Genetics • Sirius Black

Chapter Twenty Two: Cocky Are We?

It was not stalking, Sirius Black assured himself, following Freya Grey into the woods. It was investigating, after all, what non-nefarious person would sneak out of the castle with nothing, but their cloak and a wand.

Sirius had not planned to be out late, he just had forgotten the time during his stroll around the grounds, and now believed it was his civic duty to ensure her safety, after all who knows the type of character lurking around the grounds at this hour. Or at least that's what he would say when questioned about following her into the woods.

He was rather a pro at sneaking into the woods, and all his footsteps were near silent, as were hers. Something he found rather impressive and alarming. In fact, her feet were so quiet that when he rounded the corner around the tree he had not even heard her circle around him.

His eyes widened slightly and he tucked his hands into his pockets. "Ah, Freya funny seeing you here."

"Stop following me." She said plainly.

"Follow you, I'd never." He held his hand to his chest in offense.

Freya was not amused. "You're absolutely ridiculous."

"I prefer the term "quirky."" A grin fell on his lips then dropped as thick steps snapped twigs at the base of the woods.

"Flitch, I promise you, there is no one out here." Thin and frail, the divination's teacher's words sounded tired.

"I saw two of them sneak into the woods." More rough and crass, Flitch's voice shook out of his weak throat getting louder as they approached.

Sensing his skittish nature and adamantly against running in those shoes, Freya whipped out her wand and lifted up her cloak like a veil. "Don't move."

"Freya."

"Shut up."

"But—"

"Quiet." She asserted finishing her spell, the warmth of it crowned her head and spread. Lightly, the wood tapped on Sirius' forehead and he scrunched back.

A complaint on his tongue was cut off by the caretaker's grumbling. "I heard something."

Both students stood frozen, too scared to breathe as the light of his lantern cast over them. Before that Sirius had not noticed how the cloak matched the exact image of the tree behind him or that his hand had turned dark green to mimic its leaves. A disillusionment charm. 

The light moved off them while the other teacher spoke, much more exhausted than they should have been. "Perhaps it was the wind or any other creature in the forest."

"No, it was a student, I'm certain," Flitch announced. "Maybe they went by the lake, I'm not resting till I find 'em."

His footsteps moved away from them further to the main ground and Freya still had not moved an inch. Sirius could hear her light breaths they were so close. After counting up to forty, he suddenly seized her hand and yanked her. "Come on."

He took fast and quiet steps to the far side of the castle, away from the main entrance and Freya had no clue where he was taking them only that her coat was going to get torn if they kept running through the woods. "Sirius—"

"Shush."

"He's going—"

"Shush." He insisted still in a whisper, pulling her through the dark woods and to the greenhouse. All candles were gone, and the glass building had an eery air to it. Quickly, he popped one of the windows and jumped inside.

Freya knew she had limited options since she could hear Flitch moving not far from them. Throwing herself over the window, she tried to get in as smooth as Sirius did, but was failing epically. Sirius assisted her entrance and caught her waist when she nearly face-planted. In an ungraceful way, she landed on the other side, her shoe fallen off and dress stained with sap.