Ink and Parchment ~ blood and bone

65- What Happens In the common room & A riddle interlude

Most people woke up Monday morning to a calming cup of tea and a plate of toast. Remus woke up to the news that Albus Dumbledore was a missing war criminal and that his pseudo-niece had probably killed him.

“At what point does all of this just become a bit too strange?” Remus asked Sirius as he stared down at the paper.

“I think life became a bit too strange when I found out my best mate turns into a wolf and chews on poor innocent bunny’s once a month to be honest” Sirius said and Remus couldn’t even be bothered being offended over it. He had a point really.

“Do we ground her for this? Is murdering Albus Dumbledore a ground-able offence?”

Sirius shrugged slightly, a pondering look on his face “I mean I’m not particularly upset about it. Are you upset about it?”

“Not really”

“Then its fine right?”

Why did James and Lily ever think he and Sirius were fit to look after a kid.

“Yeah its probably fine”

They picked Eliza up from the station, along with Blaise and after a brief show-down with his horrible mother the four of them return home. The house was instantly louder, brighter almost, now that the kids were home. Not that Eliza and Blaise were really children anymore but they always would be in Remus’ eyes. He remembered them from third year and smiled into his tea. They had been mature for their age yes, and he couldn’t deny they were above average in terms of their skill level but Remus had always seen them as kids. Even if the other staff found them a bit abnormal.

He found Blaise and the Weasley twins causing chaos on numerous occasions, let them hide in his office, and Eliza had always been so mischievous even in her brief Sunday visits.

Yes they would always be kids in Remus’ eyes, even if they were highly independent war criminals. Although perhaps Blaise hadn’t committed a war crime yet, he would probably be the only one in the house if that was the case.

Eliza came down the stairs, footsteps near silent as she wandered into the kitchen pausing to give Remus a quick good morning as she and Kreacher battled over who could make the coffee. Sirius was still passed out in bed but Remus was sure he’d be up soon. Sirius and Eliza had made plans to go and ride the Merlin-damned motorbike this Sunday.

“Is Blaise joining us for breakfast?” he asked as Eliza took a contented sip of her coffee. She stilled slightly, green eyes narrowing as if she was trying to scrutinise Remus’ intentions. It was fine though, he knew what she was like. Eliza had come so far in such little time and if sometimes she still had to examine for non-existent threats or weigh up escape routes and dangers then Remus would let her. He and Sirius couldn’t re-write thirteen years of history, it was more than enough that Eliza chose to stay with them in the first place.

She had off-days often, when she needed space and time to herself – the least they could do was respect that.

He watched as Eliza have a sharp shake of her head, as if to knock any intrusive thoughts from her mind.

“Blaise is having a bad day today” she said simply before pausing, continuing to stare at Remus “I’m not quite sure how to help him”

There was a question hidden in there somewhere and Remus smiled slightly “Do you think he would mind if I went to check on him?”

Eliza gave another little shrug and poured her coffee into a flask “I’ll be down in the garage waiting for Sirius – we’ll try and be back for tea”

“Have fun” Remus called after her and she gave a two fingered salute in response. Smiling Remus pushed himself to his feet and wandered up stairs only stopping to bang on Sirius’ door to wake him up as he headed towards Blaise’s room.