14. Patrols, smirks and footballers

Hallway at Hogwarts

Emilia's POV:

For the past three days, it seemed that everywhere I turned, I would either see Sirius or his cousins. I mean, I was literally on patrol and I saw Narcissa Black snogging Lucius Malfoy in a corner after hours. I didn't even bother breaking them up, I just went the other way and- I bumped into Sirius.

"Oh hey," he said. His hair was tied up today and he was wearing a pale grey jumper that framed his shoulders perfectly. The sleeves were rolled up, exposing the tan skin of his forearms.

I glanced over my shoulder, conscious of his cousin who was barely out of earshot.

Not really meeting his eyes- "What are you doing out after hours?" I said in my best Prefect voice, trying to get rid of him.

"Looking for you actually. Moony said you'd be here."

I frowned, "He's not supposed to divulge that information." I looked over my shoulder again, but she didn't seem to be listening.

"I got it out of him. Not his fault that I'm so damn persuasive."

I snorted, "You're just used to getting your own way."

"Are you calling me a brat?"

Sensing that we were treading into the flirting territory, I huffed and tried to go around him, but his hand wrapped around my wrist, stopping me (just like his mother, but I tried not to think about that).

"Where're you going?"

"I have to finish my rounds."

"I'll come with then."

"No go-" I stopped myself. He wasn't going away anytime soon. If he came with me, at least his cousin won't be there. "Fine, you can come."

He grinned and we started walking around the castle.

"Everything's so quiet and empty," Sirius said in awe.

I smiled, "Yeah. I don't think I'll ever get over it."

We settled into a comfortable silence, but my heart was beating so fast I was sure he could hear it. I could see him looking at me through the corner of my eye, but I didn't react.

Just one more floor, I thought.

When I was done, we started walking up to the Gryffindor common room. Right when we reached the Fat Lady, Sirius said, "Are you mad at me or something?"

"Um, no."

He pulled on my arm and made me face him. "Look at me, will you?"

I felt like I was going to melt at his words. I looked behind his shoulder, and then finally at him. His eyes were soft and he was frowning slightly. He looks tired, I noted.

"I am looking at you."

"Now you're looking at me."

I looked away again, unable to hold his gaze. He hooked a finger under my chin, holding my face in place. My skin tingled at his touch and I knew I was blushing.

"Are we okay? Or are you intimidated by my overwhelming popularity at school?" He smirked.

I laughed. "You wish."

He let go of my face and scanned it up and down. I found myself missing his touch. "Alright, then. Come on." He grabbed my hand and pulled us both through the portrait and into the common room.

We could be friends, right?

It felt like a wall had been knocked down, and by the time we reached my dorm, he had me clutching my stomach in laughter.

We came to a stop in front of my door. "What kind of a name is Wormtail? I asked, giggling. "Worms don't have tails."

He laughed too. A full laugh, not a smirk or a grin. "Well, this one does. And James came up with the names. You can't expect them to be factually correct." He wiggled his eyebrows, and I knew he was referencing that night at dinner. I also knew what was coming next.

"All you do is spit facts though. I am quite pretty."

I looked at my feet, blushing quietly. "Not more than me," I said.

He gave me the infamous Sirius Black smirk, one he used on all the girls and they would fall to his feet. The one I had seen him use on Eva. One which I had never, ever thought I would be on the receiving end of.

One which, until last year, I didn't want to be on the receiving end of.

Friends, Emilia. You're supposed to be friends. Get a grip.

"Another fact," he said. "You're on a roll, Emilia."

The way he said my name made butterflies erupt in my stomach and caused my cheeks to turn fire red.

I bit my lip from the inside.

"Good night, Sirius," I said, making my escape.

The next day, I was walking over to the Great Hall for breakfast when somebody crashed into me from behind.

"Oww," I said, falling over. Two hands grabbed me from behind before I hit the ground.

I turned to see that the one who'd caught me was Remus. And the one who'd made me almost kiss the floor was James.

"You alright?" Remus asked.

"Yeah, thanks." I gave him a once-over. "Are you okay? You look a bit- under the weather."

"Yeah, I- I'm just homesick, I guess. Always hard right after the hols."

I smiled, "Oh, you close to your folks?"

He nodded.

"That's sweet."

I looked over to James who was glancing off in the distance, clearly in his own world.

"Oi," I said, snapping my fingers in front of his face. He came to.

"What?" he asked.

"You just knocked me over."

"Oh, sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all.

I rolled my eyes. "What's going on with you? And what's- what's this? I asked, waving a hand at his poorly done up tie.

"What- oh," he said, undoing his tie, and trying to redo it.

"You let him out of the dorms like this?" I asked Remus. He grinned and shrugged.

James was still trying to do his tie, and was failing miserably.

I sighed dramatically. "You do know you're a wizard, right?" I pulled out my wand and waved it over his tie. It did itself perfectly.

"Thanks."

I nodded. "What's up?" I asked him.

"He's preoccupied over today's Quidditch try-outs," Remus answered for him.

I frowned, "Don't you do them every year?"

He huffed, "Yeah, but I have to find a Beater."

"Isn't that what the try-outs are for?"

He sighed. "When people try-out, they put down what position they're trying out for. Nobody's signed up for Beater," he said slowly, like he was explaining it to a small child.

I nodded, "Why don't you just put up an obstacle course or something to secretly find out who'd be passable as a Beater? I mean all Beaters do is punch around the Quaffle- doesn't really require inborn talent or something. Plus, most people would just be happy to be on the team, doesn't matter what they're playing."

He looked impressed. "Huh- that's actually really smart. Didn't expect that from you."

I frowned, "I'm smart."

"Not at Quidditch."

"I follow the game."

"Only because you think the players are hot."

I scoffed, "That is incredibly offensive and untrue. I follow it because I like to. And you're one to talk. You have a stack full of Muggle sports magazines just because you had a crush on that one blonde lady who played football."

His eyes widened, "How do you know that?"

"I told you, I'm smart."

Remus sniggered. "Does he really?"

I nodded, laughing as well. "Yeah. And he dog-ears the pages where she's featured."

"Emilia!" James yelled, as Remus and I doubled up in laughter.

"Oh wait, here comes Lily. Wait till I-"

"Emilia, I swear to Merlin-" James lunged at me. I dodged him and hid behind Remus, using him as a human shield. He was literally over six feet, and made for a great shield- even though he was practically shaking in laughter.

"Morning, men," I heard Sirius' voice. "What're you-" he asked at James, who was mid-lunge, but then he spotted me behind Remus and nodded in understanding. He pulled me out from behind Remus and asked James, "Really?"

James shrugged.

I was suddenly aware that we were in a very public place and Sirius was still holding my hand in clear sight of everyone. I dropped his hand and cleared my throat, "Umm, we should head in."

They all looked at me. James slightly frowned at the change in the mood.

Feeling awkward that they were just staring at me, I nodded slightly and made my way into the Great Hall.

"What did you do?" I heard James hiss, obviously to Sirius.

Damn it.