Until We Meet Again (Sirius x OFC)

Part 1 - Chapter 11: Letter

One of the most terrible things about what happened in the aftermath of the events in the Shrieking Shack was that Severus had publicly hinted at Remus condition, probably out of spite. Consequently, Remus decided to leave Hogwarts now and I was seriously mad at him Severus for that – he was the one who knew what being bullied meant, at least after what he told me, and I thought better of him than to do the same to someone else. Especially because lycanthropy was one of the worst afflictions a wizard could have, something only a handful of people accepted. And I, from now on, had to live without my best friend close... well, if I was still working here and wouldn't be discredited soon, too.

I spent the rest of the morning by Remus's side. He told me the details about the night Sirius was here and I eagerly listened. Though I didn't like to hear how bad and worn-out Sirius had looked.

"He asked about you," Remus said. "He wanted to know... well, how you were and if you had found someone else... I think he was seriously worried. I only told him you were alone and that you were here... I think he knew but he didn't want to risk anything. Oh, and one thing – Severus told him that you and him were close or something like that. I don't know if Sirius believed him, but he was mad to say the least. I was afraid he'd kill him on the spot."

"Oh no..." I mumbled, knowing very well that Sirius couldn't stand Severus. I needed the chance to explain it, to tell him there was nothing at all, but who knew when I would get the chance to do so.

"I told Sirius not to worry and that you had believed in his innocence," Remus continued, reading my mind. "Don't worry, Alia, I think he still cares about you a lot. The influence of the dementors might have changed him a little, but he's still Sirius."

I smiled, giving his hand a squeeze, and hoped he was right. If Sirius ever told me that he didn't love me anymore, I wouldn't know what to do. Now that he was almost in reach again, I couldn't imagine losing him.

* * *

"Do you know what I really want?" Sirius asked me one day. It was after the start of the war, right after our graduation from Hogwarts, and we had joined the Order just weeks ago, which kept us busy. Today was one of the rare calm days and we had decided to spend it in bed. There was 80's rock music playing in the background – I had taken some CDs from my muggle grandparents back then and we were blasting them non-stop ever since.

"What?" I asked and pressed a soft kiss to his neck. I was lying on his chest, barely awake. I was tired all day lately, mostly because I didn't only write translations all night, but because Order duties were exhausting for all of us.

Sirius was on a roll, though. "I want a motorbike, a really big one. I'd jinx it, so it would be able to fly and then we could go on trips. Like those muggle bikers but in the air. And I would get us some leather jackets. Man, you'd look so hot in a leather jacket."

I started giggling. "You really are crazy."

He shifted so he could look at me, his piercing grey eyes showing me that he meant it. "For real, Alia. I don't care. Who knows what's going to happen? How much time we have left? James and Lily are going to marry soon, you see? These are desperate times and I think we should do whatever brings us joy. And I want to go on adventures. The kind of adventures we can tell our kids one day. I already have a lot of funny stories about me and James, but I want to have more about me and you."

A smile spread out on my face and I ran my hand over the stubbly skin of his jaw. With all the stress, he rarely shaved or cut his hair anymore, to my enjoyment. "I'd love that, baby. We could go to that little motel I stayed in with my mum's sister one summer as a kid, right at the beach... very secluded if you know what I mean... oh, and there's this cute little muggle restaurant..." I interrupted my musings when I caught him suppressing a laugh. "What's funny?"

"Nothing," he quickly said. "It's just... I remember James saying that he doesn't understand why I'm into you because we're so different... and I replied that you're not as shy and well-behaved as you seemed. I knew there was a little rebel inside of you."

"When was that?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. It must have been over two years ago.

"In fifth year, right after I had asked you to go to Hogsmeade with me... He was in a bad mood because Lily had just turned him down again." Sirius chuckled. "Those were wild times."

"Oh yes, I remember her complaining about him non-stop and when I told her, I'd go to Hogsmeade with you, she was furious and said you were just as bad as Potter. Which, to be honest, is still true. In fact, you are worse than James in any way I can think of."

He smirked. "You still fell in love with me."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Only because you bought me sweets on our first date."

* * *

That afternoon, I met Harry, who apparently had already been looking for me, in the hallway. He apologized to me, something I didn't think would happen since he was usually not the type. But he knew he had judged too quickly – about Sirius and me. I was glad he knew the truth now, even though I should have been there with him.

"Sirius asked me if I knew you..." said Harry. "I didn't know if he was after you, too, so I said no. But later I told him the truth. I think he was glad."

"That was nice of you, Harry," I replied. "We had all been deceived by Pettigrew's lies."

"Sirius said something..." Harry started then but trailed off, apparently shy about it.

"What? You can tell me," I assured him with a smile. I wished he trusted me more.

He looked at me again. "Before Professor Lupin's transformation we had a moment to talk. And Sirius promised, that if he was cleared of his charges, we could all live together..."

"We as in me and you and him?"

Harry nodded. "He said, he hoped you would want that, too. That we could be a family, a real family one day."

I smiled, knowing exactly what that would mean to a boy like Harry who had never had a loving family. And to me of course. "I would love that, Harry."

The boy smiled and then looked down, suddenly serious again. "I hope we can find Peter Pettigrew. Sirius promised to write me, he and Buckbeak should be quite far away by now."

I nodded. "I'm sure they are okay. We will find a way to set things right, Harry. Now, I think you need to pack, huh?"

Harry nodded and then left after getting some snacks from me for his friend Ron who was still in the Hospital wing. The schoolyear was over now, we would head home soon. I couldn't wait to be away from Hogwarts for a while, just because I hoped it would help me think things over.