California Love

Chapter 27. Out on the Town

Potter Beach House

Severa covered her mouth to hide her laughter as she heard footsteps walking down the hallway.

"Stop!" She tried not to laugh, but it was too hard. Sirius was determined to tickle her into an early death. He had snuck into her room after breakfast almost an hour ago and now showed no signs of letting up.

"Never!" Sirius whispered back with a grin, his fingers relentless in their assault on her sides. Severa squirmed and tried to push him away, but it was no use. His playful persistence was too much.

"Okay, okay! Mercy!" she pleaded, tears of laughter streaming down her face.

Sirius finally relented, sitting back on his heels with a satisfied smirk. "I'll let you off the hook this time, but only because I don't want to get caught and thrown out."

Severa took a moment to catch her breath, wiping her eyes. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Part of my charm," he replied with a wink. "Besides, I'm happy I'm the one making you laugh like this."

She smirked, her heart warming at his words. "Be lucky 'cause this is a one-time thing, Black."

Sirius chuckled, shaking his head. "We'll see about that. I plan on making you laugh a lot more."

Severa rolled her eyes playfully but couldn't suppress her smile. "You're impossible."

"That's why you love me," he shot back, his grin widening. "Maybe," she said, her tone teasing but with a hint of truth.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the playful energy between them giving way to a more tender connection. Sirius reached out and took her hand, his expression turning serious.

"Sev, there's something I need to tell you," he began, his voice soft.

Severa's heart skipped a beat. "What is it, Black?"

He sat up and got off her bed, standing there with an uncharacteristically serious expression. She watched him, her curiosity and concern growing.

"Promise you won't be mad or scared?" he started, his eyes searching hers.

She nodded, feeling a knot of apprehension tighten in her stomach. "Okay..."

"So, um...," he admitted, taking a deep breath. "I'm an animagus."

Severa stared at him for a moment, processing his words. "You're a what?"

"An animagus," Sirius repeated, his voice steady. "It means I can transform into an animal at will. In my case, a large black dog."

She blinked, trying to wrap her mind around this new piece of information. "I know what the fuck an animagus is, I'm just shocked you're one..."

He nodded, watching her carefully for her reaction before turning into his animagus. In an instant, Sirius morphed into a large, black dog.

Severa just stared at him in shock as he jumped on her lap and started licking her face and barking.

"Black!" she exclaimed, laughing and trying to fend off his enthusiastic greeting. "Get off, you big mutt!"

The dog barked happily, its tail wagging furiously as it continued to nuzzle her and lick her face. Severa couldn't help but laugh at the sheer absurdity and joy of the situation. Eventually, Sirius hopped off her lap and transformed back into his human form, grinning from ear to ear.

"Okay, okay, I get it. You're an animagus and a very annoying one at that," she said, wiping her face with the back of her hand, still smiling.

"Well, I had to make sure you believed me," Sirius replied, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "And besides, I couldn't resist."