𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨-𝙧.𝙖.𝙗

46-truth

JO LIKES TO GO TO THE TOWN SOMETIMES. She doesn't like to leave the house a lot. It's nerve wracking to think that anything could happen to Regulus while she's gone. Especially with the ever-present threat of a spy. Her trips are few and far between, considering. But every few weeks or so, she will put a scarf over her head and walk to the local village, despite the new and growing chill of autumn, and buy meats and pantry items and whatever she sees that reminds her of Regulus that day. Sometimes she buys little muggle toys for Harry, sometimes she'll get Lily some flowers, feeling bad that Lily doesn't have as much access to them as she used to.

She likes to linger among the muggles, watching them go about their daily business, so unaware of dangers that could creep into their village at any moment. It's nice to see people complain about the rising prices of produce and how busy they are with work. It's better than the constant news of death and destruction Jo's gotten used to.

Lingering in the aisle of the market, Jo examines a can of pineapples, squinting as she reads the label, wondering why muggles would ever chop up fruit just to put it in a can. Though, she has to admit, that if she couldn't chop up her fruit with just the wave of a wand, that maybe buying it prepared like that would be a bit of a treat. She tosses it in her cart.

Things have been alright, lately, Jo has to admit. Calm, at the very least. And maybe Jo has to admit that might have something to do with the little protective bubble that her and Regulus live under. It is nothing but the two of them, sometimes James and sometimes little Harry. But it's easy like that.

Bad news can still find them, of course. Sirius won't even speak Jo's name. Dorcas is still missing. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named still at large. Disappearances and deaths. But there's good news too. Dumbeldore's closer to destroying that ugly yellow locket that Regulus nearly died getting. Alice and Frank are in love with their newborn son Neville, whose photos are proudly displayed all over the Potter kitchen. Remus writes Jo almost daily, as does Hestia. Emmeline writes from France, not disclosing her missions but assuring Jo that things are not as bad as they seem, and are, in fact, getting better.

And Jo is almost starting to believe it. Regulus has a hand in that. It's hard to be pessimistic with him around. With her husband around.

James nearly lost it when Jo told him. She watched as his eyes nearly pop out of his head and echoed back to her, "Married?" Jo was bracing for some sort of chastising from her brother, but what she got instead was watery eyes and a tight hug that pinned her arms to her side. "Josie," he had practically cried, "I'm so happy for you!"

And if she was shocked, Regulus was absolutely aghast when James had turned and done the same to thing, embracing him like it's just something he had always done. Jo remembers how Regulus gave her a look of horror over her brother's shoulder. "And you! I can't believe you've made an honest man of my sister! We're brothers now!"

It was endearing, really. Jo smiles as she thinks of it now.

She wanders down the aisles, buying a few things she needs and several more that she doesn't. She nearly squeals as she finds a box of mac and cheese that looks like it's made with that magical muggle powder she's always wanted to try. Her cart is almost full as she wanders among bags of day-old bread.

"Jo?"

Immediately, the hairs on her neck go up. Before she turns around to see who called her name, her eyes find the muggles around her, hand going to wand in her pocket. But Jo instantly relaxes once she does turn, and sees that it's just Peter standing there, sticking out like a sore thumb in the muggle market in his traditional robes. She raises an eyebrow at him. "Pete? What are you doing here?"

Peter looks to his right and to his left, assessing the shop before he takes quick, hurried steps towards her. "Jo, I've been looking for you for ages. Where have you been?"