Chapter 4
“Sirius Orion Black you will tell me every detail of what happened and you will tell me now!” Mary shook his shoulders with her hands like she was shaking a ragdoll.
He rolled his eyes, “Calm down and let us get inside the cafe. I called you here to tell you the whole story, did I not?”
She huffed but calmed down. One week since Hogsmeade had been attacked and every newspaper and tabloid had featured the story multiple times over. It just felt really juicy to them, a hero returned from retirement six years later and the same villainess that he had been injured from last had returned to fight him again.
Sirius had lied to the heroes department about what had happened that night. It was a stretch but there were no cameras or electronics around the entire district at the time to give any proof of what actually happened.
Why put a target on a vigilante’s back when he had helped him anyway?
The only photographs they had to show for what had happened were the few drunk students had taken of him, the photo of him striking a pose with his shiny fangs and visor crystal clear making it to multiple newspaper articles. The other pictures were of the damages around, like the burnt down shops Bellatrix had destroyed. He hoped the shop owners had insurance.
Borgin and Burkes were under serious investigation after Sirius discovered the…illegal medicine and weapons in their obvious places. He still wondered how they were never caught before. Who put their illegal goods in cardboard boxes in a storeroom?
They entered the shop and gave their orders. Mary usually made Sirius pay for her drinks, but she paid for her own this time. He opened his mouth to ask why but changed his mind. If Mary wanted to pay for her own drink and food, why the fuck would someone in their right mind object?
They sat down at a table and a silence enveloped around them that felt strange to break.
Mary was in a blue sundress. She was wearing pearl earrings and a white headband on her dark hair that was fading to the blonde she had dyed it recently. She was wearing the winged eyeliner she had once taught Sirius had taught her to do back in their training programme days. His operator had always been a fashionable person, but she was dressed exceptionally cutesy today.
“Do you have somewhere you’re going after this?” He asked her.
She smiled, happy he had noticed her outfit, “I’m meeting a guy at the park later. He’s a friend of Lily’s and I asked her to introduce him to me.”
“And I thought you were all dressed up for me.” Sirius shook his head in fake sadness.
She rolled her eyes fondly, “Nah. I made the mistake of flirting with you once and you’ve never lived it down.”
“10th of March at fuck-knows p.m” He said proudly, letting her believe he had graciously noted down the date because she had made a move on him that day, and not because it had been an ex friend’s birthday from his old prep school, “The day you confessed your undying romantic love for me at a bar after one too many drinks.”
“Fuck off.” She laughed, “I asked you out because I thought you were decent enough looking and because I didn’t realise you were fruity.”
“I still think we should mark that day in history books.” He insisted.
They got their drinks and food. Mary must have seriously considered throwing her fries at him, but instead they just fell into some easy banter.
“I still can’t believe you went to that rich ass prep school and I never knew about it.” Mary said, absent-mindedly stirring the paper straw in her iced coffee.
“Yeah, well. I never liked that place much and I almost dropped out, but my parents didn’t let me.” Sirius told her.
The conversation died down and they both meddled with their food. In the excitement and gossip they always enjoyed talking about, they had delayed the talk they had decided to meet up for.
“What happened at Hogsmeade, Sirius?” Mary asked directly.
No more dancing around the topic. No more lying or deceit. Sirius hadn’t met James yet in the week as he had been with the healer who used their powers to repair his broken arm and other wounds these past seven days.
The moment he had gotten out, Mary had caught him and insisted on knowing the entire story, which he knew he’d have to narrate to James later too. He could trust them both. He didn’t feel any danger or vulnerability when he confessed to them.
“A vigilante helped me.”
Mary’s eyes widened. For the next few minutes she was all ears as Sirius narrated the entire story to her. He felt himself feel weighed down as he told the story, remembering how awful and filthy it felt trapped in Dementis’ power, and how unnatural it was for her to muster up the strength to run and be out of sight the moment his attention was diverted.
“Gosh that sounds terrifying.” Mary murmured, “Fuck, I’m sorry I wasn’t there. The cameras shut down and my microphone wasn’t working and then it all shut down.”
“I know, it wasn’t your fault.” Sirius saw Mary’s expression turn almost glassy.
“Maybe but I’m supposed to be a great operator. I don’t know what got into me that day.” She said, her voice shaky.
Sirius felt a sense of deja vu as he realised Mary was wading in guilt that she wasn’t there for him. The same way Alice had been beside herself for guilt that night when Dementis had been captured after the fight.
“Merlin, is that why you paid for your own shit? Because you felt like you weren’t of help that night?” He questioned her.
She nodded silently, tears threatening to spill from her eyes, “My boss really fucking lost it when I told him what happened.”
Sirius sighed. Why did heroes have to feel so guilty for things out of their control?
“Mary, fuck what your boss says, you are my favourite operator and you are a badass one. Don’t ruin your makeup for something that wasn’t even your fault.” He assured her.
Her cheeks carved out dimples as she smiled.
“Do you know who Lunaire is, by the way?” Sirius distracted her.
She hummed, trying to think about his question, “He’s a local vigilante, I think. Stops petty crime around Hogsmeade when the heroes aren’t looking.”
“Do citizens like him?” He asks, recollecting one teenager trying to convince Grim Reaper that Lunaire was really of no danger.
Mary shrugged, “I like him though. He helped you with Bellatrix and knew your hero name was ridiculous.”
“It is not!” He scoffed.
“Sirius, you cried watching La la Land.” She emphasised.
“It’s an emotional movie, alright? Any movie with a good plot and Ryan Gosling is fair to cry about.” Sirius tried to defend himself.
“The Barbie Movie.” Mary gave an example.
Sirius stayed quiet until Mary said, “Ok yeah I cried watching it too.”
She unlocked her phone sitting on the table and checked the time.
“I gotta go soon, I have to meet this guy.” She said, sending what Sirius assumed was a text telling him she was going to be late.
“Do you want me to drop you off?” He offered.
“Hell no, you’ll steal my man.” She rejected.
“I can’t help it, I’m just naturally good-looking.” Sirius grinned.
She repressed a smile and picked up her purse.
“Enjoy your date!” Sirius called to her as she left the cafe.
She didn’t turn back to see him but she raised her arm to indicate she heard him just fine. He watched her leave and walked out of the cafe completely exhausted.
Sirius walked in a small area similar to the alley he had broken his arm in. He frowned, the nauseous feeling curling up again. He examined the area around him trying to make sense of it.
‘Calm down, you’re just on edge.’ He told himself, reaching in his pocket and, with a small sense of guilt, taking out a cigarette and a lighter.
He had promised Mary that he would quit smoking, but whenever he felt overwhelmed he began to crave it and resumed the habit.
A shiver went down his spine when he felt like there were eyes on him. His instincts telling him that there was someone being behind him made him uneasy as the feeling ants crawled around his back worsened it.
He whirled to see behind him, only to make a sound of disgust as a couple of rats scurried away here and there.
He put out the cigarette and resumed his walk back home. The house he lived in was spacious, an independent three bedroom house with a garden big enough to go for a run and windows covered by curtains with a paw print design on them, gifted by James as a joke.
He struggled with his keys as he opened the door and turned on the lights to the place. Only to immediately be jumpscared by his lovely friend.
“James oh my fucking god-” Sirius clutched his chest.
“Sorry, sorry. It just seemed funny as fuck.” James apologised.
“You’re a prick, you know that?” Sirius half-heartedly said as he shut the door to his house, “I gave you my house keys in case of emergencies.”
“You didn’t tell me the whole story of how you almost died.” James reasoned, like that was a qualified emergency.
Sirius took off his jacket and went into the kitchen, James following him there like a lost animal.
“Do you want anything? Tea, coffee?” Sirius offered his brother.
“Only the entire story of how you almost died.” James immediately pressed.
“For Merlin’s sake, James. You’re as bad as Mary.” He exclaimed.
“I’m offended you told her and not me, I always tell you what went down whenever I get my ass kicked in a fight.” James said, going back into the living room to sit on the couch.
Sirius returned with a glass of water for his brother before saying, “I did not get my ass kicked, mind you.”
“I won’t believe it until you tell me the whole story of how you almost died.” James repeated the name as he took the glass.
Sirius repeated the long tale to James who gave reasonable reactions and listened carefully. The weight returned to his chest again and he was starting to crave another smoke.
“Do you need a hug?” James asked, reaching out his arms already, “I feel like you need a hug.”
They hugged briefly, Sirius shaking away the ache in his lungs.
“I still can’t believe you met Lunaire, I love that guy we shared a taco once.”
“A-what?” Sirius pulled away from the hug.