((Author's Note: Okay, this is my first real fanfic, and it's not going to be that great, and I'm sorry. ^^; But I tried! Mostly, I think, I just wanted to write down some Sirius because he was my favorite character :) My character is Samara and I made up a few things like the tri-school quidditch tournament, everything else (c) J.K. Rowling, basically! And...er....in the film, it says James is a seeker, but J.K. Rowling said in an interview that she'd intended him to be a chaser....so I don't know if that means that she intended for him to be a chaser but is now accepting him as a seeker, or if she still firmly says that in the books, he's a chaser. So...I just wrote it as a seeker, but I am sooo willing to change it if Rowling wants him to be a chaser! Please enjoy!))

CHAPTER 1: Samara

"Sirius!"

Sirius turned around at the call of his name. "Yeah, what—" he started, but then smiled when he saw who it was. "Oh, hey, Sam."

Samara Raillen ran over to the boy, dodging younger students in the hallway. She stopped just short of plowing into him and grinned. "Bit of a crazy day, isn't it?" she asked him brightly. Sirius smiled back and nodded, flipping his shaggy black hair out of his face.

"Yeah, I reckon so." Sirius looked around the hallway; students were running everywhere, discussing the big quidditch competition, scrambling to copy down homework they'd forgotten to do in all the excitement, and, of course, comparing notes for perhaps the most anxiously awaited event, the Yule Ball at the end of next week.

The two students were in their sixth year, and this was the first tri-school tournament they'd ever been a part of. Top qualifiers from the three schools of Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons formed three quidditch teams to represent their schools. Next Wednesday would be the Tournament, and on Friday was the ball. Students were no longer focusing on schoolwork; there was too much commotion in the old castle. The teams from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons had already arrived and were settled in quite comfortably. Sirius's best mate, James, had made the Hogwarts team as seeker, and even Samara had made it as a beater. It was going to be a hell of a game.

But Sirius was not looking forward to the Yule Ball. Ever since its announcement, it seemed, girls were suddenly hinting at him left and right, flirting with him – one frightening fourth year even sent him bewitched chocolates – and several had even gone so far as to ask him. It was quite a bother to have to turn them all down, but Sirius had someone in mind, and he was just waiting for the right time to ask her.

"Did you hear? Durmstrang's seeker is Romteg, what d'you think, can James beat him?" she asked intently, gazing up at him, her eyes demanding a response. Sirius returned her stare, quiet for a moment. Sam had a sort of dazzling effect on him when he looked into her shimmering blue eyes…he…tended to lose his thought…

"Sirius? What do you think?" she asked again, waving a hand in front of his face. "Oy, I'm losing you, here!"

Sirius shook his head and blinked. "Er. Sorry." He quickly turned his gaze to his copy of Advanced Potion Making, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "I think James'll kick Romteg's arse. Romteg is bigger, he'll be slower, plus James's reaction time is pretty impeccable." He looked over at her again and grinned. "But how do you think you'll do against those Beauxbaton girls? I hear they're vicious!" he teased.

But Sam just frowned at him, making him draw back slightly. Samara angry was something people didn't attempt to provoke.

"I dunno, really…" she sighed, and Sirius realized that she wasn't mad at him; she was actually very worried about the competition. "The girls I saw at their practice the other day – oh, don't give me that look, James was right there with me watching – they're pretty accurate," she bit her lip. Sirius suppressed a smile. Samara had a very cute pout.

Snap out of it, Sirius, he scolded himself. He shook his head and turned to her, placing a hand on her shoulder casually. "Ah, come off it, Sam. You got on the team, didn't you? Beat those loser beaters from Slytherin, and you know, even our beaters weren't good enough to make the school team. And you know Gryffindor is leading the school cup right now." He grinned at her, a charming smile that made most of the girls in school swoon. But Sam just smiled back and half-heartedly pushed his hand off her shoulder. Sirius liked that about her – she didn't fall to pieces around him. She was level-headed and rational, and she cared. A good friend.

Despite her smile, Sirius knew she still was worried by it, but nerves were to be expected, anyway. "C'mon, let's get some food before Potions," he suggested. Samara seemed to recognize his attempt to distract her and apparently decided to let him.

"All right, let's." After ducking down a corridor, the two made their way down toward a particular portrait of a fruit basket, one that very few in the school even knew about, for an exclusive mid-afternoon snack.