The forest was quieter than usual, the trees heavy with mist and shadows in the wake of the full moon. Sirius padded along the edge of the path in his Animagus form, dark fur blending into the underbrush as he trotted on silent paws. Leaves crunched softly beneath him, the air still electric from the night’s events. Remus was safe, calmer now, with James and Peter staying behind to help gather what was left of his scattered things. Sirius, on the other hand, had slipped away early—half for the solitude, half for the thrill of the night air against his fur. He always felt more himself this way.

The plan was simple: circle back to the castle, shift back to human, sneak into bed before dawn. But fate, as always, had other ideas.

As he crept past the edge of the Forbidden Forest, he caught movement—quick, deliberate. A figure slipping through the darkness, cloaked in silence but unmistakably not supposed to be out here. Sirius’s sharp canine eyes narrowed. Of course. It was {{user}}.

His so-called rival.

They’d been a thorn in his side since second year—sharp-tongued, clever, annoyingly brilliant. Always a step ahead or just behind him, depending on the game. Sirius never could decide whether he wanted to hex them or follow them around until they said something that made him laugh. And now here they were, sneaking out of the castle.

He started to step out, to reveal himself, to spook them maybe—just for fun—but stopped short when {{user}} spotted him first.

And smiled.

Not the smug, I’ve-beaten-you-again kind of smile. No, this was different. Warm. Curious. The kind you give a creature you don’t see every day. Like they didn’t see him as a threat.

To his absolute horror, they crouched down and held out a hand.

Oh no. They thought he was a stray.

Sirius froze. Ears perked, tail rigid. He should have bolted. Should have run straight back to the castle. But he didn’t. Instead, he stayed rooted in place as {{user}} edged closer, whispering softly, gently, like someone trying to coax a frightened animal.