Burning Love

•The Big Day•

As the days dwindled down to James and Lily's wedding, the excitement in the air was palpable, but beneath the joy lay a current of anxiety that seemed to swirl around everyone. I was supposed to be helping with the arrangements—floral centerpieces, seating charts, the whole nine yards—but all I could think about was where I was going to live once James and Lily took the leap into their new life.

They were completely freaking out. I'd seen Lily tear up over table settings, and James had nearly lost it when discussing their future home. "What if we choose the wrong place?" he had asked, pacing back and forth like a caged animal. I tried to reassure them, but honestly, I was just as lost.

Our parents came to the rescue with a brilliant offer: they'd move out to the countryside, and James and Lily could have their house in Godric's Hollow. It made perfect sense—this beautiful, quaint home was filled with memories of their childhood. But as they excitedly planned their future there, I couldn't shake my own uncertainty.

Sirius had been watching the whole situation unfold, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "Why don't you just move in with me?" he suggested one evening, leaning back on the couch at Grimmauld Place, the old home that seemed to hold secrets of its own.

I stared at him, a mixture of surprise and excitement bubbling within me. "Move in with you? At Grimmauld Place? Isn't that a bit... chaotic?" The house had its quirks, and the shadows of the past hung heavily there, but there was something comforting about it too.

"Chaotic can be fun," he replied, his grin widening. "Besides, we'd make it our own. It's a big house—there's plenty of room, and I promise to keep the dark corners in check."

A part of me was thrilled by the idea, the thought of building something together, but another part worried about leaving everything behind. What if I regretted it? What if moving in with him changed everything? The way James and Lily were diving headfirst into their new life only highlighted my indecision.

Still, there was something appealing about the prospect. Sirius and I had always clicked, and maybe taking this leap could ground me amidst the chaos of wedding plans and life changes.

"Let me think about it," I said, biting my lip, my mind racing with possibilities.

As I returned to the wedding preparations, I couldn't help but watch James and Lily. Their excitement, though tinged with stress, was infectious. Maybe this was the push I needed to figure out my own path. With the wedding just around the corner and my future hanging in the balance, I realized that sometimes, stepping into the unknown was the only way to find where you truly belonged.

As the wedding day approached, the whirlwind of plans consumed us all. I watched as James and Lily transformed into the excited, nervous couple I'd always known they'd be. Amid the laughter and the last-minute details, I realized that I could no longer ignore the question looming over me: Where would I be after they said "I do"?

The moment Sirius brought up moving in together, I felt a rush of warmth mixed with anxiety. I liked the idea—no, I loved it—but the timing felt complicated. "I'll help with the wedding," I told him one night as we sat on the couch, surrounded by flickering candlelight and the remnants of takeout. "Once it's over, I'd love to move in with you."

He grinned, and I could see the relief wash over him. "So, it's a plan?"

"Yeah, it's a plan," I confirmed, my heart racing at the thought. Moving into Grimmauld Place felt like a fresh start, a new adventure alongside someone I trusted. But I also wanted to be there for my friends as they stepped into this next chapter of their lives.

~

The day before the wedding, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and nerves. I was running around the venue, double-checking the floral arrangements and making sure everything was in place. It was one of those hectic days where time seemed to slip through my fingers like sand, but I was determined to make it perfect for James and Lily.