-47-
The morning comes. I got up before anyone else and went down to the kitchen to make myself some breakfast. Remus and Tonks had told me I can use their kitchen as freely as I want. They have stored all kinds of foods and beverages for all of us for this whole weekend. They are really hospitable. While putting some coffee grounds into a pot, I start to think everything that happened yesterday. Still feeling little bit vexed by the news I heard last night. Can't believe they bullied Severus like that. Even by Sirius's stories it sounds like Remus wasn't directly bullying Severus back then. But... Watching everything just happening and not doing anything to stop it is also a form of a bullying. I feel so conflicted. After I had threw the wine on Sirius, I went back in the house without anyone's notice. I just had to get out of there in that moment. Didn't wanna make a bigger scene. After all, the party was slowly coming to its end, so there shouldn't be anything weird for me leaving there. I just hope Tonks didn't see any of it.
While I keep making the coffee, I hear how someone steps into the kitchen with me. Automatically, I turn to look over the shoulder to see who it is. Sirius. Of course. "Morning." his voice sounds like a whisper. I just give him a nod and continue to make the coffee. Sirius sits down around the kitchen table and sighs deep. Looks like he's having the biggest hangover of his lifetime. Which actually gives me an idea... I start opening some of the cabinets, looking for a mug so I can drink the coffee from. After finding the right one, I slam the cabinets close which causes him to wince from a pain as he's too sensitive to loud noises. He quickly covers his ears:"Ah..! Please don't.". "Oh, my apologies." I answer with sarcastic smile on my face. Then, I start moving the dishes around the counter that makes more annoying noises to his ears. "(Y/N)..." he keeps the ears covered.
Acting all innocent here:"What?". Sirius gives me the side eye that says 'I know what you are doing.'. I just shrug with slight smirk corner of my mouth:"Ups, guess these noises are little bit too loud for your little doggy ears.". Before he can say anything, I walk back to the cabinets. "Want some?" pointing at the coffee. Immediately he knows I'm about to slam the cabinets again:"N-no..-", "C'mon. One cup of coffee won't hurt ya." I slam the cabinets shut again after taking another mug from there. "Alright! Alright. You have proved your point." Sirius hisses. I stop and turn to look at him, waiting for him to continue. Sirius takes the hands off of his ears and thinks for a moment where to begin. "No one has ever spoken to me like that before. Not to mention how you threw that wine right up on my face..." he mutters. Crossing arms over my chest and lean against the counter behind me:"Maybe it was about time.". My comment makes him let out a soft chuckle. Almost like he just gain a new level of respect towards me.
Then he raise those grey eyes on me:"You two are close.". My heart does a small jump after he said that. Couldn't figure if it was a question or did he just pointed it out. "...Severus and I, we are friends." I nod, trying to act all casual about it. Saying the word 'friends' feels wrong somehow. But then again, what else are we? Co-workers, sure. But I don't think we are just that... Sirius sees how I get zoned out as I start to think the situation between me and the Potions Master. "(Y/N)..?" he tries to call me back on earth after couple minutes. "Hm?" my gaze quickly snaps back to him. We stare each other for a small moment before he chuckles again. Guess he finds my zoning out amusing. Then his face goes more serious:"I am..- I want to apologise. The way I acted. I shouldn't have..-", "I'm not the one you should be apologizing from." I quickly interrupt him. It makes him blink once out of surprise. I can feel more relaxed after saying that.
If anyone here should hear an apology, it would be Severus. Sirius looks back to his hands that are resting on the table:"Right...". I can see how his hands are shaking. Most likely because of the hangover. Do I feel bad for throwing the wine at him? Sure, somewhat. Was it something Sirius needed? Yeah, I think so. Perhaps, one day those two could find some sort of peace in their heart and make up. Who knows? Then, I just sigh deep and come sit other side of the table:"You are not that bad, Sirius.". I place one of the mugs that has coffee in it right in front of him as a peace offering. "Just a little crooked from the head." I add. Sirius lift his gaze up from his hands to look at me, little bit surprised I won't lecture him more or such. Maybe it's the Hufflepuffness in me, but I don't like to be in bad terms with anyone.
Offering a gentle smile to show him that the two of us are alright. He looks down to the mug and takes it:"Thank you.". We both take a sip of the coffee in silence. Right after his lips separates from the mug, I chuckle:"Pretty bold of you.". "Hm?" he looks at me confused. My smile grows bigger:"To just casually drink from that. What if I had poisoned your coffee?". Sirius's eyes widens for a split second, by the look on his face, his heart actually dropped. The look on his face makes me burst out laughing:"You should see your face!". Quickly he realizes I'm just teasing and frowns. "You almost caused me a heart attack." Sirius mutters while holding a hand over his chest. "I'm sorry, couldn't help myself." I try to calm the laughing down. He shook his head and takes another sip of the coffee:"The badger got some claws, I see.". He sounds more impressed than annoyed. "Yeah, you better watch out." I joke along.
Just then, Remus enters the kitchen:"Good morning, you two.". Both of us turn to see him with smiles on our faces. "Morning, groomy-Moony." Sirius smirks. "Ah, but he's not a groom anymore. He is a husband!" I remind him. While taking some breakfast, Remus teases Sirius for how hangover he is. Sirius on the other hand starts teasing Remus about his and Tonks's wedding night. Their small bickering is fun to watch while sipping coffee. Anyone can just see that they have been best friends for a long time. When all of sudden, the image of young Severus comes to my mind, and I feel a small pang in my heart. Can't lie that it still bothers me to think they bullied him back then. All of this makes me feel conflicted.
Remus notices the pensive look on my face:"Is everything alright, (Y/N)?". Quickly put on happier face:"Ah, yes. Just little tired.". He nods, thinking I'm having a hangover as well. "Where's Tonks?" I ask, hoping he won't start asking anything regarding the last night. I had fallen asleep pretty quickly after I had come back to the house, so I have no idea what time others came here. "She's still asleep." he answer and sits down with us. Sirius and I nod and keep eating breakfast. Then Remus continues:"Thank you again for keeping this pregnancy a secret.". "Of course." I smile back at him. Sirius just nods once again and tries to survive the hangover. Remus and I exchange a smirk and end up bursting to laughter how funny Sirius looks while struggling. He didn't appreciate it.
Later that day, Remus walks me to the train station. "You made a quite impress on Sirius. Usually he doesn't show this much of an interest towards people he has just met." Remus said as we walk side by side. "Ahw, is somebody jealous?" I joke and give a little nudge side of his arm. He rolls his eyes with slight smirk, then continues:"He never cared about what other people think about him, until last night...". I turn my head to look at him while walking:"Huh?". Remus's eyes goes to me without turning his head:"He came up to me soon after you had threw that wine all over his face and left.". My face goes little bit red, feeling embarrassed how I acted:"Oh...". Didn't even thought Sirius would actually go up to him. Maybe I thought he'd be too proud to do so? Remus then told me the whole story how Sirius came up to him all drunk, and started to tell him how I had throw the wine right up on his face.
At first he was mad about it, but after Remus talked some sense in him, Sirius started to regret the whole thing. What he said about Severus. How he laughed to other person's misery. How he had made me upset. Everything. "And it's all thanks to you, (Y/N)." Remus end his story. Lifting my eyebrow at him:"Me? You were the one who talked some sense in him.". He shrugs:"Maybe. But this was the first time Sirius ever admitted he was in the wrong - and that says a lot.". Both of my eyebrows raise:"Oh? Should I throw some wine on your face as well then?". "No, thank you. I know my own mistakes from the past." Remus reassures. A small devilish smirk appears on my lips. "I dunno Remus... Or maybe I should get one of those spray bottles and spray on you anytime you do something dumb." doing little emotion at him with my fingers as if I had the bottle in my hand. Remus gives a gentle shove on my arm:"You start sounding like certain someone.". My head snaps right at him:"Who..-". Then it hit me. Severus. Immediately my cheeks goes red and I turn my head away:"Not even close.". "If you say so." he chuckles softly.
I do believe Remus does regret how he acted back when they were kids. Can't imagine the amount of guilt he's carrying inside of him. Hope that one day the two of them could actually be alright with each other. I'm not asking them to be best friends or anything. Just that one day they could perhaps sit down and actually have a nice, pleasant conversation without any bickering or such. Maybe I'm being too optimistic here... "Although, if you do wanna make amends, you could start with buying me a new coat. Since you still own me one." I tease. "Oh, yes. How could I forget. Bet that would make up all the mistakes I have done in the past." Remus shook his head and rolls his eyes. "Well, it's a start." I laugh. We come to the train station and find the right track. There are lot of other people here, hugging their loved ones, getting in the train, waving their goodbyes.
"Here we are." Remus hands me the luggage. He has been carrying it this whole trip to the station. I take it with big smile on my face:"Thank you so much! Once again, congratulation to the two of you. I'm so happy for you, Remus.". Remus smiles back, looking relaxed:"Thank you. After all, you talked some sense in me.". We share a caring smile. The train makes the 'Choo! Choo!' - sound and I start getting on the train. "Well, lets keep in touch. I'll send you an owl." Remus put hands in his pockets as he watch me going. I turn to him and chuckle:"And I'll send you an howler.". Knowing I'm not over the fact how they treated Severus back then, and I haven't been able to yell at Remus since it's his wedding weekend, he chuckles softly:"I'll be looking forward it.". With that, I enter the train and I'm off to Hogwarts!