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A Glass Of Water And A Cup Of Tea
Chapter 2
Uncle Alphard has gotten another letter from their family, Sirius can tell from the way he frowns while looking at the paper, and the tensed air around him when usually he's such a relaxed person.
Sirius briefly wonders what is it about, but quickly pushes that thought out of his head. He's no longer part of that family, and he cares about them just as much they care about him.
However, the looks his uncle gives him for the rest of the morning are unsettling, and Sirius tries his best to ignore it and focus on his work.
Sirius was disowned. Not worth of his family, his mother had spat at him, but he didn't mind it really. He had gotten a letter warning him of it some days after he left Grimmauld place number 12 for good. He told James that he was happiest as ever, but some part of him felt a bit at loss. No matter how much he hates their ways, they were still his family.
But no more. At this point, the only contact he wishes to remain would be his brother, perhaps. The rest of his blood family that matter as either been disowned as well, like Andromeda, or, in Alphard's case, has so much money that his eccentricities can be overlooked.
And it's during lunch time that Sirius knows what's happening.
Narcissa Black, Andromeda's younger sister and Sirius's cousin, comes in the cafe, holding herself straight, chin high, with graceful and aristocratic movements, but still manages a smile to her uncle.
"Uncle Alphrad!" she walks to him, letting him take her hands in his and moving so to kiss the air next to his cheeks. "I hope you have been warned about my visit?"
Sirius, sees the exchange as he serves a client, looking at his cousin and marvelling at how little he cares about not even being greeted by her.
Before Alphard has a chance to answer, a polite cough can be heard, and the three Blacks turn to see where the sound came from.
Sirius tries not to frown, and remain impassive, as he meets the sight of Lucius Malfoy by the door. The blond walks to Narcissa and shakes hands with Alphard.
"Uncle Alphard," Narcissa continues as Lucius puts a hand at the end of her back "you know Lucius Malfoy."
"Indeed I do." Her uncle simply says.
Oh, and Sirius too remembers well the pompous ass that went to school with him and James. Lucius Malfoy always thought of himself as better than everyone else, and that he should be treated as so. Sirius, James and Peter had always got a good time over showing him how they thought of how he should be treated, and Sirius expects him to not have changed over the couple of years he had last seen Malfoy.
Narcissa smiles brightly and seems to try hard to contain her eagerness "We are going to be wed!" she pulls her hand forward to show the ring she now has on her finger, with a diamond big enough to make Sirius wonder if Malfoy is trying to compensate for something.
"Congratulations," Alphard says and Sirius never felt sorrier for his cousin.
"Thank you," Lucius says dryly, Narcissa leaning closer to him.
"I do hope you'll come to the wedding," she says, with a small smile.
"Of course I will." Alphard answers with a small nod.
Sirius is called in another table and goes there, writing down the request as he keeps an ear on the conversation.
"Well," Narcissa says "We'll send you a letter with the proper invite later, uncle, but I wanted to tell you the news myself."
"And I insisted so," Lucius adds in a smug tone, looking down at the side of the cafe where Sirius stands "After all, you're a very important member of the family."
Alphard raises an eyebrow at that, but Lucius doesn't seem to notice. Narcissa makes a bit of more polite talk with them before Lucius points out that they have business somewhere else.
Lucius goes first, opening the door for her, and Narcissa takes a moment to spare Sirius a look, before raising her chin and leaving the cafe, Lucius going after her and closing the door behind them.
Alphard shakes his head and sighs, going to join Sirius as he returns to the kitchen.
"That was unexpected," he tells his nephew, as he takes the order from him.
"Not really," Sirius says, making a face "They've been mooning over each other in a proper way since they were fifteen. It's sickening."
Alphard makes a sly smile "Well, I'm sure I'll be allowed to bring one guest to the wedding. And I'm too old to bring a lady, so would you like to come with me? Just imagine the look on their faces when they see you in there."
Sirius smirks as well. This is why he loves his uncle.
"I'll think about it," he answers. Oh, he really can imagine the look on their faces but, does he want to go to the wedding? "I don't really like the idea of having to look at Malfoy all day and behave."
His uncle chuckles "Who said anything about behaving?"
"Oh, well then." Sirius smiles brightly "I can't possibly say no to that, now can I?"
And what had so far seemed a bad day, suddenly it had turned into something better.
Sirius has been in a somewhat down mood. James and Peter are out having fun without him, he had to see Lucius and it's the third day since Sirius invited the stranger to come to the cafe, and hasn't seen him ever since.
But there is nothing like the idea of ruining Lucius Malfoy's wedding to cheer him up.
Sirius adds just a tip of oreganos to the cheese toast and takes the plate to one of the tables, asking if anything else is needed.
As habit, he looks outside as the client answers and is surprised to see passing by the stranger he spoke to days ago.
He nods then to the client, as she wanted nothing else, and walks outside, deciding he's making a break.
"Hey!" Sirius calls out, and the other, who was on the other side of the street, pauses and turns to him.
"Hello," he says.
"Are you still up for that glass of water?" Sirius asks, making a charming smile. "Or are you terribly busy?"
The other looks apologetically at him "I'm so sorry, but ... I'm on my way to work," he gestures to down the street "Perhaps another time?" he asks, hopeful.
"I see," Sirius says, his smile dropping.
The other shrugs sympathetically and walks away.
And Sirius returns to the coffee shop.