A/N: hello everyone! wow, fanfiction has been changing a lot recently hasn't it! i usually read fanfic on my iphone, but read one on my laptop the other day and saw the new reviewing system... what does everyone think of that? i kinda like it. it makes it a lot easier to review, and a lot more tempting to write a quick message :P longish chapter from me today, kinda split into two parts. i do that quite a lot, don't i? i might try and stop doing that, i dont think its great. ah well. enjoy! and let me know what you think ;)
Disclaimer: i own nothinggggg
Chapter Fifty-Four
After Reg's, I headed straight to the Potter's, looking for Sirius and news on them going into hiding. But when I arrived, the house was dark and through now curtainless windows I could see it was devoid of either people or furniture.
A momentary wave of panic was replaced with guilt realizing they'd already left for their new home and I hadn't been here to help. I stood on the doorstep for a few minutes deliberating. I had no idea where their new place was and wouldn't be able to find it if I tried thanks to Dumbledore's Fidelius Charm.
"Aurora." I spun round at a voice behind me.
"Goodness Peter…" I said breathlessly. He'd made me jump creeping up on me like that.
"Sorry." He flushed slightly. "Er, Sirius sent me to see if you were here. Everyone's at the Potters new place."
"Oh great, thanks Peter." I said. There was a few moments of awkward silence.
"So can you take me there?" I asked.
"Oh yes. Sorry. Yes. Er, here." Peter flushed again, holding out his hand. I took it, feeling his clammy palm dampen my own hand. I cringed slightly, but it was only seconds before we appeared in a little lane and he let go. Surreptitiously wiping my hand on my jeans I followed Peter along the lane a little way. I couldn't see any houses anywhere.
"Where is it, Peter?" I asked, my voice a little too loud in the quiet evening air. It was cold out. I zipped up my jacket.
"Ssh…" he whispered back. He came to a stop and turned to the side, looking into the distance expectantly.
"Peter?" I asked, wondering what he was doing. Weird.
"Come over here." He said quietly. I went and stood beside him and followed his gaze.
"What is it?" I asked, not seeing anything of interest except trees and bushes, hills in the distance, and a scattering of rooftops and chimneys.
"This is where the Potters live." Peter said, a double-tone to his voice. I opened my mouth to voice my doubt, but never got any words out. I blinked. There in front of me was a house of grey stone, a little garden path, a wooden door, light spilling from the windows. I reached out my arm and touched my fingers to the garden gate that was suddenly right in front of me. It literally just… appeared.
"Fidelius Charm." Peter said, and I saw him smirk for the first time ever. He pushed open the gate and motioned for me to follow. I walked up the path after him, shaking my head.
"Magic…" I whispered to myself. Peter laughed as he pushed open the front door. I followed him inside and looked around.
"Roe!" Sirius grinned, appearing out of nowhere and throwing his arms around me. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Someone started the party without me." I said, hugging him momentarily before shrugging out of his grip.
"You missed out." Sirius said, leading me into the Potters' new kitchen.
"So sorry guys. I didn't realize you were moving so quick." I said, spotting James and Lily.
"That's okay." Lily smiled, handing me a butterbeer.
"Thanks." I nodded, taking a sip.
"It's a nice place though, Dumbledore did well! The Fidelius Charm, wow… thanks for laughing at me Pete." I said, shaking my head in amusement as Peter sauntered into the room, grabbing a drink off the worktop. He just smiled to himself.
"Wormy got Secret Keeper." Sirius said, sounding slightly bitter.
"Oh?" I raised my eyebrows. Sirius sounded like he was talking about a position on a Quidditch team.
"He's a less likely choice than me apparently." He frowned, gulping his drink.
"Well, that is true." I shrugged.
"Take my side why don't you."
"Siriuuuusss." I rolled my eyes, elbowing him. I shared a look with James. At that moment Harry could be heard from upstairs, crying.
"Oh dear." Lily sighed, putting down her drink.
"I'll go Lily?" I offered, standing closest to the door.
"Thanks." She smiled gratefully, and I nodded, wanting an opportunity to see more of the house anyway.
"Hey Harry…" I whispered, finding his door and heading in. His cot was across from the window, and in it he was standing up, his little hands clinging onto to the bars. His face was red and his cheeks damp, and his crying turned to little whimpers when he saw me.
"Oh dear… What's the matter, kiddy?" I cooed, lifting him out of his cot and into my arms. He continued to sniffle.
"Oh goodness me… Tired little boy you are, aren't you… missing all the grown-up fun downstairs. Are they being too noisy?" I chattered to him, rocking him a little and smiling, hoping to cheer him up a little.
"Roar-ra." Harry mumbled, rubbing his eyes with his fist. My name was still a little difficult for him to manage.
"That's better…" I hushed him. He put his head on my shoulder and I continued to rock him gently like I'd seen Lily do before when she was trying to get him to sleep.
"You're a natural." A voice said from the doorway. I turned round slowly, eyebrow raised at Sirius.
"No, you are." He said, stepping in.
I smiled, glancing down at Harry whose eyes were drifting closed. When I replied my voice was a whisper.
"Thank you." I said simply. "He's a lovely boy…" I wondered absently if I'd ever have children. The ring around my neck felt heavy.
"He is." Sirius grabbed a teddy bear from the cot and turned it over in his hands for a few moments, before tucking it into Harry's arms.
I continued to rock Harry for a few minutes until his were completely shut and his breathing had evened out. Gently I leaned over the side of the cot and lowered him to the bed, pulling up the little blanket and placing the teddy bear next to him.
"I think we should head off soon. Peter's already gone, Alice and Frank left before you got here, Remus just left, and I think James and Lily will probably want to get to bed soonish… It's been a long day." Sirius suggested in a whisper as I backed away from the cot, careful not to wake Harry up again.
"Mmm, yes we probably should." I agreed. We headed downstairs and I drained the last of my Butterbeer.
"Did he go down okay?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, he was fine. Just gave him a little cuddle. He's sound asleep." I smiled. I did enjoy looking after Harry.
"Oh good." Lily smiled.
"We'll head off now I suppose." Sirius interjected, "It's getting late."
"Alright then mate." James nodded.
"We'll be back soon, bringing news of the outside world." I laughed. Lily frowned.
"Please do! This whole hiding thing is going to be hard."
"We will. Honestly." I said, walking over to give my best friend a hug.
"See you soon."
Sirius and I had stayed true to our word and spent nearly every day hanging out at the Potters'. The house still needed a little work, and we did a lot of cleaning and organizing, putting up curtains and photographs, and tidying the garden so little Harry could play on the grass.
We also brought food from Diagon Alley and copies of the Daily Prophet, and news from the Order and Dumbledore. James took in all the information eagerly. I could see that he was finding it difficult being locked away here where he couldn't help, but he held it back, knowing it was for the safety of his family. I certainly respected James for that.
After another late night and dinner at the Potters', Sirius had fallen into bed beside me and was already snoring. The Potters' situation meant we were spending more time with them than we had ever been able to before, which was nearly all our free time between patrols and meetings. Tonight, Lily and I had insisted the men did the cooking and were surprised by a roast dinner that was actually very good. Sirius insisted they didn't use magic, but he'd never been a brilliant liar.
I stared at the ceiling, not feeling much like sleeping. Sirius continued to snore. I lasted just a few minutes before I came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to get to sleep, not any time soon. I slipped out of bed quietly and grabbed some clothes off the chair in the corner of the bedroom and got dressed. Minutes later I was at Reg's.
I expected to find the little flat in darkness, but in the corner of the room Reg sat on the bed, reading by lamplight.
"Hey." I grinned when he looked up in surprise. I felt myself fill up with warmth just at the sight of him. It had only been three days, but that was too long to not see him.
"Well hello there." He put down his book and hopped off the bed. "What brings you here at this time?" he said, his lips pulling into a small smile as he placed his arms around my waist, pulling us close together.
"You." I raised my eyes to his. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." He said, tipping my chin up and placing a kiss on my lips.
"I missed you more." I replied, stealing another kiss.
"I disagree, I'm sure I missed you more." He raised his eyebrows very slightly, kissing me again. I smiled against his lips, moving my hand from the small of his back to run through his hair.
"If you insist." I grinned, trailing my hand down to run along his jawline and pull him in for another kiss.
"Oh fine, so you don't miss me?" Reg faked shock and upset, backing away from me. Reg's eyes caught the light and shone. I giggled, following him.
"You know I missed you." I said. His smile returned and his hands went back to my waist.
"Good. Because I do really miss you, always." A hint of seriousness crept into Regulus' voice. His lips touched to my neck, covering my skin with little kisses.
"I know." I whispered. I loved him. I wanted him. It was as simple as that. It was him, it always had been him, from the very beginning, from Hogwarts. I wanted to be with him now and forever.
I found the buttons on his shirt and undid them one by one, trailing my fingertips across his warm chest. I could hear my heartbeat throb in my ears.
The kisses on my neck ceased and Regulus looked up into my eyes for a short second, gauging my expression. I slipped his shirt off one shoulder, not breaking his gaze, then his lips crushed to mine, a gentle hand at my back turning me, guiding me to the bed. He knew what I wanted, I knew he wanted it too.
We both ignored his book as it was knocked from the bed, too wrapped up in each other. Somewhere along the way his shirt had fallen to the floor, and I knew mine was heading the same way. It didn't matter in the least bit to me right now. All I wanted was him.
"Are you sure?" Regulus paused for just a moment, his eyes searching yet blazing with desire.
"Yes." I breathed.
A/N: i would appreciate the feedback on this chapter, the whole reg/roe thing, too much? too little? aaand how about peter, whats everyone thinking about him at the moment hmm? let me know:)
-DaizeeG x
