Iced tea

The following morning, Orion, his wife and children returned to London. Just as during the fateful night after the movies, Sirius and Regulus barely talked until the end of the winter holidays. Sirius was angry with Regulus for calling Madame Leloush a traitor. He did not understand how his brother could defend the killers of the girls' father. He missed Simone, and was not even allowed to send her an owl. His father asked him to wait until he was at Hogwarts for Simone receive his letter when she was safe at Beauxbatons. It would be safer for her. And for him. He didn't know if his father was telling the truth, but when in doubt, it was best not to risk putting Simone's life in jeopardy. After all, it was only a couple days to wait. Endless couple of days.

Three nights before returning to school; Sirius woke up suddenly. It was a quarter past two in the morning and he wide-awake, he began pacing back and forth beside his bed. The boy picked up Simone's picture from his bedside table. In the picture, she was waving cheerfully to him. He had made this picture at the garden of his grandparent's house, one day before going to the movies. One day before they kissed. He kissed Simone in the picture then felt silly for having done so. He looked around as if checking to see if anyone was looking at him. He was alone and he knew that. Twice he glanced over his shoulder and the door remained closed. His gaze swept over the wall and he stood uneasily. Among few motorcycles, girls in bikinis and Gryffindor lions there was too many empty spaces remaining. He still looked a lot like them, like a Black. He snorted and looked around again. Then he opened the dresser drawer and took out every Gryffindor thing and every Muggle magazine he had smuggled into the house.

He was determined that he could not let even a single blank empty space remain that would remind him of the house he lives in. It was his refuge, his room, an island at 12 Grimmauld Place. He was not even remotely like the Blacks. If he could he would change his surname. It could be Sirius White or Sirius Red. Red was better, red with anger, red as Gryffindor, passion red. This thought cheered him up a bit and he started to stick every Gryffindor crest he had found using the spell that his mother had taught him. The revenge seemed even better using her spell. After few minutes, he change his mind: the best would be if he had used muggle glue and let the wall with a snottiest appearance. He searched the drawers, but all he could find was a single dried up tube of glue. Defeated in his plans, he dropped belly up on his bed next to the Simone's picture. He held the picture and felt very distressed to see that in its background, her father appeared working on the fence. His stomach rumbled.

Since they left Bramshill, he didn't sleep well and he avoided the mealtime with his family. The small amount of Muggle money remaining from his trip to the movies he had spent on snacks and magazines; so he no longer had anything to do but fast in his bedroom. He was terribly hungry, so he went down to the kitchen for a cup of tea. He didn't intend to eat their food. Sirius opened the cupboard and began searching for a cup and the teapot when Kreacher arrived.

'Master Sirius wants something?' asked the drowsy elf with a twinkle in his eye because of the latent opportunity to be useful and serve one of his masters.

'Kreacher! You scared me!'

'It was not Kreacher's intention, master.' replied the elf, bowing.

'All right. I'll make a cup of tea. Do you know where I can find the teapot?'

'Yes, Kreacher does.'

Immediately the house-elf made his magic and suddenly a kettle emerged bubbling on the stove. Sirius was getting the cup from the cupboard when he heard the elf clearing his throat. He turned up and there were a cup and saucer with a spoon on the table, some crackers, fresh bread, toast and three different kinds of jellies and butter.

'I don't need it all, Kreacher. I just wanted tea, 'he said, dumbfounded.

The elf was about to cast his spell to put everything back to its place when Sirius said:

'Never mind, since you put on the table, I'll try to eat something.' Sirius helped himself to a slice of bread, and was spreading butter on it when he asked 'what's happened here, Kreacher? I haven't seen your mother lately ...'

'Floffy is doing the housekeeping. It is not polite for elves to let their master see them doing the housekeeping. It must be done when they are not present in the rooms. Kreacher's mother is very efficient in not showing herself. Kreacher is learning too much, oh yes,' he said, nodding.

'Indeed,' said Sirius, frowning.

Suddenly Orion arrived at the kitchen. Immediately the elf bowed.

'My master wants something?'

'No, Kreacher. Go to your bed. I'll stay with my son.'

Sirius shoved the rest of bread in his mouth and stood up, dragging the chair back. Orion watched his son and said, 'stay, Sirius. Please.'

Sirius sat down again and bowed his head, his hands on his legs. Kreacher looked from one Black to the other, and then poured two cups of tea, bowed and withdrew silently. Sirius even looked at his father. He was deeply disappointed. It was impossible for him to understand his father. Orion started talking, 'May I sit here with you, Sirius?'

Sirius shrugged his shoulders, 'Whatever.'

Orion pulled out a chair and sat in front of his son. He took the cup of tea Kreacher had served to him, warming his hands with the heat from the cup.

'I know you're upset with me because of your girlfriend, son. But I couldn't let you talk to her. As I said, it's not safe. I have kept an eye on Madame Leloush's hospitalization, and unfortunately, the news isn't that good, there's not much progress. The girls have already returned to their school and in three days' time you'll be back at Hogwarts. And then you can send as many letters as you want to.' Orion smiled stretching his moustache.

'Humph.' Sirius still stared at the steaming cup of tea without drinking or moving himself.

'Son, you see. We can't expose our family this way ...'

'Coward.' Sirius muttered.

'The question is not whether I'm a coward or not. Quite the contrary,' replied Orion unfazed by the insult.

Sirius glared at his father.

'I know you are! You and Grandpa helped the Leloush couple hide the books and then erased their memories! You did know what was happening and you chose not to help them! '

Orion's eyes widened:

'How do you know about that?'

'Regulus and I heard your conversation with Grandpa and then with Madame Leloush...'

Orion's eyes widened much more, startled, 'That's not good. I'll have to erase your memories too ... ' he whispered and pawed through his pockets to find his wand.

'That's how you'll solve the problems, Dad? Erasing our memories? Coward!' Sirius yelled at his father.

Orion remained impassive, breathed deeply and said, 'I had no way of knowing they were going to kill the muggle.'

'Ah, now he is the muggle,' sneered the boy.

'Son, listen to me. I have no problems with Muggles. I actually dated a Muggle-born before I married your mother. Don't tell her that,' he hastened to add, quietly. Then the father spread raspberry jam on a slice of whole bread; took a bite it and added 'The point is that I really don't know to what extent this policy of segregation of magical people should be maintained. Living in hiding is not pleasant. I understand Lord Voldemort and support his cause. Although I don't approve violent methods ... Unfortunately throughout History we can notice that big changes always end up inciting violence; it's difficult to make a revolution without fighting. I don't know if the extent of help your grandpa and I did for the Leloushs was the right thing to do. Perhaps the books of records contains some crucial information which could accelerate changing, I don't know. In fact, I didn't even know that Lord Voldemort wanted those books. The only thing I knew was that they contain a kind of dangerous information in the wrong hands.'

Orion shook his head aside and added 'Your grandpa feared it could be a tool for the most radical wizards promoting persecution of the Muggle-borns, and he wanted to avoid magical bloodshed. I supported him. I erased their memories to protect them. I thought if they didn't know anything, there would be no reason to pursue them. But Voldemort's followers were told by officials of the Ministry that the books would be with Madame Leloush ... I couldn't figure that erasing their memories wouldn't be enough to protect them.'

'You heard Bellatrix telling us that she cooperated to Mr Leloush's death and you did nothing!' Sirius said, exasperated.

'What do you want me to do? Should I fight against your cousin for something I'm not even sure if it's the right thing to do? Should I have told her that your grandpa and I were the traitors who helped the Leloush couple? Would you want to be crying over my death now?'

'Poor Madame Leloush ... she trusted you!' Sirius said angrily.

'I saved her, didn't I? I took her to St. Mungo's Hospital putting my own life at risk. I didn't know what I'd find when I went to the neighbour's house ...'

Sirius lowered his eyes. His father was right.

'I'm sorry, Dad ... But Regulus is an idiot! He thinks Bellatrix did the right thing ... He said he has no doubts!'

'Son, don't say such a thing about your brother. Listen to what I'm saying, we DO NOT know if it wouldn't be better if Lord Voldemort could have those books. It might accelerate the changing process. I want this change. Regulus feels oppressed by not being able to experience his magic freely, I also feel this way. However, I don't agree with the violence that was used against Leloush couple. It was not necessary ... in fact, it was unproductive, since they actually knew nothing. I did what I did to protect our family. You and your brother are all that is the most important thing in the whole world to me. Trust your father ... no hard feelings?' Orion opened his arms.

Sirius nodded. He got up and went to hug his father. Feeling their chests warmed by their affection, father and son sipped their already cold cups of tea, together.