Coming Together ༄ Sirius Black

Chapter Sixty Six

Asteria had spent the past two weeks doing an awful lot of pacing. Normally the girl was in full support of sitting down in a quiet corner of the library to read a good old book. However recent events had lead her mind to wander. She wasn't able to focus on anything other than this anxiety nibbling away at her slowly. Asteria folded her arms and continued pacing up and down the transfiguration corridor, eyebrows furrowed deep in thought.

"Ria, there you are!" Sirius exclaimed, a grin showing on his face as he spotted the girl and made his way over, "I've been looking for you since detention ended like three hours ago. Where have you been?"

"Nowhere." Asteria replied shortly.
Sirius reached out his arm, "Ria."

"Honestly, I've just been walking round." She shrugged, allowing Sirius to lace their fingers together.

"Why?" He questioned.
She shrugged again, "Just bored."

"Asteria." Sirius moved to stand directly in front of her so he could look the girl in the eyes.

"Okay, fine... Fine." Asteria looked up at him with her lips pursed, "This whole thing just terrifies me."
"Wh-you mean... The Order?" Sirius lowered his voice, casting wary glances around.

Asteria hummed in response, turning her back on the boy to glance down the corridor. Sirius sighed, wrapping his arms around her waist and tucking his chin into the crook of Asteria's neck from behind.

"What are you worried about?" He mumbled into her skin.

"We'll probably all die. That's my biggest worry." She pointed out, holding his hands in her own, "Also my parents, though, they'll have a heart attack when I tell them what I'm doing."

"Hey..." Sirius pressed a soft kiss to her neck, "We're all going to go through it together and we'll all be there for each other. I'll come with you at the start of the summer and we'll talk to your parents together."

"I probably won't be able to see them again. I don't know... I feel like we're only just getting along and now I have to throw it all away." Asteria turned around to pull Sirius into a tight hug against her.
"I know." He replied, "They'll understand; you're doing it to protect them. You'll make them proud."

Several hours later James, Lily, Peter, and Remus sat in front of the burning fire in the Gryffindor common room.

James slung his arm across the back of the sofa, deliberately so it was lay just behind where Lily was sat. "So we're all obviously doing it." He spoke up, breaking the silence, "Right?"

"Maybe you feel that way." Remus muttered, earning a side glance from Peter.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Some people..." Remus began, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor, "Might have more to risk, and possibly lose by doing this."
"What are you on about, Moony?"

"Remus has got a point." Lily spoke up, turning to properly address James.

"I'm so confused." James shook his head with wide eyes.

"What kind of sane organisation is going to want someone like... someone like me... with my condition... to join their ranks? Everyone has heard about..." Remus lowered his voice considerably, "The werewolves all becoming Death Eaters. Everyone will think I'm a spy."

"So what? We know the truth." James shrugged, sitting back.

"The world doesn't revolve around us." Lily interjected, "Prejudiced people might misjudge him... or not trust him. That puts Remus at risk."

James pursed his lips in support, "If Padfoot where here he'd take my side."

"What do you think he's doing now?" Remus questioned, "He's out supporting Asteria because if she decides to go through with this she'll have to leave all of her family behind."
"And Lily will have to do the same." Peter pointed out.