Sirius POV.
Suddenly it's December, a week before holiday break. For the past weeks, I'd completely forgotten about the bet. Instead, I spent time getting to know Adrienne during Quidditch practices and walks around the grounds, or nights up in the astronomy tower or wizard's chess in the Great Hall or Common Room. Her favorite color is red, but not bright red. More like the red on red velvet cupcakes. Oh, and she loves those. Her birthday is over the summer – June sixteenth – so I'm planning on getting her a present for before the school year ends.
Right now, we're in the kitchens. I'd gotten the elves to get her a red velvet cake and some coffee. I, myself, had water and a sandwich. Right now, she was telling a story about how Lily spent the entire night before ranting about James.
"Her face matched her hair," she finished, laughing.
I smiled. It was nice to see her laugh. Especially after her hating me so much. "That must have been a sight."
"It was," she says, chuckling and sipping her coffee.
"So, are you going to stay for holidays?"
Her smile suddenly disappears. "Err, no. I'm going home. Well – to my uncle's."
"Does he live in America?"
She shakes her head. "No, he lives in Godric's Hollow."
"Hey! That's where James lives. I practically live with him, and Remus and Peter come over all the time. Maybe you can come over some time."
"Maybe," she says.
"Maybe for Christmas!"
"Maybe," she repeats, though she smiles a bit.
I grin, finishing off my sandwich. "Do you want anything else?"
"I'm fine," she says, finishing the last piece of the small cake. Her eyes look up, meeting mine. It's only at that moment that I realize I'm staring at her. Oh, god.
"We should go," I say softly. "Dinner's soon."
"I'm actually not that hungry," she says. "I'll see you later." With that, she walks out of the kitchens, waving off the elves trying to give her extra treats. I stand a few minutes after she's gone, heading off to the Great Hall. I sit down next to the guys, groaning.
"What's wrong, Paddy?"
"I've got this weird feeling in my stomach," I complain. "Not like I'm sick though. It's all . . . fluttery."
Remus grins widely. "That means you like someone."
"Impossible," I say shortly. "I never like girls. I just like the way they look."
"Could this girl be perhaps . . . Adrienne?" James prompts, laughing.
"No!" I sigh, trying to understand. "I don't know."
"Guys! Sirius feels something other than lust!"
"Shove it, Prongs. Did you know she lives in Godric's Hollow?"
"Really? Oh, she can come over! For Christmas, too!"
I chuckle. "I'll tell her."
"So mate," Remus says. "What prank shall we pull before the end of the semester?"
"It's too late for anything big," James says, sighing deeply. "I can't believe I didn't notice how late into December it is."
"You've been too busy swooning over Lily," I say.
"Look who's talking."
"Shut up!"
We joke for a while after that. Suddenly, something pops into my head. "Remus."
"Yeah?"
"Do you remember the first Quidditch practice we did with Adrienne?"
"Yeah."
"What did you say to her when she got there?"
"I told her not to push you off your broom."
"Nice one, mate."
Over the next week, I can barely contain my excitement. Christmas break with the Potters is always fun, and now Adrienne will be there! I wonder which house she lives in. Maybe the big one with all the flowers in the yard, or the one that always has kids playing outside.
Finally, it's time to leave Hogwarts. We excitedly pile onto the train, finding a compartment. Once the train is full, it leaves. A few minutes later, Lily stumbles in, Adrienne a few feet behind her. "Every other compartment is full," she says breathlessly. "Can we sit here?"
"Of course, Evans," James says, grinning like a madman. Lily rolls her eyes and sits in the vacant bench. Adrienne sits down next to her. I'm about to strike up conversation with her when she pulls out a book; A World Lit Only By Fire. Whatever that is. I decide to leave her to her reading, instead starting a game of wizard's chess with James.
A few hours later, Lily leaves the second one spot in a compartment of sixth year girls open. I immediately move next to Adrienne, who is sleeping, giving James more room, since the three of us were squeezed on the previous bench. Her head gravitates to my shoulder due to sheer comfort. Her book lay forgotten on the floor. I move it over to me with my foot, picking it up without disturbing her.
James, Remus, and Peter all grin at me. "Shut up," I snap. "She looked uncomfortable, and you guys were squished anyway."
They just shrug and return to their heated debate about cats versus dogs. I take to looking at Adrienne, watching her. Her shoulders just barely move with every breath she takes. I notice some old bruises around her collarbone. Probably from Quidditch. Her hair got longer, and wavier. It can nearly be classified as curly now. Nearly.
A bit later, she wakes up, blinking and yawning. She looks up at me, yelping and immediately sitting up. "Lily left," I say quickly to explain myself. "James and Remus were cramped. Plus, you looked uncomfortable."
She just nods. "Um, thanks."
Once we get to the platform, we all surge out of the train. Adrienne hangs back, insisting that I go on. I just shrug and head off to greet James, Remus, and Peter's parents.
Oh my, Sirius~ ;D Don't worry, the bet isn't over yet.