Holding a Torch For Gilderoy Lockhart

Quite a few hours later, she and Oscar spilled out of the pub and into the dark, wintry night. The moon, almost full, illuminated everything, very kindly allowing them to see what they were stumbling into.

"Can't- believe- he was wearing- leather trousers!" Oscar laughed. He had waited until Dearborn had left before mentioning it.

"I know! He wanted me to wear my little black dress!" Miriam baited.

It worked. Oscar stopped and pulled her to him. "That would have been great," he said, leaning to kiss her.

They kissed until she lost her footing, falling into the snow bank. Oscar helped her up, and they continued walking. "How far do you live?" Miriam asked.

"Just up the road a bit more," Oscar said. Madame Rosmerta's had been busted up in a bar fight, and Oscar had very kindly offered Miriam the use of his hearth.

"That's great. It's cold." On cue, Oscar draped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to his side.

"Holy shit!" he shouted. Miriam, who'd been enjoying the sensation of a man's warmth for a moment, felt her eyes fly open.

"What is-" She didn't even bother finishing the sentence. There, blocking their path was a growling, snarling, enormous black dog. "Holy shit."

"Bad dog!" Oscar shouted, pulling his wand from his pocket. "Bad dog! Shoo!"

Sirius lunged forward, barking ferociously. Oscar stumbled backward, pulling Miriam behind him.

Pulling her wand, she pointed it straight at Sirius.

"Oi! Don't make me do it!" she shouted. Sirius stopped barking, stopped crouching and just stared at her. Just before her inner clock, the one warning her to transfigure and Stun him ran out, he turned and raced up the hill toward the mountain.

"That was weird," Oscar said.

"Yes, it was. Have you ever seen that dog before?"

"Yeah, once in a while. He steals my newspapers, oddly enough. Usually really friendly. Must be hungry," Oscar said. "Poor thing."

Something flashed in the trees on the hill. It had looked suspiciously like a set of feral eyes.

"Can I still use your Floo?" Miriam said, smiling up at Oscar.

"Yeah," he said, returning his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close.

Miriam just managed not to turn her head to the trees and blow a raspberry.

*

Monday should have been a good day, really. She had a date with Oscar for Friday and Frank Longbottom had smeared a paintbrush across a piece of paper, making a plot that almost looked like a fish. Gilderoy had remembered his mother's name all on his own, so the new potion might work out, and they had finally discharged Mr Twist who had been admitted over Christmas after he'd caught his wife in bed with his brother.

But it was ruined by the memory of Friday night's run in with Sirius, and the news, brought to her on Sunday morning by Dawlish, that Sirius had actually attacked a student sleeping in Gryffindor Tower. She had almost told him that she'd seen Sirius in his Animagus form, but something had stopped her. Loyalty, perhaps, no matter how misplaced.

Or maybe it was because his attack at Hogwarts came right after he had seen her. It was rash, stupid and audacious- just like Sirius had always been. Violent, too.

But no matter how she tried to talk herself into it, she couldn't bring herself to tell.

"Who knew you had to meet the straight friends of your gay best friend to find a decent shag in your thirties," Pippa said, lighting a cigarette. A passing administrator faked a coughing fit at the smoke clogging the stairwell and received death threats from the assembled staff and patients for his concern.

"I know. Are you seeing Sebastian again?'

"No. Great shag, terrible body odour."

"Oh."

"Yeah," Pippa said glumly. "Whatever. I had sex, for once, and Dearborn got none. A pretty good night in my books."

"Yep."

"Valentine's Day soon," Pippa said.

"Yeah."

"Your, uh, anniversary, isn't it?"

"By default. It was exam break, remember?'

"But still."

"Still nothing."

"Miriam, come on! He's on the loose. Don't pretend you don't care where he is," Pippa said.

"I know where he is."

"What?" Pippa said, shocked. "How do you- Where is he?"

"Well, the Aurors told me he managed to get into Hogwarts and attack some student while he was sleeping."

"What?" Pippa asked, confused. "Why on earth would he do that? I mean, mental and a little cocky, but why would he go to Hogwarts and attack a student?"

"Apparently, it was the same dormitory as Harry Potter slept in."

"Harry Potter?" Pippa whispered. "The Harry Potter? Do they think he's still on about that?"

"I guess so. I mean, the papers say he wants to bring back You-Know-Who, so, who's to say, really?"

"That's what I never got. Sirius wasn't like the other Blacks- the Slytherin Blacks. He was-"

"A liar and a traitor," Miriam said, standing abruptly. "I'll see you later."