AN: Alright, after more than one request, I'm going to try to further explain the nature of the voting. Think of "men" as a general catagory of people. -Most of my readers seem to be female, but if you aren't, please don't take offense at this, because it is all in good fun and not meant to be cruel.- Men in general tend to shy away from commitment. I'm not talking about committing to a five year car payment, or even a thirty year mortgage. They seem to be able to handle those just fine. I'm speaking specifically about commitment stemming from love. Falling in love is often seen as a weakness or something. Listen once through to the song "Another One Bites The Dust," which has been traditionally requested by the best man at every wedding ever since it was written, and you'll see what I mean. The battle today is Sirius vs. Venus, which is the goddess of Love. The idea is that he's resisting falling in love. How well is he doing? Or has he already lost? THAT's what we're voting on. I hope this clears things up. I've had a lot of fun setting this story up for this purpose, and it won't be as much fun to read if it still doesn't make sense to everyone. Let me know - I hope that helps.
Brandy
Sirius vs. Venus: Round 2
Chapter 10 - The Malfoy Family Heirloom
December, 2008
"That looks like more than you'll need for just this trip," Sirius observed dryly, standing in the open doorway to Muriel's room in Grimmauld Place. Only an hour before, they had been summoned to Professor Dumbledore's office for a very early meeting and given a new mission for the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore had said it wouldn't take long, and they should travel light, but it looked to Sirius like the short brunette was packing everything in sight.
She was. Items flew out of drawers, following the commands of her wand. Muriel could hear the irritation in Sirius' voice, and feel it as if it were taking up all the space in the room between them. "You were there when Professor Dumbledore asked me to come and stay at Hogwarts once this mission is complete. He's worried about retaliation. If we manage to keep Lucius from getting that amulet, Riddle is bound to be furious. We'll need all the help we can get to protect the students and the school." Muriel knew he didn't believe that she was leaving just because of that. She had other reasons as well, though not what he thought. She turned away, rummaging through her clothes.
"Sirius, it's almost Christmas. Can we please not have an argument?" She didn't turn to speak. Since he had returned from the veil, Sirius had been cross with everyone, except Harry and Remus. When neither of them was around, it seemed that he radiated anger like a white coal radiates heat. More than once Muriel had found herself avoiding his company because he made her so uncomfortable.
Now, as she gathered up her parchment and quill from the desk, she felt a surge of anger from him, and heard his footsteps clicking smartly back down the stairs. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before depositing the parchment haphazardly in her trunk. It was too early in the morning for this. She finished packing and charmed her trunks to follow her downstairs. As she passed the kitchen door on her way to the fireplace, she could see Sirius sitting with Remus, who looked dejected. She marveled for the hundredth time how Sirius could sit there with such a look of contentment and sympathy on his face when Remus was around. When he was with her, his face reminded her of the bright red wrappers on Filibuster fireworks, and held the same promise of a spectacular explosion.
She felt sadness from Remus, and almost stopped to comfort him, but in that moment Sirius looked up and caught her eye. He mouthed, 'Theda,' and she nodded to show she understood. She wasn't going to be able to offer him much comfort for that.
When she arrived in her new quarters at Hogwarts, she immediately lit a fire in the grate. No one had stayed in these quarters for quite some time, since she had spent her first year and a half as a professor living at Grimmauld Place. She noticed, however, that it was immaculate. The house elves had gone to great lengths to make sure it didn't smell musty. She unpacked alone, thinking angrily about Sirius. She cursed herself for thinking he would want her back after all that had happened. He'd been furious when he'd first awoken to find her in his house, but then she had thought he was coming around. She sat down hard on the bed, deciding that it was about time she had a good cry.
When Severus pushed the door open, Muriel was sitting on her bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. How often had he seen her sitting like that? He suppressed a sigh.
"Alright, Mur?" he asked quietly. She didn't look up. "I thought I felt an extra bit of anger in the castle and figured you must have arrived."
He heard her sputter. When she looked up, her face was red and tear- stained. "Really? I would have gone looking for Black if I felt any extra anger around!" She said harshly.
"You know me better than to think I'd go looking for Black," Severus said mildly, permitting himself a small smile. Muriel shook her head before placing it firmly back between her knees.
Severus crossed the room and put an arm around her. He let her cry until she was finished, which wasn't long. When she stood and went back to unpacking, he helped her silently, wondering what the conceited prat had said to her this time. He hadn't changed his habit of veiling his mind from her, and didn't worry about her hearing the insults and abuse that he was mentally slinging at Sirius Black.
Muriel had the house elves bring up lunch and they sat on her bed, eating, but not talking. Finally, Severus looked up. "There's going to be a get- together at Headquarters tonight. Draco and I were planning to attend. I hope you won't let whatever happened today stop you from coming with us." He knew she didn't want to talk about it. If she had, she would have told him already. But he didn't want her sitting here by herself tonight either.
"Don't be ridiculous," she said immediately. "Of course I'll go." Severus smirked a bit. Muriel didn't stay down long.
"Ah, Muriel," Dumbledore said quietly, looking at her over his half-moon spectacles. "I thought there would be something you wanted to discuss." A flicker of amusement crossed his face, and she realized that he probably knew something about her tiff with Sirius. She fought back the angry scowl that was creeping over her face.
"I'm impressed, Headmaster, that you would know of Theda's new prophesy so quickly. I had understood that she hadn't yet written it down." Her voice was coldly polite, and the knowing smile on the old professor's face fell away. 'Good,' she thought scathingly, 'he deserved that for thinking I would want to talk to HIM about Sirius.'
He removed his spectacles as she continued, almost missing her point as he remembered the willful student who had once shackled her best friend to a Hufflepuff girl to punish them for kissing.
"So Theda believes that we should take Draco along, since he knows how to use his father's amulet, and likely knows what the sister amulet looks like." Muriel finished. Draco was staying at Order Headquarters for the holiday with Harry, Ron and Hermione. They would be leaving only a few days after Christmas, and Muriel knew that if Dumbledore agreed to this, she would probably be sent back to Grimmauld place tonight to tell him, so she thought fast.
"I'll send Remus back tonight to let him know, if you would like," she added hastily. Dumbledore looked at her for a moment before nodding, and Muriel let out a sigh of relief. She wouldn't have to face Sirius again tonight.