A Sliver of Change | S. Black

Part 2: Chapter 1

Part 2:

Chapter 1 –

August 29th, 1971

A young Lia raced through the streets of Diagon Alley, pulling her bag tight to her as she maneuvered around a hole.

"J, wait for me!" Lia's childish voice yelled, flicking her eyes up to her brothers back before glancing down at the street again.

James and Lia Potter's mother had told them to stick together while she escaped to Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions. She had told the twins that she would only be a few minutes, and then she would take them to get their wands.

But James, being the troublemaker he is, decided to run off towards Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke shop, leaving his sister to chase after him.

"Mum said that we need to stick together J," Lia yelled once again after her brother.

Not noticing the hole in front of her, Lia's ankle caught in it, causing her to tumble to the ground. Her bag filled with various wizarding books that her mother had already bought her, plopped into the muddy pit.

Tears filled eleven-year-old Lia's eyes as she noticed the scrapes to her elbow and knees.

"Good Godric, that looked like a hard fall! Are you okay?" Someone said to Lia's right.

Turning her head, she came into contact with the cutest boy she had ever seen.

His silky black hair was blowing in the chill filled spring wind, no doubt tickling the back of his neck and his childish smile, was flashing down at her. His grey eyes twinkled in the light of the sun and his voice, merlin that voice, Lia decided that she would give up every Christmas present to hear that voice forever.

Sucking her tears in, Lia responded, "I think so, I think I just scraped myself."

The boy held his hand out to Lia, the size of it far larger than hers, which she took in her own and pulled herself up.

Leaning down to wipe the dust off her new skirt, she watched as the boy picked up her books for her, using his robes to wipe the mud off.

Lia's eleven-year-old heart grew at the sight.

As the boy walked over, handing her books to her, he reached his hand out, "I'm Sirius, Sirius Black."

Lia blushed as she put her small hand into his.

"Emilia Potter, but I'd prefer if you called me Lia," she shyly whispered.

She watched as Sirius squeezed her hand once more before dropping it. Tingles ran through her fingers, all the way up to her body from where he touched.

"Lia," he drawled, making Lia's cheeks heat, "I like it."

Lia beamed at Sirius and Sirius smiled softly down at the girl. Self-consciously she ran her hand over her dark locks, hating the way it stuck up because of the humidity.

"LIA!" her brother yelled as he ran up to her.

"Merlin, are you okay? What happened?" James frantically said, running his hands over the scrape on her arm.

Once he deemed her not breakable, he whizzed around towards Sirius, pointing an accusatory finger in his direction.

Sirius raised his hands in surrender, "I was just helping, promise."

Lia nodded, backing up Sirius' statement and James deflated.

"Well thanks mate, I appreciate it," James smiled, "I was so excited to get to Gambol and Japes, that I forgot how tiny Lia's legs are."