"What did you want to speak to her about?" Sirius asked, never taking his eyes of his father.
"Coming home." He said curtly, never taking his eyes from the wall straight in front of him.
"It won't happen."
"You're entitled to your opinion." He was still curt. His fingers drifted to his top lip where they lingered on an un-trimmed moustache.
"She won't go back with you" Sirius said quickly, he balled his hands into fists. Dad looked over at him for just a moment.
"Hmm." Was all he managed.
"You hit her." Sirius snarled. Dad nodded.
"I've treated your mother very badly. I am not proud of myself."
"Good. You shouldn't be."
"I know." He said, his voice cracking ever so slightly. Barely there. But it did crack. There was a long pause. Sirius watched his knuckles turn white, he flexed his hand and balled it up again. He looked back over at his father, still absently twiddling with the hair on his upper lip.
"Why?" Sirius asked, finally.
"Why what?"
"Why hit her?" Dad didn't answer immediately. He considered his thoughts and finally answered.
"I was angry." He pursed his lips and continued playing with his moustache.
"Is that it?"
"She made me angry. I do not always control my temper well. Especially when it comes to your Mother." He said flatly. His leg twitched every now and then. "Ours is a relationship built on grand passions Sirius. You wouldn't understand"
"Did you hit Walburga too?" Sirius asked. Dad's head snapped round, he glared.
"No. Not once." His eyes bored into Sirius, unjustified outrage on his face.
"Why just Mum, then?"
"I had a different job back then. Life was... simpler. Far less to be angry about"
"What do you even do?" Sirius asked, the pitch of his voice gradually climbing, his hands now shaking in effort not to shout or hit or break.
"Some things are better left unsaid" Dad replied quietly.
"What do you do?" Sirius repeated, determined to get an answer.
"Nothing that concerns you"
"What do you do?"
"Sirius." He growled "I can't tell you."
"Fine. Talk all the bollocks you want. If you won't I'll find out for myself."
"You can try but I assure you, you will fail."
*
"Hello" Said Flora with a wide smile, going on her tip toes to give Dad a peck on the nose.
"Alright?" Dad asked as they stepped into Flora's flat.
"A bit nervous, but yeah, I'm alright." She smiled and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "No Remus then?" she asked.
"Yeah, he's here, just hiding behind me." Dad laughed and stepped aside, leaving Remus exposed in the unfamiliar little flat.
"Hello" Remus stuck up his hand sharply in a stiff wave. Flora laughed and stretched to kiss him on the cheek, he recoiled and she blushed.
"Bugger... ah..." Flora smiled nervously "Nice of you to come, though. I don't think I've ever seen you out of your bedroom... or standing up... or this clean, for that matter" She laughed, Remus shrugged and shuffled where he stood, unable to keep his eyes from darting around the room. "You scrub up well, love."
"Thanks." Remus replied, pushing his hair back. It was too long now. He'd always thought Sirius was the only person he knew that could get away with long hair; thick, black and healthy as it was, rather than fine, stringy and mousey.
"Ah, well, Mum and Dad shouldn't be long, so sit down, make yourselves at home. I've still got my cooking to sort out" Flora said, gesturing toward a comfy looking pink sofa as she trotted into her kitchen.
The whole flat was very comfy looking, if, very feminine. The sofa was covered with red and white cushions and the carpet was white and soft looking. The curtains were flowery (red, pink and white) and numerous red roses and pink tulips lay in china vases on the windowsill.
Remus sat on the sofa, moving a fuzzy cushion out of the way and clutching it to his torso. Dad did exactly the same.
"Nice to be out the house isn't it?" he said, tentatively patting Remus on the knee. His knee twitched. Dad smiled.
"S'alright. Fresh air's good"
"It's a nice day today. Just a nice temperature, but breezy enough so you don't get too hot"
"Hmm."
"Hasn't rained all summer. They're expecting a drought soon though. Hose pipe ban and the like."
"Do we have a hose pipe?"
"No, we don't." Dad wrinkled his nose and cleared his throat "Oh, I've got another job as well."
"You do?"
"Aye, bit of building work on another night club they're opening in the city."
"S'good"
"It is." Dad paused and sighed "You're alright, aren't you?"
"Hmm?"
"You're just... alright... generally? You're not too sad about... Sirius?"
"M'alright... M'not... it's not good but... I'm okay, I suppose."
"Flora thinks you might be depressed."
"I'm alright"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Perfectly sure. It's rubbish, but it's only two more weeks or so and we're back at school" Remus said, almost snapping. He never thought he'd see the day he was looking forward to returning to school.
*
They'd been sitting in complete silence. Dad twiddling with his damn moustache and Sirius just staring at him. Feeling angry and hateful and completely, utterly helpless. There was the distant, muffled sound of voices at the window and the sound of the door unlocking. Regulus snorting with laughter and Crouch aiming a few sharp disapproving words at Barty. Dad stood as footsteps approached, Regulus calling
"Sirius we're home!" His voice sounded more high and childish than it had in a long time.
"I do hope you'll come out of your room tonight at least" Mum called up the stairs, the click clack of her heels on the hard wood of the hallway, steadily approaching the living room. "We're having company, Father Crouch has invited Mrs. Snape over for..." Her words tailed away as she entered the living room, her eyes locked right onto Dad, she probably hadn't even noticed Sirius was in the room.
"Orion." She said flatly. Sirius was proud at her for sounding like she expected it. She placed a contemptuous hand on her hip. The other hand shook and she held it behind herself, tucking it out of view.
"Dad?" Regulus asked, poking his head round the door, Barty's quickly following.
"Upstairs, both of you" Crouch said sharply, ushering the boys away. Regulus huffing as he trudged away.
"Mary." Dad replied. He jumped to his feet, Sirius following him, standing a little behind him. Dad's hands ran nervously through his slightly over long hair. Sirius has never seen much of a trace of nervousness on his father before.
"What..." her voice cracked and she cleared her throat, restarting, more confident, she demanded "What on earth are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry." Dad blurted, he looked her straight in the eye and played with the cuff of his shirt.
"Are you?" Mum raised an eyebrow. He nodded mournfully.
"I am."
"Thank you." The corners of her lips quirked upward and Sirius balled his hands into fists again. Anger flashed red behind his eyes as she smiled. "Now, I'd appreciate it if you left." She said, so coldly it was almost cruel. Dad swallowed.
"I want you back"
"You can't have her" Sirius and Crouch snapped in unison. Sirius hadn't even noticed Crouch had been in the doorway, peering over mum's shoulder.
"Please" he said quietly. She shook her head, her face grave again.
"No, Orion" she spoke calmly. Dad took a step forward, Sirius stepping with him.
"Mary" he closed his eyes and drew a deep breath "I am a proud man... don't make me beg."
"You won't have to beg." Mum answered, stepping aside and waving elegantly toward the door "Just leave" she shook her head at him.
"No."
"Leave." Answered Crouch this time. "This is my home and you'll not be asked again" he sighed "I'll be forced to call the Police, otherwise." Dad merely curled his lip at Crouch turning straight back to Mum. He took a few more steps toward her, Sirius following him again.
"Come with me" Dad said, dislodging mum's hand from her hip.
"No." She said, snatching her hand away, stowing it safely behind her back, with the other.
"We're going around in circles" Dad sighed, exasperated "Just come home" he grabbed her arm this time. Sirius, acting almost on a reflex, took hold of his Fathers arm and yanked it off his mother's. He quickly twisted the offending limb around, allowing Sirius to easily shove Dad down the hall with little struggle.
"I think it's time you left." He hissed. Dad turned his head, desperately stretching to shout over Sirius' shoulder.
"Mary please, you won't believe me and you have every right not to. But I love you. I do. Please come back." Sirius opened the door and shoved the man outside. Sirius tried not to flinch at the sight of a man who was the picture of the stern, stiff upper lip, flailing, flushed and pleading.
"You should have bloody thought about this before you started bloody hitting her." Sirius growled, as he lead Dad down the path of the Rectory's quaint little garden.
"Mary" Dad whined, when it looks like there are tears springing in the older man's eyes, Sirius released his arm and giving him a final push, shook his head.
"Don't bother coming back. Or sending any of your bloody harpy relatives round again."
"But... She's... She's my wife. And you're my son... so is Regulus"
"Dad, please save yourself a little bit of dignity and go. Because this is just... it's just sad."
"You, Sirius Pollux Black, do not tell me what to do. I am your father and-"
"Come on... just... bugger off home" Said Sirius, desperately trying to control his temper. He hadn't felt this near to losing it βand that's properly losing it; properly, smashing someone's face in almost choking them losing it β since he was about twelve. Dad scowled at him raised his voice, flailing his arms in wild unhinged gestures as if they helped emphasis his point.
"-I will not be spoken to like one of your little school friends, you must treat me with respect-"
"You're babbling" said Sirius, closing his eyes and drawing a deep breath. He counted to ten.
"- And you do not judge what is and what is not dignified I-"
"DAD." Sirius said, grabbing the prattling man by the shoulders. "You need to leave. You need to leave now."
"But-"
"For fucks sake, I don't have to drag you home, do I?! I don't have to call the police? Or sort you out myself? Because so help me God Dad, you keep going on like this, I don't know what I'll do" Sirius suddenly noticed he was almost nose to nose with his Dad. And he was cowering. Quaking. His eyes screwed shut and his mouth twisted in a face that had seen pain in it's none too distant future.
"Watch your language" Dad said, finally. Sirius let go of him.
"Go home." Sirius said, very finally, wondering just how insane he must look, how loudly and fiercely he must have shouted. Dad nodded, straightened his clothes and walked down the street, climbing in the car, which was parked not too far away.
Sirius noticed his hands were balled up and let them relax. He noticed his breath was coming sharp and shallow. He turned his head slowly and saw Regulus and Barty, staring down at him, from their room upstairs, a look between terror and triumph on Regulus' face; Barty merely looked mildly surprised, perhaps, a little impressed.
Crouch was stood on the door step, his hand over his mouth. Mum was no where to be seen.
As Sirius took a few steps toward the house, he saw her, sat on the stairs; bent over, her head in her hands.
*
"What did you say your name was, petal?" Said Flora's mum, Ethel. She put a hand on the crook of his arm.
"Remus" he answered, looking at the hand on his arm and just barely resisting the urge to slap it away.
"That's lovely name." She said kindly. Ethel was a small plump woman, her curly white hair done up in a bun. Flora trotted from the kitchen and quickly dislodged her mother's hand from Remus' arm.
"Can you come and help me in the kitchen, mum. Leave the boys to bond." Flora grinned at her father Jack; a stout, bald man, with round glasses, a wide smile and about four teeth.
"Well, it's bloody good to finally meet you after hearing so much." Jack said, smiling up at Dad "So, what are your intentions toward my daughter?"
"P-pardon" sputtered Dad, looking completely horror stricken.
"I assume you intend to marry her at some point. She is pregnant after all" Jack said flatly. Dad's mouth dropped, all the colour drained from his face. He sat down on the sofa's arm, clapping his hand over his mouth. Jack snuffled, snorted, then barked a laugh.
"I was only pulling yer leg!" He hooted, wiping a tear from his eyes "You should have seen your face." He whacked Remus on the arm, he flinched "You saw his face, didn't you lad?" Remus nodded slowly. "Bloody brilliant wasn't it?" Jack laughed again bent over. "Bloody hell" he sighed, finally calming down. Remus began to gnaw on his lip. He'd never been good around new people. Or loud people. Or people who scare the living shit out of other people.
"Remus was it?" asked Jack, holding out his hand for Remus to shake. He took it, shaking slowly, quickly and loosely. "Not much of a shake you've got" Remus shrugged, his hand had been sweaty. Remus wiped it discreetly on his shirt. "Oh well. How old are you? Flora never mentioned."
"Fourteen. Fifteen next March." Remus said quickly. Jack frowned, looked him up and down, then chuckled.
"Bit skinny for your age aren't you?"
"S'pose" Remus shrugged.
"Hair's a bit long as well. John, you need to get my Flora to feed you and your lad up. Both of you need good hair cuts actually"
"Thanks for the warning Jack." Dad said with raised eyebrows and a nod, holding out his hand for Jack to shake. He took it and shook the hand thoroughly, roughly.
The time Remus and his Dad spent with Jack was a time Remus had spent looking around the room for blunt objects to knock himself out with. It wasn't that Jack wasn't a nice man... he was just... loud... and dull... and an arse.
When Ethel had finally tottered back into the room with a handful of cutlery and a bottle of wine, it was declared to be time for dinner and Remus spent the meal facing an inquisition.
"So, Remus, flower, how's school?"
"School's for people with money Ethel, have you got a job, lad?"
"What's your favourite subject?"
"Why haven't you got a job yet?"
"Do you want to take A-levels?"
"Where are you going to get a job?"
"What was your favourite subject again dear?"
"Got yourself a girl at the moment?"
That question had caused a post just-the-one-glass-of-wine Flora to snort into her gravy and Dad's knife to slip while he cut his chicken, sending a piece flying across the table.
*
Sirius knelt down in front of Mum' wondering what expression was hidden by a fall of black hair and a pair of long fingered, white hands.
"I... I got rid of him... he's gone." Sirius said quietly, half considering putting a hand on her shoulder or... or something.
"He'll come back." She said curtly, pushing her hair behind her ears, her eyes wide and afraid over his hands.
"He won't Mum. I told him off. He knows not to come back."
"No." She shook her head "He's a persistent man. He will come back."
"You don't know that"
"I know it for a fact."
"Mum" Sirius sighed "don't be silly."
"I am not being silly, Sirius." She snapped. Then drew a deep breath and rubbed her forehead. "Your father he was... I was very young when I'd first met him. He'd been a friend of your grandfather's. When I was seventeen, Orion- your father, had seen fit to begin to... court me and I politely declined. He was married of course, to Walburga, and I saw myself above being the mistress of one my father's many middle aged, drinking partners.
He wasn't even the richest. And there were many rumours of drinking and gambling problems. Of heavy debts with Tom Riddle. Probably the best looking of that bunch though.
Every time he came back, tried to win me over, he'd seem... slightly more... unstable. He'd shout, he'd beg he'd offer to β to buy me things or even money like I was a common... like a whore.
He broke down one night though. After Your Grandfather had gone to bed. He'd come to my room, sat on the edge of my bed and begun wailing about how Walburga was dead. And how his children had no mother. How I'd make such a good mother to them. And I was barely eighteen by this point..."
"She wasn't bloody dead though, was she?" Sirius growled, anger welling up within him again.
"No Sirius. She was not."
"Bastard" he spat. Mum, cool and calm, raised her eyebrows.
"Language. And it took me a while to work out she was not acctually dead. Ill she was. Very ill. But not dead yet. By that point I was... I was pregnant. With you."
"Aah. But... Walburga... He didn't... did he?" Sirius said, hoping the fragmented sentence was enough to communicate the question.
"He always told me that he'd told her about he and I. That the shock and the broken heart had killed her." She laughed bitterly and looked up at Sirius, her eyes as hard and cold as they ever had been. "So the honest answer is, Sirius, I'm not sure. My pregnancy put him in rather an awkward position. He still had a wife. But he also had a pregnant, eighteen year old mistress, whose father had never let her near another man. Rumour's had already started flying around, it would have been very clear who had - who the baby's father was.
And my father was very powerful at the time. Our name held a lot of clout. My father wouldn't have let blame fall on me. He'd have twisted the story. He'd have made it out as if I'd been... forced. Or he'd have hidden it and packed you off to an orphanage. Or we'd have had to pass you off as my newest younger brother, rather than my son.
And even if he had done that, he'd have still found some way to ruin Orion's reputation.
So - because all of your father's problems could have so easily disappeared, were Walburga out of the way, so he could just marry me β I honestly couldn't tell you if he did... or not."
"Fuck."
"Language! The point is, Sirius, that your father is... he can be a very dangerous person."
"Alright."
"And I don't like him knowing where we are... being in a place with... the rectory is so public you see... I just thought, it might be easier if we... if we did move in with your grandfather. He could look after us."
"But..." Sirius felt his chest tighten, his voice dropped to a whisper "Remus"
A/N: Hokay... So this one wasn't my best... :S
And for those of you reading my other fic... the long ass one... it's been an embarassingly long time since I updated but... I have such bad writers block right now :S
(yipes, whiney Author's note is whiny!)
