A Sliver of Change | S. Black

Part 2: Chapter 37

Part 2:

Chapter 37 –

November 1st, 1977

Lia and Sirius walked through the courtyard together, hand in hand and smiles on their faces after their potions class with Slughorn.

"Did you see his face when you put full moonstone pieces into the potion instead of powdered moonstone?" Lia laughed out at the disgusted face the professor made.

They were supposed to be making Amortentia, and everyone around them, minus Frank had been able to successfully succeed. Lia of course smelled the scent of Sirius; nicotine, and musky cologne, and she had gone over to ask what he had smelt, curiosity filling her. Apparently, that was the wrong thing to do.

"You distracted me! If you hadn't have come over, I would have gotten full marks for the potion," Sirius complained, "now I have to do a six-page essay on it."

Lia giggled as she pressed a kiss on his cheek, her arm swinging their conjoined hands back and forth.

"I just wanted to know if you were doing it properly," Lia stated jokingly, "besides Slughorn was impressed with how fast I made mine, so we can soak up that glory together."

Sirius stopped the two of them in their spot, his hands resting on her waist, and he turned them to look at each other.

"Lies," he cut in, "you just wanted to know what I could smell from the potion."

Lia's face heated at the blatant way he said it, embarrassment filling her. Of course, she wanted to know if he was in love with her like she was with him. They had been together for almost nine months and neither of them had built up the courage to admit their true feelings to each other. She had been desperately wanting to admit it for a while, but she was scared that he would brush her off and tell her that she deserved better.

So instead of fully admitting her intentions, she sighed, instead choosing to fib, "I was curious to know if you were in love with that fifth year that sent you the love letter the other day."

Sirius rolled his eyes at her, one of his hands raising to cup her cheeks, "maybe I can find myself falling in love with her," he joked, "she might be better at lying than you are."

Lia huffed a frustrated breath, her hands that were on his chest smacking him lightly, "if you wish to find someone better, then be my guest," she replied, "but I wasn't lying."

Sirius chuckled at her as his mouth descended a light kiss on her lips, his thumb stroking across her cheek, "There's no one but you," he mumbled against her, "I've actually been wanting to talk to you ab- "

Sirius was cut off by a voice that both of them recognized, jumping apart to look at the youngest Black.

"Don't you two look adorable," Regulus taunted, a conniving smirk on his face.

Lia sighed as Sirius took a step in front of her, his body protectively standing against his brother. Regulus' smirked intensified at that, and he sent her a wink before turning his eyes back to Sirius.

"What do you want Regulus?" Sirius growled out as he moved to cover the entirety of Lia's body despite her pushing at his back.

Regulus shrugged his shoulders, his hands in his robes most likely due to the cold.

"I thought that I would visit my favourite couple at Hogwarts, see how they're doing," Regulus replied, his hand leaving his robes and gesturing towards the two of them.

Lia heard Sirius growl more and could notice his Animagus form start to take over as his fists clenched at his side. Not wanting Sirius to out himself in front of everyone, Lia placed a soothing hand on his arm as she forced herself forward to stand next to Sirius instead of behind him.