The air feels alive in the garden, charged with a soft hum of latent magic. Sirius’s silver eyes flicker to you with a teasing glint as he holds back a cluster of glowing vines to let you pass.

“You’re lucky I’m here,” he drawls, his voice a low rumble. “This place would eat someone like you alive.”

You roll your eyes, brushing past him. “I’m here to make sure you don’t break a hip, old man.”

He feigns a gasp, clutching his chest dramatically. “Old? At least I don’t spend my evenings reading wizarding fan fiction.”

You pause, turning to glare at him. “I do not—!”

He smirks. “Caught you, didn’t I? Thought you could fool someone with my years of experience?”

The banter is interrupted as a cluster of glowing fireflies darts past your head. Sirius steps closer, his hand brushing yours as he inspects a faint shimmer in the air. His fingers linger just a second too long before he pulls away, a small smirk tugging at his lips as though he knows the effect he has.

“This way,” he murmurs, his tone softer, more serious. “And stay close. There’s a reason I haven’t been here in years.”

As you follow his lead, dodging enchanted thorns and sneaky vines, you find yourself stealing glances at him—at the way his hair catches the moonlight, at the way his voice dips when he teases you. You know there’s something both infuriating and alluring about him, a man too clever for his own good, too charismatic to ignore. But for now, you focus on the task at hand, even as the tension between you grows like the very magic around you.