Chapter 76

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~ Traveling, I only stop at exits wondering if I'll stay,

Young and restless, living this way. ~ 

***

Grimmauld Place was back to its haunting self with all the Hogwarts students gone. It was the first of September, the start of a new term, and the Order had just returned from sending the kids off to the wizarding school.

Sirius had accompanied them in his Animagus form, promising to stay close and come straight back after seeing Harry off at the station. Felicity had stayed behind with Molly, clearing up after breakfast.

The future was uncertain yet the possibility of a second wizarding war being waged after Voldemort's return was rather plausible. Fel picked up the latest copy of the Daily Prophet and threw it in the trash, feeling that was truly where it belonged.

So far, the press was spitting nonsense about Harry being a delusional, attention-seeking teenager cooking up the story of Voldemort's return. Either they were delusional enough not to accept it, or the Dark Lord himself was controlling them.

The front door opened to let in the entourage that had just returned from King's Cross. Walburga Black's screaming insults announced their arrival until the curtain was drawn shut over the painting again.

Sirius looked irritated as always and he also seemed sad since Harry was gone. He flopped down exhaustively on the stool beside the kitchen counter and Fel wrapped up her work to join him.

"I thought you would be in a happier mood, finally going out in the daylight," she remarked, blue eyes observing him closely.

"You talk as if I am a vampire cooped in here because the sun would burn me," he replied, the retort not lost upon her.

She saw how his lips were pressed together and he was still slightly agitated. It couldn't just be due to hearing the insults Walburga Black's portrait threw at them on a daily basis. Something else was wrong too.

"What happened?" Felicity's voice shook him out f his thoughts and he tilted his head slightly to look at her.

"We ran into Malfoy and his son at the station," he replied, "snotty fellows, as always..."

"And?"

"And I miss Harry," he sighed softly, realizing why everything felt twice worse, "I know, I know, he has to go to school. I can't keep him here when the term has started. But... But things were better with him around, y'know. It was almost like... Almost like I had gotten James back."

His voice broke at those words and her eyes also softened, glistening with a sadness they knew too well by then.

"But he's not James," she put her hand comfortingly on his shoulder, "he's James's little boy. There's a difference."

"I know... Moony keeps telling me the same," he looked away, gently brushing her hand off him, "But he looks so much like James that it... That you could get fooled for a split second. Until you see Lily's eyes look back from behind his spectacles."

She hummed in reply, knowing Sirius would normally never open up to someone. He must be feeling overwhelmed and after all this time, he thought only she could understand where he was coming from.

He was right. She understood him very well.

The pain of losing someone very close and then seeing their likeness everyday was truly painful. She had learned that from watching her mother and how she could simply not hide at times that Felicity reminded her a lot of Alphard.

"Harry is all we have got of James and Lily," she remarked, feeling his gaze on her again, "and we have sworn to protect him, no matter what happens. Sirius, I hope you realize why I am saying this... Harry needs us more than ever now. We need to be strong for him and that won't happen if we keep dwelling on the past."

His hands clenched tightly together, "You're asking me to forget? But how... Why...?"

"I am not asking you to forget," she elaborated, "I am asking you to accept that as Harry's godfather, you have to be there for him. And that can only be possible if you are alive and safe. Don't take any risks like the one you took today by going to the station."

His features drew together in a disapproving look but as he thought about it, he understood why she was telling him all that. She was trying to look out for him, just like he had always looked out for her earlier.

"Alright, I get it why you're giving me such a lecture today," he relented, squeezing her hand gently in assurance, "I promise you that I won't do anything stupid. And I promise to stay here because apparently it will keep me safe..."

"Good," she replied but couldn't help the slight smile that tugged upon her lips to see him roll his eyes.

Some things never changed, especially Sirius's disdain for sticking to what he was ordered to do.

"Each time you think of leaving or doing anything stupid that can get you in danger, just think about Harry," she advised, her wise blue eyes looking firmly at him, "remind yourself that you have to be there for him when he needs you. Okay?"

He nodded, "Okay. Now, has the lecture finished, Professor Fel, or do I have to listen more?"

She shook her head, the smile widening only a fraction, "No, no, you can go. I am not that cruel to bore you with lectures any longer."

The main door opened again and Remus stepped in so Sirius quickly went to him to tell him about the encounter with Lucius and his bratty son. Felicity watched that interaction, thinking this was as close to normal as they could get in such uncertain times.

She hoped the looming threat of war didn't devour the very few loved ones who were still with her. She would do all it took to fight for their safety and happiness.

"Hey, Fel," Remus passed her a small smile, putting down the bag of groceries at the kitchen counter, "tell Molly I got the things she wanted."

She nodded, tallying all the items from the list he gave her. She did not know when their brief normal would end. But if it did, she hoped they would all make through it alive.

She couldn't bear the thought of another death, another loss.

***

A/N: Sorry for the really looooooooooongggg delay on this story. I had the worst writer's block and couldn't find enough time to continue writing this. But I will try to update this regularly now and take it to completion. Thank you for being patient, supportive, and so loving toward this story and the characters.

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