Love Lost, Not Forgotten

Grimmauld place had long since had the fidelus charm taken off of it, or well not very long, Sirius removed it as soon as he was pulled from the other veil. With Dumbledore gone there was no secret keeper and while the Dog-man had had every intention of placing another one up, well he just never had a chance before the war ended. It wasn’t like he had many visitors anyway, the Burrow was still partially under reconstruction so he had half a house full of Weasleys, though if he wanted he could steal away to one part of the house and wouldn’t have to see them ever, he and he had his best friend and godson. It seemed the one person who came and went as they pleased was Hermione, so when the fire in the sitting room lit up green no one moved; even Sirius ignored the fireplace in favor of his wizard chess game with Harry.

Hermione removed herself from the flames and scroufigied the soot off of her clothing, Ron looked up and gave her a goofy smile but frowned when she didn’t return it and turned back to the fire expectantly. The longer she stood there the more attention she gained, slowly Remus looked up from the Prophet, Harry looked up from his game, Ron moved from the table piled with Chocolate Frog cards over to her, but she ignored them all saying a silent prayer under her breath.

Finally the flames turned a bright green again and this caught the head of the household’s attention, turning around in his chair—his back was facing the hearth and the occupants around it—he eyed the two suspiciously as he watched Hermione duck down and catch someone. Someone who had dark brown hair and carmel colored highlights. Someone who, when they stood up, was covered in soot from head to toe in her body paint-like clothing. Someone who Sirius recognized, and the look in her eyes when they connected made his heart freeze before beating profusely.

Grace stood up slowly brushing the black soot from her grey pants; this day was just turning out even worse. Her worst fear—the divorce—was coming true, she had just been told her best friend from Hogwarts was killed in the war that raged when she was young—the same war her daughter had just come out of in fact, and now she stood in the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, somewhere she had only stepped in once. Once she was fully erect she felt Hermione’s magic wash over her and looked at the boy beside her, it must be Ronald, then between them—to the couch—there was Remus, and over to the small chess table.

First her honey brown eyes landed on a boy with dark hair, glasses, and startling green eyes—she knew exactly who he was without having to be told. This was James and Lily’s son, Harry—Hermione had told her all about him since she had gone to Hogwarts. This was the world’s reluctant hero, and Grace was having issues keeping her emotions under control, but when she looked at the last person that occupied the room she was in she felt the wave on control border on madness.

Sirius.
Sirius Black.
Sirius Black in the flesh.
Sirius Black was right there.
Sirius Black was just in kissing distance.

And boy would she love to do that, pick up right where they left off with a huge fight and even bigger snog session. Her daughter hadn’t told her anything about him, probably afraid something like this would happen, but Grace could tell what had happened to him since she last saw him. Faces like that were only seen in mugshots from Azkaban. What had he done?

“Mum? Mum?”

Grace removed her eyes from Sirius’ dark gaze and looked back at her daughter; it was obvious their stare had not gone unnoticed. Grace looked at Ron and then her daughter before smiling, “Introduce me to your friends.”

The introductions were rather short, the only two that Grace didn’t know were Harry and Ron, Remus had played along acting as if he had no clue who his former fellow Prefect was before she jabbed him in the ribs with his fingers and forced a bear hug on him. Sirius’ ‘welcome back’ was a bit more subdued than they had thought it would be, all that Grace had offered was a handshake though he had turned it into a hug. Grace could feel the eyes in the room trained on them and pulled away hastily moving to Harry.

She had grabbed him and held him at arms length before pulling him close and squeezing him tightly, “Your mum loves to hug doesn’t she, Mione?” Harry had joked only caught the mother to squeeze him tighter, her hand wasn’t missed as she wiped away tears as she released him, “Oh, Harry, I’m sorry. You just look so much like them both … even with it being so long … its just hard for me to take in.”

The dam broke.

Soft sobs racked her body for a moment before she hid her face in her hands. Arms moved around her and her first suspicion was that it was Sirius trying to rekindle their closeness but at first investigation—which was her hands going around the person’s middle—she found that it was Remus who was petting her hair, “We all miss them Gracie and we’re here to help.”

It had taken longer than expected for Grace to actually come back to some sort of semblance of the woman Hermione knew after her breakdown. Never had Grace allowed herself to do that in front of her own daughter, sure she had cried—that morning was a testament to it—but never had she broken down into the blubbering mess she was in the sitting room. The three teenagers had excused themselves in order to talk some things out on their own and Remus had pulled Grace to the couch sitting her down. Sirius wasn’t far behind, sitting behind her and rubbing her back as she sobbed.

Remus had answered her questions the best that he knew how, things he didn’t know—more like the questions leading to James and Lily’s death—were left to Sirius who answered in a solemn monotone. He had been a statue the entire time, only ever moving when Remus had noted the time and gone to check on something in the potion’s lab.

They were alone together, something neither of them had counted on so early. Grace was still having trouble controlling her tears as she took in all the information they had fed her in the short time and Sirius had her other hand in his merely playing with her fingers as he had done many times in school, this was something he had missed immensely in Azkaban. The feel of Grace, just her skin, her fingers, her arm, her entire body. He had missed her.

Grace was composing herself but she couldn’t help but feel the pull for the normal, the comfortable. Fighting the battle with her mind she gave up and moved to lean against Sirius, he accepted her weight wordlessly and she laid there for a moment; his right arm rested on her arms rubbing absently while his left hand played with hers as she began to play back.

“Sirius, why did you let me run?”

Sirius frowned for a moment and looked down at the crown of gold and brown, “What do you mean run?”

Grace sighed and shook her head, “Nevermind. I’m going to find the kids; I need to talk to Hermione anyway.” She stood, detaching herself from him completely, and moved away from him without every looking back. Sirius sat in the same position staring at her retreating back, what had he said wrong?

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In the kitchens of Grimmauld Place Molly Weasley was cooking again; Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting at one end of the table talking to each other in hushed voice—not like Mrs. Weasley was one for listening anyway, she seemed to be wasting away in front of them.

This is what Grace walked in to, she walked up behind her daughter and pet her head for a moment before looking at Mrs. Weasley, she turned her head to Ron and jerked her head over only receiving a nod from the ginger headed young man. Surveying only a little bit longer Mrs. Granger removed her self from the little group and walked to the Weasley matriarch.

“Mrs. Weasley, why don’t you have a seat … you look tired.”

This statement caused the trio to jerk their heads up, none of them had thought to make Molly just rest—she wouldn’t listen to them anyway. It seemed she didn’t want to listen to Grace either, without even sparing the younger woman a look Molly continued cutting up the tomatoes for the kids’ lunches.

“Mrs. Weasley, I can take care of that, come on now.”

Grace moved to the side of the larger woman and placed her hand over the other woman’s. Mrs. Weasley’s hand shook for a moment before she let the knife drop; Molly’s head slumped a bit before her shoulders began to shake with silent sobs.

It seemed as if everything was finally hitting her, Grace didn’t know what exactly it was that happened but she just thought he woman needed some rest. There was a sound of a chair scraping back and when Grace looked up she saw Ron standing on the other side, “I’ll take her, Mrs. Granger, I think she’s finally letting it out.”

Grace nodded and watched as Ron let his mother lean on him and lead her out of the kitchen, sniffling a bit herself she looked at the other two who were watching the doorway as well. “Well … as inopportune as this may seem … I actually came in here to talk to both of you—well actually all three of you—about something. May I?”

After Grace had left him in the sitting room with his arm draped across the couch and his other hand in his lap, Sirius had begun to think of a plan of action. He had to win her back. He was going to win her back.

Standing up after the ghost feeling of her was gone from his side he rubbed his forehead and moved towards the door. Freezing for a moment he closed his eyes and sniffed, something still smelled like her. Smiling at the sensory memory he practically galloped down the staircase narrowly missing Ron and Molly as they exited the kitchen, he stopped in his strut for a moment taking in what must have happened. Molly was finally accepting what had happened and was letting herself feel.

The tall ex-prisoner took a moment to send a prayer to any deity that would listen for the souls of her two lost children and husband. Shaking his hair he turned and walked through a door that looked like it should have belonged to a broom closet, it was actually the staircase to the dungeons and make-shift potions lab.

Remus was there, as usual, starting another batch of wolfsbane potions, Sirius grinned and walked up leaning against the table holding his ingredients, “If you keep making that stuff, Moony, you can sell it and make a million galleons.” The werewolf chuckled and looked at his friend, “How did things go with Gracie?”

Sirius smiled, “She leaned on me.” His eyes rolled back as he turned his back on the table and hummed. Remus stopped stirring and looked at him, “That’s it?”

“What else do I need? I’m getting through the door.”

“Sirius, mate, not sure if you remember this … Grace leans on everyone. She leaned on you, me, James, Lily, and one time she even leaned on Peter! When she’s emotional she leans against someone who she thinks will take that emotion away … well except for Peter I’m still not sure as to how that happened.”

“She wanted to make him uncomfortable.”

Remus nodded knowingly and returned to his potion, “I’d hate to say it … but I don’t think you’ll get her back.”

Sirius froze in his tranquil bliss and turned his dark eyes on his school-friend, “Don’t say that … do not say that. She would have married me had I not been an idiot … if I hadn’t let her run.” His last sentence was said as more of an after thought as her words from before drifted through his mind.

‘Why did you let me run?’

With a final stir the former defense teacher grabbed a stool and perched himself on it before summoning another for his companion, “Well sit. I’d love for you two to get back together, besides James and Lily—you two probably would have been the star couple in school.” There was no malice in his words, but even as Sirius seated himself he could hear the twinge of jealousy in Remus’ voice.

How could he have forgotten, his dear friend had had a crush on Grace first.