Beating (Closed to Sirius and Avalon)

[Sirius Black]

He felt her relax against him. There was something in that action that made him feel... good. He rubbed her arm and set his cheek against the top of her head. Oh Merlin, what was he getting himself into? "I am right," he said with a smile. He looked down at her, his voice soft, as he asked, "Would you prefer that I call you by your first name?" he asked. "Avalon?" She hadn't told it to him, but he had seen enough around her office to know. He was quiet for a moment, trying to think of what this meant... What he would do now. He didn't think it was wrong, but he could see how she would feel bad about it. And he wanted to explore these feeling further. "I'm sorry," he said. "But... I think it's going to be hard for me... not to want to be near you."

[Avalon N. Gaurdian]

"Avalon or Av, either one is fine." She said, her voice muffled by his sweater. Closing her eyes, she listened to the heart beating beneath her ear. The minutes passed and she thought over what he said. "You're still in school, Sirius. I've been done with all this for a few years now. I've traveled just the way you're dreaming to. I'm 20, you're what 17?" She sighed, lifting her head and slowly pulling away. "You're moods change, your feelings change. I've already seen that." She smiled, indicating the spat they had had in the foyer of the castle. "You called me a bitch no more than an hour ago and now you're thinking it'll be hard for you to stay away. Today this, tomorrow that. You saw me as a challenge for a few minutes."

[Sirius Black]

He stared at her intensely. "Oh, you have everything all figured out, do you?" he said. "I may be in school, but let me tell you something, Avalon... I've been on my own my entire life. I know what happens to dreams... My mother made that very clear to me when I was young. And I know the difference between dreams and reality. The reality of the matter is, there is a war coming, and I'm going to be expected to pick a side. I have picked a side... And I picked it quickly, but that does not mean that I don't know what I'm doing. I want to travel... but I know better. I have to stay. I won't leave my friends to fight alone. So I may have dreamed of traveling, of doing so much, but I woke up." His face was expressionless as he said, "I'm eighteen."

He sighed. "I have already explained that me calling you a bitch had little to do with how I felt about you and everything to do with my anger about what the Slytherin prat did. And I'm not thinking that it will be hard to stay away. I know it will be. I'm not nearly as indecisive as you think I am. Actually, the one benefit of having been on my own all of my life is knowing how to make a decision quickly and sticking to it. I know how I feel about you... And maybe it will fade. But maybe it won't. I'm not one to question a feeling like this... Not now. Why should I question it?"

[Avalon N. Gaurdian]

She listened in silence and when he finally stopped talking, she continued to be silent. Closing the lid of her trunk, she sat down on top of it. She didn't know what else to tell him. She'd said everything she could think of to dissuade him, but he would have none of it. He had grown into himself and although he sometimes acted like the arrogant git she remembered while in school, he had grown up to a be a man who knew what he wanted. "Have it your way then. My only wish is that you don't regret it later." And he probably would. One day he'd look back and wish he'd paid attention to the girls in his own year rather than the professor who had unmistakably challenged him. So what are your plans now, Romeo?"

[Sirius Black]

He moved to sit down next to her, stretching his legs out in front of him. He adjusted his knee pads and looked at her with his charming smile. "I plan to just enjoy life... Living each day one at a time. Would you like to join me?" he asked, holding his hand out for her. "I will... respect you," he said. "And wait... You won't have to worry about me hiding in your office to get my hands all over you. I want you to know that I'm serious about what I'm saying, and there's really only one way I know how to prove it. Abstain. I'm going to wait until I graduate... and then I'm going to do this the proper way. That way there is no regret... and there is no guilt. You'll be a good professor, and I'll be an obedient student. But after Hogwarts, just know that I'll be knocking on your door."

[Avalon N. Gaurdian]

Avalon laughed, she couldn't help it. "I've already been doing that so technically you'd be joining me." Her words didn't stop her from taking his hand though. His comments amused her and although she knew that she shouldn't make fun, she couldn't help but tease him. "Abstaining for guys like you is basically not shagging the girl you promised your heart to, but shagging all the ones around her." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I mean, that's very sweet of you and I can't wait until you graduate." Squeezing his hand, she let go of it and crossed her legs. "You're still in detention though."

[Sirius Black]

"Damn it!" he laughed. "I thought for sure this would get me out of it." He put his arm around her and shook his head. "I don't think that's going to be happening. Me shagging other girls that is. Have you seen the other girls here? None of them are my type." Though many of them wished that they were. He didn't miss the way they looked at him. He only pretended to. "No... I've made up my mind. I'm decidedly waiting for you." He brought her hand to his lips. A year would be better for him to be dating somebody he was actually interested in getting serious with. He might have a job by then... And he most certainly would have his own place. Of course there was this war... But he already knew what side he was going to be fighting on. "Aye, Aye. I guess I'll start sorting through the Arabic," he said, getting to his feet and going back to her desk. He took one last glance at her and smiled. Merlin, this was going to be one hard year for Sirius Black.