Hellfire 𖤓 Sirius Black

vii. The Most Hideous Beater

"Three, two, one, go!"

Huddled under an invisibility cloak that James Potter inherited from his loaded parents, Rosalie and Sirius push said boy out of their hiding spot (read: the corner of the corridor) and into the hallway, where Lily Evans stands, strolling with her books.

"Please tell me he'll remember what I said," Rosalie mutters under her breath, wringing her hands. "I sacrificed so much for this opportunity."

Sirius scoffs, still disbelieving of her amazing abilities. "Like what, love?"

"My personal hygiene, for one," Rosalie grumbles, "considering that I'm touching a roach right now."

"Excuse me?" Sirius screeches, the warmth of his body still brushing hers. Ever since the project's completion, Rosalie did not fail to notice his extra snappiness, and the increase of him annoying her everywhere, almost like he's obsessed with her.

Honestly.

James, seemingly oblivious to their arguing at the end of the corridor, stops Lily. "Hey, Evans. Do you need help with that?"

"You actually suck, Edson —" Sirius begins.

"Shh!" Rosalie hisses, disgusted by Sirius's presence. "You're excused, Black. I can't hear them."

"Sod off," Sirius mouths angrily, and Rosalie rolls her eyes.

"I'm alright." Rosalie swivels her head towards a sighing Lily, who tugs on her red locks. James's face is obscured from Rosalie's view. "What do you want?"

"Well," Potter starts.

"He seriously can't be nervous now." Rosalie massages her eyebrows, her newly painted nails shimmering. "We went over this three times —"

The boy next to Rosalie perks up. "Siriusly?"

Rosalie flicks his shoulder. "Screw you!"

He flicks her back, silently laughing at her scowl.

James clears his throat, and both the students stop their fighting to watch him. "I read Pride and Prejudice? Ro — I mean, I heard it was your favourite book, and I liked it."

Lily blinks. "You did?"

"Huh," Sirius mutters. "Maybe reading favourite book wasn't a shit idea, love —"

"Told you," Rosalie crows, snickering at him.

"And," James adds, "I have a poem for you."

Rosalie's eyes bulge. "What."

This is not a part of the script. Why is he going off-page? Why now? And what if he wasn't nervous before? What if he was preparing to segue into this shit? No, no — that's horrid! She specifically told him not to use any poems —

Sirius snorts, covering his mouth. "Never mind. It was a shit idea — ow!"

Did Sirius say something to him? What an absolute dick —

"Is there someone there?" Lily asks, her eyes narrowing at the end of the corridor.

Rosalie inhales, her heart skipping a beat. Besides her, Sirius stiffens, and after nodding to each other in a surprising moment of solidarity, the two of them prepare to run. Despite the stupidly useful cloak over their heads that can easily jeopardise the incredibly important mission (trying to get the lovesick James to speak to Lily properly), Rosalie would rather run than fight.

"No," James says quickly. "There wasn't anyone when I walked here."

Sighing softly, Rosalie's about to relax before she remembers —