Chapter 9
The first flutters of dawn painted the sky with soft strokes of pink and gold through the Gryffindor boys room slowly came to life. Sirius’s eyes fluttered open . He groaned, stretching his long limbs beneath the heavy blankets.
"Happy Birthday, Padfoot," James murmured sleepily from the bed next to him.
Sirius turned to face his best friend, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile. "Thanks, Prongs," he mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep.
James, his hair sticking up in all directions, leaned over and held out a small, square package. "Here, my family got you something."
Sirius sat up with a start, his heart racing. "You didn't have to," he protested, his eyes fixed on the gift.
"Open it," James urged.
With trembling hands, Sirius carefully peeled back the wrapping paper to reveal a sleek, black watch. The metal was cool to the touch, and the ticking was almost silent. The watch face had a Celtic knot design. He looked up, eyes wide with surprise and gratitude.
"Do you like it?" James asked, his voice a mix of excitement and nerves.
Sirius nodded, unable to find the words to express his emotions. He had never received such a thoughtful gift from anyone before. He studied the intricate knotwork, his thumb tracing the smooth metal. "It's... it's perfect," he finally managed to say.
James's grin grew wider. "It's got a few extra features too, something that might come in handy for our adventures." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "It can tell time in any place, even when you're..." He winked, leaving the rest of the sentence unspoken.
Sirius's eyes lit up with understanding. "Including... certain places we shouldn't be?"
James nodded, his grin growing. "Exactly. It's charmed so it won't tick during those... quiet moments."Soon enough, the sounds of stirring and muffled greetings filled the dormitory as Remus and Peter began to awaken. The room's usual early morning chaos ensued, with the rustling of blankets and the thud of books landing on the floor as the boys stretched and yawned. The light grew stronger, casting shadows that danced on the walls.
"What's going on over there?" Peter asked, his voice groggy with sleep as he peered over the side of his bed at the two best friends huddled together.
"Happy Birthday, Sirius," Remus added, rubbing his eyes and smiling sleepily.