XXXVIII. DARLING, JUST HOLD ON

Sirene Black was nervous, she usually isn't, but sometimes when she is she's so nervous that she feels like she might shit her pants. She kept bouncing her knees up and down and playing with the rings in her hands, biting her nails every now and then, but Andrew would pull them away from her mouth everytime.

      She was going to meet the Potters today, James had told them over a letter that Sirene would be coming to stay with them and they were ecstatic, Mrs. Potter even said that she might end up adopting her, she's always wanted a daughter afterall.

      Sirene was flattered, really, but she doubted that Mrs. Potter would feel the same after she meets her, Sirene started chewing on her nails again, yes, it's gross, but it's a habit that she can't break.

      "Stop" Andrew said putting her hand away and then holding it so she doesn't start biting her nails again, Sirene's eyes widened as she stared at their hands, Andrew tried to act cool, "It'll be fine, she'll love you"

      "Annie, you don't even know her" Sirene said with an exhausted voice, "How do you know she will?"

      "It's hard not to love you, Black" Andrew said with a chuckle, "And if James is anything like her you shouldn't worry about it"

      "He's right" James said from his side, "She's going to love you"

       "She loves you already, in fact" Marlene said with a smile, "I know because she told me, I've been writing to her"

      "Why exactly have you been writing to my mother, Marlene....?" James said with his eyebrows furrowed as everyone stared at Marlene expectantly for an answer.

      "Because?" She shrugged and then went back to eating her box of 'Bertie Bott's every flavor beans' everyone looked at her weirdly but then went back to doing their thing.

      "Ugh" Lily sat down next to James blowing the hair out of her face, "Lucius is so infuriating, who even thought it would be good to make that little prat a prefect?"

      "What'd he do?" James asked his jaw clenching, "Did he call you that word again? I swear to god I'll kill him-"

"James, it's fine" Lily said putting her hand on his, his eyes widened. Sirene looked at Lily with a knowing glance. Lily simply looked everywhere but at him, not letting go of his hand all that time.

"It's getting hot in here" Sirene said with a teasing grin to Lily who gave her a glare, "Wouldn't you say that, Alice?"

"Sirene" Alice said with a smile, "Stop it"

"Fine" Sirene said rolling her eyes though she didn't miss the knowing look Lily sent her motioning to Andrew and Sirene's hands.

🥀

      "Hey, write to me, ok?" Andrew said getting out from the train and handing Sirene her luggage that he was helping her with.

      "Of course" Sirene said giving him a small smile, "I'm sure Freya wouldn't mind going to one more person's house for the summer" Freya hooted at that almost as if she'd understood what Sirene said.

      "Well, I'll see you after the summer then?" Andrew said offering her a shy grin.

      "Yeah, see you" She said and before she knew it she was wrapped in a hug, it wasn't a tight bear hug, it was more of an awkward one - she barely had time to react and wrap her hands around his body before he walked away giving her a small wave.

      Sirene noticed James rubbing his neck while he was talking to Lily with a small smile on his face, Lily was looking up at him with a smile too. Sirius and Neveah were talking to each other at the platform, and then they were making out to which Sirene gagged internally, and a little bit externally, look it's not that she didn't like Neveah, she just didn't hit it off with her like she did with the others. She still doesn't have an opinion on her.

      Sirene gave Alice a really tight hug knowing that her stepmother was going to be an absolute nightmare. Marlene and Lyra said their goodbyes and then walked away to find their parents.

      "Sirene?" Sirene heard a recognizable soft voice call out, she turned to find a pretty brunette lady with a tired expression, "Oh, look at how much you've grown!"

      "Mrs. Potter!" Sirene said with a tone of surprise, Euphemia Potter wrapped Sirene in a huge bone-crushing hug, "I'm sorry for crashing at your plac-"

      "Nonsense" Euphemia waved her off with a scoff, "I would love to have you over!"

      "Hey, mum" James said giving her mother a kiss on her cheek and one sided hug, "I see you've found Sirene already."

       "Hey, Mia!" Sirius said giving the woman a short hug, "Is Fleamont here?"

       "No, dear, he's at home preparing lunch" Euphemia said the smile not leaving her face for a second as she talked to the kids. Sirene thought that Euphemia was an amazing person, even if you'd met her just a few seconds ago she'll make you feel so loved. That's probably what motherly love feels like.

      "Come on" Euphemia said holding out her hand so they could apparate to the Potter manor, the Potter manor wasn't as grand as Grimmauld Place, but it was nice and cozy from what Sirene could tell, she liked it. There was a garden where all different kinds of flowers were planted and a lot of vegetables too. A small elf came out of the kitchen and offered to hold their trunks, Sirene gave her the trunk and then took in her surroundings, the house was messy, there were things scattered all across the room, but Sirene liked it, it was homey and it actually felt like someone lived there.

       Back in grimmauld place, everything is so clean that if it wasnt for Walburga screaming every five seconds you wouldn't know someone lived there.

      "I'm sorry for the mess, darling" Euphemia said trying to clean up as much as she could, picking up things and then just shoving them in a corner, "I was planning to clean up but then I forgot about it"

       "Oh, no its alright, Mrs. Potter" Sirene said in a hurried tone, "I like it here, it looks much more cozy and warm"

       "Hon, I think I burnt the food again" a voice called out from the kitchen, a man with unruly black hair came forward wearing an apron and holding a spatula, "Oh, hey Sirene, how have you been?"

       "I'm fine, Mr. potter" Sirene said giving him a polite smile.

        "Enough with the formalities, dear" Euphemia said with a loving smile, "You can call us Fleamont and Euphemia"

         "Dad, something is burning!" James said from upstairs, Fleamont's expression turned into one of panic again as he remembered that the food was still cooking in the kitchen.

       "We have a house elf for a reason, fleamont!"

🥀

Sirene was finally settled into the spare room, she looked around at the room with a small smile on her face. Placing the record player on the dresser and the vinyls neatly in a drawer.

"Dad says dinner's ready" James said startling Sirene who gave him a glare.

"Knock on the door next time, would you?" Sirene said getting up and then following him out of the door, "Seriously, though knock next time"

"Yeah, yeah" James said waving her off and then sitting down at the dinner table, "Ooh, pasta" he said immediately taking some out of the pot with a fork.

"Manners, James" Fleamont slapped his hand away setting down the dishes.

"Ooh, pasta!" Euphemia said taking some out of the pot herself and immediately putting it in her mouth.

"Mia!" Fleamont scolded her making Mia frown, "You're supposed to be setting a good example!"

"But it's pasta!" Mia said motioning to the pot. Fleamont released a sigh and sat down.

"Ooh, pasta!" Sirius said immediately taking some out of the pot and eating it without even bothering to get himself a plate.

Fleamont rolled his eyes at the three pushing his glasses back a bit and then getting some of it himself. The Potters were chaotic and somehow Sirene knew she'd be fitting right in with them.

Lololol there it is, another chapter we're officially entering the seventh year next chapter and then after that it's going to be act 2 where all the grown up stuff happens🤧 how tf do relationships work,,,,like u just not get bored and annoyed with each other and do couple-y shit? It doesnt add up???