HER SMILE | PART 2
Both you and Sirius made for an odd pair; people wouldn't typically couple you together. An extrovert Gryffindor and a cold Ravenclaw. However, as of recently, many have seen you with Sirius quite often, most notably in classes and especially in partner projects. And it was all Sirius' doing.
Your classmates typically hesitated to partner with you, let alone sit by you for classes. They found you boring and rather unnerving to be around. You didn't appear to enjoy being around people and took work far too seriously, so you've grown a bad reputation. It didn't bother you, though; you understood that you weren't like other people; your bashfulness manifested into a stone-cold exterior and added to the seriousness underpinning your endeavour for top academic performance. People tend to avoid you but it's for the best, you like to tell yourself.
After the transfiguration project with Sirius, however, whereby he was forced to partner with you, he's kept volunteering to partner with you over and over again. Whether it be partner or group projects, he's the first in line to be your assigned partner. He finds that the best way of doing this is sitting next to you in Ravenclaw and Gryffindor shared lessons, regardless of whether or not it leaves James, Remus or Peter without a partner. It wasn't typical of him or anyone to be so eager around you but nobody commented on it. As it happens, many eagerly sat back to watch what would unfold.
In the extra time Sirius has willingly spent with you in lessons, he's confessed to the reasoning behind his odd behaviour. "I want to know more about you,"
That was the first time he or anyone else had seen you so flustered and adorably shy. People couldn't believe their eyes. However, owing to Sirius' playboy reputation, it was no surprise that he was the one to draw such a reaction out of you. This was also the first time Sirius had seen a favourable increase in his class grades. Your work ethic and drive for high grades have positively influenced his performance in classes. When Remus pointed this out to him, supportive of his new friendship with you, Sirius was surprised but didn't linger on the fact too long. He didn't really care; he was too busy figuring out how to make you smile again and engraving the beautiful image into his brain.
"He's just as bad as you are James," Peter commented, noticing the familiar lovesick look on Sirius as he's seen with one, James Potter. You and the eldest Black brother were sitting at a distant table in the library, thoroughly going over the material before committing to your project for Charms.
"What was that?" James comes out of his daze staring at a certain redhead. Peter and Remus share an amused look before shrugging off James' question. Naturally, James returned to admiring an oblivious Lily Evans as Remus resumed his reading and Peter doodled on the edges of his semi-finished divination essay.
"At least Sirius is finally focusing on one girl," Remus comments under his breath.
"Yeah, it was tiring," Peter sighs in agreement and leans back with a relieved look on his face.
"Oh! How interesting," you comment, leaning into Sirius' side so as to look over his book, "I didn't know that..." As you take a moment to read over the passage, Sirius carefully observes the way your pretty features go from enraptured to delighted. Your smile is so pretty... "We have to include that in our joint essay; I'll note it down, quickly. Good job, Sirius," your smile is even prettier when it's turned to him and you praise him openly like that.
"Do I get a reward?" he asks before he can stop to think about what it is that he's said.
"A reward?" you tilt your head in the most adorable fashion, "Our reward will be getting the highest mark in the class," typically, girls would jump at the opportunity to flirt back and sneak in a kiss or two but your impervious, genuine nature gives Sirius pause. Though, he's soon throwing his head back and laughing boisterously. The panic on your face, however, reminds him of the library setting and immediately stifles his amusement.
"You're odd..." you comment on his strange behaviour and return to your work. But Sirius is unphased and holds his chin up with his palm to shamelessly stare at your side profile. He's tempted to reach up and tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear, "Get back to work, Sirius."
"Yes ma'am."
You won't admit it out loud but you quite enjoy Sirius' company. It isn't so lonely having him around and he helps you get good grades. He's also very funny and nice to look at. Though, you suppose that was the main downside. He can prove to be quite the distraction if he wants to be. Nevertheless, you're happy he has the confidence to sit next to you and willingly volunteer to be your partner for all collaboration projects. Everyone in Hogwarts has admitted to having a favourite marauder and you're not afraid to admit that he's your favourite; he's the easiest to smile around.
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Sirius was a lover of pushing boundaries. Seeing how far he can push before high-tailing it when the first signs of danger appear was his favourite activity. That was why he was a marauder, that's why he loved pranks, that's why he's been able to see you get flustered over and over again.
Over every good thing he's done to contribute to your projects together, no matter how small, he pleads for a reward. After some months, he's been able to escalate the 'reward' from praise to a congratulatory head pat (his animagus influence), to a hug, to cuddling for extended periods to sitting on his lap and kissing him on the cheek. You become lovably ruffled every time and Sirius savours each reaction as if he's seeing it for the first time. He always stares at you and smiles brightly when you look away.
He wants to see more of your reactions. He wants to see you do it every day. And he likes knowing that it's because of him.
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In the year that passes, Sirius hasn't failed to be your partner for every project you have in shared classes with Gryffindor. It was only natural that he be your partner for the final term project in D.A.D.A too. As soon as the partner project is announced, you immediately look up and meet eyes with the dark-haired Gryffindor, who had been pressured into sitting with his iconic group of friends. The two of you share a knowing smile. Everyone knows that you're each other's partner, nobody would dare interfere with that.
When the teacher finally allows the class to partner up, however, you're confronted by a boy you do not know. He looks at you expectantly and asks if you would consider being his partner for the project. You didn't know what to say. It was utterly lost on you that the more Sirius pulled you from your cold timidity, the more you've willingly smiled and showed your sincerity. In turn, the more observant your other classmates have become.
It became clear to them that you weren't as cold as you first appear but, because of their ignorance, they overlooked that simply by the unfriendly look you routinely wore. This discovery has led to many of your male classmates growing a new appreciation for you and your unrecognised beauty; they didn't know someone so cold could be so warm and look so beautiful. It irritated Sirius but he had been able to tolerate it.
Up until this moment, that is...
"So... will you?" the boy prompts one more time. You don't know what to say, your innate timidity taking away your voice and rendering your response to a mere shake of your head. 'No', the answer was clear. You immediately turn away from the boy and hurry to Sirius, who had observed the boy's audacity with clenched fists and a tight jaw.
As soon as you are close enough, Sirius pulls you into his arms and tucks your face into the crook of his neck, "you're mine," he whispers.
"Wh-what?" You couldn't believe your ears.
"I mean– you're my partner, no one else's," smiling up at him, you nod affirmatively and he smiles, tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear. His gentle touch lingers and travels down to trace the line of your jaw.
"...Do I get a reward for not punching that tosser in the nose?"
"Not punching what?" he laughs at your wide-eyed stare of disbelief.
"For being a Ravenclaw, you're not very smart,"