Chapter 6

"Why hello Sirius, fancy meeting you here this late at night!" Malfoy bit out, narrowing his eyes as he came to a stop a few feet away from Sirius.

"Fuck off Lucius." Sirius replied simply.

"Is that the best you can come up with Black?" asked Lestrange coming to a halt to the left of Lucius.

"I see your arms healing up pretty fast. That was some pretty dark magic you used back there." Lucius said calmly moving closer so that they were almost nose to nose, speaking in a lower "We were just heading over to one of the Greenhouses, would you like to join us? We have much to discuss…I have certain things that I could offer…And I don't just mean gillyweed and such, I know a way to get you into your family's happy books… for a small price of course…"

Sirius paused for a minute to contemplate Lucius's offer "what kind of price?" he asked suspiciously.

"Nothing much, simply come to a few of our meetings and join in some of our activit-"

Lucius was cut of by Sirius snarling "Not a chance, now fuck off."

"We're not that easy to get rid of Sirius. You should know that by now." Replied Malfoy coldly.

"Why are you constantly pestering me to join you? Eh? Why are you so interested in me?" Sirius growled back.

"Because your one of us" replied Lucius simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Sirius and Lucius contemplated each other for several seconds in silence, when Remus, James and Peter came tearing around the corner, having hidden the cloak in a suit of armor once they got closer, their hands were free to wield their wands.

"Get away from him Malfoy! NOW! I swear if you've done anything to Sirius I'm going to kill you with my bare hands." James growled loudly "In fact I think its time for some Slytherin bashing, Sirius get out of the way."

Sirius looked at James and said one simple word brought James's world crashing down "No."

"What?" James replied blankly.

"No." Sirius replied hesitantly as if he hadn't completely thought out his next move. Sighing exhaustedly he continued "they haven't done anything James. We're just talking."

"Talking?" Remus repeated as if speech was a brand new concept. The other marauders were to dumb struck to say anything and just gaped at Sirius.

"Yes talking." Sirius seemed to slump slightly, as if a heavy burden had been placed on his shoulders. "I'm fine; you can go back to the common room. I'll follow in a few minutes."

"Sirius, what's going on?" James asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes and looking past Sirius at Malfoy.

"You heard him, Potter. Go back to your common room like a good little boy." Malfoy told James with a smirk.

"Shut up Lucius." Sirius snapped over his shoulder, and then turning back to James he pleaded "James… please."

James hesitated, torn between cursing Malfoy into next week and doing what his friend was telling him. "O.k. Sirius, if that's what you want. I'll meet you back in the common room." Turning around he strode away with Remus and Peter in tow.

Sirius watched his friends walk away, and then with a sigh he turned back to Lucius and his group. "And how exactly would you get my parents to back off?"

"By telling them that you've seen the light" Lucius proclaimed, making grand, sarcastic gestures with his arms "that you've seen the error of your ways and that you repent, that it was as if you were awakening from a dream and you realized that for the past five years you have been in the wrong, that-" Lucius caught sight of the dubious, mildly amused look on Sirius's face "what? You don't think it would work?"

"If this is your grand, master plan to get my parents to lighten up I'm very disappointed." Sirius said with an amused shake of his head.

"Oh ye of little faith." Lucius replied, making a 'piffle' motion with his hand. "I thought you knew me better than that."

Sirius's face darkened "I used to think I knew you, but I was proven wrong a couple of years ago." He responded slightly resentful.

Lucius's obvious good mood wilted a bit "lets not tread on that unsteady, emotional ground that seems to draw blood every time we touch upon it. My chest is only just healing and I'd like a few more days to recuperate before going at it with you again." He gave Sirius a tight grin, before gesturing down the hall, "come on, we can't stand in the middle of the corridor all night, Filch'll make his rounds some time soon and we don't want to be caught with our skivvies down." He beckoned Sirius to follow and then turned and followed Rookwood, Knott and Lestrange down the corridor.

Sirius to exhausted with the whole situation to be suspicious followed with only a moment's hesitation.

(tbc)

Author's Note: Hey y'all. Sorry about the lack of updates. I'm in the middle of rewriting this story. I was unhappy with the story line and I'd noticed that there really was no character building or back story. That Lucius and Sirius and pretty much everyone else were just following the classic 'Slytherins vs. Gryffindors rivalry' storyline and that pissed me off so I decided bollocks to this I'm going to fix this up and actually try for a decent story.