Sirius frequently finds himself making poor choices, a tendency that has been consistent throughout his life. He has made numerous decisions in the past that he now regrets, but he is convinced that he is currently mature enough to avoid repeating such mistakes. After all, mentally speaking, he is now 36 years old. But is it true?

A notable characteristic of Sirius Black is that, regardless of the poor decisions he has made previously, there exists a part of him that does not harbor any remorse for them. He is too proud to view himself as anything other than right most of the time. For instance, when he persuaded Severus to visit Moony during the full moon, despite receiving numerous lectures and feeling guilty for betraying his friends' trust, he fundamentally believed that he had done nothing wrong. In fact, he felt that Severus received the consequences he deserved.

The room brimmed with an undercurrent of energy, amplified by the bubbling symphony of a potion simmering in a cauldron. Severus and Sirius were both sitting facing each other from across the table.

"Before we begin, I need you to tell me how much you know," Sirius initiated the conversation, breaking the silence in the room.

Severus raised an eyebrow in response. "About what?"

"The matter Regulus spoke to you about," Sirius replied. He was unaware that Severus was already aware of his family issues since they were teenagers. He couldn't help but ponder why Severus had never mentioned them in their previous life, considering he could easily exploit that knowledge against him.

"You mean your unpleasant family situation?" Severus inquired, prompting a nod from Sirius. "Well, I know more than you might assume," he shrugged, as if it wasn't a significant matter to him.

Sirius clicked his tongue before questioning, "How long has my brother been confiding in you?" He leaned back in his chair, observing Severus with curiosity.

Severus regarded him skeptically. "Wouldn't that count as a second question?"

Sirius blinked rapidly and adjusted his posture. "Wait, no. That wasn't part of our agreement. I made it clear before we began that I needed to know how much you learned about my situation from Regulus," he clarified, realizing that wasn't the question he intended to ask.

"You said we would each answer one question during our meetings for this assignment," Severus complained irritably.

Sirius grimaced. Severus was intentionally trying to throw him off track. "You know that wasn't the question I wanted to ask. Don't try to outsmart me, you git," he argued, determined not to be tricked into abandoning his original inquiry.

Severus scoffed at his remark. "Outsmarting you? I don't think that's necessary when you were never one," he retorted mockingly.

Sirius couldn't help but roll his eyes at Severus' irritating behaviour. He wasn't making things easy for either of them. "Bloody hell, fine. I won't ask you that now. I'll save it for another time as part of our agreement, alright?" he conceded. There was no point in arguing with Severus; it was like talking to a brick wall.

"Can I go first?" Severus lazily raised his hand and asked.

"Of what? Asking each other questions? Hell no. You think this is my first time talking to you?" Sirius shook his head in disagreement. His caution was well-founded, rooted in a deep understanding of Severus's cunning nature developed over years of wary encounters.

Severus's brows furrowed, frustration and suspicion evident on his face. He crossed his arms, creating a barrier between them as he retorted, "Between the two of us, I believe I can be more trusted," he insisted.

Sirius wagged his index finger back and forth to indicate refusal. Something told him that Severus would undoubtedly panic and attempt to flee the room upon learning about Remus's situation. "Nope, still not happening. Either answer my question first or we're calling this off," he replied, adamantly refusing to give in.

"I'd be more than happy to oblige," Severus replied wearily as he stood up from his seat, ready to resume the task he had temporarily abandoned in order to play along with Sirius' little game.

Sirius's eyes widened, and he swiftly grabbed hold of Severus's wrist, compelling him to sit back down. "You're truly a handful, aren't you?" He clicked his tongue in displeasure at how easily Severus was surrendering the information he was curious about.

Severus simply shrugged, showing his indifference. "Can we please get on with this a bit faster? I don't have all night to spend with you. I made it clear this would be a brief meeting," he groaned, growing impatient as their differences prevented them from seeing eye to eye.

At this point, Sirius also felt a tinge of frustration. There was no way he could risk Severus leaving with Remus's secret without having the opportunity to ask anything in return. He believed there was an imbalance in the information they were about to reveal to each other. "Fine. How about this? You already know what I'm going to ask you. I mean, I saw you completely naked in the prefects' bathroom, and it wasn't a pretty situation," he stated, observing a slight change in Severus's expression before it reverted to his default look. "I won't bring up that particular situation today," he added.

Severus couldn't help but furrow his brow at the individual before him. His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What exactly do you mean by that?" he asked in a hushed voice, wariness emanating from him as he observed the young man in front of him.

"I know that you're a bit hesitation in answering questions about that particular topic, which is why you're concerned about going first. I promise you that I won't bring it up today as long as you agree to answer my question first," he offered, setting aside the knife and cutting board next to him to lean in closer to Severus's side of the table.

Severus remained silent, and Sirius patiently awaited his response. After a few seconds of silence, Severus let out a weary sigh. "If you're that desperate, then fine. But don't think I'm doing this because I want to. If I ever find out you're not being truthful, just remember that I know a lot more about you than you think I do," he said, his words carrying a threatening edge.

"Thank Merlin. I didn't even know it was possible to reason with you," Sirius sighed in relief. That was probably the first and last time he would ever get Severus to agree with him on something.

Severus rolled his eyes and crossed one leg over the other. "Just get on with it, Black. We don't have all day," he lazily replied.

"A little impatient, aren't you?" he tried to joke, only to be met with a death glare. Sirius raised both hands in a sheepish gesture of surrender. "Fine. Merlin, you don't have to be serious all the time," he pushed his hair back and rested his chin on his palm as he stared directly into Severus's eyes. "Do you... remember the book I snatched from you before?" Sirius began, cautiously observing Severus's expression to gauge whether it was safe to proceed. After all, those were a collection of spells he had never heard of or seen anyone else use before.

Severus's left eye twitched slightly, but he quickly concealed it behind a composed expression. "And what about it?" he asked with a cool demeanor, yet Sirius could detect the underlying unease in his body language. It might sound eerie, but Sirius had spent countless hours observing Severus whenever he could back when they were students, reaching a point where he could anticipate his movements and subtle gestures.

Severus had a few less noticeable habits, such as absentmindedly fiddling with the strands of hair in front of his face and occasionally silently mouthing the words of what he was writing. Sirius found it somewhat amusing, as he vividly recalled watching Severus during their OWLs exams, where he would mouth every single answer as he wrote. Thankfully, only Sirius was privy to this peculiar habit, as others might attempt to cheat off him. Not that it would be of much use, considering how excessively long and detailed Severus's answers were for each question.

He also had this peculiar habit of sticking to the same path when walking around the castle. He would go to great lengths to make a U-turn if the crowd unintentionally led him towards a different route, even if it meant a longer journey to his destination. Every step Severus took seemed to follow a meticulously planned daily routine that he couldn't deviate from. *

Glancing at Severus's bag on the floor, Sirius continued, "I found a few spells in there, and I think you already know this since I..." He cleared his throat before completing his sentence, "...mentioned one of them to you in the hospital wing. And if my memory serves me right, you said something about them being 'yours'," Sirius raised an eyebrow, awaiting Severus's confirmation. After a moment of silence, Severus nodded slightly in agreement. "So... Did you create all those spells in the book?" Sirius asked, the question having haunted his mind for several nights as he pondered the possibility.

Severus responded curtly, "Yes," his gaze conveying a sense of "are you satisfied?" towards Sirius.

Leaning in closer to Severus, their proximity almost causing their knees to touch under the table, Sirius inquired, "How?" Curiosity flickered in his eyes. Creating spells was known to be a challenging task, involving extensive research into the meaning of incantations and the development of precise wand movements that would effectively complement the spell.

"I believe that would be considered the second question, am I mistaken? I shouldn't be answering any more questions from you," Severus calmly reminded him.

Leaning back in his chair, Sirius looked at him sourly. "You're far too quick and difficult for my liking," he whined, adopting a childish tone. With one hand in his pocket and the other resting on the table, he added, "Well then, go ahead... ask me something. The floor is yours now."

Severus leaned forward, resting both arms on the table. "You already know my question, Black."

"Ask me," Sirius replied.

Severus eyed him suspiciously before speaking, "What is it that Lupin does on every full moon that prevents him from attending classes the following day?" His glare carried a threatening edge, as if he were ready to pounce if Sirius dared to lie. However, before Sirius could respond, Severus interrupted him. "On second thought, I'm changing my question, just to be safe from any word-twisting on your part. Answer me this: Is your friend, Remus Lupin, a werewolf? True or false?" This time, he aimed for a direct hit, leaving no room for ambiguity.

Sirius tilted his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "You're being rather forceful with that question, don't you think?" he remarked, letting out a soft chuckle.

"I'm not taking any chances of being manipulated by you, Black," Severus retorted, his tone laced with defiance.

"Alright then," Sirius straightened up, his gaze locked on Severus. "Well... to answer your question, yes, he is. We found out in our third year and—"

Before Sirius could finish his sentence, Severus shot up from his seat so quickly that his chair crashed to the ground, filling the room with a loud noise. The suddenness of Severus' reaction caught Sirius off guard, but he swiftly regained his composure.

"I knew it," Severus stated, his voice dripping with a mix of disgust. Determination etched on his face, he quickly grabbed his bag and made a swift move toward the exit. But Sirius reacted swiftly, gripping Severus' wrist tightly to prevent his escape. The pressure caused Severus to hiss in pain, wincing at the discomfort.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sirius asked, confirming his suspicion that Severus intended to run away after discovering this secret.

"Where else do you think I'm heading? To inform Dumbledore about the monstrous secret you and your friends have been concealing among the students," Severus growled with disdain.

Sirius stood his ground, his expression unwavering. "You think Dumbledore doesn't know about this?" he raised his eyebrow as he forcefully pulled Severus back towards their table. Retrieving Severus' bag, he tossed it back onto the ground, reclaiming control of the situation.

"You and your friends have been hiding a werewolf within the school, endangering the lives of everyone around him. And now you're telling me even the headmaster know about this and do nothing?" Severus blurted in disbelief at the situation.

Sirius maintained his composure. "We had a deal, Snivellus. I answered your question, and you were supposed to answer mine. We both got what we wanted. There's no point in talking about this with anyone. I could just tell headmaster about this and he would force you to keep the secret with the unbreakable vow. You know how dangerous that was," he tried his best to reason with him.

"Not if I write to the ministry first," Severus retorted, his voice laced with defiance.

Sirius sighed, his frustration evident as he massaged his temple. "You already expected this answer, Snivellus. You're smart enough to piece together the clues and make a wild guess about Remus' situation. Don't act as if this is a shocking news to you," he huffed in exasperation.

"Do you truly believe I would willingly keep your friend's secret without receiving anything in return? Especially after you and your friends made my school life a living hell for years?" Severus sneered, his words filled with deep-seated hatred.

"Alright, fine. What do you want, then?" Sirius asked calmly, attempting to defuse the tension.

Severus was momentarily taken aback by the question, his defenses momentarily lowered. "What?" he questioned, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"What do you want? New robes, books... I'm willing to offer you something in return," Sirius explained, trying to find a way to appease Severus.

Severus stared at Sirius, his expression a mix of disbelief and indignation. "Are you trying to bribe me with material possessions to keep your friend's secret hidden?" he retorted, anger lacing his voice.

"You brought up wanting something in return, Severus. I'm simply making an offer to fulfill your request. If you want me to intervene and make sure my friend stops bothering you as well, I can arrange that," Sirius responded, maintaining his calm demeanor.

Severus sneered, his disgust evident. "After everything you and your friends have done to me, you think I would accept such an offer? It's laughable."

Sirius rolled his eyes, finding Severus' dramatic response tiresome. "You act as if you haven't given as good as you've gotten. It was never a one-sided fight. Accept the truce I'm offering and let's try to be on better terms. You can't keep blaming others for your own misery," he criticized, deliberately provoking Severus.

Severus seethed with anger, his face contorted. Without saying another word, he swiftly collected his belongings and stormed out of the room. This time, Sirius made no attempt to stop him.

As Sirius looked at the untouched potion ingredients on the table, he let out a sigh. He tidied up, returning everything to their proper places in the old cabinet. The cabinet was stocked with various potion ingredients, indicating Severus' frequent use of the room.

Before closing the cabinet door, Sirius noticed an old bracelet tucked behind a potion vial. Curiosity sparked within him, and he discreetly slipped the bracelet into his back pocket, intending to investigate it later. There was no harm in satisfying his curiosity.

With the cabinet securely closed, he left the room in a pristine state. As he made his way back to his dorm, Sirius rubbed his temples, pondering how to approach Severus the next time they crossed paths. His impromptu plan hadn't unfolded as smoothly as he had hoped, but he hadn't given it much thought to begin with.

Sirius had a gut feeling that Severus wouldn't go so far as to inform the Ministry about Remus. It was a risk to let him leave without resolving the issue, but Sirius couldn't shake off the notion that Severus had his own reasons for not taking such drastic measures.

"Slow down, student!" a voice called out from a distance. Sirius turned to see who was addressing him, puzzled by the presence of someone in this secluded part of the castle. As the figure drew nearer, he immediately recognized Everly Chamber, the short Ravenclaw prefect, running toward him with slight breathlessness. "You! What are you doing here?" she questioned, trying to catch her breath.

"I could ask the same of you," Sirius retorted, offering a curt response.

"You're not supposed to be here. Confess what have you done," she interrogated, her foot tapping impatiently against the ground. Her wand was now pointed directly at his chest, reminiscent of their previous encounter.

Sirius lazily raised one hand while using the other to gently push her wand away. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Chamber. You can't just stop me every time you see me in the castle and accuse me of breaking the rules," he defended himself. He had merely been walking before being halted by her.

"That's not entirely true. I wouldn't stop you randomly unless I found you in the exact spot where Severus Snape frequently hangs around," she replied, crossing her arms defiantly.

"How do you know Snivellus spends time here often?" Sirius narrowed his eyes suspiciously, observing her closely. There was no way Severus would disclose his hiding spot to anyone, especially not to this girl who rarely spoke to him.

Everly shrugged her shoulder nonchalantly. "I've observed him occasionally, but he always brushed me off. He's not the easiest person to engage with, that's for sure," she sighed softly. She had retracted her wand, tucking it back into her robe. "And by the way, how do you think Evans and I managed to find the two of you in this corridor last time?" she raised an eyebrow, challenging Sirius.

"You were following Snivellus that day?" Sirius asked, his confusion evident.

"No, I was actually trying to check on him, but Evans suddenly approached me for help. I was about to leave when I heard a commotion in the corridor. And of course, it turned out to be you causing trouble," she glanced at him, her eyes filled with judgment.

Sirius furrowed his brow in bewilderment. "Why were you even following him in the first place?" he asked in curiosity. No one in the school cared enough about Severus to secretly track his movements, except for him and his friends. There was a reason why they had created the Marauder's Map.

"I'm a prefect, and it's my duty to keep an eye on students who have been targeted by... certain individuals," she replied, giving Sirius a scrutinizing look. "Now it's your turn, why do you always seem to be following him around?" she asked.

Sirius looked down at her small figure in amusement. "I don't know. Why do you think I followed him around?"

"You want me to guess?" she said, making a perplexed expression. "Hmmm... Besides you being a creepy person with no damn hobbies? Well, if I had to speculate, I might assume that you're actually obsessed with him. Completely infatuated."

Sirius let out a loud scoff at the assumption. "Me? Obsessed with him?" he pointed his index finger to his own chest mockingly. "I would say it's the other way around. There's nothing to be obsessed with when it comes to him. On the contrary..." He ran his hands through his wavy hair and swept it back, a self-satisfied smirk forming on his face. "There are plenty of reasons he should be jealous of me," he added smugly.

Everly looked at him with a mixture of horror and disbelief, as if she had just witnessed something truly repugnant. "Debatable," she shook her head. Without another word, she turned and walked away, giving him one last look of utter disgust.

Once Everly was out of sight, Sirius's smirk faded, replaced by a scowl. He stood there for a few more seconds, contemplating his next move, before deciding to leave the area and seek solace in the fresh air outside the castle walls.

——————————

"Sirius!" Marlene called out as he entered the common room, gesturing for him to come closer. She was seated by the windows, engrossed in a game of magic chess by herself.

Sirius groaned softly as he was still very tired. He had intended to take a brief stroll outside the castle, but ended up dozing off under a tree for three hours. Luckily, he woke up with enough time to return before curfew. He rubbed the back of his neck wearily but reluctantly made his way over to her. Although he wasn't in the mood for conversation, he couldn't ignore her for no reason. "What's up?" he asked, standing in front of her.

She smiled softly and handed him a stack of letters. "You've got letters. I've been waiting for you to give them to you," she explained. Sirius glanced at the letters and noticed the protective charms on each one, designed to prevent them from being opened by anyone other than the intended recipient.

"Ah, thanks. You should've just given them to one of my friends to keep in our dorm room," he replied, grateful for her thoughtfulness. Taking the letters from her, their fingers brushed against each other for a brief moment.

Marlene blushed at the contact and gazed at him intently. After a few seconds of awkward silence, she finally spoke up. "Actually, I want to talk to you about something."

'Merlin, no,' Sirius thought to himself, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the situation. He had no desire to engage in any conversation about dating, confessions, or anything of that sort. He knew he had to provide Marlene with some kind of response, but he also believed that silence could speak volumes. Marlene will surely understand after a certain amount of time.

"I'm sorry, Marlene, but I really need to read these letters. It's a family matter. I'll talk to you some other time ," he quickly excused himself, taking a few steps back towards the couch farthest from her seat.

"I— okay..." Marlene replied, her disappointment evident in her voice.

Sirius settled onto the couch, his attention now focused on the three envelopes in his hands. They were from his mother, Lucius, and... an unknown person. Deciding to start with Lucius' letter, he opened it and began reading in silence, trying to push aside any lingering thoughts of the conversation he had just avoided.

Sirius,

Thank you for the congratulations. Narcissa and I were informed by a close relative that you will be attending the gathering this year, which surprised many considering your usual absence. There is some concern that you may have ulterior motives and potentially disrupt the event, as everyone has been instructed to keep an eye on you.

As for Severus, it is not something I feel obliged to discuss with you. It is none of your business, particularly given your strained relationship with him. I believe you may have misunderstood something about me, Sirius. Unlike the Blacks, the Malfoys do not discriminate against half-bloods. As long as individuals adhere to blood supremacy beliefs, I respect them as fellow witches and wizards. I hope this clarifies why I would ever consider assisting a half-blood as you mentioned in your letter.

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming gathering.

Sincerely,

Lucius Malfoy

Sirius couldn't help but roll his eyes at Lucius' response. It seemed like a typical attempt to distance himself and justify his actions while maintaining an air of superiority.

And of course he wouldn't tell him anything regarding Severus. What was he expecting? At least this confirmed that Lucius was indeed intending to support Severus after he graduated.

Sirius sighed in exasperation as he opened the letter addressed to his mother. He already anticipated it would be filled with the usual annoying nonsense. As he quickly skimmed through the contents, his expectations were proven right. The letter contained the same old tedious remarks and opinions that he had come to expect from his mother.

Sirius,

I was utterly shocked to hear that you plan on attending the upcoming purebloods gathering during the Easter break. I must warn you, should you dare to cause any disruption, rest assured that the consequences will be severe. The Dark Lord himself will be in attendance, and one can only imagine what fate awaits those who dare to ruin such an occasion.

Furthermore, while I have this opportunity to communicate with you, I must remind you of your obligations to your future fiancée, Charlotte Greengrass. She has been patiently awaiting any form of communication from you for months now. I implore you not to bring further embarrassment upon our family, not that you haven't already done so enough.

Walburga Black

He scratched his jaw before folding the letter, reminiscing about how his mother had incessantly insisted on him speaking with his "future fiancé" whenever he returned home for holidays. She had even invited the girl to their house without his consent, but he adamantly refused to leave his room, leaving her to wait indefinitely until she eventually gave up and left.

The idea of spending time, let alone being engaged to someone from a blood supremacist family, was repugnant to him. Sirius had made a personal vow that if he ever had a partner, they would either be a half-blood, Muggle-born, or even a Muggle.

Picking up the last letter, he examined it, flipping it back and forth in search of a name, but found none. The protective charm on the envelope was different from the usual ones he had seen, and it lacked the wax seal that would indicate the sender's family.

He carefully opened the letter, but due to the glue-sealed envelope, it ended up tearing. Sirius furrowed his eyebrows as he read the unusual content of the message:

- School robes 3

- Complete set of Newt level textbooks

- Fluxweed stems 10

- Aconite 15 *

- Moonwort 10

- Quicksilver seed 8

- Papers, quills, and inks

I want these items by Friday, and tell your idiotic friends to stay away from me. This is your one and only chance, Black.

It took him a moment for his brain to process what he was reading, and then it dawned on him: the letter was from Severus. "Merlin's beard!" he exclaimed, realizing the significance of the requested items. Fifteen Aconite alone would cost a fortune, almost as much as a flying car. While Sirius had the means to afford them, the sheer quantity was still considerably expensive.

At least this meant that Severus had agreed to keep their secret for a price. Sirius knew that asking his parents for these items would raise suspicion, so he would have to seek assistance from his uncle this time.

Sirius quickly transcribed the list onto a fresh piece of parchment and attached it to Hugo's leg. He instructed the owl to deliver the letter to his uncle's mansion and rewarded him with a small treat before watching Hugo take flight and soar away, carrying the message. He hoped his uncle would receive the letter in time and send the requested items by Friday.

With that taken care of, Sirius turned his attention to informing his friends to steer clear of Severus.

——————————

Upon entering their dorm room, Sirius was immediately met with James's questioning. "Where were you, Padfoot? Please tell me you weren't spending hours with Snivellus," James cringed at the thought. Remus, engrossed in his book, rolled his eyes before returning to his reading.

"No, I just went outside for a little while to get some fresh air," Sirius explained, taking a seat on his bed.

James nodded in relief and grinned. "Thank Merlin for that. I thought you were trapped in hell all evening," he chuckled, and Sirius joined in. James leaned back on his mattress and sighed.

"Are you okay?" Sirius asked as he watched his friend laying down with a defeated expression.

"I'm not okay, Pad. I've asked Lily out for Valentine's Day like seven times already, but she keeps turning me down," he whined, rubbing his face in frustration.

"Just like every other year," Peter chimed in, but stopped short when James shot him a death glare.

"That's because you couldn't stop badmouthing Snape the entire time you two were studying together," Remus interjected, not looking up from his book.

James let out an exasperated sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "She actually said she'd rather spend Valentine's Day brewing potions with Snivellus than going out with me. Can you believe that?" He grumbled, frustration evident in his voice as he slid down in his seat.

Remus pursed his lips, "He's her best friend," he spoke with a tone of disapproval. James needed to understand that everyone would prioritize spending time with their best friend over their best friend's bully. "Listen... I'm just saying, you might have a better chance with her if you stop bothering Snape and, dare I say it, get along with him," he suggested earnestly. This earned him horrified looks from both Peter and James.

"Moony, are you out of your mind? Me? Getting along with Sniv—" James couldn't even finish the sentence before he started gagging. The idea of being on friendly terms with Severus was so bizarre and cursed that nobody in the school would ever wish to witness it. "I'd rather snog Andrea Mulciber than be nice to that git."

"Andrea Mulciber? Seriously?" Sirius looked at his friend with a mixture of disgust and disbelief. Andrea Mulciber was the last person Sirius would ever consider dating. She bore a striking resemblance to her older brother, whom Sirius found incredibly unattractive. The universe was fortunate that both of them ended up in Azkaban, saving anyone from the unfortunate fate of being forced to marry into that family.

"It was just an example. I wouldn't snog her even if she were the last witch in the wizarding world," James frowned at Sirius, realizing his friend had taken his words too literally. They both knew his taste in girls, and Andrea Mulciber certainly did not fit the bill.

"I was just trying to help, but I guess you don't need any," Remus rolled his eyes before closing his book. "I'm going to bed now. Feel free to keep dreaming about convincing Lily to go on a date with you. We all know it's never going to happen," he said with a mocking smile before blowing out the candle next to his bed and disappearing under his blanket.

James's mouth hung open in disbelief as he watched Remus retreat under his covers. "Are you serious, Moony?"

Suddenly, Sirius remembered the letter he had received earlier. This could work. He decided to play along with Remus's suggestion in order to persuade James to stop bothering Severus altogether. "Moony's right," he said curtly.

"What?" James looked bewildered.

"What?" Remus, who had emerged from under his blanket, sat up and stared at Sirius in shock.

"I'm saying that Moony's right, and maybe you should try getting along with Snivellus until you have a chance with Evans," Sirius added, trying his best to sound convincing and not arouse suspicion.

"Padfoot, are you feeling alright? You just agreed with Moony that I should befriend Snivellus!" James squawked, pointing his finger at his two friends, whom he currently viewed as crazy.

Sirius rubbed his jaw, searching for the right words to convince his friend. "I can't explain it properly, but I don't think you'll ever end up with Evans if we continue this childish rivalry," he lied. In reality, James did end up marrying Lily after they had bullied Severus until he ended his friendship with her, but Sirius kept that information to himself.

James looked at his friends with an incredulous expression. "Who cares? He's into the dark arts! Can't you see that what we've been doing is necessary? We're just trying to warn Evans that he's dangerous!" he protested.

"Yeah, I don't think it's a good idea," Peter chimed in.

"Well, we've been doing that for years. Have you seen any progress between you and Evans? Exactly," Sirius replied in a mocking tone.

"Oh, as if you didn't send him to the hospital wing just a week ago," James scowled at Sirius, his anger evident.

Sirius's brow furrowed as he tried to comprehend James's reaction. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Because you are allowed to have your fun, but I can't!" James crossed his arms, clearly upset at the thought that Sirius would continue to enjoy bullying Snape while forcing James to befriend him.

"No, that's not what I meant," Sirius responded, exasperated. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "I meant that I would also make an effort to get along with Snape. It wouldn't be just you."

"You two could start by calling him Snape instead of Snivellus," Remus interjected.

"Wait, you two are also going to get along with Snape?! Do we all have to do the same thing?" Peter exclaimed, a look of disgust on his face. He glanced back and forth between his friends, hoping they were joking.

"Yes," Remus affirmed without hesitation.

"But..." James trailed off, unable to find the right words. He looked at his friends with a defeated expression. "You guys can't be serious, right?"

Sirius shook his head, attempting to lighten the mood. "My mother wouldn't have named me Sirius if I wasn't," he joked, earning a punch to his left shoulder from James.

"What would I get from doing all this?"

"A date with Evans? I thought that was your end goal?" Sirius raised his eyebrow at his friend.

"I means, yes, but..." he trailed off. He went quiet for a moment before hanging his head low in defeat. "Are you sure this is going to work?" he asked in a desperate tone.

"Yes," Remus answered curtly without giving any explanation.

"Fine, damn it! But if this doesn't work out by Valentine's Day, I'm putting an end to this nonsense," James muttered, cursing under his breath.

Sirius frowned at his friend's statement. "You can't do that. Valentine's Day is less than a month away."

"Well, my patience isn't that long, Padfoot. If Evans accepts my invitation this year, I might consider continuing this... nonsense. Reluctantly, though."

——————————

* The behavior and habits exhibited by Severus are a result of OCD. It is important to acknowledge that OCD manifests differently in each person, and the description I am using is based on my own personal experience.

* Aconite — Another name for the plant called wolfsbane.

Here's an interesting tidbit: the Malfoys are recognized for having a considerable number of half-bloods in their family tree. That's precisely why they tend to be more inclusive and accepting of individuals with mixed blood, in contrast to extreme blood purists like the Blacks and the Gaunts.

I feel that everything in this chapter is going way too quickly. In the next chapter, I will attempt to slow down the pace, hoping to avoid the rushed feeling that was present in this one.

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