Sirius crouched down beside me, his curiosity piqued. “What’s in the box?” he asked, reaching for it. I block his view, shoving the ring into my bra, and release a shaky breath. He didn’t see the ring, or he didn’t care about such a small white lie.
I clutch the keepsake tightly to my chest, my voice shaky. “It’s nothing. Just some old memories.” I pick up the other mementos and place them inside the box.
He raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Old memories, huh?”
I nod, trying to steady my breathing. “Yes. Things that don’t matter anymore.”
He studies me for a moment and then stands up, giving me space to collect my memories off the floor. I placed the box back on the table, my heart still racing.
Sirius leaned against the wall, his gaze never leaving me. “You’ve changed, Elise,”
