Chapter Text
TWENTY REASONS
❛ 01 | THE GAMBLE ❜
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IF THERE WAS ONE THING Alina Kennedy couldn't stand more than sixth year boys, it was one group of boys in particular. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew always seemed to be some place they shouldn’t be. Example: the library where Alina was currently studying.
She had a potions test the next morning but the rate she was going, she was going to fail. And it was no thanks to that obnoxious group of boys; the Marauders they called themselves. Alina nearly scoffed.
What a stupid name she thought, just as a loud laugh rung out, making her loose focus again and clench her fist. She knew she shouldn’t; she knew she should have just ignored the idiots and kept studying. But the fire inside of her burned and she couldn’t help it. Whipping around, she stood and shouted at their table,
”Hey! Dipshits? Do you mind? Some of us are trying to study,” She snapped, making all of their attention turn to her. And she instantly regretted speaking up when she saw Sirius Black smirk, knowing nothing good ever came out of that smirk.
Upon seeing the girl, Sirius felt his heart race. Her bright red hair was just as fiery as her attitude today, he noted. And just like always, her sharp green eyes drew him in, and he could resist, floating over to her table, James Potter snickering as he watched his best friend.
”Go get her tiger,” James encouraged in the background, although he knew it wasn’t likely. Just like Lily Evans to him, Alina Kennedy did not like Sirius Black. Everyone knew that she thought he and his entire group of friends were annoying.
But that never stopped Sirius. He had continued to peruse the girl ever since fifth year, coming back stronger after each rejection. And speaking on which, he slid in the chair next to Alina and smirked.
”Well, well, looks like the tigress has her claws out today,” Sirius leaned back coolly, watching as Alina turned to him; completely annoyed.
”What do you want, Black?” She rolled her eyes as she chewed on her quill, green eyes narrowing in annoyance.
“Why you of course. As always,” Sirius replied smoothly. Alina scoffed, shaking her head.
”That the best you got?” She raised an eyebrow. “The line about my butt last week was better than that.” And of course, not that she’d ever admit it, but Alina remembered every single thing Sirius Black has said to her. She didn’t know why, but she could recall every pickup line on every specific date.
Sirius pondered for a moment. “Hmm. Then what about this one: Are you French? Cause I Eiffel for you,” He grinned at her.
”You do realize we’re British, right?” Alina deadpanned. Surely he can’t be that daft, she thought.
Sirius turned pink. “Oh, right,” He said. He cleared his throat in embarrassment. Alina snickered. ”Alright, so what about this one-“ She cut him off before he could even finished.
”No!” She slammed her book closed and stood up. “I’m trying to study Black, if you haven’t noticed. And I don’t need you and your dumb jokes being the reason I fail potions!”
Alina huffed as she shoved passed him, gathering all of her things in the process. But not wanting her to leave, Sirius got up after her and followed behind.
”Go away, Black,” Alina rolled her eyes. He was lucky she didn’t bring her wand, as she would have hexed him without hesitation for annoying her. “No! Wait!” Sirius grabbed her arms and spun her around. They came face to face, her long red hair nearly smacking him the face.
“I have a question!” He said quickly. Alina stopped and yanked her arm away from him. “Go ask someone else,” She scoffed.
She didn’t want to deal with Sirius Black anymore. She had her daily dose of him and any more would cause her to go crazy. Sirius shook his head. “I’m serious!” He said, though Alina doubted it.
”What?” She snapped, finally giving in. She figured that he’d leave her alone if she answered just one.
“Go on a date with me?” Sirius asked hopefully. Well, as hopeful as the Gryffindor could as it was about his hundredth time asking. Rolling her eyes, Alina easily shook him off and replied smoothly,
”No.”
She thought that was going to be it. But apparently Sirius had other plans. He was tired of getting rejected. And he was tired of having all of his efforts shot down, so he decided to do something Alina couldn’t resist.
”What? Unless you’re too scared you’re going to fall in love with me or something?” Sirius asked her, causing Alina to freeze. Did he just? - she narrowed her eyes and spun around again.
”What? Fall in love with you? I would never,” She scoffed, crossing her arms. The idea was almost laughable. Her, love Sirius Black? The player? The most annoying Marauder? The bad boy prankster?
“Yeah? Well I think you would,” Sirius smirked. “That’s why you hate me. That’s why you never accept my offers. Because you’re scared that cold heart of yours will actually thaw out for once - and I’d be the one to do it.”
Alina felt sudden anger shoot through her veins. What Sirius was saying was actually ridiculous - there was no way Alina would ever fall for him.
“Oh yeah? And how can you prove that Black?,” She spit. Sirius Black smirked. She was playing right into his plan and she didn’t even know it. And unfortunately for her, Sirius Black always had a plan.
”I propose a challenge,” He smiled, knowing she would never back down. “Give me a few months and I’ll give you Twenty Reason to fall in love with me.”
Alina Kennedy was actually shocked as she looked at Sirius Black. Had he lost his mind, she wondered. Was he really that desperate for her attention? But nevertheless, Sirius’ offer had begun to attract others. She saw a few Ravenclaws and even Slytherins looking at them, looking Alina expectantly.
She gulped. She couldn’t back down in front of everyone. If she did she’d never hear the end of it from anyone. And so with that in mind, Alina slowly looked at Sirius and nodded.
”Fine. If you’re that desperate Black, then I accept,” She said confidently. “I’ll give you a few weeks to make me fall. And if I don’t - when I don’t - you’ll have to leave me alone. For good.”
The stakes were high for Sirius. And he knew there was a likelihood he’d lose - Alina was a stubborn one after all. But so was Sirius. And he was after all, the Gryffindor King. So surely it wouldn’t be that hard.
”Alright,” Sirius held his hand out expectantly. “You got yourself a deal. But if you fall for me - when you fall for me - I’ll be there to catch you.” He smirked.
Despite not wanting, Alina shook his hand and thus sealed the deal between the two Gryffindor's. A bet, a fight to see which one would come out victorious.
And both of them were confident of their odds.
* * *
“You did what now?”
There was plain shock written over Veronica Hadley’s face as she listened to her friends problem - the bet that Alina has made with Sirius. In hindsight, Alina saw that it was a stupid thing to do. But it was too late to back out so the only thing she could really do was rant about it.
”I know,” Alina groaned quietly and shoved her face in her arms. “It was stupid. I should have just ignored Black instead of taking this stupid bet.”
”No, no,” While Veronica certainly thought it was...odd, she didn’t necessarily think it was stupid. She knew of her friends distaste towards Sirius and believed that she had a chance. “It’s not stupid. Actually, I think you have a chance to win this thing.”
Alina lifted her head up and looked at Veronica. “Seriously?” She asked. The girl in turned nodded.
”Yeah. I mean it’s simple really. All you have to do is outsmart him. And we all know he’s not that bright,” Veronica snickered. Alina giggled, too. But unfortunately, it was a little too loud and it attracted the attention of their dreaded potions teacher, Higglebee.
Higglebee was the kind of teacher that every Slytherin loved but every other house hated. Mainly because of the unfairness in his ways. He’d praise the Slytherin’s for one thing yet punish other houses for it. Like talking, for example.
Whenever Slytherin’s talked during class Higglebee praised them on their ‘social skills.’ But whenever Gryffindors did it...
”Girls? Is there something you’d like to share?” Higglebee called them out for the sole purpose of embarrassing them. However, after six years of this treatment Veronica and Alina were used to it.
”No professor,” Alina answered monotonous, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. He raised an eyebrow.
”Are you sure?” He asked. Alina sighed.
Yes, you old git She answered in her mind, yet she kept quiet. “Yes Professor,” She answered again.
Higglebee pursed his lips. At the moment Alina wished for nothing more than to leave his class. As usual he was being a hypocritical ass, and now everyone was staring at her and Veronica.
But after all her years of being a witch, Alina still hadn’t learned that you should be careful for what you wish for. Because as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Sirius Black barged into her classroom.
His presence was sudden, and it shocked the hell out of everyone in the potions classroom as he barged in, yelling at the top of lungs. For a moment, Alina thought they were under attack before she made eye contact with Sirius, who was grinning from ear to ear.
“Black?” She asked with wide eyes, just as Higglebee yelled out,
“Black! What are doing here? This is not your lesson!” However Sirius only ignored the man and turned back to Alina. “Get down,” The boy advised as dug in his pocket. Alina’s eyed widened.
”Black, what the hell are you-?” Alina didn’t get a chance to answer before Sirius pulled her down, letting loose a flurry of black powder.
It was flash powder that caused the whole class to yell out as black mist wrapped around everyone and blinded them temporarily. Higglebee especially got the worst of it and cough rapidly, flailing around unable to see.
”Sirius! Are you insane?” Alina cried out as Sirius clutched his stomach in laughter. Veronica, who was smart enough to duck before getting the worst of it, glared at her fellow Gryffindor.
”You must be out of your mind, Black! Higglebee is going to give you detention for weeks! What were you thinking?” She asked. Some of the students had began to run out of the darkening classroom, and Sirius decided to go with them before Higglebee recovered.
He threw a smirk at Alina. “You hate potions. And now Higglebee will be out for at least two days. No more test for you,” He shrugged at her. “Consider this reason number one, tigress!” He then yelled out, laughing as he darted away, leaving an astonished Alina in the dust.
* * *