Breaking Black (A Sirius Black Love Story)

Chapter 57

"I'm sorry Prongs, but I can't take it anymore. You need to tell me what to do."

Blankly, my reflection stared back at me. My eyes were smeared black from my makeup I failed to take off from the wedding and I was tired from lack of sleep. All night long, I tried to make sense of everything, but the one thing I knew I needed to do was talk to James.

Marlene looked dead, passed out in her giant canopy bed pressed against the wall. She didn't even care that all night long while she slept soundly, I was talking to myself. I grabbed a cute and comfortable shirt and shorts off her dresser, because sharing clothes is what new sisters do, right?

Nobody was up in the entire mansion- or so it seemed. I tiptoed down the marble staircase, not wanting to wake up anyone. A random wizard from Brittany's side of the family was passed out at the bottom of the stairs. I skirted carefully around him, only after drawing a permanent mustache on his pudgy face. A marauder never passes up the chance for an easy prank.

The kitchen was dim when I entered it. Scuffling around, I found a piece of paper and a quill, knowing to write my mum a note before leaving unannounced. A magic tea pot was gurgling on the table and I placed the note next to it, hoping my mum would find it. I jumped when I heard someone behind me.

"Where are you going?" Brittany appeared in the doorway as I neared the fireplace, already holding the Floo powder container in my hands. She looked exhausted too. She was wrapped in a fuzzy purple robe and the right side of her short blonde hair stuck up on end. But she still had a dreamy smile on her face despite her tired appearance.

"James Potter's house, I need to talk to him." I replied and took a seat across from her for a moment at the long oak table. She poured herself a cup of tea and dumped nearly half a cup of sugar in it.

"Well, you could talk to me, you know." Brittany yawned again while stirring her cup of tea. I don't think she realized she was stirring it with her wand instead of the teaspoon sitting on the table next to her. I just stifled a laugh and watched her as the tea bubbled and sparked.

"It's just something I need to tell him." I sighed.

"Well you can't leave looking like that!" Brittany picked the teaspoon off the table and started waving and pointing it at me. When nothing happened, she yawned sadly and regarded her wand whizzing around in her cup of tea. "Oh..."

"You didn't get much sleep, did you?"

"Nope." She waved her wand at me and my face felt cleaner, my hair untangled, and I felt refreshed- only after I was hit in the face with a few droplets of warm tea.

"Thanks... Sis." I smiled and Brittany nodded while gazing absently into her tea. "Will you tell my mum when she's up that I went to James' and I'll see her at home?"

While I stood up quietly, Brittany nodded through a yawn, looking like she was about to fall asleep at the table. I threw a handful of Floo powder into the dying fire and stepped into the green flames.

"Potter Manor." I said quietly but clearly when I noticed Brittany's head slowly falling onto the table. The McKinnon's kitchen whirled away and I found myself standing in the Potter's sunny and bright drawing room fireplace.

"Hi Mr. Potter, I hope you don't mind me just walking in like this..." I coughed when I saw James' doppelgänger, Mr. Potter, sitting on the couch. Some of the soot choked my throat and I continued to cough. He looked up and smiled at me while tossing a towel, covered in soot, in my direction. My unexpected visits, even early in the morning, were no longer a surprise. The smoke from the fireplace cleared away and I was greeted by the delicious smell of bacon cooking in the other room. Mrs. Potter waved when she saw me and pointed at an uncut chocolate cake on the counter. She knew I loved her cooking.