Padfoot and The Mermaid

Chapter Twenty-Three ~ Return to Hogwarts

A week had already passed by, putting an end to the first half of winter break. (y/n) and Sirius had refrained from any and all interactions in a romantic sort of way, though both found it sort of detoxifying. The break showed just how much they needed each other, it felt strange to them to refrain from everything, even when they were seeing each other on the daily. 

Today was a little different, (y/n)'s parents had gone out on some sort of unexplained adventure, and they would be returning at seven, meaning that (y/n) and Sirius had the house to themselves.

"I'm sorry about my father, I can tell he's giving you hard time." (y/n) said, she was clear and concise with her words, Sirius could tell that she really meant what she said. 

"Hard time? No never." Sirius scoffed, his voice began to tremor, he couldn't hide the fact that he completely feared the man. Eugene was much taller than him, and much more powerful, plus he was a merman, there was something chilling about that part of him that Sirius could never understand. 

"At least we'll be back kissing Dumbledore's ass soon." Sirius sighed, he enjoyed the freedom of the break, even with all its regulations that came from (y/n)'s parents. 

There was a pause for a moment, though (y/n) was truly at a loss of words, she didn't feel like mentioning anything, she didn't want to ruin the moment. They sat before the ocean on a small little blanket, (y/n)'s feet were buried in the sand, even though they'd nearly gone numb now. Sirius sat beside her, his hand was placed gently on top of hers. 

"Yknow, I really like the ocean." Sirius blurted, it was a sort of random and completely spontaneous thing to say, though that was completely normal for the boy. He was a wildcard, perhaps that explained his fear for Eugene, he'd never met someone so similar to him in his life. 

It's as the saying goes, girls really do choose boys like their fathers.

"It's even better when it's not freezing." (y/n) teased, she scooted closer to Sirius, and she rested her head on his shoulder. It brought a warm feeling throughout her body, she could no longer feel the chilling effects of the cold winter breeze, or the numbing feeling in her feet.

"I hear in some parts of the world that waters so clear you can see right to the bottom." Sirius marveled, he'd only dreamt of visiting a place like that. He'd love to see a place like that with (y/n), once he got past telling her everything and all. 

"They are, it's wonderful." (y/n) raved, she was immediately transported back to summer vacation in Spain, she missed the warm waters and clear skies, though she loved her home as well. 

"We ought to head back, or my fingers'll go green." Sirius teased, he was referencing a favorite movie of theirs.

"I suppose you're right." 

...

The last day of winter vacation was a strange one, (y/n), Sirius, and Remus spent the day out in the meadow near Remus's place. It was short but well lived, and the following day was filled with emotions. Though (y/n) seemed sort of standoffish to her parents, she still loved them very much, and it was always hard on her to leave them. 

"I love you." (y/n) said to her mother as she gave her a hug, she buried her face in the woman's shoulder trying her best to hide her tears.

"I love you too, but c'mon now, you've got your seventh year to finish up now. Make it count." The woman said, she smiled and pat her daughters shoulder. 

(y/n) nodded and lunged her trunk down the front steps of her childhood home, she looked out at the others who were waiting for her. She smiled at them and continued to drag her trunk to the large car that was parked out front.

"You ready?" Her father asked.

"Of course I'm ready." (y/n) mumbled, she sat in the back seat with the others, they made Sirius sit in the back row alone, though he didn't detest to it.

The car ride to the station was practically silent, there was not much to be said to one another, plus the tentions were high, no one wanted to piss each other off right before start of school.

The car finally reached the station, Sirius sighed as his eyes laid upon it. He had a strange relationship with Hogwarts. His mates were there or course, and (y/n) too, his newfound joy, but he couldn't help but feel like it was a fake happiness that he felt there. He was simply hiding away from his family, and returning to a broken home on the holiday. 

This year was different, Sirius had had a real holiday, a real christmas, and for the first time he'd truly felt happy. Even with Eugene on his trail and all the secrets that were being kept, he still managed to enjoy himself.

"Well, this is it." Eugene said, (y/n) nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. She'd been relatively annoyed with her father this winter, though she still loved him so much. They had a sort of bond that could stand the test of time.

"I guess." (y/n) mumbled, she dropped her trunk and gave her father one last hug, she squeezed him tight to make sure he was truly there.

"C'mon, I don't want you missing the train." Eugene said, he let go of (y/n) and spun her around, she was ashamed of her tears and didn't dare look at Remus nor Sirius. 

"I know." (y/n) muttered in response to her father, she grabbed her trunk and regrouped with the others, who were already headed for platform nine and three quarters.

"Hey, wait up." (y/n) called out, Sirius and Remus spun around and smiled.

"Took you long enough." Remus teased.

"I was having a little heart to heart." (y/n) teased back. She then turned to Sirius "I really am sorry about my father." (y/n) added.

"I already told you, nothing bad ever happened." Sirius said reassuringly, he didn't want to dwell on the topic any longer, since he knew the conversation would lead to someplace awful and the two would be left in a bitter stale mate.

"Well i'm glad then." (y/n) mumbled, she didn't want to pester the boy any longer, it would make things awkward on the train.

The final whistle blew, bringing some urgency to the trio as they rushed to platform nine and three quarters. (y/n) and the others had managed to snag a nice little compartment in the back of the train, that's where most of the upper class men sat.

They eventually managed to find the other Marauders, or more so they found them. There was a great deal of exchanging stories, though it sounded like (y/n) and Sirius had had more fun than James and Peter, who didn't even receive any snow in their area. 

"No snow? We even got snow, and we were on the coast." Sirius boasted.

"Oh piss off, christmas is still christmas with snow or not." James hissed, his mood was quite fowl, for reasons that no one could understand. 

"I suppose you're right James." (y/n) said with a smile, she'd managed to better the boys mood, just slightly.

"We're back to kissing Dumbledores ass." Sirius snickered.

"Of course we are."