deceit - sirius black

eighteen

Soon enough, March ended, April began, and the Easter holidays were here. Wizards, for the most part, tended not to celebrate Easter itself, but used it as the perfect excuse for two weeks off, especially as most families of the muggleborn students would still be celebrating.

For Sirius, the two weeks off were exciting for different reasons; his girlfriend would finally meet the people he saw as his parents. And, in contrast to school where they were separated by difference in timetables, they would get to spend whole days together, surrounded by the friends he hoped would become hers too.

Sabrina had decided to go straight to the Potters' from Kings' Cross, instead of trying to sort out her living arrangements, which would include asking Sadie (and Seth, as he'd be going home, too) if she could live at their house, and also going back to her house with Sam to collect her belongings. She figured she would enjoy the time at the Potters', and worry about her own family later.

"Nervous, by any chance?" Sirius asked with a grin, noticing her leg bouncing up and down as she sat next to him on the train. Since she was still not on the best terms with Adeline and Natalia, she had sat with Sirius' friends for the journey, and with Lily and Marlene there too, the compartment was very crowded.

"I just want them to like me." she shrugged timidly.

"How could they not?" he smiled, and she sent a smaller one back, leaning her head on his shoulder and falling asleep for the remaining thirty minutes of the journey.

When they got off the train, Fleamont Potter was already there, waiting for them. Sabrina watched the instant dynamic of an extended family; all six of the Gryffindors were welcomed with a hug, and easily the group made the most noise on the platform, happily talking to each other with complete ease.

Sirius, who Sabrina had been standing close to so far, was suddenly distracted by a mix-up with his and Remus' trunks. While he was turned away, Fleamont took the opportunity to introduce himself.

"You must be Sabrina." he smiled.

"Yes," she smiled back, "It's nice to meet you, Mr Potter." She held her hand out for a handshake.

"Don't be silly, dear," he ignored her hand and pulled her into a fatherly hug, like the ones he'd given the others, "The boys call me Monty, and an array of other things my mother would frown upon me repeating, as would my wife," he winked, "But please, none of the formalities, alright?" She nodded with a smile, a lot more nervous than she'd anticipated.

After a journey of Sabrina overthinking what she'd said to Fleamont and ultimately convincing herself he hated her, the group arrived at the Potters' house. The house was like a large version of Gryffindor Tower; it wasn't just warm in temperature, it looked warm.

For somewhere she'd never been before, the house made Sabrina feel very at home. Although she did feel a little out of place as, once again, the boys in particular instantly made themselves at home, not that she could blame them.

"Peter!" came a woman's voice from the doorway to the kitchen, "Shoes off the coffee table! Sirius, take that dirty jacket off before you sit on my sofa, will you? James, help your dad with all the luggag- oh, Remus, you're a star, thank you!"

Euphemia Potter was an older woman, but you wouldn't guess it: her kind eyes kept her young, and she embraced the few grey strands growing into her dark hair. As she approached the teenagers she took off her batter-covered apron, so that she may give them all hugs similar to Fleamont's.

"This must be the girlfriend?" she grinned, looking between Sirius and Sabrina, "You're even more beautiful than Sirius described in his letters." Sabrina wasn't expecting such a tight hug, and was taken by surprise, though it was nice.