Reborn as Petunia Evans with a System Chapter 62 - 60

The last flickers of light from our Transfiguration lesson danced across the classroom walls as students packed their bags, parchnt rustling and chairs scraping back. I was still scribbling the final notes from today's lesson — Animagus theory, fascinating stuff when I heard the distinct click of Professor McGonagall's boots heading in my direction.

I straightened, closing my book gently.

"Miss Evans," she said, as composed as ever. "May I have a word?"

"Yes, Professor," I replied, imdiately alert. Had I done sothing wrong?

But McGonagall's expression wasn't stern, only thoughtful.

"I've been inford that you've been tutoring students this year," she began. "Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs... even a few struggling Gryffindors, if I'm not mistaken."

I nodded. "I enjoy it. It helps study too."

"Excellent," she said with a short nod. "I was wondering if you might be willing to assist another student. A second-year."

I tilted my head, curious. "In which subject?"

"Transfiguration," she replied crisply. "He's quite advanced for his year showing remarkable skill, in fact. But he's becoming... restless. I think he might benefit from more structured challenges. Soone to guide him.".

My brows rose. "Oh. Of course... I an, I'd be happy to help. Is he in Gryffindor?"

She gave a slight, approving nod. " A second-year in Slytherin."

I hesitated.

Of course it had to be a Slytherin.

Not that I was one to judge too harshly I knew better than most how labels and expectations could shape a person before they ever had a chance to choose for themselves. But still... Slytherin. The house of cold stares and whispered slurs. The house that looked down on people like Muggle-born, ordinary, too curious for my own good.

"May I ask who it is?" I said softly.

Her lips thinned with sothing between approval and warning. "Regulus Black."

That na landed like a pebble tossed in a still lake — subtle but rippling outward

I took a breath.

Sirius Black was a whirlwind rebellious, brilliant, loud, reckless. I liked him, even when he was infuriating. But I also knew how broken he was beneath all the jokes. How angry.

What must it be like to grow up in that house?

Regulus Black. The perfect heir. The one who didn't run. The one who stayed.

"I can et with him Friday at five," I said finally.

McGonagall offered the barest hint of a smile. "Very good. I'll let him know."

And then she swept away, leaving staring at the empty desk in front of .

Regulus Black.

The na echoed in my head, stirring sothing deep a kind of aching sympathy.

A child.

A brilliant child raised in the shadow of bloodlines and expectations.

Born into a world that was already drawing battle lines in ink and ash.

He's only seventeen when he died . Just a boy. But the world wouldn't wait for him to grow up. Voldemort's war was pulling everyone in, especially children like Regulus the kind who bore family legacies on their backs like armor, even when it cut into their skin.

I gathered my bag and headed out, just as Emline and Pandora ca bounding down the hall.

"What did McGonagall want?" Emline asked imdiately, brushing a loose curl from her face.

"She asked if I'd tutor a second-year student in Transfiguration," I replied.

"Ooooh, soone failing?" Pandora asked, intrigued.

"No," I said with a small smile. "She said he's gifted. Just... getting bored with second-year work."

Emline raised a brow. "So who is it?"

I glanced between them. "Regulus Black."

Pandora blinked. "As in Sirius's brother?"

I nodded. "Yes. That one."

"Bliy," Emline muttered. "Isn't he the serious one? Always looks like he's about to announce the fall of the Ministry?"

Pandora gave a thoughtful hum. "He always seems... distant. But not unkind."

"Maybe he's just trying to survive," I murmured, more to myself than them.

They exchanged a glance.

"You going to do it?" Emline asked softly.

I nodded. "Yes. Friday at five."

Pandora leaned against the wall beside . "It's a good thing. You'll be helping him."

The sun had just begun to dip behind the towers of Hogwarts when the boys finally appeared — Severus, Andrew, and Felix looking far too pleased with themselves.

Severus and Felix were speaking in hushed voices, both grinning like they'd pulled off sothing remarkable. Andrew looked a little exasperated but amused, trailing just a step behind.

"We found a secret passage," Felix announced proudly the mont they reached us.

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "And when, exactly, did you have ti to do that?"

Felix shrugged, utterly unrepentant. "When we sneak out at night to explore."

Emline gave an exaggerated gasp. "Scandalous. Andrew! Severus! I expected more from you."

Pandora tutted and pointed a mock-accusing finger at Felix. "You're a bad influence. Teaching Severus how to break rules."

Severus smirked faintly. "It's not rule-breaking if we never get caught."

I couldn't help but laugh. "That's not exactly how it works."

Emline leaned closer, eyes glinting with mischief. "Severus... Black. You've got a lot of explaining to do."

Severus winced, rolling his eyes. "Stop calling that. It still feels strange."

"It's going to keep feeling strange unless you get used to it," Felix said, elbowing him. "So. Sirius Black is your cousin?"

"Apparently," Severus said flatly, clearly not thrilled about it.

Pandora tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "So tell us how did that even happen?"

Severus sighed, and for a mont he looked a little older than thirteen. "My mum and... my biological father had a past. Then they drifted apart before I was born. But recently — after... everything he found out. Turns out I'm his son. And now..." He gestured vaguely at the group. "Here I am."

We all stared at him. Then we laughed

"Now you know," Severus muttered. "Can we please go eat now?"

Before I could say anything, Severus reached for my hand not too quickly, not too forcefully. Just... gently. Like it was sothing he did every day. His fingers brushed mine, then held on.

We were walking side by side through the corridor, our footsteps echoing faintly as the rest of our friends lagged behind. Severus still hadn't let go of my hand, not that I minded. It was warm, and it felt... natural.

"That was the worst class," I groaned, swinging our joined hands slightly. "Did you see Professor Vector's face when Felix accidentally turned his parchnt into a toad?"

Severus snorted. "Accidentally? Please. Felix did that on purpose. He was trying to prove a theory."

Emline laughed. "Did you see Vector's face when Felix's parchnt ribbeted?"

"I stand by my spellwork," Felix said proudly. "It was a calculated risk."

"A calculated risk?" Andrew repeated, eyebrows raised. "You turned your howork into a toad, mate. That's not advanced Arithmancy. That's chaos."

"I was testing magical probabilities," Felix said, completely unbothered. "Like, what are the odds Professor Vector would shriek and jump onto her desk?"

"Apparently one hundred percent," Pandora said, nudging him with her elbow.

"She almost hexed him," I said, laughing. "Felix, you're going to be banned from the classroom."

"Then you'll all miss . I'll be a tragic tale whispered through the corridors."

"You'd last two hours outside the classroom before begging to co back," Emline said. "You're too nosy to miss the drama."

Severus chuckled beside . "He also can't go two days without asking soone for help with his potions."

"Oi," Felix said. "That was one ti. And the cauldron only lted a little."

Andrew grinned. "He's just mad because gravity ruined his notes last week."

"Oh no," Pandora gasped, eyes wide. "Don't bring up the Gravity Incident."

I covered my mouth to hide my smile. "The trauma."

"Enough," Severus groaned dramatically. "I'm haunted."

"I say we put Felix on academic trial," I said, playing along.

Severus nodded gravely. "Charge: cris against parchnt and ink."

"Sentence: rewriting everyone's notes," Pandora added, her eyes gleaming.

"In color-coded ink with proper margins," Emline declared.

"And glitter," Andrew said.

Felix clutched his chest. "You monsters."

We all burst into laughter. It was warm, the kind that filled your lungs and made your eyes water if you laughed too long. The kind of mont that made the castle feel like ho.

"Honestly," Pandora said, looking between us all, "this is the best kind of class— the one after."

Severus looked down at then, our hands still linked. "Agreed."

I t his eyes and smiled. I didn't even notice I was still holding on until Emline gave a sly nudge.

"Oh, hush," I whispered.

She just wiggled her eyebrows and fell back in step with Pandora and Andrew.

I shook my head, laughing softly. And as we walked toward the Great Hall, our footsteps in sync and our jokes trailing behind us like ribbons, I thought maybe just maybe this was my favorite kind of magic.

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