Half an hour later and they were still working in silence. Not another word had been spoken. And they both stubbornly avoided the other’s eye. Though it had occurred to Lily, that all the things Ally had accused Sirius of being she could be charged with as well, she had wisely kept her mouth shut. It was the truth but Ally would never see it. She didn’t think that way.
Ally was currently refilling the stands of ink pots, though her eyes kept straying to the display in the left window. It held within it the object of Ally’s desires. An typewriter sat on a mound of velvet, gleaming in the beams of sunlight. The metal keys twinkled at her, a painful temptation. Ally cursed herself for not having the responsibility to save her money. She was quite the impulse shopper and the house was filled with useless items, both magical and muggle, that fascinated her into buying them so she could ceaselessly tinker. Ally had a habit of fiddling with anything she could get her hands on. Her need to know the inner workings of everything imaginable had driven her friends around the bend.
A shadow was cast across the typewriter, causing it to darken in the absence of light. Ally let her forlorn and longing gaze travel upwards and the ink pot in her hand tumbled to the floor as she met a pair of unfathomable grey eyes. They seemed to be laughing at her. The magically reinforced glass of the ink pot saved it from breaking on impact and it rolled away towards the door.
Ally watched its course across the hardwood floor until it was stopped by a heavy boot. A hand swung down to scoop it up but she kept her gaze firmly on the scuffed leather toe, not daring to continue the path up the rest of this intruders form.
“You seem to make a habit of dropping things in my presence,” Sirius’s smooth voice cut through the heavy silence of the shop. He placed the ink back on the counter top gently. Ally felt his body shift right beside hers but she was frozen, not even able to gather the effort needed to move away.
“What are you doing here Sirius?” she snapped, keeping her voice steady though her insides were churning in the most unpleasant of ways.
“I’m here to see Lily. Don’t think yourself so important” Sirius said airily and Ally went rigid.
As if summoned by her name Lily appeared at their side, smiling happily. Ally however, refused to crack a grin. She looked Lily directly in the eye.
“Oh and before, I forgot to add hypocritical to that long list.”
She shot a glance at Sirius before spinning on her heel and disappearing into the maze of shelves. She had no doubt that from the disapproving look on her co-workers face, she knew exactly what she was referring to.
Ally lurked around the rows of books, cursing under her breath at being chased away to hide until Sirius left again. Muttering heatedly she slid a book off the shelf and let it fall open in her hand. She deemed it hopeless however, not being able to register a word, and shoved the book back into the gap. The bell chimed above the door and Ally expelled a large gust of air. Resurfacing in the front of the shop she stopped dead.
“Where’s Lily?”
Sirius turned slowly, his hands casually sheltered in his pockets. His hair was in a perfect mess and his teeth gleamed as he flashed a smile.
“Gone out to lunch with James. I was just the messenger.”
Ally blanched. She was alone, in the shop, with Sirius Black. And he’d somehow, intentional or not, placed himself between her and the door. Bastard.
She watched him for a minute, but he didn’t move. He just stared back at her, his wide smile fixed on his face. Ally shifted her weight from foot to foot.
“Well aren’t you going to bugger off then?”
“Wasn’t planning on it,” He took a step forward. Ally clenched her fingers. The wooden floor beneath his feet creaked, “Thought I might keep you company till she got back.”
“I like solitude, thanks,” she muttered coolly, casting her eyes to the space about his shoulder.
“Are we ever going to have a proper conversation?”
“Don’t count on it.”
The smile on Sirius’s face vanished and Ally’s eyes instantly flickered to his. They were colourer ash and steely as they gazed at her. They lost all trace of laughter.
“What’s the matter with you?” Ally asked her voice clipped and irritated. It was the wrong manner and completely wrong question to ask him.
“God dammit Ally!” he suddenly roared and the dark haired girl jumped. She had never experienced the sudden change of mood Sirius was prone to. No one had ever warned her. If they had, she might have taken more care with her choice of words, “Get of your bloody high horse and stop thinking your so high and mighty and above every one else.”
Ally stood where she was. She didn’t make a move towards him, didn’t open her mouth to yell. She stood and stared at him, finally crossing her arms across her chest.
“Are you leaving yet?”
Sirius might have been surprised at her obvious lack of reaction but it was Ally left in shock when his face split into reluctant grin.
“You haven’t changed much since school Ally. Insults always did run off you like water on a duck’s back.”
“What, did you want me to fly into a rage?” Ally asked sulkily. She really thought he would just turn and storm out. But instead he was standing there smiling again, in all his glory. He just couldn’t be shaken off. He was bloody unshakeable. And also it seemed, not able to take a hint, however obvious they might be.
“Are you ever going to stop trying to pick a fight with me?”
Ally glared. Avoid her question and ask one of your own, very clever Mr. Black.
“Why should I?” Ha! She could do that to.
“Because I’m actually a very lovely person…”
“I don’t see it.”
“Well if you opened your eyes—“
“I like them closed.”
Sirius let out a heavy sigh and turned away. Inside, Ally was literally glowing with pride. She knew she’d made him frustrated, she could tell from the way his clenched knuckles had paled to white. He was stressed. And she couldn’t be happier at the fact that she was the cause.
“Your aggravatingly stubborn, anyone ever told you that?”
Ally pointed towards the door.
“Of course they have,” Sirius said with a chuckle. Shaking his head he strode to the door and pulled it open but he paused before he stepped out.
“ I’ll be seeing you later Ally.” The cocky smile was back in place and Ally’s blood boiled a bit.
“For your sake I hope not!” she yelled after him but he’d already swung out the door and merged with the crowd.
A/N: I know, this chapter is fairly short but I wanted to get it out there before all my exams. I hope you're enjoying the story still, I'll try and get another chapter done soon :D Tell me what you think. And I big thanks to CraigersBlack for being my wonderful beta!
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