Hellfire 𖤓 Sirius Black

iii. Rosalie's Single Jingle

Rosalie's mouth was practically sewn shut before her fifth year. It's a known fact that Rosalie Edson was a quiet girl back then, staying in the shadows — only peeking out to annoy Sirius Black. That pest is the exception to all her rules, the cause of all her problems, even if he yelled at her five days earlier.

And she hates it — but a part of her loves annoying him, watching his sharp jaw tick, his eyes narrow, and his petulant remarks that follow. It's a wonder that people enjoy his company, or that women and men want to date him, but Sirius Black has dated a surprising amount of people. Obviously, it's never ended well, according to the large amount of rumours that surround him, involving one of his exes dumping coffee on his stupid hair.

They probably got tired of his dumb-as-hell personality.

Then, again, that's the one thing Rosalie can't one-up Sirius Black on. The one date she went on, back in her fourth year, was a dare. A stupid Ravenclaw — a shallow, conceited, and yet uselessly good-looking Gilderoy Lockhart — and his gang of stupid children loved to dare each other to date innocent girls; back then, they used to sound like helium-filled balloons losing their air every single time they uttered a laugh.

They probably still sound the same, too.

But their laughs didn't — and don't — matter, because Drake beat the shit out of the poor boy, who will forever be scarred. Rosalie's sure that Acacia hexed Gilderoy multiple times in the hallway after that, just for good measure.

She remembers the stupid date like yesterday. As her eyes glaze over, Rosalie imagines Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and the warm, steaming cups of hot tea as loud chattering fills the air. Rosalie recollects picking her best outfit for the day, and wearing a bow in her air.

Was it pink? Or yellow? Or —

"Rosalie — Rosalie, are you okay?"

Rosalie blinks, startled.

They're sitting in the grass, Uno cards passed out. Right after classes ended, Acacia dragged Rosalie and Drake out, pulling out her emergency pack of Uno cards, and seated them on the ground.

"We need a break," she'd insisted. "Classes are hitting like a bludger — and yes, that's a quidditch reference. Put a sock in it, Wilkins. Even you need a break, anyway. It is your birthday, after all."

Rosalie had gifted Drake a new watch this morning, and even Acacia reluctantly got him a new shirt — both which Drake thanked them for.

Now, Acacia stares at Rosalie, eyebrows knit together.

"I'm fine," Rosalie mutters.

Acacia still looks concerned, which is understandable. In fact, Rosalie used to constantly space out, even before she started receiving visions.

"I'm fine," Rosalie insists, tugging on her hair. Her scalp stings, but Rosalie doesn't care. "Just spaced out."

"Breath mint, Lili?" Acacia offers, as she picks up her cards.

Rosalie nods, picking up her cards as well. She's secretly delighted by her plus four as she takes the breath mint that Acacia offers, before swallowing it.

"You can rest, you know," Acacia continues, her concerned look not leaving her face.

Acacia's wavy hair is tucked behind her ear, and her flawless skin is usually an object of envy for Rosalie, whose pimple filled face needs the constant use of creams and spells, something which Rosalie is too lazy to do, but does anyway.

"I know you haven't been sleeping properly," Acacia continues.

Rosalie blinks. How does she know? She's sure that her visions are a secret —