Growing Up

Part 65.

Sirius buttoned and fidgeted with his forrest green suit and moved around to fit the tight hem, one that hardly fit him correctly years ago. He looked in the mirror and tilted his head, trying to recognize himself. He was walking back into a part of his life that he swore to never consider again. His mother was gone, his brother was gone, and he took his fighting chance to leave. He won, and he'd be damned if they didn't know.

"You look nice."

Sirius' eyes shifted to the side of the mirror he was looking in to see Remus with his arms folded, leaning against the doorframe.

"I know you don't want to go."

"Is it obvious?" Remus said unwaveringly. His corduroy pants matched his large jacket, his white button up was clean and unwrinkled.

"Is that my shirt?"

Remus looked down at his white collard shirt that he took out of Sirius' side of the closet, smiling.
"I can see why you might think that.

He reached into his pockets and pulled out two cigarettes, pointing to the window for Sirius to open. He took a seat at the nook and tilted his head to signal Remus. Once he sat, he stretched his legs out over Remus' and held his hand out.

"You're smoking?"

"I'm stressed. Thanks to you."

The two watched the busy evening street fill with small people. They pointed to the people who stood out and created small scenes of what they'd be doing. After Remus' final inhale, Sirius asked him.

"Harry's getting dressed?"

"Yep, first wedding. He's excited."

Sirius blew out aggressively. "He shouldn't be."

Remus knew this truth and the point he tried to make, but understood. It was too late to back out.

"I remember my first wedding." Sirius ashed his cigarette.

"Hm? What was it like?" Remus put his out and grabbed another.

"I got drunk and she broke my elbow."

Remus choked on his breath and started to cough until his eyes welled with tears. Outlandish commentary was natural for Sirius, but something like an inflicted broken bone always seemed to catch him off guard.

"What?"

"I was nine."

"And drinking?"

Sirius laughed and tipped his cigarette into his two fingers.

"Love, I was drinking wine at seven. That was the day I found out i could block out any family event with a bottle."

Remus watched him in silent shock as he continued to explain the gory details of the accident. Orion had caught him first, slamming him into the steel fridge. Young Sirius in a terrified manner clawed at him in an effort to free himself from his father's grip. In a frantic instant, Sirius had kicked him in the abdomen, sending Orion backward and doubled over, groaning. Before he got around to strangle the child, Walburga walked up in a calm fashion, grabbed Sirius' hand, and pinned it between his shoulder blades. As his father watched, Sirius yelped out a shrieking cry. When the back of his hand reached the nape of his neck, he heard a snapping sound and fell to the ground.

"I woke up in my bed with a wicked itch under the cast. That was probably the worst part."

Before Remus could rebuke this outrageous statement, running footsteps approached the door as Harry ran in, clinging to the door with a smile.