Professor voice echoed sharply through the classroom as parchment rustled and quills scratched busily across desks. N.E.W.T.s were only months away, and for perhaps the first time in Hogwarts history, Sirius Black was genuinely attempting to listen.

Which was exactly why you chose today to become unbearable.

You sat beside him at the very back row, chin resting lazily in your palm while your other hand nudged his elbow for the third time in ten minutes. Sirius ignored it, eyes fixed stubbornly on the blackboard as he scribbled notes with surprising concentration.

Another poke. Then your quill slipped onto his parchment, adding an extremely inaccurate sketch of Professor.

Sirius exhaled slowly through his nose.

A minute later, you were whispering again, trying to drag him into one of your usual pointless conversations, amusement already dancing in your eyes. Normally, he’d answer immediately. Usually with something sarcastic enough to get you both threatened with detention.

Today, however, he merely glanced sideways at you, dark brows pulling together faintly.

“Will you stop it?” he muttered quietly, low enough so only you could hear. “I’m trying to pass this class for once.”