Chapter Two: Occupation
The Ministry of Magic, was always busy. Full of wizards and witches attending work, visiting the headquarters or reporting for the Daily Prophet. The amount of people added to the complication of getting to work on time. Which at this present time, Evangeline was having trouble with. She had just apparated into the main hall, and was attempting to push through the sea of people. As much as she had always liked the entrance, with it's mahogany boarded walls, peacock blue ceiling glittered with golden symbols and of course, the golden fountain set in the middle of all the commotion, at this moment in time all she was focusing on was getting to the Auror Headquarters as fast as possible. She nodded curtly to a few acquaintances as she rushed towards the golden gates in the midst of a stream of employees. Eventually she made it through the golden gates, waving towards the security guard, Eric, as she passed. Evangeline strode into the smaller hall, searching around for a half empty lift. She spotted one in the distance as a few wizards and witches filed into it. She began to run quickly, dodging her way through the crowds of people. Luckily enough for her, she made it just before the gates on the lift had closed completely. She slipped past the moving gate, smiled awkwardly at the passengers at the front of the lift, before turning around and facing the door.
'You're a bit late this morning, Black. Bit of a hold up?' came a voice from behind Evangeline. She glanced around, craning her neck to find the owner of the voice. Eventually she found it, she groaned inwardly and rolled her eyes heavenward. John Regent, employee at the Misuse of Magic Department. Worked on the same floor as Evangeline. Probably the most annoying person she had ever come across.
'It's not really any of your business, Regent,' Evangeline said bluntly, turning around to face the front as the voice from the elevator echoed out 'Level Six, Department of Magical Transportation, incorporating the Floo Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, Portkey Office and Apparation Test Centre'. 'But yes, I was held up,' she said, reminiscing Sirius' smug, satisfied expression when she had eventually got out of bed half an hour later than what she had intended. It was alright for him, he didn't have a job to go to.
'Sorry to hear that, Black. Hope it was nothing serious,' Regent said, moving to the front of the lift. Evangeline smirked, it was definitely something serious. Very Sirius indeed. 'Any more Death Eater attacks recently then? There was one a couple of days ago from what I heard, they all got away. Jenkins' all murdered.' he said, sounding interested.
'I wasn't actually on that case,' Evangeline said, as the lift stopped once more. She quickly ducked as a memo sped into the lift, narrowly missing her head. 'I was finishing off some paperwork from a previous attack,' she said, hating the fact that she still hadn't finished it. 'Terrible attack from what Kingsley told me, whole family tortured and killed,' she said, shaking her head.
'Tsk tsk. Terrible. Just terrible,' Regent said, also shaking his head before letting out a low whistle. 'I guess it's what everyone is expecting now though, what with that You-Know-Who on the rise,' he said. 'We just gotta keep both eyes peeled and wands at the ready,' Regent said, as the lift pulled to a stop. 'Level Two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizengamot Administration Services,' said the cool and collected voice. The doors slid open to reveal a corridor lined with doors. Evangeline stepped out of the lift and walked down the corridor, Regent followed her. 'See you, Black,' he said and walked towards the door nearest to him.
'Bye,' Evangeline said, glancing back briefly. She continued to walk down the corridor, she turned a corner and began to jog towards the large oak doors in front of her. She shoved one of the doors open with her shoulder and walked into the cluttered open area, divided into cubicles. She jogged quickly down to her cubicle, her bag bumping against her thighs as she ran. Eventually she made it to her cubicle. The walls of her cubicle had been covered with photos of her and Sirius and their wedding day, the Marauders, Lily and James' wedding and of course, pictures of little Harry. She had several posters of the Holyhead Harpies, a newspaper clipping in which she was mentioned and a picture of her, Leah, Kingsley, and Jefferson on a night out after throwing three Death Eaters in Azkaban. She set her bag on the floor, lifted out her files that she had been working on and set them on the desk. She flipped through them, picking out the one she had finished.
'Black!' A voice snapped. Evangeline jumped and dropped the parchment she had been holding onto the floor. She bent down to pick it up then turned around to find Mad-Eye Moody standing before her. 'You're late,' he said, his magical eye spinning disturbingly. Evangeline opened her mouth to explain but he cut her off, 'I don't want to hear it, Black. There has been sightings of a couple of Death Eaters in the East London area they may have gone by now but go and check it out. Take Shacklebolt and Jefferson with you, I don't want any more deaths on my hands,' he said, snatching the finished case out of her hands and hobbling off towards his office.
Evangeline stood open mouthed and watched him as he slammed the door to his office shut. 'You do a great impression of a goldfish, Black,' Jefferson joked, emerging from his cubicle and waving his hand in front of Evangeline's face. 'What is up with you?' he asked her confusedly.
She glanced sidewards at him, 'This is the first time I've ever been late and he shoves me off on some lookout mission in the pouring rain,' Evangeline said, folding her arms and pouting. 'I don't know what it is with men,' she said huffily, unfolding her arms and walking over to her cubicle. 'Everything has to be done their way,' she muttered, lifting the folders and putting them into their slots on her desk. She busied herself, attempting to take her mind off the unfortunate task ahead of her.
'Oi! Black! You finished muttering to yourself yet?' Jefferson asked, poking his head around into her cubicle. 'We should get going,' he said, grabbing his cloak. Evangeline nodded. 'I'll go and find Kingsley,' he said, fastening the cloak around his neck before jogging to the other side of the room and disappearing behind a row of cubicles.
Evangeline pulled open the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled out a black belt with a wand holster, self-lockable money pouch with non-jingle charm and tracking device. She slipped it around her waist, clasped it at the front, grabbed her wand from her pocket and stuck it in the holster. She reached down into her bag, took a few galleons out of the front pocket and put them in the pouch on her belt. She grabbed a spare piece of parchment, a quill and scribbled down a note for anyone wishing to find her. Out on case, she wrote before sticking the parchment to her desk. She left the quill abandoned on her desk, turned around to see Kingsley and Jefferson standing in front of the oak doors waiting for her. Unwillingly, she trudged past cubicle after cubicle until she reached them. 'What are we waiting on?' she asked them, putting her hands on her hips.
'We were waiting for you,' Kingsley answered emphasising that she should hurry up. He pushed the door open and allowing Evangeline to go through before following her. 'So where did Moody say?' he asked, as the three of them strided down the corridor towards the lift.
'East London area,' Evangeline said blandly as they reached the lift. She impatiently pushed the button for the lift. She tutted agitatedly when the lift did not appear and began to push the button more vigorously.
Kingsley glanced sidewards at her, 'East London area? Does he know the size of east London? It's huge!' he said, in disbelief. 'We'll be there all day,' he said, but thought for a moment. 'We could split up, at least then we might get most of the area done by this afternoon,' he suggested.
'I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the situation is first,' Evangeline said as the red light flashed above the door to the lift, signalling it's arrival. 'About bloody time,' she said, bouncing on the balls of her feet in anticipation to get moving.
Eventually the lift's door slid open, revealing the lift to be packed and cramped. Kingsley sighed and stepped into the lift, Evangeline and Jefferson followed him. 'They don't really make these lifts for people with claustrophobia, do they?' he muttered to Evangeline as he ran his hand around the collar of his shirt, loosening it slightly.
'Just keep breathing and you'll be fine,' Evangeline said jokily, patting him on the back.
The journey in the lift was a long and uncomfortable one. People breathing heavily down your back, coughing every so often in your ear, memos flying into the lift at top speeds almost poking your eye out and more and more people seemed to be entering the lift making it almost impossible to move. Evangeline was stuck in an awkward position, squeezed between Kingsley and Jefferson and standing in front of a young trainee who seemed to have taken a liking to her and occasionally feeling her rear. The lift pulled to a stop, ground floor. The trainee did it once more, just as Evangeline was about to get out of the lift. She growled and spun around, 'I could have you arrested for abuse,' she snarled and slapped him across the face. 'Touch me again and you'll find yourself locked up,' she said before turning on her heel and following Kingsley and Jefferson.
'Honestly,' Evangeline fumed as she caught up with her co-workers, 'the nerve of some people,' she said, glancing back at the lift furiously. She brushed down her black robes and calmed herself down as they reached the main hall. Jefferson glanced back at her bewilderedly as though he was searching her face for an answer. 'That … trainee standing behind us was feeling me up!' Evangeline exclaimed, a flustered look about her face. Jefferson snorted. 'What's so funny, Gerald?' she said, emphasising his name.
Jefferson glanced at her irritatedly, 'You know I hate that name!' he said and turned to watch where he was going once more, ignoring her almost.
'Well tell me why you were laughing then?' Evangeline asked him, her eyebrow raised suspiciously.
'Normally women like being felt up,' Kingsley answered for him as they walked further and further into the crowds of people gathered in the main entrance hall.
'But – well – I'm married!' Evangeline said loudly, a few people surrounding her glanced at her peculiarly then carried on with what they were doing. She ignored them completely and continued to follow Kingsley and Jefferson.
'I bet you still enjoy it though,' Jefferson said cheekily, glancing around and winking. 'And you don't look old enough to be married. If I weren't your best friend and you weren't married, I would definitely consider you,' he said in a simple and carefree tone.
'Did I really need to know that, Jefferson?' Evangeline asked him.
'Yes. You should be grateful that I had the balls to open up and tell you how I felt.'
'I'm married, Jefferson.'
'And what does that matter?'
'I'm married to Sirius! I'm not for ch –'
'I hope you two don't mind sorting out your problems some other time,' Kingsley interrupted. Evangeline and Jefferson stopped glaring one another out and glanced in Kingsley's direction. 'We should get going now,' he said. 'Apparate to the market square just off the city centre, it'll be busy so make sure you don't get spotted by muggles,' Kingsley said, glancing between them. 'And be on your guard, anything could be lurking. See you there,' he said with a smile and disappeared with a crack.
'After you, my lady,' Jefferson said, bowing slightly.
'I am not your lady, Jefferson,' Evangeline growled and disappeared from sight.
There was a small crackle and Evangeline appeared in the middle of a dark and dreary alleyway just off the city centre. The rain was pouring down, immediately saturating Evangeline's cloak. She glanced around, her hand playing with the edge of her robes nearest her wand. Satisfied that no one had seen her she jogged up the alleyway towards the brighter market area. She frowned in confusion as she got nearer to the end of the alleyway, the market was empty. Not a person in sight. She stopped at the end of the alleyway, surveying the abandoned city centre. There were a few people walking the perimeter of the market, under the shadows of the houses and shops that surrounded it. It was almost as if they were hiding from something. In the distance Evangeline could see Kingsley, gazing around just as she had done moments before. 'Kingsley!' she shouted, waving to him. Slowly, they began to walk towards each other, Jefferson had arrived with a crack in between them, his expression shocked as he caught first glance of the city. 'I'm not liking the look of this,' Evangeline said as they finally reached one another's company. 'Where is everyone?'
'Maybe we've been too late,' Jefferson said, gazing around open-mouthed.
'A couple of Death Eaters couldn't have killed a whole city of people,' Kingsley said, scratching his head as he glanced around as though he was trying to find the explanation hidden somewhere.
'Maybe there were more than a couple of them,' Evangeline said grimly, attempting to wipe the raindrops off her face, but failing.
'But there are no dead bodies,' Kingsley said. 'I think we should send for reinforcements, just in case,' he said, glancing around at the derelict city. There was nothing stirring, it was lifelessly quiet. The only living creatures being a about three people walking in the shadows and a flock of pigeons that had landed on the stone walkway.
'But there's nothing here, look around,' Evangeline said, turning around and glancing around for any lively movement. 'It looks like they were here long before we arrived, probably early in the morning,' she said, turning back to face her co-workers.
'We don't want to take any risks,' Kingsley said. 'What would happen if they returned? It would be three inexperienced Aurors against God only knows how many ruthless Death Eaters,' he said, Evangeline could hear the concern in his voice. 'No one is getting killed. You mark my words, Black.'
'I was going to suggest we take a look around,' Evangeline said coolly. 'Find any indication that Death Eaters have definitely been here and it's not just the market's day off,' she said, folding her arms. 'We don't want to bring the whole Auror Department down here when it could just be nothing.'
'Fine,' Kingsley agreed unwillingly. 'We'll search around, any signs of Death Eaters having been here, send for reinforcements. If we find nothing, make sure nothing suspicious is going on then return to headquarters,' he said, glancing to Evangeline who nodded.
'Uh, guys,' Jefferson said, slowly and cautiously. Evangeline glanced over at him, his back was turned to them and he was watching something in the distance. 'We've got company,' he said, turning to face them. Kingsley was already sending for reinforcements, whether they would arrive on time would be another story. Evangeline pulled her wand out of it's holster and held it readily at the incoming Death Eaters. Four of them. All dressed in long black cloaks and white masks.
'I can't get hold of Moody,' Kingsley muttered furiously as he turned around, his wand drawn at the Death Eaters who had not made any sudden moves yet. 'Why aren't they attacking?' he asked warily.
'Beats me,' Evangeline answered him.
'Well, well, well. Look what we've got here boys,' One of the Death Eaters said. 'Potter,' he spat venomously. 'Shacklebolt,' he said. 'And that Jefferson kid.' He raised his wand slightly, Evangeline flinched. She could have sworn he was going to curse them. But he didn't. 'You put my wife in Azkaban, Potter,' the Death Eater snarled. They walked closer, the Death Eater that had spoke pointed his wand at Evangeline.
'It's where she belongs, Lestrange,' Evangeline answered the Death Eater she knew to be Rodolphus Lestrange, Bellatrix's husband. Evangeline had managed to defeat her a couple of months back, sending her to Azkaban for life. 'And it's Black by the way.'
'Oh yes. You married that bastard traitor, Sirius Black, didn't you?' Lestrange said edging closer to Evangeline. She stood her ground, her wand raised. 'He'll be a bit distressed when he finds that his wife has repaid me,' he grinned sadistically, 'with her life.' He flicked his wand upwards, sending a flash of green light towards Evangeline.
She dodged the spell just in time, it missed her by millimetres. Evangeline raised her wand, sending a spell back at him. Within moments duels had broken out within the seven people. Kingsley was duelling two Death Eaters at once, his wand thrashing through the air so quickly it was almost a blur. Jefferson was firing spells repeatedly at the Death Eater he was duelling, dodging and ducking as curses came his way. Evangeline was intent on finishing Lestrange off and sending him to Azkaban to join his dearly beloved wife. Sparks where flying rapidly from the tips of Evangeline's and Lestrange's wands, they were duelling fiercely. They encircled each other, dodging and ducking spells and splashing in the water that lay on the ground. Jefferson had managed to outwit his opponent, sending a Stunning Spell straight at the Death Eater's chest. He pocketed the Death Eater's wand and bound him with invisible ropes before helping Kingsley. Evangeline was continuing to fire spells at Lestrange, but she was running out of useful ones. He blocked every single one of them.
'Why don't you just give up, Potter?' Lestrange taunted her as he fired a curse at her. She blocked it easily.
'It's Black, Lestrange,' Evangeline snarled, concentrating on her new strategy. 'Avis,' she said and conjured a flock of canaries that fluttered around her head. Lestrange shot another curse at her, hoping that it would hit her. She blocked it once more. 'Opugno,' Evangeline said and the birds flew at an alarming speed towards Lestrange. He stood dumbfounded and confused and watched as the birds flew towards him, eventually flying straight into him and pecking him repeatedly. 'STUPIFY!' Evangeline shouted, it hit Lestrange square in the chest. He fell to the ground, motionless. The birds still fluttering in the air above him. She walked towards his lifeless body, picked up his wand and stuck it in the pocket of her robes. She waved her wand and immediately his body was bound by invisible ropes. She glanced around to see Kingsley finish off the Death Eater that he was duelling, he fell to the ground just as Lestrange had done moments before. Jefferson was sending his Patronus to Moody presumably, telling him that there was an attack and that they had managed to capture four Death Eaters.
'How many is that we've caught now?' Evangeline asked with a grin on her face as Kingsley bound the last Death Eater. Jefferson and Kingsley glanced at her, shrugging. 'What's up with you two? You should be happy – ' she noticed Kingsley's expression and sighed, ' – okay, so it's my fault we didn't have back-up. But no one got hurt,' she said, glancing at Jefferson to make sure.
'It's not your fault, Evangeline,' Kingsley said, walking towards her. 'You had the right intentions. And anyway, I kinda like sending Death Eaters down,' he grinned, but suddenly he frowned. 'You're hurt,' he said, pointing at her. 'Your face, you've got –'
'I'm fine, Kingsley,' Evangeline said, brushing off any sort of pity or concern. 'It's just a scratch,' she said. She couldn't even remember being in pain, but by Kingsley's reaction when he noticed it her injury might be more serious than what she might think. She winced as the rain ran down her face and over her wound. She was soaked to the bone and she could barely see because of the rain running down her face. 'Did you get Moody, Jefferson?' she asked him, hoping that Mad-Eye would arrive soon and they could return to the Department.
'Yep, he's coming with the Dementors to take them to Azkaban,' Jefferson said, he shuddered. Evangeline couldn't tell whether it was from the thought of the Dementors or whether he was just cold. 'I wish he would hurry up,' Jefferson complained. His eyes suddenly lit up and he transfigured his cap into an umbrella.
'It's a bit late for that now. You're already soaked,' Evangeline said, wiping yet more rain from her face and glancing at Kingsley who was staring into thin air.
Eventually Moody appeared with a crackle between Evangeline and Jefferson, his magical eye swivelling unnervingly. He surveyed the four Death Eaters lying on the ground, bound and motionless. He then glanced between Evangeline, Kingsley and Jefferson, an emotionless expression on his face but the corners of his mouth where threatening to break out into a smile. 'Well done, you three,' he said, as the Dementors arrived. Evangeline stood as far away from them as possible. 'Don't worry, lassie. They're under strict orders to take the unconscious, bound prisoners,' Moody said. Evangeline still didn't feel comforted. 'Oh, yes. You lot can go,' he said, pointing at the young Aurors. 'Go and get changed, do whatever you have to do in the Department and then go home,' he said, 'See you tomorrow.'
Once Evangeline had disapparated from the crime scene she went back to the Ministry, changed in the cramped toilets on the second floor and then began work on the case. She thought it was best to try and get the file written for the attack as soon as possible rather than leaving it until a few weeks after when she would probably not be able to remember what happened. After writing what she thought was a very detailed description of the attack she set the file and suggested sentence for the prisoners in Moody's office for when he returned. She wasn't sure if the Death Eaters captured would be receiving at trial or not, she would obviously be attending if they were. Kingsley and Jefferson where enjoying a quiet drink of a bottle of Firewhiskey that Jefferson had hidden in his bottom drawer. Evangeline gladly took a couple of sips before packing her bag with files she needed to take home and complete and then saying goodbye to the rest of the department. Once she walked through the large oak doors she was met by Mad-Eye who congratulated her on the capture of some of the most wanted Death Eaters. As much as she was hoping for a pay-rise, it didn't happen. But nonetheless she left the second floor in a good mood. On walking through the golden gates and into the entrance hall she walked past the golden fountain, threw a few galleons in and disapparated home.
As soon as she set foot in the kitchen, she was hit with aroma of food. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She opened her eyes to see Sirius standing on front of the stove stirring what Evangeline supposed was her dinner. She raised her eyebrow. 'Since when did you cook dinner?' she asked him as she set down her bag in the corner of the room and hung her cloak up on the peg behind the door.
'Since you didn't come home,' Sirius answered her turning around, noticing her dishevelled hair, change of clothes and the faint scar on her cheek and gaping at her. 'What the hell happened to you?' he asked her concernedly.
'Death Eater attack in East London,' Evangeline explained, pulling a chair from under the table and seating herself down on it. 'Long story cut short. Moody send Kingsley, Jefferson and me to go and have a look. It was abandoned when we first got there, the rain was bucketing down. Kingsley and I argued over what to do, Jefferson spotted the Death Eaters approaching us. Lestrange was one of them, said I was gonna pay for sending Bellatrix to Azkaban, shot a Killing Curse at me –'
'He WHAT?!' Sirius interrupted loudly, almost spilling the contents on the saucepan as he jerked the wooden spoon in the air.
'He missed,' Evangeline continued. 'I duelled him, eventually stunned him. Kingsley and Jefferson stunned the others. Jefferson contacted Moody who brought the Dementors. Then he told us to go back to the Department. So I went and got changed, wrote up the case, had a bit of Firewhiskey with the boys and here I am now,' she said with a small smile.
'Looks like someone had an interesting day,' Sirius said, stirring the contents of the saucepan once more. 'Guess what I did?' he asked her.
'Cleaned the house?' Evangeline answered hopefully.
'Fat chance. That's your job,' Sirius replied.
'Pfft. Most of it's your mess not mine,' Evangeline said, leaning her head on her elbow on the table. 'You didn't go out on that motorbike, did you?' she asked him. Sirius grinned gleefully. 'Oh you didn't, did you? Sirius!'
'Oh c'mon! I was hardly going to sit in the house all day,' Sirius said, bringing over her plate. Pasta and some sort of sauce. Evangeline glanced up at him. 'And I didn't get caught – ' she raised her eyebrow suspiciously, ' – I swear I didn't!' Sirius said. 'Well I was going to go visit Remus, but he wasn't there. He wasn't there yesterday either, or the day before that.'
'Hmm,' Evangeline said through a mouthful of pasta. She was surprised how good it actually tasted, Sirius didn't normally cook. She wasn't even sure he knew how to, but clearly he could. 'This is really good,' she said, glancing at Sirius who smiled proudly. 'Where did you learn to cook?'
'I always liked watching you,' Sirius said, shrugging. 'I guess I picked up a few things.'
'Well you can cook tomorrow night again,' Evangeline said.
'Oh, so I'm the chef now, am I?' Sirius asked her.
'Well you do nothing else so you might as well do something useful,' Evangeline teased him.
Sirius pouted. 'I resent that,' he said. 'I do lots of useful things. Keep the sofa warm when you're away all day, read the unread books, visit the friends that aren't at home, be bored and cook when you come home late,' he said. He sighed deeply, 'I have a boring life.'
'Well get a job,' Evangeline said bluntly. Sirius looked at her strangely. 'It means you wouldn't have to mope around the house all day waiting for me to come home,' she explained. 'I'm sure there are plenty of jobs out there, you just need to look. I'll ask around at the Ministry if you want.'
'Don't fancy working at the Ministry. Too many people,' Sirius said simply.
'Something to do with quidditch? You could find a club that needs a coach or something,' Evangeline suggested. Sirius made an indecisive expression. 'I'm only trying to help. I don't want you sitting in the house waiting for me to come home … don't you get a bit lonely? I would if you weren't there all day.'
'Lonely? I miss you like – I don't know what!' Sirius said, 'But I know I can't make you quit your job, you love it.' Evangeline smiled at his thoughtfulness. 'I suppose I could find a job somewhere,' he said, finally coming to the conclusion himself that he was a lazy bugger.
'Good,' Evangeline said, getting up from her chair with her empty plate, she lifted Sirius' and walked over to the sink to rinse them. 'You can come with me to the Ministry tomorrow and we can visit the job centre,' she said with a smile as she began to scrub the plates clean with a cloth. 'Moody won't mind if I'm late, I'm in his good books.'
'What are you doing that for?' Sirius asked her, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. 'Don't you have files you need to sort or something?' he said, taking the cloth out of her hand, dumping it in the sink, swivelling Evangeline around and guiding her towards the living room. He walked her to the sofa, 'Sit,' he said softly. She obediently obeyed and sat down on the plumb, comfortable sofa. 'Now stay there, I'll bring you your bag,' Sirius said, leaving her briefly before returning with her bag in his hands. Evangeline smiled gratefully and took the bag from his grasp as Sirius sat down beside her.
They sat together on the sofa, Evangeline leaning against Sirius whilst she scribbled away on the parchment completing the case she was supposed to have finished last week. Sirius watched subconsciously over her shoulder, reading every word she wrote whilst absent-mindedly playing with her hair or rubbing his hand up and down her thigh. Sirius sighed. 'I like this,' he said, kissing Evangeline's hair.
Evangeline smiled, 'You like what?' she asked him. She was still submerged in re-reading the case she had just wrote, determined to make it sound professional and precise.
'Just sitting like this,' Sirius explained, fondling her hair again.
'Well,' Evangeline began, closing over the file and setting is at the end of the sofa, 'I'm finished now, so we could take advantage of that,' she said mischievously, poking him in the ribs.
'I actually wanted to speak to you about something,' Sirius said, the tone of his voice sounded concerned. Evangeline furrowed her eyebrows. 'You know the way Remus hasn't been around lately, the last time we saw him was a James and Lily's house and that was about two weeks ago. I think he's up to something,' he said.
'What do you mean 'up to something'?' Evangeline asked him.
'I think that he has been hiding from us,' Sirius said simply.
'Why –'
'I think he's working for You-Know-Who,' Sirius said bluntly. Evangeline's eyes widened at his accusation. 'He disappeared straight after he visited James and Lily's house, doesn't that say something? I mean .. he is a werewolf and I know that Fenrir Greyback has been gathering werewolves to join You-Know-Who.'
'That's ridiculous, Sirius,' Evangeline said. 'Why would Remus want to follow You-Know-Who?'
'For power and identity. You know he hates not being able to get a job because of his condition,' Sirius said, 'He hates having to ask us for money. And he's a werewolf, they sway easily …'
'Sirius, I don't know what's wrong with you but Remus has not joined the Dark Side,' Evangeline said earnestly. 'I trust Remus with my life .. so did you. That's why we made him our secret keeper,' she said.
'But don't you see? He's conspiring against us! I'm glad Lily and James never told him about the swap, he would have told You-Know-Who! And that would have got them killed,' Sirius said, his voice raising. 'He's a werewolf!'
'That has nothing to do with this, Sirius,' Evangeline said, getting annoyed at Sirius constant accusation towards Remus. 'I thought you understood his condition. That he should be treated as equally as anyone else, whether he's a werewolf or not!'
'But he's joined Voldemort!' Sirius shouted, getting off the sofa. 'I know he has, where else would he have disappeared to? On holiday with his parents? No. They're dead!'
'Remus has not joined Voldemort,' Evangeline snapped following him and standing to face him. 'Don't be so stupid, Sirius. I honestly thought that you were different from the rest of your family, obviously not. At a dark time like this when you need your friends most and you should offer help to you friends less fortunate; you go and accuse one of your best friends of fraternizing with the enemy.'
'Where do you suggest that he has gone then?' Sirius asked her, his voice louder than normal. Evangeline didn't answer him. 'See! Even you don't know. He has bad blood, he'll be swayed into the ways of Voldemort. I don't trust him,' he said.
'Bad blood?!' Evangeline shouted. 'Do you know who you sound like? Voldemort himself! I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, but you better sort yourself out. Remus has not gone to the Dark Side, Sirius,' she said angrily.
'But how do you know that?' Sirius shouted. 'You don't have any proof!'
'Neither do you,' Evangeline yelled.
'He's a werewolf, that's proof enough!' Sirius shouted.
'I don't believe you,' Evangeline said, her voice quietening with shock. 'You have just discriminated him because he's a werewolf. He can't help being a werewolf, that wasn't his fault.'
'Well it'll be his fault if anything happen to James, Lily and Harry,' Sirius said coldly. 'He'll sell them to Voldemort for power and glory.'
'You know what?' Evangeline asked him, but she didn't wait for an answer. 'You're a Black through and through, aren't you? Filthy half-breed is what you'll be calling him next,' she spat.
'Well he is.'
'You're despicable,' Evangeline said. 'You're cold and unworthy of his friendship, how could you ever doubt him?! What has he ever done to deserve this?' she said incredulously. She shook her head, tears swelling up, threatening to fall. 'I don't even want to look at you I'm so disgusted,' she said and pushed past him. 'I'm going to bed,' she muttered as she rushed out of the living room and up the stairs. She ran up the landing and burst into their bedroom, tears gushing down her face. She collapsed on the bed, her face in her hands, sobbing. She lay there, crying over the fact that she had never seen Sirius so cold towards anyone and that he had stood there and accused his best friend of siding with Voldemort. There was a loud thump that came from downstairs, she knew that it was Sirius taking out his anger, either for causing an argument or for being such an idiot. Part of her wanted to go down and comfort him, the other part wished that this had never happened and they would never have been in this mess.
She calmed herself down, got up from the bed and wandered into the bathroom. She splashed some cold water on her face, brushed her teeth and then returned to the bedroom where she changed into her pyjamas. She climbed into the cold bed, wishing that Sirius would come and join her, but she wasn't sure if he would or not. She lay on her side at the edge of the bed, leaving room for Sirius if he wanted it. She lay awake, hoping. But after a while she became drowsy and her eyes closed from the lack of energy. She fell asleep, alone in the bed.
'Angel?' said a cautious voice in her ear.
Evangeline yawned and moved her head, she opened her eyes slightly; Sirius was leaning over her. She met eye contact with him, blinked and looked away, turning over on her side once more. 'Please, Angel. I'm sorry,' Sirius said quietly. Evangeline turned to face him, his expression was sad. 'It's just all this is too much. I-I don't know who to trust any more,' he said simply.
'He's your best friend, Sirius,' Evangeline said quietly. 'You know he would never do that. He would rather die.'
'I know,' Sirius agreed. 'Truthfully, I have been so stressed about all this; I don't want to lose anyone. You, James, Lily or Harry,' he said. 'I guess I just needed someone to blame.'
'And that someone was one of your closest friends,' Evangeline said.
'I'm sorry for snapping at you like that,' Sirius said, looking mournfully into her eyes. 'I hate myself for it. You're my wife, I shouldn't be shouting at you,' he said, looking away. 'If you don't want me to sleep here tonight, I understand. I'll sleep on the sofa.'
'Don't be stupid, Sirius,' Evangeline said, grabbing onto his arm before he got off the bed. 'I'm not going to kick you out of your own bed. I'm still a bit annoyed, but it's not as if I don't love you.'
Sirius climbed into the bed, Evangeline still holding onto his arm. She laced her fingers through his and rested her head on his chest. Sirius moved his arm from under her and wrapped it around her waist before leaning his cheek on the top of her head. He kissed the top of her head, 'I love you,' he said quietly.
Evangeline smiled, 'I love you too.'
I hope you liked the chapter!! XD REVIEWS!! Thanks to all the guys who have added my story and reviewed it, much appreciated! I have done some research and it said that Sirius didn't trust Remus before James and Lily were killed. Basically it was because he was under stress of being in the Order, people dying and stuff. Just in case you're wondering why Sirius was being horrible about Moony (: Tori xox