Red

Red Part 2

The last time Sirius Black saw you was in the Ministry in 1981. You were crying and bleeding on the floor as Aurors pinned you down with their feet in a humiliating display. So when you walked through the kitchen just before the start of the first Order meeting, it didn't seem real.

Appalled would be the most accurate way to describe many of the room's reactions to your presence. Both Molly and Arthur stared like you were on fire. Their eyes are 3 inches into your skin. To the majority of the room, you had died in 1988 shortly after your release. A deadman does not walk into the room even with dark magic. You joined Severus at the other end of the table from the Weasley's. Eventually the stares were broken by Albus's comment on the table placements. Severus made brief eye contact with you to acknowledge your presence.

It was obvious halfway into the meeting that there was going to be confrontation. The tension in the room was high, no one seemed to be comfortable with you in the room. Particularly with Molly and Arthur but you weren't sure if McGonagall was going to join in. There was plenty of resentment and unplaced anger to go around. So you stayed seated when the meeting ended. Leaning into hear Severus spoke quietly something about Barty Jr getting the dementors kiss. You nodded in response. Nothing more you could do.

After the room initially cleared out, there were more people left than expected. Remus, Sirius, and Moody had decided to invite themselves to the conversation. Dumbledore had apparated as quickly as he could before the tension folded in on itself. Then it was a waiting game to see who would speak up first. Sirius took the bait.

"How dare you come here tonight."

"Albus invited me. I am here to help the Order."

"It's bad enough we already have a spy, but you. You're a convicted death eater- a traitor."
"I was not just let out of Azkaban, you would understand that."

Remus placed a hand on Sirius. Sirius let his argument drop.

"I never betrayed the Order and I never" You turned to the Weasley's. "Ever betrayed your family."

Arthur was the first of the pair to speak. "They told us you died."

"This life is a fate worse than death."

Severus decided that was enough and stood up abruptly. He didn't even speak to you as he moved to leave. The door opened before Severus placed a hand on it. It was Bill Weasley, albeit a grown up version of him. You stood up in response to seeing him and any conversation died right there. Severus pushed past Bill, with you following quickly behind. Grabbing Severus's forearm you apparated the two of you back to your house in Oxford.

"Do you find pleasure in making life difficult?"

"Hardly a thing to say to me of all people."

Severus took a hard look at you. As if for a second he didn't believe it was you. His eyes didn't move from your face. They pierced into you like the Weasleys had but this time you let him in.

"If you insist on reentering the Order in this fashion, I implore you to leave me out of it."

"I was never a part of the original Order."

It looked as if he was going to scold you. Tell you off for your snide comment. Something he'd do to students. His voice was hushed and the conversation hurried.

"I've been waiting for you to come back."

"I would have come back sooner if I could have, you know that."

"How's your brother?"

"As well as he can be."

"How are you doing?"