Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Hold on Tight	By : cls2256 Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Het - Male/Female Views: 7315 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. This fic is for entertainment purposes only!

Chapter List
- 1-one
- 2-two
- 3-three
- 4-four
- 5-five
- 6-six
- 7-seven
- 8-eight
- 9-nine
- 10-ten
- 11-eleven
- 12-twelve
- 13-thirteen
- 14-fourteen
- 15-fifteen
- 16-sixteen
- 17-seventeen
- 18-eighteen
- 19-nineteen
- 20-twenty
- 21-twenty one
- 22-twenty two
- 23-twenty three
- 24-twenty four
- 25-twenty five
- 26-twenty six
- 27-twenty seven
- 28-twenty eight
- 29-Twenty nine
- 22
- 23
- 24
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Whew! Anyone else's summer fly by as fast as mine did?? I would've thought I'd have oodles of time to write during this pandemic, but work has me SWAMPED. So... better late than never on this chapter, right??

The benches of Diagon Alley were adorned with bushels of holly and crisp, dark green garlands of pine. The 24ft Christmas tree in the central plaza dazzled as soft snow flurries collected on its branches' tips. Sirus's waterproof boots trudged through the slush effortlessly, albeit he was mindful to keep the hem of his cloak from getting wet. Allie's gloved hand gripped his bicep as their arms intertwined, strolling casually up the cobblestone streets.
They'd taken the day to finish up their Christmas shopping, picking up the last-minute gifts before the holiday. Diagon Alley was busy with last-minute shoppers alike, scrambling to find the perfect presents for their loved ones.
Allie pulled a scrap bit of parchment out of her pocket, pondering the list as she scrunched her nose in concentration.
"We're almost finished," she said. "It looks like we only need a gift for Rory."
"Does your brother like joke stuff?" Sirius asked, "Think we could find him something at Fred and George's?"
"I'm sure he would," Allie smiled. "Maybe we can get Bridget and Teagen pygmy puffs too?"
"I think they'd love them."
As they started towards Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Allie stopped suddenly in front of a ramshackle little shop awfully out of place along Diagon Alley. The wood exterior appeared to be rotting away, seeming like a stiff breeze would blow the shop down. The sign was barely legible, reading Maderia's House of Tarot and Gifts, est. 1678. Sirius scrunched his nose— how did a place like this still have a storefront in Diagon Alley?
"I want to go in here," Allie said, eyeballing the desolate little shop curiously.
"Uh, you want to go into this whack job shop?" Sirius asked.
Allie shrugged. "Yeah."
She wandered into the shop, leaving Sirius on the snow-covered street. Sirius looked behind his shoulder to ensure no one he knew would be watching and entered the shop. Instantly he was smacked in the face with the smoke of sage, and the smell of old-world incense, so intensely he coughed. He looked around at the shop decked out in jewel-tone silks, stands with decks of tarot cards, and shelves full of candles, ritual tea bags, and cacao ceremony supplies. He cursed under his breath; he felt like he'd stepped into the divination classroom at Hogwarts— a codswallop class if anyone asked him.
Allie was on the far wall, drawn to the floor to ceiling shelves of crystals of varying sizes, shapes, and colors. Her fingers traced the shelf as her eyes scanned the stock.
"This shop is giving me PTSD from Divination class," Sirius whispered in her ear.
"Come on, let's go."
"Just a minute."
Allie continued to admire the shelves as Sirius bounced on his heels impatiently. A woman appeared dressed in a cloak patterned with the galaxy, and a bright orange pointed hat.
"Fancy a crystal, my dear?" the woman asked Allie.
"I really like this one," Allie pointed to a grape purple geode.
"Amethyst, a popular choice. Very beautiful, makes a wonderful meditation tool or a home statement piece. This one is 9 galleons and 16 sickles."
Sirius coughed as the woman stated the price— nearly 10 galleons for a rock? She was insane. Allie turned to him, holding the Amethyst and looking at him with a questioning expression. Sirius sighed; if she really wanted the stupid rock, he'sd buy her the stupid rock. It was a pretty rock, at least.
"Whatever she wants," Sirius said to the woman, gesturing to Allie.
Whatever Allie wanted turned out to be a pair of dainty moonstone earrings and an essential oil and herb kit along with her amethyst geode. At least the oil and herb kit could be used for potion making, and jewelry was practical, unlike the random rock that he had no idea what she was going to do with. The woman brought them to the register, pressed a few buttons, then held up a finger and exited to the store's back for a moment.
"Are you sure it's alright I get these?" Allie whispered. "I can put something back if it's too much…"
"Nothing is too much for you," Sirius said, kissing her forehead. "Whatever you'd like, kitten. It's Christmas."
Allie blushed and gave an appreciative smile. The woman returned with a small bronze tea kettle that had appeared to have seen better days.
"It's toxic to the soul to hold onto such grief," the woman said, sitting the tea kettle onto the counter and gesturing to it. "A way for you to expel pent up emotions, on the house."
Allie went to reach for the kettle, but the woman stopped her.
"No, you both must touch the kettle," the woman instructed, raising her wand and waving it over the kettle. It glowed a soft red, much like the dying embers of a fire. "Go on, the kettle will bring you back once you are ready."
"Uh," Sirius looked at Allie with uncertainty. "Maybe we should just go..."
"I insist," the woman said, waving her wand. "You'll thank me."
As if their hands were moving on their own, Allie and Sirius grabbed hold of the tea kettle. Their feet lifted off the ground, spinning in the air as they moved through a vortex of colors and landscapes. Sirius looked down at his watch instinctively: 11:26AM.
"Where do you think we're—" Allie shouted, just as they landed on the soft grass.
The tea kettle bounced a few feet away from them, turning back to its dingy bronze color. Sirius stood, brushing the front of his robes off, then extending his hand to help Allie up.
"Crazy old bitch," He growled, "Where the hell are we?"
As they looked around, Allie gasped. They were on a clifftop, surrounded by palm trees, a white-sand beach, and a glittering blue ocean. There wasn't a soul around. The only sound they could hear was the soft rustling of palm leaves in the breeze.
"She sent us to a beach?" Sirius asked incredulously. "If I wanted a retreat to Bora Bora, I would've booked us one."
"Sirius, look,"
Allie picked up a piece of paper folded at their feet. She opened the parchment and read the text aloud.
"Grief is love's unwillingness to let go. You were sent here because you are unwilling to let go of the painful emotions you strive to keep at bay. Here on this island, there is no one to pretend to. No one to hear you scream, cry, and shout to let out the emotions toxic to your mental state. Let it out, and when you are ready, you may return home."
"So the damn tea kettle wants us to scream?" Sirius snorted." What a load of—"
"It's brilliant." Allie interrupted.
"Brilliant?" Sirius asked. "Brilliant that some crazy bat sent us off to scream our heads off with no warning or indication that this is something we even wanted?"
"I've wanted to scream," Allie said, a tear running down her face. "I've wanted to scream my head off, get out my anger, but I've never been anywhere where I felt like I could."
Sirius blinked at her a few times before his shoulders relaxed. "Well, I guess according to the tea kettle, we're not going anywhere until we do."
They both turned towards the ocean, took a deep breath, and let out a yell. Sirius instantly felt stupid, as if a group of people was going to pop out and laugh, so he stopped. Allie continued to let out a few more shouts, seeming to loosen up the more she did. Sirius shrugged his shoulders and yelled again, pushing out screams and hollers until he felt the knot in his chest build up.
As the pressure began to form, he actually craved the screaming. He shouted louder, longer, pushing through until emotion bubbled to the surface. His knees hit the ground as he let out a primal scream. It was only then he realized his cheeks were wet with tears. His screams turned to wracking sobs as every twinge of emotion within him came pouring out like a waterfall. Allie dropped to her knees and sobbed beside him, burying her face into his shoulder. They cried until there were no more tears until they found themselves hugging each other on the clifftop, merely breathing in the warm, salty sea air.
"Do you think that portkey is broken?" Sirius asked, "That we're stuck here?"
Allie shrugged. "Maybe we're not done," she said. "It said when we were ready, it would send us back."
"Well how the hell would a dingy old tea kettle know when I'm ready," Sirius grumbled. "I'm getting hungry— think there's any fruit trees around here?"
Allie tied the tea kettle to her waist with her scarf, and they set off, leaving behind their cloaks and sweaters on top of the clifftop. They walked through a beautiful jungle-like thistle of tropical trees, admiring the brightly colored birds flying and singing overhead. They found a coconut tree, with ripe coconuts at its base, already fallen and ready to crack open. They picked up as many as the both of them could carry and set off again, finding a large rock a few paces away that would be suitable for cracking open coconuts.
"This'll do," he said.
Sirius placed a coconut onto the rock and flicked his wand. Allie squealed with laughter as she was splattered with coconut water as the large nut cracked open.
"Sorry," Sirius said, grinning and chuckling. "Here, drink up."
He handed her one half of the nut, coconut water pooling in the center. She sipped gingerly, grimacing.
"Needs some sugar," she said.
"You think everything needs sugar," He laughed.
He took a large swig of the coconut water and immediately agreed with her. Fresh coconut water wasn't as sweet and delectable as he thought it would be, but it was hydrating.
They broke open the remainder of their coconuts, drinking the nut's water and eating the flesh hungrily. Allie's eyes were on the adjacent sea, observing the clear water and white sand.
"It is beautiful here," Sirius admitted.
She nodded. "I'd like to go swimming," she said softly. "I've never swum in such clear water before."
"But what if the portkey…?"
Sirius hadn't gotten to finish his sentence before Allie walked off in the sand's direction, seeming to ignore everything around her that didn't have to do with the crystal waters of the unknown ocean. She got to just before the tide line and untied the tea kettle. She tossed it aside, then pulled her shirt over her head and followed suit.
Sirius watched as she stripped down completely, then slowly walked into the water. She moved slowly, deliberately, as if she were walking into a healing spring. She went in about waist deep before turning back and giving Sirius a small smile.
"You coming in?" She asked sweetly.
She looked like a siren encapsulated inside an aquamarine crystal, beckoning Sirius to join her. He looked at the discarded tea kettle then back to Allie with uncertainty. What if they missed their window to get back? Allie dunked below the surface, then sprung back up and flipped her orange curls behind her. She turned toward him, wet skin glistening in the sunshine.
"The water is warm," She insisted.
One last glance and a 'fuck it' grumbled under his breath, and Sirius found himself skinny dipping in the ocean with her. She was right, the water was warm, and the sand was cloud-soft underneath his feet. They walked out to about chest height, where they were met by a school of brightly colored tropical fish.
"I'm surprised they're swimming so close to us," She giggled. "Hi, little fishes,"
Sirius felt the tension in his shoulders relax as he'd fully succumbed to being here on the island. Here there was no war, no loss, no hardships. It was only him, her, soft sand, and the beautiful ocean. It was quiet, except for the gentle breeze rustling the palm trees and the soft caw-ing of tropical birds. This was paradise.
His hands found her waist and pulled her close. He tucked a sopping curl behind her ears before kissing her gently, her lips tasting like coconuts and sea salt. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she pressed her body against his. Her lips parted and allowed his tongue access to hers. His fingertips dug into her waist as he kissed her more firmly, letting himself be intoxicated by her.
He pulled her up onto the shore, laying her down in the wet sand where the tide's foam touched the tips of her toes. He kneeled between her legs, running his hands up her parted thighs. Goosebumps followed his fingertips as he trailed against her skin, admiring how the beads of water reflected like small jewels on her skin.
Tiny granules of sand dug into his knees as he rocked his hips back and forth on her. He pinned her wrists above her head, attempting to hold her writhing body still. He was lost in her; her feel, her taste. The sounds of her whimpering moans crying out across the island for no one to hear was like a sweet melody being played on a stradivarius violin. At this moment, nothing but the two of them on this beach mattered.
As the sun set, they started a fire on the upper part of the beach, nibbling on more coconut meat and some tropical fruit that resembled a hybrid of a mango and a kiwi. They used their cloaks as a blanket in the dry sand, hoping to keep the sand off them despite having the granules in every crevice imaginable. The dormant kettle was in the sand next to them, remaining as still as ever.
"I wonder if we missed it," Allie said, gesturing to the kettle. "Although, getting stuck on this island wouldn't be the worst thing to happen to us."
Sirius chuckled. "I just wish we had some rum punches or something."
Allie laughed and leaned further against Sirius. He nuzzled his cheek against the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her tighter. His soul felt lighter after today; he'd felt a real connection spark between the two of them that he hadn't felt since Halloween night. He felt an immense level of peace, an acceptance of some sort that he wasn't sure he'd be able to put into words. He instinctively glanced at his watch: 8:42 They'd been here all day.
He closed his eyes and rested his cheek against her hair, taking in deep breaths of the salty, fresh sea air, thinking this might have been the most ‘at peace' he'd ever felt in his entire life.
"Sirius, look!"
Sirius opened his eyes, almost sad to see the tea kettle now glowed a bright red in the sand next to them.
"I almost don't want to go," Allie admitted, whispering as they gathered up their cloaks and laced their winter boots back up. "Today was so lovely."
With cloaks in hand, they grabbed onto the tea kettle. They were lifted off the sand, spinning through the air for a minute before feeling their feet hit the ground inside the grubby little shop they'd departed from. Sirius looked at his watch, feeling confused when it read '11:27AM'.
"Enjoy your trip?" the old woman asked.
"We were only gone a minute?" Sirius asked,
"Time works differently there." the lady winked.
Allie and Sirius left the shop hand in hand, brutally assaulted by December's whipping cold wind. Instantly, Sirius missed the warm tropical breeze of the remote island.
"You hungry, kitten?" Sirius asked, "I could use a bite and a nap."
"Yes, please." She said, intertwining her fingers into his. "Anything but coconuts."
Sirius felt like Santa Claus himself, loading the Christmas gifts into a burlap sack for his and Allie's trip to the Weasley's for Christmas dinner. Allie stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the front of her green velvet dress.
"Do you think it's ok to wear this dress again?" she asked.
Allie wore the same dress to her family's Christmas the day before.
"You only wore it for a couple of hours," Sirius shrugged.
Allie nodded, then sat down at the vanity to pull her hair up. She twisted her hair into an elegant and straightforward updo, then added a few emerald jeweled pins that stood out gloriously against her bright orange hair. She took a silver necklace out of the jewelry box and fastened it around her neck. It laid over her collarbones, the pieces interlocking reminded Sirius of tree branches.
"You look beautiful," He said, smiling.
Allie gave herself a weak smile in the mirror, then looked down at her hands and frowned. She quickly averted her gaze from her chewed up fingernails, then stood.
"I have a pecan pie in the refrigerator that needs to come with us," Allie said, reaching for a cream-colored cardigan inside the closet.
Sirius caught Allie's waist as she pulled on her sweater and rotated her to look at herself in the mirror. He rested his chin on her shoulder while fidgeting with the hem on her dress.
"Your hair is lovely like that," he said, whispering huskily in her ear. "I suppose it would be a shame if it were to get messed up…"
Sirius gently pulled the hem of her skirt upward until he reached her pumpkin-patterned panties. He slid his hand barely an inch under the waistband, grinning devilishly as Allie giggled.
"Pumpkins are out of season, you know?"
"Sirius, we're going to be late…" Allie protested, albeit half-heartedly as she leaned her weight back against him.
His hand slid down further, inching in slowly, teasing her with the gentlest touch he could muster. "These things never start on time. No one will hardly notice we're late…"
It didn't take any more convincing to get her on her back with her legs up in the air. Her panties had been flung somewhere indeterminate, and neither of them was concerned about Allie's ruined hairstyle.
As Sirius had insisted, their lateness was hardly noticed.
For a small home, the Burrow was quite packed. All of the Weasley children, minus Percy, were home for the holiday. Joining the Weasley family for dinner, along with Sirius and Allie, was Harry, Remus, and Fleur. Sirius felt warmth and joy as everyone hugged and wished each other Merry Christmas, and as he unloaded his burlap sack of gifts underneath the Christmas tree. Allie sat down on the couch, smiling at those who walked by but appearing to feel shy and timid in a large group. Yes, she knew everyone here, but she wasn't one to jump right into the action of a large social gathering.
Sirius joined her with two big mugs of eggnog, sitting so close their thighs were touching. They sipped on the frothy Christmas beverage, scrunching their noses at the wireless playing Celestina Warbeck's Christmas album. Fleur continued to talk over the music, raising her voice to drown out Celestina's warbles.
"I hate this garbage," Sirius whispered to Allie.
Allie giggled, and he saw a genuine smile that made his stomach stir with pleasure. It had been forever since it seemed like she smiled such a genuine smile. She rested her head on his shoulder, and for a moment, Sirius forgot all that was wrong in the world. Since their trip to the remote island a few days prior, Allie had been a whole different person. She was much happier, more like her old self. He’d still caught her crying in the nursery the day before last, but she didn’t spend the entire day curled up next to the crib like she’d done in the past.
Harry joined Sirius and Allie on the couch, bringing Sirius a fresh mug of eggnog. After some small talk about Harry's holiday with the Weasley's, discussing him spending new years at 12 Grimmauld Place, Harry leaned in and lowered his voice.
"We need to talk about something when we're alone," Harry asked. "I spoke with Lupin and Mr. Weasley last night, but I don't think they're taking what I'm saying very seriously."
"Alright," Sirius said. "After dinner, then? Or is this something that needs to wait until you come to stay with us?"
"Just before I go back to school," Harry whispered. "It's about Malfoy."
Sirius had no qualms about packing down some eggnog. He drank plentifully, consistently refilling his cup so that it was never empty, allowing the brandy to dull his senses. He danced around, smiling and singing jovially to Celestina's trash music, insisting Ginny, Fleur, and even Molly to dance along with him. The living room turned into a mass of swirling bodies, dancing around and around until Sirius bumped into the coffee table and lost his balance. He came down on top of the table face first, snapping all four legs of the worn-in piece of furniture on impact. He'd hardly realized what happened as he lay in a mess of wood, laughing hysterically.
A crowd gathered around him as Allie jumped up to his aide. Sirius just now realized that Remus and Allie had been on the couch chatting, as Remus waved to Molly,
"I can fix it," he said. "Not to worry."
"Sirius, are you alright?" Allie asked, helping him sit up.
"Oh, I'm fine," Sirius said through laughter.
Allie gasped. "No, you're not fine, you're bleeding."
Sirius just now became aware of the blood trickling down his face, dripping onto his crisp, white shirt. Before he had a chance to respond, Allie and Remus helped him up and sat him on the couch. Allie went to work on his face as Remus went to work on the table.
"This was just a superficial wound," She said as she waved her wand over it, "I think you should drink some water until we start with dinner. Don't forget you have to work first thing in the morning."
"Oh, nonsense," Sirius said casually. "I lost my balance, is all."
Sirius did not heed Allie's request for water instead of egg nog. By the time they sat down at dinner, he'd had another few glasses, and his speech was beginning to slur.
"I tell you, Molly," Sirius said, rather loudly, "you certainly know how to put a Christmas dinner together— and that hat, my it's magnificent."
"Thank you, Sirius," Molly said, mustering up a polite smile. "Fred and George gave this to me. Isn't it lovely, everyone?"
"Tonks isn't coming?" Allie asked softly to Sirius, looking around at the empty seat next to Remus.
Molly answered before Sirius could. "Oh I asked Tonks to come along for Christmas, but she declined. Has anyone spoken to her today? How about you, Remus?"
"Oh, Um," Remus choked on a bite of his turkey. "No, I haven't spoken with her,"
"I see…" Molly said, raising her eyebrows disapprovingly. Her head turned toward the window, then back to her plate before turning toward the window again sharply. "Arthur," she gasped, "its Percy!"
Arthur turned towards the window and his brows raised onto his hairline. "My god, it is, and he's not alone."
No one could get more than a curious glance to one another before the back door opened, and Percy stepped inside, tracking in some snow with him.
"Merry Christmas, mother." He said stiffly.
"Oh, Percy, my boy," Moll cried, jumping up and hustling over to hug her son. "Oh it's good to see you."
"Forgive the intrusion," the Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, said as he lingered in the doorway. "Percy and I were in the area working, and he insisted on stopping in to say hello."
"No intrusion at all, Minister," Molly said, releasing Percy and wiping her eyes. "Please, sit down and have a spot of dinner—"
"Oh, you're too kind, Molly," Scrimgeour said, pausing slightly before speaking her name. "We only had a few minutes to stop, and I'd hate to intrude any more. I'll have a stroll through the garden while you all visit with Percy— say, would anyone like to accompany me and show me the way? How about you, young man, since you're finished?"
Harry stood. "Oh, uh, sure."
Sirius wasn't buying any of this 'we were in the area' bullshit, or Scrimgeour's act of not knowing who Harry was. And pretending that Harry was the best choice to show him the garden based on his clean plate? Bullshit. Half the table was finished— Scrimgeour chose Harry on purpose, and Sirius wanted to know why.
Sirius stood, his knees clumsily hitting the table and rattling everyone's drink glasses.
"Ah, I'm finished as well, why don't I go with you,"
"Sirius, it's alright," Harry said. "Enjoy some pudding."
Sirius watched as Harry exited the front door with Scrimgeour, eyes seething.
"Sirius, sit down," Allie whispered, pleading.
Sirius waited until Harry and Scrimgeour were out of sight before taking a seat.
"I don't like that he is talking to Harry alone"
"Sirius, he's fine."
"You heard him," Sirius said, "This young man— he knows damn well who he is, and I want to know what the Minister for Magic wants with my godson—"
"Sirius," Allie asked, voice soft and sweet. "Harry is alright, trust him."
"I trust Harry,” Sirius let out a contemptuous sigh, then sat back down in his seat. “It's the Ministry that I don't."
Percy coughed uncomfortably, not making eye contact with his parents as he took the only empty chair at the table.
Molly spent the next few minutes carrying on a conversation with Percy (albeit it was more with herself while Percy hummed and nodded along). Simultaneously, the rest of the table remained silent, pushing spare bits of food around on their plates awkwardly. Sirius was clicking his fork around rudely, showing his obvious contempt. Allie kicked him in the shins a couple of times as her face turned red with embarrassment. Sirius ignored this and continued scraping his fork noisily.
After 10 minutes of listening to Molly and Percy's painful conversation, he pushed his plate forward and clapped his hands together. His knees hit the table once more as he stood, rattling the glasses and dishes.
"Well, this has been lovely—"
He made his way toward the back door as Allie beckoned to him, but it was no use. Sirius stumbled to the door and headed out into the snow without a winter cloak toward the garden. He got about halfway before he heard Allie call for him from the door. He did not turn around but heard footsteps trailing after him.
"Sirius," she whispered harshly, trying to get his attention without startling Scrimgeour or Harry.
"I want to know what he's speaking about with my godson," Sirius slurred.
"Sirius, maybe now's not the time."
Sirius ignored her, trudging until he was in earshot of the Minister and Harry.
"Sirius, it's freezing, you're not wearing a cloak…"
"SHH!" Sirius hissed, "I'm trying to hear."
"So, you're Dumbledore's man through and through." Scrimgeour said, almost sneering
"Yeah, I am."
Harry spun on his heels and marched back towards the house, unaware of Allie and Sirius crouching in the bush he passed. Scrimgeour limped after him, met Percy outside, and they apparated away.
Sirius stumbled back inside, uncaring of having the whole group as an audience.
"What was that about?" Sirius demanded to Harry.
"He wanted me to make a statement that I side with the Ministry," Harry said, "become their mascot, so to speak."
"What?" Sirius said, "and what did you say?"
"I told him I didn't like the Ministry's methods," Harry said. "After Umbridge, all the stuff with your first arrest, then your second, I don't think the Ministry has the best interest of everyone right now. But neither does Voldemort, so I side with myself and Dumbledore."
"Atta boy," Sirius grinned, clasping Harry on the shoulder tightly. "I shouldn't have been worried about you— now that that is over, we can get back to celebrating, eh?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Sirius saw Allie, red-faced and sinking down in her chair, mouthing 'Sorry' to Molly.
"What's wrong?" Sirius asked, almost accusatory. "What are you sorry for?"
Allie turned an even deeper shade of crimson as she looked between Molly and Sirius. "N-nothing, I don't know what—"
"No, no, I saw you mouth something to her," he slurred loudly. "What are you sorry for? Me?"
Allie stared at Sirius, shrinking down in her chair even further, growing redder by the second. Remus stood, gesturing back to Sirius's empty seat.
"Sirius, why don't you sit? Molly was about to slice the pies…"
"No, I want to know what's going on," Sirius insisted, swaying in place. "Why won't anyone just answer—."
"Have a smoke with me?" Remus interjected quickly. "Come on,"
With impressive strength for a man who just transformed into a werewolf a few days prior, Remus gripped Sirius's shoulder and dragged him outside into the snow. Neither man was wearing a winter cloak.
"Sirius, you need to calm down." Remus said sternly. "You've had a bit too much to drink, and if you're not able to sit respectfully—"
"You're telling me I've been disrespectful?" Sirius snapped. "I've been a jovial house guest!"
Remus sighed heavily, speaking even, and calm. "You've drunk most of the egg nog yourself, you broke the coffee table, you caused a scene with the Minister for Magic, and now you're causing a scene over this. It's time to settle down, or you need to go."
"I'm not a child, Moony," Sirius sneered. "You can't put me in ‘time out’."
"Then stop acting like one," Remus said, so matter of fact, it made Sirius want to punch him square in the jaw. "You're out of control. You're pissed beyond anything I've seen since we were about eighteen—"
"Oh lighten up, would you?" Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Allie has told me you're drinking is getting out of control," Remus said, "I know you've been through a lot the past few years—"
"Oh, so I'm getting talked about, am I?" Sirius snarled. "You both are acting like I have a problem. I get up, I go to work, I do my duties for the Order. I'm not some piss ass drunk that spends his evenings getting smashed at the bar."
"No, but you come home from your duties and do it in your own home," Remus said. "All I'm saying is—"
"All I'm saying is," Sirius said sarcastically. "that you can fuck right off, Moony."
Without another word, Sirius stumbled through the snow without a cloak. Without looking back, he crossed the property line and disapparated with a loud crack.
Midday and Sirius's head was still pounding. Why on earth did he drink all that eggnog?
He was fairly certain when he stepped into the Leaky Cauldron that morning that he was still intoxicated. In fact, he knew he was still drunk when he woke early this morning to Allie dumping a glass of ice-cold water on his face when he'd overslept.
"You need to be at work in forty minutes," she said coolly.
"Fuck," he mumbled, wiping ice chunks off his face and sitting upright. His head was swirling, and he licked his lips in a desperate attempt to drink some of the water she'd dumped on him. Once his memory flooded with him and Remus's exchange out in the snow, he felt his stomach drop. "Uh I think I was a bit of a git yesterday…."
Allie laughed airily. "A bit?" she said. "You could say that. "
There wasn't much time for apologies that morning, as he was running late for his breakfast shift. After jamming coffee and a biscuit down his throat, and sharing some of Shannon's morning onion and mushroom omelet, he felt somewhat in shape to work his shift.
Orders came in left and right, and he struggled to keep up. He was lethargic, drained, and questioned if a bloody mary would take the edge off what felt like the worst hangover of his entire life.
Rod Thorson showed up 45 minutes early to relieve Sirius, a habit he had so that he could sit around and shoot the shit before having to punch in.
"You look like you've been hit by a bludger, Black," Thorson said playfully.
"I feel like it," Sirius admitted, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Too much eggnog."
"Oh yeah, Brandy gives me a wicked headache," Thorson laughed wheezily.
They were interrupted by Jack poking his head through the order window, gesturing for Sirius to come outside the kitchen.
"Hey, Sirius, you got a minute?"
"Yeah," Sirius wiped his hands on his apron. "What's up?"
"Come here,"
Jack yanked him outside the pub's side door, the cold air hitting Sirius’s face like a razor blade.
"I found something I think you need to see."
Jack pulled a dragon's hide notebook from his pocket, waving his wand and enlarging the book.
"This is Lenore's journal," He said, "I thumbed through it, there are tons of potion recipes here. Maybe the one she used on you is in here."
"Jack, where did you get this?"
"I remembered where her flat was," Jack said "It hit me like a ton of bricks. So, I snuck in and went looking for anything important, and I found this." "She used to bring men there all the time, she used to make me watch, sometimes participate." Jack shuddered.
"Jack, mate, you're going to get yourself killed."
"Relax," Jack waved him off, then handed him the leatherbound notebook. "she will never know I was in there."
Sirius raised a skeptical brow at Jack, then quickly fluttered through the silver-tipped pages. The entire notebook was filled with handwritten text that Sirius mentally planned on spending all evening going through. If this was indeed the inner workings of Lenore's mind, then Jack might as well slit his own throat here and now.
"Don't worry," Jack insisted. "I was careful."
Sirius waved his wand over Lenore's notebook, shrinking it down to the size of a galleon. He slipped the now tiny book into his pocket and gave his trousers a pat.
"Thanks," Sirius said earnestly. "You didn't have to stick your neck out for me like this"
"Yeah, I did," Jack shrugged. "It was the right thing to do."
As thankful as Sirius was to now have a leg up on Lenore, he couldn't shake the terrible pit in his stomach, fearing that Jack had just gotten himself killed.
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