𝘗𝘌𝘙𝘏𝘈𝘗𝘚 ━━ 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙀𝙧𝙖

━ CHAPTER TEN

S

ixth year. 

It still felt slightly surreal to Tula. It had been six years since she discovered the world of magic, along with her best friends.

But as she watched the snow fall from her crappy little house in London, a different feeling was creeping up on her.

Like something was dreadfully wrong.

She just couldn't pin what exactly.

She and her fellow Marauders had followed the same routine as they did last year. Yet, even as she watched her grandfather grab his coat to head to the local pub, the feeling intensified.

Tula knew that Remus' mother, Hope, was ill, but it wasn't that serious yet.

James and his parents were fine.

Peter was in Turkey.

So that just left... Siruis.

As if on cue, her grandfather suddenly reappeared in the snow outside of her house. From where she was standing by the window, nursing a mug of hot chocolate, she could see some kind of animal in his arms.

No way.

She knew he lived in London and things were getting worse with his family but no way.

Surprising not only her grandfather but herself as well, she sat her cup down and ran outside without a jacket.

The old man gave her a funny look but handed over the large, shaggy, black dog without a word. Forever the strange man he was, he turned around and headed back to the pub, leaving his granddaughter in the snow.

But Tula didn't even notice.

Siruis looked terrible.

His fur was covered in blood that was matted to his skin, the moment she got him inside, he transformed back into human form.

Now, by no means what so ever was Tula the type of girl who squealed at the sight of blood, but at the state her best friend was in, she all but screamed.

"Who- no- what the hell!?"

Siruis (whom had the entirety of his weight on Tula) smiled weakly.

"Not up to my usaul standard, am I?"

His skin was pale are there was frost bite on his face. His hands were covered in blisters from running and the blood made it seem as though he'd been in a fight with a panther.

Tula helped Siruis up the stairs and into her bedroom. She laid him down on her bed
Before running out of the room to fetch the muggle first aid kit.

"Who did this to you? Do you want something to eat? Something to drink? I should fetch James-"

"No!" Siruis said sharply, his eyes fluttering open as Tula tended go his wounds. "No, don't tell James. At least not until these bruises and cuts heal."

"Why? Euphimia will be able to heal you with a flick of her wand."

Siruis shook his head adamantly. "No, Tula, please. I don't wanna make them upset. I managed to grab a little bit of money, I'll just rent a room out of the-"

"You most certainly will not!" She said sharply, her honey coloured orbs narrowing.
"If you insist on me not telling James what happend, you will be staying here. Where I can keep an eye on you."

"What? Vixen, no, I couldn't possibly-"

"And yet, you can. How funny is that?"

Siruis gave her a flat look. He ran a hand through his hair with a hesitant expression. "What about your family?"

She smiled dryly, her eyes drooping sadly. "What family, Siruis?"

Confusion crossed the boys face. "What do you mean, 'What family?' Your sister, and your parents-"

"You mean the family that died when I was eight years old? Yeah, I somehow don't think they'll mind much, Pads."

Siruis shot up into a sitting position, making Tula drop the bandaid she was putting on the boys cheek. She cursed and began searcing for a new one.

"What!? What'd you just say?"

Tula tried to brush him off, saying that it wasn't the time, but the boy remained persistent.

"Fine! My folks and siblings died in a fire when I was eight, it's just me and my pops now. Happy?"

"No!" Siruis said loudly, a horrified expression on his face. "Of course I'm not! You said sibling's', how many-?"

"Three," Tula mumbled, refusing to meet his eye. "There was... one on the way. But it doesn't matter, it was a long time ago. And this isn't about me. It's about you. Now which inbred parent of yours did this to you!?"

Siruis looked as though he wanted to ask more, but he seemed to realise she was just as stubborn as he was. He bit his bottom lip, a look of shame in his eyes as it dawned on Tula.

"Walburga? Are you shitting me? I'll kill her one day, I swear. She's hurt you too much."

Siruis chuckled weakly. "Please, you couldn't kill someone to save your life."

Silence followed, and once Tula thought Siruis and finally fallen asleep, she smiled softly.

"Clearly you don't know me very well."

But he was awake. Wide awake.

***

"Where are you going?" Siruis asked.

It was boxing day and Siruis had just managed to convince Tula he was fully capable of walking downstairs on his own.

"I... uh, well, it's... the anniversary of the fire... you know what? I do this every year, put on a coat with plans to walk to my parents graves, but I never do. This is just stupid. Here, I'll put my coat back and make us some hot choclate-"

"Holy shit. Your family died the day after Christmas? No, we're going to that cemetery. I'll even apparate you."

Tula shook her head swiftly. "No. Siruis, you're not even of age. Second, I can't, I can't physically bring myself to go."

"First of all," Siruis said pointedly, walking up to her and hooking his arm in hers, "I do what I want. Second, a perk of being a Black is the Ministry can't detect my magic. Third, I'll physically force you then."

"Wait, what!?"

Whatever objections Tula may have had were drowned out by a loud 'Crack'.