The Guardian

Sorry, i had skpped a chapter!!
Disclaimer- Everything recognizable belongs to JKR

Chapter 12
Dinner

“I’m going to take a shower.” Sirius watched Rhiannon stand a bit unsteadily and walk down .
“Are you feeling alright Padfoot?” Remus asked.
“Yeah suthe hall. He waited till they could hear the shower running before dropping down next to Remusrprisingly, I feel better than I did. Where the hell was I Moony?” He was still confused on that, there just hadn’t been time to explain it.
“You were in an inactive veil. From what Rhi says it’s a portal to the next life.”
“Was I really there for a month?”
“A bit more. We didn’t know what to do. Harry hadn’t smiled since that night, Dumbledore sent me to find out what the other werewolves are doing, No one has been back to Grimmuald Place we just couldn’t. I didn’t even show anyone your will; I couldn’t bring myself to admit you were dead. Glad I didn’t” Remus shook his head.
“Hey glad you didn’t too.” Sirius grinned at his friend. A month, no wonder he felt so rested. “So what are you and Rhiannon?” He defiantly wasn’t one to mince words.
“Friends.” Remus smiled softly. “She was my flat mate for a while before she moved to the states.”
“How old is she?” Sirius was watching the hall, waiting for her to come back out. She really was pretty.
“Mid twenties. Why?” Remus was grinning at him.
“Just curious.” Rhiannon walked out at that moment; Sirius couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her skin was pink from the hot water; her hair was braided brushing the leg of a pair of muggle jeans that looked like they’d seen better days. Her well worn cotton top made him grin; it was stripes of alternating gold and scarlet.
“You look better.” He smiled.
“Thanks Sirius, washing a couple gallons of your own blood off will do that.” She smirked making Remus chuckle. “Bet you wouldn’t look half bad if you took a shower too.”
He glared at her, she sure was snippy, “Want to join me and find out?”
“No thanks.” She smirked making him wonder what her eyes looked like when she smiled. She’d had those glasses on the whole time. The thought of her being blind briefly crossed his mind but he got the feeling she was looking him the eye when they talked. He wanted to take them off her.
“Don’t even think about it.” She growled as if she had read his mind. He grinned at her before walking down the hall. At the bathroom door he turned just enough to see her lean over and kiss Remus on the cheek and whisper something in his ear, making the man blush and smile. Maybe they were more than friends; Remus had always been more reserved about his relationships than either him or James. Not really talking about his girlfriends.
Sirius closed the door and looked around the bathroom. It was still warm from Rhiannon’s shower; fog still clouded the mirror a bit. The scent of blood and her soap hung in the air, nothing flowery or sweet just clean, like fresh linens. He pulled open a cabinet and found a stack of clean towels and a bottle of soap. He smelled it, Remus’s; well at least he wouldn’t smell like a woman all day. He grimaced as his blood soaked clothes stuck to him when he tried to pull them off. He turned the water on as hot as he could stand and stepped in, quickly washing the blood off himself and out of his hair. He shut the water off and stepped up to the sink. Wiping the mirror off he glared at the bearded man reflected there. He hated having a full beard like this, hadn’t even realized he had one until he ran his hands over his face in the infirmary, it reminded him too much of being in Azkaban. “Come on Remus, I know you have one in here.” He searched through the medicine cabinet behind the mirror until he found what he was looking for, a muggle razor. Good old Remus, he’d never liked using magic to shave. Said it was soothing to do it the muggle way. Sirius had to admit after Remus had convinced him to try it their sixth year that he liked it better than the magical way. He rubbed shaving cream over his face and wet the razor, carefully dragging it across his skin. He thought about Rhiannon, she didn’t know him, so why would she risk her life to save him? Not that he was really in danger there but still. It was nice being back, seeing Harry again. He had started to think he had just gone crazy and that maybe he was still in Grimmuald Place, just too insane to notice until she had fallen on him. Dumbledore had told her about him, and she was friends with Remus that made him pretty sure she was on their side but, she was a guardian they were supposed to be neutral. So how could she be on their side? He shook his head, too much thinking. He rinsed the last of the shaving cream off and wrapped the towel around his waist, hoping Remus had something he could wear until he could get a new wand or return to Grimmuald Place.
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Rhiannon was leaning against Remus’s shoulder listening quietly as he told her about fighting Lucius and Bellatrix. It had been a short fight, neither side winning or losing. The two death eaters had backed out as quickly as they could, disappearing into different rooms off the spinning corridor before they could be captured. But her mind wasn’t on what Remus was saying but instead on the man in the shower. He had made her feel all tingly when he’d picked her up in the infirmary, she’d never felt anything like that before. She didn’t even know the man beyond what she’d been told and that had been enough to assume he was brash and if not stupid then foolhardy. He had defied orders to stay behind and gone to the ministry instead, although he was just trying to protect his godson. He obviously loved Harry very much to risk going back to Azkaban repeatedly to help the boy. She couldn’t blame him; Harry was a loveable kid, as were his friends. She wished she could see more than just deaths when she looked at the future, maybe her friend Athena could tell her what would happen to them, she had always been better at seeing good things in the future than she had.
“And then the giant tuna told me that Lucius was wearing nothing but a gold colored bikini and dancing a waltz with Voldemort who was dressed in a pink furry teddy.”
“Really, that’s nice…” She responded then paused “Wait what?”
“I knew you weren’t really listening to me. What’s on your mind Rhi?”
Rhiannon blinked at him a moment, a look of complete disgust on her face, “Voldemort and Lucius in lingerie now thanks to you.” She shivered dramatically making him laugh.
“No really, you were a thousand miles away even before I said that.”
“Just thinking about the kids, what they’re going to be like in the future… if they’ll all make it that far, and things like that.” She felt sad at the thought of them not living to see the end of the war. She wasn’t sure about them, hadn’t wanted to look to see their deaths.
“And?” He urged.
“I’m too chicken to look. I was wondering if Athena could see after the war, at least if it’s a happy ending or not.” She knew she was being silly her friend had tried repeatedly to see the end of the war, but all she could see was a huge battle, with both sides losing so many she couldn’t count. She felt bad for her friend, having to live with those images.
“She still can’t see that far.” Remus whispered.
“You’ve seen her?”
“Yeah a couple weeks ago when the pack went to France for a few days. I snuck away and contacted her.”
“How is she?”
“Good, thinking about coming back this way sometime next year, said something about not wanting to miss something. Wouldn’t tell me what it was she didn’t want to miss.” He shrugged.
“She always was secretive when it came to the future.” She sighed and leaned against her friend again, “I was also wondering about Sirius.”
“Oh what were you wondering about?” He ran her braid through his hands.
She shrugged “Does he have someone waiting on him?”
Remus grinned “No, he hasn’t been with anyone since before Azkaban. Why? Have you taken a liking to him?”
She shrugged again, “He’s nice enough I guess.”
“Sirius Black? I’ve heard him described as many things but I don’t think nice was one of them.”
“What do you want? I think he’s handsome.” She giggled.
“That’s a more common description. He was quite the, I believe the word now is player, back in school.”
Rhiannon started laughing hard at Remus using the slang she’d heard so often in the states.
“What? Is that not the right word?” He was teasing her; she could see it in his eyes.
“Yes. Yes it is but you’re so proper it sounds funny coming from you.”
“Well I am just trying to warn you. I love Sirius like a brother but he wasn’t very good at relationships growing up.”
“Who said anything about a relationship?” She asked growing serious.
Remus raised an eyebrow and ran his hand down her arm, rubbing his thumb over her covered tattoo. “Dumbledore told me. He said you wouldn’t tell him who it was.”
She sat up and turned to face her friend. She loved him, he had been her first and only love, if she had had a choice in the matter she would have bound herself to him but as it was she didn’t. “Remus I can’t tell who it is, not yet anyway. No one would understand.” She covered his mouth with her hand when he opened it to speak and pushed her glasses up so he could see her eyes. “I don’t even understand why they chose the man they did. But when it makes since I promise you will be the first one I tell.” She cupped his cheek with her palm and put her forehead against his.
“Okay.” He sighed before wrapping his arms around her. Sirius walked into the room and watched them a moment.
“I could come back if I’m interrupting.” He growled sounding annoyed. They jerked away from each other. Rhiannon pushed her glasses back in place before turning to smile at Sirius. The smile died on her lips when she saw him. His hair hung in damp waves past his shoulders; he was freshly shaven showing a strong jaw and full lips. Her eyes fell to his bare chest. Tattoos covered a good portion between his shoulder and navel. She tried not to follow the trail of black hair from his navel to where it disappeared under the towel wrapped snuggly around his narrow hips. She wasn’t at all sure what she’d expected from the ex-convict but a well toned body, with just enough muscle to make a woman drool was not it. She realized her mouth was hanging open and snapped it shut.
“Rhi you okay?” Remus asked.
“I’d like to change my earlier comment to DAMN!”
He snorted and rolled his eyes, turning his attention to Sirius. “Why aren’t you dressed?”
“I need to borrow some clothes.” Sirius was watching her, she could feel his eyes on her even though she tried to turn her attention elsewhere.
“My clothes won’t fit you Padfoot, you’re taller than me. Why don’t you transfigure something?”
She stared a hole through the wall next to Sirius, Don’t look don’t look don’t look… she chanted to herself but the man was perfect, she couldn’t find anything wrong with him.
“I think my wand broke. I couldn’t get it to work after I fell.”
“Oh well I could transfigure something for you.” Remus stood up.
“Your wand is fine Sirius; there is just no magic in the veil. It should work now.” Rhiannon wasn’t sure how she had been able to string that sentence together. She felt like an idiot school girl presented with her first crush. She grinned as he stepped towards her and picked his wand up off the coffee table where he’d dropped it. He waved it towards a cup, turning it into a small doll. “Wotcher look at that it does work. Thanks Rhi.” He gave her a great smacking kiss in the cheek and rushed back down the hall. Rhiannon felt a bit bemused and smiled up at Remus. “DAMN.”
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Sirius looked through the wardrobe in Remus’s room trying to find something to transfigure. He sighed noticing his friend didn’t have many clothes and what was there was worn to the point of falling apart. He hated that his friend couldn’t keep a decent job just because of what he was. It wasn’t his fault he had been bitten by a werewolf. Remus was the most intelligent man he knew but had to resort to the most menial jobs just to eat.
He couldn’t bring himself to take anything from him, even to borrow. He wandered to the room across the hall, obviously Rhiannon’s, it smelled like her, clean linens and something sweet that he didn’t immediately recognize. He crossed to her wardrobe and opened it. There were jeans, T-shirts some long dresses with mandarin collars, most of it black or white. He flipped through all of it noticing her clothes were of fine quality but not expensive. There were no shorts he noticed or even short skirts a part of him wondered why. He paused, thinking about the woman. He’d noticed her mouth hanging open as she tried hard not to look at him and felt a rush of satisfaction. But she’d been in Remus’s arms just a few seconds before, he liked the woman even though they’d just met but he didn’t want to mess with Remus’s girl.
“Can I help you?” He hadn’t heard her approach the woman was quieter than Snape whisking about the halls.
“Just trying to find something to transfigure.” He pulled out a man’s t-shirt, “May I?”
She waved her hand and leaned against the door watching him, he assumed. He held up the shirt and tapped it with his wand turning it into a plain black button down.
Rhiannon crossed the room to the wardrobe and flipped through the clothes, choosing a pair of blue jeans that looked as worn as the pair she had on now. She looked at them a moment then at him and snapped her fingers before handing them to over. “Just make sure I get those back, they’re my favorites.” She moved just as silently back out of the room. He called her name, making her pause. “Why did you help me?”
She shrugged her shoulder, “Because you mean a lot to Remus.”
“Oh, well thanks.” He waited until he could hear her talking in the living room; more voices had joined hers and Remus’s. He held up the jeans, they were more male now, the shape not as curvy as they had been. He pulled them on surprised at how well they fit. The shirt was next the soft cotton felt cool against his skin. Leaving the top couple buttons undone he wandered into the living room to find Harry and the others sitting expectantly waiting for him.
“Sirius!” Harry launched himself across the room.
“Harry, how are you?” Sirius hugged his godson tight.
“Better now. I thought you’d died.”
“I know I’m sorry Harry, I should have stayed at home like I was told.” He sat him away and looked the boy over. “I think you’ve grown a foot this month.”
“Yeah been loading up for the summer.” Harry laughed, but paused when Sirius frowned. “I understand why I have to stay with the Dursleys. At least this summer you’ll be able to visit me. And I’m going to the Burrow a few times.” He looked excited at his summer. That made Sirius feel a bit better, he still wanted Harry with him but if the teen wasn’t upset then he could live with it.
“Come on you two, dinner is ready.” Hermione called from the magically enlarged table that had been set in the room. Sirius didn’t realize how hungry he was until his stomach growled at the delicious smell of spaghetti and warm bread. He looked around, Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom had joined them, along with a strange looking blonde with big eyes that was talking to Ron. He pulled out a chair between Rhiannon and Harry and immediately pulled a large bowl of spaghetti towards him.
“That’s Luna Lovegood next to Ron.” Rhiannon nodded at the blonde. Sirius nodded that he heard as he served Rhiannon before loading his own plate and passing the bowl on.
“I think I met her father once.” He mumbled trying to remember.
“Hmm probably, you were an Auror before Azkaban weren’t you?” She dropped a couple hot rolls on his plate.
“Yeah, that was a long time ago though.” He filled her glass with Butterbeer.
“Luna’s dad tends to get himself into trouble, nothing bad mind you, but some illegal animals and the like.”
Sirius wondered quickly how she knew so much about people, but Harry drew his attention with a story about a Quidditch game him and Ron were involved in.
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Remus watched his friends as they ate; they were serving each other as if they had done this all their lives. He’d never seen Rhiannon eat so much. Every time Sirius filled her plate she cleared it. She saw him watching and grinned.
“Time stops in the veil, I haven’t eaten for a couple days. Sirius hasn’t eaten in over a month. It kind of hits you all at once. He’ll keep eating all night if we let him.” They watched Sirius pile more food on his plate.
“I miss this.” Remus admitted looking around the table. The laughter of the teens, Sirius’s deep chuckle and the sound of voices trying to talk over each other.
“Yeah me too. Meals at Hogwarts.” She smiled around the room.
“Rhiannon, you got to settle this, who’s worse, Snape or Filch?” Ginny raised her voice over the laughter. Remus choked on his drink and listened for her answer. Rhiannon seemed to think a moment, “Filch all the way.” The girls all agreed with her.
“How did you come to that?” Sirius asked astonished.
“Because,” She started ticking off reasons on her hand, “Snape doesn’t smell like cat pee, his breath doesn’t smell like rotten meat, Snape is intelligent if a right snarky bastard, and the biggest plus for him is he never tried to look down my top while hovering over my desk or up my skirt while I was going up the stairs.” The girls once again agreed with her while the guys looked horrified. “Sorry boys, girls win this argument.” She laughed.
“Did Filch really try to look up your skirt?” Remus leaned towards her as everyone went back to arguing.
“All the time, there is a reason most female students wear shorts under their uniforms.” Remus shuddered finding a newfound disgust for the groundskeeper. A bell tolled out in the hall pulling everyone from their conversations.
“Okay kids, time to go back to your houses.” Remus stood up using his best professor tone and waited for the groans to die down. Sirius stood up and hugged Harry again.
“We’ll walk you down to the train tomorrow.” He promised as the teens walked out waving.
Rhiannon waved her hand conjuring two bottles and three glasses. “Firewhisky for you two. Irish Cream for me.”
“What is that?” Sirius grabbed her glass and sniffed it. “That’s what your room smells like.” He tasted it. “That’s pretty good.”
“Thanks.” Rhiannon laughed. “I have some lotion and stuff that smells like it so you don’t think I drink it all the time.”
Remus grinned they got along pretty well. “When are you two leaving?”
They shrugged and looked at each other. “Tomorrow after the children maybe.” Rhiannon suggested.
“Yeah it’d probably be easier considering Snivellus is going with us.”
“Greasy Git, I wonder what Dumbledore was thinking making him stay with us.”
Remus laughed “Probably that you two need an adult to watch you. Don’t forget Dumbledore has known both of you most your lives.”
“So why can’t you stay with us?” She gave a flirty grin, “I could make it worth the while.” Remus caught the scowl that passed over Sirius’s face.
“Because I have to go back to the pack unfortunately.”
Rhiannon sighed obviously not liking that idea. “Oh well. I’m going to bed.” She leaned over and kissed Remus then smiled at Sirius. “Good night.” The pair watched her disappear down the hall.
“I thought you said you were just friends.” Sirius growled.
“We are. Rhi and I are close.”
“How close is what I’m wondering.”
Remus rolled his eyes, “Shut up and have another drink Padfoot.”