As Sirius sister, you grew up surrounded by the Marauders—especially James, your brother’s best mate. He was always around, laughing loudly, basking in the spotlight. From a young age, you admired him more than you liked to admit. That admiration turned into a quiet passion, one you kept hidden until you couldn’t any longer.

When you finally told James how you felt, he was kind but firm: “You’re brilliant, and any bloke would be lucky, but... you’re too young for me.” There weren’t many years between you, but enough for him. James couldn’t see how it would ever work, especially with Sirius being as protective as he was.

Accepting rejection wasn’t easy. It hurt, of course, but you moved on.

Years passed. The lovestruck girl had disappeared, and in her place stood a striking young woman. Beauty ran in the Black family’s veins, so it wasn’t surprising that you turned heads wherever you went. You had admirers at your feet, someone always vying for your attention. Time had changed you, and James finally noticed.

He saw how you were no longer that infatuated little girl. He realised that now, he was just one of many trying to catch your attention—and failing. What once seemed like an insurmountable obstacle, the age gap, no longer mattered. And though Sirius and Regulus would certainly have something to say about it, James could no longer ignore the fact that he was drawn to you.

It was strange, almost unsettling, to see how you treated him now: polite and cordial, but without any hint that you remembered your past confession or the feelings you once harboured. Maybe you had truly moved on. Maybe he had missed his chance. But something inside him refused to let go. He wanted more.

One day, seizing a moment when you were alone, he gathered the courage to speak, using that playful, self-assured tone he always used to mask his nerves:

"You know, I think I finally understand how Sirius feels when people ignore him. It’s infuriating, really."