The Waiting Game▬RL 1

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The Potter Mansion was rather quiet. Both the siblings were in their respectable rooms. Trying to ignore the lingering tension. Not only did James Potter walk in on his sister and best friend snogging. He had also encountered the sight of Remus' hands groping her behind. James was not okay with that. Sure, he wanted them to be together but he didn't want to see the intimate parts.

Renee Potter was also very confused and disgruntled. Being with Remus was amazing—in that way. The physical way. She liked having someone to lock lips with and to hold her. But she didn't want to limit herself to one person yet. Lupin is amazing: a great friend, trustworthy, smart, handsome. She could go on and on. He would be the most perfect boyfriend in the entire world. However, Renee Potter was not ready for the responsibility of having a relationship. She just wished he would have only wanted her for her body. But he didn't. He wanted everything, even told her on the Platform. The little voice in the back of her head didn't help. It screamed out her insecurities and made her feel numb. Being close to Remus only amplified that.

Once again Remus was hurting. He wanted to blame her. Wanted to be angry with her. But how could he? They both wanted something different, maybe in the future they could be together but right now she was looking for something easy. Remus Lupin knew he was anything but easy. He would do anything for Renee. But he couldn't throw away his deep feelings just to be with her. And not really with her. He needed the title; he desperately wanted the boyfriend title. That's why he's decided to just stop. Everything to do with Renee, he's going to turn the other way. It's going to fucking hurt.

✿

Renee stepped up to her brother's door, a plate of cookies in her hands. She balanced the dish and quietly knocked. "Jamie? I've unlocked the floo," she called as she slowly made her way in. The boy in question was lying on his bed, tossing a quaffle above him. He placed the ball beside him as he sat up. Gesturing for her to take a seat. The girl offered the plate to him shyly and crossed her legs on the bed.

"Thanks. While you were chatting with your boyfriend, I let Sirius know that we'd keep it open to him." He smirked, grabbing a goodie.

"Nice try, while you were chatting with your boyfriend, Remus and I decided we wouldn't work out." She specified stuffing her face with a cookie. James did the same, inspecting his sister.

"You were working out pretty well in my dorm." He argued, not realizing his implication.

"Gross!" She hit him with the quaffle and stood up knocking the cookies to the ground.

"No, my cookies." James sighed exasperated. Renee trudged out of his room, leaving him with a mess.

✿

Christmas Eve was the quietest it had ever been. Renee had made a nice dinner for them and then they both parted ways to go to bed. The girl finally got to sleep when there was a scream echoing throughout the large home. "Ren! Ren! Owl Mum and Dad now! Tell them to go to St. Mungo's." James burst into her room. Renee was already sitting up in bed, alerted by the scream. James was covered in blood, but he looked to be in good shape. The younger sibling ran to their owl and promptly scrawled out a vague message. She then shrugged on her housecoat and bounded down the stairs. The sight was a nasty one. He was almost unrecognizable. The thing that caught her attention was the leather jacket she had gotten him a month ago.

St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries was empty. Being a holiday, Renee was not surprised. The place was quite eerie. Flickering, bright lights, occasional coughs, her skin was crawling. "Hello! Can anyone help us!?" She called out, placing her hand on James' free shoulder. The other was occupied by a battered Sirius Black. The boy was going in and out of consciousness. His eyes flutter shut every few minutes. "Hello!"

"Hey! No yelling in the hospital kid!" A man stated, coming around a corner before stopping dead in his tracks. "Blimey, what happened to your friend?"

"Help!" The two Potters screamed at the clueless man. He scrambled forward, taking Sirius' other arm.

✿

"Where are they? Where's our kids?" Euphemia's voice rang out, waking both her children. Renee popped her head around the corner, seeing her parents at the reception. "Ren, sweetheart, what happened?"

"Well, I don't know, James?" The girl walked slowly to her mum, being enveloped quickly in a hug. Fleamont busied himself with the hospital paperwork.

"Sirius, he ran away from home."

"Where is he?" The twins pointed at his door.

"But they said only his parents or guardians could see him." Renee scuffed her slippers on the tile. Euphemia just scoffed before she disappeared behind the door. James scrambled in behind her. Leaving the quieter Potter's in the waiting room. "Dad, we left the floo open for him. I know you said no friends, but James was worried." Fleamont placed his hand on her shoulder, looking down at her over his glasses.

"Don't worry darling, Alastor is over there right now. And you two did the right thing. Plus, Sirius is more like family."

✿

The three kids sat in James' room on the floor. They were passing around Ren's last joint. "Merlin Renny, I knew you were cool. But I didn't know you were this cool." Sirius laughed, taking one last puff.

"She's not as cool as me though. Never could be." The girl just lay down. Her mind and heart finally felt at peace.

"When we were at the hospital, Dad said it was okay we left the floo open for you because you're not our friend." She paused, turning her head to see the older boy, "And he's right—you're family Siri." Sirius didn't know how to respond to that so he just nodded. Overwhelmed with appreciation.