Paradox • J.Potter •

• XIX •

"You're stereotyping" I sing teasingly and start to walk up the stairs of the Gryffindor tower.

"I'm just saying all Slytherin's are death eaters" he sings back and pushes open the common room entrance that the boys had left open.

"So what are you going to do then? Do you know who it might be?" Sirius asks in curiosity and gestures for me to sit down on the plush couch I had fallen asleep on only hours before. My books were still open and a mess on the coffee table and my white leather bag still lay on the armchair where I had thrown it when Lily and I had gotten back from the library.

"I have some theories. None set in stone or even plausible enough to voice a loud yet. But when I was walking towards the dungeons I heard this woman's voice. It was cruel and cold. Direct and harsh. It was dominant. Even though I was never in the presence of this woman-" I mumbled and sighed as I leaned my head in my hands.

"What? What is it Fawn?" Sirius asked worriedly and rested his hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze of reassurance.

"I was afraid of her Pads. Whoever she is. She scares me" I shrug and tilt my head to look at him. A half lipped smile on my face. He nodded his head in understanding and wrapped his long arms around my small frame.

"Don't worry Fawny baby. You'll never have to face her alone. Whoever she is, wherever she is. She'll have to face us. You, me and the group" he finished and placed a platonic kiss to my cheek before he stood up. He stretched as he stood and sighed as a couple of cracks were heard around his body. I winced at the sound but none the less stood as well and gestured for him to go up to the dorm where I'm sure the other boys were sleeping.

"Ok! I'm going" he laughs and walks up the stairs to the dorm. I smiled and started to pack up the endless pieces of parchment and books from the coffee table before I turned around at the sound of my name being called.

"I thought I sent you to bed" I scoffed playfully. I folded my arms over my chest and met the tired eyes of Sirius Black again. He smiled sheepishly and held onto the banister he was leaning against. He was now dressed in loose grey sweatpants and a old 'night at the opera' shirt.

"I've just been thinking about what you said-" Sirius started and cleared his throat. "I truly believe James is in love with you Fawn. Has been for a very long time and I would hate to see him lose his soulmate before he was able to read some simple signs and commit to her. Just promise me you'll wait till Christmas before you do anything yeah? Give him some time. Maybe he's planning to do it in a special way, you know? He's a hopeless romantic. A bit of a sap if you ask me now" he chuckles at the last bit and looks back up at me with a sad smile.

I sighed at his words and pinched the bridge of my nose. I wasn't unhappy. I was the farthest from that when I was with James. I didn't even need to be his girlfriend yet, I just wanted to know that what we had was going somewhere. That I wasn't wasting my time falling in love with a boy that was so far from my reach.

But I couldn't voice my own thoughts

"Ok. I'll give him till December 26th" I nodded and sent Sirius a small smile before he disappeared back up the stairs to the dorms. Leaving me in the empty and deafeningly quiet common room. My eyes flickered to the clock.

'6:45'

Was there really any point in going to bed? I'd have to get up in half a hour and even at that I'd be late for breakfast.