Chapter IX—Sirius Stupid, Stupid Mistake

"So…" Selene said at breakfast after I stopped and said hello to Potter and Black, "Since when are you best mates with James and Sirius?"

"We're not best mates," I said, "We're partners. James is Head Boy, and Sirius is in Potions with me."

"I thought you hated him though," she said, frowning deeply.

"I do…we're just forced to cooperate under said circumstances," I said primly, not meeting their gazes.

"Selene's right," Marlene was giving me a calculating look, "Something is not right. You're being overly nice to those two—James in particular. I'll ask him about it at practice if I have to," she threatened.

I just smiled breezily, "Whatever you think is right, Mar. Pass the marmalade, would you?"

"Evans," Black had appeared. He nodded at my friends before turning his attention back to me, "We need to talk."

I glanced at my breakfast and then back up at him, "Now?"

"Yes now," he said snappishly, "While Prongs is off with devil herself."

"Who—" Selene began, frowning deeply.

I coughed and shot him a look. He ignored it and pushed Marlene over to sit next to me.

"Watch it!" she snapped.

"Sorry, love," he said easily, glancing at her for half a moment, "I have urgent business to discuss with Evans here."

"I just want to eat my breakfast," I said tiredly, "It's not urgent anyway."

Sirius looked like he wanted to argue, so I just stuffed my toast in my mouth so I wouldn't have to talk. It worked for a little while. Selene was looking down at her own breakfast, glancing up nervously.

"So…" she shot a look at Marlene before looking back at Sirius, "How are you, Sirius?"

"Huh?" he had been looking at the doors to the Great Hall, "Oh. Spiffing. You know," he asked, glancing at her.

"Why are you sitting with us anyway?" Marlene asked, glaring at him. I think she's still mad that he stole her seat, "Don't you have some moronic friends to sit with?"

"I'm sitting with them now," he said cheekily.

"Har har," Marlene said sarcastically, "We're not friends."

I had finally swallowed my toast, so I added, "And we're not moronic. Can't you go bother Lupin?"

"This is much more fun," he insisted, "Besides, I'm waiting for Prongs and…" he twitched, "Vance."

"You're such a jerk," I said, laughing.

"Why are you guys so mean to her?" Selene demanded. She really looked annoyed now.

Oops.

"You're mates?" Sirius asked, raising his eyebrows at Selene. Selene blinked at him and said nothing. Luckily, I decided to save her by thwacking him on the head.

"You really are a jerk sometimes. Now seriously get lost before I hex you."

"Ah, Evans, that's no way to treat our new-founded friendship."

I felt my face heat up as both of my friends immediately turned and stared at me, "We're not friends, Black. We're partners—and that's it. Now we'll talk about…er…Potions later. Okay?"

"Whatever you say love," he said, breezily getting up and strolling out.

Immediately, Marlene hounded on me, "What do you mean you're friends? With Black? Lilllllly!"

"I can't believe you wouldn't tell me? You've been hanging out with Sirius?" Selene demanded accusingly.

"No, no, no!" I snapped, "We're not friends. He's just being a git. Now can I please eat my breakfast?"

Marlene grumbled, and Selene looked doubtful, but they both dropped the subject. I should have known that by this point, everything was going to end badly.

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I need to talk to you.

That was the letter that hit me in the back of the head. I turned around to look for the culprit. Sirius was staring at me. He smirked.

After glancing up at our Defense professor to make sure she was too busy lecturing to notice, I scribbled on the back of it.

Go away.

I tried to sneakily toss it over my shoulder. It missed. Sirius just grinned and summoned it with his wand. Ah. Right. I wasn't thinking.

It's about our plan.

You mean YOURplan.

Fine. My plan. I know how to break them up now.

Can we talk about it later? We should be listening to Professor Blakely.

And quit throwing notes at my head.

Why is Black throwing notes at your head?

I'll explain later, Mar.

Yeah, I don't know what is going on between the two of you.

Nothing's going on!

Right, I just read the note that was intended for you. It says: 'You and me—after class'. What the hell, Lily?

My note hit McKinnon. Oops, but hey, let's meet after class—in the corridor.

Fine.

Marlene, I'll explain it later.

Fine. Otherwise, I'm just going to have to assume you and Black are passing love notes.

"Oh please!" I said, turning around to face her, forgetting I was in class.

She sniggered as the class turned and looked at me including Professor Blakely.

"Excuse me?" she asked in surprise. I usually was one of the more behaved students (ahem, unlike Sirius and the Head Boy).

"Er—" I coughed, "It was so interesting, oh please, continue!" I attempted weakly.

Professor Blakely raised her eyebrows but nodded and returned to her lecture as everyone else snickered. I hate everyone. Especially Marlene and Sirius. They're both lousy mates. Well, except Sirius isn't my mate. He's just lousy in general, I suppose.

The bell rang, and Sirius was waiting outside the classroom.

"Just a moment," I muttered to Marlene as I approached him, "Okay, what was so urgent—" I was going to ask why he had felt the need to bombard me with his stupid notes during Defense, but I didn't get the opportunity.

Urgh.

You see…

I can barely say it.

He…

Ack.

Okay, breathe Lily. Breathe. Here it goes…

He…kissed me.

I need to go wash my mouth out. Ew. Not that he was a bad kisser, I guess. But it's Sirius Black—he probably has all sorts of germs—oh Merlin's pants!

I can't believe the idiot snogged me! Me! Lily Evans? What the hell was he thinking?

After I got over the shock of it all, I shoved him away and asked him precisely that, "What the hell, Black!"

"Go along with it," he muttered.

"No—this has gone too far—" I began furiously but broke off because Sirius was looking…smug? I turned to see half of our class in the corridor, staring at us. Right. I'd forgotten everyone was watching. Ah crap. Immediately, I felt my face flame up. Stupid, stupid Sirius!

"Are you kidding?" Marlene said finally. Her mouth was agape. Ah…she didn't look too pleased either. It wasn't a happy surprise…like oh look, I threw you a party…Surprise! No, it's like I can't believe you're snogging the enemy…Surprise! Oh dear.

"Uh," was all I could say. Yes. Of course I'm kidding! I wanted to shout. Instead I settled for, "It wasn't what it looked like," I began quickly.

"Yeah?" Selene asked, her face was red. Oh no. Dammit. Why did she have to fancy Sirius again? Selene glared at me before turning on her heel and stalking off. That was not good. How had I forgotten about Selene?

"Selene!" I yelled after her. I made my way to push through the crowd, but then Potter stepped in. Of course. He really did turn up in the must inoportune moments.

"You're dating Sirius?" he asked, looking confused and almost…hurt? I really didn't care at this point. Selene, however, had disappeared out of sight. Great. Now it was going to be impossible to find her. Stupid Potter.

"Wha—no, Potter, get off—!" I said, trying to shove him out of my face. Why was everyone just staning here and staring at me?

"Yes, we're dating," Sirius said, smoothly, putting his arm around me so tightly that I could barely breathe, "Isn't that right, love?" he asked, pinching my elbow. Ha. Like that would keep me quiet. I glared at him.

"Sirius, no. We are not dating. This was not part of the deal—" I hissed furiously. How could he do this? How could he just kiss me like it was no big deal. Excuse me! My permission? Did he even consider asking me if it would be alright for him to snog me in the corridor? I know that my face is probably a blotchy red by this point because I'm getting more furious with every given moment.

"So you've just been sleeping with him?" Emmeline asked, her eyes widening.

I knew I never liked her.

"No—"

"Lily," James said quietly but his anger was obvious. For some reason that shut me up. "Not here, okay?" Then he shot Emmeline a look and hissed at her, "What did you go have to say that for?"

Ha. He's pissed at Emmeline….but what the hell is he angry at me for?

"You know it's true—" she began snottily.

Like I said: I really, really don't like her.

"LILY EVANS!" Marlene interrupted. Ah…you see, Marlene doesn't like being ignored. Turns out she hadn't followed Selene but instead was watching the scene unfold. She was eyeing everyone with her deadly glare. Seriously. It's the most frightening thing I've ever had the misfortune to witness. I think even Black looked frightened by her after her next line.

"You are not going anywhere with anyone until I talk to you—shove off Black before I kick your ARSE!" she added as Sirius opened his mouth. Then, she pulled me by the arm and out of everyone's reach and dragged me away.

We made it to the grounds with me stumbling after Marlene as she huffed in her silent anger. She eyed me distrustfully, "Explain," she demanded, her eyes still fiery. Terrifying. I resisted my shudder and gave a lame explanation.

"It's complicated," I managed meekly.

What had I gotten myself into?

"It's complicated?" she echoed, her eyebrows raising, "I don't think so, Lily Marie," she gave me another one of her glares. I sighed.

"Well I don't know what Sirius is thinking—urgh! I mean, I know that I'm the other woman but I don't see what any of that made him think—"

"You're what?"

"Er—that's what Sirius said. He's convinced that James still fancies me secretly, and that I'm the other woman—which I'm not. He's really not all there, I don't think."

"Obviously," Marlene said, rolling her eyes. She waited for a moment, "Is that it?"

"Er—yeah."

You know, except that Sirius and I are trying to break up Emmeline and James. But Marlene doesn't really need to know that...I still can't really understand how I got invovled with that in the first place.

Marlene gave me a very long look that I couldn't read. Then she scoffed and shook her head, "You're unbelievable, you know that? You expect me to believe that?"

Er—yes?

"I don't know what sort of deal you've struck with Black, but I never thought you were the type to…" she trailed off and gave me a scathing look, "Do you realize what you've done to Selene? I can't believe you, Lily. This is absolutely bloody ridiculous!" she shouted.

"I know! I didn't mean to—it's all Sirius' fault!" I yelled back.

That was my most convincing argument. I know. How sad. Marlene didn't appreciate it. Although, I would like to back it up and say that it is a hundred percent true because none of this would have happened if Sirius Black didn't exist. None of it. Marlene was still giving me the evil eye.

"Grow up, Lily," she said, glaring at me and stalking off, leaving me alone in the courtyard.

I don't know how I got caught up in all of this. It was an awful idea from the start.

And as I said, it's all Sirius' fault.