," Sirius said. A slight blush was blooming on his cheeks.

"I'm happy," Delphinia said.

Sirius stopped walking. Delphinia stopped as well, and looked up in curiosity at Sirius. "Are you really?"

"What?" Delphinia laughed.

"Are you really happy?"

"Sirius, of course I am. You've never actually been committed in a relationship like this before, and I am happy Carri makes you want to try."

"Thanks," Sirius said.

"No problem," Delphinia said. She let Sirius begin walking again, but as she walked slightly behind his line of vision, Delphinia's smile faded and she felt overwhelmed with the sharp feeling that meant she definitely liked Sirius, and there was nothing she could do about it.