All the Young Dudes ( Sirius' Perspective )

Second Year : The Long Last Day ( Part 1 )

Friday 29th June 1973

"D'you think we'll be able to pull it off?" James asked, stifling a yawn. They were lying side by side on their backs, staring up at the heavy red drapes surrounding the bed. Sirius scoffed.

"'Course we will! We're marauders, aren't we?"

The silencing spell around the bed muffled outside sounds, slightly, but he had still heard the clock strike midnight. It was officially their final day at Hogwarts.

"We certainly are," James grinned, closing his eyes. His voice was beginning to take on that sluggish, dreamy quality that it usually did right before he fell asleep. Sirius shifted a little, jostling him, and his eyes fluttered back open.

"Mmm?" He mumbled, drowsy. Sirius hesitated.

There was something he needed to say-something he'd been meaning to talk to James about. A seed of fear that had grown, slowly, over the last few months, worming sickly roots into his mind. But it had never felt like the right time; and, honestly, the thought of speaking the words aloud made him feel as though they might come true.

James mumbled, "Reckon we should-" he broke off to yawn, "head to bed, yeah? Got an early morning tomorrow."

"Yeah," Sirius nodded, "Yeah, right." But he didn't move.

"Er...everything alright?"

James was staring at him, clearly fighting to keep his eyelids from drooping. He was obviously about to pass out.

Sirius took a quick breath, and opened his mouth,

"Idon'tknowifI'mcomingback."

The words came out in a rush, spilling into each other. James sat up, blinking.

"What?"

"I...d'you remember how my mum threatened to send me to Durmstrang?"

"Yeah, but-you don't think she'd-"

"She might."

James opened and closed his mouth like a fish, unsure of what to say. Sirius could see that it had been the last thing his friend was expecting to hear. He spoke quickly, trying to explain,

"It's just-well, with the betrothal and everything, y'know...it's a big deal. A big ceremony. And once they've announced it to everyone, they'll need to make sure that I-that I don't, I dunno, ruin it. Somehow."

"How would you coming back to Hogwarts ruin it?" James demanded, indignant. "You'd already be-well, you know!"

Sirius looked down at his hands, fiddling with his fingers. "You don't know what my parents are like. Everything's about appearances with them. If they announce to the entire wizarding world that the Black heir is engaged, it'll be like-everyone's suddenly watching."

"But that's ridiculous!"

"I know."

"I mean, who do they think even cares that much about what you do!"

"I dunno."

"Where is this even coming from? I thought you said Durmstrang was an empty threat?"