No copyright infringement intended. I make no profits from this writing. I'm just here trying to finish what I started before we hit the 20 year mark.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: physical violence, harsh language, mentions of sex, mentions of death
Without further delay, please enjoy the second part of the Cave Chat chapters of You Never Said This Would Be Easy
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The silence in the room was deafening. I broke it with a deep sigh and another wave of my hands, filling up everyone's glass for the third time this evening. I took a sip but didn't finish it. I swirled what was left in the glass as I resumed my staring match with the flames.
I was waiting to see who asked the first question. My bet was on Ron. If I was taking bets. Too bad I wasn't.
"You can't be serious, can you, Andi?"
"Afraid so, Ron." I answered before downing the rest of my glass. It refilled itself at my will and I began swirling the contents around again. It was a feeble distraction, but I'd take it.
"You're just going to—to—lie down and—" Ron began sputtering but it was too much for him to finish the thought.
So, I did it for him.
"Let him kill me? No, I won't. I'll die standing with my wand in my hand."
"And you're just okay with that?" He argued.
"No, I'm not okay with it, Ron, but I've accepted it. And you need to do the same. You all do, because there's nothing anyone can do to stop it."
I finally admitted defeat against the flames. Breaking my gaze to stare instead inside each set of eyes looking at me. "Drink if you understand."
I looked each man in the eye. Not moving on until they did as they were told and drank to their understanding. Once they all did, I drained my own glass. I waved my hand again and the glasses disappeared.
"Good because the Q portion of the evening is over. It's time for Sirius and I to leave, so let's move on to goodbyes."
Sirius' booming laughter cut across the tension of the room as he repeated his earlier statement. "You heard the lady, time to wrap it up."
Sirius leapt up from the couch and lifted Remus up beside him. He dragged his mate by the arm across the circle to Snape. They exchanged words I couldn't hear but I could see their expressions. At least Snape and Sirius, since Remus was blocked by the latter. Sirius looked a mix between nervous and determined. Snape was the familiar split of amusement and annoyance I was used to seeing directed at me.
They engaged in a staring contest before Snape scoffed and stomped to the opposite side of the cave . Sirius clapped Remus on the back and pushed him forward. The sound of his laughter drifted to me and I shivered. I might not understand why or when this soulbound between Sirius and I existed, but I understood how it makes me feel.
Stop staring at my arse and say goodbye to your mates, love. Sirius' laughter had a universally acknowledged pantydropping quality to it. But hearing it inside my mind? That was a game ender and he knew it.
Yes, I do know how I affect you but make no mistake, Little Feather, our games have just begun and I'm going to take my time claiming my victory.
"Well, bloody hell, Andibear." Fred cursed sharply, reminding me of the existence of a world outside of Sirius. I turned to look at him and refused to look away even when I saw the scandalous expression he wore.
"You know, I would be blushing, too, if someone was saying that to me. Maybe you were right about older men." Fred chuckled.
George bristled beside me, shifting so I could feel his leg tense as it brushed against me. I felt myself stiffen as I dared to look at him. He was also looking at Sirius, glaring daggers into his back.
"So, do you have anything to say to me?" I asked.
George continued to eyekill Sirius for a moment before his blue eyes quickly darted to mine and then back. "Not really."
"'Not really?' I repeated his answer. "I tell you I'm going to die and you don't have anything to say to me?"
"Not really, no." George shrugged.
"You're not even going to look at me?"
For a moment I didn't think he would. I didn't even think he was going to answer as the moment stretched on and he didn't so much as blink. When he finally did look at me, I wish he hadn't.
The blue in his eyes wasn't cool comfort like the lake behind the burrow. It was ice--cold enough to freeze the Atlantic Ocean solid.
"What's there to say? What's there to look at, for that matter?"
"Fuck you, George."
"Why don't you fuck Fred instead? Seal the soul bond the traditional way like you said?"
"Why don't you go fuck yourself?" I shot back.
"It would be more fun than fucking you again." George's shrug set me over the edge. I could have throttled him. I might have—I would have—if he didn't shoot up and stomp off in the other direction.
Fred cursed under his breath before he shot up and took a step toward George. He stepped back and turned to look at me, offering a long suffering, wary grin. "I'll go try and talk some sense into him. In the meantime, I apologize for taking all the better genes leaving him to be the ugly and idiotic twin."
It wasn't necessarily true but it got me to laugh and that was enough for the both of us. Fred patted my shoulder, caressing his hyena tenderly before he stalked after his twin.
I barely had time to catch my breath before Ron and Harry were approaching me with wary expressions of their own.
"Heya Harry, Ron." I offered them a small smile as I gestured to the now vacant spots on the couch.
"Hey Andi." They chorused as they took the offered seats beside me.
"So, I suppose there's no point in small talk is there? I'll get straight to the point, shall I?" I huffed when neither of them said anything more.
"That might be for the best." Harry gave me a nervous grin, admitting, "There's been a lot of information to absorb tonight."
"That's true." I conceded.
"And I feel like you might have some more to share?" Harry assumed.
"That's also true." I admitted. Then deciding I might as well tell the whole truth instead of letting it sit in the space between us. "But this is less about what I've been made to endure and more about what I must ask of you because of it."
"What do you mean, Andi? Ask us what?" Ron spoke for the first time since sitting.
"For you two, I have the heaviest burden to ask you to share." I answered.
The two looked up at me with wide eyes, confusion and fear and intrigue all wrapped in one. Deciding to have pity on them, I continued.
"I know it's a lot to ask, but I don't have another choice. Respectfully and respectively, you are the only two who can help George and Sirius get through…losing me." I finished as gently as I could while still being as honest as I could be.
"Andi, no. Stop it. You can't talk like that." Ron protested as the weight of my words sank in.
"No, Ronald. You listen to me." I said sternly, not continuing until he dared to catch my steadfast gaze. "You are a good friend, a good brother, and you are already becoming a good man. An excellent one, in time, with life's lessons. Let this be one of them.
"I am going to die before my eighteenth birthday. There is nothing to be done to change it, but it is nothing to fear or fight against. You are a light in the dark, Ron. I'm asking you to use it to help Fred guide George back from the darkness."
While Ron was stunned into silence, I turned my attention to Harry, who had been watching our exchange with growing morbid curiosity. "Harry, I know we haven't necessarily gotten that close over the years. It's a shame that seems to be another theme we share."
"What theme is that, Andi?" He asked.
"Only getting a few years with our loved ones at best." I said without restraint.
I didn't bother to hide the glance I shot over to where Sirius and Severus were having a heated conversation. If I didn't know better, I'd say it looked like a lover's quarrel.
You wish. Sirius' laughter teased in my mind. But it's rather interesting how I detect intrigue instead of disgust. Has a certain potions master caught your attention, love?
No! I protested. I didn't see Snape like that, but I couldn't deny my reaction.
So, it's not about Snape per say...why my little feather, is it the image of me with another man that's got you blushing such a lovely shade of pink?
It was with my next breath--choked and startled as it was--that I knew Sirius Black would be the death of me. Because it was in that moment Sirius Black sent another rush of images into my mind. They all had one thing in common--Sirius Black, naked and writhing with other naked men.
The resulting rush of heat to to my face was enough to cause one on Harry's face. My attention was brought to it as he began to stutter. "Can you hear him in your mind?"
"Yes." I answered and I heard a few snorts of laughter echo around my mind.
"Is it special because you're soulmates?" Harry inferred.
"Yes and no." I said, unable to hold myself back from adding, "Yes, it's because of the soul bond. But I have four other voices in my head so I'm not sure if you could call it special."
"Sounds overwhelming." Harry concluded.
"It is. But it's better than the loneliness of before."
"Suppose we get used to it." Harry shrugged, releasing some of the heaviness that had gathered on his shoulders.
"Suppose I can't argue that, but I wish it wasn't so. I know you've got enough to deal with already." I agreed, flashes of the trials he's endured already, glimpses of the ones coming in the near future.
"You knew about the egg." Harry pointed out, amusing me with the mental process of him working it out practically illuminated over his head. I wondered if this is what Snape felt like as his professor.
"I did." I finally conceded after it became clear Harry was waiting for an answer.
"What else do you know?" Harry pressed.
"A lot of things.' I laughed darkly. Confusing the pair but not caring. "But as far as I can tell you? It will either be Dobby or Neville who helps you get what you need to succeed in the second task. It will be a last minute gift given to you. Either one will work, but depending on who gives you what–will change certain events in the future."
Ron opened his mouth, surely ready to ask a string of questions now he had regained focus but I had to cut him off. "I'm sorry but I can't answer anything else about the Triwizard Tournament. All I can say is that despite many close calls, Harry will remain part of the living."
"What else can you tell us? How can you be Sirius' soulmate ?" Harry changed the subject, skeptical and sly as the Slytherin he could have been. Another shared theme.
"I can tell you that time is a concept I am no longer bound to working within. " I smirked at their confusion. "So, therefore neither is age. If that's what you're getting at."
"We'll, sure, there's that but—"
"But what, Harry?"
"But you guys don't even know each other!"
"That's true. This is the longest we've ever spent in the same room." I acknowledged.
"So?" Harry encouraged me when I didn't say anything else.
"So what, Harry?" I prompted back.
"So how can you be okay with this?"
I wasn't expecting that question. So I took a moment and thought about it before I answered him as honestly as I could.
"Have you ever been in love, Harry?"
"What?" Harry sputtered, blush rising again.
"Have you ever been in love?" I repeated.
"I—uh—n-no." Harry answered, blush darkening with every word.
"Well, then. Let me tell you a few things about love. Consider it my parting gift to you." I kept my tone light, but I knew by the way Harry frowned at me I didn't succeed.
"First thing, love isn't something you can control. It's also not something you can force to come or go—from your own heart or others." I refused to let my eyes drift from Harry's. I couldn't be sidetracked by the past or the future. This moment in the present was important.
"Second, falling in love is chaotic and nonsensical. Because of that, no two loves can be the same. Which leads us to the last point of this lesson, lads!" I say with a dramatic clap of my hands. I bolster on to their unimpressed expression.
"There's many different kinds of love and they all can be the powerful form of magic in their own right."
"What about George?" Ron cut in suddenly, the sharp tone putting me on edge.
"What about him, Ron?"
"Did you just stop loving him?" He shot back.
"No."
"No?" He repeated, clearly displeased by the taste of it on his tongue.
"No, Ron." I say with a sigh. "A bonus lesson. Once you truly love someone, you never stop."
"Then how can you—"
"Your brother has already moved on, Ronald." Was all I was going to say until Ron's dismissive scoff. So I raised my voice louder and went in for the kill. "Go ahead and ask Alicia if you don't believe me. I'm sure she'll be glad to tell you all about it. And until you know all the facts, don't question how I feel or how I handle those feelings."
I might have gone too far based on the shame working on their faces after the shock of the verbal slap settled. To soften the blow I add, "Besides the fact that I technically dropped out of Hogwarts and can't return making a relationship difficult at best, it's better for George and I to be apart right now for other reasons."
"Such as?" Ron pressed stubbornly forward.
"Besides for his safety?" I shot back before deflating. "Because I can't look at him the same right now. I forgave him instantly, but it's still too soon to forget."
"And what about Sirius?" Harry interjected.
"What about him, Harry?" I ground out, unable to reign in my waning patience.
"Being with Sirius doesn't put him in danger?" Harry countered.
"No, actually. Sirius and I sticking together keeps both of us safer, let alone saner."
"But won't losing you drive him mad?" Harry worried, glancing over to his godfather. I followed his gaze to see him engaged in an intense conversation with the twins now.
"It could, but I'm hoping with people there–you there–to help, it won't be as bad for him." I confessed.
"Isn't it better not to take the risk with someone else's emotions? Shouldn't you let him go like George?" Harry said. I could tell he was not intending to be unkind, but his words stung.
"You're right. It would be better." I agreed, shocking them just as much as I'm sure my sudden tears did. "And if I was a better person, that's what I would do, but I'm not. I'm not a good person."
The salty smell of my tears soon became overpowered with the phantom smell of fire—of Elliot's sizzling flesh.
"That's not what I was trying to say " Harry tried uselessly to explain himself. When that failed, he apologized. "I wasn't trying to say you were a bad person. I'm just confused. This is a lot out of nowhere."
"I know, but it's true. On all accounts." I sniffled, summoning a handkerchief to clean my face before I elaborated. Even after taking a minute to collect myself, it was hard to keep the sarcasm and self-righteousness out of my explanation.
"If you think this is a lot, imagine how I feel. I know you understand, better than anyone, Harry. That's why I'm telling you this." I took a deep breath before pushing on, speaking as cryptically as I needed to be allowed to say what I wanted.
"Death is an understanding date, but they won't be stood up more than three times and we just rescheduled our fourth meeting. I know I have less than six months left.
"If I'm being honest, it's hard not to be selfish. Denying myself is also denying Sirius. I am only just beginning to understand what this means myself, but I think it might be best to let Sirius explain it to you. All I'm asking is for you to be there for him when I cannot be." I finished on a slightly harsher note than intended but I didn't care.
The knowledge of impending death had an uncanny way of allowing one to speak openly, it would seem.
Either way, it seemed to do the trick.
"We can do that." Ron was first to say, breaking the tension.
He clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder and offered the other to me. I accepted it with a grin, shocking him when I pulled him into a tight hug.
After stumbling into my grip, Ron leaned into the embrace. He all but melted into my arms after a moment of hesitation. He was leaner and taller than the last time I hugged him but warm as ever. Hugging him felt like coming home in a way.
I felt the wetness of his tears soak through the lace on my shoulder where his face was buried and then I heard his quiet sobbing. I wrapped my arms tighter around him, pulling him closer to me as my hands rubbed wide circles on his back. It seemed to do the trick because after a few minutes he stopped crying.
He pulled back enough so his whisper was a rasp of warm air against my neck. "I'm going to miss you so much, Andi. What are we going to do without you?"
I squeezed him right, shifting so I could whisper back. "You're not going to have time to miss me. I'm going to be back before you know it. Bet your freckles on that, Ronald. And you know how I adore your freckles." I snuck a cheek pinch in for good measure, startling us both into fit of much needed laughter. Still, Ron did not let go.
I squeezed him again and he sighed, squeezing me tighter than ever before he pulled back. "Right. Enough of that. Until we meet again." He said stiffly, staring at me for a long moment before he started to laugh.
"Sod it all." Ron cursed as he placed his hands on each side of my face.
I tilted my head in confusion but I didn't get an answer. Instead, I got an experience.
I only had time to blink before he was drawing me in for a kiss. It was not forceful or demanding, but it wasn't gentle either. It was a once in a lifetime, now or nothing, goodbye kiss. And it was a hell of a good one. But just as quickly as it started, it ended.
I considered punching him in the mouth for kissing me without my permission, but I wasn't actually angry and I suppose fair was fair. I settled on a light slap to his shoulder in compromise. "A little warning next time, Weasley. Let a girl prepare herself."
We both looked at each other for a good moment until the sound of Harry's empty glass slipping from his grip to shatter on the floor broke the tension. We looked at his slackjaw mortification and instantly started laughing, full belly laughs that had us gripping each other for support to keep upright.
"Oi! What the bloody fuck was that?" George shouted. One look at his face had both of us sobered. He didn't seem to think the situation was anywhere near as funny as Ron as I did. I suppose I could see it from his perspective, but…
Ron chose to answer his brother before I could. "A goodbye kiss. To a love that never was and never will be."
"Okay, Shakespeare, enough from you." George snarked, pointing a finger in Ron's direction before his attention turned to me.
His finger dropped and his arms crossed against his chest in a clear defensive position despite the aggression in his tone. "I'd rather hear from Andi anyway."
"Be careful how you speak to her or you'll regret it." Ron said back, shaking his head as he turned to leave with Harry. "Let's go say goodbye to Sirius, mate."
"I'll be there for him." Harry blurted out. Offering me a weak smile when I simply raised an eyebrow at his outburst. "I'll be there for Sirius. I'll help Ron with what you asked, too."
"Thank you, Harry. I appreciate that." I smiled at his offered hand. I took it, but like Ron, I pulled him into a hug instead.
The moment Harry settled into the hug, I whispered just loud enough for him to hear. "Try and be there for Draco, too, when he asks–and he will ask. It might take a few tries for you two to get on the same page but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the man he'll grow to be by the time I'll see you again."
Harry pulled back, bewildered as I imagined he would be. To his credit he simply offered me a nod and his promise to try.
"That's all I can ask, Harry. Until then, take care and remember I'm just a crow's call away." I said in farewell before finally turning my attention back to an aggravated George. Only he was not alone. Fred and Sirius were standing next to him, both looking highly amused by George's agitation.
"I'll give you a moment, but we really should be leaving within the hour, love." Sirius said as he brushed by me on his way to collect Harry and Ron.
I shook my head at Sirius but didn't push him away. As I said to Harry, it was hard not to be selfish. It was hard not to give into the temptation of that building heat. The ice in George's eyes seemed to quell the fire quite expertly, even as it melted when he finally stopped glaring at Sirius' back to look at me.
"Drella…"George whispered my name like Ron did, like I was already a ghost.
"Knock it off, Georgie. Andi deserves your honesty not your mourning." Fred chided his twin with a whack to his arm as he moved to stand next to me instead of George. "You've got some groveling to do so get on with it."
George bristled at Fred's betrayal, grumbling, "Don't you have apologies of your own to make?"
"No. He doesn't. Not anymore." I growled back, my arms flexing to show off the hyena peeking over my shoulder with distaste that mirrored its inspiration.
"What she said." Fred affirmed, bare chest puffing with pride at the dragon that flew lazily from pec to pec as it surveyed its surroundings with a constant vigilance that would make professor Moody proud.
"Is this how it's going to be now that you're—you know?" George grumbled some more, waving his hand at us instead of speaking the words.
"Now that we're what, George?" I demanded him, not carrying how petty I was being. I waited all but a minute for him to respond before I plowed on. "Now that Fred and I are bonded? Are you jealous? Because you're acting like you're jealous."
George opened his mouth to say something before he cringed back, as if my words finally registered, finally cut in. He physically recoiled, stiffening from his knees to his spine to his gaze, to his tight lipped expression.
Fred tensed at my side but remained a steady warmth there, a steady grounding presence as I broke the growing silence on our end of the cave.
"If you have something to say to me, now is your chance to say it." I said it calmly, even if I felt anything but.
George's eyes widened at the challenge before his face returned to his mask of boredom, as if I couldn't tell how hard it was for him to maintain it. As if I didn't know how much control it took to make his expression so even and dismissive in a way that every Purebloodist Slytherin could, in the way that he claimed to hate so much. As if I couldn't hear the strain in his effort to keep his voice lofty and disinterested as he raised a single eyebrow with the same judgment that broke me when I first saw it directed at me in the Fortress.
"Seems like you're bonding with anyone and everyone these days, why would something so common, so easily given be of value to any one? You said it yourself, it's not exactly special anymore, is it?"
My reaction was instinctual and immediate. As was Fred's. Leaving for a rather comic display for anyone who was watching in the cave. As my hand raised on its own to smack George's left check, Fred's fist rose to hit him with a mean right hook.
Each of our hands collided, meeting in the center of George's face. My smack landed first, pushing his cheek further into Fred's fist. He dropped to the floor, groaning and clutching his face as we both kicked out a foot to push him from us.
"Disgusting." Fred and I said at once, shaking our heads at the sight of George crumpled before us—because of us. We shared a look, a nod, a silent vow to each other before we turned and walked away from him in unison before anyone else could react.
"Bloody hell guys!" Ron cursed as he approached.
"He deserved it." Fred said with a hard look at his younger brother to drop it.
I flinched at his tone and Fred wrapped an arm around me until his hand came to rest upon the imagine of the hyena. I felt warmer than normal at the touch, the bond still so fresh. I felt safer now, in Fred's arm, knowing there could never be danger for me when I was there.
I didn't dare speak. Didn't dare look at anyone. I was so close to breaking all evening…but those words…those words spoken after all I confessed tonight…the weight of what was to come…those words spoken to hurt me. But they did more than they aspired to achieve.
They broke me.
But I didn't want anyone to see me cry. Not anymore. Not over him. Not if that's how he was going to act. For all he knew, this was the last time he'd see me…and even still knowing all he knew now…he chose to hurt me. To cut me with his words, his tone, his cruelty.
I looked at the floor and I was not surprised at the sight of a third pair of boots appearing next to Fred's and mine. Even if I had my eyes closed it wouldn't have mattered, I would know who was there. I could feel him, I could smell him—motor oil, fire whiskey, and smoke.
I felt Fred grip on my shoulder tighten, his other arm lifting to embrace me fully. I dared a glance at his face when it turned into a death grip. His teeth were bared, every ounce as vicious as the artistic representation branded into my skin with his magic. His eyes burned with ferocity, shining with the tears leaking down his cheeks freely. They did nothing but add to the menacing way he glared at Sirius.
I squeezed him back as reassuring as I could, trying to soothe the snarling beast Fred had become. It seemed to work after a moment, as his grip on me loosened ever so slightly.
"You better take care of her." Fred snapped at Sirius. Glaring at the Gryffindor pranking master he respected beyond all others with the same ferocity he gave to the likes of Flint and Montague.
"With my life." Sirius vowed solemnly, sincerely.
"She is my soul family. If anything happens to her—" Fred threatened.
"If anything happens to her, you'll be the last of my concerns." Sirius answered honestly, yet evasively.
It was enough for Fred who gave him a swift nod before he returned his full attention to me. He moved us a few feet away, into the little crook of the wall. It didn't offer any privacy, just a bit of space. It was more of a display to Sirius, to anyone who was watching that Fred was not going to let anyone disturb us—disturb me.
The look in his eyes was scorching, fiercely loyal and begrudgingly resigned. Through the bond I felt everything, every emotion. It only intensified when Fred pulled my hand to lay flat against the dragon on his chest, his own hand laying over the hyena on my shoulder.
"Best mates forever, Andibear." Fred swore.
"Best mates forever, Freddiekins." I returned the vow with a smile, leaning in for a hug.
Fred, however, was leaning in for something else.
It was the second time that night, I was surprised to be kissed by a Weasley that wasn't George. I laughed into the kiss, and I couldn't think of a reaction more fitting than Fred laughing back.
What are you doing, Freddiekins?
Making sure George knows how spectacularly he just fucked up. Now let's make a show of it, yeah?
He gripped me tight and dipped me low, his tongue sneaking past my lips as his arm snaked around my waist. I let him and I let myself enjoy the kiss for what it was. A little bit of fun, poking the grumpy coyote, another goodbye to a love that never was and could never be.
If Ron was a good kisser—and he was— Fred was a master. Fred's future wife was a lucky woman. I'd make sure to give a glowing endorsement when I meet her.
It must be something in the Weasley blood. I heard Fred's leering reply, his voice speaking in my mind as his lips were still busy moving on mine.
Not that I'm not enjoying this… I prompted him, while at the same time biting his lip hard enough to make him whine at the sensation.
Oh, I know you are enjoying it and I am enjoying it… Fred purred mischievously, his hand coming to rest on my hip. But I bet my sweet arse we're the only ones.
Don't you mean my sweet arse? I teased him.
Is that an invitation? Fred leveled, his fingers tapping in time with his words.
Depends on if you're willing to take a punch for it. I snickered back, nipping at his lip in a playful show of consent.
Better make it count then. Fred's vow was serious and the change in his approach was instant. One second his touch was a light, teasing, hesitant even…and in the next it was ravenous.
One hand moved to my side, the other gripped my arse as he pushed me back against the wall. Fred swallowed the startled gasp that left my lips as a result. The hand on my side slipped lower and back, squeezing my other cheek before it dipped lower and pulled my leg up.
Don't you think we're pushing too far? I whined, already lifting my leg to where he wanted it—positioned around his hip.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity as far as I'm concerned, Andibear. Fred's purring of my nickname sent a shiver down my spine as I let myself consider him for the first time ever, now that it was truly safe to do so. I'm going to make sure you never forget me, Andrella.
He broke the kiss at that moment to look at me. Whatever he saw there had him nodding before descending down again, this time moving to kiss my neck. Licking, lapping, nipping, biting once before his lips were on mine again. I felt lost to the shock as much as the sensations. Very much willing, but completely dazed.
A shift in position had the evidence of his genuine arousal pressed against me. I squealed at the feel of it, the sound of it lost in our kiss. Feverish and all consuming, a prank gone too far; prank playing itself back the pranksters.
I felt the air shift as George lunged into the air before I heard his primal yell as he dove at Fred. I paused him midair, the swish of his stopped momentum ruffling Fred's hair between my threaded fingers. It was frosty with the chill of George's perceived betrayal, that when it hit us we both shivered in our heated embrace.
I guess we should stop now, then? Fred sighed in disappointment, his movements already slowing down.
I won't hold it against you… I pressed my hips up into his momentarily grinding down, laughing at my own pun, if in your dreams we don't stop.
Will you join me? Fred's movements stilled completely as he groaned.
Who knows? Your birthday is in a month and maybe if you're a really good boy. I sassed back, digging my heel into his arse before sliding my leg down until both of my feet swung, unable to reach the floor in the position he held me.
You're a dangerous woman, indeed. Fred grumbled, squeezing my arse twice, extra hard before he let me down.
You wouldn't have it any other way. I snickered, as our kiss cooled down to pecking.
You tell Neviah she has me to thank when she wins the bet and that I want a cut of the prize pot. Fred said as he smacked my arse hard enough to make me help and finally pulled away. Then ducking down for good measure, he kissed me one last time, hard and passionate and quick enough to daze me.
In a second it was over. Fred was laughing, shaking his head and hauling me to my feet before I even knew it was. Fred was dusting me off when Sirius approached us.
In my nervousness, I couldn't dare look at him. Maybe George was right…
Stop that! Twin growls sounded in my mind, surprising all three of us. I looked at Fred first, who was looking at Sirius, so I finally dared to glance at him to find him looking at me. Sirius' smile was teasing, but gentle.
So was his voice when he asked, "Sorry to interrupt, love, but we really should get going. Do you think you can be ready to leave in a quarter hour?"
I nodded at him, returned his smile before I couldn't stand to look at him any longer. Not with the chill of George's glare still sending ice daggers at Sirius…at Fred…at me.
I squeezed Fred's hand and dragged him to stand before his frozen twin. Fred's expression was just as hard as his brothers but made of blue flame. It was clear he felt disgust when he looked at his brother with folded arms and a pinched mouth.
I didn't know what I felt when I looked at George.
So I looked to Fred, instead. "Do you think it's worth hearing what he has to say?"
"I think he's more likely to dig himself a bigger hole, but it might be amusing." Fred shrugged.
I turned back to George and sniffed. "You've got two minutes. Speak." I waved my hand and his face unfroze. He gasped for air in a dramatic and unnecessary way that made Fred and I both roll our eyes at him.
"A minute fifty seconds." Reminded Fred.
"Look, I'm sorry but how do you think it makes me feel seeing you let Ron kiss you! Again!" George huffed in self righteousness.
I raised an eyebrow in distaste so effectively I knew Snape would be beaming for pride if he could see it where everyone else was gathered at the other side to give us the illusion of privacy.
"A minute and a half." Fred droned, as disinterested as I was in George's excuses. A fact that pissed off George.
"And then! The both of you! Kissing like that! Knowing how I feel! What sort of game are you playing?" George lamented, so earnestly I flinched at the sound of his pain, despite it being my intention to make him jealous.
"I'm not playing any games!" I lashed out. "I'm not doing anything but making sure you know damn well that I'm done trying to convince you that I love you—even after you left me. I'm done loving you!"
I let my magical hold on him go, letting him crash loudly to the floor with a painful swear. I turned my back on everyone shaking in an effort to control myself, to calm the dragon's blood.
"Just like that?" George whispered, his question incomprehensible to me in his cruel, cool voice.
I didn't turn to look at him but I asked, "What?"
"You could stop loving me just like that?" George clarified, his chuckle cold and cutting. "I guess the prophecy was wrong about us, if you could give up and move on just like that. I guess our love isn't as pure as Merlin thought."
My body stilled, as a cool calmness of my own washed over me at his words. Fred's hand slipped from my shoulder as I turned to face George. He hadn't bothered to get up from the ground, and I looked down at him and sneered, "I guess not."
"Spoken like a true Malfoy." George taunted, pushing all the right buttons.
I smiled at him, but it was all teeth. My voice was as sweet as poison as I promised him, "You will regret those being your last words spoken to me before I die."
"Oh, well. No loss of mine." George's voice was flippant as he shrugged me off—shrugged off my death.
I held a hand up to stop his protest, to take his voice. I bottled it like I had before, this time handing it to Fred himself. All the while I never broke my gaze with George, my magic keeping his eyes locked to mine.
"I was going to erase your memory of this. I was going to spare you the knowledge of knowing I will spend my last days away from you. But for those words, I will spare you nothing." I vowed, unflinching in my gaze even as I was whirling to contain myself.
But still, I searched for any sign that ice was melting. I still didn't want to believe George and I would part like this, no longer lovers, no longer friends, not even feuding, just nothing…
I wish you were sorted into Slytherin like you were supposed to be, so our friendship would have ended before it could begin. George's voice was a vicious purr in my mind. Better yet, I wish we never met.
I took one shaky breath before I smiled at him, really smiled at him—letting that be his last memory of me. "We'll see if you feel the same at my funeral. Goodbye, George."
I didn't let him reply, I simply pulled Fred with me as I walked away from him to where everyone else was gathered to say their goodbyes. I squeezed Fred's hand as we approached the group and he sent a wave of silent and steady strength through the bond.
As it would prove, I had no need to be nervous with Sirius now allowed to be there for me. "Precisely on time, love," he said, offering me his hand. "Shall we?"
Fred squeezed me to his side in a half hug before he lightly pushed me to Sirius. When I looked back at him he had a lazy grin on his face as he shooed me away. "Remember to tell Neviah about my cut."
"Arsehole." I laughed, swatting at his shooing hand as the other rescued blindly for the one Sirius held out for me.
As I knew he would, Sirius took my hand and pulled me into his own side for just long enough to breathe me in before he deposited me in front of Severus with a good natured chuckle. "Say goodbye to your uncle and let's go."
"Hey there, Uncle Severus Professor Sir." I said in greeting, including a mock salute.
The derisive scoff he responded with was enough to make me smile. "I'll see you soon?"
"I expect you'll check in with me nightly to ensure my peace of mind that it isn't a horrible mistake letting you run away again…worse yet with that…buffoon." Snape settled on possibly one of the least scathing insults I heard hurled from him.
"Going soft in your old age, Uncle Sev?" I teased.
"Watch it, Wendling." Snape warned out of habit rather than annoyance, causing us both to laugh.
"You haven't been forgetting to write in your dream journal have you?" He asked suspiciously.
"Nope! I've been writing!" I added with a private chuckle of my own. Whether he could decipher my drunken babble was really his problem, wasn't it?
"I'll send more sober up potion with Dobby." Snape said in a disgusted tone that didn't betray the care of the action.
I felt the weight of the potion in my cloak pocket and reached for it, handing it over to Snape. "Will you make sure that Renae gets this? Romona helped me make it. It should help."
"It will be done upon my return to the castle." Snape vowed, taking the vial and tucking it gently into the cushioned pockets of his own cloak.
"Send my regards to Minerva." I grinned pleasantly as I thought of my own head of house. That grin turned feral as I thought of my old headmaster. "Dumbledore, as well."
The smirk on Snape's face was dripping with pride. "It would be my pleasure."
"Right then, I'll let you know when we've landed safely. Take care." I said with a nervous laugh.
"Take care of yourself, Andrella." Snape graced me with the small smile I knew was his real one.
I reacted without care to how the action would be perceived. I threw my arms around his shoulders and grew Severus into a tight embrace. He stiffened immediately, just as he had at the Hospital Wing. He recovered quicker this time, hugging back for a moment before he was patting my back, pulling my shoulder back so he could look at me.
"Do not be so dramatic, you know it is not our time to say goodbye just yet." He squeezed my shoulder once before he stepped out of my embrace. "As I said, no niece of mine is leaving this earth as a dropout delinquent."
"Goodbye, Sev." I emphasized the name we both knew he didn't really hate me using. He liked hearing it as much as I liked being the only one alive allowed to use it—however begrudgingly.
"Goodbye, Harry, Ron." I nodded at them swiftly, unable to do another drawn out goodbye. I smiled at Remus, "See you soon, Professor."
"Just Remus will be fine, Andrella." Remus corrected me gently, smirking as he inclined his head towards his best mate. "The full moon is in two weeks so if this one gets fresh with you, let me know by then so I can sort him out."
"I told you, Moony." Sirius responded with laughter that caressed like silk down my spine. "When I get fresh, it will be because she's begging me to."
Remus ignored the taunt and addressed me with a resounding promise of joy should I do so, "I am just a letter away. For the honor of defending yours against this scoundrel, I will travel any lengths."
"Thank you, Remus." I couldn't keep the amusement from my voice as I replied in a bubbly chuckle. "I'll keep that in mind."
I looked at Fred and his easy grin. Go. Have fun. We'll be in touch. He tapped the side of his head.
I rolled my eyes at him one last time for old times sake before I purposely let that eye roll end on George. He was still sitting on the floor, his elbows resting on his raised knees and his palms digging into his chin as he pouted. Whether at the touching exchange of goodbyes he wasn't included in…or because he still couldn't talk. I couldn't tell.
Don't flatter yourself. I don't like being made into the little mermaid. George sulked in my mind.
Shut up, Ariel. I grumbled, trying one last time, for my own peace of mind as much of his. That's really what you want the last thing you say to me to be?
You don't like that? George snorted. How about, Good Riddance? How about, take your senior citizen shag and sod off, Sea Hag? Take your siren song and your soul-sucking night visions and get the fuck out of my head, you succubus siren slag!
His face revealed nothing of the way his voice snarled viciously in my mind, tearing down the last hope I had for us. His mask of ice and cool aloofness was unshakable even as he wailed and cursed and raged against the bond that still remained between us. It was faint, growing fainter by the moment, but it was still there.
I wish it wasn't. George admitted in a harsh whisper. I wish it never was.
I watched in horror as tears poured down his eyes, as blood poured down his palms from where his fingernails dug in. I couldn't stand to look at him like this; I couldn't stand to look away.
You really wish that? I asked calmly instead. I forced myself to look George in the eye as he answered me, no matter what I saw there. No matter what he said.
Yes.
The ice in his eyes glinted, resolute.
I nodded, once, agreeing before I dared breathe. He nodded back before I could inhale fully, expelling all air from my lungs, all the fire in my fight. I nodded again.
I can't take away the bond, George. Only Merlin can do that. I admitted my limitation freely, knowing my alternative would be just as permanent. The bond will remain but I can silence it. I can make it so we can't speak to each other anymore, hear each other anymore.
What about feel each other? See each other? George pointed out.
I can make it so you couldn't feel the bond if we were standing this close ever again while both of us lived, which we won't. I said sharply.
Good. George nodded.
It infuriated me. It made me press on out of spite. I can make it so you will forget my face. You won't even be able to see it in pictures. Even in your dreams, I will become nothing more than a blur in your peripheral you can never make out.
Great. George bit back.
Fine. I said and I meant it, surprising us both.
Fine. George agreed.
Goodbye, George.
Good Riddance, Andrella.
Andrella. Not Drella.
The distinction snapped my words into bond. Literally into the bond as it took effect. I felt it close down, retreat into itself, disappear entirely until I could no longer feel it, no longer sense it in any way.
I didn't say another word to George, just raised my chin and turned to look to Sirius. Sirius was bowing out of Remus' embrace at the sight of my smile, his own questioning one growing to its usual blinding radiance by the time he was at my side.
"Ready for our adventure to begin, love?" Sirius asked with an outstretched hand and lightness that didn't convey any of the deeper implications of said adventure.
"Couldn't be more ready." I tossed a filthy look over my shoulder at George.
"To new love and new adventures in the new world." Sirius vowed, too serious than was natural despite his name. He even took my hand and bowed down to kiss it, just as he first did in introducion so many hours ago.
"Let the fun and games begin!" I exclaimed, unironically for the first time in a very long time. Despite the fact my nervous laughter might read contrary—I was ready for this.
Sirius straightened and pulled me to him in one fluid moment. I was tucked into his side before I could blink and he was purring in my ear, "I know a game we could play that I know you'd find extremely fun."
"Stop it!" I hissed, mortified…but not enough to pull away from Sirius.
"Save it for the bedroom. Some of us really don't need to see or hear that." Fred chastised, shooting me a wink. I scowled at him and shot him one in return.
"Goodbye, Andibear." Fred laughed and then immediately began to whistle through his maniacal grin. It was the tune he was humming before. The one I still couldn't name.
"Goodbye, arsehole."
"You'll regret that when I'm dead." Fred used my own phrase of the evening against me.
"No, I won't." I snorted. "It's a matter of fact I'll die before you."
"That's a low blow, Andibear." Fred said quietly so quietly that if I wasn't looking at him I wouldn't have been able to understand him.
I wondered for the first time just how much he really saw, how much he really felt, and just how much he understood as everything flashed through our bond.
"Enough to know you won't be gone long, just long enough for me to miss you." Fred answered honestly and I knew all I needed to know.
"Oh, Freddiekins." I gushed, moving to pull Fred into a hug tight enough it reached our souls. "I'll miss you, too. I already do."
"Go be happy, Andi. You deserve to experience it all; Fill every second with laughter." Fred said, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead before he pushed me back into Sirius' waiting arms as my body began to shake with tears. I fought so hard to hold back but couldn't anymore. I handed Fred the vial with George's voice before my shaking hands could drop it.
"That's our cue." Sirius addressed the crowd, pulling me into his arms, putting my back to them so I wouldn't have to look at their faces.
Because he knew I couldn't look anyone in the eye. Not that the weight of it being goodbye was setting in, what that truly meant for me.
"How will you get where you need to go if she can't take you?" Snape said logically, if not unkindly.
"I've been there before." Sirius admitted for the first time. If I had the energy I would be curious and suspicious even. Instead I just gripped the fraying fabric of his jumper and sobbed harder. "I will get us there safely. I can even open the wards myself."
"If she cannot write the note to let me know she is safe, I expect you to do it yourself." Snape ordered, no one missing how his concern did not extend to Sirius.
Sirius didn't rise to the bait. "Of course, Snape. You don't have to worry about her with me."
"Very well, Black. That better be the case." Snape said stiffly but a hesitant trust forming that would have normally made me smile.
It made the breath in my lungs start to stab me instead. It made me grasp at Sirius desperately in a need to get away, to get back to my bubble where it was safe.
"See you later, Moony. Harry. Ron. Fred. Snivellus." Sirius said his goodbyes, the heat not in addressing Severus by his schoolyard nickname but by not addressing George at all.
"Hold on tight, little feather." Sirius whispered into my hair, squeezing me tighter as if to demonstrate. "Bear with me—it's been a long time since I've done more than solo anything."
I couldn't contain my snort of laughter at his dirty joke, even as it literally choked me with snot. I waved my hand and they vanished along with the tears.
I looked him in the eyes as I said, "Take me home."
Sirius' expression was intense in its openness. I couldn't look at him once his lips started to twitch into his most beautiful smile—the rare one, the real one. So I buried my face into his chest and breathed his scent greedily. My closed eyes made my sense of smell stronger and soon that signature blend of fire whiskey, motor oil, and smoke was strong enough to block out everything else.
"Her wish is my command. So, ta, now." Sirius said out loud to our goodbye party as way of a goodbye.
Let's go home, my love. Sirius's voice was the gentle calm it always was in my mind. I snuggled in tighter and hooked my hands around his ribs tightly as he did the same around my waist.
Home. I thought warmly of the bubble under the sea, helping him with the long journey to our safe space away from the rest of the world.
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Ello lovely readers!
2 updates in 1 week just like I promised! Would you look at that? What can I say? I'm pretty damn excited to get to Andrella's adventures with Sirius. Hopefully y'all are excited, too!
And to my George girlies, don't worry and don't discount our man. If you're confused by anyone's behavior in the cave, all will be explained in the next chapter.
We're going to have some fun with some POV switch ups. And we might even get to see if Neviah or Romana wins the bet. And maybe even answer the question of how the hell Fred knew about it.
As always comments and critiques of any kind are immensely appreciated. In fact, y'all can thank missfites for their comment for me keeping my promise and getting the second part of this out as quick as I did.
Cannot express how happy and humbled I am to write this story for as long as y'all want to read it.
Ex's & Oh's
Audrey V. Sullivan