The Black Family

Riyo was sitting on the couch, figuring she’d just wait until the day was over. She didn’t want to go to her next two classes, them being Potion’s and Herbology, two of her best classes other then Defense against the Dark Arts. She closed her eyes and tried to call a picture of her Mother too mind. She couldn’t remember her at all; Riyo couldn’t recall the sound of her voice, or the touch her hands. Most people took their mother from granted, and Riyo wished she could just remember her. Riyo felt strong arms wrap around her and she opened her eyes, James sitting besides her giving her a hug.

“Prof. Sprout wouldn’t let Al or Liz go so I left to check up on you.” He said simply. “Plus, they figured I could identify with you a little more if you were thinking of your Mum.” He added letting her go. She smiled at him laid down, using his lap as a pillow like they used to at the orphanage. James started to play with her long black hair, braiding it down the center.

“Are we strange?” Riyo asked him suddenly.

“Hmm?” He asked her after separating her thick hair into three strands. “What do you mean?” He asked her brushing the strands with his fingers.

“Well…I mean…are we different because of our parents?” She asked him shifting so he could get all her hair. He was quiet for a couple minutes then answered slowly.

“Well…My Father went after the women who tortured his Mother and Father into insanity. Then, later in his life tried to do the same to him…and went kamikaze on her, ending up killing both of them. Mum died the next month in an automobile accident, I think.” James said looking ahead, staring into the fire. “The same women who sent your Da away was responsible for my Da’s death too in a way. Yes, I do think we are different because of our parents, but only because we were ripped away from them when we were young, not because of anything they did.” He said starting the braid. Riyo thought about this for a couple minutes herself and nodded.

“Your right. It doesn’t matter that my Mother was one of the worst Death Eaters out there, then tried to take over…I make my own life.” She said, everything in life becoming a lot clearer as she had this epiphany. James nodded,

“And my Father’s actions do not dictate how I will act. He killed the woman who hurt him the most…it doesn’t make it right, but it doesn’t make it entirely wrong either. I dictate my own actions. I’m not just like him.” He said thinking. Riyo knew he has always been almost…ashamed of his Father in a way, and yet looked up to him completely and utterly. James didn’t think it was capable to harm a woman, and part of him hoped he could never bring himself to do what his father did, but the other part knowing he could. She knew it affected him sometimes, but he was her rock, and always had been. They had become fast friends when he came to the orphanage when he was one, and since then they had always been there for the other. James had his own friends, but was always there If she needed him, and even though she was best friends with Liz and Al, she would run to James if he needed her, and they both understood that. Riyo thought about it a little more and looked up at him, to find he was looking down upon her. She though she saw a tiny blush creep up his neck as she caught him, and smiled. Her eyes traced along his jaw line, strong and proud like in pictures she had seen of his mother, his body lean and tough, unyielding, but to her it also was soft. She could cuddle into him and feel his warmth, which was the soft aspect she could see. His shoulders were wide and strong, like they could hold up the world if they needed to, his arms were thick and muscular from all the work he got out of being a Beater. Her eyes scanned his chest, knowing what was under the robes he was wearing because last week they had gone swimming for the last time in the lake. James couldn’t win the best body out their contest, but he was built, and looked good. To top him off he had the bluest eyes with the blondest hair. He was the guy of every girl’s dreams, and with a sudden jerk Riyo realized that he was, indeed the guy of her dreams. James looked down into her eyes and she could feel a blush creep her own face, turning her skin a healthy pink hue instead of her normal pale Londoners tone. James smiled down at her,

“What?” He asked working her hair with his strong hands, twisting it into a braid. He was good at what he did…she had taught him when they were four, and had been the only one to braid her hair for her since. He felt a flush of pride surge up inside him when he though about how much she trusted him. Most people just saw his father when they looked at him, and since most people thought his father had gone insane they figured it ran in the family. “What?” He asked again when she didn’t reply.

“Oh…just…you’ve grown up.” She said simply blushing. He beamed and replied laughing

“You’re still just a baby.” He finished the braid and she lifted up a wrist, which had two hair ties on it. He slipped one off, a red one, his and hers favorite color and put it around the end of the braid. She blushed again and sat up, thanking him. James pulled her onto his lap like always and wrapped his arms around her.

“What’s it like?” He asked quietly. Riyo didn’t know what he meant for a second then clued in. She rested her head on his and thought.

“Well…you should know.” She said putting her arms around his shoulders.

“It’s not the same. I love Allen and Linn, but it just isn’t the same…or at least I don’t think it is…” James said staring at the fire once more. The weight of her Mother had disappeared, and already Riyo could feel a change coming over her. She felt less depressed and now had confidence in herself. It was a small change, but it was already starting to show.

“Well…” She said thinking, looking at the fire herself, as If the answer was in its empty space. No one had lit it yet today, there was just ashes from last night’s fire. “I don’t know yet…the biggest difference is knowing there is someone there who will love you no matter what, someone who you share the same blood with and even look like. Dad and I haven’t really gotten to do any Father Daughter things yet.” She said softly. James nodded and hugged her tightly.

“I wish he was still here.” He said closing his eyes. Riyo held him tightly and kissed his forehead.

“I know James. But he is still here, in spirit. He lives on within you, and he can never leave you.” She said, the words almost coming from somewhere else. She could feel his body shudder slightly and she got off his lap, kneeling in front of his and holding his hands in hers. “James, your father loved you very much, your mother as well. Your Dad died making sure the person who hurt him could never hurt you. Your Mum’s death was an accident, and even though that doesn’t help, you need to know they both live on through you, and something you’ve helped me to realize today is that you need to live for them, but live by your own terms, not ones someone else has set.” Riyo said looking into his eyes. He looked back at her, and nodded. She had voiced something he had realized years ago, but had forgotten somewhere along the line. He felt guilty because he was jealous of Riyo, even though he knew someone didn’t choose her to have her Dad back over him. He knew that she needed Sirius more then he needed his own father, even though he missed him, he knew it wouldn’t be right if his Dad came back.

“You never give advice this good, what’s going on?” He asked her, rubbing his eyes. She blushed and he pulled her back into his lap.

“I’ve just…gained some confidence.” She said blushing a little more. James nodded and wrapped his arms around her once more.

“I’m glad, it’s about time.” He said good naturally, tickling her sides slightly. Riyo giggled and put her head on his shoulder to muffle it. “That tickle?” He said moving and pinning her onto the couch. She giggled as his hands found her sides once more, his arms on either side of her stomach. She closed her eyes and laughed, her body shaking with each peel of laughter. James laughed himself, looking at her face; it had always been round, mimicking the shape of her Mums. He had just seen a couple of pictures, but he could see her mother in her. Her skin was so pale, but it had always been like that, it was never a sickly pale, it just never tanned. He tried to think of a word to describe it as her tickled her sides once again, laughing pouring from her delicate lips. He finally found the words, and said them out loud “Lily White.” He tickled Riyo again, his face going red and tried to make sure she didn’t hear him. His eyes traveled down from her green eyes, past her slim tiny nose and to her delicate lips. He lay down beside her, the yellow couch large enough for them to lie down beside each other. He propped himself up with one hand and continued to tickle her with the other. After a little while he stopped, just resting his hand on her side when she rolled over to face him. She smiled at him and closed her eyes, cuddling into him, he smiled back at her, watching her small body, her chest rising as she breathed deep when she fell asleep. He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, his eyes taking her in. It seemed like she had grown up, grown into a girl, and not just his best friend, he thought about it again, and realized that she wasn’t a girl, he hadn’t seen that, but she wasn’t a woman yet. He traced a hand along her bare arm and felt the softness of her skin, he felt a little guilty, but she smiled in her sleep and moved closer into him. James felt like he was seeing her through new eyes, seeing her as a female, not as his best buddy. With a slight laugh he realized what Allen, his adopted father, had warned him about…the girl next door syndrome. He laughed again and knew it was true. He hadn’t even noticed that she had turned into a girl, and now she was almost into being a woman, he hoped she would never forget him. He felt a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach when that thought crossed his mind, but he knew he meant more to Riyo then that. He was drifting off to sleep when he heard something hitting the glass and gently moved Riyo to get up. He opened the door and looked out impassively, scanning the grounds below to see what was causing the noise. He saw a small rock and moved, nearly getting hit in the face by it, he moved out so he was leaning out the window slightly and saw Carl throwing stones at the common room window.

“What do you want?” He growled, annoyed at having been woken from his near-nap.

“Riyo up there?” Carl yelled up, disgust written across his face.

“Ya. What do you want with her?” James asked coldly.

“I want to talk to my girlfriend.” Carl said, disgust spreading to his eyes. James nodded and went to the couch.

“Riyo…Riyo” He said stroking her cheek like he always did to wake her up. She rolled over and put her head deeper into the couch cushion. James went back to window and looked back out, looking down at Carl, resisting the urge to spit. “She’s asleep.” He yelled down. “Come see her later.” He added and closed the window.