“ i am going to choose to take that as a compliment. “ in so many ways she’s different now, softer now - - edges filed down, still not-quite-smooth, but softer. her hair is messier, tied back to keep it from the tug of tiny fingers, to keep it from her face in the course of new-learned daily work. softer, yes - - made softer, chose softness. it shows now in her eyes, spectacularly so, she reaches out without thinking and pulls him into a hug, her runaway cousin, another black mark upon the family tree, her only family now. come to her at last! “merlin, sirius, you have no idea how happy i am to see you! are you….are you alright? you haven’t been hurt, you’ve been eating? you have a place to stay?” she would open her home to him in but a breath, convince ted to let him stay. “what’s happened? how did…?” inquiring eyes look up at him, wide and silver-grey. regulus remains, she thinks, and the ache of it is sharp. the same sort of ache that grips her at the thought of bellatrix, narcissa. but a teasing smile curves her lips, avoidance of the topic plain. “why didn’t you come to see me sooner, you awful boy?”
he’s missed her. she’d been all he had within those cursed walls of his family’s home; and when she’d left — good that she’d left, of course; good for her, and good for ted — he’d felt more than a little abandoned. but still he loves her — as much as any of them can love one another; perhaps more. ❝ i’m alright, andy. better than you with your apron. ❞ but he says it amusedly into her hair, hugging her tightly; he’s taller than her now. ❝ trust me, i’m eating better than before. i’m staying with the potters. ❞ there won’t be any surprises there, he imagines. ❝ i’ve been.. busy. y’know, getting ready for the spring term and all. there’s been loads to buy and get together. ❞ he’d managed a barely-packed trunk when he left grimmauld place; he’d even left some textbooks that walburga promptly destroyed upon his departure. and there’s the scarcely healed wounds from the last fight with his parents itself. at least he’s not limping anymore.
