The Other One | Sirius Black

Chapter 70 - 31st October 1981

The tree outside kept on tapping the window from how windy it was. The forecast for Hallow's Eve seemed to be rainy and cold. But Joanna didn't care when she was warm in bed with Sirius. Her head lay comfortably on his chest. By now, she knew where to place it so that she could hear him breathe. His up and down rhythm could easily bring her to sleep. She loved the sound just as much as she loved him. They had stayed up late into the night. Talking about nonsense she was sure would make her brother throw up. He even got out his guitar and serenaded her.

As tipsy as he was, he managed to get to the chorus of the song he had recently learned. "Me and you, every night, every day"

"Oh Sirius, stop. You can barely play it right." Jo buried her face in her hands.

Sirius walked all around their bed, winking before singing, "We'll be together always this way"

"Love, your dreams to be in a rock band can wait one more night please." Sirius would have stopped if Jo hadn't been smiling from ear to ear with a bright blush on her face.

"Your eyes are blue like the heavens above"

She pointed out, "My eyes are hazel..."

At this, Sirius finally gave up playing along with the record. He placed his guitar down and kissed Jo square on the lips. A sloppy and heated and dark kiss. That was followed by another and another and another until it was windy outside and Joanna could hear Sirius sleeping the next morning.

Hallowe'en morning meant she only had to wait until Hallowe'en night to see James and Lily and the not-so-little bean that was Harry. She had bought Harry a bunch of sweets and belated birthday gifts she couldn't send with an owl. Jo even considered buying a cute quidditch costume she had seen at Diagon Alley but knew James would get jealous. Besides, she had a valid excuse. Moody had kept her busy with her bookkeeping task ever since he found out about her prolonged tea break with Sirius. And when she wasn't filing case documents into dusty cabinets and shooing the mice away, she was planning the surprise party for Sirius. The logistics of planning one during a war were very depressing, it seemed.

Jo extricated herself from Sirius' arms and went to Remus's old room. He had left one of his muggle belongings, an answering machine, for emergencies. She tried her best to remember how Remus would send messages on the blinking box and hoped the message was sent through. She figured it would be more discreet than conjuring a full Patronus in their living room.

When she closed the door, she was greeted by a groggy-looking Sirius. His hair was a mess and he was only wearing his knickers. Jo had stolen his shirt.

He smiled. "Morning."

"Morning." She smiled back.

A funny feeling accompanied Joanna throughout the morning. And in the afternoon. At times it was gnawing at her insides. Most of the time, though, it merely laid there as a slight tingle, the faintest whisper that she was going to see James later tonight. It was the same feeling she would get the night before going back to Hogwarts. It made her toes curl and her breathing quicken. She was excited and nervous. The chances of winning seemed to be more and more within their reach.

*   *   *   *   *   

"I've got to go get something at the Order. I didn't clock out yesterday or debrief Vance on the mission so I need to finish that."

Jo checked the clock in the living room. It was half-past six. Dumbledore had given them two portkeys and granted them access after seven.

"Are you going to make it back on time?"
"Bollocks, I hadn't noticed the time." His eyes focused on the gradual darkness outside.