Never Listen to a Word I Say

"Are you even listening, Valeri?" James's voice rang out, a slight hint of annoyance.

"Hm?" Valeri said, vaguely aware of what James was saying. Her dark brown hair was billowing in the breeze, her bright green eyes fixed on one living thing.

Sirius Black, her friend and hero since first year. When she got on the train in their first year, she was being bullied by two fifth years, and she ran, stumbling into his compartment. James was sitting with him, introducing himself, when she fell in.

"Are you alright?" Sirius had asked her, and her eyes flew to the door, where the two boys were. They threatened them, pulled out their wands, and Sirius hexed them both. He had saved her, and from then on they had been friends.

Sirius was surrounded by a mob of girls, and looked very sheepish. He was labeled the "bachelor" of the school, even though he didn't confirm it. Whenever this situation arose, Sirius counted on Valeri to get him out of the mess. Most times, it worked; others led to desperate measures. Desperate measures that Valeri can still taste on her lips.

She smiled at James, who looked, a broad grin also appearing on his face.

"Never ride of them, is he?" James said.

"Obviously not," Valeri replied. "I never had to get you out of these messes, James."

"No, you didn't. But that was because you were officially going out with me, and the girls knew the consequences of your anger."

Valeri gave him a sparkling smile, "So. Reckon I should go over there and save him from their clutches?"

"Yes, do. Otherwise we will no longer have a Padfoot in our Marauders."

Valeri nodded, then walked over to the "mob", reaching Sirius, and wrapping her arms around his neck. He played along, as usual, and placed his hands on her hips, looking deep into her eyes with his grey ones. The girls' eyes turned from adoration to hurt, and they sulked off, one by one.

"Thanks, Valeri," Sirius said.

"No problem, as always Sirius." Valeri turned to greet James, who was approaching with Remus.

"I give it a six," Remus said, a smile playing about his lips, "only because it lacked the kiss."

Valeri shoved him playfully, when James joined in, "I gave it a seven, if it makes you any happier." However, he only earned a glare from her, and immediately he stopped.

* * *

Around midnight in the Gryffindor Common Room, James and Remus sat at one end, bent over a bit of parchment, while Valeri sat at the other end with Lily, talking in hushed voices. A few third years climbed the steps to their dormitories.

"So why don't you just ask him out, Lil?" Valeri asked, using the nickname she knew Lily hated.

"I already told you. He's an immature git and it'd be telling him that I lied about not liking him, and he'd never let me live it up." Lily replied, and, exhausted, changed the subject. "What about you and Sirius Black? At least you guys are friends."

"But that's all we are, Lil, friends."

Lily rolled her eyes.

"What was that for?" Valeri asked

Lily waved her hand dismissively, "I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow." She walked up the stairs and closed the door behind her to the girls' dormitory.

Valeri sighed and got up, walking over to James and Remus, who quickly put their parchment away and grinned at her. She arched on brow, but then Sirius walked through the portrait hole, walking over to join them.

"You seem smug about something," Valeri said, her brow still arched. "What's up?"

"Oh nothing," he said, leaning back in his chair so that it was on the rear two legs. "Just that I have accomplished asking Jessica Stein out."

"Finally, mate," James said, broad grin exploding on his face.

"Congratulations," Remus said.

Valeri however, did not give any sign of congratulations or applause. Her eyes were sparkling and hot, and her lower lip was trembling. She bit on it to hide it.

"You do realize, Sirius," she said, hoping her voice wasn't quivering like she felt inside, "that this means I can't save you from 'the mob' anymore."

"Why not?" Sirius asked, slamming the chair down on the floor. Amazed that Sirius could be so thick, she exploded.

"I'll tell you why!" She said, almost yelling. She stood up abruptly, towering over the three boys, but mostly Sirius, who was looking at her bravely, as if showing her that he wasn't afraid of her anger. "If I go save you, the other girls will see me, rumors will spread, and it will eventually reach Jessica! That'd be called cheating, Sirius, in case you didn't know. Secondly, I'd be labeled a slut because I'm the girl you cheated on her with!" Now Valeri was yelling, and there were several yells of protest from the dormitories.

"I don't know why it's such a big deal, Valeri," Sirius said, his voice now loud and filled with anger, "I could explain to Jess"-

"SORRY, SIRIUS, BUT YOUR EXPLAINING TECHNIQUE SUCKS!" she yelled.

"Hey! Shut up already!" a boy's voice rang out.

"I'm going to bed," Valeri said, turning on her heel and slamming the door shut of the girls' dormitory.

"Yeah, go lick your wounds!" he yelled at the door, then sat back down. "What wrong with her? She's acting weird all of a sudden."

James was staring transfixed at the door, then turned to Sirius, grinning widely, "Hate to break it to you, mate, but looks like she fancies you."