Chapter Two - All About Lily, Nomomom

{ Charlotte Evans }

Charlotte had never run so fast in her life. Bursting out of the common room, she pushed past students without a second thought, sprinting toward the Charms classroom. She knew she must look a mess—tie crooked, robes wrinkled—but fixing her appearance wouldn't change the fact that she'd slept through three classes.Three!

By the time she reached the classroom door, her legs were burning, and she felt entirely unfit. She paused, gasping for breath, knowing that rushing in like a panting dog would only draw more attention to her. After a few moments, she straightened her robes as best she could and muttered a quick tempus. The clock flickered briefly before disappearing with a sputter from her wand. Typical.

At least she'd arrived on time.

Pushing the door open a crack, she peeked inside. The room buzzed with students chatting in small groups or hurriedly finishing homework. She slipped in unnoticed, making her way to her usual spot in the back corner—a place where she could observe without being seen. It was where she felt most comfortable, tucked away from the center of things, always watching from the edges.

"I said no, Potter!"

Charlotte's eyes darted to the front of the room. Lily was seated, rigid with frustration, as James hovered nearby, grinning in his usual infuriating way. He clearly wasn't taking no for an answer.

Charlotte grimaced. "Bloody hell."

Why couldn't he leave her alone? His constant attempts to woo Lily were edging from persistent to obsessive, and Charlotte could never understand why her sister hadn't hexed him into oblivion by now. James was charming, yes, but his relentless pursuit was embarrassing to watch.

"It's the first time he's had to work for a girl," a voice commented from beside her.

Charlotte jumped slightly, startled. She turned to see Sirius Black leaning casually against the table next to hers, his trademark smirk softened into something more teasing than arrogant.

He looked so at ease, his stormy grey eyes glinting with a kind of amusement that felt... oddly warm. Unlike James, who seemed to barrel through situations obliviously, Sirius had this ability to make everything feel like a private joke, as though the two of them were in on something others weren't. His presence wasn't as irritating as she expected.

"Is that why he's trying so hard?" Charlotte asked, her tone dry, but Sirius' smile made it impossible to be completely disinterested. She raised an eyebrow as he slumped into the seat next to her.

"Probably," he said with a lazy shrug, his gaze flicking back to James. "He's stubborn, but he does fancy her. In his own... weird way."

"Weird is one way to put it," Charlotte muttered, watching as her sister ignored James' latest attempt to get her attention. "I'd call it obsessive."

Sirius chuckled, a low, genuine sound that made Charlotte glance at him again. His laughter wasn't mocking, nor was it loud enough to turn heads—it was just... real. For a brief second, she saw him differently. Not the Sirius Black who walked around with his cocky grin and carefree swagger, but someone else. Someone who, like her, watched the world with sharper eyes.

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "It's funny. You're the first person who's ever said that to me."

Charlotte tilted her head. "What, that James is obsessive?"

"No," Sirius replied with a faint smile. "That maybe it's not all so simple."

There was something about the way he said it—so casual, so disarming—that made Charlotte pause. It was like he was letting her in on a secret. She had always assumed he was the kind of boy who never had to think too deeply about anything, always gliding through life without a care. But now, sitting beside her, he seemed... different. More aware.

Maybe that was why James and Sirius were such good friends. They could laugh off the world together, confident that they'd always have each other's backs.

A twinge of something unfamiliar twisted in Charlotte's chest—envy, perhaps. Watching the easy camaraderie between them, she couldn't help but wish she had that kind of connection. Someone who would fight for her like that, no matter what. It was a sharp, raw feeling that made her turn away from Sirius before he could notice the sudden vulnerability in her expression.

"I don't get it," she said, shaking the thought away. "Why doesn't James just find someone who likes him as he is? Why try so hard to win over someone who clearly doesn't?"

Sirius considered her words for a moment, his usual smirk fading into something more thoughtful. "Maybe he thinks it's worth it. People do stupid things for love." He shrugged. "Besides, James is James. He's convinced he can win her over if he tries hard enough."

Charlotte frowned, glancing back at James, who was now dramatically clutching his chest at Lily's feet. It was ridiculous, really—how far he was willing to go for someone who barely acknowledged him.

She knew that feeling all too well. That desperate, aching need to be seen, to be noticed. But James had something she didn't—friends who would always stand by him. The thought tugged at her, the envy rising again.

"Seems sad," she murmured. "Trying to change just to get someone to notice you."

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"

Charlotte shrugged, still watching James. "Shouldn't he find someone who likes him for who he is? All this changing and performing—it's exhausting. And in the end, if she only likes him after he's changed everything, then what's the point?"

For the first time, Sirius didn't have a quick response. He glanced at James, then back at Charlotte, something softening in his expression.

"I never thought about it like that," he admitted quietly. "But you're right. People should like you for who you are."

Charlotte blinked, surprised by his honesty. It wasn't what she expected from Sirius Black, of all people. The boy who could charm his way out of any situation, who always seemed to have the perfect comeback, was now... agreeing with her.

She looked away, feeling suddenly exposed. "Maybe I'm overthinking it," she said, deflecting. "I do that sometimes."

"No, you're not," Sirius said, his voice soft but certain. "I get it."

There was a pause, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Charlotte felt the air between them shift, something unspoken passing in the quiet. She glanced at Sirius from the corner of her eye, seeing him in a new light—still the cocky, charming boy she'd always known, but maybe... a little more than that, too.

Before she could think too much about it, Sirius leaned back, his smirk returning. "You know," he said, his tone light again, "I think you'd get along with James if you gave him a chance."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "Not likely."

"Aw, come on," Sirius teased, flashing her that grin. "He's not so bad. Besides, if you help him out with Lily, maybe he'll back off a bit."

Ah, there it was. The real reason Sirius was talking to her. Charlotte narrowed her eyes, the warmth in her chest quickly replaced by a familiar twinge of annoyance.

"So that's what this is about," she said, folding her arms. "You're here to get me to help Potter."

Sirius didn't flinch. "Well, yeah. But I meant what I said. I think you'd get along with him if you gave him a shot."

Charlotte sighed, glancing at James again. He was now chatting with Remus, gesturing wildly as if nothing in the world could get him down. She couldn't help but admire that resilience, that relentless optimism. But still...

"I'll think about it," she muttered, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Sirius grinned, his eyes lighting up with a warmth that made her chest ache. He reached out and, to her surprise, gently placed his hand over hers. It was a simple gesture, but it sent a wave of warmth through her that she wasn't prepared for.

"You're a good person, Charlotte," he said quietly, his voice disarming in a way that made her heart skip a beat.

Then, with a wink, he leaned back, just as Professor Flitwick entered the room, signaling the start of class.

As the other students began taking their seats, Charlotte stared at her hand, still feeling the ghost of Sirius' touch. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she knew one thing for certain:

This day was turning out to be far more complicated than she ever expected.