The Players (Sirius Black) *COMPLETED*

Chapter 4

Scarlett Dove sat alone in her dorm, staring at the letter in front of her. She crumbled it up and threw it in the trash can next to her bed angrily, shaking her head. She huffed and crossed her arms, but quickly dropped the act as tears sprung to her eyes.

She took a deep, shaky breath and allowed her eyes to flutter close. She smiled softly to herself and stood up, walking into the bathroom and looking in the mirror. She forced another smile and took another breath, shaking her head again and leaving the bathroom.

Scarlett left the dorm and jogged down the stairs leading into the Common Room. She sat down on the couch and rubbed her face with a sigh.

Truth was, Scarlett Dove had not cried for many years. She had so many pent up emotions, it was hard to deal with, but somehow she did. Scarlett sighed and put her face in her hands, shaking her head. She stood abruptly, and stood at the steps to the girl's Dorm. She went up, and got changed quickly. She put on a tank, shorts, and running shoes.

Scarlett left the Girl's Dorm, and the Common Room. She sprinted through the corridors, not caring how early it was or how much trouble she would get it. She made it to the Quidditch Pitch, and began to run. Scarlett ran fast; and it was on the tenth lap that she noticed the sharp pain in her side. She rolled her eyes and continued to run, until she heard a cheer.

Scarlett whipped around to face the stands, where The Marauders sat, smirking.

"Wanna race?" Sirius Black yelled.

Scarlett laughed.

"Sure! See how long you guys can keep up!"

"For a while, I'm sure!" James shouted, with a confident smirk.

"I bet you can only keep up for three laps! Whoever falls back has to pay me ten galleons!"

The Marauders smirked cockily at Scarlett.

"You're on!"

They left the stands and walked onto the Quidditch Pitch. They started at the same place, and Scarlett began to count.

"Wait- we should have a crowd, so that they'd be able to tell us if you cheat!"

Scarlett shrugged and James ran to find McGonagall.

Minutes later they came back. It seemed like the entire school wanted to see the Marauders get beat. McGonagall stood in front, barely hiding a smile.

They sat down, and Scarlett's jaw dropped.

"Hey, if you get beat, the headmasters gonna see." She whispered.

The four boys heads flew up, gaping at the headmaster.

"James.. This is a bad idea." Sirius hissed.

Scarlett grinned at them.

"3, 2, 1!"

Scarlett took off like a cheetah, and the boys had to push themselves to stay next to her.

"Hm. Not too bad. You only have two and a half more laps to go!" She said mockingly, speeding up.

The Marauders panted heavily, and Peter fell back, leaning over, hands on his knees.

"AND PETER'S OUT!"

Scarlett laughed and sped up a bit more.

"How fast- can you- go?" Sirius panted, forcing himself to keep up.

"Huh? Oh, this isn't even my fastest!" Scarlett said happily.

The three remaining boys groaned as she sped up. Remus fell back, putting his hand in the air.

"REMUS IS OUT!"

"Wow, James, Sirius. I knew you were fit but I didn't expect you to be able to keep up," Scarlett said approvingly, "Two more laps to go!" She said cheerfully as they passed the starting point.

James and Sirius huffed, trying to keep up; there was no way they were going to lose ten galleons.

James, with one and a half laps left, fell back, panting heavily. Scarlett smirked at Sirius.

"Oh no.." Sirius groaned.

Scarlett beamed and waved at him, speeding up a lot more. Sirius, after half a lap of this, stopped. Scarlett stopped too, but Sirius grinned at her.

"Hey, Scarlett, I'll give you five galleons for every lap you complete!"

The crowd, and Marauders, watched curiously. Scarlett shrugged.

"Sure," she said, and walked back to the starting point, smirking.

"GO!" Sirius yelled.

Scarlett took off again, resembling a cheetah, even after two laps of running.

She ran for ten laps, before she decided Sirius was losing enough money, and stopped.

"Okay, Sirius. You're lucky I didn't go any farther. You owe me fifty galleons. Oh, and the ten galleons," Scarlett beamed, "Ninety galleons for running. I could do this more often!"

Sirius shook his head quickly.

"No."

Scarlett laughed.

"Okay, well, you guys are welcome to run with me whenever you'd like."

James shook his head.

"If we get better, you get better. I would rather not lose a race again, thanks."

She rolled her eyes but shrugged.

"Oh, James, I would like to try out for beater position- when are tryouts?"

"Should be tomorrow- wait, a beater?"

She shrugged again.

"Yeah.. Am I not allowed to try out?"

"No no, just surprised."

Scarlett smiled at them.

"I expect my money by tomorrow," she said, stalking off to the castle.

"The girl's evil," James sighed.

"No kidding," Sirius said, grinning.

Remus and Peter rolled their eyes and grinned, before leaving for Hogwarts themselves.

Sirius smiled at the spot where Scarlett stood, shaking his head.

James was right.

The girl was evil.

But she was also beautiful..

*~*~*