Chapter 43 – What Now?

Izzie stayed in the hospital wing for four days. After thorough check-ups from not only Pomfrey but also McGonagall and Dumbledore, she was allowed to go back to the tower. Much to the delight of Pomfrey, because the six of them had all pushed their beds together and weren't particularly quiet unless Izzie was asleep.

Since the bond was broken and Sirius and Izzie could touch each other, they barely kept their hands of each other. Not perse snogging, but just little touches that they weren't able to do before. Intertwining their hands together as they walked through the halls, bumping their shoulders as they sat next to each other, Izzie leaning her head on his shoulder as she fell asleep.
Or like now, they were sitting in the common room, it was New Year's Eve and they decided to do absolutely nothing. James and Lily were snuggled together in an armchair, whispering to each other. Remus was sprawled out on the couch, a book in his hand as Regulus laid between his legs, his head resting on Remus stomach, reading his own book as Remus ran his fingers through his hair.

Sirius was leaning against the fire mantle; he legs stretched out in front of him. He was listening to his Walkman, playing Izzie on repeat. Said girl, was lying with her head on his lap, he was playing absentmindedly with her hair. Izzie was waving her wand wistfully in front of her, making things appear and disappear with each wave. After feeling drained for months, she couldn't help but play with her magic. She could hear Sirius turn up the music, filling her ears. She was surprised she heard her own voice. She lowered her hand and tilted her head so she could look at him. His eyes were closed, his long dark eyelashes rested on his cheek and there was a soft smile on his lips. She reached for his free hand and intertwined their fingers together. She saw him sigh contently before he brought her knuckles to his lips.

"What are we going to do when everyone gets back? What do we say?" Regulus asked as he sat up on the couch, tearing her eyes away from the guy she loved. She loved! She still couldn't wrap her head around it.

"I haven't the foggiest." She confessed. She pushed herself up, much to Sirius dismay, who scooted closer to her immediately. "Do you think your parents know?"

Sirius took the headphones off and Lily and James stopped their flirty banter and whispers to look at them.

"I would be surprised if they don't, with the tapestry and all..."

"What happens to the people who die?" She asked and she felt Sirius stiffen next to her. She intertwined their fingers again.

"There comes a cross behind their names. But I don't know about you... you were – gone – for two hours maybe? I don't know if it would've changed."

"She will figure it out soon enough. I'm not hiding from them. Dumbledore might keep them out of Hogwarts, but once we graduate. I'm not locking myself up, that's for sure."

"What are you going to do after school?" Sirius asked, looking down at their intertwined fingers.

"Hopefully, I've found a flat by then, my mum left me enough me to get me through the first years but jobwise, no idea." She smiled to herself as she said. "Before everything, my father wanted me to go work at the ministry. Do you see me in stuffy old desk job?" She snorted and Sirius grinned at her. Because no, nobody could see her doing that. "I had a plan to stick it him, I wanted to be singer. Ridiculous, I know."

"Never." Sirius said kissing her temple. "If anyone can be a world-famous singer, it would be you."

"You are just saying that because I'm your girlfriend." She teased.

Sirius smiled broadly at her as she called herself his girlfriend. "No, I knew that before you were my girl. Besides you can ask anyone that was at the party." He pointed out and the others all agreed with him. "So, you're flat hunting?"

"I am. Just need to be at least two bedrooms for when Reg comes over on holidays and can move in after school."

Sirius glanced over to James, it appeared they were having a silent converstation. Izzie turned to Reg and Remus, who both shrugged. James leaned forward, his arms on her knees as he clapped his hands together grinning.

"I have an idea."

"Oh, no. That never ends well." Lily muttered, making Izzie grin.

James shot her an offended look. "You will like this one." He pointed at her before turning back to the others. "Why don't we find a place together, all of us."

"You want the six of us, living together?" Regulus asked appalled by the idea.

"Yeah, why not?" James was overexcited with the idea. "You already lived with Sirius and Izzie. I don't think you will mind living with Remus." He winked at the youngest Black, who flushed.

"We'll get a house that's big enough, so you have your own space. Lily can bunk with James." Sirius winked at the redhead and her face matched her hair. "You can bunk with Remus when you visit during school." Regulus looked surprised at his brother. "I got over it." He huffed and Remus grinned as he leaned against the back of the couch, his arm curling around Regulus's shoulder. "And you -" He turned to Izzie; his eyes sparkled but a blush crept up on his cheeks.

"Yes, where, Sirius, am I going to sleep?" She bit back a grin as she raised an eyebrow. Izzie and Sirius hadn't done anything more than snog. She was still recovering from her spell and well they just had gotten together. She didn't want to rush it; she didn't want to be like the other girls. And that was just the why Sirius wanted to wait too. But summer was still months away and she thought by then... and even if not, she would sleep in the same bed as him. They've been doing it every night in the hospital wing, much to Pomfrey's dismay and huffing.

"You can have your own room if you want -" He said quickly and James couldn't help but snicker. "Or-"

"You can sleep with us." Remus intervened with his own grin. "We've been sleeping together for years now."

Izzie laughed at his inuendo, Sirius on the other hand scowled. A scowl worthy of Regulus that was for sure. "Yes, Remus is right, I've slept with other boys before." She glanced around the room holding in a laugh. "Actually, James is the only one I haven't slept with."

"That's not true." Remus said, the everyone turned to him with raised eyebrows. "It was second year, remember the fifth year and up party we all snuck down to? Well, Sirius was trying to flirt with a fifth year." He snorted. "Peter was already in his bed and well, you two fell asleep on the couch, leaning against each other."

"That -" Izzie frowned looking from Remus to James. "That can't be right."

"I don't remember either."

"I carried Izzie up before either of you woke up and you know how Izzie is once she's asleep, she won't wake even when you drop a bomb next to her."

Izzie huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm not that bad."

"I'm sorry, but you are, love." Sirius said kindly, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, kissing her temple again. She couldn't argue with him the way he used that pet name for her, love. "Oh! Now that you mention it, what about Peter?"

The room went quiet after that.

"Honestly, I totally forgot about him." James said, guilt dripping from his voice. "He's been drifting away from us for a while now."

"Is it because of me?" Izzie asked with a small voice. "Because I came into your group?"

"Of course not, then it would be my fault too." Lily said adamantly.

"I'm the one with baggage as high as the mount Everest."

"Hey -" Sirius frowned as he pulled her closer, but he was interrupted by his brother.

"It's not because of you Isabelle, nor Lily. Peter's been making new friends -" He took in a breath, afraid to tell the others. "With Slytherins and not the good ones."

Are there good ones? Sirius wanted to say but held it back. There were obviously, his brother for example, and his friends Crouch and Rosier.

"What is he doing with them?" Remus asked with furrowed brows.

"I don't know. I saw them sneak into an empty classroom twice." Reg turned to Remus. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything, it was just before break and we were nose deep in the books to, well, save Isabelle and me."

"I'm not mad, there was a lot going on." Remus grasped his hand around his.

"There is something else." Izzie played with her nails. "Peter asked me about the spell, the spell that could erase someone from the map." The three Marauders looked a bit shocked and worried. "I didn't tell him. When I asked him why he needed it, he scurried off."

It was silent again, all Marauders lost in thought. Izzie traced circles on the back of Sirius hand, not knowing what to say to him. Regulus was the one to break the silence.

"Isabelle -" He stated hesitantly. She looked up from her and Sirius' hands and looked up to him. "We need to discuss what we will tell people. Do we just pretend to still be married? Keep our relationships a secret?"

"No!" Sirius all but screamed. "I'm not hiding my relationship with Izzie anymore."

"What do you want to do then?" Regulus snapped. "Just tell them we're having extramarital relations. That I'm with a not just with a guy, but the best friend of my wife. And that my wife choses to shag my brother?!"

"Don't call her that!" Sirius growled. "And we're not sh-"

"Guys!" Izzie intervened with a sigh. "Can you just – stop." She rubbed her temple tiredly.

"Sorry." They said in unison.

"Izzie's right. Arguing will get us nowhere." She glanced at her watch. "Let's talk about this tomorrow, it's nearly midnight."

"Oh, do I finally get my New Year's kiss?" James wiggled his eyebrows at his girlfriend.

"I'm not sure, Izzie is a good candidate."

"Of course, I am. I'm a great kisser."

"Can't argue with that." Three voices chimed. Sirius scowled at the others while Remus and James laughed.

"It's weird that everyone has kissed Isabelle except me." Regulus scrunched up his nose.

"Didn't you kiss at the ceremony?" Lily asked confused.

"No." Regulus gasped, like it was something out of a horror movie. "Purebloods never kiss at the ceremony."

"Well, I'm sure to kiss my bride when I get married." James said, spreading his arms over the armchair with a grin. "Only ten seconds, lads. And ladies." He added quickly as they shot him a look.

"Right." Izzie pushed herself up, but a hand tugged her sleeve.

"Where you going?" He gave her the puppy eyes.

"The tradition, remember?"

"But you're both in a relationship." He stood up. "Can't you guys just kiss us?"

"I will, after." Izzie heard Remus chuckle behind her.

"Oh, come on, brother. It's just an innocent kiss." Reg rolled his eyes. He was standing next to Remus as Izzie walked over, probably ready to swoop in after the chaste kiss. Izzie heard Sirius grumble something but didn't hear as Lily and James started to count down from three.

"Happy New Year." They all chimed before Remus leaned down for a short and sweet kiss. Their lips were barely apart when Sirius had twirled her around. She didn't even notice him move behind her. He dipped her before his lips crashed against hers. Her arms curled around his neck, bringing him closer. They were still kissing when he pulled her back up.

"I'll never get tired of doing that." Sirius smiled against her lips. That night, Regulus stayed in the Gryffindor tower for the first time. Lily slipped into bed with James. The four of them had their curtains closed and a Muffliatio over their beds by the time Izzie stepped out of the bathroom. She had Sirius sweatpants on and a tank top, Sirius almost had to wipe a little drool from the corner of his mouth, almost. Izzie shyly slipped in next to him, this was different than the hospital wing. This was Sirius's bed. Sirius wrapped his arms around her and looked at her worried.

"Are you okay?"

"No." She shook her head softly. "I'm happy." Sirius had a goofy smile on his face before she captured his lips into a searing kiss.