Lilly Evans, soon to be Potter, stood outside Sirius Black's flat and raised her hand to knock on the wooden door. She paused, however, when she heard a large crashing sound inside and the all-too familiar hiss of the young man swearing angrily. Her heart immediately began to pound in her chest as she instead reached for the door handle and was surprised to find it unlocked.
"Sirius? Are you alright?" she began to yell as she flung the door open, wand already in hand, fearing the worst.
But what she saw stopped her in her tracks. She stood there, the look of concern fading from her face until she burst into loud laughter.
The man, his long, scraggly hair pulled back in a low-hanging ponytail, glared at her from his place in his small kitchen. He had an oven mitt on one hand and was shaking the other. He was covered in flour and his counter was cluttered with a variety of bowls, dirty utensils, and ingredients. A baking sheet laid upside down on the floor, its contents now scattered around his feet.
"Easy for you to bloody laugh. You grew up doing this," he growled, before sticking two burning fingers into his mouth.
Lilly chuckled once more before taking control of her features for her friend's sake. She moved to his side and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, Sirius," she said softly. "Have you been…baking?" She stifled the laugh that wanted to escape her at this question.
"Bloody trying to, anyways. I don't know how Muggles can survive without magic!"
"But why would you not use magic? And why were you baking in the first place?" she asked, a curious expression on her face.
He sighed, allowing her to take his hand and perform non-verbal magic on his burned fingers while he answered.
"It was supposed to be a surprise. I thought you'd appreciate a batch of your favorite biscuits, made the muggle way as…you know, like a gesture." She smiled widely at him and his scowl lessened. "But I'm apparently rubbish at all of this! And I forgot to use my mitt hand here to pull out the damned things!"
The young woman giggled again. "I appreciate the thought very much, Sirius. How about I help you clean this up and then we can make some together? I'll teach you."
He grumbled a bit but agreed. Magic made quick work of the terrible mess, and soon they were both standing next to one another at the countertop, ready to begin.
"Just one more thing," Lilly said, grabbing two dishtowels and transfiguring them into aprons. She held one out to her friend, who narrowed his eyes at her.
"If you want me to wear that, you have to swear to never tell another soul. I mean it, Lilly," he added, his voice stern.
She smirked back at him. "I swear. I'll take this secret of yours to my grave."
Words: 494
For the Kitchen Challenge at Hogwarts Houses Chellenges