Open Wounds (Sirius Black)

Fading Echos

As the days marched forward, the weight of ominous divinations and the unyielding mystery surrounding the Markus family had cast a shadow over our lives at Hogwarts. The looming OWLs only added to the pressure, turning each day into a race against time. Anne had once again vanished into the shadows, and my anxiety continued to grow as the weeks passed without any word from her or Kas. Sirius and I became even closer, seeking solace in each other's company amid the mounting uncertainty.

Amid all these concerns, the days blended, and the whispers of impending doom echoed in the corridors. It was an uneasy time in the wizarding world, and each of us felt the undercurrent of unease in our way. The Gryffindor common room, with its warm fire and comforting camaraderie, remained our sanctuary in these uncertain times.

I sat by the common room fire, the hushed voices and worried glances of my friends filled the room. The ongoing uncertainty gnawed at me. Unable to bear it any longer, I quietly rose from my seat, leaving my books behind and casting a fleeting glance at my friends. With a determined yet heavy heart, I made my way to the girls' dormitory, seeking a moment of solitude to collect my thoughts.

Sirius had always been observant, and he noticed my departure from the common room. His footsteps were silent as he followed me out into the dimly lit hallway. He caught up to me just as I reached the end corridor

"Dess, are you okay?" He asked, catching my hand before I could go down the steps.

His hand was warm and reassuring, and I turned to face him. I could see the concern in his eyes, and for a moment, it felt like it was just the two of us in that quiet hallway.

"I don't know, Sirius," I admitted, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. "There's so much happening, and I'm just trying to make sense of it all."

Sirius leaned in closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "Dessa, you don't have to go through this alone," he whispered. "I'm here for you, always."

I smiled, feeling a mixture of gratitude and affection. "I know, Sirius, and I'm grateful for that. It's just... Sometimes it feels like everything is falling apart, and I can't control any of it."

He gently brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch tender. "We'll get through this together, I promise," he said, his voice soft and sincere.

Our faces drew nearer, the world outside the hallway disappearing as we closed the distance between us. It was a reassuring, stolen moment amidst the chaos of our lives.

As our lips touched, I felt a sudden rush of warmth and comfort. It was a moment I had been craving amid the turmoil that surrounded us. But the moment was short-lived.

A voice cut through the silence, filled with anger and disbelief. "What the hell is going on here?" James' voice was unmistakable.

Sirius and I quickly pulled away, our faces flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and guilt. James stood there, his eyes flitting between the two of us, his jaw clenched.

"James, it's not what it looks like," I stammered, my words stumbling over each other.

Sirius, usually so suave and unbothered, seemed lost for words as well. His expression shifted from surprise to guilt.

James took a step closer, his voice low and seething. "I thought you were my best friend, Sirius. And you, Dessa... I can't believe you'd do this."

I tried to explain, to make him understand, but he turned and walked away without another word. The anger in his eyes stung more than anything else.

Sirius reached out as if to go after James, but I grabbed his arm, preventing him from pursuing our furious friend.

"Let him cool off," I whispered. "I'll talk to him. He needs some time to process all this."