Fandom: Harry Potter (The Marauders Era)
Pairing: Sirius Black x OC (Isabelle Gaffney)
Prompt: "No one would ever love someone broken like me, they'd always go for those who are perfect."
Warnings: mentions of cheating, this is an altered section from a chapter from one of my books so if parts don't make sense, it's because this comes from that :)
Word count: 1693

SIRIUS BLACK was a very well-known figure in Hogwarts - especially to the women. Yet, he had only dated one girl in his whole seven years at the school. Her name was Dorothy Prott - one year his junior, a Hufflepuff, and possibly one of the vilest person in the entirety of Hogwarts.

Everyone who came across the blonde Hufflepuff would instantly hate her. She was a sly, cunning, cheating bully - it was rather a mystery how she wasn't sorted in Slytherin. Yet, in Sirius' eyes, she could do no wrong. That's because he never saw her do wrong. Dorothy made such an effort not to do anything scandalous or evil in his presence.

There was one group of people, in particular, that couldn't stand the Hufflepuff. That was the rest of the Marauders. Prongs, Moony, Wormtail and Birdie - more commonly known as James, Remus, Peter and Isabelle.

They knew all about Dorothy's affairs behind their friend's back, yet couldn't find the heart to tell him. They saw how happy he was when with her, and after everything that he suffers through at home, what sort of friends wold they are to take that away from him?

Currently, Isabelle was listening to James rant about how he's going finally expose Dorothy.

"I swear to the stars, Birdie! If Padfoot ends up marrying this b-"

"Cheater," she interrupted before he could curse. They were in the library after all, and for once, it was fairly busy with first years.

James rolled his eyes as he slumped in his chair, clearly forgetting about his unfinished Charms essay that was due the next day. "Still! Padfoot is my brother! He deserves the best. And we both know that Dorothy is far from that."

"I know, Prongs. But there's nothing we can do. If Padfoot is happy then we should let him be happy, right?"

James crossed his arms with a huff. As if a light bulb lit over his head, he sat up with a eureka expression slapped to his face. A smirk soon overtook his mouth as Isabelle sent him a questioning raised brow. "What are you plotting, Prongs?"

"My dear, Birdie, have you realised how happier Padfoot is when he's around us recently?" Isabelle nodded, still confused. "Well, what I told you that you were the reason that he's happy?"

Isabelle chuckled, leaning back into her chair. "I would say you're taking the piss."

James grinned and shook his head. "And what if I said he says you're name when he sleep-talks?"

"I would say you're lying," Isabelle countered. "I know that he's infatuated with Dorothy. So why would he even utter another girl's name, especially in his sleep, hey?"

The Gryffindor doy shook his head in annoyance. "Why does no one ever believe me when it comes to gossip?!"

Isabelle chuckled. "Because you do it so much. And most of it turns out to be rubbish."

A shocked scoff escaped his throat dramatically, causing the Ravenclaw to clamp a hand over her mouth to stop loudly laughing. "Piss off, Birdie! I have the most reliable sources in this school!"

"Who!? You, Moony and Wormtail?! Two of them are the most introverted people I've ever met!"

"Whatever," James rolled his eyes, knowing deep down, that she was right. "Anyway, I have a plan, if you'll hear me out?"Isabelle lowered her book to the desk with a sigh but nodded nonetheless. "You go up to Padfoot and kiss him."

"What?! No!" Isabelle disagreed.

James leant forward in his chair. "It worked for Oli and Telly!"

"Yes, but they're dating now. That's not the aim this time!" Isabelle explained, exasperatedly. James stayed awfully silent as he reflected on her statement. "Right, Prongs?" She questioned as she noticed his odd behaviour. "You better answer me, James. And I know when you're lying."

James's eyes shifted everywhere before landing on Isabelle's stern face. "Fine!" He nearly shouted before a few passing students shushed him. "Padfoot likes you and he only went out with Dorothy to make you jealous."

She shook her head, not choosing to believe him. "No one would ever love someone broken like me, they'd always go for those who are perfect. In his eyes, Dorothy's perfect."

James sent her a look to order her to stop thinking of herself like that. "Isabelle Ava Gaffney. Look at me. I wouldn't lie to you. He thinks you're perfect."

Isabelle froze in her seat as she searched his face. He wasn't lying. "Does everyone know?"

"Only me, Moony and Wormtail," James said. "But I reckon Lily's probably figured it out by now," His voice was quieter so no one else could hear them.

Her mouth hung open. She felt like crying. "Oh, Merlin," she scrambled up her books, standing up.

"Where are you going?!" James asked, doing the same in a hectic manner, following after the rushing Ravenclaw.

Isabelle pushed through the library doors, nearly knocking over a few students in her path. "I'm going to kiss Sirius."

Isabelle and James rushed through the halls of Hogwarts. The trek from the library to the Gryffindor Common Room seemed like the longest walk in her entire life. On the way, James began shouting and jumping for joy, declaring that everyone to get out of the way as Isabelle was 'a woman on a mission for love'. If she wasn't so determined to get to Gryffindor Tower, she would've scolded James on how cheesy he sounded.

The two finally ran up the stairs to the Fat Lady portrait and only it was then when Isabelle began to doubt the plan. She grabbed James' arm just as he was about to say the password, stopping him. "Wait, wait, wait. How am I going to do this?"

James tilted his head in confusion. "Just go up and kiss him. Simple."

"No. Not simple! One, he's still got a girlfriend. A horrid one, but still has a girlfriend. Two, what if he just thinks it's a dare and doesn't take it seriously. And three, what if he's gotten over me?"

James turned to Isabelle and placed his hands on each of her shoulders. "One, don't think about Dorothy, she doesn't matter. Two, if you kiss him, he won't take it as a dare, because we all know you'd never do a dare like that. And three, I know for a fact that he hasn't gotten over you."

Isabelle nodded, taking a deep breath, trying to regain some more confidence. "Yeah, ok," she smiled.

"What are you two up to?" The lovely voice of Lily called from behind Isabelle. James smiled, slinging his arm over her shoulder, to which Lily rolled her eyes at.

"Issy, here, is going off and steal dear Siri back from the dreadful Dorothy's grasp," he spoke dramatically as if he had a role in a Shakespearean play.

Lily gasped excitedly and clapped her hands. "Oh my god, finally, Issy!" She squealed.

James looked down at the ginger girl as if she had two heads before turning to Isabelle, finally connecting the dots. "You told Lily about your feelings for Sirius before me. You're bestest friends for nearly 3 years?!"

Isabelle chuckled. "It's a girly talk. Plus you gossip and would've told Padfoot, just like you spilt his secret to me not even ten minutes ago."

Lily smacked James' chest. "You didn't!" Lily scoffed before turning back to the Ravenclaw girl. "When are you doing it?"

"Now," she fiddled with her fingers. Lily clapped her hands excitedly and ushered her two friends closer to the portrait whilst saying the password. The painting swung open and Lily and James pushed a slightly frozen Isabelle into the common room. The closer she got to Sirius, the more nervous she was getting. If James was telling the truth, then there should be no problem.

In front of the fireplace sat Remus, Peter and Sirius. Remus was reading his book while Peter and Sirius were laughing at something Sirius said no doubt. The three Gryffindor boys turned when they heard them enter.

"Hiya!" James exclaimed. "Padfoot, Birdie wants to show you something," James not so gently shoved Isabelle forward, resulting in Lily scolding him for pushing her.

Sirius stood up with a smile as he approached Isabelle. "What is it? Did you prank someone and get a photo of it?" He asked intrigued. Isabelle looked up at him, not saying a word. Sirius tilted his head, placing a hand on her upper arm. "You alright, Birdie?"

She faintly heard James and Lily cleared their throats, indicating that Isabelle should go for it. Now or never, she thought. She placed her hands on either side of Sirius' head and brought him down to meet her lips. Their lips meshed quickly, neither thinking before it happened.

Neither moved for the first few seconds as they were realising what was happening.

Isabelle was the first to finally understand what she was doing. 'I'm kissing Sirius Black', that single thought ran through her head as she lowered her hands to link behind his neck.

Sirius was still partially frozen. 'Isabelle Gaffney's kissing me', Sirius thought over and over again in his head. After a few more seconds, he finally closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss.

They only pulled apart when the sounds of whistling and cheers reached their ears. A deep red blush fanned across both of their faces.

"What was that for?" Sirius whispered, still in shock slightly.

"I think I love you, Sirius," Isabelle whispered back.

Sirius stared deep into her eyes as those blissful words rattled through his brain. A grin slowly started to form on his face, causing one to grow on Isabelle's too. "It's about time."

THE END