Disclaimer: Don't sue. Also the record place that Tonks mentioned prior, that is also in another fic called Dealing With the Music, is in fact Championship Vinyl, the record store from both the book and the movie entitled, High Fidelity. I also, do not own this. Also on a note for this chapter, in case you haven't read Dealing With the Music, Alice used to work in that record store. I'll try to get these on more of a regular basis than months and months apart.
Sirius waited a few moments before following Remus downstairs to finish off breakfast. He trotted down the stairs and then made his way quietly through the hallway, not to awaken his dear old mum from her portraite's slumber. He pushed open the door to the kitchen and sat down next to Alice, who was the only one still in her pajamas, or his rather. She smiled up at him and he nodded less interestedly in recognition, and careful not to look at Remus. Instead, he sat down and took a bit of some bacon.
"So Nymphadora-" began Remus
"It's Tonks. Honestly how many times must I correct that, surely a gentleman such as yourself would call a lady by her name."
"Though, Nymphadora is your name, so therefore by the rule you previously stated it is what I must call you by."
"I never was one for rules, Remus."
"Well I am, so I do believe you are just going to have to deal with it."
"Can you two stop flirting and get to the issue at hand." Said Sirius. Alice glared at him as Tonks and Remus stopped talking to each other and the air between everyone seemed to grow a little thicker.
Do you have to be such a prick Sirius, I mean honestly. What's gotten up your arse lately. Besides I thought you were rooting for them, do you know what your little comment is going to do? At least someone around here should have the opportunity to get something.
"We were not flirting Sirius," said Remus, "And anyways we already have talked about how the ministry is using The Daily Prophet, while you were upstairs. Besides Nymphadora-"
"Tonks" interupted Tonks
"-has just informed us that Dumbledore has scheduled a meeting for the Order next week, which means that we need to get back to cleaning this place out."
"Wonderful," said Sirius as he toyed with some eggs, "Why don't you just tell Dumbledore to drop by so he can help us with the cleaning, it isn't often he hangs around here for-"
"Dumbledore has got more important things to do." Said Alice
"So do I! You haven't read the letters Harry has sent me. All I need to do is just stop by Privet Drive and –"
"Do you know how risky that would be?" interupted Alice
"Yes, I know how risky it would be but maybe I don't care. Hell I wish the Dementors would come after me, I could use a decent struggle for my soul right about now."
Everyone was silent as Sirius looked around the table. His eyes rested on Alice, with her two low pony tails tied below her ears, who looked like she had just been struck. She was also the first one to talk, and in a democratic voice she spoke "Well Sirius, if you feel that way, then I guess there's nothing stopping you from-"
"Um … Nymphadora, what was the name of that record store you were telling us about?" said Remus trying to interrupt and stop the fight before it really got going.
"Well then I guess I might as well just-"answered Sirius to Alice's previous comment
"Championship Vinyl" replied Tonks
"Fine then, just don't expect any of us to come to your ..." Then Alice turned to Tonks. "Did you just say Championship Vinyl?"
"Yes"
"I used to work there; it must have been oh … sixteen years ago. Is Rob Gordon still working there?" Alice said, warmly remoniscient with a hint of nostalgia. Sirius' head snapped towards Alice.
"Yes he is," now Sirius faced Tonks and kept looking between the two females. "He hired two guys to help him man the fort a couple of years ago, Dick and Barry."
"God, I'll have to drop by sometime."
"No you won't" said Sirius, Alice turned towards him with a bemused little grin on her face that vaguely reminded him of the cat who ate the canary.
"Oh, I don't know," she said, "It has been awhile, and Rob was always so much fun. It has been ages. Besides I can stop there with Tonks. I do believe you said you were going there today?" Alice said, then turned back aorund to face Tonks, who's eyes lit up.
"You know, I believe I was."
"I'll go right upstairs and change and then we can go, what do you say?"
"Sure." Then Alice trotted upstairs to go change and suddenly Sirius, Remus, and Tonks were left alone at the table. "So Sirius, do you pride yourself on generally being an ass?" asked Tonks
"Piss off"
Remus laughed and Sirius shot him a deadly look. Then they were all quiet and Tonks said quietly, "You know, you're going to loose her."
"I hope so." Said Sirius, though he didn't look at them
"What?" asked Tonks
"Sirius believes that by not being with Alice it will somehow make her safer, happier, or whatever it is that goes on inside his head." Answered Remus
"So I take it you're not going to come to my funeral either?" asked Sirius
"I really had been hoping you'd off yourself one of these days and get to it."
"Nice to know you care so much"
"Only for you dear" finished Remus, ironically joking with Sirius, who blew him a kiss.
"Ladies," interuppted Tonks, "I do believe that is the most piss poor and stupid plan I have ever heard, and I work for the ministry, congradulations mates." And with that she toasted them with orange juice.
Upstairs Alice was pacing her room with her closet open. I can't believe it, I am acutally worrying over what to wear. I never did that when I worked with him. God, he owns that shop now, as well he should. He's really good at it. Though, is going over to see him the best idea, I mean, it has been an age. Besides it's not like we're both slaking at the store anymore. It would be amazing to work there again. What about Sirius though? She sighed. Well I guess that's up to Sirius. She opened up her underwear draw. I hope Rob still enjoys his lingerie, even if he's never going to see it. When she finished dressing on what she finally decided, light wornout blue jeans, deep purple button up shortsleeved shirt, and her handy dandy black boots. She still kept her hair down in the two pony tails. She also grabbed her long dark gray knit coat just in case of rain. When she opened the kitchen door she saw Remus doing the dishes and Tonks and Sirius with their feet on the table, flicking little ping pong balls between little nets they created with their fingers. "So, where did you guys get the ping pong balls?"
Tonks looked up as Sirius aimed a shot. "My place, had them lying around and then brought them over here, swear it was just like magic."
"Probably because it was." Said Remus from in front of the sink
"Sorry, been seeing this bloke down at the record store every Thursday, muggle, and it is just so funny to hear him babble on about how I never loose any of the mix-tapes he gives me like some other gals. Little did he know of the wonders of the accio charm." She laughed. Alice discreetly looked over at Remus, who looked no different, except for the tenseness in his shoulders.
"Today is Thursday isn't it?" asked Remus
"Probably" said Sirius, grabbing a bottle of firewhiskey. Alice rolled her eyes before accio-ing it over to her and then putting it away. "Hey, I was drinking that"
"Not before 12:00 Sirius"
Sirius grumbled and then said, "What are you my mother."
"Why?" asked Alice "Would you like me to yell at you?" Sirius glared at her and she just continued to put the bottle away and sit back down. "About time to go Tonks?"
"Yeah we'll catch the morning crowd which means that we'll probably be the only ones there, but now's as good a time as any."
"Good that means while you're gone I can open up a bottle with Remus." said Sirius lazily with his feet on the table, having stopped playing the ping pong game with Tonks. The ping pong sat dejectedly in the center of the table. Alice turned towards the cupboard that housed drinks and promptly locked it, the same locks that she had used to lock her and Sirius' apartment before the whole Azkaban thing, except this time they were time locked instead of passwords and spells for their key. Sirius grumbled something under neath his breath while Tonks just laughed.