Chapter 7
The four of them—tense, uneasy— sat around the altar Harry had prepared. The flickering light of the candles cast long, wavering shadows on the walls as Harry stepped forward to read the incantation. The flames from the candles grew taller and began to converge, creating a dome over the objects. Harry chanted the date of the prank and the dome of light exploded, leaving behind silhouettes.
The figures began to take shape, their edges sharpening as the scene became clear. Everyone in the room froze as they saw the unmistakable forms of a young Severus and Sirius sitting against the stony walls of Hogwarts, holding hands and smiling shyly at each other.
The present-day Severus stiffened, his eyes widening. Sirius let out a soft gasp, his expression unreadable.
The ghostly figures continued, the sound of their laughter faint but growing louder. Young Sirius leaned over and pressed a kiss to Severus’s cheek, causing the Slytherin to blush furiously.
Harry and Remus exchanged stunned looks, neither of them able to speak.
“I’ll meet you at the Astronomy Tower tonight,” Severus’s ghostly voice said, soft and tentative.
“I can’t tonight,” young Sirius replied. “I have a thing with the Marauders.”
Severus’s figure faltered, his tone uncertain. “A thing? You’re not— You’re not going to prank me again, are you?”
Sirius grabbed Severus’s hands, his voice full of reassurance. “No! Of course not. It’s nothing like that, I promise. It’s just… not my secret to tell.”
“Alright,” Severus said, though he didn’t sound as comfortable as Sirius would have liked.
“I’ll meet you after breakfast and then we can spend the whole day together.” Sirius promised.
The scene faded, leaving the room in stunned silence before the next memory began to take shape.
Young Severus appeared in a dimly lit corridor, his arms full of books and parchment. He turned a corner and collided with James Potter. Harry’s breath hitched as he instinctively leaned closer to Sirius, seeking comfort.
"Snivellus, I heard you wanted to know what Sirius is going to be up to tonight. " James asked, sneering.
"I can ask my boyfriend about his whereabouts, Potter. I don't need to interrogate his friends." the Slytherin replied.
"Alright, if you change your mind, come by the Whomping Willow tonight at 9:00." James challenged.
"The Whomping Willow?" Severus yelled. "That's incredibly dangerous. What business do you have there?"
"If you really are that concerned, you know where to find us." the Gryffindor said walking away. Along with James, the scene vanished as well.
A young Severus arrived at the Whomping Willow, hesitant and scared. "Hello?" he called out tentatively. "Sirius, are you there?" Severus noticed footprints leading into the tree trunk and decided to follow the trail. Somehow, the tree let him in without putting up a fight. He followed the footsteps until he reached the Shrieking Shack. Severus' eyes scanned the unstable structure as he gulped down his fear. "Sirius?" he called again, only to hear a growl from the inside. "Sirius!" he screamed, opening the door to the Shack, only to come face to face with a werewolf.
Back on the sofa, the older Remus tightly shut his eyes however, Severus couldn't look away from the scene. A silent tear rolled down his cheek as he saw his younger self being attacked by the werewolf, his robes being torn apart and face being scratched up.
Before the werewolf could strike again, a massive black dog leapt into view, tackling it to the ground. Severus watched in stunned horror as the dog barked and snarled, forcing the werewolf back. The dog then transformed into young Sirius, who scrambled to Severus’s side.
“We have to go,” Sirius said urgently, pulling Severus to his feet. “Now.”
The two of them staggered into the forest, the scene shifting again.
The final memory brought them to a quiet spot in the woods. Sirius gently lowered Severus to the ground, his hands shaking as he inspected the Slytherin’s torn robes and bleeding face.
"Are you hurt? What are you doing with that werewolf? Are you an animagus? Why didn't you tell me? Please, Sirius, say something. Your silence is scaring me." the Slytherin begged.
"What the hell were you thinking, following me?" were the first words out of Sirius mouth.
Tears filled Severus' eyes as the adrenaline and shock started to wear off. He began trembling violently and Sirius leaned in closer, providing the comfort his boyfriend so desperately needed. "I was worried about you. Potter said you'd be by the Whomping Willow. I didn't want you getting hurt."
Sirius kissed away the tears, holding Severus in his arms. He began murmuring calm assurities into the Slytherin's ear. "I'm okay, love. And so are you. We just need to get to Madam Pomfrey. We'll be alright."
Wrapped up in their own little world, the couple didn't notice the dark figure approach behind them. He held up his wand and chanted "Obliviate."
The spell struck them, and the tender expressions they wore shattered like glass. Their faces went slack; the light in their eyes extinguished, leaving behind cold, empty stares that seemed to pierce through time.
James stepped out from behind the shadows and angrily marched toward his best friend. "What the hell were you thinking, Sirius?"