Chapter 3 [New Information or Something]
"Ohhhh they were soooo cute!" Ailee gushed after their lesson over bowtruckles.
"I dunno..." Sirius smirked at the scowl the girl sent him, "calm down," he laughed, "I was going to say that I think adorable would be a better word."
This seemed to satisfy the ginger.
"Ah so where to next?!" She asked swaying her arms as the two walked along the path back up to the castle.
"Double potions... with Slytherin."
"Which means Lils is going to ditch me for Sev... great..." Ailee groaned. "I'm hopeless at potions, I don't know how I'm going to pass my O.W.L.s much less this class without her help."
"She could still be partners with you, why do you assume she'll pick snivellus instead?"
"Because he always takes her away!" She grumbled. Sirius raised an eyebrow and she continued. "Ugh, it's just that sev is kind of territorial over Lily, you know? I think he's a bit threaten by my friendship with her and I just know he's going to guilt her into being his partner since they don't get to see each other as often." She finished, running her hand through her hair.
"Oh... well I don't mind being your partner." Sirius blurted out before he could stop himself. He hated to see her so glum, and just said the first thing he could think of to make her feel better. He also wouldn't mind spending more time with her...
Ailee tried to hide her slight blush behind her hair, "But I though you always partnered with James?" She was flattered that he would offer to be her partner, especially since he was almost as good as Lily in potions. But, she would feel guilty for making him partner with her out of pity when he'd rather be with his best mate.
"Oh I usually do, but I'm sure he wont mind pairing up with Remus." He laughed, "but I mean you don't have to if you don't want to, I mean I would understand if you'd rather to pair up with-" he rambled.
"Oh no! Don't get me wrong! I would love to be your partner! I just don't want you to feel like you have to when you'd rather be with one of your friends.."
"You are one of my friends." laughed Sirius as she stared back at him "is this new information or something?"
"No.. er.. I mean .. kind of.. I mean I..I.." She stammered pathetically. She had no idea why she was getting so worked up about the fact that she, Ailee Abbott was officially friends with Sirius Black. The Sirius Black.
"Oi! Padfoot what did you do to Ails?! She looks broken." Bellowed James as he met them in the hall along the way.
"I informed her of our friendship. She doesn't seem to be taking the news very well."
Ailee blushed bright red and intently wished to crawl under a rock. "Let's just go to class alright?" She said trying to lead the conversation away from her social awkwardness as the two boys sniggered.
Sirius and Ailee ended up being potions partners. In fact, James seemed almost excited about the prospect, which Ailee thought was bit odd. But then again, James was a bit odd. Luckily, the rest of the day went by without anymore mortifying moments of embarrassment on Ailee's part.
That evening, the schedule of Hogsmead visits was posted on the common room notice board. Excitement usually followed such news, but everyone seemed downright giddy this time.
"I can't believe the first visit is next week!" Shrieked some third year girl with pigtails.
"Oh my goodness, I thought I'd have more time to figure out how to ask Susan out! What am I going to do!?" Muttered an especially exasperated Robert wood, a sixth year whom Ailee played quidditch with.
Ailee sighed and went up stairs to work on her essay over Flobberworms.
The next day, the second day of classes, went by as well as expected. However, maybe a bit better than expected considering Ailee had Sirius to chat with all day.
That afternoon before dinner, she went to the library to try to work on her transfiguration essay. She was sitting alone, tapping her quill to her lips, surrounded by at least four open books, lost in thought.
"Eep!" She squealed as someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"Oh uh sorry to spook you like that!" Said the tall Hufflepuff shoulder tapper.
"Oh, it's fine! I just didn't hear you come up," she said, blushing slightly as she looked up at the boy. 'He's actually pretty handsome' she thought to herself. 'Not as handsome as Sirius, but still- Wait why am I comparing this boy to Sirius? Oh no is he saying words? Pay attention brain!'
"Oh hah sorry about that, I'm Stewart by the way," he said reaching out to shake her hand.
"Hi Stewart I'm Ailee!" She smiled back st him.
"I know! Uh I mean we had Herbology together last year.." he said blushing slightly.
"Oh! Yes! I remember you now! Stewart Smith!" This seemed to make the boy both happy and flustered.
"So I Uh.. Well I just wondering... I mean I just... just wanted to say hi is all! Err see you around Ailee!" He said before awkwardly (and quickly) walking out of the library.
'Well that was strange' she thought to herself.
Later that same evening, after dinner she was sitting in the common room on her favorite couch, putting the final touches on her essay when she was was suddenly tapped on the shoulder again by some random boy.
"eep!" She squeaked once again. "Ugh why does this keep happening?" She mumbled to herself before looking up to an amused looking blonde boy. He was a year ahead of her, a sixth year, by the name of Billy Macmillan. He was tall, muscular, and very traditionally handsome.
"What did you say?" He laughed with a smirk.
"Oh nothing," she sighed, "so what's up?" She smiled, intrigued as to what he wanted to speak to her about.
"Well I was wondering if you had any plans for next weekend." He said nonchalantly as he sat next to her on the couch where she was working.
"Oh," she hadn't the faintest idea why he wanted to know this information. "Er.. isn't that the next Hogsmead visit?" The boy nodded, hoping she would get the hint. She didn't. "Uh well I ... Uh.. guess I'll be going to er... that."
"Surely you aren't planning to go alone though?" He asked moving closer to her. So close that their arms were now touching causing her to tense up slightly.
"Well er no." She laughed nervously. She didn't know why this boy was talking to her all of the sudden, or why he had to be so close, but he was making her feel supremely uncomfortable at this point. Sirius, on the other hand was very aware of his intentions as he watched from where he was sitting on the other corner of the room.
"Well..." Billy said, leaning closer to the girl, "Why don't you go with me?" He said to the flustered girl. Sirius could see how uncomfortable she was with the whole interaction, and knew about Billy's reputation and decided he needed to step in.
"I'm afraid Ailee can't go with you mate." Sirius said while casually sitting on the other side of the girl and draping an arm around her shoulders.
Ailee was confused, but utterly relieved to have her friend step in as she was at a loss for words.
"I think Ailee can speak for herself." Billy said with forced politeness.
"Er... Ailee can't go with you. I mean I- I can't go with you.. I'm uhhh well because...uh..." she stammered trying to come up with a good excuse, but her mind had gone blank.
"Because she's going with me." Said Sirius unflinchingly.
"Oh. I get it. Well have fun with that." Billy said shortly as he stormed up the stairs to the boys dorms.
"Merlin's Pants! You saved me!" Ailee said while wrapping her arms around Sirius's neck without even thinking.
"O-oh uhh.." stuttered Sirius from her embrace. She quickly recoiled and blushed. "No problem. You just looked really uncomfortable, and as funny as it is to see you all socially awkward, I thought it would be nicer to put you out of your misery."
"Well it was much appreciated." She said with a shy smile. "So when were you going to tell me we were going to Hogsmead together?" She smirked.
Ailee watched as Sirius blushed faintly. The Sirius Black was blushing! She had made The Sirius Black blush.
"Oh I only said that to get rid of him," he said quickly. Ailee was noticeably disappointed. "But I mean we can still go.. I mean if you want to?"
"I'd like that." She said with a smile. She knew it probably wasn't a real date or anything, he had only asked her because she was being nearly harassed. But, yet she still had butterflies at the prospect. "I'm glad we're friends Sirius Black."