The Game

Nothing Gold Can Stay

When the group got back to school the atmosphere was different. The Slytherins seemed to be more distant from the rest of the houses than usual. Word had spread about Sirius's banishment and some students, mostly Slytherins were making fun of him for it. If Delilah could find whoever had told, she swore she'd beat them to a bloody pulp. The two teenagers had been closer than ever in the last few weeks. Their silly little game was forgotten and a friendship was born. Delilah hadn't told anyone yet, but she was more attracted to Sirius then ever. She had seen a vulnerable part of him she didn't know existed and felt like they really connected. She had an inkling he felt the same but didn't want to ruin what they had going. After all, Sirius needed her support now more than ever. She was excited to go back to school, that was until the train ride. She had tried to get a seat with Sirius, but he had sat on the other side of Remus where they couldn't really talk. She didn't think anything of it until when she tried to interject in conversations, and he completely ignored her. He wouldn't even look at her and she had no clue why. She chalked it up to him being weird now that they were back to school and everyone knew they lived together. Remus noticed the tension too. When the carriages arrived, Sirius disappeared. The rest of the group took another carriage and figured he had gone to try to talk to Regulus. Then came the feast, where the Black haired boy also didn't make an appearance. Delilah was starting to get nervous.
"Will you please stop tapping your fingers on the table? You're going to drive me crazy."
James said across the table to his anxious looking sister.
"Sorry, it's just...did anyone else think Sirius was acting weird?"
"He's probably just upset that the whole school knows what happened over the summer."
James said with a shrug putting mashed potatoes on his plate.
"Sirius gets like this some times Lilah...he isolates himself when he feels vulnerable."
Remus said patting her arm.
She just nodded and began moving the peas around her plate again.
"Excuse us."
Remus said grabbing her arm and dragging her out of the great hall.
Peter stood up to follow.
"Sorry Pete, but I need to talk to Delilah alone. Finish your pie."
Remus said gently pushing the boy back down.
Once the two were a few corridors down, Remus turned to Delilah who was biting her fingernails, a habit she only did when she was truly anxious.
He pulled her hand away from her mouth.
"Lilah?"
"Hmm?"
She said finally looking up at him.
"What's going on between you and Sirius?"
"N-Nothing."
She stammered looking away.
Remus placed his fingers under her chin and brought her head back up to look at him.
"Delilah? Come on, it's me. I've known you since you were eleven. I was your first kiss. I saw you throw up all over Gideon Prewett back in second year. I-
"Okay okay I get it! You've proven you know me well! It's just if I tell you something, will you promise not to say anything? Especially not to my brother."
"Cross my heart."
Remus drew an x over his chest and Delilah chuckled.
"I-I think I'm in love."
"What?! With Sirius?!"
"Shhhh keep your voice down! And yes. Over the summer, we grew rather close."
"You didn't- you know..."
He said raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"What? No! Well technically yes, but no."
"I'm confused."
"We slept in the same bed but we didn't do anything, we just talked."
Remus smirked cheekily.
"Delilah Potter, I can't believe after all these years Sirius finally wormed his way into your heart."
Delilah ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.
"I know, and now he's avoiding me and I have no idea why."
"Well maybe it's got nothing to do with you? I mean no offense Delilah but the boy does have other things on his mind."
"Maybe. I just wish he would talk to me."
"Well let's find him. I'm sure he just went to try and talk to Regulus. To the dungeons!"
Remus grabbed the girls arm and they made their trek to the Slytherin chambers.
"Can you believe we've been at this school for six years and never stepped foot in the Slytherin common room?"
Delilah asked.
"I know! We've been to the Ravenclaw parties and the Hufflepuff parties but we never get invited by the snakes."
"Unbelievable it's like they don't want half bloods and blood traitors at their parties. And what a shame to because I would've given it up for a few of them."
"Oh Delilah their not interested in anyone who isn't their distant relative. You know gotta keep the bloodline pure."
Delilah chuckled and hit his arm. They kept walking down to the dungeons when they heard giggling.
"Did you hear that?" Delilah asked.
Remus just nodded and the two followed the sound to a few corridors down.
When Delilah was 9 she had lost her cat, Haymitch. When she found him, he had gotten stuck in a tree by his collar and hung himself. She had been so heart broken she didn't want to eat for two weeks. That had been the worst pain she had ever experienced.