Just Save Me From This Darkness (Erica)

[Sirius Black]

Once again, Sirius was spending a hot summer's day in downtown London. Today he was on the brink of the wizarding world, sitting in the dark Leaky Cauldron. Some days he spent in Diagon Alley. Other days he spent wandering through Muggle London, pissing off his parents by buying Muggle things. One of his favorite things was simply Muggle books - he didn't even read them most of the time, but they annoyed the heck out of his parents. One of his favorites was Catcher in the Rye, and he'd never even read it. It just sounded good. Maybe he'd actually get around to it this year....

An unopened bottle of butterbeer sat in front of Sirius but he didn't touch it just yet. He'd get around to it, after he did some people watching. People watching was one of his favorite past times, after all.

The Leaky Cauldron was a good place to people watch. There were some strange people in the pub, like in many wizarding pubs. Men with strange hats, women with funky dresses, children with toys that popped and banged, and probably shouldn't be allowed out into the Muggle streets outside.

There were some of his classmates around, too. Sirius pushed his long hair back out of his eyes and leaned back against his chair, folding his arms carefully across his chest. Normally, not many of the people in the pub would actually sit down to eat or drink. Most of them were just walked through, because out back was the entrance into Diagon Alley.

Being that it was almost lunch time, however, the pub was just beginning to fill up. Sirius debated for a while about what he should get to eat, then decided he'd just get some food later, after he found someone to talk to.

[Erica Smith]

The businesses of Diagon Alley flew by as young Erica Smith ran by them, behind her were the shouts of two Slytherin boys, and one girl whom she had just played a nasty prank on. She laughed glancing over her shoulder for a moment while continuing to run, as she looked ahead she noticed an elderly witch in her path and she quickly dodged her, the woman’s complaints not even reaching her ears. As long as she could get into the leaky cauldron and find her parents she would be in the clear. She saw the wall coming up and quickly hurried through glancing behind her. She ran into one of the tables and gave an apologetic glance to the couple sitting there, she wasn’t sure what else to do.

She looked around, hoping to see her parents but realized they were not there, her eyes widened in surprise. She watched them run in, and she quickly noticed a closet and darted into it, not knowing where else to go. After waiting for at least ten minutes she came out of the closet, making sure the cost was clear she stepped out and sighed. She didn’t think they would react that badly, but it still made a good laugh for while it lasted.

Looking around once more she noticed Sirius Black, she studied him for a moment then proceeded to walking outside. She didn’t want to go there just yet, Lily knew all about it and she would be damned if anyone else knew or even guess. Growling at herself inwardly she sat down at one of the tables and chairs outside and looked around watching the people pass on the street.

[Sirius Black]

A few minutes into his people-watching, Sirius decided it was about time to get himself some lunch. Anything from the Leaky Cauldron would be better than whatever Kreacher would cook up for lunch that day. The old elf always tried to slip old, moldy, disgusting and possibly poisonous food to the Gryffindor traitor, and sometimes Sirius thought his parents might even put him up to it.

Before he actually got around to ordering food, though, someone he recognized caught his eye. Turning, he saw Erica Smith come inside for a moment, then turn around, and walk back out again. Because it was so dark, it was hard to tell for sure, but it almost looked like she had glanced towards him. Sirius decided to go play with his fellow Gryffindor's mind a little bit. Or at least talk to her, anyway. Seriously, it's not like he had much else to do.

Except eat. Sirius got up, pocketed his butterbeer bottle, and ordered a basket of french fries. When they were ready, he took the food and went out back, looking around. Erica was sitting with her back to him, so he moved over and sat at her table, in front of her, as he usually did - so that the sun was right behind his head and looking directly at him was a little tricky. For whatever reason, he enjoyed doing this whenever he talked to someone outside. It shrouded him in mystery, he supposed. He could see the other person just fine, but his face was hidden.

"Hey Erica," he said casually, leaning back with a single fry sticking out of the corner of his mouth. He tipped his head back and swallowed it as he took his butterbeer out of his pocket and set it on the table between them.

[Erica Smith]

Erica decided things should be alright by then, she was out of the clear, she sighed softly, a little frustrated. The prank had been a good one, and she wished she could have enjoyed the moment much longer than she had. She made a mental note to pull the prank again during the school year sometime, however she wasn't sure how much trouble she may or may not get into and she didn't want to risk too much on it. She kicked her foot out in frustration, then quickly ordered a butter beer.

She quickly put Sirius Black from her mind, she doubted he would follow her or anything, let alone talk to her in general. That was one of her problems, she put herself down quite a bit, especially when it came to guys. She watched people walking by, her mind kind of all over the place when she heard the door open and someone come outside. She vaguely heard the chair across from her being pulled out and looked up and watched as Sirius sat down across from her.

She could have sworn her heart skipped a bit and she looked at him curiously for a moment, she glanced around then looked back at him. Shifting her chair slightly so she could see him better with his back to the sun. She looked away and rested her chin in her hand, looking out at the street once more. "Hello Sirius." she replied glancing at him.

She couldnt help but laugh, he certainly was childish, but that made him who he was. "What are you doing eating here? she asked. Sure fries were good, but his family probably had a house elf that could cook up a pretty awesome meal. She looked back out at the street again.

[Sirius Black]

Sirius flashed a grin at Erica as she scooted her chair over to see him a little bit better. He didn't blame her, and didn't readjust himself like he might normally. He tossed another fry straight up into the air and caught it in his mouth, and a third. As he was about to catch the forth, she asked him a question and his concentration was shattered. The fry hit his cheek and fell to the ground. Grinning again, he wiped the salt and grease off his cheek as the fry hit the cobblestones.

"'Cause I like the food here better than at home," he said simply. He wasn't going to get into the whole explanation of that unless she asked, because it meant talking about his family - even if, in this case, it was only Kreacher - and that was a topic that as a general rule he avoided bringing up on his own. Even talk of Kreacher often evolved into talk of the rest of the family. And that was something best avoided at all costs.

"Why are you here?" he asked, looking down at her butterbeer. She didn't appear to be there for lunch, unless maybe she just hadn't ordered it yet, or it wasn't ready yet. Then again, she could just be trying to get out of the sun, under the umbrella's shade on the patio.

[Erica Smith]

She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he started throwing the fries into the air, although she wasn't too impressed when he caught it in his mouth. Her Father could do that, so why should she be impressed that some boy her age could, it seemed simple enough. She couldn't help but laugh however when he lost his concentration and one of the fries fell on his cheek, and then to the ground. She covered her mouth as the laugh escaped her lips and gave him an apologetic glance. "I don't mean to laugh." she said quickly.

She nodded in understanding to his answer, she wouldn't pry any further. If he wanted to talk about it he would, but if he didn't want to then what was the point in trying to make him. Erica was definately one of those people who was easy to talk to, she didn't pry, and she wouldn't push a subject unless you, yourself wouldn't drop it, then she would start asking questions. "Well I am sure you don't have to worry about your Mother giving you food poisoning." she said remembering her Mother's latest attempt at cooking, if her Father hadn't of saved the day she probably would have been sick out of her mind.

She went to take a sip of her butter beer when he asked his question, she choked a little and looked at him. No one ever really asked her why she was always around here, her presence had just been ignored. She shrugged lightly. "My parents know the owner, and they help him out in the summer when its busiest. I kinda just go around pranking Slytherins."[/b] she glanced around as she said this hoping no one else was listening. She smirked as she thought about earlier once more, she wondered what would happen if she went looking for those Slytherins, but then she thought better of it.

[Sirius Black]

Shrugging, Sirius pushed his hair out of his eyes. He didn't mind being laughed at if he was laughing at himself, which in this case he was. "Oh trust me, I never have to worry about my dear old mum giving me food poisoning," he said. "She doesn't cook, she leaves all that to Kreacher." His distaste for the house elf was evident in his voice. It wasn't that he didn't like house elves. Just... not the one he lived with. He would happily kick Kreacher every time the two passed, so long as his parents weren't around. He might not like his parents, but that would still be a pretty stupid thing to do.

He almost laughed when she started choking on her drink, but remembered his manners and held it back. It was one thing to laugh at someone for dropping a fry, but another for choking, because that was certainly a lot more dangerous. Or at least, it potentially could be a lot more dangerous. Of course, if Severus Snape was choking, Sirius wouldn't care. He'd probably start cracking up, and James probably would too. Remus and Peter, well, no guarantees there. If James and Siri thought it was funny Peter probably would too, but Remus probably wouldn't. Then again, he most likely wouldn't help the little twerp either.

"Ah ha, sweet!" Sirius said, reaching out to give her a high five. "Pranking Slytherins is my favorite past time. Which, do you know who it was? And the prank, what was it?" He was always eager for details of a prank, especially on Slytherins. He was planning on spending his afternoon doing exactly that, after he finished his fries. Absentmindedly, he reached for a handful and shoved them in his mouth.

[Erica Smith]

Erica would never admit that she was intimidated by Sirius, he was a good prankster, she liked him, he was funny… there were so many things about him that she liked, and that intimidated her, and sometimes even made her a little nervous. She listened to what he said then shrugged, “Well that isnt’t


-- to be continued--