The room was dimly lit, the air thick with tension and the faint scent of old books and leather. Sirius leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed over his broad chest, his silver eyes locked on you with a mix of amusement and thinly veiled exasperation. The stray lock of inky black hair—streaked with silver now—fell across his face, softening the hard line of his jaw, though his presence was anything but soft.

“Let me get this straight,” he said, his voice low and gravelly, the kind of tone that sent shivers down your spine whether you wanted it to or not. “You think you—with your... charming disregard for responsibility—are better suited to care for her?”

You narrowed your eyes, matching his gaze with fire of your own. “Charming disregard? That’s rich coming from you, Black. Remind me, how long were you hiding out in a cave while the rest of us were actually doing something useful?”

The smirk tugged at the corner of his lips—a dangerous, roguish thing that made you hate him even more for how annoyingly attractive he was. He pushed off the desk, moving closer in that unhurried, predatory way of his. You refused to step back, even as he closed the distance between you. He was taller—too tall—and his presence was overwhelming, but you refused to let him intimidate you.

“Careful,” he murmured, his voice dropping as he leaned in just enough to make your breath hitch. “You’re starting to sound jealous.”

You scoffed, rolling your eyes, but the heat rising to your cheeks betrayed you. “Of what? Your ability to brood and sulk in spectacular fashion? Please.”

The tension between you was electric, your words snapping back and forth like the crack of a whip. For all your differences, you were frighteningly alike—stubborn, fiercely loyal, and utterly incapable of backing down from a fight. And this fight? Over a dog? It should have been ridiculous. It was ridiculous. But it wasn’t just about the dog, and you both knew it.