First day gossips
This morning, when Sirius Black woke up in the Gryffindor dorm, he was in an annoyingly good mood. Coming back to Hogwarts always felt like shaking off a bad hangover—except the headache that was his family still lingered somewhere in the background.
Hogwarts was his home. Not Grimmauld Place with its suffocating portraits and judgmental parents, but here, where he was Sirius Black, Gryffindor, master of mayhem, and co-founder of the Marauders. And for the past few months, he was also Pads—a massive, shaggy black dog with a nose for trouble and a tail for swishing dramatically at James when he was being insufferable. Which was often.
He had bolted from Grimmauld Place a month earlier, landing in the arms of his real family—the Potters. He was still grappling with Regulus’ decision to stay behind with their toxic parents, but there were only so many times he could stress about it before deciding, “Screw him.” Reg had made his choice. Sirius had made his. And Sirius’ choice involved butterbeer, pranks, and generally making a nuisance of himself.
Case in point: he had barely set foot on the Hogwarts Express before rekindling things with Emmeline Vance. It wasn’t that he was madly in love, but she was stunning, interested, and—let’s be honest—he had a reputation to maintain. Besides, it saved him the effort of finding someone else to snog. Efficiency at its finest.
But his real source of entertainment? Selena Lestrange’s arrival at Hogwarts. Now that was something. Sirius thought he had mastered the fine art of public family humiliation when he got Sorted into Gryffindor, but Selena? She had upped the ante. A Lestrange in Ravenclaw. Oh, the scandal! And the cherry on top? Her brother’s face when it happened—absolute devastation. Pure poetry.
So, when Sirius strolled into the Great Hall for breakfast with James, Remus, and Peter, he was ready for a normal morning of mocking first-years and dodging Prefect duties. What he wasn’t ready for was the utterly absurd sight that greeted him.
Regulus Black. At the Ravenclaw table. Chatting. Smiling.
“What in Merlin’s saggy pants…” Sirius stopped mid-step, squinting like his brain needed extra time to process the image.
James whistled low. “I must be dreaming. Next thing you know, Mulciber and Snivellus will be coming to smoke fags with us.”
“Oh no, please, not that,” James shuddered dramatically. “The delicate balance of Hogwarts society is at stake!”
“Come on, Pads, Prongs, get over it,” Remus chuckled, ever the reasonable one. “It’s not that crazy.”
Sirius scoffed. “Not that crazy? Moony, my brother is fraternizing with nerds. Something deeply unnatural is happening here.”
Remus smirked, sipping his tea. “If Regulus is acting like this, he must have a very specific goal in mind.”
“I stopped trying to figure out what’s going through Reggie’s head ages ago. Waste of time.” Sirius waved a dismissive hand and turned his attention back to his breakfast, piling eggs onto his plate like the picture of an unbothered man.
Remus, however, had frozen. His usual calm exterior cracked just enough for Sirius to notice. Curious, Sirius followed his gaze—and nearly choked on his eggs.
Regulus was leaning in close to Selena Lestrange, whispering something in her ear. And not just whispering, but the kind of whispering that involved a tilt of the head, a smirk, a touch too much familiarity.
Sirius’ reaction was immediate. “Godric’s socks. Reggie is flirting.”
James dropped his toast. “Oh, that’s disgusting.”
Peter gagged. “Why is he like this?”
Sirius turned to Remus, ready to commiserate, only to find his friend looking… off. Not horrified. Not amused. But something else entirely.
Intrigued.
Oh-ho. Now this was interesting.
Remus, the picture of restraint, suddenly deeply invested in the movements of one Selena Lestrange? That was new. And deeply amusing. Sirius filed it away for later torment.
“You alright there, Moony?” Sirius asked, his voice all mock innocence.
Remus, ever the picture of casual indifference, took a slow sip of tea. “She’s… interesting.”
Sirius grinned. “Oh, you’re doomed.”
James groaned. “Not Moony too! We’re losing people left and right.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Remus returned to his toast, but Sirius wasn’t fooled. He had seen that look before—on himself, on James, on every lovesick idiot in this castle. This was going to be fun.
Later that morning, History of Magic left Selena Lestrange in a state of complete and utter apathy. She had never experienced a more effective sleeping aid in her life. Fortunately, her second class was one she actually enjoyed: Potions.
Strangely enough, Selena had always loved the delicate art of brewing. There was something immensely satisfying about learning how ingredients interacted, how finely chopping versus roughly crushing could yield entirely different effects. It was like cooking—except with a higher risk of poisoning someone.
She arrived early with Pandora, Silas, and Max, finding themselves alone in the dimly lit dungeons save for the ever-enthusiastic Professor Slughorn, who bustled over the moment he laid eyes on her.
“Ah! Miss Lestrange! Delightful! Absolutely delightful! Tell me, how was Beauxbâtons? Oh, and Paris! Marvelous city, simply marvellous! And—oh dear me—how is your dear aunt Berenice? Still the same free spirit, I imagine?” His voice was syrupy, his eyes twinkling with the enthusiasm of a man who had just remembered a particularly scandalous story.
Oh no. Oh dear Merlin, no.
Selena’s smile froze as her brain caught up with the horrifying possibility that Slughorn—her potions professor—might have once been romantically involved with her wildly eccentric, very promiscuous aunt. The woman had a talent for collecting lovers in all social circles, and clearly, no one was safe.
“Uh… still the same,” she managed, plastering on an uncomfortable grin. She did not need to be picturing this right now.
Thankfully, she was saved by the arrival of the Slytherins.
Two groups entered—Evan Rosier, Barty Crouch Jr., and Regulus Black leading the charge, followed closely by the usual entourage of Slytherin girls. Vera Rowle nodded at Selena in greeting, but Phylis Selwyn and Ambrosia Bullstrode exchanged glances before zeroing in on her like a pair of particularly petty harpies.
“My, my,” Phylis cooed, her tone dripping with faux sweetness. “How very… different you look in those Ravenclaw robes. Do they itch? Must be terribly uncomfortable.”
Ambrosia snickered. “It’s like seeing a peacock in a flock of pigeons. So very tragic.”
Selena arched a brow, unfazed. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m quite comfortable.” She gave them a saccharine smile. “But I appreciate your concern.”
As Phylis opened her mouth to retort, Regulus—who had, until now, been preoccupied—gently took Pandora’s bag from her hands and escorted her to a seat near Evan Rosier. The sheer act of chivalry sent another wave of scandalized expressions through the Slytherin girls, but Selena had bigger things to process.
Namely, the fact that Regulus had then chosen to sit next to her.
“For this first lesson,” Professor Slughorn announced, “you will be preparing a Draught of Peace. Who can tell me what it does?”
Both Selena and Regulus’ hands shot up simultaneously.
“Miss Lestrange?” Slughorn called, clearly eager to test his new student.
“It relieves anxiety,” she answered, acutely aware of Regulus’ gaze on her.
“And its characteristics and potential side effects?”
She didn’t miss a beat. “It should emit a light silver vapor and be turquoise in color. If the ingredients are overdone, however, it can induce a deep—or, in worst cases, irreversible—sleep.”
Slughorn beamed. “Excellent! Ten points for Ravenclaw. Now, let’s see which of you can put theory into practice.”
As the students gathered their ingredients, Evan Rosier sauntered up to Selena, his smirk firmly in place. “So, you like Potions?”
“Yes. It’s fun,” she replied, measuring out some powdered moonstone. “A bit like cooking.”
Evan recoiled as if she’d announced she regularly licked the floor for fun. “Cooking? You mean, like… a house elf? Or—a Muggle?” His tone was equal parts horror and fascination.
Selena nearly laughed. “Ah… yes?” Oh, merde. She had momentarily forgotten where she was. “If you must know, when I lived with my aunt, our house-elf was an absolute disaster in the kitchen. Lovely creature, but utterly hopeless. So, we had to learn a few things, unless we wanted to starve.”
Evan was still staring at her like she’d grown an extra head when Regulus returned, placing their ingredients down with practiced precision. “You cook?” he echoed, tilting his head in appraisal. “Perhaps you’ll make something for me, then.”
Selena blinked. The way he said it was not a request. It was an expectation.
“Why not? For your birthday, maybe…” she replied, thrown off by his sudden interest.
Regulus raised a brow. “Just know, I have very high standards.”
She smirked. “Then eat at your own risk.”
Regulus let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head before refocusing on his potion. What neither of them noticed, however, was the absolute horror on Evan’s face. A pureblood heiress… cooking? It was blasphemous.
The rest of the lesson passed in relative silence, as the Draught of Peace required absolute precision. As Selena tied her hair back, Regulus, who had previously been fully immersed in his own work, found himself… distracted.
His gaze lingered a second too long on the delicate curve of her neck, the effortless way she moved through each step. She made it look easy. That was annoying. He was supposed to be the best. And yet, as the class drew to an end, Professor Slughorn clapped his hands, inspecting her potion with visible delight.
“Well, well, well! It seems we have a new potions talent in our midst!” Slughorn declared, peering into Selena’s perfectly brewed potion before glancing at Regulus. “Looks like you have some competition at last, Mr. Black.”
Regulus stiffened ever so slightly, his jaw tightening.
Competition?
Oh, he wasn’t sure he liked that. Not one bit.
Rumors at Hogwarts had always spread faster than a rogue Bludger. By lunchtime, the Gryffindor table was already buzzing with the latest hot topic: Selena Lestrange.
“Have you heard?” Peter piped up, his face alight with amusement.
“The chatter concerning my gorgeous locks?” Sirius interjected smoothly, flipping his hair back in a dramatic flourish. He smirked as a few younger witches at the Ravenclaw table nearly swooned.
Peter and Remus groaned in unison. James simply shook his head, though he couldn’t help noticing that Sirius wasn’t entirely wrong—his best mate had an annoyingly magnetic effect on the female population.
“No, not that, you narcissist,” Peter continued. “Daisy told me all about it. Apparently, little Lestrange is going to try out for Seeker on the Ravenclaw team.”
That got James’ attention immediately. As Gryffindor’s Quidditch captain and a Chaser, he took any news about the competition very, very seriously. He had every intention of attending every rival team’s tryouts, memorizing their tactics, and ensuring Gryffindor claimed the Cup this year.
“What do you think, Pads?” he asked, trying to sound casual. “Is she any good?”
“Are you worried, Prongs?” Sirius teased, stretching lazily. “No one’s stealing the Cup from us, even if little Lestrange turns out to be the next Merlin on a broomstick.”
The thought of competing against not just his brother on Slytherin’s team but now Selena on Ravenclaw was, frankly, hilarious. Hogwarts was turning into a proper family reunion—just with more opportunities to humiliate Regulus.
Peter leaned in conspiratorially. “Apparently, your brother and Brightvale almost came to blows over who gets to train her.”
Sirius’ ears perked up. Now that was something worth hearing. If Regulus was already having his feathers ruffled, that was a win in his book. He grinned, thoroughly enjoying the chaos Selena’s arrival had caused.
“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?” Remus observed dryly, his gaze sharp.
Sirius didn’t even try to deny it. “Obviously.”
“That’s a bit sadistic of you,” Marlene McKinnon chimed in as she slid into a seat beside them. The Gryffindor beater and sixth-year was always ready with a sharp remark. “Especially since you went through the same thing.”
Sirius shrugged, unbothered. “It’s true that Selena isn’t like the rest of them. But she’s not some delicate flower either. Trust me.”
“She may not be fragile, but she’s definitely hot,” Marlene added with a grin.
James groaned. “Oh, Marlene, not this again.”
“What?! A pretty new girl, not fragile, and a potential Quidditch player?” Marlene waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “She could be gay. Who knows?”
“Did you just describe the girl of my dreams?” James asked, smirking.
“No, not you as well,” Sirius groaned dramatically, burying his face in his hands as the table erupted into laughter.
Meanwhile, Remus remained quiet, stirring his food absently as his thoughts drifted elsewhere. He was intrigued. He had only properly met Selena twice, but there was something about her—something that made his usually logical brain stumble. She was clever, composed, and seemingly unfazed by the chaos surrounding her. And, annoyingly, he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Sirius, still grumbling about James and Marlene, stretched his arms behind his head and smirked to himself. He was definitely going to have a little chat with his new favorite troublemaker.
Selena had memorized the path from Divination to Defense Against the Dark Arts. She had reassured her new friends, Pandora Malfoy and Lucy Kettles, that she would meet them directly in the classroom. But as she left the second-floor bathroom, a sudden force yanked her backward, dragging her behind a monumental tapestry. Instinct took over.
“Expell—”
“Oye! Calm down, Lena! It's me! Sirius!”
“Putain! What a toad! You gave me a fright!” she gasped, smacking him hard on the arm.
Sirius winced, rubbing the sore spot. “Bloody hell, you hit harder than Marlene’s Bludgers! And you were actually going to disarm me! I'm impressed.”
“I don’t take ambushes lightly,” she huffed, eyeing him suspiciously. Finally taking in her surroundings, she arched a brow. “Where the hell are we?”
Sirius grinned proudly. “A little shortcut between corridors. I know every nook and cranny of this castle.”
“Hmm… Impressive,” she admitted, peering down the dimly lit passageway. “And what, pray tell, do you use these secret passages for?”
Sirius’ smirk widened. “Smoking mostly… snogging… and, well, other recreational activities.” He reached into his robes, producing two cigarettes like some sort of magician.
Selena crossed her arms. “Do you bring all your girlfriends here?”
“Not all of them,” he said, feigning innocence. “Some prefer the Astronomy Tower, some like the empty classrooms… You have to be creative when the dorms are occupied.” He lit his cigarette and offered her one.
She took it with a laugh. “You’re such a rebel. No wonder you’re so popular.”
Sirius puffed out his chest dramatically. “Indeed, I am, my dear friend,” he said in an exaggeratedly posh voice. “Speaking of which, I hear you’ve decided to grace the Ravenclaw Quidditch team with your presence.”
Selena exhaled smoke slowly, rolling her eyes. “Apparently, I don’t have a choice. Word’s already spread like wildfire.”
“Are you any good?” Sirius asked, suddenly remembering James’ mild panic over her potential skills.
“Not sure. It’s been a while since I last rode a broom, but your brother was kind enough to offer me his new Comet 220 for tryouts.”
Sirius choked on his smoke. “Regulus? Lending you his broom?” He gave her a suspicious look before waggling his eyebrows. “Well, well, well. Sounds like someone’s got a little crush.”
Selena rolled her eyes. “Oh, please.”
“I’m just saying, watch out for Reggie,” Sirius said, his tone suddenly more serious. “I think he likes you, but he and your brother belong to a questionable little club.”
“You mean the cult of overly dramatic aristocrats?” she scoffed. “Yes, I’m quite familiar.”
“I mean it, Lena.” Sirius inhaled deeply, his usual playfulness dimming just a fraction. “Be careful what choices you make. The Slytherins don’t forgive, and neither will your family.”
Selena studied him for a moment before exhaling slowly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
A comfortable silence settled between them for a few moments before she flicked her cigarette away. “Thanks for the fag. I’ve got to go. Don’t want to be late for class.”
She turned to leave but hesitated. “How do I reach you if I need you?”
Sirius grinned. “Easy. Just tell Emmeline… or Remus. He’s always in the library, being a proper nerd.”
Selena smirked. “Right. Got it. ‘Summon the nerd.’”
Sirius chuckled as she disappeared down the corridor. “Oi! That’s my nerd you’re talking about!”
If you want to talk about my Marauders obsession : I am here on INSTAGRAM