November 5th, 1977Despite her quick dip in the water, Elora turned the tale of her humiliation into
something much more sordid that involved Sirius, the Black Lake, and a distinct lack of
clothing. Soon, everyone in the school was under the impression that Sirius had a heart-
shaped birthmark on his arse cheek. All of those who actually lived in Gryffindor Tower
knew better, considering how often Sirius was willing to bare himself to show off his
precious tattoo.
It took four days before the rest of the Hogwarts female population were all
gossiping over when and how they, too, had been privy to the now infamous, and non-
existent, birthmark.
For the first time in his life, Sirius hated the spotlight.
"Drink this," Mia ordered him as she approached the breakfast table one morning.
She slid a small phial across to a frustrated Sirius, who had his hands buried in the
depths of his hair, covering his ears as the Ravenclaws at the next table stared and giggled
in his direction. It was one thing to be praised for his actual prowess, but a heart-shaped
birthmark and skinny dipping in the Black Lake? Soon they would all be insisting he had
proposed to them, and there would be a school-wide war over who would take the title of
the future Lady Black.
"What colour will my hair turn?" Sirius asked suspiciously, looking at the phial.
When it came to potions, Mia was brilliant, which only made her that much more
dangerous.
"It won't."
"Will my hair fall out?"
"No."
"It's not a Shrinking Solution is it?" He hoped that she would never be that cruel.
"It's a temporary fix for your current problem," she offered, tossing a scathing look
at the giggling girls at the next table.
Sirius glanced down at the bubbling, crimson liquid, pulled the cork and threw the
potion back quickly, coughing a bit at the taste.
"Now go around the room and touch every single girl. Shake their hands, give them
a hug, even brush up against their shoulder. Any form of contact."