Chapter 7

Jane groaned when she saw the last open spot was at James and Sirius' table. His nose was obviously bruising. Jane sat across from Sirius, not daring to sit next to him.

"Hey, Raccoon face." Jane teased, "Have I missed anything? Had to run back and grab my book." She whispered to James. He shook his head, ignoring Sirius' unhappy mumblings.

"Not yet, Professor just go here." He whispered back.

"Potters! Perhaps you'd enjoy enlightening your classmates with the first rule of prediction?"

"Always have a witness. Duh, if you have a prophesy you'll need someone there to tell you what you've said or else what's the point?" James scoffed.

"No" Jane and their Professor said together.

"Always have parchment. Any prediction can be written down and looked at later after the initial feelings have passed. While a witness would be good, all prophesies are stored in the Ministry of Magic in a special department."

"A special mythical department." James added.

"Only those that believe in Crumpled-Horned Snorkaks believe prophesies are stored in a special room. What are they, in little crystal balls?" Sirius scoffed, slapping James' up lifted hand.

"Actually, Mr. Black they have been known to. And Snorkaks are very much real. Just as real as the grim. Five points to the Gryffindor House." Their Professor explained. She refused to have the class know her name—even her last name—because she believed names hold powers and if someone knew your name they could control you. And for that only the Ministry, her family and Albus Dumbledore had ever called her by her name in the last eighteen years.

"Where'd you learn so much about this rubbish, birdie?" Sirius leaned toward, flashing a more normal smile than he usually did. Maybe it was the hurt nose that was shrinking his ego.

"Divinations is not rubbish. 'Sides Potter's tend to get the sight, at least somewhat." Jane whispered across to him.

"Yeah. Tea Leaves" James said pointing to himself, "and stars." He pointed to Jane. "It's not as much rubbish as everyone makes it out to be."

Sirius shook his head, leaning back. "Lily does." He smirked, laughing at James as he squirmed in his seat. Jane shook her head,

"Pay attention Black." She couldn't help but smile at the two of them. Sirius Black wasn't too bad looking when he wasn't trying to flirt with you. No! Jane Potter you better focus and you better focus now! Sirius Black is not cute. He's very much the opposite of cute. Disgusting! Hideous! Atrocious! Ok, maybe not atrocious… Jane thought to herself as she gathered together her things for their first assignment.

The first few days of classes went by quicker than Jane had expected. She was thankful that she didn't have to sit with Sirius more than once a day. He sat close enough behind or ahead of her that she had to listen to his continues "Psst! Psst! Birdie! Pretty bird! Janey! JANEY!" but she felt she could live with it.

It was nearly a month into school before she realized it. Sirius had seemed to have gotten the hint and had recently stopped bothering Jane every second he could. She missed the noise at times, but just the noise she kept telling herself, it wasn't because of what he was saying.

"Why don't you go out with John?" Sirius pestered her one day late in October.

"What? Who?" Jane rolled her eyes, setting her quill down.

"John. Lupin. Why don't you go out with him? You two obviously like each other. Or is it that you like me more?" He smirked, brushing her hair back slowly.

Jane laughed, an action so unexpected to Sirius that he jumped, jerking his hand back as if she'd hurt him. "You mean Remus John? Me and RJ are just friends. 'Sides he's so focused on getting good marks that he doesn't really have time to date."

"So are you. Ask him out. You know you like him." He kissed her cheek quickly, laughing as she swiped at him, "See ya, birdie." He waved, rushing up to the boy's dorm.

"What's up?" RJ laughed, taking Sirius' old seat.

"Sirius is just…being Sirius." Jane shook her head.

"With an 'E' or an 'I'?" RJ joked.

"Heard that!" Sirius shouted down the stairs. RJ and Jane slumped low, failing to stifle their laughter.

"Guess he's heard that one before." Jane laughed, beaming at her best mate. He laughed back, his eyes closed and his head down like he did when he was really laughing and not just being polite. Jane stared; she didn't know what it was, whether it was Sirius' suggestion or if she was just now noticing what had always eluded her before, but RJ was looking cuter than he had at breakfast that morning. "Did you do something different with your hair, RJ?" She smiled. His eyes were brighter than usual, or had she never noticed that either?

"Huh? Oh, I parted it differently this morning. Are you ok?"

"Yeah I just…am noticing stuff today." She laughed. "You going to Hogsmade?" She quickly returned to her homework.

"No." He answered gruffly, making Jane look at him concerned. "It's the first day." He whispered, looking around them to see who was in the room.

"Shit. Oh, RJ I'm sorry. I forgot. I know. We'll hang out in the boy's dorm then. You, me, and a trunk full of Honeydukes chocolate." Jane turned to him and beamed. RJ laughed.

"Ok. You sure you don't want to go? I mean I'm sure Sirius--"

"Would love to hit on me? Try to feel me up under the table at The Three Broomsticks? Fex me outside the Shrieking Shack?" Jane shook her head.

"Well, yeah, I was gonna say go with you but…fex?"

"Face hexing. Tonsil Hockey." Jane clarified. "James' phrasing."

"Ok, so didn't need that image." RJ laughed, his eyes closed and head down again. Jane smiled. She liked him, she really liked him. Wow….