Liquid Luck [Sirius Black]/editing

chapter 40

"Thank you for coming in today, Chiara! I'll experiment with what we talked about today and I'll write you how it turns out. I'll see you Monday though, yeah?" Zonko asks with his usual warm smile.

"Yes, sir, Monday it is. Have a good weekend!"

"You as well! Goodbye now, travel safe." He waves at me and I open the store door, the bell tinkling as I do so and walk out. I stand in the warm summer sun and look out at the empty village with sudden realization that I haven't planned for a way home today. "Well, this is an issue." I mutter to myself with a laugh.

I begin aimlessly wandering about Hogsmeade village. "I should have thought this through, I should have thought this through..." I mumble over and over under my breath, beginning to panic as more and more time passes. I briefly consider asking Zonko to apparate me home but decide against it, I don't want him to think I'm an immature child even though that is exactly what I am.

A subtle popping sound is heard behind me and I flip around to see James standing there with a smirk and a house elf by his side. "Hey, Keeks. Stranded?" He says holding back a laugh.

"How did you know..?"

"Your mum wrote my mum when she realized. One thing led to another, I'm here to save you." James pushes his glasses higher up on his nose and grins. "Hold onto Mickey and we'll bring you home with us."

The little house-elf with the big blue eyes raises his hand and I hold it in my bigger one. We disapparate and apparate to the Potter Manor. The Potter Manor is just about the size of my own house. The smell of fresh cookies wafts through my nostrils and I begin sniffing the air like a dog.

"James, dear, is that you?!" The gentle sound of Euphemia Potter's voice is heard.

"Yes, it's me and I'm here with Keeks!" James calls back while we walk over to the kitchen where her voice is coming from.

"Oh, wonderful!" She yells. Euphemia is like a second mother to me. She was more of a mum to me than my own during the summer of first year and still is now. "Chiara, darling! I've made you some cookies." She bustles over and immediately pulls me into a warm hug. I giggle into her shoulder and hug her right back.

"Thanks, Mia! They smell delicious!" I exclaim happily as she continues to hold onto me tightly.

James frowns. "Hi, I'm here too."

Euphemia rolls her eyes playfully and winks at him making him smile. "Yes yes, Jamesie. No need to be so jealous."

"I'm not jealous!" He folds his arms over his chest and pouts stubbornly.

"Yeah, and I'm a boy." I say sarcastically.

"But you are!"

"Shove off!"

"IS THAT KEEKS I HEAR?!" Fleamont yells from somewhere or other, excitement clear in his voice.

"MONTY! WHERE ARE YOU?!" I call back to him.

"IM TAKING A PISS! YOU'VE CAUGHT ME AT MY WORST!" The dramatics clearly run in the family. Fleamont is the funniest man and I adore him completely. James really is a carbon copy of him both in looks and personality.

Euphemia shakes her head in disapproval but I can tell she secretly finds it amusing. She turns to me and says, "I tell you, that man has a way with words."

"Must be how he managed to get such a lovely lady like you to fancy him." I giggle.

"Oh sure," She says sarcastically. "he opened with I'm taking a piss, and I was weak at the knees." I burst into laughter and she laughs along too.

"Keeks!"

I flip around to find Fleamont standing in the doorway with his arms open. I run into his waiting arms and embrace him, laughing as I do so. "Heard you got stranded in Hogsmeade today."

"It was an accident!"

"Yes, well, lucky Stacy knows you well enough to figure out what happened. It could have been a lot worse, I'm just glad you're okay. Ooh! Are those cookies?!" He rushes off to the tray of steaming cookies sitting on the counter.

Euphemia swats his hand away as he reaches for one. "Ouch! What was that for?!"

"You'll burn your hand, Fleamont! They're too hot, you've got to let them cool." Euphemia wags a finger at him.

He smirks and wiggles his eyebrows at her suggestively. "Aww, do you care about me, Mia?" James rolls his eyes and I just laugh in amusement at the two.

"Oh, of course I care about you." She says, bustling off to clean off the table, clearly unfazed by his antics.

"James, mate, I think she quite fancies me!" Fleamont exclaims happily.

"We've been married over thirty years, Fleamont, and yet every time I say something remotely nice to you, you make a big deal of it."

"You love me." He says proudly.

"Anyways," She cracks a smile at her husband. "Chiara, will you be joining us for dinner?"

"If you'll have me." I smile.

"No, we don't want you." James jokes, wrapping his arms around me.

"James Fleamont Potter, do not speak to our daughter in that way!" Fleamont yells in a mock angry voice.

Merlin do I love this family.

Both Fleamont and Euphemia are a great deal older than my parents. Euphemia's admitted that the reason for this is because she and Fleamont had some trouble getting pregnant. I've also gathered that this is the reason they spoil James so much. He's their pride and joy really.

*

After dinner at the Potters, I spend a little time hanging out with James and discussing the usual nonsense. But soon the time to leave comes around and I begin my short walk home. The sun's set entirely and everything is dark, making the neighbourhood slightly creepy being on my own, so I starting hum a tune to fill the silence.

When I get there, I find the house completely silent and I assume everyone's already gone to bed. How late is it?

I open my bedroom door only to find someone laying on his back on the bottom bunk of my bed. I gasp lightly, not having expected anyone to be here. I flip on the light and my jaw drops. "Sirius? What are you doing here?"