The only thing I have to say is that Elvora's middle name is pronounced Share-sten. Just thought that I'd tell you that, since it's in this chapter. And yes, the contract is stupid. Very stupid. But hey, it's not like they're lawyers. They're just teenagers.

Chapter 2: The Bet (Aka, the Catalyst)

The sorting was the same as usual; James and Sirius moaning about how they needed their food, while Lily and Nellie tried to decide which of the new Gryffindors would be the smartest. I sat with Mary McDonald, the other sixth year from our house, as we both stayed quiet and spaced out.

See, that's one thing I like about Mary. If you want to be left alone, she'll leave you alone. She's not exactly shy, but Mary's kind of...antisocial, I guess. If she needs to talk, she will, and she has no problem with it, but she thinks it's pointless to have a meaningless conversation with some she hardly knows. Alice, Lily, and I are really the only ones that she'll talk to. Sometimes I'm amazed that she even bothers with me, especially considering how much she and Nellie hate each other.

There were eight first years placed into Gryffindor, five of which were boys. There weren't very many Slytherins, either, and as James so kindly pointed out, the ones who were put into Slytherin didn't look very cunning. They just looked like they would do whatever their 'leader' told them to.

And I pointed out that that could be just as dangerous as the cunning ones.

I mean, really, they'll do anything the Oh-so-evil leader tells them to. I don't think that means that they're not a threat.

Of course, when you group them with Bellatrix Black, I'm sure they look like meek three-legged kittens.

Dumbledore made his usual speech, telling us to stay away from the forest, (He stared pointedly at the Marauders and I) and telling us that Filch's list of banned things had grown. James and Sirius glared at Dumbledore through the whole speech, no doubt waiting for their food to appear. When it did, the look on James' face made me think that Lily had finally said yes to him.

Except that couldn't happen yet, so I'm guessing he was just really excited to get his food.

"So, Daelia, why did you never write back this summer?" Lily asked as she reached for the traditional chicken. (I seriously think that they serve that everywhere. Even in huge fancy boarding schools for magical people where elves serve you your food.)

I swallowed my pumpkin juice and cleared my throat. "Oh, we were just really busy. I was with my sister and her husband, and they decided to rent a cottage in Ireland for the summer..." Okay, so at least this wasn't entirely a lie. Yes, they'd rented a cottage in Ireland. Not just for fun, but they'd still rented it. Of course, she didn't need to know why I really hadn't written her...

The meaningless chatter of the students of Hogwarts was calming, even if it was insanely loud. I'd been stuck with just Evangeline and Marcus to talk to all summer, and it's not like they ever had anything nice to say. So I just sat back and scarfed down some food, listening to the conversations going on around me. James and Sirius were telling Remus about some prank they'd pulled over the summer, Nellie and Lily were talking about Lily's sister, (Who was apparently engaged to a scary walrus of a man that Lily despised) and Alice and Mary were chattering about how fun their summers had been.

I tried to ignore that conversation, though.

After about fifteen minutes, I zoned out a bit, focusing mainly on the fact that I was eating real food again. I didn't even realize that it was over until Sirius came right up behind me and whispered into my ear, "Come on, Muffin, there's no food left, and I really hope that you're not planning to eat the table. I'm not in the mood to go to the hospital wing on the first night back. Although I guess seeing you eat a table would be quite amusing, Muffin. . ."

I jumped at the sound of his voice and scowled at the nickname. I looked around the Great Hall, only to see that it was entirely empty other than the few people who were still trying to get out the doors. Wordlessly, I stood up and walked out of the Great Hall, starting up the first flight of stairs.

Black (I can never decide whether to call him Sirius or Black. The first makes it seem like I actually like him, but the second implies cold indifference, neither of which I like very much.) was trailing right behind me, and by the time we got to the third floor, I couldn't stand the silence.

Silence has never been my friend.

And besides, I could feel Sirius' amusement. And I don't like it when he's amused. Especially considering I knew that he was amused because he knew of my hatred of silence, and he wasn't starting a conversation because of that very reason. He was practically forcing me to talk to him.

"You know the one reason I hate being in Gryffindor?" I mused, a little angry at the fact that I actually had to willingly speak to him.

"And what's that reason, Muffin?"

For once, I ignored the nickname. "I seriously think that we're the farthest away from the Great Hall. And the Great Hall is where all of our food is. So when we're hungry, we've got to find these stupid staircases, which takes enough time itself, but then we've got to go down every flight, too. And if you're really tired, then you have to go up every flight of stairs just to get some sleep. And the stupid bloody staircases always decide that they want to move. I swear, it's like they want me to starve to death." I took a deep breath, now that I was done with my rant.

Although we were walking, he stared at me for a moment before laughing. "Ah, the summer just wasn't the same without you, Muffin."

Yeah. My summer wasn't the same, either. You got to run away to safe confines of the Potter Manor. I got locked in a cement basement.

Looks like our summers were quite different, Sirius.

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

We were all too hyped up to go to sleep, so Alice, Lily, Mary, Nellie, and I all sat on the floor in the middle of our dormitory, talking about nonsensical things and telling stories that were actually quite amusing.

"Oh! I forgot to tell you that you're extremely lucky to have me as a friend, Lily, because I convinced James not to ask you out in front of the whole school tomorrow morning." I said to her.

It was true. When Sirius and I had come into the common room, I could already see that James was planning an attack on Lily.

And I couldn't let her say yes. Not until seventh year. I refuse to lose that bet!

Lily rolled her eyes. "Yes, you are the ultimate friend of all friends. But I saw you and Sirius come in. Are you sure you weren't just trying to spread your...happiness?" She asked, one perfect red eyebrow arched.

I shuddered. "Never. Just...never. No. That's just...wrong. Black is an arrogant man whore who will never have a girlfriend for more than a month." They all nodded in agreement.

Unfortunately, Mary decided that she had to add in her two cents.

"Well, that may be true, Dae, but you seem to be the only girl that he willingly talks to without wanting to take you to the broom closet."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure he wants to take her there." Alice added, sounding much too amused.

Unfortunately, (again) Elvora and Shannen decided that they needed to get into this conversation, too.

None of us had noticed that they were even here. Last we'd seen them, they were both downstairs in the common room, already gossiping.

"So, Daelia," Elvora started, hand on her hip with Shannen behind her, imitating the movement, "You think Black likes you?"

I rolled my eyes. "He likes to annoy me. As for the broom closet thing, Black will shag anything with legs."

She sneered at me. "Yeah, right. Like he wants to shag you."

I rolled my eyes at her again. "He wants to shag everyone, Elvora. That's precisely why he's a man whore."

She looked strangely smug, and the malicious glitter in her eyes made me think she had an idea.

One that I was not going to like.

"Well, I bet that I could get him to be...exclusive for more than a month."

Lily and I both snorted. "No chance, Elvora. No chance at all." I stated.

She still looked smug. "Well, I vote we make a little bet, then."

I froze. Bets are kind of my. . . weakness, I guess. I've got a lot of pride, and. . . sometimes I feel like that's all I've got. Everyone knows that I never back out on a dare, and that I can hardly ever resist bets.

But this was Elvora Hardsgrove. And she always has some kind of hidden agenda.

Nellie, sensing my hesitation, said, "And what exactly would this bet be?"

"Yes, do tell, Elvora. Because I'm certain that there's only one person that Black can keep interest in." Lily added, her eyes flicking to me quickly, and then back to Elvora.

Elvora looked a little angry, but smirked nonetheless. "By the end of seventh year, I bet that I can get Sirius to be in an exclusive relationship with me for two months."

And this is the part where I want to strangle Lily, because this is when decided to say, "Okay. But we bet you that Daelia can get Black before you."

I sat there, stunned, as Alice, Mary, and Nellie all nodded.

Yes. Way to go, Nellie. I though you were supposed to be my best friend.

Elvora looked towards me, still looking entirely too smug for my taste. "So, Daelia? What do you say?" Even her voice sounded smug.

She knew I would say no.

Which is why I said, "Fine."

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

When I woke up in the morning, what I'd done finally hit me full force.

I was going to try to get Sirius Black to date me. Exclusively. For two months. By seventh year, I had to have this done, and Elvora couldn't have it done before me.

Well, I knew that Sirius didn't like Elvora very much, so that part didn't worry me.

It was the 'exclusive' part. Even if I could get Sirius to stay with me for two months, there was no way he would do it without going off to shag someone else.

Because we weren't allowed to shag him, either.

Which, don't get me wrong, was perfectly fine with me, considering I would never do that with him, but I knew how much harder that would make it.

Lily had even had the nerve to make a list of rules for this bet, and even made us sign a contract. It wasn't very professional, but she had come up with it on the spot and written it in less than five minutes.

By the end of seventh year, one of the two of you, Daelia Elena Eckhart and Elvora Cherston Hardsgrove, must have been in an exclusive relationship with Sirius Orion Black for two months with no shagging, blackmail, potions or spells. Sirius Orion Black may not be told about this arrangement. The winner must be paid thirty galleons, and if Miss Daelia Elena Eckhart is to win, Miss Elvora Cheston Hardsgrove must agree to anything Miss Daelia Elena Eckhart tells and/or orders her to do for two weeks. If Miss Elvora Cherston Eckhart is to win, then Miss Daelia Elena Eckhart must do anything Miss Elvora Cherston Eckhart tells and/or orders her to do. Whoever accomplishes this task first wins.

At the bottom, she had us both sign our names. Elvora still looked smug, though not as much as when she thought I would say no, I noted with satisfaction.

But now that I was sitting across from him at the Gryffindor table while I ate toast and McGonagall went around, checking and giving us our schedules, I couldn't believe that I'd agreed to this.

Elvora was shamelessly throwing herself at him while he dutifully ignored her, opting to talk to James and Alice instead.

I didn't think that Elvora would win. But it's not like I can see the future.

Elvora may be a bitch that gets off on other people's misery, but she's clever and cunning, and sometimes I'm surprised that she wasn't placed in Slytherin. There's always a chance that she could find a loophole, find a way around those rules.

At least I had until the end of seventh year. There was no way I was ready to do this now.

When McGonagall came to us, I learned that I had the exact same schedule as Black, other than the fact that I took Ancient Runes and he didn't.

Oh, Merlin.

And as if that wasn't bad enough, Elvora had most of those classes too.

Although she hadn't passed Herbology. That made me happier than I'd like to admit.

Review. Do it. I've already got over half of this story written. (Doesn't mean it's typed though...) Give me enough reviews telling me to post them, and you get them. REVIEW. I see the hits. As of now, there have been 96 hits. And you want to know how many reviews I've gotten? ONE. Go review. Please.

HEYYYY. Does anyone want a beta? Because I would really like to be one. I mean, I already am, but it would be nice for another story. I get back very quickly, and I like to edit. (Just not my own stuff, because, you know, I've already written it and never like to go over it again because then I'll end up changing the whole thing.)