HARRY POTTER AND THE BREATH OF LIFE
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other known character from the Harry Potter series. I do own the plot and a few characters.
Chapter 31 – The Nightmare Continues
She practically ran to the door that appeared in front of her. She opened it and used a locomotion spell to make the boxes follow her. After she closed the door she called out.
" Hello. Is anybody home? Sirius, where are you?" she asked desperately.
No answer came. The sound of small footsteps echoed in the dark corridor. Iris looked at the floor and Mimi appeared.
" Hello mistress. No one is home. Mimi is alone."
" What are you talking about? Sirius left?"
" Yes mistress. Master left an hour ago but did not say where he went so Mimi does not know."
Iris was stunned. Sirius was gone for over an hour yet he did not go to her place.
But he's not allowed to leave his house. She thought. And with that thought came pain. That strange pain was making her sick by now.
She made her way to the kitchen after telling Mimi to take the boxes to the drawing room. She sat down at one of the chairs and covered her face with her hands. The pain just didn't cease. She was about to throw up when an owl swooped from the fireplace. It stopped in front of her and drooped two pieces of parchment. Iris took them and the owl left. One of the pieces was in her grandmother's handwriting and it said:
"The pain comes from the soul and a glass of wine is what stands in his way.
The kind of wine he hates yet adores, the sort of person he dislikes yet could be in love with.
You and two more people could fly in them, a bottle of some cold drink is served.
Looks can deceive, don't let yourself be fooled.
Don't be afraid of what the full moon can bring.
I will love you always and will be with you at every moment.
With love, Clara."
Iris looked at that piece of parchment and was completely puzzled. She read it again and she realized something.
" It's a riddle." She said out loud.
She placed her hand inside her clothes and took out Sirius's pendant. The pain stopped.
" The pain comes from the soul." She said understanding part of the riddle. " Wine he hates? That as to be… red wine. You and two more people could fly in them? The Three Broomsticks." She finished triumphantly.
She got up and went to the fireplace. But before she let the Floo Powder fall she noticed the second piece of parchment. She made her way to it and read it. She shook her head frantically and ripped it apart. Whatever was in that piece of parchment was lost. She then resumed what she was going to do before. Soon she was coming out of the Three Broomsticks' fireplace. Even though the pub was crowded no one seemed to notice Iris's appearance. She took this to her advantage and with a moment of concentration she became invisible. (A/N: She is gooooddd!!!) Then she looked around to look for Sirius but didn't find him anywhere. Then she remembered. "Looks can deceive, don't let yourself be fooled." He was a wanted man and couldn't wander around a bar like he had no concerns. He had to be using a disguise. With another moment of concentration she accomplished a very difficult bit of magic: to see beyond the appearances. She immediately saw him and at the same time wished she hadn't. He was sitting at a table near a window with a glass of firewhisky in front of him. Unfortunately he wasn't alone. There was a blonde close to him. Too close. Actually she was all over him. Iris couldn't believe her eyes. They were almost kissing.
Slowly she made her way to the table and heard their conversation.
" Honestly a man with your looks shouldn't be alone. It's not right." Said the woman.
" You think? I'm flattered." Said Sirius.
" Tell me James, would you accompany me on a different drink?"
James???? The stupid git! Using his best friend's name. Don't do anything rash. He hasn't done anything yet. She thought with anger.
" What sort of drink?" he asked.
" How about… a glass of wine?"
" Wine? I
think I would like that. Should you like me to talk the waiter?"
" No. They don't serve that here. But I have some at my place." The woman said
seductively.
" Fine with me. Let's go."
Iris was shocked. She didn't move while Sirius threw a galleon to the table and she still didn't move when they left the pub. Luckily no one could see her.
When she snapped out of her trance she made her way outside. She spotted Sirius and the blonde going up the street, making their way to the housing area of Hogsmeade. Iris followed them. They entered a small cottage and closed the door. Iris was not fast enough and was left outside. She allowed herself to stay outside. She had a bad felling about what was going to happen inside.
I can't just go in there and act all possessive. She thought.
Sure, just leave him there. Don't do anything while he cheats on you. With a blonde! And with wine! Red wine! Said her little voice in the back of head.
This just isn't happening to me. How I wish I could erase this day. She thought as she slid down on the wall and touched the floor.
After sitting on the floor for half an hour Iris got up and using her abilities as a witch entered the cottage. Everything was quiet. On a small table were two glasses of wine and a bottle. Iris picked one of the glasses and after looking at it she broke it with her hand. The glass fell to floor and Iris saw a huge cut on her hand. It started to bleed but she didn't wink. Slowly she made her way to the bedroom. She would hardly forget what she saw. Sirius and the blonde were hugging in bed. She left the cottage and Hogsmeade very quickly. When she arrived back at #12 Grimmauld Place she looked for a piece of parchment and with the blood from her hand she wrote:
" IT'S ALL OVER BETWEEN US. HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED YOUR BLONDE. IRIS."
She placed the note where Sirius could find it and left to the only place she was sure she was safe in: Hogwarts. But the school wasn't good enough. She had to talk to someone and the children weren't an option. So she decided to go and find Remus.
Iris found Remus at his place. He was stunned to see her.
" Iris, what are you doing here?" he asked.
" I need a friendly shoulder."
" Why? What happened?"
" Can I come in?" she asked.
" Sure."
Iris entered and Remus took her to the living room and she sat on the couch.
" Tell me what happened."
" You are
not going to believe this. My day was a mess."
" Tell me about it."
Iris looked at her friend in the eyes and then started to tell the story. But not the whole story. She told him only about the Sirius part.
" He did what?" Remus asked after Iris was finished.
" You heard
me. He slept with some blonde."
" And you didn't stop him?" he asked surprised.
" No. I was
in shock. It was the last thing I could possibly imagine him doing."
" I told him not to go. He just didn't listened to me."
" Has he ever listened to you?"
" He listened to James. And James listened to me." He answered with a sort of nostalgia.
There was a moment of silence before Iris spoke.
" Do you have anything to drink?"
" Look in the pantry."
Iris found a bottle of Firewhisky and looked at it.
" This bottle is to full." She said.
" That's a tad strong isn't it?" Remus asked while getting up in an attempt to take the bottle from Iris.
" No. It's fine." She said dodging Remus's hand.
" Just one
glass Iris."
" Who are you? My father? Don't tell what to do. I want this bottle empty. Like
myself at the moment. Completely empty." She said and opened the bottle.
She took a big swig and Remus tried to take the bottle from her again.
" You touch this bottle and I'll curse you to oblivion. I'm warning you." She threatened.
Remus gave up. Soon the bottle was almost empty and Iris was visibly drunk. She turned to Remus with a strange look on her face.
" You're pretty, you know? Veeerrry pretty. Hunk. You are a nice piece of meat."
Remus was getting a bit uncomfortable.
" Iris, I think you need a cold bath and a cup of coffee."
" Don't tell me what to do. I can take care of myself." She said while doing strange motions with her index finger.
" I'm not kidding."
" Shush.
Don't speak. Can I do something?"
" I…hum…guess. Ok."
Iris got up and made her way to him. Then out of nowhere she kissed him. Remus tried to stop her but she insisted and soon there was no more fighting. It was one of those moments were a thing leads to another.
When Remus woke up the next morning he felt a bit bad. He sat at his table thinking with a cup of tea.
How could I let this happen? He thought sadly.
His thoughts were interrupted by footsteps. Iris came inside the kitchen and she stole his cup of tea.
" Don't you have anything stronger? Like coffee?" she asked him, normally.
" No. I don't like coffee."
" It's
alright. I'll have some at Hogwarts. If I'm not late for breakfast."
" I'm sorry. Aren't you supposed to be in an hangover?" he asked confused by
her state.
" Why, was I drunk?" she asked.
Remus was lost for words. She hadn't been drunk and yet they had…
" You…"
" Listen Remus. We'll take later. I have to go now. Bye." She interrupted him.
Before leaving she kissed him on the cheek. When Remus turned to his fireplace she was already gone.
When Iris entered her office she felt strange. She had slept with Remus and now there was no turning back. Don't be afraid of what the full moon can bring. She remembered what her grandmother had told her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Before heading to class she noticed a note on her desk. It was from Sirius. "We need to talk. Sirius" Iris looked at it and her first desire was to throw it away. But then she decided just to leave it there and went to class. That had been a hell of a weekend.
TBC
There you go. Hope you liked it.
Thanks to Anne ( v ) 79 for reviewing.
Cheers.
