p a d f o o t

[xfadetoblack]

you don't know me and I'll never be what you want me to be

[xfadetoblack]

howling-fenrir·:

where: Diagon Alley when: March 28, 1979 who: Fenrir Greyback and Sirius Black ( @xfadetoblack· )

The moon was nowhere to be seen tonight. The only thing that lit the streets were the lamps on the side of the road and the light escaping from the displays of the stores that were still open. Fenrir didn’t need to look up to the sky to know that it was a new moon tonight. He always knew what phase of the moon it was. A lesser-known side effect of being a werewolf.

Fenrir staggered through the dark streets of Diagon Alley. He stunk of booze but he still managed to walk a straight line. He spent most of the night drinking with the other werewolves and now Fenrir was out with nowhere to go. While he wasn’t sure where he was going exactly, he was sure of one thing. He really wanted to smoke a fag. He dug inside his pocket and found a couple of sticks. All he needed was to light it. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a lighter with him and Fenrir would rather not risk setting his face on fire by conjuring flame. He wasn’t that drunk. Luckily enough, down the street, he saw someone taking a smoke.

“Oy!” he shouted. Fenrir quickened his pace and saw that it was a young man in front of him. He showed his stick to the boy before placing it between his lips. “Light this one will you?”

Diagon Alley was dangerous these days, though it grew even worse at night. Most store fronts were shut down, left until the next morning. Exiting through the front of the Leaky Cauldron was  too much to ask the former Gryffindor; the muggles bustling back and forth, happy and oblivious to the evils that lay just inside the ages old tavern. It was a blissful kind of ignorance they had all been blessed with, Sirius couldn’t stomach that feeling, now. He had to stay strong, stay alert. Stepping out of the closed off brick portal, the man glanced about, jaw set firmly as he glanced from shop to shop. The menagerie, though closed, was warm with the glow of low, ambient light to keep the animals calm. Crossing from the Leaky Cauldron’s back entrance, Sirius paused to look over the sleeping animals, lifting a cigarette to his lips. To be an animal in a time of nationwide turbulence seemed a dream; one he could take up with ease, given his position as an unlisted animagus.  Lighter in hand, Sirius’ thumb pressed the starter and the end quickly lit in a low, yellow flame. The end of his cigarette lighting in the darkness around him, Sirius tucked the lighter back in his jeans pocket, smoke escaping his nose and lips. Were he a worse man, he would consider shirking his responsibilities, turning into a dog and running away.  A sudden gruff call stirred his thoughts, Sirius felt himself brace, slowly bringing his free hand to the wand tucked in the hip holster of his pants. The man before him seemed nothing more than another slovenly drunk, someone running from the Death Eaters at the bottom of a bottle, much like he had. As the man neared, recognition struck Sirius like a train, sending veins of boiling rage throughout the core of his body. Turning away, nostrils flaring in disgust, Sirius took another deep inhale off his cigarette, knuckles white around the hilt of his wand.  “Sod off.” 

[xfadetoblack]

andromedatnks·:

Andromeda couldn’t help but laugh at Sirius’s reaction, conceding that maybe hitting him in front of Nymphadora wasn’t the best idea; the last thing she needed was Nymphadora going around smacking everybody. Although, the laughing was sobered once Sirius gave his reasons for not telling her sooner, Andromeda growing quiet as she gave him a simple nod of understanding. She could see why he hadn’t told her sooner, given the predicament the world was in; and St. Mungo’s certainly was not immune.

“I understand.” She glanced towards Nymphadora, the girl blissfully oblivious of the true state of things. That was all that she could ask for, that the girl didn’t know the true horrors of what was happening. And that Sirius stayed safe. “Well …regardless. If you become a healer, I’ll be there to help. You know that I will always have your back.” At that, Nymphadora began to squirm, and Andromeda’s smile returned as she handed the girl over to Sirius. “In the meantime, I think she wants you.”

Welcoming the toddler into his arms, Sirius crossed an arm beneath her thighs, holding her with ease against his side as his other hand came up to rest across her back. The gentle warmth of the child in his arms brought a smile to his face, his lips coming to press against her forehead. “Oi oi, little bit,” He beamed, glancing toward his cousin once more. Sirius hadn’t been sure of much of anything since he’d left home, but he was sure of his decision to become a healer. For all his assurance in the past, all he’d been able to do was ruin his own happiness. He was sure he was right in his quest of bullying Severus Snape away from Lily; all he’d done was help hurt them both. He was sure he’d do anything to protect his friends, and then he let a night of frustration almost get Severus killed and Remus exposed.  Sirius Black was a disappointment to all, himself included. But he would not dare disappoint where it mattered most; keeping those he loved alive.  Working at Mungos was dangerous, most places of business in the wizarding world were a fright to work for during the times of grief and uncertainty, but there he was useful. At Mungos, he could heal, he could learn, and he could infiltrate, right beneath the upturned noses of the very pureblooded families that scorned him when he’d fled the gnarled, unfeeling hands of his given name.  “I know. In turn you should also know that I’d never bring you into my fight, Andromeda. You’ve far too much to keep safe for, yeah?” He smiled, thumb smoothing across the toddler’s back as he walked along. “Would you fancy a cone or cup?” he asked, looking over the front window display at the ice cream shop.

[xfadetoblack]

emmlvance·:

Where: Outside Sirius Black’s abode Who: Em & Siris

Em knocked energetically, with an excited smile plastered on her face. She’d either been cooped up at home or cooped up at work with nothing to do, and frankly she’d had enough of it. She’d been a bore for too long, and it was time to start doing something, even if that just meant having fun. And when she thought of fun, she generally thought of Sirius. He embodied care-free and was always good company to have, which is why she was outside his home having an impromptu visit. 

“Hello! Hurry it’s cold!”

@xfadetoblack

Cigarette held between his lips, Sirius glanced down at the book in his lap, pewter gaze scanning each line. It was an author he’d never read before, though the book came highly recommended. Crossing his legs at the ankles as he sprawled on his couch, Sirius pinched the filtered butt of the cigarette between his index and middle finger, breathing a thick plume of tobacco laced smoke into the air above him. The sudden barrage of knocks startled him, the book falling shut in his lap as he reached for his wand, only in time to hear Em’s familiar voice calling from the cold. A sigh passed, Sirius crossed the parlor toward his front door, pulling it open with a sigh. “Bloody hell, Em, I didn’t need a blast to the ticker like that,” He said playfully, hand over his heart, cigarette still burning. 

[xfadetoblack]

andromedatnks·:

“Uncle Sirius just might regret that,” Andromeda teased, noting just how … energetic Nymphadora could be. Once she started she didn’t stop; then again, so did Sirius, so perhaps the two of them were made for each other. Grateful that he took the pram Andromeda balanced Nymphadora on her hip, the little girl quieting momentarily in allowing Andromeda to speak with Sirius. It was easy, to be worried about him. They were all in danger, but Sirius was actually fighting – considering all Andromeda had lost, she wasn’t keen on losing him either.

But it was his next statement that made Andromeda wack him in the arm. “Sirius,” her brows rose, incredulously. “I’m a healer and now you tell me you want to be a healer. I could help you – I’m not so bad at it.” She paused, a gentle smile finding her face. Truly, she thought it was fantastic he wanted to be a healer. “St. Mungo’s needs all of the help we can get. Especially nowadays.”

The whack on his arm didn’t hurt, though it did startle him. Sirius jumped at the unexpected gesture, barely stifling the laugh that fell from his throat as he feigned offense. “Oi, no violence in front of the child, you lunatic,” He laughed again, a hearty, throaty sound. He breathed in a slow breath, sobering his expression as he glanced to her. “I would have come to you, but it wouldn’t be quite the tactically appropriate decision for the current state of things, yeah?” he said, glancing around. “Best to keep the two biggest disappointments of the Black family line from getting too close in a workplace populated by the De-” He trailed off, cutting a glance to Nymphadora. She didn’t need some of her earliest memories being mentions of the Death Eaters, nor did she need to know that her mother and her uncle had such evils to face head on. “-Them,” He said, clearing his throat as he glanced to Andromeda, smiling softly. “Uncle Sirius won’t regret a second of time spent with his favorite niece.” 

[xfadetoblack]

glgxldendearbxrn·:

Who: @xfadetoblack Where: St. Mungos.

Caradoc’s grandfather had told him stories about the muggle world in times of war. How the earth seemed to give way beneath people’s feet and how some clung to others for help and the rest adopted a kill or be killed mentality. And from the eyes of the hospital- their world seemed to lean toward the latter. In a ward once meant for those magical maladies that made a perfectly sane person insane, he watched as it crumbled and became a trauma bay for the fugitives. The less desirables. The people that the Death Eaters wanted to control and torment for their sake of their own twisted games. Because violence beget violence, he was lost in a sea of it. Drowning while looking for a lifeline. Each passing day became more about survival and less about hunting for peace when there was none to be found. Even at home. He couldn’t look Sybill in the eyes and tell her he was alright. He wasn’t. And he’d never been good at lying.

He could crumple beneath the dark if he did not know that light still existed. It came in the form of Sybill’s constant assurance, in Lily’s passing through the lobby to collect the toll and really, the hidden messages inside of the paperwork, in Sirius and his vigilance within the walls. This place of healing felt more like a prison, but he knew he would hold the keys to escape one day. Settling in the healer’s rest area, cup of tea in one hand, pile of papers in the other, he rolled his shoulders to push out some of the tension. Rubbed his tired eyes and looked at the clock. Tried to ignore the sentry in the doorway, masked and robed, watching everything the entered and exited. Sighed, drank, scribbled onto parchment. And waited, most importantly, for Sirius to arrive.

@gldndearbxrn·

The world was taken; lost in the wicked grip of the Dark Lord. The carefully constructed structure of society was chipping away, falling around the ankles of the most frightening dictator of their age, whose rhetoric was as corrosive as his influence on the hearts and minds of the purists. The fallen star, the Black sheep had been careful to in his pursuits outside of his home; he stuck to daylight, moved through crowded areas, kept away from places under Dark control. He was the traitor, whose head would be a cherished prize for any who felt allegiance to the Most Noble and Ancient House he’d left in his wake so long ago. It felt like a turf war, something he’d seen in a movie Lily made him watch; something hidden from the bystander and feared by those in tune. Sirius chewed his lip as he walked through the corridor of St. Mungos, head bowed as he passed by any that would dare rat him out, his mind gnawing over that film. There was a line, one he’d kept locked in his mind since he’d heard it, that he thought of often in the darkness of his bedroom, cigarette between his lips, bottle half empty at his side. “He had long ago learned that society imposes insults that must be borne, comforted by the knowledge that in this world there comes a time when the most humble of men, if he keeps his eyes open, can take his revenge on the most powerful.” Sirius prayed that was the truth of the matter, that every little person could band together and reclaim what had been so completely and cruelly taken from them. The meek were to inherit the earth, and there was nothing quite so meek as a race denied their rights by those who felt they were in the positions of the elite.  Turning into the Healer’s lounge, Sirius crossed to sit in front of Caradoc, clearing his throat though he kept his voice low. “Didn’t mean to be tardy. I was dodging any curious eyes, you understand.”

[xfadetoblack]

sybilltrxl·:

It was rude to talk about people behind their back. Sybill had spent much of her life trying to present herself as polite and quiet and sane, though the last few short months members of the Order could attest to the fact that she was not, at the very least, quiet. They’d have differing opinions on polite and sane, but Sirius would almost definitely come to think of her as one or both of those after today if he didn’t already.

She just… Needed more concrete answers, and she was worried. About the Order, about Sirius and Remus and James, the impact all this supposed betrayal would have on them. Sybill wanted to get to the bottom of it so they could all be prepared for whatever might happen.

So she’d gone round, straight to one of the sources. Honestly, she had no idea which of the boys would be best to go to about the matter- she might speak to all of them eventually, but for now Sirius’ place seemed like the best, under the cover of darkness of course. It wasn’t a shock to see he answered the door with wand raised, but she was glad he quickly relaxed his stance when he recognized her. 

“Some things are too sensitive for letters.” Sybill answered simply, shrugging off her cloak to hang on the hook as she stepped through the door, “sorry for interrupting your evening.”

The irritation in his voice was evident, he was sure, but it was no fault of Sybill’s. Everyone seemed irritated these days; it was the undercurrent of fear those goddamned Death Eaters beat into the souls of the innocent. As venomous as their symbol, their reach spread like venom, like a drop of ink in a glass of water, tarnishing all. Sirius stepped aside, welcoming the curious witch inside before he closed up appropriately, turning back to her with an unsettled clearing of his throat. He trusted Sybill, cared for her the way an old friend should, though he didn’t know her as well as others did. He supposed it was in her curious nature to show up unannounced; she was right, of course. Letters weren’t always terribly prudent these days. “Not at all, I was about to settle for a spot of supper. You’re welcome to join me.” He remarked, inviting her into the kitchen. Lifting his can of soda off the table, he tipped it back and let the carbonation sting the back of his throat.  “Mmm,” he began, swallowing the cola before he turned and cleared his throat. “Would you like a drink? I’ve water, cola, fire whiskey, irish creme. I could make you a cuppa, if you’d like?” He was shifty, still adrenalized from opening his door to a fight that never came. 

[xfadetoblack]

messvrsmoony·:

It was a trying time, being caught up in the middle of a war, barely able to leave wherever he had been living at that moment to go out into town without running the risk of being captured, all because his Mum was a muggle. Remus thought it was ridiculous. His friends were having to hide out, terrified for their lives, all because of a dumb agenda that most people didn’t even agree with anymore. Time’s changed, and people liked Voldemort and his followers should just get used to it, not kill anyone who didn’t fit their agenda.

He had been making a lot of rash decisions lately, ones he hadn’t thought through before acting on, like frequenting Diagon Alley despite the amount of people looking for half-bloods and muggle borns alike, and truthfully visiting Sirius was one of those decisions. The two had made up after his betrayal, though it took a while for Remus to come around, and there was no bad blood there anymore, at all, and yet Sirius had still been his last resort. “I guess you’re right. Good on you for being prepared, then. I’m just glad you didn’t strike first, look later.” He shrugged. “Definitely what mine prescribed. I think we deserve it.”

A grin. “Course. I timed my showing up around tea-time for a reason.” He joked. “I’m starving. Cheers.”

Holding his arm out as an invitation for Remus to have at the pizza, he closed the front door, twisting locks into place. His pulse thrummed in his throat; throwing himself in to alert so soon brought out a sense of dread he hadn’t felt since he lived there. It reminded him of coming home from Hogwarts, of plopping his trunk on his bed, looking over his neatly made up red and gold room, missing where he had just been, then hearing the clack of his mothers heeled boots on the wooden stairs, coming nearer and nearer. He remembered the dread, the burning at the back of his neck, his every muscle tensing as he prepared for whatever wrath she had to give, the lump in his throat he couldn’t swallow. Sirius glanced down at his bare feet, breathing in a deep, pizza-scented, calming breath. Moving slow, the brightest star sauntered into the kitchen, reaching for the pack of cigarettes he’d left on the counter. The sudden stress craved a boone with the nicotine he so desperately craved. Liberating one from the carton, he placed it between his lips and lit the end, filling his lungs once more.  The night was early, he needed to start slow. Remus was here for a reason, whatever that reason may be, it wouldn’t be prudent to get incoherently wasted before the point was made. A small palm-full of ice fell into into Sirius’ tumbler, silver eyes traced over to his best mate, a thick dark brow lifting over curious gaze. “Oi, did you want ice with the drink?” he asked, cigarette bouncing between his lips, pulling to glass tumblers from the small hutch above the bar cart. “Also got some cola in the ice box, if you fancy a mixer.”

[sheikah]

Ben Barnes as Billy Russo — The Punisher Season 1

[xfadetoblack]

littlemissmckinnon·:

She had what could only be described as a poor habit of dropping in unannounced, it was one of her less endearing qualities that made Marlene all the more frustrating to her friends. To some on the outside, it would come off as rude and perhaps if the shoes were on the other feet Marlene would agree but it was never intended as being a rude move. No, the truth was she was too paranoid to send an owl or commit to a plan more than a few hours in advance, especially with the state of the world right now. You never know who could intercept those owls, you never knew who could be listening to the plans you were making. Marlene had long since decided living life by the moment was the safest way to go but yet even then somethings she did were just habit, and one of those things was showing up on Sirius’ doorsteps around dinnertime.

“Oh come off it,” The raven-haired woman murmured as she stepped inside, the scent of pizza hitting her nostrils as she was careful to close and lock the door behind her. “You know those buggers aren’t nice to me. No matter what I do or what I give them they bite my fingers.” A scoff leaving her lips but even so, there was a playful expression tugging at the corners of her lips.

“But if you’d like I can go all the way home and send an owl, let you respond before I return with a bandaged finger or two.” Marlene spoke offering words but in spite of that currently in the process of walking in the directions of the kitchen. “Will that give you enough time to eat all of whatever it is that I smell?

Smirk lifting the corner of his lips, Sirius tucked his wand back into the holster at his hip. He shouldn’t have been surprised, not after how often his former Order member showed up on his doorstep, though he could not afford to let himself drift into a false sense of security. He could rely on Marlene to show up unannounced, but one day the person standing on the other side of the door would not be his friend, but rather his enemy. The enemy that he so often assumed lurking under the mask would be his cousin, perhaps even his brother, ready to claim his life for the Black family once more. Bare foot on dark hard wood once more, Sirius followed behind her, a single brow lifting over his frozen steely gaze. “Well, I cant expect you to eat my pizza without dripping blood all over it if you’ve bloody nubs for fingertips, can I?” He asked, moving to pull two plates from his cupboard. Usually alone, Sirius would eat straight from the box, to not bother with the subtle niceties of having guests. He doubted Marlene would care, in truth. She’d never been quite the stickler for rules as so many others had. “Besides, an owl may nip off your whole finger. And who would I be in denying the world Marlene McKinnon’s hard-won flip-off’s, eh?” Amusement lighting his eyes, Sirius flipped open the lid of the pizza box, breathing in the meaty, cheesy steam that came off of it in slow wafts, the scent of it dancing up into the air.  “Go on, tuck in. I’ve got some cola, Fire whiskey, that bottled pumpkin juice from Honeyduke’s, something in there to suit your fancy, more likely than not.” Fingers brushed beneath the crust of the slice he wanted, carefully pulling it toward his plate, trails of stringy, gooey cheese left in its wake. “So, where’re you comin’ from?” 

[xfadetoblack]

andromedatnks·:

“I’m sure we don’t mind at all, do we, Nymphadora?” An excited little girl clearly didn’t mind whatsoever, already trying to wiggle her way out of her arms at the thought of spending time with Sirius. At the mention of ice cream Andromeda’s brows rose, an amused smile crossing her face as he spelled out the magic words that were sure to make Nymphadora even more excited than she already was. “Well, if you insist then you have to handle her after the s-u-g-a-r rush,” she suggested, gladly following Sirius as the trio began to walk towards Fortescue’s.

Ever since Nymphadora’s birth, even before so, Andromeda had known that Sirius would be such an important part of her daughter’s life. After everything the two of them had gone through with their family, it was all the more important that they stuck together. As they walked towards Fortescue’s, Andromeda couldn’t help but count her blessings that despite the fallout of her former life, she would always have Sirius. “So, besides the library – how have you been?” Her gaze fell to Sirius beside her, giving him a knowing glance. “You know, with … everything else, that has been happening.”

“Well, it seems Uncle Sirius will just have to take little Nymphadora to a p-a-r-k and run up and down the p-l-a-y-g-r-o-u-n-d for a while after the sweeties, eh?” He grinned, the same carefree, lopsided grin he wore when a mischievous idea presented itself in his head. Pushing the pram forward so his cousin could keep hold on the toddler, Sirius brushed fingers through his hair, lungs filling with a slow breath of sweet, untainted Diagon Alley air. He knew she’d ask; everyone did. Though few had come to absorb the news he had to give. It was safer if fewer people knew, really. Perhaps he wouldn’t be counted as much of a threat. Tongue flicking out to wet his lower lip, Sirius glanced about for curious ears and prying eyes; one could never be too careful in a world like theirs.  “I’m in training to become a healer, actually.” He said softly, keeping his attention focused on the ice cream shop ahead. “I figure there’s no use in having fifteen Aurors when someone’s hurt badly enough to need immediate attention. But fourteen Aurors and a single healer might just be able to keep our numbers from shrinking, even as the others grow.” 

[xfadetoblack]

fierce-lilypotter‌:

The red head gave a dramatic ‘pfft’ as she waved him inside, “There are no niceties when it comes to Star Wars”  she teased. Lily was usually an incredibly hospitable host, but when it came to the people she felt most comfortable around, she felt little need to put on the act. However, a bright smile found it’s way on her lips as she continued, “It’s a testament to our friendship that we don’t have to go through all the obligated dialogue. We see each other often enough that we’re not horribly out of date with what the other is up to, right?” Still leaning over the back of the couch, she dropped her head onto the cushion and amended, “But anyways, hello Sirius. I’m glad you’re here,” and though her tone sounded contrived she was entirely serious about the sentiment. 

As he made himself comfortable, Lily looked at his shirt and then at her own and started to giggle, “We’ve managed to match without meaning to. I think this is peak best friendship,” she pointed out. KISS was in her top five favorite bands, falling last to Queen, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, and Aerosmith. Lily had taken the time to not only immerse Sirius in Muggle artifacts, but also in their music scene. If their growing collection of band teeshirts was anything to go by, he enjoyed them just as much as she did. 

Wearing a blanket over her like a cape, Lily was dressed in peak comfort attire. From her sweatpants the cinched at the ankle, to her hair tied back into messy braids, she was absolutely ready to lounge for the rest of the day. “Right, so I’ve got wine, beer, and soda in the kitchen, depending on what sounds good to you,” she offered. Lily got up, blanket still wrapped around her, and headed to the kitchen, “I’m drinking a rosé but honestly, mi casa su casa, feel free to take anything that sounds good.”

“I’m so glad someone else is willing to watch this movie with me. Honestly, it’s such a great film, and everyone should absolutely appreciate it,” she mused. Star Wars had become massively popular throughout muggle culture, and Lily was grateful she could introduce it to some of her magical friends as well. She and Sirius had gone to see it in the cinema more times than she cared to admit, and now that they could watch it from home, she was sure the count would only go up.

"Hello, Miss Evans, brilliant weather we're having, is it not?" Pulling his most posh accent forward, he grinned, motioning a hat tip forward, joking as he always did. Their lives were different now than they had been in school. He was just as unhinged as he had been, though now he didn't have the distraction of having his mates around, softening the blows of an idle mind. Lily didn't need to know that, no one did.   Attention shifting, Sirius glanced down, laughing softly at his shirt. "Matching shirts is peak friendship?" They'd been through so much, seen so much, a shirt seemed trivial, but she had a knack for finding the details in the little things. It was perhaps the most endearing aspect of her personality. The Black sheep grinned, leaning back into the cushions, bringing his elbow up on the backrest to rest lazily, letting his body sink. She knew his vices; cigarettes and booze. Taking a smoke break was done outside in the patio, out of respect for his mates home, but drinking was an activity he could get behind. The thought of having a faint, lovely buzz thrumming in the back of his head whilst watching one of the greatest films in the world, in his best mates living room made a comfortable warmth spread through his body. He was safe there, they all were. Sitting upright, he watched her head toward the kitchen, much the image of a jedi wrapped in her cape. He breathed a laugh, standing slowly to follow her into the kitchen with a grin. "Enjoy your rose, mate, we know I'm the only one that drinks beer between the two of us," He moved toward the refrigerator, the modern answer to his ice box at home, and pulled it open, reaching into the racks for a sleek, silver can. Pulling it free, he cracked the top and took a sip, savoring the bitter foam that bubbled to the surface. He hummed in approval, closing the door with his knee as he turned toward her. Star Wars meant more to him than he could fathom, it was the most visually pleasurable experience he'd come to know, the beauty of the effects, the vastness of the universe that surrounded them. Magic was fine, but venturing into something so unknown, so beautiful. He remembered thinking of his name: Sirius. The brightest star in the constellation Orion. The brightest star of his father's loins; what a bloody contradiction that turned out to be, Smiling, Sirius turned on his heel and crossed back into the living room, "Well, it's the finest film in the galaxy, mate. Cant possibly be without it," He beamed.

[xfadetoblack]

tcd-tcnks·:

Ted had heard about Sirius Black through reputation while at school - even as an upperclassman, it was hard to escape the exploits of the Marauders - but he really didn’t get to know younger Gryffindor until after he had started dating Andromeda. Most of what he’d expected was true - Sirius was brash, funny, and inappropriate on more than the odd occasion - but what Ted never would have guessed at the time was that Sirius Black was exceptional with children. There were few Ted trusted more with his precious little one, and it was clear that Dora had her Uncle Sirius wrapped around her tiny, chunky finger. 

“You are a gem,” Ted said with a grateful smile, leaving Dora to her uncle’s care (cousin, technically, but the whole thing got a bit confusing and without any siblings of his own and Dromeda estranged from her sisters, Sirius was the closest thing they had) as he moved around the kitchen with familiar ease, fixing drinks, fetching a knife, and making sure to get napkins before joining them in the parlour. 

Nymphadora’s eyes lit up as she caught the smell of pizza, her hair changing color rapidly in what had become her customary show of excitement. “Pizza! Pizza!” she chanted, her hands making a grabby motion towards the box Sirius was holding. 

“Uh uh, be patient, Dora Darling,” Ted scolded her gently. His daughter had recently reached that age where she could start voicing her demands, but still lacked the finesse of social niceties. “Do you remember the magic word?” 

Dora looked to him, brow furrowing momentarily. “Bloody Hell,” she parroted, clearly having picked up the phrase somewhere before going back to her demands.

“Well… I give up,” Ted sighed. “I blame your side of the family.” 

"A gem? Why Ted, here you are, a married man flirting with me. For shame." Sirius teased, glancing down at the toddler as she took to sorting through her toys. It had become apparent while at Hogwarts that Sirius would never be the type of man to settle down and raise a family so soon out of school as his friends were undoubtedly going to. The life of a bachelor wasn't quite as complicated as Sirius had been lead to believe. His home was tidy and organized, the only signs of any real habitation were mostly-full ash trays that peppered the lower level, shoes by the front door, and a spiked dogs collar on a banister column. The scatterings of bright pink and primary coloured toys across his couches and floor brought a touch of life he admired. Not to mention how he doted on the little girl whose rucksack's contents were tossed about. Leaning down, Sirius pressed a kiss to the top of Nymphadora's head, lifting the two ash trays off the end table and coffee table. He moved them onto the mantle, using his wand to charm a washcloth from the kitchen to come and scrub up. Once clean, Sirius sunk to the floor and settled, sitting cross-legged, knees under the coffee table as he glanced over his shoulder at Ted, watching the man parent the child who hovered eagerly in front of the steamy slices before her. Bloody Hell. The laugh burst from Sirius before he could stop it. His hand flew up, clapping over his mouth to staunch his snickering. It had been a while since something made him genuinely laugh. He thought, perhaps the last time was in Sixth Year, before his stupidity had come between his friendships. Whatever the case, the toddler had the wizard in stitches, cheeks flushing rosy pink as he tried to settle. Moments passed, the former Gryffindor sucked in a sobering breath and chuckled through an exhale, holding his stomach as he came down from unexpected mirth. "Yeah, was my side of the family, cuz Dromeda said it first," He snorted, leaning forward to scoot the box closer to the toddler with a warm, contented grin. "Here, little love, which piece would you like? But don't touch it yet, it's hot."

[xfadetoblack]

andromedatnks·:

Andromeda couldn’t tame the smile as she watched Sirius embrace Nymphadora, warmth blossoming in her chest. Her cousin had always been so good with her daughter – not that she would ever expect anything differently. Sirius had a heart of gold, something that Andromeda had always admired about him. As Sirius continued to tease the woman merely gave him a familiar. stare, one full of mirth and teasing. “Mhm. You and I have different definitions of the word ‘innocent.’” Andromeda chuckled, gently picking her daughter up and holding her close to her hip. “But fine, no persecution. Only because you’re so good with her.”

Hearing of what Sirius had been up to was certainly different than what she had expected but it was nice. Normal, and above all, safe. She gave him an expectant look as he began to curse, only to shift at the last moment to a word she had never thought would come out of Sirius’s mouth. She couldn’t even stop herself from snorting. “No, I simply can’t.” Grinning, she glanced beyond Sirius, noting the hustle and bustle of the Alley. It felt safe, at least for the time being. But she always felt safer with Sirius around. “Were you off to the library now? Or do you want to play Uncle Sirius for a little while longer.” 

When Nymphadora was born, Sirius remembered pacing through the corridors of St. Mungos, listening to the cries of other women in similar situations, watching expectant fathers huff and puff. His anxiety surrounding her birth was different; he was not a father, but an uncle. How was he to be there for the baby when he wasn't there for his own brother? How could he be who he needed to be for her when the rest of their family thought him below scum? He assured himself that his nerves were nothing but scars that felt a phantom ache, that the family he left behind would be worse for the baby than he could ever be, but he couldn't quiet the quivers in his stomach. Fears extinguished the moment Ted placed her in his arms. The first small, pink, writhing hope of the next generation of wizard kind. Reaching forward, Sirius took the small girl's hand in his, brushing his thumb across her tiny dimpled knuckles, giving a small shake of his head. "No, I pooped in to tend to some things over at Gringotts. I was going to have a leisure day, but I think I'd rather spend it with you two, if you don't mind the company. I think a bit of i-c-e-c-r-e-a-m might be just what we all need. My treat," his charming, contagious smile lit his eyes. "We have to celebrate every time we get a day like this, yeah?" He grinned, motioning down the cobbled street toward Fortescue's.

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andromedatnks·:

Leave it to Sirius, to make her smile from ear-to-ear like she was the two-year-old and not Nymphadora. Simply put, Andromeda had always adored her cousin, and he had always been capable of bringing her much needed levity during difficult times. It might have been somewhat of a comfort, knowing that the two of them were in very similar situations – both ‘blood traitors’ who turned their backs on the purist ideals and the legacy that came with their family name. Andromeda knew that she was lucky to have him, and that she was lucky Nymphadora had such a strong figure in her life. Despite the cursing.

“You said the word first,” she said pointedly, grinning as she returned the hug. “Nymphadora has been repeating everything, nowadays. Apparently it comes with her age.” Andromeda’s smile widened, a chuckle leaving her lips as she watched Sirius lower himself to Nymphadora’s level, the little girl enthusiastically agreeing – even though she didn’t know what she was agreeing to – as she threw her tiny arms around Sirius in a hug. “See, that’s not fair. You know that she’ll agree to anything so long as you’re the one saying it.” She shook her head with a gentle smile. “How have you been, Sirius?” 

His heart melted as tiny arms moved over his shoulders and around the back of his neck, his smile growing wider. "Hi, little love," Sirius said, pressing a kiss to Nymphadora's head as he wrapped his arms around her in a firm, but gentle hug. There was a part of him that knew that other peoples children would be his lot. He'd never have his own, never bring a child into a world so broken and then it would be too late. Embracing Nymphadora brought some solace; he may never be a father, but he will always be an uncle. A kind, strong, supportive Uncle who would help spoil and guide her in a way that her aunts never would. Silver eyes lifting to meet Andromeda's, Sirius beamed, an air of mischief to his big, bold grin. "Too late, that's a two to one vote, cousin." He chuckled, letting go of the child before he stood upright, tucking his hands in his pockets. "I'm innocent. It's been decided by an unbiased jury. Will you continue to persecute an innocent man?" He teased, glancing around at the hustle and bustle as it weaved around them. The day was beautiful, quiet. And Sirius was suspicious. Attention snapping back, he shrugged, smiling softly. "Alright. Nothing out of the ordinary. My gap year is me in the library reading History of Magic books I completely ignored while at school and being thoroughly fascinated by magical folklore from a muggle's perspective. Blood-" He paused, looking down at the little girl before he glanced back up, gnawing the soft skin of his cheek, mulling over to find a replacement word. "... Erm.. Oh, Egad! Those poor souls think that King Arthur was the protagonist, can you imagine?"

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franklongbottxm·:

Frank was one of the older members of the Order, which sometimes meant he was also one of the more mature members. One of the things that often came with that is him checking in on other members of the Order. Their group had pretty much almost fallen apart, but he was doing his part to try and keep it together. If they could keep some sort of hope still, then they should be able to get passed this dark spell. They should be able to get the ministry back and get things going once again. 

Tonight he was going to see Sirius. A request from someone more in charge than he, but something that was easy for him to do. It often wasn’t something he got to do with all the changes happening, but he took the moments he could. Leaving the ministry, he felt like he could feel some sort of shadow on him. Eyes would carefully look around him, checking if the coast was clear or not. When he didn’t see anyone, he quickly took his chance to just pop into the place he was heading in order to get out of it just in case. What he didn’t think through was going to be Sirius’ reaction to someone just popping in. 

“Sorry bout that, Mate.” He commented, holding his hands up to show he wasn’t attacking. “I was just trying to get out of the ministry without getting into anything.” Frank paused a moment. “Well, I specifically came here to talk to you, but that’s the whole reason why I popped in.” 

"Bloody hell, Longbottom, you'll give someone a heart attack," Sirius breathed, standing aside, hand rested against his chest. The longer they stood out in the open, the longer they became targets. Door shut and locked, the Wizard brushed past the older wizard as he made his way toward the kitchen, reaching in his pocket to liberate a pack of cigarettes. Slipping one between his lips, he lit it quickly and took a drag, shoulders releasing tension as the nicotine hit the back of his throat. "Hmm," he began, breathing out a cloud of smoke. "Come in, have a slice of pizza, yeah? We can talk in the kitchen." Coincidentally, where he kept the bar cart. Something in his gut warned that he may need the warm comfort of liquor in conjunction with the pizza to cushion the blow Frank had the potential to land. Sirius crossed toward the stove, setting the kettle on, gnawing over the omen presented. Sirius was useless to the Order. He was no Auror, no one with formal training or skills that were in demand. He was a good wizard, gifted with natural talent afforded a long and distinguished line. He was a rebel before the rebels were necessary, a face and influence that had the potential to shift viewpoints. Nothing of merit, nothing of importance. Yet, there Frank was, ready to discuss something Sirius was sure he wasn't ready to hear. The thing about war, is that it waited for no one; it progressed, whether Sirius was ready or not. "It's gotten worse, hasn't it?"

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messvrsmoony·:

War was a miserable thing. It was always the good people, with good intentions who wanted to prevent the bad things from happening, that ended up suffering the most, losing the things they cherished. It wasn’t fair, but Remus had known that - the consequences of war had been something he’d been well aware of since the age of four, when he himself had been used as a means of a petty revenge against his father. He wasn’t at his proudest moment, not at all. He had found himself unemployed, unable to keep a long-term job thanks to his unexplained monthly disappearances and the negative impact said disappearances had on him. He wouldn’t be able to explain any of it, and he couldn’t risk being found out, so he’d given up trying.

Crashing wherever he could had been becoming tedious, and there was only so many nights he could spend at the Potters’ before it grew old, and he didn’t want to burden anybody. He had been avoiding going to Sirius for help, since the trust between the two hadn’t been the same in the past few years, but given the ongoing war, and his lack of options, he had decided to spend whatever time he could with his friends: James, Lily, Peter and Sirius among them.

“Merlin! Calm down, I come in peace, I swear.” His free hand raised up in defence, before he held up the bag in the other. “Move the wand, Padfoot. It’s freezing out here.” He added. “I’ve got drinks, the good stuff. Thought we could catch up.”

The sight of Remus stunned him. He had expected to see many people, some good and some bad, though somehow he never thought this particular friend would be the one he came face to face with. It had been three years since his mouth dragged him down into one of the biggest mistakes he'd made. The silence after had lasted for weeks until James got them on speaking terms again, though they hadn't been as close as they once were, on nights they'd stay up under the blue moonlight, talking endlessly about subjects too heavy to people who wouldn't understand them. He missed those days, missed his confidant, but he'd ruined it. As he ruined so many things. Breaking focus with a shake of his head, Sirius tucked his wand into the waistband of his jeans, clearing his throat. “Well, you never really know, these days, do you?” Words soft, a small frown pulled the corners of his lips. The fallen Ministry, the scattered Order, the lot of it had many wizards tiptoeing on the edge of certainty. A cool breeze danced across his skin, goosebumps broke out and every follicle stood at attention. "Oh, right-" Sirius smiled, a tight, but kind as he stood aside, motioning to let his friend pass. "A drink is probably just what the doctor ordered, innit?" Once Remus was safely inside, Sirius bent forward, staring out into the night for a long moment, silver gaze dancing over each silhouette, scrutinizing shapes.   Kicking the door shut again, he flipped the lock and joined his moon-kissed mate, smiling softly. “There’s pizza in the kitchen, if you're hungry. I was just about to have dinner.”