Two couples were left by themselves and the men wrapped their arms around their girlfriends to keep them sheltered from the cold wind and close to their warmth.
"Dinner was delicious James." Charlotte smiled brilliantly. The messy haired man shook his head and smiled as Lily nuzzled her face into his neck. Sirius leaned down and pecked Charlotte's cheek.
"Of course! This is the least I can do!"
"Prongs, you better buy us dinner again. We are planning your wedding." Sirius said with a mischievous smile, which earned him a hard nudge in the ribs. He glared at Charlotte but she shot him one back and he sighed.
"Fine. We'll buy next time." James laughed and Charlotte rolled her eyes but a small smile cracked on her flawless face.
"I'm impressed, Char." Sirius turned to the fiery red head with a puzzled expression when Charlotte wrapped her arm around his lean waist.
"He's a work in progress." Sirius snorted and claimed her lush lips once more. James yawned and turned to his dear friends before nodding his head affirmatively.
"Well, goodnight guys! I really can't thank you enough,"
"Same for me. You two are too good to us." Lily said a warm smile brightening Charlotte's own joy. Charlotte waved her hand lazily and nodded.
"Alright you two. Have fun!" James turned to his fiancé and kissed her nose.
"C'mon Lils! We have tomorrow off and I want to take you around London! We have to sleep well," James said with a cheeky smile before waving goodbye once again and apparating away. When the recently engaged couple were gone the brunette squeezed her boyfriend's hand and he turned to her, lost in her perfume.
"Thanks Sirius."
"Hnn?" Sirius turned to his girl to see her staring out into the darkness.
"For agreeing to help with their wedding. Knowing Lily, she would've stressed herself silly."
"Anything for you, honey." She got on her toes and kissed him on the nose. He smiled feeling completely happy for once in a long time. She let go of him and waved goodbye, ready to diaspparate, but Sirius caught her hand.
"Where do you think you're going?" He asked suddenly, now grasping her hand tenderly.
"I don't know. I guess back at the Order?"
"That was a rhetorical question, doll." He laughed, hugging her around the waist. She looked up and shook her head.
"Sirius…it's okay."
"No. You're staying with me."
"But-" she was silenced by his lips.
"You need me, I need you. Besides, you stayed over yesterday!" He parroted, staring into her bright honey eyes.
"You're too kind,"
"I know I'm a saint, honey." He grinned. She scoffed in return but quickly shrieked as Sirius lifted her body and spun her around. This all felt too familiar. She found herself smiling in pure joy. If only this could last forever.
"What do you say?"
"You already know my answer." She sighed at last, hugging him around the shoulders.
"That I do," he laughed again before apparating away with a loud crack into Sirius' flat.
How many times have I woken up in this man's arms? She asked herself the next morning as she eyed Sirius' silent face. His nude chest rose up and down accordingly to his breath and she smiled at the events of last night. They came to Sirius' flat and drank some celebratory wine which then led to…other things. Charlotte wrapped the blanket around her nude from and traced little shapes on Sirius' chest with her slender finger. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks when she felt a familiar soreness in the middle of her legs. She winced a bit and sighed angrily, unaware of Sirius' gaze.
"I didn't hurt you too much did I?" She jumped a bit and cursed loudly when the pain from rough sex broke through her body.
"You did. I don't think I can get up, you dog." He laughed loudly and shook his head.
"Would you like some help?" She eyed him warily and shook her head tartly.
"I'm quite alright. I just want to stay with you like this…" she added a little yawn.
"That, I can deliver." She kissed his chest and moved into his open arms, the blanket slipping off her slim body. Sirius' eyes delved onto her figure and he unconsciously licked his lips.
"I think Dumbledore's coming to the Order today. And Molly's probably going to cook," Sirius pondered, playing with a curly piece of ebony hair.
"Am I allowed to go?"
"I think Dumbledore would like to see you after all these years." She looked up at him and smiled.
"Should we go now?" Sirius shook his head quickly and smirked.
"Nah. They could wait an hour or two…" She squirmed in his grasp and playfully pushed him off the bed. He groaned in pain but it quickly was forgotten when she rolled on top of him, her long curly hair covering them from the intense sun.
"You're sure I'm not dead right?" She nipped his lips and grinned coyly.
"What makes you say that?"
"Because there's a black haired angel in front of me right now."
"That mouth of yours is going to cause you trouble one day." Sirius grabbed the back of her head and pulled it towards his.
"I like trouble." He whispered before reclaiming her soft lips. Dumbledore and work could wait an hour or two…or maybe five.
Sirius had apparated Charlotte and himself back to the order of the Phoenix. There stood about 20 members and they were all shocked to see not only Sirius but Charlotte.
"Charlotte Striker?" A faintly familiar voice had asked. She wheeled around to come face to face with a short haired woman.
"Alice?" The woman nodded and the women embraced each other. They had always been friends and were always genial to one another.
"How have you been? Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you! I hear you're married now! Congratulations," Charlotte smiled as Frank rounded the corner and hugged his wife, greeting Charlotte as well.
"Come on! They're about to start the meeting." Alice waved her goodbye and walked into the large foyer with her husband as Sirius came up and grabbed her hand.
"And you were scared no one would recognize you."
"Wow. This is fantastic, Sirius!" he chuckled and wrapped a loving arm around her waist as they walked in together. The moment they did, it seemed like time had stopped. Sirius' heart accelerated and Charlotte felt sick as they eyed William Hallsworth standing next to Alastor Moody and Albus Dumbledore. William's blue eyes landed on her figure and they hardened at once when he eyed Sirius' hand.
"Charlotte."
"William," they greeted each other stiffly. Sirius' grip tightened as he glared evilly at the blue eyed traitor.
"What do you think you're doing with my girlfriend!" William almost screeched. Ready for a challenge, Sirius bared his teeth.
"Your girlfriend? You mean mine!" Sirius growled territorially. William gave him a filthy look and Sirius shot one back with an ample amount of mirth. William stomped over to Charlotte and his eyes burned when she didn't back down in fear.
"Get over here now." He whispered menacingly. She almost laughed but instead shook her head politely.
"William. Stop embarrassing me." He bit his lip back and raised his hand and her eyes narrowed at the familiar action but she didn't stand down. He struck her and everyone in the room gasped and glared at William. Charlotte didn't stagger or back down instead she just stood still, the same confidence ringing in her eyes.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that."
"What do you not understand? We're over!" Charlotte screamed raising a single finger at him. He stared at her finger, frightened and shook his head before walking back to his place. Sirius' breath was labored and he immediately went over to his girlfriend to check up on her wounds. He felt her cheek and softly rubbed it. She thanked him quietly and walked over to an empty seat next to James as Sirius followed. Moody shot his ward a disapproving look to which William ignored as his eyes were set on Charlotte. In a mere week she had transformed to the once submissive girl he molded. She now had a backbone and William found her even sexier than he had before but was astonished at just how much she angered him. No girl should be this difficult. He wondered in his head as he felt a sickening tightness occur in his heart when Sirius lightly brushed her bangs away from her forehead and laid an affectionate peck on her burning cheek.
"Slutty girl," William whispered under his breath.
"Order! Order!" Dumbledore announced trying to get everyone's attention. Soon all eyes were on Dumbledore and away from William, Charlotte, or Sirius. The elderly man surveyed the room and smiled calmly as he summoned Charlotte and William to the front. Sirius was reluctant to let his girlfriend go and in the end moved up to the front, watching her carefully and glaring daggers at William.
"Charlotte Striker and William Hallsworth have been targeted by Voldemort and his Death Eaters and are now in grave danger. Alastor here thinks it is best for Mr. Hallsworth to be in our care as the ministry is currently a bit…lost in direction. We as allies of the common good have agreed to take in both aurors. Mr. Hallsworth, you are on probation and will be watched closely for what you did to Ms. Striker is technically counted as treason." William flinched at this and Charlotte rolled her eyes not believing she used to go out with this spineless fool.
"As for you Ms. Striker." She turned to look at the elderly man and a new twinkle could be seen in his sea blue eyes.
"Many members of the Order value your safety and a unanimous vote has been casted to invite you to join the Order of the Phoenix." She turned to Sirius immediately and he winked back.
"Professor-"
"Please feel free to call me Albus." She blinked uncomfortably and nodded.
"Um, Albus. Is this okay with the ministry?"
"No charges have been placed on Mr. Hallsworth but it seems Cornelius is determined to damage your reputation. I'm afraid the ministry is too arrogant to notice such a bright witch in their arsenal."
"All because the Order intervened?" She asked, surprisingly not angry at the elderly man.
"Yes. The ministry does not like help from outside sources and I'm sorry to say that you are the innocent victim at play here."
"Am I fired?"
"No, no. But it seems Cornelius and Dolores Umbridge have put in a word concerning your Auror license." Her eyebrows furrowed and she turned to William.
"And he's off without any punishment? Even though it was I who was getting cursed? It wasn't my fault!"
"We know, Ms. Striker. I have talked with Millicent Bagnold and she has agreed to release you for she thinks you can achieve greater things in the Order. She did not let Mr. Hallsworth off without any penalty. Mr. Hallsworth," Albus addressed. William looked up and his eyes hardened.
"Yes?"
"Minister Bagnold thinks it will benefit you greatly if you were placed under the protection of the Order." William opened his mouth to protest but Moody hit him lightly with his cane and William had no choice but to stand down and accept his punishment.
"So what happens to me." Charlotte voiced aloud, suddenly concerned for the lack of a job.
"It's your call, Ms. Striker. You may go back to the ministry with the risk of getting your license taken away or you may join the Order as a permanent member." She closed her eyes debating her choices. Should she take the job in the Order and not be paid or should she risk the life of being a downgraded auror in the ministry. She reopened her eyes to see Lily, James, Remus, and Sirius smiling at her, almost as if they already knew her answer before she did. She grinned and winked back at Sirius realizing it was the ministry that was holding back her full potential. Charlotte turned to Albus Dumbledore and smiled widely.
"When do I start?"
