Where I Belong
Chapter 4
Throughout dinner Sirius, Luke, and Sileni went on as though nothing happened, not wanting to let the others know of their awkwardness. When the two roommates returned to the flat late that night they both went to their appropriate room, hardly saying anything but a goodnight to each other. The next morning Sirius had took the woman to the Ministry to get her Apparation license as he was to start work soon and would not be able to take her to or from the Muggle job.
To say the least the woman was very uncomfortable at the amount of attention many of the people were giving her at the Ministry. Many had come up to her, asking questions and just crowding her. Sirius, with the help of a few Auror friends, held back the crowd enough to get to the Apparation testing area. Once she had pass Sileni and Sirius Apparated to his flat, with an open area that Kingsley authorize so she didn't have to go through the front entrance of the Ministry to deal with the people mobbing her once again.
By the end of the week Sileni has gotten down to a steady routine and knew that it will only become a little hectic once she started working at the Ministry. Kingsley had placed her in the section where Unspeakables have to manually solve puzzles–only occasionally using magic. The Head of the Department of Mysteries, Hisir Ornb, was impressed of Sileni solving a Japanese wooden puzzle box that none of the other Unspeakables could solve in less than five minutes.
Sileni explanation was that it was a similar puzzle she had seen in a movie–the she had to explain what a movie was. That's when the woman found out that she was the only Muggle-born (in some sense, she was) in the whole Department. All the other Unspeakables were purebloods, which was odd as half the items they did hold in the Department were Muggle items. As Hisir walked away he was mumbling of hiring more Muggle-born's into the Department. Sileni and Kingsley laughed as they walked towards the elevators, the woman knowing that she was going to like working as an Unspeakable.
"How is the apartment hunting?" Kingsley asked as they entered the empty elevator.
Sileni raises a suspicious eyebrow at her smiling too innocently friend. "Bad, there are not that many apartments or flats close to my Muggle job–I rather walk then Apparate." she shrugged at his incredulous look. "I don't want to be lazy and count on magic all the time. And those available are further up North or close to the coast on each side, nothing so much in the cities."
The two moved out of the way when several people entered their elevator, the witches and wizards mumbling respectful hello's to Kingsley. Sileni grinned at this, still not used to Kingsley being treated differently because of his title, but Kingsley merely glared at her, making the woman hold back her laughter. She knew that he was still uncomfortable with his position, despite being Minister for the last nineteen years.
"Why not just stay with Sirius?" Kingsley suddenly asked timidly.
"Because I would rather have my own space and privacy."
Kingsley went to say something when the doors opened to reveal a laughing Sirius Black, James Potter, her brother, Remus Lupin, and several others she did not know but were also Auror's. Sirius stopped his laughter immediately in surprise as he saw Sileni standing there. His heart beat just a tad bit more at the sight of her, Sirius never thinking he would see here there at the Ministry.
"What are you doing here?" Sirius asked, almost hopeful.
He hated how that hopefulness came out from him and wish he can control the emotions in his voice. The group entered the elevator as the other witches and wizards moved to the side to let the Auror's in, though watching with interest and curiosity. They've heard the stories of the woman, Sileni, as well as Sirius, James, Remus, and Luke from both their school days and as Auror's. The siblings nodded to each other, as did Remus, while James gave her a large grin and hug. Sirius came right up next to her, grinning from ear to ear. He was trying to contain the hopefulness and joy of seeing Sileni there, but he couldn't help but act like a love sick puppy that he felt.
"I came for the Unspeakable interview." Sileni saw a bit of disappointment, but thought nothing of it as Sirius continued to grin.
"And did you get it?"
Sileni grinned back. "Yes, I start Monday, however Hisir said something about setting me up with a few items that concerned Muggle items and going through clearance and begin work at home rather wait for Monday."
Sirius grinned wider, "Well, this cause for a celebration. We're going to lunch, you should come."
Sileni smiled ruefully. "Can't, I start my Muggle job in a half hour." Sirius sighed in disappointment, but grinned when Sileni kissed his cheek. "But thank you anyways. Have fun guys, thanks Kingsley."
Once the doors opened Sileni walked towards the Apparating point, leaving a group of men and women staring after her. Kingsley shook his head, holding the elevator door open to let the group of Auror's out, grinning at Sirius who looked back at him after staring after the woman.
"I'd watch out for her, Sirius, she's the type to be on the go."
Sirius grinned at his friend and old mentor. "Good thing I'm the same way and can keep up."
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–Night Lion–
Sileni laughed at a story one of the waitresses, Emma, had just told. The other waitress, Ami, merely shook her head, having heard it a thousand times before. Both women were putting on their coats and grabbing their purses from the bar as they were to leave. Rick came from the back to retrieve more dirty dishes from the bar Sileni placed as she put up chairs and cleaned off the tables before sweeping and mopping.
"Are you sure you guys won't need us to help out?" Ami asks once more in concern.
Emma looks between Sileni and Rick, her eyes narrowing with jealousy as Rick watches Sileni clean off another table at the end. She's been working there for over five years and Rick has never looked at her or any other girl the way he was looking at the new girl. What Emma wanted to know is what Sileni had that she didn't?
"No you guys go ahead, we'll be fine." Rick tells them with a smile.
Emma pushes the door open slightly to see a man in a motorcycle cut the engine and taking off his helmet. She smirked as she recognized him immediately the day Sileni came in for the interview for the job. She hoped that this man and Sileni have something going so that Rick can back off and lose interest in her.
"So, how will you be getting home, Sileni?" Emma looks back at the older woman by a few years.
Sileni lift's up a carrier full of dirty dishes and ash trays. "I don't know, I'll probably walk or..." she stopped in mid-sentence and smiled widely as she saw Sirius enter the pub with a smirk. "Ride with Sirius." she finishes with a laugh, "Sirius that is Emma Nook and Ami Watson, guys this is Sirius Black, my temporary roommate. And I'm sure you two remember each other, Rick, Sirius?"
Sileni had placed down the carrier on the bar and hugged the wizard as he nodded a good bye to the girls. Rick rolled his eyes and took the carrier to the back as all the dishes were now picked up and not wanting to see the scene before him. Although he knew that she was off limits, Rick was slowly starting like Sileni just a bit more and hated the fact that he started off flirting with her to get those two closer, having not tightened his hold on his emotions from the start.
Sileni pulled back a bit, continue to smile up at the man with confusion. "What are you doing here? It's nearly three in the morning and you have work at six!"
Sirius smirked and pushed back some strands of hair from her face that fell out of the bun she was wearing. "Thought it would be safer and less awkward explaining on how you were getting home."
Sileni nodded, chuckling a bit. "Well, we're almost done. Just gotta sweep and mop now. Just sit on the stool for a few more minutes."
Sirius did so and watched the woman go about the fairly large pub with the broom quickly. He hoped that the reason for her eagerness was due to spend some time with him, but of course it could only mean she wanted to go home and sleep. The wizard could hear Rick angrily handle the dishes in the back and smirked, glad that he had decided to pick up Sileni instead of letting her walk or Apparate back to his flat.
It took twenty minutes all together to get everything ready for the next day and to close up. Rick muttered quick goodbyes to the two adults as he locked the pub before walking over to his car. Sirius gave Sileni his jacket and a spare helmet before getting on his motorcycle and turning it to life. Once her hair was inside the helmet, Sileni sat behind Sirius and waved bye to Rick as they sped by his car. As soon as they were out of sight from everyone Sirius pushed a button, the motorcycle quickly flying up towards the sky, Sileni laughing at the weightless sensation.
Sirius smiled and placed his left hand on her intertwined hands, wishing that he could see her expression. Sileni could only remember the first book in which Hagrid had rode to Privet Drive in Sirius bike and the stories Sirius told the Marauders when he first got the bike back during their school days. At least, now, she was able to experience it. It didn't take too long to reach the flat, Sileni laughing when they jerked, almost like an airplane that is landing, on the street. Sirius took hold of the extra helmet and grinned at the wide smile on the woman's face.
"I seriously can't believe you never took me flying on this thing! That was incredible!" Sileni half whispered, looking around for any eavesdroppers.
Sirius laughed in return and swung an arm around her shoulders to bring her closer, walking towards the building. He was all too happy to make her smile, and wish to do so for a while longer. He felt Sileni wrap her arms around his middle and place her head on his chest, leaning away from the wind that was blowing from the right of them.
"Well, you never asked and you never seemed to have interest in the motorcycle being able to fly when I told the other Marauders. You were only interested in how smart I was to be able to make a Muggle contraption to fly."
Sileni laughed, "Can you blame a girl who saw you as nothing but a jokester to actually build a motorcycle from the ground up and make it magically fly!" she shook her head in amazement. "Even with your good grades in your classes, this was still incredible and very smart."
Sirius became quiet at her statement of him being nothing but a jokester. Did she still see him as such or just an immature man that wouldn't stop playing pranks? Sileni looked up at Sirius as they came to his door and frowned. She placed a hand to his face, forcing him to look down at her with thoughtful grey eyes.
"Hey, what's the matter, huh?" she whispered, afraid to disrupt the quietness.
Sirius shook his head, "Nothing. Nothing," he trailed off, looking for his key.
Sileni raised an eyebrow and brought both of her hands to his face as she moved in front of him. "What is it, Sirius? I know you and your moods, I observed you guys with my brother during school."
"Is that all you seem me as?" Sirius asked with a frown, "As a jokester that has never matured at my age?"
Sileni went on her tiptoes and kissed the man softly, backing off just a bit. "Yes, I still see you as a jokester. However you have matured since school. You now know when not to cross the line, and that says something as those who knew you from school would have never thought it possible. The Sirius Black not going all the way as he did in school, he now considers the feelings and consequences of those around him."
Sirius smiled and leaned down to capture her lips in a soft kiss, his arms going around her waist. Sileni melted against the man, willingly herself to break the kiss before either of them got hurt in the end. But her body didn't listen to her head as her heart had taken over instead. It was actually Sirius who had pulled back, placing his forehead against hers. They stood like that for a while longer before opening the door and going to their bedrooms for a restless night.
4545454545
It's been a month since Sileni has been 'alive,' and the woman has fallen into a comfortable routine between her jobs, Luke, and her friends. She has even heard–then nearly beaten out of her friends after hearing this–that there were still some Death Eaters on the loose, including Peter Pettigrew. It was then that Sileni noticed the amount of people in Regulus home coming and going. Aside from the friends, and those he knows through his work for the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Auror's and some members from the Order were keeping the family safe.
She had questioned Sirius one day why he was more intent to have a tight security around his brother and his family.
"Because Bellatrix is also still on the loose," he told her through gritted teeth.
After that Sileni didn't ask any more questions, not wanting to upset Sirius of his family relations and his family background. The one day Sileni actually had off from both jobs she took to reading the whole series of Harry's life. It was all basically the same story up to the fifth year, the only difference was Harry had both of his parents, McGonagall was Headmistress, Kingsley was Minister, and there was a bit of peace in this hidden world.
Apparently the hatred between Slytherin and Gryffindor was no longer visible as it was before. Sileni had a feeling that this had something to do with Severus, Harry, and her nephew. The group was even friends with Draco Malfoy, who was polite (and sometimes nice) to them. Although strange, Sileni was glad for it seemed that Draco might be able to get his life on track and not be afraid to get what he wants and disappoint his family or disgrace his name.
Then the books from fifth year and up had the same love story around the group of friends, however she noted, with a sense of dread, while reading Harry's last year of school, the remaining Death Eaters came to attack the school to try and kill Harry, believing it would bring back Voldemort. Many people that should have been dead or were about to die will become dead in this last book. Sileni closed the book with a snap and looks out the window in deep thought. She thought she had stopped the deaths, but apparently death was only waiting for an opportune moment to take the souls he was denied nineteen years ago.
"I'm beginning to think that you love that spot."
Sileni looked over to see Sirius grinning and leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed. He looked tired as his appearance was disheveled, and the woman wanted nothing more than to jump him at the moment.
"You're home early," Sileni pushed the seventh book between the pillows on her left side.
Sirius shrugged, wondering what she was hiding. "Mad-Eye thought we should give a rest on trying to find these Death Eaters, said we're not good dead to him. Plus if we back off they'll make a mistake."
Sileni chuckled, turning so she was facing him. "Yup, that sounds like Mad-Eye. So, what are you in the mood to eat, Mr. Black?"
Sirius smirked, "How about we eat out tonight, Miss Thorn? My treat."
Sileni grinned, "A free meal, why not?"
Sirius laughed in return as Sileni walked over to her bed to grab her sweater. The wizard looked towards the window seat to see a yellow covered spine peeking out from behind the pillows. Looking back at the woman to see her zip up her sweater, Sirius smiled and offered his arm, Sileni laughing in return.
"Yeah, real gentleman you are."
"Hey, I've always been a gentleman to women! Well, except for the fan club." Sirius mutters darkly.
Sileni laugh's once more as Sirius locks his flat both with key and magically. "Ah, yes, I heard that there is still a fan club going on for you. The women who are married use an alias name, of course, and the single ones–including some men–fawn after your every step."
Sirius had a look of disgust, shock, and amused at the same time. It became more of a disgust when they walked out to the sidewalk a woman jogging whispered a 'hi' and a wink in his direction, while pushing a stroller with her child. This only increased Sileni's laughter, Sirius placing an arm around her shoulders and steering her to the right.
"Not funny," he muttered darkly, but enjoying her laughter nonetheless.
"Oh, come on, yes it was!" Sileni wrapped her arms around his waist, looking up with a smile. "And it was perfect timing, too!"
Sirius tried very hard to hold back his smile, but he couldn't. This only made Sileni chuckle with triumphant before looking around her. Despite the cold air, people were bustling to and from the stores as the sun dipped further down in the west, dinner time almost upon them.
"Oh, let's go into that restaurant," Sileni pointed to a sign a few doors down.
Sirius looked at the sign, Rules, and remembered that restaurant was a good place to eat. This he heard from the Prewett twins when they were dating Muggle's for a time a few months back. He just never had the time to really go and enjoy the food that they had told him about. And he never had anyone to go with, until now.
"Okay," Sirius agreed, walking towards the entrance.
Sileni made a noise of disappointment to see the full waiting area. She went to pull Sirius back, but he pulled through the people and up to the podium with the hostess scribbling over the book and speaking into a headset.
"Excuse me, how long is the wait?"
The woman looked up, almost bored, at Sirius, "An hour to a half hour. Your name?"
Sileni tugged on his hand, Sirius looking back, "We'll go somewhere else, okay. It's fine,"
With a nod, Sirius followed the woman back out to the cold, moving to her other side to keep the wind from hitting her. They walked further down the street before Sirius took the woman into a small cafe that also sold books. Over a simple soup, bread, and hot chocolate they spoke of nothing in particular. For both adults it seemed like nothing more than hanging out with a friend, but in reality they were trying to get to know each other even better while trying not to show their true feelings.
Everything was going pretty well until Sileni turned her head to look outside to see someone that made her blood run cold. It was a face that she never wanted to see for a long time out in the real world–either Muggle or magical community. She was one of the faces that come up on the nightmares she occasionally has and every time she sees that face it is the one that kills her always.
"Oh, no."
A/N: Not that many due to the writer's block and lack of ideas for this story. Please review so I can get re-inspired again, thanks!