Chapter 10: A Resolution: Sirius

How can I let her know? Sirius questioned. He knew now he loved her. Probably always had... But if he told her, she'd scoff at it. Say it was just a way to get her to fall for him. That it wouldn't work.

But how the hell was he supposed to get her, if she was so determined to look at him so icily? There was no way. How was it that he'd never noticed her as a girl, instead of just a friend, before?

It didn't matter. He knew now, and he was going to get her to see that he wasn't lying. That he wasn't just flirting. That he was serious about this.

"Kara?" When she acted like she didn't hear him, he almost grinned, but kept his face sad. His plan was working. When she walked into the Great Hall, he knew he'd miss breakfast, but it was worth it.

Sirius gave the "come here" signal to the girl hiding near the lockers. "I'm glad you can help me with this," he said to her when she came.

"Hey, it's sweet. Besides, we'd all like to see Sirius Black settle down," Erika said. She flipped her brown hair over her shoulder.

"Thanks. Now, remember what you're supposed to do, okay?"

"Of course. Good luck!" She ran off into the hall, beginning to cry. She ran straight to Kara.

"Kara, Kara, please! He… He's so…" She broke into her fake tears once again.

"What is it? What did he do?"

"Well," she choked back more tears, "first, my boyfriend dumped me after he saw that I had the same color hair as Sirius. And then, I snuck up on Sirius to kiss him quick, and he shoved me away! It was enough to get rid of it, but…" She burst again into the tears.

"But… You dated him so long ago. You can't have seriously liked him so much after all that time. And, why would he push you away?" This was painful for her. Erika was the reason she thought she'd let go… maybe if she'd held on… No. She wouldn't think about stupid maybe ifs. If she had, she would have ended up broken-hearted.

"I don't know," she replied through her tears. "I… just… Well, it doesn't matter anymore. After he shoved me away, I saw the look in his eyes. I know that look."

She just looked at Erika questioningly.

"He really does care for someone. I don't know who, but it's serious for him." She gave a quavering smile. "Sirius is serious about it." She looked up a second. Her jaw dropped a little, and her eyes widened. "Kara! It's you!"

"Right. This," she said, holding up a strand of hair, "must have given it away."

"Didn't you like him in first year?" They'd been pretty good friends then, before she dated Sirius.

"Yeah. But I got over it."

"Are you sure? Because he's not joking around with this." Appearing to feel better, she left the Great Hall.

"She bought it," she said as she passed him. He had sank against a wall when she went in, and remained like that. His head was cradled in his hands, and he murmured an "I sure hope so," back.

Kara came bursting through the doors a moment later. "Sirius Black!" Her gaze looked straight ahead, waiting on him to show himself. Her gaze had moved on from icy, into the fiery stage.

"Over here," he mumbled.

"What the bloody hell are you doing on the floor? Do you expect me to feel sorry for you?"

"No." He looked up. The look on his face was real. It projected that he did really care. That every barbed work did hurt him. That she was the only one who could hurt him so deeply. "I just realized you were right."

"About what this time?" Interested, she tucked a length of stray blonde hair behind her ear.

"My reputation. All those things you said." He shrugged. "And I want to change that." He held back that he wanted to be with her for longer than anyone could imagine. "This isn't a scheme, or a lie, or whatever." His eyes held hers. "Look. You told me once that eyes can't lie. Look into mine, and tell me that I'm lying."

"I can't do that," she said her eyes still on the floor. "I can't look in your eyes." Because then I'd have to come face to face with the fact I never really got over you. She ran off to the dorm, barely containing her tears as she flung herself onto the bed.