Love & Scars

43. What Now?

Izzie stayed in the hospital wing for four days. After thorough check-ups from not only Pomfrey but also McGonagall and Dumbledore, she was allowed to go back to the tower. Much to the delight of Pomfrey, because the six of them had all pushed their beds together and weren't particularly quiet unless Izzie was asleep.

Since the bond was broken and Sirius and Izzie could touch each other, they barely kept their hands off each other. Not perse snogging, but just little touches that they weren't able to do before. Intertwining their hands together as they walked through the halls, bumping their shoulders as they sat next to each other, Izzie leaned her head on his shoulder as she fell asleep.

Or like now, they were sitting in the common room, it was New Year's Eve, and they decided to do absolutely nothing. James and Lily were snuggled together in an armchair, whispering to each other. Remus was sprawled out on the couch, a book in his hand, as Regulus lay between his legs, his head resting on Remus's stomach, reading his own book as Remus ran his fingers through his hair.

Sirius was leaning against the fireplace; his legs stretched out in front of him. He was listening to his Walkman, playing Izzie on repeat. Said girl was lying with her head on his lap, and he was playing absentmindedly with her hair.

Izzie was waving her wand wistfully in front of her, making things appear and disappear with each wave. After feeling drained for months, she couldn't help but play with her magic. She could hear Sirius turn up the music, filling her ears. She was surprised she heard her own voice.

She lowered her hand and tilted her head so she could look at him. His eyes were closed, his long dark eyelashes rested on his cheek, and there was a soft smile on his lips. She reached for his free hand and intertwined their fingers together. She saw him sigh contentedly before he brought her knuckles to his lips.

"What are we going to do when everyone gets back? What do we say?" Regulus asked as he sat up on the couch, tearing her eyes away from the guy she loved. She loved! She still couldn't wrap her head around it.

"I haven't the foggiest." She confessed. She pushed herself up, much to Sirius's dismay, who scooted closer to her immediately. "Do you think your parents know?"

Sirius took the headphones off, and Lily and James stopped their flirty banter and whispers to look at them.

"I would be surprised if they don't, with the tapestry and all..."

"What happens to the people who die?" She asked, and she felt Sirius stiffen next to her. She intertwined their fingers again.

"There comes a cross behind their names. But I don't know about you... You were gone for two hours, maybe? I don't know if it would've changed."

"She will figure it out soon enough. I'm not hiding from them. Dumbledore might keep them out of Hogwarts, but once we graduate. I'm not locking myself up, that's for sure."

"What are you going to do after school?" Sirius asked, looking down at their intertwined fingers.

"Hopefully, I'll have found a flat by then. My mum left me enough for me to get me through the first years, but jobwise, no idea." She smiled to herself as she said. "Before everything, my father wanted me to work at the ministry. Do you see me in a stuffy old desk job?" She snorted, and Sirius grinned at her. Because no, nobody could see her doing that. "I had a plan to stick it to him. I wanted to be a singer. Ridiculous, I know."

"Never," Sirius said, kissing her temple. "If anyone can be a world-famous singer, it would be you."

"You are just saying that because I'm your girlfriend." She teased.