Ebb and Flow

Althea's Cottage, Early July 1980

***

Good morning, Althea, she thought as she opened her eyes. Stretching as she sat up, she smiled--it was her day off. Sighing happily, she let her arm fall heavily next to her. I reckon I'll lie in a bit more, she thought and threw herself back onto her bed--the down pillows fluffing up around her. I reckon I bloody well deserve it. Althea raised her arms above her head once more and yawned loudly--her eyes glimpsing the ruby sparkling richly in the morning sunlight. We were supposed to have this wedding annulled a week ago, she thought, spinning the ring around her finger. I reckon it doesn't matter much at this moment. The attacks upon Muggles and Muggle-borns had increased in the last two weeks with Althea devoting more of her time at St. Mungo's and Sirius out on missions for the Order. Sirius--bruised and bloodied--returned to her cottage around four that morning to find Althea asleep at her kitchen table. Althea did not ask his whereabouts--more business for the Order. She mended the gash on his forearm without question.

Standing from her bed, she slipped her arms into her robe and walked toward her bedroom door. Yawning, she scratched the back of her head as she walked past the guestroom. Sirius was still asleep--his foot, uncovered, dangling off the side of the bed. She sighed quietly, resting her cheek against the doorframe. 'You shouldn't live alone, Althea. It's not safe,' she remembered, the corner of her mouth upturned. You then spent twenty minutes explaining to me how you weren't trying to bed me after I teased you. Althea's smirk faded and a small crease formed between Althea's eyebrows. I truly hope he didn't send that photograph to his mother. As he shifted onto his back, Althea quickly walked toward the drawing room.

Althea yawned once more as entered the kitchen. The early morning sun filtered through the stained glass cottage windows, creating hues of red, blue, purple, and green across the stone floor. Turning on the stove, she yawned as she took eggs from the pantry.

"Morning," Sirius yawned, shuffling into the kitchen.

"Morning," she replied, cracking an egg into the frying pan. "I thought you'd still be asleep," she added, cracking another egg into the frying pan.

Sirius shrugged. "I have business in Knockturn Alley this morning," he explained and took a sip from bottle of milk.

Althea frowned as she placed the two eggs onto a plate. "I drink that milk, too, you know," she remarked, placing the plate on the table. "Obviously, when you left your family, you left your manners behind as well," she added, cracking two more eggs into the frying pan.

"Ha, ha," he replied, sitting down at the table. He looked at his plate and frowned. "Is this all I get?" he asked, poking an egg with his fork. "I'm out saving the world from the evilest of wizards, and all I get are two eggs--two small eggs," he remarked and took a bite of egg. "These are terrible."

"Thank you," she replied, resting her hands on her hips. "I wasn't expecting you up this morning," she said, sliding two eggs onto her plate. She sat across from him and took a bite of egg. She frowned immediately as she swallowed the overcooked egg. "You're right, these are terrible," she said, putting down her fork. "I am a dreadful cook."

"Just breakfast," he replied, taking her plate. "Anyway, I'll make us breakfast.

Althea laughed as she watched Sirius fry up sausages. "Where did you learn to cook?" she asked, as she watched him crack four eggs into frying pan.

"Mrs. Potter taught me," he answered, removing sausages from the pan.

Althea smiled eagerly. "Did she teach you to make the cakes, too?" she asked as Sirius placed a plate of sausages and eggs in front of her. "I loved those cakes she made for us after Quidditch matches."

"I loved them, too," he said, sitting across from her. "Unfortunately, she didn't teach me how to make them," he said and sighed, leaning back in the chair. "I miss those cakes."

"I do, too," she said, charming the milk and a glass onto the table. "Do you remember the party after the Ravenclaw match our sixth-year?" she asked, pouring milk into her glass.

"I remember," he answered, smiling. "What McGonagall let us get away with that night," he reminisced, leaning forward.

"Well, we did win the Quidditch Cup," she replied, and took a bite of egg. "Oh, Sirius, this is so good," she said, taking another bite of egg and sausage. "Maybe we shouldn't get the annulment, and you could cook for me every morning," she teased, taking another bite of sausage.

"Oh, the Daily Prophet is here," said Sirius, unrolling the paper. "I wonder if it'll have last night's fight."

Althea frowned, but continued to eat her eggs and sausages as Sirius read the paper. "Does it have anything in there?" she asked, finishing her milk.

Sirius--ashen-faced--mumbled as he stood.

"Sirius, is everything all right?" she asked, watching him tighten his grip on the paper. "You haven't touched your food."

"I'm not hungry."

"Sirius--"

"I'm not hungry."

His hand tightly gripping the paper, he walked out of the kitchen. Althea stood and followed him into the drawing room. Sirius sat on the sofa, his face in his hands, the crumpled paper resting on the coffee table. As she sat next to him, he let out a mournful sigh.

"What happened?" she asked, resting her hand on his back.

"He's dead," he whispered, not lifting his head from his hands.

Furrowing her brow, Althea lifted the paper from the table and smoothed its crumpled pages. On the third page, she saw the small picture of Regulus Black with an arrogant smile staring back at her. Sirius's brother was dead.

"Idiot," he muttered, looking up from his hands. Althea wrapped her arm around his back. "Got himself killed, what a--" Sirius began, but growled as he pulled at his hair--rocking forward and back.

Sirius dropped his hands to his sides, and curled up onto the sofa--resting the side of his face in her lap. Althea placed her one hand around his waist, and with her other hand, stroked his thick black hair. She felt his body tense and he began to sniff back tears. The sound of Sirius holding back tears, unnerved her, and caused her to take a painful, ragged breath. She had never known him to cry.

"I have to go to the funeral."

"Do you think you should?" she asked, smoothing a lock of hair behind his ear. "I mean your mother will be there...and the rest of your family. It might be too dangerous."

"I don't care," he said, sitting up. He sniffed and bit the inside of his cheek. "I have to go," he whispered, turning his head away from her. "I just have to go."

"Maybe--"

"No, you don't understand. I have to go."

With her hand, she gently turned his face toward hers. "You felt you let him down, didn't you?"

Sirius's grey eyes glistened with tears.

"Sirius, it's not your fault," she said, stroking his cheek. "He made his own choices. He could have chosen what you had done, but he didn't."

"He couldn't make his own choices. I took that away from him," he said and swallowed a breath.

"No--"

Sirius shook his head and removed her hand from his cheek. "He had no choice, Althea," he said, massaging her hand. "I'd left him."

Althea looked down at their hands. She didn't understand Sirius's guilt. Regulus had always towed the family line and was a willing participant. She remembered the newspaper clipping of her father's murder, his bullying of Muggle-borns, and the company he kept at Hogwarts. No, he truly believed those ideas, she thought, her finger tracing the long thin scar upon his hand. He embraced it.

The expression on Sirius's face darkened. "I always took the blame for things we did as kids," he said. "He was so weak...such a follower. I could coax him into anything. I should've--I should've--"

"My love, don't do this--"

Sirius ruefully shook his head. "If only I had spent more time with him--instead of letting him hang out with those bastards." He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "I shouldn't have run away. I should have stayed in the house and looked after him. He needed me, and I let him down."

"Sirius, there was no way you could have stayed in that house. It would have killed you. The things you witnessed there--you had to leave."

"Yeah, but I left him there to be consumed by it," he replied, pulling away from her.

"He could have left, too."

Sirius rubbed his forehead. "But don't you see? He wasn't as strong as I was."

Althea took his hands away from his forehead and held them tightly in hers. "You couldn't have forced him to leave. Did you ever talk to him? Try to convince him to stay with you after you left?"

Sirius nodded.

"And he didn't come, did he?"

Sirius remained silent.

"Sirius, he made his choice. Obviously, he had every opportunity to leave, but he didn't. Maybe he did truly believe your family," she explained, stroking his cheek with her fingertips.

Sirius remained silent and removed her hand from his face. He continued to hold her hand in his lap, tracing the lines on her palm with his fingers. "Althea, I need you there with me," he said, looking at her hand. "I can't do this alone."

Althea gulped. "Your family despises me," she said, "and my presence is unwelcome, especially now with Regulus gone."

"I need you, please," he whispered and kissed her forehead.

Althea frowned. "Your mother--"

"Please."

"Why not ask James? He would go--no questions and no protesting," she replied, pulling way from him. "James would do anything for you."

Sirius shook his head. "I can't ask him. He needs to be with Lily--she's having the baby soon. You know they've been fighting recently."

"I know. It's a stressful time."

"So, they need to spend as much time as they can together. She lost it after I came back half-dead," he said, squeezing her hand. He brought her hand to the side of his face and closed his eyes. "After James, you're the most important person to me."

"What about Remus and Peter?"

Sirius frowned. "Peter can't go--his mum's birthday," he explained and sighed, "and Remus isn't in England."

"So, I'm really the fourth person on your importance list," she remarked, attempting to produce a smile in Sirius.

"Althea, does it matter? I need you there with me," he said, squeezing her hand.

Althea sighed sadly and frowned. "I want to be there with you, but can't you see what's going to happen?"

Sirius threw down her hand. "I know what's going to happen," he said angrily, running his fingers through his hair. "Do you think I enjoy seeing those people? I owe it to him--I need to apologize."

Althea was about to interject that Regulus probably did not care about Sirius's apology, but she refrained from doing so. No matter how she felt, this was something Sirius had to do.

"I'll dress and then we can go."

"Sirius took her hand in his. "Thank you," he replied softly, and kissed the back of her hand.

***

Sirius held her hand as they silently slipped into the last pew of the church. Under her black lace veil, she determined that it was a modest turnout--most of mourners were Regulus's family and friends. However, Althea recognized few, and those few she recognized, she wished would not recognize her. She listened nervously as the priest mentioned the shame in a life ended so soon, and consoled the mourners with Regulus's finer attributes. Was Regulus kind to animals, she wondered, as Mrs. Black wailed in the front row. Narcissa comforted Mrs. Black with a tepid shoulder pat, and Althea frowned. Her son is dead, and you comfort her with a pat on the shoulder, she thought disapprovingly, as Mrs. Black collapsed, weeping.

Quietly, she slid closer to Sirius, and held his hand in hers, interlocking their arms. Sirius approved of the gesture and gently pressed her hand in gratitude. How can they act so cold, she questioned as she observed the other mourners. How could Regulus's death cause such indifference? I thought he was the beloved son--the prized heir of the Black family--the sweet and noble prince that would carry on the Black legacy of pureblood mania, she thought, turning her gaze from the mourners to Sirius. Upset, he continued to the bite the inside of his cheek, as the priest continued telling the story of Regulus chosen as Slytherin prefect. It's not your fault he's gone, she thought, resting her head against his shoulder. He openly chose to follow the family doctrine, and follow Voldemort. Except, why is he dead, she wondered, frowning. There was no mention of an Auror, or a Hit Wizard, or a member of the Order killing him. A Death Eater or Voldemort couldn't have possibly killed him--he was on their side, she thought as Sirius rested his head atop hers. How odd.

Althea heard the creaking of the pew, and lifted her head to observe who had sat next to Sirius. I thought we told James he didn't need to come, she thought as James rested his arm around Sirius's back. At her cottage, the two had asked James to stay behind and to spend his day with Lily. However, the arrival of James was not an enormous surprise--Sirius meant more to James than Lily, or their soon to be born baby ever could. The two were inseparable and their relationship was profound, and to Althea, had a mystical quality to it. The screeching of Mrs. Black broke Althea from her thoughts. She did feel a slight pity for the woman, who had lost her son, but she had another son--a son, sitting arms linked with Althea. You stupid woman, you still have another son, she thought as Narcissa patted Mrs. Black's shoulder once more.

"Stop screeching, you old hag."

"Regulus died," whispered James. "She's distraught."

Sirius crossed his legs and folded his arms, taking Althea's hand with him. "As if she cares," he snorted. "Distraught--it's an act. If she's distraught about anything it's that I get everything when she dies," he explained, as Althea's arm ached from such an awkward position.

She pulled out her arm from underneath his and rested it in her lap. "You get everything? You were disowned, though."

"It doesn't matter--Wizarding Law has different inheritance laws. I'm the last male heir of the Black family, and as you can tell by her wailing," Sirius paused and rolled his eyes as his mother howled, "she is not happy, and neither am I," he remarked, unfolding his arms and uncrossing his legs. "Unfortunately, I hope she lives forever."

"She'll probably outlive all of us," James whispered, sinking into the pew.

"Oh, don't say that--"

"It's true, she will outlive all of us," Sirius interrupted, taking her hand in his. "She has no heart--she feeds on the pain and suffering of others, and there's plenty of that."

The priest descended next to the coffin, the pallbearers left the pews to carry the coffin, and the three took it as a signal to leave before detection by the mourners. Exiting the church, Althea frowned--the sun had disappeared, replaced with dark, slate-colored rain clouds. She lowered her head as the raindrops seeped through her veil as she stumbled to avoid a puddle.

"Are you all right?" Sirius asked, holding her up by her arms.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she murmured and surveyed the motorbike. "Is it safe to ride in this rainstorm?" she asked, watching the raindrops hit and splash on the motorbike.

Sirius shrugged. "I think so," he said and sat on the motorbike.

Althea folded her arms and studied the bike and the wet road. Sirius shook his head.

"Come on, Althea, you ride a broom for God's sake, what's a little slick road?" he teased, a smirk enlarging across his face.

Althea sighed as she climbed on the back of the motorbike. Her head jolted backward as Sirius accelerated quickly--the tires squealing against the wet road. The rain fell with increased intensity as the raindrops violently splattered against her veil. She shivered as the wind cooled her drenched veil as it clung to her face. What an appropriately dismal day, she thought as Sirius cut odf an automobile--the driver immediately slamming on the breaks and honking his horn.

"Do you have to go so fast?" she asked loudly, as Sirius swerved through traffic.

"Faster? Right!" he shouted and accelerated.

Althea screamed and held him tightly as he continued to speed and to swerve through traffic. On a lonely stretch of country road, Sirius lifted the motorbike into the air, and Althea buried her face into his shoulder blade, to avoid the increasing ferociousness of the wind and rain.

"We're there!" he shouted over the loud wind and the roaring engine. "Hold on!"

The motorbike sharply descended into the grove of cedar trees, and landed heavily onto the muddy ground--kicking up mud onto the motorbike and its passengers. Althea stepped off the motorbike and her heels immediately sank into the soft earth--her attempts to free herself from the muddy earth caused her to her fall backward onto flooded ground. Sirius stepped off the motorbike, shook his head, and smiled as he helped her off the ground.

"Thanks," she said as Sirius cast a Cleaning Charm on her soaked, mud-covered clothing.

"No problem," he replied, taking her by the hand as they walked toward the gravesite. "What's wrong now?" he asked, looking at Althea's awkward gait.

"It's my shoes--the heels stick in the mud," she answered, picking up her leg higher than usual.

"I told you it'd be muddy today," he reminded as they hid behind a particularly large cedar tree. "Sun in the morning and rain in the afternoon."

"Like I believe anything from the Daily Prophet,' she replied, watching as the priest continued the service over Regulus's grave.

Althea heard footsteps behind her and turned to find James, who stood on Sirius's other side.

"Are you holding up?" he asked, watching the service as well.

"Yeah," Sirius whispered, as the priest closed his service book. "As best as I can be."

James sighed and rested his hand on Sirius's back. "Mate, there was nothing you could've done," he said as the mourners placed flowers onto Regulus's coffin. "You're not to blame for his death."

"Mate, what if--"

James tightly clasped Sirius' shoulder. "No," he said solemnly. "Padfoot, they didn't find--"

Althea inhaled a sharp breath as Mrs. Black leaned against Narcissa. Just like my father, she thought at the gruesome coincidence. An empty grave.

The mourners slowly trailed away from the grave and walked the lonely stretch of desolate road from the graveyard to their waiting Portkeys. Only Sirius's mother and a few family members remained--some distance from the grave. Sirius stepped forward and James and Althea grabbed his arms.

"Let go of me!" he whispered, shrugging his arms away.

Althea frowned, but did not stop him as he walked toward the grave. Sirius took a rose from one of the displays and walked to the foot of the coffin. Sighing, he threw the rose onto the coffin and stood with his arms at his sides--continuing to look at the grave, almost looking through the coffin. Althea walked forward, despite James's quiet protests and joined Sirius at the grave. Sirius did not acknowledge her presence--his hands, white, were clenched at his sides. Althea slipped her arms around his back and rested her face against his shoulder.

"Such an idiot," Sirius muttered, slowly placing his hands atop hers.

"Bloody serpents?" James whispered as he stood next to Sirius. "You think they'd invented Slytherin."

Sirius let out a sad laugh. "It's a sore subject in the family," he remarked and patted Althea's hands. "You can let go now, Althea. I'm not about to jump into his grave."

Althea let go of Sirius and joined him at his side.

"Thank you," Sirius said, his fingers slowly intertwining with hers.

"How dare you defile my son's funeral?" Mrs. Black said--her voice unnaturally cool.

Althea gasped and felt Sirius briefly tighten his grip upon her hand.

"I came to pay my respects to my brother."

"Regulus had no brother."

Sirius laughed mirthlessly, running his fingers through his wet hair. He looked up toward the slate colored sky and sighed.

"Sirius, let's go," Althea whispered.

Sirius shook his head and turned to face his mother. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you," he said and bit the inside of his cheek. "You made sure of that."

"You!" Mrs. Black breathed.

Suddenly, Althea felt the veil ripped from her scalp. Her scalp stung from the hair that was torn from her scalp and now rested in the bobby pins attached to the veil. Althea saw that Sirius's family carefully watched the display a few yards away.

Mrs. Black's eyes widened and her tear stained face paled. "You dare to bring this vile creature to Regulus's funeral?" she said, thrusting her hand toward Althea's face. "This repulsive Muckblood--"

"Don't--"

"You defend her?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. "This greedy Muckblood strumpet that rides on the backs of Centaurs--"

Sirius stepped forward. "Don't you dare speak to her!" he said and Althea reached for his hand to calm him.

James grabbed Sirius's arm. "Mrs. Black, we're--"

"Blood traitors," she breathed, looking from James to Sirius. "I know what you've done," she said, pointing her forefinger at Sirius. "It won't last. I won't let it."

Sirius eyed his mother with an air of disdain and boredom. "Now you care that I exist?" he remarked, raising an eyebrow.

Althea winced and tugged at Sirius's hand. She noticed that one of Sirius's relatives took particular interest in the confrontation. Dressed in fine black robes, his grey hair lazily fell into similar eyes, and his hand effortlessly rested upon his cane--standing with the same grace as Sirius.

Mrs. Black turned her attention toward Althea. "A Muggle elopement," she said, the words obviously tasting vile upon her tongue. "You think I wouldn't have discovered? That I would be played the fool? It is you, who are the fool--you who will pay dearly for what you have done--"

"Walburga!" the man commanded--his voice had the same smooth quality as Sirius.

Mrs. Black let out a low growl. "Abomination."

The trio watched as Mrs. Black walked away, her elegant black robes billowing behind her. She knows everything, she thought as Sirius tenderly pressed her hand in his. She knows what we've done. Althea swallowed a hard breath at what Mrs. Black would do to them. It isn't a joke anymore, Sirius. Our sham elopement is real to her. Althea shivered from the unnaturally cold wind and the memory of Mrs. Black's threat.

"I'm so glad my dear mother was happy to see me."

"I think we should go," she said, coaxing him to walk with her.

Sirius nodded and the two walked toward the motorbike. Althea wrapped her arms around Sirius as he started the engine, but the motorbike did not move. Instead, large chunks of mud and muddy water splattered the two as the back wheel was caught in the mire. Althea stood from the motorbike and observed Sirius's attempts to remove the motorbike from the mud.

"Let me help you," she said, walking toward him.

"No, I don't need your help," he snapped, standing from the motorbike. "This damn bike won't move!" he growled, and pushed the motorbike over into the mud puddle.

Althea rested her hand on his tense shoulder as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Come on, don't worry about the bike," she said. "James will take care of it."

"Yeah, don't worry. I'll take it to the cottage," James replied, resting his hand on Sirius's other shoulder.

"Right," Sirius muttered, and with a distinct pop, Apparated.

"Thank you," she replied, turning toward James.

James shrugged his shoulders, shoving his hands in his robe pockets. "Just go take care of him," he said and shook his head. "This was an awful--"

"I know," she said, looking toward the last of the mourners.

The finely dressed gentleman glanced at Walburga before he gave Althea a single nod.

"Very much so," she sighed.

***

The raindrops drummed and echoed against the roof as Althea searched the darkened cottage for Sirius. She found him, in the guestroom, sitting on the edge of the bed, with his head in his hands. Quietly, she sat next to him, resting her head on his bent shoulder. Sirius did not speak, or acknowledge her presence in any other method, which he usually would have. The two sat in silence, except for the rain and the spontaneous instances of thunder. What was she to say? She knew attending Regulus's funeral would end in absolute disaster, with Sirius and herself reeling from humiliation.

The sound of tapping at the window disrupted the silence. Lifting her head at the sound, she noticed an owl she did not recognize. It was a large and pompous owl with a letter tied neatly to its leg. She sighed as she opened the window. If it's from his mother, I'll burn the letter straight away, she thought, closing the window. She looked at the letter in her hands and felt small relief, as the letter was not addressed to the Blood Traitor and the Greedy Muckblood Tart. However, the letter was addressed to Mr. Sirius Black and Miss Althea Morrigan, and the return address was the Ministry. Althea's stomach tightened as she walked toward the bed. What could the Ministry possibly want with us, she thought as she sat next to Sirius.

"Who's the letter from?" Sirius asked, lifting his head.

Althea swallowed a breath. "It's from the Ministry."

Without her protest, Sirius took the envelope from her hands and opened it. Immediately, she observed his saddened demeanor turn into one of fury. Finishing the letter, he thrust it into her lap and stood--walking toward the window.

"Read it," he said grimly, resting his hands on the windowsill.

Althea sighed as she opened the letter. "I don't believe this," she remarked as she read the first few lines of the letter. "'It has come to our knowledge of a recent Muggle Marriage between Mr. Sirius Black and Miss Althea Morrigan. Due to a recent inquiry,'" she read, but was interrupted by Sirius's derisive laughter and mutterings about his mother. "'It was found that your Marriage is not in accordance with Wizarding Law, and is therefore not recognized by the Ministry,'" she finished, furrowing her brow. "Not recognized? Isn't marriage, marriage?" she asked, resting the letter in her lap. "What would it matter--"

"Read on," Sirius replied, looking out the window.

Althea sighed as she lifted the letter. Her eyes widened slightly as she continued to read:

According to the Wizard Engagement Declaration of 1701:

Wherein, a Wizard and Witch, through consent of both families are permitted to Marry under the jurisdiction of said Ministry, and that no Marriage Ceremony occurs outside Ministry jurisdiction in accordance with the International Statute of Secrecy and Legislation of Wizard Authority. The laws of Muggle Governments hold no authority over Magical Persons, and are hereby void and surrender in the presence of Wizarding Law (Legislation of Wizard Authority 1698). Hence, if a Wizard or Witch Marry a Muggle in a Muggle Ceremony, under the direction of Muggle Law, the Marriage is void....

Althea blinked. "Oh, bloody hell. This is madness."

"Continue," he replied, hitting his fist against the windowsill.

Nervously, Althea continued to read:

Moreover, in accordance with the Wizard Engagement Declaration of 1704 Amendment:

Hence, if a Wizard Marries a Witch in a Muggle Ceremony, under the direction of Muggle Law, the Marriage is void....

Althea placed the letter in her lap, and ran her fingers through her wet, muddied hair. "I don't believe this, Sirius," she added, shaking her head. "All Muggle-born marriages would be void then, wouldn't they? I don't understand--"

"Oh, please, don't stop reading," he said, his palms leaning upon the windowsill.

Althea nodded and resumed reading the letter:

Therefore, this Marriage, in accordance with Wizard Law, is null and void, and not recognized by the Ministry. Under such circumstances, it is customary for said parties to have a sanctioned Ministry Marriage, creating an official documentation of the Marriage; however, Mrs. Walburga Black has refused to grant consent of the Marriage. To continue as a Married Couple would violate said Wizard Laws, and those involved would face prosecution. Such Wizarding Laws were established for the protection and welfare of the family. Miss Morrigan has no entitlement or claim to any fortune or property. Furthermore, Miss Morrigan must cease and desist using the last name of Black, or face reprisals....

Althea crumpled the letter in her hand.

Sirius grabbed the letter from her hand, threw it in to the air, and blasted it with his wand--the ashes fluttered to the floor. "I HATE THAT BLOODY WOMAN!" he roared, throwing his wand across the room.

Althea watched as the wand hit the wall, sparks flying from the tip.

"Sirius, what sort of--"

"It's a bloody law that hasn't been enforced in over one hundred years," he said quickly, his hands clenched in tight fists, "and my loving mother offered some wanker a load of gold to enforce it."

He collapsed upon the bed next to her and covered his face with his hands. Althea placed her hand upon his back.

"Oh, she's happy...I can imagine her in that awful house cackling right now," he said and growled, leaning forward. "ARE YOU HAPPY? ARE YOU HAPPY YOU STILL HAVE CONTROL OVER MY GOD DAMN LIFE?"

He sighed mournfully, throwing himself against the bed. He stared up at the ceiling and said, "We have to fight this...this isn't fair."

Althea was about to remind him of their agreement, of how dangerous it was for them to fight such a ruling, but she did not. That sham elopement meant more to Sirius than she realized. He almost died, you idiot, she thought, the feeling of giddiness erupting in her chest. Althea reclined next to him, and his hardened expression softened as she touched his cheek.

"As long as she's alive, I'll never be happy."

"That's not true."

"She'll keep enforcing that law," he explained, taking her hand from his cheek. "It'll be the only time she'll gladly acknowledge that I'm her son."

"She won't--"

"She'll never change."

Her heart skipped at his earnest expression.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder.

Sirius smelled of earth and motor oil. She closed her eyes.

"Right, well, there's not much I can do," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her.

"You could always kill her," she said, listening to Sirius's heartbeat.

"That did cross my mind, but she'd haunt me from the grave."

"Or you could live Muggle, and when she dies, marry in a Ministry-sanctioned ceremony," she proposed, slightly lifting her head from his chest.

"Oh, she wouldn't like that either," he replied, a small smirk emerging on his face. "She would still haunt me from the grave."

Althea smiled mischievously. "You could just live with your girlfriend and have loads of bastard children...parade them about Diagon Alley any chance you got."

Sirius cracked a smile. "I could."

"Imagine how horrified your mother would be, then!" she said and tugged at his collar. "Oh, the scandal at Hogwarts!"

Sirius chuckled softly.

"She wouldn't be able to do a thing about it."

Sirius raised his hand to her cheek--his expression grateful. "You're bloody brilliant."