Thursday
13 March, 1978
Potions
Sirius Black is quite possibly the most dreadful human being to have ever been born.
How on earth am I supposed to learn all the content for my Potions NEWT with Sirius BLOODY Black annoying me every second of our Potions lesson.
If I had known he'd be such a pesky little brat I never would have agreed to go out with him.
Actually, that's a lie. I knew he was a pesky little brat and yet I still agreed to go out with him!
What is the world coming to?
"If you don't stop poking me, Black, you're going to ruin our potion," I said, peering nervously at our cauldron.
"I'm not poking you," he replied cheerily, "I'm just trying to test your bone density."
My eyebrows almost shot right off my face. "For what purpose would you be doing that?"
"Just seeing if your bones are strong and healthy, whether you're having enough calcium in your diet."
I stared at him incredulously.
"You know that's not how you measure bone density, right?"
"Oh I know, I just like seeing your facial expression when I say weird things."
"Stir the bloody potion before I curse your toes off."
"Yes ma'am."
He hurriedly turned back to the potion and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Why did I think that this whole dating scenario would be any easier than being friends with him? Did I think that maybe he'd suddenly stop harassing me at any given point in time? Maybe. Has he? If anything, it's gotten worse. I can't do a single bloody thing without him just being there.
Not, of course, that it's entirely unreciprocated.
I supposed we've been dating for a day and a bit now, and boy does time fly when McGonagall's Transfiguration essays mean you're holed up in the library in every spare moment and can't even talk to him. At least he respects the homework grind and doesn't interrupt me. He just sits there, existing. It's almost worse.
I don't mind too much as it is very new, but I feel a bit nervous about it to be honest.
This relationship isn't like any I've had before. I mean, do I really count my boyfriend from when I was 12? And Amos Diggory was definitely an important relationship, and it had a painful ending, but it was a bit of a whirlwind, and I was probably too young to really understand what I was doing.
Remus was...
Remus.
Looking back on it (all of a couple of months ago), it's hard to reconcile everything that happened. I've been reading back on some of my entries, and I think I knew even when it was happening that it wasn't going to work with Remus, but I just wanted it to work so badly I pushed those thoughts down so far that we fell down the hole together so I could find them again.
I love Remus, so very dearly, but I'm glad that he's only my friend.
Black, on the other hand, is a whole other situation. He just seemed to come out of nowhere, taking me by complete surprise, and I'm still working it out.
I can't believe I'm dating him.
I am dating Sirius Black.
Oh, Merlin.
Why did I think this would be a good idea?
WHY?
Oh, why didn't I think of this earlier?
An Incomplete List of Why Dating One Sirius O. Black is a Good Idea for One Evelyn K. O. Bishop Outside of the Unnecessary Fluttery Things in Her Chest and Stomach that Force Her to Want to Participate in Said Dating:
1. I can't even write a point here because I'm still emotionally recovering from the title of this list, and also, I'm nervously watching Black stir our potion hoping that it won't explode.
2. It's never going to be boring, that's for sure
3. Is it inappropriate for me to mention snogging? I mean, it hasn't actually happened since Tuesday night, and then that first time on Valentines Day, but it was a jolly good time. Oh gosh, I just realised that he's probably snogged at least half of the student body. Does this mean that those germs have transferred to me? DOES THIS MEAN I HAVE AISLIN'S GERMS IN MY MOUTH? Does this mean that through me Remus and Black have snogged? How do I find the answers to these questions? I might ask Pomfrey. She'll know.
4. I mean, I suppose it's a good thing to do because he's clearly obsessed with me so I'd be doing him a favour really. We don't want him pining unnecessarily or anything. It's just not healthy.
5. I also suppose I like spending time with him. And talking to him. And beating people up with him.
6. I can stop him from doing anything completely idiotic. Actually, I'm not sure if anyone can stop him from doing those things.
7. He cares about me. At least, I'm pretty sure he does. He does tend to hex people for me, and remember that one time he left me his blanket. Oh, bollocks. I just remembered. I can't even talk about it. Merlin on a stick. I just remembered that when I folded up that blanket I said that the owner smelled nice and they should do whatever they can to keep smelling like that. The number of mistakes I have made in my life can be counted on one hand, and I believe that particular decision makes the list.
I have decided to end the list there - possibly to be updated - as I can't bear to think about it any longer.
Also, I have to stir our potion.
Thursday
13 March 1978
Charms
You'd think I'd be able to get through one single day without a member of the marauders making a bloody scene, but no.
We all just sat down together in the Great Hall for lunch, and mind you, the entire school is here.
Except, of course, for James bloody Fleamont bloody Potter.
I'm seated between Lottie and Black, with the former shovelling an absolutely ungodly amount of eggs into her mouth, and the latter in the middle of a heated discussion with Marlene about the correct pronunciation of the word 'controversy' (Black reckons you emphasise the 'trov' whilst Marlene reckons you emphasise the 'con').
I was just enjoying my sandwich when the doors of the Great Hall were flung open, James Potter strutting through them, dressed, for all intents and purposes, as if he'd suddenly inherited the British throne. He was wearing a crown and everything.
I glanced at Lily and she didn't even bat an eyelid.
I found that to be the most concerning factor of the equation if I'm honest.
Naturally, all eyes immediately flung to him, and there was a significant amount of laughter as he strode toward the Gryffindor table.
"Mr Potter," McGonagall's voice rang out across the hall, "that is hardly an appropriate form of dress for schooling hours."
"It's for a very special occasion, Professor McGonagall, and I think it would be disrespectful for me to treat it as anything less," replied James with a flourish and a short bow in the direction of said professor. "I promise to be changed back again for classes."
"As you were, I suppose, Mr Potter," replied McGonagall with a somewhat pained expression.
James continued striding toward the table, wherein a ghastly turn of events he stopped just between where Black and I were seated and gave a very deep bow.
"Madam and Sir," he began, which if anything increased my concern for his behaviour.
"It has come to my attention that there is a very important debt to be paid in regards to your persons, and I have come here today to settle that debt at long last."
There was a tittering as the general school population listened to Potter's words.
"I believe at the beginning of the school year, a bit over five months ago, I did indeed promise that if one Miss Bishop could spare the smallest of kisses for one Mister Black, that a gift ultimately raised to thirty galleons each would be promptly bestowed upon the two of them."
Oh, twist me sideways and throw me off a cliff.
I tried my best to sink down under the table but Black reached his arm around me and gleefully pulled me up beside him.
I desperately looked over at the Slytherin table to see if there was anyone who could just fling a bat bogey hex at me, but all the viable candidates were either missing or noticeably disinterested in the events occurring at the Gryffindor table.
After what felt like seventy five years, Potter stood up and placed a black drawstring bag in each of our hands. I could hear the clinking inside, and after reluctantly opening it, I discovered that there was in fact thirty galleons inside it.
Shortly after this rather excessive announcement, a boy down the other end of the table cried, "Oi, Rodney, you owe me ten sickles!"
This, unfortunately, led to a cacophony of similar statements echoing around the Hall. I think I noticed Dumbledore being passed a handful of galleons by Professor Bunt.
I slowly reached for my wand, ready to hex the living daylights out of James bloody Potter, but Lottie grabbed it out of my pocket and passed it to Marlene before I could do anything regrettable.
"I'd leave now if I were you," said Lily wisely to James.
"That's fair. Au revoir, darling friends," said James before striding fairly quickly out of the Great Hall.
I turned back to my potatoes to find each one of my friends barely containing their laughter. I think Peter might have been crying with the strain of keeping it all in.
"Go ahead, laugh," I scowled.
"Oh, don't be like that, Evie," said Black, putting his arm around my shoulder. "Think of all the fizzing whizbees you can buy now!"
"Yeah," Alice agreed. "Besides, at least he was prompt with the delivery!"
"I'm not sure if one month later qualifies as prompt, but at least there was delivery," I replied.
"One month!" said Alice, aghast. "You two have been snogging for an entire month, and-"
"It was just the one time," I interjected before that conversation got too out of hand.
The conversation decided it was going to spite me instead.
Alice flung her hands up in the air. "Just one time?! Still! Was I the only person who didn't know about this? Which ones of you knew about this?"
Lily, Lottie, Marlene and Black raised their hands.
"Well of course you bloody knew, didn't you," said Alice to Black.
"Just being honest with you Alice," he grinned.
"Sirius swore me to secrecy," said Marlene, "So don't hate me for not telling you."
"What about you two felons," Alice directed at Remus and Peter, the former who had just choked on his pumpkin juice, and the latter who just seemed to be wildly amused at the conversation we were having.
"I didn't know," said Remus, coughing. "But, also, it's not like I was looking for that kind of information. Did you, Pete?"
Peter just shook his head.
I decided enough was enough.
"Contrary to popular belief," I said, "I don't believe that my love life is actually anyone else's business except for my own."
"Love life, is it?" asked Black. "Is it confession time now?"
"Shut up, Black."
"Ooh, tetchy today. You know what? I'll take your thirty galleons as hush money."
"No thanks." I glared at him and he squeezed my shoulder slightly. "In fact, I need the thirty galleons as proof I no longer have incentive to snog you."
Black gasped dramatically. "How could you?!"
"I'll leave that to you to work out," I said before gathering my things and striding out of the Great Hall.
One could argue that I perhaps reacted a tad dramatically to this series of events, but I would argue that I did not in fact react too dramatically, so there. Argument settled.
After my abrupt exit from the Hall I decided I would simply just head to Charms early.
I was particularly peeved off to find that no sooner had I thumped my books down on a desk, none other than Sirius Black leaned against the doorway, looking rightfully like a cat on a hot tin roof.
"That blasted map," I muttered.
"Actually, I think I just know you reasonably well, so I made an educated guess as to where you were going."
I just down at my desk and opened my textbook as he pulled out the seat next to me.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine."
He raised an eyebrow at me. "I mean, you're obviously not. I brought your wand by the way."
I'd forgotten Lottie had confiscated it from me.
"Thanks."
"That's all you're going for? We're leaving it at that?"
"What do you want me to say, Black?"
"Well, I thought maybe you'd want to maybe talk about what's on your mind."
I wasn't really used to him actually following me up on things, so I didn't really know what to say. He normally just left me alone when I was annoyed. Is this what relationships are? Sharing thoughts and emotions with people? I don't like it.
I looked at him then, and he wasn't staring at me, which I appreciated. He was, rather, trying to get both of our wands to stand up on the table, leaning against each other for support. I assumed his efforts would be rather futile as his wand clattered to the ground almost immediately.
"I just don't like my personal business on display."
"James was just being James."
"I know. Doesn't make me less annoyed at him though."
"Well, if you'd like, we could go hex him after class together."
I looked at him incredulously. "You'd hex James Potter for me?"
"I'd do a lot of things for you," he replied, finally getting the wands to balance, "but hexing James is a somewhat regular occurrence for me."
At that moment, none other than Isadora James walked in. "Can I assume you two have finally sorted your stuff out?"
"Did Potter's display in the Great Hall not clue you in?" I grumbled.
"Didn't you guys snog, like, a month ago?"
The wands clattered on the table. "How do you know about that?" asked Black, peering curiously at Isadora.
"I told her," was all I said.
Black appeared stupified by this information. "Are you two friends now?"
Isadora grimaced. "I wouldn't go that far."
"Agreed," I said.
After that, the rest of the class began to trickle in, and that put a stop to that conversation. Black passed me my wand and squeezed my hand. "We can talk about this later," he said.
Almost imperceptibly, I started to feel a little bit better.
Saturday
15 March, 1978
Gryffindor Girls Dormitory
In reviewing the events of the past few days or so, I have come to the conclusion that I may or may not be somewhat emotionally volatile at the moment.
Could it have to do with the insane amount of stress I'm under because of my NEWTs?
Possibly.
Could it have to do with the constant worry of the Slytherins or any of Voldemort's followers pulling some sort of stunt and someone I care about getting injured?
It's probable.
Could it have to do with me entering into a new relationship right in the middle of all of this stress and worry?
Highly likely.
But maybe, could it have to do with the fact that Mark died two weeks ago and everything feels a bit topsy turvy at the moment.
I saw Louise McKendrick in the hallway yesterday. Not that I knew her well, of course, but she had a certain deadness to her expression that made me feel quite worried about her.
Maybe I should go talk to her and see how she's going?
To be Frank (actually, I'm Eva), I'm a bit annoyed at Dumbledore. Surely the Ministry can deal with this issue themselves. I mean, Voldemort is in hiding, and he's definitely been a lot more aggressive in the past few months, but isn't the Ministry full of trained adults who are employed to actually deal with issues like this? How did Voldemort even get this far?
I mean, I want to be involved in this, and I know my friends do, but we've got NEWTs to study for, and people are going on missions (What even is a mission? What in Merlin's name does that even mean? Are we spies now?) and people are coming back from missions but some people (Mark Abery) are not coming back.
A fifteen year old boy is dead, and we're training in secret to do what? Fight? We ran through defensive and offensive spells today with Murphy, who is apparently part of this whole fighting Order of the whatever evil putter-outerers group.
We had to sneak around to an unused classroom in the dungeons and everything, but what are we even training for?
Are we training? Is that what we're doing?
All that I know is that I have so many questions that aren't getting answered, and I'm mad.
I'm reasonably upset.
I'm angry at Voldemort. I think I might be a bit mad at Dumbledore.
I understand why my friends didn't tell me about when they were going that night but I might still be a bit mad they didn't tell me because what if I could have helped them?
What if they'd told me, and I could have done something, and then Mark would still be here.
He's rubbish at charms, and I could have taught him something useful.
What if it's my fault? I mean, he came to ask me for help the day it happened, and if I had just helped him, maybe he wouldn't be
Saturday
15 March, 1978
Gryffindor Girls Dormitory
I am going to try that entry again because I got too upset and had to go walk down to the Lake and yell rude things to the wind, but I am feeling slightly more put together at the moment.
Let's write about something more positive, shall we?
I recently received a letter from my mother. I have attempted to paste it below. I have forgotten to paste in at least five of them so I thought I had better do it now before I forget.
Dearest Evie,
I hope you are doing well at school since we last spoke. I know you are probably working very hard. I hope those boys aren't giving you too much trouble.
Your aunt Helen would like to know if you are going to be coming home in the holidays because her fig tree had many figs this year and she would like to know if you will be wanting some fig jam.
Your father's garden is going terribly, but don't tell you I told you so. I think the cats keep eating the plants. I stuck a tomato to his tomato plant with a pin in the hope he would think it had sprung up overnight, but he wasn't fooled, quite unfortunately.
I was wondering if you knew anything about some of the nasty happenings about town. Is it one of your wizard friends being naughty? If so, please ask them to stop, because Beth Anne's nephew's friend was injured in that accident in the square, and Beth Anne mentions it at every sewing group and I am getting quite tired of it.
Also, please ask them if they could reschedule their shenanigans for next year perhaps as I am quite busy at the moment, and your father is also quite busy at work.
I hope you're being safe in school. I have packed some brownies and a blanket I crocheted for you. I put your favourite game on it - the one with the balls and the circles and the throwing.
Lots of love,
Mum.
The blanket in question had a somewhat questionable rendering of the game of Quidditch, but it was rather warm and made from scarlet and gold yarn. I'm considering gifting it to Black, because I already have two others like it from my mother. Besides, I never ended up getting him a birthday present.
Also, did she just inadvertently ask me if I could ask Voldemort to stop being naughty because my mother doesn't want him to inconvenience her? Perhaps she should send him a letter.
On a new note, James apologised for his show in the Great Hall, and I apologised to my friends for getting upset at them. I think everyone understands that we're all a bit on edge at the moment.
Here are some other things that are looking up:
I hexed Nott today. Just for fun. Not badly, but I found it very cathartic.
Also, Aislin Murphy walked past me and didn't even huff. Not once! We have progress!
I ran into Flitwick as well and he told me that I could skip the essay he assigned everyone this week because the only way for me to not get an O in his class was to get a grade of -34, so he told me I can focus on my other subjects. Obviously this is amazing news because (1) I can focus on other homework and (2) Flitwick is obsessed with me and I am his favourite student, that's all, the end.
Oh yeah! Black said he's taking me on a date tonight! That's probably important to mention. It's our first proper official date, despite what he says.
Oh my gosh, I just had a thought? That time I was at Hogsmeade and hung out with Black for the day because Lottie left us - did she do that on purpose? Surely not.
Anyway.
We have a date tonight. Lottie should be here any minute to help me pick out an outfit.
I probably should be studying, or at least not sneaking out late at night, but... Oh well!
Oh, Lottie's here.
Sunday
16 March, 1978
Gryffindor Girls Dormitory
I feel like I've written more entries in the past couple of days than I have in a while, although, they have been shorter than usual I think.
I guess we'll see how long this goes for (I'm both very tired and running on adrenaline at the same time so we'll see).
Lottie forced me into some of her corduroy pants and a ruffled blouse because apparently my fashion sense is appalling (I just want to wear my jumpers okay) and then all the girls wished me luck as I went to meet Black in the Common Room.
I'm not sure why everyone is fussing so much over this. It's not like everyone was this excited when James and Lily started dating, right?
Surely people have their own lives to worry about, right? Mine's not that interesting.
Anyway, I went to go meet Black in the Common Room, and the absolute idiot was dressed head to toe in black, with a leather jacket casually hanging off of his shoulders. I imagine we made quite a pair.
I have to admit though, he did look rather handsome, and I took a moment to stare at him as he leaned against the wall. He looked up at me and a grin settled on his face.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey yourself."
I had paused at the bottom stair, and as I moved to walk toward him he held out his hand to me.
"I thought we'd talked about hand holding being gross on our not-a-date at Hogsmeade," I said.
"I absolutely still stand by our shared sentiments on hand holding at our definitely-a-date at Hogsmeade, I just know you're prone to tripping over things."
"Oh." I could feel my face turning red. It had been doing that a lot lately.
"Shall we?" he asked.
I grabbed his arm as I hopped off the final stair, and he swiftly wrapped it around my shoulder before heading out the Common Room door.
"You know it's past curfew," said the Fat Lady.
"I came prepared," Black replied, pulling out the map from somewhere in his jacket.
"I have a right mind to tell Minerva about this."
"You could never do that to me, though, could you?" Black blew her a kiss.
She fanned herself with her hand. "Oh, go on you two."
"Thank you," we said, before Black pulled me down the corridor.
With great reluctance I followed him along, ducking through secret passageways and behind tapestries until we left the castle by a tiny door leading to the Greenhouses.
"Tada!" he announced as we stood in front of Greenhouse Two.
I looked at him, perplexed.
"Okay, I can see you're confused, which is fair, but I have things planned, don't you worry."
"I'm always worried when you're around," I muttered.
"That's what happens when you care about people, Evelyn, now come on."
I stepped through the door and retorted, "I never said I cared, did I?"
He whirled around, almost knocking an entire row of plants off their shelf. "Well, would you care to say that to my face?"
I started to repeat myself, but he stepped toward me and kissed me, and I immediately forgot what I was going to say.
"I'm so sorry," he said. "I don't think I heard that one. Did you want to try it again, or-"
"Just lead the way, you tosser."
"Your loss, Eva."
We walked to the other side of the greenhouse, and hidden behind a collection of what looked to be excessively large ferns was a blanket with a covered basket. He whispered something under his breath and the corner lit up with little floating lights. One drifted past my head and I reached out to grab it. It felt warm and soft between my fingers.
"Hey, sit down," he said. I hadn't noticed him leave my side, but he had already started to unpack the basket. He pulled out what looked to be a bottle of pumpkin juice and a plate of brownies.
"I know it's not much-"
"It's perfect," I said.
"Oh, thank Merlin, because I worked really hard on this if I'm honest with you."
I joined him on the blanket and we ate the brownies that he had plagiarised from my mother. Not that I was complaining.
We talked for what felt like minutes but it must have been hours. When I checked my watch it was well past midnight.
He told me about his family and I told him about mine. We talked about the music we liked, the classes we didn't and all the things in between. We talked about things that I don't talk about with anyone really, not even here.
It was peaceful.
Like all of the things that had been swimming around my head for the last few weeks could just slowly sink under the surface and I could just sit in the calm waters.
That sounds so dumb, but I don't know how else to explain it.
At one point I must have said that we should be heading back, because we stood up and he started folding the blanket.
"One thing before we go," he said.
He walked over to one of the nearby shelves and pulled down a little plant pot. The plant inside was blooming with the flowers down by the lake.
"It's enchanted so that it won't die. It doesn't really need to be in a pot as you don't need to water it but I didn't know where else to put it. I thought you liked these flowers, so, uh, here you go."
I gently grabbed the pot and peered down at the plant inside. I hadn't recalled telling him I liked the flowers.
"I just noticed you would always smell them whenever we go to the Lake, and that you often pick them and press them into your books, so I thought maybe you'd like one you can keep in your bedroom."
It was then that I realised what I was doing. I was in a greenhouse with Sirius Black, and he'd just given me perhaps the most thoughtful gift I'd ever received.
I didn't know what to say, and that's a rare concept for me.
He looked nervous, worried almost, his eyes scanning back and forth across my face.
I placed the pot on the table next to me.
"Did it ever occur to you that maybe you're too good for me, Black?"
His eyes crinkled as he slowly exhaled. "Is this a dream?"
"You've had dreams like this before?"
"Oh, multiple times."
Another pause.
"Thank you, it's beautiful."
"It's nothing, really."
"Don't say that. It's not nothing. This whole night is not nothing. I don't know how to thank you."
"Oh, I can think of a few ways, Evelyn."
"You say that, but that kiss you gave me before was for you, and this next one is going to be for me."
And so I kissed him, and we stayed like that for a while.
It wasn't until we heard voices that we realised we should probably get back to the Common Room.
"See, there's light in Greenhouse Two! I think someone's in there!"
"Bollocks," Black whispered. "We've been sprung. Quick, grab what you need and follow me."
I took my plant from the table as he grabbed the blanket and the basket. With a wave of his wand the lights extinguished and I lost sight of him as my eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness.
"Black!" I hissed. "Where are you?"
"I apologise in advance for the hand holding, but we've gotta get out of here," he said. I felt a hand grab mine and he pulled me toward what must have been the back entrance to the greenhouse. We ran out the door as who I assume to be the prefects behaving like proper prefects ran into the greenhouse.
We sprinted across the lawn, the moon illuminated enough for us to see the door that we'd initially left the castle through.
With a somewhat reckless abandon we raced through the castle, narrowly avoiding Filch, until we arrived back at portrait hole, flushed and out of breath.
"And what have you two been doing?" the Fat Lady enquired.
"Running," we said.
"You don't have to lie to me you know," she said, winking at us.
"Filigree," I said.
"Fine, don't tell me." The door swung open and we stepped inside.
It was far too late for us still to be awake, and I couldn't stop myself from yawning as the adrenaline started wearing off.
"We should head to bed," he said. (I wrote that just because it rhymed).
"You've got the right idea." I yawned again. I suddenly remembered what I'd been working on that afternoon with Lily.
"Wait, stay here, I've got something for you."
I crept up the stairs as quietly as I could, and carefully opened the door to my dormitory. I fumbled my way to my bed, biting my tongue as I bumped into it head first. I found my trunk and pulled out what I was looking for before placing the plant down on it and heading back down the stairs.
Black looked half asleep as I reached the bottom, but he perked up as he saw what I was holding.
"Is that a blanket?"
"Yes."
"Is it for me?"
"Yes."
"Did you make it?"
"No, but my mum did."
"So it's from Betty?"
"No, it's from me."
"Then...?"
"Just, here. Take it." I held it out to him. "Smell it."
"Smell it?"
"Smell it."
He grabbed the blanket and buried his face in it. After a couple of seconds he looked up. "Did you... Did you charm this to smell like you?"
"Uhh, not quite."
He smelled it again. "But, it smells like you, and-"
His eyes opened wide.
"Lily helped me with it. It's an amortentia charm that we worked on. The charm is supposed to mirror the scent of your amortentia."
"So when I say this smells like you, it actually smells like..."
"Do you smell me in your amortentia?"
He hugged the blanket to his chest. "Maybe. I might. Don't pretend like you don't smell me in yours though. I bet when we made that potion all you thought of was me."
"I did not, Black. I smelled the flowers by the Lake, and the Common Room fire, and..."
I stopped as I realised what the third thing was.
In the space of a second, Black looked like a child at Christmas. "I mean I was joking, but your face says it all."
"You know what, Black-"
"Oh, I do. I do know. That was so long ago. That was September! You smelled me in your amortentia?"
"I don't bloody know, like you said, it was a while ago. I can't remember."
Black just raised his eyebrows. "Well here, here's the blanket, give it a sniff."
"It doesn't work like that, it just works on you. I didn't want anyone to steal it from you."
He hugged it to his chest and smelled it again. "This smells nice."
"That's kind of the point."
He just hugged the blanket and smiled at me.
"You know what? It's bedtime. It is well and truly time for bed. I'm saying goodnight." I climbed onto the first stair.
"Wait, before you go."
"Yes?"
"The first one was for me. The second one was for you. This one's for us."
He kissed me for the third time that night, and when we finally said goodnight I almost floated up the stairs.
It's beyond late now, and I really should have waited until after I woke up to write this all down, but I wanted to write it whilst it was still fresh in my memory.
But now, it is officially bedtime.
~~~~~~~~~~
AN: Obligatory 'sorry for the late update' but y'all I struggled so hard to write this chapter for some reason but I hope it was worth the wait. I made it a bit longer for everyone to attempt to appease you.
(Book Wench Note: the reason is having to write romance.)
As a further tax I have provided two images. The first is a badly photoshopped version of what happened after I tried to think of a 70s themed outfit for Black and started imagining him in the iconic 70s clothing we know and love.
The second is a bingo board for all of you who will inevitably get tired of waiting for me to update and reread Black in the meantime. I have no idea if you can get all of them in one chapter, but there's only one way to find out!
I love you all! OXO