Chapter Two

Swirl me around your room with feeling

And as we twirl, the glow in the dark stars on your ceiling

Will shine for us, as love sweeps over the room

'Cause we tend to make each other blush, you make me blush…

"The Bird and the Worm," Owl City

"Thank goodness for Potions with the Gryffindors," Emmeline Vance whispered with a smile on her face to Olivia Montmorency as they settled into two seats at a table in the back of the dungeons where Potions class took place.

"Why is that?" Olivia asked, despite the fact that she somehow couldn't take her eyes off of Sirius Black. Although he seemed to be completely oblivious to her presence, Olivia found herself bizarrely aware of him at all times. There was no way she'd be able to pay attention to Potions (or pass it) if he was going to be here all year.

"Because there's a possibility that Slughorn will match us up with them. Or at least seat us near them. I want to spend as much time with Remus as possible," Emme confessed, flushing a pretty pink hue.

"Ah," Olivia replied, nodding. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she was feeling quite the same way about Sirius. There was just one problem – so far, she'd only spent a total of one afternoon with the boy.

"We should try to set you up with one of their friends," Emme mused.

"What? Why?" Olivia asked, bewildered and blushing. Was her obsession so obvious?

"Because then you and I will be able to go on double dates," Emme replied, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "It would make things so much less awkward if Remus was with one of his friends and I was with one of mine and we were all out together. Don't you think? And you haven't had a boyfriend in so long."

"Try ever," Olivia grumbled.

"That's not true, Liv! What about Ted Thompkins last spring? He was quite enamored with you!" Emme protested.

Olivia snorted. Ted Thompkins was a little fifth year who'd followed her all over the place, begging her to go to Madam Puddifoot's on the next Hogsmeade trip. It was quite embarrassing. "You know he doesn't count, Emme. We didn't date; he just stalked me."

Emme shrugged. "It's something. Anyway… we can't set you up with James. He's practically engaged to Lily Evans."

"Really?" Olivia asked, shocked.

"Well, it's not official yet, obviously. I don't think they've even confirmed that they're dating. But all you need to do is watch them to realize that it's going to happen eventually. Maybe Sirius…"

Olivia's heart skipped a beat at the idea of dating Sirius Black. "No, Emme, he'd never be interested in me."

"Nonsense! You're gorgeous, and intelligent, and a total sweetheart. He'd be crazy not to be interested in you… still, it would probably be stressful to date him. Too many girls chasing after him. That leaves Peter Pettigrew. He wouldn't be my first pick, but James is pretty much taken, and apparently you think Sirius is unattainable, so…"

Olivia wrinkled her nose in disgust. She was nowhere near desperate enough to date Peter Pettigrew. Why, just this very minute, he was trying to impress his friends by belching quite loudly. "No thank you, Emme. I suppose if you're quite intent on setting me up with one of Remus' friends Sirius will have to do," she replied, trying to sound uninterested.

"Knew you'd come to your senses," Emme said smugly.

"Attention class! Attention!" Professor Slughorn greeted the class loudly as he entered the dungeons from his adjoining office. He looked quite as flamboyant as always, wearing terribly expensive robes that were far too fancy to be wearing to teach Potions class. Olivia assumed that they'd been given to him by one of his prestigious lifetime members of the notorious Slug Club. She'd never been invited to join, but Emme, Remus, and Lily were all members. "Welcome back to Hogwarts and, most importantly, everyone's favorite subject, Potions!" He paused momentarily for everyone to pretend to laugh. Slughorn grinned – feigned enthusiasm always boosted his ego, which constantly needed primping. "I hope you all had delightful summers, but now it's time to get back to work. Please line up against the back wall while I match each of you up with a partner and assign your seats."

The students did as they were told. Emme and Olivia somehow found their way to a patch of wall next to the Marauders. "Hi, Remus," Emme said, smiling sweetly.

The tall, scruffy-looking boy grinned back at Emme. "Hey Em," he replied.

"No hello again, Miss Montmorency?" Sirius asked Olivia, raising an eyebrow.

"Sorry, Sirius. Hi," Olivia said, blushing.

"No need to be embarrassed," Sirius said, grinning. "Though you do look lovely with your cheeks pink like that."

"Thanks," Olivia said, scarcely believing her ears. Sirius Black thought she looked lovely?

"This shouldn't be too difficult – he seems quite taken with you already!" Emme whispered in Olivia's ear excitedly.

Professor Slughorn cleared his throat and the room fell silent as the students awaited instructions. "Alright, let me see… let's put Mr. Potter and Miss Evans right here, front and center – my star pupil right in front where I can see her, and my most mischievous one where I can keep an eye on him." James cheered in excitement, causing Lily to blush as they made their way to the front of the room. "Ah, two lovebirds?" Slughorn asked, raising an eyebrow coyly. "How sweet – no PDA on my watch, though, beware! Now, who next?" Slughorn scanned the room. "Hmm… Montmorency here, to the left of Potter and Evans… and Mr. Black can accompany her. That seems to be a good match up."

Olivia could scarcely believe her ears. "Come, partner!" Sirius ordered pompously, grabbing her elbow and half-dragging Olivia as he pranced to the front of the classroom.

The class giggled and Olivia blushed. She turned to Emme, mouthing "Help!" but Emme just flashed her a thumbs-up.

Slughorn continued to pair students up, but Sirius apparently had no interest in listening to who would become partners with whom. "You know, Montmorency, if you're going to be my Potions partner, you're going to have to speak to me," Sirius pointed out.

"I know that," Olivia replied indignantly. "I don't know why you keep making such a big deal about me not talking. I'm just shy, that's all."

"No need to be shy with me," Sirius countered cheerfully. "I'm never shy."

"I've noticed."

"So why are you shy with me if I'm not shy with you?" Sirius asked.

"I don't know," Olivia replied. "I just am."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I guess I'm intimidated."

"I'm intimidating?" Sirius asked, acting shocked.

"Oh please, you know you are. You're a Marauder. You're in the most popular group at school. I'm just Olivia Montmorency. I'm just a Ravenclaw girl that no one knows. You had no idea who I was until we were on the Hogwarts Express together. I don't know why you want me to talk to you. I'm no one special," Olivia said, so confused. She was glad that he was giving her attention – it certainly felt good. But why was he? Was it some sort of sick joke? Did he just want to have sex with her like he did with every other girl? Was she just someone new? Or did Sirius actually have some legitimate interest in her? The latter option was the only want that Olivia would ever accept, and she found it highly unlikely that it was the truth.

"That's where you're wrong, Montmorency. I think you're quite special," Sirius corrected her.

"Why's that?"

"Because I've never noticed you before, and I'm not sure how you managed to escape my attention."

"Alright class, simmer down, simmer down," Slughorn said above the chatter of voices that had erupted as students had been assigned seats. "Now, today we're going to discuss the properties of moonstone…" Olivia spent the rest of the class trying to simultaneously take notes on moonstone and decipher whatever Sirius meant by her being someone special.

A/N: I'm glad you all seem to be enjoying the story so far! Please please please leave reviews with both positive and negative comments. I need to know what's wrong so I can make this better. Please keep in mind that if you're going to point out what needs to be improved that constructive criticism is encouraged - please try not to be too insulting.

Also, I am currently seaching for a beta reader for this story. So, if you are beta reader and you are interested in taking on another story, please let me know. I need someone to look at both grammar and character/plot development.

Thanks for any help you can give me! :)