Inglorious Bastards [Theodore Nott]

Chapter Sixty-Eight

The night before their departure to Hogwarts Express, Sirius came to the Burrow to drop off Maisie, and as well as explain the security details to Harry about how they would be escorted to King's Cross. It was simple when Sirius said it: Ministry cars would come to the Burrow to pick up Harry and the others, while another would pick up Morgan from his home, and when at King's Cross, they would be escorted to Platform 9 ¾, and then at Hogsmeade Station.

"Would you be there?" Harry asked.

Sirius gave Harry and Carina an apologetic look, "I'll be with you to drop you off at the Platform, but I must leave as soon as I can because..."

"Order business," Carina said. "We understand."

Sirius nodded.

When it was late, Mrs. Weasley ushered everyone to bed. Though Harry and Carina wanted to stay up later to be with Sirius, the man said that it was best they get some sleep since they would be departing early tomorrow. And as they went upstairs to the bedrooms they shared with Ron and Ginny, Sirius remained to finish his talk with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. But in truth, he was simply waiting for an opportunity to talk to one of the children about something that has been nagging him at the back of his mind.

Later that night, when Roman suddenly got a call from nature, he got up from his makeshift bed in Ron's room and dragged his feet to the bathroom. He made sure to do his business as fast as he could since he couldn't open his eyes any wider from drowsiness. But as he got out from the bathroom, his sleepy state was woken by the sight of Sirius standing by the table, waiting for him to notice.

"That was quick," Sirius spoke.

"Sweet Salazar!" Roman jumped. "Sirius?!"

Sirius raised a brow at Roman's expression. It wasn't something he's heard people use before. He waited for the boy to calm his jumping heart before offering him a seat beside him.

"What are you doing here? I thought you went home?" Roman asked as he sat beside the man.

"I was, but I needed to talk to you," Sirius said.

Roman blinked twice.

"You want to talk to me?" Roman said. "But we never just talked."

"Well, I'm a busy man! I have business to attend to – a family to look after – the Order – Remus and his monthly periods," Sirius added air quotations when he pertained to Remus. "You can't really expect me to drop everything and talk right? I barely see my daughter because of everything!"

"I get it," Roman said. "So, what is it that you want?"

Sirius was quiet for a moment, thinking about how he should start but then decided to get to the point, "You and Carina are friends with Nott, correct?"

Roman froze for a minute. He wasn't expecting this talk with the man.

"Yes?" Roman carefully said.

"You have always been there for Carina – since first year – you've been both her friend, brother, and voice of reason, and right now, I need you to be her voice of reason."

"Sirius –"

"Carina is very much like her mother – no matter how much they say she is like me – she's very much like Emmanuelle," Sirius said. "Trusting. She'd rather turn a blind eye just to believe that her friends are true – especially those who mean so much to her... that's why I'm asking you to be her voice of reason. Stop her from making the same mistake that we made with Wormtail."

Roman was silent. His heart beating faster than normal, even faster when he was a wolf.

Sirius saw the boy's hesitation so he continued. He needed at least one of the children to let Carina understand, and he couldn't think of anyone else but Roman.