A/N: sorry for the long wait i no i'm usually better than this :( but i wanted to get Christmas day done all in one chapter which means * drum roll* this chapter is more than 10k words! woo! its easily 3x longer than any other chap i've done but i think its a very good chap even if i say so myself :)
so enjoy an early CHRISTMAS and leave me a review as a present !
much love Lika
Christmas morning had arrived Tess loved Christmas she loved the atmosphere the warmth it brought into the house the fun and excitement the presents and food brought it always reminded Tess of Hogwarts and then celebrating it at James and Lilly's house after, back then it had been her second favourite holiday after Halloween which with Tess's parents had always been ignored, but she saw the true magic of it once at Hogwarts, but after James and Lilly's death Tess soon tried to forget Halloween altogether. Tess opened a draw picking out some clean clothes padding quietly towards her bedroom door looking forward to start the day with a hot shower.
She heard something shuffle behind her, she twisted her head to see Sirius had shifted on to her side of the bed she smiled to herself and stalked back towards the him, leaning over his face and whispered into his ear "wanna join me in the shower?" smiling to herself as she saw his eyes shoot open he turned his face towards her in a flash raising an eyebrow coyly.
"Really?"
Tess nodded
Sirius jumped out of bed leaving Tess giggling as he pulled her with him out of the room sprinting into the bathroom two doors down, dragging her behind him locking the door after them.
Sirius plunged his tongue into Tess's mouth forcing her into the shower, Tess happily complied pulling her bra and shorts off with Sirius soon following, flinging his boxes away.
Tess flicked her hand over the showerhead water came blasting out water covering there naked bodies. Tess wasn't fussed on 12 Grimmauld place even after all the cleaning it still felt like a depressing desolate house but Tess had to admit the plumbing was fantastic every time she washed the pressure was so high her skins felt like it was torn off – she loved it .
Sirius pulled her closer to him pushing his hips against hers, his hands knotting in her long hair pushing her mouth closer. Tess wrapped her arms around him feeling him angling himself to try and slip into her when Tess froze.
"What is it?" he breathed against her lips, Tess could hear his need for her, his need for release.
She gave him a wicked grin "not yet" she whispered to him.
He watched Tess move her way down his body kissing lightly over his skin licking him down his stomach she could feel the muscles beneath the skin. Tess heard him sigh in pleasure as her mouth covered his cock her tongue licking around it as she sucked him slowly feeling him pulse inside her mouth. Sirius hand pulled though her hair, moaning her name, she moved faster her lips on him as she moved him in and out of her mouth sucking on him harder feeling him reaching the back of her mouth. She felt her hair being yanked pulling her head away from him.
"If you carry on, I won't be able to stop and I don't want to finish like that" he gasped at her.
She smiled as he let go of her hair helping her up. He lifted her, wrapping her legs around him as he pushed himself into her, filling her deeper than normal. His hands underneath her, his fingers kneading her ass. Tess grinded against him, hearing his breath catch in his throat as he rammed her against the wall circling inside her. Tess bit her lip to keep from screaming he slamed into her again, but this time Tess let out an intense cry her mind swarming in ecstasy.
Sirius wraps his hand round her mouth "shhh, someone might hear".
Tess didn't care the whole world could hear and she wouldn't care. He never slowed the intensity of it though, fucking her harder pushing his tongue against hers so hard Tess thought her lips might bruise. Feeling him pushing with such ferocity, she knows he's close and lets herself go, feeling herself release around him, warmth scorching though her body, pulsing around him was the final push for Sirius to let himself go. He released into her slamming her harder against the wall, one last time. He groaned into her mouth, biting her lip, and with both of them sated they slid to the floor.
…
"I think I'll just leave his present here" said Hermione, laying a package in the cupboard opposite the pantry "he'll find it later, that'll be fine".
"It's not clothes is it ?" asked Tess reproachfully from the table. She had heard all about Hermione's SPEW from Fred and George, she had to admit she agreed with Hermione, but knew the dangers of it if Kreacher was set free.
"Come to think of it" said Sirius emerging from the pantry carrying a large turkey "has anyone actually seen Kreacher lately?"
"I haven't seen him since the night we came back here," said Harry "you were ordering him out of the kitchen"
"Yeah..." said Sirius frowning "you know I think that's the last time I saw him, too … he must be hiding upstairs somewhere."
"He couldn't have left, could he?" said Harry I mean when you said "out" maybe he thought you meant get out of the house?"
"No, no, house elves can't leave unless they're given clothes. They're tied to their family house" said Sirius.
"They can leave the house if they really want to" Harry contradicted him. "Dobby did, he left the Malfoy's to give me warnings two years ago. He had to punish himself afterwards but he still managed it"
Tess gave Sirius a worried look, he looked slightly disconcerted for a moment then said "I'll look for him later; I expect I'll find him upstairs crying his eyes out over my mother's old bloomers or something. Of course, he might have crawled into the airing cupboard and died… but I mustn't get my hopes up"
Fred, George and Ron laughed: Hermione and Tess however looked reproachful.
"Mum I think you've forgotten something" whine Ron after he stopped laughing at Sirius's comment.
"What now Ron?"
"Me and harry didn't have any presents"
"Yeah us either, come on mum don't think we've been that bad" added Fred.
Tess grimaced giving them a guilty smile sinking into the chair "Sorry guys it's my fault" all of them looked at her as if she had stolen Christmas, well she hadn't …not really.
"Tess gave us a great idea" Molly said firmly.
"Muggles tend to open their presents together, family bonding and all that, so you've gotta wait till everyone's up" Tess told them sheepishly.
"Well I think it's a great idea"
"Do your parents do this Hermione" Ron asked.
"Oh yes, it's only a wizard tradition which if you read Hogwarts: a history, you would know opening presents at the end of the bed originated at Hogwarts, to help stop people opening the wrong gifts."
"Yeah, Lilly always used to make us do it, me and your dad hated it" said Sirius to Harry.
"That's because your spoilt" Tess pointed out, and Sirius poked his tongue out at her make her smile.
"Well I think it's a great idea, doing it as a family" said Molly defensively.
"Well when are we going to go open them then?" grumbled Ron.
"We've been up two hours already, waiting for you lot" Tess stood from the table making her away to the door "come on then up in the drawing room" hurrying them all out of the kitchen, one by one creeping past Sirius's mother in to the drawing room.
Tonks and Remus where both already sat on the floor talking drinking what looked like hot chocolate they both returned the smiles Tess gave them.
She sat on a large sofa facing the tree, pulling her legs underneath her. Sirius sat next to her his left arm wrapped round her hodling her close to his side
"I can't wait to have this" Sirius whispered quietly in to Tess's ear
"What?" tilting her head back slightly to listen to him.
"A house full of kids"
Tess was not expecting that, shit maybe he was trying to get her pregnant. Her cheeks going bright red thankful that Sirius was too busy watching Harry open his present to notice. She had noticed Remus raise an eyebrow at them with a knowing look. Damn his wolf hearing!
"Thanks guys!" cheered Harry at them, holding up his new defensive magic books.
"Pass Tess the big one Harry" said Sirius eagerly.
Harry rummaged through the pile of presents picking up a large thin present, wrapped in shinny blue paper showing several owls flying wearing Santa hats passin it to Tess.
"What is it?" she asked.
Sirius rolled his eyes "Open it and find out".
Tess looked at the tag
To Tess
Merry Christmas
Love Remus Sirius, and Harry.
"Come on, tell me" she teased. She knew how impatient he could be.
"No!" shouted her three present givers.
Tess pressed her ear to the present and shook it "don't do that" shouted Harry. Tess grinned at him giving him a gleeful wink.
"Just open it!" Pleaded the twins
"Fine fine" Tess pushed the fingers into the wrapping and tore it off in one full swop. she couldn't believe her eyes, it was beautiful perfectly smooth, streamlined birch twigs that made up the tail, it was a new Nimbus 2000.
She knew exactly what to say "what did you do with my Cleansweep?" everyone in the room groan.
"Really?" sighed Sirius, "that thing was a death-trap!"
"If you don't like the Nimbus Tess, I'll take it back for a refund" stated Remus plainly.
"No" she nearly shouted quickly "I like it!"
Tess held her new broom purposively, everyone sniggered and continued opening their own present.
"Thank you" she said kissing Sirius on the cheek.
He blushed slightly "Well, can't have you dying in a flying accident that's just embarrassing" tightening his hold on her.
"Tonks you didn't have to get me a present" Tess heard Remus tell her a few feet away.
She nudged Sirius slightly to watch the exchange. Remus was sat on the floor with Tonks kneeling next to him, her face was flushed from embarrassment getting him such a large gift. Remus looked awkward at receiving anything at all "he did get her a present didn't?" asked Sirius in her ear.
"Merlin I hope so"
"I can't take these Tonks this is too much"
"Don't be daft, they didn't cost me a thing, and I don't know who the guy even is. Please tell me you like them?" Tonks smiled at Remus guiltily.
"I love it Tonks, thank you" Tonks nearly screamed the house down crushing him into a hug "Oh I'm so glad you like it I wasn't sure…"
"It's great" He reassured her "I umm…got something to" he learned to a small pile of presents beside him pulling out an envelope passing it to her.
"Don't tell me all he got my cousin is a card" whispered Sirius to Tess not nearly as quite has he needed for Remus not to hear, who was now throwing daggers with his eyes at the both of them, warning them to shut up. They watched as she opened it to reveal a Christmas card showing a snow covered village.
"Its just a card!" said Sirius drawing attention to the scene unfolding in front of him, Tess elbowed him in the stomach.
"It is not just card" Remus spat back at him. "open it to shut Sirius up will you" he said slightly nicer to Tonks.
Tonks giggled, opening the card watching two pieces of paper fall out. She picked them up and screeched "weird sister tickets" she yelled "but they've been sold out for months how did you get these!"
"Oh, it was nothing I pulled a few strings" said Remus trying to brush it off.
"Here's another one for you Tess" said Hermione, passing Tess a plain wrapped parcel.
Tess opened it, finding a green and silver stripped jumper with a number 4 on the back … her Quidditch number. She bust out in a fit of laughter as Sirius snatched it off her "whose this from? You're a Gryffindor not a stinking Slytherin"
"It's from Severus his idea of a joke" snatching the jumper back of Sirius.
"I'm surprised your still friends with him that after what he did to Remus" said Ron, sounding slightly begrudging.
"What do you mean?" asked Tess confused at Ron's words.
"Don't" She saw Remus mouth to Ron.
"What did he do?" Snapped Tess, straightening up on the sofa.
"It was nothing" said Remus quietly.
"What was it!" she repeated.
"Nothing" he said defensively, Tess turned to the rest of the room faces hidden away.
"Hermione, tell me what Snape did" she had turned on Hermione hoping that her sense of justice would favour Tess.
"Well, um…" she muttered, obviously torn between Remus and Tess.
"Do you know?" turning to Sirius who had backed away from her his eyes widen at her accusal.
"I'm staying out of this" he said firmly.
"So you do know" Tess confirmed her eyes narrowed in to angry slights making Sirius highly uncomfortable.
"Ummmm… Remus I'm not being dragged into this tell her!" he said sternly to his best friend who head fell in submission.
"He's your friend, I don't want to cause a rift" Remus muttered quietly.
"But you are my best friend, tell me what he did!" Tess told him, how he could ever think his friendship wasn't more important to her.
"He told the school he was a werewolf, that was why Remus left Hogwarts" said a voice from the other side of the room. Tess swivelled her head other to see Harry looking as if a weight had been lifted.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Tess said softly back at Remus who simply shrugged.
"Because he's your friend" he tried to reason "and I knew you would be upset and angry, you had enough on your plate back then with the ministry sniffing about," he give the slightest of glances to Sirius then back again.
When Sirius had managed to escape Hogwarts, the ministry had once again stormed her and Remus's house taking her back in for questioning, "now can we change the subject, it is Christmas after all!"
After that everyone returned to opening presents. Several minutes later, Sirius whispered in her ear, even quieter than before "you know this morning?"
She gave a slight nod "was that my present?"
Tess grinned "No" she stated.
"Is it anything along those lines?" He asked.
"No"
"Then where's my present?!" he said loudly sounding like a spoilt child. Everyone looked at them; most of the presents had been opened now with wrapping paper spread across the room.
Tess laughed inwardly, "Does everyone want to come and see?"
Everyone bounded on to their feet, following Tess out of the door.
She lead them out of the room, up to the next floor stopping in front of one of the unused spare rooms, before opening the door to Sirius's present. She stood in front of him, mirroring his large grin.
"Close your eyes" she said happily.
"What?" he laughed out.
"I said close your eyes" bouncing on the balls of her feet. he was going to love what was behind the door!
"Fine" he agreed smiling. Tess held his hand, leading him in to the room. Everyone flowing in behind them, Tess heard everyone gasp when they saw it, Tess could feel butterflies forming in her stomach. Except Remus, who was the only one that groaned "Why, did you get this?"
Tess sniggered, "What is it? Come on Tess, if Moony's complaining it's bound to be fun!" Sirius laughed.
"Ok! Ok! Open your eyes"
Sirius opened his eyes to see in front of him, a black 1959 Triumph Bonneville T120 motorcycle. His face was blank standing stock, still not making a sound.
Tess gulped "Umm" Tess shuffled her feet, this wasn't the reaction she had expected.
"The suspension is bust" she stated slowly, "paint works faded the back is covered in rust, I think the gear box needs replacing, front wheels been kicked in so it needs replacing the engine-"
"Where did you find this?" Sirius interrupted his face contorted.
Tess looked around awkwardly feeling embarrassed, he hated it!
"It was in one of the sheds on the grounds I found it a few weeks ago asked if I could take it …if you don't like it-" before she could finish, she was being thrown in to the air by Sirius, pressing her to him kissing her passionately. Tess heard wolf whistles and cat calls from behind them. Molly giving a small cough as he let her go.
"uh- huh- yeah-Well, you like it then?" Tess said blushing, it wasn't a secret her and Sirius were together but they didn't really go around kissing like that!
"Harry, you know anything about motorcycles?" Sirius asked over his shoulder his eyes not leaving his baby (the bike).
"Uh no, not really"
"Well you're about to learn, come on" Sirius said walking over to the bike with Harry.
"I think I'll go and start lunch" said Molly.
"We'll come with" said Ginny and Hermione, being followed by Tonks.
The twins, Ron and Bill followed Harry surrounded the bike, listening to Sirius list off the parts he'd need to fix it up.
"Why did you get him that?" moaned Remus sounding tired, moving to stand next to her in the door way.
"It's his" she argued looking up at his he gave her a small smile wrapping his arm around her she leaned in happily
"You could've left it at Hogwarts" he pointed out he groaned again with realisation "he's gonna make me test drive it"
Tess choked on the laugh, she tried and failed to hold back "You fly a broom" she tried to reason.
"It took me years to get used to Brooms, and they are meant to fly ,that" he said pointing at the bike, that was now being poked and prodded by the various Weasley's over her shoulder, " isn't!"
"It'll take him the best part of 3 weeks to fix it with magic and he always preferred doing it the muggle way," Tess smiled smugly "so will take him nearly 3 months to get it working"
"You did it to keep him distracted when Harry goes back to Hogwarts"
She tilted her head to look at him her smile widening.
"Did I tell you the time me and your dad got chased by muggle police on this?" they heard Sirius say to Harry.
"No!" said Harry excitedly, waiting for Sirius to recount the infamous story.
"So kids?" said Remus quietly, raising an eye brow.
"Don't!" she warned, she was really going have to sort this out.
He held his hand up in defence then dropping them to ask "coming downstairs none of them are going to leave that thing till lunch"
"Yeah I'll help Molly with the turkey, before Tonks trips over it or something"
…...
They journeyed to ST Mungos after Christmas lunch, the trip was quite quick as there was very little traffic on the roads. Mundungus turned up just before dessert having "borrowed" a car from someone. It had been enlarged with a spell on the inside making it able to carry the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, Remus, Mad-Eye and Tess comfortably with Dung driving.
The reception area looked pleasantly festive, thought Tess. Large glowing Christmas bubbles and holly over every doorway, they found Arthur propped up in bed, with the remains of his turkey dinner on a tray on his lap, wearing a sheepish smile.
"Everything all right Arthur?" asked Molly after they had all greeted him, handing him their presents.
"Fine, fine" he said, a little two heartily "you-er- haven't seen healer Smethwyck, have you?"
"no" said Molly suspiciously, "why?"
"Nothing, nothing" said Arthur airily starting to unwrap his pile of gifts. "Well, everyone had a good day? What did you all get for Christmas? Oh Harry- this is absolutely wonderful!" Tess looked at the present Harry had given him of fuse-wire and screwdrivers, Tess sniggered.
"Arthur" Molly snapped, "you've had your bandages changed. Why have you had your bandages changed a day early, Arthur? they told me they wouldn't need doing until tomorrow"
"What?" said Arthur, looking rather frightened and pulling the bed covers higher up his chest, Tess suppressed a laugh "no, no-it's nothing – its- I-"
He seemed to deflate under Molly's piercing glare. "well – don't get upset, Molly, but Augustus Pye had an idea… he's the trainee healer, you know, lovely young chap and very interested in …um …complementary medicine… I mean, some of these old muggle remedies…well, they're called stitches, Molly, and they work very well on- on muggle wounds-"
Tess knew more than enough about stitches to know Molly was not going to like this, Molly let out a shriek as she watched Remus walk over to who she assumed was the new werewolf who Molly had told them about, he was looking wistfully at the group round Arthur's bed. Bill like Tess soon realised where this conversation was headed ,suggesting some tea, the twins quickly left with him.
"Do you mean to tell me," said Molly, her voice growing louder with every word "that you have been messing about with muggle remedies?"
Tess got up from her chair turning to the remaining four "I think tea and cake is in order" gesturing to the door taking a leaf from Bills book "wait for me outside" she told them.
She walked over to Remus who was sat down next to the man in an uncomfortable looking metal chair, listening to the young man in the bed "Moony" Tess said placing her hand on Moony's shoulder.
"We'll be upstairs in the café ok?" she gave a the man a warm smile who seemed to be trying to get away from her without actually leaving the bed.
"Hello" Tess said quietly to the man.
"She's not like us" he muttered to Remus.
"No, she's not" he confirmed looking up at Tess "Alright I'll come find you when I'm ready" Tess nodded and kissed the top of his head before walking away to find the kids.
"Does she know what you are?"
"She knows"
"She's your friend?"
"I'm very lucky" she could hear the sincerity in his voice.
"Typical dad stitches I ask you" she heard Ginny say to the others.
"Well you know they do work well on non- magical wounds" sad Hermione
"Must be something in the snake venom stiches work fine on cursed wounds" said Tess.
"Where's the tea room then " aske Ron
Harry answer "Fifth floor"
They walked along the corridor though a set of double doors up a rickety staircase lined with brutal looking portraits of healers. They passed one medieval wizard who believed Ron was suffering from a bad case of spattergroit… he wasn't impressed shouting angrily that the healer was referring to his freckles
"What floors this?"
"I think it's fifth" replied Hermione to Ron
"Nah it's fourth" said harry "one more-"
But as he stepped on to the landing he came to an abrupt halt, staring at the small window set into the double doors that marked the start of corridor signposted spell damage. A man was peering out at them all with his nose pressed against the glass. He had wavy blond hair bright blue eyes and broad vacant smile that revealed dazzlingly white teeth.
" blimey" said Ron
"oh, my goodness" said Hermione sounding breathless " Professor Lockhart!"
"Who?!" asked Tess, she couldn't remember a teacher with that name
"He was our defence teacher in second year" Harry whispered
"Really?" he looked more like a hair dresser than a defence expert.
"Well hello there!" he said "I expect you'd like my autograph would you?
"Why?"
"Hasn't changed much, has he? Harry muttered to Ginny who grinned.
"Er – how are you, professor?" Said Ron, Tess thought he sounded slightly guilty. she was going have to dig around for that story later!
"I'm very well indeed, thank you!" said Lockhart exuberantly, pulling a rather battered looking peacock feather quill from his pocket.
"Now how many autographs would you like? I can do joined – up writing now, you know?"
"How exciting" said Tess sarcastically
"It is!" Lockhart agreed with her.
"Er we don't want any at the moment thanks" said Ron, raising his eyebrows at arry who asked " professor should you be wandering around the corridors? Shouldn't you be in a ward?"
The smile faded slowly from Lockhart's face. For a few moments he gazed intently at harry then he said "haven't we met?"
"Er… yeah we have" said Harry "you used to teach us at Hogwarts remember?"
"Teach? Repeated Lockhart, looking faintly unsettled "me? Did I?"
"I'm just as surprised as you!" Tess muttered to Harry and Ginny who laughed under their breath.
Then the smile reappeared upon his face so suddenly it was rather alarming.
"Taught you everything you know I expect, did I?"
Just then a head poked out of a door at the floor at the far end of the corridor and a voice called "Gilderoy, you naughty boy, where have you wandered off to?" A motherly-looking healer wearing a tinsel wreath in her hair came bustling up the corridor, smiling warmly at Harry and the others.
"Oh, Gilderoy, you've got visitors! How lovely, and on Christmas day too! Do you know, he never gets visitors, poor lamb, and I can't think why he's such a sweetie aren't you?"
"- it is nice of you to have come to see him"
"Err" said Ron, gesturing at the floor above "actually, we were just –er-"
But the healer was smiling expectantly making Tess feel about two inches tall for wanting to leave. They looked at each other helplessly, then followed Lockhart and his healer along the corridor.
" let's not stay long" Ron said quietly.
The healer pointed her wand at the door of the Janus Thickly ward and muttered "Alohomora"
Tess froze under the sign, looking at the black letters a chill running down her spin. Why did this ward ring a bell,she knew she recognised the name but how, she had never been in this part of the hospital before.
"Come along dear" called the healer and Tess hurried in the ward.
"This is our long-term residents ward" the healer informed them in a low voice "for permanent spell damage, you know. Of course, with intensive remedial potions and charms and a bit of luck, we can produce some improvement-"
Permanent spell damage- remedial charms- janus thickely . shit shit!
"Um actually" said Tess trying to retreat from the ward "I'm not feeling so well, umm I'll meet you lot back up in the tearoom"
Tess turned quickly, trying to exist the room when an old witch in a green dress caught her eye, before she could control herself Tess turned to see Augusta Longbottom striding down the ward with her grandson Neville when Tess spotted her… Her face was thin and worn now, her eyes seemed overlarge and her hair was no longer think and black but grey ,whispy and dead looking …Alice
Tess grimaced in despair, her feet froze to the floor, she tried breathing but her lungs felt they may explode, she clenched her muscles together to stop from shaking, her body went cold .
"Tessabella?
"Augusta"
"What are you doing here?"
"Nevillle!" She heard Ron called out, Neville jumped and cowered as though a bullet had narrowly missed him "It's us Neville have you seen-? Lockhart's here, who've you been visiting?"
"you haven't answered my question!" commanded Mrs Longbottom shooting venom from her eyes at Tess.
Deep breath. d-e-e-p breath, its only Augusta if you can have a full blown shouting match with Alastor in the middle of the Auror office you can handle her.
"Arthur's down stairs as you very well know. We were on our way to the tea room when we bumped in to Mr Lockhart who used to teach at Hogwarts" Said Tess sheepishly to the floor. Ok maybe she couldn't stand up to her.
"Of course" Augusta spat, looking over the four teenagers beside Tess, "and why have you been left in charge of them"
"So who are you visiting Neville?" Repeated Ron feeling the tension.
"What's this?" said Mrs Longbottom sharply "haven't you told your friends about your parents, Neville?"
Neville took a deep breath, looked up at the ceiling and shook his head
"Well, is nothing to be ashamed of!" said Mrs Longbottom angrily. "You should be proud, Neville, proud! They didn't give their health and their sanity so their only son would be ashamed of them, you know!"
"I'm not ashamed "said Neville, very faintly.
"Of course he's proud" Tess snapped "anyone would"
"Well he's got a funny way of showing it!" said Mrs Longbottom. "My son and his wife," she said turning haughtily to harry Ron Hermione and Ginny ignoring Tess "were tortured into insanity by you-know-whos followers"
Tess closed the eyes as she heard Hermione and Ginny both clapped their hands over their mouths.
"They were Aurors you known and very well respected within the wizarding community" Mrs Longbottom went on "highly gifted, the pair of them. I-yes Alice dear what is it"
Alice came edging down the ward in the night-dress, there was nothing left of Alice that Tess could recognise. Alice made timid motions towards Neville, holding something in her outstretched hand.
"Again?" said Mrs. Longbottom, sounding slightly weary. "Very well, Alice dear, very well – Neville, take it, whatever it is…" But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into which his mother dropped an empty Drooble's Best Blowing Gum wrapper. "Very nice, dear," said Neville's grandmother in a falsely cheery voice, patting his mother on the shoulder. But Neville said quietly, "Thanks, Mum."
Alice looked up at Tess tilting her head at her and wobbled over to her, she stared at her for a few seconds before reaching her hand out taking hold of Tess's hair and she started pulling and tugging at it rhythmically everyone watched in shock.
"Alice stop that!" Mrs Longbottom sharply, but Tess just stood there waiting for Alice to finish. She had done it numerous times in the common room, complaining that Tess never looked after it.
"I know Alice, I should take better care of it"
Alice finished the tugging, then stroked it lightly she tottered away back up the ward humming to herself. Tess ran her fingers over the plait Alice had given her. "I'll meet you in the foyer" Tess muttered leaving the ward quickly without running. As soon as the ward door closed with a click behind her Tess broke out into a run as fast as she could down the rickety stairs, taking three at a time. She needed air, she needed to get out of here, she slipped at the bottom of the stirs falling forward, she scraped her palms on the floor launching herself back off the floor running into the foyer heading for the exit-
"Where are you going?" Tess heard him question behind her.
Tess froze.
Her face was inches from the exit. She closed her eyes standing up straight taking a deep breath, she wiped the tears away from her cheeks he didn't need to see her upset.
"Sit!" he grumbled Tess turned to see Moody, leaning heavily on his wooden leg his vivid, electric blue magical eye moving rabidly round its socket. She walked over to the sitting area and sat into one of the ugly plastic hospital chairs taking a deep breath. Mad eye pulled out his flask tossing it to her. Pulling out the stopper giving Tess it a quick stiff, it burned the back of throat pulling away in disgust.
"Should you really be drinking this?" she asked
"It's medicinal" he growled, Tess didn't believe him.
She took a deep gulp trying not to cough as it went down "you don't have to look after me anymore Alastor" throwing the flask back at him, he pocketed it, his normal eye meeting hers.
"I don't" he tried telling her. Tess smiled weakly at his lie. Tears threating to spill over.
...
Tess's day was not going well, she was sure she had just failed potions, again. Professor Slughorn was already telling her she'll fail her OWLS, and she hadn't even finished her fourth year yet. She had plenty of time to improve, she'll just try harder next year she thought. Lilly was off in the library, revising for charms tomorrow, so Tess hadn't seen her since the morning. Making matters worse was the fact her parents had ignored her last letter … again. It was the fifth one they had ignored just year along with forgetting her birthday in April. She was sat on the common room floor once again, with Alice behind her in the dusty red arm chair, across from of the fire, plaiting Tess's hair. Alice was 3 years older than Tess and head girl. Alice with round-face and short black hair, was always telling Tess to look after her hair, which was waist length and curly but Tess usually couldn't be bothered to keep it tidy usually just throwing it in a wild pony tail.
"I got my letter today" said Alice quietly behind her.
Tess tilted her head back and excitedly asked "really? What it say?"
"I got in! as long as iIpass my NEWTS I start training end of august!" Alice told her proudly.
"What about frank?"
"He got accepted to"
"That so cool!" Tess turned to face Alice making her stop half finished "you're going to be an Auror!"
Alice smiled down at Tess saying "Gotta get through training first" looking resigned.
"You'll be great," Tess reassured her, watching as four boys came bounding though the entrance to the common room laughing loudly, "aw, I can't wait to apply"
"You better sort out potions then" Alice said sternly "you need an 'Exceeds Expectations' for Auror training"
"I'll do better next year" Tess said lightly with a shrug .
"You've been saying that since I've known you"
"Oh Faoil where's Evans?" said one of the boys with messy black hair .
Tess sighed, rolling her eyes, when was he going to realise Lily wasn't interested,
"None of your business Potter".
One of Potters friends looked at Tess with such disgust, she had to force herself not to run from the room he darkly handsome with fair skin and black hair, he turned on her instantly.
"Don't be such a bitch Faoil!" he spat at her. Sirius Black was one of the biggest bullies tess had ever met and she was one of his favourite targets. He was handsome and he knew it, he thought he was so much better than everyone else, arrogant and immature she couldn't understand why all the girls through themselves at him.
"Why don't you claw back in to the pit you came from Black" Tess tried hissed back but came out like a croak
"Faoil" said a sharp voice coming from the the common room entrance. She turned to see a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there.
Tess gulped loudly "Professor?"
"Follow me" said Professor McGonagall turning from Tess saw Black and Potter laughing into their hands at Tess being caught.
"Detention Black,Potter!" they looked at professor McGonagall wildly framing innocence.
Saying in unison "But-"
"I'm sure you've done something wrong" McGonagall said tiredly sweeping out of the room, Tess following closely behind with a small smirk on her face.
Several stair cases and corridors later Tess piped up the courage to ask "Professor, where are we going?"
"The Headmaster wishes to speak to you"
"But why?" she hadn't done anything to warrant a visit to Dumbledore that she knew of, and he hadn't spoken to her about her particular talents since Easter before last.
"You'll find out" McGonagall said sternly "sherbet pits" she said the ugly gargoyle sprang to life and leapt aside: the wall behind it split in two to reveal a stone stair case that was moving continuously upwards. Tess followed McGonagall up halting in front of the polished oak doors her head of house knocking.
"Enter" came a voice, and they walked into the headmasters office.
"Ah, thank you Minerva" said Professor Dumbledore, he was tall and thin, with long silver hair and beard. Professor McGonagall swept out of the room leaving Tess alone with the headmaster.
"Miss Faoil please sit down" he said kindly, pointing to the golden chair opposite his desk. Tess did as she was told looking around the large circular room: it had many windows and many portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses. "A lemon ball?"
"Um, sorry professor?" Dumbledore Pointed to the glass bowl on his desk filled with round yellow sickly looking sweets
"No thank you" said Tess. Dumbledore looked over his half-moon spectacle his blue eyes twinkled with kindness "I have received" Dumbledore said lightly "a letter from your parents"
"My parents?" Tess said confused, why they had written to Dumbledore when they had ignored her all year.
"Yes-"
"How? They don't have an owl"
"They sent it by muggle post we intercepted it just north of Leeds…they have expressed their wish that you do not return this summer" he told her.
Tess was quiet for a minute staring at the portrait of Phineas Black. How could that idiot have a headmaster as a relative even if he was the least popular headmaster the school ever had.
"What about next summer?" Tess asked suddenly looking at Dumbledore.
"I believe they wish for you to live somewhere else"
Tess nodded slowly and very sadly said "They hate me" biting back tears. She knew her parents weren't happy when she received her letter from Hogwarts, but she never thought they'd disown her.
"They don't hate you, they simply can't accept someone they don't understand"
Tess took a deep breath trying to calm herself, "So will I be staying here for the summer headmaster?"
"I'm afraid staying during the summer holidays is forbidden… normally in theses rare circumstances, you would be placed in an orphanage till your 17th birthday"
Tess eyes widen in horror, she had heard plenty of horror stories about those places from the few students already at Hogwarts that spent the dummers there.
"but I do not believe those places give proper nurturing, so I have arranged for you to stay with a friend of mine each summer till you are old enough to live by yourself. You will continue spending Christmas and Easter here, at the school"
"Yes professor, Thank you"
"Good you may go know" Dumbledore said waving Tess out of the room.
"Uh professor" Tess said stopping in the door way, turning back to look at Dumbledore "who is it exactly I'll be staying with?"
Dumbledore looked up from his desk smiling "Alastor Moody"
Tess felt her stomach drop "The Auror?" She said in awe
"Yes, go along now you have charms in the morning"
"Yes professor thank you" said Tess as she closed the door behind.
…
They train journey back to London had been an awkward one Tess and Lily had found an empty compartment at the end of train. Sara from Ravenclaw had joined them after they left Scotland, Tess and Lily liked Sara but Tess always got the impression that Sara thought she was better than everyone else. Lily was telling them both the plans she had for the summer visiting relatives in Australia when James Potter and Sirius Black entered .
"I'll never understand muggles, going in a big metal machine to travel. How does that thing stay in the air without magic" joked Sirius standing by the door.
James was laughing at his friend as he sat down next to Lily "Alright Evans?"
"What do you want Potter?"
As Lilly and James continued with their end of year banter, Tess noticed Sirius staring at her, as she turned her attention to him, he quickly looked away Tess raised her one eyebrow
"What is it Black?"
He looked at her again looking embarrassed at being caught looking at her they hadn't spoken for several weeks since he had called her "bitch".
"I'm sorry for calling you a bitch " he said finally blushing slighty.
Did Sirius Black just apologize AND he blushed! "Um thanks Sirius" he grinned at her wickedly.
"So I'm forgiven?"
"Yes" Tess laughed as Sirius flung himself on seat next to her.
…
Tess hopped off the train Sirius following her with her trunk for some reason he had insisted on carrying it for her.
"You really didn't have to do that" she told him. He replied with a shrug placing her trunk at her feet, he looked over her shoulder.
"Great my mother's here" he grimaced Tess turned quickly to see Mrs black, a tall stern looking woman with long black hair wearing blood red robes, she looked a lot like a feminine looking Sirius, with a much slighter build she could see Regulas Sirius younger brother was already standing beside her.
"Where are your parents?" Sirius asked, straining his neck over crowd, trying to find someone he thought Tess could be related to. He unsurprisingly couldn't find anyone. Tess felt her cheeks flush, she hadn't told anyone except Lily that she wasn't going home.
"They aren't here, I'm staying with a friend this summer" she said leaning down to pick up her trunk.
"oh where to– hey isn't that Moody!" he said excitedly. Tess looked up to see a wizard standing a few feet from Mrs Black looking as though his face was roughly carved from wood dark beady eyes a long grizzled mane of grey hair arms folded wrapped in a black travelling cloak.
"Well that's my ride" Tess said airily, dragging her trunk.
"I didn't know you was related to Moody?" whispered Sirius in surprise.
"I'm not" she whispered back, " muggle born remember. See you in September" she walked away from him, and towards Alastor Moody.
"You Tess girl?" he growled at her. Tess wasn't very tall for her age, but this man had the ability to make even the tallest of men feel about 3 feet tall.
"Yes sir" she said quietly, thinking that maybe an orphanage wouldn't have been such a bad idea.
"Dumbledore didn't say you was a runt"
"I'm not a runt" Tess said loudly.
"What are your grades like?"
"Umm ok?" Tess muttered,wondering why her schooling was any of his business.
"Rubbish you mean" he spat "we'll see about that, Come along then"
Taking Tess's trunk from her, he started walking towards the barrier to kings cross station.
"Alastor" said Mrs Black who had arrived at the barrier with her two sons.
"Walburga" he said irritably.
"Wasn't aware you had any family left" Mrs Black goaded giving Tess a look of utter horror.
"I wasn't aware you had a Gryffindor in the family, guess you're not all rotten apples" he countered giving Sirius a wink.
"So cool" Sirius mouthed to Tess just as his mother clipped him round the ear.
….
"Come on girl! It's not that hard, happy thoughts" growled Moody.
Tess had been living with the famous Auror now for three weeks in a shabby looking house in the south end of London.
He spent a lot of time away, going on what Tess had assumed must be missions, chasing down Deatheaters and other dark wizards, but when he was home he had Tess constantly training. It was like being at a military school up at six, train, eat, train, break, train, dinner, study, sleep. He had been home for four straight days, the longest time since she had been here. After finally producing a very impressive shield charm that had thrown Moody across the house, he had started trying to teach her the Patronus charm.Tess was exhausted, which added to the fact she couldn't pin point a happy memory that worked. She couldn't seem to get a lot out of her wand ,just a little white mist that would fall to the ground after travelling a few inches.
"This is NEWT level" Tess complained "I haven't even done my OWL's yet!"
"Patronus' are a basic charm for Aurors you won't be accepted if you are not able to produce one!" he snapped "Pick another memory". Tess closed her eyes sighing she went through the catalogue of memories that stuck out to her for her to use. She thought about the day her parents had taken her to the zoo on her sixth birthday, so happy that their little girl hadn't done any funny business but that only reminded her why her parents hated her. She thought about when she got the Hogwarts letter and her father destroyed it in the fire, until McGonagall turned up to explain everything but that wasn't really happy. She thought about going on the Hogwarts express the first time meeting Lilly, Alice and their friends but thinking about the Hogwarts express made her think of Sirius apologising to her at the beginning of summer sitting next to her for most of the journey home, making her laugh so hard her muscles ached the next day, being kind enough to buy everyone food from the trolley, then carrying both hers and his trunks off the train even though Tess secretly thought it was an excuse to so off. Tess could feel the smile on her face raising her wand at the target moody ha set up " expect patronum" she said opening her eyes to see a large white shadow bust from her wand smashing into the target.
"I did it I did it!" Tess yelled excitedly, jumping for joy, she had done it!
"Mmm" he grumbled sounding non- plus making Tess stop her celebration "you'll have to start exercising to, get rid of that puppy fat" he said scrutinising her.
"I'm not fat!" she told him firmly looking down at her stomach, ok so it wouldn't hurt to lose a couple of pounds but it wasn't like she was huge, she thought.
"You better get some rest I'm busy tomorrow but I expect you to practice while I'm gone" Moody said ignoring her walking in to the little galley kitchen.
"But it's still light out" Tess argued
"It's summer it's always light! Now go to bed!"
…
Tess looked at her watch, it was late, little past midnight, Moody had been away for a few days again.Tess got out of her small bed in the cramped guest bedroom opening her door. The voices that had woken her where louder now creeping down the stairs she stopped four steps from the bottom, having a perfect view of the people speaking in what was now she supposed, her living room. Moody was back from where ever he had been, sat on a hard looking chair speaking into the fire where Albus Dumbledore face was.
"Well what do you think Alastor?"
"She shows potential, she's lazy though, if she can get over that she'll be good Auror"
"Good, if anyone on the wrong side finds out what she truly is. It could make all the difference in this war, she'll need to be well trained" .
Tess was listened intently. So that was why she was here, not because anyone cared about her but so she could be trained in to a fighter.
"You didn't half get a mixed bunch in this year Albus, a Sproiad, and a werewolf".
Tess heard herself gasp at that quickly covering her mouth, there was a werewolf in her year? Tess wondered who it was when an image of Remus Lupin appeared in her head, she had always felt funny around him but Tess had always assumed it was cause she thought he was cute, not that she could tell he was a werewolf!
"I'll be in touch Alastor try not to be too hard on the girl" and with that Dumbledore vanished from the fire.
Tess was about to creep back up to her room when Moody suddenly appeared at the bottom of the stairs looking at her, Tess gulped this wasn't good.
"Tess" he grumbled .
"Yes sir?"
"How much did you hear?" Tess thought about what she had just heard, she now knew why she was here, to be trained in to a fighter, but wasn't that what she wanted? The skills moody could teach her were guaranteed to make sure she was accepted into Auror training, plus with her particular skills see need to be able to defend herself if anyone found out what see could do.
"…enough" Tess said finally.
Expecting Alastor to be angry by this, and punish her in some way, but was surprised when he gave her what she thought was his interpretation of a smile.
"Clever girl now back to bed"
"Yes Alastor" Tess said waiting to be challenged for addressing him with his first name, but he simply nodded and walked back off into the living room.
...
Sirius was levitating the Bonnevillie over his head to see the full extent of the damage. He didn't have a clue how Hagrid had ruined his bike this badly, damn thing was falling apart. He still couldn't believe Tess had found it let alone thought to give it back to him. She always hated bonnie, hadn't help when the muggle police had caught him and James once, and James not wanting to piss off Lily, had resorted to contacting Tess to pau their bail. Saying she wasn't impressed was an understatement … she left him in there for another 2 hours after getting James out.
He heard the front door open rubbing his grease covered hands in to his robes, he left the room quickly, taking the stairs two at a time. Reaching the last few steps, he could see everyone congregating in the entranceway, the twins moving towards the kitchen,Ron whispering something to Hermione and Remus seemed to be trying to talk to Tess, who kept pulling away she looked different from this morning.
"You done something to your hair?" he asked stopping a few steps up.
He watched as everyone turned to watch Tess. She stroked her plait running over her chest. Sirius watch as her eyes welled up.
"What is it?" he asked moving towards her, but she quickly barged past him running, up the stairs up out of sight, he turned to follow.
"Leave it boy, she needs sometime" he heard mad-eye tell him. He looked towards Remus who nodded towards the kitchen, he walked slowly down the last few steps following Remus into the kitchen.
…
Sirius tapped his foot impatiently against his chair. It had been 3 hours since everyone returned from the hospital and no one and seen Tess since she barged past him on the stairs. Harry looked at him questioningly again, he nodded subtly to him and watched as Ron reacted to Harry's kick under the table, excusing himself from kitchen as Molly dished up some more Christmas pudding.
Ron returned 15 minutes later shaking his head.
Damn it! He cant find her either .
Ron, Harry Ginny and Hermione had taken turns for the past 2 hours looking for her, none of them had been able to find her.
He signed loudly pushing the pudding away. He pulled a scrap of parchment out of his robes
Go sniff Tess out, he wrote and tapped his wand quietly, he watched as an identical piece of parchment appeared in front of Remus on the table, he looked up at him as he shook his head, but took his wand out and scribbled something down.
She wants to be left alone if those 4 can't find her she's hidden well for a reason.
I'm worried it's not like her to hide, what happen?
Sirius had been scared that when she came back from the hospital so upset that maybe all the memories of her miscarriage had come back he mentally kicked himself for not following her.
She saw Alice
Shit
Yeah…
So you going to sniff her out ?
Why don't you do it?
Moody keeps looking at me.
Ever since they had sat down at the table moody had kept his non magical eye on him.
So! You're not 20 anymore trying to get his approval it's your house!
Sirius looked up to Remus who gave him an encouraging look, he was right it was his house! Sirius stood quickly everyone turned to face him and he walked towards to kitchen door.
"Where do you think you're going boy?" said Moody.
"Going to check on Tess"
"She don't want to be found" he told Sirius firmly.
"How to you know?" Sorius bit back angrily.
"Well the piece of paper she has stuck to the floor saying 'I don't want to see anyone' is a huge hint" Moody Growled.
Sirius took a deep breath ignoring the old Auror and left the basement kitchen. He made his way up the stairs past the murky old elf heads on the wall, to what had become his and Tess's room. He knocked gently on the old guest bedroom door and waited. There was no response, when none came he pushed the door open he looked around the empty, overly bland room, it had been one of the few rooms that wasn't plastered in Syltherin inspired decoration. The room however was a mess, the bed covers thrown on the floor from where he had dragged Tess in to the shower this morning. Both had clothes covering nearly every surface.
Tess's holdall sat upon a suede green chair that he was sure his mother wouldn't had bought (it looked far too comfortable), books of every size spilling out of various compartments. He smiled at how much Remus had rubbed off on her, turning her into a bookworm, she usually spent most of her free time now in the library reading, though he doubted any books in his parents' house would be of any good. He closed the door behind abandoning it for now, and barged in to Remus's room opposite. Although the rooms where very similar in the design, Remus's room was immaculate, bed made curtains drawn, clothes and books put away in their proper places, but there was no sign of her in there either. He closed the door and started searching the other rooms in the house, but couldn't find any sign of her. He finished searching the master bedroom where Buckbeak nested and was about to make is way back down the stairs. When he froze remembering, the one room he hadnt searched, the one room everyone had been warned to stay out of. He glided up the stairs slowly stopping in front of the one door he hadn't opened since being back here. She wouldn't be in there would she? But then again it was the last place anyone would look after his warning. He pulled out his wand wordlessly unlocking it and the door quietly swung open. He stepped in to his younger brothers' bedroom, the Slytherin colours of emerald and silver were everywhere, draping the bed, the walls and the windows. The Black family crest was painstakingly painted over the bed. Beneath this was a collection of yellow newspaper cuttings, all stuck together to make a ragged collage, he didn't need to read them to know who they were about, his brother the Deatheater. He shook his head in disgust looking at the floor he saw a scrap of parchment face down in front of the huge black wardrobe on the far side of the room.
"Tess?"
The large black wardrobe door creaked open, and he watched as one of Tess' walking boots emerged from inside the wardrobe. He walked over and opened both doors wide, she was sat in the bottom of the wardrobe knees pulled up to her chest, wearing the same jeans he was sure were the only pair she owned as she had been living them all throughout the summer and Christmas holidays. A red tartan shirt he thought may have been one of Remus's old shirts from his younger days. That Tess had simply shrunk to fit her, her hair which was always a long wild wave of curls, was pulled tightly, in to what he had been educated by Lily was called, a fish bone plait. He hadn't seen her hair like that since Hogwarts when Alice used to do it. He knelled down in front of her pushing his hand out reaching for her jaw to pull her face up, he nearly flinched away when he touched her skin. She was so cold, his fingers pulled her head to face him she was always beautiful, with her high cheek bones, bright blue eye,s and full lips but now her eyes were red and swollen, tear marks down her cheeks.
"Hey" Sirius said
"Hey" Tess choked back
"you going to tell me about it?"
"No"
Sirius nodded, picked up some of Regs old shoes next to Tess and unceremoniously threw them across the room. Cramply sitting down next to her uncomfortably in the wardrobe, she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I'm cold" Tess finally said after several minutes. Sirius moved his arm around her body trying to warm her, he could feel her cold skin though the clothes.
"It's cold in this part of the house" he informed her.
"I'm sorry…" she told him sadly
"What for?"
"Being in Reg's room" she said so quietly Sirius had to strain to hear her.
"It's ok" he reassured her "I understand you didn't want to be found"
"No its not, I shouldnt have broken in here"
after a few minutes of slience Tess added "Alastor give me up?" she said with a little more energy, Sirius shook his head.
"Who told you?"
"Remus, but the kids where worried, they've been taking turns looking for you"
They were both silent for a minute when Tess finally said "I never went to see her, I kept meaning to go but… I was afraid… I didn't want to think of her like that…"
"nobody, would want to see their friend like that" he tried telling her
"It was my patrol" Tess told him tiriedly, "the one Alice and Frank was attacked on" tears where falling from her eyes again "it was meant to be me!"
"You can't blame yourself Tess" Sirius said trying to wipe the tears away.
"I don't. I blame peter" she spat, then after taking a deep breath she said calmly "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?" asked Sirius not sure to what she was referring
"That you and peter swapped … why didn't you trust me?"
Sirius looked at the in shock was that what she thought? "It was never that, I always trusted you" he told her pulling her closer "I didn't tell you because..." he stopped suddenly wondering how to tell her.
"Because?" Tess asked looking up at him she looked so pale.
"You remember our plan?" he asked slowly, "for when you came back from France?"
"Yeah we were going to stay hidden" she said "till we figured out a way to win the war then we… we was going to get married after, I wanted to wait"
Sirius remembered he had wanted to get married right away after he proposed but for some reason Tess kept saying she wanted to wait till it was over, he was thankful now that she had insisted.
"Yeah" Sirius said slowly "don't be angry but that wasn't the actual plan…"
Tess looked him in defiance "Yes it was that was our plan we was-"
"You wasn't meant to come back… from France" Tess eyes widened in shock "don't look at me like that, I didn't think he'd betray us, I knew no one would think we'd give him that information, the Deatheaters and Voldemort would come looking for me, let's be honest I wasn't going to make it till new year-
"Yes you would've we had a plan!"
"And I meant what I said, that I'd die rather than give up Lilly and James, rather die than tell them it was Peter, unless they got to you." Sirius looked away from Tess not wanting to see the disappointment in her face "if they got to you I wouldn't have been able to bare it" he was so ashamed of himself to admit it but he knew it was true "I would've given them up, it kills me to admit it. So we came up with a plan, you went to France and then Moody was meant to meet you there after a couple of day, take you somewhere safe then when or if, I went missing James was going to send Lilly and Harry after you. Moody would've been the only person who knew where you would've been so you would've been safe, but it was all pointless because he did betray us all that time" Sirius said bitterly
"So what?" Tess questioned "you thought I'd just go in to hiding? When you was risking your life, I wouldn't' have been able to do that!"
"That's why Moody was going to meet you, We thought he had the best chance of convincing you to stay hidden… I wouldn't have been able to stand it if something happened to you"
"But if you had told me-"
"But I didn't"
"But if you had you never would've gone to Azkaban and-"
"Please don't do the 'if' and 'buts' Tess I didn't, and nothing is going to change that" Sirius said sounding exhausted
"I don't understand why Alastor never told me about the plan" Tess said quietly
"Maybe he thought it was twisted Deatheater joke, me pretending to care … that was what you thought wasn't? Our relationship?" He was looking at her now he had expected a look of disgust from telling her the truth but her face was full of concern her eyes still red from crying then her lips moved very slowly
"Yeah" she answered him, telling him she thought their whole past relationship was a lie and a piece of Sirius's heart cracked with the hurt he had caused her and his friends.
"I loved you Tess, more than anything, I would've done anything for you" he told her "I still would"
"I would to" Sirius kissed her slowly pulling her on top of him, he had loved her so much, he still loved her, though he wouldn't tell her ,not until she felt the same, not until he fixed everything, this was the woman he still wanted to marry, have children with, he would get peter and clear his name then him and Tess could have the live they were always meant to have, his hands where resting on her waist working her top off when she stopped pushing his hands away.
"Is Alastor still down stairs?" she asked him sheepishly.
Sirius his eyebrows "He wouldn't be-?"
"No" Tess said in horror "but if his eye is swirling around he may catch a glimpse and I'd rather he didn't die of a heart attack" she laughed.
"Or come up here, and jinx my arse for corrupting his perfect little girl" he teased.
Sirius and James was always calling her Moody's prefect little girl when they started their Auror training.
Tess scoffed "biggest disappointment more like" standing up out of the wardrobe.
Sirius looked at her sternly "don't say that you know he thinks of you as family, he's threatened me enough times to prove that"
Tess smiled meekly helping Sirius up.
"come on let's get out of here Molly's got treacle tart you"
They left the bedroom, locking Regulus Arcturus Black room behind them.
...
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