November 20, 1976

ADIRA KNOWS THAT it is a horrible idea the second it leaves Sirius's lips.

"What?"

"We should go on a double date," Sirius repeats as if she meant that she hadn't heard it the first time.

"Sirius...I don't know."

Does she want to sit at a table with the boy she has a crush on and his girlfriend and pretend that her heart isn't fucking cracking open? Hard no.

"Aw, c'mon, Berry. It'll be fun."

It will not.

Sirius turns away from the railing of the Astronomy Tower and faces Adira with a determined expression on his face. Adira finds it both endearing and irritating at the same time.

He pouts at her. "Please, Addy? Dale and Keira are already friends too. It'll be fun hanging out just us four."

She sighs in defeat. She knows she's not going to say no to him. He knows this too.

"Fine."

He grins down at her and wraps an arm around her shoulders. His excited face looks so childlike that Adira can't help but smile at him and wrap one of her arms around his waist. His cheek comes to rest on her head as his thumb brushes her shoulder blade.

Although Adira isn't looking forward to this double date, maybe it won't be that bad at all.

✧ ✦ ✧

IT IS GOING worse than Adira had initially thought.

Keira has decided to be overly affectionate to Sirius, and is constantly batting her eyes at him or kissing his cheek or wrapping her hand over his arm. Adira had known something like this would happen, but she wasn't expecting her heart to hurt this bad.

The four of them are sitting in a booth at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, Adira and Ashton sitting on one side and Sirius and Keira across from them.

Conversation has been pretty light all morning, but something doesn't sit right with Adira. She can't ignore the small voice in her head telling her to get out while she can.

There's something off about the way Sirius looks at Ashton.

With contempt and hostility.

As if he can't stand him.

But that can't be right. Sirius told her that he likes Ashton and that he's good for her. He told her that he is happy she has found someone. The memory causes a sharp pain in her chest. Adira shakes her head to rid herself of these useless thoughts.

Sirius suddenly turns his gaze to Ashton.

"So, Dale," he starts, a mocking sort of tone behind his voice. "I've heard you've turned sloppy in Quidditch practice."

Ashton lets out an easy laugh, grabbing Adira's hand. "Well, I guess you could say I've had something distracting me as of late."

Adira smiles at him, squeezing his hand.

Sirius narrows his eyes at their intertwined hands.

Suddenly, he scoffs. "You know, I didn't think you'd be Adira's type."

The redhead furrows his eyebrows, looking at her friend in confusion.

"Sirius—"

"What do you mean?" Ashton questions.

Sirius shrugs nonchalantly. "I just assumed she liked guys with a good sense of humor. You do know how she loves a good laugh."

Adira scowls at him. "Ashton has a perfectly fine sense of humor."

Sirius glares at her. "I never said he didn't."

"You implied it."

"Whatever. If you want to pretend as if you've actually got feelings for this guy, be my guest."

Adira gapes at him. "What has gotten into you?"

Sirius rolls his eyes. Keira shoots a glare at the ginger girl and then clutches her boyfriend's arm. He grabs her hand and pulls her up from the seat.

"I think it's about time we go. Don't you agree, love?"

Keira giggles, and without sparing another glance at Adira or Ashton, the two of them leave.

What the fuck?

It was Sirius's idea to have a double date, so why did he spend the entire time ruining everything?

She's staring at a spot on the table when Ashton clears his throat. He lets go of Adira's hand.

"I'm sorry about him," she says. "I don't know what's wrong with him—"

"I think I do," the blonde replies.

Adira blinks at him. "What?"

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Adira, you're a great person. I really like you. But I feel like there's something unfinished between you and Sirius that I don't want to get in the way of."

She knits her eyebrows together. "Ashton, I swear to you. There is absolutely nothing between me and Sirius Black. Never has been and never will be."

He lets out a soft breath. "Adira, do you like me?"

She is taken aback. "What?"

"Do you have feelings for me?"

"I—" she stumbles over her words.

A small smile flits across his face as he nods. "It's alright."

"Ashton, I'm sorry."

He shakes his head. "It's alright, Adira. Let's just take a break. I think you should reassess your friendship with Sirius to avoid any hurt you may cause each other in the future."

For some reason, this "break" seems final. And Adira is suddenly pissed that it is ending this way.

Once they part ways and head back to Hogwarts, she sets out to find Sirius. She knows she should wait until her anger cools down so she doesn't say anything she'll regret, but she can't stop.

She finds him just outside the castle walls.

"Black!"

He turns around to see a fuming redhead storming to him. His features remain indifferent.

"Why were you acting so weird today?" she demands as she comes to a stop in front of him.

He clenches his jaw, saying nothing.

"Fuck, Sirius. Why do you have to be so goddamn difficult?"

"That guy's not right for you," he bites out.

Adira scoffs. "Oh, really? And who are you to decide that?"

"I'm your fucking friend, Adira. Alright? I want you to be with someone who's not a douche."

"Ashton is not a douche! Why are you so hell-bent on hating him when you liked him just yesterday?"

Sirius's entire body is tense as he looks to the side before leveling his gaze on her.

"I just don't like the way he interacts with you, okay?"

Adira's voice drops. "Well, you don't have to worry about that because he broke up with me."

Sirius's eyes widen, his face falls.

"What?"

She laughs bitterly. "I guess you got your wish. Congratulations, asshole."

She turns before he can say another word, and there is a finality in this argument that Adira can't seem to shake.