Written In the Stars ⭒ Sirius Black

Chapter Eighty Seven: We're Just Kids

Dear Sirius and Opal,

Not only has Harry now broken two vases and almost killed Crookshanks three times (poor cat, feel so bad for him) Harry has flown into the wall leaving a huge dent. James said it's payback for getting Sapphire a broomstick.

James also says he misses you deerly (he made me spell it like that)

I've also been decluttering through a lot of the stuff we came here with, and found a few pictures from our school days. There are a couple of Marls, I thought that Cas would like to go through them.

Tell her we said hello, I've sent her a couple letters, but I understand if she doesn't want to write back.

Harry misses you all,

Lots of love,

Lily xx

(James and Harry)

★☆★☆

15th October 1981

"Mama!" Sapphire said, stumbling towards her mother, who was sitting on the sofa going through all the pictures Lily had sent her.

"Yes, my little gem?" she said, stroking her curls.

She leant on her legs, looking at the pictures pointing at one of Remus.

"We see Moon?" she asked. "Or Pongs?"

"I'm sorry Sapphie, we can't see them."

Her little face screwed up, a tantrum brewing. "But- but you said we could see them!"

"I know, I know," she said, softly. "But they're really busy. What about Uncle Wormtail?"

"Wormy!"

"Let me ask if he would like to come round for dinner," Opal smiled, she headed over to the fireplace as Sapphire went back to her toys.

She wasn't sure if he would answer, his mother had gotten worse from her illness, she hadn't heard anything from him in weeks.

"Opal?" she heard his voice from the fireplace.

"Hey Pete, Saph is missing you boys and I thought it would be nice if you came round for dinner, if that's okay with you? Hope brought round a casserole earlier."

He looked around warily.

"Pete?"

"Uh, yeah?" he asked, looking at her. "I'll come now, shall I?"

"That would be great." Opal nodded.

A moment later he was standing in the living room, she noticed how pale he had gotten, his eyes looked red with soreness, almost as if he hadn't slept in weeks.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Mum's been a bit rough the past couple of days, but she's starting to get better."

"If you ever need a hand I can always come round when you're not feeling great."

"No, no, you're alright. She's getting better."

She smiled sympathetically before calling her daughter over.

"Uncle Wormtail's here, Saph!"

She ran over about to hug Peter before stopping abruptly.

"What's wrong? Say hello to Uncle Wormy."

She shook her head, hiding behind her mother's leg.

"I don't know what has gotten into her, Pete, sorry." She said, picking her up, Sapphire buried her face into her mother's neck. "She was excited a moment ago."

Peter shook his head, "It's alright, she's not seen me in a while."

"When's Pa-foot coming?"

"Your father will be here soon. Go and play with your toys if you're not going to say hello." Opal said, putting her down. "Oh, Lily sent some pictures from when we were at school." she walked over to the coffee table, handing him the stack.

"She took a picture of this?" he stifled a laugh, showing her the picture of the boys in the skirts after the prank war.

"That is one of my favourites, oh and this one from the ball." she said, picking up the one she had already framed, it was just after she had unknowingly kissed Sirius, they wore their pyjamas and Opal was in her second dress of the evening, she noticed that Sirius wasn't looking at the camera, instead he was looking at her.

She handed it to him and he smiled softly. "I wish we could go back to that time. We were so young."

"I think that was our best year, don't you think?" she agreed. "Oh, would you like some tea?"

He nodded, making his way through all the photo's.

"I was thinking, I should get Mary to come round for dinner, seeing a Cas is staying with us, make it a little dinner party or something," she called out.

The front door opened, Sirius and Dorcas were due back.

"Pa-foot!" Sapphire squealed excitedly, Opal looked through the serving hatch window, expecting to see Dorcas, but she wasn't with him.

"Cas coming later?" she asked. "I was just telling Peter we should get Mary to come round–" her voice trailed off as Sirius shook his head, he trudged into the kitchen.

Her tone changed. "What happened?" she asked as her chest tightened. "Where is she?"

"Opal-"

Opal shook her head. "Sirius, where is she?"

"She–" he swallowed, putting his hand on her arm. "You-Know-Who, he– Opal he killed-"

"No." she cried. "There's no way–"

"I saw it," he whispered.

Opal dropped to her knees as Sirius wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead.

"I'm so sorry Opal,"

"Why mama cry?"

"Oh, Sapphire," Sirius said gently, adding her to the hug.

"I make mama better?" she mirrored Sirius and kissed her mother's forehead.

Opal held onto her close.

"Better now?" Sapphire asked.

She nodded, chewing her lips to hold back the tears, but she was unsuccessful.

"Saph, why don't you go and play with your toys, I'll come in a moment," Sirius said, stroking his daughter's head.

She nodded and walked away.

Opal took in a deep breath as Sirius wiped away her tears.

Dorcas was gone.

Another one of her friends was dead.

They weren't even twenty-two yet.

They were just kids.

"How many more people are going to die because of him?" she whispered.

"I don't know," Sirius shook his head. "I don't know."

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