Burning Love

•Always Believed•

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over Hogwarts as I was summoned to the castle in the dead of night. My heart raced with both dread and a flicker of hope. The news was startling: Sirius had somehow infiltrated the school and broken into the Gryffindor common room. Panic rippled through the castle as Aurors scrambled to search every corner, ensuring the safety of the students.

I arrived at the entrance hall, where chaos reigned. Groups of students were huddled together, their faces pale with fear. My gaze darted around the room, searching for any sign of Sirius, but all I felt was a tightening in my chest.

As I moved through the crowd, I caught sight of a group of Gryffindors. My breath hitched as I recognized Harry among them. He stood out with his unruly hair, his glasses perched on his nose, and a look of confusion etched on his face. In that moment, the resemblance struck me like a lightning bolt. He was a mirror of James in so many ways, but it was the eyes—those deep, familiar green eyes—that took my breath away.

I froze for a moment, the reality of who he was crashing over me. There he was, my nephew, standing just a few feet away, entirely unaware of our connection. My heart ached with longing and grief, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I wanted nothing more than to reach out, to tell him everything, but it was far from the right time. The danger in the air was palpable, and I couldn't risk drawing attention to myself.

Harry glanced my way, a fleeting look of curiosity in his eyes. I quickly turned away, my heart racing as I walked past him. The weight of that moment felt like an anchor dragging me down. I had waited so long to meet him, and now, here we were—so close, yet separated by circumstance and fear.

I pushed my way through the crowd, trying to focus on the Aurors as they conducted their searches. I knew I had to remain composed, to fulfill my duty. But my mind was reeling, torn between the urgency of the situation and the overwhelming desire to connect with Harry.

Hours passed, and the atmosphere in the castle shifted from panic to exhaustion. The Aurors reported back, finding nothing. It seemed that Sirius had slipped through their fingers once again. As I stood in the hallway, my thoughts still swirling around Harry, I couldn't shake the feeling of what could have been.

For now, I would remain in the shadows, watching over him from afar. I would protect him in whatever way I could, even if it meant sacrificing my own desires for connection. As I left the castle that night, I felt a renewed determination within me. I would find a way to be part of his life, but first, I had to ensure that he was safe.

As I stepped outside the castle, the cool night air rushed over me, a stark contrast to the chaos I had just left behind. The moon illuminated the path, guiding me toward the Whomping Willow, where I noticed Remus slip past the gnarled branches. A sense of curiosity pulled at me, compelling me to follow.

Heart pounding, I crept closer, my thoughts racing. Why was Remus sneaking in there? What could possibly be so important? With a deep breath, I gathered my courage and climbed through the hidden entrance to the tunnels below. The damp air enveloped me as I made my way through the dark, twisting passages, listening for any sounds that might hint at what lay ahead.

As I approached a faint light, I paused, straining to hear voices echoing from the room ahead. My hand instinctively reached for my wand, its familiar weight grounding me. I stepped forward, heart racing, and pushed open the door, only to be met with a sight that froze me in my tracks.

There stood Remus, but next to him was Sirius. The shock of seeing him again, after all these years, was overwhelming. He looked older, the shadows under his eyes revealing the weight he had carried, but I could still see the spark of mischief that had always been there. My heart swelled with a mix of disbelief and joy.