Authors Note: Chapter 2 up sooner than I thought. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimers apply - not mine but I wish it was...
Thanks to fortheloveoftea for the amazing beta. Now go to her profile and check out "Pride, Prejudice, Potions and Potter" brilliant new story.
Baring your Soul - Chapter 2
It was a rather subdued affair when Sirius finally entered the ballroom after being stopped by almost everyone he passed who wanted a word with the young pianist. Mainly the conversations was general enquires regarding his music or his next concert; however one or two questions had veered towards his father. How he was doing? or how was his health? Sirius smiled politely at these questions and replied with a curt "He is very well, thank you. I will be sure to pass on your regard to him." Followed by an angry taunt in his mind about how regards weren't the only thing he would love to pass on to his father. He scowled at the thoughts of his father and pushed them away to the furthest recesses of his mind where he could ignore them for a little while longer.
Sirius found himself talking with a few of the neighbours who he had become acquainted with in the past 3 years of his residence in the Potter house, when he noticed Aunt Jane watching him and whispering to her daughter Emma. He quickly scurried towards James in a bid for safety. James laughed as Sirius' told him all about his views on Aunt Jane.
'Look... just get drunk and make a fool of yourself in front of these fine respectable people and Jane will change her mind about you being a suitable husband for Emma.' James grinned.
'It's alright for you to laugh, you want to get married. I'm happy where I am in my life right now.' Sirius said, although James was sure that that was most certainly not true. He clapped Sirius on the back reassuringly.
'Just because she might think you are perfect doesn't mean you have to marry her.' James smiled and turned back to his conversation with his future father-in-law.
Sirius tended to disagree with James on that part. The perfect way to re-pay the Potters generosity would be to agree to court Emma, marry her and have plenty of little Blacks hopping around the place. He scoffed. It was almost his duty.
Elizabeth and Harold Potter most certainly wouldn't have expected it but Jane would. He could see her brain working from the moment he met Emma 3 years ago. He was handsome, talented, eligible and could sustain her eldest daughter in a fashion she was accustomed to. He feared Aunt Jane more than anything in the world because she was manipulative and would plant notions in Elizabeth's ear, that they would be a perfect match. Then Elizabeth would suggest that Sirius take Emma for a walk or to a dance or some other such event and that would be it. I'll be married away by this time next year. He thought rather gloomily and over dramatically.
He frowned as he made a beeline for the end of the ballroom, hoping to escape before anyone else would stop him. His thoughts trailed back to Emma. The thing was he liked Emma. She was kind and sweet and very beautiful but he wasn't in any way attracted to her. His feelings toward her were that of kinship and brotherly affection. However, where her thoughts lay in regards to him he did not know.
Sirius smiled at people as he passed them, nodding quick greetings but scurrying away before any real conversations could kick off. He made it to the back of the ballroom but found to his chagrin that the small room he liked to escape to was already occupied.
A young man, about his own age sat down in one of the 2 chairs with his head resting on an elegant looking cane. His breathing was shallow and for a moment Sirius thought he was asleep. However on closer inspection he was almost entirely sure it would be impossible for someone to sleep like that.
He coughed lightly to make the stranger aware of his presence.
Remus was trying to control the pain in his leg. He had been trying to ignore it for the past hour. Hidden from view he watched the crowd of people from the small room. Friends, neighbours, acquaintances, family, all gathered together to celebrate James and Lily's forthcoming wedding. He wondered who would be at his engagement party (if ever he chose to take a wife.) His only family had died, his mother in his youth, his father a mere 3 months ago. Remus shook his head. This train of thought would do him no good. It was too fresh a wound. He sighed lowly.
This wasn't working. He cleared his head and leaned his forehead on his cane. He then began to control his breathing, hoping to ease the pain in his leg. It had begun to work, the pain had dulled from a sharp ache to a dull throb, when a low cough broke him from his reverie.
Remus looked up quickly to see who his guest was. At the door stood a tall, handsome young man in a navy blue suit with charcoal eyes and ebony hair. He stood with his arms behind his back and an air of elegance that seemed to flow effortlessly from him.
Remus blushed slightly, having been caught hunched over in pain like an old man. He grabbed the top of his cane in his right hand and stood up.
'Hello.' He began lowly. Suddenly feeling very embarrassed about needing a cane to move about in the presence of this young man.
'Hello.' Was the reply.
Remus hobbled over towards Sirius and stuck out his hand.
'Remus Lupin.' He watched as Sirius took his hand and shook it lightly.
The other man remained quiet, a strange look upon his face. Remus would have thought the man mute had he not already greeted him.
'And you are...?' Remus began.
Sirius was a little busy appraising the stranger in front of him.
Remus stood perhaps an inch taller than himself. Perhaps more if he wasn't leaning so heavily on his cane. He was dressed in a black suit and had a handsome face with caramel-coloured eyes. Kind eyes.
Remus spoke warily and Sirius was brought back to the conversation.
'Sorry, I'm Sirius Black.' He smiled warmly at the young man.
A moment passed in awkward silence.
'It is refreshing to meet someone who doesn't know me by reputation.' Sirius finally broke the silence, followed with a grin.
Remus nodded lightly and smiled, a look of why-exactly-should-I- know-you? evident on his face.
'Well I best be off out to the festivities.' Remus smiled and took his leave from the stuffy room and Sirius Black.
Sirius watched him a moment as he left, limping slightly as he joined Lily and the people she was talking with.
Obviously the cane isn't merely a fashion item. Sirius thought.
Sitting down in the seat, Sirius promptly forgot about the handsome young cripple and began to fret once again about his music.
Authors Note - Read and Review if you would so please.
Chapter 3 up in the next week... hopefully!
