Okay. Here we go. The day of my physics final, I gift to you, my lovely readers, Chapter Ten.
Disclaimers: Per usual, I only own Gwen Prewett. JKR owns all HP universe. See disclaimer at the bottom as well.
Many thanks to the team!
A Sirius Request
Sirius is reading The Daily Prophet and sipping his tea when Gwen rushes into the kitchen, struggling to put on her heels. "Agh, is there any toast?"
"Jammed up and cut into triangles, kept warm with a warming spell." Sirius replies.
"Bless you. I just got an owl from work saying that I'm desperately needed." Gwen groans, picking up the toast. She kisses Sirius on the lips. "I probably won't be back until dinner, so you'll have to spend your free day without me."
"I promise I'll keep the flat clean." Sirius grins. "Even if the boys are over, coasters, and shoes off the table. I remember the rules."
"Love you," she smiles before Apparating out.
Sirius takes a deep breath before he Apparates himself. He grins upon seeing the familiar sight of The Burrow. Knocking gently on the door, he's greeted by Bill. "Oh! Mum's in the kitchen."
"Thanks Bill." He grins. "Where're your brothers?"
Molly makes her way into the living room and takes Sirius by the arm and whispers, "Make this quick, Sirius, Percy and the twins have just settled for their morning nap." She leads him into the kitchen and the teapot pours him a cup as he sits down.
"And you know, Sirius," Gideon starts, and Sirius nearly jumps out of his seat, "since Gwen isn't here, I'm less inclined to be nice to you."
"Oh quit being such an arse, Gideon." A baby-free Fabian replies. "You're just upset that he beat your score on the physical tests."
"Would you two be quiet?" Molly sighs. "Where is Gwen anyway?"
"Work." Sirius says looking slightly smug. "She didn't have to be in, but I didn't want her to be here for this. My familial connections can be good for something, apparently."
"Right." Gideon says before looking at Fabian, who shrugs in response.
"All right, then. So why are you here, Sirius?" Molly asks. Suddenly Sirius does not feel as confident. "Are you all right? You look ill."
"I seriously, ergh," Gideon groans at the pun, "I hope the next words out of your mouth aren't 'She's pregnant.'" Now Fabian sits up and stares at Sirius, waiting for the response.
"Oh Merlin, I hope not. That would be impossible too, seeing as we haven't… we've both been busy with work and training." Sirius replies. "We just go straight to bed."
Fabian winces. "No need to share that, I think."
"Sorry," Sirius says with a shaky laugh, "I'm just a bit nervous."
"Do you need a bit of a lie down?" Molly suggests. "I can make you a chamomile tea, that always puts these two out like a light."
"Or maybe…"
"No, Gideon, this is not the time nor the occasion to knock Sirius out like a light." Fabian says, rolling his eyes.
"Damn this twin connection," Gideon mutters. "Ruins all the fun."
"Sirius, maybe you'd best say it right out before these two ruin my day."
Sirius takes a deep breath and says very quickly: "I'dlikeyourpermissiontoaskforGwen'shandinmarriage." And exhales.
"Sorry, I don't speak hummingbird." Gideon snorts.
"I think it's woodpecker, Gid." Fabian adds.
"Whatever," Gideon grins, "I'm not a bird."
Molly lets out an exasperated sigh. "You know, I'm not beyond sending you to the corner to make you think about what you've done!"
"Whathave we done, Molly?" Gideon asks, looking at Molly with feigned sweetness.
"Gideon,shut up."
"Like your lips are sealed." Gideon replies standoffish.
"I know when to shut up at least." Fabian smirks.
"Accio wands!" Molly hisses. "And Silencio." She says pointing at Gideon. She repeats the spell, pointing at Fabian. Gideon frowns as he finds himself mouthing wordless objections. "So much better. Now could you say that again slowly?" She asks pleasantly, as though the previous scene hadn't occurred.
"I'd like to marry Gwen, and I wanted your permission." Sirius says slowly and deliberately. "That's not exactly what I said earlier but-" He looks up and sees Molly, as well as Gideon and Fabian are all slack-jawed and staring at him.
"I… I didn't think… really?" Molly stammers, her cheeks turning a faint pink with excitement.
Sirius feels ill again. "Er… what do you mean you didn't think-"
"Well," Molly interrupts, "I had hoped… but I thought not for years yet…"
"And why not?" Sirius asks defiantly, Gideon and Fabian sit still, listening to the exchange.
"Well, you're both young-" Gideon pounds a fist on the table, "Yes Gideon, I do remember how old Arthur and I were- and well, young folk nowadays think they have all the time in the world." She finishes, glaring at Fabian, who rolls his eyes, and crosses his arms.
"So, what does this mean?" Sirius asks. "Will you all have to consult with one another?"
Molly sits for a moment and looks at her brothers, who glare back murderously. "Gwen is an adult, and she can do as she wishes." Molly sighs but she smiles brightly at Sirius and says, "I really am honoured that you came to us first, that you're doing this whole thing properly."
This is clearly not the response that Fabian and Gideon expect.
"I'm sure these two dunderheads do as well, even if they don't necessarily realise that right now, deep down, they know there's no one better for her." Molly continues. "And even if they areviolently opposed," She looks at Gideon as he cracks his knuckles, "you're both legally allowed to do whatever you want, anyway. And I think I speak for the whole family in that we believe that you're making the right decision."
Sirius is grinning ear to ear, but lets her continue. "So, erm, good luck, then, though, you'll hardly need it." She says, standing up. Sirius stands as well, and she hugs him tightly.
Sirius sighs, "Merlin, and I thought you wouldn't approve, the way you waited to give your speech." Molly laughs and takes her seat again. "I don't know how I'll propose just yet. Gwen's started to drop hints, I've noticed, and I've been playing dumb. And no, Gideon, I just act stupid."
Molly gasps as she realises her brothers are still under her silencing charm and she quickly reverses it. "I haven't gotten her a ring yet, and I don't even know what size to get her… or how I'll get around that problem." Sirius rambles, furrowing his brow in thought.
"Well, mum's ring got left to the first son to get married." Molly says pointedly to Fabian. Fred Weasley's shrill cry is quickly joined by his twin's. "That'll be Fred and George." And she hurries out, remembering to take Gideon and Fabian's wands with her.
"Molly and Arthur haven't gotten to changing Gwen's old bedroom into the twins' new bedroom yet. So if you look under her mattress, she's kept a diary in there up until, I'd say, the day before her sixth year." Gideon says. Sirius' stomach does a flip and wonders if she's written about him. "There's drawings of ring designs… and pages and pages of obsessively researching baby names."
Fabian pats Gideon on the back. "It's tough, mate, I know."
"No word on ring sizes though, you'll have to come up with that on your own." Gideon sighs. "But, it's all in her diary."
Sirius is speechless. "I think we've rendered him mute, Gid."
"I… well, I guess I thought you two would be… less welcome to the idea." Sirius stammers in response.
"Well as much as we pretend to hate you-- yes, Gideon, don't lie -- we're resigned to the fact that you are a decent bloke who loves our sister and would rather hex himself than do anything wrong by her." Fabian replies simply.
"So that's why you're telling me about her diary?" Sirius asks.
"Well there's that, and the fact that it'll sweep her off her feet and impress Molly." Gideon adds. "And me, for that matter."
---
Gwen has just crawled into bed and snuggles next to Sirius. "Did you have a good day?" Sirius asks, knowing full well that she was given errand after errand after errand.
"It was exhausting." She breathes. "This is what, day five without any sort of shagging between us?"
"I've got training in the morning, I would, Gwen, you know I would." Sirius replies.
"Well, work's not going to get any less stressful, I don't think we'll have time till, what, the day before Halloween? And we'll be busy getting ready for the party." Gwen pouts. "Awful that we have to plan shags nearly a week in advance."
"Honestly, too bad neither of us are wealthy, or we'd just lie about all day, shagging senseless-"
"And be very bored. Wouldn't it get boring, shagging all day?" Gwen smirks. "Although we'd have plenty of spending money for things like… jewelry."
Knowing full well that he stopped by the jewellers with the design for Gwen's ring, Sirius decides that this is the opportune time to pretend to be oblivious. Years of using this tactic at Hogwarts got him plenty of snogs and shags, though he wasn't quite sure how being oblivious to something so serious would work. "I got you earrings for your birthday."
"Oh Merlin, my birthday. I can still remember the look on Gideon's face when he asked you 'What did you get her for her birthday, Sirius?'"
"Pregnant." Sirius finishes. "He looked murderous, and it was hilarious."
"Hilarious only after you hid behind Bill and shrieked like a little girl." Gwen laughs. "And anyway, earrings? I've got plenty of those."
"A new necklace or bracelet then?" Sirius suggests.
Gwen sits up. "No," She starts, "I was thinking I needed some rings." She looks at Sirius and hopes this is a big enough hint. Hearing no response, she continues. "Or maybe just one ring. One very nice, very meaningful ring."
"I'm not quite following." Sirius replies furrowing his brow. "There isn't some Welsh equivalent to the claddagh is there?"
Gwen lies down again and keeps her back turned to him. "You're hopeless, Black."
Sirius maintains his charade and says, "Well, we can go out jewelry shopping after breakfast on our next off day if it'll stop you from pouting at me like that."
A week later, and a day away from their Halloween party, Sirius and Gwen are walking along the High Street, hand in hand. Sirius is toting a bag with their costumes and some decorative Halloween memorabilia for their flat. "I still can't believe we lucked out on costumes, I thought we were going to be stuck with something awful, like that stupid costume you and James had last year. I saw the pictures, you two looked ridiculous."
"What, the donkey?" Sirius grins. "It was a great costume, though one of us had to walk around hunched over the entire time."
"Well, at least our partner costumes can keep the both of us upright." Gwen replies.
"I don't know, your mermaid costume...phwoar." Sirius laughs. "What about this jeweller?" Sirius suggests, pointing to a shop that had elegant displays of necklaces, earrings and rings. "Hang on a minute out here Gwen, I'm going to go and make sure that isn't a girl from my sordid past." He goes up to the store window and mouths to the jeweller: 'Pretend you've never met me!'
"Is it?" Gwen asks, crossing her arms as Sirius comes back to her.
"No, thank goodness." Sirius grins. "Now, shall we?"
As he opens the shop door, the jeweller welcomes them. "Hello and welcome to Vance and Vane's Jewellers. Are you two interested in anything in particular today?"
"Just browsing." Sirius answers quickly, and Gwen shoots him a look.
"Rings, actually." Gwen responds.
"Generally." Sirius adds.
For about an hour, Gwen tries on several different types of rings, but not before getting sized. "How much is this one?" Gwen asks about a particular ring which has a rather large diamond.
"Five hundred Galleons." He responds primly. "For an extra two hundred, we can set it on a gold band as opposed to this platinum. The gold would look lovely with your complexion."
Gwen smiles and looks at Sirius. "Erm, I haven't got that much money on me. And we really were just browsing. Sorry for all the trouble. Come on Gwen, let's head out before you cause some damage and make me spend loads of Galleons on you."
Gwen purses her lips and takes the ring off, gently placing it on the counter, though she would rather have slammed it. "That shop over there has some interesting Halloween decorations, Gwen."
"I think I want to go home." She says coldly.
Sirius looks at her and asks, "Why? Are you all right?"
Gwen doesn't look at him when she responds, "I think I feel the sudden need to hex someone."
"Er, you might want to suppress that, as we're in public." Sirius mutters. "And I'd have to turn you in."
Gwen sets off in a tirade of what Sirius knows to be Welsh swears. He hears them most often when she and Gideon are playing Exploding Snap. "Finish the shopping without me, I'm going home."
"Gwen-" But she Disapparates before Sirius can say more.
Sirius Apparates after her, and looking sheepish and defeated, he lays out their costumes on their living room floor. As he surveys them, Gwen comments "I don't even see how you think a mermaid costume is the partner to a pirate costume, Sirius."
Sirius grins at her, knowing the full meaning behind this statement when he says, "You might not think it now, but we'll be the life of the party."
Aggravated that all he can think about is the frivolity of the party, she quips "This better be worth it, Black."
Sirius takes out all of the Halloween purchases and looks at Gwen who is still frowning. "It will, Gwen. Now come on, you've been talking about decorating the flat all week… It'll cheer you up, though I don't know why you're upset to begin with."
"You don't know because you're a dense git." She says pointing her wand at the fake cobwebs they bought and makes them string themselves along the corners of their flat's ceiling.
They both sit at opposite ends of the sofa after decorating their flat. The eerie glow of the jack-o-lantern serves as the only light in the room. "So, do I want to know why you're upset, or should I sleep on the sofa tonight with the charmed bat-mobile and fake shrieking banshee?" Sirius asks.
Gwen fights the urge to grin when she hears this concession from Sirius. "Fix us a good dinner, and we'll see."
Sirius is pleased to hear the amusement in her voice. "Me? Fix dinner? That's a tall order, Gwen."
----
Gwen is standing in the middle of her living room as their guests mill around her. She is still holding the same full pint of spiced rum and pumpkin juice when Sirius greets her eagerly. "Look at Moony dressed as Sherlock Holmes. I don't think he went costume shopping though. And Wormtail dressed as that Luke Skywalker fellow from that Muggle film we saw. Nice lightsaber, mate!"
Peter gives him a thumbs up in reply amid asking Benjy Fenwick, in knight's armour, for a mock-duel.
"Sirius, this mermaid costume was not a good idea." She says.
Sirius looks at her and grins. "You're in a shell bikini top, I think it's a good idea."
"Yes, and?"
"Shells, Gwen, shells!" Sirius insists. "Do you see anyone else walking around with shells?"
"That's because all the other girls have gone as Cleopatra, or the naughty Healer." Gwen replies. "And I can't walk in this costume, you twit."
"Mermaids aren't supposed to walk." He grins, before kissing her.
"Oy!" James, dressed in all black, save for the red cape and horns, pokes the two with his pitchfork . "Not all of us are pissed enough to turn a blind eye to your gropings you lot."
Sirius grins at him after pulling away from a very red-faced Gwen. "Speaking of which, I noticed your Tiger Lily-"
"Who looks stunning in that angel costume by the way…" Gwen adds.
"She hasn't had a drop of liquor all night. Tell me, is there a baby Prongs on the way?" Sirius asks raising his brow.
"Gwen hasn't either." James retorts.
"That's because I'll have to figure out how to get out of this costume, and I'll end up holding the loo hostage." Gwen replies.
"So there you have her reason, what's Lily's?" Sirius asks, grinning.
"Well," James starts, a grin twitching at his lips, "look who's still kept his wits about him."
"You're dodging the question, Prongs." Sirius grins, knowing the answer already.
"Get back to your hobbling mermaid, Padfoot." James laughs.
Sirius decides to mingle a bit first, though he doesn't take his eyes off of Gwen as she makes her way to a wall by a series of very very small hops. He watches as she poses for pictures with her friends from the museum, and those at school, and notes that though it appears she is leaning casually against the wall, it is the only way she can relax.
"Did you hear me, Sirius?"
"Oh, sorry Levski." Sirius replies looking back at his fellow Auror trainee. "What was that?"
"Who's that in the mermaid costume you keep looking at, and is she single? I'll gladly make this evening entertaining if you wish to fight over her." He replies.
"Gwen Prewett, my girlfriend, actually." Sirius replies. "Erm, enjoy the party, Levski."
Sirius' hands are in his pockets and he takes a glass of champagne from the coffee table. "Everyone, everyone. No, don't worry Benjy, the party's not over just yet. Erm, Gwen and I… Gwen?" He looks over and sees she is still leaning against the wall. Putting his glass down, he then strides over to Gwen and easily carries her over to the centre of the living room.
"Is this a toast?" Gwen whispers. "Do you toast at Halloween parties?"
Sirius takes a deep breath, "I'd like to propose a toast to Gwen Prewett, who has been gifted with good sense to pick me. And despite her many flaws," Gwen shoots him an angry look, "she's chosen to share her life with me. Quite a feat for a girl with an Outstanding in Arithmancy."
"Sirius…" Gwen hisses. "What is this?"
"I'm very glad she's chosen to share her present life with me," Sirius repeats, slowly removing the ring from his pocket, "because I want to share my future with her." He gets down on one knee, "Gwendolyn Claire Prewett, will you marry me?"
Gwen is wide eyed and instead of answering immediately she shrieks, "Are you proposing with a PARROT on your shoulder?"
Sirius wrenches the toy parrot off of his shoulder, "Bloody parrot, stealing my thunder."
Gwen suddenly realises something and in hysterics, she says "Oh… Merlin… you've… you've proposed!" Their guests laugh with amusement, as they watch the scene unfold.
"Woman… Merlin or not, just give me an answer!" Sirius begs. "My knee's starting to hurt."
"Oh… oh right." She says, feeling very warm, and extremely flustered. "May… may I see the ring again?"
"Not until you say 'yes.'" Sirius sighs, as he shifts uncomfortably, feeling very foolish.
"But what if the ring determines-"
"Get on with it, Prewett!" Peter cheers.
"What he said." Sirius grins.
"Yes!" She shrieks. "A thousand times yes!" Their flat erupts in cheers and glasses clink. After she and Sirius finish a rather long snog, she says, "Hang on, we went jewelry shopping yesterday, and you didn't have any money at the… you'd already bought it by then! Agh, I don't know if I want to kiss you or throttle you, Sirius."
Sirius grins, "The kiss, definitely the kiss."
Gwen shakes her head and says, "Oh… I've got to tell Molly, and Gid and Fabian. There's so much to do!"
"Well we've still got a party going on, Gwen." Sirius answers. "And besides, they already know."
"You… you asked? Wow." Gwen replies with astonishment. "My brothers were all right with it?"
"Clearly."
"I can't believe they-"
Sirius interrupts Gwen, "Let me just say that Molly helped me with that venture."
"Bless her." Gwen grins
Also, George Lucas owns Luke Skywalker. I didn't want to put that in the disclaimer for fear that everyone would get horribly put off. It was only mentioned once, but, to be safe. Here is it's disclaimer, haha.