Chapter Fifty: Beautiful Butterfly

Considering the lateness of the hour, I was surprised to find Sirius still awake. He sat in one of the largest armchairs before the fire and stared moodily into the leaping orange flames; his hair fell about his face and masked the cheekbones that could cut glass.

"Sirius?"

His head snapped up, but his eyes didn't seem to see me for a few seconds. It was as if he was looking straight through me. I shivered and he grinned at Lily and me.

"Finally got it together then?"

"So it would seem Black," Lily replied for the both of us and hugged him. He lifted her off her dainty feet and swung her around, laughing and smiling.

"I knew it! I'm a genius!"

"I wouldn't go that far Padfoot," I grinned and threw my arm around Lily's shoulders protectively.

Sirius spared us a last grin and moved towards the staircase to our dorms. His light footsteps faded away, leaving a ringing noise on the stone steps.

"I think I'll go to bed. I'll see you in the morning?" she asked, her innocent eyes watching my face. I smiled in return and nodded wordlessly.

She turned away after pecking me lightly on the cheek and ran up the stone staircase leading to the girls' dormitories.

How had I caught the illustrious, beautiful butterfly that is Lily Evans?