FOR ALL WE KNOW, regulus black

6. remus lupin reads kafka

Not as annoying as his brother, but a really close second – this is the definition Sadie would give if someone was to ask her to describe Sirius Black. It's not that he has ever done anything wrong in particular, it's just that he's basically the personification of an overwhelmingly active puppy.

Sadie is walking by his side right now, as Sirius is ranting about the newest muggle book Remus had brought him.

"I'm telling you Sadie, Carrie is a masterpiece and Stephen King's a genius!" He sighs, dreamily.

Sadie found his love for muggle stuff - anything from books, to music, to the mere existence of telly - both intriguing and amusing, especially considering his pureblood-loving brother.

She had found out about this passion of his when finally, after days of carefully planning it, Remus and her had convinced both of their groups to hang out together.

"It's just one lunch, come on!" She had begged Michelle, irremovable as always.

"They treated you like shit." She had replied hastily.

"But they didn't know me! Now I can meet them properly and decide if it's worth it or not," Sadie explained, trying to sound as convincing as possible, "Plus, it's an occasion for Dorcas to finally talk to Marlene."

"Hey!" The darker girl had shouted from the other side of the room, yanking a pillow at her, "Don't use me an excuse for your evil scheming!"

Sadie threw her the pillow back, and it all became a childish pillow fight.

But, in the end, it worked anyway, as a few days later they were all sitting at the Gryffindor table for lunch. The first ten minutes, Sadie thinks, had been the most awkward moment in her whole life. Not a single word was uttered from neither parties, except the exchanging of names and the few elevator's conversations – "This weather, huh?" – that both Remus and his sister tried at least a dozen times.

Then, as they were eating, they heard a loud thud – Severus Snape had face planted after standing up from his seat.

"Probably deserved," Sirius scoffed at the scene, "This is called karma."

That had gotten a loud laugh from Michelle, who started complaining about having to actually see him every waking moment because they're in the same House.

It's not what Sadie and Remus expected, but bonding on hating someone else could still be considered bonding, right?

Since then the words around each other had started to come out more and more easily, and every break, lunch, and dinner was spent together at that same spot at the Gryffindor table. They discussed about going over to the Slytherin's one once, but quickly dismissed it as they saw Sirius's face darken just at the thought.

As time had passed they had started to even meet in little groups, and not necessarily with the siblings there to help them communicate. Dorcas, for example, had found herself watching James, Sirius and Marlene's Quidditch practices more often than not, as Sadie's particular dislike for the sport had made her stay away from the pitch since the first day of school.

Now, Sirius is walking Sadie to the Great Hall – Sadie, poor soul, still couldn't find her way around that school, so whenever her House mates could not accompany her, someone else from their new group would help out.

"I'm sure that's a wonderful book Sirius, but I'm more of a classics and poetry kind of gal," Sadie replies to his admiration speech for Carrie, "Ever heard of Sylvia Plath?"

Sirius shakes his head no.

"I'll pass you some books – I think I have The Bell Jar in my room, somewhere."

Sirius looks like he could burst from joy, as they get closer to the big doors. That's when Lily interferes.

"I love Sylvia Plath!" She says, a wide smile on her lips, "Although, I think you'd like more Kafka; something like The Castle, for example." She turns around to Sirius.

"I know it!" He shouts, as if recognizing that name is his proudest achievement, "Moony is like, obsessed with that Kafka guy."

Sadie nods, approaching the table where all of her, new and old, friends are.

"What are you talking about?" Remus says, between a bite and another, as he recognizes his nickname.

"First of all, thank you for waiting for us to start," Sadie replies, ironically, sitting next to him, giving him a dirty look. "Apparently you're obsessed with Kafka."

"Guilty as charged." The brother shrugs. "I love The Metamorphosis. I think I've read it a thousand times."

"Predictable." Sadie chuckles. "You're a geek!"

On the other side of the table, James and Peter are quarreling about whoever Quidditch player – as much as Sadie can understand of the conversation, Michelle is on Peter's side, while Lily, not even sat down yet, is already taking James's side. Marlene and Dorcas, sitting next to each other as predicted, are discussing with Mary about music.

"Where did you find his books, though?" Sadie inquires, taking a plate from the center of the table, "I don't remember Lyall–Dad, having muggle books. Or muggle, anything."

Remus shrugs. "Mum left a lot of stuff behind."

Sadie knows this statement probably doesn't have the connotation she thinks it has, "Listen Remus, I'm so sorry–"

"Didi. It's alright." He shakes his head. "I know mum wanted a muggle life, and that she would've taken me too, if it wasn't for– well, you know."

She nods, biting her lip in a regretful manner. "Still I– We–we should've gotten you out of that house."

"I've never held it against neither you or her." He smiles. His scars are everything but invisible: they trace every part of his, once smooth, skin.

Sadie wonders if the other people at that table know. If they have asked about them, if they ever put their fingers on them. How has he survived the last years? Did they give them a safe space for his transformation?

She knows that old, crappy basement their father kept him in was the farthest thing from safe and comfort, so she had hoped that in Hogwarts they could treat him better. At least from how highly he had always spoken about Mcgonagall and Madame Poppy, she got the feeling that he was treated how he deserves – with kindness and respect.

She had also tried to ask him, from time to time, in her letters, about his – condition. If it had gotten better or worse with time, if he told other people, how they had treated him, but he always found the way to sway out of the conversation, if he didn't straight up ignore it.

Sadie puts her hand on her brother's, grazing his skin with her fingertips and making small circular movements.

"Okay, stop it– I'm okay, I swear." Remus smiles, or at least he hints a smile.

"Mhm. Doesn't stop me from pampering you from time to time." She replies, putting her head on his shoulder, keeping her fingers dancing on his hand.

"I'm the older one, I am the one supposed to do that." He huffs.

"Doesn't mean you don't deserve it." Sadie smiles, "Let yourself be loved sometimes."

He finally relaxes into her touch. "I missed you, Didi."

"Missed you, too." She sighs on his shoulder, feeling actually relaxed for the first time she actually put foot in Hogwarts. And, even though she can't know it, Remus is feeling the exact same way.

☆ author's note
hii remember when i said i wanted to be more active on here? welp, my town got freaking flooded! :p yea, not that good of a situation, soooo sorry if i haven't had the time to proofread this! hope u can still enjoy it even tho it's a bit of a filler buttt this is the best of what my silly mind could come up with during this not-so-great period! ^^ hope u're all okay, safe and happy, lots of love xoxo