Burning Love

•Mr. Pretender•

The next morning dawned bright and crisp, sunlight streaming through the windows of the Gryffindor common room. I stretched lazily, the events of the previous night flooding back into my mind like a vivid dream. Sirius and I—our kiss, the way we had connected—felt surreal yet wonderfully real.

As I made my way to the Great Hall for breakfast, I hoped for a glimpse of Sirius. The moment I spotted him at the Gryffindor table, my stomach flipped with a mix of excitement and nerves. He was laughing with James and Lily, his usual charm radiating, but as soon as our eyes met, I felt an electric jolt.

"Hey!" I greeted a little too cheerfully, trying to mask my unease.

"Morning!" he replied, his voice light, but there was an underlying tension that we both felt. It was as if we had a secret neither of us wanted to acknowledge.

I joined Lily and Alice at the table, trying to act normal as I poured myself some pumpkin juice. My heart raced every time I caught Sirius's eye; it was impossible to ignore the unspoken words hanging between us.

"Did you enjoy the party last night?" Lily asked, a knowing smile on her face. I could feel her probing for details about my interaction with Sirius.

"Yeah, it was fun," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "You know, typical Gryffindor chaos."

Sirius interjected, feigning nonchalance, "You know how it is, right? Just another night with the best team in Hogwarts." He flashed a grin, but I could tell he was being extra casual, as if nothing had happened.

James, oblivious to the undercurrents, grinned at Lily. "Can you believe we won? I'm pretty sure it's because of my stunning skills!"

Lily rolled her eyes, but I noticed the warmth in her gaze. "Right, James. You mean because you caught the Snitch while looking like a complete fool?"

"Hey, a fool wins, too!" James shot back, and they both laughed, creating a comfortable atmosphere that made me wish I could relax.

As we finished breakfast, I stole glances at Sirius, who seemed to be the picture of normalcy. He joked with Peter and playfully shoved James, acting like the same guy I'd known for years. But beneath that facade, I sensed a different energy, one that made my heart flutter and my mind race.

"Ready for class?" Lily asked, nudging me as we gathered our things. I nodded, trying to shake off the tension that seemed to hang in the air.

Walking through the corridors, I fell into step beside Sirius, who was now chatting with James about their plans for the day. The moment felt almost like it used to—light, carefree—but there was a layer of awkwardness that lingered just beneath the surface.

"Hey," I said quietly as we reached a corner, pulling him slightly aside. "About last night..."

"Last night?" he replied, his tone deliberately casual as he rubbed the back of his neck. "What about it?"

"You know what I mean," I pressed, a teasing lilt to my voice, hoping to coax the truth out of him.

"Ah, that. Just... a bit of celebratory fun, right?" He flashed a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes, and I could tell he was deflecting.

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement. "You can't just pretend it didn't happen, Sirius."

"Sure I can," he countered, smirking. "I'm very good at pretending."

Rolling my eyes, I decided to play along, albeit reluctantly. "Alright, Mr. Pretender. Just remember, I'm onto you."

"Good luck with that," he shot back, laughter dancing in his eyes. The moment was familiar and comforting, even if the tension was still there.