CaliDuchessThanks for the wonderful idea! You have been the most helpful reviewers EVER! Love ya lots! (And, as you would say, as a friend.) As you will see, I will be using a lot of your ideas (if not all). I still haven't decided if Sirius actually gets married, however… -evil grin- And you'll see soon enough (sooner than you think, actually) why Lily dumps Chris. Or why Chris dumps Lily. Hmm… which shall it be? –another evil grin- Don't worry; I've got it all figured out already! Yes, this is a long reply, but two wonderful reviews deserve a wonderful reply!
MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemusThat's okay; I'm glad you're reading it and being so positive and encouraging. I've got most of the characters. Thanks anyway! Enjoy!
BlackLupinAlright, I've modified the chapter so you'll have a white wedding. Pleased? Good. And the whole ex thing? Yeah, I'll do that, too. The James/Lily idea is good, too, so I'll add that in later. Next chapter, I promise. Since Sirius has run away from home, I'm planning on having them stay at Caitlin's house for a while, and then they'll buy a house, probably in Godric's Hollow (heh heh… we know who else is living there! Or will be, anyway…).
roxygurl25-Yes, I know why you skimmed. I'll wait before I update, because this is looking long and I want you to be able to read it. At first I wasn't going to be able to update until Tuesday, because BlackLupin is out of office, and I need her opinion on things, but turns out she's got a wireless thing so I'll be able to update early (I hope). When do you get ungrounded? Like Monday/Tuesday?
shortiibabiGlad you like! Yeah, I checked OotP, and hopefully I got everyone (there weren't really a lot of people). Keep reading!
lilchocolatechip001- I'm so glad you're so enthusiastic about this. Happy reading!
stephanieYes, about that… I haven't actually decided if Sirius DOES get married… but I suppose I'll be considered cruel, evil, sinister, and downright wicked if I didn't… And everyone knows what happens to Lily and James! Don't worry about that—I'm not changing their result!
A/N: Three new reviewers for last chapter! Yippee! Thanks shortiibabi, lilchocolatechip011, and stephanie!
Chapter 32: Meet the Parents
Sirius,
We have just been informed from the Parkinson family that you have proposed to a girl. A Mudblood. For marriage. We demand immediately that you bring this girl over so that we may meet her. If you fail to meet our request, we shall arrive at Hogwarts ourselves and make quite a scene.
We are absolutely appalled and ashamed that you have chosen an ugly Mudblood rather than someone like Sarah Parkinson, who is beautiful, rich, and a Pureblood, and the Parkinson family isn't very pleased with your decision, either.
We shall expect you and your fiancé on January the seventeenth.
Shamefully,
Your parents
Sirius closed his eyes as a massive headache was quickly forming in his temples. He closed the fancy parchment with the Black emblem on it in his fist. He didn't want Caitlin to have to endure the wrath and discourtesy of his parents, but he didn't want his parents to embarrass them in front of the whole school, either.
Just then, a pair of hands snaked up his shoulders and someone planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Hey," Caitlin murmured in his ear. "You look tense. Are you alright?"
"I… I'm fine, it's just…" Sirius was still clutching the letter in his fist.
"Sirius, what's this?" Caitlin asked, nodding toward the parchment.
Sirius was really starting to sweat.
"Just a letter from my parents, Cait. Listen, we…"
"Can I see?" Caitlin asked. Her face was innocent, but Sirius knew there was more behind it.
"Caitlin, I really don't think-"
But Caitlin had snatched it from his hand, and was already reading over it.
"Caitlin, I…" Sirius started, but couldn't finish as the look on Caitlin's face turned from curiosity to hurt. "Caitlin, I'm sorry…"
"Well, I suppose I'd better start packing then, shouldn't I?" Caitlin said with a hollow laugh.
"Caitlin… you're not mad at me?"
"Of course I'm not, Sirius. You can't help who your parents are. Why would you think I'd be mad with you?"
"Well, because… I thought being called an 'ugly Mudblood' would aggravate you," Sirius said, somewhat sheepishly.
"Of course I'm mad. I'm furious. But not at you. So… the seventeenth, huh? Bit demanding, aren't they?" Caitlin attempted light humor. "I'll let my parents know we'll come to see them afterward."
There was a maniacal glint in Sirius' eyes. He looked really pleased.
"Caitlin," he said excitedly, "we don't have to go see them! We could run away!"
"Sirius-" Caitlin started.
"Think about it! Just you and me. And we could get married somewhere secret, and then run away together, have adventures…"
"Sirius!" Caitlin shook his shoulders hard. "Snap out of it! We will not run away! I will go and meet your parents and will sit through a whole day with them if I have to, but I will not run away from my problems!"
Sirius calmed.
"You're… you're right," he said weakly. "I-I'm sorry. I guess I just got a little carried away."
Caitlin snorted. "A little…"
"It's just that… I ran away from home last year," he continued. "I haven't seen my family since, and… I just don't want to face them just yet. They'll hate me. They've never really liked me since our beliefs are different, but now they'll really give it to me. I've never been on good terms with my parents… and they've actually considered disowning me… hasn't happened yet, but… I'm… I'm just not ready yet."
Caitlin swore she could see the beginning of tears in his eyes, and thought, I bet I'm the first peer ever to see Sirius cry… except for maybe James…
"Ssh," she said as she held him close. "Ssh… its okay, I'm here…"
Mum and Dad,
I don't know how to put this, so I'll come right out and say it. Are you sitting down? I'm engaged now, to Sirius Black. We are truly in love and I'd like it very much if you wouldn't remind us of how young we are.
Anyway, I'm writing to say that on January seventeenth, Sirius and I will be away from Hogwarts, introducing me to his family. We want to stop by and introduce him to you afterwards.
The Blacks are a very respectable family in the Wizarding World, don't worry.
Please send your reply back with Ruby.
Love your daughter,
Caitlin
Caitlin watched as her owl flew off into the sunset, then raced to the Ravenclaw Common Room, where Lily was waiting for her.
"What took you so long?"
"I had to send a letter."
"Okay, so now we're doing decorations."
"Right."
"Okay, first off, have you decided where it's going to be?"
"Well, Sirius and I have decided: I've booked Gloucester Cathedral."
"Great. Do you have Sirius' side?"
"Yeah. Here." Caitlin handed her a small piece of parchment. It read:
James, Peter, Remus, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, Uncle Alphard, Cousin Andromeda, Ted Tonks (and Nymphadora)
"That's it?" Lily whispered loudly. Caitlin shushed her. "I mean… doesn't he have more family than this?"
"Well, sure, but… I don't think he wants them to come."
"Why not?"
"I… er… don't think I should be the one to tell you," Caitlin said, ending the discussion.
-Flashback-
"Sirius, are you sure you don't want anyone else to come? I mean, it is your wedding… wouldn't you like more family?" Caitlin had asked Sirius.
"No," Sirius had sad harshly. "I don't want to see them ever again. Any of them. They're part of my past, and I don't want to remember that.
"Sirius, if you're sure…"
"I am," he had snapped.
-End of Flashback-
"Whatever you say. Oh, for the food… a close friend of my parents owns a catering business. I'm sure they could get them to do it for a discount."
"Cool. Thanks."
"Um, Caitlin? One thing…" Lily blushed.
"Yeah?"
"Could I… I mean, if you really honestly don't mind… could I be in charge of decorations? I'm sure I could put together a committee really fast, or get the prefects to do it as a project. I'll ask at our next meeting. Please?" she pleaded.
Caitlin laughed.
"Sure, I don't really know a thing about decorating anyway, and I'd be happy to let you be in charge of it."
Lily lit up. "Oh, thank you! I promise it'll look fantastic!"
"For flowers… I really want a white wedding—I love white, it's so magical—so I'm guessing white roses to go with the cathedral. It's really pretty. And don't worry—I'll order them."
"Fantastic."
-January 17th-
"Sirius, come on, we're going to be late!" Caitlin shouted up the stairs.
"Who cares?" came the response.
"I do, Sirius! I want to make a good first impression on your parents!"
Sirius bit his lip. Nothing will change their minds, darling. It's all in your blood, he thought, but didn't dare say it. He didn't want to hurt her.
"Coming!" he yelled back.
After a few moments, Sirius still wasn't down. Caitlin grew frustrated and marched up the stairs to the boys' dormitories. She threw open the door.
She was startled to find James only in his boxers, and reddened.
"Um, Caitlin?" James asked without bothering to cover himself up. "Do you mind?"
Caitlin flushed deeper and marched through the dormitory. "Sorry," she muttered.
The floor was covered in clothes, parchment, old homework assignments, and who knows what else. It was so thick Caitlin could hardly see the carpet she was walking on.
She found Sirius in the bathroom in front of the mirror. He was wearing a suit, and Caitlin was wearing a simple yet elegant blue dress. Sirius had taken her shopping earlier because she had constantly pleaded wanting to look impressive. Sirius agreed it was for the best that Caitlin look rich.
Caitlin grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the dormitory.
"But-" he protested.
"You look fine," she said, and smoothed back his hair. "Now come on."
They arrived in front of the gargoyle.
"Fizzing Whizbees," Caitlin said, and the staircase was revealed.
Once in Dumbledore's office, Sirius picked up a fistful of Floo powder and tossed it into the fire.
"Number twelve, Grimmauld Place," he said clearly, and Caitlin and he stepped into the fire together.
The next second, they were in the Blacks' house, dusting themselves off. When Caitlin looked up, there were two people standing in front of them. They were both tall. The woman looked surprisingly like the Slytherin Narcissa Black. She had the same facial expression—like she had dung under her nose—and the same blond hair that was pulled tightly in a bun.
The man was tall, and had hair the same black as Sirius', only this man's was slicked back. He had no gray hair to speak of. He wore sharp robes, and every inch of him was clean, every hair placed in the right spot—the strict image of perfection.
Sirius squirmed.
"Hello, Mother, Father," he said stiffly.
"Hello, Sirius," his father said in the same uncomfortable tone. His mother sniffed.
"Mother, Father, this is Caitlin Taylor, my fiancé. Caitlin, these are my… parents."
"Pleased to meet you," Caitlin said politely, sticking out her hand. No one took it, so Caitlin blushed and withdrew it.
Sirius was trying very hard not to lose his temper.
"Caitlin, dear," Sirius said through clenched teeth, "why don't you go to the living room? … We will be down there shortly."
Caitlin looked nervous. "Okay," she said before proceeding to the living room.
Once Caitlin had left, Sirius turned on his parents.
"Could you two prejudiced arseholes please show some courtesy and respect to my fiancé? I know what's running through those messed-up, biased heads of yours, but Caitlin is the most wonderful girl I've ever met, so put your thoughts aside and act like humans for once. Treat her wrong and you will regret it."
"You will not speak to us like that, blood traitor," Mr. Black said sharply.
"Why? I'm not your son anymore," Sirius said coldly before joining Caitlin. Mr. and Mrs. Black followed.
Sirius found Caitlin looking at the Black family tree.
"Sirius," she said quietly, "I don't see you on here…"
"That's because my dad blasted me off last year after I ran away. I'm no longer their son," he answered softly, pointing to a mark that looked similar to a cigarette burn. Caitlin looked shocked, but said no more.
The Blacks, Sirius, and Caitlin sat down uncomfortably. There was a silence.
"So, you're a Mudblood," Mrs. Black said disapprovingly.
"A Muggleborn," Caitlin corrected. "But I am a witch."
Mrs. Black looked down her nose at Caitlin. Mr. Black spoke.
"So what line of work do you plan on going into, Miss… um, Taylor?"
"Well, I'm pretty good at Arithmancy, so-"
"Arrogant little creature," said Mrs. Black.
"Shut up, you hag," Sirius said fiercely. "You talk to her like that again and I'll hex you."
Caitlin squirmed, her cheeks getting hot.
"—so I'm aiming towards working at Gringotts, maybe being a curse-breaker," she finished, animosity in her voice.
"And your parents?" Mrs. Black asked. "What do they do?"
"Well, my mother's a vet, and my father's an architect. We live in Surrey. I also have an older brother, Jake."
"I didn't ask about your brother," Mrs. Black snapped, "but now that you mention him, he is a wizard, I presume?"
"Um, no," Caitlin said, her cheeks growing hotter, "He's a Muggle, too."
"I don't understand our kind who associate with Mudbloods and Muggles," Mr. Black said.
At this, Sirius jumped up and grabbed Caitlin's hand.
"Is this why you asked me to come?" Sirius yelled angrily. "So you could humiliate me and hurt my girlfriend? For your information, we're one hundred times the people you'll ever be, if you could call yourselves human. I've had enough. Come on, Caitlin," he said. "We're leaving."
Caitlin looked relieved at the prospect. Sirius marched her to the door.
"I hope I never see you again," he said to his parents, and the couple Disapparated.
Once in front of Caitlin's house, Caitlin froze. Sirius could see tears in her sapphire eyes, but she wiped them away hastily.
"Cait?" Sirius turned her so that they were facing each other. "It's okay, baby."
Caitlin burst into tears and Sirius held her close. She cried openly against his chest, and Sirius mentally cursed his former parents. I hope you rot in hell.
When she looked up, Sirius wiped away her tears with his handkerchief and kissed her.
"They won't be at the wedding, right?" she asked, kidding lightly.
"Sirius kissed her forehead. "Of course not," he said, and rang the doorbell.
The door opened, and a woman stood in the doorway. She wasn't exactly plump, but she had a little extra softness around her waistline. Not at all like Mrs. Black. Mrs. Taylor had short brown hair and hazel eyes. Mr. Taylor stood behind her. He was a somewhat tall man, probably about six feet. He had dark hair like Caitlin's and his eyes were the same azure color. Sirius realized Caitlin got a lot of her traits from her father.
"Hi, Mum! Hi, Dad!" Caitlin exclaimed as they hugged. When they broke apart, Caitlin introduced Sirius.
"Mum, Dad, this is my fiancé, Sirius Black," she said. Mrs. Taylor hugged him, and Sirius didn't really know what to do, since he had never met the woman before.
"Welcome, Sirius," Mrs. Taylor said.
"Hello, son," Mr. Taylor said, shaking his hand.
"Thank you, Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Taylor," Sirius said, nodding o each one in turn.
"Oh, please, call me Julianna," Mrs. Taylor said.
"And call me Sam," Mr. Taylor said.
"Right," said Sirius uncomfortably. "Julianna. Sam."
"Come on," Caitlin said, pulling Sirius into the house. "Jake!" she exclaimed, leaping onto someone tall and throwing her arms around him. "Back from rehab, eh?"
"Shut up, munchkin," Jake said as he ruffled Caitlin's hair. Caitlin scowled and smoothed it out.
"Sirius, this is my demented brother, Jake. Jake, this is Sirius."
"Hi," Jake said, sticking out his hand. Sirius shook it. Caitlin skipped into the living room laughing, calling the boys to follow.
"So you're the lucky bloke who's won my sister's heart, huh?"
"Uh… I suppose so," Sirius said uneasily.
"You hurt her, and I'll hurt you," Jake said seriously. Sirius didn't look scared, but judging by Jake's size, he felt a little threatened. He had wizardry on his side, though, so the threat was pretty much empty.
"Only joking," Jake laughed. "I'm glad my baby sister's got someone to look after her."
"I promise I'll take good care of her," Sirius swore.
Jake clapped him on the back.
"Good," he said. "Now come on, Mum's probably got lunch ready now." Sirius followed Jake into the dining room.
Caitlin, Julianna and Sam were already standing around the table, waiting for the guys.
"Have a seat, Sirius," said Julianna, gesturing toward the seat next to Caitlin. "I hope you like home-cooked meals."
I've never really had one before, Sirius thought, smiling to himself. Julianna had prepared a feast. Every inch of the mahogany table was covered in dishes.
"So, Sirius," Sam said once they had all tucked in to their meal, "I hear from Caitlin you come from a very influential family in the Wizarding World."
Caitlin looked uneasy. Her eyes were wide.
"Um, Daddy…" she began, but Sirius cut her off.
"Yes, Sam, the Blacks are a pretty important family, since we're Purebloods and all, but… I'd really rather not talk about my family right now," he said.
Julianna looked amused.
"Will do," she said. "So, Sirius, what do you aspire to be when you graduate from Hogwarts?"
"Well, I'm pretty much an all-rounder," Sirius said, but unlike Mrs. Black, Julianna made no rude remark, only looked impressed. "I'm not exactly sure what I want to be. I'm kind of looking forward to Quidditch in my future…"
Sam and Julianna looked confused.
"It's a wizard sport," Caitlin explained. "I can borrow Katherine's video camera and send you a tape of the next match, if you like. Sirius plays Chaser, and he's the best," she said affectionately.
By the end of the day (around five o'clock) Caitlin and Sirius announced that they'd better be leaving, since they had promised Dumbledore that they would be back by dinnertime in the Great Hall.
As they were leaving, Julianna hugged Sirius again. Sirius felt more comfortable this time, and returned the embrace.
"You're welcome here anytime, dear," she said kindly. Sirius nodded and thanked her.
"And take care of my baby girl," Sam added.
"Daddy! I am not a baby anymore and you know it!" Caitlin protested as she hugged her father. "Thanks for not saying anything about our age," she whispered.
Sam smiled. "If you're ready, I won't set any conditions on you two."
"Hey, man," Jake said, "take care. You know I'll be checking up on my baby sister, right?"
"I am not a baby!" Caitlin screeched. Jake, Sirius, and Sam laughed.
"Don't worry, I love her too much to hurt her," Sirius assured Jake. Caitlin blushed.
A/N: -narrator's voiceAnd then they Disapparated… Heh heh, I know it's long, so I ended it there without making up an ending like "they arrived at Hogwarts." Boring.
Ah yes, school starts in less than two weeks, and I'm taking 3 Honors classes, will be on 2 soccer teams… my schedule will be really full, so don't plan on getting updates fast, alright? Sorry to disappoint you, but… I'll try my best not to!
Anyway, I worked hard on this, so leave me a wonderful review!
Love you all with a TON of chocolate chip cookies (beat that),
OutofAzkaban
