One day in Defense Against the Dark Arts, the professor announced, "Today we will be casting the Patronus charm."

Savannah smiled. She'd always loved the Patronus charm, which is why she and Dalton began practicing it years ago. She'd mastered it (before her brother, she might add), so she figured it would just be an easy day in DADA.

The professor demonstrated the proper way to cast the charm, then said, "Alright, now I want you all to try. Before class is over we'll line up and I'll give you all a grade for your success."

Savannah went over to Lily, Marlene, and Alice. "Easy day, huh?" She joked to Lily, who laughed and nodded. It wasn't long before the boys made their way over, with James leading and asking, "What's so funny, Lilypad?" He had slung his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek as Lily replied, "Oh nothing."

As the professor looked over to them, Savannah hurried and cast her Patronus, so that it looked like they were actually doing something.

Sirius, who was mid-laugh over the way James was pouting when Lily moved away from him and something Dalton had whispered to him, stopped as he saw Savannah's patronus. As the dog bounced around the group, Sirius felt all the air leave his lungs. It looked just like his Animagus, and his own patronus.

When Sirius didn't respond to a question James asked, James finally noticed Savannah's patronus. He too fell silent, his jaw dropping just like Sirius's. Then Remus noticed the boys' odd behavior. He was about to ask them what was the matter when the dog bounded past him. Looking between Sirius and Savannah, he fell silent too. Peter, who was actually present for once, caught a glimpse of the dog before Savannah let it disappear. Dalton had seen it at the same time Peter did, so all five boys were silent, eyes wide and looking like they had seen the most terrifying ghost in the world. Their jaws were near the floor as they stared at Savannah. They were all frozen, not moving a muscle.

"What are you lot looking at?" Savannah questioned, crossing her arms across her breasts- which, might I add, did not help Sirius's situation, since it just drew his attention there.

Remus was the first to recover, closing his mouth and shaking his head. "It's, uh, nothing. Nothing."

Savannah didn't buy it, exchanging glances with the other girls. The others didn't believe him either. "Remus, tell us the truth."

Then Peter recovered. "He is telling the truth. It's nothing."

They still obviously did not buy it. They were all scowling, arms crossed. Savannah's eyes were alight with annoyance, her green orbs staring into each boy's very soul, or so they thought.

James was next, Lily's glare snapping him out of it. "Honest, Sava, it's nothing."

It was unclear to Remus which of the two remaining boys would snap out of it first. It didn't take long to find out, as Dalton closed his mouth and looked down.

"Sirius?" Savannah questioned, looking at him and imploring him to tell her.

His heart was still in his throat; he was too overjoyed to answer her. He knew what this meant. He just wasn't sure if Savannah was ready to know or not. He most certainly didn't want to chance embarrassing her in front of the class by casting his Patronus. The rational part of him was going through all that. However, the emotional part of his brain was telling him to march over to her and crash his lips to hers. The emotional and rational parts of Sirius's brain were fighting, but eventually, the rational part won and Sirius closed his eyes and looked down. It took him a moment to collect himself, but he finally did. "It's nothing, love," he said with his infamous smirk.

Savannah still didn't buy it. However, all rationality went out the window when he called her 'love' and she completely lost her train of thought. Her arms slowly uncrossed themselves and she snapped out of it when the professor called out, "Alright everyone, form a line and show me your patronuses! Mister Black, why don't you start us off?"

Sirius froze. "Er, I would prefer not to, professor. You see, I'm more of a back-of-the-line type of guy," he quickly babbled, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"I'm afraid not today, Mister Black. I've been told that you cast a wonderful patronus."

"Professor, I'm actually feeling rather ill," Sirius tried again, but the professor just shook her head. "Nice try, Mister Black. Come along and show us your exceptional patronus."

Sirius sent an apologetic look to Savannah, who was confused but didn't say anything. Sirius knew he wasn't going to get out of it, no matter how much he just wanted to wait until after class to show the professor since he didn't want to upset, embarrass, or overwhelm Savannah. Trying to find some way to get out of this, he slowly made his way to the front of the line. He fumbled with his wand when he reached the front of the line, shaking so much he dropped it, earning a few chuckles from the class and an eye roll from the professor. He took his time picking it up, though he knew it wouldn't do anything since there was still a lot of time left in class. Finally, he swallowed the nerves in his throat and croaked, "Expecto Patronum," all the while thinking about Savannah and how happy he was at the Halloween party when they first talked and became friends.

Savannah dropped the books she was moving when she saw his patronus bounding around the room. It was clearly the male version of her own patronus. His was bigger and slightly shaggier, but there was no doubt it was the male version of her own. Panicking, she turned and bolted for the door. She ran and ran, letting her feet guide her as her thoughts raced. Sirius Black is my soulmate. Sirius Black and I are meant to be. This can't be happening. Nothing good ever happens to me. Nothing. And yet here is this gorgeous man who is my soulmate. It can't be. There must be some mistake. Yeah, that's it, it's just a mistake. I cannot have gotten lucky enough to have Sirius Black as my soulmate.

Her thoughts ran along those lines, with self-hatred slowly seeping back into her mind.

Suddenly, she stopped. No. I can't do this. If I want Sirius, then I need to keep my progress. I can't backtrack. I am worthy. I am. Right?

Meanwhile, back in the classroom Lily quickly made up a lie to tell the professor. "She hasn't been feeling well today, professor. I'm sure she went to the Hospital Wing."

The professor, who had just nodded to Sirius and told him that he got full marks, nodded uncertainly. "I'll go make sure that's where she went, professor," Sirius called out as he bounded to the door in only a couple of steps.

The professor had not been more confused in all her days of teaching as she was right then. Quickly she called the next person. Lily, Marlene, Alice, James, Remus, Peter, and Dalton all exchanged nervous glances, having seen both Savannah and Sirius's patronuses and knowing what it meant.

It wasn't long before it was Lily's turn, since she always liked being at the front of the line. As soon as she cast her Patronus, it was James's turn to choke on air and stop breathing. "No fucking way," he said under his breath. All the other boys fell silent and stopped moving.

"Why do they keep doing that?" Marlene whispered over to Alice, who shrugged.

And so, while Sirius was out trying to find Savannah, James Potter waited in the back of the line and didn't cast his Patronus in front of the class since he, too, didn't want to embarrass Lily. The professor gave James a knowing smile when the stag pranced about the room. "So, you and Lily Evans, huh?"

James flushed bright red as he nodded before scurrying out of the classroom.

"Full marks, Mister Potter," called the professor right before the door shut.