You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 27

The end of summer was lingering in the warm evening air, but for Mira, the season felt like it had passed in a blur of white sheets and healing potions. She had barely managed to walk ten steps outside her bedroom without her legs trembling. The recovery was slow and frustrating. Her Slytherin friends hadn't been able to visit again after that one chaotic night; the risk of being caught by anyone  or intercepted by their own parents was simply too high.

Lily and Remus, however, had stepped up. They were at Potter Manor almost every single day, wanting to soak up every second of Mira's company before the return to Hogwarts. Even Barty had managed to sneak away from his father more frequently, popping in with a smirk and a bit of gossip to keep her spirits up. No one in the house complained about the extra company. The Manor felt alive, filled with the sounds of tea being made and late-night debates in the living room.

Just two weeks before the start of term, Mira found herself in a rare state of quiet. She was alone in the house—well, alone with Sirius. He didn't really count as someone she would hang out with. Their relationship had stayed icy and distant for the better part of a year.

Mia and Monty had taken Lily and James out to a fancy dinner in London. Mia was already treating Lily like a daughter, convinced that she would officially become a Potter in the very near future. Remus was away on a final vacation with his parents , taking one last breath of peace before they all had to face the terrifying reality of the real world.

Mira was laying comfortably on her bed, staring at the canopy stars, when a sudden, heavy thud sounded from above. It was a loud, scraping noise coming right from the roof of the manor. She sat up quickly, her heart racing. Her first instinct was to call for Sirius, but she hesitated.

The sound, which distinctly resembled footsteps on slate, stopped after a few seconds. Mira waited, holding her breath. When nothing else happened, she slowly eased herself out of bed. She walked with a slight limp toward her balcony, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever was up there.

She couldn't see much at first, but then a flash of black leather and a mop of messy, dark hair emerged near the edge of the roofline. It was Sirius. He was sitting on the very peak of the house, his shoulders shaking. Was he... crying?

The guilt hit her instantly. She knew Sirius put up a front of being invincible, but the war and his family history were heavy burdens to carry. Despite her own physical weakness, she knew she couldn't just go back to sleep. She gathered every bit of strength she had and slowly made her way out of her room and up the narrow servant stairs that led to the roof access.

By the time she reached the top, she was out of breath. Sirius was gazing up at the stars, his face pale in the moonlight. He jumped slightly when he heard her labored breathing.

"What are you doing here, Ro? You're supposed to be in bed" he said. He rolled his eyes and quickly wiped his face with the back of his hand, trying to act as if he hadn't been shedding tears seconds ago.

"And leave you to sulk all by yourself? Never" Mira replied. She let out one final grunt of effort as she lowered herself onto the shingles next to him. "I've never been up here. It's quite beautiful. Oh, and look! You can see all the stars from here. Amazing" she noted, her voice full of genuine wonder as she looked at the vast, glittering sky.

"Oh, yeah. Moony said you love the stars. Why is that?" Sirius asked. For the first time since they had met, he sounded actually curious about her, rather than just suspicious or annoyed.

Mira chuckled softly. She pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them tight as she stared at the constellations. "You" she breathed.

The word was so quiet it was almost a whisper. If the night hadn't been so still, Sirius might have missed it. He looked at her, his brow furrowed in deep confusion.