Chapter 52
Sydney Wood
Sydney Wood was on the Quidditch Pitch. She was a blur as she zoomed around the goal posts deflecting Quaffles which were being magically catapulted at her. Sirius admired her for a moment, then headed off to the broom shed.
Sirius pulled out his broom, and hurried to the center of the Pitch. Sydney was concentrated on the goal posts, and she hadn't even noticed him yet.
Rising up on his broom, Sirius snatched a Quaffle, flew up and threw it right at the goal posts. Sydney, not expecting two at a time, let it go through with a confused expression. Then, she spotted Sirius.
"Oh… Black," she acknowledged him crossly.
"Hey, Sydney."
"What do you want?"
"Why do I have to want something?"
Sydney quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Okay…. I want something."
"I knew it!"
She vented her feelings by sending a Quaffle halfway across the Pitch. Sirius watched it go, and let loose a low whistle.
"Nice one," he said, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Black, what do you want?"
Sirius took a deep breath. "?"
Sydney stared at him. "What?"
Sirius took another huge breath then said with exaggerated slowness, "I wanted to know, if you might want to go to Hogsmeade with me?"
Sydney was so shocked, she almost fell off her broom. By the time she had righted herself, Sirius' eyes were bright with hurt. "Never mind," he muttered. "It was stupid."
He began to fly off, his cheeks flaming, when Sydney called out, "No, wait! Black! Sirius!"
Surprised at his given name, Sirius slowly turned around.
"Sirius!" Sydney zoomed up to him. "I didn't mean—I was just surprised…"
"It's okay, Sydney. Whatever."
He began to fly off again. "Wait, Sirius! Come back!"
Sirius didn't listen. He couldn't believe what a fool he'd been.
"Sirius!" Sydney yelled, frustrated. The truth was, Sydney had always liked Sirius. She was just disgusted by the way he treated girls. She tried to get over her feelings by pretending to hate him, but really, every time he dated another girl, her heart broke just a bit more.
"Sirius!" she yelled again, her eyes burning. "Oh, bloody hell," she muttered.
She took off toward Sirius. He was just dismounting when she hit him. She hadn't meant to hit him, she was just a bit over enthusiastic as she hurried toward him.
"Oof!" Sirius hit the ground with Sydney on top of him, their brooms clattering together as they slammed into the ground.
Then, she was kissing him, kissing him hard and urgently.
Sirius was so surprised that for a moment he was frozen. Then he responded as enthusiastically as he could. Sydney was a bit taken aback, but kept kissing him as hard as she could.
For once, she felt all the normal barriers drop. It was so hard to like him, yet she had never be able to tell him. Now, he was kissing her back, and the world was spinning.
An intense minute later, they broke apart, gasping slightly. Sirius was aghast, and Sydney was embarrassed beyond belief. She couldn't believe she'd done that. Now, Sirius was staring at her. Sydney got up, dusted herself off, squeaked out something like, "Sorry!" and was off, running away.
"Wait, Sydney!" Now it was Sirius' turn to call after her.
Untangling himself from the two brooms, he raced after her.
"Sydney! Sydney!" he yelled. Sydney turned, finally.
"Sydney…" he gasped, coming up to her. "Why… were you… running?"
She shook her head, refusing to make eye contact with him, and staring at his feet. At last she realized something and said in a slightly confused tone, "Are you wearing a… a dress?"
Sirius looked down reflexively. "Uh…" Thankfully he had his boxers on still, but the hospital gown wasn't doing much for him and his… ahem… nether regions… especially after their heated kiss.
He looked up at Sydney. She looked like she was about to cry. "Yeah… yeah I guess I am…."
Then, Sydney burst out laughing. Recognizing the total stupidity of the situation, Sirius started to laugh too, until they were both on the floor, laughing like there was no tomorrow. They would attain some sort of control of themselves, then look at the other and burst out laughing again. After about five minutes of this, they finally calmed down enough to stop laughing.
Breathing heavily, Sirius asked, "So… is that a yes?"
Sydney stared at him. "No."
She got up, and started walking away. Sirius stared after her, crushed. Then, she turned around, looked at him, and then said, "Merlin, you should see your face right now! Of course it's a yes, you prat!"
She grinned, and Sirius grinned back. For a few moments, they stayed like that, grinning stupidly at one another. Then…
"I've got an essay to finish…" Sydney trailed off, looking awkward, her cheeks pink.
"Oh yeah, of course…"
"So… see you tomorrow?"
"Definitely."
Sydney walked off, smiling slightly.
Sirius started to walk away too, grinning like the luckiest man on earth.
