Breaking Black (A Sirius Black Love Story)

Chapter 62

Many of the students in the library already left, leaving me alone by a dying fire with potions notes and the Marauder's Map spread out on the table. Madam Pince trusted me enough to leave me alone in the library after hours. As I worked on my secret project for Professor Belby, I kept an eye on the map, knowing Spies liked to skulk around at night. Sure enough, I caught a glimpse of her name moving outside with Severus Snape, Donald Avery, and Regulus Black by the groundskeeper's hut just as I heard a sound behind me.

Footsteps quietly stepped around the doorway of the library. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I hurriedly converted my notes on lycanthropy and potions with the map. My frantic eyes scanned the map to the library where someone was approaching me.

"You're going to have to try harder than that to sneak up on me!" I called. The footsteps quickened and I could hear his barking laugh as arms wrapped around my shoulders.

"You've got the map out, don't you?" Sirius breathed into my neck. My hand instinctively covered Regulus' name, knowing the sight of it would be a sore subject for my boyfriend.

"Spies is out in the grounds again with Snape." I announced but kept my hand over the names on the map. Regulus Black's name started moving around again, starting to peek out from under my hand. My heart picked up and I struggled to hide Regulus' name with my pinky finger.

"Would you like to help me catch her?" I asked hopefully, trying to get his eyes up off the paper. Sirius scoffed. I let out a relieved sigh when Sirius became more interested in an abandoned astronomy book on the table instead of the map.

"No, I'm through with that hopeless task." Sirius clucked. "That girl is sneakier and slyer than you- and that's saying something."

"Catching them in the act is hopeless." I groaned and leaned my head on his chest. Sirius' watch glinted in the dying, orange light and he checked the time as he held out his arm.

"Just a few more weeks of it, Vix. Try to catch her out late tonight." Sirius assured and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "After your birthday, you'll be of age and maybe Dumbledore will give you the same task that I have."

I groaned in response and watched as he disappeared out the door of the library. The last flame in the fire snuffed out and I packed up my books by the faintest light of the glowing, red embers.

"Mischief managed." I mumbled unenthusiastically and folded the map.

Only a few students were out in the corridors. Many of them were hurriedly trying to get back to their common rooms before a prefect or Filch caught them. Nobody ever stopped me because I usually had an excuse for being out past curfew. The air got cooler as I approached the exit and I caught a glimpse of people in dark robes disappearing into the shadows of the Forbidden Forest.

After stowing the map and my books behind a suit of armor, I dashed out the door of the castle. Within seconds, the chilly air was no longer a concern, and I was running silently on four paws as a furry, black fox. The overwhelming smells of fall filled my nose, but even with the pungent scent of leaves, I could still pick up the sickly fragrance of Spies' perfume. Within seconds, I was just behind her, Avery, Snape, and Regulus, trailing them and weaving silently through the tall, ancient trunks of the forest. A look of complete annoyance was on Spies' face while the other three looked like they were a bit nervous.

"I don't like this." Spies whined in her snotty voice. "It's not like we're going to find anything. We should've been working with Bellatrix Lestrange on her great idea."