Love & Scars

The End of an Era

All the way up the boys' dormitory, Sirius was silent. Her stomach clenched together as she watched his back. He walked in the room, only stopping when he reached his bed. Izzie closed the door behind her. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the door.

"Sirius, I -"

She didn't hear him move, but suddenly he was right in front of her. He gathered her up in his arms and buried his face in her neck. "I'm so sorry."

"What?" She intertwined her fingers in his hair. He placed a featherlight kiss on her neck, making goose bumps break out on her skin.

He started to shake against her, just thinking back to what that girl said. She had no right, no fucking right to talk about her like that. He held her tighter against him, trying to stop himself from shaking.

"Sirius, love." She cupped his cheek, wiping his hair from his eyes. The way she said his name, the way she called him love, immediately stopped him from shaking. "You're scaring me."

"I'm sorry." He said again, leaning his head against hers. "I just got so mad."

Izzie pulled her head away, taking in a trembling breath. Sirius looked worried at her; he was the one tucking her hair behind her ear now. "You know I do love you, right? More than anything. I just - I can't -"

"Hey -" He guided her face back towards him, wiping the tear away that rolled down her cheek. "Of course, I do. I never doubted you love me."

"But you're mad. You're mad because I can't - because my memories of us aren't happy enough for me to conjure up a Patronus."

"Oh, Iz." His thumbs caressed her cheeks softly. "I'm not mad about that, believe me I know how hard it is. I had trouble with it too in the beginning, just like with the meditation for becoming an Animagus. I know you love me. I know our memories are happy, just like the ones with Remus and Lily, Reg. But what you have been through." He shook his head. "With your family, with mine." He said through gritted teeth. Then his eyes softened, and he kissed her slowly. "I understand." His thumb grazed over her bottom lip. "I was mad at Lorena, what she said to you. I should have come over faster. The way she talked to you – I saw you tense up, and I was barely holding it together."

"You are amazing." She kissed him and Sirius stomach did a somersault. She still made him melt inside. When her tongue slipped inside his mouth and did something amazing, his knees buckled a little. He groaned as she sucked on his neck. "I love you. I love you." She kissed him hard. "I love you so fucking much that I'm so afraid of losing you."

He cupped her cheeks again, letting their eyes meet. "You will never lose me, never."

"I love you." She whispered once more before her lips crashed against his and she pushed him until they stumbled into his bed.

Regulus was sitting at the Slytherin table with Barty and Evan. He was watching Isabelle and the others. James and Sirius had a book in front of them, but were conversing quietly with each other, their studies forgotten. Lily and Remus both had stacks of books around them, scribbling and reading in a fast tempo. But those two love studying almost more than anything, so there wasn't any stress in their bodies. Isabelle on the other hand. He recognized the signals. Her jaw was clenched, which means she was grinding her teeth. She had her quill in a fast grip, almost making it snap in two. But another tell-tale was, the strong pulse of magic coming off her. Sirius must have noticed some of those things too, because he was drawing slow circles on her back. When he leaned closer to her, stopping his conversation with James, and whispered something, she smiled. Her eyes twinkled a little and gave him a soft kiss. But the moment she returned to her studies the tension was back.