𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐌𝐄 ☆ Sirius Black ✔️ *slowly editing*

t w e n t y f o u r

I stand before the full-length mirror in our dormitory, carefully adjusting the midnight blue gown adorned with silver details. The fabric flows gracefully, and I can't help but feel a twinge of excitement as I twirl, relishing the rare chance to dress up.

Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I braid it loosely, leaving a few strands framing my face. In the mirror, Lily smiles from her bed, where Mary's cat, Merlin, purrs on her lap. "You look amazing, Ellie."

"Absolutely. Flynn won't know what hit him," Marlene chimes in from the bathroom, adding some last-minute touches to her appearance.

"You too, Marls," I call back. It's true – Marlene looks stunning. Her long lace dress, adorned with delicate flowers and softly curled blonde hair, gives her an almost elvish allure. "I wish you were going too, Lily."

"Me too. Maybe you could sneak in? I'm sure James would be up for it, considering it would be breaking the rules," Marlene suggests, appearing in the doorway.

"Please don't encourage him!" Lily grins, blushing a bit. "Besides, we have a date night."

"Uhh—what are you two doing?"

Lily's cheeks turn a crimson shade. "We are going swimming in the prefect bathroom."

"Lily!" Marlene and I squeal in unison.

"Are you going to—you know?" Marlene asks suggestively, making Lily turn even redder. "Merlin's beard, you are!"

As Marlene jumps onto Lily's bed, Merlin the cat darts for cover under Mary's bed.

"Please calm down. I don't want the entire Gryffindor House knowing that I'm..."

"Riding the broomstick?" Marlene suggests.

"Letting the Quaffle through the hoop?" I join in.

"Practising the Engorgio charm."

"I got it!" Lily pushes Marlene off the bed. "Don't the two of you have dates waiting?"

Marlene links her arm with mine. "We're going to have the best time tonight!"

As we say goodbye to Lily and descend the stairs to the Common Room, Marlene can't resist probing, "Did Sirius and you ever talk about doing it?"

I shake my head. "We were only together for a month."

"I'm sure in Sirius's mind, that's a year."

"He never mentioned it or pushed me into anything," I reply quietly as we pass two third-years.

"Would you have?"

"Maybe. I actually thought about doing it with Holden over Easter."

Marlene looks shocked at my revelation. "Wait, so if Robbie had come home thirty minutes later?"

I nod.

Her laughter echoes through the stairwell. After it subsides, she grabs my wrist and holds me back.

"You do know that Sirius was my first, right?" Marlene asks just as a first-year emerges from their dormitory.

I wait until they are gone before answering, "I know. Fourth year?" She nods. "Doesn't matter now. Sirius and I were a mistake."

"One day, you need to explain what happened between you two," she says and walks past me into the Common Room.

Flynn, looking handsome in his dress robes, approaches me and flashes a charming smile. "Eileen, you look breathtaking."

I smile back. "Thanks, Flynn. You look rather dashing yourself."

He offers his arm, and we make our way downstairs with Marlene, whose date is meeting her outside the Great Hall.