✓ | PARAMOUR, sirius black

chapter ten

Kaia found herself pleasantly surprised by the way the date had gone. She couldn't help but be amazed that Sirius hadn't attempted to make any moves or make her feel uncomfortable in any way. It was certainly unexpected, given his reputation and the expectations she had set for the evening.

As the date came to a close, Kaia found herself genuinely enjoying the evening, and to her own surprise, she found herself speaking before she fully thought it through. "We should do this again," she heard herself say, the words slipping past her lips before she could stop herself.

Sirius had looked pleasantly stunned at her words, a slow, genuine smile spreading across his face. He paused for a moment, almost as if waiting for her to take them back, before nodding in agreement.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice low and sincere, "We definitely should."

And so, with those simple words, Kaia and Sirius had unknowingly taken the first step towards a developing bond. Neither of them knew where things might lead, but there was a certain spark that couldn't be ignored.

As the months passed, Kaia and Sirius found themselves going on date after date. It wasn't long before the reputation that Sirius had earned as a 'paramour' seemed to fade into the background.

Instead, a new image began to take shape, as Sirius slowly transformed into someone who was exclusive to one girl: Kaia.

Hogwarts' corridors became filled with whispers and murmurs as rumours of Sirius's change in character spread like wildfire. Many couldn't believe that the once infamous Casanova was now devoted to a single person.

To Sirius, each date with Kaia brought its own unique moments. One of the most memorable was hearing her laugh for the first time. It was a sound he had never heard before, and it was like a melody to his ears.

With each encounter, he sensed her walls slowly chipping away, and a side of her, he had never seen before was beginning to emerge.

Those moments were precious to him, and he treasured them all, knowing that he was privileged to be one of the few who got to see this softer, more vulnerable side of Kaia.

Kaia was cuddled up next to Sirius, sitting beneath a tree, slightly away from the others. She let out a sigh and stated, "Your brother hasn't spoken to me in a while."

Sirius chuckled and said, "Yeah, he's probably mad that you've been hanging out with me so much."

Kaia sighed, leaning against the tree next to him. "Is that really the reason?" she asked, her brows furrowed in thought.

Sirius leaned back and nodded, his expression serious. "You know, we aren't really like you and Marlene, or the Scamander twins, or even Frank and Tabitha." He paused, his eyes meeting hers. "Not all siblings get along."

Kaia rolled her eyes slightly, "I know that, but I still feel like I've failed him, being the senior and all."

Sirius nodded sagely, his voice softening when he spoke, "Maybe what he needs is some time. Leaving home has put a pretty big weight on his shoulders. I guess now he's the only child, dealing with all that comes with it."

Kaia didn't say anything, but she reached out and placed her hand on Sirius's, giving it a comforting squeeze. She knew better than to pity him for leaving home, as she could see how much happier he was living with the Potters.

Kaia squeezed his hand gently. "Alright, I'll give him some time," she agreed, a small smile touching her lips. "But only if you tell me about some memories you shared with him before things went sour."

Sirius let out a sigh, his gaze fixed on their intertwined hands. "There isn't much to say," he confessed, his voice soft. "We didn't have the most picture-perfect relationship, even when we were younger."

Kaia met his gaze, her voice gentle yet firm. "It doesn't matter if there are hardly any happy memories. I'd still like to hear about what things were like with Regulus and you before, well, everything changed between you two."

Sirius chuckled softly, a trace of melancholy in his smile. "Is that too forward to ask?" Kaia asked, her voice soft and hopeful.

"No, of course not," Sirius responded swiftly, his eyes softening as he looked at her.

Kaia listened attentively as Sirius began to open up, her gaze intently focused on him. "Please tell me if I go too far," she said cautiously, her words filled with concern.

Sirius chuckled, his eyes taking on a nostalgic twinkle as he spoke of the past. "Reggie and I used to raid the kitchen late at night," he said, his voice soft. "One thing we both loathed was the constant hovering of the house elves. Don't get me wrong, we don't hate them, but sometimes we just craved the independence that came with doing things on our own."

Kaia chuckled softly, her eyes never leaving Sirius's face. "How on earth did you manage to get past the house-elves?"

Sirius flashed her a charming smile, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Well, I was born a trickster," he replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "It was quite easy to outwit them and get past them, but don't worry, it was all in good fun."

With a sly grin, he winked at her. "Perhaps it's best if I don't disclose what exactly I did," he admitted.

Kaia couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head slightly at his antics. "Yeah, I think I'll pass on knowing the specifics of your tricks," she said with a smile.

Sirius leaned back against her shoulder, his expression softening as he continued. "But those were the only times that our dark and dreary family home saw some semblance of colour," he mused.

Kaia felt a pang of sympathy in her heart as she listened to Sirius' words. She couldn't imagine what it must have been like to grow up in a household so bleak that the only bursts of colour came from late-night kitchen escapades.

She placed her hand over his comfortingly, her touch tender and understanding. "It must have been tough, growing up in a home like that," she murmured, her voice just above a whisper.

Sirius remained silent momentarily, his gaze fixed on the surroundings. Finally, he turned to face her, a sad smile playing on his lips. "It was," he admitted quietly. "Those nights in the kitchen were like our secret rebellion against the oppressive environment we were forced to grow up in."

Kaia's heart ached for him, feeling a sense of profound empathy for his painful past. Her hand squeezed his tighter, a silent show of solidarity and understanding.

"I'm truly sorry you had to endure so much," she murmured, her voice filled with sincerity. "But it's a evidence to your strength and resilience that you managed to find joy in those small moments, even amidst the darkness."

"Thank you for asking, Kaia," Sirius repeated, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "James did ask me once, but he stopped when he saw how uncomfortable I had become."

Sirius smiled faintly, his expression both grateful and reflective. "But, now that I actually said, I don't mind talking about it, because it's nice to just share these memories."

Kaia smiled warmly, her eyes never leaving his face. "Memories are important," she said gently, "They're a part of us, shaping who we are today."

Sirius nodded, his hand finding its way to hers as he squeezed it lightly. "You're right," he agreed, his voice soft but tinged with a touch of sadness. "Sometimes, though, it's hard to remember the good memories when they're overshadowed by the bad ones."