Author's Note

I'm sorry! I know I said this chapter would be out like 3 days ago but real life got in the way this week (don't you hate when that happens?). Long story short, I've been spending about 10-12 hours a day at my high school, about half of that time actually in classes, the other half practicing with our interns and teachers for a music competition coming up. It's been crazy to say the least. Concert season is so intense! I miss marching season more than anything in the world right now. How many more months till August...? D:

But anyway, here is Chapter 14. The "plan" you'll read about is going to go into action next chapter. I was going to fit it in to this one but I didn't want to rush things!

And thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to all the lovely, wonderful, amazing people who reviewed last chapter! I appreciate it more than you will ever know!

As always, read, enjoy, and please review!

Disclaimer: I don't own HP!

14. Unnerved

"So lately I've been thinking," said Sirius in a low voice, as we sat on a couch in the common room that evening, waiting for the rest of our friends to join us. "that you and I need to try and get Lily and James together."

"You're always trying to get Lily and James together," I told him, concentrating on the Herbology essay in front of me.

"Well, yes, that's true. It's my duty, as best friend." said Sirius, placing a hand dramatically on his chest. "But, I think that if we combined our efforts—"

"And my duty as best friend is to protect Lily from being thrown into awkward situations." I countered, though I knew full well I would probably help Sirius out with whatever he had in mind. Lily liked James, whether she wanted to admit it or not, and I wanted them to be together.

As if he had read my mind, Sirius said, "Okay, yeah, but you and I both know they're perfect for each other! And anyway, I can tell that she likes him. It was really only a matter of time."

"Uh huh. Well, go ask Remus to help you." I said offhandedly, pretending to focus on my essay, which I knew would bother him. He wanted my full attention.

"Addy!" he whined, scooting towards me on the couch in an effort to draw my eyes away from the parchment. "This is about the lifetime happiness of our friends! The parents of our future god-children! It's serious business!"

"Hey, I want to finish this essay before midnight, thank you very much!" I replied, trying to push away his hand that was reaching out to grab my quill.

"You're Lily's wing-woman!" said Sirius, dramatic as always. "You have to look out for her! She has no other girl-friends to do this. Be responsible!"

"I'm sure Lily has other friends that would be happy to play match-maker with you." I said, my brow furrowed as I reread my introductory paragraph for probably the fifth time. Although at this point, I was just enjoying the grief I was putting Sirius through.

"She doesn't! You know every other girl in our year is horribly jealous of dear Lily. And besides, I want to do this with you!" he said, frustrated. "Now, put down that essay for two minutes and pay attention to my genius plan. Please?"

I have to admit, inside I got that bubbly feeling all the way down to my toes when he said "I want to do this with you!". Why was it that everything Sirius Black did made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

And easy to break. "Fine." I said, turning to face him and feigning grumpiness. Inside I was content. I could help Lily find happiness, and spend time with Sirius? It was a win-win by any definition. "Wow me with your fancy plan."

Sirius's plan was not fancy. Actually, it was so elementary that I vaguely wondered if Peter had been the true mastermind.

But the enthusiasm with which Sirius viewed the upcoming event made me think that he had probably tried many elaborate schemes, and none of them had worked. So now, he was going for the straightforward approach.

The day finally arrived when our little plan was to be put into action. It was the first Hogsmeade trip of the new year, and my first Hogsmeade trip ever (mother and father had forbidden me from going after hearing about my House placement, but Dumbledore was now giving me special permission).

That morning, Lily and I were in our dormitory, getting ready for the outing, her blissfully unaware of what Sirius and I were trying to do.

"Which jacket should I wear?" asked Lily, holding up a dark blue pea-coat in one hand and a light pink wind breaker in the other.

"The blue one, Lils." I said, digging through my own dresser for my favorite dark gray cardigan. "James likes that one."

"Really?" said Lily, a little too quickly and a little too high-pitched, blushing slightly. "Oh."

I grinned at her, thinking this plan might work after all. "Don't tell me you're trying to impress Potter?" I asked, feigning disbelief. "I thought you hated him!"

She blushed more, then stuck her tongue out at me. "Oh, do shut up! You've been looking for that cardigan for the past twenty minutes! And I saw you put on makeup this morning! I'm not the only one trying to impress a boy!"

It was my turn to redden, though a little laugh escaped me as I finally tugged the cardigan out of the drawer and held it up victoriously. "Damn right I am." I said, putting it on and checking my reflection in the mirror. "And it better be worth it. I had to wake up thirty minutes earlier than usual, just to put this together."

"Oh, it will be." said Lily, putting on her own jacket and looping her arm in mine. "You look like a million bucks. Now let's go turn some heads!"

We descended the stairs, outfitted in our carefully picked-out clothes. I wore dark blue skinny jeans, black ankle boots, a dark green, long-sleeved shirt and the elusive cardigan. Lily was dressed in a similar fashion: turquoise sweater-dress, black leggings, black boots and the pea coat over top.

I glanced over at my best friend as we made our way down to the common room, and thought how true Sirius's comment from the other night had really been. All the other girls in our year—as well as really all the years—were terribly jealous of Lily, and with good reason. She was smart, funny, beautiful, and had the heart of one of the most popular boys at school.

It was a wonder I didn't hate her just as much as those other girls, but then again, I had been raised to be the subject of jealousy, not the other way around. And though there were times that I did envy Lily, I was content with my own self.

And I was incredibly proud to be Lily's friend. In all truth, I had been shocked when she had confided in me, one night when I was staying at her house over the winter holiday, that she had never had many friends growing up, except for Severus Snape. And after their falling out a few months ago, her only real friend had been Remus until me and the rest of the marauders had entered the equation. It seemed almost unjust that one of the greatest people I had ever met had gone through such a period of loneliness. Of all people, Lily deserved to have wonderful friends.

I tore my thoughts away from Lily's social life and back to the warmth and comfort of the common room.

I looked around and quickly located James and Sirius leaning against one wall. James, unsurprisingly, was grinning like an idiot.

"You look wonderful, Lily, my love." he said, striding towards her, a look of adoration in his eyes.

I tore my eyes away from Lily and our love-sick friend and turned to Sirius, wearing jeans and a dark grey sweater. He was leaning against the wall, the picture of ease, his eyes sweeping up my form until finally resting on my eyes.

I raised my eyebrows at him, smirking. He winked. "Checking me out, Black?" I asked, stepping up closer to him, a smile playing on my lips.

"I'll never tell." was his quick reply.

I laughed at this, turning my back to him and following Lily and James, who were almost to the portrait-hole. Flirting, albeit not my strong point, was rather entertaining when it came to Sirius. And although I knew that he was the womanizer of the entire school and a huge flirt, there was that little part of me still holding on tightly to the hope that I wasn't just another girl for him to admire and joke around with. I wanted to be the girl, the only one, as romantic an idea as it was.

Either way, though, I was undeniably drawn to Sirius Black, and I knew I couldn't stay away from him, even if I wanted to.

"Flirting with Sirius, are we?" Lily asked in a whisper as we walked a few yards in front of the boys on the way to Hogsmeade.

I shrugged my shoulders at her, trying to act like it was no big deal. Because, to Sirius anyway, it probably wasn't.

"Well I think it's a good thing." Said Lily, nodding seriously. "You need to show him you're interested. Otherwise he'll never make a move."

I couldn't hold back a snort at those words. "Are you kidding, Lils? Sirius is the womanizer of the entire Hogwarts population. All he does is make moves!" I whispered back, checking over my shoulder to make sure the boys weren't within hearing range.

Lily looked back too, and after seeing that the boys were a good twenty yards behind us, stopped walking and put her hand on my shoulder. "Adeline." She said solemnly, "Sirius likes you. I can tell. But you're so different from any girl he's ever been involved with, and I think it unnerves him. He's second guessing himself, and not being so forward because, well, he's afraid of scaring you off."

I gave her a doubtful look. "The reason he's not being so forward, Lily, is because he doesn't like me. I'm not some special case."

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You don't get it. He's head over heels for you, Adeline. He just doesn't want to mess things up."

I scowled at her and started walking again, as the boys were beginning to catch up. "Did James tell you that? Or Remus?"

"No," she admitted, biting her lip, "I just know it. Ever since he met you, Sirius has changed. He's gotten more mature, more conscientious of his actions. He's trying to win you over."

I wanted to argue with her more, just to get rid of the tiny spark of hope that had appeared inside of me. I didn't want Sirius to break my heart. I didn't want all my hopes to be crushed. But, more than anything…

I wanted everything Lily had just told me to be true.

But it had to come from Sirius. Hearing it second-hand would never be enough. And despite Lily's certainty, I wasn't convinced of anything. He was Sirius Black for god's sake; he could have any girl that he wanted. Why choose me?

Lily interrupted my inner musings. "Addy, I wouldn't be saying these things if I wasn't certain of it. Heck, I wouldn't even let Sirius near you if I thought he was going to treat you the same way he's treated the other girls he's been involved with. But, he's changed. For you. And soon enough you'll realize it as well."

I nodded, glancing quickly behind me. Sirius was walking beside his best friend, smiling and laughing at some joke of James' that probably had not been very good. At that moment he caught my eye and gave me a broad smile, his blue eyes seeming to practically sparkle in the midday light.

I found myself smiling back, before turning forward again. Just from that little exchange, my heart was beating like a drum.

As the butterflies began to dance in my stomach, I felt better than I had in weeks. So maybe Sirius and I's relationship was uncertain, hanging somewhere in the balance between great friends and something much deeper. But I knew at that moment, without a single doubt in my mind, that everything would work out in the end.

"Some things," said Lily, smiling slightly herself and watching me with a knowing look, "are meant to be."