Remus had offered to come by and apparate her over to Sirius's place but Violet had declined. It had taken her about an hour after Dumbledore left to realize that her new job offer likely came with the stipulation that she perform magic. The job at St. Mungo's would definitely require it. She had promised herself she would only use magic in an emergency though and this definitely qualified. She'd need to practice though so she might as well begin with apparation on her own.

After a certain point, there was only so much cleaning she could do around the house to make the time pass. Violet spent the last two hours of her afternoon fidgeting on her couch while trying to read but eventually gave up. She was technically supposed to go over at nine that night, but surely it couldn't hurt to go a bit earlier. And she was going to go crazy if she had to wait around for another two hours.

Violet grabbed her suitcase, grasped her wand tightly, and took a deep breath to prepare herself.

The crack of her apparation coincided with a deafening clap of thunder. Violet nearly slipped on the wet pavement, the stormy weather catching her off guard just as much as the unfamiliar motion of apparation. Thank Merlink she hadn't splinched herself.

She tugged her sweater over her head but the thin material was immediately soaked through so she dropped it. Violet tried to read the house numbers through the heavy rain but it was impossible. She ran towards the nearest house with her suitcase, careful to not slip on the wet steps.

The front door featured a large number 10. Violet let out a heavy sigh and went back out in the rain in search of Number 12.

Except there was no Number 12.

She stood on the sidewalk between 11 and 13 Grimmauld Place, balancing on one foot as she used the other to scratch the back of her leg. She was already sopping wet so there was no point in finding shelter.

So… now what?

She was definitely at the correct address but there was no sign of a 12 Grimmauld Place anywhere.

The surrounding houses had all of their lights off so there wasn't a good chance anyone would answer if she knocked. Violet was readying herself to Apparate back when the buildings began to move apart, the bricks forming a new space between Numbers 11 and 13.

Sirius Black stepped out of Number 12 Grimmauld Place, shirt unbuttoned dangerously low and wavy hair loose around his shoulders.

"Get in before you drown, Violet," he called from the front door, sounding amused. Violet could barely hear him over the downpour but it didn't matter. She rushed up the stairs, slipping on one. Sirius had begun to meet her halfway on the staircase and grabbed her arm to pull her upright. He held onto her until they were safely inside.

Sirius looked her up and down with a raised eyebrow. Violet felt the urge to cover herself up, which was pointless. He had seen her in every state—pajamas or fully dressed up—while masquerading as Snuffles. It didn't matter if he saw her looking like a mess now. Still, it was embarrassing to drip water all over the hallway of his obviously nice and expensive house.

With a silent flick of his wand, she was dry and no longer shivering.

"Thanks," she said. Violet immediately raised a hand to her head and looked around for a mirror.

"Your hair looks fine," he said but he was trying not to smile.

"I can feel it frizzing up," she said testily. This wasn't the first impression she wanted to make on the Order.

"I think they're more interested in your healing abilities than your appearance." Sirius was already walking down the hall, not looking back to see if she followed. "They're a friendly bunch for the most part anyway."

Violet was generally comfortable meeting new people but entering a house full of people who already knew each other for years was not her idea of fun.

"You're just in time for dinner. Just leave your things here; Kreacher can take it all to your room."

A House Elf, she guessed. The Black family was definitely the type to have one to run their massive household.

A middle aged woman with bright red hair was the only person in the kitchen when they walked in, ready to take out a large dish of pot roast. The whole kitchen smelled heavenly and Violet hoped they would take her straight to the dining room with the others to start dinner.

"Molly," Sirius greeted. "This is Violet Sinclair, the Healer who's joining us. Vi, this is Molly Weasley. You'll want to get on her good side since she makes the best food here. Unless you actually enjoy dry, flavorless food."

He sounded amused but Violet got the hint he was speaking from direct experience. She dragged her eyes away from the food (the mashed potatoes looked so good) and offered Molly a small smile. Molly did not return it but instead gave her a once over. Violet tried to subtly tug her short skirt down to cover a bit more, though it wasn't particularly scandalous.

"You're much younger than I expected." Her tone made it clear that it was not a good thing, though she was frowning at Sirius, not Violet.

"I received all O's in my N.E.W.T.s and have one of the highest patient ratings in my last hospital. I assure you I am more than capable of doing my job despite my age." Violet did her best to sound firm yet friendly. It wouldn't do her any good to alienate anyone right off the bat but she needed to establish her authority too.

"She's 24. She's not a child, Molly." Sirius's voice held a quiet warning.

Mrs. Weasley continued to look disapprovingly at him but her eyes softened when she addressed Violet.

"We'll get some dinner in you first and then help you get you settled in, dear. You must've had trouble packing up on your own."

"Oh, thank you," she said, startled at the sudden mood change. "It wasn't too bad; I had some friends who helped me."

Packing up had taken maybe two hours at most, given that she had never fully unpacked in the first place. Honestly, her house currently wasn't too different from how it looked before. Violet ended up only taking the basic necessities with her in a large suitcase to Grimmauld Place.

Her furniture and other belongings would remain in the house for now until she found more permanent accommodations for herself in the fall. Dumbledore and Remus had assured her she wouldn't need anything at Grimmauld Place but she had grabbed a throw pillow she liked and a fluffy blanket.

Sirius put his hand on her back, presumably to lead her to the dining room, but Violet stiffened immediately. He let his hand fall wordlessly but his jaw tightened.

Mrs. Weasley didn't seem to notice as she continued chattering about the rundown state of the house and their efforts to clean it this summer.

Violet opened her mouth to automatically apologize to him but stopped. She didn't owe him anything, especially not an apology.

Sirius took a step back and gestured with a sarcastic flourish in front of him. "After you. I insist."

He wasn't bitter, Violet was surprised to note, though she didn't know why she'd be surprised by that. It wasn't like she actually knew the man. Rather, he was coldly polite towards her.

They stiffly walked into the next room as Mrs. Weasley carried the dish behind them. The chatter of the dining table's occupants died down as they stepped forward. Remus gave her an encouraging smile from where he was seated. Violet recognized Bill Weasley and Nymphadora Tonks but the rest were unknown to her, though she could guess the myriad of redheads were Weasleys as well. And of course, a boy with messy black hair and a lightning-shaped scar who was giving her a curious look like the others were.

"Glad to see you made it here alright, Violet," Remus said warmly. Was that supposed to be a jab at the rustiness of her magic? "There's an open spot next to—."

He stopped before finishing his sentence. Violet couldn't see what was wrong about sitting in between the two identical Weasley twins, who were smiling innocently at her.

"I really don't mind sitting wherever there's space," she said. There was a resounding 'no' from everyone else.

"Maybe not for your first night," Sirius said, wincing. "Give her a week or two to settle in, boys. She can handle herself after that."

He winked at the twins and they grinned back at him. Violet stared blankly at them. What on earth did that mean?

"Is there no trust between us anymore?" One of the twins sighed morosely. "We would never make a guest feel unwelcome, especially as one as lovely as Violet here."

He shot her a charming grin. Violet raised an eyebrow and gave him a dry look.

"Maybe just a small Nosebleed Nougat or something. At most." the other added.

"Is she even really initiated into the Order if she hasn't experienced the true welcome from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes?" the first one commented.

"Nice try," Sirius told them.

Violet eventually found herself seated between Bill and Remus, with Sirius sitting across the table from her. General introductions were given and soon the conversation resumed its previous level before she had interrupted.

"Last I heard, you went off after Healer training to travel the world." Bill raised an eyebrow. "How'd you end up here?"

She shrugged. "Plans change. Last I heard, you were in Egypt as a curse breaker."

He shrugged. "Plans change."

They exchanged looks and Violet relaxed a bit. She and Bill had never been close but were friendly enough back at Hogwarts. They shared many classes, being in the same year, and he was always a dependable sort.

After dinner, everyone seemed to split off into groups. Bill invited her to join him and some others in the living room but Violet bowed out, citing a desire to settle into her room.

"See you later then. I know you're here as a Healer but I seem to recall some pretty nasty hexes in Defense too. Can't say I wasn't surprised to hear you were joining the Order, Violet, but it's good to have you here."

Violet stood in the dining room after Bill left, wondering where she was supposed to find her room, when a low voice behind her made her jump.

"I can show you to your room now."

Sirius was still detached towards her as he led her around the house on a more thorough tour than before. She followed him through the halls, stopping as he pointed out various rooms, including his own, before stopping at a large bedroom with a light grey color scheme throughout.

Violet tried not to look too impressed but it was maybe twice the size of her room in her mother's house and even larger than her room growing up. Black pureblood money trumped Sinclair pureblood money apparently. The few small potted plants she had brought from her garden were decorating the windowsill and her suitcase was tucked away in a corner.

"Right then. Well, if you need anything, you know where I am. Or you can just call Kreacher," he said uncomfortably and turned to leave. Violet felt her iciness towards him melt ever so slightly at his awkwardness; he felt much more approachable and human now than when he had his confident persona. At least she wasn't the only one feeling weird about their situation.

"Actually, Sirius—" He turned back eagerly—like an overexcited puppy, she thought and smiled to herself at the pun. She walked over to her suitcase and pulled out the large feather she had tucked away. "I meant to ask you about this. I found it in your fur when you first came into my house. I know it's magical but I couldn't quite place it."

Sirius took the large tawny feather from her and laughed.

"Buckbeak! He was hiding out with me in the forest but I couldn't exactly bring him into your house. Figured I was already pushing my luck being there myself. I'd sneak out to play with him and find him some food though. My hippogriff," he clarified after seeing her blank face.

"Ah. Well now you know why I specialize in curses and infectious maladies, not magical creature bites," Violet said, slightly embarrassed she couldn't identify something as obvious as a hippogriff feather.

"I'm sure you'd be amazing at that too," he said quietly. "Don't sell yourself short, Violet."

She nodded dumbly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

"You should see him. Buckbeak. He'd be excited to finally meet you. You had a few close calls in the forest where I thought I'd have to save you." Sirius grinned with a brightness Violet hadn't seen him show before.

"He's in the house?"

"Upper level. We try to get him out for a few hours every day to stretch his wings but he's kind of on the run too. Long story."

"Right." Everything seemed to have a long story behind it. "Well, thanks again."

Violet arranged the few things she had brought, determined not to make it a half-assed unpacking effort like she had done last time. Once everything was put away and she had lovingly watered her plants, she took out her wand and her old Healing textbook. It was time to practice.