Chapter Six | Mars gravior sub pace latet
[ A harsher war lies hidden under peace]
"I told you to stay in the lobby," Sirius had angrily told her when he'd found her again, near the floo grates that line the lower halls of the Ministry. They had been emptied of people but for one or two coming and going, the room strangely silent as compared to the bustle when they had first arrived.
"And I've told you a hundred times not to order me around," had been Vivian's clipped response. The silence had transferred to her words, too, or rather her lack of them. She had known better than to tell Sirius in that moment that she'd run into his father. The knowledge would only justify him, make him think that he is right and that she ought to have listened and obeyed, like some doll left alone on a windowsill without a mind of her own, to be talked to but to never talk back. But she has renounced that life. She's made a conscious effort to distance herself from that sort of grooming. She is her own person, now. She has to be.
It's strange, to look back upon your life and to see things for how they really are. Instances that you had swept beneath the rug, before, because you thought they were normal. Like sitting around a breakfast table and listening to one of her father's lectures about the importance of their family name, the power it holds within society, the purity that gives it that power. Like being in a room of other powerful people and thinking that the way they were interacting – the barely contained insults, the quietly pretentious power plays – was completely normal. Like watching her own father lift a hand against her most precious possessions and burn them to a crisp in the center of her bedroom, all because she had done something wrong and she had forced his hand. These things that had not always been pleasant were just another aspect of her life. They weren't things to question or argue. They were merely the way things were, and that was that.
But distance shakes the foundations that had once been so strong. Hindsight turns her eyes to look at them in a different light. Experience extends a newfound truth that hadn't been there before, in all of those moments that had once seemed so normal. For though it hasn't been very long since Vivian had walked away from those things, this cottage and the man she now lives with have opened her eyes to what life and happiness ought to look like. And she knows, now, that happiness is found in the simple things, the unassuming things, the things that most people overlook because at first glance, they are too meek and too passive to be recognized.
There is a power in those things, though, even stronger than the last, only it isn't the same kind of power. Rather, it's the sort of power that comes to you unplanned and unprepared, and only because you aren't looking for it. It's like standing on a hilltop and looking down into a valley, seeing the shimmering mist that hangs just so above each blade of grass and sparkling with early morning dew. And, quite suddenly, a gust of wind catches you unawares and sweeps against you like a mounting wave, and you feel as if some inner part of you has shifted, and you are not exactly the same as you had been a second before. You're forced to close your eyes and tilt your head back because a portion of your soul commands it of you and requires fealty to this gust of wind. And when you open your eyes it's as if you're looking at a new world that you have never seen before, until your eyes adjust once more and you begin to recognize where you are and why you are here. And, unfortunately, the moment you recall these things is the moment the wind dies down and you return to being you, an earthly creature made of skin and blood. Your soul pulls back into your body and you feel the sting of your own flawed humanity. You forget what it had felt like a moment ago, when that humanity seemed to have transcended the limitations of flesh and sinew. That's often the way of it. It's the unimportant things that we always remember. The things that don't really matter.
Like the look Sirius had given her, then, when she had failed to respond to him in the way he had been expecting. When she had decided to retain her silence instead of telling him exactly what she had overheard.
It is a strange thing, handing your burdens over to someone else. Allowing that person to take a share of responsibility for your own welfare. As we grow, pride tempers our nature. We frown upon the dependency we had as children. Vivian's silence could be the result of pride, of which she has in droves, but if she is being honest with herself, it's more a result of caution. Ought she tell Sirius everything she had heard without first confirming it? After all, there could be other explanations. Perhaps the blood traitor Adrian had mentioned is someone else entirely. Maybe she had jumped to conclusions.
On the hilltop, the wind in the valley pulls at her, and Vivian lifts her eyes from the book in her lap so as to take in the sight before her. A frown turns down the edge of her mouth. Her fingers tap against the pages that the wind threatens to turn.
She does not know it – how could she? – but her silence is the beginning of an unmarked grave. If we knew just how temperamental our decisions were, just how much a simple choice could change the course of the future, our lives would be utterly fixated upon what consequences our actions will bring to fruition. If we knew how easy it is, to make the same hard decision twice, and again and again, then we would take it to heart the first time all the more. Conversely, if Vivian Blair knew what consequences her silence would bring, she'd surely get up and march back to the cottage in this very instant to rectify them before her mistakes might manifest. But she doesn't know. She doesn't see the patterns that she is beginning to create. The course that she is beginning to turn to. Even when the wind gusts through her and her soul commands her to close her eyes and allow it to overmaster her, she does not see.
She is, after all, only human. Only flesh.
"You know, I'm not sure how I feel about Tosspot Clarke writing you letters," Sirius's voice suddenly drawls, and she jumps in surprise.
At once, the dissident wind seems to fade, and Vivian opens her eyes to see him leaning against the trunk of the tree she had claimed as her own some months prior. It isn't quite the same as the great oak she had sat beneath at the Blair manor, overlooking the fields and forests of her family's estate. This tree is far humbler, less great and less wise, but it will have to do.
"Salazar," Vivian complains, and closes the book she hadn't really been reading. She sends Sirius a look. "Are you trying to sneak up on me?"
Sirius raises an eyebrow at her. "No, but it is nice to know that it's possible to catch a Slytherin unawares every once in a while," he responds, but his voice isn't quite as light as it normally would be, and she knows why. He's still frustrated that she had ignored his warnings and had wandered around the Ministry by herself. More than that, he's probably annoyed at the way she had been entirely unremorseful about it. She isn't the only one with pride in droves.
Instead of remarking on his lingering annoyance, Vivian turns her attention to the letter he's holding in his hand and asks, "Clarke wrote me?"
Sirius's eyebrow raises a little bit higher at the eagerness of her question. He scoffs, "Why're you so happy about it? It's just Tosspot Clarke."
She rolls her eyes at him. "Just give it to me."
He eyes her. "Come and take it, if you want it so badly."
Vivian's eyeroll transforms into a glower. "Are you really that childish?"
He smirks and counters, "Are you really that surprised?"
She has half a mind to dredge up one of her past insults from days gone by (several options immediately filter through her thoughts), but instead, Vivian stands up and takes a step towards him. Oh, she should know better than to play into his game, but to be frank, she doesn't care all that much at the moment. Since their trip to the Ministry several days ago, there's been an edge between them, and she's growing tired of it. Sirius watches her progress closely, still leaning nonchalantly against the tree as she lessens the space between them. He seems vaguely amused that she's actually approaching him. Her usual reaction would be to put an end to his antics before they can truly begin.
"I know you can't possibly be jealous of Gavin Clarke," Vivian murmurs as she shuffles forward, eyeing him just as closely as he's eyeing her. "He's all the way up in Norway, after all."
Sirius snorts. "You're right. I have absolutely no reason to be jealous of Clarke. For one, I'm way better looking them him."
She places a hand on the trunk of the tree near his shoulder and raises an eyebrow. "And…?"
He grins. "And I got the girl, obviously."
His response nearly makes her roll her eyes again. Only by the grace of self-control does she refrain. That, and the fact that he seems to have let his guard down just so, just enough for her to reach out to grab –
"Ah-ah-ah, nice try Godric," Sirius barks out a laugh, holding the letter over his head as he steps back, away from the tree.
Eyes narrowed now, Vivian follows him back and drawls, "I don't think Gavin was ever trying to get me, as you so eloquently phrased it." Then, watching his backward steps carefully, she adds, "He had plenty of opportunities to, though, if he wanted."
This seemingly lazy addition makes Sirius pause, as she had expected. Gryffindors. Honestly.
"…What does that mean?" Sirius demands, also as expected.
Vivian smirks. "Don't worry, Sirius," she murmurs, shuffling forward again, "he doesn't kiss half as well as you do."
The way Sirius's mouth drops is truly a wondrous thing to behold…as is the ease in which Vivian's hand darts out to claim her letter, taking full advantage of his shock.
The moment she pulls it free from his grasp, Sirius's mouth snaps shut and he splutters, "That – you – that was entirely unfair."
She only sends him a proper Slytherin smirk and breaks the seal of Gavin's letter, shrugging, "You're the one who asked."
He narrows his eyes at her and stalks forward. The action is enough to make Vivian pause and step back, this time. She eyes him for several moments until she realizes that he doesn't mean to stop, and that's about the time that she hastens into a retreat that quickly summons a laughing shriek when she feels his arms lock around her waist.
"Sirius!" she complains even through her laughter. "Let go you mutt – "
"Mutt?!" comes his incredulous, albeit laughing, reply. He pulls her to the grass with a grin and rolls on top of her, much to her protest. Though, to be honest, she doesn't really mind all that much, especially when Sirius's lips brush against her cheek as he murmurs, "First you get all excited about Clarke writing you a letter, and now you call me a mutt…what should I do about this terrible injustice, I wonder…?"
Vivian turns her face to his and twists her fingers into his hair with a low, "I suppose you could do anything you wanted."
His eyes meet hers. She presses back a shiver when she sees the emotion lingering therein. A large part of her would like nothing more than to drag him down to kiss her, but instead…
"…But only after I read my letter," she drawls, and then before he's entirely prepared for it, Vivian is planting a hand on his chest and shoving him off of her.
"Oi!" Sirius exclaims. He catches himself and rises onto his elbow, sending her a glower. "That was entirely uncalled for – "
"Dear Vivian," she interrupts, "Norway has been treating me very well. I'm sure you'd be very interested to hear what courses I'll be taking this semester, so I posted you my syllabus with a list of some reading materials I think you'd find very fascinating, as they have to do with your appreciation for experimental charms. One of my classes is centered entirely on Norwegian magical applications and the methods therein. I've already read the book from cover to cover, it was so engaging – it's on the list and I urge you to look into it, I'm sure you'd find it very illuminating – "
"Merlin, does he ever take a break from being a nerd?" Sirius mutters, rolling his eyes as he watches her read the letter.
Vivian sends him a look and keeps reading, "Of course, I've already gotten a head start on most of my classes despite the fact that the semester doesn't begin for another week, but it is after all important to keep on top of everything. Anyway, you'd love it here, Vivian. The campus is located in a remote mountain (though don't ask me to pronounce it, I've only just begun learning the language but I'm determined to reach at least a conversational level), and it's absolutely beautiful. I dare say it's even more stunning than Hogwarts – "
"Blasphemy," Sirius interrupts again, and reaches out to spin a strand of Vivian's hair around his fingers in an idle manner.
"Shut up, Sirius," she responds, just as idly. He snorts.
"Oh, forgive me for not being all that invested in listening to Clarke going on about his obsession for homework," he mutters.
Vivian sighs and puts the letter down, holding it against her stomach as she turns her head to the side to look at him. "If you don't want to listen, then go back to the cottage," she challenges.
The frown he sends her then is a little too similar to a pout for her to take very seriously.
"Not a chance," he sniffs, "especially after that remark about that Tosspot making moves on you…I always knew there was something shifty about him…"
Vivian laughs and, holding the letter back up as she lays on the grass, she dryly says, "For your information, I was the one who kissed him. He wasn't very happy about it."
This makes Sirius pause again. She snorts out another laugh and sends him a raised brow.
"What, are you surprised?" she asks, amused. She does like taking him off guard.
Sirius opens his mouth several times before settling with a disbelieving, "…I'm having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around that, actually."
Vivian puts the letter down again and raises herself onto her elbow so that she's matching his position. With a smug smile, she purrs, "You are jealous. Admit it."
He narrows his eyes at her. "Jealous of that nerd? Never."
With a hum, she drawls, "Well, I guess you did get the girl, after all." Her voice is just barely dry enough to reveal her sarcasm.
So is his, when he dryly responds, "Yeah, the girl who enjoys throwing herself into danger by wandering around the Ministry of Magic when she knows full well that it's full of purebloods who are looking for her."
With a sigh, she mutters, "Are you really still upset about that?"
The playful atmosphere that they had cultivated drops away. Sirius frowns at her and lowers himself onto his back to glower up at the sky. Vivian sighs again, watching him.
"Sirius," she starts, but doesn't get to finish.
"Why wouldn't I still be upset about it?" he grumbles. "They're looking for you, Viv. You disobeyed Voldemort by running off with me. I have a responsibility to keep you safe – "
"No, I have a responsibility to keep myself safe," she interrupts.
He sends her a look. "I know you can look after yourself. That doesn't change the fact that I want to make sure you're safe, and I can't very well do that if I don't know where you are."
She purses her mouth at him. "What happened to being a reckless Gryffindor who chases after danger?"
"…I just don't want anything to happen to you," he mutters after a brief silence. Then, after a moment, he sighs and reaches for her hand, entwining his fingers with hers as he adds, "We're a team, right?"
The question makes her raise an eyebrow, but not because she thinks his words are idiotic. Rather, she had never really thought about their relationship like that before. Maybe it's silly, or maybe it's simply because she's so accustomed to living a solitary life that the notion eludes her somehow, even though they've been together for some months now. It's a strange thought is all, to depend on someone. To hand over your burdens.
She settles into the grass beside him and grasps his fingers tighter. "Of course we are," she murmurs, catching his eye. "But you can't look after me every second of the day, especially when you're off on Order missions."
The last sentence is bathed with just the slightest hint of bitterness, shrouded just so but still audible.
"…They're just a bit wary of you," Sirius says, correctly guessing the reason for said bitterness. He brushes a thumb over her hand and sighs, "Moody will warm up to you soon enough, trust me."
Vivian only hums in response. In truth, she isn't entirely sure she believes him, but then again, perhaps he's right. Only time will tell. She's sure she could be of great assistance to the Order if they'd only let her, with her knowledge of pureblood society and those therein. Dumbledore will see that in time.
"It's just a bit aggravating is all," she grudgingly admits, resting her temple against her palm as she hovers at his side.
Sirius hums and murmurs, "I know. But everything will work out."
Everything would work out, only not quite in the way they're expecting. After all, such is the intricacy of Fate when it barrels into your path. Such is the nature of its bends and its arcs, its corners and its angles; the edges of time that scrape against the clock of your own making and bypass the seconds that you have left, the moments wedged between thought and actions, between days and years…
Sirius sends her a quiet grin and reaches up to tug at her hair and tempt her down.
"Come here," he murmurs. She feels her mouth curve into an amused smile.
Yes, such is Fate: a momentary mystery.
And, though Vivian doesn't much like listening to Sirius Black, well, this is one command that she will obey. She leans down, and kisses him, and though she does not know it, Fate whispers at her in the background even then as Sirius pulls her closer and kisses her back. And its path which had begun to bend, before, as Vivian had sat beneath the tree and thought about whether she ought to tell Sirius about what she had overheard…it creases now, as silence is retained.
The streets of Diagon Alley are the busiest they've been in months, but this isn't saying much. Besides Vivian herself, there is only a handful of other shoppers in sight, mostly parents rushing to purchase their children's school supplies as quickly as possible. As for the children themselves, they seem to be universally absent from the usual Diagon Alley trip this year, more so than the last. As Vivian walks down the street towards Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, she sees more 'Closed' signs than she is expecting, as well as 'Available for Rent' signs posted in the windows of several flat complexes. With the current state of things, she doubts those landlords will have very many applicants. Diagon Alley is the hub of the wizarding community in London, and therefore it attracts the most attention from those wizards who wish to do it harm. It doesn't help that Knockturn Alley is only a stone's throw away. Any connection to the dark arts, in whatever form, has people running, and who can blame them? She didn't even want to return here today.
Well, actually, the reason Vivian hadn't been entirely looking forward to this trip isn't to do with coming out in the open, but rather because –
"Vivian, there you are! You're fifteen minutes late!" Lily scolds as Vivian approaches the ice cream shop. The redhead stands up from one of the tables she's occupying outside and proceeds to shove a half-melted dish of ice cream into Vivian's hands.
Vivian looks down at it with a baleful eye and then shoves it back. "I don't like ice cream," she deadpans, much to Lily's exasperation.
With a quirked eyebrow, Lily demands, "Well then why did you want to meet at the ice cream parlour?"
Vivian raises an eyebrow, too. "Because it's close to the Leaky Cauldron and Madam Malkins," is her reply, which contains a healthy drawl of sarcasm.
A voice behind Lily snorts and, with equal sarcasm, says, "This is going to be a wonderful afternoon."
Vivian sends a glower at the person who is still sitting at the table, but before she can come up with an adequately snappish reply, Lily huffs, "We are here to have fun, Marlene. Don't be flippant." Then, after a moment of hesitation, Lily shoves the half-melted ice cream into Marlene's hands next, and this time she doesn't accept it when Marlene tries to shove it back.
Vivian rolls her eyes. "Just leave it and let's get this over with," she grouses, looking entirely unenthusiastic. Lily doesn't appear to appreciate it. Marlene, however, does, and is quick to stand up and begin walking down the street. Lily lets out another exasperated sigh before following. Vivian waits several seconds before doing the same, tailing along behind the other two with the same unenthusiastic expression etched over her face.
Merlin, why did she agree to this? Marlene McKinnon doesn't like her overmuch and never has. When Lily had suggested the outing, she should have vetoed it immediately. As if she wants to spend the afternoon with one of Sirius's ex-trollops. Unfortunately, Potter had overheard Lily's suggestion and had practically strong-armed Vivian into accepting on the basis that he wouldn't let her hurt his Lilyflower's feelings by rejecting her. Naturally, Vivian had told him to stop embarrassing himself with his constant attempts at getting involved in every aspect of Lily's life (yeah, they're technically dating or whatever, but space is important). Anyway, the stupid Gryffindor had responded to that by dragging Sirius into it, who had stumbled his way into a confused monologue about how he and the boys were planning another mission on the proposed day anyhow, and besides, he doesn't give a rat's arse what Vivian does in her spare time. His confused monologue had turned into a cringe at the look Vivian had sent him then, but Potter had, essentially, gotten what he was after. One can always count on your bumbling friends to assist you in such matters.
"Great, so since Padfoot doesn't give two shits about what you do, Pride, I see no reason why you should refuse my Lilyflower," Potter had proclaimed, smiling that aggravatingly knowing smile that tends to make Vivian think thoughts of murder. Alas, though, murder will have to wait until after she gets through the afternoon.
It isn't as if Vivian has never been out shopping with her friends before, but there is a very stark difference between what she is accustomed to and what she receives today. For one, Lily and Marlene are frustratingly polite about pretty much everything (with some exceptions, mainly concerning the looks Marlene keeps sending Vivian). They smile happily at the shop clerks and fawn over dress robes as if they're life depends upon it. It's frankly jarring and it makes Vivian miss her Hogsmeade trips with Morrigan, Narcissa, and Rosalind's company. Now those were fun. As if watching Narcissa and Rosalind argue back and forth about everything under the sun wasn't rewarding enough, Morrigan's constant and very creative threats to make them shut up were wonderfully amusing. She can still recall the time Morrigan warned them that she'd hex their bedsheets into strangling them if they didn't stop quarreling about long dress robes vs. short dress robes. It didn't really work, of course – nothing can truly stop Narcissa and Rosalind once they get started – but it did successfully shut them up for a good five minutes.
By contrast, these two are…well. Such Gryffindors.
Vivian eyes them with a generous helping of disdain as Marlene gushes over a bright blue set of dress robes with a strange fringe on the sleeves. She's saying something about how it's so trendy and 'in' right now. Vivian doesn't contribute to the conversation, and instead turns to a rack of pricier robes in nice, muted colors. They're much more respectable, and have no trace of fringe anywhere in sight.
"If you want my opinion, you and James have been moving pretty fast," she hears Marlene say. "I'll be he's already picked out an engagement ring."
At this, Vivian can't contain her snort. "That idiot has been drooling over you since third year, Evans. He probably bought you a ring back when you were still pretending to hate him."
Marlene shoots her a derisive look, probably for commandeering the conversation. Lily merely huffs and looks as if she's about to argue this possibility…until she mutters, "Yeah, that's probably true."
Vivian smirks. "Of course it is. Potter is nothing if not a stubborn prat."
With the ugly fringe robes now hanging off her arm, Marlene raises an eyebrow at Vivian and drawls, "Aren't you supposed to be friends with James these days? You are dating his best friend, after all."
There's just the smallest hint of bitterness wedged into Marlene's voice when she asks this, which naturally makes Vivian pause and shoot her a careful look. Lily pauses too, looking just as careful when she slowly says, "Marl, you aren't…uh, upset that Sirius and Vivian are a thing, are you? I mean, I thought you got over him after he cheated on you the third time around back in sixth year."
Vivian's eyebrow twitches. She resists the urge to roll her eyes at the reminder of Sirius's track record. As for Marlene…
With a scoff, she says, "Please. There's no hard feelings in that regard, Blair. You can have that slut."
The adamant way she says this, with so much sarcasm she can't hope to hide it, makes Vivian snort out a laugh. A moment later, she's grinning over at Marlene, who, oddly enough, is grinning right back. Lily looks incredibly bewildered.
"I think I will have him, thanks," Vivian responds, and then goes back to flipping through the rack.
As Marlene heads over to the dressing room to try the blue robes on, Lily eyes the pair of them, looking all the more confused.
"…What just happened?" she asks.
Vivian shakes her head at her and merely says, "Just hurry up and buy something, Evans. Potter will find a way to blame me if you come back empty handed."
Lily sighs, but seems to decide not to pursue the topic and just turns to look at a display of witch hats. Unfortunately, though, the topic of Sirius's sluttiness is not finished being debated. Or, to be more specific, the topic of Sirius's sluttiness concerning Vivian is only just beginning.
"You don't look tired or anything," Marlene notes as the three of them (finally, thank Merlin) leave Madam Malkins about an hour later. For reasons that Vivian can't fathom, she'd decided to buy those cringe-worthy blue fringe robes, and is now swinging the bag back and forth as they start walking down the street to the Leaky Cauldron. It's around four o'clock in the afternoon now, and though the summer sun is still shining brightly down on them, they aren't planning on staying in Diagon Alley for much longer. After a quick bite to eat, they'll part ways for now. Best not to get stuck outside after the shops close up for the day.
Vivian glances over at Marlene with a weird expression and says, "Why would I look tired?"
She quickly regrets asking.
"I'm just saying that Sirius can be pretty…insatiable," Marlene slyly responds. She smirks at the way Vivian's expression morphs into one of dread and murmurs, "He doesn't tire very quickly, you know?"
Lily makes a disgusted face and complains, "Really, Marl? Can we not talk about that?"
Vivian is in full agreement. She's beginning to realize that Marlene is a little too similar to Morrigan than she'd initially thought, and has decided that she doesn't miss her Slytherin friends all that much after all.
"What?" Marlene innocently wonders. "I'm just asking Vivian if she's enjoying the various aspects of living with Sirius Black is all. Does he still flex when he gets out of the shower, Vivian?"
Thankfully, before Vivian can formulate a response to this, Lily demands, "When have you ever seen him get out of the shower?" Then, with a gasp, she turns to face Marlene and exclaims, "I knew you were hiding a man in the bathroom that morning in seventh year! You liar!"
Marlene laughs, then, upon seeing Vivian's expression, coughs, "It was right after school started, Blair. Don't jump to conclusions."
Vivian resists the urge to curl her lip and mutters, "…I wasn't." It doesn't appear as though either of the girls believe her.
"Marlene and Sirius have a weird relationship. That's all in the past now, though," Lily hastily says.
"Yeah, it was really just a fling anyway," Marlene adds.
"Several flings," Lily corrects.
"Anyway," Marlene says, shooting Lily a look, "I always knew that Sirius wasn't the sort to settle down, so it's not a huge loss. Er – I mean, he's changed his tune now I guess – "
"Bloody hell, Marlene, just stop talking," Lily sighs.
Marlene does stop talking. Until of course they slide into an empty table at the Leaky Cauldron after ordering a few appetizers.
"So anyway, how is it?" she asks, much to Vivian's exasperation. And embarrassment.
"…How is what?" Vivian asks, turning to glance out the window so as to avoid Marlene's expectant expression. Salazar.
"Don't avoid the question, Blair. I'm really curious."
"It's none of your business and I don't give a shite if you're curious."
"…Oh my god. You have done it, haven't you?" Marlene demands.
Vivian sends her a scathing glare that successfully quiets her…for several seconds at least.
"You don't have to look so annoyed," Marlene mutters with a pout. "I can give you some tips, if you'd like."
Lily shakes her head silently and sighs. Vivian grits her teeth.
"Would you stop asking about my sex life? Like I said, I don't care if you're curious – "
"He likes being surprised, you know? Catch him when he's least expecting it and he'll go crazy," Marlene helpfully interrupts, not looking at all afraid of Vivian's dark glare. "Oh, and wear something lacy. He'll be eating out of your hand in no time."
Vivian looks like she might throttle Marlene at any moment, so Lily reluctantly says, "I think we should probably talk about something that doesn't make Vivian want to hex you, Marlene."
Marlene opens her mouth to argue this, but after a glance at Vivian's expression, she grudgingly agrees, "…Yeah, okay. Jeez, Blair, I was only trying to be helpful. I mean, what did you expect on a girl's day out? You're obviously going to be interrogated about your clandestine habits."
Vivian rolls her eyes and mutters, "I knew I should have told Potter to shove off when he wrangled me into coming." She's about to say something more when she happens to glance out the window again, but this time, her words get lodged in her throat. The reason for this is because, well, she could have sworn she saw…but no, why would he be here? She must be imagining it. With a scoff, Vivian turns back to the table and says, "Why don't you interrogate Lily, then? You haven't asked her about Potter."
Marlene tilts her head and muses, "That's true. Lily, spill."
As Lily sighs once more and tells Marlene to stop being so gossipy, Vivian turns back to the window. The street is empty. Several shops are already starting to close up. She watches one of the shopkeepers bringing several things inside with an idle expression, her mind drifting to how the boys are doing on their latest trip into London.
After their food is ready, Marlene seems more intent on eating and thankfully doesn't ask any more questions, which Vivian is grateful for. Talking about that aspect of her life feels strange, especially since Marlene obviously expects that her and Sirius have taken their relationship to that level already. The truth is that Vivian isn't really sure how to go about initiating such things. She's never really given it much thought, until recently. Sirius is still grudgingly sleeping on the spare mattress for Merlin's sake, but there's absolutely no way she's going to admit that to Marlene, of all people. It isn't that she doesn't want to be with Sirius in that way…it's only that living with him is still so new and she's only just started to think of the cottage as home. Maybe she's been too cautious, though. After all, Sirius has made it clear that it's on her to make the first move. He's said several times, in the first few weeks, that he wants her to be comfortable.
Her mind drifts continuously back to these thoughts even as they are heading out of the Leaky Cauldron and saying their goodbyes, but once Marlene and Lily have apparated away, her thoughts take a rather sudden turn. This is mainly due to the fact that, right when she's about to turn on her heel to apparate as well, a hand reaches out to lock around her wrist, and Vivian instead turns in the other direction to see who has stopped her, opening her mouth to tell them to get lost. When her eyes lock onto iron grey, though, the words she had been about to summon fall abruptly away.
"…Regulus?" she asks.
Regulus Black purses his mouth.
"Vivian. I need to talk to you," he says, and drags her to the side of the street.