Midnight || Sirus Black

chapter 15

NEWTS had came and then they passed. Esther who was still very pissed at Sirius Black. That day se walked in on him snogging a girl. She was disgusted by his actions. Something she will never forgive him for. She hated the idea of him, curses herself for thinking that there could have been something between them. Hated how she she let him kiss her like she was some random girl. Esther sat on her bed in her shared dorm with Emilia, mom if their things pack, they would be graduating at the end if this week. She wanted it to be all over. Emilia walked in, softly approaching the girl,

"Esther?" Emilia sat besides her, pulling her into a hug, "Honey are you going to be okay?"

Esther who just looked at her hands, tears slowing leaving her eyes, "I don't know Emilia."

"Come here." Emilia pulled the girl closer, hugging her. "If he hurt, I swear to Merlin."

"He already has." Esther pulled away from her friends hug, "Seeing him with that girl the other day, I was so mad at him. How could he have done this again." She groaned thinking about how Sirius had the girl close to him, kissing her with such urgency. "I can't get it out of my head. I don't even care about him anymore, I just didn't think that my future husband would be such a man-whore." She said with disgust.

"I fear he has always gone around and done whatever he pleases." Emilia said carefully, not wanting the blonde to go out and kill the boy, "All that matter is being happy, and if this marriage is something that has to happen then so be it. But don't let one man get in your way. You are capable of doing so much more then being a pawn in another's game."

"That is the thing, I'm afraid of it." Esther sighed, "The world is getting dark fast, and I'm on the wrong side of it." She held her arm, not wanting anyone to see the mark, the mark that has decided her fate.

"I'm afraid to Esther." Emilia told the girl, "But I know all with be well because I have people who care and would do anything for me, and I would do anything for you. I mean bloody Tiberius took the mark to keep me out of it." Esther thought back to when she saw Tiberius at the first death eater meeting she attended.

"But will that save me?" Esther said those last words before she went back to packing away the rest of her things. Seeing that at the end of the week she would be leaving Hogwarts forever.

~~~

The end of the week came faster than any of the seventh years wanted. It was finally the day that they would graduate Hoqwarts and they would be sent out into the world. Esther already had her whole life planned, whether she wanted it or not. Sirius had been dreading this day, his life would turned upside down when he walked out those doors for the last time as s student.

"Esther!" Emilia snapped the blonde girl out of her thought, "Are you alright?" Emilia who had spent her last week with Esther out at the Black Lake, soaking up whatever happiness they had left. Esther turned to the girl,

"I don't know." Esther fumbled with her wand, "My mother wrote to me, saying she wouldn't be able to make it to the station so she would be sending Tilly, something about wedding plans and of course she mentioned things about the Dark Lord. He is on the rise, you've seen the papers Emilia. That muggle family killed two weeks ago, and that Pureblood man, Father suspects it's because he defied the Dark Lord." Emilia sunk into her chair.

"I don't what is to come of me when I go home either." Emilia hadn't received any news from her parents as well. "I'm worried as well but we can't let that get in the way of anything."

"We have to fight, not for the good or bad, but for ourselves." Esther said strongly, "Promise me that we'll make it out of this alive."

"Promise." Emilia took Esther's pinky, a habit the two girl had since they were little girls. "Now we have to get ready, the ceremony starts soon and I'd rather not be late to one last thing." Esther smirked,

"Agreed." With that the two girl put on their robes for the last time, Emilia helping Esther curl her long blonde hair that had grown longer since the summer.

"I will be forever jealous of you long hair, I swear you bleach it!"

"Nope." Esther said laughing, "All natural beauty here!"

"Ugh." Emilia whined while curling that last strand, "I can't get mine to grow any longer than this." She pointed to her hair that only passed her shoulders. Laughing the two left their room for the last time and slowly made their way to the Great Hall.

As Esther and Emilia made their way to the Great Hall, a heavy sense of finality hung over them. Every corner, every portrait seemed to carry memories of their seven years at Hogwarts, and each step felt bittersweet. The hall was buzzing with students and families, all gathered to witness this milestone. Esther scanned the crowd, noting familiar faces filled with excitement and nervousness. But for her, the future felt like a foreboding shadow looming just outside Hogwarts' walls.

Esther and Emilia took their seats among their fellow seventh-years, adjusting their robes and sharing a smile. They knew this was it—the last moment before everything changed. Dumbledore stood at the front of the hall, giving his final speech to the graduates, his wise gaze sweeping over each student, as if he saw the paths that lay ahead for each of them.

Sirius sat across the hall with James, Remus, and Peter, a complicated expression on his face. Esther could feel his gaze on her every now and then, but she refused to look his way, focusing instead on the speech. She had spent too much time dwelling on his betrayal, his insincerity. She was determined to let him see that she was not some girl who would bend at his will.

As Dumbledore finished his address, the graduates erupted in applause, the sound echoing through the grand hall. The applause was both triumphant and melancholic, as if the clapping itself was a way to hold on to this last moment of their childhood.

After the ceremony, Esther and Emilia found each other in the crowd, laughing and hugging tightly. It was an emotional whirlwind, saying goodbye to classmates, professors, and the castle they had called home. Esther knew Emilia would be the one constant she could rely on, no matter what lay ahead.

"Let's go take one last look at the lake before we have to leave," Emilia suggested, and Esther nodded, grateful for the quiet retreat.

They walked down to the Black Lake, the cool breeze rustling their robes. The water glistened under the midday sun, and for a brief moment, Esther felt a sense of peace. Here, away from the noise and responsibilities waiting for her, she could almost pretend that everything would be okay.

"Do you think things will change much once we're outside of Hogwarts?" Emilia asked, looking out over the water.

Esther sighed, hugging her arms close. "I think they already have. This past year, I've seen more of the darkness out there than I ever wanted to. And I know it's going to get worse before it gets better."

Emilia reached for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "No matter what happens, we'll face it together. We're stronger than they think."

Esther looked at Emilia, a hint of a smile on her lips. "I'm glad I have you by my side, Em. I couldn't do this alone."

They stayed by the lake for a while, letting the peaceful surroundings calm their nerves before heading back to the castle to gather their things. The train would soon arrive to take them away from Hogwarts, and they both knew that once they boarded, there was no turning back.

As they made their way to the platform, Esther caught a glimpse of Sirius in the distance, laughing with his friends, carefree as ever. She felt a pang of bitterness but quickly shook it off, determined to focus on her own path. He had made his choices, and she had made hers.

With one last look back at the castle, Esther stepped onto the train, feeling the weight of the future settle on her shoulders.

shit is about to go absolutely downhill from here...

1.4 words