"You guys," James said one day. "I think I love her."
"Lily?" Remus asked, not looking up from his book.
"Uh-huh," James said. "She's so perfect. She's beautiful, and smart, and that temper!"
Sirius laughed, remembering Lily's temper full well. "How do you know you're in love?" he asked James. "You're only fourteen."
"I just…know," James replied. "When I see her, it makes me happier, and I just want to be near her, even if she hates me. She makes me want to change just for her."
Sirius's thoughts instantly flashed to Alexa. Did he love her? That was a scary thought. He didn't think you were allowed to be in love with one of your best friends. There had to be some law against it.
But he was afraid that he might be falling in love with her.
Oh bugger.
He jumped off his bed, and without another word he ran into the common room. The first girl he spotted was a fourth year girl named Rita Skeeter.
"Would you go to Hogsmeade with me next weekend?" he asked her.
She grinned. "Of course," she said happily.
He smiled at her, but something in his gut told him he'd made a bad move.
You couldn't just ask someone out because you might be falling in love with someone else.
Could you?
*****
"Guess who just asked me out!" Rita cried as soon as she was in the girl's dormitory.
"Who?" Alexa asked, barely paying attention. Rita was known to be a huge gossip.
"Sirius Black!" she said happily. "He's so gorgeous!"
Alexa's head snapped up. "Sirius Black?" she asked, although of course she knew she'd heard Rita properly.
"Uh-huh," Rita said dreamily.
"Oh," Alexa said shakily. She hadn't been aware that Sirius like Rita. Of course, he didn't have to tell her or anything. She just thought since they were best friends…
No, James and Remus are Sirius's best friends. He doesn't have to tell you things. Get over yourself, Alexa told herself.
"That's great Rita," she said halfheartedly, then went outside to sit under a tree and think.