When the Roses Went Black: The Lost Lover of Sirius Black

XXIII

It was now May. Graduation was May 30th, and with exams done, all care went out the window. The evenings were spent drinking, sneaking into other Common Rooms to prank people, knicking food from the kitchen, and long afternoons spent in the shade and by the Black Lake. The stress of the exams were a thing of the past, and the pain on Rose's back had long subsided.

The moods were cheerful. Everyone was looking forward to what the future would bring. Each friend prayed they would not have to fight in Voldemort's war, and that things would be peaceful soon. One night, James and Lily left for an evening walk, and when they returned, Lily wore a diamond ring. She practically jumped into Rose's arms, and they cried happy tears together. Rose and Sirius spent many cool evenings at the Astronomy Tower, sipping Firewhiskey and laughing together under the stars.

It was the 20th of May when they did just that. The sun had dipped under the high trees of the Forbidden Forest, and the sky was covered in messy streaks of color. Rose and Sirius sat on the floor of the tower, their feet dangling over the edge into the great wide open. Rose took a sip of her Firewhiskey and leaned on Sirius, listening to the beating of his heart. She stared out over the trees. Those trees held uncertainty and danger. Rose felt the same about their future.

It felt like yesterday she was a shy 11 year old, eyes wide at the loud, handsome boy with the long hair. It felt like yesterday they were 13, sipping butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks when Sirius kissed Rose on the cheek for the first time, and she thought she was going to faint. It felt like yesterday that she was 17, her heart skipping a beat when Sirius fell into her compartment, a face covered in ash that was unable to hide his smile. But now she was 18, leaning against the love of her life, and their lives began in ten days. It was frightening, but she wouldn't be going in it alone. She smiled at the thoughts of her friends and Sirius, entertaining herself with the idea of all of them in their early thirties. Remus with graying hair and a pregnant wife. Peter with a plump little wife who had rosy cheeks. James and Lily, chasing around dark haired kids with green eyes, and she and Sirius watching their own kids run with them. It was perfect. There was no Voldemort, there was no fear. Only love.

Rose snuggled closer to Sirius, who was running his fingers through her curls absentmindedly. "I love you Sirius," she said with a sigh. Sirius smiled and lifted her face to kiss her lips. "I love you too Rosie," he replied. "As a matter of fact, get up. There's something I want to show you," he said, as though he just remembered something very important. Rose stood up and watched him with interest. "Accio Brooms," Sirius muttered. About a minute later, two brooms were floating over the balcony of the Astronomy Tower. Sirius nodded his head towards a broom at Rose. She mounted it, Sirius quickly doing the same. They kicked off the floor, the wind hitting them in the face.

"Where are we going, Black?" Rose yelled over the wind. Sirius leaned further down on his broom. "Nirvana, Rosie," he stated. Rose shook her head and the two lovers sped off into the painted sky.