Raylynx's POV
The next morning, James left to report to Dumbledore. Sirius stayed and watched over Remus and the house as I went shopping. I returned with groceries, Potions ingredients, and my favorite Meadow Tea. The tea was expensive but I figured it was worth it not only for Remus' recovery but also for Jamie's upcoming release from St. Mungo's.
Sirius came out from Remus' bedroom when he heard me rummaging around in the kitchen. He hesitantly leaned on the kitchen doorway. I didn't say anything, just continued pulling things out of bags.
"Want my help?" he asked.
"No, thanks," I said, without thinking about it.
Sirius shrugged and said, "Fine, have it your way."
But then he fidgeted, and a second later he came over and started to put away the groceries.
I paused, confused. "What are you doing? I said I'm fine."
"I'm getting in your way," Sirius replied matter-of-factly.
"What?"
"You said you don't want my help, so I'm inconveniencing you."
I suddenly understood what he was doing.
"Don't be ridiculous," I said, trying to snatch the groceries from his hand.
He blocked me easily with his shoulder.
"This is stupid," I said, growing annoyed. "Will you just go back to Remus' side?"
"Oops, I put that in the wrong cupboard. What an inconvenience," Sirius exaggerated.
"Sirius, shut up," I said. I tried to grab his arm, but quick as a snake, he snatched his arm away.
Sirius put the eggs in the fridge, but not where I usually put them.
"Oh, Merlin, what a mistake! How shall we survive?" Sirius pretended to swoon.
"You are an arse," I said curtly. "A complete arse."
"I do have quite a good-looking bum, if I say so myself," Sirius said.
Unable to help myself, I kicked that good-looking bum with all of my might.
"Ow! What the hell is wrong with you?" Sirius yelped, grabbing his buttocks. Then, his grimace turned into a smirk when he saw me glaring at him. "Rather feisty, aren't we? Glad you're finally showing me this side of you. I always guessed you had a bit of devil in you, but-"
"Move over," I said, and I shoved him aside.
I reached for the eggs in the fridge when I suddenly felt strong arms wrap around my waist.
"Like I would let you go that easy," Sirius muttered as he dragged me backwards.
I wanted to shout, but Remus was sleeping.
As it was, we ensued in a frantic but quiet struggle.
Finally, he pinned me against the kitchen counter.
Breathing heavily, I struggled against him, but to no avail.
"Listen to me," Sirius started to say, but I managed to reach out and grab the front of his shirt.
"No, stop- Merlin, why are you so strong?" He grabbed my hand. Then, he frowned. "What's this scar?"
His thumb gently smoothed over it. It was white scar tissue, an odd shape, almost like a crown, with three spikes. But it was actually from the branch I'd fallen on and jabbed my wrist on when I was running from Remus in his werewolf form fifth year.
"None of your business!" I snatched my hand away and tried to push him off, but he grabbed my hand again. "Raylynx, listen to me," he said.
"Not until you let g-!"
"I'm sorry."
Surprised, my eyes flickered up to his.
"What?" I said breathlessly.
"I said I'm sorry."
"I…" He hesitated a little as he looked down into my eyes. "I won't just treat you however I feel. It's just that I've never really had anyone holding me accountable to that, you know? I'm not used to someone... I don't know. Even with James, Remus, and Peter, or Marlene, especially Marlene, they just sort-of accept that as a part of me, you know. But I won't do that now. So, I'm sorry for how I acted before. I won't be like that again."
He let me go and stepped away.
I was stunned. Since when did Sirius Black know how to apologize so sincerely?
"Raylynx?" He looked a bit nervous.
I put my hand on his forehead.
"What are you doing?" he asked me.
"Checking for a fever," I said.
He scowled, then sighed.
He waited a moment. Then, he asked irritably, "Well. Have I got one?"
"N-"
"No," he finished for me impatiently. "Right, then, go on. Are you going to accept my apology or not?"
I stared at him. No fever, no nothing. Only sincerity. Goodness. Was this Sirius Black?
Finally, I said, "If you put the eggs back where they should be, I might forgive you."
Sirius shook his head at my sarcastic response.
With a sigh, he helped me finish putting away the groceries.
"Meadow Tea?" Sirius said. He turned over the pretty jar in his hand. "This is the pureblood's old antidote. Where'd you hear about this?"
"Oh, Zayne told me about it a long time ago," I said, opening the counter and indicating that he should put it there.
"Zayne?"
"Zayne Finnigan. From Hufflepuff," I said. "Don't say you don't remember him. I seem to recall that he once punched you in the face."
"I let him," Sirius said defensively. He easily reached over me and placed the Meadow Tea on the counter.
I smiled. "Sure you did."
"Oh, so it's Zayne Finnigan, huh? Ten Sickles that he was your first kiss," Sirius said.
"What?"
"Or maybe Riley Smith? He had a thing for you, you know."
"It wasn't either of them," I said, shaking my head in amusement as I put away the rest of the groceries. "And Riley Smith didn't like me. He never so much as said hi to me."
"It's because he liked you that he didn't say hi to you, you dimwit," Sirius said, annoyed. Then he asked, "Okay then, what House was he in? Or- Oh, don't tell me it was one of those Tournament blokes?"
"Sirius, transform," I said sternly.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because at least Padfoot doesn't ask stupid questions. I mean, what are you even…? Why are you asking me this at all?"
Sirius shrugged and bent down quickly to pick up the grocery bags. "Because I'm bored. It's a fun guessing game."
"Well, it's not really any of your business," I said. "My life isn't purely for your entertainment, you know?"
"You're no fun, Lynx," Sirius said, pushing his hair out of his eyes. His bangs were getting a bit shaggy.
I blinked. "What did you call me?"
"Hm?"
"You called me something… a nickname," I pointed out.
"No, I didn't," Sirius said. He scoffed. "A nickname for you? Yeah, right."
I hesitated. Had I really just misheard him? I shrugged it off. "Want a haircut?" I asked him instead. "I've always wanted a go at cutting someone's hair."
Sirius raised a skeptical eyebrow, "No thank you, definitely not from you. Trust your clumsiness to single-handedly ruin my good looks."
I smiled. "Zayne would be pleased."
Sola and I went to St. Mungo's to see Jamie. He would live with me for a while, though it was ultimately his choice whether he wanted to risk living with me or live somewhere safe, but non-magical, with Sola. Jamie waved good-bye to the many friends he'd made at St. Mungo's, hugging Amy Benson and Lancelot Weasley last.
"Welcome back, Jamie," I said. "And you too, Sola."
We stepped inside the familiar house, and for a moment, I believed my parents would rush out to greet us.
Instead, a timid and tired-looking man stepped out cautiously.
"Er- hello, I'm Remus Lupin," he said awkwardly.
I smiled, though a little wistfully, and introduced Jamie and Sola to Remus. Remus had gotten a lot better, though it was painfully obvious that this experience was something he'd grapple with for the rest of his life. Slowly, his wounds mended and he was able to sleep more peacefully, though never perfectly complacently.
Just before I picked up my siblings, we'd had a difficult conversation.
Remus had pulled me aside and blurted out, "Raylynx, if you don't want me around your siblings, you can just tell me. I understand. You think I'm not safe."
"Remus, of course you should be here when my siblings visit. You live with me," I said, puzzled.
"But if you think I'm dangerous-"
"Remus," I said wearily.
"Sorry," he said immediately. He looked guilty. "I'm taking it all out on you. My fear. See, I'm scared." He ran his hands roughly through his hair and his eyes darted here and there. "I'm terrified I might hurt someone. I almost bit you in my sleep."
"You were human, nothing would have happened," I replied quickly.
Remus shook his head. "It's the act itself-"
I stepped forward and put my hand on his arm. "Remus, whatever you're afraid of, it didn't happen and it won't happen. We'll find ways to fight whatever comes up. And no, you're not leaving just because my siblings are coming. After all, this is your home now, too."
Remus tensed for a moment, thinking, but finally gave in to me.
Sirius was also here. He'd fallen into the habit of taking care of Remus when I wasn't around. He introduced himself, smiling with ease and shaking both of their hands.
"We thought you might be hungry, so we made some dinner," Sirius said, gesturing towards the kitchen.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"What?" Sirius asked me as Sola and Jamie shook his hand and passed by him to greet Remus.
"All of a sudden you're so polite," I said. "Is it because it's my sister?" I teased, remembering all the times he'd swooned over her at school.
Sirius shrugged. "Well, yeah, because it's your sister…" He frowned, then, as though something occurred to him that hadn't before.
I merely shook my head and followed by siblings into the kitchen, where a fantastic meal had been laid out.
"Oh wow, you two know how to cook steak?" Sola said, impressed.
"That's all Moony- er- Remus," Sirius explained.
"The pasta and salad is Remus, too," I said, looking down at the meal. "What exactly did you do, Sirius?"
Sirius grinned sheepishly. "Er, I suppose what we Blacks are best at- arranging the silverware and choosing the wine."
After a pleasant dinner with my siblings, Remus, and Sirius, I got up and began to collect the dishes. Normally, I would do this by magic but I didn't want Sola to feel uncomfortable. To my surprise, both Remus and Sirius immediately caught on and helped me collect all the dishes by hand. I began to wash the dishes. As though we were children again, Jamie took them from me and stored them away. He knew exactly where to put them. My heart felt warm when I realized that.
When all the dishes had been cleared away, I turned to Jamie and said, "Jamie, I've a welcome home present for you. Well, it's not really a present since it was already yours, but I fixed it up a bit."
Jamie cocked his head to the side curiously.
"Come with me." I took his hand and led him down to the garage. Sirius followed us.
I held out my arms and presented him his motorcycle, cleanly finished and renovated.
"Oh, Ray. It looks brand new again!" Jamie hugged me and kissed the top of my head. Then, he walked around the motorcycle, examining it in detail.
"Perfect finish. And look at that addition! This was your idea?"
"Well, Sirius helped," I said.
"He did?" Jamie said, peering at the engine. "Nice, good touch there," he muttered, and soon he was lost in examining the motorcycle.
I smiled and sat down beside the motorcycle, tracing the edge of the wheel with my finger. After a moment, Sirius came and quietly sat down beside me.
