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A Glass Of Water And A Cup Of Tea

Chapter 5

"So," Remus smiles into his cup of tea, "do you and James still pick on Severus?"

His tone is light, but Sirius can almost sense the disapproval that comes from it and he shifts on his chair "From time to time," he answers, in the same casual tone "but we don't see him that often. Luckily."

"I bet he agrees on that with you," Remus lowers his cup, and looks at Sirius "If I'm not mistaken, he's now working under the wing of that tv cook, oh, what's his name? He's famous..." Remus looks down, with a thoughtful expression, and Sirius hides a smile with his coffee "Ah!" Remus brings a hand to his chin, looking up "Riddle, from the show You Know Food!"

Sirius puffs out "That guy is an idiot. He's all smiles and pleasantries on the screen, but I've seen what he really is." He scorns, a frown appearing on his face "He has just the kind of mentality my parents have. They love him," he adds, with a bitter taste on his mouth that has nothing to do with the coffee "they're his main supplier, in food and money, and they just love that he thinks that to be well fed one must pay more than it's worth." He looks down "My brother is probably going to work with him as well."

"Sirius, they..." Remus hesitates "your family doesn't really approve you working here, do they?" he asks softly.

Sirius smiles at him "They hate it," he says, a smug tone somehow making his way in his voice "But they also don't have a say in it."

Sirius doesn't like the way Remus looks at him then, as if he's missing out something very important.

It's been almost two months since they started meeting like this. And, besides his uncle's looks, or James and Peter's comments, he didn't regret asking him for a glass of water. Remus brought a certain gentleness to his life that felt just...right.

"When was the last time you spoke to your brother?"

Sirius shrugs, and doesn't really like how Remus appears to see through his nonchalant act. "Since I moved out."

"..Have you ever tried to talk to him again?" Remus asks softly.

"He knows where I am." Sirius answers, a bit harshly, "If he wants to see me, he knows where to go."

Remus doesn't say anything for a moment. He keeps looking at Sirius, before bringing the cup of tea back to his lips. He speaks again when the cup is back on the table. "Maybe he's thinking the same."

"What do you mean?" Sirius frowns at him.

"You know where he is." Remus says. "If you want to see him, you know where to go."

Sirius looks at him, without knowing what to say for the first time in a long while. "...He knows I don't want to see my parents."

Remus nods. "..You should cherish your family, Sirius," he gets the courage to say, "family is there for each other, even when things aren't good."

"Maybe yours do that for you," Sirius says, in a darker tone than he intended, "Mine only cares if I pretend to be who I'm not."

Remus doesn't know how to answer to that, but knowing as much as he did of Sirius, he tries hard not to show his pity. Sirius doesn't say, but he's thankful for that.

This is when Sirius first notices it. When they're getting up, a bit later, and Remus offers to help taking his things to the kitchen. Sirius isn't paying attention, but notices anyway as Remus grabs the teapot, his shirt rising from his wrists, and the scars marking his skin.

It doesn't like he had been cut, but...attacked.

Sirius doesn't say anything, and he returns to wonder about Remus.

000

((AN: I am so sorry for taking so long to post another chapter! My computer broke down, and I even finished this chapter on the library's computer!))