David woke up in the Slytherin dormitory, the morning sunlight filtering through the green curtains and casting a soft glow over the room. Stretching lazily, he sat up and glanced around at his fellow Slytherins, still fast asleep in their own four-poster beds. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he quietly his items gathered for a quick shower, his mind already racing with plans and schemes for the day ahead. Despite this year being NEWT, he knew that his OWLs demanded a rather impressive outlook for his future. It had been a goal for some time to get into the courts where his father sat for many years, but he, as his son, faced a difficult time attempting to outshine the man he called Father.
His only Outstandings had been Transfiguration, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy, while Charms, DADA, Potions, and History of Magic were Exceed Expectations. The knowledge gained through Ancient Runes seemed more interesting to him than continuing Arithmancy could offer toward his career goals. It was in the first week, he dropped a few courses and chose a final roster of Charms, Transfigurations, Potions, Defense, and Ancient Runes. The five courses were filled with homework, adding on top his Prefect duties, leaving limited time with Emily. Usually, it meant watching her study in the library for her nine courses. How he wished to hold her against the bookshelves, ravishing that goddess, allowing hands to find places unknown and claiming her mind and soul. But that would mean allowing his body to control his actions and this was something he must control, or it would scare the girl he wanted most in the world away.
To memory she took the same electives as he. She excelled in Arithmancy, Charms, and Potions and these may be the ones she might continue to NEWT level. All this he wondered as he washed his dark hair, scrubbing in the applewood scented body wash over his skin, recalling how Emily's hand had caressed his chest. He wanted to believe he was chasing Emily, but every time it seemed he could get to her, there was Sirius Black laughing and being jovially with her at the most inconvenient times. It annoyed him greatly how Sirius would tutor her on Defense in the library from time to time.
Today, he spent much of Ancient Runes trying to interrupt the text from two different books, and in Defense, his brain was too fried to think of the spells he needs to say. Come lunch, he was pleasantly surprised to see Arlo sitting alone at the Ravenclaw table holding a pair of chopsticks in his hands. Walking up, he noted there was an open book to the boy's left as Arlo appeared to be skimming it.
"Arlo?" asked David quietly as the two boys ate a quick plate of sandwiches and fruit. The mixture of chatter of other students filled their ears as they ate quietly. "Are you definitely going to ask Daphne out on our first Hogsmeade trip?"
A mischievous glint in Arlo's green eyes as he stared down at his friend. The boy seemed to understand the question before letting out a scoff quietly.
"So, David, are you ready for Potions today?" he asked instead, a sly smile playing on his lips.
Rolling his eyes, knowing all too well that Arlo was up to something, he chose to answer his question first. "I am truly ready for Potions anytime," he replied with a chuckle. "But I suppose I'll survive with you in there. Now about Daphne Winters?"
Arlo laughed with amusement underneath light brown messy hair. "Come on, David, you know you love Potions," he teased. "It's like a puzzle to figure out, a challenge to conquer."
David shook his head, his lips quirking into a grin. "Maybe for you, but I prefer Transfiguration. At least Professor McGonagall doesn't make me feel like I'm constantly on the verge of a disaster. Again, about Daphne…"
"You seem very interested in my romantic pursues…" asked Arlo wiping his mouth and taking a long gulp of water. David looked intently at him without budging, when finally, he dropped his shoulders turning to face his friend fully. "I mean we get along. I work closely with her twin since we're prefects, but that kid can talk endlessly about Arithmancy by the way."
"She's the best friend of the girl I happened to be pursuing. SO…" started David again drumming his fingers across the table. Arlo shifted uncomfortably in his seat, softly closing his book and closing his eyes. He could feel the pressure staring back at him. It was intimidating of the Slytherin to do this, but deep down it was going to be asked as a Hogsmeade weekend was tomorrow. Last week, they had discussed taking Daphne and Emily to Honeydukes and then for some Butterbeers if time allowed. A sorta double date, they had mentioned. Only Arly hadn't formally asked Daphne, and neither he heard of David doing the same to Emily.
"Oh, David, you know me," he said evasively straightening his robes. "I'm just not really looking for anything serious right now. I'm focusing on my studies and my Quidditch training, you know how it is."
David raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced by Arlo's excuse. "We literally spoke about this. You said that you were interested in her and said Hogsmeade would the prefect place," he persisted, leaning in slightly.
"Look, I appreciate your curiosity and all, but I'm just not sure about Daphne yet. I think we're better off as friends for now, you know? And besides, I wouldn't want to cause any drama between you and your girl."
David nodded understandingly, sensing that Arlo was finally being honest with him.
"I get it," he said with a smile. "Friends first, always. Thanks for setting me straight."
Arlo let out a relieved breath, visibly relaxing now that the topic of Daphne was finally put to rest. "No problem, mate. Now, let's finish up lunch and head to Potions before Slughorn starts deducting points for tardiness," he said with a chuckle.
The two boys continued their conversation, chatting about their classes and upcoming Quidditch matches, leaving the topic of Daphne behind them. And as they walked to the dungeons for Potions class, David couldn't help but feel grateful for Arlo's honesty and their strong friendship. The two friends continued to banter back and forth as they entered the room. As they worked, the door opened suddenly revealing Emily and Daphne, though it was concerning as they were fifth years, and this was sixth years' time for class. They waited patiently for Professor Slughorn to see them before heading to grab their items. They had asked to begin early on their potion, one that they both achieved in doing last year. As the girls gathered their ingredients and cauldron, beginning to finish their potion, tensions started to rise between the two boys as they observed one station away.
David, with his slicked-back hair and sly grin, known for his cunning and ambition among the Slytherin House in potions. Arlo, on the other hand, with his messy hair falling into his eyes and constantly furrowed brow in the class, is the epitome of the bookish Ravenclaw. It was more theory than practical between them. Meticulously measures out the ingredients, David stirs the potion with a flick of his wand. The silence between them is palpable, each lost in their own thoughts.
Finally, Arlo breaks the silence. "Do you think we're doing this right?" he asks, his brow furrowed even deeper.
David looks at him with a smirk. "Of course we are. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."
Arlo raises an eyebrow skeptically. "I'm not so sure about that. This potion is delicate, and any wrong move could ruin it completely."
David scoffs as he smirked at his friend seeing a difference in their potions by the a subtle shade. "Oh, you Ravenclaws and your obsession with perfection. Sometimes you just have to trust your instincts."
Arlo narrows his eyes. "Well, I trust my instincts, and they're telling me that we need to add more of this!"
David rolls his eyes. "Fine, have it your way. But don't blame me if yours turns out to be a disaster."
As they continue to work on the potion, tension mounts between the two boys. David's cavalier attitude clashes with Arlo's perfectionism, leading to several heated exchanges, some Professor Slughorn overheard several times. But despite their differences, they both realize that their collaboration was successful. The potion turns out perfectly, much to their surprise, though Arlo's was a slight bit diluted in taste. Near the end of class, Arlo walked over, as he was cleaning his workstation, seeing David staring at the fifth-year girls.
"Hey," he asked softly, his voice tinged with a hint of concern. "Are you okay? You've seemed off the entire time they have been here." He nodded his head in the direction of the girls before watching David's face clear.
"I'm fine," he snapped, forcing a smile onto his face and averting his gaze at his potions. "Just a bit tired, that's all."
David studied him for a moment, his expression thoughtful. He felt a swell of gratitude toward his friend, knowing that he was lucky to have someone like Arlo by his side. The two friends watched in companionable silence for a moment, watching as the girls clapped happily at their successful potion. It was cheerful, until Emily called for James and Sirius to test the potion. Their laughter rang out loudly as the potion worked as intended. But as the time for Potions drew near, he pushed his worries aside, determined to face Emily's smiling face another day.
*dot*
The downpour this morning had left History of Magic a bit on the boring side as the girls struggled to stay awake. It was the thunder and lightning that really did the trick. Hopefully it would clear by afternoon or evening before the Gryffindor Quidditch practice.
"I hate this," whispered Daphne as they took several notes and snuck in quick bites of an egg muffin from breakfast. "I'm still hungry from breakfast."
Nodding, Emily pulled her items into her bag silently urging her friend to do the same as they were finally done with the class. "Let's just get to Potions. Maybe Slughorn will let us in early. I mean we only have maybe an hour or so till class."
"I hate Potions Emmy! And we are nearly done Polyjuice."
"I know but at least we got to pick whose hair we use. I would hate to turn into someone I don't like," she said suggestively. "I don't know if he'll have students or not at this hour."
"The 6th years are before us. I've seen them exit about ten minutes before most of us get there."
Sighing loudly, they left towards the dungeons talking aimlessly about their month long Polyjuice Potion being near completion. They only had to add the additional scoop of lacewings to their shared cauldron and follow the last few steps. Opening the door to the Potions lab, they spotted Professor Slughorn talking to Lily proudly before seeing the two girls.
"Miss Potter? Miss Winters? What are you doing here early?"
"We were hoping we could start early on our potion. We didn't have much in our morning classes. We were hoping we could maybe finish it early, if possible," commented Emily pointing at their cauldron. Daphne nodded quickly too and looked around the room at the students surrounding them. Many of them stared to see them, holding hushed conversation behind their hands.
"Emmy…" her whispered pulling on her robe spotting David and Arlo. "Emmy!"
Her friend seemed to have her entire attention toward Professor Slughorn, who agreed happily in allowing them early access. "That's a wonderful idea. We could test it with the 6th years. Let's get you started!"
Smiling back at Daphne, Emily pulled her hair into a low ponytail as the former pulled the remaining items and they moved their cauldron to a spare table. Wiping their brow, they managed to get the cauldron onto the table without spilling, a feat only achieved with help with the older students. As they began measuring out their final ingredients and following the instructions in their textbook, they felt a wave of nervousness wash over them. The Polyjuice Potion was known to be one of the most complex and challenging potions, and they couldn't help but doubt their abilities to successfully brew it.
However, their doubts were soon overshadowed by the words of encouragement coming from the older students. Sirius, with a mischievous grin, leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry, it's not as bad as it looks."
Lily chimed in, "And don't forget to add the lacewings at the right moment. Timing is crucial in potion-making."
Even the Slytherins, who usually kept to themselves, offered words of advice. Snape, with a rare hint of kindness in his voice, said, "Keep a steady hand waving your wand. Only one of you should do that."
Arlo, who had finished his potion and was cleaning up his workstation, turned to them and said, "You've got this, girls."
Feeling bolstered by the support and guidance of their older peers, Daphne and Emily focused on their potion-making, determined to prove that they were up to the challenge. As they worked together, measuring, stirring, and adding ingredients with precision. When they finally finished brewing their Polyjuice Potion, they couldn't wait for Professor Slughorn to come around and judge their work.
Once Professor Slughorn made his way around the classroom to inspect the potions, he came to Daphne and Emily's workstation. The girls nervously watched as he examined the color, consistency, and aroma of their Polyjuice Potion. After a moment of scrutiny, a smile slowly spread across Professor Slughorn's face.
"Well done, ladies! This is an excellent brew. The color is perfect, the consistency is smooth, and the scent is just right."
Daphne and Emily couldn't contain their excitement and exchanged looks of joy and relief. They had managed to successfully brew the Polyjuice Potion, a feat that even some of the 6th years had struggled with the prior year. As Professor Slughorn congratulated them on their work, he handed each of them a small vial of the potion.
"Go on, give it a taste. You've earned it."
With trembling hands, Daphne and Emily looked at one another.
"Ready?" asked Daphne happily, holding hers out with pride.
"Oh! Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, why don't you join Miss Potter and Miss Winters in celebration?" called Professor Slughorn turning to the boys. "Ease their nerves a bit you know."
Sirius and James walked over with a smile on their face. They were each handed a vial and they plucked a single hair from their head.
"This looks like mine last year," beamed Sirius and handed his hair to James.
"I don't know, mine was clearer," said James holding his own hair out.
"That's why it sucked Prongs!" laughed Sirius dropping the hair in and throwing it back quickly. "Merlin, it tastes the same!"
Emily and Daphne followed suit with a laugh and as the liquid slid down their throats, they felt a strange sensation wash over them, followed by a tingling in their extremities. Watching as their appearance changed to match the other, Emily felt her stance grow as she grew even with Sirius who was quite tall. Daphne in turn remarked how short she was and asked loudly how she dealt with it.
"I'm not that short!" she jeered fluffing out Daphne's hair which was too bright for her liking. "Your hair is too much I swear!"
"I can easily put my arms on your shoulders," commented Sirius winking at Emily.
When they looked at each other, they saw that they had swapped bodies, just as the potion was supposed to do. The joy and wonder on their faces were palpable as they realized they had achieved success in their potion-making. Even James and Sirius were smiling, though in their new forms. Together, they laughed with delight, grateful for the guidance and encouragement from the older students and proud of their own determination and hard work.
Once the clock struck the hour mark, the effects of the Polyjuice Potion began to wear off in Professor Slughorn's classroom. The other sixth years had already left a while ago, including a disgruntled David, who had glared at James and Sirius. During the next hour, the fifth years had arrived to finish their potion. The boys stayed in the back of the class waiting for the effects to end before gathering their items. As the transformation completed, Emily and Sirius looked at each other in amazement, seeing their real forms once again. Sirius ran a hand through his now familiar shaggy black hair and let out a laugh of relief.
"Well, that was quite the experience, wasn't it?" he said with a grin lightly tapping her small nose, one he was familiar with touching. "I would rather see this than Daphne's."
Emily couldn't help but chuckle in quiet agreement, feeling grateful for Sirius' encouragement and camaraderie throughout the potion-making process.
"Definitely a memorable one. I'm just glad we made it through in one piece," she replied with a smile.
Meanwhile, across the room, James and Daphne were experiencing the same shift back to their original appearances. James shook his head, his messy hair falling back into place, as he looked at Daphne with a grin.
"Looks like our time as each other is up. Can't say I'll miss the curls," he teased Sirius.
Daphne laughed and gave James a playful shove. "Likewise, James. I am always amazed you and Emily have such straight hair."
"It's just always been like this," he said softly as he left the room with a wave. "Gotta get to the Pitch!"
As chatter filled the room, Emily and Sirius shared a knowing look, their laughter echoing through the classroom. Despite the challenges and surprises of the Polyjuice Potion, they had come out of it with a newfound sense of accomplishment and camaraderie, ready to face whatever potions or mischief awaited them next. As the girls had arrived early, Professor Slughorn excused them early as well. Daphne skipped off to get an early dinner while Sirius and Emily locked arms smiling at their potions experience.
"Thank you!" she said giving him a big hug and inhaling the citrus scent surrounding him. His arms closed a moment later around her with a quick kiss on top of her head. "Oh, I didn't smell that when you were James."
"My what?" he asked softly nudging her gently in the side making her laugh.
"You! You always have a citrus smell to you. I got near James a moment, but I didn't smell that on him during the Polyjuice potion. It was on you the whole time," she smiled sweetly turning to face him.
"I use a citrus based cleansing bar to wash with," he admitted holding Emily against his chest a bit too close, his mind screamed at him. Thankfully his body was behaving this time.
"I've grown maybe fond of it," she laughed lightly running her fingers down his chest.
"Not a problem," he smirked as they rested against a wall. He looked into her hazel eyes seeing a swell of pride at her potion skills. It was remarkable and he was indeed very proud of her. "I'm really proud of your skill. You did a great job."
"Thank you Sirius! Being as tall as you was nice for a change," she giggled resting her forehead on his chest. He rubbed her back a bit before letting up.
"Hey, let's meet on the Quidditch pitch in a bit."
Nodding, they later found each other in the stands watching the students flying around on their brooms, all vying for the perfect trial Quidditch match. James sat on his broom at the edge of the pitch, a clipboard in hand, as he observed with a watchful eye at each flyer. The sun was setting sooner than anyone wanted, casting a warm golden glow over the pitch, adding a touch of magic to the evening.
Sirius nudged Emily gently with his elbow, a mischievous twinkle in his gray eyes. "Think you could do better than any of these people out there?"
Emily rolled her eyes, but a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "Maybe. James once got me stuck on a broom when we were kids."
Sirius chuckled, his shoulder brushing against hers. "Modest as always, I see. But I have no doubt that happened."
"I was up in the air way higher than a normal toy broom would go because he got ahold of our father's wand and started muttering made up stuff making me flow about twenty feet in the air. Mum thought we were just playing. Dad was screaming at him to get me down before realizing James was holding his wand."
Sirius felt a warmth spread through him at her words, a sense of comfort and familiarity settling between them. She playfully nudged him back, the teasing banter between them feeling effortless and light. Just then, one of the students zoomed past, narrowly missing the goalposts, and James let out an exasperated sigh.
"We might be here all night at this rate," he muttered.
Sirius leaned closer to Emily his voice low. "Looks like we'll have to entertain ourselves somehow. Any ideas?"
Feeling a wave of tiredness and contentment washing over her, Emily hesitantly laid her head on his shoulder, remembering the last time she did this. He tensed slightly at the sudden contact but relaxed as he felt her soft breath against his neck. With the sun setting in the distance and the familiar smell of citrus, she closed her eyes, relishing the quiet simplicity of the moment. Sirius placed a comforting hand on her back, his touch gentle and reassuring. The sounds wrapped around them like a warm embrace, creating a cocoon of intimacy and connection that felt both comforting and exhilarating.
In that moment, with her head resting on him and the world around them fading into the background, he felt a rush of excitement he couldn't quite put into words. It was a feeling of warmth, of belonging, of a bond that went beyond friendship. His body also was responding to the closeness of their bodies, just like before. Something that was becoming a growing problem for him as he slept and something he was keenly aware of was probably morally wrong to act upon in the privacy of the bathroom or alone in the dormitories. But he did rather enjoy the activity with Emily in his mind.
As the last notes of the practice echoed through the quiet night, Emily lifted her head from Sirius's shoulder, her gaze meeting his with a silent understanding that spoke volumes. Without saying a word, they shared a smile that held promises of unspoken feelings and in that fleeting moment, as the stars twinkled above and the Quidditch pitch fell into a peaceful slumber, they looked into each other's eyes with a smile, rare and precious.
*dot*
Between the shining sun and cloudy rainstorms that had several students playing in the puddles around the courtyard, Emily felt the year was going well. The library was usually quiet and bathed in a soft, golden light, the shelves of books creating a cozy cocoon around Emily and Sirius as they sat at a small table in a secluded corner poring over their Defense Against the Dark Arts homework. Parchments and textbooks were spread out before them, filled with notes and diagrams on defensive charms and counterspells. Emily's hazel eyes flickered with concentration as she scanned the pages of her textbook, her lips slightly pursed in thought.
Sirius couldn't help but steal glances at her as they worked, marveling at the way her eyes seemed to change color depending on the light, the flecks of green and gold dancing around. Lost in the depths of her hazel eyes, he found himself mesmerized by the way they sparkled with intelligence and warmth. He felt a flutter of something unfamiliar yet undeniable stirring in his chest by the way a small crease formed between her brows as she tried to make sense of the complex material before her.
It was a realization he couldn't quite put into words, a feeling that went beyond friendship and hinted at a deeper, unspoken bond between them. He couldn't tear his gaze away; drawn to the depth and warmth he saw reflected in her gaze.
"This is so confusing," she sighed in frustration, running a hand through her hair and flipping through the pages of her textbook rapidly trying to find whatever she was looking for. Having taken the class last year, it surprised him how hard it was coming to her, but then he remembered that Potions and Charms were her best classes.
"Having trouble with that spell?" Sirius asked, breaking the spell of silence that had settled between them and sitting his quill down. She glanced up, her hazel eyes meeting his stormy grey ones, and a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Yeah, it's a tricky one," she admitted, a hint of frustration lacing her voice.
Sirius glanced over his grey eyes full of understanding.
"Here, let me take a look," he offered, leaning in closer to study the spell she was struggling with. As Sirius explained the incantation and its nuances, Emily felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. His knowledge and confidence in the subject put her at ease, making the complex material seem more manageable.
"Ah, I see where you're getting tripped up," Sirius said, pointing to a specific line in the textbook. "You have to emphasize the 'R' at the end of the incantation for it to work properly."
In that quiet moment, with the soft glow of the library lanterns casting gentle shadows across their faces Sirius leaned in closer, his eyes locking with hers, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. He felt a jolt of recognition deep within him, a sudden awareness that there was something unspoken and special hidden beneath this moment. And as the hours slipped by unnoticed, Emily knew that her time spent in the library with Sirius was not just about homework or academic success—it was about building a connection that went beyond friendship.
Emily nodded, feeling a rush of admiration for Sirius's expertise and patience. His easygoing nature and willingness to help her understand the material made her feel both grateful and comfortable in his presence. Before long, the Hogwarts library emptied, the shelves casting long shadows as the candles burned in a soft glow. Her cheeks were flushed with nervous excitement as she glanced over at him, her heart pounding in her chest. As they continued to work through the assignment together, Emily couldn't help but notice the way Sirius's eyes sparkled with excitement when discussing magical theory and practical application. His passion for the subject was infectious.
"Sirius," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "I wanted to ask you something."
Sirius looked up, meeting her gaze with a curious expression. "What's on your mind, Emily?"
Taking a deep breath, Emily mustered up her courage. "I was wondering if you would... practice kissing with me?" she blurted out, her words hanging in the air between them.
Sirius's eyes widened in surprise, his breath catching in his throat. He felt a rush of conflicting emotions - the desire to lean in and kiss her, mixed with the fear of getting caught and the uncertainty of what this meant for their friendship.
"Emily, I-I... I don't know," Sirius stammered, running a hand through his dark hair. "What if someone sees us? What if we get caught?"
Emily reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "No one comes here this late, Sirius. We'll be careful, I promise."
After a moment of hesitation, Sirius nodded slowly, a tentative smile playing on his lips. "Okay, let's do it. But just this once, and we have to be quiet."
Taking her hand, he led them to a dark, quiet area of the library away from anything and gathered her in his arms carefully. With their hearts beating in sync, Emily leaned in slowly, her eyes fluttering closed. Their lips met in a gentle and hesitant kiss, a moment filled with unspoken emotions and shared vulnerability. As they pulled away, their eyes met again, a silent understanding passing between them. Returning a few more times, he cupped her cheek sharing light, airy, feather-like kisses that began to make her smile and this she realized was making her body respond in a positive way. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held her hands against his shoulder blades as they flexed. He was leaning over her against the bookshelf, when she noticed his hands were shaking beside her hips. Somehow calming themselves before they returned to their table grabbing their things, they walked hand in hand to Gryffindor tower before separating as they approached the Fat Lady.
A few days later, they were sitting together on the comfortable couch in the common room, lost in their respective books. Sirius sat against one arm, a leg over the knee of the other, while Emily took to using him as a pillow, her hair brushing against his cheek a few times. It was rather ticklish and somehow annoyed him, but only for a moment, so he lightly brushed it over the other shoulder. He was trying to read but she kept moving around to get comfortable. Finally, he grabbed the pillow behind his back and placed it against hers, finally settling her in place. The crackling fire cast a warm glow over the room, creating a relaxing mood. Emily was so engrossed in her reading, her brow furrowed in concentration as she flipped through the pages, their pace getting slower and slower over time though.
He glanced over at her from time to time, admiring the way her eyes sparkled with intelligence and determination. Despite the late hour, they both seemed content to spend the evening in each other's company, the quiet rustling of pages the only sound in the room. As the minutes ticked by, Emily's eyelids began to droop, the fatigue of a long day finally catching up to her. Her head nodded slightly, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep, her book slipping from her hands and resting on her lap.
Sirius watched her with a soft smile, amused by her sudden slumber. He nudged her gently, trying to rouse her.
"Hey, Emmy," he teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief. But as he spoke, Sirius's gaze dropped to her peaceful face, now resting against his shoulder. His playful expression softened into one of quiet affection as he realized she had fallen asleep on him. A gentle warmth spread through his chest, and he couldn't resist running a hand through her hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. For a brief moment, the quietness of the common room enveloped them, the crackling fire casting dancing shadows over their intertwined forms. Sirius savored the simple intimacy of the moment.
Emily stirred in her sleep, murmuring softly and nestling closer to him. He knew in that instant that her being so close was the cause of his body misbehaving lately. He could see a slight bulge in his jeans and embarrassingly looked around, praying no one could see this. Leaning his head against the back of the couch, he willed himself calm again before shifting a bit to ease the pressure on his jeans.
"Why here?" he asked himself to try to think of anything but the girl sleeping on him. But she smelt so good of fresh flowers with a hint of lavender, and this his brain kept. "I can't do anything right now…"
There was something special between them, something unspoken but undeniable, a budding love that neither of them had dared to acknowledge, until now Sirius realized. After some time, he carefully lifted Emily into his arms, her form light and peaceful against his chest. He could smell her favorite perfume fill his lungs and wash over him. As he carried her towards the staircase that led to the girls' dormitories, it became obvious that he was mindful to not waking her from her slumber. Reaching the entrance to the girls' dormitory, Sirius hesitated for a moment before lightly knocking on the door. After a few moments, Daphne's groggy voice called out, "Who is it?"
"It's Sirius," he replied softly, hoping his tone conveyed the urgency of the situation. "I need to get Emily to bed. Can you please help?"
There was a pause before the door creaked open, revealing Daphne's tired but concerned expression as she took in the sight of Sirius holding her sleeping friend. Understanding flickered in her eyes as she stepped out extending her arms to help stand her. Gently allowing Daphne to take over by taking hold under Emily's arms, his heart twinging with a hint of reluctance to leave her side. She stirred slightly, throwing out an arm in the open air, blinking drowsily as she slowly became aware of her surroundings. It was clear though that Emily was only just awake enough to communicate to her friend.
"Daphne? What's going on?" he heard Emily mumble her voice thick with sleep as he had stepped a few steps down the stairway.
Daphne must be smiling as she spoke, "Sirius brought you in. You fell asleep in the common room."
Emily's eyes widened in realization, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she looked up to see her bed. "Tell him I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to doze off on him."
"I'm sure he already knows that, Emmy. Let's go to bed! I'll go tell him though."
"What if he's not in the common room now?" she asked between the meow of a yawn.
"I'll see if I can find him," she giggled waving her wand to cover her friend up. "Goodnight Emily."
"Good night Daph…." And a moment later she was out again.
Daphne exchanged a knowing glance with Sirius who stood outside the door, recognizing the unspoken emotions that simmered beneath the surface.
"Thank you," he mouthed before turning to leave. With a subtle nod, she gently closed the door and returned to her own bed, her eyes lingering on her best friend with a knowing smile.
As Sirius bid a quiet farewell to Daphne and the sleeping form of Emily, he couldn't shake the feeling of having her so close to him and how she so easily fell asleep on him. It was warming to think of and filled him with cheerfulness.