Saturday, the 31st of October, was going to be busy for Reena. In
addition to meeting Harry and his friends, Reena had been invited to her
brother's house for dinner and she had to go to work.
During the morning work hours, Reena kept remembering the Halloweens of her childhood. When she was very small, Reena used to be fascinated at the amount of food her mother made to feed the dozens of guests they entertained. Steve carried on this tradition by hosting his friends and remaining family. In the wizarding world, Halloween was a time for people to get together with their friends and family. Reena preferred this to the Muggle version of the holiday, which she found very commercial.
At 12 noon, Reena packed up her things and apparated to Hogsmeade. Harry had replied to her letter and said he, Ron, and Hermione would meet her in the side of the mountain outside of Hogsmeade. Reena apparated to the foot of the mountain and decided to walk part of the way. The day was cool, but not windy, so there would be a minimal chance that Reena would be blown off the face of the mountain. After about 20 minutes, Reena gave up the walking and apparated to the cave. Inside waiting was Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Remus.
"Hello all" Reena greeted as she gave her godson a hug.
No formal introductions were needed, so they all engaged in the type of conversation between good friends. Ron and Harry managed to get 2 large baskets of food from the kitchens for a picnic lunch. As they were spreading out the food, a large black dog walked out from the depths of the cave.
Reena was articulate in all things culinary, from preparation to presentation. She was too busy trying to set out the food and make it look nice to notice the dog. It crept up behind her and nudged her leg slightly. Reena spun around and saw the dog smiling at her.
"Snuffles!" she gleefully said as Sirius transformed into his real self.
He bent down and gave Reena a quick kiss. They were usually very aware of people around them and tended to be more private. Sirius turned towards the 4 onlookers and asked "How was that for a surprise entrance?"
"I don't think anybody but you could have planned a better entrance," Remus said as he helped himself to some food.
"You knew he was coming?" Reena asked to no one in particular.
"Think of it as a Halloween gift," Ron said, stuffing some bread pudding in his mouth.
"Well, I must say as first Halloween gift I've ever received, it's very pleasant," Reena replied amusedly.
Reena and Sirius served themselves and settled down to eat. Sitting on the stone floor, Reena was leaning against Sirius. The conversation mainly drifted to activities at the school because the adults' work tended to be classified.
As Reena began eating a piece of spiced pumpkin tart, a voice asked "Should we tell them?" However, it wasn't really a voice, it was more like a frequency that she picked up. Reena looked up towards Sirius, who gave her a questioning look.
"Do you think we should?" Reena communicated silently.
"These are the closest people to us."
"I know, but I'm seeing Steve later. Do I tell him too?"
"That's up to you, but should we tell them?"
"We'll have to eventually, might as well be now."
Sirius put his plate down and looked at Remus, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"I have an announcement to make," he said.
Everyone stopped eating and looked at him. He paused.
"What is it?" Ron asked.
Hermione turned towards Ron and told him to be quiet.
"Reena and I got married," Sirius said quietly.
The 4 others looked on in amazement. They sat in a very awkward silence.
"It's about time is all I have to say," Remus said with a large grin. "Seriously, congratulations."
"Thanks," Reena thanked brightly.
"When?" was all Harry was able to say.
"First week of October. You look like we've done something very strange. Are you okay?" Sirius asked.
"No, I'm fine. I would think that one of you would have mentioned this a little earlier, like in you letters," Harry replied, confusedly.
"Harry, you 4 are the first to know. Steve doesn't even know," Reena told him.
"Who's Steve?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"My big brother," Reena answered.
"I didn't even know you were engaged. Everything we came across only mentioned you were his girlfriend," Hermione pointed out.
"That was our secret, and now you know. But this has to stay confidential. You can't tell anyone, not even Dumbledore," Sirius told the younger 3.
"Cross out hearts, hope to die," Hermione said, reciting the childish oath.
"Thank you," Sirius said as he finished his spice pumpkin tart.
"What time does the feast start?" Reena asked.
"We have to be in the Great Hall by 6," Hermione answered.
Reena glanced at her watch. It was only 2:30.
"I have to be at my bother's around 6 too, so that still gives us some time."
"Our village visit ends sooner. We have to be back at the castle by 4," Ron corrected Reena.
"Right, that's a good point. Did you want to do anything in the village in your remaining time?"
The 3 of them shook their heads. So they settled back into their normal conversation. They seemed to be avoiding mentioning the wedding for some unknown reason. Hermione had brought a pack of Muggle playing cards and she and Harry were trying to teach Ron a simple game. Reena turned to Remus and in a quiet voice asked "Did you tell her?"
Remus smiled and said "I did, and she's still with me."
"Who's 'she'?" Sirius asked.
"Lara Cavendish," Remus said happily.
"And who's Lara Cavendish?" Sirius asked.
"Oh, stop it. Can't you tell when you see that grin on Remus' face?" Reena teased Sirius.
"Ok, I see how it is," Sirius said, as though he had just seen the light.
At 3:30, the kids started to pick up the left over food. Nobody wanted to leave and break the cozy environment of being around the people closest to you. Before the kids left, Reena went up to them.
"Trick or treat." She said a she pulled out a handful of Muggle candies from her pocket.
Each one received his/her own handful. Ron was very confused.
"Trick or treat? What is this?" he demanded.
"My Muggle roots poking through," Reena laughed.
Hermione explained what trick-or-treating was to Ron. They left happily with their sugary snacks. After Harry, Ron, and Hermione left, Reena turned to Remus and Sirius.
"Do you have any plans for this evening?" she asked gently.
"Lara's invited me to meet her family," Remus said ecstatically.
"I have to go and look for somewhere to hide out. The damn Ministry has agents all over America, Canada, half of Europe, and China. Then to top it all, the whole world is on the lookout for me," Sirius said. His voice was perfectly calm, yet the anger was seeping through.
"I have to tell Steve," Reena said quietly, trying not to attract attention to herself.
~Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this fic!
During the morning work hours, Reena kept remembering the Halloweens of her childhood. When she was very small, Reena used to be fascinated at the amount of food her mother made to feed the dozens of guests they entertained. Steve carried on this tradition by hosting his friends and remaining family. In the wizarding world, Halloween was a time for people to get together with their friends and family. Reena preferred this to the Muggle version of the holiday, which she found very commercial.
At 12 noon, Reena packed up her things and apparated to Hogsmeade. Harry had replied to her letter and said he, Ron, and Hermione would meet her in the side of the mountain outside of Hogsmeade. Reena apparated to the foot of the mountain and decided to walk part of the way. The day was cool, but not windy, so there would be a minimal chance that Reena would be blown off the face of the mountain. After about 20 minutes, Reena gave up the walking and apparated to the cave. Inside waiting was Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Remus.
"Hello all" Reena greeted as she gave her godson a hug.
No formal introductions were needed, so they all engaged in the type of conversation between good friends. Ron and Harry managed to get 2 large baskets of food from the kitchens for a picnic lunch. As they were spreading out the food, a large black dog walked out from the depths of the cave.
Reena was articulate in all things culinary, from preparation to presentation. She was too busy trying to set out the food and make it look nice to notice the dog. It crept up behind her and nudged her leg slightly. Reena spun around and saw the dog smiling at her.
"Snuffles!" she gleefully said as Sirius transformed into his real self.
He bent down and gave Reena a quick kiss. They were usually very aware of people around them and tended to be more private. Sirius turned towards the 4 onlookers and asked "How was that for a surprise entrance?"
"I don't think anybody but you could have planned a better entrance," Remus said as he helped himself to some food.
"You knew he was coming?" Reena asked to no one in particular.
"Think of it as a Halloween gift," Ron said, stuffing some bread pudding in his mouth.
"Well, I must say as first Halloween gift I've ever received, it's very pleasant," Reena replied amusedly.
Reena and Sirius served themselves and settled down to eat. Sitting on the stone floor, Reena was leaning against Sirius. The conversation mainly drifted to activities at the school because the adults' work tended to be classified.
As Reena began eating a piece of spiced pumpkin tart, a voice asked "Should we tell them?" However, it wasn't really a voice, it was more like a frequency that she picked up. Reena looked up towards Sirius, who gave her a questioning look.
"Do you think we should?" Reena communicated silently.
"These are the closest people to us."
"I know, but I'm seeing Steve later. Do I tell him too?"
"That's up to you, but should we tell them?"
"We'll have to eventually, might as well be now."
Sirius put his plate down and looked at Remus, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"I have an announcement to make," he said.
Everyone stopped eating and looked at him. He paused.
"What is it?" Ron asked.
Hermione turned towards Ron and told him to be quiet.
"Reena and I got married," Sirius said quietly.
The 4 others looked on in amazement. They sat in a very awkward silence.
"It's about time is all I have to say," Remus said with a large grin. "Seriously, congratulations."
"Thanks," Reena thanked brightly.
"When?" was all Harry was able to say.
"First week of October. You look like we've done something very strange. Are you okay?" Sirius asked.
"No, I'm fine. I would think that one of you would have mentioned this a little earlier, like in you letters," Harry replied, confusedly.
"Harry, you 4 are the first to know. Steve doesn't even know," Reena told him.
"Who's Steve?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"My big brother," Reena answered.
"I didn't even know you were engaged. Everything we came across only mentioned you were his girlfriend," Hermione pointed out.
"That was our secret, and now you know. But this has to stay confidential. You can't tell anyone, not even Dumbledore," Sirius told the younger 3.
"Cross out hearts, hope to die," Hermione said, reciting the childish oath.
"Thank you," Sirius said as he finished his spice pumpkin tart.
"What time does the feast start?" Reena asked.
"We have to be in the Great Hall by 6," Hermione answered.
Reena glanced at her watch. It was only 2:30.
"I have to be at my bother's around 6 too, so that still gives us some time."
"Our village visit ends sooner. We have to be back at the castle by 4," Ron corrected Reena.
"Right, that's a good point. Did you want to do anything in the village in your remaining time?"
The 3 of them shook their heads. So they settled back into their normal conversation. They seemed to be avoiding mentioning the wedding for some unknown reason. Hermione had brought a pack of Muggle playing cards and she and Harry were trying to teach Ron a simple game. Reena turned to Remus and in a quiet voice asked "Did you tell her?"
Remus smiled and said "I did, and she's still with me."
"Who's 'she'?" Sirius asked.
"Lara Cavendish," Remus said happily.
"And who's Lara Cavendish?" Sirius asked.
"Oh, stop it. Can't you tell when you see that grin on Remus' face?" Reena teased Sirius.
"Ok, I see how it is," Sirius said, as though he had just seen the light.
At 3:30, the kids started to pick up the left over food. Nobody wanted to leave and break the cozy environment of being around the people closest to you. Before the kids left, Reena went up to them.
"Trick or treat." She said a she pulled out a handful of Muggle candies from her pocket.
Each one received his/her own handful. Ron was very confused.
"Trick or treat? What is this?" he demanded.
"My Muggle roots poking through," Reena laughed.
Hermione explained what trick-or-treating was to Ron. They left happily with their sugary snacks. After Harry, Ron, and Hermione left, Reena turned to Remus and Sirius.
"Do you have any plans for this evening?" she asked gently.
"Lara's invited me to meet her family," Remus said ecstatically.
"I have to go and look for somewhere to hide out. The damn Ministry has agents all over America, Canada, half of Europe, and China. Then to top it all, the whole world is on the lookout for me," Sirius said. His voice was perfectly calm, yet the anger was seeping through.
"I have to tell Steve," Reena said quietly, trying not to attract attention to herself.
~Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this fic!