𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐢 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮? (𝘑. 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳)

0.7 | Guilty as Sin

0.7 (Stop being so incredible its making this harder) Guilty as Sin by Taylor Swift (links dont work so I gave up sorry)

As Polaris sat in her room, tears streamed down her face more freely than ever before, each sob wracking her body as she grappled with the weight of her reality. She felt like she was drowning, gasping for air as her mind spiraled, trapped between two unbearable choices. How had it come to this? There were only two options, and neither seemed fair. The first option was to tell James the truth; to break off whatever fragile connection they had and resign herself to the life her parents had meticulously crafted for her. The second option, equally painful, was to lie to James, to tell him she had never wanted him in the first place, forcing him to hate her so she could protect him from the ugly truth and herself from her parents' wrath.

Option two felt like a betrayal, a cowardly move that would destroy not only James but also the fragile remnants of her own heart. No, she couldn't do that. It would be too cruel, too unfair. So, with a heavy heart, she decided on option one, the lesser of two evils. As if on cue, a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, dragging her back to the suffocating present. Evan and the Marauders stepped into her dorm; their faces filled with a silent, shared understanding of her pain.

"Hey, Pol, do I have permission to share the letter you showed me, so he knows why you're sad?" Evan's voice was soft, laced with empathy as he approached her cautiously.

"Yes," she mumbled, her voice barely audible as if speaking the word took all the strength she had left. She then looked up; her tear-streaked face etched with despair. "James, can I have a hug? Please?" she asked, her voice trembling as she choked on her sobs.

In an instant, James was at her side, his arms wrapping around her tightly, pulling her close as she collapsed into his embrace. Her tears soaked into his shirt, but he didn't care. All he could focus on was the overwhelming ache in his chest, the agony of seeing Polaris so broken. He hated this. He hated that she was hurting, and he swore to himself that he would never let her feel this way again.

As he held her, his eyes drifted to the letter Evan handed him. His heart raced as he read the words, dread creeping up his spine like an icy hand. "No... they can't do this, can they?" His voice was a whisper, filled with a fear he had never known before.

"They can... because, unlike Sirius, I don't get an escape. It's either this or be killed," Polaris replied, her voice thick with resignation. Concern rippled through the room, the gravity of her words weighing on everyone present.

"I'm so sorry, James. I like you, I really do," she began, her voice cracking, but James wouldn't let her finish. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, as if that could steal away the pain, they both felt.

"Let me speak, James, please," she pleaded, her eyes glistening with fresh tears. He shook his head, refusing to let her go, and kissed her again. For a brief moment, she gave in, kissing him back before pulling away, her heart aching even more.

"Stop being so incredible... it's making this a lot harder," Polaris cried, her voice breaking as she buried her face in his chest. The room was thick with emotion, the tension palpable, and no one dared to speak.

"Isn't there another way?" Remus finally asked, his voice tinged with desperation, echoing the thoughts of everyone in the room.

"I don't think so... I don't even know how my parents found out," Polaris whispered, shifting in James's arms so she could face the rest of the group. She felt so small, so lost, but there was a strange comfort in being surrounded by people who cared for her.

The room fell into silence again, each of them processing the gravity of the situation. Polaris sighed deeply, turning her face up to James and kissing his cheek softly, her lips trembling. He smiled back at her, but it was a sad, broken smile.

Suddenly, Sirius broke the silence, his voice filled with determination. "Then let's find those sick bastards who did this!"

Polaris looked at him, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What...?"

"Don't be daft, Pol. The people who told Aunt Elara and Uncle Cyrus," Sirius clarified, and everyone nodded in agreement, understanding his intent.

"You guys go... I want to stay here with Polaris," James said, his voice soft but firm. The others nodded, respecting his wishes, and quietly left the room.

As the door closed behind them, James gently pulled Polaris into another soft kiss before lying down beside her, holding her close. The warmth of his embrace offered a fleeting sense of safety, a brief escape from the cruel world outside.

"I'm here... we're falling asleep comfortable, I'm tired," he murmured with a yawn, his words slurring together. Polaris smiled weakly, snuggling closer to him, and for a moment, the world stopped spinning. Just for a moment, she could forget everything and lose herself in the comfort of his arms, drifting into sleep where, for a little while, everything was okay.

A/n sorry its short next few chapters are gonna be longer