THE LOST DOG ' s. black

[10] suspicious

   DAYS blurred together at Grimmauld Place, filled with strategic discussions and the mundane tasks of life in hiding. Despite the chaos around us, the atmosphere was oddly charged whenever Sirius was nearby. I tried to play it cool, but it was becoming increasingly difficult.

Sirius would joke, tease, and find ways to insert himself into my space, his grin making it hard to focus on anything else. Even when I attempted to maintain my composure, I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks whenever he looked my way or when his laughter filled the air.

One afternoon, while the others were caught up in a heated debate about a mission, I slipped away into the library for a moment of peace. It was quieter there, the soft rustle of pages and the faint smell of old books providing a welcome distraction. But it didn’t last long.

The door creaked open, and in walked older Sirius, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. I barely had time to mask my surprise before he approached me, closing the door behind him.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked, leaning against the bookshelf, his tone casual but his gaze intense.

"Sure, but you might find it boring," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.

"Somehow, I doubt that," he said, crossing his arms. There was a hint of amusement in his eyes, but I could sense something deeper lurking beneath the surface.

"What’s up?" I asked, forcing myself to sound disinterested, though my heart raced.

He paused for a moment, studying me. "You know, it’s hard to miss what’s been happening between you and my younger self."

I tensed, caught off guard by his bluntness. "What do you mean?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Come on, Eloise. I may not have been around for the last few decades, but I’m not blind. You two have a connection—" he began, but I quickly interrupted.

"There’s nothing to discuss. We’re just friends," I insisted, though even I could hear the edge of defensiveness in my voice.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "I’m not talking about friendship. You know that." He stepped a bit closer, lowering his voice. "You’ve been acting different around him. It’s like you’re… unsettled."

I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, trying to project my usual cool demeanor. "I’m not unsettled. I’m just dealing with a lot right now. There’s no time for feelings."

"Feelings have a way of creeping up on you, regardless of the timing," he said softly, his gaze unwavering. "I’ve seen it before. You think you can keep a lid on it, but it’ll slip out when you least expect it."

I bit my lip, my mind racing. What was he getting at? I didn’t want to have this conversation, especially not with him. "I don’t need a lecture on emotions, Sirius," I said, my tone sharper than I intended.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair in a gesture that mirrored his younger self. "I’m not trying to lecture you. I just want you to be aware. It’s okay to feel something for him, you know. It’s not a weakness."

I shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. "You don’t understand. This is all too complicated. I’ve got my own priorities, and getting wrapped up in a crush isn’t one of them."

"Is that really how you see it?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re trying really hard not to admit that you care."

My heart raced as I struggled to maintain my composure. "It’s not just a crush. It’s… it’s different. I mean, he’s—he’s you, but he’s not you. It’s all so confusing."