BETTY, sirius black

singing, "happy birthday to you"

022. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
singing, "happy birthday to you"

          "IT'S her bloody blumming birthday?!" Sirius asked in disbelief, making James nod his head. The Potter boy laid atop his bed, kicking his feet in the air as Sirius paced around the Marauders' dormitory. Sirius felt as if his mind was running a mile a minute, Remus and Peter sat to the desk as they copied off of each other's weekly essay for Arithmancy.

          "Yeah. I mean, I know you have a crush on her — " James began, making Sirius throw his pillow toward the bespectacled boy's face.

          "I do not have a crush on her, Prongs."

          "Keep telling yourself that, Padsy." Peter chimed from behind Sirius, earning a flick to the crown by the boy. In truth, Sirius didn't even know what he felt for Saiorse. He knew he was attached to her in some way, but in which way, there was a sort of, affliction.

          "Anyways, Padfoot, you should've used your intuition like a normal person, and planned ahead." Remus shrugged, as if the answer was obvious. "Using the information I acquired, knowing Saiorse is an Aquarius, I can easily pinpoint her birthday."

          "How did you know Saiorse was an Aquarius?"

          "We have lengthy discussions about astrology all of the time, Pads."

          Sirius couldn't help but frown, a small twinge of jealousy prodding at his heart. He knew the notion was ridiculous, but he couldn't help but felt that astrology was his thing with Saiorse. It was stupid, yes, but he wanted to be the one to see her eyes light up with interest, her cheeks flare with passion.

          "Oh, cool." Sirius nodded, rolling his eyes as James tugged at his pant leg. "What, Prongs?"

          "You could give her this weed I found in your underwear drawer the other day." James grinned, setting the bag of magical marijuana in Sirius' hand. The boy's eyes lit up as he snatched it out of James' hand, his smile becoming significantly brighter.

          "Wow, James you — why were you in my underwear drawer?"

          "Unimportant information, let's look at the bright side, my men!" James smiled, trying to change the subject. He hooked his arm around Sirius' neck, his infamous grin placed upon his face.

          "Oh, Jamesy Cakes, you saint!" Sirius smiled, yanking James' face toward him as he planted a kiss on his cheek. "I'm telling her right now!"

          "Ah, yes, because weed is the perfect gift for a girl's birthday." Remus muttered to James and Peter, snickering as the Potter boy rubbed the tender spot Sirius had yanked harshly. Sirius jumped with a squeal, kicking over Remus' stack of books, as well as slapping the quill out of his hand as he jumped out of the room with a giggle.

SAIORSE Evans' footsteps creaked as she trotted up the Astronomy Tower's wooden staircase, a dusty, battery-powered radio clutched tightly in her right hand, a canister of strawberries from the basement kitchens clamped in her left. She preferred her birthdays alone, alone with her and her thoughts to run wild.

          As she pulled the large, golden hatch down to push the door open, she almost dropped her items in surprise as her eyes fell upon a figure already placed on the edge of the Tower's overlook.