The tension at Hogwarts had been simmering for weeks. Outside the castle, the headlines inThe Daily Prophetgrew darker by the day—muggles being killed by Death Eaters, attacks becoming more frequent, and fear gripping the entire wizarding world. Inside the school, that fear had spilled over into the halls. Slytherins and Gryffindors, already natural rivals, were now on edge, their house pride warped into suspicion and hostility. Every glance, every comment seemed to carry the weight of the outside world, where bloodlines and loyalties meant more than ever.
It all came to a head in the courtyard one late afternoon.
Severus Snape stood in the center, his dark robes whipping around him as he faced off against James Potter, whose wand was already raised, a sneer plastered on his face. A crowd had formed, Gryffindors and Slytherins alike, drawn to the brewing confrontation like moths to a flame. The tension in the air was palpable.
"You think you're so clever, don't you, Potter?" Snape spat, his voice low and dangerous. "Always throwing hexes when you don't get your way. Just like a true Gryffindor coward."
James's smirk deepened, but his eyes gleamed with anger. "Coward? That's rich coming from you, Snivellus. Hiding behind your Death Eater friends like the little rat you are."
It was a jab aimed precisely at the growing rumors—rumors that many Slytherins, including Snape, were being courted by dark forces, the kind who wore masks and spread terror outside of Hogwarts. And with those words, the tension snapped.
"Take that back, Potter!" a Slytherin shouted from the crowd.
"You lot think you're so high and mighty, don't you?" a Gryffindor girl shot back. "You're all the same—just waiting to join Voldemort."
The name alone sent a ripple through the crowd. A moment later, wands were drawn on both sides. Insults were hurled like curses—mudblood, blood traitor, Death Eater. The rivalry had grown into something far uglier now, and it was clear that words wouldn't be enough to settle it.
All of a sudden, Severus rushed past her, they shared a nod before he took his stance with his housemates. Wand drawn, he sneered at James and Sirius who were standing side by side now with his wand drawn out as Remus had his out but he looked to have been a bit more hesitant to fight. Peter was cowering behind the Gryffindors, which surprised her to an extent.
"It's Snivelling Severus here to put his big nose in other people's business as usual." James snipped
"Pureblood traitor!" Kingsley snapped "You're a disgrace to the families by associating yourself with such filth!"
Sirius rolled his eyes, "From what I've heard you're pissed off about what was written in Witch Weekly correct?"
Kingsley's eye twitched as he glowered, "shut it Black before I make you."
Grabbing her wand from the pocket of her robe, Gwen felt a bit ill as she looked between her friends and Severus. Taking a deep inhale and then exhaling, she bit the side of her tongue to keep from saying what she really wanted to.
"Cut it out the lot of you," she stated looking between both of them
"Step away Gwen," James warned
"I have to kindly ask for you to step out of the way Miss Donoghue as this matter doesn't concern you." Kingsley spoke with a kind but angered tone
Rating an eyebrow, she stared at him. "Oh? So then you aren't upset about the article in Witch Weekly regarding how I spent my company with Mr. Black for the rest of the party rather than you?"
Kingsley froze.
Gwen sighed, "Mr. Shacklebolt, if you wish to become friends with me, then I suggest you make more of an effort to interact with me rather than be a sweating nervous wreck like last time."
The students began laughing once they had heard about Shacklebolt, causing him to shrink away. He faltered in his actions as he dropped his arm to his side, Severus pushed Kingsley rather roughly as he sneered at James.
James stepped forward, his wand pointed directly at Snape. "What's wrong, Snape? Afraid to duel me without your Slytherin friends backing you up?"
"You are both acting like insufferable toads," Gwen snapped. "Forget this blood nonsense."
"Gwen," James warned, Gwen turned to Severus who gave a slight nod before flickering his gaze back to James.
Severus started. "Gryffindor filth isn't who Gwen should be fraternizing with, she should be with what's best for her."
Clenching her jaw, Gwen took a deep breath as she placed her wand back in the pocket of her robe.
"What's best for me?" Gwen took a step closer towards him "Who are you to decide what is best for me?"
Severus faltered, "Gwen—I..."
Antonin growled, "You belong with us, the house of Slytherin and your own kind. You shouldn't be with these filthy mudbloods and half breeds!"
Sirius noticed the slight change in her behavior. Raising his wand higher, he scoffed at the slytherin boys but directed his attention solely on Severus. He could handle the constant mocking, criticism, and harsh treatment from the slytherin house but he wasn't about to stand by and watch these ungrateful tossers pressure her into overthinking her decisions.
"Keep her name out of that filthy mouth of yours you disgusting little prat," he waved his wand at Antonin "or I swear that I will make you regret it."
Snape's black eyes flashed with fury, and before anyone could stop it, spells were cast. James and Snape exchanged hexes in a flurry of light, but soon, others joined in. Gryffindor and Slytherin students were firing spells at one another, the courtyard becoming a chaotic battleground.
In the midst of it all, Sirius Black was holding his own against a pair of Slytherins, his wand moving deftly as he deflected curses and sent his own back with a smirk of satisfaction. But then, through the chaos, something changed. A dark, malevolent spell was cast from a Slytherin, aimed directly at him.
Mulciber snapped, "Altum Conscidisti!" he shouted
Sirius didn't even see it coming.
But Gwen did.
Without thinking, Gwen threw herself in front of him, pushing Sirius to the side just as the spell struck. Everything started happening in slow motion. Sirius wasn't sure what he had seen. All he knew was that one second the spell was flying straight towards him and then the next he heard a scream. A familiar blood curdling scream that made his body go cold and tense.
Everything was silent.
Rushing forward, he didn't hesitate to catch Gwen as she crumpled to the ground. Her eyes were squeezed shut as her lips were parted from screaming. A deep cut ran across her abdomen as it ripped her robe and uniform and was now beginning to bleed. Falling to his knees, Sirius was trembling as he held her.
"Come sweetheart, keep your eyes open…" was all he found himself saying. "Darling—oh, Merlin, no," he muttered, his hands shaking as he reached for her, not knowing what to do. "Gwen, stay with me, please—"
Sirius ignored the fight that ensued around him as he could only focus on the fallen Ravenclaw. Reaching for her face, he kept switching his gaze to her face and wound. The wound that was bleeding profusely.
If he remembered correctly from the stories of Gwen telling him about her late mother's job at St. Mungo's that meant he needed to stop the bleeding. Right...?
Yanking his jumper off, he placed it to her wound and pressed down hard. He wasn't sure if he was doing it right. All he knew was that he was out of his wits.
"Sirius—we have to get her to Madam Pomphrey," something shook him, causing him to snap out of his stupor. "Sirius, she'll bleed out if we don't get her proper help." Jackie reasoned
"I've got you," he whispered, his voice shaky but determined. "I'm getting you to Madam Pomfrey. You'll be fine, I swear."
With a surge of adrenaline, Sirius carried Gwen through the chaos of the courtyard, his heart racing as he forced his way past the fighting students. He barely registered the continued clash of spells, the screams, or the shouts. All he could think about was Gwen, the blood, and getting her to safety.
He burst through the doors of the castle, running as fast as he could toward the hospital wing. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his muscles burned from the effort, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. Not when Gwen's life hung in the balance.
When he finally reached the hospital wing, he kicked open the door, startling Madam Pomfrey, who turned with a look of shock at the sight before her.
"Madam Pomfrey!" Sirius's voice was strained with panic. "She—she's been hit by a dark curse. Please, you have to help her!"
Madam Pomfrey's face paled, but she quickly moved into action. "Put her on the bed, now," she ordered, her voice firm. Sirius carefully laid Gwen down, her face still ghostly pale, her breathing shallow.
As Madam Pomfrey began casting diagnostic spells and working to stop the bleeding, Sirius stepped back, his heart pounding, his hands shaking uncontrollably. He felt helpless—completely, utterly helpless.
Gwen's chest rose and fell weakly, and for the first time in his life, Sirius Black felt the cold grip of fear—fear that he might lose her. And it was a fear he didn't know how to face.
He stood there, frozen, watching as Madam Pomfrey worked, silently praying that it wouldn't be too late. That somehow, Gwen would survive this.
That she would be okay.
Gwen lay motionless on the cold, metal hospital bed, her breathing steady but still faint. After Madam Pomfrey had worked her magic to heal the wound, her roommates had taken the liberty of changing her into comfortable pajamas. Sirius was quietly grateful. The sight of her bloodstained uniform had been haunting him, an image he wished he could forget. But he couldn't. Not yet.
He hadn't left her side since they'd brought her here. Still in his own blood-soaked uniform, Sirius hadn't taken a moment to clean himself up. Gwen's blood stained his clothes, and every glance down at it made his stomach churn. The guilt was unbearable. He had spent the last several hours gnawing at his fingernails, trying to focus on anything other than the fact that it should have been him in that hospital bed, not her. It was his fault, he believed. He should have been the one to get hurt. He should have been the one lying there, pale and silent, instead of Gwen.
With a sigh, Sirius scooted his chair closer to the bed, his heart heavy. He took Gwen's right hand in his, feeling the familiar weight of the charm bracelet he had given her jingle softly. He entwined his fingers with hers and brought her hand to his forehead, his voice low and broken.
"Please, forgive me," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Wake up already, sweetheart."
Raising her hand to his lips, he pressed a soft kiss to the back of it. His lips felt dry, cracked from hours of tension, and a part of him wanted to cry. He felt weak. Helpless. His mind was spiraling as the hours dragged on, each one filled with endless worry and guilt.
The hospital wing had grown quieter as night fell. James, Remus, and Peter had all been sent to Dumbledore's office to explain the events of the fight, leaving Sirius alone to watch over Gwen. It wasn't long before the story of what had happened in the courtyard spread throughout the school, causing a stir among students and staff alike. A growing pile of "Get Well" gifts now lay on the table at the end of her bed—flowers, chocolates, and letters of concern. Even Professors McGonagall and Flitwick had stopped by, checking in on the two of them.
Professor McGonagall had assured him he wouldn't need to see Dumbledore; James, Remus, and Peter had told the headmaster that Sirius hadn't been involved in the fight. For that, he was thankful. At least that was one less thing to worry about.
A heavy hand clapped him on the shoulder, jolting Sirius out of his thoughts. He turned, startled, to see James smiling down at him.
"Cheer up, mate. She'll wake up soon," James said with a reassuring grin as he pulled up a chair next to Sirius. "You should bathe, though. Blood doesn't really suit you."
Sirius scoffed but couldn't help the grimace that followed. "Not until she wakes up."
Peter, always the one to add levity to a tense situation, picked up one of the chocolate frogs from the pile of gifts and said, "I doubt when she wakes up, she'll want to hug you with the way you smell, mate."
The boys chuckled, but Sirius rolled his eyes, though he couldn't deny the truth in Peter's words. He did reek of sweat and blood.
Sirius glanced down at Gwen again, her hand still cradled in his. "What happened after I left?"
Remus, always the responsible one, answered. "McGonagall stepped in and stopped the fight. She sent us all to Dumbledore's office, where we explained what happened. Antonin admitted to casting the dark hex at Gwen. That's what started the physical fight."
"Antonin confessed?" Sirius asked, his voice sharp.
James nodded. "Yeah, the Slytherins owned up to it. Dumbledore sent owls to their parents—there were plenty of howlers during dinner." He snickered, and the rest of the boys followed suit.
Sirius let out a heavy breath, his tone turning solemn. "The only reason they took responsibility is because of Gwen. If she hadn't gotten hit…"
"We know, mate," Remus said gently, his voice full of understanding. "But the important thing is, she's stable now. We should be grateful for that."
James frowned, running a hand through his messy hair. "The whole fight was stupid. Who cares if Gwen spent time with you instead of Kingsley?"
Remus, ever the voice of reason, shook his head. "It wasn't just about that. It's about who Gwen is, what her family represents."
Peter, always slightly behind the conversation, looked confused. "What does her family represent?"
Sirius snorted. "You really are dense sometimes, Peter. The Donoghue family is as old and powerful as the Malfoys and the Blacks, but they're Irish. Their family represents honor, purity, and virtue—they support the Ministry, Hogwarts, St. Mungo's. They're not on the Sacred Twenty-Eight list because they're not English, but they're just as important."
Peter blinked, processing the information. "Oh."
Remus rolled his eyes and began explaining in more detail, but James turned his attention back to Sirius. "Look, mate," he began, his tone serious. "Nobody blames you for what happened. You couldn't have known Mulciber would use that hex. And you couldn't have known Gwen would jump in front of you like that."
Sirius's grip on Gwen's hand tightened. "I made a vow to her father that I would protect her. Twice. And I failed."
"You didn't fail. You couldn't have stopped her, Sirius. Gwen made her choice because she cares about you."
Sirius opened his mouth to argue, but James cut him off with a sharp slap on the arm. "Grow up already. She saved your arse because she loves you. You want to keep your vow? Then stop moping and be there for her when she wakes up."
Sirius blinked, surprised by the intensity in James's voice, but he knew his friend was right. Taking a deep breath, he nodded. "Thanks, mate."
James grinned. "Anytime. Now go shower. You really do reek mate."
Reluctant as he was to leave Gwen's side, Sirius knew he needed to pull himself together. For her. He placed another soft kiss on her hand before grabbing his bag and heading out of the infirmary.
Lily Evans appeared not long after, bringing the boys dinner and sticking around to chat with Remus about their assignments, much to James's obvious frustration. Peter munched on chocolate frogs while throwing teasing comments at Sirius, but Sirius's mind was elsewhere, entirely focused on Gwen.
Sirius couldn't stop his leg from bouncing, his nerves fraying as the final minutes of his last class dragged on. The only thing on his mind was Gwen. He needed to see her, to make sure she was okay. James nudged him, but Sirius barely acknowledged it.
"Mate, relax," James whispered, leaning in close. "I'm trying to come up with ideas to get back at those Slytherins."
"Flood their common room," Sirius replied absentmindedly.
James lit up, clapping him on the back. "Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?"
Sirius gave a half-hearted shrug, eyes glued to the clock. His fingers tapped impatiently on the desk. He wasn't sure if it was the anticipation of seeing Gwen awake or the weight of the guilt he still carried. Either way, it made every second feel unbearable.
Thirty more seconds…
"Sirius, will you quit that?" Remus hissed
Twenty more seconds…
"Don't you dare do what I think you're about to do James," Remus turned to James wide eyed.
Ten more seconds…
Suddenly, a smoke bomb went off, filling the classroom with chaos. Students screamed, and in the ensuing panic, Sirius grabbed his bag and bolted, not even sparing a glance back at the commotion. Normally, he would've reveled in it, but right now, nothing else mattered.
He shoved past anyone in his way, racing down the corridors until he reached the infirmary doors. Flinging them open, Sirius skidded to a stop, breath catching in his throat.
There she was. Gwen sat up in bed, talking softly with Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. The sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow on her, making her white hair gleam like silver.
"Mr. Black," Professor McGonagall teased lightly, "it's rude to stare with your mouth open like that."
Gwen turned to look at him, her blue eyes bright, and Sirius felt his heart leap into his throat. She looked… beautiful. Despite everything, despite how close she had come to dying, she was still the same Gwen. His Gwen.
His legs carried him to her side before he even realized what he was doing. He barely registered the greetings from the professors, his entire focus locked on Gwen.
"Sirius," she said softly, her voice like a balm to his frayed nerves.
He dropped to his knees beside her bed, taking her hand in his, tears spilling down his face. "I'm so sorry… Gwen, I—" His voice broke, unable to find the words to express the overwhelming guilt gnawing at him.
"Sirius," Gwen's tone was firm but gentle, and he looked up, his face wet with tears. "There's nothing for you to apologize for. I knew what I was doing. You are not responsible for what happened to me."
"But I—"
She cut him off with a soft smile. "No. I won't apologize for saving your life. That's something I would never regret. I only ask that you forgive yourself."
Her words unraveled the tight knot of guilt he had carried since the fight. For the first time since it all happened, he felt like he could breathe again. James had been right. Gwen didn't blame him—sheneverwould.
"Darling," Sirius began, his voice steadier now, "I'll accept your apology on one condition."
She raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"
"You let me do the saving from now on."
Gwen's lips curved into a soft smile. "Only if you promise to always be my best friend and confidant."
"It would be an honor, Lady Donoghue."
"Then we have an accord, Mr. Black."
Sirius smiled through his tears, finally feeling some of the tension release from his chest. He wiped his face with the handkerchief she offered, a gesture that felt so natural between them.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, reminding them that they weren't alone. "Miss Donoghue, your father will be arriving tomorrow at ten."
Dumbledore smiled kindly at them both. "I trust you'll take good care of her, Mr. Black. When you're ready, I wish for you to come see me. The password is 'Hippogriff.'"
As the professors left, Sirius turned back to Gwen, noticing the small pile of gifts and letters on the bedside table. His eyes softened as he realized how many people cared about her. He moved to open her bag and put everything inside of it, he often forgot that she had an undetectable extension charm.
"Sirius?" Gwen's voice broke his reverie.
"Yes, love?"
"Do you have any clothes for me? I'd rather not walk around in my pajamas."
He fumbled through her bag, handing her a clean skirt and fresh undergarments, but there was no shirt. "You can borrow my jumper," he offered, a bit flustered at the thought of her wearing it.
Gwen smiled softly, accepting it. She slipped into the jumper, which was oversized on her, but she didn't seem to mind. "Thank you," she said, blushing slightly.
"Anything for you," he replied, still facing away to give her privacy. Once she was dressed, they left the infirmary together, her hand resting in his, a comfortable silence between them.
They walked to the courtyard, where Sirius helped her sit down on a stone bench. The air was crisp and cool, the kind of day that felt like fresh beginnings. Gwen tilted her head back, closing her eyes as she breathed it in.
"What did I miss while I was asleep?" she asked, her voice soft.
Sirius shrugged. "Not much. I didn't really go to class. I was… waiting for you."
"Thank you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "You've been so kind to me, Sirius. I don't know how to ever repay you."
He turned to her, his expression tender. Placing a hand on her cheek, he leaned in closer, brushing his thumb along her skin. "Just promise me one thing."
"What's that?"
"Promise to always hold my hand."
Gwen blinked back tears, nodding. "Always."
She took his hand in hers, lifting it to her lips and placing a soft kiss on the back. Neither of them spoke as they sat outside in the quiet.
After that, Gwen had went to spend time in her dorm with her friends as she insisted on a shower. Sirius was reluctant to leave her, but was satisfied when he saw her at dinner wearing his jumper still. That night he had trouble falling asleep, worried that something would happen to her but with a sleeping draught he knocked out quickly.
After the day's emotional rollercoaster, Sirius found himself struggling to fall asleep. His mind was a storm of worry and guilt, each thought swirling around Gwen's well-being. He tossed and turned, unable to quiet his anxious thoughts. Eventually, he reached for a sleeping draught he had kept in his nightstand. The warm, soothing liquid did its work, and he drifted off into a deep, albeit restless, slumber.
In the dead of night, Sirius was pulled from his dreams by a gentle weight settling beside him. His first instinct was to reach for his wand, his heart racing as he snapped awake. But as he inhaled the soft scent of blueberries and vanilla, his tense muscles relaxed. He turned to find Gwen slipping under the covers, her familiar warmth pressing against him.
"Darling…?" he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.
Gwen nestled closer, her back pressed firmly against his chest. "Go back to sleep," she whispered, her voice a comforting lullaby in the stillness of the night.
Sirius, still drowsy from the draught, struggled to keep his eyes open. Despite the fog of the potion, he could feel Gwen's presence like a balm to his restless mind. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, his fingers grazing her hips. Her soft hair tickled his face as he buried his nose in the crook of her neck, inhaling her soothing scent.
"I'm sorry, Sirius," she murmured again, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Hmmm… for what?" His voice was slow and heavy, his words slurring slightly as the potion took full effect.
There was a pause, and Sirius felt a flutter of confusion. Gwen remained silent, and he tried to blink away the haziness, but her presence was like a gentle fog pulling him deeper into sleep. "I will always be your girl, I promise," she continued, her voice soft and earnest.
His mind, still muddled with the remnants of the draught, began to slip into a state of half-dreaming. Her cryptic words made little sense, and he wondered if he was dreaming, lost in a reverie of comfort and affection. "Love, just sleep. Nothing to apologize for," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
He felt her smile against his cheek, the warmth of her breath sending a shiver of contentment through him. She shifted slightly in his arms, her lips brushing his cheek in a feather-light touch. "I'm doing this for us," she said, her words drifting like a whisper in the night.
In his drowsy state, Sirius couldn't quite grasp the meaning behind her words. His mind was a haze of warmth and comfort, the lines between reality and dream blurring as he held her close. He nuzzled into her, feeling the rise and fall of her breath against his chest, he leaned forward placing a soft kiss to her forehead. Her presence was a soothing anchor in his turbulent thoughts, and he let out a contented sigh, sinking deeper into sleep.
As the hours passed, Sirius drifted in and out of consciousness, the comforting rhythm of Gwen's breathing guiding him through the night. Her presence beside him was like a dream within a dream, an echo of something deeply reassuring and profoundly right. He was wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and security, his worries melting away as he held Gwen close.
In the quiet of the night, with Gwen in his arms and the world outside slipping into peaceful slumber, Sirius finally found the solace he had been searching for. The cryptic words she had spoken, the gentle press of her lips against his cheek—none of it mattered. All that mattered was the feeling of her close, the promise of her being there, and the certainty that, for now, everything was as it should be.
Sirius woke with a start, his body stretching languidly as he blinked away the remnants of sleep. The lingering scent of blueberries and vanilla from the night before was still heavy in the air, and he couldn't help but wonder if Gwen had climbed into bed with him. It had been months since she had done so, and the thought made him smile, even as he felt an urgent need to use the bathroom.
Rubbing his eyes, he threw aside the bed curtains and grabbed a Rolling Stones t-shirt off the floor. After a quick visit to the loo, he emerged from his dormitory, only to find James and Remus waiting for him in their dorm. Their expressions were unusually serious, and they watched him intently, as if bracing for something.
"What in bloody hell are you lot staring at me for?" Sirius asked, his voice a mix of confusion and irritation.
James took a deep breath, his face set in a calm but determined expression. "Sirius, mate, we need to talk."
Remus nodded in agreement, his eyes soft with concern. "We just want to make sure you're okay. We're here for you, whatever happens."
Sirius's confusion quickly turned to frustration. "Okay? What's going on? Why do I feel like I'm missing something?"
James's gaze didn't waver. "Gwen's left Hogwarts, Sirius. She's going to America."
The words hit Sirius like a cold splash of water. His heart pounded in his chest, and his face flushed with anger and disbelief. "What? She's left? Why? When? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Remus stepped forward, his voice steady. "She left early this morning. Declan pulled her from Hogwarts because of what happened."
James added, "She wanted to say goodbye, but she said that she had said goodbye last night and it was too hard to see you."
Sirius's anger boiled over. "Why didn't anyone tell me sooner? I woke up thinking everything was fine, and now I find out she's gone without a word?"
"We were trying to protect you from the shock," James said, his voice calm but firm. "It's been hard on everyone, and we thought you'd want some time to process it. We didn't want you to be caught off guard."
Sirius paced the room, his frustration palpable. "She's gone, and I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye." He stopped abruptly, his mind flashing back to the night before. "Or rather, I don't remember saying goodbye."
Remus's voice softened as he tried to offer comfort. "We're all dealing with this too, Sirius. Gwen's been a big part of our lives, and it's hard for everyone. We just want you to know that we're here for you, no matter what."
Sirius ran a hand through his hair, his emotions a tangled mess. It felt as though the breath had been knocked out of him, the urge to cry palpable as he breathed heavily through his nose. He turned toward his bed, where Gwen's scent still lingered. His eyes fell on a crisp letter with his name on it in Gwen's handwriting, resting on his bedside table.
Tears stung his eyes as he reached for the letter, his hand trembling. He opened it slowly, his vision blurring with the onslaught of emotion. As he unfolded the note, he felt a tear run down his face, tracing a path down his cheek. The weight of Gwen's absence felt unbearable, and the letter in his hands was a poignant reminder of everything he had lost.
He took a deep, shuddering breath and began to read, hoping that the words within might bring some semblance of closure amidst the storm of feelings raging inside him.
