The Gryffindor common room was quiet, the usual hum of chatter replaced by an uneasy silence. The aftermath of Sirius' infamous "prank" lingered like a storm cloud over everyone involved. James and Remus had distanced themselves from Sirius, unable to forgive him for his recklessness. And Severus—well, Snape had narrowly escaped something far worse than humiliation.

It wasn’t long before Sirius found himself at your door.

The so-called "prank" was Sirius’s impulsive decision to tell Severus how to get past the Whomping Willow and into the Shrieking Shack, where Remus transformed during the full moon. The plan was simple: scare Snape, who had been poking his nose where it didn’t belong.

But Sirius hadn’t thought about the consequences. If James hadn’t intervened and pulled Snape back, he could have walked right into the path of a fully transformed werewolf. Remus could have killed Snape, or worse, his secret could have been exposed to the whole school. The ramifications for Remus—a gentle soul already tormented by his condition—would have been catastrophic.

Sirius had acted without thinking, driven by his anger and need to one-up Snape, and now he was paying the price.

Late at night, you heard a knock at your door. Opening it, you found Sirius standing there, his usual cocky demeanor replaced with something raw and vulnerable. His grey eyes were dull, and the lines of his face were heavier than you’d ever seen.

“Can I come in?” He asked softly, his voice stripped of its usual bravado.

You stepped aside, letting him enter. He slumped into the chair by your desk, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

“James won’t even look at me,” He admitted. “And Remus... Merlin, I don’t blame them, but it hurts. They're my best mates, and I’ve gone and ruined everything.”