"Brumous"
"Chapter Fifty-Nine: This is Me Trying"
Sirius looked over at the clock on the bookshelf. They needed to leave in an hour for an Order meeting, so he had a small bit of time to contact Cepheus after his classes for the day. Regulus' words from his dream a few days ago played in his head like a mantra. He knew his nephew needed support that Sirius hadn't really given him since he rescued him in November. Sirius couldn't say why the support had been lacking. He didn't know whether or not it was an oversight because of everything else going on with Harry and Sirius' own mental health or because he just thought Cepheus was fine.
Or maybe, Sirius was just a shit uncle and a shit person. Maybe Regulus was right. He only cared about people with the last name Potter. He had essentially put his life on hold once the prophecy came to light sixteen years ago. He had obsessed over it, needing to ensure that the three Potters were safe. All of his relationships had crumbled as a result of his growing paranoia and anxiety. Even now, Sirius' focus was Harry and only Harry. Sirius would go to any length to ensure the survival of his godson, even at the expense of others.
Sirius rolled his neck, trying to relieve some of the tension that had wound tightly in his shoulders. He picked up his mirror, trying to figure out exactly what he should say to his nephew. It would be easier if he were home and there was nowhere to bloody well hide.
"Cepheus Black," Sirius said, his fingers rubbing against his brow as he waited for his nephew to answer.
It took a few moments for the mirror to ripple. Cepheus looked like he was sitting in his bed, the scarlet curtains behind him being a dead giveaway. His nephew had large dark bags residing under his eyes. Yet, he smiled upon seeing Sirius. Though the smile did not reach his pale eyes. It was easy to overlook Cepheus' struggles when he was so good at placing a genuine smile on his face. Sirius didn't know him well enough to know his tells, not like he could with Harry.
"Hey, Uncle Sirius," Cepheus greeted.
Sirius smiled tightly. "How are you?" he asked, his eyes searching Cepheus' face.
Cepheus shrugged. "I'm all right. Just revising for Potions."
Sirius nodded. He squinted at Cepheus. What had Regulus said? He hadn't even given Cepheus an affectionate nickname? Was that really what he did when he cared about someone? Give them a nickname? It seemed silly.
Then again, Harry was nicknamed kid. Marlene was Marly. Andromeda was Andy. Nymphadora was Dora. Tegan was Tee. James had been Prongs. Even when Regulus was little, he had been Reggie. Had Cepheus picked up on that?
Sirius swallowed. "Harry's going to be back at school on Monday. I was wondering if you wanted to come home for the weekend as well. We could have a blokes' weekend," he suggested. "What do you say, Ceph?"
The nickname sounded strange on his tongue. Cepheus wasn't exactly the easiest name to shorten. It was like Harry's name in that regard. But he couldn't call Cepheus kid too. That name had been solely reserved for his godson.
"I have my Herbology project to work on," Cepheus replied, his forehead wrinkling. "Thanks for the offer though."
Sirius nodded, his thumb scratching the side his cheek. "Look, I know things aren't easy for you right now," he said, his hand waving absentmindedly. "I haven't been the best uncle I could be. I just… I saw how scared you were of me. I decided to give you space and not crowd you. You got on well so with Harry that I… I don't know," he continued, his head shaking at how lame and moronic the words sounded out loud. "But I'm here if you need to talk. If you don't want to talk to me, which you don't have to, I can set you up with a Mind Healer appointment to talk about everything that's happened."
Tears brimmed Cepheus' eyes as his head bowed. "I just miss Mum."
Sirius raked his fingers through his hair. "I know you do. She was a specular person. She was always so kind, too kind to be a part of the Macnair family for sure."
Cepheus tilted his chin up, the tears sliding down his cheeks. "Not like my dad."
Sirius' face scrunched up. What the hell could he say about Regulus? That he was a coward? Too afraid of speaking his mind? That he found it easier to hurt people than to have someone hurt him?
"Regulus was…" Sirius trailed off, still struggling to find the words. "He was Regulus."
Fuck. Sirius was a bloody prick. Talking with Harry was easy. Opening up to Harry was like second nature. Sirius didn't know how to do that with someone else. Everything when it came to Harry was just… well, easy. He didn't know how else to describe it. Sirius understood Harry in a way he didn't understand Cepheus.
Cepheus let out a huff of air. "Right."
"I'm not here to lie to you, Cepheus," Sirius said, his grip tightening around the handle of the mirror. "The world isn't split up into good people and Death Eaters. We've all got light and dark inside of us. Regulus has done some truly terrible things, but he's also done some very good things. Everyone has. We just have to hope that the good things we do outweighs all the awful things."
Cepheus frowned. "Malfoy and his friends won't leave me alone. They keep telling me I need to join them."
Sirius searched his nephew's face. "Listen to me very carefully, Cepheus. You cannot go anywhere in the castle alone. Stick close to Ron and Harry. Ginny can take care of herself too. From what I've heard, so can Demelza. The bigger the group the better. These are dark and terrible times, Cepheus. Stick close to those you trust."
There was a noise in the dormitory. Then giggling. Cepheus looked beyond his mirror at someone who had entered. Suddenly, Sirius only saw a swish of long blonde hair in the mirror.
"Want to play Gobstones?" a girl asked, pressing a kiss on Cepheus' cheek.
Cepheus turned crimson immediately, his gaze snapping to the mirror. The girl pulled back, settling next to Cepheus on the bed. Her eyes followed Cepheus' gaze towards the mirror. Her eyes widened when she saw Sirius.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr Black!" the girl exclaimed.
Sirius winced.
"I didn't know Cepheus was on the mirror," she finished.
"Sirius is fine," he explained. "Mr Black is far too formal and, honestly, a dreadful reminder of my truly awful family."
The girl chuckled nervously, her gaze resting on Cepheus.
Cepheus sucked in a breath. "Uncle Sirius, this is Niamh Orlaugh. Niamh, obviously, you recognize my uncle."
Sirius' brows furrowed as the name sounded familiar. "Niamh? Are you one of Ginny's friends?"
"Yes!" Niamh exclaimed, her head nodding enthusiastically. "I've heard loads about you from Ginny and Harry. A little from Cepheus."
Sirius only nodded slowly. What exactly was he supposed to say to that? He knew Harry had said nothing negative, but he couldn't say the same about Ginny and Cepheus.
"It's very nice to meet you, Niamh," Sirius said, forcing a smile on his face. "I'll let you two go. I just want you to think about what I said, all right, Ceph?"
The nickname sounded less awkward on his lips the second time around. Maybe he could grow used to it. Have it come as easily as the other ones did. Sirius loved his nephew. He really did. He knew he did or else he wouldn't have fought so hard to get him out of Voldemort's clutches. Because Sirius wouldn't lift a finger for anyone he didn't care about. He wasn't like James who would risk his life for his worst enemy. Nah, Sirius wasn't that good of a person and he damn well knew it.
"Bye, Uncle Sirius," Cepheus said with a little wave. "Tell Harry I said hi."
Sirius agreed before bidding goodbye to both Cepheus and Niamh. Sitting the mirror down on the end table next to him, he leaned back into the soft cushion of the sofa. His eyes lingered on a photo on the fireplace of him, Harry, and Cepheus taken at Christmas Eve at Andromeda's house. Sirius stood in the middle with his arms wrapped around both boys. Harry beamed, looking younger than sixteen. Cepheus smiled politely, though it didn't reach his eyes. Sirius didn't know how to fix that.
Sirius tried to put it out of his mind as he had other things to worry about. Primarily, him coming clean to the Order of the Phoenix about his parentage that night. It was imperative that Sirius be the one to relay the information with Malfoy telling people about Walburga's dirty little secret. Personally, Sirius thought Malfoy was a moron. Surely, if Voldemort wanted it to be common knowledge, he would have made it public by now to sow doubt in Sirius' character and to alienate him from the Order. Sirius couldn't help but wonder who had told the little brat. Had it been Narcissa? Or had Lucius known before Sirius had slit his fucking throat?
Even though Harry couldn't attend the actual meeting, Sirius felt comfort in the fact knowing that Harry would be in the house. If things went to hell, he'd hightail out of the meeting and take Harry home with him.
Not even a half hour later, Sirius led Harry up the walkway towards Magnus and Cressida Shacklebolt's home in Chelsea. Once at the front door, Sirius drew his wand from the inner pocket of his leather jacket. He pressed the tip against the wood and dragged it in the complicated pattern that he had learned ages ago. It had been a security measure that Dumbledore had started not long after school had started and they were moving between houses for the meetings. A click sounded and Sirius pushed the door open. He placed a hand between Harry's shoulder's blades and ushered him inside.
"All right, you need to stay in the parlor during the meeting," Sirius instructed him, escorting him to a room off the entryway. "Do not leave this room. Do not explore. Do you understand me?"
Harry huffed. "Do you want to use a Sticking Charm so I can't leave the sofa?"
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Not a bad idea."
Harry pressed his lips together. "Can't I just join the meeting?"
Sirius cocked his head to the side. "Are you being bloody serious right now?"
"Yes, I'm being serious," Harry insisted, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm sixteen. Dumbledore already has those special meetings with me. Why can't I attend an Order meeting? You're my guardian. You could allow it."
Sirius eyebrows pulled in. "Voldemort recruits at sixteen, not Dumbledore. He only allows wizards of age."
"Right," Harry said shortly.
"I understand this is frustrating for you, but my hands are tied," Sirius replied, his face pulling. "I don't run the Order."
"So, when I turn seventeen this summer, you're going to let me attend meetings?" Harry pressed.
Sirius let out a sigh. "I don't have any say over what you do once you're seventeen," he said with a grimace. "I would just caution you to be careful."
Harry's brows furrowed.
"Personally, if it wasn't for the knowledge Dumbledore holds that could help save your life, I wouldn't be in the Order," Sirius admitted.
Every single member of the original Order of the Phoenix had let him rot in Azkaban. Nobody had asked questions. Nobody demanded to see him. Nobody had even cared if he lived or died, save for Andromeda and Ted. The only reason he rejoined a few years back was because of the position Harry had in the war. Sirius couldn't stomach someone not being on the inside. So, Sirius shoved down all his ill-feelings and sat quietly at the table as everyone else talked. He just gathered information and tailed Death Eaters and occasionally went on a more important mission.
"Sirius?" a male voice called.
Sirius turned around, stilling at the man in front of him. He had not seen Edmund Shacklebolt since he was eighteen years old at his uncle's funeral. Edmund had disappeared after that. Sirius hadn't the foggiest idea of where, but he had never been exceptionally close to Edmund. They had dinner a handful of times with his Uncle Alphard, but that had been about it.
"Edmund, it's good to see you," Sirius said, taking a step forward and extending his hand.
With a bright smile, Edmund accepted Sirius' hand and clapped his other hand on Sirius' arm. "How are you, Sirius?"
That was a loaded question. Sirius rubbed his chin, trying to figure out why Edmund was back. Of course, he had to be back the night Sirius was going to announce his parentage to the entire bloody Order.
"I'm good," Sirius said before turning to look at Harry and beckoning him forward. "Edmund, this is my godson Harry," he introduced, wrapping an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Harry, this is Edmund Shacklebolt. He's Kingsley's uncle. He dated my Uncle Alphard when he died."
Harry reached out a hand, a soft smile gracing the kid's face. "It's nice to meet you, Mr Shacklebolt."
Harry's manners never ceased to amaze Sirius. He was the perfect little gentleman in a way Sirius never was as a teenager. In fact, Sirius had tried his damnedest to be a little shit just to piss off Walburga and Orion.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Potter," Edmund replied, accepting Harry's hand.
"Where have you been?" Sirius asked, keeping his arm around Harry's shoulders.
"France," Edmund replied, turning his attention back to Sirius. "Alphard and I bought a holiday home in Le Havre. I decided to permanently move there after he died. I've been in contact with Albus since Voldemort reappeared."
Sirius nodded, his eyes squinting at him. "You came back to England for…?"
Edmund frowned. "Well, Andromeda contacted me. She told me what you were going to do tonight at the meeting," he explained, his face contorting into frown. "I hope you don't find me too forward."
"Andromeda told you?" Sirius said in a flat voice.
"No, Alphard did," Edmund replied, raising his hands up. "He was very worried about you. Had been since the day I met him. He always talked about you and plotted on how to get you away from his sister. I feel I may know you better than you know me. So, I wanted to extend my support. It's what Alphard would have wanted."
Sirius only felt annoyed. He was so sick of learning about how everyone talked about this behind his bloody back for years. How had no one thought to even discuss it with him?
"Wait, what are you telling the Order?" Harry asked, looking up at Sirius.
Sirius ground his teeth. "My parentage."
Harry's brows furrowed. "Why? That's nobody's business."
"My hand is being forced, Harry," Sirius replied with a sigh. "I need to get ahead of it before Malfoy tells anyone else. I need to try to contain it from spreading to the media the best I can. The last thing I need is a Ministry inquiry about whether or not I'm a fit guardian."
"We're both almost seventeen," Harry argued. "What does it even matter?"
Sirius glanced at Harry. "It matters because if either one of you is under the custody of someone who is aligned with Voldemort or easily manipulated, they can sign you out of school and hand you over on a silver platter. It matters because you both have summer birthdays and can't stay at Hogwarts until you're of age."
"I wouldn't go," Harry said in a defiant tone. "They can't make me."
"Oh, yeah, because our Ministry doesn't abuse its powers," Sirius snapped in a bitter tone. "It's not something I want to bloody well test."
"I need to be in the meeting," Harry demanded. "At least when you tell people."
This was exactly why he hadn't told Harry anything about what he had been planning on doing. Fucking Edmund and his do-gooder personality. Sirius didn't need Edmund's support. Or anyone's really.
Movement in the doorway caught Sirius' attention. Andromeda and Ted made their way into the room. Immediately, Andromeda greeted Edmund warmly with a hug and exclaimed it was good to see him again. She then moved to hug Harry, her lips pressing to his cheek, as Ted greeted Edmund. Sirius shoved his hands in his pockets to avoid the embrace that was inevitably next.
Andromeda paused when she noticed Sirius' stance. "You're pleasant today," she commented with a smile.
Sirius rolled his eyes but kept his mouth shut. That was his New Year's resolution: not to be an arse even when he felt like being one. He just had to keep telling himself that Andromeda's heart had been in the right place.
"I'm fine," Sirius settled on saying. "It's not every day I get to tell everyone that my sperm donor is a psychotic fucking sociopath. It'll be so much fun to be judged and hated. Oh, wait, that's really nothing new. So, maybe it won't be so bad."
Andromeda ran her hand down his arm. "Nobody who is worth a speck of your time will care."
Sirius only nodded, his lips pulling into a thin line. He wasn't going to argue with her. Ginny had judged him initially. He had heard the quiver of fear in her voice and watched as Harry tried to soothe her anxiety. While she seemed okay with everything after Sirius had spoken with her, he couldn't help but wonder if there were still any residual negative feelings. He hoped not, because he had a feeling Ginny wasn't going anywhere.
"Sirius," Dumbledore's voice called.
Sirius turned to see Dumbledore entering the parlor. He held two watches in his hand, the one he had given Harry and a new one Marlene said she'd buy him as a very late or extremely early birthday present. He hadn't even seen it yet.
"The watches have been tied to Gryffindor common room," Dumbledore explained as he handed the watches over to Sirius.
He glanced down at them and held one out to Harry. The kid took it and immediately fastened it on his left wrist. Sirius inspected the other one. It was a black leather band. The face was black as well, encased with silver around it. His thumb brushed against the glass before he flipped it over to see an inscription on the back that read, "Time nor space can keep us apart. Yours truly, Marly."
Sirius' throat clogged. Clearing his throat, he fastened the watch to his right wrist.
"Thank you for getting these back to us so quickly," Sirius said, his gaze snapping up to look at Dumbledore. "I wanted to show him how to use these before he goes back to school on Monday."
Dumbledore nodded, a smile crossing his face. "It's imperative that Harry has some safeguards in order to come back to Hogwarts," he said, turning his attention to Harry. "I trust Sirius has explained the seriousness of the safety concerns surrounding your return to school?"
Harry nodded. "He has, sir."
"I know you have a flair for attracting trouble," Dumbledore continued in a knowing tone.
Harry frowned. "Sirius already gave me the talk about keeping my head down and nose clean about a hundred times this week alone, professor."
Sirius raised his eyebrows at the slight sassy tone that Harry took with the headmaster. "Harry," he warned.
Dumbledore only chuckled. "Yes, I believe I have heard him say that to you in the past," he explained as he turned to Sirius. "I believe I have heard your Uncle Alphard relay to you those exact words as well."
Sirius forced a tight smile on his face. He, like Harry, had trouble doing as he was asked when he was a teenager. While Harry found accidental trouble in life and death situations, Sirius just found himself in purposeful trouble with his so-called family.
"Professor, I was hoping I could attend the meeting tonight," Harry said, changing the subject. "Sirius said he'd allow it if you did."
Sirius sighed. "That's not exactly what I said."
"I'd just like to be there when Sirius makes his announcement," Harry added. "I'll leave after, if you want. But I'll be seventeen in just over six months and, err, well, I mean, we do have private lessons together already."
Dumbledore appraised Harry for a few moments before his gaze slid to Sirius. He only shrugged in response. What could he really do? Selfishly, he wouldn't mind Harry sitting next to him. At the same time, he was sixteen. Sirius often found himself struggling with determining what the right parenting move was. He tried to think what Fleamont would do, but he only seemed to flounder on the answer.
"If you would like Harry there, he may come for the beginning only," Dumbledore conceded, his eyes uncommonly kind.
Harry looked up at Sirius expectantly.
"Fine," Sirius conceded.
Harry beamed like the little shit he was. Dumbledore nodded at the group before he left the parlor. Sirius steered Harry out of the room after him, leading him to where the meeting was to take place.
The moment Sirius stepped into the dining room with Harry, Snape automatically scowled. Sirius guided Harry towards the end of the table where he usually sat. It was at the opposite end of where Dumbledore sat at the head of the table. It was always his little corner with Andromeda and Ted, Remus and Dora, and Molly and Arthur. Most recently, Marlene as well.
Sirius gestured for Harry to sit between him and Marlene who seemed to be the only one already in the room that looked happy to see them. As the whispers broke out amongst the table, Sirius wrapped an arm around the back of Harry's chair. Molly shot Sirius a curious look, but he only shrugged in response. He wasn't sure if his friendship with Molly would survive the revelation.
On the other side of him, Andromeda reached for his hand. Sirius allowed her to pull his arm towards her, both of her hands encasing his. Turning to his left, he caught Marlene's eye over Harry's head. She smiled warmly at him.
A few stragglers entered the room, two of which were Fred and George Weasley. They greeted Harry enthusiastically, clapping him on the shoulder and welcoming him for joining the big wizards' table. Harry laughed, making small talk with the twins for a few momentsbefore they rounded the table to sit with Lee Jordan.
Once everyone was seated, the doors to the dining room closed with a wave of Dumbledore's wand. He started off by greeting everyone and introducing Harry to the group. The kid squirmed awkwardly in his chair. Sirius moved his hand from the back of Harry's chair in order to grip his shoulder.
"I am going to yield the floor to Sirius," Dumbledore said, nodding in the direction where they sat. "He has something he would like to tell you all. Before he does, I want you to relay to all of you that I have known this bit of information for a while. It does not change my opinion nor should it change any of yours."
All eyes turned to Sirius. The air grew so quiet that a pin dropping would sound like an explosion. Sirius squeezed Harry's shoulder. The blood rushed in his ears as his eyes roamed around the table. He wished that Andromeda was seated across from him. It seemed like it would be easier to say it if he could just stare at her the entire time. The only familiar face he could see in the crowd was Tegan. She looked at him curiously, her features soft and concerned. Sirius stared at her.
Sirius cleared his throat. "I, I found out a couple of months ago that… that Orion Black was not my biological father," he said, his eyes squinting at Tegan. "Walburga was having an affair with Voldemort. He's been…" he trailed off, his jaw locking when the whispers started. "Look, I don't want a fucking thing to do with him. This revelation means shit to me."
Sirius' heart pounded in his chest. The corners of Tegan's lips curved up. She mouthed, "It's all right." A breath he didn't know he was holding escaped his lips.
"And Harry Potter is still in his custody?" Elphias Doge uttered loudly. "Albus!"
The relief was replaced with anxiety. This had been what he had been afraid of most. He couldn't lose custody of Harry. Not now when everything was spiraling out of control.
"Honestly, there were plenty of us uncomfortable with a Black in our ranks," Emmeline Vance added. "But to know that he's You-Know-Who's son? Albus, you have got to be joking!"
Sirius fucking hated having the last name Black.
Harry leaned forward, his back pin straight. "None of you even know him!" he protested. "He's not a Black. He's definitely not Voldemort's son. He's just Sirius. If any of you would take the time to actually get to know him and not judge him, you'd know that too!"
Sirius finally tore his gaze away from Tegan to look over at his godson. Harry's chest heaved, his neck growing a faint tint of red. Merlin, he loved the kid.
"I agree with Harry," Ted spoke up, gaining the attention of the room with four simple words because he was so damn well respected. "Judgement is a nasty habit. Sometimes it's unavoidable. People often judge a book by its cover whether they mean to or not. I've had the misfortune to meet plenty of Blacks in my life. I can tell you all that Sirius is an upstanding and fiercely loyal individual. He holds no loyalty to the Black family or to Lord Voldemort. I can also tell you he holds no loyalty to any of you. But I can guarantee you that there is one person who holds Sirius' loyalty. That's his sixteen-year-old godson. His godson who is being hunted ruthlessly by Voldemort. There is no one in this room who would like to see Voldemort suffer more than Sirius because of what that man has done to Harry. If any of you have a problem with Sirius for something he didn't ask for and didn't know his entire life until recently, then you have a problem with me. I will gladly walk out of this room with him because Sirius is my brother. I love him and I would trust him with my life."
Sirius dared a glance at Ted on the other side of Andromeda. In all the years that Sirius had known Ted, he had never seen him so angry. Who would have thought that mild-mannered Teddy could even become furious.
A finger snapped, drawing Sirius' attention across the table. Fred Weasley grinned broadly, his finger pointing at Sirius.
"I'm okay with it as long as I don't have to call you Lord Sirius," Fred said.
Sirius let out a breathy chuckle. "Yeah, I'd prefer you don't."
"Do you want us to refer to you as You-Seriously-Don't-Know-Who?" George added. "Get it? It's a play on his name for any of your dense fucks who think blood matters like some pureblood wanker."
Sirius felt infinitely grateful for the twins. He had always been entertained by the duo, reminding him painfully of him and James when they were younger. But he had never fully appreciated them like he did currently.
"I think that's rather nicely stated," Tegan said, smirking knowingly at the twins. "If we judge someone on the misfortune of who their biological father is or because of their last name, we're no better than the people we're fighting against. I think a person's character outweighs something as inconsequential as blood."
Sirius was glad he was able to end his relationship with Tegan on good terms. Having her in his corner was imperative. Tegan was so well-respected within the Order.
"I remember when Sirius walked into the Great Hall when he was eleven," McGonagall spoke up, her eyes staring directly at him. "He was the first one called up in his year to be sorted. The hat didn't even touch his head before it declared him Gryffindor. It barely brushed his hair. I pride my house in not only their bravery, but for having strong morals. If Sirius was sorted without even a moment of consideration, then I have complete faith in Sirius' character."
Sirius had never felt so respected in his life. Nobody had ever gone out on a limb for him. Now? Now, they were. Maybe he had finally proven that he wasn't a fucking Black snake after all.
"Blimey, I knew 'im," Hagrid said in a hushed tone. "You-Know-Who. I knew 'im all righ'. Yeh jus knew there was summat wrong with 'im. Even as kids. Yeh jus knew. I wouldn' have trusted 'im with me shoe. But Sirius? Nah, I trust 'im. One o' the kindest people I have ever met," he insisted, his head shaking. "Judged fer yeh family. Codswallop. Me mum was a giantess. Yeh all know tha'. I don' even have ter tell yeh. They can be ruthless. An' I don' recall any o' yeh judging me. We can' help who our parents are."
Sirius had officially forgiven Hagrid for fucking up his motorbike.
Harry shifted in his chair. "Hagrid's right. You shouldn't be judged on who your family is. There's a reason I don't live with my aunt and uncle anymore," he said in a tight voice.
"Harry," Sirius said in a soft voice.
The last thing Sirius wanted was for Harry to say something he'd regret to try to help him.
"I am nothing like them. I would never want to be compared to them," Harry continued, not backing done. "Sirius was the first adult in my life to actually care about me. During the Triwizard Tournament, he lived in a cave and survived off rats so he could be there on the off-chance that I needed him."
Sirius swallowed, his eyes roaming around the table. "Look, like me or don't like me. I don't care. Trust me or don't trust me. I don't care about that either. But don't you dare even think about trying to take my godson away from me. It would not end well for you if you do."
Maybe threatening the entire Order of the Phoenix wasn't the best move Sirius could have made. But he didn't want anyone even thinking about going behind his back to the Ministry or to leak information to the press. He wasn't going to lose Harry because of some arsehole in the bloody Order.
Sirius turned to Harry. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah, I am," Harry replied, pushing his chair back immediately.
Sirius followed suit. Wrapping an arm around Harry's shoulders, Sirius dared a glance at Molly and Arthur. They both stared at him. Molly's mouth hung open slightly, her brows furrowing as they locked eyes. Sucking in a breath, Sirius tore his gaze away as he led Harry out of the dining room. He just wanted to go home.
Ginny lounged back on the sofa in the common room. Her legs laid across Harry's lap while her head dangled off the arm of the sofa so she could talk to Demelza. Harry's hand absentmindedly rubbed her thigh as he chatted with Ron and Cepheus. Ginny was content. Happy that Harry was finally back at school after missing a week and a half.
All she wanted to do was go to bed so she could have some alone time with Harry since Ron had been hogging him all bloody day. She knew how hard of a time Cepheus had been having lately as well, so it seemed rude to rip them apart on Harry's first night back. But Ginny was bloody well selfish. With a smirk, she scooted her bum closer to his thigh to gain his attention.
His hand stopped rubbing her thigh. Ginny moved so she could see his face. Slowly, he glanced at her. She reached out to boop him on the nose. A grin spread across his face. Stretching her arms over her head and letting out a dramatic sigh, she decided she needed to tempt Harry upstairs.
"I'm exhausted. I'm going to head to bed," she announced, pulling her body close to Harry's. "Night," she said before pecking him on the cheek.
Ginny slid off the sofa and waved at her friends. Demelza rolled her eyes. Gemma shot her a double thumbs up. Sweet Niamh only waved, obviously to Ginny's ploy. Instead of heading to the girls' dormitory, she made her way up the boys' staircase.
When she entered Harry's dorm to see no one was there. She made her way over to Harry's trunk and opened it. Tucked away on the left side was a little toiletry bag and a change of pajamas that she kept in there for when she'd sneak up to his dorm to sleep. Harry hadn't seemed to mind at all. In fact, he only responded by keeping his own things in her trunk as well.
She changed quickly in the loo into one of Harry's t-shirts (that she totally did not steal) and a pair of shorts that couldn't even be seen due to the length of said shirt. She brushed her teeth and her hair before she made her way back into the dorm. Stashing her stuff away, she crawled into Harry's bed and waited for him.
Harry still insisted on waiting a good five to ten minutes between them going to bed, even though their entire friendship group knew damn well they always shared a bed now. He wasn't fooling anybody. But Ginny found it oddly endearing that he still insisted upon it.
Before long, Ginny heard the door to the dormitory open. There was some shuffling around. Then the curtains opened. Harry climbed into bed next to her. His glasses shifted in his face, laying adorably askew.
"Did you fool them?" Ginny asked in a teasing tone.
Harry shot her a boyish grin. "Of course, I did."
Ginny reached out, squishing his face between both her hands as she scooted closer to him. "I missed you and your nativity that you think coming to bed ten minutes apart is going to fool Ron when he's already admitted he knows."
Harry ran his hand up her side, dragging the t-shirt up until his hand settled just below her breast. He was a bloody gentleman, unlike Michael who had found it fit to try to grope her anytime they cuddled. Harry was always so conscious of where he laid his hands that sometimes she wished he wasn't so bloody gallant.
"Gin, I should tell you something," Harry said in a halting tone, his brows knitting together.
Ginny's fingers trailed down his cheeks. "What's wrong?"
Harry swallowed visibly, his intense green eyes never leaving her face. "I debated about telling you this because I didn't want to upset you, but I think you should know."
Ginny's body stiffened.
"And, and I hate the thought of not telling you things," Harry continued, his jaw feathering. "I mean, isn't that the point of being in a relationship? You can tell your other half anything and everything without judgement or, or fear or anything?"
Ginny searched his face. "I like to think so," she said in a soft voice.
Harry nodded, his eyes never leaving her face. The seconds dragged between them. Ginny couldn't move, couldn't breathe. She could only stare at Harry with anxiety swarming in her gut. Finally, Harry let out a long sigh.
"When Ted was trying to sever the connection, I… well, I sort of possessed Voldemort," Harry admitted, his face wincing.
"You possessed him?" Ginny echoed, her stomach clenching.
Whatever she thought he was going to say, it certainly wasn't that.
"I didn't mean to," Harry insisted. "It was awful. I felt so… angry. And I felt like, like I was superior to everyone."
"You felt what he feels?" Ginny whispered.
Harry licked his bottom lip. "He's so… arrogant. I had never felt so uncomfortable in my life realizing that I was having those thoughts. It was like a piece of him was inside of me."
"He's a narcissist," Ginny replied in a flat tone. "He's everything you're not. Of course, it made you feel uncomfortable. There would be something wrong with you if you didn't feel uncomfortable."
"Do you think it's bad that I possessed him?" Harry asked, shifting closer to her.
"You couldn't help it," she reasoned, the backs of her fingers brushing along his jaw. "Besides, you hated it."
"I don't want it to happen again," Harry admitted. "I didn't know how to stop it. I just wanted to stop it."
Ginny leaned her face forward until their noses brushed. "What did you do?"
"I sat on the floor and tried to get out of his head," Harry admitted. "He kept asking me what I did."
"Do you think… do you think it was because you tried to sever the connection that you possessed him?" Ginny thought out loud, trying to make sense of what happened. "What even is the connection?"
Harry rolled away from her onto his back. His fingers pushed his glasses up on his face as he scrubbed his eyes. Ginny pressed her palm against his bicep, her thumb brushing along his arm.
"Sirius called it Voldemort's essence," Harry explained, a frown working its way onto his features as he righted his glasses.
Ginny bit her lip. "Like how Tom's essence was in the diary?"
Harry turned his head to look at Ginny. "Yeah, exactly," he said in a faraway tone. "Gin, I don't think Sirius is telling me the entire truth. And I think I know what he's not saying."
Ginny reached out to grip his hand, her fingers tightening around his. "What do you think the entire truth is?"
"Voldemort placed a piece of his soul into that diary," Harry explained, his body stiffening. "What if a piece of his soul is… is inside of me?"
Ginny's heart hammered in her chest. It seemed impossible that someone as pure as Harry could have something so evil inside of him. She hadn't the faintest idea what to even say to comfort him. How could one break off a piece of their soul in the first place?
"Why would he put a piece of his soul inside of you?" Ginny asked instead.
Harry licked his lips. "So, he could live forever," he said slowly as though he were picking his words very carefully. "If he has a bit of his soul in something else, then he could never die until you destroy all the soul pieces, right?"
Ginny hadn't the foggiest idea. She did know she didn't like the topic of conversation.
"There's not a piece of soul inside of you, Harry," she said with a huff. "I mean, it's ridiculous."
"Is it?" Harry pressed, his eyebrows raising above his glasses. "How did he survive all those years ago? His body was burned, Ginny. Yet, here he is. You can't bring back someone who has died. So, not all of him died the first time around. It's the only thing that makes sense."
Ginny brushed her cheek against Harry's shoulder. "Well, I refuse to believe you have even a speck of evil inside of you. You're too good of a person."
"He's in my head, Gin," Harry whispered, his thumb brushing along her knuckles. "He can possess me easily. He can't plant fake visions in my head. I can see into his mind while I'm dreaming. It terrifies me. The connection. It's literally terrifying."
"Harry…" Ginny trailed off, her heart cinching as she grappled to find words of comfort.
"If a diary could possess you so easily because it had a bit of his soul in it–"
"You don't know that!" Ginny protested, her body jerking into a seated position on the bed. "You don't know that his soul was in that diary!"
"I do know," Harry said in a soft voice, his body slowly rising up to sit next in front of Ginny. "I know it was a piece of his soul. It's what I've been learning about with Dumbledore, Sirius, and Remus. His soul was possessing you, Gin."
Ginny curled up into a ball on the bed. Bile rose up her throat as tears burned her eyes.
"That bit of his soul was destroyed," Harry continued. "I destroyed it with the basilisk fang."
Ginny blinked, a tear running down her cheek. Harry reached up, his hand cupping her face. His thumb brushed away the stray tear.
"If there are more pieces of his soul out there, then they'd have to be destroyed in order to kill him," Harry whispered. "If there's a bit of soul inside of me…"
"No," Ginny choked out. "No. I refuse to believe that!"
"Why do you think Sirius was so adamant they try to sever the so-called connection so quickly? He used basilisk venom. He knows, Ginny. I know he knows. He's scared. I can tell," Harry said in a strained voice.
Ginny sniffed. "I don't want to lose you."
"You won't," Harry replied, though he didn't sound all that confident. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his head shaking. "I didn't mean to scare you. I was just… thinking out loud. It's been bugging me since the surgery."
Ginny frowned. "Don't apologize. I want you to tell me things. I want you to work out problems with me," she explained. "I'm just scared is all. I'm really scared, Harry."
"Me too," Harry uttered in such a soft voice so wasn't entirely sure she heard him right.
Harry reached out, his fingers skirting across her jaw. Her body leaned into the touch instinctively. Their faces drew together. Harry's lips brushed so softly against hers. The tight knot of anxiety slowly started to unravel as the kiss deepened. Somehow, Harry always made her feel better. It was as though the love rolled off him in droves, engulfing her into an intoxicating lull of peace.
Ginny shifted until she was sitting on top of him, the kiss intensifying as their lips locked against one another. Her entire body hummed with desire as her hands raked through his soft hair. Suddenly, Ginny could no longer remember what they had even been talking about as the pads of his fingers ran up her bare thighs. She just knew she never wanted to lose him. She'd fight tooth and nail to keep him by her side.
The paralyzing fear she felt about the war was gone. Instead, there was only a deep intense fire that burned within her. She would kill Tom herself if he did anything to Harry. That was a ruddy promise.
Marlene watched a younger thirteen-year-old Ginny chewing on her bottom lip as she watched her older brothers throwing around a Quaffle in the back garden with a fresh-faced fourteen-year-old Harry. The lopsided house stood behind them, and Marlene knew magic was the only thing keeping it upright. An elbow brushed against her arm. Marlene looked over to see fifteen-year-old Ginny Weasley with her eyes screwed shut and her hands over her ears.
Ginny struggled to manipulate her memories. They were choppy, sloppy, and just plain disjointed. Voldemort would know in an instant that it was a false or a manipulated memory. Maybe Marlene was asking too much from someone so young. While Ginny was smart and capable, she was still only a teenager. Marlene doubted she'd have been able to achieve what she asked Ginny to at her age. Hell, Marlene doubted she could have done it at twenty-one when everything went to shit.
Marlene turned her attention back to the memory in front of her, her arms crossing over her chest. Her chin titled up as George's (or maybe it was Fred's) body jerked. He hurtled the Quaffle in Ginny's direction, hitting her in the head. The boys all laughed, including Harry. Ginny dropped her hands and looked up at Marlene.
"Did I do it?" Ginny asked.
Marlene nodded. "Yes, but I could tell it was manipulated. Your brother never threw the Quaffle, did he?"
Ginny huffed, the toe of her shoe kicking into the ground. "Bloody fucking…" she muttered under her breath. "No, he didn't."
"The key is making it flow and not jerk," Marlene explained.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Why didn't I think of that?" she snapped in a sarcastic tone.
Marlene arched her brow. "It's about finding an opportunity to switch gears," she explained. "Not about just changing the motions. It has to flow naturally. It's like throwing a Quaffle," she continued, gesturing over to the boys passing the Quaffle again. "You can't throw it without pulling back your arm. You're attempting to throw the memory without drawing back your arm."
Ginny looked thoughtful for a few memories, though Marlene could see the frustration settle into her brow. Marlene couldn't help but be reminded of James. He had been easily frustrated as well, hating when he hadn't been able to achieve something on the first go either. Marlene could see that in Ginny. She wasn't used to failing.
Marlene glanced back at the memory, savoring the image of her more carefree godson. There was an easy smile on his face, his eyes lighting up with laughter as Ron did some silly little dance. He seemed so at ease with the Weasley family. She knew he was. Remus and Sirius had both made mentions of it to her in the past.
"The Weasleys are to Harry what the Potters were to Sirius," Remus had explained to her one evening after she had regained her memories.
The Weasleys were wonderful people. Fred and George made her laugh in Order meetings. Bill had been extremely kind and intelligent. Ron reminded her painfully of James. Molly and Arthur had made the effort to include her in their Christmas festivities for Harry's sake. Charlie had been, well, Charlie had been a mistake. But he was kind and made her forget her problems for a short while. But Ginny was… hard.
Marlene found herself struggling to form a relationship with Ginny. It wasn't Ginny's fault. The girl was charismatic, engaging, and witty. She was the type of girl Marlene knew she would have been friends with if they were the same age. At first, Marlene assumed it was because she was special to Harry. Surely, she had just been nervous to connect to her because of the connection to her godson that she barely knew. But no. It was the war and what she knew laid ahead for Ginny.
Ginny was not a girl who would sit behind as everyone around her fought. The entire Weasley family was deeply entangled in the war. Ginny herself was dating the so-called Chosen One. She was a target. Someone who would be the easiest to manipulate. Marlene knew she had to prepare Ginny, to hardened her. To do that, Marlene didn't want to become close with her. It would make training her infinitely harder.
Marlene knew from experience that she struggled to perhaps do what was right by Harry and to protect him. The procedure to rid Harry of the Horcrux was evidence of that. She had seen the look in Sirius' eye. The way he was contemplating trying again to destroy the Horcrux. But he had called it off when she asked him to. Marlene hadn't been able to handle it. All she saw was her tiny godson and her heart crumbled into a panic. She had lost so much that she had been paralyzed with fear of losing Harry as well.
That wasn't fair to Harry.
"Go through your memories this next week," Marlene explained. "Find points where you can naturally shift the memories. Learn how to identify them. We'll try again next week."
Marlene gripped Ginny's arm and pulled them out of the memory. They stood next to each other in her office. Marlene immediately let go of Ginny's arm and took a few steps away from her.
Ginny looked up at Marlene, her eyebrow arching towards her hairline. "Can't I have another go?" she asked in a short tone.
"No," Marlene replied. "You're not ready. You need to learn how to identify transition points. Until you do that, these lessons are useless."
Ginny scoffed. "Right. Thanks, professor."
Ginny snatched her satchel off from the chair and slung it around her shoulder before she stormed out of the office. Marlene stared at the door. Straining her neck to the side, she tried to relieve some of the tension but failed miserably. She grabbed her work bag from under her desk, her fingers coiling tightly around the handle, before she too left her office.
Her heels clicked on the stone floors, echoing in the abandoned corridors. It was nearly curfew. With Voldemort back, it was rare to see a kid out of bounds at night. Most were too scared of what could be potentially lurking in the shadows. It didn't help that there was a constant stream of Aurors patrolling the castle. All she wanted was to drown herself in a nice hot bath.
Rounding the corner to her living quarters, she paused when she saw Sirius leaning against the stone wall. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his leather jacket. His head rested against the wall with his eyes closed. She hadn't seen him all week. With Harry back at school and Sirius back at the Hogsmeade house, they hadn't spent another night together. Not like they had in Seifton for the past week and a half. In fact, they hadn't even talked. They hadn't really established any shape to their relationship.
Squaring her shoulders, she made her way towards him. He must have heard her because he turned his head to look at her. A ghost of a smile crossed his lips as he kicked off the wall.
"Long time no see," Sirius greeted, his eyes squinting at her and causing wrinkles to stem from the corners of his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Marlene asked, drawing her wand from the slim pocket in her pencil skirt.
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Do I need an excuse to come see you?"
Marlene tapped her wand against the door to her living quarters. "I suppose it depends on if we're officially reacquainted."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you that he caught me off guard?"
Marlene entered into the parlor and sat her things onto the table next to the door. Sirius followed her in, shutting the door softly behind him. He shrugged off his leather jacket, making himself at home as he tossed it across the back of a reading chair. Marlene toed off her heels as she shrugged her robe off her shoulders to hang up properly because she wasn't a bloody heathen like Sirius.
"Give me your bloody jacket," Marlene said as she hung her robe up on the coat stand.
Sirius did one better. He snagged his jacket off the chair and hung it up himself. He shot her a grin as he knelt down and made a big deal about taking off his boots as well. Placing them neatly by the door next to her heels. What a ruddy moron.
With a sigh, Marlene made her way towards the sofa. She collapsed down onto it, laying down and covering her eyes with her arm. While she appreciated Sirius making an appearance, she was also bloody well tired from teaching all day and then giving Ginny her private lesson. When Sirius hauled her legs up into the air, Marlene removed her arm to watch as he sat down next to her and plopped her legs on top of him. His hand rubbed along her calf for a few moments before he started to massage her stocking-clad feet.
Marlene couldn't help but be thrown into the past. Too many times had she arrived home from work and they would sit just like this. She stared at Sirius, soaking in all the little differences from what he looked like at twenty-one to now at thirty-seven. His hair was longer, a strand almost always falling into his eyes. There was obvious gray above his ears and a few stray strands on top. He kept a neat beard, which was something she liked a whole lot better than his old clean-shaven face. He had always had a babyface, looking younger when he shaved. She wondered what he would look like now without a beard. Would he still have that babyface? She doubted it. There were too many wrinkles now.
"I missed this," Marlene whispered, sitting up on the sofa but keeping her feet in Sirius' lap. "Back when we did this thing called dating."
Sirius glanced over at her, his fingers slipping from her foot. "I'd ask you to be my girlfriend but that sounds so fucking juvenile."
Marlene let out a huff. "Of course, you'd think that."
Sirius slung one arm across the back of the sofa while the other hand rested against her ankle. "Besides, I don't think I'd be a good boyfriend right now."
Marlene's brows furrowed. "Is this some self-deprecating bullshit that you're going to make me suffer through?""
Sirius chuckled, a genuine smile crossing his lips. "No, it's not some self-deprecating bullshit. It's me being realistic. We both vowed to James and Lily that we'd put Harry first. With the shitshow going down right now, we both need to concentrate on him."
Marlene nodded, her lips pursing. "Right, so that means we can't do that together?"
"I told you about the Horcruxes," Sirius reasoned.
Marlene blinked. "Yes, and…?"
"And you and I both know that Dumbledore is number one on Voldemort's kill list," Sirius explained, his thumb brushing against her ankle. "If he succeeds, all hell will break loose."
"What does this have to do with us?" Marlene pressed.
"If that happens, Harry and I need to make ourselves scarce," Sirius replied, his brows knitting together and causing the wrinkles in his forehead to appear like deep crevices. "We'll have to hunt down the Horcruxes. Then, I'll have to help him defeat Voldemort."
"I'm not a part of this grand plan of yours?" Marlene asked, pulling her legs off Sirius' lap.
Sirius swallowed visibly. "No, you can't be."
"Why?" Marlene snapped, her chest heaving.
"Because if you're there and I'm in a situation where I'm faced with saving just you or just Harry, it's going to fucking kill me to choose Harry," Sirius reasoned, his intense gray eyes searching her face. "It will kill me to lose you. Because you and I both know that I'd chose Harry. Just like we both know that if you were in that position, you'd chose Harry and it would fucking kill you to let me die. We can't be together in a situation like that. It will cause us to slip up and potentially kill us all. I can't do the job that I need to do with you there. I can't go all in to protect Harry with you there. I just can't, Marly. I can't do it."
Marlene's face fell.
"Maybe if I had never lost you and Harry all those years ago, I'd be stronger," Sirius admitted in a strained tone. "Maybe I wouldn't be paralyzed with fear of losing you both all over again. Maybe we'd be better together than apart in a situation like this. But I'm not. We're not. You can't ask me to make that decision. You can't put me in that position. I can't watch you die, Marly. If you die and I know I let it happen… I'd be fucking useless to Harry then. There is no one in this world that I care more about than you and Harry. I have to give Harry everything I have right now. It's the only way I can even fathom all three of us surviving."
Marlene scooted closer to Sirius, her fingers running through his hair. Sirius' hand rested on her calf, gliding upward along her inner thigh. Pressing her forehead against Sirius' cheek, she understood.
"I love you, Sirius," she whispered.
Sirius gave her thigh a squeeze. "I love you so fucking much, Marly."
Marlene swallowed, her arms wrapping around him. "You stay with Harry and help him kill that fucker. I'll stay here and protect the students here."
"Marly, you'll have to run," Sirius insisted, pulling away so he could see her face.
Marlene shook her head. "No, I can't just hide and do nothing. I'll stay here. I will make sure Voldemort doesn't touch a hair on these kids just like Dumbledore is doing now. I think Minerva and I can accomplish that together."
The left side of Sirius' mouth quirked up. "Honestly, if anyone could accomplish that, it'd be you and McGonagall."
Marlene wrapped her palm across the back of Sirius' neck. "But we're not at that point yet."
Sirius licked his bottom lip. "We're not."
"So… I could be…" she trailed off, bopping her head from side-to-side. "Your pre-all hell breaks loose girlfriend who will allow you to leave for war to protect our godson but then expects you to be my boyfriend again when you get back."
Sirius grinned. "That's a long fucking title."
"You're dramatic enough that you love it," Marlene replied, leaning forward and pressing her lips against the corner of his mouth.
Sirius chuckled, his fingers tugging at her blouse to untuck it from her skirt. "I think you're wearing too many clothes for that role."
Marlene laughed as Sirius kissed her neck. Sirius shifted and she saw his wand out of the corner of her eye. With a flick of his wrist, her clothes vanished from her body and left her completely naked. Tossing his wand onto the coffee table, he pushed her back against the sofa and hovered above her.
"I think you forgot to vanish your clothes," Marlene pointed out as Sirius pushed her legs far apart to settle between them.
Sirius ran his hands up her sides before he gathered up her wrists and hauled them over her head. He smirked down at her, shifting her wrists together so he could hold them in one of his big hands.
"Nah, I didn't forget," Sirius replied, his free hand squeezing her breast. "It was very intentional."
Marlene arched her back to try to shift her body closer to him. She needed more contact to satisfy the cravings of her aching body. When she tried to gain some friction against his leg, he only drew back to leave her frustrated and silently cursing his name. She bloody well hated when Sirius was a tease. He'd have her begging before long. He always had. Like the bloody wanker he was, he arched an eyebrow down at her as a shit-eating grin crossed his face. His head bent down to press his lips against jaw and neck. His hair tickled her face.
Marlene gasped as pleasure shivered across her body as raw desire pooled in the pit of her stomach. Oh, they were definitely reacquainted. Sirius could deny all he wanted that they were officially back together. They definitely were a couple. If the worst-case scenario happened and they had to separate, she knew they would find their way back to one another again. They had already been through hell once and found each other again. Marlene had zero worries that they'd find each other again and again and again no matter how many times the universe tried to pry them apart.
They were two sides of the same coin. The worst that life could throw at them was a little dirt. There was nothing that Marlene was more sure about than that. They'd always crawl back home to one another.
Harry stared at the same paragraph of his Transfiguration book, royally bored out of his mind. But it was the only thing he could think of to block out the latest gossip about Cormac McLaggen that Harry definitely had no interest in hearing. He glanced up to see Cepheus' face twisted as he stared at Gemma as she talked.
Cepheus grabbed his satchel from where it sat beside his chair and started shoving his books and supplies inside. He had been quiet since he joined Harry and the girls in the library while Ron and Demelza patrolled.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked.
Cepheus glanced at him, shrugging. "Going to the greenhouses."
Harry frowned. "Sirius said we shouldn't go anywhere alone."
Cepheus glanced at Harry, his jaw tightening. "So?"
The girls grew quiet around the table. Ginny pressed a hand on Harry's thigh.
Harry understood better than anyone how much of a broomstick parent Sirius could be. He worried incessantly about pretty much everything having to do with them. As much as Harry wanted to complain about it, as much as it annoyed Harry to the point where sometimes it felt smothering, he also knew what it felt like to have no one care. It was easy to swallow down his frustrations when he knew what the alternative felt like. He would take his worrywart of a godfather over the indifference of the Dursleys any day of the week.
"So, what if Malfoy and his gang corner you again?" Harry snapped, not understanding why Cepheus was being so reckless all of a sudden.
"What are they going to do?" Cepheus asked, hiking his satchel up on his shoulder. "All they've done is talk."
"Yeah, until the moment they're done talking and take action," Harry argued. "They showed you their Marks."
"I know," Cepheus said in a flat tone. "They haven't bothered me for the past three weeks."
Harry said something he didn't think he'd ever say. "Look, we just have to keep our heads down and noses clean. Part of that means sticking together."
Cepheus' fingers rubbed against his forehead. "Why don't you come with me then? I need to get this project done. Sitting in the library isn't going to help me accomplish that," he snapped.
Harry sighed. "Sure, I'll come with you."
Harry packed up his Transfiguration things, because he wasn't going to let Cepheus wander off by himself for some silly Herbology project. He leaned over, pressing a kiss onto Ginny's cheek before he gave a small wave at Gemma and Niamh. Meanwhile, Niamh reached out a hand and grasped Cepheus'. She smiled brightly up at him and he offered her a tight smile.
Harry and Cepheus walked out of the library shoulder to shoulder. Cepheus walked with his head bowed and shoulders tight. The awkward silence dragged between them in a way it hadn't since they had first met at Beauxbatons.
"What is wrong with you today?" Harry asked, trying to keep the snappiness out of his voice but failing miserably.
"I'm tired," Cepheus replied, not looking at him. "You have no idea what it's like."
Harry paused in his stride, his hand reaching out and gripping Cepheus' arm. He tugged his arm back to force Cepheus to turn around and look at him.
"I don't know what it's like?" Harry echoed. "I lost my parents too, you know."
Cepheus' jaw feathered. "You lost your parents without ever knowing them! You don't know what it's like to lose a parent who actually loved you and you loved back!"
Harry's chest heaved. "You're being a complete and utter git right now," he said coolly. "Maybe you should take Sirius up on meeting with the Mind Healer. You obviously need it."
Cepheus let out a huff of air. "You think you're so perfect, don't you, Potter?"
Harry blinked, his jaw gutting to the side. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Cepheus didn't say anything. He wheeled around on his heels and stormed down the corridor. Harry was in half his mind to let him go off on his own. His fists clenched at his sides, his eyes glaring a hole into the back of Cepheus' head. Cepheus had obviously been holding a lot inside and now he had finally cracked. Harry would be the git if something happened to Cepheus because he was lashing out.
Squaring his shoulders, Harry jogged to catch up to Cepheus. He fell into step with Cepheus, keeping up with the brisk walking pace.
"You're right, I don't know what it's like to lose a parent that I actually knew," Harry said in a tight voice. "But you also know what it's like to lose a parent when you were too young to remember. I know Regulus wasn't the best–"
"Regulus was weak," Cepheus interrupted in a snapping tone. "I'm not weak like him. I'm sick of being compared to him."
"Who compares you to Regulus?" Harry asked, his brows knitting together.
Cepheus didn't answer. He picked up his speed and Harry had no choice but to as well. Harry had never seen Cepheus so agitated before. Normally, he was so positive and smiley. Harry had no idea what spurred the shift in mood.
Cepheus suddenly stopped outside of a classroom and wretched the door open. He reached over and pushed Harry inside. Harry stumbled into the dark room, hearing the door close behind them.
"Expelliarmus!" a new male voice cried.
Harry's wand flew from his back pocket. He grappled in the dark to try to snatch it midair and failed. His heart pounded, blood rushing in his ears. He squinted in the dark but couldn't see anyone. Footsteps sounded and arms wrapped around Harry.
Harry fought with everything he had. But the arms around him were big and beefy, reminding him of all the times he was little and Dudley held him back as Piers punched him in the stomach as a kid. His foot stomped blindly in the dark. If he could just connect with a foot, maybe the grip would loosen the vice grip around his arms that were pulled back tight to the point they ached.
The lights burst on in the room. Harry noticed it was Crabbe and Goyle who held him steady. Not that it was a surprise. He could have guessed that. In front of him stood Nott with a vial of a black substance. Cepheus stepped up next to him, a snarl curling his lip. His eyes snapped around the room, looking for Malfoy but he didn't see him. All of a sudden, Harry's stomach dropped as his head snapped back to Cepheus.
"What did you do to him?" Harry asked in a hushed whisper. "I swear, I'll kill you if you hurt him."
Cepheus stepped forward, his eyebrow arching up high towards his hairline. "It was easy, Potter," he spat out. "He's even dumber than the dog. Trust me, that's a hard task to manage."
Harry breaths came out in harsh huffs. He bent his knee, jutting it forward and kicking Cepheus – no, Malfoy in the knee. He let out a howl and fell down onto the floor. Just as Harry was about to kick back at Goyle, his legs snapped together and he couldn't move them. Nott rounded them. Harry followed his movement with his eyes until he could no longer see him.
Fingers wrapped in his hair, jerking his head back painfully. The vial of black liquid lingered in his line of vision. Harry pressed his lips together tightly, attempting to jerk his arms free. In that moment, Harry really wished he had mastered wandless magic. If he got out of this alive, that would be the first thing he would ask Mrs Robins to teach him.
"Open," Nott commanded.
Harry only glared at him. He wouldn't obey like some pet.
"Crabbe, plug his nose," Nott ordered.
Crabbe reached out a hand, pressing Harry's nostrils together. Harry held his breath, wondering how long he could actually last before he passed out. His eyes flickered around the room, trying to find anything that could help him.
He had been stupid. He knew Cepheus wasn't acting like himself. He should have been more cautious.
"I can wait all day, Potter," Nott told him in a bored tone.
Harry couldn't hold his breath for much longer. He tried to part his lips just enough to suck in some air when Nott took the opportunity to shove his fingers into Harry's mouth and forced it open. Before Harry could bite down on his fingers, the vial was shoved between his lips.
The tar-like liquid tasted rotten and rancid on his tongue as it gathered in his mouth. Harry gagged, his eyes watering instantly. Nott's hand pressed tightly against his mouth, not allowing him to spit it out. Harry's body quaked, the glob of liquid resting in the back of his throat. Crabbe's fingers eased from his nose, the air rushing back into his lungs.
"Swallow," Nott ordered.
Harry refused, his upper body squirming in the tight hold of Crabbe and Goyle. Nott pressed his fingers roughly against Harry's throat. Try as he may not to, Harry swallowed. Nott's hand eased off Harry's mouth as he harshly patted his face.
"Good boy," Nott said in a mocking tone. "The Dark Lord is waiting for you."
Harry's entire body instantly felt like a limp noodle. He could no longer move even a finger. Crabbe and Goyle let go of him. Harry crashed to the floor, his head banging against the stone. His eyelids grew heavy, slowly gliding shut as though a magnet forced them together. He could hear laughing and talking, unable to discern any of the words as they sounded as though they were at the other end of a long tunnel.
Then, there was just darkness.
Dun. Dun. Dun. Don't forget to drop a review! I'm so curious as to what you all are thinking is going to happen! I've been so excited to write this story arc. Your reviews motivate me to keep writing!
Special thanks to justalittleconfusing for editing for me last minute this week! You can thank enigmaticemperor for suggesting some foot massaging!