A/N: Here is the 23rd chapter! Hope you're all enjoying the story :)


"Is it too much to ask to pass the salsa?" Rachel asked Marlene from her spot on the floor.

Without ungluing her eyes from the film that was playing on the television, Marlene passed the glass bowl filled with salsa to Rachel who was lying down on the floor. "The telly is so addicting," Marlene said monotonously. "These people's lives are so dramatic."

"Muggle stuff," Dorcas muttered. "All of it addicting."

Mary, Alice, Dorcas, Marlene, Lily, and Rachel had all decided to spend the night at Rachel's house. The night was supposed to be filled with food, dramas, films, and film critique. It was something new for Alice, Dorcas, and Marlene, so Rachel predicted that they wouldn't be getting much sleep, which she was perfectly fine with. She'd rather be awake if any more Death Eaters decided to invade. And, of course, having friends over was also a reason to not talk to her parents.

"I should move out of my parents' house," Rachel said, her mouth full of tortilla chips and salsa.

Lily looked down at her friend. "Does this have anything to do with your mum?" she asked after a pause.

Rachel sighed in attempts to stall her reply for as long as she could. "Sort of," she finally said. "But not only that. I mean, I'm nearly done my Auror training; I scored a job as an Auror in training. It's not much, but I make some money. And I'm an adult."

"Move in with me," Dorcas suggested, her focus still on the television.

"What?" Rachel exclaimed, sitting up.

Dorcas gaze shifted to her friend. She shrugged. "Sure, why not?" she asked rhetorically. "I'm thinking of moving out too. If I don't, my parents will kick me out. And I have a half-decent job at Florean Fortescue's. We can split rent."

"I just—" Rachel paused and after a few moments' thought, let out a sigh. "That's actually pretty smart."

"It's settled," Dorcas said, turning her eyes back to the glowing screen. "We'll start looking for flats tomorrow, if you want."

"Splendid," Rachel murmured, more to herself.

"Well, anyways," Lily began. "You said your mum was part of the reason. I thought you two were getting along."

Rachel sighed and sat up again, leaning her back on the couch Marlene, Dorcas, and Alice were sitting on. She knew she should have denied anything to do with her mother when she had a chance. She turned to face Lily next to her. "Well, we are, I suppose," Rachel started.

"But…" Lily coaxed.

"But I know it's been... blimey, nearly a year, and yet it's still a tad uncomfortable," Rachel admitted. "I just don't think dad should have forgiven her so easily. She did, after all, abandon us because we were magic. That's like the Muggle equivalent of what a Death Eater does."

"Maybe they just loved each other that much," Alice offered.

"Oh, come on," Rachel groaned. "I don't need any of that lovey-dovey shit. I want to know why my dad gave in so easily."

"Maybe he was worried she'd get attacked," Mary said. "If he sent her on her way, Death Eaters would've seen her leaving the house and killed her to get to you and your dad."

"So he forgave her for walking out on us so he could protect her?" Rachel repeated.

"Yeah," Alice agreed. "Out of love. Read. My. Lips. Fredricks."

Rachel waved her hand dismissively at Alice. "Sounds more likely than the rubbish rolling out of Alice's mouth, but I still don't get it."

"What I don't get is how you're managing to get along with her," Marlene said. "You said yourself that she abandoned you guys."

"Well, granted, things are pretty awkward between the two of us," Rachel admitted. "I still tell her 'good morning' at breakfast and 'arrivederci' when I leave the house, but our relationship doesn't go farther than that. And she's trying to make it go further, but I don't really want it to."

"Make it go further how?" Lily asked.

"Like… she asks me about Sirius," Rachel answered.

"Ooh, big mistake," Mary muttered.

"Yeah, and she's a Muggle, so—"

"She's trying to give you 'The Talk'," Mary interrupted. "Because she missed out on it when you were younger."

Rachel nodded. "Unfortunately."

Marlene blinked. "What the bloody hell is 'The Talk'?"

Rachel turned to face Marlene. "It's, uh, when Muggle parents discuss with their children about, erm, shagging," she replied.

Dorcas snorted unflatteringly. "Bloody hell, that sucks," she said. "I mean, our parents tell us when we're wee things to not go around shagging anyone we want, but it doesn't stick, quite obviously."

"It sure does suck," Mary replied. "My parents found out about Benjy and they've been badgering me non-stop about everything. I'm bloody nineteen!"

"Not yet, you aren't," Alice said. "One more week, Mary!" Mary rolled her eyes in reply.

"So what do you tell her when you have to get away?" Marlene asked, going back to Rachel's problems with her mum.

"I tell her I'm going out with Lily and don't have time," Rachel replied.

Lily turned and gaped at Rachel. "You haven't spent one day with me in the past three weeks!" she said accusingly.

Rachel smiled. "I know," she replied. "I've been spending most of my time with Sirius."

"Surprise, surprise," Mary said sarcastically.

"Where have you guys been going?" Lily asked.

Rachel frowned at her. "… To his flat," Rachel replied slowly. "Obviously."

Lily turned to glare at Rachel and Dorcas broke into fits of uncontrollable laughter, quickly followed by Rachel. Soon enough, the two girls were holding their pained sides from all of the laughing they had done. "Merlin, Lily," Rachel said between laughs. "You are the most entertaining friend ever."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Why don't you two go on an actual date?" she suggested.

Suddenly, Rachel and Dorcas stopped laughing. They looked at one another and then they both looked at Lily. "That's actually quite brilliant," Rachel said. "And we were actually killing ourselves trying to think of something else to do."

"So next time you lie to your mum about spending time with me, go for a nice lunch with Sirius," Lily said.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll stop using you as an excuse," she said. "Dorcas, you're my new excuse."

"Why me?" the girl in question asked.

"Because we're moving in together, oh bright one," Rachel replied sarcastically.

"That's not exactly what I meant," Lily muttered.


"So, what place did you have in mind?" Sirius asked as him and Rachel walked out of his apartment building.

"A small sandwich shop I used to go to over summer," Rachel replied. "I don't know if I told you, but after my mum ran off, my dad and I lived in Scotland for a while. This sandwich shop was what I missed most."

"Well, I definitely didn't guess that tidbit about Scotland from your accent," Sirius replied sarcastically, his face forming his trademark smirk.

Rachel glared at him. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," she muttered.

They turned into an alley and Rachel took his hand. She Apparated the both of them to a different alley in Muggle London. Hands still joined, they walked out of the filthy alley and Rachel led Sirius to the sandwich shop they were going to spend their 'actual date' at.

A small part of Rachel was excited. Between the two of them, sentimental normal couple activities were rare. Rachel and Sirius were both people that didn't feel the need to go out and eat somewhere for the sake of being known to the public. They were perfectly fine having quite a sleepless night and a breakfast that they would prepare together in the morning, despite the fact that the kitchen got quite messy. But they weren't eating out anywhere fancy and for once, they were away from any Order problems, friend problems, and magical world problems. For that one night, they were complete strangers to the world.

Rachel pushed open the glass door to a small quaint shop with flashing lights in the window that read 'Sally's Sandwiches'. The inside of the shop was just as warm, if not warmer, than the humid heat outside, despite the fact that Rachel could hear loud fans spinning quickly in attempts to cool the place down.

Rachel and Sirius walked up to the register counter and placed their orders. The two waited patiently and once their sandwiches were prepared, Rachel grabbed the bags that the sandwiches had been placed in and walked over to one of the two tables outside, Sirius following behind her. The two of them sat down and unwrapped the sandwiches.

"All right then, moment of truth," Sirius said, pulling out his sandwich. "If I die because of this, it's your fault," he added dramatically.

"I'll take full responsibility," Rachel replied sarcastically. She took a bite out of her own sandwich. "Now eat already."

Sirius bit into his sandwich and chewed thoughtfully. He turned to Rachel. "Not bad. Quite the first class sandwich," he said sarcastically.

Rachel kicked his leg playfully and smiled. "Don't be a twat and eat your sandwich," she ordered, a large grin set on her face.

"So, what exactly gave you the epiphany that the two of us should go out on a date?" Sirius questioned.

"Honestly?" Rachel asked. Sirius nodded. "Lily," Rachel replied with a sigh.

Sirius laughed. "You're joking?"

"But you have to admit that it's been quite nice for now," Rachel quickly added.

"Yeah, I suppose this is quite nice," he replied with a smile. "And we still have time to shag."

Rachel rolled her eyes but quickly began laughing. "You are too much for words," she muttered.

"Why thank you," Sirius replied.

The two of them ate their lunches and talked, laughing and simply enjoying themselves. It was a simply blissful day and Rachel could not believe that, somehow, they managed to escape a whole war and forget all of their troubles. And all they had to do was go have lunch at a sandwich shop.


Rachel felt her back being pressed against a door and Sirius's hands roaming her body, searching for skin. Their kissing was passionate and needy, basically begging for more and more. Rachel felt Sirus's hands on her bare back under her tee shirt, sliding down to her hips, and she couldn't help but let out a moan as her hands moved from his neck to his hair.

When they pulled away briefly, Rachel reached back and turned the doorknob. She shoved the door open with her foot and said, "Bloody hell, let's just get down to it. We don't have all night."

"Perfectly fine by me," Sirius breathed out, a smirk quickly forming on his face.


I pretty much felt compelled to write the last part. I feel like you guys have been missing out on the Rachel/Sirius love. If it wasn't almost one in the morning, it might've actually been well-written :P

-Grammar/spelling?
-Favourite line?
-I know the pace suddenly sped up, but I don't plan on ending it too quickly, so no worries :)

Thanks for reading! :)