Disclaimer - JKR owns Harry Potter; the idea for the fic comes from Dolly Parton's 'Jolene'
Sirius sits.
His heart is beating so hard he thinks it might explode and cover the girl – woman – opposite him with thick, warm blood.
He knows if she laughs at him that his heart will suddenly stop.
Either way, Sirius Black doubts he'll live to see the end of this encounter.
The witch narrows her eyes at him and demands to know what he wants of her. She has better places to be, better people to be with. Sirius grits his teeth and summons up his Gryffindor courage.
"You're so beautiful," he tells her in a hoarse voice, "Your auburn hair so long, your skin so flawless and your eyes a stunning emerald green."
"If you're trying to come on to me," she breaks in and Sirius shakes his head in horror, unable to stop the look of disgust on his face.
"No. I don't want you. I'm making the point that you're a very beautiful witch, and that you know it. You know there are so many people who want to be with you."
She breaks in again. "Is this some kind of 'hurt my best friend and I'll kill you' thing that overprotective nits go in for? Because if it is–"
Sirius takes a moment to determine that the witch's anger only enhances her beauty before continuing.
"No. This is an 'I am begging you to leave him alone' thing that – that people with crushes beg of the people with power."
She thinks this through and then starts to laugh.
"You – you're not seriously trying to tell me you're in love with James? Ha!" The witch leans back in her seat and takes her full of laughter. By the time she has calmed down enough to look round, Sirius is long gone.
His heart skips jumps. He shakes. He should have known better.
Never again would he beg for her to leave him, to leave Sirius's way clear to his only love.
He could not compete with her.
And every murmured 'Lily' at night was like an icy stab to his heart.
Sirius sits.
A feeling of deja vu comes across him and he flinches. It is another redhead who takes the seat opposite.
His heart is beating violently again.
"You're beautiful, to be sure," he says in a hoarse voice, "But what else is there in you?"
"I'm brave, funny, smart," lists off the redhead. "I'm his age for Merlin's sake. I understand what he's going through; I can provide a sanctuary for him to forget the war."
"Then why aren't you telling him this?" Sirius asks, raising an eyebrow. She flushes.
"I can't compete with you," she says angrily, "Though I know he doesn't want you as a lover. He needs you as a father, Sirius, stop manipulating him into your bed. Sometimes I agree with mum, you can't tell him and his dad apart."
Sirius takes a moment to wonder at the idiocy of Mrs Weasley. Bright emerald green eyes are rather hard to ignore.
He gets up and leaves the café without a second glance. His heart skips jumps, he shakes. He should have known better than to meet her.
Never again would he listen to a girl – a mere child – who wanted to take Sirius's second love away from him.
She could not compete with him.
And every murmured 'Sirius' at night was like a gentle, warm wave that cleansed his heart.