Open Wounds (Sirius Black)

Halloween Dance

As the sun began to cast its first tentative rays over the enchanting grounds of Hogwarts, excitement and anticipation hung thick in the air. It was the morning of the highly anticipated Halloween dance, an event that had been the talk of the entire school for weeks. The Great Hall buzzed with students adorned in their most bewitching costumes, and the promise of a night filled with magic and mystery. However, my own excitement was tainted by a pressing concern – Lily, had somehow managed to misplace her shoes overnight, and she was currently on a wild goose chase through the dormitories to find them. My thoughts, though, were divided. As much as I longed for a magical evening with Kas, the captivating boy I couldn't help but admire from afar, my mind kept drifting back to the recent detention I'd had with Sirius Black. His enigmatic gaze stirred something within me, and I couldn't shake the feeling.

I paced anxiously in our shared dorm room, my wand in hand as I muttered incantations under my breath, attempting to summon Lily's lost shoes from the depths of the castle. As the minutes ticked by, my worry grew, and the swirling mix of emotions within me only intensified. Kas had asked me to the dance weeks ago, and I had been eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to get to know him better, maybe even confess my feelings. But now, as the clock in the corner of the room ticked relentlessly, it felt as though time was slipping away, and with it, the chance for a magical evening with him. Sirius Black's detention was a distraction I couldn't afford right now, but his brooding presence and the enigmatic look he had given me lingered in the recesses of my mind, a mystery I couldn't quite unravel.

"Dessa?" Lily paused for a moment to look at me, "You looked stressed."

"Lily, I am stressed," I couldn't tell her, I wanted to but I couldn't.

"Accio shoes," Lily's missing shoes flew to the empty floor in front of where I stood, their silver sequins shimmering under the soft morning light. She grinned triumphantly as she put them on her trunk for later, and together, we made our way to the bustling Great Hall for breakfast. The scent of pumpkin pastries and buttery toast wafted through the air, heightening our anticipation for the evening's festivities.

As we entered the Great Hall, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement deep within me. Kas was already seated at his usual spot, his dark eyes lighting up as he caught sight of me. "Hey there," he greeted with a warm smile. "Are you excited or tonight," He glanced at lily and than back to me.

"Yes, I am very excited," But before our conversation could delve any further into the realm of emotions, a tense atmosphere at the Gryffindor table caught my attention.

The Marauders were engaged in a heated discussion that seemed to be escalating into an argument. Sirius's normally mischievous eyes were dark with anger, and James Potter's expression mirrored his friend's frustration. Kas's involvement was evident when I overheard snippets of the conversation - something about an article Kas's father had written that morning in the Daily Prophet, a scathing critique of the Black family. It appeared that Kas's family's history was causing friction once again, threatening to cast a shadow over the Halloween dance and our hopes for a magical night.

I made my way over to the table where my brother and friends sat.

"What happened?" I asked taking a seat.

"This happened," Sirius slammed the Daily Prophet in front of me. Glancing down I read the title- "The Shadowed Alliances: Unmasking the Black Family's Allegiances"

I let out a loud sigh and read the article,

Title: "The Shadowed Alliance: Unmasking the Black Family's Allegiance"

Author: Drew Markus

In the wake of recent events, the name 'Black' has taken on a chilling resonance within the wizarding world. Whispers of dark allegiances and clandestine dealings have long surrounded this enigmatic family, but recent developments have brought their connections to the forefront. This article delves into the depths of the Black family's history and its rumoured association with the most feared dark wizard of our time, Lord Voldemort.