I got a review commenting on the age difference between Sirius and Buffy. Just like to point out that Buffy did date Angel who was quite a lot older than her, a couple of hundred years older. Buffy at this point in about 23 I think, and I'm aging Sirius at about 35 ish so the age difference isn't too big.
Chapter 22 – Reconciliation
The day
after the dinner party, a Saturday, Buffy invited Lily to Grimmauld Place for coffee. Sirius refused to
remain in the house, muttering darkly that he knew what they were up to and so
he went to Hogwarts to see Hagrid and Harry. Buffy and Lily had their coffee in
the living room and discussed what to do.
"Sirius won't talk about it," Buffy
admitted. "All he said was that he and James hadn't ever fought before, and if
all James had come alive for was to pick a fight with him, then he wished he
hadn't bothered. But I know he doesn't mean it, I mean he's thrilled to have
you guys back."
"And we're thrilled to be back," Lily said,
sipping her coffee. "James didn't mean anything he said. He loves Sirius like
his brother. Truth is that he's jealous."
"Of what?" Buffy asked curiously.
"Of Sirius, of being alive, of Sirius' relationship with Harry," Lily said, gesturing with the hand not holding her coffee. "And if I'm honest, I'm jealous too. Jealous of all these people that got to live, while we died. Everyone that got to know my son when I couldn't And to James, Sirius got to be everything that he wanted to be. Father to his son when he couldn't be. Sirius and Harry have a great relationship, like father and son and like brothers, and James can't touch that. That's why he got angry at Sirius; because he worries that he can never have that."
"I see what you mean," Buffy mused. "But
Sirius never wanted to replace James. Sirius did everything he could to be the
parent figure for Harry when he needed him most, and he did a damn good job I
think. But now you're back, he's happy to stand aside, he's your son after all.
But he won't be shut out, and he can't be expected to."
"We don't want that," Lily assured her. "I
have no issues with Sirius; I can control how I feel better than James. I want
Sirius to be around; Harry obviously cares for him a lot. And you too." Lily
smiled at Buffy, who grinned back and drunk some more coffee. In the short time
she had known her; Lily had come to really like Buffy. She respected her and
the work she did, as well as liking her friendly and somewhat quirky nature.
She couldn't think of anyone who would've suited Sirius better.
"So what are we going to do about them
then?" Buffy asked Lily.
Sirius had
flooed to Hogwarts much earlier and had had tea with Hagrid, who had showed him
his newest creature for his lessons, a baby acromantula. Sirius had left pretty
quickly after that and he headed to the Academy to see who was working at the
weekend. He found Willow and Oz sitting in the staffroom
talking quietly.
"Hey," he said tiredly, flopping into
one of the armchairs. They greeted him with wary smiles on their faces.
"How are…things?" Willow ventured timidly. Sirius groaned.
"If you mean James, no we haven't talked
yet," he said grumpily. "Buff and Lil are at home right now trying to work out
how to make us be friends again. As far as I'm concerned, I'm not talking to
him until he apologises." Willow and Oz exchanged glances.
"If you're sure that's the best way," Oz
said unsurely.
"I've never done anything but look out
for Harry, Dan," Sirius said heatedly. "If James can't see that, then he's a
fool."
"We don't want to take sides," Oz said
holding up his hands. "I was just saying."
"Yeah, sorry," Sirius muttered. He got
up and muttering goodbye, walked up towards Gryffindor tower, wanting to talk
to someone who wouldn't bring up the argument. Reaching the fat lady, he
realised he didn't know the password. Luckily Neville Longbottom appeared in
the corridor.
"Hi Professor," he said cheerfully. "Come
to see Harry? Password is acromantula." Sirius climbed in through the portrait
hole and found Harry sitting with Dawn, Ron and Hermione.
"Hi Sirius," Harry called. "What are you
doing here?" Sirius noticed the furtive looks he received from some of the
students, the appearance of a teacher in the common room wasn't popular but he
didn't care.
"Just thought I'd stop by, see how you
are?"
"Oh, well we're fine," Harry said. "Actually,
we were just about to head over to the Academy; Dawn wanted to show us a demon
book. Wanna come?" Sirius nodded gratefully, glad to leave the atmosphere that
made him feel old.
He followed them out of the common room and when he landed from the portrait hole, he saw Harry talking to James. He froze.
"Look who just showed up," Harry said cheerfully.
"Right," Sirius said coldly, glaring at James, who was glaring back. Harry looked between his father and his godfather.
"Okay, what's going on?" he asked curiously
"Nothing," James snapped.
"Right, nothing," Harry said sarcastically. "Well, then you two can stay here and sort out nothing while we go to the Academy." With that, he, Dawn, Ron and Hermione walked off and turned a corner, leaving James and Sirius glaring at one another.
James was first to break the silence.
"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly. Sirius blinked unconcernedly.
"Visiting Harry," he replied equally coldly. "Or is that forbidden now?" For a moment James' face softened.
"Padfoot….I" but he broke off.
"You what?" Sirius said coolly.
"I'm sorry," James said, looking away. "I
overreacted and I'm sorry." Sirius continued
to stare at him.
"Why did you say those things?" he asked,
not letting down his cold façade. "Do you have a problem with my relationship with
Harry?"
"No, look it's really stupid but I get a bit….well
jealous of your relationship with Harry," James said, reddening slightly.
Sirius blinked amazedly.
"Why?" he exclaimed incredulously.
"Because you know him so much better
than I do," James burst out. "You've spent the last four years being the
closest thing to a father he has and it makes me think that there's no place
for me." Sirius was taken aback.
"But I'm just his godfather," he said,
amazed. "You're his father. I've taken care of him for you while you couldn't,
but he's your son. I'm not trying to be his father or to replace you at all.
But I can't just stop being important to him."
"I know that," James said sheepishly. "I was
just being an idiot. He needs you, just as much as he needs me and Lily.
Forgive me?"
"Of course," Sirius said warmly and he
hugged James. "C'mon lets go find Harry." Together, they walked down the corridor
towards the Academy. When they arrived, they found Lily and Buffy in the staff
room.
"Okay you have to go be in that
classroom," Buffy said, grabbing both of their arms and propelling them towards
an empty classroom. "And don't think you're coming out until you've sorted out
your issues. You'll have to go through me if you want to."
"But Buff, we've sorted it," Sirius said
plaintively. "It's all done with."
"Oh," Buffy said, disappointed. "But me
and Lily had this whole plan and stuff…." Her voice trailed off. Sirius laughed
and hugged her, kissing the top of her head.
"Hey at least you tried," he said
gently.
"We had a good plan too," Lily said, wrapped
in James' arms.
"Sorry," James said. "I promise that if
we ever fight again, we'll let you repair our friendship. Though we're not
planning to fight again."
"Good," Sirius said, grinning at James. "C'mon
let's go get lunch, I feel like some muggle food." He, Buffy, Lily and James
flooed back to Grimmauld Place.
