Amour

Vingt

"Don't dawdle, don't dawdle come on now, I wont bite!" The cheery old woman laughed, guiding Remus and Sirius up her narrow staircase. 

Remus seemed to be the only apprehensive one here, as Sirius bounded after her with a huge smile on his face. Remus silently prayed no kidnappers liked short, long haired guys. 

It was stiflingly hot in her little apartment, and hundreds of knitted items were strewn across the place. Sirius was already trying on some hats and gloves, turning to Remus with such a proud smile he thought he might melt. 

The orange did go well with his hair. 

But then Sirius' eyes widened and he walked over the room, poking at the cuckoo clock on the wall. The woman was in her kitchen, apparently getting a head start on the meal, and Remus really didn't want Sirius breaking any of her stuff. 

"Sirius be careful!" Remus scolded him as he went to pull one of the clock hands, "That tells the time, by the way." 

"I know of clock, but why so weird?" Sirius replied distractedly, looking at the wooden birds on top through narrowed eyes, "I am not knowing birds know time?" 

"They don't it's- oh here we go," Remus groaned, sitting on a particularly dusty part of the sofa, he'd just looked at the time, and it was...yep, twelve. 

CUCKOO, CUCKOO 

Sirius screamed in fright, jumping back and falling on top of Remus, grabbing his neck in curled arms, "AM SORRY BIRDS!" 

"Sirius- strangle me why don't you?!- the birds aren't real!" Remus fought against his strong grip. 

After the bird had revolved for a bit, it retreated back into its wooden casing, settling Sirius immensely. He coughed awkwardly and stood up. 

"Pardon," He said very gruffly. Sorry. 

Remus had to fight not to laugh, "Are you making your voice deeper?" 

"No"  He crossed his arms, turning to some spoons that were hanging on the wall, various faces grinning back at him, "Much of red," He observed, referring to the three heads of red hair. 

"Why spoons?" Remus said to himself. He thought. 

"Oh aren't they beautiful!" The old woman bustled through, looking in a chipped draw for something, "My children, I mean." 

Remus got up to see the pictures closer, and nearly choked on air when he saw Gideon and Fabian Prewetts faces, "You're Miss Prewett?!" 

She perked up, "Yes, dear." 

"We- I go to Hogwarts with Gideon and Fabian," Remus said. Sirius had a small frown on his face, and was looking over how many of these pictures there were, hardly any wall was still visible. 

"You must love them much," He mumbled, looking back at the spoons. 

"More that anything," She smiled, and after a second said, "And please call me Ada, I insist. Now, would you like this in some tupperware?" 

After Remus nodded, she waddled back through to the kitchen, sweet smells of mince and pasta wafting through the open door. Remus was looking confusedly at Sirius' frown, he'd been so up beat before. 

"Sirius?" Remus asked, stepping forward slightly, putting a hand on his arm. 

"Mm?" He turned around, eyebrows raised in question.

"You alright?" 

"Oui," Yes. 

"No you're not," Remus looked at him pointedly, "Do you want to talk about it?"