From asking Lily, Sirius discovered that Adriana wasn't attending lessons the next day, that she was ill.

He knew it was his own fault.

With Remus out for his "little furry problem" and Peter in the hospital wing from an exploding shrinking solution, it was just him and James together in the lessons.

Afterwards, he left his friend to look for her.

And pretty much failed in his search.

It was when he abandoned his homework and went for a walk down to the lake that he spotted the figure sat there with a woolly hat on, reading a book.

He smirked as he approached, then just called. "You are supposed to be ill."

Adriana dropped her book at that, and he picked it up. She growled, going to grab the book, but he'd already seen the title.

"Studying Animagi are you?" Sirius asked conversationally, and Adriana rolled her eyes. "So?"

"That's naughty."

"So sue me."

Sirius chuckled, then nodded to the book. "That's an instruction manual."

"And?" She said in a snappy voice, eyes blazing. Sirius now realized-

"Are you trying to become one?"

"Of course not." Adriana scoffed and Sirius smirked. "How long have you been doing it?"

A silence.

She gave in. "About a year. But... I give up. I'm no good at understanding it all."

Adriana watched his expression, then just got up, turning away.

It was then that she heard the barking behind her, and she froze. Adriana turned back round, but saw no Sirius... just a great black dog stood where he had been.

Adriana looked around for the teenager, but saw no one...

Oh my god...

"B-Black?" She just said, unable to believe it as she stared at the dog. A second later, it changed back, and he grinned. "Yes?"

Adriana didn't know what to say, but then-

"You're... an Animagus?"

"Mmhmm. But if you wouldn't mind, please don't tell anyone." He shrugged, adding on. "You know- Ministry law and whatever."

But now she remembered the other day. That same dog and that deer... the stag.

"And... James?"

"Yes."

"And you're telling me... why?" Adriana asked, unable to believe what she had seen. Sirius was silent, then sighed with a light smile. "I trust you, Addy."

Adriana didn't know quite what to say, but then it was Sirius who spoke.

"I could help, if you want it?"

"I don't need your help."

"Addy. Attempting this is hard. You need someone to help you in case you go wrong."

"You want to help me. Mmhmm... Is there another twenty galleons in for it?"

The silence was dark, and Sirius sighed lightly. "You heard about that?"

"Yes. I did." Adrian just said, genuinely hurt. Sirius sighed once more, then said. "I never-"

"Save it Black." She just said, turning away and heading back to the castle. But before she left him there, she called back. "I'll keep your secret."

Sirius nodded, saying. "Thank you."

Adriana smiled faintly, carrying on up to the castle.

-ASHIPOFFOOLS-

Adriana certainly looked at James in a different light when she saw him once more. He was a stag. That stag she had seen in the woods.

She went over to James who was sat on the sofa working on homework, sitting next to him and smiled sweetly. "Hello James."

He closed his book, then raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" He said slowly, knowing she was up to something.

"Well... I know about that little wager you made with Black." She smiled and he grinned. "Yep. I have to admit- he shocked me."

"Oh?"

"Yes. He lovey doves you."

"Mmhmm. I'm to believe that?"

James laughed, then got up, going. "Why don't you go and find your boyfriend? Go and kissy-wissy him."

He headed up to the dormitory, then felt something hit him in the back, yelling as it blasted him forwards and over the chair, feeling boils start up over his body.

Adriana smirked, then called. "Now we're even Potter!" She stepped over him and went up the stairs.

It was later that night that a paper airplane flew up and landed next to the girl laid out on her bed, reading. It was very early in the morning, and she couldn't sleep. Dawn would be soon.

She set her book down and opened it, reading- Can I have a word?

The B at the bottom was obvious. Well, it was Black.

Adriana sighed, then got to her feet, pulling her dressing gown around her, putting her slippers on and tying her hair back. She went down the stairs to find the young man sat on the sofa. The candles were very low and on the verge of going out. The full moon was long gone by now.

"Yes?" She just said to him, taking a seat next to him. He was once more in black shorts and a matching t-shirt.

Sirius looked up, then just said. "I've been a dick haven't I?"

"Just a bit." Adriana smiled a little, then sighed in defeat. "I'd be honored if you helped me with all this. My Animagi problem."

Sirius nodded. "I'll give you lessons."

"Ok. At a weekend?"

"Yeah, that sounds alright." Adriana smiled, then just said sternly. "If you pull any pranks with me-!"

"I won't- I swear." Sirius smirked, and Adriana didn't believe him once. He was a troublemaker at heart. And that would never change.

Talk about playing with fire.

"I don't believe you." She smirked too, then leaned forwards, hesitating for a second, then kissed him softly for a moment, then went. "We have detention with McGonagall tomo- I mean today."

"Oh well." Sirius grinned, and she shook her head. "How many times have you had detention with her?"

"So many times my dear Addy." He told her, tapping her nose, and Adriana chuckled, yawning a little, going. "I'm heading bed. Night Sirius."

"Oh wow."

"Huh?"

He grinned. "You called me Sirius."

Adriana rolled her eyes, scoffing. "It was a mistake."

"Of course it was." He smirked, watching her walk back up the stairs, cocking his head a little-

Such an intriguing girl.

And the next:) oh, Merry Christmas all! Hope you all got what you wanted^_^ next up soon enough if people are still interested, so reviews much loved ta x Nic