"Psst, Jones," Sirius' breath tickled Kelsey's ear but she steadfastly ignored it.

'Amortentia ingredients' read the parchment in front of her. It was 3 weeks till NEWTS and she was in the focus zone trying to get some studying done in the library.

"Kelpie!" she closed her eyes and recited the ingredients to herself, calming down.

"Kelsey," the voice was now husky and she couldn't hold it any longer.

"What?!" She slammed the book shut and turned to her right to stare directly into grey eyes.

"Hey," he breathed. All thoughts of scolding him went out the window.

Wait, why was she mad at him again?

"Hey," she whispered back. His eyes captivated her.

It was a free period between classes. In the middle of the day, when Kelsey looked like a downright troll after spending nights staying up late to review with Lily, he looked effortlessly flawless. It made her angry.

On the same table in front of her, Lily cleared her throat and sent a glare his way. Kelsey rolled her eyes.

"What do you want?" she turned back to her notes. "I'm busy."

"Funny seeing you here," said Sirius.

She looked at him funny. Was he for real?

He raised his eyebrows hoping she would keep up the conversation. It wasn't new. He had been trying to talk to her for days. One whole month in fact ever since that day.

She slumped in tiredness and rubbed her head.

"Look I meant it." Kelsey wasn't in the mood for this yet. "I need space. Like I told you."

"But we can still study together, yeah?" He pouted. Inadvertently her gaze fell to his lips which were puckered.

Sweet Helga give me strength. The Devil tempts me.

"Space," she reiterated.

"But-"

"Remus," she said grumpily. The werewolf who was sitting next to Lily wasn't surprised.

"On it." He got up and walked over to Sirius. With some effort, he managed to drag his protesting friend away as she waved them off with a fake sweet smile.

"We know you're going to forgive him at some point," Lily began with a sigh when the boys were out of earshot.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" Kelsey pretended to have not heard that as she saw Sirius look back at her one last time before Remus successfully hauled him out of the library.

It was safe to say that she had mostly forgiven all of them. Everyone except Sirius Black and James Potter of course. But as usual, Lily had all but dragged Potter by the ear and forced him to apologise - no beg Kelsey for forgiveness which she did gleefully..eventually.

Several Hogwarts students witnessed the two most popular boys of Hogwarts pleading forgiveness that day. Sirius too had been a part of that scene, willingly, however. He was desperate to have her talk to him - better yet, look at him. In the one week since Sirius would consider himself lucky if he was able to get within five feet of her.

She couldn't. Of all the wounds his had cut the deepest. And she was still getting over it.

"Blasphemy," grumbled Sirius with his arms crossed.

"You should be studying," Remus pointed out as they walked out of the library.

"Says the one who dragged me out of a library," Sirius said cheekily. "'S not fair. Why isn't she talking to me?" he complained. "Why did she forgive you lot?" Remus stopped in the corridor and deadpanned him. "I mean she even forgave Prongs!"

Remus patted his shoulder in solidarity.

"Don't worry. I think she almost gave in this time. Just give her time," Remus advised.

"You mean keep at it?" Sirius perked up.

"No! That is the exact opposite of what I said," Remus couldn't believe it. "I meant space. The thing she specifically requested. Multiple times in the last week in fact."

"But-but you haven't seen that Ravenclaw kid that keeps hanging around her like a lecherous leech." Sirius fumed. "And to think he had the audacity of ditching her on their study date that night. None of this would have happened! And now he's all over her like a sodding perv!"

"Definitely creepy," agreed Remus. "Hanging around a girl who clearly doesn't want anything to do with you."

Sirius nodded before stopping. "Hey, I heard that!"

"I have no idea what you mean," Remus replied coolly with an amused smile.

ϟ

"What're you doing?" Astrid sat down next to Kelsey at breakfast a few days later. Classes were almost over and they were about to have two weeks off before NEWTS with special review sessions to be held during their study leave.

"Breakfast," Kelsey said while chewing her food aggressively. She was currently staring at Sirius from across the great hall. She hadn't seen him in the library since that day and there he was: at breakfast reviewing notes with Remus..and some girl Moony tutored.

"Ugh," Kelsey said grossed out, making Astrid follow her gaze. "That's disgusting," she exclaimed watching the girl throw flirty smiles at Sirius.

"Disgusting indeed," Astrid sounded irked. Kelsey turned to see Astrid's plate covered in bits of oatmeal.

"Showwy," she apologised yet again with her mouthful to which Astrid grabbed the bowl from her hand and placed it on the table.

"You need to stop that," Astrid said knowingly.

"Stop what?"

"Pining for him from across the room."

"Hey- I do not pine after anyone." Yet Kelsey's eyes were glued to the Gryffindor table. She was leaning a little too close to him for Kelsey's liking.

"I thought you weren't talking to him?"

"I'm not."

"And that you hated him."

"I do." Kelsey squinted her eyes as the girl pretended to drop pumpkin juice over Sirius' robes. He got up awkwardly brushing it off while refusing her advances.

"And that you miss him."

"But obviously," Kelsey replied absent-mindedly. Astrid giggled breaking her train of thoughts. "Just for that cheeky comment, we're moving up phase ten of wooing Moony for you."

Astrid paled suddenly, making Kelsey grin.

ϟ

"THIS HAS TO STOP!" Lily slammed her books on the ground.

James jerked up, hiding the parchment he was writing on. It was their last great prank with the boys. He had no idea how Lily found out about it.

"But it's the last one!" he whined. Lily scrunched her face in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" she asked suspiciously.

"What are you talking about?" he turned it back on her, now folding the paper and tucking it into his pocket.

Lily decided it wasn't worth it.

"She's driving me crazy!" Lily sat on the ground next to her boyfriend who scooted up the tree trunk to make space. She made herself comfortable next to him as he threw an arm around her.

"Who?"

"Kelsey!" Lily rested her head on his shoulder.

"Course it's her," she heard James mumble. She smacked him lightly on the arm. "I mean, err, what happened?"

"She says she's not mad at Sirius but she keeps sending him these looks of longing from across the room. It's a bit barmy really. I think Astrid said she saw her drool a bit. But then whenever we point it out to her she freezes up about him and won't hear it." Lily stopped talking for a moment. "I mean - I see her point. But it's still a bit much."

"She could just forgive him?" James offered not knowing what the expected response from him.

"She can't!" Lily protested. "What he did was.."

"Well, he's an idiot.." James considered. "We were all idiots. She was right the whole time. Honestly, I'm surprised that she isn't gloating."

"She's changed."

"So has he," James pointed out. He was loyal as ever and that was only one of the reasons Lily knew she loved him. He'd defend his mates to the death.

"We need to get them back together," Lily decided.

James thought of all the times Kelsey has unintentionally helped him with Lily as an indirect consequence of her prank war with Padfoot. He also remembered all the times, her pranks had unleashed Lily's fury on him. He was conflicted. In the end, his appreciation for her won out. As much as they locked horns, he did consider Kelsey to be a friend.

"I might have an idea," he said as he remembered an end of the year event McGonagall had requested his and Lily's help with.

Lily turned to look at him. Her green eyes shined brightly in appreciation as he explained his idea and he found himself getting lost in them. He knew he had made the right decision.

ϟ