The Everlasting Day

11

Sirius awoke in the morning to the gentle warmth of Ariadne's fingers drifting across his chest as she pressed herself closer to him and kissed his shoulder. He smiled and hugged her, thinking how good she felt in his arms as he enjoyed the subtle scent of orange blossom from her hair.

'Good morning, handsome,' she murmured, her lips drifting down his arm. 'How are you feeling?'

'Oh, I'll live,' he said, flexing his jaw muscles to see just how sore his cheek was this morning. 'My back aches like hell where it hit that bookcase...my jaw is a bit stiff, but I suppose that's to be expected when someone tries to take your face off.'

'That's a bit of an exaggeration, don't you think?'

'Excuse me? Were you on the receiving end of it?'

'No,' she sighed, her exhaled breath tickling his chest. 'I suppose not. We were making such progress before he did that, I just don't understand. I'll say sorry for him because I know he never will. But you have to admit that you did provoke him, Sirius.'

He pushed her sharply away and sat up, glaring down at her. 'And just what the hell is that supposed to mean?'

'It means that you were trying to irritate him, saying things that you knew would get a reaction,' she explained quickly, reeling a little from the vehemence of his reaction. 'You hexed him first.'

'Yeah, with a kids' jinx! Not a Dark curse that could have taken his bloody head off! For god's sake, Ari, he could have killed me! What if one of those jars had broken and cut my throat? What if I'd broken my neck? What if that curse had hit me in the chest or the neck instead of my face? And in case you didn't notice, he did just as much bloody provoking as I did. I won't stand by and listen to him insulting Harry...taking out his pathetic little grudge on James' son like that...'

'All right...all right, Sirius...I'm sorry,' she said with tired patience. 'I never said that he was justified. I'm just trying to offer an explanation, that's all. Look, please try and see it from my point of view. I have you back after such a long time and I'm trying my best to hold on to both of you, but you're pulling so hard in opposite directions that I'm afraid I could end up losing you again.'

'Ariadne, that sounds to me as though, if you were given no alternative, you'd choose him over me,' he said testily. 'Thanks for that. At least I know where I stand now.'

'How dare you say that to me after everything I've sacrificed for you!' she screeched, her eyes widening with indignation, deeply hurt by his insinuations. 'I've already chosen you over him once, haven't I? People who love you don't ask you to make choices like that, Sirius.'

'So I don't love you now either?' He threw the sheet aside and grabbed his robe from the floor, shoving his arms into the sleeves and pulling the tie cord tight around his waist. 'Well that's just great. Why the hell are you still with me then?'

'My god, you're like a five year old child! What on earth is wrong with you? I know you love me; I've never questioned that. But I think it's unfair of you to put me in a situation, theoretical or not, where I have to choose between you and my brother, Sirius! I've said he was wrong, what more do you want me to do?'

Sirius folded his arms, sighed and started to pace, ending up eventually at the window overlooking the lake that was shimmering like molten gold in the early morning sun.

'Maybe it's me,' he admitted with another sigh. 'Actually, I know it's me. I know that I shouldn't have started it, but I just couldn't help it, Ariadne. I've never trusted him and he's always treated you like dirt. I hate the way he speaks to you and it really hurts me to see the way that you bend over backwards for him...and...well...' he sighed. 'I'm sorry...'

'What would you tell Harry to do?'

He turned to face her, his arms still folded protectively across his chest. 'What?'

'If Harry had a problem with someone in school, someone who was his closest friends' brother or sister, what would you tell him to do?'

'Well, I...I don't know,' he shrugged. 'I suppose it would depend on what the problem was. I'd probably suggest that he hexed the git.'

Ariadne sat up, pulling the sheet with her and tucking it under her arms. 'All right,' she sighed patiently, 'what would James have advised him to do?'

He shifted uncomfortably, switching his weight from one foot to the other, staring down at the floor. He didn't need to reply for her to know that she had made her point, but she still wanted to hear him admitting it to himself.

'Sirius?'

'To make an effort for his friends' sake,' he murmured reluctantly.

'Sorry?' she said, feigning deafness, 'I didn't catch that.'

'Bugger off, Ariadne,' he grinned sheepishly.

She laughed softly, happy in her victory. 'I'm just trying to get you to see things from a more rational perspective, that's all. If you want to be Harry's guardian, then you're going to have to learn to think a little bit more before allowing anger to cloud your judgments. You have to learn to control that temper, Sirius.'

'I don't have a temper. I just don't suffer fools gladly.'

'Hey, now...'

'Oh, why the hell didn't I stay as a bloody dog?' He slumped down onto the bed beside her, cushioning his head on his arms as he stared up at the ceiling. 'Things were so much simpler when I was a dog.'

Ariadne sidled over to him, slipping her arm around his waist. 'But then I wouldn't be able to do this...' She kissed his cheek, 'or this,' she pressed another kiss to his forehead, 'and especially not this.' She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him properly.

'You are so beautiful,' Sirius murmured when she pulled back, brushing his fingers across her cheek.

She smiled, nestling into his shoulder. 'Ah, a girl never gets tired of hearing that. You're not so bad yourself, you know.'

'I'm sorry, sweetheart...about earlier,' he said sincerely. 'You're right...I do need to make more of an effort, for Harry's sake...and for yours. It's just that this is new to me...it's been so long since I've had to worry about anyone other than myself. It's like...' He paused, searching for the right words. 'Well...I've never really had a family before. I mean, Harry's as good as my own, isn't he? And you...what's the matter?'

She was smiling broadly at him, reaching her delicate fingers up to caress his face. 'Have I told you today how much I love you?'

'No,' he said coyly, 'and don't change the subject. What's so funny?'

'Nothing. The change in you is a beautiful thing to see, that's all. I think I'm going to like this new 'responsible' you. We are your family, Sirius. Not just "as good as".'

He looked genuinely surprised by her pronouncement, but very pleasantly so. 'You think so? You...you really consider Harry and me...'

'Of course I do, I wouldn't have said it otherwise.' She kissed his chest and pressed herself closer to him.

Sirius put his arms around her and hugged her. He could feel a deep warmth spreading outwards from his chest that reached right the way down to his toes; it was like nothing he had ever felt before. A sense of belonging, of being wanted, needed and loved, but something even deeper than that... A feeling that for the first time in his life, he had found his place - finally, after so long, he was where he was meant to be.

But then another thought occurred to him...something that muted his happiness. The reality that tempered the fantasy, dropping like a lead weight into the centre of his stomach.

'Does this mean that...er...well...that's not a way of saying that you're looking for...you know...that you're hoping for...I don't know...something more...definitive? Relationship wise...you know? Only I've never been very good at reading subtlety...'

'Does that mean that you're nervous about that kind of thing?' she bounced back to him with a teasing smile.

'No...no...not at all...it's just...'

'Let's leave this discussion for a later date,' Ariadne laughed softly. 'We have more pressing problems to deal with this morning.'

'Yeah,' Sirius said, heaving a huge sigh of relief from his torture, 'I suppose we do. What's the time?'

'Just gone seven. We have a while before breakfast.'

'Good,' he said, kissing her forehead before slipping back out of bed. 'I need a run and some fresh air. I'll see you at the Great Hall then, about eight.'

'Okay. I was going to take a bath anyway...a good long soak in some lemon verbena should wake me up,' she yawned. 'See you later.'

Sirius nodded, shed his robes and transformed into Padfoot, his animagus form; a huge, almost wolf-like black dog. He padded over to Ariadne and nuzzled into her hand before turning and bounding out of the door, barking happily as he chased a screeching Peeves along the entire length of the corridor and down towards the stairs.

* * *

Ariadne wasn't expecting to see Sirius again until breakfast, but she was pleasantly surprised to find him dressed and waiting for her as she left her room an hour or so later.

'Hi you,' she smiled, pulling her long hair out from the crocheted shawl she had just thrown around her shoulders. 'You weren't long, what happened?'

'Nothing,' he said lightly, kissing her cheek and slipping his arm around her waist as they headed towards the Grand Staircase. 'I went down to the lake for a while, annoyed the Whomping Willow into a very invigorating game of swot-the-dog, then felt guilty for leaving you to go down to breakfast on your own. I wasn't sure if you'd feel ready to face Severus without backup just yet, so...'

'So you thought you'd escort me,' she finished for him, leaning into him. 'That was sweet, thank you. I would have been all right, but all the same, I'm glad you're here. Just promise me one thing - no matter what he says to you, or to me for that matter, you won't bite?'

He blew out a long, slow breath. 'I promise. No matter how sorely I may be tempted. This is the new, responsible me - rational, stable, no temper whatsoever, an excellent role model for Harry. And for you.'

'Hey,' she feigned offence, jabbing him in the ribs. 'Less of that, or I'll bring up that subject that you're so obviously loathe to discuss again.'

'And what subject would that be?'

'The one that makes you babble like a victim of a bad memory charm. It's quite funny actually...to see you so lost for words.'

'I'm glad I'm such a source of amusement,' he muttered dryly.

'Oh come on, don't be like that.'

'I'm not afraid to discuss it,' he said somewhat defensively as they arrived in the Entrance Hall. 'It's just I agree that we have a bit too much going on at the moment. When things are a bit more settled, I promise we'll talk about it then, okay?'

'Only if you want to,' she smiled again, 'I'm not pushing for anything. You know that, don't you? I'm happy with you just being around again.'

He nodded sullenly.

'Really I am, Sirius,' she reiterated because he wasn't looking convinced. She stopped him just before they entered the Great Hall. 'I wish that we'd never been apart. Who knows where we'd be now if you hadn't been arrested? But you were, so it doesn't really matter now. If, whenever you feel ready, you'd like us to make what we have a little more permanent, then that would be nice, but if you're never ready, then that's okay too. I love you so much, Sirius, and I know you feel the same way about me and that's more than enough. You just seem overly worried about this and there's no need to be. Just let it go...we have more than enough to be dealing with.'

He wouldn't meet her eyes, keeping them riveted to the plush red and gold carpet that lay over the stone floor from the foot of the staircase to the large double doors leading into the Great Hall. Ariadne touched his chin, forcing his face upwards so look at her.

'Okay?'

He blinked slowly, sighed and nodded. 'Yeah, all right. I want to make you happy, Ariadne, I just can't think about it now, that's all. You understand, don't you?'

'Of course I do,' she smiled warmly, 'I've known you for more years than I care to think about, loved you for most of them, and I think I know you better than you know yourself. Whenever, if ever, you're ready, I'll still be here.'

He seemed happier at that, whether or not he actually felt it. He took her in his arms and gave her a gentle hug, punctuating it with a kiss before he released her and together they pushed through the huge wooden doors into the Great Hall.

Instead of the four long tables that usually lined the hall during term times, a large circular table had been positioned in the centre of the room. The places had already been set and Dumbledore and Snape were already seated.

'Good morning!' Sirius said brightly to them, pulling the wooden chair out for Ariadne before taking his own seat.

'Good morning, Sirius, Ariadne,' smiled Dumbledore, 'I trust you slept well?'

'Yes, thank you, sir,' Ariadne replied. 'It's wonderful to spend a night in the castle again. It brought back some wonderful memories.'

'Best nights sleep I've had in years,' Sirius agreed with a sly, half-glance at Ariadne. 'You have no idea how much a soft bed, warm sheets and a roof over your head is appreciated after spending so long sleeping rough.'

'Ah, I'm pleased to hear that,' Dumbledore beamed with that same twinkle he'd had in his eyes the night before. 'Then we're all ready to enjoy this wonderful breakfast.'

He waved his hand and suddenly the table was filled with plates of bacon, eggs, sausages, toast and a host of delicious smelling pastries and croissants. They all filled their plates and began to eat, mostly making polite small talk about the terrible summer weather and the quality of the cuisine until Snape finally decided to break the gentle calm.

'I sent an owl to Mother and Father yesterday after our conversation,' he said as he picked disinterestedly at his bacon.

Ariadne reached for a glass of orange juice as she looked up at him. It was no wonder he was so thin and pale if he usually ate as little as he was doing this morning.

'Oh?' She tried to sound as though the idea of contact with her parents again was a matter of very little import to her, but she could hear the tremor in her own voice, even with that single utterance.

Beside her, Sirius was asking Dumbledore how Remus had been over the past few weeks since his forced resignation, but she could sense his harried glances at her as he became acutely aware of her heightened tension.

'I informed them that you were returned from the cottage. I didn't want to say anything more in a letter in case it was intercepted, but they replied almost straight away. It seems they are anxious for you to visit. They wish to talk to you.'

'Oh,' she said again, more flatly. Her throat seemed to be closing up, making swallowing the juice virtually impossible. She slowly lowered the tumbler back to the table.

'What am I to tell them?' Snape continued to press her.

'Well...nothing...not yet. We have to deal with the Death Eaters first. Don't you think we should be discussing that?'

Snape's expressionless face became a sneer as he raised an eyebrow and returned to picking at the bacon.

'I suppose I considered that it might be preferable for you to meet them again before you are forced to do so at my funeral.'

'For god's sake, Severus,' Ariadne hissed. She had been on the verge of saying much more, but for everyone's sake, she bit her tongue. Chancing a glance at Sirius, she was relieved to see that he and Dumbledore were still involved in reminiscing about James and Remus to really notice what Snape had just said.

'They are prepared to talk to you, Ariadne. We never know how many tomorrows there will be and I think that you at least owe them the courtesy of one visit.'

'Severus, we have less than a week to present your dead body to Malfoy and I really don't want to argue with you about this now,' she whispered angrily. 'I will speak to them, of course I will, but not now. Moreover, it was foolish of you to put anything down in writing at such a sensitive time. I don't want people knowing where we are.'

'Don't you think I know exactly what is safe and what isn't?' he spat back with equal fury. 'You seem to forget that I spent six years as a Death Eater myself. No one, not even him,' he nodded towards Sirius with disgust, 'could possibly understand those wizards as I do. I know what they do and no one...no one knows the horrific consequences of involvement with them better than I do.' He paused, reaching for a glass of water and sipping slowly from it, closing his eyes. It was a while before he continued. 'It was only when I became a spy that Mother and Father wanted to know me again, and I know now what immense pain I caused them through my mistakes. You, of course, were far too involved with that idiot over there to notice what was happening within your own family.' He paused again, swallowing thickly, as though the words were not coming easily to him. 'Although I missed you, I was glad when you disappeared because they had marked you too, Ariadne. You, Black, Lupin, the Potters...all of you. You were lucky - only because the Dark Lord chose the Potters first. If he had chosen to come looking for you...'

The knowledge came like the crushing weight of a tidal wave breaking over her. That she, Sirius and Remus had been marked for death too had never even occurred to her before. An ice-cold chill ran the length of her spine and the memory of the fear she had felt as she's sat in that chair and had the Dark Mark burnt into her arm coursed through her veins like the most potent of poisons. She gulped down some juice to try to move the lump that had sprung up stubbornly in her throat, but it only exacerbated the painful heaviness in the pit of her stomach.

'But he didn't, Severus,' she managed to choke out, pushing the thoughts away, 'and if that is true, then you should understand why I am so concerned for you now.'

'What do you mean, 'if'? There is no 'if'. Your life was in danger. You were targeted because of your specialist botanical and potions knowledge; Black was targeted not only because the Dark Lord discovered his duplicity within the Circle, but also because of his formidable power and considerable skill with combative jinxes and hexes; Potter, because of his vast knowledge of Defence Against the Dark Arts; Lupin because it was feared that he could rally the Dark-creatures against the Dark Lord and, like James, was highly skilled in Defence Against the Dark Arts...you and Lily were also seen as part of the support network that held the others together and that if you were removed, the others would be moved to such anger that they would make themselves much easier to target. The Dark Lord chose his primary targets very carefully - witches and wizards who had allied themselves with Dumbledore, members of the original Order...the people who presented the biggest threat to him.'

'I...I just...I can't believe that we were that important...'

'Why would I lie? I was beside myself, Ariadne. I had no idea what to do... Can you imagine what it was like for me? Carrying all this knowledge around? Perhaps I was selfish in being glad that you were hidden away by then, beyond the Dark Lord's reach... I was concerned for the others, yes, but I was much younger then, still deeply resentful over the events of our schooldays. I hated James, you know I did. But you have to believe me, Ariadne, as deep as I was within the Circle, I had no idea that he intended to go to the Potters' that night. If I could have done anything to save them, I would have.

'There is so much in my past that you don't know or understand, but no matter what you choose to believe about me, I do know exactly how you must feel. If you could possibly spare the time to consider it,' he added sardonically.

Ariadne had lost what little was left of her appetite. She pushed her plate away from her and folded her arms on the tabletop. Dumbledore didn't give her the opportunity to reply, for which she was eternally grateful.

'Ah, I see we've all finished. Perhaps then we should move to the reason we are all here. Would anyone like some tea before we begin?'

Snape and Ariadne were both subdued and could manage little more than a vague shake of their heads.

'No, thanks,' said Sirius, 'I doubt whether I'll be able to eat or drink anything for the rest of the day,' he added, patting his stomach, leaning back comfortably in his chair

and reaching across beneath the table to rest his hand on Ariadne's knee, giving it a gentle and reassuring squeeze. Somehow, she had the impression that he had probably heard most of the conversation but had learned enough to know that sometimes it was better to remain silent.

'All right then. Well, I believe we decided yesterday to use the Draught of Living Death, did we not? The potion should take, if I am not mistaken, two days to prepare?'

'Yes, sir,' Ariadne replied before Snape had even taken a breath. 'Severus and I can start work on it straight away, provided that we may use Hogwarts' facilities, of course.'

'Of course,' said Dumbledore. 'Which means that it will be ready before the deadline Malfoy has given. Excellent. Following the settlement of the matter, it will become necessary for you, Severus, to go into hiding for a certain amount of time until Sirius and Ariadne manage to accumulate sufficient evidence to put Malfoy into Azkaban where he belongs. Have you somewhere to go that would be suitable?'

'I...I hadn't really considered that far ahead, Headmaster. How can I be absent for an indefinite length of time? What of my classes?'

'We still have the rest of the summer, Severus,' Dumbledore replied. 'I very much doubt that the evidence should take longer to obtain than that, with Malfoy stepping up the Death Eaters' activities so boldly lately. We shall worry about that if, and when, the time comes.'

'And what if things do go wrong, Professor?' asked Ariadne timidly. 'If Malfoy does know when we take Severus to him...what are we to do?'

Dumbledore sighed, taking off his half-moon glasses to polish them before carefully replacing them on the edge of his nose.

'I should very much hope that particular eventuality does not present itself. However, should Malfoy become suspicious, I do not expect the three of you to duel with Merlin knows how many Dark wizards. None of us here are under any illusions that what we are about to embark upon is anything other than an extremely dangerous course of action, but it is one that we must pursue both for Severus' sake and for our own. Malfoy cannot be allowed to ease Voldemort's passage back into this world. Voldemort is very weak now, too weak to fight and we have the best opportunity here we are likely to have - not only to save lives, but also to ensure that Voldemort's followers are identified and punished before he can begin to use them. As he cannot re-enter our world without help, removal of his followers will make it extremely difficult for him and will significantly delay his comeback, if not prevent it completely. Prevention is, of course, far better than cure, but at least the delay will give Harry the time he needs to finish his schooling and to learn the skills which he will need in order to fulfil the Prophecy. But, allowing for the knowledge that all Prophecies are far from final, I feel that we have been presented with a much better chance than most of preventing Harry from ever having to face Voldemort again. However, Ariadne, to answer your question, you are not expected to face this challenge alone. I have already spoken to the Ministry's Auror department and they will be providing covert back-up whilst you attend the meeting. I understand it is to take place at Voldemort's new headquarters?'

'It is, sir,' answered Sirius. 'At least what we have been led to believe is their new HQ. I highly doubt that Malfoy would have told us the truth about that before we have proved ourselves. Having said that, I'm sure we could arrange for it to be moved somewhere that would make it easier for the Ministry to mount an attack, should it be required. After all, they want Severus taken alive - they want us to convince him to come with us willingly, which he is hardly likely to do if he knows where we are taking him. '

'That much is true,' Snape said begrudgingly.

'Mmm,' Dumbledore considered. 'And what other venue would you suggest?'

'There is a church in west Wales that they have been using temporarily. Severus would not have known about that place as they have only recently begun using it. It was never used in Voldemort's day. I don't think it would turn too many heads if I suggest there instead,' said Sirius. 'I could tell them that I've had problems convincing Severus of my innocence and that he still does not completely trust me.'

'That much is true too,' Snape muttered into his tea cup as he drank some of the now tepid liquid.

'But how are we supposed to be getting Severus to come with us anyway?' asked Ariadne.

'I've already thought about that,' Sirius said, a little awkwardly. 'If you thought Ariadne was threatened, Severus, no matter what you felt about me, you would come with me if I told you I could help her, wouldn't you?'

'I would,' Snape admitted, glancing over at his sister.

'Then this is exactly what I will tell Malfoy.... you didn't trust me, certainly not enough to come with me anywhere of your own volition. I didn't think that it was a good idea to take you to HQ just in case anything should go wrong and the base became compromised. So, in order to lure you there, I told you that Ariadne had been captured and was to be questioned and killed by the Death Eaters at the church. On the way to the church, however, your doubts about me become overwhelming and you made an attempt to disarm me and I was forced to use an Unforgivable to defend myself. Does all that sound reasonable?'

Snape sighed, considering. Eventually, he raised his eyes from the table to Dumbledore.

'Headmaster, I trust in your judgement. Do you believe that we are doing the right thing? Do you believe this will work?'

Dumbledore smiled sadly. 'There are no certainties in this life, Severus. We have all been placed in a difficult position, but we do have an opportunity to put things right that we would not otherwise have had. I believe that we have little choice as Malfoy will certainly not back down now. I have nothing but the utmost faith in Ariadne and yourself to prepare the potion and with the information Sirius plans to use, I believe that this plan will work. You have the backup of the Ministry aurors if things should become awkward... But I do think that it is advantageous for us not to allow that to happen because there is much we can learn from the Death Eaters concerning Voldemort's plans before any arrests are actually made. Ultimately though, Severus, it remains your decision. No-one can, or should, force you.'

'Well, it is clear what will happen if I refuse. At least we all have a chance if I agree, so I shall agree,' said Snape finally, reaching for his teacup and drinking from it quickly, as though to remove a nasty taste from his mouth.

'Good,' Dumbledore smiled. 'Making the decision is always the most difficult part. With that out of the way, Ariadne and yourself can begin work on the potion. Sirius, you will be staying in the castle whilst they are working?'

'Actually, sir,' he said, trying to avoid Ariadne's eyes, 'as there isn't really a great deal for me to do whilst the potion is being prepared, I thought that I might use the opportunity to spend some time with Remus. I haven't had the chance to speak to him properly since my escape and I really would like to do some catching up.'

Dumbledore nodded. 'Of course...that would be fine. As long as you would be back as soon as the potion is ready.'

'Sirius?' Ariadne's smile was strained and polite as she turned to him. 'I thought you'd be staying here? You never mentioned Remus before.'

He took her hand and squeezed it gently. 'I'd just like to see him again, that's all. We'll talk about it later, sweetheart,' he added quietly.

She took the hint that he didn't feel comfortable talking about it anymore in front of Snape and Dumbledore, so she didn't pursue the matter, even though he could see the confusion and even a spattering of hurt and fear within her eyes.

'Remus did go back to his own place, didn't he?'

'I believe so,' Dumbledore nodded. 'He doesn't have many other places he could go, does he? I don't think he left in the best of spirits...poor man was rather upset. It was a terrible shame. I didn't want to accept his resignation, I told him we could come up with something, but he was most insistent that I had done enough for him already. I really don't feel as though I had even come close. I think Remus felt a great deal of guilt and shame about what happened and nothing I could say would convince him otherwise. You know Remus, Sirius...he always did take far too much onto his own shoulders.''

Snape shifted in his chair and pushed his almost untouched breakfast a little further away from him.

'I'm sure that Remus had his own reasons, sir. But all the same, hearing that more or less settles it for me,' said Sirius. 'I'm still not too good with Apparation, so I think I'll take Beaky. The exercise will do him good.'

'Hagrid's been taking good care of him, so he should be well fed for the journey. Will you be leaving straight away?' asked Dumbledore.

'Well, after we've finished up here...more or less, yeah.'

'I think we're finished, aren't we?' said Ariadne, anxious to speak to Sirius alone.

'Ah, yes...good,' said Dumbledore, waving his arm over the table to clear it. 'Well then, I have some important letters that need my attention, so I had better make a start on them while I have the chance. I will pop down later today to see how the potion is progressing, Severus.'

Snape nodded reverently.

'And please give Remus my very best when you see him, Sirius.'

'I will, sir. Thank you.'

With that, Dumbledore rose from the wooden chair, wished them good morning again, and headed back to his office.

'I shall see you later, Ariadne,' Snape said with not so much as a glance in Sirius' direction as he gathered his cloak around him and glided back towards the Entrance Hall.

'All right then, Sirius,' Ariadne sighed when the door closed behind Snape and they were finally alone in the echoing silence of the huge hall. 'What was all that about?'

'There's nothing untoward about it,' he shrugged, offended by her accusatory tone. 'I just wanted to see Remus while I had an opportunity, particularly after hearing about upset he was. We have a lot to talk about. Besides, I thought it might be good for you and Severus to spend some time together without me getting in the way. I was thinking about you, Ari.'

'Oh...' she stammered, all her protests and arguments dying silently on her lips, '...well...you might have mentioned what you were planning before instead of springing it on me. But all the same, I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I guess we could use some time together.'

'You're welcome,' he smiled, reaching for her hand, 'I just didn't want to say anymore with Severus sitting there. He'd have only thought that I was trying to pick a fight again. Anyway, it would have made me look like a right prat, wouldn't it? Backing off and leaving you alone after what happened yesterday...'

'Would have made you look as though you were giving in, you mean,' she said wryly.

'Hey, I can stay, if you'd rather,' he shrugged, grinning. 'I can give him some big teeth and asses ears to go with those boils.'

'No, I think that maybe it's a good idea for you to spend some time with Remus,' Ariadne agreed with an affectionate smile. 'I just feel better when you're around, that's all. Purely selfish. I'll miss you.'

'You too.' He stood up and pulled her to him, embracing her tightly. 'You'll be all right. You know where I am if you need me.'

'Yeah,' she breathed as his lips met hers.

Moments passed as they held each other, both reluctant to let the other go. Sirius bowed his head, nestling into Ariadne's shoulder as his hands ran gently over her back, feeling comforted when he felt her responding to him - pressing herself closer to him, her fingers combing gently through his hair and caressing the back of his neck.

'I love you, Ari,' he whispered.

'I love you too, Sirius. More than anything.'

He kissed her once more before releasing her, just touching the side of her face as she moved back.

'You want me to walk down to the dungeons with you?'

'No, I'll be okay,' she reassured him with a smile that at least seemed more confident and relaxed now. 'You go and have a good time. Give Remus my love, tell him I was asking about him.'

'I will. And I really hope things work out with Severus.'

The sincerity with which he uttered those words meant a great deal to her, more than anything else he might have said. She didn't think that she had ever loved him more.

'I'm sure we'll be fine with just a little time to talk. Take care.'

Sirius nodded, touching her lips just once more before he left.