Cherry Bomb!

By the time the jam session had finished, it was around lunch time. The group gathered again in the Great Hall to eat together, talking song requests, the details of the next Hogsmeade trip, etc. Y/N tried to contribute to the conversation, she really did. But she could not stop thinking about Marlene. She'd always liked her of course, and she'd realized her crush months ago. So why in Merlin's name was she only starting to freak out about it now? She knew she'd been bold this morning, but maybe if she'd known the embarrassment that would coincide with it, she wouldn't have taken Marls' cigarette. She couldn't stop thinking about Marlene. Every thought was her name, or her face, or how her lips looked when she said her name. Her lips? Oh Merlin, she was thinking about her lips now? This was bad.

She tried to steady the shaking in her leg, but the coffee she had been sipping on certainly did not help. Sirius, the absolute saint he was, noticed this.

"Oi, love to stay and chit chat, but I've got to have a smoke. Y/N, you wanna come?"

A few of their friends looked surprised. Well, mostly Lily. They knew she used to smoke, much more than she did now. Now it was an occasional thing. She knew Sirius wouldn't actually expect her to smoke, but that he only wanted to give her an out of the group for a bit. She nodded quickly and stood up to join him, grabbing his hand before he helped pull her out of her seat.

"Back in a jiff," Sirius shouted, waving a hand behind his head dismissively while walking away from the group with Y/N in tow.

"Careful Y/N, we can't lose your angel voice!" Mary called, then blew a kiss to Y/N which she happily returned.

Once they'd left the Great Hall, Y/N's shoulders dropped in relief, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding. They walked out to the courtyard, choosing to sit behind their favorite tree. It was just out of sight enough that the teachers wouldn't go out of their way to look behind it if they were ever doing something they shouldn't. Like now for instance, where Sirius was lighting up his cigarette with a flick of his wand, inhaling the smoke deeply.

"You, Sirius Black, are my saving grace." Y/N said, resting her head on her friend's shoulder.

"Oh yes, I'm quite wonderful," he boasted, exhaling smoke. Y/N rolled her eyes, but kept her head snuggled into his shoulder. "So, what happened back there? I'm guessing it was something to do with you and McKinnon, given how you were making goo-goo eyes at her from across the stage this morning."

Y/N sighed deeply, eying up the cigarette between Sirius' fingers, which he put to her lips for her. Whatever did she do to deserve such a perfect best friend? She exhaled the smoke, surveying the landscape around her, opting to lean on Sirius once more.

"There is no 'me and McKinnon'" she sighed.

"Ah right, and that's the problem, yeah?" She had just nodded. Y/N had never officially come out to Sirius. Neither had he to her. It was just this kind of mutual understanding. Understanding that no matter what, they loved each other and supported each other. They'd never felt the need to label each other, or the need to explain themselves to one another.

"Something like that." Y/N muttered.

"So, what happened?"

"I mean, nothing really happened. But like, something? I don't know, maybe it's crazy, but like, it was enough for me to not stop thinking about her all morning."

Sirius elbowed her lightly, "Well, clearly it was something, from the way she's been staring at you like all morning. The way she looked at you- it was.. well... honestly it was quite hot." Y/N snorted and shoved him, he pushed back, "Well you know I don't mean like that! I mean like, I could've cut the sexual tension in there with a knife. Anyone with eyes would've noticed it. So, what changed today?"

"Well," she began. She wasn't sure why she hesitated. This was Sirius- her best friend since first year. But there was something embarrassing about telling him this. The more she thought about it, the more she felt like it wasn't that big of a deal after all. "This morning we were nearly late to band practice. And when I was getting ready, she was having a smoke-"

"Ooh, Lily wouldn't be happy about that," He interrupted, 'tsk'ing. 

"I know. But listen. She was having a smoke and then offered me one. Not a big deal right?" he nodded in response, so she continued. "And she was gonna give me one, but instead I took hers from her mouth and took a few pulls of that."

"Hmmm..." Sirius pondered, chin in palm. "So it was a bit awkward after that?"

"Siri you should've seen the way she was looking at me. I practically fucking melted right then. She's just so- I don't know. It's the way she looks at me, and talks to me, and fuck even how she looks at me when we're on stage. It just makes me feel like my heart is going to spontaneously combust." 

"Yep." Sirius said, popping the 'p' at the end. Y/N looked over in confusion. "That's love kid." She resisted the urge to roll her eyes before he continued, "That's the way I feel every damn time I look at Remus. I think you're in love with Marls." 

Y/N sighed. She felt like she had known this for a long time. It was a lot harder to deny now that someone else knew and had a name for the feeling she had held. 

"I think you're right Siri."

"So," he looked over at her with caring eyes, "What are you going to do about it?"

"Well I can't just tell her Sirius. Imagine if she didn't feel the same way- how awkward that would be. Not to mention that I'd be a social pariah!" 

Sirius scoffed. "Well, maybe I'm the only one who sees the way she looks at you. And if you see it and don't notice how completely enamored she is with you, then you must be blind or stupid."

"Hey!"

"Well, maybe you don't have to tell her."

"What, and just love in secret for the rest of my life?" Y/N said sadly, picking at the grass by her shoe. 

"You could always just... flirt? And see how she reacts to it?"

"I'm no good at flirting Siri. At least not with her- I wouldn't know what to do, I'd be a nervous wreck."

"Doesn't seem like you were quite so nervous this morning N/N." he grinned devilishly. 

"Alright, alright. So what do you suggest, oh great master of all things romance?" 

"Start easy. Sit a bit closer to her, talk to her more, hugs, hand on her shoulder, that kind of stuff. Or," He grinned once more, "You could always be a bit more... direct." 

"Oh now you're scaring me."

"No, no, nothing crazy. Just... on Friday we have that big Quidditch match against Slytherin- when we take the win, we're planning on throwing a party with the whole house. We've got Firewhiskey, games, even a few spliffs. Now, lets say you were right pissed, yeah?"

"Okay..."

"And if we happened to play some muggle drinking games. Like, I don't know, spin the bottle?" Y/N's eyes widened. "I could even charm the bottle so it landed on Marls for you. If she likes it, great. If she's not into you, we can blame your behavior on being absolutely sloshed out of your mind."

Y/N thought for a moment, before nodding. "That could work. Oh Merlin Sirius, you might just be a genius!" 

He smiled, laughing mischievously, "Oh don't I know it love." 

They were laughing together, and Y/N practically jumped on Sirius to wrap him a side hug, taking them both flat on the ground. 

"But," Sirius added, "You should still do all those little casual touches and whatever. Keep her attention on you." 

Y/N groaned, "But its sooooooo awkward. She doesn't seem super touchy-feely and I don't want to upset her." 

"You wont, N/N, she's your friend! Friends do friendly things, like hugs, or holding hands, or," he looked pointedly at her from his spot on the ground, still recovering from her hug attack, "Wrestle them to the ground for no reason."

"Oh shove it, you know you love it. I'll show you wrestling!" she shouted, tackling him again, leaving them giggling and rolling around on the ground hitting each other lightly. 

'Ahem', they looked up to see Remus walking up to them. "Y/N I'd appreciate if you didn't break my boyfriend," He said, smiling. 

"Fine! You're lucky Black, next time Rem won't be around to save you from my love!" 

"Oh woe is me, whatever will I do! Save me, handsome stranger!" Sirius wailed dramatically, standing up and fake falling against Remus, who caught him with ease. 

Y/N checked the time on her watch, then grimaced, "Thanks for your help Sirius, but I've got to get going. I was supposed to study today and between practice and all of this, I haven't even thought about homework. Ta my loves!" 

"A'right you nerd, go study. And think about what I said!" Sirius shouted after her as she dashed towards the school.

Remus took Y/N's previous spot sitting at the base of the tree, Sirius sitting down next to him and resting his head in Remus' lap. "So Pads, what was all that about?" he questioned, fiddling with Sirius' hands and spinning the rings on his fingers.

"Oh Moony," he smirked devilishly once more, "Operation Cherry Bomb is a go."