Hogsmeade: Side Streets

Sirius was quiet for a bit, catching up with her.

S: I never thought... I know it doesn't revolve around... Why do you not like her?

E: I don't not like her; I don't understand why you like her - or rather I do know, a little too well.

S: What's that supposed to mean?

He grabbed her arm.

S: Evangeline, you've not exchanged two words since you met!

(activate plan!)

E: Actually we were getting to be quite good friends - you don't see us chatting in the common room, Sirius. You don't know what she's told me.

She shot back.

Sirius rolled his eyes and made an annoyed noise.

S: Liar! You look at her like she's been stuck on your shoe!

E: Now I do, yes! I didn't before!

S: Before!?

He put his hands in his hair, exasperated.

S: Why does me being her boyfriend make her different? It's like you have a weird thing against me and everyone associated with me, Evangeline, from day one!

E: No, I don't! That's bull and you know it.

Evangeline glared, gesturing with her hands.

E: It isn't every associated with you, it's your pathetic hoarde of admirers that follow you around blindly, clinging to the hope that one day you might turn out to be some more than an arse.

She replied coolly, refusing to get worked up over him.

He laughed, sarcastically.

S: You know what's funny? I tried, Princess. I gave it a go, and you keep finding ways to remind me that you are not worth the effort.

E: Ha! You tried? When? Explain to me when and how you 'tried'.

S: Every time I open my bloody mouth to speak to you!

He was shouting now.

Evangeline let out a single, breathy 'ha', but something had changed in her disposition.

E: So when you insulted me, you were trying to... what, exactly?

S: I don't know! Get a reaction? Anything other than this (he gestured at her)... Whatever this ice woman act thing is!

Evangeline shook her head at him. What was she; disappointed; sad; sarcastic; angry? Even she didn't know. But she looked at him with all emotions in her eyes, constantly changing.

E: You don't understand.

S: Well please explain.

Sirius was quiet now.

E: I know how much you hate your family. What they stand for. How they act. Well, my family is similar. Except, I haven't tried to rebel, until now, if you can call what I'm doing a rebellion. I've been trained to an 'ice woman'. And it's hard to just get rid of the habits of a lifetime.

He was quiet for a little while, then scratched the back of his neck.

S: You are infuriating.

E: Sorry.

He had not realised before, but he had backed her into the damp wall, and he was very close. Too close. She could probably see flecks of silver in those grey eyes.

S: What am I supposed to say to you?

Evangeline's gaze roved his face from top to bottom, taking in every feature, every facet, every silver fleck. What was he supposed to say to her? She didn't exactly know, either. She didn't know what she wanted him to say, less what she needed him to.

E: Depends on what you want.

He laughed dryly and looked up, then back at her. And she wasn't an ice woman. She was the Queen of Hearts, queen of his. What did he want?

S: What a thing to say to an adolescent boy.

Despite herself, Evangeline laughed at that, but it was quiet, nervous. When she met his eyes, though, she was sober again.

E: Answer me, then.

The look was there again.

He put his hands on the wall either side of her, hair falling into his eyes, make up rubbing off.

S: I..

E: Well?

She asked, very aware of his proximity.

S: I want to kiss you.

He said, defeated.