You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 21

Slytherin had snatched a narrow victory against Gryffindor in the final Quidditch match before the Easter break, and the mood in the dungeons was nothing short of electric. To celebrate, the common room had been transformed into a den of loud music, green and silver banners, and enough smuggled firewhiskey to floor a giant. Mira had decided early on that she would stay sober. She knew her friends well enough to know that at least one of them would end up leaning over a toilet or trying to pick a fight with a suit of armor before the night was through, and she wanted to be the one clear head capable of helping them.

As the night wore on, the chaos only intensified. Pandora had eventually admitted defeat, unable to handle the rising noise and the thick tension of so many bodies in one space, and had retired to her dormitory. After hours of chatter, messy drinking games, and the kind of pointless laughter that only comes with exhaustion, Mira and Theo had found a quiet corner to call their own. They were sprawled out on a dark velvet sofa, limbs tangled together as they sought a bit of peace from the party.

Theo had certainly not followed Mira's lead on the sobriety front. He had drunk his absolute arse off, which had turned him into a version of himself that Mira rarely saw in public. He was incredibly talkative and more affectionate than usual, his sharp edges softened by the alcohol. He spoke about every random thought that popped into his head, his face illuminated by a wide, crooked smile that Mira absolutely loved. His hands were never still, constantly caressing her cheeks or tracing the line of her jaw, his lips leaving soft, lingering pecks on every corner of her face.

Mira watched him, trying to memorize the way he looked in this light. At that moment, she could almost pretend they were just normal teenagers. She could envision a life where a war wasn't hiding just around the corner, waiting to force them onto opposite sides of a battlefield. For these few minutes, there was no Voldemort, no Death Eaters, and no pure-blood expectations.

"Darling" Theo whispered adoringly, his voice thick and low as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Mira hummed softly in response, leaning into his touch.

"I love you"

Three little words. Eight innocent letters. They were spoken with such raw sincerity that the air seemed to get sucked out of the room. Mira froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. She stared at him, her mind racing but her tongue feeling like lead. She didn't know how to respond, or perhaps she simply didn't want to give the answer she knew she should. This wasn't supposed to happen. They had an understanding, a silent pact that they wouldn't let things get this heavy.

The alcohol was slowly getting the best of Theo's temper. As the seconds ticked by and Mira remained silent, the soft affection in his eyes began to curd into something sharper and more defensive. The longer she took to respond, the angrier he became.

"Just forget it" he spat suddenly. He shoved himself off the sofa, standing up so abruptly that Mira nearly tumbled onto the floor.

"Theo, wait!" she cried, reaching out for his hand, but he pulled away.

"You always do this, Mira! You always say we can't, or we shouldn't, or that there's too much to risk" he shouted, his voice cutting through the noise of the party. "And honestly, I'm so fucking tired of this shit. Why can't we? Why shouldn't we? Who is actually stopping us?"

"You're drunk, Theo. You don't know what you're saying" Mira responded, her voice trembling. Tears were already threatening to spill over as she looked up at him.

The music didn't stop, but the people nearby certainly did. Heads turned, and the laughter died down as the other students started watching the two sixth-years with intense curiosity.

"Things have never been clearer for me, I promise you!" Theo yelled back, his face flushed.

Regulus, Barty, and Evan had spotted the commotion from across the room and were already pushing their way through the crowd. They reached the corner just as the argument was reaching a breaking point.