Sirius lounged in the Gryffindor common room, deep in discussion with Gideon and Fabian Prewett about the year's Quidditch strategy.
"So that'll be our approach for the game this year, right?" Sirius said confidently, leaning back.
"Brilliant plan," Fabian nodded approvingly.
"This year's cup is ours," Gideon agreed, flashing a grin.
Just then, Lily entered, catching Sirius's attention.
"Hey, Evans, fancy seeing you here," Sirius smirked, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Lily raised a brow. "What do you want, Black?"
"Nothing from you. It's your friend I'm interested in," he teased, winking at Marlene, who flushed bright red.
But before Sirius could continue his flirtation, James suddenly burst into the room, barely glancing at Lily in his rush.
"Sirius, come with me!" James said, grabbing him by the arm. Without waiting for an answer, he began dragging Sirius toward the boys' dormitory, Remus trailing along behind, looking curious but patient.
"What in Merlin's name is going on?" Sirius stammered as they stumbled down the corridor and into their room. Remus quickly cast a silencing charm on the door, adding an extra layer of privacy.
"Where's Peter?" Sirius asked, glancing around, still confused.
"He's on his way," James said dismissively, waving it off. "But you have to see this!"
James pulled the photos from his robes and thrust them into Sirius's hands, barely containing his excitement.
"Careful, James!" Remus chided, though he, too, looked intrigued.
"My theory about you, Sirius—about you not actually being Walburga's child—could be true!" James said, his voice barely more than a whisper but filled with exhilaration.
Sirius froze as he stared down at the images. In the first photograph, he saw his father, Orion, much younger and entirely different from the stoic man he remembered. Orion's arm was wrapped protectively around a woman with striking features—dark, kohl-lined eyes, a nose ring glinting in the light, and long, thick black hair that cascaded in waves. She wore a unique outfit, something Sirius only vaguely recognized as a foreign chudidar, an intricate, flowing dress with fitted trousers beneath. Her smile was warm, almost intimate, and Orion looked down at her with a rare, softened gaze that left Sirius stunned.
"I…I never knew he could smile like that," Sirius whispered, tracing the photograph with his thumb, his eyes wide with shock.
As he flipped to the next photo, he spotted another unexpected sight: Orion, looking disgruntled yet oddly content, standing beside Abraxas Malfoy. With his sleek blond hair and piercing blue eyes, Abraxas had the poised air of a prince, a sharp elegance that only seemed to accentuate the proud look in Orion's expression. Abraxas held a woman close—darker in complexion, with a thick braid down her back and a soft smile on her face. She wore a saree, a flowing garment that seemed to drape gracefully around her figure. She was pressed close to Abraxas, though their mens' expressions hinted at a complicated mix of pride and rivalry.
Sirius looked up at James and Remus, his face still marked with disbelief.
"You really think…?" Sirius started, his voice quiet. "You really think I'm not Walburga's son?"
James shrugged, though his grin was teasing. "Look at the way your father is with her. That's not the same Orion we know, not by a long shot. This could be… someone special."
Sirius swallowed, emotions warring within him as he tried to process this revelation. "That woman… she's the only one he's ever looked at like that. Not Walburga. Never her."
Remus nodded thoughtfully, glancing at James. "This could be the piece we've been missing, Sirius. This might explain so much about why your parents…well, why things were the way they were."
Still reeling, Sirius kept staring at the photos, questions swirling through his mind as he tried to reconcile this new image of his father—a man who had loved deeply, even if it was someone entirely unexpected. And that woman…whoever she was, she had changed everything.
James's excitement was barely contained. "So…are we going to dig deeper, maybe actually try to find out who she was?" he asked Sirius.
Remus nodded thoughtfully. "The secret message you received might have been about her, Sirius. Maybe there's more of a connection than we thought."
Sirius shrugged, still looking shaken by the discovery, but Remus gently pushed him. "Come on, let's eat and sleep on it. We can figure out our next steps tomorrow," he suggested, trying to keep the group grounded.
They all nodded in agreement as Peter slipped into the room, looking fidgety. "So…did you guys show him the photos?" he asked anxiously.
"Yeah, we did," said James. "And Sirius, if you're up for it, we might find more clues in Slughorn's inventory. We didn't get through all of it last time."
"Could be worth another look," Remus agreed.
Later, at dinner, Sirius sat at the Gryffindor table, absentmindedly poking at his food, lost in thought. Across the hall, Regulus glanced over from the Slytherin table, curious about his brother's sudden quietness.
Barty Crouch Jr., sitting beside Regulus, noticed too. With his sharp aristocratic features and cool demeanor, Barty was the epitome of a Slytherin—his pale, shrewd eyes always calculating, observing. "So, you patched things up with your brother?" Barty asked in a low tone.
"Yes," Regulus replied quietly.
Barty gave a small, approving nod. "Just don't forget that one of his friends might be a… rat." His voice dripped with disdain.
Regulus just rolled his eyes. "I'll deal with it when I have proof," he replied calmly.
Barty's hard expression softened slightly. "I'm glad for you, Reggie," he said, though his eyes flickered dangerously. "But if he hurts you again, he'll have to answer to me."
Regulus smirked, appreciating Barty's loyalty. "Thanks," he said simply.
Just then, an owl swooped down, landing right in front of James. Remus leaned forward, his eyes bright with anticipation. "Is that what I think it is?"
James grinned. "My father sent back a letter. Let's open it upstairs."
Sirius's interest was piqued again. "Come on, then!" He waved a quick goodbye across the hall to Regulus, who looked both surprised and a little pleased. Encouraged, James waved too, while Remus managed a polite smile, causing Regulus to stare, startled.
"Oh, so you're friends with Gryffindors now?" Barty commented dryly, though a hint of a smile played at his lips.
Regulus only shrugged, unbothered.
Barty gave a small nod of approval. "I have to admit, some of them have…unexpected talent. I respect power when I see it."
Regulus only raised an eyebrow, watching his brother disappear with his friends.
At the head of the hall, Dumbledore observed the exchange thoughtfully. Known by most students as the kind, slightly eccentric headmaster, the elderly wizard often appeared harmless, offering sweets and whimsical advice. But beneath his twinkling eyes and long white beard, Albus Dumbledore's mind was as sharp as a razor. He had weathered a long, grueling war and had made his way through the highest ranks of the magical world. The headmaster made a mental note of the shifting alliances unfolding in the Great Hall, even as he smiled serenely and resumed his meal.