and we are doing this all over again {sirius}

[Zara Girard]

all over again;

It was eight in the evening. Zara had just had her dinner, though unlike her usual self, she hadn't been able to eat much at all. Hell, she hadn't been able to eat much since the day The Fight had happened. Which had scared her friends, who were all too used to seeing Zara happily eat whatever that was within her hand's reach without a thought about 'watching her figure'.

With a much smaller appetite these days, she was done with her dinner quick enough. Remembering her promise to Sirius that she would meet him at the Room of Requirements, she had given him a meaningful look right as she crossed him on her way out of the Great Hall. She climbed flights of stairs before reaching the 7th floor corridor, and stood there for a minute. What kind of room should she think up of?

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she thought hard of a place for someone to talk their heart out, to be comfortable and warm, to be cosy. And she walked along the wall thrice with that thought in her mind. When she opened her eyes, a wooden door stood before her, the kind of door you could find in any muggle household. She turned the knob and walked inside.

As soon as Zara stepped in the room, a wide smile spread across her face. Now, this was the place to be. The room was right out of some sort of wooden cabin, it seemed. There was the wooden floor, the wooden walls, complete with a fireplace at a corner and a couple of dark red armchairs that looked comfortable enough for Zara to just curl and sleep for hours. There was a bookshelf nearby, and it even held a few books that Zara had no interest to browse through right then.

All in all, the room was perfect. She never really used the Room of Requirement much since she had discovered it a year ago, but she had already made up her mind to come here as often as she could now that she knew what really this place was capable of.

Sighing in happiness, she walked over to one of the armchair and plopped on it, patiently waiting for Sirius as she stared into the glowing fire in the fireplace. She was going to talk things out with him. They were going to put an end to this argument once and for all. Either they got back together (which was probably going to shock the entire school), or they simply ended it right then and there. She was just hoping the latter wouldn't be the outcome of that evening.

[sirius black]

Is It Too Late To Apologize?

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Sirius was sitting in the Great Hall, trying not to brood. He had screwed up. He was screwed up. He shook his head in exasperation as he replied last night for the hundredth time in his head. He hadn't told his friends that he had somehow revealed their secret to Rivers(he had felt too guilty), hadn't told Callie how bad he had messed up (Didn't have the heart to say the words aloud), and hadn't told anyone about the meeting this evening- his last chance to make things right.

He looked up as Zara walked past. Had she even eaten anything? Worry and guilt filled his stomach. He met her eyes, and nodded slightly. It was no or never. Sirius turned to his friends, "Hey, I'll meet you in the common room" and then was walking out of the hall before they even had a chance to answer him.

His feet carried him to the seventh floor and he noticed that his heart and mind were racing. With a deep breath Sirius paced the hall three times. I need a place to fix things with Zara he thought, knowing she was waiting just behind the small wooden door that had appeared. It was plain but comforting in a warm sort of way. He twisted the small wooden door nob and stepped in.

The room was the total opposite of the sadness he was feeling, and his spirits couldn't help but lift slightly. There seemed to be a warm glow over everthing- the fireplace, bookshelf, the welcoming armchairs, one of which held a content looking Zara. The room must have been just enough to bring a smile to her lips, and Sirius smiled ruefully back and took the chair next to her.

He almost attempted a joke, but his heart told him to be sincere- What an odd expression, as if a heart could talk- but at that moment Sirius felt like it could if only it weren't clenched so tight in his chest. "Look Zara," the words began to come out in a rush, "I'm so sorry. About last night, about the jealousy, the anger, the hurt. Everything. I was worng- so wrong, but I know that if anyone can put up with someone as messed up as me It's you. I know I don't deserve someone as wonderful and caring and understanding as you Zara but..." Suddenly the words were lost. His eyes dropped to his hands and he flushed, feeling as though he had been rambling like an excited first year.

What is Zara had only come to say how disappointed she was, and that she didn't want anything to do with him? She wouldn't do that would she- Though admittedly he did deserve it. But he didn't know if he could handle pouring his heart out just to be rejected. Sirius pushed the thought away- If he wanted things to get better he had to put everything on the line and let go of fear and anger and jealousy.

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[Zara Girard]

all over again;

Zara was in her own world, dreaming of a much happy place as she stared into her fire, when she heard the door open. She leaned a forward a little to see who it was, and smiled a little when she saw Sirius walking towards her. He still looked a little miserable, and yet he never managed to stop looking good. Never.

She was sitting cross-legged on the armchair, and rested her elbows on her thighs as she leaned forward to talk to him, when she heard him start off, rushing away with apologies. She just stared at him in awe and amusement, and smiled when he was done. She just looked at him for a long time time before sighing. "Sirius, relax. It wasn't just your fault. I can be too hot-tempered and stubborn too. And really, wonderful, caring and understanding?" she chuckled. She had never heard such good things about her in one sentence before. "Oh, you flatter me, Sirius."

She paused for a while longer, before reaching out with her hand and placing her hand on his. "I'm really sorry, too. I know I should've told you about Chris, but I really wasn't sure just how you would take it. I swear, he's just my best friend," she explained softly. She decided that it'd be better if he knew everything about the two of them.

"I was 7 when I first met Chris. My mother had just passed away," she swallowed heavily, "and I was left at his house for care-taking whenever my dad when to work. That's when I met his family. Chris and I never really got along at first, I only hung out with his twin sister. Eventually, we got closer, and turned out to be very good friends. When we got into Hogwarts, we kind of promised to keep in touch with each other, but not let anyone know we were friends. Just for amusement at first, and then we realised there was this huge rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor. And the more important it became to maintain the secrecy of our friendship...and now you know," she finished, taking a huge breath.

There. Now Sirius knew everything too. "Chris has always been more like a brother than anything else to me," she smiled fondly as she remembered all those times he had fiercely protected her. "He might be quiet and brooding all the times, but he's a gem," she said as she let her hand rest on his comfortably.

[sirius black]

Is It Too Late To Apologize?

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Sirius forced himself not to shrink under Zara's intent gaze. He wondered what was going on in her head as she looked at him that way- as if she could see into his heart. His heart seemed to stop as she finally let out a sigh.

"Sirius, relax. It wasn't just your fault. I can be too hot-tempered and stubborn too. And really, wonderful, caring and understanding? Oh, you flatter me, Sirius." she replied with a chuckle, a soft smile on her lips. Sirius suddenly felt like himself again, for the first time in a while. Blood tinged his cheeks pink slightly, and a small grin appeared
"No, it really was my fault. And You deserve flattering. It's true anyway, i promise, and I'm sorry if I ever made you feel otherwise."


Sirius listened intently and patiently as Zara explained about Christoph. This was how it should have happened in the first place. He felt guilt rise in him again- why had he caused a fight over friendship and jealousy? But now things were going to get better.


Sirius may have not thought so bad of Rivers had this sweet story been his first impression of the bloke, but after the fight and threats and jealousy that came with the thought of Christoph, Sirius could do nothing but feel animosity toward him. Zara didn't need to know or be hurt by that fact.

"I understand, and I'm sorry I ever doubted you." he replied softly, taking her warm hand in his "And I knew I was wrong the second the words left my mouth, but was to stubborn to admit it until I thought things were unfixable. It took some good advise from an amazing person in a letter to open my eyes to the fact that there was still hope if I could swallow my pride." he scrutinized her expression, still slightly uneasy about not revealing himself in the Owl, but he was past holding back for fear.

"And as for last night, I regret my behavior. I am so sorry, my anger got the better of me again, and I have no excuse for it." Sirius could argue otherwise, but he didn't want to use the blackmail as a reason- he didn't want to complicate things anymore, and Zara didn't want weak excuses. She didn't deserve weak excuses, and no one was at fault but him. Sure, Christoph made him angry, but its not like he imperioused him into drawing his wand.

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[Zara Girard]

all over again;

"No, it really was my fault. And You deserve flattering. It's true anyway, i promise, and I'm sorry if I ever made you feel otherwise," she heard him say, and couldn't help but feel touched. He was probably the only one who bothered - and could - see past her faults. Well, him and Chris, but she wasn't going to mention that and start another fight. Things were just starting to get better.

"I understand, and I'm sorry I ever doubted you.And I knew I was wrong the second the words left my mouth, but was to stubborn to admit it until I thought things were unfixable. It took some good advise from an amazing person in a letter to open my eyes to the fact that there was still hope if I could swallow my pride." Zara chuckled. He wasn't the only one being stubborn now, was he? She had been so blinded by the fact that Sirius had accused her of cheating and convinced that she wasn't at fault at all that she had refused to yield, too.

"Oh Sirius, if only you knew how stubborn I was being! I was terrible. I should've at least come to you when I saw your bleeding knuckles, but I didn't. I felt so horrible," she sighed. And then she realised he too had had an owl correspondent, and blinked, confused. "Wait, you had such owls too? Someone had been owling me, and by Merlin, did that person make me see some sense!" she shared with him. They weren't talking about each other by any chance, were they? Hmm.... "Sirius? Do you know who you were owling to?"

When he started apologising for his behavious the night before, she smiled and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Sshh...that's alright. I wasn't exactly sure what Chris was telling you, and you at least controlled yourself in time. It isn't all that bad. If I were you, I might have cursed anyone, I completely lack self-control," she joked.

Zara was happy again. She was talking to him normally, without fighting, without glaring and hurting, and it felt really good. Things would remain this way, wouldn't they?

[sirius black]

Is It Too Late To Apologize?

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Sirius smiled wryly as Zara mentioned seeing his bleeding knuckles and not doing anything. He remembered that moment very clearly. She had tricked him to the hospital wing, and he had cried,

"Zara, you did do something. You tricked me into the hospital wing, almost got a little hufflepuff hexed, and got my hand fixed." he replied, chuckling lightly "Besides, It's my own fault for punching a brick wall.I'm not the smartest guy at times"

Sirius was happy to hear she thought of his replies as beneficial- making her see some sense. He had aimed to comfort her. Sense was good too. He smiled sheepishly as she asked him if he knew who his correspondent was. Of course he did. "Oh, yeah I do," he replied "You were so gracious as to sign your name," he wasn't worried about her being upset anymore, he just felt too happy for doubt. They were talking like the old days, laughing together, hand in hand.

His biggest relief came when she quieted him as he apologized for his outrages behavior which had been so shameful in his eyes. She even appreciated his attempt at restraint. She even joked. Sirius smiled sincerely, his face alight, glowing with the warmth the whole room seemed to possess.

"Zara, would you like to come with me to the ball?" he asked on a whim. The words had come out before he could worry about rejection or details or anything. Sirius' only thought was dancing with Zara in his arms.

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[Zara Girard]

all over again;

Zara's eyes widened when he talked about how she had made the Hufflepuff girl bring him to Hospital Wing. "You figured that out?" she asked him, surprised. "And you almost hexed her? Sirius!" she let out a laughter. That poor girl! She must've been a terrible liar, though. She nodded when he told her that he didn't really think at times when he punched the wall. "I'm glad you noticed. Mind if you don't do that again? I felt bad for your knuckles, too."

"Oh, yeah I do, you were so gracious as to sign your name." It took Zara a few seconds to process what he had just said, and as soon as it hit her, her mouth formed a perfect 'O'. "What? It was you who had been owling me?! I was talking about you to you?! Sirius!" she gasped, taking a cushion that was lying on the armchair and hitting him repeatedly in the head with it. She was mortified. "You couldn't tell me it was you?" she huffed playfully. She wasn't upset with him, just shocked. And amused.

And then he asked her to the ball, and Zara's heart skipped a beat. I smile grew on her face, and soon, she was beaming. She decided to play with him, though. "Hmmm...tempting thought, really. Dancing with The Sirius Black. Let me think about it," she said, and then laughed. "Of course I will!" she told him, now allowing her fingers to intertwine with his, feeling more happy than ever right then.

[sirius black]

Is It Too Late To Apologize?

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It felt good to hear Zara laugh, and he grinned in return. "Well, It wasn't a huge mystery- next time chose a Ravenclaw." he joked, lightly "But, yeah, I'll try to avoid it in the future." The bruising had finally left his pale hand altogether, but it had lasted long enough for too many questions considering his mood. He would not be repeating that particular measure again.

Her reaction was almost comical, and after Sirius got over the moment of worry that she was angry, he busted out laughing and was rewarded with a beating by pillow cushion. He guarded his face with his arms, "I did tell you- just now" he replied, chuckling again as she hit him once more before returning the cushion to its place.Sirius was immensely relieved by her reaction, even though it involved being harassed with a pillow.

Sirius' smile mirrored hers as she took in the request for the dance. "Hmmm...tempting thought, really. Dancing with The Sirius Black. Let me think about it," she replied, a playful sarcasm in her voice, and Sirius chuckled and shook his head. In his mind it was he who would be dancing with The Zara Girard.

"Of course I will!" she answered happily, intertwining her fingers in his. Sirius' heart leapt in joy; how could he have ever been upset with her about anything? But now everything was washed away, as if it had never happened at all, just a nightmare.

OOC)) should we close soon and start a ball thread?

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