XXXIV. BACK TO THE NORM...ALMOST

     Sirene Black wasn't insecure about her choices and her appearance, it was something she'd stopped doing when she was a kid deciding she'd rather be confident than insecure - she remembered working on it for weeks and would purposely put herself in embarrassing situations and soon she didn't feel so self conscious anymore, sure she had her moments but it wasn't as bad as it used to be.

     That was before the bullying thing happened, she was much more open before that, sure she was still mean sometimes, but she was also a quirky, fun-loving kid, she was 'normal' as they say and not some girl people were scared to talk to.

    After the bullying started she'd slowly started building up walls and turning herself into a asshole so people wouldn't bully her, and it had worked. People didn't especially because of the all rumors that then spread around and worked in her favor.

    There was one particular rumor about her drinking bat's blood so she could stay young and beautiful forever.

    She remembered laughing about it almost the whole night with the girls and not bothering one bit to clear things up because the first years were practically shivering at her sight.

    It was also the year Sirius made his reputation - even as a twelve year old he loved going on dates with girls, making quite a notorious image for being a player. God, could you imagine? A twelve year old being a player.

    How stupid can people be?

     Sirene slowly made her way up the Astronomy tower with her hands covering her eyes in case Neveah Ross was up there with him, don't blame her, who would want to see their brother's tongue shoved down someone's throat?

    She almost stumbled on the last step, peeking through her fingers and releasing a breath of relief that no one was there. She spotted Sirius right by the railing with a cigarette in his hand.

    "If you want to die, I suggest jumping off the tower" Sirene said with a frown and leaning over the railing, "It's a faster and much less painful death"

    "I'm sorry?" Sirius frowned at her.

    "Cigarettes" Sirene said motioning to the lit one in his hand, "They kill you, damage your lungs, put you through hell"

     "Yeah, well, I'm going to die anyways" Sirius said with a scoff and then turned away from her.

     "They're also triggering for people with asthma" Sirene said playing with her rings, "Moony has asthma, you know?"

     "He does?" Sirius said turning to look at Sirene with a confused look, "How did I not know?"

     "Because he told us years ago" Sirene shrugged, "He said it was the reason he couldn't play Quidditch"

     "Oh" Sirius said staring at the cigarette in his hand for almost a minute before putting it out and then looking at Sirene expectantly.

     "I'm sorry" Sirene said as her voice cracked and she stared down at the ground from the tower, "I'm sorry I said all those things and I didn't ask you how you were even once-"

     "I'm sorry too" Sirius said with his jaw clenched as he stared at his twin who seemed to look everywhere but at him, blinking a lot trying to get rid of the tears in her eyes.

     "I know- it was selfish of me" She said stammering over the words, "I'm sorry I couldn't help it, I had never lived without you and I just tho-"

     "It's ok" Sirius said giving Sirene a really big one of his bear hugs, "It's ok, we're fine now"

     "I missed you" Sirene said with her voice shaking, "On our birthday, I missed your stupid bear hug and our cupcake tradition"

     "I did too" Sirius said with a chuckle, "I wanted to send you a cupcake, I really did but I decided to be a stubborn arse and not do it"

    "It's so shitty without you" Sirene said finally releasing a sob which made Sirius hug her even tighter, "I don't even have a place to live!"

    "Wait what?" Sirius pulled back with his eyebrows furrowed as Sirene's eyes widened and she said with a weak voice, "Surprise?"

🥀

     "I can't come with you to live, Siri" Sirene said as both of them looked through apartment buildings in The Daily Prophet, "The Potters already take care of you, and I don't want to be a burden"

     "You won't be!" Sirius said with a pout as he underlined a building name, "They'll love you! They're really good people, Siri"

     "I'm sure they are" Sirene frowned, "But James's is your best friend not mine and it'll be weird if I'm just living at his house"

     "Well, we don't have many options, do we?" Sirius said frustrated with the girl, "You've tried almost every apartment building, they won't let you rent it"

    "Merlin's balls, I know!" Sirene said rolling her eyes, "It's not my fault father is hellbent on getting me back"

    "Why does he even care?" Sirius crossed his arms and leaned back into his seat, "He didn't care most of our lives"

    "He wants me to marry into a 'respectable pureblood household'" Sirene said making quote signs with her hand, "Ugh, as if!"

    "Disgusting idea" Sirius said with a frown and then looked at his sister, "Do you think we should start looking for muggle apartments?"

    "I would" Sirene said, "But with all the dark lord supporters going around, and me being a blood traitor, I don't know if I want to risk being somewhere with helpless muggles"

    "Maybe" Sirius said a lightbulb turning on in his head, "You could buy a house?"

    "Godric, Siri" Sirene rolled her eyes, "I'm too young for that, I won't be able to sign the proper papers without Orion and Walburga's signatures"

    "This sucks balls" Sirius said slumping back into the common room sofa with a sour expression on his face, "What are we going to do now?"

    "I don't know" Sirene said slumping back into the sofa herself with her arms crossed and her feet on the table.

     "Feet off the table" Sirius and Sirene turned around to find Remus standing there with the rest of the group, Marlene looked so angry it seemed like her blood vessel would pop, James looked disappointed, Alice looked sympathetic, Lily simply glared at the two, and Peter was confused.

     "Hey, guys" Sirene chuckled awkwardly, "How are you?"

     "Sirene Rose Black!" Marlene screeched making Sirene wince, "You've got some nerve to get kicked out and not tell us about it! Your friends!"

    "Marls, I can explain" Sirene said with a calming voice.

    "Go on, then"

    "Well, I didn't want to be a bur-"

     "Lily, hold me back or I swear to Merlin" Marlene said her eye twitching with anger.

     "Sit down, Sirius" Remus said in an eerily calm voice to Sirius who was busy trying to walk out of there without anyone noticing. Sirius muttered a small 'damn it' before sitting down again.

     "How long have you been hiding this from us?" James said to Sirene who rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, "Days? Weeks?"

     "Around 4 months" Sirene said staring at the floor while playing with her rings, "Look, it's not like I didn't want to tell you guys, I just didn't want you to worry"

     "You failed miserably then" Remus said sitting down next to Sirene, "Because now you don't have a place to live and guess what? We're all worried"

     "I'll find some place to live" Sirene protested staring at her friends who gave her an unimpressed glance.

     "Like hell you will" James said angrily making everyone flinch. James doesn't usually get angry - he's always in a playful mood, annoyed yes, but angry James was scary. Even Lily stepped back a bit.

     "What do you suggest I do then?" Sirene spoke annoyed at the boy who threw her a glare, "I can't really live at Hogwarts"

     "You're going to live with me you tosspot" Marlene said rolling her eyes, "I'm sure mum and dad won't mind"

     "Marlene your cousins already live with you!" Sirene said to the blonde who furrowed her brows.

     "We can share a room" Marlene said, "My sisters like you, they wouldn't be against it...as long as you let them do your hair"

    "Look Mar" Sirene said with a sigh, "With the muggle thing in the ministry, your dad is already getting enough shit from pompous bitches, if I stay at your house - my father will make it even harder for him"

     "I don't care" Marlene screamed at Sirene who put her head in her hands.

      "I do" Sirene retorted, "You're already in enough trouble as it is, I don't want to be the one bringing more"

      "Stay with me then" James said turning to look at Sirene with his arms crossed, "We have an extra room since Sirius and I share one, you can have it, and before you say something - my parents aren't at the ministry anymore, they're retired."

      "You don't get it" Sirene said in a small voice, "I'll end up being a burden, James"

      "My parents love you, Si" James said comfortingly, "They've been asking about you since that Christmas party at Marlene's house"

      "James" Sirene said exasperated.

      "Sirene" James mocked copying the same tone she used on him.

      "Fine" She sighed before burying her face in her hands. James smiled triumphantly giving Lily a high-five, and making Marlene and Alice smile, Remus simply shook his head at the two, Sirius looked relieved and Peter, well, he was still confused.

     James turned to Sirene who's shoulders were shaking slightly, his eyes widened as he leaned towards her and asked, "Are you crying?"

     "No, my eyes are sweating" she retorted back in a sarcastic manner.

     "Aw, Si" James said giving the girl a hug and rubbing her arm as she cried, Sirius soon joined in yelling a small 'group hug'. Everyone released a slow chuckle before embracing each other.

     Sirene thanked Merlin that she had friends who love her so much despite every action of hers. She didn't deserve them, truly.

Lol there u go. Sirene and Sirius finally made up! Idiots tbh. Eh knee ways, thank u for reading, and if ure reading this tell me what u think of Andrew. OMG I HAVE 5K READS NOW??????