Chapter 4: Home

Sirius leads her into one of the buildings of the street they parked in. Cressida quickly deduces that he's technically not allowed in the building they enter as he uses his wand to get through the locked front door.

The building is an apartment block, with a wall of mailboxes in the front room. It leads to a narrow stairwell. Sirius is barely walking, almost jogging and pulling her along. He's excited for something.

They clamber up the stairwell, Cressida consciously breathing heavily to keep up with him. One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

Five levels they climb up until Sirius opens a door, leading them into another corridor. This one is longer but narrower than the ground floor, doors on either side about ten feet apart all the way down. Still giddy, albeit slower this time, Sirius leads her down the hall. Each door has a number on it. Apartments. Who is he taking her to?

Every few doors or so, there's a hung picture. They are all particularly hideous attempts of modern abstract art. The walls themselves are a strange pale yellow, but there is no flaking or dirt stains. Though it is bland in design, it is still much nicer than her own home.

Sirius stops in front of a door with a silver '23'. Withdrawing his wand once more, he casts an unlocking spell and the silver handle clicks open. He gestures towards the door so Cressida steps forward, pressing her hand against the wood.

It doesn't even creak as it opens. The first thing she notices is the hardwood floor which still looks freshly polished. The second thing she notices is three large consecutive windows lined against the far wall. They stretch from the bottom of the wall to the top, the curtains covering what they hide behind them.

Cressida enters cautiously at Sirius push, walking slowly through the front entrance. The flat is already partially furnished. The main room is a living room, with the kitchen against the wall just left of the entrance. There is an olive green couch facing the windows and a small coffee table between them. The kitchen is small and dainty, but perfect to cook small meals in. On the right, there are two doors that are open, leading into rooms with simple metal framed beds with no sheets. Two bedrooms. On the left, another cracked open door leading into a tiled room. A bathroom.

"Who lives here?"

Sirius breathes heavily through his nose, arms loosely crossed as he saunters around her and into the middle of the living room. "I do," he announces. "Well, not yet. Can't sign the contract till I'm eighteen. So I've signed the paper but left the date empty. While I'm at Hogwarts this year, I've asked Fleamont to date it and hand the paperwork in. I took some of Hogwarts' ideas and placed a charm around this place that will turn people away. Not permanent but it should last long enough."

He smiles fondly at his new home. Cressida's jaw hangs down, taking in the foreign space that she knows she'll be visiting often. "You're not getting kicked out of the Potters' are you?" she goads, pressing her hands against the back of the green lounge. "James finally sick of you borrowing his comb?"

Sirius narrows his eyes at her but joins in on her laughter. "Hardly. He wants me to stay and I think I'll always call that place a home too, but, I need my own place. And you need your own too." Cressida stares at him, drawing apart his implication. Sirius strides around to the side of the lounge, sitting on the arm. "If you want to that is. I completely understand if you'd want to stay in a manor over a small flat, but it has two rooms. The only downside is we'd have to share a bathroom. But it comes furnished."

Cressida quickly shakes her head. "No, no. I want to stay here too." A home to come to after graduating from Hogwarts. "Don't get me wrong, I love James and his house, but I think it will always feel like a holiday there. An escape. I don't want to feel like I'm constantly trying to escape them." Them. Her family. "Thank you."

Sirius sighs, his warm smiling widening and arms opening. Cressida pushes off the lounge, launching herself into him. She laughs in disbelief, barely registering that she's standing in her new home. "We can stay here for the night, but we should head back to the manor tomorrow."

Cressida nods, sitting down on the arm next to him, looking into the two bedrooms. She points to the one closest to the outside wall. "I want that one."

"Of course you want the one with the window," he drawls.

A hard knock on the front door draws both of their attention. Cressida's eyes grow wide, wondering if they've somehow been caught but Sirius couldn't look more at ease. He flicks her a smirk before sauntering towards the door with a sway in his step. Cressida only hears the wind of the door opening as she tiptoes to the edge of the small corridor leading towards it, leaning around the edge.

"…She's fine," Sirius says to their visitor. "My ear is ringing on the other hand since she felt like screaming in it."

The visitor laughs and Cressida's slightly hunched form straightens at the sound, stepping around the corner. Sirius steps to the side, allowing James to pass him. James is wearing a simple long-sleeved cotton shirt and comfortable pants to match. Over his shoulder is a beige overnight bag. It has only been two weeks since she last saw him yet it feels like it's been the entire summer holiday.

He smiles at her, letting the bag drop from his shoulder and slump to the polished floor. Cressida spares him the effort of walking and strides towards him. Her heels lift from the ground as their arms envelop each other. "I've missed you," he breathes into her ear.

"Missed you more."

"I'd just like to point out that I haven't gotten any hug from you," Sirius mumbles behind James. Cressida opens her eyes, falling back on her feet but keeps her arms around James' neck.

"I was technically hugging you for four hours on the drive here," she points out with a smirk. "Would you like a proper one?" Sirius opens his arms theatrically as though to say, 'Finally'. Cressida cackles, stepping around James and embracing Sirius' petty arse. Once he is finally satisfied, Cressida turns back around to James, motioning to the bag with her head. "You running away as well?"

James gives her a mirthful smile, humming in sarcastic agreement. "I figured that you'd want some clothes to change into for tonight and something fresh for tomorrow. I took some of the stuff you left at my place. Hope you don't mind that I went snooping."

"It's your house," Cressida points out. "And thank you. Do either of you mind if I get changed right now? These clothes are dirty."

James shakes his head with a curious smile. "Why would we mind?"

Cressida stumps herself for an answer. Why would they mind? She always had to ask if her chores were done before she could have a bath and change into her nightclothes at home. If she did so without asking, she'd be forced to change back into her day clothes and wear those to sleep instead. "Doesn't matter."

James kneels down, unzipping the bag. "Now, I wasn't sure what you'd prefer to wear so-" he pulls out two sets of pyjamas, "-I brought complete opposites." Cressida can't contain her silent laughter. In one hand, he has the most comfortable pair of pyjamas; a cotton shirt with woollen shorts. And in the other, a pair of matching pink silk pants and singlet that she had brought herself from France. She had honestly been saving them for a night where she felt confident in herself, but right now, all she wants is comfort. Cressida takes the cotton and wool pairing.

"Before you get changed," Sirius cautions, "do you want to go out and get dinner first?"

Cressida shrugs. "We can just get Chinese takeout. You'll have to go order and pick it up though. I don't really want to eat out tonight." She doesn't think much of her suggestion until she is met with two blank stares. "Chinese takeout," she repeats. "From the little place we passed on the way." They both just stare at her in a deadpan. Her shoulders drop with an exasperated sigh. "Please don't tell me neither of you have never had Chinese takeout."

"I've had fish and chips," James piques. "When I went to the beach the last time. Wasn't the worse."

Cressida only shakes her head in disappointment. "James, I trust you the most with this." She ignores Sirius' offended 'humph'. "I'm going to write down what to order in the diary. All you need to do is follow my directions to the shop, give them the order and pay then bring it back here."

James nods quickly. "Sure. But, I don't have any muggle money on me." His eyes divert to Sirius as the solution but Cress answers first.

"I do." Moving over towards her trunk, she pulls out discreetly a few smaller bills and hands them to him. "That should be plenty. Now just let me right down the order."

Taking out her diary and the pencil as well, Cressida leans against the kitchen bench, writing down what she can only guess they'd enjoy. Simple items that they put on for the white British population. She's sure their expensive taste pallets would welcome foreign tastes but Cressida herself hasn't explored much beyond the basics and wouldn't be able to even recall the names without seeing the menu. James watches her write over her shoulder, his own diary already in his hand. Smiling over her shoulder, she watches him eye off the list. "You still up for it?"

"I'm a Gryffindor," he answers swiftly.

"Yes, in the wizarding world," she laughs back. "This is the Muggle world. Completely new territory."

James takes his diary and the money, repeating in a mumble the instructions she gives him on how to get to the little red Chinese restaurant that Cressida had made a note to remember. She watches him go, smiling at the sight of him speaking to himself. "Can I open the curtains?"

"Anything you want."

Marching towards the middle window which is cloaked by a grey fabric curtain, Cressida grasps the two edges in either hand. In one motion, she pushes them apart. The view is beyond beautiful; the vast landscape of London. Like as she saw from the sky, it is filled with lights, but this time she is among them. Cressida opens the other two, filling nearly the entire wall with the view of England's largest city. Peering down, she can even see James crossing the street just below.

Sirius appears beside her, his dark eyes sparkling with the reflection of the lights. He looks content. Happy. At ease. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"This is the part where I look towards you, expecting to be talking about the lights, but really you're looking at me," she taunts. Out of the corner of her eye, she watches Sirius' head turns to the side so she does the same. His face is pulled in a way that she can only describe as an off-putting smoulder which quickly causes her to lapse into laughter. "I'd think I'd rather you be talking about the view with that face. My gosh, Sirius, do you even know how to flirt?"

"I do," he affirms, turning away from the window. Cressida hums in disbelief, crossing her arms gently. "I do," he repeats. Grabbing her arms, he turns her towards him and then readjusts himself to lean against the slither of brick between two windows. His eyes trail her over, starting from her feet and all the way to her eyes and lips.

Cressida narrows her eyes, not quite feeling anything yet. "What are you doing?"

"I'm just taking in the entire world," he whispers. Her eyes pinch closer, not giving away how smooth that line was. His lips draw upwards in something that sits between a smirk and a smile. "I always said I'd like to explore the world."

Cressida blushes a deep red, despite the playful situation. She turns her eyes away to hide it, but Sirius grins at his victory. "Fine," she mutters. "That wasn't bad. Too bad I know you're gay or I might've fallen for that."

"Please," he calls over his shoulder, wandering towards the lounge. "I might be able to pull you in for like an hour, but you're set on James. Now, if he said that line to you, I want to be there for the reaction because even that one was amazing."

Cressida follows him, sitting on the edge of the cushion. "I found the letter," she notes softly. "The one James sent at Christmas. Lily had it."

Sirius demeanour softens. He leans forward and in a hushed voice, asks, "Have you read it?" Cressida shakes her head, rubbing her thumbs together. "You should. Before he gets back. He put a lot of thought into it."

She thinks the idea over. Overthinking has gotten her into too many messes. Pushing off the edge of the lounge, Cressida digs through her trunk, pulling the letter from its safe space. Sirius sits forward even more as she rejoins him. "What's so special about it?"

"Read it."