A Broken Inheritance

Chapter 61: Breaking and Entering

Chapter 61: Breaking and Entering

It had been a week.

Seven days of cold shoulders, vanishing acts, and Anastasia Gaunt disappearing like smoke every time Sirius so much as looked like he might approach her.

He tried everything.

Casual hellos in the corridor. A sharp-witted remark as she passed in Potions. Even waiting near the library stairs, knowing full well she always took the long way down after Advanced Runes. She slipped past every time—quiet, practiced, unbothered.

Not once did she look at him. Not properly.

By Friday, it was starting to feel personal.

"Maybe she's just busy," Remus had offered mildly that morning, hunched over a scroll in the Common Room.

Sirius had stared at him like he'd suggested maybe Walburga wasn't that bad, actually.

"No one's that busy," he muttered, arms crossed. "I'm being strategically avoided. This is full-on espionage. She's doing it on purpose."

Remus didn't look up. "Can't imagine why."

"Ha bloody ha."

And so, Sirius made a decision. A desperate one.

***

It was late afternoon when Sirius cornered James in the common room, dropping down into the armchair beside him with the kind of purposeful thud that announced trouble.

"Prongs."

James looked up like he'd just been woken from a dream. His hair was a mess. His jumper was inside out.

"Oh no," he said instantly. "Whatever it is, absolutely not."

Sirius blinked. "I haven't even asked yet."

James pointed his quill at him like a warning. "You're here, pacing like a man on a mission. I can feel it. It's a no."

Sirius slouched deeper in the chair. "It's about Ana."

James gave him a sideways glance. "Then it's definitely no."

Sirius stared at him for a long beat. "You're really not going to help me ambush your girlfriend?"

James nearly choked. "She's not— it's not—" He shook his head violently, voice tripping over itself. "She's not my anything, and you know that."

Sirius just raised an eyebrow, too used to this performance to look impressed.

"I don't care what the plan is. If it includes cornering Anastasia Gaunt, I want no part of it."

"She's dodging me like I owe her money, James."

"Maybe you do."

Sirius huffed, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You're the one who told me to talk to her."

"Yeah. You. Talk to her. Not you and me in some elaborate con job." James winced. "She's already barely speaking to me. She'd crucify me if I pulled something like this."

"She's ignoring me, mate."

James grimaced. "She's ignoring me too. That doesn't mean I'm throwing myself into the fire."

Sirius arched a brow. "Oh, is that what we're calling it now?"

James went red instantly. "Don't."

Sirius just stared at him, eyes gleaming. "How awkward can it be, really, when you've spent—what is it now? Three nights over in her room this week alone?"