"RETRIEVE"

RETRIEVE: get or bring (something) back from somewhere; That was one way to describe Lorelei's day, she had to pick up Birdie from the hospital today and then help her around the house, the healers said she'd still have to be in bed rest for one day. Lorelei hated hospitals, they just reminded her too much of death, and also because she'd had to spend a lot of time growing up in said hospitals because somehow she'd always end up injuring herself.

Lorelei was still excited though, she'd finally be with her best friend again, and they could catch up on everything they'd missed in the past week, but she's also a little wary — the thing is, Birdie had always been good at feelings, not her own, but others' she could help you feel better, it's like she's some kind of empath or something.

She just knows what to do, and Lorelei's afraid that when they talk, Birdie might help her grieve, she hasn't yet, Lorelei's been ignoring the Cedric situation, and how she had to spend two days in the hospital wing getting her ribcage rearranged properly.

Lorelei knew that if she grieved she would know, she would understand that Cedric wasn't there with them anymore and she wasn't sure she could handle that. Lorelei knew what she was doing wasn't healthy, but at the same time — nothing she does is ever healthy. She's been having nightmares almost everyday, and she doesn't even know if she hates it.

Her nightmares and dreams both had always been so unbelievably vivid that sometimes she'd have to wonder if it really was a dream, things felt real whenever she was dreaming. Every night when she'd see him, it felt so real, it didn't matter that he hated her — that he looked so lifeless, she could see him, and just for a second he'd reach out to her, and she'd feel the ghost of a touch before she woke up.

Again, Lorelei is very well aware that this isn't healthy, but can you blame her?

Lorelei put her jacket on, looking at her hair in the mirror — it looked long, Lorelei hadn't had long hair in a long time, but because of the tournament she'd barely gotten any time to get a haircut and she remembers Cedric had said he liked her long hair, said it makes her look even more like a Black.

"You ready?" Sirene popped her head inside the room, Lorelei looked over and nodded, "Alright, get out here then, it's time"

Lorelei nodded once again, she walked out of the room after putting on her heeled boots and saw her mum standing there with Sirene and Andrew, Sirene refused to look at Neveah and Andrew passed her an awkward smile, nothing much had changed in those seventeen years, Sirene Black had formed an opinion on Neveah Ross — it just wasn't a good one, "Are you coming too, Ms Ross?"

"Yes, El, I don't want to miss Birdie coming back, besides I thought I could accompany you to the hospital, with barely any time on my hand because of the order — spend some time together" Neveah smiled at her daughter, "You know, I've talked to her once or twice, she seems like a very clever and kind girl"

"She is" Sirene told her, a certain edge on her voice that's always there whenever she's talking to Neveah, "She's also tired and I'm sure she doesn't want a stranger coming to her hospital room"

"Oh, she knows me—"

"No, she doesn't" Sirene snapped, "Youre nothing but an acquaintance to her"

"I— sure" Neveah passed Sirene a tight lipped smile, Sirene nodded looking at Lorelei and then at Hope who'd just gotten out of her room, "Let's go kids"

"Ren, that was mean" Andrew told her, lacing his fingers through his wife's, Sirene scoffed.

"She deserved it" Sirene answered, "Besides, abandoning your child when she's born is pretty fucking mean too"

Hope and Lorelei gave each other a look, it was no secret that Sirene and Neveah had always been on the edge with each other, ever since Neveah had stepped into Sirius and Sirene's fight that is. Also, has Sirene mentioned that Neveah left her niece the day she was born? Because there's that too. If you count those they're about two out of the one million problems Sirene Black has with Neveah Ross.

Sirius stood down the stairs looking at them with a longing gaze, he passed a small smile to Lorelei, she returned it. He smiled even more widely.

Sirene held out her hand, "I don't see why you can't apparate with us now, come on" she motioned for Lorelei to take it.

"Aunt Si, we know how to apparate..." Lorelei said and Sirene frowned.

"Shit, you learned it already?" Sirene furrowed her eyebrows and Andrew shook his head, "I guess, it's just weird — when Sirius and I learned how to apparate we would get everywhere just by apparating"

"That's because we don't want to travel anywhere" Lorelei snorted, "I mean, even the bathroom of this house creeps me out"

"No, you're right" Hope nodded in agreement, "The bathrooms are creepy"

"Right?" Andrew exclaimed, "I thought I was the only one!"

...

"Hey, let me help you" Lorelei said, grabbing Birdie's other arm as she was using one to push on her wound, "You know, I thought just until you get better you could share the room with me, it's big enough for two beds"

"Nah" Birdie waved her off, "I don't want all the potion fumes making it hard to breathe for you, I know you have trouble with that stuff"

"Then stay with me" Hope said joining her side, "I'm used to all the potion fumes, and I know how to treat wounds"

"I— Hope I don't want to be any trouble—"

"I didn't either, but now I have a pet stout and red fox, so, suck it up, kid"

Sirene and Andrew watched the kids interact with each other, finishing each other's sentences and knowing what the other was going to do as if it was the most natural thing in the world, Andrew put his arm around Sirene's shoulder, pulling her into his side — already knowing what she was thinking about. She missed them, she missed James's super secret boy band that she'd ended up being a part of.

"I love you" Sirene said looking up at her husband with a small smile, silently thanking him for everything.

"And I love you" Andrew pressed a kiss to her forehead.

🫐

"ABSOLUTELY NOT, I'M GOING WITH YOU GUYS!" Birdie's fierce voice almost startled everyone in the room, the Order members weren't really used to teenagers screaming at them, well, the Order members that aren't parents, that is. What has their life even come to? "Look, he's been alone all summer, I don't want him to be even more alone surrounded by strangers"

"We're not strangers, girl" Moody said, the nasty scowl on his face prominent as always, weirdly enough Barry Jr. was surprisingly good at copying Moody's mannerisms, shame, would've been better if he tried his hand at acting.

"Oh, yeah, sure you aren't" Birdie said satirically, "Sure, he's seen you, hasn't he? When was the last time he saw you again? When you tried to kill him! He hasn't even heard about the rest of you"

"Birdie, trust them" Neveah put a hand on the brunette's shoulder, "They know what they're doing, besides you're supposed to be in bed rest"

"I don't care about the fu—" Birdie glanced at Regan, "—reaking bed rest, I just need to see my little brother!"

"I'll go" Lorelei shrugged, everyone turned to look at her, "What? Both the Potters trust me, Harry knows me, he won't be so nervous then"

"Hey, if she goes I go" Hope threw her hands back, her father gave her a look to which she gave a weak shrug.

"That's bullshit, if anything I should be the one going" Regan said, she was standing with her friends — Ron and Hermione, "He's just been expelled, he'll probably need a friend, and the plus side? Instead of two you get one"

"Absolutely not!" Lorelei said, "You're not of age yet"

The adults watched as the kids screamed at each other, all of them arguing about who'd be the best one to go, Sirene and Andrew passed each other a look, Remus looked tired and done with everything and Sirius just looked amused.

The kids reminded him of the marauders, they too would kill for each other and die when needed, he reminisced the times he'd spent with them at Hogwarts when Peter wasn't a traitor, or James wasn't dead...

"Enough!" Moody's voice roared, "No one is going! This is not kid's play, only the Order members are allowed!"

The kids pursed their lips, easy for him to say, Lorelei was sure Moody didn't have any friends to know what was happening with Birdie. Birdie looked like she could kill everyone in the room without a second thought and Fred stared at her as if he would let her do it and then say thank you after.

"Birdie, don't worry, we're going to make sure Harry doesn't get hurt" Tonks put a hand on Birdie's shoulders, and Birdie sighed, "I'm good with kids"

"Thanks, Tonks" Birdie said, she got up from the chair putting a hand on her side abdomen, Fred immediately rushed to her side but she passed him a glare, "I'm fine by myself"

...

"Ah, there's scarhead look" Lorelei peeked out of the window curtains of the room Hope and Birdie were sharing, Birdie immediately got up causing a pain in her abdomen, again.

"I need you to apparate me down there, I can't walk" Birdie said and Lorelei held out her hand, Birdie put hers on Lorelei's and both of them disappeared with a crack.

Harry flinched because as soon as he entered because of the crack but then he saw his sister standing right in front of him, he immediately rushed forward pulling her into a hug, "Hi, I'm sorry I couldn't visit you. How are you? Is it ok now?"

"Take a breather, Harry" Birdie ruffled his hair with a smile, "I'm fine now" Lorelei watched the two with a smile. Birdie seemed happy.