12. Snow

After Arthur's attack everything seemed to happen in a whirlwind. Between making sure Molly and the kids had what they needed and the increase in missions for the Order, I felt like I would never get a break again. I was glad when Arthur was allowed to leave the hospital. It meant that not only was he healthy, but I didn't have to go inside the hospital again for a while. I didn't like going there unless I absolutely needed to.

I made a point to get Remus a new jumper for Christmas. He was always complaining about being cold and how much he hated the winter, so I made sure to get him a good thick one. I couldn't help but smile proudly when I saw him wear it at the first Order meeting after Christmas.

"You look quite handsome tonight, Remus. Who would have been thoughtful enough to get you a nice warm jumper for Christmas?"

"I haven't the slightest idea," he said with a smile. "Hopefully that person knows how thankful I am. I really do like it. Did you like your socks? I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything else, I wasn't entirely sure what to get you."

"I love my new socks," I lifted my pant legs so he could see I was wearing them. "I have never had warmer feet."

"I see you also got new boots. Now not only are your feet nice and warm, they are also dry."

"Yeah, my parents got them for me. I'm glad I got them but I can't bring myself to get rid of the old ones."

"They have holes in them, toss them out."

"They still make good back-up boots."

He gave me a skeptical look. "I don't see how. All you had to do was think about your feet getting wet and your feet would get wet."

I laughed, "Rude, but true."

Some time later and the kids were back at Hogwarts, Molly and Arthur were back at the Burrow, and Sirius was all alone in Grimmauld Place again. Sirius' excitement at having people at headquarters diminished dramatically when he was alone again. The Christmas decorations were taken down and the house looked downright dreary. Well, even more so than usual. It was hard to spend time with Sirius when all he wanted to do was hide and be alone while complaining about being alone. It made me want to shake him silly.

"Sirius, you can't complain about being lonely then turn around and complain that I am spending time with you."

"Yes, I can. I'm tired of being alone but I'm also tired of your company. It's always you or Remus or both of you. Both of you always spend your time with me complaining about each other or telling me to stop being depressing. I'm tired of being the middleman between you two, figure your shit out yourselves and leave me out of it."

"No need to be rude. I haven't complained about Remus to you in a while. He's actually done really well and we're back to normal now. He finally got over being weird around me. He complains about me?"

Sirius sighed dramatically, "He did, does, and will continue to I am sure. Mostly the 'woe is me' crap he always does when he has feelings for someone. But that isn't news to you."

"No, it isn't. I am working on breaking him of that, just give me some time. And if you are tired of our company I will pass word to Remus and you won't have to deal with us for a while. No more food from outside this house. No more anything from outside this house actually."

"I can get Mundungus to fetch me things."

"Yeah, with a fee thrown in and from sketchy sources. Trust me, you would change your mind very quickly."

"You would be surprised how long he would be willing to suffer just to prove a point, Nymphadora."

"Ahh, lovely. Moony is here too. Just what I need, two naggers instead of one."

"I can leave if you prefer. I don't like to be around you when you get like this," Remus said, still standing in the doorway.

"Yes, please. I don't think I can handle both of you at the same time right now. I may just run outside so I can get caught to give myself a break."

I looked over at Remus; he didn't look amused. "Sirius, get your head out of your arse. You are alive and well and that should be all that matters right now. Harry needs you and so do we, so stop feeling sorry for yourself and go take a shower. I can smell you from here."

"No need to get snippy. Is it that time of the month again already?"

"Sirius! Don't be a knob. Remus is right. You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and go take a shower. Didn't you wonder why I chose to sit as far from you as possible?"

"I was hoping it was because you would be leaving soon," Sirius said in a curt tone.

Remus was standing behind me now. He placed his hand on my shoulder as he leaned down and said, "Let's leave him to his sorrows for a bit. Let's go grab his groceries."

I stood up and looked at Sirius, "Please take a shower. We'll be back in a bit."

Remus and I went to the shop to pick up some groceries for Sirius so he could feed himself. Kreacher had been missing in action a lot lately.

"I wish we could get him out of this funk," I said while looking at two different brands of noodles. "I'm tired of being his verbal punching bag." I put one box of noodles in the basket and put the other back on the shelf.

"I know, but we can't control his moods. He has to decide to stop being a knob, as you put it, on his own." Remus put a couple of bags of crisps in the basket.

"I think we need to get him some healthy snacks too. Everything on this list is junk." I crossed off crisps and sweets. "He's a stress eater isn't he?"

"He is an emotional eater, yes. We could get him a few healthy snacks but he probably won't eat them."

We walked up and down the aisles putting things in the basket. Once we finally finished the list and checked out we headed back to Grimmauld Place.

"Do you think we should stop and grab something for dinner? Maybe if we get something semi-healthy for dinner he will eat it since he won't have to cook."

Remus looked over at me skeptically, "If you want to try, go for it. What did you have in mind?"

"Chinese? We can get him something full of veggies."

"Sure," Remus chuckled.

Once back at Grimmauld Place, Remus and I put away the groceries and set out dinner. Sirius must have smelled the food because he was in the kitchen as soon as the first container of chicken was opened.

"What's for dinner?" Sirius inquired looking into a container of fried rice.

"Who said it's for you? This food is for those that enjoy my company, not those that insult me as soon as I walk into a room," Remus said with a look of indifference.

"I showered, what more do you want?"

"An apology would be nice."

Sirius rolled his eyes.

"A sincere one," chided Remus.

"I'm sorry I made a joke comparing the full moon to a menstrual cycle."

I hid a smile behind my hand as I took a seat at the kitchen table. Watching these two bicker always amused me but I had a feeling Remus wouldn't appreciate me laughing. Sirius saw me though.

"I'm sorry I made you feel less manly in front of Tonks by talking about your time of the month. It wasn't my intention to embarrass you so."

"Sirius, I hope you choke on that egg roll."

My eyes were watering from the effort it was taking me not to laugh. I loved these two.

"I bet I know who you want to choke on your egg roll," Sirius winked at me and wagged his eyebrows at Remus.

Remus set down the fork full of chicken he had been about to eat. He put his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers. He was looking at Sirius like he was trying to decide if he should punch him or just let it go.

"What? You should be happy right now. I took a shower and I'm eating. I feel better than I did earlier. I can actually tolerate both you and Tonks right now."

Remus said nothing, he continued to stare at Sirius over his hands. If his goal was to make Sirius uncomfortable it was working.

"Moony, seriously. I'm in a better mood now. I'm sorry for making crass jokes at your expense."

Remus said nothing. He sat and just stared at Sirius.

"This isn't funny. Stop staring at me. I'm not some student you can stare into obedience."

Remus was now hiding his mouth behind his steepled hands, elbows still on the table. I could see a slight smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes. He stayed silent.

"Bugger off, Moony! You know I hate this. Tonks help me, please. Make him talk before I lose it."

"You are on your own, Sirius. I'm not getting in the middle of this."

Sirius gave Remus a not very polite hand gesture and rolled his eyes at me. Remus sighed and resumed eating without saying a word to Sirius. I couldn't help but hide a smile behind my hand again.

"I really don't like you, Remus. You can be so infuriatingly stubborn."

"I think you will get over it, Sirius. You need a taste of your own medicine once in a while. Maybe now you will use your brain to mouth filter before you speak, at least for a little while anyway."

"Sod off, mate," Sirius grumbled through a mouthful of food.

"Rude," I said. "You don't need to always get the last word in. Remus is right about using your brain to mouth filter once in a while. Your tendency to speak without thinking has been hurting some feelings lately, including mine."

"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, baby cousin. I only speak the truth. Speaking of which, when are you and Moony going to finally hook up? Have you even snogged yet? The tension between you two is so thick I could cut it with a knife."

I looked over at Remus to gauge his reaction. He was hyper focused on scooping the remaining rice off his plate onto his fork.

"Earth to Moony," Sirius was looking at Remus smugly, "Did you hear what I just said?"

"I did, yes. I was choosing to ignore it," Remus looked up from his plate and set his fork down. "I see our conversation really made an impact." The sarcasm was palpable.

"Well, on that note I am going to head home. I don't want to be here when the two of you throw hands," I stood up and carried my dishes to the sink. I dropped my fork on the way and had to snatch it off the floor.

"I think I will go as well. I don't want to deal with Sirius anymore tonight."

"Rude, the lot of you. I tried to get rid of both of you earlier and you stuck around. Now you both want to leave me once I start to feel more like myself. I need better friends," Sirius whined through a smirk.

"Good night, Sirius. Try not to be an arse your whole life," I said as I gave him a hug.

"I will walk out with you, Nymphadora," Remus said as he waved his wand and the dishes began to clean themselves. "Good night, Sirius. I hope the bed bugs bite."

I snorted and tried to hide it with a cough. I wasn't used to this irritable side of Remus and his comment to Sirius had caught me off guard. I bid Sirius good night again and headed for the door. I stopped to get my coat and hat on. Remus was right beside me doing the same. I struggled getting my left arm in my jacket and Remus had to help me.

"Thanks, I don't know how that got so tangled up."

"Not a problem," he said with a smile as he held the door open for me, "After you, Nymphadora."

It had started to snow. I smiled and looked up to the sky so I could feel the snowflakes on my face. I held my arms out and spun in a circle enjoying myself. I loved the snow. When I stopped spinning and opened my eyes I noticed Remus was looking at me with an almost awed expression. He was smiling at my antics.

"Having fun?" he asked.

"I love fresh snow. It's almost like a new beginning you know? Fresh and clean and untouched. The world hasn't had a chance to ruin it yet."

"That was surprisingly poetic."

"Thanks?"

"It's very accurate now that I think about it. Snow really is so clean and fresh and untouched until one person walks through it and ruins it. Very much like life itself."

I smiled up at Remus, enjoying the way the snowflakes were sticking to his eyelashes.

"Good night, Nymphadora."

"Good night, Remus."