meet me in the afterglow.

༒

Darkness leached from the girl.

Sirius Black watched as Celeste Malfoy entered the room, early to an Order meeting for the first time in her life. So early that the room was still empty. Her footsteps slowly clicked across the worn cedar floorboards. Her jaw was tight, her eyes set hard as she took her seat. She was so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed him.

Sirius leaned against a doorway, studying her with an impassioned intensity in his eyes. He found her mystifying and mesmerizing all at once, as he always had. His heart was already hammering by the time she leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms, staring down the innocent dining table.

Somehow, she had transformed into a wraith. She was colder. Farther. Someone he wasn't sure if he knew. Someone who he desperately still loved― even if he might never admit it. 

The thought struck against him like a terrible chord. But Sirius waved it aside, harnessed onto his shred of hatred for her, ignoring the ringing in his chest.

It was then that she finally lifted her gaze, scanning the room until it fell on him.

Nothing in her expression changed.

Sirius felt an odd chill run down his spine.

Celeste blinked once, emotionless and indifferent. "Hi," she said flatly.

He was stunned that she had even bothered to acknowledge him. Sirus fumbled for the right words, stammering, "Oh, h-hi."

Where she once would've softly smiled, or rolled her eyes at him, she now simply fixed him with a sharp, piercing look. "Have you standing there this whole time?"

Ignoring his confusion and bewilderment, Sirius answered slowly, "Yes. Yes, I have. Before you got here." He failed to take note that she had been sitting there for ten minutes already.

Celeste muttered something foul under her breath.

For what seemed to be the hundredth time, Sirius was dumbfounded. How was this Celeste? She had never been this heartless in the slightest. "What did you just say?"

"Nothing that should concern you," she said, smooth ice coating her words. She looked away from him, inspecting her nails. "Where's Oliver?"

"Who?"

"Oliv― Olivia," Celeste snapped. She blinked, surprised at herself for the change of tone. She hastily added, "Sorry."

Sirius looked her up and down, narrowing his eyes. Irritation laced his voice as he answered, "She's fine. Great, even. We're great."

Celeste twisted her hands. "That's... wonderful," she said, rather quietly.

He regarded her with a mocking smile. "Don't be ridiculous. You're practically seething. You hate the girl. Changed your mind about me, have you?"

Her eyes became clearer as some sort of realization settled over her. Celeste looked at him, and scoffed, "You're drunk."

Anger flared in his eyes. Sirius pushed himself off the doorframe, and slowly sauntered towards her. He stopped only two steps away, and looked down at her. His voice was deathly quiet. "Don't assume shit about me."

Celeste tilted her head, unfazed. "And you haven't? Changed your mind about me, have you?"

Sirius chuckled. "I know you better than yourself, darling. I don't need to make assumptions."

Celeste stood, in under a second. The chair squeaked loudly against the floor. For a split moment, there was a desperate and hysterical look in her eye. Her voice was heavy with exhaustion, grief, and something else he couldn't place. "Why?"

"Why what?" Sirius scoffed. But he knew what she meant all too well. He just needed to hear it.

Celeste exhaled, her breath shuddering. "Why. Why are you so angry with me? Why are you still with her? Why didn't you try to tell me sooner? Just― why?" Before she could stop herself, she let herself keep going. After all, there might never be a chance again. "You know― I don't blame you for doing it. I know that it's my fault. It's my fault that I accepted that proposal, and it's my fault that I made you feel like you had to get out of― out of us."

A sob threatened at her throat, but she forced it down and went on. "I know I wasn't a great girlfriend! I was― I was negligent! I was a fool. I told you back on the Astronomy Tower, that you would have to move on, and that I would never blame you. So honestly, I deserve all this. But I just― I need to know why. You could have waited. I'd rather you'd screamed at me and broken it off with me first." She looked away, straightening her back.

Sirius was at a loss for words. He felt sick in the stomach. He had never considered any of that. He had never thought of her that way. He held her gaze, looking at her as though she were the heaven and stars. "Celeste, I never―"

"Siri! There you are!"

In an instant, Celeste was ripped back into reality. She swallowed down her emotions and composed herself. 

Olivia's voice rang out like milk and honey, fresh and sweet, as her head poked into the room. She giggled and flounced over to Sirius, latching herself onto his arm. "What are we talking about?"

Sirius fought off his cringe, and adjusted his arm. He tentatively patted the girl's hand.

Celeste blinked, stunned at Sirius' reaction. She blinked again, and this time, a knowing look passed through her face. She knew exactly what he thought of Olivia Dolos, that quickly. She smiled coyly at Olivia and her voice like dripping starlight, answered, "Oh, just our upcoming mission. It's very high risk. I hope you're ready for it."

"Of course!" Olivia laughed, rather smugly. "I'm so excited for it. I've never been to a lavish ball before."

Celeste and Sirius both looked surprised. They glanced at each other, and looked away.

"Well," Celeste said, carefully. "I'm sure Sirius will prepare you well. He has quite the experience of them."

Olivia gasped, strangely delighted at the news. "Really?" she gushed, looked up at Sirius. "I didn't know that!"

Sirius nodded stiffly.

Olivia beamed at Celeste. "Wow! You're so nice, Celeste! I honestly thought you were a bitch. Are you free tomorrow? You know what we should do? Let's hang out! It'll be totally great―"

"I'm not free tomorrow," Celeste interrupted. Harshness had seeped back into features. "Actually, I'm getting married tomorrow."

Sirius felt all the blood drain from his face.

Neither girl took note of him.

Olivia's jaw fell open. "What? That's amazing! How exciting! You sure moved on fast!"

Suddenly, Celeste broke out into laughter. Cold, empty, laughter. Like she had lost her mind. "Oh, you're hilarious!"

Olivia frowned. "Am I? I don't think I meant to―"

The words made her laugh harder.

"Olivia, love, can you go get my wallet?" Sirius said carefully. "I think I left it upstairs when we were talking to the twins."

"Sure," Olivia said, confused.

When she left the room, Celeste was still laughing. She covered her mouth with a hand and clutched her stomach with the other. "She's― she's the strangest girl I've ever met! A wonderful choice, Sirius. I never thought you might fancy someone like that!"

Sirius didn't seem to take in her words. "The wedding is tomorrow?"

Her laughter ceased and she huffed a breath. "Well, I suppose you'd remember if you weren't drinking your days away."

The wedding was in less than twenty four hours. It explained Celeste's bitter and blank behavior.

Sirius could hear his heartbeat, roaring in his ears. "No. No you're not."

"Well," Celeste laughed. "I'm sure it would be wonderful if it wasn't. Thank you for indulging me into your fantasy."

Panic flooded his senses as the reality sank into him . "No," he repeated. His eyes were wide with terror. "No. You can't be."

Confusion was slowly seeping into her. Celeste hesitated. "Sirius. What's going on?"

In a smooth movement, Sirius sprang to her, and took her face into his hands. Breathing hard, he studied her face, desperately trying to memorize every gleam and shadow of her.

Quietly, Celeste whispered, "It's okay, Sirius. We don't have to do this anymore."

He shook his head, but his gaze never left her face. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "Celeste, I'm so fucking sorry. I don't know what got into me. I'm so sorry." He went on repeating it, over and over again. "I'm so sorry, Celeste. I'm so sorry."

Celeste closed her eyes in disbelief. A tear or two managed to slip past her.

"Celeste," Sirius said, his breath hot on her face. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I thought Olivia would be better. I thought she would get back at you. And I need you to know that I was never angry at you. I could never be. I was angry at myself. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. You weren't a bad girlfriend."

"Maybe a bit," Celeste laughed quietly, her voice breaking.

"No," her ex boyfriend murmured. Tears were already running down his face. "It was my fault. It's on me. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry that I hurt you. But I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose this."

Celeste opened her eyes, meeting Sirius'. They were startling grey, breathtaking, in the way she'd always loved.

"I love you," he said.

Her eyes widened, and she forgot how to breathe. Shock rolled across her face. "What?"

Sirius did not wait to hesitate. "I love you. I love you so much that it hurts to breathe. When I look at you, you look like you could hold the entire sky with a smile. I've never loved anyone else but you. If you want to break my heart, I'll let you. And I'll come crawling right back. My whole heart is yours. It belongs to you. And in every dream and fantasy, I never stop thinking about you. So I need you to know that I love you. And I'm sorry."

Her heart cleaved and shattered into a thousand small pieces.

"Sirius," Celeste whispered, slowly shaking her head. "You can't."

Sirius swiped away a tear on her face with a thumb. "But I will. Even if I can't be with you, I'll still love you. More than anyone else. I'll love you more. I know I always will."

She smiled faintly, finally crying freely. "You aren't saying goodbye, are you?"

He leaned his forehead against hers. "Never."

"Good." Celeste savored his touch. "I miss you," she breathed. "I miss you so much it hurts. And I love you. Even if it could ruin and destroy my entire reputation, I will love you. Even if you ever decide to hate me, I will love you, Sirius Black."

And when she opened her mouth to say more, Sirius closed the thin gap in between them. He met her lips and kissed her, hard. Adrenaline rushing through her blood, Celeste returned it. She tangled her hands in his hair as his kiss ignited her soul. 

Sirius pushed her up onto the table, unbreaking contact. Celeste's skin flushed instantly, as he quietly groaned, "Fuck, Celeste." He moved down to her jaw, and then her throat. 

Celeste felt like her stomach was going to burst. She melted into him, and joined their lips together again, harder, harsher. Like she needed him. She whispered his name, and Sirius only kissed her deeper. 

Footsteps sounded from outside the door. Voices.

Sirius slowly pulled himself away. His eyes were dark, gazing down at her with a burning lust. Celeste slowly moved off the table, unbreaking their stare. Their chests heaved up and down, their heavy breathing filling the silence. 

She parted her lips, pink and flushed. "I can't stay. It's why I came early."

Sirius nodded once, in understanding. "I love you."

"Send them my love," Celeste whispered. Her hands were suddenly shaking. "I know I'll see you and everyone else again but still. Tell them I love them." Still, she did not break away her look. "I love you. You are everything to me."

Celeste Malfoy paused for a moment to look at him. 

She smiled softly and with a flick of her wand, a loud crack ripped across the air.

And she was gone.