Sirius's POV
After training, Sirius found Bellatrix laying on the ground outside the tent, staring up at the sky. Her expression was peaceful, and her dark eyes glittered. Sirius smiled. Bellatrix had always loved to watch clouds passing by. She said that it helped her calm down.
Sirius walked over and lay down next down next to her. They stayed like that for a while, side by side, staring into a sea of swirly white. Sirius tilted his head to look at his cousin. She glanced back at him and grinned widely, as if they were sharing some kind of secret.
In a way, we are, he thought. At Hogwarts, their relationship was common knowledge, but at Grimmauld Place, it was put under wraps. Sirius hated that. He really did. Bellatrix was one of the only things that made it worth it to stay in that damned prison, and he had to disguise his love for her every time an adult came around. He didn't understand why being in love with his cousin was so wrong.
"Rachel and Jacob were cousins," Bellatrix said suddenly, as if she knew what he was thinking. "You know, from the Bible."
"Most purebloods put honor before the Bible," said Sirius.
"Most, but not all," said Bellatrix softly.
Sirius reached for her hand. Her fingers fit just right between his.
"Not all," Sirius agreed.
"Do you think they'll come looking for us?" asked Bellatrix. There was a faint note of hope in her voice. She wanted the family to care, and he could see that. He also wanted them to care, deep down, but he had gotten better at suppressing those feelings.
"Grandma and Grandpa might," said Sirius, remembering the only two worthwhile adults in the dysfunctional family. Their grandparents were the ones who had given him and the other younger members of the Black generation the idea that maybe purebloods weren't so special, and maybe what was in the soul was much more important than what was in the veins.
Bellatrix's other hand instinctively went to the necklace that their grandma had given her. She played with the bird skull pendant and gave the matter some consideration before saying, "No. Grandma and Grandpa know we have to do this. They know that it's the right thing to do. We need to help get Mare back home."
In the distance, they could see Mare bending lightning into different shapes, once more trying to recreate a portal. Eventually, she gave up and slumped over onto the forest floor, crying in despair. They saw Regulus running to comfort her, wrapping one arm around her and using the other to stroke her hair protectively.
"Should we go to her?" asked Sirius, starting to get up.
"I think Regulus has this under control," said Bellatrix, putting a hand on his arm to stop him.
Sirius suddenly saw the hidden meaning behind her words: Regulus and Mare were falling in love.
"You're right," he declared. "We probably shouldn't interfere."
"Maybe Mare was brought here for a reason," said Bellatrix contemplatively. "Maybe we need her. Maybe she needs us. Or maybe Regulus is just the right guy for her."
"Am I the right guy for you?" said Sirius teasingly.
Bellatrix leaned forward and kissed him gently. "Do you ever honestly doubt that?"
