COMFORT ZONE | Sirius Black [REWRITING]

42. Bridging the Gap

Wednesday, 30th October 1974

Madiha had hurriedly eaten her dinner so she could squeeze in half an hour to finish her essay in the common room before it was time for Quidditch training. It wasn't that Shrinking Solutions were particularly difficult, it was just that she hadn't had the chance to go over the theory after the lesson in the previous week. And it didn't help that along with collecting the essay tomorrow morning's double lesson, Slughorn also expected them to brew it too.

However, once again, it seemed like she would need to stay up at night to finish this piece of homework, as someone had pulled out a chair beside her and placed a full mug of coffee in front of her as they sat down.

"Are you trying to poison me?"

James blinked at her in mild horror. "No."

"Well, it's evening," she stated, leaning back in her chair to look at him, "And this has caffeine in it."

He sighed defeatedly. "Damn it."

But Madiha picked up the mug and took a sip anyway; James tried snatching it away from her.

"Wait, don't drink that, then! You won't be able to sleep!"

Merely shrugging, she took another sip. "Too late now."

For a moment, James watched her lift the mug to her lips before staring ahead of him wordlessly, his hands clasped over his lower abdomen, index finger tapping without pause. But eventually, he stilled.

"I'm sorry."

She couldn't say it was a surprise. There had been many instances over the last day or so when James had appeared like he was about to walk up to her and say something but seemed to decide against it at the last minute. This was always followed by a defeated look cast to him by a nearby Remus, Sirius or Peter, as if he had failed to do something simple.

Expecting him to say more however, Madiha just observed her godbrother in silence.

"I shouldn't have shouted at you." James kept his gaze fixed on the lid of her inkpot.

"I agree."

At her cool tone, he turned to her with a slightly fiercer look in his eyes. "But I'm still gonna stop boys from staring at you."

"I know," Madiha sighed exasperatedly.

"You're not putting up a fight now," James remarked, grabbing the mug from her and taking a sip for himself. "What happened?"