Chapter 18
Sirius was heading back to the common room when someone grabbed his arm and pulled him into a small storage room.
"Evan?" He asked, staring at the taller, blonde Slytherin.
"Didn't mean to scare you." Evan grinned.
"Is everything okay?" Sirius frowned. This was something he hadn't experienced before.
"Hogsmeade trip tomorrow." Evan said as though it were a full sentence.
"What about it?' Sirius asked, Evan didn't make sense at the best of times.
"I know you're going to be hanging around with the Gryffindors, so I wanted to give you this." Evan passed him a small box tied with a ribbon.
"What's this for?" Sirius frowned.
"Happy valentine's day." Evan replied.
"What?"
"It's from me and Barty, you're our Valentine." Evan announced grandly.
"Valentine's day isn't until tomorrow." Sirius said dumbly.
"Yes, but as I said, you'll be otherwise engaged." Evan replied.
"I haven't got you anything." Sirius said sadly.
"You don't have to." Evan replied, kissing his forehead. Sirius stared at him. "We wanted to tell you how much we cared about you."
And then Evan was gone, leaving Sirius to wonder how feelings got so complicated.
Putting the box in his pocket, he headed back to the common room, sitting down in the sofa beside Marlene and Lily.
"Hey Sirius." Lily greeted him, "everything alright?"
"Yeah, just trying to make sense of something." He replied.
"Well, tell Auntie Marls and Auntie Lils what's worrying you." Marlene put an arm around his shoulders. "You really look like your brother with your hair like that."
"My mother cut it." Sirius replied.
"So what's bothering you?" Lily asked. Sirius sighed.
"If you had a friend, who gave you a valentine's gift and then kisses your forehead, what does that mean?"
"You're having boy problems?" Marlene asked. "Lils, this is on you."
"I thought you were with Remus?" Lily asked thoughtfully.
"We... We had a bad breakup." Sirius explained carefully, he didn't want to expose Remus' secrets, not again.
"You don't think you two could make it work?" Marlene asked. Sirius sighed and buried his head in his hands. "What happened?"
"He asked if I was still attracted to him." Sirius told her.
"What did you say?" Lily was so gentle with her tone.
Sirius groaned. "I said I don't know."
"Merlin Sirius!" Marlene exclaimed. "And now someone else is into you!"
"You think he's into me?" Sirius looked over at her.
"He gave you a valentine's gift and kissed you're forehead." Marlene raised her eyebrows at him. "What do you think?"
"I don't know! That's why I'm asking you!" Sirius said frantically.
Marlene rolled her eyes, picked up a cushion and whacked him with it. "Yes he's into you, idiot!"
"Really?"
"Sirius, do you have feelings for this friend?" Lily asked as Sirius ducked another attack from Marlene.
"I don't know." Sirius sighed. "That's the thing, I don't know."
"Okay, do you want to kiss him?" Marlene asked. Sirius thought about it. He did love spending time with Evan and Barty, but Evan kissing his forehead had taken him so off guard he had freaked out.
"I mean.... I'm not opposed to the idea." He finally answered. Marlene groaned.
"Merlin, you're impossible."
"I think it's sweet." Lily replied. "I think you're catching feelings."
"But what about Remus?" Sirius frowned.
"Do you want to kiss him?" Lily asked. Sirius paused. Remus had always been so safe, he had always made Sirius feel good. But when he had tried to kiss him the other day, it hadn't felt right.
"No." He admitted.
"I'm enjoying the drama Sirius, I won't lie." Marlene said.
"Thanks Marls."
"I won't lie Black, you're a mess." She replied.
"Marls! Sirius, you don't have to do anything you don't want to, you don't have to get into anything with anyone." Lily said gently. "But I do have one question."
"Go for it Lily." Sirius said, what harm could it do?
"It's Rosier, isn't it?" She asked. Sirius nodded. Marlene gasped dramatically.
"I knew there was something by the way he was looking at you. Crouch too." She clapped her hands.
"Crouch too?" Lily frowned.
"The gift was from both of them." Sirius said with a sigh. "I like their friendship and I feel safe with them, but I don't know if I like them like that."
"Have you opened the gift?" Marlene asked, resting her chin on her hands. Sirius shook his head. "Why?"
"It's for tomorrow." He replied quietly.
"Says who?" Marlene demanded.
"I think it's sweet that you're waiting till tomorrow." Lily added. "Keep us updated though, and don't forget you can come to us about anything."
"Thank you Lily, I really appreciate it." Sirius smiled at her.