Unexpected Allies (Sirius)

[lily]

The papers had been talking about it, the words never far from any student's lips. However unlike the typical rumors that spread around the school these words were nothing of the sort. For once too many rang too true for comfort. The first week had been a quiet week, but now it seemed the mourning and fear was passing into the curiosity of asking, 'why?'.

Really she dreamed about it enough the past week that the words weren't helping her. The stares, she had been use to them before in one way or another, either people stared because of who she was with, or because of who she was, but now as her arm rested in the sling rather snugly she knew why they were. The school's nurse in the hospital wing probably now thought Lily the most frustrating girl in the world, but she'd simply fallen wrong on her arm, a sprain...no reason to keep her in bed for days despite the protests. It made her antsy when all she wanted to do was get back to school, to studying, to normalcy.

Crossing through the courtyard she struggled to hold tightly to the books pressed between her good forearm and her chest, her robe resting over her shoulders to fend off the late autumn chill, hair pinned up out of her face with Molly's help that morning. She knew what her friends were feeling, even argued with them, but she wasn't going to just shake and shiver huddled up in bed. In fact she was right now on break heading towards where her Defense Against the Dark Arts class professor's office was. Sometimes some things became less about the grades...

Passing by a groups of Slytherin's she tried to move out of the way, rather at the disadvantage for being on her own like she was with arms full. Whether on accident or on purpose a well placed jostle sent the books she had crashing to the ground. Her arm stung painfully, not nearly as bad as she'd had happen recently, but it hurt as she moved to kneel down trying to pick them all up again not saying anything as the students just went along there way.

Trying to stack them was easy, it was attempting to get them back up into her arm that was the hard part as she used her other arm as best she could despite the short sharp shocks of pain that ran up it. "Bloody hell..." She cursed softly, the frustrations just building now as she knelt there feeling rather useless.

[seriouslysirius]

Sirius didn't have the heart to keep walking by, even if it was that certain redhead who had snatched the mental sanity of his best friend James and made him run after her like a lovesick puppy, thinking about it James wasn't that much obsessed about her anymore lately, maybe she had let down her tight grip on him? The answer to this mystrey was quiet elusive to Sirius at the moment, but that was Sirius for you, master of obliviousness of things that hung swinging in front of his nose. Feelings and emotions weren't his forte, he was more of, ah, the physical type.

Sirius shifted his weight on his feet, hesitating. Then, he remembered that Lily Evans was also highly associated and often seen hanging around Severus Snape. Sirius scowled, why on earth would any girl want to hang around Snivvy? At the thought of Snivv's greasy hair and abnormal big nose with fathomless black and hairy nostrils, Sirius scrunched his nose in disgust and shrunk away inwardly. What a disgusting creature. Most of all, Sirius couldn't understand why Severus never put his large nose to good work, and realize he reeked of rotten fish and had a guilt trip to the showers. Shaking himself a little, Sirius resolved on walking away from the scene and pretend he hadn't seen Lily. He didn't want to have to do with anything or anyone associated with Snivvy, he'd stab himself in the eye with his wand rather.

Sirius strode past Lily, the wind blowing his robes and long black hair away from him, the trim of his Gryffindor scarf whipping behind him. However, on passing, from the corner of his eye, Sirius saw the redhead crouch down on the ground, painfully trying to pick up her books and saw how she couldn't with her injured arm. He was about five, six paces away from her now, but he couldn't go any further. He scowled to the empty grounds before him and the retreating group of nasty Slytherins that had knocked Lily over, and made a mental note to politely smash in their noses next time he came across them. Lily was after all, a Gryffindor. Sirius hated it when a Slytherin touched any Gryffindor, even if it was Lily Evans. He stopped, realizing he couldn't go any further, because of the knot tightening in his chest. He turned fractionally to look at Lily over his shoulder, and with a pang in his chest, realized he didn't have the heart to leave the girl there, all on her own, with all those books and an injured arm.
"To hell with it" he muttered darkly under his breath, and sighing to himself, swung neatly round on his heel, and walked back towards the redhead, his boot hitting the grounds a little rather too heavily, but hey, he had to get his frustration out somehow, all right.

"Here, let me take those for you" said Sirius, collecting all the books from the ground in his arm in one smooth movement. Straightening up, he gave Lily one of his charming smiles, "Now there, that's no language for a lady" he said, shaking a chastening finger at her and breaking in a grin. "Not very suitable, now is it." he said, nodding lightly in agreement to his own words.

Sirius saw the look Lily was giving him, and though he liked to be starred at and admired and whatnot, this was not the sort of look he liked. He found himself trying to break things up a little by putting in a rather bright, "So, where this good load off to than, Miss Evans?" he asked Lily, jiggling up the books he held pressed against his front, to remind her of the books he held in his hands, so maybe she'd stop looking at him as though he had grown three heads. Oh, how he wished he had grown three heads instead, maybe three brains would have made him make the sensible decision to walk away and ignore the weird feelings he had in his chest which he had no name for. What one call it anyway, his Gryffindorism?

[/size]

[lily]

Really on any normal day Lily would have generally avoided Defense Against the Dark Arts until it was time for class, she still was questioned as to why she was taking it, but after what happened not a single person was surprised when she'd told her friends she was going to talk to the professor. Maybe it was pity, the day at Hogsmeade being spread around faster then any rumor ever could, It made her feel useless. Having to be saved...getting hurt. It left a cold feeling that numbed the pain a little, but even for all her popularity she didn't like the eyes on her now. No, not when most of the time she felt they were wondering just how weak she must be for falling so easily.

Usually as Prefect she would have taken points away, but today she just quietly tried to get her books and go. She wanted to get to the office before anyone else decided to hinder her. Kneeling on the ground she watched a pair of feet and the edge of a robe pass by her, a flash of crimson and gold making her relax a little as she watched them pass before she went back to her work. Lily hadn't thought to look up at who was passing until she hear the heave bootfall that made her look up at the body was once more making a beeline straight for her. She stood there just staring a moment as a voice chimed in the offer of help.

"Well I-- you don't have---" Before she could protest her books were up off the ground and she sat there looking up at the one person she'd been snubbing more than even Potter since their first year.

Sirius Black now held her books hostage and apparently was lecturing her on her language now. The rather curious stare she gave him did no justice for the overwhelming confusion at his helpfulness. Slowly she stood up brushing her skirt and stockings off as she readjusted her robe over her shoulders. "I never said I was raised to be a lady Black, so I can say what I want." Attempting a tone that was less than kind, but failing as she was still surprised the older of the Black brothers was standing there with her things asking where they needed to go. She'd always assumed he hated her, if not for the fact that she was Severus' friend despite their best efforts to torment him, or for taking every chance to ruin their mischief, then at least because of his family ties. He was pureblood, from a family of purebloods...she knew how some drew the line and people like the Black family didn't seem that welcoming from what she'd heard.

A small dusting of pink settled on her freckles as she pushed a few strands of hair behind her ear, "They're going with me Black. I can handle them..." She'd be damned before telling him she was off to hopefully study DADA in the hopes of being better then pitiful. "Thank you though. I will take them. I'm sure Potter and his friends are waiting for you somewhere else." She moved to grab them with her good arm, looking him over. He'd been there too...at Hogsmeade and didn't seem too worse for wear. Then again he seemed to type to have that dumb heroic luck.

[seriouslysirius]

Lily's protests fell on deaf ears for Sirius was already straightening up the pile of books he'd picked up from the ground. It was rather a scene few would have lived up to the day to see Sirius Black with a pile of school books in his hands. As long as the books weren't his and he wasn't forced to read them, it was okay with Sirius. So he just shrugged at her, grinning a little in that iconic careless manner of his.

Realizing just than that he'd left on the ground, he balanced the books onto one side and bent a little forward towards Lily. He extended a hand out in her direction, " There, got you'' he said, as he gently grabbed her by the elbow and helped pull her up. He was raised to be a gentleman, even though he had rebelled against all he'd ever been taught at home, some things where too deeply imprinted in him to go against. This close to Lily she could probably see part of the damages he came sporting after the Hogsmeade attack. There was a mark on his left jawline, almost like a deep cut, and he did have some other light scratches on his neck and hands but compared to Lily he'd come out pretty lightly. Though he did have a rather nasty large burn up his leg, though it was quiet hidden as the fire in the burning Three Broomsticks had scorched his thigh when he'd been looking for James and Remus.

She was trying to be mean, Sirius realized that instantly. She was trying to shake him off just the way she had done several times with James. One thing Sirius and his best buddy James shared, they both weren't easily put off. Sirius laughed, a rather a rough undefined noise that sounded more like a bark than actual laughter. " Oh Evans, your just cute.'' he said, shaking his head his face still lit in amusement. " You pretty much look the lady part to me, raised up to be or not''said Sirius, looking Lily up and down, and nodding to himself in agreement to his statement. " Quite the lady, actually"''he grinned at the other Gryffindor, his eyes resting on her hands as she busied herself brushing her skirt and legs. His gray eyes stayed on her legs a fraction of a second longer, and looked back up at her, a cheeky grin printed faintly on his mischievous features.

Sirius watched with interest how her skin turned a warm rose pink behind her freckles. It was sort of attractive, not that freckles where ever his thing, but the faint blush underneath those tiny little marks brushed lightly across her nose and cheekbones suited her so well.

" Nope, no one's waiting for me, I'm pretty much lonely. Want to keep me some compa - " he said, and before he could finish she made a grab for the books but Sirius was too quick for her and pulled them away. " Ah! I knew you were stubborn, but I never thought you to be silly." said Sirius giving a snort, " Of course you can't handle the books - " he said, giving half a nod at her hand, " - I'm pretty sure you know you got one hand all bandaged up." he said, " And these are some heavy books, even if you could use both of your hands, you still couldn't carry all these by yourself" said Sirius, heaving a little the stack of books, " You'd need some manly help, and thankfully I'm here to save the day he said in a bright, teasing voice finishing with another cheeky grin.

When Sirius Black made up his mind on something, it was hard to make him change his mind back. He was going to help her take those books, and damn if he was gonna take them. Sirius juggled the books against his front, trying to keep one from slipping from the pile. " So, are you going to tell me where you were going, or do you want me to guess?" he said, his words ending in a teasing smile, " I always liked guessing games, besides I'm free for the rest of the day you know"

[/b] he said, grinning at Lily. Wasn't he just a nuisance. Pretty harmless, but still annoying.

[/blockquote][/size]

[lily]

It took a little effort to get up as her balance was a little off trying to come up from her knees with only one hand to steady her. She’d gotten use to it though in the past few days that the slow and steady effort was becoming a little fast now. She had to admit to herself at least that without the books in her hands it was easier to get up. Even easier still though as she felt a hand reach out and grab her arm pulling her a little more center of where her body was trying to go, but that simple little adjustment keeping her from crashing down into the ground once more. Still she was surprised enough that she moved a little too fast and nearly crashed into Black, but with luck managed to get her feet under her form before anything of the sort could happen. From here though she was the closest she’d ever been to Black in the past five years they’d been at Hogwarts not including the very first day they’d all walked through this school. Looking up to meet his gaze she could see the few scrapes and bruises now, the scratches...

So even the famous Sirius Black had gotten a little beaten up that weekend. A part of Lily wanted some satisfaction from that, but really as she looked at him she could feel her own arm throb with a dull pain. Sympathy was an odd emotion to feel towards him, but it was what she felt despite her attempts to feel otherwise. Wouldn’t a boy like him be trying to use his injuries to act like some injured puppy for the girls. Really, even with those thoughts she didn’t get as mad as she thought she would at the help up.

Of course then he had to speak.

Maybe she would have been complimented being called a lady if she had not seen his eyes go down the length of her body. Her blush grew a little darker now as she found a little less sympathy for him as he grinned and her face grew another shade darker and another degree warmer, “If it is your kind of lady I’d rather not be.” She replied coolly, “And don’t call me cute. I’m not one of the twittering fools that fall for those kind of words.” She’d let his distract her, and when she’d made the grab for her books she felt even more silly as they were so easily pulled away.

“Sirius! I carried those book from Gryffindor House all the way down here. I doubt gravity doubled their weight that easily so that you are the only one to carry them!” She shot back, “I didn’t ask for your--” Her cool tone was getting heated now as she prepared to make another grab at the books only to find herself and was stopped once more by Sirius making his demand to carry her books whether she told him where she was going or not. It seemed that they were both fairly stubborn in what they wanted, with Sirius determined to carry her books and her determined not to let anyone find out where she was going. However she was stuck now. If she left without her books she knew he’d probably just follow and if she kept standing there she’d lose whatever chance she wanted today to try to work.

“Fine! Carry them Black!” She nearly snarled, not pleased that she’d been the one to lose her battle ground. She started around him, walking through the courtyard once more towards the covered walkway that led back into another wing of the school, “I don’t need you guessing, but if you breath a word about this to anyone I’ll make sure you have detention every weekend for the year.” It was a bluff, but it was the only one she could think of in hopes of keeping him quiet once he found out what she was doing with all those books and moving in such a hurry.

Getting under the covered walkway she sighed and brushed her hair back from her face, “I’m going to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room...for extra lessons...” She stated quietly, lips pursing together tightly as she waited for him to crack some joke as she kept walking.