dogstxrsiriusâ:
It was strange, seeing Emmeline in Jamesâ kitchen, and realizing it was just the two of them in the moment. Sirius didnât know what to make of the girl, if he was honest. She was important to James, he knew that, and he knew of the horrors theyâd endured together in the months theyâd been captured. He knew that of which James had spoken, but that was it, because he had never really thought to approach Emmeline before. He hadnât cared to, if he was being honest, since she wasnât important to him. But, she was important enough to James to warrant them becoming roommates, and that was a big deal.
There was some sense of relief in the fact that Emmeline didnât know where he was, either - at least they were on the same page regarding that. But, it didnât sit well with Sirius that Emmeline was seemingly giving him âpermissionâ to hang out until James returned. A frown flickered across his face, and he grabbed some more crisps out to pop into his mouth. The last thing he needed was permission to be at Godricâs Hollow. The place really was a second home to Sirius, and he didnât need Emmeline to tell him he could stay.
âI think I will. Like I said, Iâve got plans, so,â he said, words just a little sharp around the edges. He considered Emmeline for a moment, considered her words, before he leaned back against the counter, eyeing her.
Sirius was feeling a certain way about interacting with Emmeline, but he couldnât quite place a finger on it. Unease, discomfort, awkwardness⊠It just didnât feel like a great interaction, in the short moments theyâd been together. But, Sirius wasnât trying to be rude or intimidating, if thatâs how his presence came off - he just didnât know what to make of the girl or her importance to James. It was a change, and change was something that was difficult to deal with.
âHowâre you liking the place?â he asked after a long moment of heavy silence, trying to make pleasantries. That was the least he could do until James returned, try to have a pleasant conversation with Emmeline. James would want that much, he thought.
~
I think I will. Siriusâs words were sharp, and Emmeline nearly winced. Emmeline couldnât quite place Siriusâs tone, it was almost...hostile. But not. She knew that she had said the wrong thing, but she couldnât quite figure out what it was that she had said that was so wrong, that made Sirius speak like that. She didnât want to make a bad impression with Sirius, she knew that he was so important to James, and the thought that she was messing this all up made her nervous.Â
She wanted Sirius to like her, she realized with a start. Emmeline had never thought much about Sirius and his relationship with James outside of the fact that it existed, and James and Sirius were really close. He had talked about Sirius so much in the dungeons, he had told her plenty of stories when she was at her worst. When she desperately needed a distraction from the horrors that they were going through every day. The stories made her almost feel like she knew Sirius, even though she definitely didnât. This was the most that she had ever spoken to him.Â
âOkay,â Emmeline finally said, trying to not fidget as Sirius leaned against the counter and looked at her. She was reminded of Regulus, and the way that his stare also made her incredibly uncomfortable. But she wasnât going to run away.Â
She was realizing that if she lived here, she would probably see more of Sirius, and while she could always hide in her room, she didnât want to have to do that. So instead she stood there and looked at Sirius. She was about to open her mouth to say something, anything, to break the awkward tension in the room, when Sirius finally spoke and asked how she was liking the place. It would be an easy thing to talk about, she thought, how she was settling in. It had only been a day, but at least...it was something to talk about.
âI like it so far,â Emmeline replied. âI...was really grateful that James suggested this. My parents and sister are great...but...it was time for me to move out, I think,â Emmeline admitted. It was strange, realizing that Sirius probably knew more about what they had all gone through then a lot of the others in the Order probably knew. âNights are still hard,â she admitted. âIâm... hoping a change will help.âÂ
It was strange, being vulnerable with someone she didnât know, but...she hoped that maybe it would do them some good.Â











