Sirius forced his eyes open, his entire body throbbing with pain. He gingerly rubbed his weary eyes and gradually propped himself up, only to discover his friends sprawled out on the floor beside him, fast asleep.
The previous night had been utterly exhausting. It all started when Sirius arrived late and discovered that James, out of sheer boredom, had fed his portion of enlargement potion to Moony. The sight of his friends towering over him, five times his size, had filled him with fear. As if that wasn't challenging enough, James had the bright idea of taking their enlarged selves to the quidditch field, making them conspicuous to everyone in the castle. Being as colossal as elephants certainly didn't help matters.
Sirius narrowly avoided being stepped on by James and Remus on several occasions, relying on his agility to swiftly dodge their colossal footsteps. Meanwhile, Peter, who stood at the same size as Padfoot, observed the chaotic scene from a distance. He found his own amusement in startling the nearby animals, causing them to flee in fear.
Sirius took a moment to gather his strength, allowing himself to regain some energy before rising to his feet. He approached his slumbering friends, a sense of urgency urging him to wake them up. "Come on, sleepyhead. We're going to be late for class," he gently slapped James' cheek, attempting to rouse him from his drowsy state.
James stirred, his left eye slowly opening to catch a glimpse of the person rousing him. "Padfoot..." he whined with a hint of childlike grogginess, his hand instinctively rubbing his face as he surveyed the room. "What time is it?" he inquired, his other hand absentmindedly tousling his hair.
"It's 6:45; we need to hurry and take Moony to the hospital wing before anyone spots us here," Sirius instructed, shifting his attention to waking up Remus next. He approached his friend and gently shook him. "Hey buddy, wake up. We need to get you to the hospital wing," he said, carefully pulling Remus' arm to assist him in sitting up.
James, now more alert, quickly joined Sirius in supporting Remus, grasping his other arm. Together, they helped him to his feet, preparing to guide him to safety.
"I feel worse than usual. Probably because I ingested that potion during my werewolf state," Remus groaned, his tone laced with discomfort. Both Sirius and Remus glared at James who feigned a cough, attempting to brush off the attention. "I'm not sure if I'll be able to attend classes tomorrow," he added.
"Then don't. I don't think Madam Pomfrey would mind too much. She always insists on keeping you longer anyway," James remarked. It was a well-known fact that Madam Pomfrey often urged Remus to extend his recovery time. However, Remus had always felt a sense of guilt for missing more than a day of classes, leading to instances where he would show up to class despite being unwell, prompting multiple professors to intervene and insist that he rest.
Remus simply shook his head at James, exhaling a sigh. "You know that's not what I'm worried about."
James couldn't help but roll his eyes in response. "Yeah, because you're such a dedicated student who can't bear to miss out on studying, regardless of how severe your condition is," he sarcastically remarked.
"Glad you understand," Remus laughed.
Their conversation was interrupted by a voice calling out to them. They turned as one, their attention drawn to Peter who approached them, his hand clutching his stomach and his face drained of color. He looked visibly unwell. "I don't think I can attend class today. I believe I accidentally consumed something I shouldn't have yesterday," he confessed with a small whimper.
Remus narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Peter, his gaze fixed on him. "What did you eat yesterday?" he questioned, his voice tinged with concern.
Peter's nervousness was palpable as he stammered, "I... I can't tell you."
"Oh, come on, Wormtail... It's not like you accidentally ate some rare magical creature or anything," James chuckled playfully before his laughter trailed off. "You didn't do that, right?"
Peter stared at James in disbelief, his eyes wide, as he vigorously waved his hands to deny the accusation. "No! Are you out of your mind? What do you take me for? A monster?"
James shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know, man. You just seem overly nervous."
Peter let out a heavy sigh, his head drooping down. "I think I accidentally consumed a mildly poisonous plant."
"Poisonous plant? Merlin, are you okay?" James exclaimed, his eyes widening with concern as he stared intently at Peter, searching for any visible effects on his friend's body.
"No, it's just a stomach ache. I did say it was a MILD poisonous plant. I might have to spend the day in the Hospital Wing with Moony," Peter explained, gathering his belongings from the floor.
"Well, that's alright then. Peter and I can go together. The rest of you should hurry up and get ready," Remus interjected, releasing his grip on his two friends.
Sirius looked at Remus with worry etched on his face. "Are you sure you don't want us to accompany you? You look terrible," he questioned, his concern evident. And he had a point. Remus appeared visibly worse for wear, sporting new bruises and scars from the previous day's escapades. It was no surprise considering James had taken Remus to the quidditch field and recklessly raced over the seats multiple times.
"I'm fine, really. I can still manage to walk, you know?" Remus chuckled softly, trying to assure his friends.
"Alright then. We'll head out first," James said, acknowledging Remus's reassurance, before he and Sirius disappeared through the doorway, leaving Remus and Peter behind.
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"Padfoot, sorry mate," James whispered into Sirius's ear, giving him a pat on the shoulder, before swiftly moving away.
Sirius watched James with a puzzled expression, his eyes tracking his friend's figure until he noticed James taking a seat next to Lily. "Bloody hell... that rascal," he chuckled under his breath, rolling his eyes. He scanned the room for an empty seat, determined to find a place to sit on his own.
Familiar voices caught Sirius's attention, drawing his gaze towards the classroom door as the Slytherins entered. Among them was Severus, indicating that he had finally been released from the hospital wing. Their eyes briefly met before Severus averted his gaze, swiftly turning his head away. Sirius couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions at the sight.
Severus murmured something into Rosier's ear, sharing a private conversation before separating from his group. Sirius observed him as he made his way towards Lily's table, only to discover that James had claimed his seat. Anger evident on his face, Severus clenched his teeth before retracing his steps back to his own group.
Acting on impulse, Sirius reached out, gripping Severus's wrist firmly, and tugged him toward a table located at the back of the classroom.
"Black, what do you think you're doing? Let me go!" Severus hissed, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and frustration, as he tried to free his arm from Sirius's firm grip. A few students in the vicinity observed the struggle, finding amusement in the spectacle unfolding before them.
Sirius brought Severus to a halt in front of a table and turned his attention to the Slytherin girl already seated there. He looked directly at her and spoke, "Could you please move away?"
The girl, Phoebe Walker, raised an eyebrow in response, clearly skeptical of Sirius's request. Sirius was familiar with her presence at the back of the class. Phoebe was often seen sitting alone, an outcast due to her Muggleborn status in the predominantly pure-blooded Slytherin House. While Severus, as a half-blood, had more acceptance in Slytherin, the same couldn't be said for Phoebe. He had seen her occasionally with a few Hufflepuffs, but most of the time, she preferred to be alone.
"Ten galleons," Sirius offered, attempting to persuade Phoebe to vacate her seat.
Phoebe regarded Sirius with a mixture of disgust and contemplation, reluctant to entertain the idea that he was trying to exploit her family's circumstances for his own benefit. After a moment of thoughtful consideration, she glanced back at him and let out a resigned sigh. "Do you see any other available seats in this class?"
Sirius pointed out a seat next to Avery, prompting a visible expression of distaste from Phoebe upon realizing whom he was asking her to sit beside. "And there," he gestured to two other unoccupied seats near Frank and Marlene. Phoebe took a moment to weigh the pros and cons, deliberating on whether it was worth her while. "Twenty galleons," Sirius added, increasing the monetary offer.
"Let go of me, you brute," Severus protested, continuing to struggle against Sirius's firm grip.
"Thirty. Take it or leave it," Phoebe countered, recognizing that if she had to sit next to someone she disliked, she might as well demand more compensation.
"Deal,"
Satisfied with the arrangement, Phoebe swiftly packed her books and rose from her seat. She walked over to Sirius and whispered, "I'll be expecting the payment tonight," before making her way toward the three Slytherins seated at the front of the class. Sirius observed her with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, noting that she had chosen to sit next to a Pureblood who harbored prejudice against her own kind, rather than opting for the two Gryffindors.
Once Phoebe had claimed her new seat, Sirius guided Severus to sit down on one of the vacant seats and settled himself beside him. He stared down at the table in front of him silently. He instinctively pulled Severus wrist and even paid someone 30 galleons to leave their seat just so he could sit next to him. And for what?
Severus rubbed his slightly reddened wrist, the mark left by Sirius's firm grip. He shot a resentful glare at Sirius, contemplating getting up and leaving his seat. However, he halted his movements when Professor Slughorn entered the classroom, signaling the beginning of the lesson.
"Good morning, everyone. Good morning, Miss Evans. Mr. Snape, please take your seat," Professor Slughorn greeted the class as he made his way to the front of the room. His gaze then fell upon Phoebe, and a pleased expression crossed his face. "Oh, Miss Walker! It's nice to see you seated at the front today. I'm glad you're getting along well with your fellow Slytherins," he remarked with satisfaction.
Avery, Rosier, and Mulciber turned around, their eyes shifting between Severus and Sirius with confusion. Avery, in particular, wore a displeased expression, as he couldn't help but glare at the girl sitting next to him. Phoebe, however, seemed unruffled by their attention and appeared somewhat content, perhaps due to the promised payment she would receive.
Severus clicked his tongue in annoyance and reluctantly resumed his seat. He retrieved his papers, ink, and quill, keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead, intentionally avoiding any interaction with Sirius.
Sirius observed Severus as he diligently took notes while Professor Slughorn explained various methods of handling poisonous plants in potion making. His gaze slowly drifted from Severus's face to his neck and then down to his covered back. It was a striking realization that a mere garment concealed the countless scars that adorned Severus's back. Sensing Sirius's gaze, Severus growled warningly, a clear signal for him to avert his eyes.
"Alright, now that I've explained the proper methods of handling poisonous ingredients, I would like each of you to write a brief summary of today's topic and submit it to me next week," Professor Slughorn instructed.
Lily raised her hand, capturing the attention of the entire classroom. "Sir, could you please let us know when you'll be discussing our annual assignment?" she inquired.
"Oh, you're absolutely right! I nearly forgot about it. Let me retrieve the necessary documents from my office. I'll return in five minutes, so please maintain silence until then," Slughorn announced before making his way through the door connected to the classroom.
Sirius glanced at the paper on which Severus had finished writing his notes. It was tempting to ask for a peek, even though he knew that Severus wouldn't grant him such a request. Resting his cheek on his hand, he leaned towards Severus and made his inquiry. "I wasn't paying much attention during class. Would you mind sharing your notes with me?" he asked, fully aware of how unlikely it was for Severus to comply.
Severus rolled his eyes in annoyance, steadfastly refusing to turn his gaze away from the front of the room. "Maybe if you didn't spend the entire class hour inappropriately ogling someone, you wouldn't find yourself in this predicament," he retorted, his tone laced with irritation.
"Define 'inappropriately'," Sirius countered playfully, but his words were met with complete disregard. He continued to quietly observe Severus for several more minutes until Severus grew weary and uncomfortable under his gaze.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Severus finally turned his head to face Sirius. "If your goal is to irritate me to no end, congratulations, you've succeeded. But aren't you taking it a bit too far? Paying thirty Galleons to that bloody Walker just so you could sit next to me is rather petty of your," he stated, his voice clearly laced with annoyance.
Sirius raised an eyebrow in response to Severus' remark. "Who said I'm sitting next to you just to annoy you?" he questioned, feigning innocence.
Severus rolled his eyes and replied mockingly, "Oh yes, because you absolutely forced me to sit next to you for a lovely little tête-à-tête."
Sirius shrugged nonchalantly. "I guess if you prefer me as an annoying bastard, I can certainly oblige," he remarked, adjusting his posture to get more comfortable in his seat. Leaning back, he lazily met Severus' gaze. "So, who is it?"
Severus arched an eyebrow, his expression guarded.
Sirius let out an exasperated sigh, massaging his temple. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, Snivellus. Stop pretending to be clueless. Who did it to you?" he repeated, his tone now more direct and clear.
"I wasn't aware that it's perfectly acceptable and appropriate to ask personal questions to someone you despise," Severus scowled, his jaw clenched tightly. His previously mildly annoyed expression had transformed into pure anger.
"I saw the scars on your back. Should I just ignore it and pretend to have no curiosity?" Sirius asked, his tone defensive.
"And what's stopping you from doing so? You don't see me prying into the burn mark you have from your mother," Severus retorted angrily.
Sirius felt a jolt of surprise and anger at Severus' words. He stared at him for a moment, his expression turning red with fury. "How did you find out about that?" he asked, his voice laced with a threatening edge. He resisted the urge to grab Severus by the collar and demand an explanation.
"Oh, so now you're mad that someone discovered your embarrassing scar?" Severus scoffed at the sudden change in Sirius' demeanor. It was mere minutes ago that Sirius was shamelessly probing him with personal questions about his own scars. "Your brother mentioned it to me. Isn't it amusing? Finding out that your own brother confides in me about your family issues. You'd be surprised at how much I actually know about you and your parents," he taunted.
Sirius clenched his fists tightly, his anger rising with each word Severus uttered. He could feel the red-hot rage coursing through his veins. "You don't know anything about me or my family," he seethed, his voice laced with venom. "Don't pretend like you have some special insight into my life just because my brother might have confided in you."
Severus leaned back in his seat, a smug expression on his face. "Oh, but I do know things, Black. More than you realize," he taunted, enjoying the rise he was getting out of Sirius. "Maybe I know things that would make your perfect little world crumble."
Sirius found himself momentarily speechless, unable to form a coherent response. His hand trembled as it hesitated over his stomach, where the burn mark remained hidden. The scars had been a closely guarded secret, shared only with James, Remus, and Peter. Since the incident, he had become increasingly self-conscious, never daring to expose his scars to anyone, even during moments of leisure such as swimming in the lake. He had gone to great lengths to ensure that no one caught a glimpse, even wearing an additional layer under his school uniform. The revelation that Severus knew about his scars ignited a furious rage within Sirius, his blood boiling with anger.
Slughorn emerged from his office, clutching a piece of paper in his hands. Sirius let out a low grumble under his breath, still simmering with the unresolved tension between him and Severus. He reluctantly turned his attention back to the front as Slughorn explained the details of their assignment. "Aha! I've found it. So, for this year's assignment, you will all be brewing the Invigoration Draught, a potion known to enhance the drinker's energy and stamina. You will have three months to perfect this potion. While it is generally considered easy to make, I will be grading your potions based on the consistency, color, lightness, and its lasting effects."
James let out a whistle and exclaimed, "Boosting energy and stamina!" He then directed a wink at Lily, who was seated beside him, causing laughter to erupt from their Gryffindor classmates. Lily's face turned beet red, clearly embarrassed by James' unnecessary comment, prompting her to stomp on his foot, eliciting a yelp from him.
With an exasperated sigh, Slughorn attempted to restore order in the classroom. "All right, children, settle down. I haven't finished explaining yet. In response to last year's complaints about lack of cooperation, I have decided to allow you to partner up with your friends this year. The person seated next to you will be your partner for the duration of this three-month project."
The entire class appeared quite pleased with the decision, except for three specific individuals: Severus Snape, Lily Evans, and Lucas Avery.
The sound of the bell rang through the classroom, signaling the end of the lesson. "Thank you, everyone. Class is dismissed," announced Professor Slughorn, his voice filled with haste. "I'm in a bit of a rush, so I'll be the first to leave. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me during my break. Oh, and Mr. Potter," he added, glancing at James, "I notice that two of your friends are absent. Please inform them about the assignment. They can work together as partners." With that, Slughorn hurriedly exited the room.
Eager to make his exit, Severus hastily packed his belongings and rose from his seat. However, before he could reach the table, Sirius seized his wrist once again, prompting a pained complaint from Severus. "Damn it, Black. Can you please refrain from trying to break my wrist?"
"We haven't discussed anything about the assignment yet," Sirius pointed out.
"Look, I'll handle all the brewing while you relax and take credit for my hard work, alright? Does that sound good?" Severus replied wearily, clearly fed up. All he wanted was to escape as quickly as possible.
Sirius narrowed his eyes, displeased with how desperately Severus wanted to distance himself from him, even to the point of offering his labor for free. "I'm not so useless that I have to rely on someone else's potion skills to earn a good grade," he protested. The more Severus tried to avoid him, the more Sirius felt compelled to stay close. "Either you let me contribute to our potion, or I'll inform Slughorn that you're refusing to cooperate with me."
"You—" Severus let out a sigh and buried his face in his hand. "Fine. Today, 3 p.m., in the empty classroom near that particular corridor."
"Which corridor?"
"The empty corridor where you followed me with your invisibility cloak," Severus replied, rolling his eyes. Sirius nodded, releasing his grip on Severus's wrist, who promptly dashed out of the classroom at lightning speed.
Chuckling, Sirius retrieved his bag and made his way towards James, who was patiently waiting for him near the entrance. "Dude, that's some bad luck. Why did you end up sitting next to Snivellus? Now you're stuck with him for the next three months," James remarked, patting Sirius on the shoulder and giving him a sympathetic glance.
"Yeah, I guess I was fooling around at the wrong moment. I must be the most unlucky wizard in history," Sirius replied, joining in laughter with James as the two of them headed towards their next class.
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Sirius,
I notice that you're having doubts about your choice, and I understand. It's a significant decision to leave your family behind. I'm relieved to see that you're taking the time to reconsider. Initially, I didn't intend to attend the gathering, but since you want to discuss this matter, I'll make an effort to allocate some time for you. Additionally, I need to congratulate Lucius and Narcissa on their engagement.
I will write a letter to inform my dear brother that I'll be joining the gathering. We'll see each other in three months.
Your Uncle,
Alphard Black
Sirius carefully folded the letter, holding it tightly in his hand. He sank onto his bed and gazed up at the ceiling, lost in thought. The fact that he had convinced his uncle to attend the gathering with him weighed heavily on his mind. It was something he felt inclined to share with Regulus, as they had always been close to their uncle.
Since he wasn't planning on running from home in this lifetime, that means his uncle wouldn't be cast out from the family alongside with him. He couldn't comprehend how his uncle could harbor such love for their family, considering how dysfunctional they were. Sirius had never experienced true affection while growing up in the Black household. It wasn't until he moved in with James that he began to feel like he finally had someone who genuinely cared about him.
He missed Euphemia and Fleamont Potter immensely. The memories of the heart-wrenching moment when he and James discovered his parents' tragic accident, which claimed their lives, resurfaced in his mind. They never had the opportunity to witness their son's wedding or meet their only grandson, Harry. Regardless of whether Sirius would ever be accepted as their son in this lifetime or not, he would forever regard them as his true parents, surpassing his biological ones.
He reopened the letter, rereading its contents. Ah, yes, Lucius and Narcissa's engagement during his fifth year, an event he had deliberately avoided. This could serve as a perfect pretext to write a letter to Lucius and subtly inquire about Severus. Sirius quickly rose from the bed, reaching for his quill. Sending a letter to Malfoy Manor would undoubtedly come as a surprise, as he had never done so before, but it might also yield some intriguing revelations.
Malfoy,
Congratulations on your engagement to Narcissa. It's unfortunate that I couldn't attend your engagement party. Not that I believe it would have been any different from other pureblood engagement celebrations. However, I wanted to inform you that I will be attending the upcoming gathering during Easter, and I'll be sure to bring a gift for both of you.
On another note, Regulus mentioned that you've taken an interest in Snape and are planning to assist him after he graduates from Hogwarts. I must admit, I was quite surprised by this, considering your usual focus on blood purity and the difficulty you have in engaging in pleasant conversations without bringing up the topic. Unless I've misunderstood the situation, please clarify it for me. Honestly, I fail to see why you would choose to help him over other Slytherins who are clearly more talented than he is.
I eagerly await your response.
Sincerely,
Sirius Black
After sealing the letter, he handed it to Hugo, his owl, and watched as it gracefully took flight, carrying the message to Lucius Malfoy.
Glancing at his pocket watch, Sirius cursed under his breath upon realizing that he was running late. He swiftly changed out of his uniform, hastily throwing on the first casual shirt he could find, and grabbed his bag before dashing down to the common room. James and Lily were seated together on the couch, seemingly engrossed in a discussion about their potion assignment. "Padfoot! Where are you off to?" James called out, waving in his direction.
"Off to have a potion discussion with Snivellus!" Sirius called back, waving in response, before disappearing through the entrance's portrait.
"Having to work with Snivellus for three months straight... now that's torture," James chuckled, while Lily responded with a sidelong glance, making it clear that she held James responsible for the fact that she couldn't be Severus' partner in the first place.
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"I was just about to leave," Severus glared at Sirius, who had just burst into the empty classroom.
Sirius crouched down, trying to catch his breath after sprinting all the way from Gryffindor Tower to the secluded area on the lowest floor. "Come on, I ran here all the way. Cut me some slack," he whined, reaching for his pocket watch to check the time of his arrival. "It's only been forty minutes. It wasn't that long."
Severus shot him an irritated look. "Just because you're consistently late everywhere you go doesn't mean forty minutes is insignificant," he huffed. On the table where Severus was seated, there lay a cauldron and various neatly organized potion ingredients. "I arrived twenty minutes early, only to discover that you couldn't even be bothered to be punctual."
Severus let out an exasperated sigh as his words fell on deaf ears, and Sirius shamelessly plopped down next to him. "So, what am I supposed to do?" Sirius inquired, clearly clueless about their assignment.
With a hint of frustration, Severus handed him a small knife and a cutting board. "Why don't you start by chopping some ingredients, Black?" he suggested.
Sirius scratched his head in confusion. "And which ingredients should I be chopping, again?" he asked, revealing his lack of knowledge on the matter.
"You can start by chopping the dried billywig stings and stewed mandrake. I need three of those billywig stings," Severus instructed.
Sirius reluctantly picked up the jar containing the dried billywig stings and wrinkled his nose as he held it up. "Why do we have to use such unpleasant ingredients for this potion?" He unsealed the jar and extracted three of the stings.
"Stop complaining and start moving, Black."
Sirius glanced over at Severus, who was engrossed in plucking alihotsy leaves from their stems. Severus was dressed in a faded black turtleneck shirt, riddled with small holes that were inconspicuous enough to go unnoticed. "You know..." Sirius broke the silence in the room.
Severus turned his head toward Sirius, raising an eyebrow inquisitively. "Yes?" he prompted.
"Since we'll be working together for the next three months, we should find something to talk about to ease the awkwardness," Sirius suggested as he began chopping open the billywig stings, grimacing at the sight of the creature's internal organs.
Severus made a face at him. "Awkwardness? We were never really awkward, Black. I don't recall ever seeing you struggle to find something to say in my presence. If anything, you always manage to come up with new insults and garbage to throw my way," Severus scoffed sarcastically.
"Well that's different. I'm talking about friendly conversation."
"Well, that's quite a different request. Friendly conversation, huh?" Severus let out a breathy laugh, finding the idea almost ludicrous considering their mutual dislike for each other.
"What? Not up for it?" Sirius questioned, keeping his gaze fixed on his hands as he carefully continued with the cutting. "Would you prefer that I insult you every time we work together? You know I can never keep my mouth shut. I always have to find something to talk about."
Severus gave Sirius a skeptical side-eye. "I can see that."
"Alright, fine. How about we play a game then? Every time we meet for this assignment, we ask each other one question, and the person being questioned has to answer, no matter what the question is," Sirius suggested, raising both eyebrows in anticipation of Severus' response.
Severus paused his task of plucking alihotsy leaves and placed them down, locking eyes with Sirius while wearing a nonchalant expression. "You think I don't see through your intentions right now? You're not as clever as you think you are, and I'm not foolish enough to agree to your bullshit game."
"Come on, you can ask me about personal stuff too. You have no idea how upset I was when you brought up my... relationship with my mother. But now that the secret's out, there's nothing I can do if my brother chose to share our personal issues with others," Sirius explained. He had reflected on this after their earlier class. He was genuinely angry that Regulus had disclosed his secret to Severus, of all people, something he was very sensitive about. But there was no going back now, so he decided to accept it.
"Do you think I would want to ask anything about you when I could simply ask Regulus and have him spill every single problem your family has?" Severus taunted.
Sirius bit his lip. This was becoming increasingly frustrating for him. His family had always been a sore subject, and it seemed unfair that Severus freely taunted him with his traumas while refusing to share anything about himself. "Alright, how about this?" Sirius proposed, feeling desperate at this point. "I know you're curious about something that I know. I can tell you everything about it if you want."
Severus raised an eyebrow at the remark. "What do you mean?" he asked warily.
"I know that you're curious about why Remus always misses one day of class each month," Sirius revealed.
Severus maintained a steady gaze, his expression unreadable. He appeared to be contemplating Sirius' proposition, his arms crossed defensively. "Do you think I'm foolish enough to believe you without any proof? How can I trust that you won't deceive me?" he retorted, his skepticism evident.
Sirius shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't have veritaserum on hand, but I can assure you that I'll be completely honest, as long as you reciprocate that honesty," he replied, his tone earnest and sincere.
Silence enveloped them once more. Sirius observed Severus, who seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the floor. He knew how much Severus desired to unravel the mystery of Remus' monthly absences, to the point where he had even ventured to investigate the suspected location of a werewolf. Sirius held onto hope, waiting for Severus' response.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Severus lifted his gaze to meet Sirius' eyes and slowly nodded. "If I ever found out that you're lying to me, I won't hesitate to take drastic measures," he warned, his tone carrying a hint of menace.
Sirius took a sharp breath, a pang of guilt washing over him. He silently apologized to Remus in his mind, realizing the potential consequences of his actions.
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The latest chapter is finally here! It took me quite a while to write because I wasn't satisfied with my initial attempt and ended up deleting a significant portion of it, around 4000 words.
As always, Sirius seems to be making questionable choices. Although it's inevitable that Severus will eventually discover the truth about Remus, it doesn't excuse Sirius from his less-than-ideal behavior as a friend. I'm genuinely curious to know what you all think about this development.
Anyway, thank you so much for reading this chapter. Don't forget to subscribe to get notification whenever I upload new chapters! Have a nice day, everyone! 3
