Her body trembled with a surge of fear, sending shivers down her spine and mingling with the salty taste of tears streaming down her face. Each step up the stairs became a delicate dance, a ballet of caution to avoid tripping and giving herself away.
An unexpected jolt of pain shot through her, like a bolt of lightning, as she stubbed her toe against one of the unforgiving stone steps. A pained whimper escaped her lips, adding to the weight of exhaustion that pressed heavily on her. Her stomach churned, and her heart ached, but with sheer determination, she continued her desperate climb. The jingling charms on her bracelet served as a melodic reminder of the danger she was fleeing.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she reached her destination. Adrenaline surged through her veins, propelling her forward as she fought to outrun the suffocating grip of anxiety that threatened to consume her. Each labored breath burned her lungs, but she pressed on, determined to escape its clutches. Sweat dripped down her neck, soaking her jumper and causing her hair to cling to her face.
Weakened, she groaned as she pushed open the door. The dim firelight of the torches in the hallway spilled into the dorm room as she slipped inside. With a whispered incantation, she illuminated the room, closing the door behind her quietly to avoid alerting anyone to her presence.
"Gwen?" Jamie's voice broke the silence as he and Sirius emerged from the invisibility cloak, both clad in their pajamas. Furrowing their eyebrows, they looked at her with confusion. "What are you doing here?"
Her lip quivered, and she collapsed to the floor, overcome with sobs.
"Bloody hell," Jamie swore, rushing towards her. "Have you been taking your calming draughts?"
Sirius watched, concern etched on his face, as Jamie crouched beside her, gently patting her back. Taking in her disheveled appearance, he noticed the profuse sweating and the tears that had left her face red and swollen. She struggled to catch her breath, her sobs turning into hyperventilation.
"Sirius, do something!" Jamie pleaded.
Wide-eyed, Sirius stumbled and sat down in front of her.
"Hey," he called out softly, grabbing her wrists and pulling them away from her face. "Look at me." Slowly, she lifted her gaze towards him, her gasps for air filling the dorm room.
"Good girl," he said, squeezing her wrists gently. "Now, try to take a deep breath for me." It took a few attempts, but eventually, she managed to take a deep breath. "Good girl. Now, can you tell us what happened?"
She averted her gaze, nervously chewing on her bottom lip.
"Please, darling," Sirius soothed. "Let us help you."
Finally, Gwen nodded, her gaze shifting to James, her cousin, who stood behind Sirius.
"I'm having nightmares again," she rasped, her voice small and broken.
"You will stay here," James assured her, moving towards the bathroom. "Go shower and clean up in our bathroom."
Her gaze shifted towards James, then back to Sirius, his hands still holding hers. "I need clothes."
Sirius swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "I-I'll bring them to you."
As Gwen made her way towards the small bathroom connected to their dorm, Sirius turned to James, who was hunched over his desk, scribbling furiously.
"What are you doing?" Sirius asked.
"I'm writing to my Uncle," James replied, pausing to throw his quill aside. His owl stirred awake, stretching its wings before taking the sealed letter with the Potter House insignia. "I should have seen it. I've been so focused on the map and pranking that I neglected to check on her."
"What's wrong?" Sirius questioned, hearing the shower turn on. He went to his trunk, pulling out a jumper and transfiguring Gwen's pajama pants into something that would fit her. "Why does she look so..."
"She's not broken," James interjected, his voice filled with urgency. "Imagine witnessing your mother's death, the trauma overwhelming her. In that moment, something inside her snapped, and she crumbled to the floor, consumed by tears and anguished cries. Her magic, untamed and wild, surged out of control, causing the very foundation of the manor to tremble."
Sirius stood motionless, his mind struggling to process the weight of the revelation.
But James wasn't finished yet. He continued, his voice tinged with regret, "To calm her hysterical grief, my uncle had her rely on calming draughts. Even now, she occasionally seeks solace in them. However, I should have realized that the anniversary of her mother's death would trigger such an overwhelming emotional assault."
Realizing the need for immediate action, Sirius suggested, "Since Remus isn't here, we can offer her one of our beds for the night. Let's use his bed ourselves."
With a heavy sigh, James acknowledged, "She is my cousin. I'll take Remus' bed tonight."
Sirius nodded in agreement, using his wand to tidy up their cluttered dorm. The last thing he wanted was for her to stumble upon a hazard during another potential panic attack.
"We should retire to bed," James suggested, moving towards Remus' untouched bed. "She'll likely be feeling embarrassed about what just unfolded." He glanced at Peter, who continued to snore obliviously, undisturbed by the chaos they had just experienced. "Bloody hell, that boy can sleep through anything."
Sirius shrugged, offering an explanation, "It's probably because we kept him up the previous night, exploring every nook and cranny of the castle."
Climbing into his bed, he crawled under the covers. James followed before he cast nox and the room was cast into darkness. He immediately drifted off to sleep and was almost there before he heard the door open and feet shuffling out the door and into the main part of the dorm.
He felt a tugging on his blanket.
Turning over, he saw the faint outline of Gwen, her wet hair clung to her face. Although the lighting was poor, he knew what she was asking.
Lifting up the covers, he scooted over to give her some room. She climbed into bed and snuggled into the warm blankets. Sirius just closed his eyes, taking a deep breath causing him to inhale the sweet fruity scent that came from her.
Of course, she smelt pretty too.
"Goodnight Sirius," she whispered.
"Goodnight Gwen,"
As the seasons transitioned from March to April and April to May, everything seemed to shift, including their relationship. It all began when Sirius received a letter from Declan the following morning. While James discreetly escorted Gwen back to her tower, Sirius eagerly opened the letter. It contained detailed instructions on how to support her through her panic attacks and nightmares.
Since that day, Sirius had taken great care in following each instruction. It was a promise he had made to Declan, to protect and nurture his daughter, both physically and mentally. She occasionally would slip into their dorm and climb into bed with either James or himself. As time went on, her visits had lessened. However, it didn't stop Sirius from prioritizing spending as much free time as possible by her side, or when she was with her friends, he would discreetly check in on her. James had been informed about the situation and he too made an effort to be more present and attentive towards Gwen.
Sirius would never admit it out loud, but one of his guilty pleasures was observing her. It wasn't just because she was undeniably beautiful, but because she embodied kindness in its purest form. There was something about her that had a lasting effect on him, stirring unfamiliar and pleasant emotions.
Lost in his thoughts, Sirius was abruptly brought back to reality when Gwen waved her hand in front of his face, her charm bracelet jingling softly, its new charms gleaming.
"Sorry, darling. Could you repeat that?" Sirius blinked, refocusing his attention on her.
"I want to spend the rest of the day studying in the library. Would you mind joining me?" Gwen asked, her eyes filled with determination.
"Anything," Sirius replied without hesitation.
What he truly wanted to say was, "I would follow you to the ends of the earth."
True to his promise, Sirius ensured that Gwen took good care of herself. They settled in the library, side by side, engrossed in their respective subjects. Eventually, Sirius closed his book and pushed it aside. He couldn't help but be captivated by Gwen's unwavering focus. With her legs resting comfortably on his lap and a textbook in her hands, she leaned against the bookshelf. Her usually neatly tied-up hair cascaded around her face, a rare sight that showcased her dedication to her studies.
Mesmerized, Sirius observed Gwen's expressions as she meticulously flipped through her notes and textbooks. The furrowed eyebrows and the occasional nibble on her bottom lip revealed her intense concentration. In these moments, she embodied the true spirit of a Ravenclaw. The sight of her immersed in her studies had a calming effect on Sirius, soothing his own anxieties and even aiding in his sleep. It was no wonder he found himself checking on her every now and then.
"Take it easy, sweetheart," Sirius cautioned, genuine concern lacing his voice.
"I'm fine," Gwen replied nonchalantly, waving off his worry as she reached for another textbook.
Rolling his eyes playfully, Sirius retrieved his headphones and the walker Gwen had given him for Christmas. Plugging in the headphones, he immersed himself in the magical world of muggle rock music she had introduced him to. The sound of The Rolling Stones filled his ears as he closed his eyes and reclined, savoring the moment.
"Ah, a nap sounds absolutely delightful right now," Gwen sighed, stretching her tired limbs and closing her final textbook. Glancing across from her, she noticed that Sirius had succumbed to slumber. His tie was loosened, his head propped up by a book, and his headphones still playing music. Seizing the opportunity, Gwen quietly grabbed her camera and snapped a candid photo of him. Gently removing her feet from his lap, she packed up her belongings, realizing that dinner time was approaching.
Crawling towards the slumbering Sirius, Gwen carefully removed his headphones and set them aside. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she whispered his name, trying not to startle him. "Sirius, please wake up."
"Mmmm…?" Sirius slowly regained consciousness, opening his eyes to find Gwen's face inches away from his, a soft smile illuminating her features.
"Hey, sleepyhead," Gwen whispered, shifting away to sit on her legs. "It's almost dinner time, and I know you must be famished since you've been with me all day." As she spoke, she tidied up their belongings, understanding that Sirius needed a few moments to fully wake up.
"You're right, I'm starving," Sirius mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "You always seem to know me so well, Donoghue." A smile formed on his lips as he watched Gwen gather their bags.
"Well, it's not like we spend every waking moment together or anything," Gwen retorted playfully, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. She grinned at him, holding back a snort at his remark.
"I suppose great minds think alike," Sirius quipped, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and taking both of their bags. Together, they left the library, Sirius listening as she talked about the upcoming exams.
As the end of Gwen's first year at Hogwarts approached, the excitement and anticipation of exams filled the air. She dedicated countless hours to studying in the library, however, Lily wanted to take a break and decided they needed some much needed girl talk.
Lily and Gwen strolled leisurely through the corridor, engrossed in a conversation about the mischievous antics of her fellow Ravenclaw dormmates. Suddenly, the topic shifted to the Slug Club, and Lily's cheeks flushed slightly as she grew quiet.
Gwen playfully teased, "Seems like someone's got a Gryffindor on their mind."
Lily nodded shyly. "Remus asked me to join him for a small picnic by Black Lake this Friday instead of going to dinner."
"You said yes, right?"
"Of course," Lily replied.
Gwen couldn't contain her excitement. "I'm so thrilled for you, Lily!"
"Really?" Lily asked, a hint of doubt in her voice.
Gwen giggled. "Absolutely."
Lily blushed and buried her face in her books, feeling a sudden surge of embarrassment. Deciding to give her friend a break from teasing, she changed the subject to their Transfigurations class and the assignment they were given.
As they rounded the corner and entered the courtyard, they witnessed a heated argument between the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams. Unsure whether to intervene or simply observe, they exchanged glances. Gwen spied both James and Jack, facing off with frowns.
"We have permission from Professor McGonagall to practice today!" declared Billius Weasley.
The Slytherin captain sneered. "Tell that to Professor Slughorn, who also granted us permission to use the Quidditch field."
"Oi, why don't you be useful for once and keep quiet, Lexington?" James interjected, pushing his way to the front and staring him down.
"Quiet, Potter!" Mark Lexington, the Slytherin Quidditch captain, glowered.
"We should let the Slytherin team have the field; they need all the practice they can get," James sneered, causing his teammates to erupt in laughter.
"Arrogant toerag," Lily mumbled with a smile.
"Maybe," Gwen giggled.
Their comments caught the attention of both teams, who turned their heads simultaneously to look at the two girls. Sensing the tension, Gwen smiled to show that she was simply teasing them and said, "Don't you know it's rude to stare?"
"My apologies, Lady Donoghue," Mark quickly apologized, nudging his teammates to follow suit.
"I was just jesting, Mr. Lexington. No need to apologize," Gwen replied. She paused, then added, "Still causing trouble, cousin?"
James grinned mischievously. "Of course."
She turned to Jack, who jalapeño grinned. "Someone has to."
"Why not settle this dispute with a challenge?" Gwen suggested, realizing that the situation would only escalate if left unresolved.
"What do you propose, Miss?" Billius inquired.
Gwen exchanged a glance with Lily. "How about a race? Each team selects their fastest member and they race to the Quidditch field and back here. The winner gets to use the field."
The teams murmured in agreement, and both Mark and Billius nodded, shaking hands. "May the fastest flyer win," they said in unison.
Lily nudged Gwen. "That's a brilliant idea, Gwen."
"Thanks," Gwen replied, a smile spreading across her face. She noticed that James was pitted against Tony Xiphila, a fifth-year student.
As the two racers mounted their brooms, Gwen positioned herself slightly in front of them. They both gave the thumbs up to indicate they were ready.
"On your mark!" Gwen announced, pausing for a moment. "Go!"
"Oi! Donoghue!" Billius called out to her.
"Yes? Can I help you, Mr. Weasley?"
He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Thanks for providing a solution that didn't involve detention or anyone getting hurt."
"Happy to help, Mr. Weasley. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a prior engagement to attend to."
"Gwen! You can't leave just yet!" Lily scolded.
"Why not?" Gwen retorted.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Because you have to declare the winner."
Gwen scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Why can't you?"
"Because, you ninny! I'm a Gryffindor, so if Potter wins, they'll accuse me of favoring my own house. But since you're a Ravenclaw and impartial, you're the perfect candidate to choose the winner."
"She's got a point," Jack chimed in.
"If anything I'm the most compromised as I have cousins on either team." She argued, hoping it was enough to get her to leave
Mark interjected, "if anything, you having a cousin in both houses ensures that you are unbiased."
Reluctantly, Gwen agreed. "Fine, I'll stay. But then I'll have to leave immediately to go study."
"Brilliant."
Minutes went by, with both teams cheering loudly. Gwen stood between the two houses, trying to maintain an interested expression, but her mind began to wander. Quidditch wasn't boring to her; she simply didn't enjoy wasting time when she could be studying or even sneaking a snack from the kitchens. Perhaps one of the boys would share a chocolate frog with her.
A couple of minutes ticked by as both teams erupted in cheers, but Gwen found herself standing between the two houses, wearing a slightly bored expression. It wasn't that she found Quidditch boring; she simply didn't enjoy wasting precious time when she could be studying or, better yet, sneaking off to the kitchens for a snack. Perhaps one of the boys would be kind enough to offer her a chocolate frog since she was now not feeling up to walking all the way to the kitchens.
Her musings screeched to a halt when she tilted her gaze up and saw Gryffindor winning by a hair. She didn't want to call it a tie. Maybe she could delegate the decision-making to a Hufflepuff instead. They were known for their unbiased and honest nature. Unfortunately, there was no one around to pass the responsibility onto.
"Gwen!"
She felt a harsh push, causing her to stumble into the path of the Gryffindor boy zooming towards her. Just before the collision, she caught a glimpse of James' shocked expression.
"Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty!"
"Give her some room to breathe!"
"I'm not the one who bulldozed her, you imbecile."
"How on earth did she end up injured?"
"Evans shoved her right in front of me."
Gwen let out a groan of pain as she slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open to find a cluster of faces hovering around her. Pushing the person closest to her away, she sat up in bed, greeted by the concerned gazes of Lily, the boys, and Billius.
"What the heck happened?"
James was the first to respond, the one she had pushed away earlier. "Evans pushed you just as I was about to cross the finish line, declaring Gryffindor victorious. I crashed into you, and I thought you were a goner."
"Since James never made it across, Slytherin emerged as the winners," Billius chuckled.
"I'm really sorry, Gwen," Lily grimaced. "I tried to get your attention, but you were not responding."
Gwen nodded. "It's alright. I do have a pounding headache now."
Madam Pomphrey hurried over as she noticed Gwen was awake. "How are you feeling, my dear?"
"I'm feeling fine, Madam Pomphrey."
The young woman smiled. "That's wonderful to hear. You can leave once your headache subsides." She rushed off to attend to another student.
Billius and Lily left first, leaving Gwen with the boys and Ryder, who had been strangely quiet throughout. James helped her to her feet, while Sirius gathered her belongings. They patiently waited for her, along with Remus and Peter, as she struggled to put her robe back on and straighten out her crumpled clothes from her time spent lying in bed after being knocked down by a Quidditch player.
The boys gallantly escorted her to the entrance of her dorm, bidding her farewell with enthusiastic waves. Stepping inside, Jackie and Toni made themselves comfortable amidst a colorful array of blankets and pillows scattered across the floor. A mystical parchment hovered in mid-air, accompanied by their quills, as they took turns adding to its contents.
Curiosity piqued, Gwen couldn't help but inquire, "What mischief are you two up to?"
Jackie's laughter filled the air as she gleefully clapped her hands. "We're determined to complete the ultimate list!"
With an exaggerated roll of her eyes, Gwen shed her robe and flopped onto her stomach. Embracing a plush purple pillow, she held it close to her chest.
"And how is this magnificent list coming along?" Gwen asked.
The list was handed over to her, and her eyes scanned its contents before meeting their gazes with a pointed look. "Wouldn't it be more sensible to arrange them by their respective years, rather than lumping them all together?"
Toni snorted in amusement. "I suggested the same, but someone thought it would be foolish."
Jackie reclaimed the list, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Yet, you still helped me create it."
Gwen smiled, her gaze returning to the list, which earned her a playful pillow thrown by Toni. "So, who holds the coveted spot of number one?"
"Daniel McCoy," Jackie replied.
Gwen couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Of course, he does." After all, Jackie hadn't mustered the courage to strike up a conversation with the charming third-year student, renowned for his mesmerizing green eyes. At least that is what Jackie claimed. "And who's next on the list?"
Toni blushed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Definitely your cousin, Jack." It was no surprise, prompting Gwen to seize the list once again. With her own quill in hand, she swiftly replaced the name "Ryder McAdams" with "Sirius Black."
Ever the nosy one, Jackie snatched the list and grinned playfully. "I always knew you had a thing for him."
"Logically speaking, he's one of the most sought after," Gwen countered. "Don't pretend you don't find him objectively attractive, like so many other girls do."
Jackie opened her mouth to respond but faltered, her cheeks turning a rosy hue. Choosing to avoid further discussion, she returned to writing on the list. She knew that once summer came, they would demand to see the list and that made her flustered. W
She furrowed her eyebrows.
When did she suddenly grow so nervous?
"Logan Matthews is quite attractive don't you think?"
"That's really unnecessary, Sirius. Please, I'm perfectly capable—"
"You don't have a say in the matter, darling. Now, hush, class is about to begin."
Before Gwen could come up with a witty comeback, Professor Slughorn entered the room with a stack of books and his wand in hand. Sirius took his seat, noticing the girl beside him stealing shy glances. Suppressing a smile, he focused his attention on Professor Slughorn as he started discussing the spell they would be learning: the fire protection spell.
Gwen scooted closer to him, which brought a proud smile to Sirius' face. She was allowing herself to depend on him, and it made him feel accomplished. He was keeping the vow he had made to Declan.
"Miss Donoghue, may I speak with you after class?" Professor Slughorn interrupted Gwen as she packed up her books. He stood by their clean table, wearing an eager grin.
Gwen glanced at Sirius before nodding. "Yes, of course, Professor."
"I'll wait for you outside the class, sweetheart," Sirius said with a grateful smile as he patted her shoulder and left the classroom.
Leaning against the cold stone wall with both his and Gwen's bags, Sirius observed his fellow second-year students slowly exiting the potions classroom. James, Remus, and Peter approached him when they realized he wasn't following them.
"Waiting for Gwen?" Remus tiredly patted him on the shoulder.
Sirius nodded.
"We're heading back to the dorm to plan our final prank of the year," James announced, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Then we'll swing by Honeydukes to stock up on candy for our stash."
"I'll join you later. I'm walking Gwen to her dorm," Sirius waved off the boys, but Remus stayed behind.
"You act more like a boyfriend than a best friend," Remus dryly commented. "It's a bit concerning, considering our pact from February."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Don't you have a redhead to impress? Or are you still confused about your feelings for Gwen?"
Remus sighed. "Touché. However, I don't fancy Gwen. I misunderstood my feelings and actually have a crush on Lily."
Immediately defensive, Sirius narrowed his eyes at him. "And what's wrong with having a crush on her?"
Raising his hands in surrender, Remus looked confused. "Gwen is the first girl who entered my life. I cherish and respect her too much to feel anything beyond a sisterly bond."
"Are you implying that I don't respect her?"
The werewolf growled softly. "I never said that."
Sirius stepped closer, his voice rising. "It's precisely because I respect her so much that I can't allow myself to develop deeper feelings!"
Remus glared at him, scanning the empty corridor. "If you truly want to honor the vow you made, then you need to learn to suppress your feelings."
"You think I haven't tried?"
"Not hard enough."
Defeated, Sirius sighed and leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "I'm already afraid that my connection to her will end up hurting her."
Remus stared at Sirius for a long moment. "Perhaps it will," he paused, "or perhaps it's what will save your lives one day." Catching a glimpse of white hair in his peripheral vision, he turned and swiftly left, his footsteps echoing in the bustling corridor.
A week before their departure from Hogwarts, Gwen found herself reflecting on the past months. Balancing her time between intense studying for her O.W.L.S, tutoring her friends, and enjoying the company of her peers, she had created countless cherished memories since her first step onto the legendary "Hogwarts Express".
As the end of her first year approached, Gwen couldn't help but feel a mix of gratitude and disbelief. How had time flown by so quickly? Yet, she refused to let nostalgia hold her back. With unwavering determination, she looked ahead to the future, eager for what lay in store.
Suddenly, a shrill voice shattered the silence. "You're a disgrace to the Black name!"
Startled, Gwen's eyes widened as she scanned the empty corridor, finding nothing but solitude. She could have sworn she heard someone shouting just moments ago.
"Please, Sirius, you have to help us," pleaded another voice echoing through the corridor.
Drawing a deep breath, Gwen hurriedly followed the sound of the voices, her footsteps echoing softly. Although it was dinner time and everyone was expected in the Great Hall, Gwen had decided to skip the meal, opting instead to write to her father and get some much-needed rest.
Moving cautiously along the corridor, she paused at the corner, peering around discreetly. What she witnessed made her stomach churn and bile rise in her throat.
Sirius stood defiantly, his eyes locked in a piercing stare-down with Narcissa Black and that same girl with the wild look in her eyes. The girl had her wand pointed menacingly at Sirius, her dark eyes narrowed in contempt, her lips curling into a sneer.
"I won't do it," Sirius snapped, holding his wand steady.
"Sirius, please help Bella," Narcissa pleaded, fear flickering in her eyes as she glanced between the two.
"Why should I help you?"
"We're family," Bella snarled, her eye twitching with annoyance. "Even if you're part of that despicable house."
"Blood means nothing to me. I would never betray Gwen for your shameless and vulgar intentions," Sirius retorted fiercely.
Gwen gasped audibly, immediately covering her mouth with her hand as she realized what she had done. Fortunately, they seemed too engrossed in their tense standoff to notice her presence. Clutching her wand tightly, she prepared to intervene if the situation escalated.
"Bella!" Narcissa gasped.
"She needs to understand," Bella seethed, glaring at Sirius with a mixture of anger and frustration.
"There's nothing to understand! I won't say it again: betraying Gwen is not even an option. She means more to me than you or our family ever could," Sirius declared with unwavering conviction.
Bella's fury radiated as she dropped her arm, storming toward Sirius and delivering a resounding slap. The sound reverberated through the empty corridor before she grabbed Narcissa's wrist, dragging her away in the opposite direction from where Gwen had come. Once she was certain they were out of sight, Gwen rushed to Sirius, finding him now seated on the cold stone floor.
"Gwen!" she exclaimed, dropping to her knees and clutching Sirius' shoulders, drawing him closer.
"Sweetheart?" Sirius responded, taken aback by her sudden show of concern.
"Your lip is bleeding," she exclaimed, reaching for her handkerchief. She pressed the fabric gently against his lower lip, only to notice his bewildered expression. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Where did you come from?"
Gwen sighed, deciding to explain. "I was on my way back home when I heard some commotion. I couldn't resist investigating, and that's when I saw you with Narcissa and the other girl. I didn't know if I should intervene, so I waited for them to leave."
"Bellatrix, my older cousin. She graduated last year," Sirius explained, unsure if Gwen was upset with him.
"She's not very pleasant, in my opinion," Gwen retorted sharply, already dismissing Bellatrix as unworthy in her eyes.
Sirius chuckled softly. "No, love, she isn't."
Looking down at Gwen, he observed her focused attention on stopping the bleeding. His eyes then fell upon the handkerchief she was using. Taking hold of her wrist, he examined it closely before meeting her gaze. She blushed, avoiding his eyes, clearly feeling self-conscious.
"Is this the handkerchief I gave you when we first met? Do you always carry it with you, or is it just a coincidence?" Sirius asked, his fingers gently enclosing hers, holding the delicate silk fabric. "If I remember correctly, you showed me this before but I thought it to be a fluke that you happened to have it that day."
Gwen kept her eyes averted, her voice barely audible. "Yes, I always carry it. The boy who gave it to me holds a special place in my heart and my life."
A tender smile played on Sirius' lips as he leaned in, whispering in her ear while still holding her hand. "Did you know that the girl who received it has me completely captivated?"
"Sirius…" Biting her bottom lip, she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose as she kept her eyes focused on his hand holding hers
"Yes love?"
"Thank you…" flickering her eyes to him she grew more red "for not getting close to me in order of trying to sway my views on the families even on your own"
Sirius shook his head "There is no reason to thank me for being a best friend," grabbing her chin softly he made her look at him "I'd rather die…" he started "I'd rather die than to ever betray my friends"
Swallowing, Gwen nodded as she realized that Sirius' loyalty ran much deeper. He could have betrayed her in order to be welcomed back into his family. Yet he chose her over his family.
Sirius Black. He was the very definition of a Gryffindor.
Before she could respond, James appeared around the corner. His smile faded as he took in the scene before him.
"Blimey, what happened to you?"
Gwen turned to her cousin. "Just a family reunion."
"Should we take you to Madam Pomphrey?"
Turning back to Sirius, she used a small healing spell to mend his injuries. Smiling, she gently held his jaw and examined his face for any other wounds. She completely missed the way he gazed at her, how his eyes dilated as he watched her smile at him.
"He is fine now," she winked at him before standing and offering her hand out to him. "We should head back to the Great Hall."
"Y-yeah," he swallowed after staring at her hand for a while. "I'm quite famished."
"Wow, you made it through your first year at Hogwarts! Congratulations!" Olivia beamed, gently patting the younger Ravenclaw on the head. "You did way better than I did in my first year."
Gwen couldn't help but feel grateful for Olivia's guidance and friendship. As they approached the summer break, she knew she would miss her second-year companion. "Thank you for being such an amazing friend, Olivia. To show my appreciation, I got you a little gift." With a smile, she pulled out a beautifully wrapped present in their house colors and handed it over to Olivia.
Surprised and touched, Olivia accepted the gift. "Thank you, Gwen. But I also have something for you." She reached into her bag, retrieving a gift wrapped in their house colors as well.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Gwen placed Olivia's gift carefully in her bag. "Promise you'll write, okay?"
"Of course, I will!" Gwen hugged Olivia one last time, watching as her friend picked up her trunk and disappeared into the crowd of parents and students.
Having already bid farewell to Jackie and Toni, who were the first to leave the station, Gwen picked up her own trunk and scanned the crowd for Lily or the boys. Unfortunately, she had gotten separated from them when they arrived at the station. Frustrated, she huffed and struggled to see over the towering crowd. Finally, she gave up, dropped her trunk, and stepped on it to get a better view, desperately searching for fiery red hair.
Gwen's concentration was abruptly shattered by a voice that cut through the air. "Careful, you might take a tumble, darling," Sirius chimed in with a mischievous glint in his eyes, extending his hand towards her. "Come down before you end up hurting yourself." Gwen couldn't help but smile as she accepted his help, grateful for his assistance in descending from her trunk. As she fixed her disheveled clothes, Sirius graciously picked up her heavy trunk. "Evans sent me to track you down. She said she had lost sight of you."
Teasingly mimicking a posh accent, Gwen quipped, "Oh, Mr. Black, you're too kind." With a playful smirk, she reclaimed her bulky trunk from his grasp. "Would you be so gracious as to lead the way?"
"With pleasure, Miss Donoghue," Sirius responded, matching her posh tone effortlessly as he gathered his own trunk. Extending his arm, he continued, "Shall we?"
"We shall," Gwen replied, linking her arm through his, relieved to have Sirius guide them through the bustling crowd. With his confident navigation, she relinquished control, unaware of the whereabouts of the others.
"I've heard that you'll be spending part of the summer with my cousins, playing Quidditch for the upcoming term," Gwen mentioned casually, only for Sirius to nudge her playfully.
"Don't worry, darling, I've managed to squeeze some time in my busy schedule for us to hang out."
Suppressing a snort, Gwen attempted to hide her face behind her hair. "So, I assume you'll be gracing us with your presence at the Malfoy Garden Party?"
Sirius sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately, my mother would never allow me to skip those tiresome events. I've simply learned to endure them by this point."
She grinned, "I will be due for some pleasurable company at this party as I do know that all the families will be in attendance for this event."
"Accompanying you at this party? I wouldn't miss it for the world."