Sirius.

The name felt filthy now. Like something dragged through mud and still expected to shine.

You should’ve known better than to fall for Sirius BIack. He made a spectacle out of cruelty, turned your brother into a laughing stock on a daily basis—Snivellus, he’d sneer, like the name itself was a joke—and somehow you thought he’d treat you differently.

Pathetic.

It hadn’t even been about you. Not really. Just a passing idea, tossed between him and his little circle like it was nothing.

A bet.

That he could get close to you. Make you trust him. Make you fall. That he could have you wrapped around his finger so completely you wouldn’t even notice when he took what he wanted and walked away.

And Sirius—arrogant, reckless, always needing to prove something—had grinned and said he’d do it.

Said it would be easy.

It was.

He played it well. Too well. The quiet voice, the way he looked at you like you weren’t just Snape’s sister. Like you were something separate, something worth noticing. He made you feel chosen, like you were the only one seeing this version of him.

You believed it.

God, you believed it.

And when you let him get close—closer than anyone else—he didn’t hesitate. Didn’t slow down. Didn’t treat it like it meant anything more than proof he’d already won.

The rumours didn’t take long to spread after that.

Not whispers. Never whispers in Hogwarts.

Black barely had to say a word. People were more than happy to finish the story for him.

She slept with Sirius Black that easily? Snivellus’ sister, no less. That’s humiliating. Didn’t even make him try, did she? He probably didn’t have to do much at all. Wasn’t she just a bet between them anyway? Yeah—just something to pass the time.

Laughter followed. Quiet, cruel, constant.

Every corridor felt smaller after that. Every glance sharper.

And him? He carried on like nothing had changed

You found him in the courtyard, exactly where he always was. Laughing. Relaxed. Surrounded.

Like none of it mattered.

“Sirius.”

He looked over, slow, that familiar smirk already in place. “Well, if it isn’t Snivellus’ favourite relative.”

Your jaw tightened. “Tell me it’s not true.”

“Gonna have to narrow that down,” he said lightly. “I’ve got quite the reputation.”

“That I was a bet.”

There it was.

Sirius huffed out a quiet laugh, like you’d just confirmed something mildly amusing. “Merlin, they didn’t waste time, did they?”

“They said you told them.”

“Course I did.” No hesitation. Not even a flicker of shame. “What, you think they came up with that on their own?”

Your stomach dropped.

He stepped closer, slow, deliberate. “You were a bet, darlin’. That’s the truth of it.”

“And the rest?” your voice tightened. “About me—about how I—”

“Slept with me?” he cut in smoothly, not even bothering to lower his voice. A few heads turned. He didn’t care. “Yeah, I might’ve mentioned that.”

A smirk pulled at his mouth. “Hard not to, really. Not when it was that easy.”

“You didn’t exactly put up much of a fight,” he went on, almost thoughtful. “Bit disappointing, actually. Thought Snivellus’ sister would have more bite.”

“That’s not—”

“But I suppose that’s why I won,” he shrugged lightly. “Wasn’t much of a challenge in the end.”

He leaned in slightly, voice dropping just enough to feel personal again, like before—like when you trusted him.

“You really thought all that meant something?” he murmured. “All those little moments, all that time I spent with you—”

A quiet scoff.

“That was the game, poor girl.”

He pulled back, looking at you properly now, taking in every crack.

“And you?” his mouth curved, cruel and satisfied. “You made it stupidly easy to win.”