Midnight || Sirus Black

chapter 14

Sirius sat on the edge of his bed in the Gryffindor dormitory, his thoughts swirling like autumn leaves caught in a gust of wind. With the end of the year approaching and the pressure of the NEWTs weighing heavily on his shoulders, he felt trapped—not by his impending marriage to Esther, which was merely a social construct, but by the expectations that surrounded him. He could hear James, Remus, and Peter joking in the common room, but their laughter felt distant, muffled by the weight of his thoughts.

"Mate, you look like you've seen a ghost," James said, flopping onto the bed beside him, a cheeky grin plastered on his face. "What's eating you?"

"Nothing," Sirius replied curtly, the truth tangled in his throat.

"C'mon, we're your best mates. You can't hide this from us," Peter chimed in, nudging him with a hopeful grin. "Is it about Malfoy? You've been a bit off lately."

Sirius hesitated, then sighed heavily. "I just... I don't think I can do it, James. I don't want to go through with the marriage."

"Why not?" Remus asked, concern etched on his face. "I thought you two had just started to get along finally."

"I thought I could do it, for Regulus," Sirius admitted, he didn't want the wrath of his parents all in his younger brother, "But I can't live a lie with someone who stands for what I'm the total opposite of."

James raised an eyebrow, a knowing look passing between him and Remus. "So what do you plan to do?"

"I don't know" Sirius snapped, standing up abruptly and pacing the small space. "But I can't pretend anymore. I can't go through with this wedding and live a life that isn't mine."

"Then talk to her," Remus suggested gently. "Tell her how you feel. You owe her that much."

"I don't want to talk," Sirius growled, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I just want to get away. Clear my head."

James looked at him incredulously. "So you're just going to run off? That's your plan?"

"I don't know," Sirius admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I need to feel something other than this pressure."

Remus sighed, crossing his arms. "Just be careful, Sirius. Running away isn't always the answer."

"Yeah, yeah. I know," Sirius muttered, his mind racing with possibilities. He needed an escape, a distraction, something to pull him away from the looming specter of his future with Esther.

~~~

Later that evening, Sirius found himself wandering the castle, aimlessly navigating the familiar halls. He needed to break free from the weight of expectation. As he strolled into a secluded corridor, he spotted a girl he recognized—Summer, with her brunette hair and unique vibe.

"Hey," he called out, a grin breaking across his face. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Hey, Sirius," she replied, her voice soft and melodic. "What are you doing all alone?"

"Just needed to get away for a bit," he said, the weight of his earlier conversation slipping away. "Want to join me?"

"Sure," she smiled, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "What do you have in mind?"

Sirius felt a rush of adrenaline as he led her deeper into the castle. They snuck into a darkened classroom, the air thick with the scent of dust and old parchment. The atmosphere crackled with tension, and he could feel a connection building between them.

"What do you want to do?" Summer asked, leaning against a desk, a smirk at her lips, twirling her hair.

"Honestly? I just want to forget everything for a while," Sirius admitted, stepping closer. "I don't want to think about my future. I just want to be here, in this moment."