GET OFF HER, GRANDPA!

WHEN IVY WOKE, she could feel fingertips tracing along her spine, a comforting motion that nearly lulled her back to sleep. Her head was burrowed in a firm chest, and she stayed right there, feeling a bit shy after the night they'd had together. But at the very least, Sirius was still in bed and holding her, so she couldn't have been that bad or regrettable.

Truthfully, Sirius wanted to be up and making breakfast for her — he'd woken up thirty-two minutes ago. But he didn't want to risk her waking up alone, knowing how important this all was for her. He needed to make sure her experience was nothing short of perfect. And besides, it wasn't as if holding hers in his arms was a laborious task.

Knowing that he was awake and not wanting to face him quite yet, she pressed up even closer, pressing her nose into his chest. But that clued him in to her awake status.

Sirius dipped down, his lips brushing her ear as he tried to guide her out of his chest. "Morning, Bunny."

"Don't think I can handle you calling me that in front of others anymore," she murmured, still staying hidden.

The older man just smirked, knowing he was going to weaponize that fact in some way now. But he frowned when she kept her face to his chest. "Darling?" he questioned. "Why don't you come out and face the day?"

"Don't want to."

"And why's that?"

Ivy swallowed thickly, not knowing if she could admit one of her deepest insecurities. "You won't want me anymore after last night."

Sirius scoffed and pulled away from her like she'd burned him with a hot iron, offended by the very notion. "Look at me, Ivy." When she didn't move her head up, he said again in a much firmer tone, "Look at me."

She held her breath and did as told, nearly flinching at the hurt look on his face.

"Why would I no longer want you?" he questioned, nearly clenching his fist.

"Because," she said, her eyes shining. "You've gotten what you wanted — you had sex with me. That's all boys wanted in school. And compared to all the girls you've had—"

"It's true," he cut her off. "I've had many lovers, and they all meant nothing other than a fun night. My heart does not stir lightly, Darling, but it does now. You are all-consuming, Ivy. And I meant it when I told you I love you, something I've never said before if you can believe it."

Looking into his grey eyes, she could believe him. So, her shoulders relaxed the slightest bit. "I love you, too."

"What a relief," he murmured, cupping her cheek. "Now, let me properly greet you."

Then Sirius leaned in to kiss her softly — so much softer than all their rough kisses the night before. It was comforting. Just as comforting as waking with her in his arms was. Ivy relaxed into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull herself even closer to him, soaking in the heat he gave off on the chilly morning.

"Good morning," he whispered against her lip.

"Good morning," she giggled as he kissed all over her face, still doing his best to make her more comfortable.

"How are you feeling?"

In an instant, her face flushed, much to his amusement. "Um, a little sore, if I'm being honest."

He frowned at that. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"Not in a bad way," she reassured him. "Everything you did was... perfect. I'm sorry if I wasn't up to your standards."

"You were perfect for me," he said softly, loving how her face flushed. "Merlin, you can't imagine how many times I'd fucked my fist wishing it was your tight little cunt. I just hope it was just as perfect for you — though I suspect it was with the sounds you were letting out."

"It was... amazing," she said, not able to think of a more eloquent word. "You're amazing." Then she pecked his lips almost shyly — he adored that she was still shy after everything they'd done.

"I love you," she whispered, just needing to say it both to reassure him and herself.

"I love you too," he murmured. "Now, what do you want for breakfast? I think you deserve anything you'd like after your performance."

"You say that like you don't offer me every morning to make whatever I want," she said in a teasing tone. "How do cinnamon pancakes sound?"

"Sounds like Harry will be jealous because those are his favorite."

| | |

It was, admittedly, harder than normal for Sirius to make breakfast. But who could blame him when Ivy would come up behind him and wrap her arms around his waist or stand on her toes to ask for a kiss?

Nevertheless, the pancakes finally got made, and the couple — it put a smile on both their faces just thinking of themselves as a couple — settled down to eat. It was a good thing that Harry wasn't home to see, or he'd throw up at the sight of Ivy perched on Sirius' lap as they shared a plate.

Speaking of—

"What if Harry finds out and gets mad?" Ivy suddenly asked in a small voice, turning to look up at him.

"Why on earth would he be mad, love?" Sirius questioned.

"Because you're his godfather, Sirius. And I - I, well, we had... you know."

Sirius chuckled, adoring that she still couldn't even say the word 'sex' without turning red. "Harry has known for quite some time how I feel about you."

"And is he okay with it?" she asked nervously. "I really would never want to upset HJ, and if he wants me to leave you alone, I will—"

"You'll do no such thing," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist even tighter.

"This is serious," she sighed.

"So am I," he said with a sly smirk.

And though she didn't want to encourage him, she couldn't help but giggle. Then she swatted his chest playfully. "Don't. You know you're the only parental figure he's ever had. Something like this could be a big deal for him. What if he's really upset with me?"

"He won't be upset with you, Darling — that's physically impossible," Sirius said. "If anything, he'll be cross with me. He warned me at length not to hurt you."

"Now that's really impossible," she said sweetly, kissing his cheek. "But I suppose I believe you for now, perhaps we shouldn't tell him right away."

"Oh, Bunny, it'd be torture keeping you a secret," he groaned, hiding his face in her neck. Though a part of him was thrilled by the idea of sneaking around behind everyone's back — plus he could help Remus win his little bet. "Though I do like the idea of having you all to myself for a few days. Perhaps I can convince Harry to stay a few more days at the Weasley's house."

"I quite like the sound of that," she said smiling.

"Good," he hummed, leaning down for a quick kiss. "I've only just tasted your lips. I'd hate to have to stop. Kissing you is far too sweet."

Ivy smiled teasingly, running her fingers over his scruffy beard. "You've kissed me a hundred times before."

Sirius just scoffed. "As a dog — that hardly counts."

She hummed and leaned closer. "Then I suppose you have some catching up to do."

| | |

Val didn't understand why Ivy wasn't responding to her letters. Half a day had passed since the day at Black Manor with the entire Weasley family. She thought for sure she'd have woken up with news about whatever did or didn't happen between Ivy and Sirius that night.

But she got nothing in reply.

Dear Ivette,
Yes, I've full named you. Are you dead? You know how I worry. Also, tell me right the fuck now if you and Sirius shagged or not. Even just a kiss. Anything. I'm dying to know.
Answer me, Val

With narrowed eyes, she watched her owl, Peanut, fly off out the open window, taking the small piece of parchment with her.

"Better not come home without a reply," she muttered in annoyance.

"At this point, I'm rooting for you to win the bet so that I can stop hearing Sirius mope around," Remus said, leaning against the kitchen counter in Valerie's flat. "Now, where's that cup of tea you promised me for waking up?"

Val scoffed and turned to look at the ruggedly handsome man who had a content smile on his scar-covered face. She thought he looked beautiful like this — content and still in the pajama he'd slept in.

"Get it yourself, old man," she said while moving to grab a scone to eat for breakfast. "Or are you too weak and frail?"

Now it was Remus' turn to scoff, not appreciating her poking at his age. "Didn't seem to think I was so weak and frail last night."

"Woah, is Professor Hottie capable of dirty talk?" she asked, laughing a little bit. "Where was that last night?"

He crossed his arms and shrugged. "I was being a gentleman."

"Well, I'll keep that in mind for next time," she said with a flirtatious smile.

Remus' expression dropped, and he anxiously rubbed his neck. "I don't... Val, this can't happen again. It shouldn't have happened at all. I shouldn't have even stayed for breakfast."

"What're you on about, Rem? Because I know that was the best night of your life," she said, trying not to let her confident smirk fall. Not much could easily upset her, but this might.

"Yes, you did," he admitted. "It was wonderful. But I'm not..." Val hated how his face crumbled. "I'm not the kind of man you deserve. I'm a werewolf, for Merlin's sake. Not to mention I was your teacher. It was wrong of me to take advantage of you."

Val's mouth fell open. "You weren't taking advantage of me—"

"Yes, I was, even if you're too young to realize it yet," he said, more and more disgusted with himself. "And your age—"

"How is that any different from Sirius and Ivy?" she interrupted, getting angry as he shouted off excuse after excuse. "Get over yourself, Remus. And if you don't want to see me again because you don't like me, then just be a man and say it. Otherwise, cut the shit. You and I both know those aren't real reasons."

Remus sighed and moved around the counter to try and calm her down, only for her to back away. He opened his mouth, but she wouldn't let him get a word in.

"Unless your next words are some variation of an apology and admission that I'm right, I don't want to hear it," she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

"I am sorry," Remus whispered, but he wasn't going to admit to being wrong. Not when it came to this.

Realizing this, Val swallowed the hurt and squared her shoulders. "Then just get your stuff and go. No use in you hanging around."

| | |

"Get off of her, Grandpa!" Val snapped as soon as she Apparated to Black Manor. She couldn't even be excited by the sight of Sirius leisurely kissing Ivy, who was perched on the counter.

Ivy pulled back with flaming cheeks and began to stutter. "It's not what it—" Then she paused, seeing Val's red eyes, a sign that she'd been crying. So, Ivy pushed Sirius back. "What's wrong?"

Rather than answer her, Val set her sights on Sirius. "Your best mate is a right floppy cock, yeah?"

Never one that handled crying girls well, Sirius couldn't help but laugh. Val just had a way with words. "What's Moony done now?"

Rather than reply, Val grabbed Ivy's wrist, completely pulling her off of Sirius. He whined at her loss, but Val just flipped him off, dragging her best friend up to her bedroom. And Ivy didn't dare complain — Val never cried, so this was important.

"What is it?" Ivy asked once they were safely in her room. Val forced her down onto the bed and then began pacing, taking in deep breaths.

"I fucked Remus last night," she admitted. "And I thought he must've liked me back, but then he was spouting out all this shit about it not happening again because of his age and him being a werewolf and my teacher. And - and... it hurt my feelings! I've never had my feelings hurt by a boy before."

Though Ivy was surprised, she certainly didn't let it keep her from comforting her friend. She instantly got up and hugged Ivy, who groaned and hid in her shoulder. "I'm sure he's just concerned about his condition," she told him.

"Yeah, but maybe not," she grumbled. "I mean, I didn't get my hopes up in school. It really was just a silly thought. But Merlin, we started writing and then seeing each other over here all summer. And then last night, sure, we'd both had a bit too much fire whisky, but it was amazing. At least, I thought it was. But he said it's not going to happen again."

"I'm sorry, Val," Ivy said, knowing that Val didn't want her advice. She just needed someone to vent to, and Ethan was off in Nigeria for a game. "I'm so sorry. Remus is so great, but he must be stupid when it comes to these things."

Val scoffed at that. "Says the one that still thinks Sirius doesn't like her even though he was all over you—"

The blonde girl cut herself off, finally paying attention to her surroundings. She noticed the sheets stripped from Ivy's bed, the way her usually perfect curls were in disarray, the fact that she was wearing a man's shirt, and that her neck was covered in bruises.

"Merlin," Val muttered, her eyes going wide. "Did you? And Sirius?"

Ivy flushed and nodded. "But that's not what matters. You're hurting—"

"Fuck Remus!" she exclaimed, grabbing Ivy's arms and forcing her to sit on the bed. Only to remember what had likely been done, and she was instantly standing again. "Details. All the details."

"Well, we, you know," she said shyly. Val scoffed, unable to believe she was still being shy. "And it was really nice. We're together now — actually together, I mean."

"Fuck, finally! Now, tell me everything." But Ivy kept her mouth shut, not thinking she'd be able to get through it. Val groaned in annoyance. "What if we play a guessing game?"

The childish suggestion put a smile on Ivy's face, so she nodded.

"You did have sex, yes?" she asked, earning a nod and a blush. Val then thought for a moment. "And you finished, yeah? If not, I'll embarrass him when everyone is over next time. Cedric would've made you—"

"Yes, Val," she cut her off, face still burning.

"More than once?"

"Yes."

"How many times?"

"Four."

"Merlin!" Val shouted in disbelief. "Are you not exhausted?"

Ivy smiled shyly down at her lap. "He took really good care of me after. He was so gentle and caring."

"Really?" she asked, tilting her head. "Seems the type to fuck you stupid. Like, feminism leaves your body when he takes his—"

"Val!" she hissed, covering her face. Then again, she recalled how pathetically she'd sucked on his thumb and knew that Val wasn't too far off.

"Ah, so it did leave your body. You have that look of shame about you," she teased. "Alright, what else? Did he go down on you?"

"Go down on?" she asked uncertainly.

Rather than explain verbally, Val, who was always ready to fluster her sweet Flufflepuff, got on her knees in front of Ivy and spread her legs. As soon as she brought her face closer to Ivy's core, she pushed her back, giggling a little.

"Maybe," she murmured, still embarrassed. "Is that not normal?"

"No, babes. Takes a real man to do it," she said, thinking of Remus who'd done the same without her having to ask. "Okay, and did you do the same to him?"

"No," she mumbled, fiddling with her fingers. "I mean, I didn't know I could. Even just using my hand, I didn't know. He told me what to do, and he said it was good, but I feel like he might've been lying."

"Did he cum from it?" she questioned.

"Well, yes."

She smirked down at her. "He enjoyed it, Bunny," Val said teasingly.

"Don't call me that," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Right, that's Siri's name for you," she cooed, and Ivy swatted at her arm. "Did he call you anything else that makes you squirm?"

Thinking back on it, Sirius' words ran through her mind, making her face even redder, which Val caught onto. "Spill."

Ivy grabbed a pillow and whispered into it. "His good girl."

Val squealed and jumped on the bed with her, making Ivy laugh. "You slut! I love you! Now you've really got to tell me everything. Your face can live in that pillow for all I care, babe."