all i want for christmas ── sirius black

TWO

NINETEEN-SEVENTY-THREE
my atoms love your atoms.
it's chemistry.

BY 1973, they had reached the defiant age of thirteen, in which they naturally became obsessed with all things quintessentially teenager. Callie Carter was no different, her interests peaking at makeup, gossip and obviously, boys. There were still other matters of equal importance to her - school, friends and so forth - but to a thirteen year old, the notion of something new and exciting seemed much cooler.

She and Lily Evans, who had become acquainted in first year and stuck like glue ever since, sat on that dreary Saturday afternoon in the Gryffindor common room. In their hands they clutched tightly onto the muggle magazines Lily had been sent over - 'early Christmas treats', according to her mother - and their noses had been buried in them for hours. They were so engrossed in them, giggling and pointing at celebrity gossip columns, that they didn't notice the not-so-subtle approach of the two young boys in front of them.

"Lilyflower! How are you today, beautiful?" It was James Potter, accompanied by a snickering Sirius Black, who watched on with his usual delighted smirk imprinted on his lips.

"Oh, Merlin. Potter, leave us alone, will you? Just once? And stop calling me beautiful!" Lily groaned, immediately dropping the magazine into her open lap.

"Oh, but you are, Evans. Not quite as beautiful as Callie, however." Sirius teased, sending an effortless wink in Callie's direction. Unimpressed, she rolled her eyes, not even bothering to look at him as she shared an irritated glance with her friend on the couch.

"You're both pathetic, y'know. Can't you leave us be? You're not smooth, and you're not entertaining." Callie huffed, brushing her fingers absentmindedly through her long hair.

"Not smooth enough! Did you hear that, Sirius? She's clearly never heard our witty pick-up lines, huh?" James grinned, elbowing his friend playfully in the side.

"I think you're right, James. Look at 'em. They're practically itching to hear it now."

The two girls shifted uncomfortably in their seats, preparing themselves to move had it not been for the two boys sitting on either side of the armchair, blocking their exit route. Irritated, they settled for crossing their arms tightly over their chests, a vague attempt at blocking the boys out.

"Are you Christmas?" James began, leaning closer to Lily who scoffed and pushed him away with such force that he almost tumbled off the sofa. Regardless, he recovered and continued speaking confidently. "Because I want you to merry you."

The two girls groaned in complaint at James' frankly rather awful attempt at a pick-up line. It was clear neither of the boys were deterred by their response though, and rather, Sirius cleared his throat cockily as he prepared himself for his own endeavour.

"Callie, do you want to sit on the top of my tree? 'Cause you sure are an angel." Sirius mused, lifting his arm to wrap around her shoulder expertly. He retracted almost instantly when she jabbed him defensively in the abdomen, and he whined in response to the shudder of pain she'd induced.

"Oh God, these are awful! Shouldn't you two be doing something useful with your time, like actually doing your homework?" Callie questioned, eyebrow quirked hopefully as she glanced between the two boys who flanked them on either side.

"I am, love! My atoms love your atoms, darling. It's chemistry!" Sirius exclaimed, a broad grin ambushing his features. His desperate efforts were almost charming, and Callie would have found the humour in his enthusiasm had she not been trying her best to dissuade him.

"Exactly. And I'm checking up on important dates throughout history. Lily, do you want to be part of one?" James asked hopefully, winking with such a degree of confidence it was almost embarrassing.

"Merlin's beard, you two are bloody disgusting. And Sirius, we don't even do chemistry here! We're not muggles!" Lily huffed, grabbing Callie by the arm in hopes of escaping the hilariously bad flirtations the boys were launching at them.

"We have better things to be doing that listening to you two spout rubbish, y'know."

Both girls rose from the comfortable confines of the plush couch, beginning their trek towards their dormitory. Sirius and James watched, their egos bruised and their moods deflated as a result of the obvious rejection. Yet, Callie faltered for a moment, pausing in place as Lily dashed upstairs. James was preoccupied, staring after Lily like a lost puppy until she vanished upon the staircase. Sirius instead glanced buoyantly at Callie, who retraced her steps towards him tentatively. She opened her mouth, hesitating for a moment as she tested the words on her tongue.

"You know, your pick-up lines are the problem. You ought to work on them," she informed him, biting back a mischievous smile.

"Oh, and you're much better, are you?" Sirius countered, furrowing his brows together as curiosity struck him like an arrow.

"Let's just say, black ice isn't the only Black I'm falling for this Christmas," she teased, looking rather pleased with herself as Sirius face lit up brightly. Then, flicking her hair neatly over her shoulder, she was gone, scurrying after her friend and towards their dormitory.

Sirius stared after her in disbelief. James approached him, chuckling lightly.

Sirius gazed after her longingly, disbelief flooding him. Callie wasn't particularly outgoing at the best of times, and her flirtatious taunt was enough to bowl him over immediately. James, who had snapped out of his own daydream by now, chuckled lowly.

"Close your mouth, mate, you'll catch flies," he joked, nudging his friend lightly to knock him out of his fantastical haze.

Still, Sirius couldn't quite believe it. Jaw slack, all he could do was gape after the glowing girl who'd left him truly and utterly starstruck.