when: Some time after the protests.
where: The Potter home.
who: Sirius and Lily @fauvehoof
“I’m home!” rumbled from the fireplace before Sirius stepped out of it. The place, albeit not his home, felt nearly as much as his actual place. He had spent plenty of moments under its roof, his energy bound to the walls. Yes, besides his and Remus’ home, this where where Sirius felt the safest.
James was still at the hospital, resting and healing from the injuries he had gained at the protests. Sirius had been relieved when Lily had given him notice that James was alright, the pain the fear had stitched into his shoulders easing. It had been too close, again, and once again Sirius had to fear that James’ hero complex would come crashing down on their lives. James high moral compass and his passion to do good were one of the things Sirius both loved and hated in James.
And, he didn’t want to lose two brothers. Not ever, but especially not so close together. It had been jarring seeing Regulus unmoving in his hospital bed, sleeping on the edge to death. Seeing Regulus in a coma had helped stir unlabeled, unspoken emotions in him, and he had had such a sudden strong desire for Regulus to wake up so Sirius could compensate for all the years of abandonment. Instead, he had gotten a moment with Walburga, and left behind a box of licorice wands for Regulus if - when - he woke up.
And Lily, then. Who had been at the protests too, who also had to fear where James’ bravados would have him end up, who had a son to take care of and thus couldn’t give in to her emotions as freely as Sirius as not to upset Harry. Sirius was relieved that Lily, all in all, had escaped the turbulence fairly scot-free.
He held bags carrying boxes of Chinese takeaway for them to feast on, a little bag of sweets for his godson. It still amazed Sirius,at times, that this where were he had ended up with Lily; hurrying over to her to make sure she was okay, worry and love for her running freely in his heart as it did for James. Lily, who Sirius once had been so jealous of when she first had come into his life proper. Lily, who he know couldn’t imagine not being in his life. Lily, who had expanded on the gift of family that the Marauders had given him, Lily that seemingly trusted him so that he was named godfather to Harry. Sirius’ heart swelled at the sudden thoughts, at how safe and welcoming he felt by just stepping out of the fireplace into Lily’s world.
“I’ve brought lots of food!”