Sirius was the first to wake as the blinding light of the sun's rays escaped through the thin window that was next to them as Sirius made love to Jayce.
He got up, stretching his upper body before looking down at Jayce, who was still sleeping. A small smile made its way over to his lips as he glanced at the purple and red marks on Jayce's neck.
Reaching over to pull the blanket off of him to start his day, Sirius abruptly stopped. Her legs were tangled with his and he had to move himself away from her carefully to not wake her up.
Then, he pulled the blanket off of him and got off the bed as he opened his suitcase to dress up for the day.
Looking back at Jayce, he realized that she was kind of sleeping in a weird position. Her lower body was almost sinking into the bed when compared to her upper body. Squinting his eyes, he got closer, a sudden panic rising in him when thoughts of him somehow breaking her flooded into his mind.
"No, that can't be possible, did I break her legs or something?" Sirius panic-whispered, jogging back to the bed to examine her. "She didn't- oh."
He let out a sigh of relief when he saw that it wasn't her that was broken, but the bed, which made her angle her body that way.
Chuckling, Sirius carried Jayce out of his bed and placed her on James's bed to let her sleep in comfortably for some more time.
Last night was impeccable for Sirius and he was hoping it would be the same for Jayce as well.
After making sure Jayce was comfortable, Sirius got back to finding his uniform and went to the boys' bathroom to take a shower to start the day with.
When Sirius was done freshening and dressing up, he went back to check on Jayce.
Her little snores and her adorably swollen face filled Sirius's heart with warmth. She was so delicate. Sirius sat by James's bed and watched Jayce delicately sleep, wondering how in the world he ended up in the same bed as the girl he once despised.
While he was too busy admitting the Slytherin team captain, the door to the dorm burst open with a loud "Alohomora!" Sirius immediately was on guard as he covered Jayce to her head with a nearby blanket and stood up to find James, Remus, and Peter all standing at the door with their jaws hanging open.
"Who the FUCK is in my bed, Padfoot?!" James hollered, but Sirius quickly ran over to the latter, covering his mouth with his large hand.
"Shut up, Prongs, she's sleeping!" Sirius hissed.
"Jayce didn't forgive you and you took some other chick to bed with you?" James whispered, still angry. "What's the matter with you, you dog?!"
"Oh, Godric." Sirius rolled his eyes. "That girl is Jayce!"
James's eyes widened.
"Oh fuck, why the fuck are we all just standing here and watching a naked Jayce sleep, turn around you fucking perverts," Remus exclaimed, forcefully turning James and Peter around.
"She's fully covered, you dipshit," James muttered.
"You guys are gonna wake her up if you keep this up," Peter warned.
"Oh for fuck's sake, how did you guys even get in?" Sirius grumbled, ignoring Peter's words.
"We learned Alohomora when we were first years." Remus rolled his eyes, his back still facing Sirius.
"Wait, so things worked out, Pads?" James turned his head around, only to be whacked in the stomach by Remus's elbow.
"Hell yeah." Sirius grinned and James could practically hear him smirking. "She's in my bed, after all."
"You dog," James smirked as well, raising his eyebrows at Remus and Peter, who grinned widely.
While the boys continued to tease and congratulate Sirius, Jayce woke up due to all the noise they were making, and surprisingly, none of them noticed.
They didn't realize how loud they were.
"Anyway, you guys get out. Tell Minnie I'm going to be late." Sirius ushered.
"Why? You're all dressed up and ready for classes." Peter asked.
"I'll attend classes with Jayce once she wakes up."
"Okay, loverboy." Remus teased, opening the door to go out again.
"Aren't you going to need your uniforms?" Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Unless you plan on attending classes with your Celestial Ball outfits on."
"What a mighty good idea." James nodded. "Let's do that, boys."
"We did sleep in these outfits, ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE IN THE COLD, so we'll be fine." Remus sarcastically commented, emphasizing the 'cold outside' part.
"There you go, that's the spirit!" Sirius cheered, not giving a damn about Remus's complaints. "Now, go."
"Alright, alright." James sighed as Sirius pushed the trio out of the room. "Just make sure you two come outside to grab a bite sometime today."
"Okay, mom." Sirius snickered, giving the boys one last push before closing the door behind them and locking it.
"Took you long enough." Jayce's raspy morning voice greeted Sirius as soon as he turned around.
"Shit!" Sirius shrieked, jumping at the sight of Jayce, who was sitting up straight.
"I was awake for the past few minutes and none of you noticed," Jayce smirked.
Sirius chuckled, admiring her beauty, which seemed even greater in the morning. Jayce's morning beauty was a symphony of soft sunlight playing upon her features, casting a gentle glow that accentuated the grace in every contour of her face. As dawn's tender fingers brushed through the strands of her hair, they seemed to weave a tapestry of golden threads, catching the first light of day. Her eyes, like pools of warmth and clarity, reflected the awakening world with a serene radiance. The morning breeze danced around her, carrying a fragrance of possibilities, as if nature itself conspired to enhance her ethereal allure. Sirius couldn't help but marvel at the delicate harmony that unfolded in the quiet canvas of the morning, where Jayce's beauty bloomed like a rare and exquisite flower, captivating the world with its understated yet profound charm.
But, his thoughts were far too complicated for him to voice them to her.
"That's because you're just a sneaky Slytherin." Sirius finally rolled his eyes.
"Fuck off, Black." Jayce grinned, looking around for her clothes.
"Go freshen up, I'll have your clothes ready for you."
"Where is the girls' bathroom?" Jayce got up, but immediately winced and sat back down.
"What's wrong?" Sirius asked as he made his way over to Jayce.
"I don't know, it hurts. I feel sore." Jayce squirmed.
"Oh." Sirius pursed his lips. "Sorry about that."
"Black, this is all your fault." Jayce glared.
"Let's get you to Madam Pomfrey," Sirius suggested, bending down to pick her up.
"No, what the fuck?" Jayce shook her head.
"What're you gonna say to her, 'whoops, madam Pomfrey, I went too hard and look what happened'?"
"Well, are you just going to sit here in pain all day, then?" Sirius crossed his arms.
"No." Jayce reached for her wand and pointed to her lower body. "Lenio."
Sirius watched as relief painted across Jayce's face within a matter of seconds as she stood up, this time with no signs of pain.
"Damn, I gotta learn that spell for next time," Sirius smirked.
"Whatever, let me go freshen up, and then we can head to our classes," Jayce said.
"I'll go get your clothes from Pandora, she should be having breakfast." Sirius offered.
"Okay, but before you go, can I borrow a shirt of yours for now so I can head over to the girls' bathroom?" Jayce asked.
"Okay." Sirius agreed, rummaging through his clothes before handing her a white tee and black sweats.
"Mugglewear?" Jayce raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, Red and Remus went out shopping the summer before sixth year started and I went with 'em," Sirius explained.
"Okay, by the time I'm back at your dorm, I need my uniform neatly placed on your bed," Jayce demanded.
"Yes, boss." Sirius nodded.
"Oh, and you still got James's cloak around? I can't be seen sneaking around the Gryffindor Commons."
"Nobody would question you if you did," Sirius stated, grabbing James's cloak which was lying around by his bed. "But, here you go." He handed it to her.
"Thanks, I'll be back." Jayce wrapped it around herself. "I guess there's no necessity to wear your clothes if I have this cloak with me."
"No, wear them on your way here," Sirius quickly suggested, not wanting to risk everyone else seeing what was only meant for him.
"Fine." Jayce opened the door and walked out to freshen up.
After a quick shower, Jayce walked out of the bathroom, still under the cloak. Sirius's clothes were quite big on her, but they were really comfortable and she almost didn't want to change into her uniform.
When she walked back to the Marauders' dorm, Jayce took the cloak off of her and found Sirius sitting where she last saw him.
"Hey, you're back." Sirius looked up, his boredom finally leaving him.
"I wasn't gone for long." Jayce huffed. "Anyway, where're my clothes?"
"What clothes?" Sirius smirked, leaning back on the bed with his elbows as support.
"Black, you were supposed to go get my uniform from Pan."
"Yeah, well, you look much better in my clothes, so I decided not to." Sirius shrugged, his eyes scanning her from head to toe, admiring how his clothes looked on her.
This was something he could wake up to every day: her, wearing his clothes, in his arms. Jayce frowned, but she couldn't stop a smile from surfacing on her lips. This boy.
"Whatever. I don't feel like going to classes today anyway." She shrugged, taking a seat next to Sirius on the bed.
"What do you wanna do?" Sirius wrapped an arm around Jayce's shoulders, bringing her close to him to plant a kiss on her temple.
"You wanna go to the Astronomy tower?" She suggested.
"Fuck yeah." Sirius cheered, standing up.
"Is your motorcycle around as well?" Jayce's eyes sparkled.
"No, darling." Sirius's shoulders dropped. "James had Hagrid take it somewhere to get it fixed because it's been having some trouble recently."
"How long have you had it for?"
"I got it for my birthday, November third, about years ago."
"Oh my God, I missed your birthday?!" Jayce yelled in horror.
"Yeah, but it's fine, we weren't on the best terms last month." Sirius chuckled.
"Ugh, I'll definitely remember next time, I'm so sorry, Siri." Jayce bit her lip in guilt.
Sirius's smile widened.
"Siri?" He repeated.
"Oh." Jayce's face reddened.
"I didn't mean to-"
"No, I like it." Sirius shook his head. "I think I'll have you keep calling me that."
"Whatever." Jayce looked away, grabbing James's cloak once again. "Let's just go to the Astronomy tower."
"We don't need that," Sirius said, pulling the cloak away from her.
"We can get caught."
"So what?" Sirius rolled his eyes and grabbed Jayce's hand. "Let's go." He said and ran out of the room, dragging Jayce behind him.
"Oh, for fuck's sake, slow down!" Jayce hollered as they ran through the boys' dormitory, through the Gryffindor Commons, and all the way through the staircase that led up to the Astronomy tower.
She had to ignore all the confused stares from the other students. At first, it was just Gryffindors, who were startled upon seeing the Slytherin captain in their tower, and then it was the entire school that watched in shock as Sirius ran with Jayce.
"If I slowed down, we would've taken another five minutes to get here," Sirius stated.
"Running that much is nothing for you given that you're a dog. But, I'm just a normal human being." Jayce panted as she leaned against one of the pillars.
"You hungry?" Sirius asked as he sat down by another pillar, resting his back against it as he kept his eyes glued to Jayce.
"Surprisingly, no," Jayce answered. "Why, are you?"
"Not after eating you last night, no."
"You know what, shut the fuck up." Jayce fumed, looking away from him and at the scenery next to her.
"It's just as beautiful in the day, isn't it?" Sirius asked, following her gaze.
"Yeah. It's kinda sad we only have a year and a half left for us to enjoy this." Jayce stated, making her way over to Sirius and sitting next to him.
"Come here." Sirius motioned for Jayce to come to sit closer to him.
Jayce scooted closer to Sirius and sat between his legs, resting her head on his hard chest.
"You're talking as if we're old people. We have years ahead of us."
"Do we really?" Jayce sighed. "There's gonna be a war and we'll be fighting in it."
"And we'll survive." Sirius's hands snaked around Jayce's waist, securing her close to him.
"I don't know, a lot is going to happen and I don't know what will happen to us."
"What's gotten into your head? Did something happen?" Sirius asked, concerned.
"Lily and I found out who was practicing dark magic," Jayce stated. "We told Dumbledore right away, but I was shocked upon seeing people I know being a part of that group."
"Why didn't you tell me this?" Sirius asked softly.
"I don't know, it just slipped my mind."
"There'll always be a few bad apples, Jayce. We can't control that." Sirius explained.
"I know." Jayce pursed her lips. "The other day, Lucinda Talkalot, our former captain, came to me. She was severely wounded, Sirius. She told me that Voldemort's people were after her because she's a Pureblood and would be of good use to their movement."
"Are you saying that we're going to get persecuted when we graduate?"
"Isn't that what's going to happen?" Jayce let out a bitter chuckle.
"It will happen, yes." Sirius agreed. "But, we have people who care for us. James, Remus, Peter, Lily, Marlene, Pandora, and Alice- those guys will always be there for us just like we'll be there for them. We'll protect one another. No one is going to die."
Jayce heaved a sigh, snuggling closer to Sirius. "I hope you're right, Sirius."
"All of these things are meant to happen, Jayce. But, we don't need to worry about that now. We still have more than a year to prepare and have fun along the way. We're still kids, we don't need to worry about that." Sirius kissed the top of her head.
"Also, I was wondering something." Jayce changed the subject. "Why did I wake up on James's bed?"
"Cuz the one we were on broke." Sirius laughed.
"You broke the goddamn bed?" Jayce's eyes widened as she sat up and turned to look at the Gryffindor.
"It was the two of us." Sirius rolled his eyes.
"God, you better fix it as soon as possible." Jayce threatened.
"Of course, and we'll keep repairing it in the future, don't worry." Sirius winked.
"Dear Salazar, Sirius," Jayce mumbled.
"Don't worry, I'll fix it." Sirius shrugged, pulling her back on his chest. "Let's just stay here for the day."
"For the entire day?"
"Let's be honest, neither of us slept properly last night. I maybe got like four hours of sleep." Sirius chuckled. "So, let's catch up on our sleep and head in later for dinner."
"For dinner? We're not going to sleep that long." Jayce laughed.
"Bet." Sirius closed his eyes, removing one arm from Jayce's waist and placing it behind his head to provide some comfort against the hard pillar.
"This boy." Jayce rolled her eyes, firmly believing that they would wake up in less than three hours.
The sound of the crickets chirping and owls hooting as they flew by worked as an alarm for Jayce, who slowly opened her eyes just to be welcomed by the darkness that engulfed the Hogwarts castle.
"Well, well, well, look who's finally awake." Sirius's voice resonated from behind Jayce, who sat up and turned to look at him.
"Goddamn, how long have I been asleep for?" Jayce rubbed her eyes.
"A couple of hours. I was about to wake you up for dinner."
"When did you wake up?" Jayce got off of Sirius.
"About an hour ago." Sirius also got off the pillar and stood next to Jayce.
"And you just stayed there?"
"Yeah." Sirius shrugged. "But, I'm glad you're awake now because I am hella hungry, so can we go get food?"
"Yeah, I need some energy." Jayce yawned, already making her way down the stairs. "And you can run if you want, but I'm walking."
"Such a grandma." Sirius rolled his eyes. "I'll walk with you, idiot."
Walking down the spiral staircase, the duo passed many students, who looked at them in confusion because why in the world was the captain of the Slytherin team hanging out with Sirius Black?
Because apparently, them running through the halls in Muggle clothing earlier this morning wasn't enough of a surprise.
Jayce and Sirius ignored the people ogling at them and made their way to the Great Hall, where Marlene, Pandora, and Jane were seated, eating their dinner.
"Where are the guys?" Jayce looked up at Sirius as they walked over to the girls.
"No idea. They should be here-" He paused when his eyes fell on the moon that shined brightly outside. "Oh."
"Shit, you should go," Jayce said, noticing the full moon outside.
"Yeah." Sirius nodded, turning on his heel to leave, but was stopped by Jayce.
"Wait, grab something to eat on the way." She said, grabbing a cinnamon bun and some strawberries for him.
"Thanks, darling." Sirius accepted the food, flashing her a small smile. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you, good luck." Jayce nodded and Sirius took off, stuffing the strawberries in his pocket and the bun in his mouth. "What an idiot." She chuckled before turning away to walk over to her friends.
As Jayce settled into her seat at the table, Pandora's voice cut through the air with a mix of curiosity and mild reproach.
The disapproval was palpable, but Jayce, wearing a guilty smile, was quick to address the elephant in the room.
"Sorry, I can explain," she offered, meeting the eyes of each friend seated around her.
Her gaze lingered on Jane Flame, who responded with a somewhat awkward nod.
"You better!" Marlene huffed, a hint of playful annoyance in her voice. Before Jayce could delve into her explanation, Marlene seized the opportunity to share a significant development. "But, before we get into that, just want you to know that Jane and I are together, and it's all because of–"
"Sirius. I know," Jayce interjected with a nod, her awareness of the unfolding romantic entanglements evident in her expression. "We also made amends."
The revelation prompted an audible exhale of relief from Jane, who turned to Jayce with a sincerity that bordered on regret.
"I'm so sorry, Selwyn, if I knew the plan would've caused a rift between the two of you, I wouldn't have asked Sirius," she apologized, a genuine remorse coloring her words.
"It's fine; it's over now," Jayce reassured, her nonchalant shrug aiming to dispel any lingering tension. "But, congrats, you two."
A warm smile graced her lips as she acknowledged the newfound connection between Marlene and Jane. The exchange of happy glances and intertwined hands spoke volumes about the depth of their emotions.
The atmosphere at the table shifted, transitioning from a moment of potential conflict to one of shared joy and understanding. Jayce, always adaptable, embraced the evolving dynamics with a grace that mirrored her newfound acceptance of change.
As the group basked in the warmth of congratulatory smiles and the subtle glow of camaraderie, Jayce couldn't help but appreciate the complexities and richness of their interconnected lives at Hogwarts.
"Okay, now what about you?" Pandora jumped in. "Where in the world were you all day? And last night?"
"I was with Sirius." Jayce tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yeah, but for that long-" Marlene trailed off once she looked at Jayce's attire. "Oh my God."
"YOU AND SIRIUS FUCKED, DIDN'T YOU?" Jane hollered, looking at Jayce and then Marlene with wide eyes.
"Jayce, WHAT THE FUCK, YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?!" Marlene screamed.
"Calm down!" Jayce chuckled, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It's nothing, just casual stuff."
"No! I thought you missed out on seeing Lucinda at the hospital wing along with the rest of the team, but hell no, you were busy getting shagged!" Pandora exclaimed.
"That was today?" Jayce gaped. "I thought we were going to see Lucinda tomorrow as a team."
"No, it was today," Pandora explained. "Ugh, I'll go see her after I eat. I'm so bummed I missed out on that!"
"Oh, she left. Said she had some important things to do just a few hours ago and left." Pandora informed her.
Ah, Dumbledore's orders.
"Damn." Jayce frowned.
"But, hey, you got laid, so that's something." Marlene elbowed her suggestively.
"You guys are so embarrassing." Jayce rolled her eyes.
"Oh, and Jayce, I have something for you." Pandora suddenly remembered.
"What is it?" Jayce raised an eyebrow.
"I was in class and Slughorn told me to give you this letter." Pandora fished out a letter from her pocket and handed it to Jayce, who immediately recognized the familiar black and green font.
"Is it from your family?" Marlene asked, judging the fancy envelope.
"No, it's from Narcissa," Jayce responded. "Their family adds a silver lining in the corners of the letter, mine doesn't."
"Pureblood things," Pandora added.
"I am literally a Pureblood," Marlene said.
"Anyway, what's it say?" Jane, whose curiosity got the best of, leaned towards Jayce and her letter.
Pandora's eyes gleamed with curiosity as she observed Jayce's delighted expression while she shared the news about the invitation.
Jayce carefully folded the letter, savoring the moment, and tucked it into her pocket with a contented smile.
"Good news?" Pandora inquired, sensing an air of excitement.
"The best news," Jayce confirmed with a grin. "Earlier, I received a letter from my family, urging me to visit for a day or two due to some family business. I was initially disheartened by the prospect, but it turns out Narcissa intervened. She asked my family to extend an invitation for me to join the little get-together she's planning at the Malfoy Manor. Cissy even sent me another letter personally, ensuring I knew it was an invitation to the Malfoy residence and not my own."
"I'm happy for you," Marlene offered a polite smile, recognizing the significance of the invitation despite her reservations about Pureblood families.
She had never been a fan of the Malfoys, Blacks, or any family that adhered to Pureblood supremacy, but Marlene respected Jayce's autonomy in choosing her own connections and alliances. Jayce was an individual with her own values and principles, and Marlene wasn't about to dictate who her friends should or shouldn't be.
"Thank you," Jayce acknowledged Marlene's sentiment. "Honestly, it's a welcome change from the prospect of going back home. I've grown to dislike that place, especially now that marriage seems to be a significant concern."
As Jayce spoke, she couldn't help but reflect on the stifling expectations and traditions that often accompanied Pureblood families. The pressure to conform to societal norms and adhere to traditional values had created a wedge between her and the environment she once called home.
"Marriage? Already?" Jane raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued by Jayce's revelation.
"Yeah, apparently," Jayce sighed. "It's like they're trying to fast-track me into a life I'm not ready for. I'd rather attend Narcissa's get-together than endure another lecture about the importance of family alliances and marital ties."
Marlene, empathizing with Jayce's predicament, nodded in understanding. The dynamics of Pureblood families were intricate, with lineage and alliances often taking precedence over personal choices.
"Well, at least the Malfoy Manor sounds like a more appealing destination," Marlene remarked, trying to lighten the mood. "And who knows, maybe Narcissa's get-together will provide a welcome reprieve from the conventional expectations of your families."
"Exactly," Jayce agreed, appreciating Marlene's attempt to inject optimism into the conversation. "I'm genuinely looking forward to it. It's a chance to break away from the monotony and embrace a different atmosphere, even if just for a little while."
"Wait, Jayce, when are you invited?" Pandora asked.
"I'm going in two days."
"Sweet, because my brother wants me home for the get-together as well." Pandora grinned.
"Awesome, we can just go together then."