You're just too good to be true (Can't take my eyes off of you)

SIX

The late afternoon sun hung low over the Hogwarts grounds, casting a warm, golden light over the soccer field. Unlike the towering Quidditch pitch that most students were used to seeing, the soccer field was modest, tucked away near the edge of the castle, bordered by a few rows of trees. The faint scent of freshly cut grass lingered in the air, mingling with the distant cheers of students finishing their classes for the day.

Sirius Black stood at the edge of the field, leaning casually against one of the fence posts, his eyes scanning the scene in front of him. Petunia Evans, fierce and focused, was shouting instructions to her teammates as they moved through a series of drills. Her voice carried across the field with authority, commanding immediate attention and respect. There was no mistaking it—Petunia was in charge.

Sirius smirked to himself, a spark of determination in his eyes. He wasn't used to girls ignoring him, and yet, here was Petunia, utterly indifferent to his presence. Not a glance, not a flicker of acknowledgment, nothing. For most people, this might have been a sign to give up. But Sirius was not most people. He loved a challenge.

"Right, Padfoot," Sirius muttered under his breath, adjusting the collar of his shirt as he flashed a playful grin to no one in particular. "Let's see what we can do about cracking this ice queen's armor."

He sauntered closer to the field, casually waving as if Petunia might suddenly notice him. She didn't. Her focus remained entirely on the game. Sirius whistled loudly, his grin widening. "Oi, Evans! Fancy a fan for your practice?"

No response. Petunia barked orders to her team as if she hadn't heard him at all. One of her teammates fumbled a pass, and without missing a beat, Petunia darted over to correct the error, demonstrating a swift maneuver with a grace and authority that made her seem far more formidable than Sirius had anticipated.

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "Okay, this is going to be harder than I thought."

Petunia was entirely in her element. Her cleats dug into the earth as she sprinted across the field, her hair tied back in a practical ponytail, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. Her teammates respected her—not just because she was the captain, but because she commanded the game with absolute confidence. She had a sharp mind for soccer, knowing exactly where her players needed to be and how to motivate them.

"Heads up, Margo!" Petunia shouted, clapping her hands as one of her teammates launched a pass. She followed up with, "Spread out! You're crowding the midfield—Cathy, get in position!"

Her voice was steady, authoritative. This wasn't just a game for her—it was her sanctuary. On the field, she was in control, and nothing—not even Sirius Black and his distracting grin—was going to pull her attention away.

Sirius could sense this. He could practically feel the barrier between them, her ironclad focus keeping him at arm's length. Every wave, every grin, every cocky remark he tossed in her direction was met with silence. It was like she had built a wall around herself on that field, and no amount of charm was going to get him through it.

But Sirius wasn't one to give up easily.

Sirius moved closer to the sidelines, watching the game unfold with growing interest. He didn't really know the rules of soccer—after all, he was more of a Quidditch kind of guy—but that didn't stop him from making snide remarks.

"Nice one! Is that what they call a bludger in this game?" he called out, his smirk in full force.

Petunia, however, didn't bite. She was too busy intercepting a pass and sending it downfield with an expert kick.

"All right, maybe she's ignoring me on purpose," Sirius muttered under his breath. Then, louder, he added, "Oi, Evans, don't hurt yourself—Quidditch is the real sport, anyway!"