After Severus sent the letter to his grandfather, our days passed as usual classes, essays, hushed corner chats in the library, and keeping a close eye on the lunar calendar pinned discreetly inside our shared Potions log. But today, for once, I had no assignments pressing on my conscience and no potions simmering in the back of my mind.
Instead, I had something infinitely more rare: free time.
Which is why I found myself by the Black Lake, the spring sun warm on my face, sitting cross-legged on a tartan picnic blanket beside my little sister. Lily and I had made a quiet pact long ago: no matter what else was going on, we'd make time for just us. Especially now, when so many things in our lives felt like shifting tides.
The sun was warm against our backs, the grass soft beneath the old tartan blanket Lily had borrowed from the common room. We'd packed our little picnic basket with pumpkin pasties, apple slices, and some leftover treacle tart Lily had sweet-talked from the kitchens.
It was one of those rare, lazy afternoons—no classes, no looming essays, just sister time. I had even left my satchel behind on purpose. No brewing theories, no potion notes. Just the two of us and the shimmer of the lake catching the sunlight.
"Okay, so apparently," Lily said through a mouthful of pasty, "Marlene caught Alice sleepwalking again. She was muttering something about—wait for it—enchanted turnips."
I nearly choked on my apple slice. "You're lying."
"I swear on Merlin's odd socks! She found her trying to feed one to the tapestry on the fourth floor."
I burst out laughing, tipping sideways onto the blanket. "This school is full of lunatics."
"Present company included," Lily said with a grin.
We giggled, swapping more gossip—mostly harmless things: who got detention for snoring in History of Magic, who tripped over Peeves' invisible paint trap. I'd just reached for another slice of treacle tart when I heard the unmistakable sound of too-loud boy laughter and the crunch of careless footsteps on gravel.
"Uh oh," Lily said, glancing over her shoulder.
I sighed without looking. "It's them, isn't it?"
"It's them."
Sure enough, a moment later Sirius Black came striding into view like he owned the place, followed by James Potter grinning as always, Remus Lupin looking vaguely apologetic, and Peter Pettigrew already eyeing our food like a starving niffler.
"Well, well, well," Sirius drawled, hands in his pockets. "Look what we stumbled upon. Evans squared."
"Fantastic," I muttered. "The picnic's ruined. Everyone pack up, the boys are here."
"Oh come on," James said, flopping down at the edge of the blanket without invitation. "Don't be like that. We were just walking by."
"You were walking," I pointed out. "Now you're sitting. There's a difference."
Lily gave me a look, but she was laughing. "Be nice, Pet."
"I am nice," I said sweetly. "I'm letting them breathe my air, aren't I?"
"Ouch," Sirius said, dramatically clutching his chest. "Your words wound me, Petunia Evans."
"They should. That's what words are for."
Remus coughed, clearly trying not to laugh.
"Can't we stay?" Peter piped up, eyes glued to the treacle tart. "Just for a bit?"
"Sure," Lily said kindly. "We've got enough food to share."
I scowled. "Traitor."
James grabbed an apple slice and bit into it with a crunch. "I have to admit, you two packed better snacks than we ever manage."
"That's because we don't consider chocolate frogs and chaos a proper lunch," I replied.
Sirius take out a brownies slightly squished but still chocolatey.
"Here," he said, handing it to me. "This one's yours."
I blinked at him, suspicious. "Why do you know that?"
Sirius looked smug. "Because I've seen you sneak them from the kitchen since first year. You always take the one with the corner edge. You like the crunchy bits."
I stared. "That's... disturbingly observant."
"I pay attention," he said, all mock innocence.
"That's not comforting."
Lily snorted into her drink, and even Remus had to look away to hide his grin.
Sirius leaned back on his elbows. "You're welcome, by the way. For the brownie."
I held it up, inspecting it like it might explode. "Well, if I die, avenge me."
"If you die, can I have your books?" James asked brightly.
"No," I and Lily said in unison.
Sirius grinned again, completely unbothered. "So, what were you two doing before we made everything better?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Better? I was basking in sisterly affection and solitude."
"Basking?" Sirius repeated. "Who even talks like that?"
"People with vocabularies, Black."
James let out a loud laugh. "She's got you there, mate."
Lily grinned, nudging me with her shoulder. "Don't scare them off too fast."
"I'm not," I said primly. "Just keeping them humble."
"Honestly," I said, brushing crumbs from my skirt, "why are you even here? Shouldn't you be off pranking Filch? Or getting cursed by a staircase?"
"Tempting," Sirius said, "but we saw you two, and the blanket, and the food... and thought, 'Why not bless them with our charming company?'"
James added, "Also, the treacle tart was calling to us."
"We're the victims here," Sirius declared solemnly. "Caught in the pull of delicious magic and sisterly snacks."
"Tragic," I said flatly. "So tragic."
But I didn't chase them off. Not really. And soon the blanket was a jumble of shoes and elbows and chatter. Peter was trying to trade a Chocolate Frog card with Lily. James was telling some exaggerated tale about a broomstick malfunction in Flying class. Remus offered to help tidy up afterward, earning a grateful smile from Lily.
And Sirius?
He handed me another brownie halfway through the afternoon.
"Don't read into it," he said, eyes twinkling. "It's just your favorite."
I took it, rolled my eyes, and said, "I'd be more impressed if you brought milk to go with it."
"You wound me again," he said. "Truly, Evans, your sass is unmatched."
I popped a bite of brownie into my mouth. "Thank you. I try."
And for a while, we all just sat there students, not rivals. Just kids, laughing by the lake.
........................................