cherry wine ( remus lupin )

5.12; making up minds

Returning to the house she had grown up in felt like stepping into a familiar dream. The scent of the garden, the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze, and the warm air were all comforting in their way. As Arabella walked up the path, she noticed Gran, bent over in the garden, h er hands busy tending to the plants. The sight made Arabella smile, a wave of nostalgia washing over her as she opened the door and stepped inside.

Dropping her bags off in her bedroom, she took a moment to soak in the peaceful quiet of the house. The familiar creak of the floorboards, the soft afternoon light streaming through the windows—it was all just as she remembered. With a satisfied sigh, she made her way back downstairs, drawn to the kitchen by the scent of something sweet.

On the kitchen island, a bowl of freshly picked strawberries sat gleaming in the sunlight. Without thinking, she reached for one, its bright red skin soft under her fingers, and popped it into her mouth. "Didn't check if they're washed." Gran walked into the kitchen folding towels and placing them on the table.

"50/50 chance." Shrugging it off. "Speaking of, I'm going to the bookshop around the corner."

Ruby put her hands on her hips a little bit. "You just got home."

"We don't happen to have Great Gatsby here?" Knowing that they had a bookshelf that had almost dozens of books.

Ruby had since she was a baby. Now that she was already interested in The Great Gatsby because of Remus. Arabella thought what could hurt her finishing the book. Even though she would rather be sleeping right now. It was something that she could do in her free time. "Check, if not there's quid in on the counter you can use." Pointing to the pounds that were on the table. Before she had made her way outside of the house.

For a moment, Arabella had finished the strawberry in her hand. Before wiping them and making her way to the living room. Going to the bookshelf that was stuffed with books, even some that were sideways so that they could fit on the shelf.

Running her fingers along the books trying to find something. It wasn't on the shelf which she was kind of shocked about. Grabbing the quid from the table before grabbing her bike which was parked outside of the house, and had a little basket in front of it. Arabella had made her way to the little bookshop that was just around the corner of the house.

Riding her bike around the neighbourhood was something that she would never forget or want to forget. It was such a beautiful moment in her mind. The way her hair would blow in the wind, lowly; and out of her face. Wearing the same clothes that she had worn earlier on the Hogwarts Express.

She drove past people living their own lives. It seemed like they had their own little stories as well. That she wanted to peek her head inside of. Like a book, she was reading to some child. Yet, the stories all seemed to be too different to put together. Like her own.

The ride past, the frosty lands that were slowly turning into the north pole. Snow was expected someday this week. Arabella loved snow, everything about it. Zipping up her puffer jacket as she got off of her bike. Arabella had parked it to the side and jogged up the steps of the bookshop opening the door to a clinging sound. Something was always so homey every time she walked in here. Which wasn't the most often. She wouldn't be shocked if they didn't recognize her since she was a baby inside of the shop.

Going up to the front desk, she smiled looking at the person. "Do you have the Great Gatsby?" The words had flowed out of her mouth. Once they had. She stopped in her spot for a moment, blinking.

"Did you look?" The worker asked.

"No," Confessing. Squinting her eyes a little bit. "You see, I'm not a book person. Just shoes and pie. So...I was thinking since you are a book person and get paid to do so."

The person behind the desk nodded her head before moving from her spot and going into one of the aisles. Arabella didn't say anything and just smiled looking to the side of the bookshop outside of it. Everyone continued to walk past, instead of coming in. Some people would, there was one couple holding hands.

Arabella couldn't lie when she thought it would be nice to spend Christmas with someone who loved her. Yet, she liked the freedom. Not wanting to be tied up in something like that again. That she might suffocate because of the burning smoke that would surround her. "Here," Handing her a copy of The Great Gatsby.

Handing the person the quid that she owed for it. "Merlin's gift." Kissing the book and waving it off to the women. Before Arabella smiled and made her way out of the bookshop holding onto it, and jumping on her bike again to go back to the house and continue to read where she had left off.

. . .

Dinner had come and gone, and Arabella found herself helping Ruby tidy up what little there was to clean. Ruby, as usual, used magic to handle most of the mess with a flick of her wand, plates stacking themselves neatly and leftovers vanishing into containers.

But when it came to the dishes, Ruby insisted Arabella do them the Muggle way—no shortcuts. With a resigned sigh, Arabella rolled up her sleeves and began scrubbing, warm water running over her hands as she washed each plate, the rhythmic sound of clinking silverware filling the quiet kitchen.

The Great Gatsby lay on the dining room table, the pages slightly crinkled from where Arabella had been reading during dinner.

She glanced over at it as she worked, thinking about the world within its pages, the life and extravagance so different from her own. "How has Remus been?" Ruby asked the woman, leaning on the counter a little bit and moving her wand to put the food into the fridge.

Arabella was taken aback by this question; turning back down to the sink and running water on her hands. "Not sure," Shrugging her shoulders, trying to avoid anything.

"You cut Remus out too?" Those words came sharper from her Gran's mouth more than they had ever done coming out of Clara's mouth.

She didn't feel in control when it came to whatever was going on with her and Remus. Arabella didn't like it one bit. "He cut me out." Simply put. "I'm not wasting my time, with someone who isn't going to show me time. Gran."

"Remus has his issues, Bella."

Trying to come up with anything that could help her sleep at night. Giving herself context in something. No one wanted to give her context. "I made up my mind," said Arabella trying to stay calm.

Waiting for a moment, Ruby was about to say something else before moving on. Drying her hands and just leaving Arabella there. The girl didn't say anything looking at the water falling on her hand, not staying. There was a knock on the door, causing her to wait for Ruby to answer it.

Which she had never done. Causing Arabella to yell at the door for a moment. Before drying her hands and walking over to the door opening it. Revealing Sirius who was covered in snow almost, his hair damp because of the wetness of the snow, sapping to his scalp.

"Can I stay here," Sirius muttered looking down at his hands. "Please?" His voice cracked.

. . .
( 1300 words )