Chapter 16 – Mistake
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that belongs to J. K. Rowling (That's a bit of an obvious statement, isn't it?), though I wish I did because I'd be stinking rich. J
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Heather found herself on her parent's doorstep fairly quickly, despite feeling as if it had taken ages. After an uncomfortable couple of hours laying on a lumpy feather bed, listening to the snores of an elderly wizard that had been lying next to her and trying to erase the last look she had seen on Sirius' face from her memory, she was glad to be finally home.
Without her knocking, a house elf had opened the door and was giving her a confused look.
"Miss! Why is it that you be here? We were not expecting-"
"Heather, darling! What a wonderful surprise!" Nolie Harris burst exuberantly through the door and started to drag Heather into the house, almost knocking over the confused elf that was still standing near the door. "Come in, come in! Excuse the house elf; Wibble has just joined the staff and is still on probation. He's not got quite used to greeting people yet…"
"Hi, Mum."
"Geoffrey!" Nolie screeched and Heather had to cover her ears. "You'll never guess who's come to pay us a visit! It's Heather!"
Heather's father peered cautiously around the study door but his face broke into a gentle grin when he saw her. He came towards her and enfolded her into a hug and she sniffed his robes, smiling when she recognised the combined smell of peppermint and wild mushrooms.
"Hello, Daddy," she murmured into the brown material and he stroked her hair lovingly. When her head came up, there were tears in her eyes. Geoffrey's own hazel eyes sharpened a little.
"What's wrong, Pumpkin?" he asked and she sniffled slightly into the scratchy material of his robes again.
"What have you done to the poor girl, Geoffrey? Goodness gracious, you hug her for two minutes and you reduce her to tears," Nolie chastised and made Heather let loose some slightly hysterical giggles. "What is it, flower? What has your daddy done?"
Geoffrey's gaze moved past his family and over to the door where a load of luggage was waiting, ready to levitate into his daughter's old room.
"Magnolia, go sort out Heather's room, would you? I'm sure she'll feel much better once she's in bed."
Nolie grumbled slightly as she directed the luggage up the stairs, following her husband's orders.
"What has happened, sweetheart?" he asked softly and Heather met his gaze.
"Oh, Daddy… It's Sirius… he…"
"Sirius?" Geoffrey's face creased in thought. "You have been living with him. What has he done?"
"How did you…?" Heather hesitated. She had given up wondering how her father knew so much. "I thought it was best to leave before… We were getting quite serious and… Well, I thought we were," Heather sobbed.
Geoffrey's eyes narrowed. His only daughter had fallen in love and had been hurt badly by the looks of it. "Don't cry, Pumpkin. I'll sort it out. Don't you worry," he soothed. "Now, do you want to tell me what exactly has happened?"
"I saw Sirius… he was kissing… pretty girl… thought he… loved me… Florence told me… he did…" Heather sobbed, gulping for air every other word. "Seemed to… like me a lot…"
Geoffrey scowled as he listened. "I'm going to break his legs."
"Oh, Daddy, no! It's all my fault, really."
"I'm going to break his head. Did he tell you it was your fault?" he growled.
"He never… knew… that I… saw him. At least… I didn't… think he… did," Heather tried to control her breathing, acutely aware that she sounded like an idiot, and the worse she sounded, the angrier her father was getting.
Geoffrey took a deep breath to calm himself down. "You go up to your room, Pumpkin. I'll get the House Elves to make you some hot chocolate with marshmallows."
Heather sniffed. "Ok. I'll be fine; I just need some sleep. Don't worry about me." She padded up the stairs.
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"Geoffrey?" Magnolia knocked on the door of the study and poked her coiffed ash-blonde head through the gap. "What did she tell you? What's wrong with my baby?"
Geoffrey lifted his head from the pile of papers that littered his desk and fixed his wife with a stare. "It's that Sirius Black. He seems to have led her on and hurt her," he said calmly, putting his quill back into its pot with a sharpness that belied his tone.
"Why that… scoundrel! I knew that we shouldn't have let her live with him! Didn't I tell you?"
"Magnolia," Geoffrey stopped her mid-stream. "She is old enough to live her own life now, to make her own decisions. And she's in love with him."
Nolie stood, her mouth agape. "She can't be. He's a… criminal!"
"It takes all sorts to make a world. Besides, my dear, he was cleared."
"Are you sticking up for him?!" Magnolia screeched and Geoffrey stood up at his desk.
"Calm down, woman! I'm merely suggesting that if our Heather loves him, then there must be something good about him."
"Oh…" Magnolia looked a little sheepish. "So, what are you going to do?"
Geoffrey walked over to the fireplace and stoked the fire higher. "Nothing."
"Nothing!"
"She wants us to do nothing," Geoffrey said calmly.
"What does she know? She's upset and doesn't know what she's thinking. Perhaps if you said something at the Ministry when you go to work tomorrow…"
"Magnolia, you know I couldn't possibly do that!" he growled. Turning around, he saw the upset look on his wife's face and enfolded her into a hug. "I know you're worried, Nolie, but we cannot do anything. It will all sort itself out in time."
"I just can't bear to see her hurting," Nolie sniffed.
"I know."
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Heather sipped at her hot chocolate and tried desperately to think of something else… something other than Sirius. She had changed into her pink flannelette 'comfort-pyjamas' and was clutching Pudgy to her side as she paced. The poor bear's eyes were almost bulging out with the pressure of her hold.
She'd already discovered that humming tunes had no effect whatsoever on her disposition because all they seemed to do was depress her more. Damn Celestina Warbeck for singing so many love songs.
"Ok," Heather said aloud firmly, "Time for some trivia. Name three types of dragons… Err…" She bit her lip and then cursed. "I don't have a flaming clue! I knew I should have picked something I knew…"
"Heather?"
"What?!"
Nolie's eyes widened. "There's no need for that tone!"
Heather made a face and then turned around, giving her mother an apologetic look. "Sorry, Mum. What is it that I can do for you?"
"I was just thinking that I could come up and tuck you in. You know, like I used to."
"Well, actually, Mum, I was planning on…" Heather stopped, seeing the look on her mother's face. "Ok, come on then." She climbed into her bed and let her mum fuss over her.
Heather's brow furrowed when she saw Nolie fighting to hide a smile. "What? What are you smirking about?"
Nolie pasted an innocent look over her face. "I don't know what you mean, darling."
Heather squinted her eyes at her. "I don't believe you. What's making you smile?"
"Oh, nothing, dear. I was just thinking what a coincidence your coming home is," Nolie said slyly, adjusting the sheet, "when we're having Metis Menachin over for dinner tomorrow." Nolie failed to mention that she had only gotten off the phone to him moments before with the invitation.
Heather sent her mother a glare.
"I mean, it has not been long since he was showing a special interest in you…"
"And it has not been long since I told you to tell him to push off!"
Nolie gave her a shocked look. "Heather Helonia Harris! Such language! This is not the daughter I brought up to be a lady."
Heather rolled her eyes. "Mum, I don't think I'm really up to one of your match-making sessions. I've only just… well, I only just moved out of Sir-"
Nolie blanched. "Don't say the name, dearest."
Heather gave her an incredulous look. "Why? It's not like he's Voldemort."
"Heather!" Nolie looked like she was going to faint and Heather quickly passed her a glass of water.
"Sorry, Mum. It's just I don't see a problem with saying his name."
Nolie shook her head. "I've always found that you forget ex-boyfriends quicker, if you never say their names."
"Just because I don't say his name doesn't mean that he's out of my mind… or my heart." Heather bit her lip.
"Heather, darling, there is no need for melodrama. Once you meet Metis again, your problems will be solved," Nolie promised and stood up, straightening her voluminous pink robe around her. "I'll see you in the morning."
Heather rolled her eyes at her mother's back and groaned, thinking it would be best to find herself a flat as soon as possible. "I knew I should have gone to Florence's. She wouldn't have tried to set me up with some jerk…"
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Sirius sat alone in the kitchen, absently playing with a fork. He twisted it around in his fingers, frowning all the while.
Why hadn't she got into contact with him yet? She said that she was going to floo him when she arrived at her new flat and that was two days ago.
He rubbed a hand over his tired eyes and down to his unshaven chin. I must look a mess, he thought and not really caring one jot.
He didn't have a clue where she had gone, had no contact numbers, had nothing to prove that she had been here apart from a shattered mind and broken heart.
She had finally got her revenge, he thought bitterly. If she had needed to make him feel the same as she obviously had after the Leavers' Ball, she had achieved her mark. Indeed, she had made him feel ten times worse by leaving him without a clue as to what he had done wrong. Had she planned this from the start? No, she was too kind, too sweet, to ever- But she had led him on this time. Maybe he was wrong about her…
A large black owl swooped through the custom-made owl-flap that he had had installed on Heather's recommendation and dropped a letter on the table, swooping around the room before making a dramatic exit through the owl-flap again. Sirius' expression didn't change; only his eyes moved, fixing on the letter with little interest.
He opened it up slowly and perused it, his eyes becoming dull again when he realised that it wasn't from Heather.
Sirius,
How are things going? I couldn't wait to hear how she reacted to you telling her about your feelings so I thought an owl wouldn't disturb your raucous relations! Owl me back when you manage to separate yourselves!
With love from your nosy sister,
Thalia. xxx.
Sirius threw the letter into the sink, not in the mood to reply to his sister's meddlesome snooping and receive overprotective sympathy. He'd deal with it later.
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Sitting at the long table in the Harris' expansive dining table, Heather fiddled with the silver knife that sat on the side of her plate. The food had not been served yet and she was already bored and annoyed.
Her mother, although Heather loved her, was being as interfering as possible and trying to set her up with another potential beau. This time it was Metis Menachin from down the street: a representative from the Department of Magical Games and Sports in the Ministry. And you could tell. Most of his teeth had obviously been knocked out by a stray bludger; his nose had been broken about ten times - not to mention the other bones in his face; and his head was bald and shiny.
He was a nice enough bloke, Heather thought grudgingly, if only he wasn't so foul.
Nolie Harris loved him; he was from a long wizarding line and, although she wasn't prejudiced towards Muggle-borns, it was always a bonus to have a husband with a family that had long history with magic. Metis was also single – another bonus; and looking for a wife – bonus number three.
"So, Metis," Geoffrey Harris broke the silence, "how's your sister these days?"
Nolie Harris walked in at that moment and gave him a warning look, which probably meant: 'Shut up, Geoffrey, and leave the two children to it!'
Geoffrey knew that look only too well but still ignored it, using the practised 'idiotic-husband-routine' for his beloved daughter's sake.
"Peony is quite well, thank you. I'm sure she will be pleased to hear of your concern," Metis hissed between his missing teeth and Geoffrey nodded, smiling.
He turned back to his wife, who was making wild signals at him – it was a wonder Metis didn't notice! -and smiled benignly. "Ahh, Magnolia. There you are. I was beginning to get worried," he said in his calm voice and Heather struggled to hide a snort.
"I'm here, Geoffrey. Would you like to carve?" Nolie said through gritted teeth as she levitated a roast chicken in front of him.
Geoffrey picked up the carving knife and cut a slice of the breast. "Your plate please, Metis," he said and the younger man obligingly passed along his china plate. Geoffrey scooped the chicken onto it and passed it back. Heather helped herself eagerly to the potatoes and vegetables that were sat in the centre of the table, ignoring her mother's disapproving look. She could almost hear her voice: 'men want women who are delicate and don't eat like ravenous pigs...' She knew her mother meant well but Nolie had been brought up to believe that a woman had to be everything a man wanted her to be; she had been very lucky, in this respect, to marry Geoffrey Harris, who wouldn't take advantage of her.
"Peony said that you're single at the moment, is that true?" Nolie went straight to the point, a trait that Heather had inherited.
"Magnolia..." Geoffrey said warningly but Metis just smiled.
Looking straight at Heather, he said, "Yes. Indeed I am single. But very eager to find someone..."
"Yes, yes." Nolie smiled, glad things were going her way. "And our Heather is single as well!"
"Mum..." Heather said warningly but Nolie just flicked her a look that said 'I'm doing this for your own good'.
Metis just nodded and helped himself to another potato. He was obviously not averse to organising a girl's marriage with her mother. Heather scowled and Geoffrey patted her hand, consolingly.
"Magnolia, would you like some help with carrying the plates into the kitchen?" Geoffrey asked, and Nolie nodded approvingly, thinking he was giving the children time alone. In truth, he was going to set her straight.
Heather cast him a panicked look but he smiled his calm smile again and she was slightly comforted. Her parents left the room, levitating the plates in front of them.
"Err... Metis? I'm sorry about my mother. She..."
Metis looked up and smiled, though his eyes looked a little hurt. "I know, Heather. I was just being polite; I didn't want to insult your mother."
Heather smiled, slightly embarrassed. At least that was straight.
Nolie and Geoffrey walked back in, both smiling slightly, her mother less so than her father, and she understood. Her mother wouldn't be pushing Metis towards her anymore – her father had put his foot down.
Returning to his seat at the head of the table, Geoffrey gave Heather a meaningful look and a wink, which probably meant 'you owe me one'. Heather gave him a small smile.
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"Are you sure you know what you're doing?"
Heather turned around and fixed her friend with a glare. "As my friend, you are meant to be supportive of what I do," she reminded Florence. "And, at the moment, as well as being suitably supportive, you are meant to be helping me move into my new flat."
"Flat? You mean The Box?"
"It is big enough for all my needs. Plus, I won't be there most of the time – I've agreed to do some overtime at the Ministry." Heather picked up her teddy and threw it in her trunk, trying not to remember when he fell on Sirius' head. She wiped away the tear that threatened to spill.
Florence gazed at her in concern. "Are you trying to kill yourself? You've had an emotional upset and now you're throwing yourself into work."
"That's right," Heather said sharply as she snapped the lid on her trunk closed. She turned to face her friend. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I know I'm doing the right thing. It wouldn't have worked out with Sirius – we wanted different things. I want a home and family, he wants independence and freedom. I don't hate him for what he did."
"Oh, Heather…"
"It's just a shame that I wanted a home and family with him," Heather gulped, not able to hold her feelings back. Florence enfolded her into a hug. "Please, don't tell him where I am. I don't want him to try and explain anything. It's best everything ended how it has."
"Hmmm." Florence didn't sound convinced.
"Promise me."
Florence sighed. "Ok, ok. But if it's an emergency…"
Heather smiled slightly. "If it gets to the point where it's an emergency that he needs to know, you can tell him."
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Heather looked around the small one-roomed flat that was to be her home indefinitely. It, in truth, was a dump. Very glad she hadn't let her parents see it before she signed the contract (or they'd never have let her go!), she levitated her belongings through the door after her and set about making it look a little more homely.
After investigating the small kitchen and the even smaller bathroom that was conveniently hidden behind a shower curtain, Heather quickly decided that she wasn't even going to think about how all the stains had got there, and thought that it wouldn't hurt to use a bit of magic to bleach the sink, not to mention the toilet.
Hearing a knock on the door, she frowned, wondering who could possibly know she was here apart from Florence. Shrugging, she moved towards the noise.
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Branson knocked on the door of the tiny studio flat and waited. When Heather opened the door, he marched in and raised his eyebrows at her.
"What are you doing? I don't talk to you for a little while and you do something drastic!"
Heather stared at him in astonishment. "How did you know I was here?"
Bran gave her the deprecating look that only a true Slytherin can give. "I'll give you two reasons I know: Florence, and I have connections at the Ministry, which I believe is where you are starting work on Monday. Now returning to my original question…" He raised his eyebrows.
Heather sighed, running her hands through her hair. "I don't know, Bran. I don't have a clue. I'm just taking it one day at a time." She directed him towards a pile of throw cushions that lay on the floor. "Would you like a seat?"
"Is this all the furniture you have?"
"I have a toilet and shower, and the kitchen was built in…" she shrugged. "I guess this is all the furniture I own. I can transfigure them into anything I need."
Branson pulled over a large blue cushion with pom-poms and changed it into an armchair. Sitting on it, he rested his hands on the arms and glared. "What happened?"
Heather sat on one of the cushions in the lotus position and frowned, wondering how many more times she would have to explain to people what happened. "I saw Sirius with another woman."
"So?" It wasn't the supportive response she was looking for. "It could have been anyone. An acquaintance, someone he had just met?"
"The greeting was too familiar."
"His mother?"
"Too young."
"A work colleague?"
"He works from home."
"His sister?"
"No… Oh, I don't know. I just knew that, if it was a girlfriend, or someone that he was in love with, I couldn't stay and find out. I couldn't be there when he…" Heather drew in a ragged breath and Branson's attitude softened.
"But, what if it was a family member? Maybe your abrupt departure sent signals to Sirius that you didn't want him. What did you say when you left? What was your excuse?"
"I told him I had found somewhere to stay, closer to the Ministry."
"But this is further away than Sirius house!" Branson interrupted incredulously.
"I know, I know. I also said that I would floo him when I arrived."
Branson groaned. "And have you?"
"No."
"Merlin, Heather, he's probably going mad with worry! What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking it would be best if I never saw him again." Heather sighed miserably.
"Best for who? Definitely not you, definitely not him, definitely not for anyone!" Branson's volume was rising with frustration. "Why didn't you stay and fight for him?"
"Oh, don't shout at me, Bran. It's my decision and, now I have made it, I'm sticking to it."
"You're making a mistake…"
"Well, it's my mistake to make."
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Authors' Notes:
Hello!
I'm so sorry for the big long wait! You would not BELIEVE how much work I had to do! It's as if all my lecturers have a grudge against fanfiction writers. Maybe we should start up some sort of riot and kill them all! Hahahaha *evil laugh*… or not, 'cos that would be illegal and then my computer would be taken away, for starters…
Anyways, thanks to every one who read the last chapter and special thanks to those who reviewed; amazingly, some people reviewed twice, just to get my ass in gear! Thanks v. much!
Sam: I'm glad you love my story! Thanks so much for reviewing.
DittoGirl: Sorry I left it at a cliff-hanger. They're sorta my style *grins sheepishly*Cate O'Hara: Thanks for the review, and I have to agree with you. Heather's a bit of a nutcase, isn't she? *grins* Anyway, have to say what fantastic stories you've written! When are you going to update? My sister told me you sent her an e-mail telling her you'd update soon and since then, I've been on tenterhooks!
Hopeful Writer: Don't kill me! Pleaasssee… Anyways, you can't kill me or the story will never end mwahahaha *evil laugh*!
The Elfin Child: Hmmm… am quite worried about the giant gophers… They must make some huge holes! Golf course owners beware! Ahem… anyway, thanks for reviewing and I'm really glad you escaped from the bird and made it to your computer to read my chapter!
Krusty: No comment… actually, I'm gonna kill you when I get home. Or worse, I'm gonna tell mum on you. J Anyway, we'll have this who's-who storyline crisis out later. (It was my idea first, lame brain!).
sapphireskies: I agree with you there. It's a shame, when things are all happy and rosy, it generally makes such a boring story… I'm sorry if I've made you lose faith in women *winks*. Hopefully, I'll return it to you by the end of this fic.
Drachenaugen: Don't worry, Sirius won't be sad and lonely for long! (As long as my professors don't give me more work to do!)
Siri's #1 fan: *hands over a hankerchief* Sorry I made you cry. Don't worry, things turn out all right in the end, I think.
Eflei: I'm glad you're enjoying the fic – thanks for reviewing!
NicolaPadfoot: thanks for all the compliments! I'm really glad that you like Heather, despite how stupid she is at times, 'cos she sorta reflects a really exaggerated me. I hope I don't disappoint you in the future.
Honor Blaze Pendragon: Sorry about making you wait so long! Supposedly , they've definitely cast Gary Oldman as Sirius now. I'm not so sure about him in the part, but he's a great actor, so he'll probably do alright. I thought Christian Bale would make a good Remus (and he's cute!) but they've got David Thewlis, who's kinda sweet. I think it would be cool if J. K. Rowling did a prequel. Thinking about what's going to happen after the seventh book of HP is released is quite a horrific thought!
blackcandy: sorry about making you wait so long! Thank you so much for reviewing.
Sunkistgrl: sorry about the long wait, I hope you've stuck around to read this chapter!
reader34: thanks for reviewing!
I luv you all: Great name! J Please don't curse me… (Besides, I'm a Slytherin, so I know the Dark Arts! Mwahahahaha! *evil laugh*) Sorry for the long update wait.
Lots of love,
(Martha and) Squirrel. xxx.