As usual, please let me know how I'm doing. Also, stay tuned to the end of this chapter for an additional author's note.
-fancy blood
Three days later, Sage found herself helping her mother ice a giant chocolate cake. Today was Sirius' eighteenth birthday, and both Sage and James opted to stay home from Hogwarts to celebrate it with him.
"You know, the icing is supposed to go on the cake, Sage," Mrs. Potter admonished, watching her daughter stick her finger in the vat of homemade icing for the dozenth time. Sage smiled benignly as she sucked her finger clean.
"Is it really?" She asked, voice full of fake astonishment. Her mother just pursed her lips and pulled out her wand, charming the words "Happy 18th, Sirius" to change colors. Mr. Potter watched the exchange amusedly over his copy of the Daily Prophet. There were several loud thumps coming from the upper level and Sage looked up sharply.
"Should I stall them?" Sage asked quickly, knowing it had to be James and Sirius rousing for breakfast.
"No need," Mrs. Potter hummed, stowing her wand away and looking at the cake in satisfaction. A minute later, the two boys walked in, still in pajamas and grinning.
Though the healer had suggested bed rest, the Potters knew that was a losing battle. Indeed, Sirius seemed fine, though he moved a bit slower and took pain potions regularly. Sage had a sneaking suspicion Sirius acquiesced to this because of certain side effects that left him giggling and only barely lucid.
In fact, only last night, Sirius had entertained Sage with a rousing rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody when he heard her playing her Queen albums in her room (to which James joined in enthusiastically). Indeed, she doubted she'd ever forget the boys bouncing on her bed screaming, "I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me," at the top of their lungs. Funnily enough, Sirius seemed completely pain-free until her mother burst in, screaming about the time. Then, of course, he used the wound to his advantage to skip any further scolding.
"Happy birthday!" Three of the four Potters chimed immediately and James smiled at his friend, slugging him softly in the shoulder with a muttered: "told ya". Sirius' cheeks flushed as he beamed at the room.
Mrs. Potter magicked the cake to the middle of the table as they sat around it. Sage took the candles from their package and placed eighteen in the middle of it, letting her father ignite them with a wave of his wand. The Potters sang Happy Birthday, Sage's melodic voice clashing with the off-key song issued from the rest of her family. Sirius grinned, looking slightly surprised and embarrassed, and blew out his candles. They clapped as he pulled back, cheeks still a brilliant shade of pink.
"Now, a small piece, then breakfast!" Mrs. Potter said, grinning, as she cut rather tiny pieces for each of them. "You can have the rest later, dear," she added kindly.
"Chocolate for breakfast? I'm not complaining," Sirius laughed, accepting the piece of cake she handed him. "Thanks, everyone."
"Of course! It's not every day that your young man turns eighteen," Mr. Potter said genially as the cake was passed around. Sirius beamed, taking a large bite of his cake. The group chatted lightheartedly as they ate cake, then the feast of pancakes, bacon, and eggs Mrs. Potter and Sage had prepared. Finally, as all the plates cleared, Sage stood.
"Presents!" She squealed, hurrying towards the sitting room where they had stashed Sirius' gifts. She gathered the small pile and rushed back in, where Sirius was still sputtering. Mrs. Potter cleared away the dishes with a wave of her wand and Sage dropped the pile in the middle of the table. "These three are from James and me," she said, pulling the largest parcel out and handing it to him. Sirius' face fell into an increasingly confused, albeit pleased, look as he first opened a black leather jacket, a pair of dragonhide boots, and finally, a shiny black helmet.
"What is this for?" Sirius asked, holding the helmet aloft, confused.
"Ah, that we were going to save for Christmas, but…" James trailed off with a grin and stood up. "C'mon."
Sirius followed James, bewildered, to the front door and out into the garden. Sage and her parents followed as well, exchanging grins. Sirius let out a shout of excitement, seeing the monstrous, gleaming motorbike sitting in the gravel pathway. He rounded on the Potters, gaping.
"Sirius Black speechless? I thought I'd never see the day," Sage joked, grinning.
"How did you-" He started.
"Saw you and James looking at it over the summer," Sage said, stopping short of the full story. "Told Mum and Dad, and well," she motioned towards the motorbike.
"I don't…" Sirius trailed off before continuing breathlessly. "Thank you."
"Happy birthday, Padfoot," Sage said with a wink, and her brother echoed her.
"I'm sure you have a lot of plans for that, err, bike is it?" Mr. Potter said, unfamiliar with the muggle vehicle.
"Motorbike, Dad," Sage corrected.
"Please do be safe," Mrs. Potter spoke up. "The muggle at the shop was saying it goes, well, rather fast."
"Safe as kittens," Sirius said distractedly, practically running over to the bike. He hopped on, turned the key in the ignition, and listened to the roar of the engine with a blissful look on his face. James walked over, making sure to keep away from the front of the bike in case Sirius lost control.
"C'mon, let's leave them to it," Sage said, herding her parents into the house. She threw one last look over her shoulder, and Sirius caught it, giving her a wink and a grin. Sage refused to acknowledge the warmth in her stomach but headed up to her room, smirking.
That evening, the three teens were lounging on the balcony, music wafting from Sage's room. They were sitting comfortably in silence, watching the stars blink, stomachs full of cake and the roast Mrs. Potter made for dinner.
"So, off to Hogwarts tomorrow?" Sirius said airly, looking at the siblings.
"Yeah, Dumbledore reckons I should be back in lessons, N.E.W.T. year and all that," James groaned, ruffling his hair distractedly.
"I could stay though," Sage offered. "Keep you company." Sirius glanced at her and for a moment, she thought, maybe hoped, he'd say yes.
"Nah, you still have the end of year exams. Plus Gideon is probably worried sick," he muttered and Sage felt distinct disappointment. She stifled it and forced a laugh.
"Gideon is the least of my worries. Kylie is going to be beside herself. Mar and Alice, as well." There was a slightly strained silence before James spoke.
"So, what really happened that night?" He asked, looking from his sister to his best friend.
"Well we were studying," Sirius started, shooting a meaningful glance at Sage. "And then some Slytherin gits attacked us." He finished simply. James looked unsatisfied and Sage sighed before continuing.
"Regulus Black was too quick and Sirius cast a shield around me. And then someone hit him with sectumsempra. And well…" Sage trailed off guiltily.
"And you saved me," Sirius said forcefully. They shared a glance before turning back to James, who eyed them closely.
"Do you know—" James started.
"No," Sage replied, her anxiety mounting.
"Are you sure?"
"Quite sure. I didn't recognize the voice and after, I was a little preoccupied."
"It had to be Snivellus," Sirius said defiantly.
"We don't know that for sure, Sirius," Sage replied, voice pacifying. "It could have been anyone." She looked at the dark faces of her companions and sighed. "Look, I understand your anger but you cannot seek revenge."
"Like hell, we can't," James started hotly.
"They nearly killed me!" Sirius yelled, jumping from his chair.
"I know!" Sage cried, standing as well. "What are you two planning to do, hmm? Kill all three of them? Your own brother, Sirius?"
"He's not my brother!" Sirius started, savagely. "He attacked you. He almost killed me. They deserve-"
"To die?" Sage asked, moving toward Sirius. "Are you judge, jury, and executioner? Are you really prepared to take someone's life?" She spat, inches from his face. He glared at down at her and she met his gaze with equal veracity, breathing heavily. After a moment of glaring, she spoke again, voice quavering. "I can't lose you. I can't lose either of you." She broke his gaze to look at James, who was staring at the pair with a thoughtful expression. "Please, for me, let this go." She looked back at Sirius, who stared at her, not with anger, but with befuddlement, eyes dark.
"Fine," James said quietly. Sage continued staring at Sirius, who seemed to fight the darkness in his eyes with each breath.
"Okay," Sirius conceded, finally tearing his gaze away from her face. The pair sat down and James continued to look between them with thoughtful eyes. After a few moments of silence, he stood.
"Well, I'm off to bed. Good night." And though it was quite early, James took his leave.
The record continued to play as Sirius and Sage sat in silence, avoiding the other's gaze. It was a strained silence and Sage didn't know what to make of it. She had revealed more than she meant, more than she really knew, with the last plea. Sage was utterly confused and rather tired by the emotional whiplash from the past few days; her enjoyment of the pseudo-date, her despair at Sirius almost dying, the lurches of excitement whenever she saw him smile, it was too much for her to bear. But, despite the confusion and exhaustion, she felt better by his side.
"What is this?" Sirius asked abruptly, shaking Sage from her thoughts. She looked at him questioningly. "The music."
"Oh," she breathed. "Um, Led Zeppelin, muggle band." Sirius smirked, knowing her affection for muggle music.
"I like it."
"It's good," she agreed, listing to Whole Lotta Love for a moment. "Thank you, by the way."
Sirius shot her a sharp look. "I think that's my line."
"No," Sage said, shaking her head. "I wasn't quick enough. You saved me."
"And you saved me. I think we're even." The corners of her lips flickered as they studied each other for a moment. Finally, she stood, stretching.
"I think I'm going to turn in, too." Sirius stood as well, grabbing her into a tight hug. Sage melted into the embrace, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his middle. They stayed like for longer than was polite, soaking in each other's warmth and aliveness. Finally, Sirius pulled back, pecking her cheek.
"Good night, Sage," he rasped in a deep, gravelly voice. Sage pulled away, cheeks aflame.
"Good night, Sirius."
A/N: I hope y'all liked chapter 13! I had a quick question: I've been debating on publishing a side story of this one to focus on certain scenes that didn't make the cut. I've seen other authors do this and loved the idea. Plus, I have a tendency to tell, not show, and I'd like to work on that but didn't see how I could add those scenes into this story. Anyway, if y'all would be interested in this, please let me know in the reviews, or DM, or pigeon post, or smoke signals, I'm not picky.