The Marauders were beyond excited about going out on their first Hogsmeade weekend. As they were in their third year, they were finally allowed to visit Hogsmeade village twice monthly.

Students waited impatiently for the Hogsmeade weekend as it gave them the chance to enjoy a well-earned break from their studies. They could freely stroll through the beautiful village, have fun at the Three Broomsticks, and shop for candies at Honeydukes and other supplies at the various shops.

It was also a chance for students to go out on dates, and Madam Puddifoot's teashop had a reputation as the haunt of young couples.

"So where shall we go first?" James asked, his eyes sparkling in excitement as they left the castle grounds.

"Honeydukes!" Peter quipped, no doubt thinking about all the sweets they could buy there, "and Rem, they sell the best chocolate, you'll see."

"I can't wait to go there too," Remus added, his eyes lighting up at the mention of chocolate. "What about you, Siri, where do you want to go?"

"Honeydukes, since you all have the majority, but then I will check out Zonko's Joke Shop. It's a place built for pranksters like us."

James bumped his fist, "I heard they are releasing a new batch of dungbombs, I can't wait to get my hands on it!"

The four of them reached the quaint village streets, engulfed in the cold breeze and swarms of students eager to make the most out of their Hogsmeade weekend. Eyes glittering with mischief, the boys started exploring, stepping into Honeydukes first.

Remus went straight to the chocolate counter while Peter stalked off to buy his favorite sugar quills. James was in the mood to buy everything he could pay for, which meant he would be buying a lot so that they all could share and still make the sweets last for the rest of the term. But Sirius stood at the entrance, his eyes wandering over each shelf in front of him.

What kind of sweets would Arielle like? The question unexpectedly fluttered through his head.

Regulus liked sugar quills and chocolate frogs, that much he knew, but what did his best friend like from the vast selection of candy displayed in Honeydukes? He had never heard him mention anything about Arielle's fondness for sweets so Sirius knew he would have to take a guess.

***

Arielle and Regulus were returning to the common room after their study sessions with the Sommers twins in the library when a cheerful and very familiar voice stopped them in their tracks.

"There you are, I had been looking all over for you!"

Sirius stopped in front of them, rather out of breath from dashing down the corridor. His clothes were disheveled and so were his hair, but his eyes were sparkling in delight.

At times like these, he fiercely embodied the storm in his nature, letting each part of him express his unpredictability.

"Hey, Sirius, where are you coming from?" Arielle asked, noting that he held a box.

"I got something for you," he handed her the box much to her surprise and Regulus too raised an eyebrow at his brother for that unexpectedly generous gesture.

"Oh... Thank you," her eyes lit up as she accepted the box of chocolate frogs.

Sirius smiled, stepping back with his hand brushing the nape of his neck. For some reason, he felt disarmed in front of her genuinely delighted expression.

"You're welcome," he replied, eyes flickering to Regulus. "Oh... I forgot the sugar quills in my dorm."

Regulus paused, "For me?"

"Yes," he nodded eagerly, "I'll be right back."

With Sirius gone, Reg faced Arielle with a baffled expression on his face.

"Aw, he got you sweets too," her smile widened.

"I don't know why he's being so generous all of a sudden," he examined the box of chocolate frogs, turning it upside down and shaking it sideways. "I hope it's not some awful prank."

"Come on, Reg, I don't think he's pulling a prank on us. Your brother's very sweet."

He rolled his eyes, "To you, yes, he's very sweet. But I can't digest that he bought sugar quills for me too. Or maybe he said that as an excuse to slip away."

But it was no excuse because shortly after, Sirius showed up with an assortment of sugar quills. Regulus was still quite shocked as his brother shoved the quills into his hands.

"Consider it an unbirthday present," he winked, his gray eyes dancing in amusement.

In a flash, he had run off to join his friends who were heading to the school grounds for Quidditch practice.

"Come on, Reg," Arielle nudged him, leading the way to the dungeons. "When we are allowed to go to Hogsmeade next year, we can buy something nice for Sirius too."

He didn't reply, too lost in thought. Perhaps Arielle was right and Sirius was genuinely making an effort to reach out to him.

If that was the case then he shouldn't shut him out. Deep down, he missed the times when both of them had been very close. It was before Sirius got sorted into Gryffindor and a barrier came up between them.

He said nothing as they stepped into the common room and Arielle unwrapped the box, handing him a chocolate frog. 

"Now don't frown like that or your forehead will be lined permanently," she warned, unwrapping the card that came with her chocolate frog. "Look, I got Nicholas Flamel!"

He nodded, unwrapping the chocolate frog card he had received. Derwent Shimpling. He handed the card to Arielle, knowing she was building a collection.

"Thanks," she flashed him a bright smile, keeping the cards safely in her satchel. Seeing him looking at the sugar quills again, Arielle broke the silence. "If you get pranked and these sugar quills aren't nice, I will confront Sirius myself. Happy now?" 

He smiled at last, unwrapping a sugar quill at last. "No need. Maybe he really is trying to be a bit bearable. All thanks to you."

"To me? Now what do I have to do with it?"

He shook his head, a slight smile still lingering on his face, "Oh, you have everything to do with it. You just don't know it yet."

"What?" Arielle's eyes widened, "Come back here and tell me what you mean! Regulus!"

He chuckled, "Nothing, nothing."

"You were being so cryptic!" She folded her arms defiantly, lips puckering into a pout. "And I know you do it on purpose to annoy me."

***