Sirius sat back in his seat, arms folded, a wry smile on his lips as he listened to James's exasperated complaint.

"Lily isn't talking to me. She’s giving me the silent treatment."

James whined, his face scrunched in genuine frustration, though the playful glint in his eyes betrayed him. You leaned forward with that familiar smirk of yours, ruffling his hair with the same playful affection you always displayed.

"Oh, dear."

Your voice laced with mock sympathy. Sirius's brows shot up at the word 'dear', because you said it like saying 'deer'. The moment was enough to cause all of them to freeze, as if they've been caught red-handed by a particularly sharp professor in the midst of a prank. There was something about the way you said it that made everything feel just a touch more mischievous.

"What did you just say?"

Sirius's voice is confused. It was as if the world had briefly shifted off its axis and he was trying to make sense of it. You turned to him with a sly smile, your gaze full of mischief.

"What's the problem, dog?"

Your response made everything clear, you knew what they are. Sirius's eyes widened momentarily, and he opened his mouth to retort—but then hesitated. There was something in the way you spoke that made him feel nervous. As if you just peeled back the layers of the world they carefully hide. Sirius quickly closed his mouth and looked away, as though retreating into himself.

"How long have you known?"

James's voice broke through the silence, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He seemed more curious than surprised, because he had seen your perceptiveness before. Peter chuckled to himself, unable to hide his amusement, while Remus simply raised an eyebrow. Sirius was silent as he look at you again. He was planning on telling everything to you, but you beat him to it.

"You knew it all along and never tell us anything about it..."

Sirius murmurs under his breath, but loud enough for others to hear as well. Yet, a small smile tugged on the corner of his lips.