Chapter 6
Number Twelve Grimmauld Place (Cont'd)
The remaining days in July seemed to pass quickly, and soon, the month was coming to a close. Throughout the past couple of weeks, Alexis grew more comfortable in her new home, getting to know her father and Remus better, and in turn, they were getting to know her better as well. She discovered that Sirius was not a morning person and despised talking to anyone before nine unless he had consumed an extremely strong cup of tea. Sirius found out that Alexis considered herself an animal rights activist and did not eat meat—which he jokingly said was the most American thing he had ever heard. Meanwhile, Remus learned that Alexis inherited the Black family temper, though he would never mention that aloud, and that Sirius’ initial worries about being a father were unfounded as he was doing quite well thus far.
During the day, Sirius and Remus would go to the small bookstore they co-owned within walking distance of Grimmauld. Sirius had explained that since the magical world had turned its back on them, they decided to venture into the No-maj world for business. He initially wanted to own a pub or a mechanic's shop, but he and Remus compromised on a bookstore. She suspected that Remus could not get a job since he was a registered werewolf, and this was Sirius’ way of giving the man he loved a sense of purpose.
While they were at work, Alexis would explore the Islington borough where their townhome was located. If she was not walking around the neighborhood, she spent time in the private garden across the street. In the evenings, the three of them would sit together in the library, either reading, playing wizard's chess, or listening to albums on the record player that her father had dragged down from his room.
It was an evening near the end of July, and the three of them were sitting in the library. Sirius had just dropped the needle on a Pink Floyd record and was putting the sleeve back in its jacket.
“You don’t have to pretend to sleep in separate rooms.” Alexis decided being blunt was the best way to address how her father and Remus had been tiptoeing around her. It had been going on since her first night there. “I saw you, Remus, sneaking out of Sirius’ room at 4AM.”
Both wizards’ eyebrows shot up. Remus, startled by her words, slammed his book closed with a thud, and Sirius dropped The Dark Side of the Moon’s album jacket.
“Wait, why were you awake at four in the morning?” Sirius asked, a tinge of worry in his voice.
She did not want to tell them that since her mother's death, she had been having vivid nightmares about the accident most nights and that she rarely slept for more than a few hours—the nightmares had followed her to her new home as well. She would wake up shaking and drenched in cold sweats, feeling claustrophobic in her room, so she would go downstairs to the kitchen and drink a glass of water.
“Are you trying to change the subject on me?” She looked at both her father and his partner. “Look, I’ve known that you were together since the first day I arrived. The not-so-subtle looks across the room, the way you gravitate toward one another—it’s pretty obvious.”
Sirius picked up the album from the floor and set it back on a wooden stand that held the record player. “Well, shite. You’re bloody observant.”
Remus let out an exasperated sigh at Sirius’ cursing and set his book aside. He leaned forward in his armchair, resting his arms on his legs. “We didn’t want to overwhelm you, Alexis. Meeting your father for the first time, moving to England, and adjusting to life here seemed more than enough to overwhelm you. Not telling you about our relationship was intended to minimize any amount of undue stress.”
“That’s quite considerate,” she said. “But why would that stress me out? Sure, it was surprising when I figured it out, but only because your letters, Sirius, were vague about relationships, and my lawyer didn’t mention that you had a partner.” Slight panic settled into her gut—she did not want them to think she was uncomfortable with their relationship. “If you think I’m bothered about—"
“That’s not what we think at all,” Sirius gently said over her. He took a few steps to the couch where she was seated and sat beside her, taking her hand in both of his. His grey eyes were warm and understanding. “Both Remus and I know Elizabeth, your mother, would have taught you to accept people for who they are, regardless of their sexual orientation.”
“Okay—okay, good.” She paused in relief and then decided that since they apparently were having a deep conversation, she figured it was a good time to mention something she'd been wanting to bring up about Remus’ condition. Getting to know him over the past two weeks had made her feel comfortable enough to mention it now. She knew he would not overreact or lash out angrily at her. “Since we’re on the topic of me being observant... er… I know that you’re a werewolf, Remus.”
Both Sirius and Remus looked at her, shocked. She retracted her hand from Sirius’ and nervously pushed back her long-layered hair behind her shoulders. She watched them recover and silently converse as they looked at one another.
“How did you figure it out?” Sirius finally asked, a crease forming between his brows.
“The scars along his face and hands, and then Kreacher’s awful comment on the first day about being a half-breed. I wanted to say something earlier, but I didn't want to overstep.” She turned toward Remus. “I hope you don't mind me bringing it up, Remus. The timing seemed right since we were having a deep conversation.”
There was a pause, and then Remus spoke, the warmth in his voice still present. “No, I don’t mind at all,” he said. “As long as you feel comfortable around me.” She sensed that he was trying to gauge her reaction to his secret.
“I’m more than comfortable.” She smiled with conviction in her eyes. “Being a werewolf only defines who you are for one night a month. In the two weeks I’ve known you, you’ve been nothing but kind and friendly to me, helping Sirius make me feel at ease in my new home. And I’m fairly certain that if I were in any actual danger, Sirius wouldn’t allow me to live with you.”
Sirius chuckled at the latter part of her reply to Remus, draping an arm along the back of the couch.
“I appreciate your empathy, Alexis. Your view is progressive and kinder than most in our Wizarding society,” he said a bit sadly.
“As Sirius mentioned earlier, my mom taught me not to judge people unfairly.”
Remus nodded, his expression somber, and continued. “You must understand, on the full moon, I transform into a dangerous monster." Alexis wanted to protest, but Remus raised his hand to stop her. "It's true, on all other days, I'm human—a wizard who enjoys reading, chocolate biscuits, and Muggle music. But on the night of the full moon, the monster takes over, and my humanity is lost for those long hours.”
She sat up a little straighter on the couch, pressing her palms on her knees, letting his words sink in. “Of-of course, I understand.”
Remus, accepting her words of understanding, sat back in his armchair and relaxed. Sirius reached across the coffee table situated between the couch and the armchairs and took Remus’ hand in his.
Although she felt relieved that there were less secrets between her, Sirius, and Remus now that the two biggest ones had been spoken about, she still felt like she had to say one last thing. “I know I’m only fifteen, but my situation is different, having lost my… my mother.” She paused and took a breath. “But I think it would be better if we were all honest with each other and didn’t keep secrets.”
Sirius and Remus exchanged glances. Her father leaned forward, his face serious. “Some things I keep from you for your own good, Alexis. As your father, it's my right to decide what you should know. However, I understand what you’re suggesting and will make an effort to include you moving forward. I’m overprotective right now—having just gotten you back. I can’t help it.” He took her hand again and gave it a squeeze, then started talking quietly with Remus.
Alexis supposed his effort was better than nothing. It felt strange to hear a man she was getting to know tell her that he had a right as her father to withhold information for her protection. A small part of her wanted to push back since he had not been present until her mother’s death, but she knew that thought was unfair—at least not until she had all the answers to her questions about him and her mother.
July 28, 1995
Islington Borough
On the last Friday of the month, Sirius planned to spend the entire day with Alexis. He wanted to be the one to take her to their bookstore and show her around, visit his favorite thrift store, and then grab a bite to eat with Remus at their go-to fish-and-chips spot. Everything was within walking distance, which was perfect. And Alexis was looking forward to spending the day with her father.
She met Sirius in the entryway after breakfast. He wore his favorite black jeans and a worn leather jacket, his wavy hair tousled back. He looked effortlessly cool, just like he always did in his casual No-maj clothes.
“You do know that it’s scorching hot out, right?” Alexis commented, looking at her father. “It’s 90 degrees Fahrenheit… whatever that is in Celsius.” She glanced down at her lightweight skirt and spaghetti strap tank top, her mini backpack hanging off her shoulder. “How in Merlin are you wearing a leather jacket in this heat?”
Sirius smirked in response and then, with his wand, cast a charm over her. She felt his magic wash over her, and cool air immediately surrounded her. “Oh, right. Cooling charm. Why didn’t I think of that?”
They descended the stoop and walked together on the pavement, heading towards a small shopping district that Sirius said was about three winding blocks long. Grimmauld Street was relatively busy as it was the beginning of the weekend. No-Maj cars and bikes raced by almost in a frenzy to get to their weekend destination.
As they walked side by side, Alexis thought of all the various questions she wanted to ask Sirius about his relationship with her mother. They still had not had that conversation, and she knew a long talk between them was inevitable. Over the past two weeks, there were times when she considered bringing the subject of her mother up, but every time she opened her mouth to ask, the timing never felt right. Although she could tell that Sirius was happy to have her with him, she sensed a constant underlying anxiety beneath the surface of his demeanor—even Remus shared the same anxious energy. From their conversation on her first day in the kitchen about protecting her to the way they sometimes whispered when they thought she was not listening, it made her wonder if something was happening in their world that they were keeping from her. She looked for a Wizarding newspaper to catch up on the latest news, but Sirius told her he had canceled their subscription to the Daily Prophet because it was a second-rate propaganda machine. She did not ask further after that.
“—we thought about changing the name from Story & Stone to something like Howl & Star, but that would have been rather on the nose, and the neighborhood was already used to this establishment. Didn’t want to lose customers,” Sirius said, bringing her out of her thoughts.
She blinked a few times, taking a moment to focus. “Right, yeah, I like Story & Stone,” she said hurriedly. “Unsure why it’s named that, but it works. And like you said, everyone in the neighborhood knows the store and is familiar with the name.”
She knew Sirius had noticed she was not paying attention, and she ignored the raised eyebrow he shot her way.
They finally reached the shopping district, its winding cobblestone streets barred from cars and buses. She could see herself venturing further into this area throughout the remainder of the summer.
“Our location is in a prime spot, right on a corner. Follow me.” Sirius seemed almost giddy as they crossed the street and wandered down the first winding block, passing multiple storefronts. “There it is,” he said proudly, gesturing to an old brick building with a painted mossy green façade that faced south. Stenciled on the glass door was ‘Story & Stone,' with a cream awning covering the door. The building was picturesque and looked to be a few stories tall.
As Sirius pushed open the glass door, a bell above them rang out. The instant she stepped inside, the smell of parchment and coffee enveloped her. Her eyes widened at the sight in front of her. It reminded her of the independent bookstores she would find in the Village. Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined the space, overflowing with hardcovers and paperbacks. The soft lighting only added to the cozy atmosphere.
“This is incredible. You and Remus own this?” Alexis walked to a table featuring all the staffs’ favorite picks, which was set up toward the front of the store. “Does that mean I also own it and can get free books whenever I want?” she teased.
A bookstore employee wearing a maroon apron bobbed up from behind the register counter. When he saw that it was Sirius, he waved and went back to his work.
“That’s Dane,” Sirius said as he tapped the stack of books with his tattooed fingers. “He works here most days while completing his grad school thesis or something. Moony said it has to do with Muggle universities. Honestly, I have no idea.” Sirius shoved his hands in his leather jacket pockets. “Let me give you the grand tour.”
As they explored the store, Sirius pointed out some of his and Remus’ favorite sections. The bookstore featured three levels. On the main floor, new books and recent releases were organized by subject—the selection was amazing, covering every subject imaginable. Down in the dimly lit basement, you could find used books at various discounts. Up on the third floor, there was a bathroom, a cozy reading nook, tables, and an office.
When Sirius had finished giving her the tour, they ended up on the third level, right outside of the office. He tapped on the wooden door and then swung it open. Remus sat at a desk piled high with papers and a No-Maj computer. He looked up as they entered the office and offered a grin. “You made it. How was the tour?”
Alexis sat in a small chair on the other side of the desk opposite Remus. “Incredible. I can’t believe we own a bookstore. And by we, I mean Sirius and you, but still...” she sighed and rocked back in the chair. “You do know that I’ll bother you both to come work here next summer.”
Sirius had taken the other chair, crossing his ankle over his knee. “Why would you want to work? You don’t need the money, love. You should spend your summers cavorting with friends and getting into trouble.”
“Are you actually encouraging your daughter to find trouble, Pads?” Remus shook his head and set the pencil he had been holding down on the desk.
“The good kind of trouble, Moony—you know, the kind we got into as teenagers."
Remus looked at him, doubtful.
“Hate to shatter your image of me, but I'm not someone who intentionally looks for trouble.” Alexis would bend the rules if it suited her, but that was different than seeking trouble, no matter how ‘good’ the trouble was.
Throwing his head back, Sirius sighed dramatically. “Gutted—and here, I thought you would be a mini-me.” He sent her a lopsided smirk and reached across, squeezing her arm. “You know what? That makes me happy. Less to worry about when you’re away at Hogwarts this coming fall.”
“Why don’t you wander around the store for a bit while Padfoot and I finish going through the books for the week?" Remus suggested.
“Sure, I’ll find you when I’m done.” Alexis waved at her father and Remus as she stood up and left the office.
After descending the stairs to the main level, she leisurely wove through the narrow aisles between the numerous shelves in the store. Her attention was drawn to a section of archaeology texts near the back, where the shelves almost seemed to tilt into the aisle. As she reached for a book on Mesopotamia, someone bumped into her side.
“Oh, sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking.” The voice came from what appeared to be a tall, lanky boy with mousy-brown hair. He held a stack of books in his hands, which covered his face. No wonder he ran into her. She glanced at the stack and noticed that most of the books he carried were on photography.
“It’s fine. It happens," she said politely as she stepped around him in the narrow space.
"Are you American?” he asked as he adjusted the books in his arms, dipping a little for balance. She swore the books were about to topple over.
“I am… er, do you need help with those?” she asked as her nose crinkled watching him struggle. “I can grab a few and bring them to the front if you’re purchasing them.”
“Yeah, that would be great, thanks.” He sounded relieved.
She carefully lifted four books off the top of his stack, revealing his face. He had light blue eyes with long lashes, a pointed nose, and a few freckles along its bridge. His cheeks were slightly flushed, but he seemed like the type of person who always had a natural rosy hue. He looked around her age, maybe a little younger. The moment he saw her, he gave her a brilliant smile.
“Alright,” she said, turning around quickly, avoiding his too-bright smile. “Let me show you the way.” She started walking toward the register with his books in hand.
As the boy trailed right behind her, he started talking without taking a breath. “Do you work here—I had no idea this bookstore existed until earlier in the day when my mum dragged me and my younger brother shopping—I mean, who wants to shop outdoors in bloody 30 degree weather—I was hoping for a pool day—anyway, I saw this bookstore and decided to look around to get out of the heat while my mum shopped for kitchen goods-did you know that the section for photography here is outstanding—couldn’t pick only one—if you don’t work here, do you shop here often-I’m not a big fan of shopping.”
Alexis’ eyes widened at his rambling as she continued leading him to the front of the store. Was she supposed to answer any of his questions? Were they even questions? Instead, she finished walking to the register and set the books on the counter, stepping aside to make room for him at the register.
She watched as his freckled arms set the books down, and then as he rocked back on his heels in his cherry-red Docs. He brushed his bangs out of his face and smiled at her again. He looked like he was about to say something else when Dane turned around with a bored expression and began ringing up the purchases.
She forced a grin though she had a feeling it was more like a grimace. “Right, well, Dane here will check you out. Enjoy the books.” She waved and then went to the staircase to take her to the store’s office, where Sirius and Remus were waiting for her.
If she had glanced back over her shoulder, she would have noticed the lanky boy looking at her with an enraptured expression, his bright blue eyes following her until she disappeared from view.