Author's Note:
These are a collection of short stories focusing on the highlights of a growing relationship. These are not in chronological order. Naturally this is set in an alternate universe.

—

APRICITY: The Warmth of the Sun in Winter

Touch

—-

Diora Avery was a dedicated student who strove for academic excellence. She had always taken pride in her academic achievements and was typically more than capable of handling her coursework independently. Like anyone else, she faced moments when she needed help. Rather than shying away from seeking assistance, Diora embraced it, recognizing it as an integral part of the learning process. When the need arose, she would reach out to her professors directly following a class, trusting their guidance to connect her with the right resources. Although some of these resources included books and tutoring, rarely was she ever surprised by the form of the help she received.

So when Diora approached Professor Flitwick, expressing her difficulty with mastering a spell, she was shocked to learn that Sirius Black would be the one assisting her.

Diora had never worked closely with Sirius Black during her six years at Hogwarts. Based on her past observations, she would not have considered him a diligent student. In fact, she often saw him as somewhat careless when it came to his studies. But her preconceptions were shattered as Sirius took charge of teaching her the spell. She couldn't deny the way her heart raced when he got so close to her, his hands guiding her own as he patiently instructed her on the intricacy of wand-flicking. Diora was both impressed and slightly flustered by his proximity, realizing that her initial assumptions about him had been incorrect.

Diora had heard plenty about Sirius Black, just like everyone else. The handsome bad boy was hard to miss, especially as James Potter's best friend. While James was hopelessly devoted to Lily, Sirius appeared to have a roving eye, never sticking to one girl for long. In fact, he had quite a reputation for being a ladies' man. Diora tried to play it cool, pretending she wasn't interested in his exploits, though she enjoyed listening to the juicy gossip. She thought she would be immune to his charms, knowing his womanizing ways, but little did she know how much his proximity would affect her.

Having Sirius this close, standing just behind her, made Diora's heart skip a beat. She could feel her body temperature rise, her pulse quicken, and her breath hitch in her chest. But rather than panicking, she focused on his instructions. She tried her best to remain calm, mentally calculating the precise moment to flick her wand as Sirius taught her. She silently cursed herself for losing her usual composure in his presence, but she was determined to prove she could handle being around him without being thrown off balance.

"Alright, give it a try," he murmured, his breath brushing her ear before she sensed him stepping back.

Diora stood a few yards from the practice dummy, holding her wand steadily in hand. With a sense of determination, she concentrated on the spell she had learned, recalling the correct incantation and the precise timing of the flick of her wand. With a fluid movement, she thrust her wrist forward at the exact moment of the final syllable.

A radiant bolt of blue energy erupted from the tip of Diora's wand, hurtling towards the practice dummy. Upon impact, the powerful surge of magic caused the dummy to recoil violently, its wheel spinning wildly as it struggled to withstand the force of her spell.

"Yes!" Diora exclaimed, excitement bubbling over as she repositioned herself for another attempt. With unwavering focus, she repeated the spell, each attempt landing squarely on its target. After the fifth successful hit, Diora finally lowered her arms. Turning her head slightly to glance at Sirius, a subtle smile graced her lips. "I owe you one," she said, her gratitude evident in her tone.