Brightest ✯ Sirius Black

✯fifty-one✯

"I've forgotten what it feels like. to feel" 

Euphemia was ecstatic to have so many people staying at her house the entire summer, and devoted her days to the kitchen where she would bake and cook all kinds of delicacies for them all. The group all collectively decided that if they didn't watch out, they would all weigh 1200 pounds by the time school came around again.

It was mid July, and James managed to talk his parents into taking them to the beach. Cleo had never seen the ocean before, and despite the fear that ran down her spine at the prospect of being out in the open, she was excited.

She helped Euphemia pack up baskets of food and blankets, and the boys were helping Mr. Potter get firewood for a bonfire.

"So my dear," Euphemia began while the two women were in the kitchen making sandwiches, "what are your plans for after school, hmm?" she asked. Cleo wasn't honestly sure how to answer.

"I uh, I'm not quite sure yet, I guess," she choked out. She didn't know what to say other than "track down my evil older sister and put an end to her torment".

"Oh well that's quite alright darling, you've still got a year to figure it out," Euphemia replied. "Just make sure you have at least a little bit of an idea before you kids all graduate, you'll thank me later." Cleo simply nodded to all of this, and Euphemia was watching the girl as she stopped what she was doing and got lost in her thoughts.

"Oh my dear," Euphemia sighed sadly, putting a hand up to her cheek. She set down the sandwich she was making and walked over to the brunette, reaching up and placing both of her hands on the girl's cheeks, ripping her out of her thoughts. "I know it's hard, but you can make it through this year, and every year to come. The pain goes away, eventually." Euphemia had tears in her eyes.

"When?" Cleo could only muster a small whisper, or something a bit less than as a tear formed within her own blue eyes.

"Oh love," Euphemia sighed again, and did not answer but merely pulled Cleo into her arms, warming her with an embrace that reminded Cleo a great deal of her mother's. "You're strong and brave, but you don't need to be all the time."

That was all it took. Cleo's facade broke, and she began to cry upon the lovely woman's shoulder while Mrs. Potter rubbed her back and whispered things to her to calm her down. When Cleo was done, she lifted her head and tore herself away from the woman's arms, wiping at her cheeks feverishly.

"It's alright dear," Euphemia smiled, forcing the tiniest of smiles out of Cleo. "Let's wrap these up and get going then, shall we?"

She was taking a basket of food to the hill where the portkey was, and she accidentally ran into Sirius on the top of the hill as well. He was bringing a load of firewood that was all tied up with string so as not to get loose everywhere, and when he set it down, he looked directly at her and wiped his hands on his black jeans.

"Cleo, can we talk?" he said, rubbing the back of his neck. He was never good at things like this, and Cleo knew it. She squeezed her eyes shut and cringed, but collected herself and turned around to face him.

"Sure, about what?" she shrugged casually. She internally shuddered at her tone.

"Well, I mean... that one night...I-I just wanted to say that I-" Sirius began, and Cleo could just feel her heart racing to speeds that were unhealthy for her. Fortunately, Remus and James were climbing up the hill with firewood of their own, and didn't see the pair until it was too late.