SNITCH!

IVY WAS ON EDGE. Dumbledore was sending Sirius out into the field with Kingsley Shaklebolt to try and find the whereabouts of a potential Death Eater meeting. They'd be intimidating the information out of someone.

Remus had yet to dub her fit for duty with her dueling skills, meaning she couldn't be there to keep an eye on Sirius. Even though it wasn't meant to be dangerous, no one ever knew. So, ever since the assignment was given, Ivy hadn't left Sirius' side, not wanting to part from him.

But now the night before he was set to leave had arrived, and she was miserable.

"Bunny, I'll be okay," Sirius said while holding her hand. They were speaking softly in his room while he packed a bag — he'd only be gone for two days, but that was two too many in Ivy's opinion. "I've been through this before."

"Yes, and you landed in prison for twelve years last time," she couldn't help but say. "An - And so many people were lost. Siri, can't you just stay here?"

Sirius set the shirt he'd just folded down and moved to cup Ivy's cheeks. "Love, I know you're scared."

"I'm terrified," she whispered, her voice cracking a bit. "You're the only person that makes me feel safe."

He couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Somewhere, Val just felt her heart shattering because we all know she's much more fearsome than I am."

"You're not funny," she mumbled. Then she turned her head and kissed his palm. "Don't go."

"I have to."

She gripped the sides of his sweatshirt a little tighter, like she was refusing to let him go. "Please, Siri," she begged with wide, hopeful eyes. "Please, stay with me."

"That's hardly fair, love," he murmured, brushing his thumb over her cheek. "You make it incredibly hard to say no when you beg for something."

Ivy huffed and pulled away, tears welling in her eyes as she turned her back to him. Sirius sighed and came up behind her, holding her. "Don't be this way, Bunny. I don't want to leave with you upset with me."

"'M not upset," she mumbled. "With you, at least. I just don't want to say goodbye."

"Well, I'm not leaving yet," he said, dipping low to kiss her neck. "Let me say goodbye properly at least."

She hummed, her eyes fluttering shut in bliss as he sucked on the side of her neck, tongue tracing her skin. It wasn't long at all before she was lost in him, letting him pull the sweater over her head, leaving her in a pair of sweatpants and a sports bra, as she'd been cleaning all day.

Sirius gently gripped her chin and turned her head toward him, capturing her lips in a firm kiss, loving the little whine she let out when he nipped at her bottom lip. It felt like her skin was catching on fire as he ran his hands along her sides and back, pulling her as close as possible.

"Need you, Bunny," he muttered against her lips, pulling her against his hardening length that was throbbing beneath the fabric of his jeans.

She whined and slid her hands underneath his sweatshirt, lightly tugging it up until he got the message and pulled it off himself. Then she clung to him, not wanting a centimeter of space between them — not wanting to let him leave.

Sirius continued to devour her lips with bruising kisses as he slid a hand inside of her sweatpants, seeking out her underwear-covered clit. She let out a mewl when he began rubbing against her clit, loving how she began to grind against his hand.

When he pulled back, she tried to chase after him for another kiss, but he was pushing her back onto the bed instead, towering over her with his hand still at her core. Slowly, he slid two fingers inside of her, and when she came up off the bed, a low moan leaving her throat, he put his free hand to her neck, keeping her pinned down for him.

Suddenly, Ivy wasn't in the bedroom anymore. It wasn't Sirius' warm hand around her throat — it was Lucius Malfoy's cold one as he spat foul threats at her, cutting off her air supply until she felt like he was going to kill her, fingers digging into her skin, leaving dark marks on her skin.

"S - Snitch," Ivy choked out, tears welling in her eyes as she began to hyperventilate. "Snitch! Snitch."

Sirius was off her in an instant, drawing his eyebrows in with worry. But before he could check on her, she was scrambling off the bed and running from the room, tears streaming down her face.

Ivy couldn't think straight — all she could do was run, get away from him. And she ran right past Remus, who'd been heading to his room to sleep for the night.

"Ivy?" he asked, reaching and catching her before she could run past. Her knees gave out and she collapsed, him slowly lowering her to the ground before she could hit the floor. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

As hard as she tried, she couldn't get her breathing under control. She knew that she was safe with Remus. She knew she was safe with Sirius, who'd come around the corner. But she couldn't convince her stupid brain that everything was alright.

"I - I'm sorry," she said in a raspy voice. Then she hid her head in Remus' chest, not wanting to see the look of disappointment on Sirius' face that he was no doubt sporting because she'd used their word. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. We can go back. I'm sorry."

"What?" Sirius asked, coming to sit next to them on the floor. And even then, he kept his distance, not wanting to upset Ivy with his touch. "Love, what are you apologizing for."

"What's going on?" Remus asked, trying to put together the pieces of why Ivy was in his arms, half-dressed, and sobbing. He looked to a confused Sirius, who quietly muttered that she'd used their safe word and ran out. "Sweetheart," Remus said in a calm tone, running his hands through her hair. "Everything's okay. You're safe right now, yeah? Wanna come out?"

Ivy sniffed, calming down the slightest bit. Then she peeked at Sirius from the side, seeing the frown on her face — it was out of concern but she interpreted it as one of disappointment. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "We can - we can keep going. I'm sorry I said it."

"No," Sirius said, shaking his head. "Ivy, don't you dare apologize. That's why the word's there. I just need to make sure you're okay."

She sniffed and hid back in Remus' chest, trying to focus on his heartbeat to calm down. Trying to convince herself that Sirius wasn't mad.

He hadn't once said to her that she should take what he gave her and be happy since the incident at the World Cup. He didn't want her to think for a second that he didn't want her just as much as she wanted him, but part of her would always doubt that and wonder if she really should take whatever he gave her without complaining.

"Darling," Sirius tried again. "Can Remus take you to your room?"

Sure, Ivy technically had a room at Grimmauld Place even though she slept in Sirius' arms most nights.

Remus felt her nod into his chest, so he carefully scooped her up in his arms and carried her toward the room two doors down, Sirius following silently behind. Then the taller man sat her on the bed, and she drew her knees up to her chest. So, he went to the closet and pulled out one of her sweaters before helping her put it on.

Sirius sat on the edge of the bed, not too close to her.

"Is it okay if I leave you and Sirius to talk?" Remus asked Ivy. "I'll be right outside if you need me."

She hesitated for a second before nodding. This was Sirius. No one loved her and cared for her more than he did. She just had to get her stupid brain to realize that. To realize that Lucius Malfoy was far away, and she was safe.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, glancing at Sirius.

His frown only deepened. "Stop apologizing, love. But I need to know why you said it so that I don't do it ever again. I didn't think I was trying anything new."

"Wasn't new," she mumbled, feeling more ashamed. She stared at her knees rather than at him. "He would... Mr. Malfoy liked to..." When she could find the words, she put her own hand around her throat, barely touching her skin.

She used to like it — having Sirius' hands around her neck. It felt more right than any necklace ever had, but now all she could think about was the life being choked out of her.

Sirius clenched his fist in anger, wishing he could Apparate to Azkaban right then and end Lucius' pathetic life. But making sure Ivy knew she was safe and comfortable was far more important.

"I am sorry I said it," she tried again, taking in a deep breath. "I won't ever again."

"No, don't say that," he shook his head. "Ivy, I never want to do anything you aren't comfortable with. And I will never be mad with you for setting boundaries for yourself. I'm glad you said something, or I never would've known."

After a second, she slowly looked at him, seeing the caring look on his face. She bit her lip nervously, now just feeling embarrassed for making a scene. She wanted to apologize again but held back, knowing he'd just tell her to stop.

"Can I hold your hand?" he asked softly, resting his open palm on the mattress. She stared at him for a moment before reaching for his warm hand — a hand that would never hurt her. Sirius ran his thumb over her knuckles comfortingly and didn't say anything more, just giving Ivy the time to silently work through her emotions.

Finally, she slowly crawled toward him, leaning her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. Sirius rocked her side to side, humming Baby, I Love You under his breath.

| | |

When Ivy woke up, her heart sank, remembering that scene she'd made the night before. She'd scared Sirius and worried Remus and all because of Lucius Malfoy. She didn't think it was all that fair that he still had so much control over her life while behind bars.

To her happiness, she was still in Sirius' arms when she woke up. And as always, he was the first up and tracing nonsense patterns on her back.

"Morning, Bunny," he murmured, kissing the top of her head.

"Are we okay?" she asked shyly, still second-guessing herself.

"Oh, of course, we are, love," he assured her, cupping her cheek. "I'm so proud of you for having the courage to do that last night."

Feeling more convinced, Ivy nodded and snuggled a little closer to him. Now that the night's events were behind them, she had more pressing matters. "Please, don't go."

"I'm not," he whispered.

Ivy sat up, an excited look in her eyes. "You're not?" she asked hopefully.

Sirius shook his head. "Spoke with Rem. He's taking my place."

At that, she frowned. She didn't want Remus in danger either. If anything, she'd rather someone like Mundungus go as he was quite unpleasant.

"Neither of us want you left alone right now," Sirius explained. "And besides, Shacklebolt likes Remus more anyway. Most people do."

"Well, I think you're both great," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Though I think I'll always be a little biased toward you."

"I should hope so," he said, gently kissing her lips. He wasn't ready to deepen it and take things further physically, wanting her to have several days to recover before he tried anything. "Now, blueberry muffins for breakfast — your favorite."

"Do you know why I love blueberries so much?" she then asked out of the blue.

Sirius just raised an eyebrow. "Do tell."

"The first time Snuffles approached me and not the other way around, I was eating blueberries. It was the first time I felt like I made progress with that version of you," she told him, blushing a little bit. "And eating blueberries makes me think of all the good times I had with Snuffles."

Sirius smiled sweetly and tucked some of her hair behind her ear before brushing her cheek with his thumb. "You like me better than Snuffles though, right?"'

"Most of the time."

"Hold on? Most of the time?"