Chapter 1
Sirius was lounging on the couch, feet kicked up. Remus sat in the armchair by the fire across from him, nose buried in a book (as per usual), while Peter was hunched over the table, messing about with some Sugar Quills he’d smuggled out of Honeydukes.
Then she walked in—Lily Evans. Nothing odd about that; she was in Gryffindor, obviously, but it was what she was wearing that caught his attention. A thin silver bracelet adorned her wrist. He’d never seen it before, and trust him, he noticed these things. The bracelet gleamed in the low light, delicate and shining, like it had just been polished or, more likely, freshly bought. It didn’t fit her usual style at all—Lily wasn’t the sort to doll herself up for no reason.
He nudged Remus with his elbow, trying to seem casual but failing spectacularly. “Did you see that?”
Remus sighed without looking up from his book, and Peter shot Sirius a curious glance, nibbling on the end of his Sugar Quill.
"See what?" Remus asked, turning a page.
“Her wrist! That bracelet! When did Evans start wearing jewelry?” he asked, lowering his voice, though not enough to be subtle. Lily was deep in conversation with some of her friends, oblivious, or pretending to be.
Remus raised an eyebrow, still not looking away from his book. "You’re seriously paying attention to what Lily is wearing now? Who are you? James?"
"Well, it's not like I wanted to," Sirius shot back, his voice dripping with indignation. "But she's been wearing new stuff lately. Last week it was some ridiculous necklace; now this. Don’t you think it’s odd?”
Peter popped the Sugar Quill out of his mouth and squinted over at Lily, clearly trying to figure out what Sirius was going on about. “I dunno, mate, maybe she just likes shiny things.”
Sirius scowled. “Evans is not the ‘shiny things’ type. He’d known her for years—barely wore anything except those ghastly school robes and her uniform. Now she was practically sparkling every time she walked into a room.”
Remus finally lowered his book, casting Sirius a withering look. “You’re overthinking it. Maybe she got it as a gift, or maybe she just… likes it. People are allowed to change, Sirius. Believe it or not.”
“Change, sure. But this? It’s like she’s trying to—” he gestured vaguely in her direction, “…I don’t know. Impress someone. You think it’s James?”
That got Remus’s attention. He shut the book with a sigh and fixed Sirius with that knowing look he always gave when he thought he was being daft. “You’re obsessing over nothing. She can wear what she wants. If she’s trying to impress someone, she doesn’t need jewelry for it.”
Peter nodded, though he was still chewing the Sugar Quill thoughtfully. “Maybe it’s just fashion, Sirius. People wear stuff sometimes.”
Sirius didn’t like how dismissive they were being. Something was up with Lily Evans, and no one else seemed to see it. Fine. He’d keep an eye on it himself.
---
Two days later, Sirius was sitting in the Great Hall for breakfast. He’d managed to secure a prime spot across from Remus, Peter, and, of course, Lily Evans. He wasn’t stalking her—he thought that was ridiculous—but he did want to figure out this whole jewelry thing. She hadn’t worn anything noticeable the day before, so maybe it was just a fluke.
But then she sat down, and there it was. A ring. A small, dainty thing on her middle finger, silver with a green stone. He stared at it for a second longer than he probably should’ve before elbowing Remus.
“Look! She’s doing it again!” Sirius hissed, nodding towards Lily, who was buttering her toast and chatting away with Mary Macdonald, completely oblivious to his scrutiny.
Remus rolled his eyes. “Merlin, Sirius. You need a hobby.”
“I have hobbies! You’re missing the point. Last week it was a necklace, two days ago a bracelet, and now that!” He jabbed a finger in the direction of the ring, as though it was incriminating evidence.
Peter leaned over, squinting. “It’s just a ring, Sirius. Loads of girls wear rings.”
“Lily doesn’t,” he muttered darkly, grabbing a slice of toast and tearing into it. “She never wore anything like this before. Something’s off.”
Remus sighed, clearly trying not to engage, but Sirius wasn’t about to let this go. “Maybe someone’s buying her this stuff. Maybe it’s… I dunno, Snape,” he suggested.
That got their attention. Remus raised an eyebrow, and Peter stopped mid-bite, his eyes widening.
“Snape?” Peter asked, incredulous. “Why would Snape buy her jewelry?”
Sirius shrugged, though the thought sent an unpleasant shiver down his spine. “He’s been mooning over her for years. Maybe he’s trying to get back into her good graces with gifts.”
Remus snorted. “Lily would hex him before accepting jewelry from Snape. You know that.”
“Do I?” Sirius shot back, glaring at the ring again. “People do strange things when they’re trying to prove a point. Maybe he’s desperate.”
Peter shook his head, looking more confused than ever. “Or maybe she just likes jewelry, mate. Not everything is a plot.”
Sirius stared at her hand, watching the way the light hit the green stone, which seemed a bit too bright for this time of day. There was no way he was imagining this.
---
A week later, Sirius was pacing outside the Charms classroom, waiting for the others. Remus had taken to calling him paranoid, which was rich coming from him, and Peter had started avoiding conversations about Lily altogether. But Sirius wasn’t ready to give up.
Lily walked past with her usual group of friends, and he spotted something glinting on her neck. Another necklace. This one was gold, with a little Snitch charm hanging from it. He swore she was wearing silver last week.
He groaned audibly. “Again? How much bloody jewelry does she have now?”
Remus, who had just caught up to him, sighed so loudly it was practically theatrical. “Oh, for Merlin’s sake.”
“She wasn’t wearing that necklace yesterday! I swear she’s adding something new every day!”
Remus gave him a long, hard look. “Mate, you need to stop. This is getting ridiculous. It’s just a necklace. What are you even expecting to happen? You think it’s cursed or something?”
“I don’t know!” Sirius admitted, throwing his hands up in frustration. “But it’s weird! She’s changing, and I don’t like it.”
Peter, standing beside them, rolled his eyes. “Maybe she’s just got a new interest, Sirius. You’re acting like she’s turned into a dark witch or something just because she’s accessorizing.”
Sirius glared at him. “That’s not what I’m saying. But it’s… suspicious.”
Remus sighed again, rubbing his temples as if Sirius were giving him a headache. “You need to let this go, Sirius. I’m serious. It’s just Lily. If she wants to wear jewelry, it’s her business, not yours.”
Sirius opened his mouth to argue, but even he knew how ridiculous he sounded at this point. Still, something didn’t sit right with him. Lily Evans didn’t just start wearing random bits of jewelry for no reason.
But for now, he’d let it rest.
---
He flopped onto the couch in the Gryffindor common room, trying to shake off the nagging feeling that had settled in his gut. It was just a regular afternoon, but he couldn’t focus on anything. His eyes kept drifting to the door, waiting for her to show up again.
When Lily finally walked in, Sirius felt his breath catch. She was wearing a simple white sweater, but it was the gold necklace resting against her collarbone that caught his attention. It was elegant, with a delicate pendant that shimmered softly. Expensive, he thought, immediately feeling that familiar twinge of suspicion.
“Nice necklace,” Remus said absently, not even glancing up from his book.
“Right?” Sirius replied, irritation creeping into his voice. “Now even you can’t deny it’s getting excessive!”
Peter, munching on a chocolate frog, blinked at him, confusion etched across his face. “What’s the big deal? It’s just jewelry, mate.”
“Just jewelry?” Sirius shot back, leaning forward. “It’s like she’s trying to show off. I mean, she didn’t have any of this last week. It’s all too sudden.”
“Maybe she got a gift or something,” Remus suggested, his patience already wearing thin. “Girls like nice things, Sirius.”
“Yeah, this and the twenty-three other pieces just conveniently got gifted to her over the past two weeks or so? Sure!” Sirius argued, crossing his arms defensively. “It’s not just a new piece; it’s a whole new look!”
Remus rolled his eyes, clearly done with the conversation. “You’re overthinking it. It’s not like she’s hiding something.”
But that thought didn’t sit right with Sirius. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something off about it all.
Later that week, they found themselves in the Great Hall for breakfast. Sirius was halfway through his toast when Lily walked in again. This time, it was a pair of stunning emerald earrings that dangled elegantly from her ears, catching the light as she moved. They were exquisite, but they made his stomach twist.
“Look at that!” he whispered, leaning closer to Remus. “How does someone go from no jewelry to an entire collection overnight?”
“Maybe she’s just upgraded her style?” Remus replied, looking at Sirius like he was losing his mind.
“Upgraded? More like she’s trying to win some award for Best Dressed!” Sirius said, frustration bubbling over.
Peter nodded, trying to understand. “Yeah, but it’s not like she’s trying to impress anyone, is she? I mean, James doesn’t even seem to notice.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying!” Sirius exclaimed. “Why is she dressing like this and no one is batting an eye? It’s not normal!”
“Honestly, Sirius,” Remus said, exasperated. “You’re acting like it’s a crime to wear nice things. Maybe she just felt like it.”
“Or maybe she’s up to something,” Sirius muttered, his eyes narrowing as he watched her laugh at something James said.
A few days later, they were outside on the grounds, enjoying the sun. Sirius caught sight of Lily again, and this time she wore a delicate silver bracelet that sparkled against her skin. It was beautiful, but his suspicions flared once more.
“I can’t take it anymore!” he blurted out, startling both Remus and Peter. “Doesn’t anyone else think this is strange?”
Remus sighed. “Sirius, it’s not strange. It’s just jewelry.”
“Just jewelry?” Sirius repeated incredulously. “It’s a full-blown fashion statement!”
Peter looked at him with wide eyes, still not getting it. “What’s wrong with looking good? Girls do that, right?”
“Yeah, but it’s like she’s trying to send a message,” he insisted, feeling the frustration bubble up again. “I need to know what’s going on.”
“Why do you care so much?” Remus asked, genuinely perplexed. “You’re acting like a jealous boyfriend.”
“Jealous? Of Lily?” Sirius shot back, his voice rising. “No! It’s not that! It’s just… why the sudden change?”
And then it hit him like a jolt of electricity. Maybe he was frustrated because he didn’t know why it bothered him so much. He had no interest in Lily, and he was pretty sure she felt the same way about him. So why was he obsessing over her jewelry like it was some sort of dark secret?
---
As the days passed, he kept his eye on her, watching as she wore different pieces: a stunning brooch one day, a pair of diamond studs the next. Each new addition felt like a puzzle piece that didn’t fit. He knew there had to be a reason behind it, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what it was.
Remus and Peter exchanged glances, clearly puzzled by his fixation. “You need to let it go, mate,” Peter finally said, shrugging. “It’s not worth the headache.”
But he couldn’t. There was something about Lily’s transformation that gnawed at him, a mystery he couldn’t ignore. He leaned back, sighing as he stared out the window, wondering what secrets lay behind those sparkling accessories and why they made him feel so unsettled.
---
Another day, another headache. Sirius sat in the Gryffindor common room, trying to focus on his Transfiguration homework, but his mind was a swirling mess. The constant tug of curiosity had turned into a full-blown obsession. He felt like a moth to a flame, and that flame was Lily Evans and her increasingly ostentatious jewelry.
Just then, the portrait swung open, and in walked Lily, wearing a matching set of pearl jewelry that nearly sent him into orbit. She had a classic pearl necklace that hugged her neck beautifully, a set of pearl earrings that dangled just right, and a delicate bracelet that sparkled like it was meant to be on a queen.
“Blimey,” he muttered under his breath, his heart racing. “It’s like she’s auditioning for a role in a Victorian drama.”
“Maybe she is,” Remus quipped, flipping a page in his book without looking up. “You’re really losing it, you know that?”
Sirius shot him an incredulous look. “Losing it? Remus, she’s decked out like she’s going to a royal ball! It’s too much!”
Peter, sitting cross-legged on the floor, fiddled with a chess piece. “I dunno, Sirius. Pearls are classic. They look nice,” he said, glancing up at Lily. “Right?”
“Sure, they look nice,” Sirius replied, unable to contain his irritation. “But why all of a sudden? She didn’t have any of this last week! It’s like she’s trying to signal something, and I can’t figure out what!”
Remus finally looked up, his brow furrowed. “What exactly do you think she’s signaling, Sirius? That she has good taste?”
Sirius threw his hands up in frustration. “You’re not getting it! It’s not about taste! It’s the timing! The sudden transformation! It’s like… like she’s trying to cover something up!”
James, who had been lounging on the couch with his feet up, glanced at Sirius with an unreadable expression. He had been unusually quiet about Lily’s jewelry lately, almost as if he knew something but wasn’t willing to share. There was a flicker in his eyes, a sort of guardedness that set Sirius on edge.
“What do you think, James?” Sirius asked, half-expecting him to shrug it off like everyone else.
James paused, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “What do I think about what?” he replied, his tone casual, but the look in his eyes was anything but.
“About Lily and her new pearls!” Sirius shot back, feeling the frustration boil over. “You haven’t said a word about it, and you’re always the first to notice when she changes her hair or whatever!”
James shrugged, his expression inscrutable. “Maybe I just don’t care. She’s still Lily.”
“Not helpful,” Sirius muttered, feeling his chest tighten. Why was he acting like this? It was like he was trying to play it cool, but Sirius could see the tension in his posture, the way he shifted ever so slightly when Lily walked in.
As she chatted with her friends, Sirius leaned closer to Remus, lowering his voice. “You think something’s up with James? He seems… weird.”
“Honestly, I think you’re reading too much into everything,” Remus replied, irritation creeping into his voice. “Just focus on your homework. Lily’s not a mystery to be solved.”
“Maybe not to you,” Sirius snapped, trying to keep his voice down. “But to me, it’s a full-blown case! Look at her! She’s practically wearing a wedding set!”
Peter stared at Lily, and Sirius could see the wheels turning in his mind. “Okay, but what if she is trying to impress someone?” he asked, finally starting to grasp Sirius’s perspective. “What if there’s some secret she’s not telling us?”
“Thank you!” Sirius exclaimed, feeling a flicker of validation. “See, Peter gets it!”
Remus rolled his eyes again. “Or maybe she just wants to feel good about herself. Ever think of that?”
Before Sirius could respond, Lily turned and caught his eye. She smiled, that warm, genuine smile, and he felt his stomach drop. She was beautiful, and she was wearing that ridiculous pearl ensemble, and it was driving him mad because he didn't get why. The fact James was so unbothered by it made it even worse for Sirius.
Remus shot Sirius a look that said he was done with his spiraling thoughts, but Sirius couldn’t help it. There was something about Lily’s sudden transformation that felt like a puzzle he needed to solve. As much as it drove him crazy, he knew he wouldn’t be able to rest until he did.
Sirius was half-asleep, slumped over the Gryffindor table, shoving eggs into his mouth like a machine. Saturday mornings were supposed to be peaceful and slow—the kind of day where no one expected much of you, and you could just lounge around until lunch. Remus was already deep into the Prophet, predictably, and Peter was attacking a mountain of toast like it had personally offended him. James was late—probably slept in. Nothing out of the ordinary.
But then Lily walked in.
Sirius almost choked on his eggs.
She wasn’t just there like she usually was—she was… different. Not subtle this time, no random bits of jewelry. No, this was something else entirely. Her hair was perfectly curled, not a strand out of place, and he swore he could see it shine from across the hall. Her nails were deep red, perfectly painted—the kind of red that made him think of firewhiskey on a cold night. They matched her hair, which was unsettling enough. Then there was her outfit—not her usual school robes, but a sleek-looking dark blouse and skirt, with those tights girls always wore when they were trying to look proper. She even had some glittering hair clip tucked in at the back of her head, holding up a section of her hair, catching the light as she sat down.
And the makeup—Merlin, she never wore makeup like that. He was no expert, but her lips were some deep red color, and her eyes had this smoky thing going on that made her look like she was about to go duel a dragon or something.
He stared, blinking like an idiot, trying to process what he was seeing.
"What in the bloody hell?" he muttered, louder than he meant to.
Remus didn’t even look up from his newspaper. "Don’t start, Sirius."
But how could he not start? I mean, look at her. She didn’t look like she was walking into breakfast in the Great Hall—she looked like she was going to some fancy ball or maybe about to go meet some high-ranking official at the Ministry. It didn’t make any sense, and it was infuriating.
"Do you see that? She’s done up like she’s off to some fancy bloody event. It’s Saturday. Saturday, Moony!" Sirius exclaimed.
Remus finally lowered the paper just enough to give him one of those long-suffering looks. "Maybe she just felt like dressing up. People do that."
"Since when does Lily Evans dress up? She’s not one for—this!" He waved a hand vaguely in her direction, still trying to wrap his head around the transformation. “Something’s going on. I’m telling you, it’s not just the jewelry now—it’s… everything."
Peter snorted, licking jam off his fingers. "Maybe she’s got a date or something." He waggled his eyebrows in what was clearly supposed to be a teasing gesture, but it only made Sirius’s brain spin faster.
"A date?" Sirius repeated, frowning. “Who the hell with? No one in their right mind is good enough for her. No one normal, at least.”
That’s when he noticed James.
He had just walked in, hair still a mess, eyes bleary like he’d only just rolled out of bed. But the moment he spotted Lily, he froze—literally stopped in his tracks, his hands with a book in them hovering midair. His eyes went wide for a second, and then he blinked rapidly, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing either.
Oh.
Oh, this was too good.
Sirius leaned over, nudging Peter to watch this unfold, then turned to James with a smirk. “See something you like, mate?”
James blinked again, visibly pulling himself together. “Huh? What?”
Sirius raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh at how off-guard James looked. “Evans, obviously. She’s practically sparkling this morning. You’ve been staring at her for about five solid seconds. Care to explain what’s got you in a daze?”
James’s face went blank for a moment, a bit too blank, and then he shrugged, sitting down beside them like he hadn’t just been caught. “I wasn’t staring.”
“Yeah, sure,” Sirius said, grinning now. “And I don’t have a motorbike hidden in the shed. Come on, Prongs, just admit it. She’s done up like that for you, right? I mean, it’s a bit suspicious how suddenly she’s all polished and shiny. Maybe she’s trying to catch your eye.”
That got a reaction—just not the one Sirius expected. James actually turned red, but instead of leaning into it, he started fumbling with his food, shoving a sausage onto his plate without even looking up. “Don’t be ridiculous. She’s just… dressed up. Probably for something else. Maybe she’s going to Hogsmeade later. You don’t know.”
His tone was too casual. Cagey. Like he was trying hard to dodge the conversation entirely, which only made Sirius’s suspicions worse. Something was definitely up.
“Something else, huh?” Sirius pressed, feeling the urge to prod him further. “Come on, Prongs, it’s not a coincidence. You’ve been after her for years, and now she’s suddenly showing up looking like that. You’re telling me you’ve got nothing to do with this?”
James’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look up. “No,” he said sharply. “I didn’t ask her out. It’s none of my business what she wears.”
Sirius narrowed his eyes, watching him closely. He wasn’t just being dismissive—he was uncomfortable, like he was hiding something. And Sirius didn’t like it.
“You’re being weird,” Sirius muttered, picking up a slice of toast and chewing on it thoughtfully. “And so is she. None of this makes any sense.”
Remus sighed deeply from behind his paper, clearly having had enough of Sirius’s constant overthinking. “Sirius, for the love of Merlin, let it go. People are allowed to change. Not everything is some grand conspiracy.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Let it go,” Remus repeated, turning the page of the Prophet like the conversation was over.
James still wasn’t looking at Sirius, and Peter had lost interest, going back to his toast. But Sirius couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off—about Lily, about James, about this whole situation. He wasn’t buying the whole “she just felt like dressing up” story. Not for a second.
Something was going on, and Sirius was going to figure it out.
---
Potions wasn’t exactly Sirius’s favorite class, but it had its moments. Usually, he spent most of the time trying not to blow anything up and occasionally chucking things at Snape’s head when Slughorn wasn’t looking. Today, though, he could barely focus on any of that. His attention was drawn to something—or rather, someone—else entirely.
Lily Evans walked in, as usual, taking her spot at the front of the room, but this time… she looked different. Again.
It wasn’t just the subtle changes anymore. There were no new bracelets or little rings to comment on and dismiss. No, today she’d gone all out—new robes, perfectly tailored, hugging her in all the right places and flowing just enough that it didn’t seem like she was trying too hard. Her bag was new, too, sleek and polished, resembling something a Ministry official might carry. It had this golden clasp on the front, glinting in the dungeon’s dim light.
And, of course, there was the jewelry. New earrings—small but glittering, catching the torchlight every time she turned her head. There was another bracelet as well, thicker than the last, and a necklace that looked like it cost a fortune. Who even was this girl? Where was the Evans who barely cared what her hair looked like, let alone what kind of accessories she wore?
Sirius felt his eyebrow twitch in irritation. There was no way this was all just coincidence. New robes, new bag, new everything—this wasn’t the Lily Evans he’d known for years. He leaned over toward Remus, nudging him with his elbow.
“Oi, you see that?”
Remus barely looked up from the parchment he was scribbling on, just enough to give Sirius a passing glance before rolling his eyes. “Sirius, not again…”
“No, seriously! Look at her! New robes, new bag, jewelry again—what’s going on with her?” he hissed, his voice a little too loud as Slughorn shuffled around the front, preparing some bubbling concoction for today’s lesson.
Remus let out a long, suffering sigh, but he was pointedly not looking at Lily. “Maybe she just got some new things. Ever thought of that? People buy new robes sometimes, you know. It’s not a sign of the apocalypse.”
“It’s not just the robes!” Sirius muttered, glancing over at Lily again, watching as she pulled out her ingredients with meticulous precision. “It’s the whole thing. The bag, the jewelry—she’s never been like this before. Not once.”
Remus finally set his quill down, turning to face Sirius with a look of exasperation. “Sirius, she’s allowed to change. You’re acting like she’s committed some great crime by looking… well, nice.”
Peter, sitting on Sirius’s other side, perked up, though he had a chunk of chocolate stuck to the side of his mouth. “Yeah, maybe she just fancied a change. Girls do that sometimes.”
Sirius scoffed, pushing his hair out of his eyes as he glared at the back of Lily’s head. “A change? This is a whole bloody transformation! She’s practically a different person now. It’s like she’s trying to… I dunno… impress someone or something.”
Remus snorted. “Impress who?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out!” Sirius snapped, slamming his potions book shut with more force than necessary. “It’s weird. She didn’t care about any of this before, and now it’s all new bags, new robes, new bloody accessories every week.”
Remus, looking thoroughly bored with the conversation, gave Sirius a tired look. “Maybe she just likes it, Sirius. You’re blowing this way out of proportion.”
But Sirius wasn’t convinced. Not for a second.
Then he saw James.
James was sitting a row behind Sirius, supposed to be setting up his cauldron, but he was staring at Lily. Again. His eyes were fixeded on her, and Sirius could see the way his face twitched like he couldn’t help himself. He’d gone from regular smitten to full-on besotted, like a cat in front of a bowl of cream.
A grin crept across Sirius’s face. He nudged Remus, jerking his head in James’s direction. “There—look. He’s staring again. You can’t tell me this isn’t connected. I bet you anything this has something to do with him.”
Remus looked like he wanted to bury his face in his book, but Peter turned his head, clearly amused now. “He’s got it bad, hasn’t he?” he said, grinning.
Sirius leaned back, crossing his arms as he watched James, who had just realized Sirius was looking at him and quickly turned back to his cauldron like nothing had happened. Too late. Sirius wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily. “Oi, Prongs!” he called, keeping his voice low enough that Slughorn wouldn’t hear, but just loud enough for it to carry across the room. “You staring again, mate?”
James’s head snapped up, and his face immediately flushed. “What? No. Shut up, Pads.”
Sirius smirked, enjoying how flustered James looked. “Oh, come on, mate. We all saw you. You’ve been staring at her for the last five minutes. It’s not exactly subtle.”
James fiddled with his ladle, still avoiding Sirius’s gaze. “I wasn’t staring. I was just… thinking.”
“Thinking about what? Her new robes? Her shiny new bag?” Sirius teased, leaning forward. “You’ve been staring at her every time she walks in with something new. Maybe she’s dressing up for you. You reckon she’s doing all this to impress you?”
James’s face went an even deeper shade of red, and for a second, Sirius thought he might throw something at him. But instead, James just clenched his jaw and went back to stirring his potion. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Sirius said, raising an eyebrow. “Seems like you’ve got her attention, mate. All this fancy new gear, the tailored robes—come on, admit it. You’ve finally got her on the hook, haven’t you?”
James set his ladle down a little too hard, the clang echoing through the dungeon. “I told you to shut it, Pads,” he muttered, keeping his eyes fixed on his cauldron. “It’s none of your business.”
Sirius frowned. James’s reaction was the same as before—cagey, defensive, like he’d hit a nerve. But Sirius wasn’t buying the whole “it’s nothing” routine. James was acting way too weird about it.
Remus, clearly sensing another long-winded rant coming from Sirius, quickly jumped in. “Sirius, leave it. If James says it’s nothing, it’s nothing.”
“But it’s not nothing!” Sirius snapped, glaring at both of them. “Lily’s changing, and James is acting all weird about it, and no one else seems to care! You can’t tell me something isn’t going on here.”
Peter was still snickering quietly, but Remus shot Sirius a look that said he was done with the whole conversation. “People grow up, Sirius. It’s not some grand mystery. Let her do what she wants.”
Sirius let out a frustrated breath, slumping back in his seat. Maybe he was overreacting, but something about this still didn’t sit right with him.
Lily Evans wasn’t just “growing up” or “changing”—this was deliberate. Every new thing she wore, every perfect little detail—it was all for a reason. And Sirius was determined to figure out what it was, even if no one else saw it.
Even if it meant dragging it out of James.
Because one way or another, something was going on here.
---
By the time lunch rolled around, Sirius was already teetering on the edge. He had spent all of Potions stewing in his own thoughts, trying to work out what in Merlin’s name was going on with Lily Evans. The new robes, the new bag, the jewelry—it wasn’t just some random thing anymore. This was deliberate, too deliberate, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing something huge.
The Great Hall buzzed with its usual midday energy. Students chattered loudly, food floated down onto the tables, and cutlery clinked against plates. Sirius stabbed at his shepherd’s pie with more force than necessary, his eyes darting over to the other end of the table where Lily sat, laughing with her friends. She didn’t look like someone who had just casually upgraded her entire wardrobe. No, there was something calculated about it, something that gnawed at him like an unsolved puzzle.
He was just about to comment again when the sound of wings filled the air. The usual flurry of owls descended upon the Hall, letters and packages dropping onto plates, parchment fluttering onto laps. But one owl in particular caught his eye, and of course, it was heading straight for Lily.
It wasn’t just any owl. No, it was a perfect owl—sleek, shiny feathers, perfectly groomed, with sharp, intelligent eyes that made it look like it belonged to some high-ranking Ministry official. Its wings didn’t even ruffle as it landed gracefully in front of her, dropping a letter into her lap and then perching on her shoulder like it was above sitting on the table.
Sirius blinked. That was new.
Of course it was.
Lily reached up and stroked the owl’s head with the same practiced ease that someone might use with a family pet, as if it had been hers for years. But it hadn’t. He knew for a fact that Lily Evans didn’t have an owl—not last week, not yesterday. And now, she had this… majestic creature that looked like it had flown straight out of a bloody catalogue for elite wizarding pets.
“Did you see that?” he hissed, turning to Remus and Peter, his voice sharper than intended.
Peter barely glanced up from his plate, stuffing a third roll into his mouth. “What now?”
“That owl!” Sirius jabbed his fork in Lily’s direction, glaring at the perfectly groomed creature still sitting on her shoulder. “She’s got a new bloody owl now! When did she get that? She didn’t have an owl before; I’d know!”
Remus, for once, looked up from his food, his brow furrowed as he glanced over at Lily’s new pet. “Hmm.” His tone was thoughtful, and Sirius could see the gears turning in his head. “That is a bit odd. It’s… a very nice owl.”
“Exactly!” Sirius exclaimed, pointing at Remus like he’d finally seen the light. “It’s too nice. Who just casually gets an owl like that out of nowhere? One minute it’s new robes, now it’s some fancy pet—something’s going on, I’m telling you.”
Peter shrugged, still chewing. “Maybe she saved up for it.”
“Saved up?” Sirius scoffed, glaring at him. “Have you seen that thing? It looks like it belongs to a bloody Auror, not a seventh-year student. You don’t just save up for something like that in a week.”
Remus finally nodded, leaning back in his seat, arms crossed as he considered it. “You might have a point. It’s a bit much all at once.”
Sirius shot him a triumphant look. “Thank you! At least someone sees it. First, the jewelry, then the robes, and now this! It’s like she’s suddenly decided she’s some high-society witch. What the hell is happening?”
Just as he said it, he caught James out of the corner of his eye. He was sitting across from Remus, pretending—very poorly—to be interested in the potatoes on his plate. But Sirius knew him too well, and he could see that James had been watching Lily again, though this time he was doing a much better job of hiding it.
Sirius grinned and leaned over, nudging Peter and jerking his head in James’s direction. “Oh, look who’s at it again. Prongs here can’t seem to tear his eyes away from Evans and her new accessories. Care to explain that, mate?”
James glanced up, caught completely off-guard, but this time he didn’t flush. He kept his cool, or at least tried to. “What are you on about?” he muttered, grabbing his goblet and taking a long, deliberate sip of pumpkin juice.
“Don’t play dumb,” Sirius said, grinning wider. “You’ve been watching her all morning. Don’t think I didn’t notice in Potions, either. And now she’s got a shiny new owl, and you’re pretending like it’s no big deal?”
James shrugged, far too casually. “It’s just an owl, Pads.”
“Just an owl?” Sirius repeated, raising an eyebrow. “That’s not just any owl. That thing looks like it’s about to give a bloody keynote speech at the Ministry. And you’ve been acting weird every time I bring her up.”
James set his goblet down, still not looking at Sirius. “I haven’t been acting weird.”
“Oh, yes, you have,” Sirius pressed, leaning in closer, his voice low and conspiratorial. “First the robes, now the owl—you don’t think it’s all a bit too much of a coincidence? Maybe she’s doing this for you. Maybe you finally asked her out, and now she’s showing off.”
James didn’t look up, his jaw tightening just a little, but he stayed calm. Too calm. “She’s not doing it for me, Sirius. Don’t be ridiculous.”
Sirius narrowed his eyes at him, not buying it for a second. “You’re being weird about it. And you’ve been weird about it all day. Come on, Prongs, just admit it. You’ve got something to do with this, haven’t you?”
“No,” James said firmly, picking up his fork again and stabbing at his food like it had personally offended him. “I haven’t.”
But his tone was too flat. Too dismissive. He wasn’t panicking, but he wasn’t his usual self either. Something was definitely off.
Remus, who had been silently watching this exchange, cleared his throat and leaned over, his voice quieter than before. “Sirius… I hate to say it, but you might be onto something this time.”
Sirius turned to him, eyebrows shooting up. “See? Even Moony thinks it’s weird!”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t weird,” Remus clarified, casting a glance at James, who was still pretending he wasn’t listening. “It’s just… it’s a lot, all at once. The owl, the robes, the jewelry… it’s not exactly subtle.”
James shifted uncomfortably in his seat, still not looking at them. “People change,” he muttered, his voice tight. “She’s allowed to get new things, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, but why all of a sudden?” Sirius pressed. “And why are you so defensive about it? If you’re not involved, why are you acting like I’m accusing you of murder?”
James didn’t respond right away. He just focused on his food, shoving a bite of pie into his mouth and chewing a bit too deliberately. Finally, after a long pause, he spoke, his voice much softer than before. “I’m not defensive. I just don’t think it’s any of our business.”
Sirius snorted, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. “Not our business? You’ve been after her for years, mate. If anyone’s going to notice what’s going on, it’s us.”
Peter, still gnawing on a bit of bread, piped up. “Maybe she’s just trying to impress someone else. Like… someone new.”
Sirius frowned at that, the idea unsettling him more than he expected. The thought of Lily suddenly showing up with all this new stuff to impress some mystery bloke didn’t sit right with him at all. It was better to think she was doing it for James. At least that would make some sense.
But James didn’t respond. He just kept his head down, focused on his food, and for the first time in a long while, Sirius saw something in his expression that he couldn’t quite read.
He didn’t like it.
Something was going on, and no matter how much they all tried to brush it off, he wasn’t about to let this go. Not until he got some bloody answers.
---
By the time evening rolled around, Sirius still hadn’t let it go. The whole day had been a haze of questions with no answers, and the more he tried to figure out what was going on with Lily, the more frustrated he became. Remus had at least partially come around, but James was still acting cagey, and that only made Sirius more suspicious. Whatever was happening, there was something more to it, and he wasn’t going to rest until he knew exactly what.
The Gryffindor common room was crowded that night, the usual cozy warmth filling the space as students lounged around after a long day of classes. Sirius was sitting on the couch near the fire, trying—and failing—to focus on a game of wizard chess with Peter. Peter was staring intently at the board, chewing on his lip as he plotted his next move, but Sirius's mind was elsewhere. Specifically, it was on Lily Evans and her suspicious new lifestyle.
He was just about to make another comment to Peter when he overheard a conversation a few feet away. Mary Macdonald, Marlene McKinnon, Dorcas Meadows (the resident Ravenclaw), and Alice Fortescue were sitting in a cluster of armchairs near the window, their voices carrying just loud enough for him to catch snippets of what they were saying. Normally, he wouldn’t have paid it any mind, but one name caught his attention like a fish on a hook.
“...Lily’s new stuff…”
Sirius straightened up, his ears perking like a dog sniffing out something good. He pretended to examine the chessboard, but his focus was fully on their conversation now. Peter noticed Sirius's sudden silence and looked up, raising an eyebrow. “You gonna move or just stare at the board forever?”
“Shh,” Sirius muttered, waving him off. “I’m listening.”
Peter gave him a confused look, but he leaned back in his seat, not bothering to argue. Sirius tilted his head slightly, tuning into the conversation just behind him.
“Honestly, I don’t know where she’s getting it all from,” Dorcas was saying, her voice light but with a hint of curiosity. “I mean, it’s not like she just found a stash of galleons over the summer.”
Marlene, lounging in her chair with her legs crossed, shrugged. “Maybe she did. She’s always been practical, but this is… different. Tailored robes? Fancy jewelry? It’s not exactly what I expected from Lily Evans.”
Alice, who had been braiding her hair absentmindedly, chuckled. “It’s almost like she’s trying to show us up.”
“No, she’s not like that,” Mary said quickly, shaking her head. “She’d never try to outdo anyone on purpose. She’s just… well, I think it’s because of Janine and Jane.”
Sirius nearly knocked over the chessboard in his attempt to lean closer. Who the hell were Janine and Jane?
Marlene looked as confused as he felt. “Who?”
“Her friends from over the summer,” Mary explained, leaning forward conspiratorially. “You didn’t hear about them? They’re twins, and they’re apparently loaded. Lily spent a lot of time with them, and they’ve been sending her all these gifts to ‘spice up’ her life here.”
Marlene snorted. “Spice up her life? At Hogwarts? What, do they think she’s at some sort of posh boarding school?”
Mary grinned. “Actually, yeah. They’re Muggles, remember? They think Hogwarts is some fancy school for gifted teenagers, and that Lily’s some sort of child prodigy. They’ve got no idea it’s all about magic.”
Alice laughed, shaking her head. “So they’re just sending her all this stuff to make her look posh?”
Mary nodded, still smiling. “Yeah, they sent her loads of things—robes, jewelry, that bag. You know, to help her ‘fit in’ better with the other ‘rich kids’ here. They have no clue how things actually work in the wizarding world.”
Sirius couldn’t hold it in any longer. Before he even knew what he was doing, he turned around and interrupted their little chat. “Wait, wait—hold on a second.”
The four girls looked up at him, startled, as if they hadn’t noticed he was sitting so close. Marlene raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “What do you want, Black?”
“I want to know more about these twins,” he said, leaning forward, unable to keep the frustration out of his voice. “Janine and Jane, or whatever their names are. They’re the reason Lily’s been parading around with all this new stuff?”
Mary looked surprised at his sudden interest, but she didn’t seem too bothered by it. “Yeah, they’ve been sending her gifts. Why are you so interested?”
“Because it’s weird!” he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “One minute she’s normal, and the next, she’s decked out in the finest robes, with a fancy new owl, and Merlin knows what else. And it’s all because of these Muggle twins who think Hogwarts is some posh school?”
Marlene sighed, crossing her arms as she gave him an annoyed look. “So what? You’re acting like it’s the end of the world.”
“No, I’m acting like it’s bloody suspicious!” he shot back. “Do none of you find it odd that she’s suddenly dripping in expensive things? What do these twins even do, own some Muggle empire?”
“They’re just her friends, Sirius,” Mary said patiently, though he could hear the amusement in her voice. “They’re rich, yes, but they’re harmless. Lily said they were really sweet. They just think her life here is a bit… dull, compared to what they’re used to.”
“So they’re just sending her all this stuff for fun?” he asked, incredulous. “What, to ‘spice up’ her life because they think she’s stuck in some dreary school?”
Mary nodded. “Exactly. They think she’s stuck in a place where everyone’s wearing uniforms and there’s nothing exciting going on. So they’re trying to help her stand out a bit.”
Sirius stared at her, trying to process this utterly baffling piece of information. Muggles. He never really understood them before, and now… well, he understood them even less. “But she’s not even using the stuff properly,” he muttered, more to himself than to them. “The robes, the bag, the jewelry—it doesn’t even fit in here.”
“That’s the point,” Alice said, smirking. “They think it’s all about standing out. They don’t know how things work in our world.”
Sirius rubbed a hand over his face, still trying to wrap his head around this. So it wasn’t some elaborate mystery. No conspiracy, no secret plot. Just two rich Muggle girls sending their friend gifts because they thought Hogwarts was boring. It sounded so absurd, and yet…
He couldn’t help but laugh. It was ridiculous. Completely ridiculous.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered, shaking his head. “All this time, I thought something weird was going on, and it’s just her Muggle friends playing dress-up.”
Marlene rolled her eyes. “You really do love to overthink things, don’t you?”
Sirius leaned back on the couch, feeling a strange mix of relief and lingering frustration. “I can’t believe James was keeping this quiet,” he said, mostly to himself.
Alice glanced over at him, her eyebrow quirking. “Why would James care?”
He shrugged, playing it off. “Who knows? He’s been acting all weird and cagey about it. Maybe he thought if she was suddenly all posh, he’d have less of a shot with her.”
Marlene snorted. “Please. James Potter could never stop pining after Lily, posh or not.”
Sirius couldn’t argue with that. He let out a long breath, feeling the tension slowly leave his shoulders. It wasn’t some grand mystery, just a couple of clueless Muggle girls who didn’t realize their gifts were turning heads.
But he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to give James a hard time about this later.
---
Sirius woke up feeling lighter than he had in days, convinced he had finally cracked the code of Lily Evans’ mysterious transformation. It had all boiled down to two rich, clueless Muggle friends with a warped sense of style, sending her gifts to help her stand out. Case closed. No grand conspiracy. No hidden agenda. Just typical Muggle nonsense.
As he walked into the Great Hall for breakfast, he was almost smug with how right he’d been all along. He spotted Remus and Peter already sitting at their usual spot and plopped down next to them, grabbing a slice of toast with a contented sigh.
“See? Told you it wasn’t anything sinister,” he said, grinning as he poured pumpkin juice into his goblet. “Just her Muggle friends having a laugh.”
Remus, who was reading The Daily Prophet, glanced over the top of the paper with a small smile. “You’re finally satisfied, then?”
“Absolutely,” Sirius replied, shoving a bite of toast into his mouth. “It all makes sense now. The fancy robes, the new owl, all of it. Just two rich Muggle girls trying to ‘spice up’ their friend’s life at a ‘boring boarding school.’”
Peter snorted, reaching for the butter. “You spent a whole day obsessing over nothing.”
“Exactly!” Sirius said, leaning back in his seat, feeling like he’d won something. “Mystery solved. We can all move on now.”
Just as Sirius was starting to truly relax for the first time in days, he caught a flash of red from the corner of his eye. He glanced over, expecting to see the same old Lily Evans, but his casual glance turned into a double-take so fast he almost dropped his goblet.
Lily was walking into the Great Hall, looking, as usual, far too put-together for a Wednesday morning. Her hair was glossy and perfectly styled, her school robes neatly pressed and tailored in a way that Sirius still found suspiciously precise. But what really caught his eye wasn’t the clothes this time.
It was the ring.
A massive, sparkling ring on her finger. Not some dainty little thing either—no, this was a bold, flashy piece of jewelry that looked entirely out of place on Lily Evans. It glittered in the morning light like something straight out of a Muggle romance novel, catching the attention of half the students in the room as she walked by.
“What… the hell is that?” Sirius muttered, staring at the ring as if it had personally insulted him.
Remus followed his gaze, eyes narrowing. “Is that… a promise ring?”
Peter choked on his pumpkin juice. “A what?”
“A promise ring,” Remus repeated, his voice laced with confusion. “It’s the kind of ring Muggles give each other when they’re serious, but not ready for an engagement yet.”
Sirius turned to Remus, his brain working overtime to process this new information. “What do you mean ‘serious’? As in, she’s seeing someone?”
Remus frowned, his brow furrowed in thought. “I don’t know. But that’s not the kind of ring you wear for fun. But I might be mistaken, Sirius. Don’t–”
Sirius had already stopped listening halfway through Remus’ sentence and now shushed him to hear the girls’ conversation.
He whipped his head back to look at Lily, who was now sitting at her usual spot with her friends—Mary, Marlene, and Alice. They all seemed equally surprised by the ring, their eyes wide as they leaned in to get a closer look. But Lily? She was acting like it was the most normal thing in the world, chatting casually as if she hadn’t just walked in with a bloody promise ring on her finger.
Sirius' brain was short-circuiting.
“Where did that come from?” he demanded, staring at the ring like he could somehow will the answer into his head through sheer force. “That wasn’t there yesterday! Was it?”
“No,” Remus said slowly, watching the scene unfold with the same bewilderment. “It wasn’t.”
Sirius felt his heart rate pick up, his sense of smug satisfaction from earlier completely wiped out by this new, infuriating mystery. He leaned forward, trying to catch more of the conversation between Lily and her friends, but he was too far away to hear anything useful.
“What in Merlin’s name is going on with her?” he muttered under his breath.
Before anyone could respond, the sound of flapping wings filled the air as the morning owls swooped in with the day’s mail. Sirius barely noticed them at first—until one owl in particular descended gracefully toward Lily, carrying not letters or packages, but an enormous bouquet of deep red roses.
The owl dropped the bouquet right onto her plate, petals scattering across her toast. And, to Sirius' utter astonishment, Lily smiled like it was the most normal thing in the world, casually lifting the bouquet and admiring it while her friends gaped at her in shock.
Mary’s jaw dropped. “Lily, who’s that from?”
Marlene was grinning now, leaning in. “Are you holding out on us, Evans? Who’s the mystery man?”
Lily laughed—a light, carefree laugh—and shrugged. “Oh, just a friend.”
Just a friend?
Sirius nearly fell out of his seat.
A bloody friend? Sending her a promise ring and a bouquet of roses? And she was acting like it was nothing, like she hadn’t just turned her entire life upside down overnight.
“Is this… is this real?” Sirius whispered, staring at the scene unfolding before him. “Am I having some kind of fever dream?”
Remus, for once, didn’t have an immediate answer. He just shook his head slowly, watching Lily and her friends with the same baffled expression Sirius wore.
“I’m starting to think something is going on,” Remus admitted, finally breaking the silence.
Peter, who had been watching all of this with wide eyes, nodded. “That’s… that’s not normal, is it?”
“Of course it’s not bloody normal!” Sirius hissed, his mind spinning. “First the clothes, then the owl, now this? What, is she secretly engaged to some bloke we’ve never met? What’s next, a wedding invitation?”
Before Sirius could spiral any further, he noticed James sitting across from them, barely touching his breakfast, his face unusually tense. His eyes flicked toward Lily every few seconds, but the moment he saw Sirius looking, he glanced down at his plate, pretending to be engrossed in his food.
That was all it took.
Sirius narrowed his eyes at him, his suspicion mounting. “You. Prongs.”
James looked up, feigning innocence. “What?”
Sirius jabbed a finger in Lily’s direction. “You’re being weird again. You’ve been watching her, and you were weird about it all day yesterday. And now she’s suddenly got a promise ring and a bouquet of roses. Care to explain?”
James froze, his eyes darting between Sirius, Lily, and the bouquet. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, far too quickly.
“Oh, don’t you pull that with me, Potter,” Sirius shot back, his frustration boiling over. “You know something, I can tell you do. You’ve been acting all twitchy every time Lily does something weird, and now she’s practically got a bloody engagement ring on her finger, and you’re just sitting there like it’s no big deal.”
“I don’t know anything!” James insisted, though his voice cracked ever so slightly. He grabbed his goblet and took a long, gulping sip of pumpkin juice, avoiding eye contact at all costs.
“Oh, come off it,” Sirius snapped, leaning closer. “This is beyond suspicious now. First the new owl, now this! And you’re trying to tell me you don’t know a thing?”
“I don’t!” James said, his voice higher than normal. He cleared his throat and lowered his gaze. “Lily can do what she wants, Sirius. It’s none of my business.”
Sirius stared at him, his brain struggling to comprehend how he could be so bloody calm about this.
“None of your business?” Sirius repeated, incredulous. “She’s been your obsession for years, mate. Don’t you think it’s odd she’s suddenly getting showered with gifts like this?”
James shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his hand fidgeting with his fork. “People can change, Sirius.”
“Yeah, but not like this,” Remus chimed in, his eyes narrowing at James now. “You’ve been acting strange, too. There’s more to this, isn’t there?”
James opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. He just looked back down at his plate, clearly flustered, and mumbled something under his breath.
Sirius was about two seconds away from losing it.
“You know what?” he said, standing up abruptly. “I’m not letting this go. I’m going to get to the bottom of this if it’s the last thing I do.”
Lily, meanwhile, continued to chat with her friends, laughing softly as if the entire Great Hall wasn’t buzzing with curiosity over the sudden, dramatic turn her life had taken. She picked up one of the roses from her bouquet and twirled it between her fingers, utterly oblivious to the chaos she was causing in Sirius’ head.
And that—that—was the most maddening part of all.
How could she act like this was all perfectly normal? Like none of it was out of the ordinary?
Sirius didn’t have answers yet, but he was going to get them. Even if it drove him insane in the process.
---
It was late afternoon, and the Gryffindor common room was quieter than usual, with most of the students off enjoying a rare sunny October day. Sirius had a plan brewing in his mind all day. After days of tension and confusion, he figured it was time to get to the bottom of the strange mystery surrounding Lily Evans. But instead of his usual direct, confrontational approach, he decided to be subtle for once.
James was sprawled out on his bed in their dormitory, lazily tossing a Quaffle into the air and catching it again. His mind seemed miles away—maybe on Lily, or perhaps trying to forget the recent weirdness. Either way, Sirius figured this was the best chance to corner him without being too obvious.
Sirius wandered over to his own bed, trying to appear casual, as though he hadn’t been obsessing over Lily’s sudden glamorous lifestyle for days. He grabbed a random book from his nightstand and flipped it open, pretending to be interested in the pages, though he didn’t even know what the book was about.
“Hey, Prongs,” he said, keeping his tone light. “Got a minute?”
James caught the Quaffle and propped himself up on his elbows, glancing over. “Yeah, what’s up?”
“Just, uh…” Sirius hesitated, fidgeting with the corner of the book. He wasn’t used to asking James for serious advice, especially about something like this. But if he wanted answers, he had to play it cool. “I’ve been thinking.”
“That sounds dangerous,” James replied with a grin, tossing the Quaffle onto the floor. “What about?”
Sirius rolled his eyes, trying to ignore the nervous energy bubbling up inside him. It wasn’t often he got nervous, but admitting something like this made him uncomfortable. “You know how you’re always going on about Lily and… girls?”
James’ grin faded slightly, replaced by a more guarded look. “Yeah…?”
“Well, I was just curious,” Sirius said, still trying to sound casual. “Like, hypothetically, how much do you think someone should spend on a girl they’re interested in? You know, for gifts and stuff.”
James raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious. “Why are you asking?”
Sirius scratched the back of his neck. “Because I might be interested in someone. Seriously, this time. And I don’t know how to show it. I’ve never really been one for grand gestures, you know?”
It wasn’t technically a lie. Sure, he wasn’t thinking about spending galleons on a girl right now, but if he could get James to talk about how much he’d spent—or would spend—on Lily, it might give him clues about the lavish gifts she’d been receiving.
James blinked, staring at Sirius like he’d just said something unbelievable. “You? Seriously interested in someone?”
“Why does that sound so impossible?” Sirius frowned.
James snorted. “Because you’ve never taken anyone seriously, Pads. You’re more likely to run off for a quick snog than spend galleons on them.”
“Yeah, well, people change, don’t they?”
James sat up fully now, his curiosity piqued. “Alright, fine. Who’s the lucky girl?”
Sirius waved his hand dismissively. “Not important. What is important is how much a bloke should spend when he’s trying to show he’s serious. Flowers, jewelry... that sort of thing.”
James frowned, leaning back against the headboard. “I mean… it depends. On the girl, on how much you like her. And how much you’ve got to spend.”
Sirius raised an eyebrow, sensing a slight shift in James' tone. “Come on, Prongs. Give me an actual answer. Hypothetically speaking, how much would you spend on someone like… say, Lily?”
James went rigid at the mention of her name, his jaw tightening slightly. “I don’t know. It’s not about the money, really. It’s more about the thought, right?”
“Yeah, but you’d still spend something, wouldn’t you? Like, would you go all out with something flashy? Or is that too much?”
James looked uncomfortable. “I guess… I wouldn’t go overboard,” he said slowly. “She’s not the type to care about flashy stuff. She’d rather have something thoughtful. You don’t need to spend a fortune on jewelry or anything. Just… something that matters.”
Sirius nodded, processing his answer, but it wasn’t enough. James was definitely hiding something. “Alright, but let’s say, hypothetically, you did spend more. Would you feel weird about it?”
James gave Sirius a wary look. “Why are you so obsessed with money?”
“Just trying to get a sense of things,” Sirius said quickly. “You know, in case I decide to make a grand gesture.”
James relaxed slightly, though his expression remained guarded. “Like I said, it’s not about the money. But yeah, I’d be careful not to overdo it. You don’t want to make the girl feel like you’re trying to buy her affection.”
Sirius folded his arms. “So you wouldn’t spend, I don’t know, a fortune on a ring? Or maybe send her a massive bouquet of roses?”
James froze for the briefest second, his face a careful blank as he stared at Sirius. His eyes flickered toward his lap, suddenly looking very interested in the edge of his duvet.
“Roses, huh?” James said, his voice unnaturally casual. “That’s… bold.”
“Yeah, bold. Kind of like the ones Lily got at breakfast the other day, yeah?”
James cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact. “Look, Sirius, I don’t know where you’re going with this, but—”
“I’m just saying,” Sirius interrupted, “hypothetically, if someone were sending Lily those kinds of gifts, they’d be making a pretty big statement, don’t you think?”
James’ hand twitched slightly, but he didn’t meet Sirius’ eyes. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Sirius echoed, exasperated. “Mate, you’re acting like you don’t know exactly what I’m talking about.”
James finally looked up, a mix of defensiveness and something else flickering in his expression. “Sirius, leave it alone, alright? If Lily’s getting gifts, that’s her business. I’m not going to speculate on where they’re coming from.”
Sirius stared at him, his suspicion flaring up again. “So you do know something.”
“I don’t,” James said quickly, though his uncomfortable shifting suggested otherwise. “Look, maybe she’s got someone else interested in her, or maybe it’s those friends of hers sending more gifts. But it’s not my place to ask.”
Sirius raised an eyebrow. “Not your place? Since when has that ever stopped you?”
James shot him a glare. “Just drop it.”
Sirius, frustrated but sensing the conversation was a dead end for now, let it go. But deep down, he knew something wasn’t adding up, and James knew more than he was letting on.
By the time the third owl showed up, Sirius was ready to tear his hair out.
It was breakfast again, a week after the second delivery, and the entire Gryffindor table had taken notice. A massive bouquet of flowers landed in front of Lily—lilies and exotic blooms, with no note, just flowers. Again.
Sirius slammed his goblet down, turning to James. “Who’s doing it, Potter? You know, don’t you?”
James raised an eyebrow, taking his time chewing his toast. “What are you on about, Sirius?”
“The flowers!” Sirius gestured wildly. “Third time! Someone’s sending her flowers every bloody week.”
Remus and Peter exchanged suspicious looks. Remus leaned in. “It is strange. I’ve never seen anyone get that many gifts. Especially not anonymously.”
“Exactly!” Sirius pointed at Remus, glad someone else saw sense. “So who is it?”
James shrugged lazily, his eyes flickering briefly toward Lily. “Maybe she’s got a secret admirer. Why are you getting worked up?”
“I’m not worked up!” Sirius lied, though he clearly was. “I’m just saying—”
“You’re definitely worked up,” Peter chimed in, grinning.
Sirius glared at Peter before turning back to James. “Someone’s sending her flowers, and you’re acting like it’s no big deal. Why?”
James stretched his arms, enjoying Sirius’ frustration far too much. “Maybe it’s a mystery. Maybe it’s none of our business.”
Sirius narrowed his eyes. “You’re hiding something.”
James just smirked. “Am I?”
It was maddening. Instead of being suspiciously unconcerned, James seemed to enjoy how much it bothered Sirius. And that made it all worse.
---
By the fourth delivery, Sirius was about ready to follow the owl back to wherever it came from.
It was a sunny afternoon, and the group was outside by the lake, enjoying a rare bit of free time. Lily sat a little ways away from them, reading under a tree. Sirius kept an eye on her—not in a creepy way, just… observing. When another owl swooped down and dropped yet another box into her lap, his patience snapped.
"Oh, for Merlin’s sake," he muttered, standing up. "Not again."
James, who was lying in the grass beside him, didn’t even bother sitting up. "Relax, mate. You’re going to burst a vein."
"Don’t tell me to relax, Potter," Sirius snapped, pacing now. "You know something. I know you do. Who’s sending her these bloody flowers?"
James finally sat up, smirking in that infuriating way he does when he’s hiding something. "Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t."
Sirius rounded on him. "Spill it, Potter."
James just leaned back on his elbows, looking far too pleased with himself. "Like I said, Sirius. Maybe it’s none of our business."
"None of our business?" Sirius repeated, incredulous. "It’s driving me mad! Who keeps sending her bloody flowers?"
James didn’t answer, just gave Sirius that smug look that made him want to hex him. Remus and Peter were watching now, both looking confused, but clearly as curious as Sirius was.
But James? He just grinned, like he was enjoying every second of this.
That’s when Sirius realized—it wasn’t just the flowers driving him mad.
It was that James knew something.
And he wasn’t telling him a damn thing.
---
By the fifth set of flowers, Sirius was ready to throttle someone. Preferably James, but honestly, anyone would do.
They were back in the common room, the fire crackling in the background, students scattered around pretending to study. Sirius slouched in his usual armchair, half-heartedly flipping through a Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook. James and Peter were playing Exploding Snap in the corner, and Remus was buried in Arithmancy notes.
Everything was normal—or as normal as things could be with the ongoing flower saga—until that damn owl showed up again.
It swooped through the open window, making a beeline straight for Lily, who was sitting near the fire with Mary MacDonald. It dropped a familiar-looking box into her lap.
Sirius froze.
Lily opened it casually, like this was just another Tuesday—because for her, apparently, it was. A bouquet of lilies again, tied with an elegant, expensive-looking gold ribbon. Sirius could feel his blood pressure rising just looking at it.
She smiled, a small, knowing smile, and for a moment, Sirius swore she glanced in his direction before tucking the box neatly into her bag. The audacity.
"That’s bloody it," he growled, pushing himself out of the chair so fast it nearly toppled over.
James didn’t even look up from his game, but Sirius could see the smirk on his face—the same smirk that had been driving him mad for weeks. "Easy, Padfoot," James said lazily, amusement barely hidden in his voice. "You’re going to give yourself a stroke."
"Shut it, Potter," Sirius snapped, eyes locked on Lily, who chatted away like the latest floral spectacle was nothing. How could she be so calm?
Sirius stormed across the room, footsteps echoing louder than intended, but he didn’t care. People were watching now—good. Maybe they’d see how utterly mad this whole thing was.
Lily looked up as he approached, and for a split second, there was something flickering in her eyes—amusement. She knew he was coming.
"Evans," Sirius said, trying and failing to keep his voice steady. "What the hell is going on?"
She blinked, all innocence. "What do you mean, Black?"
He gestured wildly toward her bag, where the latest bouquet stuck out, impossible to miss. "The flowers! Fifth time this month, Evans. Fifth! Who’s sending them?"
She raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching like she was fighting a smile. "Why do you care so much, Sirius?"
"I don’t—" He stopped, realizing how defensive he sounded. The whole common room was watching now. His face felt hot, but he pressed on. "It’s just… weird, alright? No one sends that many flowers for no reason."
Lily leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest, head tilted, considering him. She was enjoying this. It was obvious.
"It’s just a friend," she said casually. "Nothing to worry about."
"A friend?" Sirius repeated, incredulous. "Who sends flowers like that?"
She shrugged, the maddening smile never leaving her face. "Some people are just thoughtful."
Thoughtful? Thoughtful?! This wasn’t thoughtful; it was mental.
"Just a friend," he repeated slowly, narrowing his eyes. "Do you always get flowers like this from friends?"
Lily leaned forward slightly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Would it bother you if I did?"
Sirius nearly choked. "Bother me? No! Why would it bother me? I’m just—" He stopped again, dangerously close to losing it. Behind him, he could hear James chuckle, which only made things worse.
Lily smiled, clearly enjoying herself. "You seem a little worked up, Black. It’s just flowers."
"Of course, it’s a big deal!" Sirius exclaimed, his voice louder than intended. "Who is sending you these ridiculous bouquets?"
Lily tilted her head, calm as ever. "It’s none of your business, Sirius."
Sirius stood there, gobsmacked. She was messing with him, enjoying every second of his frustration. Worse, he couldn’t figure out why it bothered him so much.
From behind, James chuckled again, clearly amused. "Relax, mate. It’s just flowers."
Sirius glared at him, frustration bubbling over. "Just a friend, my arse," he muttered, storming back to his chair.
But as much as he tried to brush it off, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Lily knew exactly what she was doing.
And worse? It was working.
---
By the time Sirius decided to do something about the whole mystery, he was teetering on the edge of complete madness.
Days had passed since he confronted Lily in the common room, but the image of her smug, infuriating smile replayed endlessly in his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, he could hear her voice echoing, "It’s just a friend, Black." My arse, he thought.
It wasn’t just the flowers anymore; it was the principle of the whole thing. Who in Merlin’s name was sending her those ridiculous bouquets? And why? More importantly, how could James be so completely unconcerned? James knew something—Sirius was sure of it. And if James Potter was in on it, it had to be big.
The others had noticed his growing obsession. Peter had started giving him wide-eyed looks, unsure if Sirius had completely lost it or was just about to. Remus, on the other hand, acted like Sirius was overreacting, but something in his expression suggested he believed there was more to this than he let on. That was why Sirius needed Remus on his side for what he was about to do.
It was a Thursday evening, and they were in the boys' dormitory. The place was a disaster—textbooks strewn across the floor, dirty laundry piled into corners, and half-eaten bags of sweets spilling from their trunks. For the last half hour, Sirius had been pacing, his mind spinning with the details of the plan he’d devised.
Remus was sitting on his bed, trying to focus on his homework, quill in hand. Every now and then, he’d glance up with that patient, long-suffering look he gave Sirius when he was on one of his charades. But this time, Sirius was sure this wasn’t ridiculous. This was important.
"Moony," Sirius said, finally stopping in his tracks and turning to Remus with a wild gleam in his eyes, "I’ve got a plan."
Remus sighed, setting his quill down slowly. "Sirius, I’m in the middle of—"
"This is more important than whatever you’re reading," Sirius interrupted, waving a dismissive hand at the books. "It’s about the flowers."
Remus raised an eyebrow. "You’re still on about that?"
"Of course I’m still on about that!" Sirius snapped, throwing his arms in the air. "It’s been weeks, and we still don’t know who’s sending them! Doesn’t it bother you even a little bit that someone’s sending her lilies like some bloody Phantom of the Opera?"
Remus blinked. "The what?"
"Never mind," Sirius grumbled, resuming his pacing. "The point is, this mystery isn’t going to solve itself. If I don’t figure it out soon, I’ll lose my mind."
Remus sighed again but didn’t argue—a sign that he was, at least, somewhat on board with Sirius’s madness.
"All right," he said, folding his arms, "what’s the plan?"
Sirius grinned, stopping his frantic pacing. "Glad you asked, Moony. We’re going to investigate. Properly."
Remus narrowed his eyes. "Investigate?"
"Like detectives! Aurors, even! We’ll gather evidence, compile clues, and build a case," Sirius said, his eyes gleaming.
Remus stared, clearly skeptical. "You’ve gone mental, haven’t you?"
"Not mental. Focused," Sirius corrected, heading over to the small bulletin board they kept near James’s bed. Normally, it held reminders for upcoming exams and homework, but not anymore.
Sirius yanked everything off the board, pulling out scraps of parchment as he quickly scribbled notes and diagrams, talking all the while.
"First, we make a list of suspects," he said, writing the word SUSPECTS at the top of the board in bold letters. "Who could be sending the flowers?"
Remus, still watching him with that same amused look, decided to play along. "Well, it’s not Peter," he said, smirking. "He’d never go through that much trouble."
"Obviously not Peter," Sirius agreed, writing Peter’s name only to cross it out immediately. "But it’s got to be someone with access to Lily. Someone who knows her well enough to send lilies. Lilies, Moony. That’s important—they’re symbolic. Whoever’s doing this knows her."
He began scribbling names furiously across the board.
Mary MacDonald? No, too obvious. Severus Snape? Unlikely—he wouldn’t dare. Some Hufflepuff, perhaps? But why?
"Wait," Remus interjected, "what about James?"
Sirius froze, quill hovering mid-air. "James?"
Remus shrugged. "You’ve been saying he knows something. What if he’s the one sending the flowers?"
Sirius opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. The thought had crossed his mind—James was acting suspicious—but sending flowers to Lily Evans? Every week? It didn’t feel like James’s style. He was more of the grand gesture type, not the secret admirer.
"Nah," Sirius muttered, shaking his head. "James wouldn’t—"
"Wouldn’t he?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sirius hesitated, but the more he thought about it, the less it seemed likely. If it were James, he’d have let something slip by now. He wasn’t the type to play the anonymous game for this long.
"I’ll put him on the list," Sirius conceded, writing James’s name at the top with a large question mark. "But I’m not convinced."
Remus, now clearly entertained, leaned back. "So what’s the next step, Sherlock?"
Sirius grinned, grabbing a stack of parchment from his trunk. "Glad you asked, Watson."
Remus groaned. "Oh, Merlin."
Sirius laid out his plan while pacing, and the bulletin board slowly transformed into a chaotic mess of suspects, theories, and arrows. Names were crossed out, added back in, and linked by wild guesses that only Sirius could make sense of.
"Step one," Sirius declared, pointing at the board with his quill, "we tail Lily. We follow her everywhere and observe who she’s talking to. Maybe she’ll slip up."
Remus, now jotting down notes, asked, "And how exactly are we going to follow her without getting caught?"
Sirius waved off the concern. "Easy. I’ve got the perfect Invisibility Cloak, courtesy of our dear Prongs."
Remus smirked. "Of course."
"Step two," Sirius continued, "we intercept the next owl. There’s bound to be one any day now, and when it comes, we’ll catch it before it reaches her. We’ll figure out where it’s coming from."
"And if the owl’s charmed to go straight to her?" Remus asked, frowning slightly.
"We improvise," Sirius said, eyes gleaming. "I’ll distract it if I have to."
Remus chuckled, shaking his head. "This sounds less like an investigation and more like a personal vendetta."
"Same difference," Sirius muttered. He stood back, admiring the mess of notes and arrows, looking like a madman on a mission.
Remus stood up and surveyed the board. "You’ve really thought this through."
"Moony, this is going to be brilliant," Sirius said, grinning. "We’ll expose the secret admirer and finally end this madness."
Remus raised an amused eyebrow. "Or you’ll drive yourself—and all of us—mad in the process."
"Probably," Sirius admitted. "But if we don’t figure this out, I’ll never get any peace. You saw the way she was smirking."
Remus sighed, but there was a glint of excitement in his eyes. "All right, Sherlock. I’ll help. But if it turns out to be some innocent Hufflepuff sending the flowers, you owe me a month’s supply of chocolate."
"Deal," Sirius said, clapping Remus on the back. "But I’m telling you—something bigger is going on here."
Remus smiled. "Whatever you say, Padfoot."
Sirius turned back to the board, his heart pounding with a strange mix of excitement and paranoia. The flowers, the mystery—it was consuming him. But he didn’t care.
This was war.