SPLITAPARTS: lessons in love ✔️

Discoveries - Part Three

Sirius parked the bike toward the middle of the block of Grimmauld Place. He looked around and shook his head wondering how his brother managed to talk him into agreeing to meet there, then removed his helmet. He remained seated on the bike and lit one of Cassie's cigarettes and blew smoke rings out of boredom. Moments later, he saw his brother exiting the house, walking toward him.

  "Glad you made it."

Sirius glanced over his shoulder toward his brother. "This better be good."

"Well, it's the tapestry—"

"I've seen the tapestry. Hundreds of times, Reg."

"Yes, but there's been changes—lots of changes—mother's higher than a kite about it—she wants to see you," he said finally.

"HA!" Sirius flicked the cigarette to the pavement and crushed it with his boot. "This ought to be good."

"Sirius—"

"Well, I'm here, aren't I? Let's go see what the old bat wants."

"Oh and we have a house guest."

"O yeah, who?"

"The Dark Lord—"

Sirius stopped in his tracks. "Oh. So you're trying to get me killed, are you? No. Thanks for nothing." Sirius turned on his heel in the middle of the street and began walking toward his bike.

Regulus reached out and grabbed his arm. "Sirius—please—"

"Regulus—I'm an AUROR. You know what that is, right—a dark wizard catcher? He's enemy number ONE," he growled.

"I know that. I brought that up to Father and he's asked him to remain in his room whilst you're in the house. He's agreed."

"I really wish you hadn't told me," Sirius replied as he crossed the street and took the stairs two at a time to get to the front door.

"I thought—I just thought you should know is all."

Sirius sighed as he stood before the warded door, wondering if he could still gain entrance to the house. "I'm gonna regret this, I just know it."

"It's not what you're thinking—" Regulus sighed. "Come on, the sooner you have a look, the sooner you can be on your way."

"Right." Sirius reached for the handle  and pushed on the mechanism and opened the door and poked his head in—"Mummy, I'm home!"

"You're late—" she screeched from one of the first floor rooms.

Sirius could feel the disdain in the air, sneered and rolled his eyes, and then he heard his father scolding his mother from the library. Orion Black emerged into the long corridor to view his older, wayward son. "Sirius, so good to see you. You're looking quite fit!" He extended his hand. Sirius hesitated a moment but then took his father's hand and squeezed it hard as he shook it. His father was definitely the nicer of his two parents, but he doubted the sincerity of the welcome.

"Thanks, Dad. What am I supposed to see?"

"Won't you say hello to your mother?"

Sirius peeked around the doorway into the library where his mother was still seated before a large mirrored fireplace. He walked in and stood behind her so that she'd see ten different versions of her son and he waved quickly and projected a wicked grin toward her. "Hullo Mummy! Miss me?"

"Sirius honestly," his father said under his breath.

"Yeah, thought so." He looked hard at his father. "Can I go look now?"