Harry Potter AU: Harry's Godmother

Truces and Tutoring

"So, if Sirius and Tawny hated each other, how did they get together?" Hermione asked, clearly confused. Harry thought the same thing. How on earth could two people that hated one another end up as happy and in love as they looked in the pictures that sat spread out on the Weasley's coffee table?

"It's actually thanks to Professor Slughorn."

"What?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione questioned in unison.

"A month into our sixth year, Professor Slughorn noticed that Sirius was struggling at potions. Potions was not his best class by far. Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts were his top subjects, and his potions grade failed in comparison. But, he had lucked out on his O.W.L. and made Exceeds Expectations. The problem was, he was showing subpar work at most, and Professor Slughorn thought that if he continued at the rate he was going, he was going to fail his N.E.W.T. the following year.

"So, he recommended that Sirius get a Potions tutor. Someone that could work with him in the evenings to help him bring up his performance."

"Let me guess," Ron started, "that tutor was Tawny."

"Right you are, Ron."

"Professor, I'm sure Remus can help me bring up my performance –"

"I do agree Mr. Black that Mr. Lupin does exceptionally well in my class. However, I think that someone outside of your friend group would be better suited to teach you." Professor Slughorn said, glancing around the room. His eyes widened, and his lips curled up into a smile when he noticed another student had hung back. "Ms. Lovegood!"

Tawny looked up from her parchment. She had been hastily writing down notes about her potion and its uses. "Yes, Professor?"

"Would you come here for a moment?" Tawny nodded before proceeding to tuck her parchment into her Advanced Potion Making textbook and neatly resting her quill on top. "Ms. Lovegood, I would like you to tutor Mr. Black a couple of nights a week until his performance starts improving."

"Oh," Tawny looked surprised. Sirius shot her a glare, silently telling her to decline. "Professor, I'm not sure that is the best idea. I am rather busy –"

"Of course, you are! Well, I could make it worth your while Ms. Lovegood. How about extra credit in my class? The better Mr. Black does, the more credit you will receive! How does that sound?" Sighing, Tawny agreed to Slughorn's request. If there was one thing that Tawny Lovegood could not refuse, it was extra credit.

"Their lessons, twice a week, usually included Tawny barking orders at Sirius, and Sirius either refusing or doing them wrong just to mess with Tawny. Regardless of Sirius's efforts to sabotage the lesson in hopes of getting Tawny to resign, and allow Slughorn to assign him a new tutor, he was progressing. Slightly.

"Halloween that year fell on a Tuesday, their typical study session night. However, the full moon also occurred that night as well. Sirius told us that he would study with Tawny for an hour, then he'd make up and excuse to leave, and meet us in the Shrieking Shack before eight o'clock that evening. Unfortunately, Sirius lost track of time."

"Okay, now add three diced valerian roots and stir counterclockwise until the potion turns clear," Tawny said while jotting down notes onto her parchment. While she was tutoring Sirius, she was working on her Ancient Runes translations. Every few minutes she would look up at Sirius to check his progress, and make sure he hadn't set the room on fire.

Tonight's lesson was more relaxed that Sirius and Tawny's usual lessons. Instead of arguing, Tawny's focus on other work had allowed for a peaceful silence to fill the room. The only things the two heard were the scratching of quills against parchment, and the sound of Sirius's ladle occasionally scraping the sides of his cauldron. Due to the silence, Sirius could easily say this was his most productive lesson to date.