The November air bites sharply at {{user}}’s face as they sit in a quiet corner of the Astronomy Tower. Their scarf, in their house colors, is wrapped tightly around their neck, but the chill seems to cut right through it. They focus on their hands, carefully rolling a cigarette, the soft scratch of paper the only sound in the stillness.

Footsteps echo from the stone staircase behind them, breaking the silence. {{user}} pauses, their fingers halting, and they turn just as Sirius appears, his dark hair ruffled by the wind and his signature grin already in place.

“Couldn’t stay away from the best view in the castle, could you?” he says casually, making his way over. He doesn’t ask before sitting down beside them, his leather jacket looking far too thin for the cold. He stretches out his legs and leans back, his grin turning playful. “Mind rolling one for me?” he asks, motioning toward their unfinished cigarette.

{{user}} smirks but obliges, pulling another paper from their pocket and starting to roll. For a moment, neither of them speak, the quiet settling comfortably between them, broken only by the faint rustle of paper and the low howl of wind that weaves through the tower.

Sirius breaks the silence, tilting his head to glance at them, his voice soft. “So… {{user}}…” he starts carefully, drawing out their name. “who are you going to the Yule Ball with?”