Sirius found himself alone in a secluded corner of the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, savoring the final swig of his bitter Butterbeer. With an absentminded gaze, he swirled the tangy liquid in his glass as live music from David Bowie filled the pub speakers, one of Sirius's favourite songs humming beneath the wooden tables with every strum of the electric guitar.

The hot, musky scent of alcohol hung acridly in the pub's air, blending with the lively chatter of inebriated wizards and cheerful waiters. Despite the blissful atmosphere, Sirius felt like a gray figure in a room of vibrant colors. His friends—James and Peter, specifically—were predictably in detention due to yet another prank. Remus, being the responsible Gryffindor he was, was not. However, Sirius, feeling bored and in need of a cigarette, didn't find the idea of an evening alone all that sad.