The next few days were normal-but everything felt different.
Not only had the pranks completely stopped, but Slytherins actually smiled at her now. The same people who had once laughed at her, ignored her, or humiliated her now gave her nods of approval in the corridors.
It wasn't just them.
She caught a few Ravenclaws and Gryffindors glancing her way in the Great Hall, their eyes lingering a little longer than before. The Hufflepuffs, however, were still bitter about the match. They weren't outright hostile, but she could feel the coldness in their gazes.
At least the Hufflepuff team had been fair about it. When she passed them, she met their eyes with respect, and they returned it in kind. A silent acknowledgment between athletes.
Still, she hadn't expected James Potter and his friends to seek her out.
She was in Transfiguration, the one class Andromeda didn't share with her, when she heard footsteps approaching her desk.
She looked up and saw James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
"That was some match," James said, grinning. "Never seen anyone block so many goals before."
"Yeah," Sirius added, arms crossed. "It's almost suspicious, really."
Sia raised a brow. "Suspicious?"
Sirius shrugged. "Maybe you made some deal with the Quaffle to stay away from the hoops."
"Sirius is just jealous," Remus cut in, laughing. "Ignore him."
Sia did, turning her gaze back to James, who still watched her with interest.
"You should consider playing professionally one day," he said. "I mean, you were brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Best Keeper I've seen in-"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Because at that moment, Lily Evans walked in.
And suddenly, James Potter forgot Sia existed.
Sia might not have known James well, but she respected that. His entire demeanor changed, his focus locking onto Lily as though she was the only thing in the world that mattered.
And, to her mild surprise, she saw the same in Lily's eyes.
There was a warmth there, a quiet fondness beneath the surface.
Sia felt a pang.
Not for herself, but for Severus.
She had seen the way he looked at Lily, his every emotion laid bare when his eyes lingered on her. And now, watching Lily's attention completely on James, Sia wondered: How painful must it be for him?
Almost instinctively, she glanced toward him.
Severus sat on the other side of the room, his face carefully blank, his body angled toward Rosier, who was saying something in hushed tones. But he wasn't listening.
Sia knew it.
She knew it by the way his jaw tensed ever so slightly, by the deliberate way he kept his gaze forward-as if he was trying too hard to appear unaffected.
She turned back to her desk before anyone noticed she was watching.
"Are these three bothering you?"
Lily's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Sia turned to her, noting the genuine concern on her face. Lily wasn't pretending. She actually meant it.
"No," Sia said, studying her. "They're fine."
And then, for the first time, she wondered: Had Lily really looked at her in disgust that first day? Or had she only imagined it?
But she didn't have time to think about it, because Sirius was talking again.
And this time, it was Remus who countered him.
"You're exaggerating," Remus said, grinning. "You just don't want to admit you were wrong."
"I was not wrong!" Sirius huffed. "You're supposed to be my friend, not my enemy, Lupin!"
"Friendship doesn't mean blindly agreeing with you."
Everyone laughed. Even Sia.
She hadn't meant to, but the way Sirius scowled at Remus, as though personally betrayed, was too ridiculous not to.
She didn't notice the other pair of eyes watching her from across the room.
Didn't feel the burning gaze.
By the time Astronomy class ended, Sia was exhausted.
Her brain was fried from the sheer amount of homework she had to do-Ancient Runes, Charms, Transfiguration. Even with her understanding of runes, writing an entire parchment on their practical applications had taken forever.
So when she entered the Slytherin common room, she collapsed onto the sofa, closed her eyes, and decided a quick nap wouldn't hurt.
She barely noticed Andromeda laughing at her.
"You might as well go to bed," Andromeda said.
Sia waved her off. "Sure, sure..."
"I'm going for a bath. I'll wake you when I'm done."
Sia murmured something unintelligible in response.
Andromeda left.
She didn't know how long she had been sleeping when voices woke her.
Low. Arguing.
"Why are you still here, Severus? I told you I would look after her."
That was Andromeda's voice.
"This is the common room, Black," came Severus's smooth baritone. "Don't presume things."
Sia blinked awake.
She pushed herself up, rubbing her eyes, and saw both of them staring at her.
"What's going on?" she asked, voice still thick with sleep.
"Severus is being a creep," Andromeda said, folding her arms.
Severus's expression didn't change. But his hand moved to his wand.
So did Andromeda's.
Sia sighed. "It's fine, An. Go ahead. I'll be right after you."
Andromeda hesitated.
She looked at her. Then at Severus. Then back again.
"You sure?"
"I am," Sia said, giving her a small smile.
Reluctantly, Andromeda lowered her wand. She cast one last warning glance at Severus, who returned it with cold indifference.
The dormitory door shut.
And now, it was just them.
A heavy silence filled the air.
Sia shifted, adjusting her position on the sofa.
Severus didn't move.
Didn't say a word.
But the tension stretched between them, thick as a storm waiting to break.