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The end of the world began when Piper Baird announced that she wasn't a fan of Puddlemere United.
At least, that was as Sirius Black saw it. He thrashed and fought and challenged and simply would not allow the idea that somebody could disagree with what he thought was the best Quidditch team in the league. And apparently the fact that it was Piper, of all people, made him utterly inconsolable.
"Why is it so bad that it was me?" she whispered to Marlene, watching a distraught Sirius flail about the Gryffindor locker room. "He's being a bit dramatic, no?"
Marlene snorted, resting her arms against her broom, watching the escapade with an expression of the highest amusement. "It's because you're usually so agreeable, I think. Dunno if you've ever tried to argue anything he's ever said. Maybe he thinks your friendship is over."
Piper stifled a yawn. "Well, I still think that's dramatic. And I am not agreeable."
"Quit looking tired," Marlene insisted of Piper, thwacking her bicep. "If Potter catches you yawning, he'll make us all run four extra drills. I'm sure of it."
"Who, James?" Piper hid a self-satisfied smile at a fond memory of earlier that morning, a serene moment shared between the pair of them—just them, no one else. She couldn't remember the last time she'd shared a laugh with James and not had to delegate it out to five other undeserving people. "No, I don't believe that. Not today. He's feeling kind."
Marlene scoffed a laugh. "Yeah, alright. If you think so."
Sirius's upset didn't relent the entire time the Gryffindor Quidditch team was getting ready for practice in the locker room, nor while they took to the fields. He attempted arguing with Piper once they had taken to the skies, but she just waved him off under pretense that she'd spied the Snitch in the distance.
After a third Wronski Feint-esque escape ploy, though, Captain Potter caught on to Piper's misbehavior and soared up to hover beside her. He waited until she had jerked to a stop to say anything, startling her nearly off her broom.
"Bloody Hell," Piper muttered, a hand over her beating heart. "Christ, James, you trying to kill me?"
He grinned. "Only sometimes. Have you actually not seen the Snitch yet?"
"No," Piper mused, glancing round her shoulder like it was right behind her. She turned back to give James a skeptical glance. "Why? Have you?"
"If I had, what would you say?"
"I think you'd be the one that'd do all the talking. I'd think you couldn't believe your star Seeker missed the Snitch so horribly that you—James Potter, with the double-vision—spotted it before I did."
