Potterverse is not mine. Well, first off, my gentle viewers: I am officially a Hufflepuff! Thank you Pottermore, you are AWESOME! Hell yeah! Cough. Now that that's out of the way, a huge thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, alerted and favorited. WIN! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the shenanigans in this update!
Cummings found Sirius sitting in the drawing room of Headquarters on the old couch that perhaps looked nice once but now it had a serious case of being dingy. Acting as best at being nonchalant as Cummings could she sat down on the couch next to him, but Sirius continued to read his book that appeared to be in a different language. Sirius Black was very knowledgeable.
Turning her head and staring at the side of Sirius' head, Cummings patiently waited until Sirius finally huffed and closed his book to stare back at her. Sirius raised his eyebrows expectantly. "So," Cummings started. "I've been given a mission, Captain."
Instantly Sirius' face darkened. Obviously this wasn't a more pleasant visit, like Cummings usually brings. "Good for you."
Cummings leaned back in her spot, her head tilting back until she was staring up at the ceiling. "I made a request," She informed him, "don't think it went over well though…"
It was a silent for a moment as Cummings waited until Sirius' curiosity grew. In all honesty, though, he wasn't that curious and besides, Cummings would tell him whether he prodded her or not. "And what was that Cummings? They won't let you wear a fake mustache?"
"Oh, no, that wasn't it. Thanks for the idea, Captain!" Sirius rolled his eyes.
"So what was your request then?"
"For old time's sake I wanted a mission buddy." Cummings rolled her head so she was looking at the dashing older man sitting next to her. "I wanted you to go with me, Captain." Sirius felt like his guts were being twisted in new ways as her words sunk in and a wave of nostalgia washed over him. He clutched the closed book tighter as he stared ahead without blinking. Finally he exhaled not realizing he had been holding his breath and then slowly inhaled as he looked towards his ex-newbie. Cummings sat there staring at him with her apple green eyes; a ghost of a smile hidden in the corners of her mouth yet her face was relaxed. Sirius already knew the answer they had given her.
"Well," Sirius started, breaking the silence. "They said no, didn't they?"
Cummings snorted, a smile breaking out across her face. "O' course they did! They told me it was stupid, dangerous and would compromise the mission."
Sirius' frown deepened. "No, we can't have that."
"Also, there's a chance that you'd be revealed to the Ministry and get a special little kiss." Sirius grunted in reply and Cummings continued. "But of course I'm going to pay them no mind. Stupid ideas are my favorite!" Her grin widened revealing the faint dimple in her left cheek as she sat up and turned towards her Captain. "Which is why I've got a plan!"
Sirius couldn't help the handsome smile that spread over his face, his grey eyes lighting up with a sparkle. "I knew there was a reason I called dibs on you."
"You dibsed me?" If possible – which Sirius didn't think it was – Cummings' smiled widened as she gave him a look of absolute fondness. "I love you too, Captain."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Shut up Cummings and tell me the plan." For the next twenty-six and a half seconds Cummings quickly – and with many wild hand gestures that almost hit Sirius in the face – explained to Sirius the plan she had come up with.
"It's so stupid it'll work, yeah? They'd never think of it!"
Sirius had to agree, it was pretty stupid. "I'm desperate so I'll try anything." He conceded and her smile returned at full force after her intense moment of explanation.
Seven and three-quarter hours later, Cummings showed up to the Department of Mysteries ready for her shift. Her wand was securely in her left hand, she wasn't wearing pajamas, her coppery chestnut colored hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she had a nice sized book bag slung over her shoulder which made her back hunch with the weight.
"Cummings, why do you have a book bag with you?" Arthur Weasley inquired raising an eyebrow at the ex-Hufflepuff.
"It has my lunch in it." She replied easily enough only to get a disbelieving look in return, letting her know Arthur wasn't convinced. "I'm a growing girl. I need my protein and chocolate milk." Rolling his eyes Arthur took hold of the strap of Cummings' book bag. "No don't grab it, that's mine! You're being rude! OI!" Cummings yelled pulling back on the strap, fighting for her lunch…and whatever else may be in there. "Stop it! You're going to tear it!"
"Cummings, just hand it over. I only want to make sure you're not hiding something we specifically told you not to bring."
"But my knickers are in there! I don't want you seeing them!" She yanked back on her book bag with all her might. Arthur paused for a moment.
"I thought you said your lunch was in there."
"That too, I'm a girl of many needs! Give it!" Arthur tugged on the strap, the seams barely holding together.
"Don't make me hex you." Arthur grunted.
"Violence is not the answer!"
"Cummings!" With one last tug the strap broke and with an amazing amount of force the book bag collided with the floor with a loud thump and emitted a groan of pain. Arthur looked up from the bag slowly to the suspicious girl. "…What was that?"
Cummings avoided eye contact for a good three seconds as she quickly came up with an explanation. "…I'm babysitting Herman's cat Crookshanks. It would've been wrong to leave him behind when I said I'd look after him." She finished with a grin. Inside, Cummings was crossing her fingers for hope that Arthur would believe her.
"Hermione took her cat with her." Arthur said as he bent down to open the book bag.
"You have no proof." Cummings replied indignantly folding her arms before noticing that Arthur was opening her bag. "Wait – no, don't!" Arthur reached his hand in and started pulling the contents of the book bag out onto the floor. Arthur raised an eyebrow as he took out an apple, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a bottle of chocolate milk – in short, he found her lunch. Then he pulled out – awkwardly – a pair of her bright yellow, lacey knickers with a little badger on the front. He stared up at Cummings and she shrugged. She still had her Hufflepuff pride! "See, I told you what was in there."
Arthur carefully reached back into her book bag one more time and wrapped his hand around the last item then pulled hard.
"Ow! Bloody hell, let go of my hair!" Slowly Sirius' face appeared out of the book bag looking very disgruntled. It was silent for a moment as Arthur stared down at Sirius and he stared back before looking to Cummings.
"Oh my wizard god!" Cummings yelled surprised with her apple green eyes widened. "How'd Captain get in there?" Sirius rolled his eyes and half-assed a glare towards her. He couldn't get entirely too mad since at least she tried, though he wasn't too fond of spending the last thirteen minutes with her Hufflepuff pride knickers. Arthur stared up at her, eyebrows raised. "What? It's the Department of Mysteries, it's mysterious! Who knows how or why all these mysterious things happen here, like Captain magically appearing here."
Sadly, though, Arthur wasn't really convinced. "Cummings…"
"Maybe it's meant to be, him showing up by complete coincidence…" She trailed off shrugging her shoulders looking innocent.
Arthur sighed and turned his attention down onto Sirius. "Sirius, go back to Headquarters." Cummings wrinkled her nosed and stuck her tongue out at Arthur. Begrudgingly Sirius nodded and pulled the rest of his body out of the book bag before standing up. Just as he was about to Apparate he noticed the pout on Cummings' face. Sighing, Sirius pulled her aside and smiled gently at her.
"Thanks for tryin', it was the most fun I've had in a while Cummings." She smiled back at him.
"We'll get past them next time." She whispered so Arthur wouldn't overhear them. Sirius chuckled lightly.
"Of course we will." He grinned at her as he tapped the end of her nose and Apparated back to Grimmauld Place.