Chapter Two: The Bet

" Ah, take that, Snivellus, you greasy git!" Sirius yelled, flicking a spoonful of porridge across the table at Severus Snape. The students who'd remained at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays were all seated at one table in the great hall, as was the staff.

" Mr. Black, that is quite enough. And you, Mr. Potter, can stop as well." Dumbledore interceded. James had just finished dumping a pitcher of pumpkin juice onto Lucius Malfoy's head.

" Sorry, Proffessor." James apologised, grinning and putting down the now empty pitcher, not looking the least bit sorry.

Just then, Tacey entered the Great Hall and sat down at the opposite end of the table from where Sirius was seated. This did not stop him. He got up out of his seat and deliberately walked over to where Tacey sat and took a chair beside her. Sirius had determined that Tacey was in fact, hopelessly in love with him but was hesitant to reveal her true feelings for god knows what reason. His goal was now to bring forth said feelings and therefore achieve his ultimate goal of having all the girls in the school openly adore him.

" Please go away." Tacey moaned, piteously.

Sirius flashed his brightest, whitest most charming smile and said,

" Ok you can drop the act. Every one knows your crazy about me."

Tacey turned to him, a look of sheer disgust on her face.

" I hate you. Or hadn't you guessed that from the bloody nose?"

Sirius waved a hand dismissively.

" I know that was just so you could keep your 'dignity'. But it doesn't matter now, you can show your true feelings."

Tacey sighed, defeatedly. She looked up at Sirius and batted her eyelashes at him. Leaning dangerously close to him, she put a hand on his chest.

" You know, Sirius, you're right. All I want to do is kiss you and hold you and be with you all the time."

Her voice was seductively low and her hand slid up his chest and rested on his shoulder. Sirius smiled and leaned closer.

" Really?" He asked, about to kiss her.

" No." She replied, firmly, slapping him hard across the face.

Sirius' head whipped harshly to the side.

" Now leave me alone." Growled Tacey, throwing an egg at him. This hit him in the face splattering him with egg goop and he fell off the bench.

" Mr. Black, that is quite enough." Snapped Dumbledore.

" But Professor Dumbleodore, sir, this time it really wasn't my fault." Sirius said, trying in vain to wipe the egg goop onto the sleeve of his robes.

" No, Professor Dumbledore, sir, it really was his fault." Said Tacey, smugly, smirking down at Sirius.

" That is enough, you two, now eat your breakfasts in peace."

" Yes, Professor." Was grumbled from both parties. Sirius trudged back to where his friends were seated.

" Looks like that went over well." James noted, sarcastically.

Sirius shrugged, now grabbing a napkin to wipe the egg goop with.

" She's just playing hard to get. Believe me, she'll be all over me by in a week."

James raised his eyebrows.

" Care to make a small wager on that, Padfoot?"

The egg goop was now almost completely gone and a certain glimmer appeared in his eyes as he heard the wager.

" Well, Prongs, that's an interesting proposal. What kind of wager?"

" How about twenty galleons? I'm betting you won't be able to do it, and you're betting you will. You have until next Monday. Deal?"

James stuck out his hand, implying that they were to shake on it. Sirius grinned.

" You got it, Prongs. You're gonna' be sorry when you're paying me twenty galleons at next Monday."

With that, they shook hands.