Sirius POV.

"Here's your dozen cupcakes, Mister Black," the nice house elf named Quirk said.

"Thanks," I replied, taking the red box. I head back to the dorm, grabbing the stuffed bear I'd transfigured, and headed to the Common Room to find Lily. I finally spot her by the fire, talking to a blonde girl who I think I've snogged in a broom cupboard. "Lilykins!" I call loudly, walking over.

Lily raises an eyebrow, looking at me. "Hello, Sirius."

"Hey, Sirius," the blonde says in a sultry voice.

I completely ignore her, eyes locked on Lily. "Have you seen Adrienne anywhere?"

"Um, yeah," she says. "I think she's in the library catching up on Transfiguration. She really doesn't like you, Sirius. I think you should leave her alone-"

"Thanks!" I say, running out of the room and down the hall, to the library. I burst in, earning a furious shush from the librarian whose name I've forgotten. I look around, finally finding Adrienne at a secluded table surrounded by tall shelves. "Adrienne!" I say in a loud whisper.

She looks up, eyes wide. "Sirius? What are you doing here?"

I grin. "So I can't just be here to study?"

"I wasn't aware that you even knew where the library was."

"Harsh. I came here for you, actually." I sit down across from her, putting the box on the table. "Open it."

She looks at me for a moment, confused. Nonetheless, her fingers pull off the lid of the box. She picks up the wax paper on top, eyes locking on the items inside. ". . . Cupcakes?"

"Red velvet," I say, grinning. "I saw you eating red velvet cake at dinner the other night, so."

She blinks, closing the box. "Thanks."

"That's not all," I say excitedly, putting the bear on the table as well. "Tadah!"

"A bear."

"A black bear. Those are friendly bears. I think."

A small, amused smile plays on her lips. She picks up the bear, setting it on the box. "Thanks, Sirius."

"What are you going to name it?" I ask happily.

She raises an eyebrow, looking over at it once again before answering. "William."

"Okay," I say, grinning. "Want help with your Transfiguration?"

"You want to help me with homework?"

"Hey, believe it or not, but the Marauders are the best of all the sixth years at Transfiguration."

She sighs. "Fine. I'm stuck, anyway."

I smile broadly, moving into the seat next to her. As we work over the parchment and textbook, I take great care to make sure that my arm brushes hers. She seems to make no response, instead continuing to talk. About an hour later, they finish. "So," I say as she's packing up. "Do you play Quidditch?"

She looks at me, hesitating. "Seeker and Chaser."

"You should come practice with James, Remus, and I."

"Peter doesn't play?" she asks, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"No, he helps with drawings." She just nods, which I take as a yes. "The next time we go out is tomorrow, since it'll be Saturday." She nods again. "Where are you headed now?"

"Um, the Common Room."

"I'll walk you there."

The walk to the portrait is fairly quiet. At least she doesn't seem mad at me anymore. Once we're outside of it, she looks to me. "Thanks for the cupcakes. And the bear. And the help."

"Any time," I say, smiling. I almost forget to use my handsome man voice. "I love helping you."

She half smiles, turning to the Fat Lady. "Willow trunks." The portrait swings open.

I wait for her to walk in before entering, closing the portrait behind us. She heads up to her dorm without looking back, so I head up to my own.

"Mess it up?" James asks, messing with a stolen Snitch. He repeatedly lets go, catching it a few seconds later.

"No, actually. She seems like she's warming up toward me. I almost forgot it was for a bet."

"I still don't like the two of you objectifying her," Remus says quietly. "She's quite a nice girl."

"You've talked to her?" I ask sharply.

"Yeah. We walked around the grounds together last night."

"Damn it, Remus, you're messing with my chances!"

"I actually told her to give you another chance. Told her you weren't all that bad."

"Aw, thanks, mate."

"I was lying, of course."

"Git."

"Peter," James says. "Have you finished the drawings for tomorrow?"

"Yeah," he responds.

"Speaking of tomorrow," I say. "I invited Adrienne to come with us."

"She plays?"

"Seeker and Chaser."

"Excellent," James says. "I need more practice anyway. The more the merrier."

"She probably throws weak," Peter says.

"I dunno. I haven't seen her arms. Bloody school robes."

"I'll tell her to wear Muggle clothes," I say, heading back down the stairs. I look around, spotting Lily and walking over. "Lils. Can you tell Adrienne to wear Muggle clothes tomorrow?"

She raises an eyebrow. "Um, sure."

"Are you sure she's coming?" James asks as the three of them hover a few feet up at the Pitch.

I shrug, trying to hide my disappointment. "Let's just play."

After half an hour of vigorous, manly Quidditch, I notice a certain dark-haired girl enter the pitch. She was dressed in basketball shorts, a yellow sports tank top, and trainers. Her hair was up and she was a bit sweaty, as if she'd just gone for a run. However, she was carrying a broom identical to James'.

"She's here!" I call. However, I'm surprised when Remus flies down to meet her. The two talk for a bit, smiling and joking. After a few minutes of James and I hovering, they fly up to us.

"Laps," James says. Immediately, the four of us begin the mandatory five laps around the pitch, which I call to Adrienne. She nods, moving up to second. On the last lap, she speeds up, passing James. He's shocked, but recovers easily, ending up beating her by about three feet in the end. I bring up third, since I didn't quite try, and Remus, as always, ends up last. His position doesn't require too much flying anyways. Not as much as ours.

"Not too bad, Young," James says.

She just shrugs. "What's next?"