56

Bittersweet Moments

When Regulus arrived at the Snapes' cottage in Hogsmeade, he was surprised to find a boy curled up on the sofa, studying a Charms text and drinking a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows. "Hello, I'm Regulus Black, a friend of Severus'," Reg said, raising an eyebrow. "And you are?"

"My name's Arthur Stephens. I'm . . .uh . . .staying here till the Ministry approves Professor Snape's guardianship over me."

Both of Regulus' eyebrows went up. "Guardianship? Are you a relative of his or . . . Zoey's?" He asked, remembering just in time to refer to Lily by her pseudonym.

"No, just his student. But my . . .my parents were killed by . . .Death Eaters and I had nobody else so . . ." Arthur explained haltingly, clearly the topic upset him.

"Oh. I see. Well, it's nice meeting you, Arthur. Severus and Zoey are good people, even if Sev can be a little . . .stiff sometimes, if you know what I mean."

He had read that there had been a single survivor of a raid made by Death Eaters, whom he knew had been Avery and Rudolphus LeStrange, a young boy who had been away at Hogwarts, one of Severus' students, but he didn't realize the boy was staying with Severus and Lily. Suddenly, things had just gotten a bit more complicated.

Arthur smiled a little. "I do. But I can deal with it. Professor Snape's all right. I still miss my dad and mum but . . .living here's better than a home with Child Services. At least Severus wanted me here." He didn't add No one else did, but it was in his eyes for Regulus to see.

Regulus nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss. I hope everything works out for you. Is Severus at home?"

"Not right now. He and Zoey went out for a walk down to The Three Broomsticks a few minutes ago."

"Oh. Maybe I can catch up to them. I'll see you later, Arthur."

Arthur nodded at him. "Goodbye, Mr. Black."

"Regulus, please," laughed the other. "Mr. Black's my father." He waved at the boy and then headed out of the cottage. That's a nice kid there. Damn shame about his family though. I really hope what I discovered can make it possible to stop the bloody Death Eaters and the Dark Lord for good and all. So no one else has to wake up and find out that his whole family has been wiped out on a whim.

Regulus found Severus and Lily sitting in a corner table in The Three Broomsticks enjoying some hot cocoa with a splash of firewhiskey and quietly observing the patrons. "Hey. Having fun?"

"Reg!" Lily exclaimed, rising and giving her friend a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "It's been too long since we've seen you."

"Did you Floo to the house first?" Severus asked, smiling and giving his best friend a playful smack on the shoulder.

"Yes, and I met your new ward, Arthur. Thought you were going to wait before having kids, Sev?"

"Zoey couldn't resist him," Severus replied, his ebony eyes glittering with amusement. It was rare for him to joke about something so serious, but Regulus brought out a certain mischievousness in him at times.

"It was Severus' idea to bring him home after Dumbledore broke the news to him," Lily countered, frowning at her husband. "The poor boy had no one left, Reg. And I hate to think of him stuck in some foster care facility, like an unwanted dog."

"His parents didn't make a will or something providing for him?" Regulus asked softly, sitting down.

"There was a will, and whatever was left after taxes and such we put in a trust for him. The house we sold, and the money from that will be used for school, but the only stipulation about a guardian was an old family friend who had passed away last year. I suppose they hadn't gotten around to altering their will, they weren't expecting to die so soon," Severus told him.

"So, is it official yet?" Reg asked.

"Not quite. There's still some red tape, because you know the Ministry," Severus sighed. "But it should all be sorted out by the end of the week."

"Or so we hope," added Lily. "In the meantime, Arthur's been sleeping at the house, because of the nightmares he's begun having. He keeps dreaming about how his parents and sisters died, and Severus has to keep giving him potions to help him sleep."

"I'm thinking about arranging counseling for him," Severus said. "Grief and guilt counseling, to be exact. He blames himself for not warning his parents or some such nonsense."

"Grief is never sensible," Regulus said. Then he lowered his voice and cast a Muffliato charm. "I didn't come here just to chat, though I do love talking to you," he said, smirking. "You got my letter, right?"

Severus nodded, then he picked up his mug and pretended to sip it, hiding his lips from view of any spies that might be in the tavern. He might be Voldemort's most trusted agent, but that didn't mean the Dark Lord didn't have other spies watching from the shadows. "Yes. What did you find out?"

Regulus told him all about the meeting in Borgin and Burkes, his search for answers in Malfoy's library, and what he had read in the dark spellbook about Horcruxes. "I think he might be creating them. Or trying to."

Lily made a disgusted face. "It shouldn't surprise me, considering who and what he is, but somehow I didn't expect him to go that far. Was that why the Stephens were killed?"

Regulus shook his head. "I don't think so. From what I could gather, LeStrange and Avery attacked them on their own, he wasn't there. Heaven only knows who he'll target to make the locket and the ring into Horcruxes. I don't think it's even been attempted in centuries."

"Then there's a chance he might fail," Lily said hopefully.

"But a greater one that he could succeed," Severus pointed out. "We need to tell the Order about this. Maybe he can be stopped."

"If he's already created one or two, the only way to stop him would be to try and find where he's hidden the Horcruxes and destroy them," Regulus said.

Severus' eyes narrowed as he gazed at his friend. "What are you thinking, Reg? What new plan are you hatching in that clever brain of yours?"

Regulus shrugged. "Not much of one. Just thinking that if I could figure out where his Darkness is hiding them, maybe I could destroy them before he realizes what's happening."

"Too risky for you to do it alone," Severus shook his head immediately. "Let the Order handle it."

Regulus snorted. "By the time the Order agrees on anything, the Dark Lord will have made fifty of them or something. We need to find out where and what he's doing now, Sev, before he puts up defenses and wards we can't penetrate. I'm the best placed person we have to do that, since I work for Borgin and Burke's."

"I don't like it. At least let me contact Albus and see what he thinks. Don't do anything rash, Black. Remember, you're a Slytherin."

Reg scowled. "I'm not a kid, Severus! I can take care of myself. I won't act unless I think I can finish what I've started, and I've got back up in place. But we shouldn't just sit on our arses and let this opportunity slip through our fingers. This maybe the best chance we have of ending the war."

"Regulus—"

"Sev, he's right. This chance won't come again," Lily said, and then she suddenly gazed upwards and whispered, "In order to find what is hidden, you must cross the lake of fire, and avoid what lives within. Be prepared to sacrifice all for the dark fountain shall accept no less." An instant later she blinked and took a deep breath.

"Lily, are you all right?" Severus asked, concerned. She had not had a vision like that in a long time. He handed her a cloth napkin and a glass of water.

She drank deeply before replying, her oracle gift always left her throat parched and scratchy. "I had a vision. What did I say?"

"Don't you remember?" asked Reg.

"Not always. Sev, did you write it down?"

"Yes." He shoved a small parchment pad at her with the prophecy she had spoken upon it.

"A lake of fire? What does that mean?" she queried, her brow creased.

"You don't know what you Saw?" Regulus stared at her.

"I know what I saw, but I don't understand it," she said. "My Sight . . .is not always clear and sometimes what I See is not an actual place, but a symbol for something else. It's complicated."

"It seems like one of us will have to die in order to find the Horcruxes," Regulus said.

"Not necessarily." Lily said.

"Well, how else would you interpret be prepared to sacrifice all?"

"It could mean something other than a life. It could be referring to all your money or all your magic . . .we won't know until it is fulfilled."

"Or who is going to fulfill it," her husband said.

"I think that would be me, considering how Lily went into a trance while we were discussing me finding the Horcruxes," insisted Regulus.

Severus scowled. He had a bad feeling about Regulus searching for the Horcruxes, even though he was no oracle. "I think you need to wait until we discuss it with the Order."

Regulus sighed. "Since when did you become such a ninny, Sev? You never cleared half the meetings you went to with the Order. Did you ask Dumbledore's permission before getting Marked?"

"That's different. I just don't want you risking your life unnecessarily, Reg."

"Destroying Horcruxes isn't unnecessary—" Regulus began, annoyed.

"Stop it, the pair of you!" Lily ordered sharply. "Sev, I understand you're concerned and afraid for Reg, but in the end, it's not your choice to make. Reg, don't do anything stupid, a second opinion is always good. If it's feasible, and you think you can find the Horcruxes, I'll be your back up. No, Sev, don't say anything," she held up a hand when Severus would have interrupted her. "This is something I'm meant to do. I've been gathering information on the side long enough. It's time I took a more active role in this war. You aren't the only one who's allowed to risk his neck, you know."

Severus ground his teeth together. The mere thought of his wife in danger made him ill. But he had seen the expression in Lily's eyes. She was stubborn and intractable, and she clearly was not going to let her husband dictate her choices to her. Recognizing the folly of trying to move a mountain with his bare hands, he sighed reluctantly. "Very well. But before anything else gets done, we need to inform the Order. They might have agents or information about Horcruxes that we can use. Agreed?"

Lily and Regulus gave in.

The matter settled, Lily then invited Reg back to her home for supper. "I've got some Cornish pasties and roasted potatoes in the oven. Oh, and a pumpkin pie too."

"Say no more, I'm there," chuckled Reg. He knew better than to pass up Lily's cooking.

SSLSPPJPRB

"Delicious as always, Zoey," Regulus complimented his friend on her cooking. "You know, if Sev didn't marry you first, I would have."

Zoey laughed as she floated plates into the sink for Arthur to scrub, that was one of the chores the boy told her he used to do at home and wished to do here. "You mean, you only think a woman is marriageable if she can cook? Does Cindy know this?"

"Cin can cook," Regulus said. "And all I meant was that Sev's lucky to have a wife who's not only a great witch, but a great cook as well. They don't always go together, you know. My mum can't cook anything. She can barely make tea and toast."

"I learned from the best. My mum," Zoey said proudly. "She used to have me help in the kitchen from the time I could see over a counter. Tuney too."

"She also had me help," admitted Severus. "She taught me how to make gingerbread biscuits and fried chicken and vegetables. My mother was a decent cook, but she never had time to do anything elaborate, not like Polly."

"Like I said, a wife that can cook decently is a pearl beyond price. Then you'll never have to worry about going to bed hungry or with indigestion or food poisoning." Reg said saucily.

"Speaking of wives, have you and Cin set a final date yet?" asked Severus.

"Yes. She wants to be married on November 15th. And I'd like you to stand up and be my best man, Sev."

"I would be honored, Reg." Severus said sincerely.

"Good. And since Zoey's going to be Cindy's maid of honor, you'll be well matched." His friend grinned.

"Zoey, I'm all finished with the dishes," announced Arthur.

"Thank you, Arthur. Now, why don't you start on your homework?" Zoey suggested.

The boy groaned a bit until Severus said quietly, "Do your homework without whining and we'll let you have extra helpings of dessert. Complain and you'll go to bed without any."

"Yes, sir, Professor." Arthur complied quickly, taking his homework out of his bookbag and beginning it.

About twenty minutes later, he asked Severus questions about the potions assignment, and after his teacher had explained a few things, finished his potions assignment. He then worked on Charms and Transfiguration, which Zoey helped him with. Arthur was glad he had the professor and Zoey to explain things to him, his parents had sometimes helped him with maths and composition when he went to primary school, and it made him feel more comfortable with his new home and guardians.

Severus had already discussed basic rules with him, and told him that though he expected Arthur to do well in school and try his hardest to get top marks, he would not punish the boy if he happened to get the occasional bad one. "As long as you have a legitimate reason to get a below average grade, that is, such as being sick or being totally confused. Not turning in homework or not studying for tests or fooling about in class is not a reason to get a below average mark. If I find out you've been doing any of that, you will be in serious trouble."

"Like what? Will you turn me over your knee?"

"Is that how your father punished you?"

"Sometimes. If I failed a class. I only did that twice."

"I don't believe in spanking a child over bad marks. I will, however, ground you and take away your free time, or your broom, and forbid you to see your friends until you bring that mark up and I see evidence that you're taking your studies seriously."

The boy made a face. "That's worse in some ways."

"You would prefer a spanking?" Severus asked in astonishment.

"Oh, no, sir! I'd prefer not getting punished at all."

"Humph! Cheeky brat. Study hard and you won't need to worry about it." Severus said gruffly.

"I will. Or at least I'll try my best." Arthur promised. He was rather relieved that Snape didn't wallop kids over bad marks. Having his dad do it was bad enough, never mind his teacher and guardian. He wondered if there was anything that would cause the professor to spank him, but was too chicken-hearted to ask. He figured he'd better quit while he was ahead. He had learned that Snape always did what he said, in class or out of it. Oddly enough, despite his mischievous streak, he preferred that consistency, because then he always knew where he stood and what to expect from his guardian. He respected his teacher, and though he might not like some of Snape's rules, he would try and follow them, so Severus would give him a home forever. He had heard stories of what foster homes were like in the Muggle world and assumed that those in the wizarding one weren't much better. He never wanted to end up in one.

Once his homework was finished to both Severus and Zoey's satisfaction, Arthur took two helpings of pie with whipped topping and ate them slowly. Regulus was right, Zoey was an amazing cook. Not even his mother or sister Abigail had cooked as good. Sorry Mum and Abby, but it's the truth. "Mmm. This is the best pie I've ever tasted, Zoey. Even better than my mum's."

Zoey blushed. "Thank you, Arthur. I suppose that's the best compliment I can have, that a boy likes my pie."

"What, my liking your cooking isn't enough?" asked Regulus, pretending to be insulted.

"You? You'll eat anything," Zoey teased.

"Me? I have a very refined palate, milady." Reg said haughtily, affecting a lordly air.

"Right. Last time we went into London together, you ate at every roadside fish and chips stand and pub with greasy hamburgers," Severus countered slyly. "You could be the connoisseur of fast food."

Regulus glared at him. "Thanks ever so much, Sev. What a great friend you are!"

Severus smirked. "I'm the best one you'll ever have, Black, and don't you forget it."

Arthur watched the two bicker teasingly and had to blink back tears. He and his sister used to behave that way once, and he found that the two men reminded him more of brothers than friends. There was a connection between them that transcended mere friendship. The boy didn't know how he knew that, but he did. Suddenly the pie tasted like ashes in his mouth. The camaraderie the couple and Regulus shared made him miss his family something awful.

He abruptly pushed back his plate without finishing the rest of his dessert. "May I be excused?"

Zoey eyed him in concern. "You're finished?"

"Yes. I . . .I'm really full."

"Looks like your eyes were bigger than your stomach," Severus said, a bit sharply, for he hated wasting good food, it was a legacy from the starving days of his childhood.

Arthur lowered his eyes to the table so the professor wouldn't see the tears in his eyes. It wasn't Snape's words that hurt so much, but the fact that his dad would have said the very same thing. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry. May I go now?"

"You may." Severus said.

Arthur got to his feet and went upstairs before they could see the tears falling silently down his cheeks. He wanted so much to like his new home, but sometimes he couldn't help thinking about his old house and the way his mother had hugged him just before he'd left for the train station with his dad and how his little sisters had giggled and asked him to bring them something weird and magical when he came home. He recalled his dad's last words to him before he'd boarded the Hogwarts Express. "Behave and do well in school, lad. Make me proud. I'll be seeing you soon." Except he wouldn't. He would never go home, and see any of them again.

He threw himself on his bed and cried, unable to help himself.

SSLSJPPPRB

Potter Manor

That same evening:

Petunia clung to the swiftly running stag with her thighs, gripping tightly as the great deer bounded through the woods and along the well worn deer trail, his hooves thundering over the hard packed ground. It had been a long time since she had ridden Prongs, not since before her marriage. But this evening, she had felt a strong desire to run through the woods like a wild Amazon, and she had also sensed that her husband needed the release and freedom of his Animagus form as well. She also had a surprise to share with him, but had wanted to reveal it after he had gotten most of his frustrations out by some hard exercise.

So after dinner that night she had suggested James come for a walk with her. "Where to?" he had asked.

"In the woods. I need to feel the wind on my face and it's a lovely night." His wife had said, shrugging into a warm fleece-lined jacket. She was also wearing her sot trousers and low boots. Her blond hair was pulled back in a casual tail.

"All right."

They had walked leisurely across the lawn and towards the large tract of woods. Petunia halted before they reached them and turned to her husband, who was wearing black tailored pants and a long-sleeved red and gold striped shirt, similar to the one he'd worn at school. His dark hair was tousled slightly by the wind and his hazel eyes were oddly pensive. Even at home, she thought sadly, he can't seem to relax. Damn this bloody war to hell! "How was work today?"

"All right. We collared a few minor Death Eaters. Orion was pleased. Until we came back to headquarters and found that the bastards got another family of blood traitors."

"Oh, James, not again! Were they all dead?" Petunia cried in dismay.

James nodded grimly. "Yes. Nothing we could do. I just don't understand it. These are like random acts of violence. There's no pattern, nothing we can point to and say, this is when and where they're going to strike next. The only thing that's the same are the targets—all of them are either Muggles, Muggleborns, or blood traitors." He shook his head. "I wish I knew of a spell that would wipe them all from the face of the earth."

"So do I," Petunis said, recalling Annie and her dreadful injury caused by a Death Eater attack, as well as all the other patients in St. Mungos she had treated who had survived the vicious curses of Voldemort's followers. She wrapped her arms about her husband and whispered, "I know how guilty you feel about not being able to stop these attacks, but James, you're only one man. And you can't be everywhere at once, you're not superwizard."

"I know, Tuney, but it doesn't change how I feel. I feel responsible, like I've let them down. I'm an Auror, dammit, I'm supposed to protect them. Instead all I've been able to do is attend their funerals."

"Someday they'll slip, and you'll catch them," she soothed. "For now, why don't we do something we haven't done in a long time?"

"What's that?" His hazel eyes met her blue ones curiously.

"Run through the woods together."

He understood what she meant immediately. "You want to ride Prongs again?"

"Very much."

A slow smile spread across his face, making him look like a charming scoundrel. He stepped away from her and blurred into the silver stag, tossing his great ivory antlers and rearing before her.

Her breath caught, as it always did when he transformed. She loved James the man, but Prongs always made her feel as if she were a princess in a tale, bold and wild, instead of a mere ordinary young woman who had just happened to marry a wizard noble. Prongs lowered his head and front leg until he was bowing before her, low enough so she could run and hop onto his back, sitting just behind his great shoulders.

In spite of the many times she had ridden the stag, she always felt a jolt of excitement and anticipation when she threw a leg over the powerful animal and he rose gracefully to his feet and trotted off into the woods. Riding the stag was not like riding a horse, their movements were different, but Petunia had learned to move with him, and she loved the feel of the deer beneath her, all of that sheer power, grace, and speed, hers to command.

She tapped her heels lightly against his sides, and Prongs began to run, not the panicked bounding leap of a deer racing for his life, but an even steady stride through the ancient oaks and elms. When he sprang over a fallen log in their path, she clung to his neck and gave a little shriek, not of fear, but of delight. While Prongs could not fly like a broom, his great leaps made her feel as if she were flying for a minute or two, they were so powerful.

She breathed in the musky male scent of his fur, which was smooth and soft like velvet beneath her fingers, and laid her cheek alongside his neck, where she could hear his heart beating and his breath coming in soft whooses.

"I love you, Prongs," she whispered into his upturned ear. He slowed, turned and nuzzled her with his moist satiny nose, giving her a sloppy "kiss". His huge brown eyes shone with love and tenderness.

She giggled like a silly schoolgirl and petted his nose. He slurped her hand with his sticky tongue and she shook a finger at him. "Prongs! Now I'm all over deer slobber!"

He tossed his magnificent head in a who-cares gesture, then began to trot back the way they had come.

When they had reached the large expanse of lawn, Prongs allowed himself to stretch his legs and bound all over like a playful fawn, making Petunia squeal in delight. Finally, he grew tired and stopped and folded all his legs beneath him, settling down on the grass.

Petunia dismounted, grimaced and rubbed her rear end. "I love riding you, my dear, but your backbone is very . . .hard." Abruptly she burst out laughing, she sounded so ridiculous, complaining over such a mundane thing when she had just had a brilliant ride. "Oh, well. I don't really mind."

Prongs made a sort of braying noise that was a stag's version of laughter. He then nuzzled her bottom, poking her playfully with his antlers.

She swatted him on the muzzle. "Prongs, don't be naughty! You're a stag, act like it."

The stag's brown eyes sparkled with mischief. He jerked his head towards his side, making it clear he wanted his wife to sit next to him.

Petunia complied with the silent request, sitting gingerly on the ground, her back against his side. No sooner had she done so, then Prongs blurred into James, who caught her in his arms and drew her snugly against his chest.

"Sorry you're sore, my sweet flower." He murmured into her ear. "Want me to kiss it better?"

"James!" she gasped.

"What? It's a fair question."

"You're outrageous!"

"And you're not half as proper as you think you are." His breath was warm against her cheek. One hand moved down to pat her bottom. "Shall I give you a massage?"

Petunia felt herself turn to mush at his suggestion. "That would be wonderful. But later on. I have something to tell you first."

"Good news or bad news?"

"Good news. I think," she added, smirking.

"I could use some good news. Tell me about it."

"Well . . ." she took his large hand and placed it gently about her waist, until it was resting upon her flat stomach. "In about nine months time you're going to be a daddy."

Shock mingled with delight exploded through him. "A daddy? You mean . . .you're expecting? We're going to have a baby?"

Petunia nodded. "Yes. I used a First Response kit to be sure, got it at Dad's store before the honeymoon, just in case. It came out positive."

A wide grin split his face almost in two. "I . . .I can't believe it. I'm going to be a dad. Blessed Merlin!"

"Are you happy?"

"Happy? I'm . . .I don't think there's a word to describe just how happy I am," he laughed, dipping his head to kiss her long and deep. "Me . . .a dad! It's like the best surprise ever."

She kissed him back, slowly and leisurely, savoring the taste of him and the feel of his arms about her. "I wasn't sure at first, not until I took the test, but now . . .I know you wanted to wait a bit before having a baby, but . . ."

"Forget what I said before." His hand cupped her stomach gently. "Are you okay? I mean, that was one hell of a ride I gave you. Is the baby okay?"

She closed her hand over his. "The baby's fine, James. He or she didn't even feel it, I'd wager."

"Have you told anyone else yet? Your mum? Mine? Lily?"

"No, I wanted you to know first. Now I can tell our parents and Lily."

"My mother can recommend a good Healer." James said quickly.

"A wizard doctor?" Petunia said uncertainly. "But James, I'm a Muggle."

"So what? You're Lady Potter, my wife, and that's my heir you're carrying. Besides, Muggle or witch, you're all built the same inside." He argued quietly. "There's no reason why a Healer can't treat you. Unless . . .you'd rather not."

"I'll think about it. I just don't want to step on anyone's toes." Petunia said. She would speak with Liana. With the war on, feelings were running high and she didn't want to make anyone feel awkward. "I can't wait to see what your parents will say. Or mine. Annie will be so happy. And so will Lily."

"I can't wait to see what Sirius says. Or Remus and Peter. Ha! I finally beat Snape at something besides Quidditch." James chortled, slapping his knee. All of his regrets had vanished and now all he felt was an overwhelming joy. He couldn't wait for the baby to get born. He picked up Petunia and spun her around. "I hope it's a boy."

"You wouldn't want a daughter?"

"I'd love one! Merlin, I don't really care, whatever you have is fine with me." James said. He kissed her again and thought about how happy he was to be a father. He would try to be the best one ever. "When will it be born?"

Petunia thought for a moment. "As near as I can figure, sometime around the end of July. I'm glad, because I won't have to be pregnant the entire summer. I wish it were sooner, like in June, but you can't have everything."

He set her down gently. "I guess that means no more rides through the woods in the moonlight."

"Not necessarily," she disagreed. "James, I'm not porcelain. I won't break. Why, some women work right up until their delivery."

"Not my wife," he asserted firmly. "You can work till the last month but after that you stay home and let Bilbo and my mum take care of you. I don't want anything bad happening to you, Tuney. Or baby Potter."

She smiled up at him. "Don't go borrowing trouble, James. I'll be fine. I'm built like my mother, and she had easy pregnancies and deliveries with both of us. Dr. Morrow used to say he felt about as useless as a vet watching a cat having kittens when Mum was delivering." Petunia said airily. She just prayed that was the case with her own. "Come on, Dad, let's go back to the house and let Liana and Charles know that they're going to be grandparents."

"Okay, but we'll walk," James said firmly.

Petunia rolled her eyes. Men! Pregnancy was not a disease! "James, I swear, if you turn into one of those hovering, worrywart husbands who think they have to wait on their wife hand and foot, I'll move back in with my mother till this baby's born. I'm not an invalid and I won't be treated like one."

"All right, Tuney. Don't get yourself in a snit, kitten. I'll try and behave like you're not the love of my life carrying the most perfect child on earth." He kissed her cheek, then took her hand and together they walked back across the lawn to the house, whose lights twinkled like fireflies against the dark mantle of night.

PPJPSSLS

Sirius' flat:

While James and Petunia were running through the moonlight, Sirius was contemplating drinking another shot of firewhiskey. He was feeling rather depressed and even though he had promised Annie he wouldn't keep trying to drown his sorrows any more, the lure of the amber liquor was hard to resist. He wished Annie were here now, but she had volunteered for an evening shift at the hospital, and would be gone all night. He considered visiting her, but hospitals had always made his skin crawl, and he didn't want to disturb her during work. She hated that. "When I'm at work, I'm working, not socializing. When I'm off, that's a different story."

He had been seeing her for a few weeks now and had to admit that he found her funny, smart, and down-to-earth, a refreshing change from some of the witches he'd dated since leaving school. Most of them had been what Remus called "bubbleheads", because there was nothing in their heads except bubbles, but at least they hadn't been looking for anything more permanent than a good time.

Annie was different. He'd known that from the first. She was not a casual lover. She had proven herself a good friend, which was not something he'd ever had before with the opposite sex. She could be very frank and didn't hesitate to tell him when he was behaving immaturely. "Black, you're acting like a horse's ass, now quit it!" or "How old are you, Black, ten or twenty?"

But despite her non-nonsense demeanor, she had also shown that she cared for him. Two days after the Stephens' murder, Annie had come to his flat to ask him out to lunch. When she'd found the door locked and no one answering her knock, she had Apparated inside, worried that he might have been attacked as well, since he hadn't been at work in a day or so."

Instead she'd found him passed out cold on the floor, amid a puddle of firewhiskey and shattered glass from where he'd dropped his tumbler. "Sirius, wallowing in guilt and self-pity never helped anything," she had told him after getting him sober using a cold shower and some Sober Up charms. "It's war, Black, you have to expect tragedy and learn to move past it."

"How? We were tricked and innocent people died because of it!"

"Yeah, and it happens every day," she retorted. "There's always going to be someone getting hurt and some bastard getting away with it until you get enough leads to hunt him down. Look at me. There I was, minding my own business, and next thing I know, I'm on fire from a curse I never saw coming. And they haven't caught the bloody bastards yet and it's been over eighteen months. But do you see me crying about it?"

"No," he had admitted, feeling ashamed. "It's just that, well, I thought being an Auror was going to be . . ."

"Like being a knight in a tale? All rescuing damsels in distress and little kids' pet cats from roofs and kicking dark wizard's arses?" she guessed shrewdly.

"Well, yeah. Like that." he said, somewhat defensively.

She shook her head. "Merlin, but you really grew up sheltered, didn't you?"

"I didn't! I have cousins who are probably dark and my father is an Auror."

"Oh? You ever ask him when you were growing up how his day went when he came home?"

"No. He . . .he never really wanted to talk about it."

"Now you know why," she said simply. "Because what he did was hard and grueling and probably had as many failures as successes. It's not all slinging spells and dragging them off to be locked in Azkaban. But then, I guess you're finding that out now, huh?"

He nodded. "I guess I was being kind of . . .stupid. At the Academy, all of my teachers warned me that being an Auror wasn't all it was cracked up to be. I just thought they were being sour sports or something."

She patted his arm. "It's tough, living in the real world."

He stiffened. "Don't patronize me, Lyons."

"I won't if you'll quit feeling sorry for yourself and drinking whiskey like it's spring water," she shot back. "That's not going to help you deal with reality any better. Matter of fact, it only makes things worse. Take it from one who knows."

"You? You can't tell me that you've ever drank a bottle of whiskey."

"What do you think I am, Black? A saint? After this?" she gestured to her face. "I drank more than one."

"But . . .but you were in the hospital."

"For months, and after they told me there was no hope to restore my face, I paid some of the orderlies to get me a bottle or two of Firkins. What did they care if I was sloshed? They probably figured I was better off like that. Only I wasn't. All I was doing was hurting myself even more." She banished the rest of the bottle of whiskey with a wave of her wand. "Now then, might I suggest we go for a walk? Maybe go and get a bite to eat and some ice cream after?"

Sirius found himself smiling. "Why not? I'm not so far gone to refuse a lovely lady an invitation like that."

Annie snorted. "Humph! That'll be enough of your sweet talk, Black. Lovely indeed!"

To her astonishment, he cupped her chin in his hand and said, "I used to be a shallow and immature git until I met you, Annie Lyons. And you are lovely inside and out. For those who know how to see."

"Then surely you must be blind."

"Not a bit. For the first time in my life, I see clearly." Then he had kissed her, not a mere peck on the lips either, but a real kiss, that stole her breath and returned it all in an instant.

She had never been kissed that way by any man before, even before the accident. It brought back all of her futile dreams of finding a man to marry and share her life with all over again. She called herself a fool, for Sirius was probably not the marrying kind, but at the same time she could not help but allow a small flicker of hope. He had kissed her, after all. And with his face he could have any witch he wanted eating out of the palm of his hand. When at last she drew away, hot and breathless, all she could think of to say was, "Well, you sure know how to kiss, Black. I won't ask who taught you."

He chuckled. "Good. Because I honestly can't remember. Shall we?"

He took her arm and together they strolled out of the flat and into Diagon Alley. For the first time in a long time, Annie did not duck her head and instinctively avoid the gazes of passersby. Instead she walked proudly, her head held high, her face visible for all to see, and Sirius walked beside her, smiling and laughing.

Recalling that wonderful interlude made Sirius cap the bottle of whiskey and push it aside. Annie had been right. It wasn't worth it. He had to learn to deal with the nasty facts of life, not smother them beneath firewhiskey's sweet addiction. He poured himself a glass of water instead.

He had drank about a third of it, washing away the sour taste of failure, when he heard a knock come at the door. Too lazy to move from his comfy chair, he waved his wand at the door and called, "Come in."

The door opened and in strode two people whom he hadn't seen in months.

"Moony and Wormtail!" he exclaimed.

"Hello, Padfoot!" greeted Remus. "Long time, no see. How's tricks?"

"Same as ever," Sirius laughed, and then rose to greet his old friends.

Hope you liked this rather long chapter. I may not get to update this until after Christmas, it's cutthroat at work right now with hours and all, so please be patient. I will update when I can. Thanks everyone for reading and enjoying this story!