Disclaimer: I own nothing except the characters and situations I create!
A/N: While writing "Ten More Minutes," I was asked to expand on the romance between Sirius Black and Rachel Howard (nee Bartwell) before/after Maria was born and Sirius was taken to Azkaban. AsphodelRose87, this is for you!
Just a reminder, I'm still taking beta requests! I love to read your stories before they're posted!
"Sirius! Get your ass back here now!" Sirius Black smiled and turned to face his best friend, James Potter. They had just exited Platform 9 ¾ for the last time, having just completed their seventh year at Hogwarts, and although he was putting on a brave front, he knew he had to get away from his friends for a couple of weeks.
Throughout their time at the wizarding school, Sirius and James had been as thick as thieves. Sure, they had two other best friends, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, but there was something about the friendship shared between Padfoot and Prongs, the names they had given themselves once they had achieved their animagus forms a few years earlier. Even James's relationship with Lily Evans hadn't put a damper on their friendship; she was just as close to Sirius as James was.
So why do I need to get away? The answer was obvious: Voldemort. Just thinking of that snake's name set Sirius's teeth on edge. He wasn't running away forever; he was going to return and join the Order of the Phoenix to fight Voldemort's rise to power, his slaughter of muggle borns like Lily. Plus, he had to be back by late July for James and Lily's wedding. With the war going on, they didn't want to wait too long.
"What do you want, Potter? I have places to be!" Sirius grinned at his friend before hugging Lily, who had just appeared beside her fiancé.
"And what, pray tell, is so important that you can't go grab a bite to eat at my parents' house, Sirius? You've never turned down one of my mum's meals." James slung an arm over his best friend's shoulder while holding Lily's hand. Remus had stayed behind at the Shrieking Shack (the full moon was hard on the werewolf), and Pettigrew had taken off quickly, stating that he had somewhere important he needed to be.
Sirius shrugged. "I'm heading to Islington for a while. Going to visit a few of my grade school mates. I haven't seen them in a couple of summers, I guess."
"You're not going to visit those parents of yours, are you, Sirius?" Lily had never met the Black family, but from hearing of how Sirius had shown up on James's doorstep at sixteen after running away and being disowned, she had already developed not-so-friendly feelings toward the family. Plus, the fact that every other Black family member sorted Slytherin and supported (allegedly) the Dark Lord was just another mark against them.
"You've got to be joking. Last I heard, my brother's a bloody Death Eater! No, I'm going to visit some friends, hang around the area for a while, and then I'll be back before your wedding. Tell your mum to please keep a bed open for me, will you? I'll need a place to crash until I'm working full-time with the Order."
James grinned. "Mate, your bed's never been closed. Just be careful, okay? And Sirius?"
"Yeah, mate?"
Lily spoke up. "Don't break too many girls' hearts. Find a nice one to bring to the wedding."
"That'll be the day. Unfortunately, James has already found the perfect girl. We're all just stuck with the leftovers."
James shook his head. "I have to write that down."
"Why?" Sirius was confused.
"For my best man's speech at your wedding. Your future wife, bless her soul, will love that!"
"Mum! I don't want to go to your stuffy friends' house! Why can't I just stay here? I'll invite Gina over where I won't be alone!"
Alice shook her head at her daughter. "Rachel Elizabeth Bartwell, you're going, and that's final. I don't like leaving you here while we're that far away overnight. You're a young lady, and I don't like leaving you defenseless. Plus, Nan and Paul haven't seen you since you were ten. They'd like to see how you've grown. They have a son…"
Rachel couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Mum!" she exclaimed, exasperated again. "I just turned seventeen! Why do I need to meet the son of each of your friends? Don't you want me to go to college? Make something of myself?"
Her mother, who was a very happy housewife, said, "You're saying being a wife and mother means you're unsuccessful?"
"No, mum. I'm saying that it's not exactly what I want now. I want to be a nurse or something in the medical field. With all of these new disasters popping up everywhere, they need more and more people in the hospitals, and I'm only too happy to step in. That means I may not get married immediately."
Alice nodded. "Fine."
Rachel sighed. At least I got out of that trip…
"But you're still going to Islington with your father and me tomorrow."
Shit.
Sirius looked around the pub, hoping to catch a glimpse of his friends. He had used the phone in the Leaky Cauldron to call them and make plans to meet that very night at another local pub a mile away. He looked at his watch and was just about to order some food when he felt a slap on his shoulder.
"Sirius Black! How long's it been, mate?" Sirius turned to see his best friend from the five years his pureblood parents had allowed him to attend the local private school. Although they felt he didn't need muggle education because he was a Black, they didn't want him to have any disadvantage. Plus, Sirius needed to learn how to read and write, and his parents had no time to teach him themselves.
"Benton Kirkland! Good to see you! I guess it's been two years? At least we're old enough to legally drink this time, right?"
"Legally being the key word, eh, Black? How've you been?" Benton had been Sirius's safe haven all throughout his time at the St. Thomas Academy for Boys. Thankfully, the school only went up to fifth grade, so no one thought it strange when Sirius went off to another school; however, Sirius was ashamed that he had estranged his friends so easily, especially Benton.
"Good. Finally graduated. You?"
"Same. Going into the Royal Air Force. I guess I need to keep the structure in my life. All of those private schools Mum and Dad shipped me off to did some good, I guess."
Sirius shook his head, laughing. "The RAF? Gods, mate. I'm glad my life is lacking that bit of structure. I liked my somewhat un-structured private school just fine. But I'm happy for you, Bent."
"Thanks. What plans do you have?" Benton waved his hands to order two glasses of the pub's specially imported ale, a favorite of both men, and an order of crisps. "Sorry. Dale and Kenny were held up at Dale's parents' house. Something about an 'obligation' to 'meet these young ladies.' You know how it is."
"Damn. I'm glad I don't deal with my parents anymore. I think Regulus is making the social rounds these days, but I never see him. I'm actually considering going over to the continent for schooling. I'm still weighing options."
The two friends continued to catch up while drinking and eating into the night, eventually joined by Dale Hayes and Kenneth (Kenny) Malian. The four drank, flirted with unsuspecting girls, and reminisced about summers past and future plans until very late. When Benton discovered that Sirius was staying at the Leaky Cauldron (or "that weird pub down the way"), he insisted that his friend stay with him until he returned to Godric's Hollow and James Potter.
Sirius and Benton stumbled to the Kirkland household where Benton was still living until he began his training in two weeks. They quietly(ish?) made their way into the house and up the stairs, depositing Sirius's bag in a guest room before preparing for bed. Sirius poked his head into Benton's room before slipping into his own room.
"Bent?"
"Yeah, mate?"
"Thanks." With this, Sirius backed out, closed the door, and shuffled half-drunkenly to his own room, thankful for friends, both magical and non-magical.
Rachel tackled her hair again in frustration. This was the third time her mother had sent her to do something with "that bird's nest" that currently resided on top of her head, but nothing was helping. Finally spotting a nice bandanna that matched her dress, she tied the cloth around her hair stylishly and walked out.
"Goodness, Rachel, you look like one of those hippies they're always talking about on the telly!" Alice looked appalled.
"Mum, this is the only way I could control it! You know how my hair hates London humidity!"
Another sigh. "At least it's not sticking up everywhere, and the bandanna does match your outfit. Fine. Let's get your father and get on the road. The Welkins are expecting us in an hour." Alice turned to go into the den to retrieve Christopher, Rachel's father, and soon the three were in the family's car headed to Islington.
After a tiring hour in the Welkins' company, Rachel dragged her mother to the side and begged to be allowed to walk around the area for a while. Appreciative that the girl had made an effort to come at all, Alice agreed, telling her daughter to stay within a few blocks and suggesting a coffee shop down the road that served lunch after giving Rachel some money to buy said food.
"Thanks, Mum. I owe you!" Rachel slowly left the house, allowing her mother to make excuses for her with the hosts.
The trip to Islington was generally unexciting until she reached the coffee shop. After ordering a sandwich and some tea, Rachel looked around and found the only available seat across from an unknown male wearing all black. She timidly sat down and watched the man.
"Hey, babe. Bring those stunning legs back this way, and let's see how long they really are!"
"Hey gorgeous, come to get lost in my bottomless blue eyes?"
Rachel rolled her black eyes; while the color was not average, they obviously weren't as outstanding as the gentleman's across from her. She choked down her sandwich as he continued to hassle each woman worth a second look who passed his way. Rachel finally had enough. She cleared her throat.
Sirius was bored, so he did what he usually did while bored: complimented young, good-looking ladies. All girls liked a nice admirer every now and then, right? However, muggle girls who were oblivious to his wizarding capabilities and his small fortune (thanks to dear, late Uncle Alphard) were much harder to woo than witches at Hogwarts.
Just as he was about to attempt to flatter the brunette heading his way, he heard a slight sound that sounded like a throat clearing to his right. He turned his head, shocked to find a dark-skinned, black-eyed beauty with a bright blue bandanna that matched her sundress wrapped around her head sitting at his table with him. Recovering quickly, he smirked.
"Sirius Black. Now, you're too pretty for me not to know your name."