CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE A Visitor Clothed in Smoke
Once the dear Professor Flitwick waved a final goodbye, did Sirius and Ophelia make their way back to Hogsmeade.
"Did you have a good time?" he asked, taking her hand in his.
"Yes. Professor Flitwick is amazing. He won the Great Britain Dueling Championships this past week. His sixteenth straight win, you know."
"That's quite impressive. I almost feel sorry for his competitors, they must not have known what they'd gotten themselves into."
They walked the rest of the way in silence, as a thin, chill mist rolled over the grounds, blanketing the village. Ophelia wrapped her arm through Sirius' and rested her head on the crook in his shoulder.
He kissed her on the head as they continued their walk back to the Three Broomsticks.
"Do you want to do something tomorrow? Something fun?" she asked.
Sirius frowned. "Actually, I'm kind of, er, busy..."
"Right. Sure you are." she laughed.
"No I really am. I'm... moving out of Grimmauld Place."
"You are? Can I help?"
"No." he answered quickly. "I don't want you to be there. James, Remus and Pete are coming with me."
"But--"
"No Phe." he said firmly. "I'll see you after, alright? I just don't want to subject you to them. I'm doing you a favor."
She nodded. "Whatever you say, Sir."
"Is that so?"
"No, I was only teasing. Remember, I was the one who won the bet."
"I remember no such thing."
"Liar!" cried Ophelia, smacking his arm. "And to think I was almost going to let you off easily."
Sirius held open the door for her. "And now?"
"I won't obviously."
"What you are going to make me do?"
"And you say I'm impatient. You'll know soon enough." she said, buying them a pitcher of Butterbeer.
"Does it involve making an ass of myself?"
"How could it not?" replied Ophelia, casting a worried glance across the pub at Pandora. She had not taken her eyes off the two since they had arrived.
Sirius squeezed her hand. "Don't worry about her. She's nothing."
"Right."
"I mean it." he continued. "I don't care if she likes me. A lot of girls like me."
"You're such a pr--"
He held a finger to her lips. "Don't say it. You'll regret it."
Ophelia chuckled. "No I wouldn't. You are a prat."
"I know you really don't think that."
"Sure I don't."
Sirius downed the rest of his Butterbeer. "Shall we be going? Cygnus is kind of creeping me out."
"Gladly."
They used the fireplace in Rosemerta's apartment above the Three Broomsticks to return home. Sirius, as he liked to brag, had a way with the attractive barmaid, as she didn't usually allow patrons to use her fireplace.
"So what time are you leaving tomorrow morning?" asked Ophelia, dusting herself off.
He ducked out of the grate, ignoring the soot smudged across his cheek. "Early. I want to get it over with as soon as possible. The sooner I'm out of there the sooner I can begin the healing process."
"James' pyschotherapy books again?"
"Yeah, his father left them laying around last summer and I picked one up."
Ophelia collapsed onto the couch and motioned for him to join her. "Well, I'll do what I can to help you through it."
His eyes lit up. "You will?"
"Mm-hmm."
Sirius inched closer to her. "Good, because I've been feeling pretty down lately..."
"Liar."
"Stop calling me that."
"I'll stop calling you that when you stop lying." she giggled. "You're moving out of a house which you hate and you have me for a girlfriend. You're feeling great."
"I am." he smiled, "But I'll be even better tomorrow night. Do you want to go out after?"
"Sir, you won't have the strength, believe me."
"I will too!" he said incredulously.
"After a day of dealing with Regulus and your dear old mum? You'll be so worn out." explained Ophelia. "But that's alright."
He grinned. "I'm not tired now."
"No?"
"No. Not at all."
A great clatter was heard round the room, as grey smoke billowed against the ceiling and someone fell through the fireplace.
Sirius leapt in front of Ophelia, as to sheild her from whoever had come in, but landed in her lap.
"This is new." said Mai's voice from within the clouds. "Am I interrupting something?"
"M-Mai?" she coughed. "W-What are y-you doing here?"
The petite, auburn-haired witch emerged from the dust. "Yeah, it's me. Do you mind that I just showed up? I kind of needed... to go somewhere..."
"It's fine, of course." said Ophelia. "Are you alright? Has something happened?"
"No, no. Nothing like that."
Talia and James came in through the dining room, surprised at seeing their friend.
"Mai? What's going on?" asked Talia. "Did someth--" She cast a wary look at the others.
"Yes, well... not as we imagined." she replied quickly. "Not as severe, thankfully."
Remus and Lily joined the group.
"Mai." repeated Lily. "You look great. What are you doing here?"
"Question of the day." chuckled Sirius.
She flushed. "I make a move that it be changed to what were you and Phe doing on the couch together?"
"Old news. Sorry Mai." said Remus. "What's up?"
She hesitated before sitting down stiffly on the couch. "I... had a disagreement with my father. Would I be a complete nuisance if I spent the rest of the summer here. With you all?"
Talia dove across the others and gathered her friend in a hug. "'Course you can. You're always welcome here."
A faint smile broke across her lips. "Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me."
"Yes we do." laughed Ophelia. "Only last summer Rem and I ran away from our dear parents."
"Yeah, and left me alone with them." Talia scoffed. "Thanks, by the way."
"Don't be a baby, it was only for a few days."
"A few days which left me in the hospital."
"It wasn't like it was your first time there." she giggled. "You'll probably be there next month."
"Now I will that you jinxed me, Phe!" cried Talia, folding her arms across her chest. "Thanks."
"Tell you what;" began Ophelia, "If you turn up in Mungo's in the next month, I'll buy you an owl."
