The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

42. The Cold Aftermath

The next few days go by in a haze.
I feel tired all the time.
I can't sleep even if I want to.
Mrs Potter tries to keep everyone occupied, making us bake or clean or something that stops me and Miriam from turning in on ourselves.
Most of the time Miriam just seems distracted, as if she's not really here. I feel helpless when that happens.

"Aylin does anything need washing?"

I realise I've been staring blankly out of the window, "Huh?"

"Any laundry?" Mrs Potter repeats, picking up a tray from the coffee table, "We're travelling tomorrow down to London so I need to prepare everything today."

"Oh, yeah, just a few things." I pull myself off of the sofa and head upstairs, still a bit sleepy since we just had breakfast. Assuming that the boys were in the kitchen, I enter the room without knocking and-

"OH MY GOD NOVAK WHAT THE HELL!" Sirius Black, with nothing but boxers and one foot in his jeans, screeches like a harpie.

I almost smack myself in an attempt to cover my eyes, and turn my back for good measure, nearly tripping over my own feet, "Shit I'm sorry!"

"Why are you here?! Don't you know how to knock?!"

"I came to get laundry! And don't you know how to lock a bloody door?!" I reply hotly, embarrassment melting away quickly into annoyance.

"Don't turn around Novak."

"There's nothing for me to see." I hiss, and can almost sense Black rolling his eyes at the snarky comment.

"Alright, I'm modest. You can turn around now."I turn around to see him- thankfully- wearing a dark red shirt and his jeans. He scowls at me, midway through putting his hair into a short ponytail, "Knock next time."

"Lock next time." I imitate him, shaking my head to hide the embarrassment that's slowly creeping back. From the room, I grab a few shirts that need washing and head back for the door, now slightly- well, very- red.

"What was the commotion this time?" I stop halfway down the second flight of steps, and look up. James is leaning on the landing banister, looking down on me, toothbrush in hand.

"Sirius Black, exercising his drama queen abilities."

"It's a usual thing. Get used to it." James laughs as I carry on down the steps. Mrs Potter is waiting for me in the kitchen with a- now full- basket of laundry.

I dump my stuff into the basket and take it from her hands with a small smile, "I'll do it."

"Thank you dear." I nod in response with a smile and she opens the garden door for me. The cold hits me, making me walk a little faster towards the ages, where the washing machine is. With a nudge on the door with my shoulder, I hurl myself in, cursing the fact that I didn't put on shoes instead of slippers to go outside. I shove the clothes into the machine, putting in the soap before closing the lid and turning it on. I'm just about to leave when I hear footsteps from outside.

"You okay there? It doesn't do well to hang out in the snow." It's Remus. Is he talking to me? But no, there's a scuffling noise, like someone kicking up bits of snow.

Miriam's voice is barely louder than a whisper, "I'm insulated quite well, thank you."

There's a pause, and I find myself leaning against the shed door, straining to hear the conversation.

"Chocolate?" The snow crunches under Remus' feet as he- presumably- walks towards my sister, "Always makes me feel better."

"And why d'you think I'm not feeling good?" A strong pain hits my heart at her bitter tone, it was never there before.