Sirius
I couldn't keep my eyes off Sam the entire night. I don't know what it is, but she's changed since last year. I know James noticed because he kept shooting me suspicious glances. I'm surprised he hasn't brought it up yet. It's coming I know. I'll be answering his questions soon. It would be hard to answer about things I'm not even sure of myself yet. Why do things have to be so complicated?
James is sitting on his bed playing with one of his snitches. I sigh. Does he ever do anything else? Remus is reading as usual, and Peter is snoring. I sit up looking around the room bored out of my mind. The bed squeaks slightly, and James suddenly sits up bolt right.
"Padfoot?" he asks. I sigh. Here we go.
"Yes Prongs?" I say as casually as I can, which in my head is not very casual at all. James' outburst got Remus' attention, and he's now watching us intently.
"I have a question," he asks. Was he really going to drag this on as long as possible?
"Ok," I say.
"Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" he asks seriously. I almost burst out laughing. It sounded like I was in court! I don't though because the question scares me. I'd come up with that a long time ago when I decided we shouldn't keep secrets from each other. That was right after we found out Remus was a werewolf. If you don't answer truthfully, a spell was cast that forces the truth out of you.
"I-I guess," I say somewhat uncertainly. James seems to take my answer as a yes.
"Do you like Sam?" he asks looking right at me. I bite my lip hesitating, but knowing if I don't answer soon, the spell will take effect.
"Yes," I whisper so softly I can barely hear myself. That one word puts everything into reality. I never really admitted it even to myself until just now, but I had no doubts now.
James smiles in his knowing way. "Told you Moony," he says holding out his hand. Grumbling, Remus gives him two galleons. I stare at them.
"You were betting on me?" I say shocked. No, I'm not really shocked. I almost expected it.
"Yes. Now we're going to work on you asking her out," James says grinning evily. Wait. What? Asking Sam out? No. No way. Not happening.
"No no no," I say quickly.
"Why not?" Remus asks innocently.
"Why won't you ask Kaelin out!" I snap, and he shuts up looking at the floor.
"I never thought I'd say this," James starts. "But are my two best friends really going to let the girls they've known since 1st year be taken by some other guy?"
That puts things in perspective. Some other guy? Now that I think about it, they have been catching the eyes of most of the school population lately. Remus must be thinking the same thing because he's silent.
"That's what I thought," James says. "Now Padfoot. You're going to go talk to Kaelin. She's the best at this kind of advice thing. Moony, you will talk to Sam."
"I don't want to talk to Kaelin! She's scary!" I cry. It was true, plus I really didn't want to get slapped again. Too late, I notice the door is open. A slightly angry Kaelin stands there.
"You think I'm scary?" she asks. I nod. "I'm not scary!" She sound slightly upset.
"Ok! Not scary! Nope, not you!" I say covering up my mistake. "Wait, what are you doing here anyways?"
"I came to get my book back from Moony," she says slightly blushing. Remus picks a book up from his nightstand and throws it to her. She catches it clumsily, but doesn't drop it.
"Exactly how much did you hear?" Remus asks hesitantly. She pauses.
"Something about Padfoot talking to me and thinking I'm scary," she says. Remus looks relieved. "So Padfoot? What did you want to talk to me about?" she asks.
"Nothing!" I say quickly. She raises an eyebrow. James smirks.
"Go ahead Padfoot, tell her!" he says. I shake my head. "Fine then, I will. Padfoot here has a crush on Sam!"
"No!" I say at the same time Kaelin shrieks, "I knew it!"
"Padfoot, don't lie." Remus says. I glare at him.
"Do you really?" she asks looking excited. I hesitate. She could very well go wake Sam up right now and tell her. I don't think she would though, so I nod slightly not looking at her.
"Great! I know she likes you too! When are you gonna ask her out?" she's talking so fast I can barely hear her.
"Never!" I say forcefully. Apparently not forcefully enough.
"Padfoot is scared to ask a girl out? What has the world come to?" James says in mock horror. I glare at him too.
"Padfoot, why not?" Kaelin asks sitting down on my bed. I don't answer. I don't even know myself really.
"I don't know," I mumble.
"You don't know!" Padfoot! Man up and ask her out before some other guy does!" she cries. That shakes some sense into me. Another guy?
"Another guy?" I say horrified.
"Yes another guy. In case you haven't noticed, Sam's a lot different this year,' she says. Oh I've noticed all right. "Guys have been staring at her since we got on the train!" They have? What!
"No," I say stubbornly. Kaelin shakes her head getting up.
"Ok fine, but when you miss your chance with her, don't come crying to me." She says leaving the room. I groan falling back onto my bed. Why can't things ever be easy?