Into the Light

As soon as everyone had settled at the Gryffindor table, Professor McGonagall made her rounds, distributing schedules with her usual no-nonsense efficiency.

“Miss Hastings, Miss Evans,” she said, offering them their timetables with a rare smile.

Elizabeth and Lily grinned angelically in return, offering polite thank yous—only for Henry to cough a not-so-subtle, “Teacher’s pet” as soon as McGonagall passed.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, launching the last bite of her toast at his head. It bounced off his forehead and onto his plate, where he merely shrugged and popped it into his mouth, looking entirely unbothered.

She turned back to Lily, comparing their schedules.

“Alright,” Lily said, running a finger down the parchment, “we’ve got Charms, Arithmancy, Potions, Defense, Herbology, and Transfiguration! Only two free periods a week together, though. That’s bollocks.”

Elizabeth frowned slightly. It was already clear that most of the other Gryffindor girls would be in different classes—most of them were on the Healer track, while Lily was on track to become a Potions Master, which meant her course load was more specialized.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, was on the Curse-Breaking track. Which meant she had to be good at everything.

She scanned her schedule, her stomach sinking slightly at just how full it was.

Monday:

•Charms

•Herbology

•Care of Magical Creatures

•Double Potions

Tuesday:

•Transfiguration

•History of Magic

•Astronomy Theory

•Free Period / Study Hall

Wednesday:

•Charms

•Defense Against the Dark Arts

•History of Magic

•Double Potions

Thursday:

•Transfiguration

•Ancient Runes

•Free Period / Study Hall

•Muggle Studies

Friday:

•Herbology

•Defense Against the Dark Arts

•Arithmancy

•Free Period

Between this schedule, Quidditch, she was going to be meeting herself coming and going.

Good. Less time to think about boys. More time to focus on the future.

Just as she was about to tuck her schedule away, she felt a presence behind her—hovering.

Before she even turned her head, she knew.

Sirius Black had his head tilted right over her shoulder, peering at her schedule like it was his own. His strong and very large hand leaned against the table, very dangerously close to her much smaller one. 

“Well, would you look at that,” he mused, voice lilting with amusement. “We’ve got almost every class and free period together. By the end of the year, you’re going to be absolutely sick of me.”

Elizabeth turned to tell him off, only to realize—he was close.

So close she could see the spot he’d missed while shaving, just below his ear, where the faintest shadow remained. She could smell his aftershave, something warm and sharp, and the early morning sunlight from the stained-glass windows illuminated the brown highlights in his dark hair. His gaze flicked to her lips, then back up again so quickly she might’ve imagined it.

Time seemed to stop.

Her stomach flipped, but her mouth worked faster than her brain.

“I think I’m already sick of you,” she said coolly, “and the first real conversation we had was last night.”

Sirius threw his head back in laughter, the kind that was entirely too pleased with itself.

“Oh, Hastings,” he sighed, shaking his head, “you’re too fun. You’re so easy to mess with.”

With a wink, he turned and sauntered away toward James, Remus, and Peter, effortlessly inserting himself into their conversation as if nothing had happened. The four boys left the great hall with that. 

Elizabeth let out a slow breath, only to realize Lily and Henry were both watching her with knowing, measured looks.

She rolled her eyes.

“Okay, I’m done dealing with you two,” she said, grabbing her things. “I’ll see you in class.”

Lily smirked, but before she could say anything, Elizabeth spun on her heel and escaped. 

The moment she stepped into the hallway outside the Great Hall, she was swept up into the morning crowd.

She let herself move with the current of students until she reached the main entryway and finally broke free, adjusting her bag and heading toward the grand staircase.

She was so close to a normal start to the day.

Until she ran straight into a snogging couple at the base of the stairs.

“Oh—oops!”

Marlene McKinnon pulled away first, swiping her thumb over her lips as she tried—and failed—to look bashful.

Elizabeth’s stomach plummeted.

Because of course it was Sirius.

He leaned against the banister, looking entirely unbothered, his signature smirk plastered across his face like he had expected her to be there all along.

Elizabeth could feel her face burning.

“Hey there,” she blurted dumbly. “Just—on my way to Charms! Don’t mind me!”

Marlene gave a little giggle, looping her arm through Sirius’s as Elizabeth practically tripped over herself to get away.

“Poor dear,” Marlene murmured behind her, voice just loud enough to carry. “Hope I didn’t make her too uncomfortable.”

Sirius chuckled, the sound warm and lazy, like he wasn’t even remotely ashamed of being caught.

Elizabeth bolted up the stairs, but when she glanced back at the next landing—

They had already resumed their activities.

So much for avoiding Sirius Black.

•

Though Elizabeth had spectacularly failed in her mission to avoid Sirius Black on Monday morning, she had managed to keep her distance for most of the first half of the week.

It helped that James and Sirius had begged out of morning Quidditch training with Henry and her—too busy, they claimed, with more important matters.

The more important matters had turned out to be a week-long pranking spree that, based on the constant shrieks and intermittent explosions heard throughout the castle, was rapidly escalating.

Elizabeth had spent most of her free time in the library with Lily, determined to get ahead on schoolwork. Remus had joined them a few times, as well as Severus, though his presence was always tense and brief. Today, however, was one of her safe days—her Thursday free period was shared with Lily and Remus, and she had every intention of making good use of it.

Until a wad of parchment bounced off her head.

She inhaled sharply through her nose, pursed her lips and slowly unfurled the crumpled paper.

Why does Remus get to study with you lot but James and I aren’t allowed?

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and turned slightly, just enough to see Sirius Black standing at the edge of the nearest bookshelf, looking far too pleased with himself.

He grinned, looking like an overeager puppy waiting for a treat.

Elizabeth picked up her quill and scribbled back.

Because Remus is house-trained.

She waited until Madam Pince turned her back, then hurled the parchment ball at Sirius’s head.

It zipped past Lily’s ear, making her yelp slightly, and Sirius caught it with ease, biting his lip in amusement—the same way he had the other night.

Elizabeth stubbornly refused to look away as he read it.

He barked out a laugh so loud it earned him an immediate, “SHHHH!” from Madam Pince.

Sirius turned his most charming, apologetic smile on the librarian, hands folded as though he were the picture of innocence. She gave him a withering glare but, to Elizabeth’s dismay, seemed too preoccupied to actually throw him out.

Taking this as permission, Sirius took two large strides forward, grabbed a chair, spun it dramatically on one leg, and straddled it beside Elizabeth.

Lily sighed in exasperation. “We’re trying to study, Black.”

“So am I, Evans,” he drawled, eyes fixed on Elizabeth.

Lily shot Remus a pleading look.

Remus merely smirked. “How can you be studying if you’re staring at our Lizzie?” he asked casually, clearly enjoying Lily’s annoyance.

“Studying and staring—same thing,” Sirius muttered, smiling as if he wasn’t being infuriating.

Elizabeth exhaled sharply through her nose, finally turning to him.

“What about Marlene?” she asked flatly. “Shouldn’t you be studying the back of her throat with your tongue?”

Remus choked out a laugh he tried to cover up as a cough.

Lily had to slap her hand over her mouth to keep her giggles contained.

But Sirius—Sirius looked absolutely delighted.

“Oh, ho ho!” he laughed, bumping his elbow against hers. “You know I don’t do exclusive.”

Elizabeth gave him a look.

He leaned closer. “And, if we’re being honest, you’re more of a laugh than Marls. You know how much I love to laugh.” He flicked his hair out of his eyes.

Elizabeth did know that. It was half his personality.

Still, she snapped her book shut.

“Well, Marlene doesn’t seem to know that’s how you feel,” she said briskly, standing and grabbing her bag. “And I have to live in the same room as her for the next two years.”

Sirius blinked at her.

“So,” she continued, “please, think long and hard about whether your fruitless flirting is worth my mental state. Because if she gets it into her head that I’m stealing her boyfriend—one I don’t even want, mind you—I’ll be the one dealing with her wrath. Not you.”

With that, she turned on her heel, fully intending to leave.

Sirius immediately jumped up and followed, trailing after her as she stormed toward the library exit.

“Oh, come on, Hastings,” he sighed. “Marlene knows the deal. I’m an appetizer—meant to be passed around.”

Elizabeth snorted but didn’t slow down. “Well, what if I don’t want the appetizer?”

Sirius let out an exaggerated gasp. “But everyone wants the appetizer!”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Don’t you know that most girls actually want commitment? Steady boyfriends who turn into husbands who give them babies instead of venereal diseases?”

That should have shut him up.

But, of course, it didn’t.

Sirius grinned.

His face lit up so fast she knew she’d made a huge mistake.

“Wait—is this you saying you want to have my babies?”

Elizabeth stopped dead, and Sirius nearly crashed into her. He caught her by the arms to steady himself, looking entirely too thrilled.

“How,” she gritted out, “is that what you got from what I just said?”

“Of course that’s what you said,” he replied matter-of-factly. “You clearly said you don’t want the appetizer, which I am, which must mean—”

“Yes, I understand, Black,” she interrupted, groaning. “And I’m more than done with this metaphor.”

She took a sharp left and threw open the door to her next class.

And then froze.

Because, with dawning horror, she realized this was one of the classes she had with Sirius.

And he was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

Elizabeth groaned as he plopped down into the empty seat beside her, propping his chin up in his hand as though she were the most fascinating thing in the world.

It was going to be a very long year.