I Am Lily Evans

"Oh, then what better qualities do you think Saint James Potter deserved?" Snape narrowed his eyes, a sinister gleam showing within them.

"At the very least, pure-blooded!

Then the same values and interests!

Pretty enough!

And a Gryffindor!" Sirius said, counting on his fingers.

"Oh, and long, black curly hair and gray eyes?" Deep in Snape's black eyes, the shadow of a mighty boar roaming the depths of the sea flashed past.

For that instant, Sirius's gray eyes lost focus as well. "Mm, that would be perfect."

"And the surname Black. Better yet if they're male?"

"Yes!" Sirius answered without thinking, then abruptly snapped awake.

Panic filled his face, and none of his earlier anger remained.

"Haha! Haven't you noticed?

The answer formed by putting all those elements together.

What other Black ever entered Gryffindor?

The only one you think worthy of Saint James is yourself!" Snape's face held an unconcealed, smug delight.

"You've liked James all this time?" Lupin, who had remained silent until now, swallowed.

He removed his hand from Sirius's shoulder.

"Is that why you've always hated me? Does James know?" Lily raised an eyebrow, feeling as though she might have become an unwitting beard.

She knew James's love for her was real.

But that did not prevent him from loving Sirius at the same time.

"Children, I would first like to say that this has nothing to do with me." Before Sirius could answer,

Dumbledore coughed and hurriedly spoke.

"May I understand this as," the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black on the wall could not help opening his eyes, "the reason my great-great-grandson—one of the last two members of the Black Family—has never married is the same as our headmaster's?

I finally understand where my great-great-grandson's strange habit of keeping guests overnight came from."

"Enough! Phineas!