UGH. One of my favorite chapters thus far. :) I hope you all like it! Please fav, follow, and review if you do!
Also, someone asked about River's age... Which is a great question! So wanted to dive into the ~lore~ of our Professor Puffywood real quick. She graduated from Hogwarts at age 18 and then took a gap year. After that, she applied to and got a position in the Herbology research department at Hogwarts. She worked there for two years, during which she was integrated into Dumbledore's #squad. After that, like mentioned in Ch. 1, she traveled and researched for a decade before coming back to Hogwarts to teach. This is her seventh year teaching at Hogwarts which would put her aroooound 39ish. She's just very sprightly for her age. ;)
- CHAPTER 15: NORMAL -
My slippers tripped me a couple of times as I paced rapidly in front of the grand Christmas tree in our sitting room. The baubles and crystals floating on the branches twinkled from the flames of the fire, sending out mysterious rays of light in an otherwise dark room. It was nearly eleven-thirty now, Christmas officially under an hour away. To try and lift our spirits, Flippy had put some jovial Christmas tunes by Celestina Warbeck on the record player. But there was nothing cheerful to be had about the occasion, not when I knew what was happening just a portkey's jump away.
"You're going to run a hole in the floor," my mother said from her rigid position on the couch. Despite her calm voice, she was just as a wreck on the inside as I was. With practiced movements, she finished off what was probably her fourth cup of tea. "There's really nothing to be worried about."
If she meant it, she wouldn't be here waiting eagerly with me.
Everyone involved in the raid had met at our home around four hours ago. They talked tactics upstairs for a bit before all coming down to surround an intricate vase set upon a pedestal in our foyer. All the key players were there. My father, Abraxas, Fenrir, Bellatrix, and a plethora of other usuals. Voldemort was to meet them there - thankfully for me - when the time was right. This time they also invited some of the younger recruits to tag along, kids I knew from school mostly. My brother, Lucius, Severus, and even Regulus.
We didn't have a chance to talk before they all left but I tried to give my brother and my best friend the brightest look of encouragement I could. Encouragement not to do well but to simply come back alive and in one piece. While Byron had given me a small smile back, Regulus had oddly ignored my gaze. I chalked it up to pre-carnage nerves.
And then they were gone, leaving me and my mother to stew in our worries. We had relocated to the sitting room not long after with few words exchanged between us. The tension was thick in the air and, despite the roaring flames before me, I was chilled to the bone. Not even the snug robe I had fit around my frame could warm me up. Flippy tried to offer me some tea but I turned her down. I doubted I would be able to keep it in my stomach.
Looking at the clock, already another fifteen minutes had gone by.
"They're supposed to be back before midnight," I said in frustration.
"They still have time," my mother started on her fifth cup.
"Barely…" I flicked a bauble on the tree painted with a white peacock. It had been a present from the Malfoys and I scowled at the sight of it. Finally, I stopped walking and turned to face her. "Something went wrong. What are we supposed to do if we don't hear from them in time? I think dad said to contact -"
But I wasn't able to finish my sentence before I heard a crashing sound from downstairs. My mother and I froze, barely sparing a moment for a glance before rushing from our spots. Her tea spilled all over the carpet in the fervor of our movements.
We reached the balcony of the main staircase, looking down into the massive foyer. There, in various states of disrepair, were a multitude of Death Eaters. I gasped, this was a lot more than they had left with. They all began to unmask, most looking to find a place to sit. The sound of the crash had come from a lanky looking witch who accidentally dropped the vase upon arrival. Or maybe on purpose to destroy the evidence.
My eyes quickly scanned the room, trying to find anyone I cared about. The first person I noticed was Severus, hair covering his hands as he laid his head in them while sitting on the floor. Without being able to find anyone else, I rushed down the steps and over to him. My hands immediately went up to his shoulders in what I hoped wasn't too frantic and more of a comforting gesture.
"Severus," I said quietly, not wanting to startle the clearly fractured boy. "Are you okay? Can we get you anything?"
He looked up at me and his eyes said it all. They were broken, unrecognizable. I couldn't even muster the mockery in my mind to say he looked pathetic like I usually would. He just looked ruptured and I was unsure if anything would be able to put the pieces together.
"It was…" He began, voice hoarse like he had swallowed cotton balls. "It was a bloodbath, Elsbeth. They didn't stand a chance. Especially not when he swooped in for the finale."
Above everything, he was exhausted I could tell. And I knew it wasn't because it was late.
"Flippy!" I called out but didn't take my eyes off of Severus. His eyes were drooping and I wasn't sure if it was because he was falling asleep or fainting. The small elf was beside me in seconds. "Get a warm blanket for him, would you? And a nice cup of hot tea," I finally looked around the room as I spoke. Many of the wizards were slumped over, eyes glossy with fatigue. "Better wake the kitchen staff and get all the kettles we have going, actually." Flippy nodded and scurried off with her orders.
"Stay with me, Severus," I lightly patted his cheek to wake him. "Just a cup of tea and you'll be fit as a Hippogriff, yeah?" He nodded sadly and I knew my attempts at encouragement had fallen on deaf ears. Flippy was back quickly, wrapping a cloak around Severus' shoulders. "Can you watch him for me? I have to find the others." She nodded and I stood, scanning the room again.
He was hidden very well, but I was still able to make out the roughed up form of Regulus as he hid off in an alcove. With a relieved exhale, I practically ran towards him. Halfway there, he caught my gaze with a glare and I faltered for a moment but continued on. My first instinct was to hug him but that was quickly swallowed by concern when I saw the fury written all over his face.
"Dear Salazar, I'm so happy you're okay," my breath was heavy from my quick pace combined with the panic I felt about my house being overrun with Death Eaters. "I was terrified that -"
"How could you?" He seethed, eyes black. I'd never seen him like this before, especially not at me. "I thought you were my friend."
"What? I am." I tried to reach out for a hand to squeeze but he tugged it away roughly as soon as I brushed his fingers. My features furrowed in confusion and tears pricked my eyes. I didn't like the thought of him thinking anything other than the fact that I was here for him. "What's going on?"
"Why would you tell them? I am in so much shit now."
"Tell who what?" I was so confused. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Always so good at acting. Even I couldn't see through it. Really is no wonder why he favors you." He scoffed with malice. More than anything, this was scary and I found myself ten times more anxious than when I had been waiting for them to safely return. "I spoke to you about my mission in secret... And then you go off and let them know I told you. Do you know what kind of danger that puts me and my family in? I told you it was supposed to be utterly confidential. Even if you've been faking to be my friend this entire time, I assumed you would have a little more decency than this!"
He was absolutely fuming by the end of it and I was absolutely flabbergasted. Regulus did tell me about his horrible task to kill Sirius in confidence, in the isolation of the tapestry room at his home. It was something we hadn't spoken about since and definitely something I hadn't uttered a word about to anyone else. Maybe Walburga had been listening to the entire time and let something slip? That was the only logical conclusion I could come up with considering I had positively not spoken a peep or let anything slip about that conversion.
"Regulus, I swear on my life that I didn't say a word about anything to anyone." This time, I didn't let him yank away as I grabbed his hands. It forced him to look me in the eyes. "You have to believe me. I am your friend."
"Then why does he know?" He still seethed though something softened in his eyes. "You're the only one I told beyond those who already knew."
"I…" Hesitation overtook me because I really didn't know the answer to that. "I have no clue."
"Well, that's very convenient for you," he practically mocked as he ripped himself away and began to storm away. "If it makes you happy, he's now issued a threat," he said as he turned one last time. I waited with bated breath. "If Sirius isn't dead by the end of the school year, my entire family will be."
Tears began to slip uncontrollably now. "Regulus, please -"
"Don't talk to me again." And with that, he was gone.
Leaning against the wall, my mouth agape, I felt the world spin. What was going on? It was as if the universe was punching me over and over and over again, straight to the gut, and reminding me that my life was horrid. Turns out that this night could get worse despite my previously thinking it couldn't. Ten minutes ago, my only worry was if everyone got home safe but now I realized that there was so much more to be concerned about. But where to even begin?
Vertigo slowly dissipating, I decided it was my time to disappear. I didn't care about seeing anyone else, fearful that maybe my brother had somehow learned to loathe me as well during his time on the field. There were so few people I could even have a semblance of reliance on and I had just lost a key one somehow. I wasn't about to lose Byron too. Maybe if I disappeared for the night, let everyone cool down, everything would return to the twisted normal I knew it to be.
Creeping along the wall, I kept my head down and my mouth pursed tight. Placing my hand on the banister of the staircase, I sped up it with lightning speed.
"Going somewhere?" Came a tired voice from my right as I reached the midway landing.
I looked over to see Byron, eyes leery with exhaustion and what I thought was guilt. His clothes were tattered everywhere, the cloak he left in no longer with him and probably lost in the skirmish. His Death Eater mask was cracked in the forehead like it was hit with lightning during a large storm. There was blood on his sleeves and bruises on his face. I'd seen him post-fights before but never like this. Never where the external injuries were clearly not as bad as those internally. His face was what frightened me the most. It was twisted, unrecognizable in the sense that it had somehow folded on itself in various spots as his frown reached unbelievable lows.
"Sneaking off." I suddenly felt bad for thinking that I was a victim of everything that was happening. Clearly, there was no comparison. "Where'd mother go?" She was no longer at the top of the stairs where I left her and I didn't see her perusing the crowds.
"Already snuck off herself, I suppose." He sighed. "She took one look at us and was gone."
I let out a long and sad sigh, feeling guilty once again to have made tonight about my struggles even so briefly. She had, I realized now, no idea what she was signing up for, what she was willingly going along with, until tonight. Her blissful ignorance probably shattered the moment they returned, now turning to determined avoidance. I wondered how long she would be able to keep it up. Things were only bound to get worse from here.
"C'mon," I grabbed him by the hand, the dirt on his fingers transferring over to mine easily. "I know exactly what we need." With my free hand, I took his busted mask and threw it over the banister. As we continued to walk, I heard it crash with the clatter of metal against the marble.
The Ledoux family home was very large, rivaling that of other prestigious families in the area. We had a plethora of rooms to explore as we grew up but there was one we held very dear. Our childhood playroom was exactly as it had been since the day Byron was born. Constructed of cushioned walls and scattered with various toys, it was where our parents would dump us with the nannies when they were busy and we were still too young to be shipped off to any relatives. Even now, as we entered, I had to jump over the wooden horses that galloped by themselves and duck under the flying Quidditch player figurines that flitted around the room.
But the best part about this room had always been the ceiling. It was painted with a baby blue sky and fluffy clouds that moved as if they would outside on a calm day. Even as we grew older and the playroom became less of a regular hangout, we would sometimes come in here and lay on the plush carpet, looking up and talking about what shapes we saw in the clouds. We did it when things got particularly unbearable when we wanted to escape from our prearranged lives.
So that's what we did now. Without much ceremony, we flopped to the ground and laid back, getting comfy. Our bodies formed a straight line as we sat ear to ear, our heads overlapping as we looked up to the artificial sky above us.
"You first," I said with as much fake cheer as I could muster, "what do you see?"
"Hmm," he sighed in relief, his body clearly happy that he was no longer on his feet. "A hot bath, a bottle of firewhiskey…"
We both let out a chuckle, his raspy like his vocal cords didn't know he was capable of such a sound anymore. "Be serious," I chided him in jest. "This is a very serious activity."
He chuckled some more, only wincing once from some sort of unknown pain source. "I see…" He trailed off as his voice became soft, pensive. "Poppies. Hundreds of them. Just like in grandmaman's garden during the summer."
"That's sweet," I said genuinely. "Hopefully we'll be able to plan our trip when they're in full bloom this time. We just missed out last summer, remember? They were all wilty."
He shifted uncomfortably. "A premonition that we were too naive to see, perhaps."
"Got a point there," I admitted with a scowl.
"What about you?" He raised his hands to prop up his head and I had to scoot to avoid his elbows. "What are the clouds showing you today?"
Squinting, I turned my head skyward. The clouds moved painstakingly slowly as they progressed across the vaulted ceiling. At first, I wasn't able to see anything in particular beyond just some basic shapes. I was never sure if Byron ever truly saw everything he told me he did but part of me also believed it, having seen a variety of wildly specific images across the years. Sometimes, I think it might have even been enchanted, showing us what we wanted to see.
Some of the puffs of clouds began to move around a bit, forming a recognizable shape. In seconds, a snout protruded, followed by the perky ears. It's entire body didn't form but it didn't have to for me to recognize it from the divination books I knew front to back. I held back a gasp as I looked up to the grim now on the ceiling in the clouds. There was a subtle sense of betrayal - how could the clouds let something like this appear on a night like this?
But then I looked at it more. No, maybe it wasn't the omen of death that had been taught in class. Instead, if I looked at it from a more positive angle, it was something else. A shaggy dog. My look of slight horror turned to one of subdued happiness.
"A dog," I whispered. "Shaggy and… Sweet. Stupid, no doubt. But sweet."
"Oddly specific," Byron murmured. "But that's nice. Hoping to ask mother and father for a dog soon?"
"Only if it's trained to hunt peacocks."
"Of course," he laughed, "I would make sure you got nothing less."
We continued to laugh at the idea, the weight of the world lost on us for at least a moment. And then we eased into a comfortable silence, allowing us to wonder in our own thoughts as the clouds above shifted and morphed into various shapes. It was so easy to imagine that we were children again, having come in from a long afternoon at some pureblood gala or other nonsense. If I focused hard enough, I wasn't wearing my velour robe but one of the excessively puffy dresses of my youth. Meanwhile, Byron would be in his mini-tux, tiny bow and all, as he kicked his dress shoes across the room. I giggled at the thought.
"What's on your mind?" My head turned at his voice and the world landed on me, shattering any delusions I had.
The bruise around his eye was much more pronounced now, having had time to sink in. Being this close, I was practically able to smell the ash of his singed clothes. But it was overpowered by something else, something that stuck in the back of my throat. Blood, I realized.
"What happened tonight?" I whispered softly, ignoring his question with one of my own. All happy memories were gone now, and I was unsure of when they would return.
He looked away, eyes welling a bit. "I wouldn't want to bother you with it."
"Byron, please." I rolled completely to face him. "We've been so distant lately and it's because of this. I can't support you if you don't let me… Just tell me."
He still didn't look at me but swallowed hard. "It was so quiet," his voice was barely audible. "The snow was falling so perfectly. It was like… One of those beautiful pictures you see in some sort of travel advertisement. The town Christmas decorations were still lit up, even though every house was dark. Everyone must have gone to bed pretty early. Santa, and all that." His lower lip began to quiver. I stayed quiet, letting him process how to tell me in his own time. It took him ages to go on. "And then it just… Happened. The houses around me were suddenly on fire. That's how they do it, you see? They set the house on fire to draw them out and then strike them down in the street. Doesn't matter who you are, so long as you're a Muggle. Doesn't matter how much you scream and scream and beg for mercy." By now, tears were rolling rapidly down the sides of his face.
"Did you do it?" I whispered, no judgment in the question.
Finally, he turned, his eyes searching mine. "Yeah," he finally admitted. "Just one. But it's enough. I already feel something inside me twisting. Breaking apart. It's true what they say, killing someone changes you."
"Who?"
He looked at me quizzically. "Does it matter?"
I shrugged, rolling back over to face the clouds. They seemed darker now, like the beginnings of a massive storm. "Maybe remembering them is the best you can do now. Hope that, whatever's out there, they're content."
"He was old," he began and I could hear the sniffles. "Really old. I made sure to look out for someone where, if I had to do it, it wasn't going to… You know, take them away too prematurely. And he had a great beard. As in, Dumbledore would be jealous." He sighed, the tears drying up as he remembered the man. "His pajamas were striped green and white. And he had one of those old school nightcaps. He lived just on the outskirts of the town, with a view of the river. He must have retired there or something."
Despite the lack of tears, it was clear that his spirit was dwindling with every word. This wasn't something he could take back. And it was likely something that would follow him forever, no matter how things turned out.
"Well," I tried to sound as calm as I could despite how heavy my heart felt for him, "to the old man in the green and white striped pajamas. May he find happiness wherever he is."
"To the old man and the green and white striped pajamas… Who didn't deserve to die." He nodded.
"Byron, you did what you had to, just remember that." My voice was grim but not unfriendly. "Survive now, that's all you have to do," I echoed the words that had been said to me before.
"Beth," he said, very serious now. "Look at me." I turned my head again, shocked to see his severe expression. "Can you promise me something?"
"Depends on what it is, I suppose." I faltered under his intense gaze.
"Get out."
"What?" I thought I misheard him. "Like now? I can leave if you want some space -"
"No." He rolled his eyes, a bit of spark returning. "Get out of this mess. Of this situation. I'm trapped but you… You still have hope. This doesn't have to be your fate, too."
"Oh." His words caught me so off guard that I felt my brain halt. Immediately, I felt myself crumple into the rationale in which I had imprisoned myself. "I don't think it's that simple, unfortunately… And besides, I couldn't leave you guys."
"Don't worry about us, Beth," he said with finality. "I'll take care of everything else. I just..." His eyes welled once more. "I just need you to be okay. I'm never going to be after tonight, so I need you to be."
"Okay," I whispered after a moment, unsure if I would actually follow through.
"You're seventeen," he pondered, looking at the clouds. "We can work on a plan to send you off this summer."
"Wow, you really are serious," I mumbled, my mind wandering to Regulus' dark eyes. "Unfortunately, there's just one hiccup. You all seem to know where I am every second. As in, I've discussed things behind closed doors but you all still found out somehow." He visibly tensed, clearly knowing something. "Byron?" I side-eyed him. "There's something you're not telling me."
"There's a way you can… Get rid of that as well." He struggled to find the words.
"How?" I asked but he looked away. "Byron, you have to tell me what you know."
"Can't." He sighed. "Took an Unbreakable Vow."
"Merlin," I breathed, not even able to unpack that right now. All I could focus on was the overwhelming frustration about how they seemed to know everything I did… Well, for the most part, at least. Meanwhile, there were others that seemed to be able to live double lives without repercussions. "I just don't understand it, though…" I hesitated, unsure if I should say what I thought next. But Byron and I made a breakthrough tonight. Things were almost feeling normal. Almost safe. "Andromeda has some big secrets but you all don't seem to care about them. Surely you're keeping tabs on her as well."
He shrugged. "Maybe you should start thinking about what you have that Andromeda doesn't."
Without another word, I thunked my head against the soft floor, as if that would will the answer to come to my mind. Andromeda and I grew up with similar lifestyles, so I couldn't think of anything I would have that she couldn't possibly acquire. We both had large houses, pompous parents, siblings. Both of us had tea sets, beautiful gowns, and shiny trinkets galore. Most importantly, we were both being denied real lives, real love, by being forced into marriages neither of us wanted -
My racing mind came to a screeching halt and I lifted myself up on my elbow to face my brother. "No. Way." I seethed. He shrugged noncommittally but he gave me a pointed look like he had read my mind and knew I figured it out.
"Do what you need to do," he said simply, the scratches on his face moved as he shot me a smirk.
My heart began to beat fast, but my mind was calm now. I knew what I had to do next. "I've got to send an owl," I murmured, and, less than a second later, I was out the door.
Bleary eyed, I walked down the unusually vacant streets of Diagon Alley. It was midday during holiday break, which usually meant it was full to the brim with witches and wizards going on about their merry way. Maybe grabbing a butterbeer or snatching up some post-Christmas deals. But not today, probably not for a while. Some rubble still scattered the ground from Voldemort's attack and everyone that passed by kept their hoods up and heads down. The snow fell but it wasn't as picturesque as it usually was. Now it was dreary, dirty almost.
I hadn't gotten any sleep last night after I left Byron. Immediately, I went to my room and wrote a note hastily, keeping the details minimal but clear, before heading outside to our owl barn. Picking the quickest and most discreet owl of our flock, I attached it to her leg and sent her on her merry way. Even despite the cold, I had stayed put to wait for her, not wanting the answer to be intercepted by anyone. Finally, close to dawn, I saw her return on the horizon and the sun began to rise under her wings. She landed on her perch, my same parchment attached to her leg. I had frowned at first, maybe thinking I had sent it to the wrong place. But as I unfolded it, it revealed a simple sentence right under my own writing.
See you then.
So now, with nerves of many different varieties, I waddled down the cobblestone streets. Mother forcing me into a skirt once more, the cold bit at me fiercely. I wrapped my cloak tighter, a dark purple color now to hopefully blend in more than I had last time.
Finally, I reached my destination. Flourish and Blotts, much like the streets outside, was practically a ghost town. There were only a few patrons milling about but even so, it was as quiet as a cemetery. A stark contrast to the animated conversations that were usually had about the latest bestseller. It unnerved me further but I pushed onwards and up the stairs to the rows of bookshelves on the second floor. With quick moves, I cleared them, climbing up the last set of stairs to the third floor and its similar layout of shelves. This was the less traversed section, with more encyclopedia-style books. It was only visited by N.E.W.T. level students or the especially studious scholar.
It was here, hidden in the very back where I found who I had asked to meet me. Sirius looked like a picture from his seat on the windowsill, a book about magical creatures of the East propped up on his lap. He didn't even give me the chance to catch my breath before he looked up at me, grey eyes piercing me.
"Alright, Ledoux?" He smiled sweetly as he stood, book perched on his hip. "Was a bit surprised to get your owl, if I'm honest -"
"Just shh," I said raising a hand. If he talked anymore, I might completely ditch my plan. If that's what I was calling it.
"Beth?" His eyebrows scrunched in concern as he inched closer. "Everything alright?"
"Remember when I asked you if you trusted me?" I finally spit out, unsure of how to begin all this.
"Yeah…" He looked like I had gone mad. Maybe I had.
"Has your answer changed?" Part of me hoped he said 'yes' so that it would put me out of my misery. So it would stop the avalanche that I was inevitably about to start.
"Never will," he said seriously.
"Right." I nodded simply.
And then I was acting without thinking. In a few short steps, I had planted myself in front of him and, in just as swift a movement, my arms were around his neck and my lips were against his.
I expected him to be taken aback, to pull away, but instead, I felt strong arms wrap around my waist instantly as the sound of his book hitting the floor rang out around the space. We melded into one another, my fingers eventually tangling in his long hair and loosening the chord that held it all together. His arms pulled me against him until we could get no closer as he slammed my back gently against the closest bookshelf. My lips immediately parted when he bit the bottom one, finally allowing me to get some air as I did so. It was pure, utter, and all encompassing bliss that only felt right to continue into perpetuity.
However, though every bone and every fiber of my being begged to stay, I pulled away. His eyes seemed black with desire now as his forehead leaned on mine. And he looked absolutely ethereal with his disheveled hair. My fingers cupped his face gently, the emerald of my engagement ring shining from the light of the window behind him. Parting his mouth as if to say something, I placed a finger over his lips.
"Trust me," I breathed. "And stay here… But maybe also think of a quick way to escape."
"Where to?" His voice was husky and warm as it tickled my cheek.
"Anywhere."
Body pleading to remain, I pulled away from him but our hands remained interlocked until the very last second. He held on just before I was out of reach. "Promise?" He said, voice slow and eyes focused on me. Only me.
"Promise." I squeezed his hand.
I let go, my heart yearning for me to do anything but. As I dashed around the bookshelf to the staircase, I took one last look back. His face was towards the sunlight, eyes closed and a genuine smile across his face. I blushed profusely at the thought that maybe that could be for me. Then, I hurried down the steps before my heart won out over my brain. I would find my way into his arms again but only after I proved my point.
With a little more pep in my step now, I advanced on the marble pillars of Gringotts. The goblins had been quick to rebuild, the facade already pretty much completely reassembled to its former glory. The only thing that was off now was the lack of giant chandeliers. But they were quick to work on that as well, with seven goblins surrounding one placed in the middle of the floor with a sign that said 'Please Excuse Our Mess' as an apology for bank-goers. As if they needed to apologize at all.
I remained in the foyer, pacing a bit as I waited somewhat impatiently. The eagerness to get this over with, to finally know the truth, outweighed any nerves I had now. There was a clear view of Diagon Alley's main street today from my position just inside the door of the bank, another oddity, so surely I would be able to see whoever it was coming. So I waited, eyes trained on the road below.
And finally, they came. They took the long way, traversing through the wall behind the Leaky Cauldron rather than just apparating here. I squared my shoulders, standing directly in the doorway of the bank so they could spot me easily. Making eye contact with the boy to the right, I sent him what I hoped was a bone-shattering glare.
Lucius was walking swiftly, practically pushing aside any witch or wizard who got in his way. Byron strolled leisurely behind him, keeping pace with his long legs. As they approached the stairs, I turned and went deeper into the bank to meet the first teller on my left.
"Ma'am?" The cratchety thing croaked out. "How may I be of assistance today? And, of course, we do apologize for our mess." He read his scripted lines flatly like he definitely didn't care about any inconvenience them rebuilding the bank may be.
"I'd like to put something in my vault please." I slid off the engagement ring, procuring the small velvet box it came in from my pocket and placing it inside. With a small but satisfying clunk, I reached up and dropped it right in front of him. "As hidden as you can make it. It's quite precious, of course." My last sentence dripped with malicious sarcasm.
"Elsbeth?" I heard the hiss right in my ear as Lucius approached. He grabbed my elbow harshly. "What are you doing?"
"Does the ma'am have her key?" The goblin asked.
"Of course." Another rifle through my pockets before I pulled out the extravagant gold key. "Vault three-thousand one-eighty-eight, if you please."
The goblin just nodded, disappearing as he jumped down from his teller position with the ring box in hand. I felt a sense of relief wash over me like an invisible weight had been holding me down all this time without me knowing it.
"I will ask again," Lucius' grip on my elbow increased as he spoke, "what in the name of Salazar are you doing?"
"Just putting up the ring for safekeeping." I shrugged coyly. "It's really too flashy to be wearing around Hogwarts anyhow. The real question is what are you two doing here?" Byron tried to hide his smirk while Lucius fumed in front of him. "Can't be mere coincidence."
I wanted him to say it, much like I wanted him to admit to me about Narcissa.
"Just…" He pursed his lips, considering his words. "Making a withdrawal."
"A withdrawal," I mused sarcastically, eyes turning into slits. "Or is it because you just saw me and Sirius through that spying ring of yours?"
Lucius' face blanched. Another smirk from Byron. Jackpot. He had told me without actually telling me, bypassing the rules of the Unbreakable Vow. I wasn't sure how I would ever repay him.
"No clue what you're going on about," the blonde boy said arrogantly. His hair was getting disgustingly long, I noticed now.
"Oh, let's just drop all the pretenses now, yeah?" I leaned against the tall teller desk, my arms crossing. "After all, there's no ring to watch us anymore." I smiled, knowing I won. "I knew there was something odd going on. No way you could have had someone positioned on me all the time. And then you knew certain things but not others… Didn't quite put it together until I realized it all connected back to one thing. The ring. Oh - thank you." The goblin had returned with my key and I took it gladly. Walking away swiftly, they followed not long after until we positioned ourselves right in front of the steps outside. I didn't care much who may have been listening. "Everything you guys brought up were things I talked about or did when I was wearing the ring. It's why you were so uppity about it at the beginning of the year. What changed, I wonder? Did Narcissa snog the need to watch my every move out of you?"
He scoffed loudly. "You're unbelievable."
"But I'm also right." I shrugged but then frowned deeply. "You all knowing what Regulus told me in high confidence was what really solidified the theory. But still," a small smile, "I had to double-check today."
"How long have you been seeing the bloodtraitor?" He growled.
"Not long." It wasn't exactly a lie. I was just thankful now that the ring hadn't been present for the most part when I had hung around them. "Who else knows about it?"
"We're charged with watching," Byron finally spoke, his tone casual. "But we're technically supposed to report everything we see to the higher-ups. It's why," he glanced at Lucius, "the Dark Lord knew about Lucius' little affair." Power move. "I mean it's protocol, right mate?" Lucius glared through the fake friendly pat on his shoulder from my brother.
"You can't just not wear the ring," Lucius seethed. "He expects reports."
"Make something up," I retorted sharply. "You're apparently pretty good at keeping things hidden from him. Or just tell him I put it up for safekeeping. I don't care too much anymore."
"You insolent little cockroach."
"Be that as it may," I adjusted my cloak as I spoke, as if this was the end to just another casual conversation, "someone's waiting on me. So I really must go."
"You can't seriously think I'll let you just go back to that -"
"Eh, c'mon Lucius." Another rough pat on his shoulder from Byron as he interrupted. "We can let her have her fun for a bit. You're running late anyhow… You're leaving for Germany today with some mates, right? It's odd," my brother pondered sarcastically, "I heard the Black sisters, including Narcissa, are going to be there this week as well. What a funny coincidence."
"How did you…" Lucius looked flabbergasted, caught in a corner.
"Don't worry, I won't mention it this time. Wouldn't want another conversation like the other night, eh? That was unpleasant for all of us. We can just say Beth decided to go with you at the last minute." He shot me a wink. "Agreed? Agreed." He answered for us before letting Lucius get in another word. A bright smile formed on my face.
Having lost, decimated even, Lucius stalked away with a pointed shove to my shoulder as he passed. But I couldn't be dismayed. Before he could say anything, I wrapped my brother in a tight hug.
"Thank you so much." Tears pricked my cheeks as I spoke. "I would have never figured it out if it wasn't for you."
"Eh," he shrugged as we pulled apart. "You probably would have eventually. You're one of the smartest witches I know." He planted a kiss on my forehead. "Now off with you! I'll cover if anything else comes up but I wouldn't stay away too long… Lucius is back in about three days. Plus you have to be home for Christmas. And Bethie," he squeezed my hand. I hadn't heard him call me that since we were children. "Stay safe, yeah? We're really playing with fire now."
"Don't we always?" I smiled at him, squeezing his hand back. "Owl me if it's urgent."
And then we parted and I all but ran back to the bookstore. Wizards looked at me warily as I passed them by, glancing around to see if I was trying to avoid another threat that was about to rain down upon them. Hopefully, the raging smile on my face told them that wasn't exactly the case. With more aggression than necessary, I pushed open the creaky door to the store and bounded up the steps two at a time. By the time I reached the third floor, breath had escaped me but I didn't care in the slightest.
Sirius was right where I had left him, the book still laying on the ground and long forgotten. His eyes were gazing out the window but they snapped to mine when I rounded the bookcase. I was hot, both from exertion and seeing him once more, and my face was probably as red as a tomato. But I didn't care about what I looked like. All I wanted was to be near him again, and so I rushed forward to clear the space between us.
My hands were quickly on his cheeks, my lips on his. Once more, he didn't hesitate, didn't push back, or show any indication that what was happening right now wasn't exactly as it should be. His arms once again found their way around my waist but this time there was less fervor. The kiss seemed softer now, more passionate without the abrupt physicality. As if the initial adrenaline had worn off and we were now just enjoying the presence of one another in such an intimate way. We separated too soon again but held each other, his hands still cradling my hips and my arms wrapped around his neck.
"I… We've got some things to talk about," I said quietly.
"Shall we head off then?" He smiled and I felt the light squeeze of his hand on my side.
"Where to?" I mimicked his question from earlier.
"You'll see."
Smiles plastered on both of our faces, we parted but he held strong onto my hand with his own. I imagined, based on his grip, that if he had his way, he would never let go. My feelings in that regard were the same. He led me down the steps in a hurry, clearly excited to get where he wanted to go. In the back of my mind was a nagging sensation telling me that this was dangerous, to be seen so openly. But the bliss I was feeling about finally gaining something akin to freedom overpowered any hesitancy. Still, I thanked Merlin that not many people were out and about.
Once outside, we didn't traverse far within Diagon Alley. He led me to the nearest alley before, without notice, he grabbed onto my waist and the world twisted in front of me. Vertigo hit suddenly and harshly, my body not being prepared for apparating. We landed on solid ground moments later but my mind was still traveling. I quickly stepped away, my hands going to my head as if that would help somehow.
"Beth, you okay?" Sirius' voice, thick with worry, was somewhere near though I couldn't place it. Soon after, there were heavy hands caressing my shoulders. I felt instantly grounded at their touch.
"Yeah, sorry. I just… Am not good with apparating," I said with a chuckle. "Wait. You know how to apparate?" Our lessons wouldn't start until we got back from break, so it made no sense how he was already able to do so.
He smirked. "One of the perks of my position." In response to my confused look, he planted a kiss on my forehead before grabbing my hand once more and leading me away. "I'll explain later. Let's get inside and get warmed up, yeah?"
Little did he know that his fingers interlaced with mine were all I needed to feel completely overtaken with heat.
Him being the only thing on my mind, I hadn't even realized where he brought us. We were standing at the beginning of a long gravel driveway, trees overtaking the land on both sides and expanding into forests as far as the eye could see. At the very end, I could faintly see the foundations of some sort of wooden structure. There was something about the atmosphere of the path that felt pleasant, like a nice cup of hot chocolate on a warm day. The evergreen trees lining the road lit up the air with the scent of the season and I breathed deeply.
All thoughts of anything besides being here, being with Sirius just melted away.
Without a word, he started to walk, tugging on my hand to follow him. The rocks crunched underneath us, echoing around the trees and mingling with the sounds of the forests.
"Where are we?" My voice came out in a whisper, not wanting to disrupt the tranquility.
"Home," he said simply, a smile creeping on his face. So this is where the Potters lived, then.
"It's absolutely beautiful."
He squeezed my hand to agree with me. "Yeah. The trees change every season so it's always green. Brilliant, isn't it?"
"Amazing," I breathed, not even knowing that kind of magic existed.
We proceeded in silence after that, just enjoying each other's company as I took in my surroundings. With each step, the trees seemed to become more Lucius, the forest more alive with the sound of little creatures scuttling about somewhere deep within. With every breath in, I was happily assaulted with the smells of the woods and I suddenly wondered how I had ever lived without such nature. It was completely splendid.
The road was long but in what seemed like no time, we had reached the clearing. In the center sat the most quaint and stunning cabin I had ever laid my eyes on. It was made of wood, using the natural twists of the trees the pieces came from to form a jaw-dropping three-story home complete with a porch and curly chimney. Smoke filtered out of it like a cloud and into the sky, mixing the scent of a home fire with the crisp smell of the trees. It ignited a feeling in the pit of my stomach. One that yearned for me to stay, to accept that this could be mine forever.
For now, I would have to settle for just a couple of days. If they would have me.
"It's wonderful," I whispered, my voice stolen by the quiet of the forest.
"Quite the step up from Grimmauld Place, yeah?" While there was a smile in his voice, the flash of sadness in his grey eyes could not be missed. "'Cmon." Rather than going through the front door, he pulled me around the back and I gave him an inquisitive look. "No offense but I kind of want to talk to you first before I release us to the hounds."
Around the back was a massive garden, blooming with winter flowers, the peaks of the sprouts of different vegetables poking up sporadically around the grounds. There was also a gazebo lined with lanterns that I'm sure looked magical after the sun was down. Birds were bathing themselves at a marble birdbath planted directly in the middle of all the vegetation. Sirius led me along the perimeter until we reached what had to be the back door. It was much like a barn's and he opened the top portion to peek inside.
"All clear." He smiled at me. "They must be in the sitting room. I swear if Prongs continued that game of cards without me…"
He opened the door completely now, revealing a magnificent kitchen made of a mixture of dark woods like the house itself and copper. Directly to our right was a staircase and Sirius barely gave me a minute before we were traversing up it. Along the walls were family portraits, some in black and white, others in full color. The paternal side of James' family was clearly strong, with a lot of the men on the wall looking practically identical with their round glasses and messy hair.
"No way!" I gasped quietly, pointing at a picture of a young, bespectacled boy on a broom. "Is this James?"
"Sure is." Sirius laughed, removing his hand from mine so he could slip it around my waist. With his free one, he pointed to some of the other pictures. "That's his old man, Fleamont… And this is his mum Euphemia…" And on and on he went through several generations. With each story, I found myself more and more endeared to the bespectacled boy I thought I knew to be only arrogant. But also, I found my heart breaking slightly for the boy beside me who clearly wished he'd been born to the same family. "And this is one of my favorites." We had traversed up the steps as he spoke, finally landing on one of the last pictures before the stairs ended. "This was us at King's Cross after we got back home from first year."
The picture showed a very young Sirius with his hand wrapped around James' shoulders. They smiled widely at one another while they swirled their brooms. Even through the lens of a photograph, you could sense the difference in the air between then and now. The boys in the photo didn't have a care in the world. It was very much unlike current circumstances.
"Wow," I murmured, subconsciously tracing the frame. "It's hard to remember that we were that young."
"You're telling me…"
"Do you remember our first potions lesson? You two gits nearly lit the storage room on fire." I giggled at the memory. "It's no wonder neither of you made it into the Slug Club."
"Eh, good riddance." He shrugged. "I never like the slimy old man anyway." He grabbed my hand once more. "I do hear his parties are quite the blast, though. Maybe you can take me to his Christmas gala next year."
Next year. This time next year I would be married, I realized. Or was supposed to be. My breath started to hitch when I realized I would need to tell Sirius that little hiccup... The thought of existing past this current moment began to make my head spin so I decided to shelve the thought for later. Instead, I focused on the strong fingers of Sirius as he led me down the hallway on the top floor of the house.
Pictures lined these walls too, with smiling ancestors waving down at us as we passed. Every now and again, poinsettias rested in intricate vases on side tables pressed against the walls. Strings of lights and garlands hung above them, filling the entire space with the Christmas spirit. Finally, we stopped at the last door on the right, a wooden sign hung on it with crookedly carved initials reading 'S. B.'
He didn't hesitate, opening the door to reveal a cozy bedroom not very unlike his old one at Grimmauld Place, albeit a bit tidier. It reminded me of Regulus' tour of his home which ignited tears in my eyes considering that was the last time we'd really had a friendly interaction. Quickly wiping my eye behind his back, I began to look around. Books littered many of the flat surfaces while Quidditch posters lined his walls.
"Not a fan of the Holyhead Harpies anymore?" I asked as I pointed to a team picture of the Chudley Cannons.
"Nah," he shook his head, hands in his pockets as he watched me roam around. "They didn't have the best season this year and I've got bets to win."
Giggling, I continued to look around, spotting a radio in the windowsill. I approached it, tracing my fingers against its buttons. It was a newer model than the one he had previously, so, while I wanted to turn it on, I didn't attempt to mess with something so precious. The view outside of his window was of the garden. From here, the foliage seemed to sparkle with the early afternoon sun, the melting patches of snow elegantly placed to highlight the beauty of it all. It looked like a picture.
"It's apparently supposed to snow pretty heavily tonight," he made me jump as his voice rang out right beside my ear. "I always love it when it snows around here… They originally offered me a bigger room at the front of the house but how could I pass up a view like this?"
His arms wrapped around my midsection and without hesitation, I placed mine over his and leaned back into him. His chin rested on my shoulder, his heartbeat slow and steady against my back. It was a moment that I never wanted to end, our little bubble of peace before we had to face the realities of what this would mean for us. Standing inside his room with his arms around me, I realized how underprepared I was for all of this. Would Lucius actually keep this all a secret? Even if so, how long would we really be able to go on like this?
I sighed. "Sirius…" Turning in his arms, I placed mine around his neck. "What are we going to do?"
"Let's start from the beginning…" He planted a kiss on my forehead again before breaking free and turning on the radio in a swirl of button pushing and knob turning. I expected rock but instead it was something lighter. Something more funky. "Disco," he stated when I looked at the radio oddly. I had no idea what that meant but nodded my head anyhow. "So," he continued, "what's going on?"
He released me completely then, jumping onto his bed and resting his back on his headboard as he glanced toward the ceiling. Following his eyes, my mouth fell open in surprise. Painted in glistening gold were the constellations of Sirius and Regulus amongst a sea of smaller silver constellations. The sight of it threw me off my train of thought as I stared up at the stars.
"They glow at night," he smiled at my reaction. "Euphemia painted it for me not long after I got here."
"It's beautiful."
"At times." He frowned. "At others, it's just a bad reminder." He looked at me very seriously then. "What happened?"
"I…" My voice trailed off, not knowing where to begin. "I realized you were right. All of you."
"You're going to have to be a bit more specific than that, sweetheart." This time the pet name sounded real, not just him being cocky.
"About needing to pick a side." My fingers began to fiddle, unsure of what to do now that his own weren't wrapped around them. "I've been such a prick. Absolutely unfair, towing the line while also being cruel to you and the boys. I shouldn't have hung around while spouting about how I would never be able to actually be your friends. I shouldn't have asked for help when I knew I would go back to pretending like you all never existed. I shouldn't…" My voice trailed off and this time a tear did fall. "I shouldn't have told you that we could never be together when I knew that's really all I wanted."
His eyes were blank, not giving anything away as he digested my words. "What changed?" He finally said.
"A proper shove in the ass, really." My thoughts raced to Byron, hoping that he was okay.
"Thought we gave you plenty of those," he muttered, his tone sour for the first time today.
"You did but… But it's hard to listen to people who aren't going through what I'm going through. You know?"
He ignored me, eyes on the ceiling once more. I gave out a sigh, finally walking up to him. When he still didn't look over, I climbed up on the bed. In a move much too bold for me, I swung one leg over his, the folds of my skirt draping over the both of our thighs as I straddled him and my arms found his neck. He looked shocked for a moment before I felt the ease of his hands on my waist once more. His eyes were clouds breaking before the sun as we stared at one another.
"What I'm trying to say," I continue, somehow inching even closer, "is that I'm sorry. I should have never pushed any of you away. And I also want you all to know that I'm here. I'm on your side." He was stoic, motionless except for his thumbs that traced circles on my side and almost tickled me. As it wore on, his silence began to worry me and questions of if they would even take me began to once again rise to the surface. My face flushed and my next words came out in a jumbled mess. "I-I mean, you know, if you guys are okay with that. Totally understand if you never want to see me -"
My words were stopped by his lips crashing into mine, hard and anxious. He leaned up, arms engulfing me completely as my fingers interlaced with his hair. Pulling me closer, our bodies merged into one as our mouths continued to move in rhythm. I let out a groan as he bit my lip, my mouth opening to allow him entrance as my stomach twisted and untwisted at his touch. One of his hands slipped under my blouse, the cool air ramming into my back and giving me goosebumps.
I accidentally ripped his ponytail out in my fervent movements, his luscious locks now falling onto his shoulders. He smiled into the kiss, the hand that was previously on my back reaching around and up to my chest. I half gasped, half groaned as his soft hands explored there, setting off every nerve ending in my body.
"So," I gasped when he freed my mouth to plant kisses along my neck, "does this mean we're ok...ay!"
In a rough movement, he grabbed my waist and flipped me, pinning me to the bed as his legs now moved to straddle me instead of the other way around. Our breaths were heavy as the hand that wasn't propping him up stroked my cheek gently. His hair was flowing freely around his face now but I could see his bright eyes. He looked intensely into my mine and his stare was equal parts hunger and something powerful I could quite place. My stomach lurched once more, my entire body begging for him completely.
"We're fine," he said softly, genuinely. "Just don't…" His hand dropped to the pillow next to me and he looked away now, a blush creeping up his neck as his hair curtained his features. I wiggled my arms out to place my hands on his cheeks, moving away his curls in the process so I could see his conflicted face.
"'Don't' what?"
Instead of an answer, his lips were back on mine again, all thoughts of anything he was about to say gone as every sensation was occupied in the feeling of him. This time it was me who slipped my hands up his shirt, my fingers caressing the muscles of his abdomen. He quickly tore it off between kisses, leaving me with nothing to fight against. Meanwhile his hand roamed up my thigh, his fingers sending bolts of electricity even through my winter tights. I groaned with every inch he climbed higher, the warmth from my stomach now radiating just above his touch. He was at my hip now, fingers curled around the hem of the stupid hosiery and poised to take them down.
"Sirius?" There was a distant yell from what sounded like an elderly woman. Between the radio and our current position, I almost thought I had made it up. But based on how Sirius had frozen, he'd also heard it. "Sirius, dear, is that you?" It sounded like whoever was calling him was at the bottom of the stairs, voice echoing around and through the walls before it reached us.
"Oh, Merlin," I couldn't stop the laughing fit as it hit me, Sirius' forehead colliding with my shoulder as he ducked his head with an annoyed sigh. "I can't believe this is happening." Each word came out as a struggle while I tried to speak through my giggles.
"Sirius?" The voice sounded louder now, like she'd come further up the steps.
"She probably heard the radio," he sighed again, lifting himself up and off of me. "Coming, Euphemia!" He yelled as he threw his shirt back on. "Wait here." I rolled to face him as he leaned down to plant a kiss on my forehead. "I'll give them a heads up and then bring you down, yeah?"
"I'll be here." I touched his cheek briefly, acting calm despite his words igniting worry within me once more.
He kissed my palm before striding out the door, letting it close softly behind him. Flopping onto my other side, I curled into one of his pillows as my mind began to stew. Sirius was taking this alarmingly well but James? There could be no telling what his reaction would be to my staying here. I closed my eyes and, for what felt like the hundredth time today, I worried about if this had actually been the right thing to do. It felt so right in so many ways… But at the same time there was the completely different kind of pit in my stomach that signalled something didn't feel right.
We're really playing with fire now, my brother had said.
I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep until my eyes fluttered open to the movement of someone gently shaking my shoulder. It was dark now, the last of the sun barely peeking through the trees and seeping into the room through the window. It was also quiet, the sounds of disco no longer echoing around the space. A thick blanket had been placed atop me at some point and I snuggled into its warmth as my eyelids fought against the oppressor trying to wake me.
"Beth…" Another light rocking of my shoulders. It wasn't Sirius and I started, quickly hoisting myself up onto my elbows to find myself face to face with Lily. "There she is!" She smiled. "Thought you might be dead."
"What… Lily?" I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I've been here for a couple days now." She sat beside me, bouncing a little to get comfy. "We all have."
"Who's 'we'?"
"Oh." Her mouth formed a tiny circle. "He didn't tell you, then?" I shook my head. "The Marauders always get together here over the holidays. I was invited this year as well because… you know." I didn't but I could guess from the blush on her face that James had finally made some kind of move. "Alice and Frank have come around this year as well."
"Quite the party." My stomach churned violently. Facing James was going to be tough enough but all of them?
"Yeah, I'm surprised Sirius didn't say anything…" She wiggled her eyes suggestively. "Guess you guys weren't doing much talking before Euphemia interrupted."
I pulled the blanket over my head to hide the raging blush. "Oh, he did not tell you, did he!?"
"Nope, but you just did. Ha!" My pillow plopped her in the face. "Time to get up! Dinner's ready and we're all just waiting for Sleeping Beauty. James still doesn't believe you're here but Sirius wouldn't let anyone disturb you once he saw you were asleep."
My heart fluttered a bit at the thought of him being so protective. Another blush must have crossed my face because Lily put the same all-knowing smile on. Clearing my throat, I hopped up and straightened my skirt out.
Lily let out a noise of mock disgust. "Absolutely not." She turned and went to Sirius' closet, opening it without hesitation and rifling through.
"What?" I watched her with confusion.
"You look like you're going on a date with a Death Eater." She pulled out a sweatshirt and, with a satisfying nod, threw it to me. "Did you bring any other bottoms? Preferably jeans?"
Looking around, I saw that someone had placed my bag on Sirius' desk and I walked over. "I definitely brought a pair of those…" My arm sunk all the way up to my shoulder as I rummaged around, having placed another undetectable extension charm on this one. "Ah-ha!" I held the denim over my head in victory.
"Excellent! Get changed and I'll meet you outside." Before I could answer, she was gone and I was alone once more.
I told myself to breathe over and over again. This would be fine. And if it wasn't… I would figure it out. But nevertheless, the thoughts of walking into a room of wizards who were, until very recently, considered as my enemy wasn't an appealing thought. Jeans firmly on, I grabbed a hold of the sweatshirt Lily had thrown my way. It was a vintage pullover from the 1966 Quidditch World Cup with the word 'AUSTRALIA' emblazoned across the front. I scooted it over my plump frame, thankful that Sirius' wide shoulders called for more space in his garments.
Looking at myself in the mirror, it was interesting to see how Muggle I appeared. Or maybe not Muggle… Maybe just normal if your family isn't trying to help take over the wizarding world. With one last deep breath, I opened the door to meet Lily who was leaning on the wall opposite. She stood and held out her hand, much like she had in Diagon Alley.
This time I took it.
We traversed down a different staircase, Lily telling me all about her holiday break thus far. As we talked, I became distracted by the smell of something scrumptious filling the air. It was a combination of fresh-baked bread, butter, and some sort of meat which invaded my nostrils and made my stomach rumble. As we reached the landing to the second floor, I could begin to hear the voices and I faltered again before Lily gave me a reassuring tug. We made it to the bottom floor, the light from a dining room filling the hallway before us.
"I'm telling you, there's no way she's here!" I heard James say. He didn't sound mad, just unbelieving.
"Why would he lie, Prongs?" Remus' soft voice was barely audible over all the ruckus.
"I bet you anything this is a joke." James ignored him. "Lily's going to walk in here in a wig and this'll all just be a hilarious prank by dear Padfoot."
"I'm afraid I'm not devious enough to participate in something like that," Lily said loudly, announcing our arrival.
The room went quiet at the sight of us. Or, well, the sight of me. James looked like he'd been punched in the face while Alice and Frank's open-mouthed gapes mirrored one another. At least I found smiles in Remus and Peter. But still, all eyes were on me, making me supremely uncomfortable. Sirius' intensely playful look wasn't helping and I ducked behind Lily in an effort to hide my blush, or maybe just myself entirely.
"Well!" An older woman burst through the door to what I assumed was the kitchen then, carrying a casserole tray. A couple of house-elves trailed behind her and I gawked. It was the first time I had seen a witch assist her helpers. She placed the food down and rushed over to me. "You must be this Elsbeth we've been hearing all about." She wrapped me in a hug, which I hesitantly reciprocated. I recognized her voice as well as from the pictures on the wall, so this must be Euphemia. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Sirius has been gushing about you all day."
A groan came from the boy in question as the rest of the Marauders playfully slapped him on the back while he hid his face.
"Well, um," I wasn't sure how to act in a social setting that wasn't school or a pureblood gala. "Thank you for having me, Mrs. Potter."
"Nonsense, gatecrash any time you want. This lot makes it seem like we run a free bed and breakfast." She waved dismissively at the Marauders while heading back to help the house-elves as they re-emerged from the kitchen once more. "We only have one rule and that is to not call me 'Mrs. Potter.' 'Euphemia' is just fine, my dear."
I couldn't help the wide smile that split across my face as I made my way around the table. Lily had taken her spot next to James, while Sirius beckoned for me to come sit beside him across the table. He stood and pulled the chair out for me, placing a sneaky kiss on my cheek as he sat. His arm laid lazily across my shoulders. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Glad to see you finally made it," Remus smiled at me from beside Lily.
"Yeah." I twiddled my thumbs, understanding his double meaning. "Took me long enough, right?"
"Just the right amount of time, I'd say."
"Hello, boys!" A tall, bespectacled man that could be no one other than Fleamont entered the room then. "And, uh, girls. Sorry, still getting used to having all these ladies around."
"I think it's a delightful change." Euphemia placed the last plate on the table before sitting down next to Fleamont at the head. "We can finally even out the testosterone a bit."
"I suppose I can cheers to that." He sat and held up his goblet, all of us following suit. "As always, to friends and family during this holiday season. Blah, blah, you know the rest, we do it every night."
With chuckles from around the table, we all took a sip from our goblets before settling into the feast. There was casserole, vegetables aplenty, and meats of every kind. Plates bobbed around, the tinkering of silverware as it hit plate harmonizing with the conversations that had sprouted up around the room. I had just placed a platter of turkey back down when there came a gentle tug on my left elbow.
"Excuse me, miss…" Came the soft tone of one of the house-elves. He had sat himself down in the chair next to me, his plate already piled with vegetables. "Would you mind passing me the mashed potatoes?"
It took me a moment to register that the elf was actually dining with us before my body finally moved. "Of course," I said, handing him the bowl. He took it readily, landing a big spoonful of the mush on his plate with a plop. "Did you want the gravy boat as well?" I picked it up as I put the potatoes back down.
"No, thank you, ma'am. Wodgy doesn't much prefer gravy."
I smiled, how wonderful of a life he must lead as a house-elf if he had a preference over what food he could eat. It made what was considered as my liberal tolerance of Flippy seem like outright abuse.
"I don't much like it either if I'm being honest… I actually prefer to mix it with a little bit of cranberry sauce. Have you tried it?"
He shook his head. "But Wodgy would like to if the missus would be so kind to pass me that as well."
"Naturally, not a problem." I watched as he tasted the odd concoction and smiled when his eyes lit up after taking a bite. "Good, right? Changed my life when I first tried it."
He scarfed down the rest and I giggled, finally turning to my own plate. All the boys were already on their second servings while Lily and Alice were being a bit more respectable, like actually holding conversation after chewing instead of during.
"So," I turned to Sirius, "I hear this is a bit of a tradition."
"Yeah." He took the time to swallow his piece of ham before continuing after the look I gave him. "They come around for a bit every holiday. There's no place like Christmas at the Potters, after all."
"Would have been nice to know." But there was no malice in my voice.
"Where's the fun in that?" His hand brushed my cheek as he pushed a lock of my hair past my ear. "You look adorable in that sweater, by the way." Then he narrowed his eyes playfully. "But don't get used to it, it's one of my favorites."
And so dinner continued, with playful banter thrown all around. We talked about going sledding after the snow settled tomorrow, Alice asked me if she could take a look at my Herbology notes once we got back to school as she wasn't doing great in the subject, and at one point all the boys broke out into the chant for the Chudley Cannons while Euphemia simply rolled her eyes. The best part was that not a single person mentioned a war, invading a city, or even name-dropping Voldemort. It was utter bliss to be surrounded by complete happiness for the first time in perhaps ever.
After dinner, we all retired to the sitting room where things really got interesting. The firewhiskey started pouring as we played game after game of Exploding Snap. I learned quickly that most of them were quite rubbish at it, with it usually coming down to James and me as the last ones standing. More often than not, I was able to outwit him to mine and other's extreme pleasure.
"Are you sure you've never played this before?" He grumbled while shuffling the deck for another go.
"Not exactly something we do around the manor," I said lightly. He grumbled but began dealing for the next game.
"I swear, I'm so close to getting it right," Fleamont was talking to Lily during one of the games after she's already been eliminated. "There's just one thing I'm missing, I think."
"Maybe you should ask Beth!" Lily exclaimed, pulling me into the conversation. "She's brilliant when it comes to this kind of thing."
"Sorry?" I was trying to listen while not taking my eyes off the cards. I was on a winning streak and not prepared to lose it.
"He's a potions inventor," James chimed in as he slapped down another card. "Been working on this one hair solution for months and won't stop talking about it." He gave an exasperated look in his father's direction, allowing me to place the perfect card down.
"Because I don't know what I could possibly be doing wrong!" He slumped in the couch, Euphemia patting his hand lovingly. "All the ingredients should be right… Dragon hair of a Chinese Fireball, Gomas Grenadis, and petroleum jelly. What am I doing wrong with an illustrious combination like that?"
"What's the issue?" I asked, watching as James played a particularly good card.
"The consistency. It's practically unusable unless you like torture."
At that I paused, my mind automatically digging through the knowledge I had stored. My brain was like an encyclopedia, flipping page after page until it landed on something I'd forgotten was there. I placed another card down, Remus groaning as he realized I just played him out. Down to James and me once more. The bespectacled boy was quick with his move.
"Is the solution becoming too runny when it's mixed?" I placed another card down as the room went silent at my question.
"Yes, practically a liquid." Fleamont leaned forward, seeming to be genuinely interested in what I had to say. "But we're looking for a nice gel. Or perhaps a cream."
James laid down another card. My mind struggled to focus now that the cogs were working on something else.
"It's because Gomas Grenadis, while usually really great as an additive for hair products, naturally breaks down into a semi-fluid. Which is probably why it's mostly treated further and used in sprays. Combined with the petroleum jelly, it's bound to liquidate. But…" I trailed off as I thought about and played my next card. "Gomas Barbadensis breaks down as more of a gum. You'll probably have to evaluate the percentages of each again, since Barbadensis isn't as potent as Grenadis, but it should get you to that gel state."
It was a good thing I was so focused on the cards because I could feel everyone's eyes on me in the unsettling silence that now engulfed the room. When not even James was moving to place his card, I finally took a deep breath and looked up.
"What?" I shrugged. "We learned about Caribbean gums in fourth year. Keep up."
"And I thought I was a nerd," Remus chuckled.
"Dear Merlin..." Fleamont had leaned back, eyes open wide like he was seeing for the first time. "I was so focused on the existing value the ingredient had on hair that I didn't even take that into consideration." His goblet raised as he gave a cheers toward me. "If this works, consider yourself a shareholder." Then, he winked at Sirius. "I'd keep this one around, lad."
"Planning to, Flea," Sirius wrapped an arm around my waist.
The casual sentiment threw me so off-balance that I changed cards at the last second, allowing James to swoop in for the kill. His card exploded on the table, signaling his victory. I scowled through my blush but Sirius' hand on my waist reminded me what was most important. If he meant what he just said, there would be a million times for me to beat James again.
"My stars, is that the time?" Euphemia yawned as she looked at the clock that was nearing midnight. "Busy day tomorrow if you want to get sledding in before…" She eyed me warily and it was the first time I had seen her hesitate. There was something she didn't want to tell me and, judging by the looks from the others, it was a feeling shared mutually around the room. "Well, you know. Just getting late and all. Elsbeth, dear, the girls are sharing a room upstairs."
We all lifted ourselves off the floor, wishing each other goodnight. Having been wrapped up in a quick conversation with Euphemia, I wasn't able to say anything to Sirius before Lily and Alice hooked me by the arms and led me upstairs.
"Oh, but I didn't -" My words were cut off with a shht from Lily.
"Don't worry," Alice said quietly. "Flea and Euphemia will be asleep in like thirty minutes. The sooner we pretend to go to bed ourselves, the sooner they settle in and we can sneak out and… you know."
"What?"
"Oh, please." Lily rolled her eyes as she bumped shoulders with me. "We've never spent a full night in the 'girls room.' So, fret not, dear Beth. You'll be back in Sirius' bed in no time."
We broke out into laughter as we travelled up the stairs and I was hit with an overwhelming feeling of normalcy. This is what life was supposed to be. And, even if it was just going to last for the next few days, I decided to allow myself to be fully engulfed by the fantasy of it.
Alexa, play 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight?' from The Lion King.