cross my heart and hope to die -OPEN-

[callie sierra rivers]

Most people figured Callie has a goody-two shoes just because she was in Ravenclaw and had to have perfect grades. That was true, she did do her best to be a perfectionist in just about everything. Yet just because she was a perfectionist didn't mean she never broke the rules. Merlin, some people actually considered her a bully with the way she acted sometimes. It was just that people weren't used to being told the truth and especially didn't want to hear it from her. Oh well, everyone could get it over it. Maybe one day she could act a little more human and show some real compassion for someone. But where would that get her? Most likely stabbed in the back or with a broken heart.

That was the main reason why Callie was wondering the castle alone. She didn't have a friend who she could go to and just ask to go walk around. Sure she had friends but they were all more on an intellectual level than anything else. Cal knew that if she wanted to go far she would have to make friends and suck up to people she didn't want to. Yet this was Hogwarts and everyone was living in this fantasy world that everything was fine and nothing bad would ever happen. She read the Daily Prophet, more and more killings each day, especially those who were muggleborn. This was one moment she was glad she wasn't a muggleborn but she was still a half blood, a brilliant one at that. So maybe she could be saved if this went even farther.

Callie walked all the way from the Ravenclaw Tower down to the dungeons. She wasn't worried about those 'mean' Slytherins, she could handle herself. And it wasn't like a Hufflepuff was going to attack her. She didn't come down here to find anyone, just exploring and slowly making her way to the kitchens. It was her destination and it didn't take a genius on how to actually get in there. Cal actually figured out how to first year by following around some older students. When Cal wasn't being her blunt self, she was always people watching. There was so much someone could learn by watching their peers. And the things she has heard over the years would blow some people's mind. No one ever thinks that the person sitting away from them is eavesdropping. Students really needed to learn to watch their surroundings.

Walking through the dungeons, Cal could tell she wasn't the only one. No matter, it could be anyone from any house since it wasn't curfew yet. Not that curfew actually mattered to Callie. No teacher would actually think that Callie Sierra Rivers actually got a detention. The one thing she absolutely hated about the dungeons though was that sound echoed throughout it. Callie heard the footsteps coming but couldn't decide if the person would show up in front of her or from behind.

[sirius black]

Sirius was not him usual self, he felt down, still not over the breakup, Now, Sirius Black was not one to brood, so the fact that he had snuck out to hogsmead alone, wandered, and was now lurking the halls simply for the change of scenery was not a good sign. He had never allowed so much of his happiness to depend on one person that way before, so now the fall from ecstasy was taking its toll.

His feet had taken him to the lower floors. Probably for the better, he would rather run into a Slytherin and let his emotions out in a duel than a fellow Gryffindor who would know what had happened and try to help. For the most part it was just annoying. He stopped when he heard someones footsteps echo down the corridor. So much for solitude. Sirius just hoped it was someone tolerable, after all it could be anyone at this hour. He rounded the corner and spotted the Ravenclaw robes and curly blonde hair down the hall.

"Hello Callie," he said, his tone a ghost of its usual self. Granted, he was happy to see her. Now that he thought about it, she would be a good person to talk to; she would tell him the blunt truth, and at the moment that was what he needed, "What are you doing so far from the towers?"

Callie was one of Sirius' good friends, one of the only Ravenclaws he really got along with well. Usually their conversations were light and humorous, and he knew that she would notice his mood in an instant. He knew that he needed someone to talk to to feel better, but did he really want to. There was a difference. Oh well, she had already seen him; too late to turn back now.

[callie sierra rivers]

The footsteps were coming from behind her, that much Callie was sure of now. It was easier to tell as the person got closer and Cal turned out just in time to see it wasn't a Slytherin behind her but a Gryffindor. That much put a smile on her face because for one second she thought Lucius Mafloy was behind her. That was what she needed right now, him to try and curse her. That boy would learn the hard way one day that it didn't come down to blood. Even better was that she knew this Gryffindor and he was a friend. Sirius Black pulled a prank on her in second year and she got him back. Instant respect for one another and instant friendship, if teasing each other about everything was considered friendship.

"Hey Sirius," she said responding to his greeting. But something was off, he wasn't his usual self. Nothing smart was sad and he just seemed upset. She laughed lightly when he said he was away from the towers. "I could be saying the same thing about you Sirius. Gryffindor isn't that far from Ravenclaw." she said smiling at him. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, if she could do anything to help but the whole comforting thing was difficult for her. Callie had a tough time coming off as comforting since everything she said was very straight forward. But maybe that was what Sirius needed right now; a friend who would tell him the honest truth.

"So what's the matter? It seems like a dementor kissed you or something." The last part was an exaggeration but true. He was there but it wasn't him. Something was missing and she wanted to know what happened to her friend. Sirius was never very serious with anything and now there was barely any life left in him. It had to be about someone close to him because no one could ever get her friend's spirit down. "C'mon, we will talk about it over some pumpkin juice and some sweets. Even though I think you would prefer some fire-whiskey instead." Callie said laughing and going over to him to grab his hand. She came down her to go to the kitchens, he might as well come along with her. She gave his hand a little tug, to follow her to the kitchens so she didn't have to drag him there.

[sirius black]

Sirius knew that she had noticed his strange, somber mood, he saw it in her face, and was grateful that she didn't bombard him with questions about it right away. This was why they got along so well; They understood each other. Callie had always known how to make Sirius laugh, how to make him feel better, the same as Zara...

"I could be saying the same thing about you Sirius. Gryffindor isn't that far from Ravenclaw." Sirius smiled back at her, but it didn't reach his eyes. He knew she was right, everyone knew that Ravenclaw common room was somewhere in the towers as well, and he wondered what had brought her down this close to the dungeons. Perhaps she was raiding the kitchens?

He chuckled lightly at Callie's comment about the dementors kiss. Even her concern held a hint of lightheartedness, and it made Sirius feel comforted more than any other prying and comforting student had. "I opened up to someone and got hurt." he answered sincerely, looking down at his shoes. How he sounded like a brooding hufflepuff girl. But he couldn't seem to get rid of the way he was feeling.

He was relieved at her response; Callie didn't badger him for details or react in exaggerated surprise, she simply suggested they talk it over some snacks and led him towards the kitchen by the hand. Sirius grinned faintly at her and followed her towards the concealed entrance to the kitchens. He decided that it was for the best that he had run into her, after all, he hadn't grinned so much as a hint his mischievous grin in so long.

[callie sierra rivers]

Whatever was bothering Sirius, Callie guessed it was her job to help him out. She was his friend and she was sure James and Remus wouldn't care if someone hurt him. They would care but if it was over a girl, they didn't want to hear about that. And that was why it was always good to have girl friends. And she meant girl friends as in girls who were just friends. Sirius was just her friend, yes he was attractive but that line was drawn long ago. Plus if he was sad about a girl there was no way she was going to be that rebound girl. Cal would do her best to comfort him and so far it was looking since she got him to smile already.

Then the truth came out. Well not the whole truth since it was a small statement but good enough for now. She nodded her head not wanting to be blunt but not knowing any other way to talk with him. "That sucks. You can always just remain single, like me, for the rest of your life." When someone got to know someone deep down, they could use that against them. And Callie never wanted that to happen. Love? No, there wasn't love. Love was just something mother's told their kids to make them think there was something good in the world. Did Callie ever think she would find love? No, she would find someone she could tolerate for the rest of her life. But when she said it to Sirius she used a light, joking tone. "But it happens to the best of us so let's not wallow in it."

She kept hold of his hand walking to the portrait that led to the kitchens, she tickled the pear on the portrait and soon enough was granted access inside. Callie smiled back at Sirius as she led him in, trying hard to be a good friend. It still amazed Cal that so many house elves lived down here, she usually tried to count them but they moved too fast or appeared out of nowhere that she couldn't get an accurate count. Yet she guessed there had to be about one-hundred elves. "I would like some pumpkin juice and some sweets," Cal told the first house elf that came up to her. It was hard at first giving them orders but soon enough she learned that they enjoyed this way of life and would do anything if she asked them. "What about you, Sirius?" She asked turning back to him and then also noticing she was still holding his hand. She let it go without so much of a blush.

While the house elves got their food she went over to a small table to sit, hoping he would follow. Once he did, she wanted a few more answers. "C'mon Sirius, smile for me." Cal said giving him a large grin and laughing a bit. Anything to get some of his former self to show. "It had to be girl to get you this sad. So who broke up with who?" she asked. "But if you don't want to talk about it, I totally understand." No she didn't but a comforting friend was supposed to say these things, right

[sirius black]

"That sucks. You can always just remain single, like me, for the rest of your life." She said, and Sirius laughed wryly. He knew she didn't mean that, a girl like her would find someone for sure, but all the same her usual bluntness was a comfort to him. His life felt as if it had been sent into a tailspin so the normality of this was a good thing for him. "But it happens to the best of us so let's not wallow in it." She added lightly, and he knew she was right. He tried to stand a little straighter, lift his head, but the sadness he felt still wouldn't disappear.

Sirius hadn't been in the kitchens for a long time, preferring to sneak off to hogsmead through the humpbacked witch statue instead, and he had almost forgotten how many house elves lived down here. The must have been a hundred of them scurrying around the large room, and Sirius watched as Callie asked one for some sweets and pumpkin juice. Sirius and his friends had discovered the kitchens in the end of their first year, and had quickly found how eager the little elves had been to serve them. He smiled slightly, that was another thing that would never change.

"The same," he replied when she asked him what he wanted, "or perhaps a butterbeer." he added. He noticed her drop his hand, and smiled slightly. He knew it had only been a comforting gesture, they had drawn the line between romance and friendship long ago, but he also knew that she wasn't accustomed to the whole comforting thing.

Sirius followed her to a small table and took a seat opposite of her. "C'mon Sirius, smile for me." she said, grinning, and he did his best to smile back, and then laughed sincerely at his pathetic attempt. It felt good to laugh again, even at himself. Sirius was surprised that Callie seemed to know it had been a breakup; That was the thing about girl friends, they were so much more intuitive than the guys. She also said that he didn't have to tell her, but he knew that was just a courtesy thing. He sighed and told her what was on his mind.

"I fell for one of my best friends, Zara. She just made me so happy, and it was like every second spent with her improved my day ten fold" he started, knowing he sounded ridiculous, but not caring. He then told her the whole story. Finding out that she had been meeting Christoph (not mentioning the map of course) how he had tried to be trusting until she got mad at him over those stupid giggling girls, and the fight. How bad he felt for it. That she had tricked him into going to the hospital wing for his bleeding knuckles, and how crappy he had felt since then. When Sirius was finished, he looked up at his friend, wondering what she would make of it.. After all, she was the first person to hear the story in such detail. Even his best mate had only heard a brief summary before they had brushed it off.

[callie sierra rivers]

People had high hopes for Callie to find love in this world. Mostly her grandparents who in every letter and each time she came home for break asked if she had a boyfriend yet. It got easier and easier to tell them no as the years went by but she still felt like she was letting them down in some manner. She was the perfect granddaughter in all aspects; perfect grades, no detentions and was respectful to her elders. Yes, it seemed her grandparents cared about that but more importantly they wanted her to find love. Cal didn't want to tell her grandparents that love wasn't going to happen soon. Especially when she had to deal with the idiots at Hogwarts.

However it did make her happy when Sirius straightened up and tried to act happier for her sake. Hopefully he was trying to be happier for his own sake too since it couldn't be healthy to be sad or thinking about one person all the time. The poor guy, if Zara got him this down then he was definitely head over heels for the girl. Cal guessed that Zara knew she had this affect on him but was too stubborn about it, much like Sirius was. She wanted her friend to be happy but Cal knew she could pull any prank in the world and the smile still wouldn't reach his eyes. She hoped that he could get over it, maybe in a few weeks but it must be hard when it was someone in your house that you probably saw almost every day.

Sirius was at least putting forth an effort at smiling but it was nice to hear his laugh. Him trying to smile seemed to put a laugh on his face because he even knew his smile was fake. Cal just shook her head, chuckling a bit at his failed attempt at smiling. Slowly but surely she was getting the real Sirius to come back. By this time the house elves had brought over their drinks and a tray of sweets, which consisted of; tarts, cookies, pastries and other things that Callie couldn't think of right now. But as she took the first sip of her pumpkin juice, Sirius started on his story of what really happened. It took a while but she made no comments and just listened and nodded when appropriate. Cal was here for him and right now he needed someone to open up to since the usual person he opened up to wasn't talking to him.

Zara and Callie weren't the best of friends, hell they weren't even friends. The two acted civil towards one another because Sirius was a mutual friend. In Callie's own opinion Zara was jealous of any girl who even talked to Sirius. Sirius pretty much confirmed it when he mentioned the giggling girls. Zara didn't like Callie because she talked with Sirius and Cal didn't even bother giving her the whole 'only friends' speech because she knew Zara wouldn't listen. She would definitely still be jealous. But the other part of the story about Christoph she tried not to show anything. Winter was her cousin but not many people knew that around the school. The two looked nothing alike and didn't really voice that they were family.

Callie reached across the table and took Sirius' hand making sure he looked up at her when she spoke. "I'm sorry about all that. It just sounds horrible and confusing." Not to mention heart breaking. This was why she didn't do relationships; no matter what there was always drama even if the two were perfect for one another. "But have you tried talking with her yet? Just in general? Like to try and get your friend back before trying to get your girlfriend back" She asked knowing that no guy ever wanted to talk with a girl they just had a fight with because they thought they 'needed space.' When in reality girls just want an apology and to be hugged. "Have you talked with Christoph? I'm sure he can shed some light on the subject."

"But how are you knuckles? Everything healed nicely?"

[sirius black]

Sirius was comforted as she reached for his hand and met her eyes as she spoke, echoing his feelings almost exactly, this was why they were such good friends, they had been since the first time she had bested him in pranks. It had impressed him and resulted in the friendship they kindled now.

"But have you tried talking with her yet? Just in general? Like to try and get your friend back before trying to get your girlfriend back" Callie said, and Sirius gave her a small but sincere smile; He knew that Zara and Callie weren't the best of friends, yet she was still encouraging him to try to save their friendship. That right there set her apart from most other Hogwarts girls, another reason he enjoyed her company so much.
"Not yet, but your right. I'm just waiting until i can get her alone to talk it out" he replied.

Sirius hadn't even thought to talk to Zara until she had suggested it herself in an owl earlier that day, he had been her secret correspondent as of late, and resolved that either girls were very complicated or boys simple minded. He considered telling Callie about their writings, but decided against it as he remembered his promise not to tell anyone, no matter how trustworthy.

"Christoph? I don't want to talk to that- No, i'm not talking with him." he replied. the idea oddly repulsive to him. A part of him still blamed the snake, and no matter Zara's assurances of their long lived friendship, he felt a sort of animosity towards Winters. He looked up at his friend worried he had offended her with his outburst despite her good nature, "Sorry." he added, sipping his butterbeer, the liquid calming him "But I don't want to think about him right now, I almost wish I had never even found out about their meetings."

Sirius reached for a tart and popped it in his mouth as Callie asked about his knuckles. He raised his hand where she could see the faint bruising still tinting his skin, having nearly disappeared. "Yeah, but it would have been much better had I kept my temper with the nurse." he told her with a rueful grin. After this week he had realized that he really needed to work on that.

[callie sierra rivers]

Most girls in this situation right now, especially with Sirius Black, would try and take advantage of it. Flirt, make little moves now and then, listen and then somehow sneak up and convince him he deserved someone so much better. Someone like them. Callie could do that if she wanted to, it wasn't that hard to switch a guy's mind but she knew his heart was set on Zara. If he was this upset over her he wasn't going to give up this easily. At least the Sirius, Cal knew wouldn't. He needed a friend right now who would listen and push him towards the right direction. Sleeping with someone wouldn't make the situation any better and it would probably get a lot worse if Zara heard about it. Hell, Callie was pretty sure that if Zara knew the two of them were talking, she would try and jinx Cal.

A smile was more than Cal was asking for but she got one and she knew that he hasn't even tried talking with Zara. Why would he? Girls were apparently these complicated creatures who twisted everyone's words. Now that was only partly true but if guys just saw that they wanted someone to listen and not solve their problems, life would be much easier for everyone. "Now when you talk with her, when she starts on a rant just nod your head. If she gets angry, hold her and don't let go no matter how hard she fights. And just keep apologizing. Apologize for anything and everything. Don't try saying you were right if anything say that she was right." that was the best advice she could ever imagine giving a guy. She practically told Sirius the way to have a great relationship with a girl.

Cal had to roll her eyes when he went off about Winter. And she thought Zara was the jealous on in the relationship. "Do you tell Zara how often you and I talk? You probably would never mention this conversation to her. She has her best guy friend just like I'm your best girl friend." Callie said trying to point out that Sirius probably knew better than to mention how he came to Cal for advice or that he just told her, his and Zara's relationship problems. "Don't apologize. No one likes Christoph because he's the quiet guy always watching everyone. But I can assure you he isn't trying to steal your precious Zara away from you. He's horrible when it comes to relationships." Maybe that would make Sirius feel a bit better. Yet she knew if she told Zara that she wasn't trying to steal Sirius away she wouldn't believe her either. "We all wish we didn't know something. But we get past them and it makes us stronger."

As Sirius showed Callie his hand, she quietly munched on a pastry and took another sip of her pumpkin juice before responding. "You're lucky it wasn't something worse. Would have been a shame if that pretty face of yours got all bruised up." Cal said laughing and reaching across the table and pinching his cheek. This was how she was used to acting around Sirius, not giving him relationship advice. "Never burn your bridges. Be nice to the nurses and professors and whoever else important you meet in the future. You never know when you are gonna need them."