Kicked Puppy (Sirius Black)

Chapter 6

TRIGGER WARNING: ASSAULT

By the time Christmas break had come around without a single incidental meeting between Severus and Sirius thanks to the teamwork of Regulus and Joby herself, Joby and James' parents had communicated and confirmed that she would absolutely be welcome to stay for the vacation, as long as James knew "what he was getting himself into."

The weeks leading up to their break were quite uneventful, spare the end-of-semester exams and tiresome holiday cheer.

Sirius made sure to keep Joby entertained as well, popping up at the least significant times to wish her happy holidays and give her a kiss: during her studies, as she sat alone at the library reading, while she was commuting through the halls with her friends, who knew about Sirius's antics, and even when no one was watching during classes.

One night, in the middle of dinner, Sirius came up behind her as she ate. He tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned.

"M'lady Joby," he greeted. "Season's greetings. I'd like to propose something rather preposterous." He took her by the hand and guided her to her feet, where she crossed her arms firmly over her chest.

"Would you, darling," he began, shooting her a wink, "Consider taking a nice walk through Hogsmead next week?" A bouquet of flowers fluttered into his hand from wherever it may have been earlier. Sirius held them out to her.

Joby smirked. She took the flowers and placed them behind her on the seat, immediately grabbing Sirius's face and kissing him.

The whole Great Hall fell silent.

Funny enough, seconds later, bustling resumed and everything went back to normal--except the two wizards in the middle of the hall, snogging. Witches and wizards alike repeatedly snuck glances at them and whispered about them, mumbling loudly enough for the Hall to sound normal. Teachers pretended not to notice.

On the day of the Hogsmead trip, younger girls flocked Joby and Sirius, asking them what was going to happen this trip, who in their families knew (which hit too close to home for Joby), and sometimes if their brothers were single.

The last answer was a hard no. Regulus and Kaylo had been dating around for a while, possibly for two whiles. They snogged each other from time to time, as well, but that was confidential information, and not for prying ears. Her father didn't need to know that either, but it was much easier to keep the two boys under-the-radar than she and Sirius were now.

Once the couple arrived at the Three Broomsticks, Joby could finally relax. No one in this place would even notice them in the midst of all the decoration and holiday bling. She laced her fingers in Sirius's hand as he ordered two hot butterbeers and looked around skeptically. She giggled when she saw her brother with Regulus, but her spirits were suddenly dropped by two Ravenclaws who sashayed up to them and sat, unraveling their parchments of homework. Regulus and Kaylo were just there to study. What a waste of precious time they could be using to have fun--or hang out with each other.

Joby firmly grasped her fizzing butterbeer when she received it and lead Sirius to a corner table in the back of the busy bar and curled up to him when he sat with her.

"How happy are you, now that I can love you in public?" Sirius wondered aloud.

Joby felt herself blush and she hid her face in his shoulder. Once it had surpassed, she lifted her head and pecked him on the nose with a little smile. She placed her head on his shoulder, and her legs pulled up underneath her. She shivered.

Sirius chuckled and opened his jacket to wrap around her. "Pretty happy, eh? Me, too." He paused. "Do you find it...unfair, for lack of better words...that Regulus and Kaylo can just...be like this and not have to worry about your father?" He rubbed her shoulder to warm it and kissed her nose and set his head down on her shoulder.