Chapter 9
"Potter and Lupin weren't happy with you, were they?" Evan asked as soon as Sirius sat down, offering him a cigarette.
"They had questions." Sirius replied.
"What happened?" Barty asked.
"I was whispering sweet nothings in darling Sirius' ear and his keepers got jealous." Evan smirked. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"We were chatting during potions and they noticed it." He translated.
"Ooh they got jealous." Barty chuckled.
"Eh?"
"They didn't like you talking to me, they were jealous." Evan replied. "What made you storm out?"
"Are you just watching me all the time?" Sirius asked.
"Yes. Now answer the question."
"James said 'you know what they say about the Rosiers' and it didn't seem fair. You could say the same for my family, but we still ended up friends." Sirius said.
"Awww." Evan patted his knee. "You care about me."
"I thought we were friends?" Sirius frowned.
"We are!"
"Do they not wonder where you are?" Barty asked.
"I don't know, probably." Sirius shrugged. "They haven't brought it up yet."
"I think they will soon." Evan said. "They're probably worried I'm corrupting you."
"Don't be dramatic." Sirius rolled his eyes.
"I'm not being dramatic. You know what they're like." Evan retorted. "They wanted you to be miserable so that when they decided to take you back you'd be thankful for their cruelty."
Sirius opened his mouth to reply but closed it again.
"It's okay Pookie, you've got us." Barty took his hand. Sirius just stared at him.
"You still with us?" Evan asked after a moment of Sirius just staring at them. "have I melted your brain?"
"Just processing." Sirius said slowly, taking his hand back from Barty. "Why did you say that?"
"It's true."
"How long have you been watching me?"
"He's watched you pretty much every day." Barty said with a chuckle.
"Since when?"
"Since last year." Evan replied.
"Why?"
"I don't know if you've noticed Sirius, but you're very attractive." Evan replied. "Plus I was interested, after what Regulus said about you, compared to how you act in public... I found you intriguing."
"Evan I was having nightmares because I knew someone was watching me, I thought it was my parents!" Sirius sighed. That was one thing on a list of many solved.
"Why would it be your parents?" Barty asked reaching for another cigarette. He rarely only had one, and due to the length of time they were typically out there for, the others had begun doing the same.
"You never know."
"You think they could reach you here?" Evan asked.
"I wouldn't put it past them." Sirius replied.
"Black, Rosier, Crouch." Snape's voice interrupted them. He and Lily were walking by the lake and stopped when they saw them.
"Snape, Lily." Sirius greeted them.
"What are you doing out here?" Lily asked, walking over to talk to them properly, Snape sighing and following her.
"Having a smoke, do you want one?" Sirius offered the packet to her. She shook her head.
"I'm okay thanks."
"Snape?" Sirius held out the packet like an olive branch. Snape looked disgusted and shook his head.
"Is this how you became friends?" Lily asked.
"Well we couldn't leave Sirius here to smoke alone." Evan said dramatically.
"Yeah." Sirius added rolling his eyes.
"You seem different these days Sirius." She commented with a sad smile. "more mature."
"Thanks?"
"I didn't mean it in an offensive way, just an observation." She added quickly. "Anyway, we'll see you later."
"Bye." Sirius smiled back at her, hoping it would let her know he wasn't offended by her comment. "Am I different?" He wondered aloud when they had gone.
"You're less cocky now." Barty shrugged.
"Thanks Barty."
"Anytime." Barty pulled a face at him. "Hey, I wonder if Regs done with quidditch practice?"
"We could go see." Evan stood up, before looking down at Sirius. "you coming?"
"Nah, I'd better head in. See you later, yeah?" Sirius said. Evan smiled at him.
"Alright, see you later."