The Gryffindor Common Room seemed the only place for her to be alone. Otherwise, she was crowded by tons of "friends" where she had to keep in her feelings. But here, she could just let it out and not feel embarrassed or ashamed. She felt comfortable.

The fire's glow shined across her face, making her seem more vibrant than ever before. Sirius couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was so beautiful. And it wasn't just her outward appearance, but there was something inside of her that was truly beautiful. He could see she was crying and it was tearing at his heart. He wanted to go and comfort her. Take her in his arms and take away her worries, but then she would know that he loved her and he couldn't let that happen. He didn't want to hurt Remus.

He couldn't bare just sitting there, doing nothing, so he decided to go to her. Of course, he didn't swoop her in his arms and kiss her and tell her everything would be okay, but he still sat beside her, desperately trying not to take her hand in his.

"Lydia, are you...okay?" he said looking at her.

She looked up at him. Her eyes were full of pain, but for some reason they were hollow. The life was gone. Sirius couldn't bare to look at them.

Lydia quickly wiped away her tears, embarrassed now that she wasn't alone, and probably hadn't been for the past hour. And it was true.

"I...I'm...uh...fine..." she said, stumbling on words, trying to keep herself from bursting out crying.

He tilted his head. She couldn't help but smile. Sirius was handsome and he made her feel special. But she didn't understand how. He just did.

"I...I actually heard about your brother...and I'm...so sorry..." Sirius said, now trembling, holding himself down.

She then did something that only he thought could happen in a dream. It actually had happened in a dream.

Lydia burst out crying, not knowing what to do accept wrap her arms around him. At first, he didn't know what to do, but then he went against the fact that she might realize he loved her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her comfortingly.

He whispered in her ear," It's alright...everything's going to be okay..."

She stopped hugging him and wiped her tears. She then smiled gently, the life coming back to her eyes. Sirius could have melted away right then and there.

"Thanks Sirius, you're a really good friend." She then gave him another friendly hug, Sirius hugging her tighter than her, and went up the steps to her dormitory.

Sirius sat there, trying to summ up all that had happened, trying to make himself believe it, because he almost thought this was a dream. He then realized ow tired he was from watching Lydia for and entire two hours and yawned. He dragged himself up to his dorm and fell into his bed, smiling. He couldn't help but smile even though he knew he couldn't be with her. Somehow, his heart was telling him everything would work out.

Over the next few weeks, Lydia didn't talk much. Except with Sirius. But even then, she didn't talk as much or with as much life as she used to you. At Hogsmeade with Remus, she barely said a word. Her introverted person came out and the extroverted Lydia was hidden deep in her heart. Until one day after Herbology.

Sirius was walking down the hall when he saw a small crowd surrounding something. He couldn't see what was going on, but from what he could hear, it was a fight. He broke through the crowd and was almost astonished at what he saw.

Lydia was standing there, with a bloody nose. But she wasn't the victim. The victim was a sixth year, their year, and he was on the floor, a bloody face. His name was Austrin Callow.

He had a look of pure hate at her and her, just the same. But they seemed almost frozen in time, neither of them bothering to move, almost as if waiting for a teacher to come and give them detention. And that is exactly what happened.

Mr. Binns wove through the crowd, just as astonished as everyone else," What has been going on?"

One third year girl was brave enough to answer," They got into a fight...but...Austrin started it..."

"Ms. Abyss! This is certainly unexpected since you have not once gotten in a fight since your first day here at Hogwarts. But I suppose times have changed. Detention, three weeks. Both of you." And with that, Mr. Binns walked away, assuming that the fight had ended.

Sirius took one step forward, but stopped as he saw Remus run and help Lydia. He put her arm over his shoulder. She didn't say anything, but there was pain in her almost lifeless eyes. Though it didn't seem it, what the third year girl said was true. Austrin had started it. But instead of ignoring it, or running off to the bathroom to cry, Lydia fought back and proved to not be one to mess with.

Sirius felt desperate to see her. He hid by the door of the Hospital Wing, waiting for Remus to leave. It sure seemed like forever, but he finally walked out, surprisingly not frowning. Sirius dreaded to think of what might be behind them. He prayed that he hadn't kissed her.

He slowly opened the door and peaked in. Lydia was on one of the beds, with a bloody rag besides her and no longer a bloody nose. Madam Promfrey told her to wait so she could give her a potion that would stop this bleeding if it started again.

He walked over," Hey you..."

She looked up and frowned," Hey..."

"Listen, I understand why you did that. I mean, Austrin's a jerk anyway-"

"It's not that," she cut him off," it's just that I'm so afraid of going to detention. Austrin'll kill me..."

Sirius felt a beast within him get angry at Austrin, but he hid it from Lydia," Don't worry... have a plan."

She raised her eyebrows," Like what?"

"I'll be there with you so he can't possibly lay a finger on you."

"Really? You would do that for me?" She said, a smile beginning to appear on her face.

He nodded and bid her goodbye. He walked out of the Hospital Wing, excited that it was so easy for him to get detention.

Hey, sorry it took forever to update. Hopefully this chapter will let you forgive me, as it is longer that usual. Please read and review! -Luna