Three

Kingsley leaved almost immediately after presentations, leaving Erin in the hall again with a rather curious Sirius Black staring at her.

''Don't you need to go and pack your things?''

''I have it all here.'' She explained showing her small purse. ''It's an extension charm, of course. Hermione Granger taught me how to do it.''

''Hermione Granger.'' Sirius repeated while moving along the corridor. ''A smart girl.''

An uncomfortable silence followed and Erin felt awkward as she had nothing to say. What were they supposed to do until Kingsley gave them instructions? He must have had something for both of them.

''You can stay in any room you like, but I recommend the last one to the right on the third floor. It's next to the bathroom and it has pretty good views.''

''Then that will do.'' She answered. ''Thank you.''

She didn't think she would like the decoration but that wasn't really important. It was surely way bigger that the one she had at her own place.

''I let you settle down. If you need anything look for me, and if you can't just scream.''

Erin raised her eyebrows and her lips curved up a little. Funny.

''Okay. See you for dinner?''

Sirius just shrugged.

''Sure.''

Having said that he left to some part of the house Erin obviously didn't know so she went upstairs looking for her new room. Some steps cracked when Erin stepped on them, making even more evident that the house was old. It wasn't that bad, it was definitely not falling apart, but it looked inhabited. The corridor on the third floor was a short one, so Erin found it easy to spot the room Sirius had talked about.

It was big, as she had imagined. There was a king-size bed with a headboard craved in wood, a chest of drawers to its right and a wardrobe bigger than she needed at the corner of the room. In addition, there was a window to the left side and even a small bench to sit down next to it. The room seemed gloomy but it was really pretty. There was nothing a couple of charms and a bit of skill with colours couldn't fix. Erin spent the rest of the evening organising her clothes in the wardrobe and putting the important things inside the drawers. She had also taken with her a picture with her parents and some books. That was going a good place for reading, she thought, next to the window. Time passed so quickly that she only realised it was already dark outside when she saw lights in the street. She then went downstairs hoping Sirius was already there. She just wanted to spend some time with him, considering there were going to stay together.

She went to the room she had been before with Kingsley and just as she had wished, Sirius was already there. Erin could hear another voice which she thought belonged to someone else but when she got to the living room she realised it was a house-elf. Sirius was sitting at the head of the table, holding a newspaper between his hands. He put it down when he saw Erin entering the room.

''Come here Kreacher. '' He called the elf. The creature obeyed but it walked slowly, mumbling things. ''Miss Hardy will stay in this house for some time, you will serve her as you serve me. Or better, I hope.''

''Yes, master.'' Kreacher replied. He turned one second to look at Erin and she saw he had blue eyes and a really pale and wrinkled face. A chill went down her spine. ''More blood traitors in the Black's House, what would Kreacher's mistress say!''

Erin sat next to Sirius and still looked at the elf leaving to the kitchen. She had never had a house-elf, she didn't plan to have one but if all were like that one she surely didn't want to get near one ever again.

''He is a grouchy all the time.'' Sirius told her. ''He's a bit round the bend and he barely listens to me.''

''Why is he still here, then? If you don't mind me asking.''

''He doesn't want to leave; he has always been loyal to my family. He is a good cook and I am a disaster with that, I assure you.''

Sirius stood up to leave his newspaper aside and made Kreacher served them dinner, then the elf left. Erin was literally starving and looking at the dish in front of her, it looked like Sirius was right. It smelled nice.

''Tell me, Erin.'' Sirius said once they had started eating. ''Has Kingsley told you to keep an eye on me?''

She stopped eating and took a sip of water. That sounded stupid.

''No.'' She replied putting the glass down. ''I don't think you need a babysitter.''

Sirius smiled at it and wrinkled formed around his eyes. Then he looked back to Erin.

''I don't think you need one either.'' He stayed silent for a moment as if he was thinking about something. ''You said you weren't in Gryffindor, was it Ravenclaw?''

Erin shook his head. No one ever expected an Auror to be a Hufflepuff but she didn't feel offended or upset. She was used to it.

''Actually it was Hufflepuff. Isn't it obvious?''

She took a glance at her clothes. She was wearing a plaid yellow and black t-shirt but she hadn't done it on purpose.

''I don't know, maybe you just liked yellow.'' Sirius added.

They kept eating in silence. Erin was happy to be there but she felt out of place in a house that wasn't hers with someone she barely knew.

''I'm sorry for what I said earlier.'' Sirius began to speak. Erin already knew what she was talking about. ''I wasn't going to make you swear an Unbreakable.''

''It's alright.'' Erin said with honesty. She understood it.

She always accepted apologies and Sirius had sounded honest as well so nothing was wrong for her. It was better to let it go and focus on what she should focus. When they were both done, they ate the dessert: apple pie. Erin loved anything sweet and even thought that wasn't chocolate, it was more than delicious. Then, they sat in the living room, each one of them in the corner of a long sofa.

''So you have been an Auror for two years?'' Sirius asked.

''Almost three.'' She corrected. ''My parents almost died when I told them during sixth year I wanted to be one. I was quite sure about it.''

Erin believed they should knew about each other so she talked to see what happened. The best way to know someone was to be known, that's why she was saying that. She wanted Sirius to trust her.

''They would've loved to have me at the shop one day when they retired, I'm sure of that. '' She commented. ''My parents are herbologists, you see, but I don't really want to bore you with those stories.''

She had suddenly blushed but Sirius encouraged her to continue.

''No, it's alright. I like to listen.''

Erin nodded. That man had spent more than ten years at Azkaban, with no one's company. Of course he likes to listen, you idiot, she thought. She couldn't understand how he had managed to bare loneliness.

''They were very supportive. '' She went on. ''That's all I can ask from them. I know they suffer a lot because of my job and they will continue to do so.''

After Erin had said everything she felt very comfortable. A full belly, a warm room and a bit of conversation had been just enough to calm her somehow.

''Then you can't complain.'' Sirius said. ''My mother was a pure blood supremacist who went crazy the moment she knew I had been put in Gryffindor. The best thing that's happened to me, no doubt.''

Erin did not know a thing about that. Actually, she didn't know much about Sirius apart from the things the newspapers published and she was aware that she couldn't trust half of what they wrote. She kept listening, eager to know more.

''Everyone in the Black family had been in Slytherin so they didn't like it. They didn't like anyone who opposed their ideology, anyway.''

Sirius put his head down for a moment as if the subject affected him. Erin decided to pick up the Prophet and change the topic of the conversation. It was better than being silent. She looked at the cover, a full page devoted to Dumbledore with a picture in its centre.

''What are we supposed to do now?'' She asked grabbing the newspaper.

Sirius had stood up.

''Have a meeting with the whole Order to begin with. Then we can decide.''

''Should I write them?''

''We can deal with that tomorrow.'' Sirius said, leaning against the sofa. ''Don't worry.''

Erin stood up too, she had caught the message. She left The Prophet on the table and took a few steps to be closer to Sirius.

''I hope we can get along.''

It had been a nice dinner and a nice chat. She was trying to do her best; loyalty and friendship were the most important thing for her. She wanted to please Kingsley, yes, but she wanted to have a new friend too. And Sirius? He was someone to be admired, at least for what she knew.

''I'm sure we will.''