Petunia Evans made her way down the corridor, arms straining under the weight of several thick, leather-bound tomes. The books teetered dangerously with every step, one especially ancient-looking volume slipping every few strides as she tried to balance it with her chin. She had insisted she could manage though clearly, she was losing that battle.
She huffed softly. "Stupid staircases," she muttered when one gave an ominous creak beneath her foot.
Just as the top book a heavy emerald-bound edition of The Theoretical Limits of Charms and Enchantments: Volume II tipped forward, someone snatched it midair. Then the rest of the stack disappeared from her arms as well.
Petunia stopped short. "Hey—!"
"Relax," said a voice behind the books. "Didn't mean to rob you."
She blinked, and as the books shifted, a familiar face peeked out from behind them. Sirius Black grinned at her, windswept hair falling across his forehead, eyes glinting with mischief.
"Looks like you needed some help."
Petunia frowned in surprise. "Sirius?" she asked, still processing the fact that Sirius Black was carrying her library books like some kind of knight in House robes.
"I've been known to do a good deed now and then," he said, shifting the stack casually under one arm. "Especially when there's an audience."
She looked around. There was no one else in sight.
"An audience of one," he added with a wink.
Petunia couldn't help it she laughed. "Well, thank you, but I could've managed."
He shrugged. "Sure. And the library would've gotten a donation of scattered pages."
"I didn't know you were the helping kind," she said, still slightly baffled as they began walking together toward the library.
"That's because I'm not," Sirius replied cheerfully. "I just make rare exceptions for people with too many brains and too few arms."
"Absolutely. I'm a once-in-a-lifetime helper," he said. "Very exclusive club."
She gave him a skeptical look, shifting the stack of books in her arms. "You've been acting suspiciously helpful. That's always a warning sign."
"I can't just be nice?" he said, raising his eyebrows dramatically. "Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf."
Petunia snorted. "You? The boy who hexed an ink bottle to explode during Professor Flitwick's lecture last week?"
"That was James," he said quickly. "Mostly. I was just... morally supportive."
"Mmhmm."
Sirius grinned, walking alongside her. "Fine, maybe I was trying to impress you. Just a little."
She arched an eyebrow. "Carrying books is your idea of impressing someone?"
"I don't see you complaining," he shot back
Sirius shifted the books slightly, frowning down at the titles. "Hang on," he said. "Advanced Elemental Theory in Defensive Charmwork, Wand Law and Spell Deconstruction, and Merlin's pants, Petunia Predictive Enchantment Matrices? These are sixth-year books!"
She smiled sheepishly. "I know."
He gave her a look. "Evans. You're in third year."
"I'm aware," she said. "They're just for fun. Light reading."
He stopped walking. "This is your idea of light reading?"
Petunia smiled. "I enjoy it. It's... quiet. Relaxing."
"You know what's relaxing?" he said. "Throwing dungbombs at Peeves and running away before Filch shows up."
They stopped just before the library entrance, its oak doors propped open with a stone wedge. Petunia turned to face him, folding her arms. "So where are your merry band of mischief-makers?"
Sirius chuckled. " probably out terrorizing some poor Slytherin right now."
She tilted her head. "And you're not with them because...?"
He looked at her, expression softening just a bit, and said simply, "Because I'm with you right now."
Petunia rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched into a smile. "If this is another attempt at flirting."
Sirius leaned a little closer. "Who said I was trying?"
"That obvious, huh?" she said with mock sympathy. "I'll try to pretend I'm flattered."
"Oh, you are," he said, still grinning. "You just won't admit it because you're too Ravenclaw to admit I'm charming."
"I'm too Ravenclaw to fall for your nonsense," she corrected.
"Even better. It means I'll have to try harder."
"Don't," she said with a laugh. "You might strain something."
He leaned slightly on the library desk as she took the books back from his arms. "Thanks for the help."
He didn't move right away. Just tilted his head, a few strands of his dark hair falling across his eyes as he smiled at her lazily confident, as always. "Anytime, Evans. Just say the word."
As he sauntered away, Petunia watched him go with a small smile.
Sirius's POV
Gryffindor Third-Year Boys' Dormitory
The moment I stepped through the door, James was already halfway through a dramatic gasp like he'd been rehearsing it.
"There he is!" he bellowed, pointing at me as if I were a wanted man. "The traitor returns!"
I blinked. "Hi?"
"Don't 'hi' me," James said, stalking toward me with a mock glare. "We were supposed to pull the greatest prank this week—this week! And who disappears right before go time?"
"I—"
"You," James declared, jabbing a finger at my chest. "Sirius Orion Black. I looked to my left for your signal. Did I see you? No. I saw a bloody tapestry of trolls."
I dropped onto my bed with a yawn, completely unbothered. "Something came up."
Remus, lying on his bed with a book in his lap, didn't even look up as he said dryly, "By 'something,' he means Petunia Evans."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Peter let out a gasp and clapped a hand to his mouth. "You left us for a girl?"
James looked wounded. "You left us for Evans's sister?!"
I raised a brow. "Technically, I walked with her. Carried her books."
James made a high-pitched squealing noise. "You carried her books?! Merlin, next you'll be braiding her hair and writing sonnets!"
Remus was smirking now, finally setting his book aside. "She did look very appreciative."
I threw a sock at him. "Oh, shut it."
Remus, clearly enjoying the show, added with a mock thoughtful voice, "You know, it's kind of sweet. You skipping a prank to carry books."
Peter nodded, wide-eyed. "You sacrificed detention for love."
"I did not," I groaned.
"Don't worry," James said, flopping dramatically on his bed. "We forgive you. We're hurt. But we forgive you."
"Deeply betrayed," Peter added.
"Forever wounded," said Remus solemnly.
I sat up and threw my arms out. "Fine! You want compensation? I'll help you prank McGonagall again. We'll double the treacle tarts, charm her hat to meow, whatever you want."
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