Reflections - Mattheo Riddle

Back to Hogwarts

The kitchen door opened and the entire Weasley family, plus Hermione, came inside, all looking very happy, with Mr. Weasley walking proudly in their midst dressed in a pair of striped pajamas covered by a mackintosh.

"Cured!" he announced brightly to the kitchen at large. "Completely cured!"

He and all the other Weasleys froze on the threshold, gazing at the scene in front of them, which was also suspended in mid-action, both Sirius and Snape looking toward the door with their wands pointing into each other's faces and Kirra immobile between them, a hand stretched out to each of them, trying to force them apart.

"Merlin's beard," said Mr. Weasley, the smile sliding off his face, "what's going on here?"

Both Sirius and Snape lowered their wands. Kirra looked from one to the other. Each wore an expression of utmost contempt, yet the unexpected entrance of so many witnesses seemed to have brought them to their senses. Snape pocketed his wand and swept back across the kitchen, passing the Weasleys without comment. At the door he looked back.

"Six o'clock Monday evening, Potter."

He was gone. Sirius glared after him, his wand at his side.

"But what's been going on?" asked Mr. Weasley again.

"Nothing, Arthur," said Sirius, who was breathing heavily as though he had just run a long distance. "Just a friendly little chat between two old school friends. . . ." With what looked like an enormous effort, he smiled. "So . . . you're cured? That's great news, really great. . . ."

"Yes, isn't it?" said Mrs. Weasley, leading her husband forward into a chair. "Healer Smethwyck worked his magic in the end, found an antidote to whatever that snake's got in its fangs, and Arthur's learned his lesson about dabbling in Muggle medicine, haven't you, dear?" she added, rather menacingly.

"Yes, Molly dear," said Mr. Weasley meekly.

That night's meal should have been a cheerful one with Mr. Weasley back amongst them; Kirra could tell Sirius was trying to make it so, yet when her best friend was not forcing himself to laugh loudly at Fred and George's jokes or offering everyone more food, his face fell back into a moody, brooding expression. 

Kirra was separated from him by Mundungus and Mad-Eye, who had dropped in to offer Mr. Weasley their congratulations; she wanted to talk to Sirius, to tell him that he should not listen to a word Snape said, that Snape was goading him deliberately and that the rest of them did not think Sirius was a coward for doing as Dumbledore told him and remaining in Grimmauld Place, but she had no opportunity to do so, and wondered occasionally, eyeing the ugly look on Sirius's face, whether she would have dared to even if she had the chance. 

"Pads can I chat with you for a quick moment," Kirra cleared her throat. Sirius nodded but didn't say anything, he stood up out of his chair and followed her out of the room. Kirra stopped in the middle of the hallway and looked over at Sirius. 

Sirius leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, his gaze flicking up to meet Emily's. There was something raw, unguarded in his expression—something only she would recogniwe. No one else saw him like this, not even Remus. She wasn't just anyone to him.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice gruff but laced with vulnerability. It was rare for Sirius to let anyone see him like this—except for her. Emily stepped closer, her heart aching for him. She had seen the way Snape's words had dug into him, the frustration and helplessness swirling behind those stormy grey eyes. 
She knew he felt trapped in Grimmauld Place, suffocated by the memories of his past and the war raging just beyond the walls of his family's cursed home. "You can't keep doing this, Pads," she said softly. Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed the sadness she felt for him. "Letting Snape get under your skin like that. You're better than this. He's a real git, you and I both know it."
Sirius's jaw clenched, his frustration barely held in check. "He knows exactly what he's doing, Em. Every word he says is designed to remind me of how useless I am here. Stuck in this bloody house while the rest of you are out there, risking your lives. I should be fighting with you, not hiding in the shadows."
Emily shook her head, taking another step closer. "You're not hiding. You're doing what needs to be done—what Dumbledore needs you to do. That doesn't make you weak, and it sure as hell doesn't make you useless. We need you, Sirius. Harry needs you. I need you."
Her voice broke slightly at the end, and Sirius looked down at her, his expression softening. She wasn't just trying to comfort him—he could see that in her eyes. She meant every word. For a moment, they stood there in the dimly lit hallway, the weight of everything they had been through pressing down on them.
"I don't want to lose you, Em," Sirius said quietly, his voice raw with emotion. "I don't think I could handle it if anything happened to you. I can't lose you, too. Not again." Emily felt her chest tighten at his words. 
She had always known Sirius carried a fear of losing those he loved—they had already lost so much. And now, with the war looming over them all, that fear had only grown. She placed a hand gently on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath her palm.
"You're not going to lose me," she whispered. "Not if I can help it."
Sirius closed his eyes for a moment, letting her words sink in. When he opened them again, the storm in his gaze seemed to have calmed, if only just a little. He reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace, one that spoke more of desperation and love than anything words could convey.
Emily wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest, her own fears and uncertainties momentarily forgotten in the warmth of his hold. In that moment, they were just two people—best friends who had seen too much, endured too much, but who still held on to each other because that was all they had.
"You always know what to say," Sirius murmured into her hair, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Em."
Emily pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a sad smile. "You'll never have to find out," she said softly, her fingers brushing against his cheek. "I'm not going anywhere."
Sirius searched her eyes for a long moment, as if needing to believe her, needing that reassurance. They stood like that for a while, neither speaking, just finding solace in each other's presence.
Finally, Sirius pulled back, his hand lingering on her arm. "You've always been my strength, you know that?" His voice was quieter now, almost a whisper.
Emily smiled, a tear slipping down her cheek. "And you've always been mine." Sirius caught the tear with his thumb, wiping it away gently. There was a sadness in his eyes, a deep understanding between them of the dangerous path they were walking, but also an unspoken promise—to fight for each other, to never let go, no matter what came next.
"Let's get through this together," Sirius said, his voice steady again.
"Together," Emily echoed, her heart swelling with the strength of their bond. Best friends, bound by more than just blood or war. Bound by a love that would see them through even the darkest of times.
Once Sirius and Kirra got back to their seats Kirra told Jasper, Mattheo and Theodore under her voice about having to take Occlumency lessons with Snape on.