Chapter 9

The Sleepover part 1

While the remaining kids were watching TV, Rachel and Sirius were in the kitchen cleaning up. There had been a long silence between them. The only noise that came out of the kitchen was the sound of water and dishes being put up.

Come to think of it, other than the time of talking to Cho's mother, Rachel was very quiet today. Sirus, who was constantly thinking about Rachel, made a point of talking to Harry. Something was wrong with her.

Sirius looked around the kitchen, thinking of what he should say to her. He didn't want to look as if he was tring to pry into her business.

"So how was our new student?" he asked.

"She was okay." she answered. "She's really smart."

Suddenly, Sirius and Rachel's hand grabbed the same plate. Their hands made contact, and they looked in each other's eyes. From the look of her, Rachel looked as something was bothering her. Seeing her like this made Sirius concerned. If she was a normal person, he wouldn't even think twice. She met a lot to him. Like Harry.

"Is something bothering you?" he asked taking the dish out of her hand, and placing it on the counter.

"No." she said quietly, then she said, "Yes."

"You want to talk about it?" he said, moving over to the table, so he could clean it. Rachel continued on the dishes.

"It's my parents." she said. "We had a big arguement. My father seems to think I'm wasting my time with this daycare stuff and that I should be a stay at home wife like my mom"

"Hmm. So why don't you?"

"For one reason I'm not married." she answered. "Anyway, I'm not that type of woman. My dad doesn't like it when I succeed at anything."

"You lost me there." he said, now beginning to sweep.

"When I was born, I was daddy's little girl." she turned off the water and moved over to the stove to clean it. "When I started school, he was upset. He wanted me to stay home and clean. He was angry when I told him no. When I got to high school, he wanted me to find a boyfriend, get pregnant, and stay home with my mother. I finished high school, he was angry."

"Sounds like your father is a real jerk. You want me to kick his-"

"You wanna have waffles for breakfast?" Rachel said, cutting him off.

"Sure. Go on."

"My father didn't want me to go to college. He wanted me to go on the streets and have sex for money. I graduated. He was furious. My mother was furiuos too, but she didn't care what I did. She was paying more attention to my little sister. She robbed a bank and was being awarded for it."

"Sounds like my family, but they're dead now. Thank God."

"Last night my dad threatened me." she hesitated, then went on. "With a knife."

"He didn't-"

"No. He said he had to go to bed for work, and he'll kill me if I go back to this daycare." she sobbed.

Not knowing what he was doing, Sirius walked over to Rachel and hugged her holding her close. He could smell her perfume and the shampoo in her hair, which smelled like peaches and cream.

"It's alright." he said quietly, as she sobbed on him. "Just don't go back."

"I. . .have. . .to. . .get. . .my. . .stuff. . ." she said between sobs. "the. . .minute. . .he. . .see's. . .me. . .he'll. . ." the rest of her words were muffled, as she pressed her face against Sirius.

"I'll come with you." he said. "He won't even think about touching you if I'm around."

"That won't matter. He'll hurt you."

"He can try. I'll hex him back to the stone age."

Rachel let out a sound that was a half laugh half cry. "Even if we do get my things. . .where will I go?"

"I have a four bedroom apartment." Sirius answered. "You can stay with me."

"I don't know." she said. "I don't like free loading off of people."

"Hey, you saved my life by giving me a job and Harry a school. It's the least I could do."

"Alright. But you have to let me help pay the bills, rent, and food."

"If that's what you want. It's not necessary."

"Thanks, Sirius. You're a good friend."

When six o' clock came, Harry and Cho were the only kids left. They had ran out of educational cartoons to watch, so Sirius had given them a book to read.

Cho's mother was late, and they made it clear that they charged late fees after six o' clock. Sirius didn't feel like talking to a police officer, telling him about a child that was left behind.

Cho, who was tired of reading, went into the kitchen, where Sirius was sitting in there alone. Rachel had gone to straighten her classroom.

"Mr. Black," she said timidly. "when is my mom getting here?"

"I'm not sure." he answered. "She should have been here."

Right on cue, the phone began to ring, Sirius went to answer it. It was Cho's mother. She was having car trouble, and was unable to come and pick Cho up. She asked if Sirius could look after her, and he accepted.

Sirius explained to Harry and Cho that they were going to have a baby sitter for a few hours while he went to Rachel's house and sort things out.

Sirius called the baby sitting hotline to look for a baby sitter, who were available for a few hours, and of course, was cheap.

The baby sitter arrived at the house at seven o'clock. He was wearing a dark trench coat and a black hat that was pulled over his eyes. He looked like a shadow.

Harry and Cho had this bad feeling about this man, but Sirius, who was in a hurry took no notice.

"If you need to contact me, my cell phone number's on the fridge. So is the doctor's, police, fire department, and resturant." Sirius explained. "They're bed time is at nine, and we shouldn't be but a few hours."

"Don't worry, Mr. Black." he said in a deep voice. "We'll have a great time."

"Cool." he turned to Harry. "You behave yourself. 'kay?"

Harry didn't say anything. He continued to stare at the strange man. He had a hunch that this man was not who he say he is, but very dangerous. Harry decided not to sleep a wink until Sirius got home.

"See you." said Sirius.

Sirius and Rachel left out of the door. The man waited until he heard a car pull out and drive off, before he spoke.

"The name's Greyback." he said. "And I'll be your baby sitter this evening."