Ginny Weasley hid behind the small staircase at the third floor of Grimauld Place No.12. She was wearing old grey trousers of Charlie, a much too big green t-shirt and her bare feet were as dirty as her fingernails. The first weeks of her last summer holidays had not only been boring but also full of ugly and mindless housework. Which was why she was hiding from her mother right now. Why Mrs.Weasley constantly harrassed her was beyond her understanding. Studying extra curses for her tests, - yes! But improving her skills in piano playing? Supervising the house-elves and re-decorating rooms in which her ex-and-short-time-lover Harry used to live? Not if she could avoid it. Even if she had taken comfort in playing around with other boys after their breakup, his final rejection had hurt her and she was glad that he worked in Paris right now. At some weird place called champs-something, some people Sirius knew over there had hired him.
Actually, there were few people that Sirus did not know. And even less who didn´t know Sirius. With the war won and Voldemort pulverised, Sirius´ name had been cleaned and with his Azkaban history, the Black fortune and his status as a mysterious war hero, he became one of the top-five-topics of the wizarding press.
Not that there had been much to tell about his current life. He had built an aviary for Buckbeat in the garden. He taught martial arts and dark curses for aurors at the ministry twice a week. He went to see Remus Lupin at Hogwarts at times. He read books and wrote letters to Harry in his study on the second floor. And he had asked Molly Weasley to come and beautify the old Black townhouse.
This was in fact something that Witch Weekly had not sniffed out yet Ginny could imagine vividly the outcry of the female readers - Molly Weasley ! The one of the poor Weasleys with the many kids ! She grimaced sourly. How she hated that. Hated to be poor, hated that people always forgot the fact that she, Ginny was also half a Prewett. Molly had come from one of Englands oldest families. They had even been rich, only Molly as the youngest daughter had not seen much of this after her marriage with Arthur Weasley. Fabian had been the heir and spent nearly everything on his dragon-breed. And let himself being killed by the death eaters together with uncle Guideon afterwards.
Pity.
Nevertheless, Mollys upbringing had been an excellent one and Sirius did not have to ask her twice. With all kids but Ginny out of school and Arthur busy with cleanup efforts at the ministry, Molly had moved in temporarily the day his offer was owled. Ginny , - the appendage - how she prefered to call herself nowadays had never seen her mother so happy. Sirius had given her the key to his vault and Ginny, who had endured her whole life discussions about cauldron-prices had realized with awe how much her mother could spend on curtains without even turning a hair. It was frightening in a way. Years of austerity had exploded into Aubusson-carpets, cream-coloured walls and repolished silver door handles. Five new house-elves had happily nearly been splitting themselves by the efforts to obey Molly. The phrases" The order says that.." or "Your wish is my command" could be heard all over the house.
Exept by Ginny of course. After the first weeks of re-styling, re-furnishing,re,re,re re- Blacking, she had started to hide every now and then. Really, she had had fun spending all this money. And had even learned so much about running a noble household that she could compete easily with every pureblood-bitch at school if she wanted to. She frowned. Perhaps she shouldn´t use this expression as she was technically speaking one of them, too. No muggles in the family since 1724 as Auntie Muriel always clarified. Well. Anyway, people needed time for themselves and so sometimes she just locked herself in her room with a book or sneaked into Sirius´study when he wasn´t there with no other intent but to dream or to sleep in his big armchairs.
Unfortunately he was at home today and she had nearly fallen over his long legs as he lay sprawled out on the carpet before the parlours fireplace, reading an obscure magazine. She greeted him hastily and retreated to a saver place. They were getting along with each other quite well, it was just that Sirius never seemed to know how to treat her, a child she was definitly not but neither the age of Molly nor a boy. So usually they talked akwardly about Quidditch, which was nice but nothing Ginny would want to do every day. Even if he was attractive. For a man his age that was.
Well.
She heard Mollys steps coming nearer and crept backwards into the dark shadows under the old stairs. Her right foot knocked sharply against something small and solid. She suppressed a moan as her mother stopped exactly in her view and started talking to someone. "I really don´t know what to do with her anymore,", she complained " She´s just hiding and refusing to practise piano! And she´s such an excellent player, all grace and passion and being lost in the music! You haven´t seen her today, have you?" Sirius came into Ginnys view, his aristocratic but casual bearing could not be mistaken." No," he lied smoothly, " Haven´t seen her for some days in fact. But aren´t you too severe, Molly? She´s just äh- fourteen or something?""Fourteen!", Molly snorted."I wish she was but no Sirius, she is seventeen, of age and by the way responsible for the whole east-wing-restauration." "Oh. I didn´t know." Sirius Black was apparently taken aback." I always wondered how you managed to do so much all alone." Molly beamed. Sirirus smiled, too, Ginny could see it by the way his left ear perked up through the curtain of his long inky hair. "Well, you´ve done an excellent job that´s for sure," he continued, "When do you think I have to face the unevitable then?" Molly furrowed her brow: " The name you bear has to survive, you know that," she said seriously." Just remember what happend to my maidens name house, they are gone, all gone! Its a big fortune, that magical people live so much longer than muggles, so hopefully you will live long enough to see even your grandchildren growing up."
Sirius shuddered.
Ginny smiled inwardly, she imagined how he would wiggle out of this assault on his freedom.
He capitulated.
- He capitulated! - Had she misheard? He just answered in a resigned voice:" You are right, Molly. But please - be so kind and help me with your presence in the upcoming times, you know it won´t be easy for me." Molly stepped forward and hugged him spontanously.. She patted on his back as Ginny had seen her doing a million times with her brothers and said sternly:" Of course I will stay here as long as you need me. Now, now Mr.Black, dear : everyone of us has to grow up one day. I will inform you when the house is ready and we will manage the rest then and not earlier.." With this, she left, her long skirts swept along the floor and out of the door.
Sirirus stood alone, his long, slim shadow against the dusky light of the third floor. Ginny was quiet as church mice. He heaved a sigh and combed both hands through his hair with one swift and sensual movement. Without turning around he murmured " I can hear your breath, redhead.". And left.
Ginny sat a bit exited and thoughtfully in her den for a while until she remembered the thing she had bumped into.It was square and made of metall. She dragged it on the floor and gasped. A little box of sterling silver, two entwined snapes curling on the front around the initials SB . Ginny exulted. A treasure! She opened it and was a bit dissapointed to see nothing but a quicksilver liquid inside." Wait," she thought while poking her wand cautiously in it." I´ve seen something like that before." With a swirl, she was pulled in a maelstrom of colours and finished her former thought."It´s a pocket pensive!"
Her vision cleared and she found herself in a bedroom. An occupied bedroom. Very occupied indeed by two people. One was a brunette and completely naked woman with a soft and lush body. She lay on her back, legs wide spread, her head thrown backwards and gasped and moaned unashamedly. The other person who slammed his long fingers in her and sucked on one of her pale nipples was a much younger and apparently enjoying Sirius Black.