Title: What they call home pt. 4|7 - Underlying feelings

Pairing: Post Azkaban!Sirius Black x Female!Lestrange!Reader

Word count: 1.5k

Published: 12 November, 2020

Author: Heloise Daphne Brightmore

Notes: This was written for ​@wand3ringr0s3's writing challenge on tumblr and also for a request I have received here on Wattpad by celina_yaxley . It was supposed to be a one shot, but it turned into a series somehow. I have been getting carried away these days.

Disclaimer: I have dug myself very deep into the Black and Lestrange family just to make sure that there were no incest in the story. I went back 300 years, until 1700 and I can confirm Blacks have not been related to the Lestranges, except Bellatrix Lestrange (nee Black) marrying Rodolphus Lestrange around 1968-70, pre-Wizarding War I. 

Weeks passed by and Sirius and you started to warm up to each other. You still liked to rile each other up, but it has become more comical than annoying and you slowly started enjoy his company more and more.

As the order meeting of the day finished, you sat down with some of the members for a team building dinner to quote Albus. You have considered leaving and spending the rest of the night in your room, the suspicious gazes giving you a chill, but as soon as you headed out of the dining room, Sirius got hold of your wrist and stopped you.

"Stay." He spoke, the room quieting down around you. You looked at the man as a small, inviting smile spread across his face, your heart taking on a faster pace, your wrist heating up where he held onto you.

"I don't think it's a good idea." You breathed as you finally ripped your eyes away from the man and looked around the room. Albus was more than happy with your presence, whilst Molly gave you an apologetic, but approving look, her husband Arthur offering you a sweet smile. Nymphadora seemed a bit sceptical, but you could see she wasn't against you joining them whilst Remus didn't seem to mind as he has gotten used to your presence. However, Mundungus Fletcher, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Sturgis Podmore looked as though they wished you to disappear even from planet earth.

"Come, dear join us." Molly quipped in as she placed another batch of cutlery and plates on the table right beside Sirius' spot and from across her. You looked up at Sirius one more time in anticipation of an unspoken confirmation. He nodded and placed a hand behind your back, leading you forward, right beside the head of the table.

You tried to ignore how his proximity affected you, how his long fingers spread across your back caused tiny goosebumps to appear on your arms and neck, how his silent whisper of "It's going to be fine" reassured you more than you wished it had.

You took a seat beside him and as everyone started eating an uncomfortable silence fell on the group of people, the only noise audible came from the cutleries and loud chewing.

However, the silence didn't last long. People slowly fell into a conversation with each other. You overheard them mentioning something about an upcoming mission, but you couldn't pay attention as Molly has averted your attention from the subject.

"My dear, how have you been feeling in this lovely house?" Molly said in a mocking tone from Sirius' other side, which earned a rather annoyed groan from him. He didn't necessarily have the best memories of the place, but it was still a home to him. You chuckled at his reaction, before you replied to Molly.

"I have been enjoying my time here to be honest." You nodded as you took a spoonful of soup from your plate.

"I'm hoping Sirius hasn't been causing you much trouble?" She asked as she sent a cheeky wink towards you.

"Well, he isn't as insufferable as before, but still fairly annoying." You replied matter-of-factly.

"I'm right here, don't mind me." Sirius shook his head as he took a bite of his chicken.

"We clearly don't mind, Sirius." You retorted with a soft giggle, which earned an eye roll from the man, but he couldn't stop the soft smile from spreading across his face.

"Sirius, huh? Are we on a first name basis now?" He chuckled.

"Would you like me to call you Black?" You asked, but he quickly shook his head. "Then hush." You giggled lightly, your eyes darting back to Molly.

"I'm glad you are getting along. I remember the first day you arrived, you were about to jump at each other's throats." She chuckled at the memory.

"I still feel like jumping at him on occasions." You giggled, but it quickly died down as Sirius leaned closer, his lips brushing your ear, your face heating up at the proximity.

"Or on me." He whispered. You felt your face burn under his seductive words, your heartbeat quickening in your ribcage as the air stuck in your lungs.

"Khm." You cleared your throat, but no words left your lips. They just didn't seem to want to come.

"Cat got your tongue, darling?" He teased, his breath beside your neck making you shiver. You were beyond flustered, you didn't know how to react, so you chose the best option you knew. Pain. You quickly stepped on his foot under the table, causing the man to whine in pain. The table fell silent at the unexpected sound leaving the man's lungs, but you wore the most innocent expression you could muster. "Why did you do that?" he asked, but you just shook your head.

"I don't know what you are talking about." You shrugged with an innocent smile painted across your face. You turned towards Molly to continue your conversation, but the woman wore a playful grin and a suspicious gaze as she studied you and Sirius with her knowing eyes.

Sirius sent a deadly stare towards you, but you didn't mind. You smiled innocently and continued the dinner as if nothing happened. But inside, inside you were craving more from him, to be closer to him, to be able to touch him. You knew you shouldn't have such thoughts of him, but you couldn't control the way you felt around him, the thoughts his mere presence caused you to have.

You didn't want to think of the thoughts you had, but you couldn't get them out of your head. How your hand would get lost in his big palm, how his growing stubble would feel against your skin, how his kiss would taste on your lips. You knew you were not supposed to have these thoughts, but you couldn't control your curiosity.

The dinner didn't last long, the order members disappeared quicker than you expected. Sirius has already gone up to his room, leaving you to walk the rest of the members, Arthur and Molly Weasley towards the exit.

"Could you please wait for me outside?" Molly asked her husband and whilst both Arthur and you were confused by the woman, he did as he was told and stepped outside.

"Is everything okay?" You asked the woman as you have been left alone and she let out a single laugh.

"Of course, dear. I was just wondering how long it has been going on." Molly watched you with the most curious gaze you have ever seen from her.

"I'm sorry, but you are going to have to give me more details." You stared at her in surprise.

"Oh hush, darling. You know exactly what I mean." She gave you a knowing look, but you were still confused and perhaps Molly realised it too as she finally continued. "I meant you and Sirius." Your eyes widened in surprise at her unexpected words.

"Molly, I think you misunderstood something. There is nothing between us." You quickly shook your head and lifted your hands, waving them in front of you, gesturing your innocence. She frowned as she watched your panicked expression, knowing full well that you were honest with her.

"Are you trying to tell me that my eyes have lied to me?" She questioned with a sceptical look. "That you don't have feelings for him?" You wanted to deny it, you wanted to tell her that her eyes have misled her, but how could you. You would have lied to yourself if you said you didn't see something in the man, that you didn't feel like you needed to be around him, that his presence didn't affect you in ways no one ever had.

Molly always had an eye for couples, one could call it a sixth sense, but for her it was second nature. She was a good observer and when people were obvious, she didn't even have to take a second glance at them to understand the underlying feelings.

"Was I that obvious?" You asked as you let your head fall forward in defeat.

"Both of you were." She giggled softly. Your eyes shot up as a playful glint appeared in Molly's. Your lips parted involuntarily, the information surprising you. You hoped all along that it wasn't just you who felt the connection between you, the little spark ready to ignite the fire within you. "If there's any progression, I'm still only an owl away, waiting eagerly." She chuckled, which made you grin as you awkwardly scratched the back of your neck.

"We will see, Molly. We will see." You replied, trying not to jinx your luck.

You waved goodbye to the Weasleys before you walked up the stairs and started off to your room. Each time you headed to your temporary accommodation, which slowly started to feel more and more like home, you passed Sirius' room in the hallway. This was no different. You couldn't stop yourself from halting for a moment, placing your hand on the door as if you could feel him closer to you.

You weren't sure how right Molly was, but you were hoping that her eyes were truly seeing something blossom between you and Sirius. You couldn't deny how much you needed him, how much you wanted him, and you were wishing nothing more, but to feel him close to you and for your feelings to be reciprocated.

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