Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I'm just playing with the characters.
Thank you to everyone that reads and reviews.
The Order of the Phoenix meeting was held to first, let everyone know that Dumbledore had left Hogwarts and why, and secondly, to discuss some new information on the prophecy. After the meeting, Miranda was talking enthusiastically with Tonks. When they walked out into the hall, Severus was having a heated argument with Sirius Black. He seemed to be saying that Sirius was doing nothing to support the Order in any way.
She told Tonks she would owl her sometime and they could have a girls' day out. Then she walked purposefully to where Sev and Sirius still stood and grabbed each one harshly by the ear. She proceeded to drag them down the hall where they wouldn't be disturbed, releasing their ears.
"What is it with you two?" she hissed. "I know, you hated each other growing up, but honestly, twenty years is a lot of time and baggage to carry." She looked back and forth to each one. "Sirius, apologize."
"I didn't do anything."
"You ruined his childhood. Now, apologize." When he still refused, she stomped on his foot, which hurt more than one would normally expect as she was wearing heels.
"Ow," he groaned. "Fine, I'm sorry, okay? Just please, please, don't do that again." She smiled sweetly and turned to Severus.
"Sev, I think you should apologize for what you said in the hall."
Against his better judgment and in fear that Miranda would have better access to kick more precious places on his body, Severus muttered an apology and something that sounded dangerously close to 'you mangy mutt.'
"Good. Now, see, that wasn't so difficult," she said. "Now, shake hands, act civil, and if I have to do this again, we'll do an entire weekend of 'getting acquainted with our feelings' workshops."
They both shook hands, albeit hesitantly. "That's great," she said. "Now, Mrs. Weasley invited us to stay for dinner so I'm going to go see if she needs help in the kitchen. While I'm gone, behave." She gave each one a warning glare and walked away.
After Miranda left, there was an awkward silence. It was broken by Sirius. "You know, I feel kind of sorry for you."
"Why?" asked Severus. For once, everything was going well in his life. Surely Black wouldn't try to take that from him. Would he?
"You have to be in close proximity with her all the time," he gestured toward the kitchen. "If that was any indication of how evil she is, you poor bastard." Sirius looked around as if Miranda could be right behind him.
"I'll have you know that I am most definitely not a bastard. My parents were married when I was conceived. And as for her being evil, she happens to be the kindest person I know." With that he walked off to the kitchen. He couldn't stand listening to someone insult her like that, especially when they knew nothing about her!
"Oh, hey Sev!" said Miranda as he entered. "Are the two of you getting along?" she asked referring to him and Sirius.
"Um, yes," he said, picking up a roll.
"Uh oh, what happened?"
"Nothing," he said.
"What happened?" she asked again.
"Well, he called you evil, but I handled it."
"Did you hit him?"
"No!" With that clarified, she started laughing. "What's so funny?" He began to worry something had happened to ruin this perfection that had been built in the past months.
"He thought I was evil, all because I made him apologize. That's hilarious." She composed herself. "You stood up for me?" she asked, looked at him through slightly hooded eyes. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me." She walked over and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Not in the kitchen, dears," scolded Mrs. Weasley.
"Sorry, Mrs. Weasley," said Miranda, walking back to the potatoes she had been cutting up. Moments passed and Sirius walked in. Miranda cleared her throat. "You know, Sirius, a little birdy told me that you said I was evil," she said, realizing the knife was still in her hand.
His only response was an audible gulp. She looked at the panicked face of Sirius and the slightly amused face of Severus. Stabbing the knife into the cutting board, she walked over to where Sirius was sitting. "Oh, don't worry," she said. "I've been called worse. And hey, for once I fit in with the family, whether that's good or bad, I'm not sure."
"I don't think you fit in with your family," Sirius said, regaining his voice. "You're not the same kind of evil. You're more the kind of funny evil that would never harm anyone, more than a bruise anyway. If the other members of your family are like You-Know-Who, then I can't believe you grew up with them. So no, you're nothing at all like them."
She gave him a small smile. "Thanks, I think. I hope you two keep getting along at least somewhat," she said. "I try to see the best in people so please don't be two to prove me wrong. There has to be something you have in common." She smiled once more and went back to cooking.
Dinner went uneventfully and Severus was glad to be back in his quarters at Hogwarts. Miranda kept her promise to him and when he awoke, he was alone. Stretching, he sat up and leaned against the headboard. Miranda came bouncing into the room.
"Morning, sleepyhead," she beamed, sitting down on the bed.
"How are you so energetic?" he grumbled. "I thought you hated Monday."
"Oh! I almost forgot! I had my espresso maker brought over. So I had like three double shots and ohmygosh, so yeah, I'm totally awake." She grabbed his hand and started pulling him over to the wardrobe. "Come on, get ready, we have class in fifteen minutes. I'll go make you some coffee to wake you up." With that she walked out of the room.
'Thank god,' Severus thought picking up a small, square shaped box. 'I have to hide this more carefully next time before she sees.' Donning his signature, billowing, black teaching robes, he walked out of the bedroom and down the hall where she was waiting with an espresso.
Yeah! Another chapter. What do you think is in the box? Also, do you think that Sirius should survive that day at the ministry, that Miranda should find a way to bring him back, or that the plot should follow the books and let him be killed by Bellatrix?