Sirius's date with Rita Skeeter was less than desirable, to say the least.
"She was awful!" Sirius complained to Remus and James that night. "We went to the Three Broomsticks, and she sat there the whole time, telling me random gossip about all the other students who came in!"
Remus raised his eyebrows. "What did you expect?" he asked. "You asked out Rita Skeeter."
Sirius groaned. "I know," he said. "What was I thinking?"
"I think you were thinking that you don't want to fall for Alexa," Remus said.
Sirius sat up quickly. "That's absurd!" he sputtered. "That's ridiculous! It's crazy, and insane, and-"
"True?" James suggested, cutting Sirius off.
"Maybe a little," Sirius allowed. Then he groaned again and laid back down on the bad.
"You know she likes you too, right?" James asked.
"She doesn't," Sirius argued.
"She does," Remus said.
"She doesn't and I don't want to ruin our friendship," Sirius said, standing up. Then, without another word, he walked out into the common room to find Alexa and Lily sitting there.
"Why do you even like him?" Lily asked.
"I don't know," Alexa said. "I just do. He's so great."
Jealousy flared inside of Sirius.
"But I can't believe even he took her out," Lily said, saying her as if it were a horrible swear word.
"I know!" Alexa groaned. "And if that's the kind of girls he likes, I'll never have a chance!"
Now Sirius felt rage. Who wouldn't like Alexa!? She was beautiful, and smart, and funny, and kind.
"But I really like him," she said softly. "And I don't know if I can just get over him."
"Like who?" Sirius asked, unable to contain himself any longer. Alexa looked startled. Apparently they hadn't noticed him before.
"N-no one," she stuttered, blushing fiercely.
"You can tell me," Sirius said. "I'll take care of him for you. Any guy who hurt you I'll hex into the next century!"
Lily seemed to find this incredibly funny. She doubled over laughing and Alexa shot her a dirty look.
"It's no one," she said, not meeting Sirius's eyes.
"We're best friends," he said. "You can tell me."
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but instead a tear escaped her eye, and she ran up to the girl's dormitory, Lily following close behind her.
What was that all about?