Prologue
Monday, 8:13 A.M.
It was Monday morning when Marlene McKinnon, Alice Prewett and Lily Evans made their way down to the Great Hall. It was the last week before the Christmas holidays in their seventh year, and every student was tired of the gigantic amounts of homework and the constant, non-stopping blabbering of the tiring teachers. They just wanted a break, because – Merlin help them – they wanted to kill all of the teachers that dared to say: "Dear Miss McKinnon, you look right wretched. Maybe you should get a good night of sleep?" or "Miss Evans, I suggest you go to Madame Pomefrey, she surely has a potion against tiredness and tired eyes. Why are you staying up so late?" and "Alice Prewett, I highly recommend you stay away from your boyfriend until the Christmas break. Obviously he distracts you from your homework, am I right?" when Marlene couldn't get a good night sleep because of the stress school brought with it, Lily stayed up so late because otherwise she'd fail Transfiguration and Alice hadn't seen Frank in a week thanks to the piles of work on her desk. Sometimes, the three girls thought about quitting school and go working in the Three Broomsticks, since they were of age now.
Like always, it were the Marauders and Frank who changed their minds. Most of the time it would go like this:
"Hey Evans? You're not quitting school, are you?"
"Well, I'm sincerely thinking about it," she replied.
"You know, if you did, you'll never see my handsome face anymore," he grinned cockily.
Everyone knew Lily Evans was warming up to James Potter, although she'd never admit it.
"Another reason for me to do it," Lily teased and James shut up, pouting for the rest of the day until she ruffled his hair and brightened his day doing so.
Alice, on the other hand, didn't think of quitting school as soon as she saw Frank's face, but her aside, the only one left was Marlene.
"If anyone cares, I'd say I was going to stay, too, but who am I?" she laughed, rolling her eyes at the obvious sexual tension between James and Lily.
"I care," Sirius said, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her body closer to his. "Believe me, I care."
"Keep it in your pants, Black," Marlene hissed and she gave him his arm back. "Your easy tricks don't work on me."
"You sure about that? I bet you seven Galleons you fall for my charms before the end of the year," he swore, his teeth biting his lip in excitement. There was something in his eyes, a sparkle, and Marlene couldn't resist teasing him.
"I bet you eight Galleons you fall for my charms," she laughed, holding out her hand.
"Well, miss McKinnon, I'll take that bet. The first one who can persuade the other to kiss him or her, wins." Sirius and Marlene shook hands and looked heartily at each other. "Let the best win."
"Oh, I will," Marlene grinned.
What they didn't know was the fact they both secretly liked each other. Sirius, for example, found out in sixth year he wasn't looking at random girls in the library, but only at Marlene. His mates teased him with that and started the rumor that Sirius Black fancied Marlene McKinnon, but luckily for him, she didn't believe that. But the feelings were still there. Imagine that: the famous Sirius Black falls for an ordinary girl.
Marlene, on the other hand, was still unsure about her feelings for Sirius. She kept telling herself it was just physical attraction, because, let's face it, Sirius Black is one good looking bloke. She made herself believe they weren't feelings, but normal teenage hormones. She almost believed it. Almost.
This is going to be a long year, they both thought. But I'm sure as hell going to win that stupid bet.
And so, ladies and gentlemen, it began.
