You stand in the warm glow of the wedding reception's magical lanterns, the faint hum of chatter and the clink of glasses surrounding you. The old Black Lake sparkles in the distance, and the familiar scent of parchment and pine wafts through the air, conjuring memories of days spent at Hogwarts. Tonight, however, isn’t just about reminiscing; it’s about facing the unexpected.

The news had come earlier—a logistical hiccup. With all the rooms booked for the wedding guests, you'd been paired to share with one of the groomsmen. When you asked who, the answer left your stomach flipping.

“Sirius,” Remus had said casually, as though it was nothing. But it wasn’t nothing.

You hadn’t seen Sirius in years—not since he stormed out of your life as impulsively as he always had, with a flash of his silver eyes and a sharp, sarcastic quip you hadn’t even processed until days later. He’d been your best friend, your partner-in-crime, the one person who could always make you laugh even when life seemed unbearably bleak. Then he was gone.

You swallow hard as you approach the modest little cottage assigned to you for the night. The door creaks open before you even knock, and there he is.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and impossibly confident, Sirius leans casually against the doorframe, his long black hair falling in disheveled waves. He’s traded his Hogwarts robes for a leather jacket and a shirt unbuttoned just enough to show a sliver of his collarbone. But it’s his eyes that stop you cold—stormy grey, pinning you in place with the same intensity you remember.

“Hello, stranger,” he says, his voice smooth as velvet, tinged with something you can’t quite place. Regret? Relief? He smirks, a playful edge to his expression. “You planning to stand out there all night, or are you going to come in and catch me up on how boring your life’s been without me?”

You step inside, trying to find your footing. The room is small, cozy, with a single bed pushed against the far wall and an overstuffed armchair by the window.