Chapter 813 - Entreaty Ⅱ (2/2)

”It wasn't a joke,” Sirius weakly whimpered.

Tiffany blinks utterly stumped as her brain attempts to process Sirius's words. They both remain still as if in shock and unsure of what to do nor say to each other. Sirius slowly peeks up at Tiffany to find her staring at him with bewilderment and disbelief. ”Um, this may be a bad time, but would you agree to accompany me to Hogsmeade tomorrow?” He nervously asked.

”Wait, what?” Tiffany bluntly asked unable to understand how Sirius had jumped so many courting steps. ”Is this some form of pity date from you, Sirius?”

”Pity?” Sirius blinked his gray eyes foolishly at Tiffany. ”Most certainly not, I like you!” He shyly turned away turning a rosy pink all the while mentally screaming at himself. By Helga's Rear what was wrong with him?! Was he six years old all over again!?

”Well, what do you like about me?” Tiffany asked with genuine skepticism.

”You're pretty,” Sirius instantly replied before mentally kicking himself in his head. What possessed him to say that! It certainly was his libido!

”Is that all?” Tiffany said with a great deal of disappointment. That was all she was seemed to be worth now. A pretty side fling that is never meant to be taken seriously.

Seeing Tiffany's face scrunch up in pain, Sirius's brain finally seems to reconnect. ”You're a good friend,” Sirius blurted out. ”You're brave as much as any Gryffindor, I know. You could have hidden away after Vasco's death, but you didn't instead you boldly returned to Hogwarts with your head still held high, Tiffany.”

Tiffany's face fills with astonishment before a faint flush of pink begins to appear on her face. Sirius stumbled over his words in his haste to speak, but his voice and gaze were sincere. He truly did believe those things of her.

A warm feeling fills Tiffany's ċhėst until she interrupts Sirius's spew of words. ”That is enough, Sirius,” she said causing Sirius to wilt like a flower. ”I believe you,” she quietly said causing Sirius to perk up back up again.

Sirius shuffles on his feet, before quietly asking again, ”I really would like it if you would come with me tomorrow to Hogsmeade, Tiffany. And if you don't mind it, I would like to ask you to be my companion for the duration of the Presentation Ball of Rowan and Severus.”

Tiffany blinks in shock and narrows her eyes at Sirius only to find Sirius hopefully gazing at her. If anyone else had asked her, she would believe them to hold a political motive except for Sirius. He was far too much of a Gryffindor and wore his heart on his sleeve. He was a rather open book which caused her heart to flutter a bit at his sincerity. She didn't want to permit herself to have any more naïve hopes, but she trusted Sirius and that was enough to give her hope again. Maybe, just maybe, the dreams of her childhood were not as dead as she once believed them to be.

Sirius expectantly waits for Tiffany to reply and fidgets more as he waits for her answer. After a moment, Tiffany says, ”If you are sincere in your invitations, Sirius, I would gladly accept both invites to accompany you.”

Sirius beams and throws his head back to let out a cry of relief and triumph. ”You won't regret this, Tiffany!” He happily said, before rushing off to tell his friends with good news. He hadn't run far off when he hastily ran back.

”Er, I guess, I'll see you tomorrow in the Great Hall,” Sirius stammered, before rushing off with a foolish grin on his face. He hurried away and vanished faster than Tiffany could think of a reply.

A shy, but hopeful smile appears on Tiffany's face as she stared down the hall where Sirius had vanished off. She couldn't deny the fact that she was a little bit attracted to Sirius, but then again, he was an attractive lad. She wasn't blind! But she never dreamed in a thousand years that he would ever be attracted to her especially after Vasco Vespucci.

Tiffany's smile fades away, but not entirely. Vasco Vespucci was her past, but maybe, just maybe Sirius Black was her future. Time would only tell if Sirius truly spoke the truth. She was Slytherin enough to grasp the opportunity granted to her for a second chance at happiness. And unlike Vasco Vespucci, she trusted far more in Sirius and his sincerity.