The Other One | Sirius Black

Chapter 50 - Bewitched

Joanna stood in front of the mirror, her eyes transfixed on the animated sketch of a boat magically taped on the wall. Everything had been relatively quiet the last few weeks. She was awaiting the moment her waters would stop being so still and begin to rock the vessel once more. She was cautious of enjoying the smooth sailing too much. Because she knew at some point they would have to face a thunderstorm, the uncertainty of who would swim and who would sink was slowly gnawing at her like a rotting piece of wood.

Her stare darted to the raised skin on her neck. This time, she decided to play with the necklace Sirius gave her for their anniversary. It was certainly better than tracing the scars.

Her fingers looped around the small topaz star.

"This is going to sound corny but it's so you always have a piece of me with you," she could still hear him whisper with a slight red in his cheeks.

Jo let out a breath and splashed some water on her face, not caring if it dripped down her hands and into her wool sleeves. She decided to press the mental reset button before exiting the washroom, changing her dull gaze with a more lively smile.

"I'm telling you that bloke is crazy but he finally captured that Swedish fish," Sirius explained to a giggling Remus and confused Peter in the living room.

"I can't believe you just called Igor Karkaroff a children's sweet," Remus joked.

Peter voiced while knitting his brows, "Wait, why would Moody want candy?"

Jo couldn't help but join in on Remus' amusement and sat on the armrest next to the bewildered boy while Sirius huffed, "It's not literal, you dimwit. The Swedish fish is Karkaroff. Good Godric, are you dense, Wormtail..."

Jo placed her arm around his sunken shoulders, "That was a bit rude, Sirius."

"Not as rude as only half-paying attention to our conversation," Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Anyway..." Remus interjected, "Are we ready to leave now?"

They all quickly gulped down the unpleasant, viscous brew trying not to voice their disgust aloud from behind the wooden crates. A shipment of dark materials was being brought in that night from somewhere up northern Europe and the quartet was tasked to dispose of the magical items with the help of some Polyjuice Potion.

"Never get used to this stuff, do you?" Sirius blurted out, immediately followed by Jo and Remus placing their hands over his new set of thin, gray lips. Jo quickly retracted her unrecognizable bony, white hand after she felt her palm moisten.

Before she could whine about her boyfriend, she heard Remus caution, "Don't say anything out of line, alright?" He suddenly walked out and headed for the dock.

The rapid beating of her heart and the heavy feeling in her stomach had become familiar to Joanna after some time in the Order. The twisted mass of knotted fibers and roaring blood was no longer so foreign. The customary adrenaline rush certainly helped make it seem far less tangled than it truly was.

Soon after, Jo, Sirius, and Peter also walked closer to the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks. She had worn the dark fabric covering almost every part of her only once before. It still felt suffocating, especially with the light rain that was accompanying their journey.

While Remus, or the new temporary version of him, was talking with the mangled and tattoo-laden captain of the ship, Jo and Sirius made sure to survey the grounds for any other unwanted guests.

"I don't see anyone else. Do you?" He questioned in hushed tones.

Jo peered over her shoulder to the poorly-lit, empty street behind them. Thankfully, no one else seemed to want to drop by Aberdeen so late.