XXXXII. GRIEF AND MISERY

Listen, Sirene wasn't a horrible person, most of the times, but her father finally leaving the planet with probably a sour expression on his face didn't really faze her that much, I mean she wasn't that happy about it, but she also wasn't going to cry.

      That's the same human who put her siblings and her through so much shit for years and verbally abused them, it's only natural. Doesn't mean she wouldn't be there for her brother though, out of everyone - Regulus was his father's favorite.

      Regulus and Orion had a normal father-son relationship, well as normal as asking your son to serve the dark lord could get that is. It wasn't about pressure to be the best with Regulus, it was keeping him away from his siblings.

     Sirene never really understood her father, he usually didn't interfere much, not like their mother did, all he cared about was the reputation, but there were also moments which made them think hey, he might not be a psychopath after all, but those moments weren't enough to overpower the ones where he did act like a psychopath.

Andrew had been awfully nice these last few days, he wouldn't even argue about how many marshmallows should be in a hot chocolate. Sirene wasn't sure why that was but she had her doubts about it being related to her father shuffling off his mortal coil or something.

Of course she wasn't going to tell him that it didn't affect her that much, she was going to use this time as an advantage for a prank. You know, being a 'sensitive' time for her and all that.

"How's Emery?" Sirene asked Regulus who was laying on the astronomy tower with her and Sirius on his side.

"She's f-fine" Regulus said his face reddening at her being mentioned, "Why do you ask?"

Sirene and Sirius grinned at each other, "Ah, young love"

"Shut up" Regulus said rolling his eyes though the smile on his lips showed he wasn't actually annoyed, "How's Neveah?"

Sirene released a small snort laugh at that and Sirius glared at her.

"We're on a break" Sirius said his expression turning sour.

"I mean this in the nicest way possible brother" Sirene said her tone containing a bit of a bitter undertone, "This is the third time you've gone on a break, are you sure this is the right kind of relationship for you?"

"Don't remember asking you" Sirius said rolling his eyes at his sister who flipped him off.

"She isn't wrong, you know" Regulus said in a small voice, "Maybe she isn't the right person for you, from what I've seen you guys fight more than you talk"

"Look, you guys don't know her" Sirius said to his siblings who both gave each other a knowing look, "Maybe if you actually bothered to make an effort you would see that she's amazing"

"Sure" Sirene said her voice monotonous.

"Ok." Regulus said shrugging.

"How's Andrew" Sirius asked changing the topic, Sirene glared at him lightly.

"Really?" Sirene said with a bored expression, "You're both dating the girls mentioned, I'm not dating anyone!"

"We're on a break!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Maybe you should be dating then" Regulus said with a small shake of his head, "He's good to you, isn't he? And from what I've seen I don't think feelings are the problem either, so, why not?"

"Yeah, alright, Romeo" Sirene said in a joking voice, "Talk to me when you ask Emery out"

"Maybe I will" Regulus said with a small grin. Sirene returned it.

✨

"Ms Black, are you sure you don't want a week off?" Professor Mcgonagall asked Sirene who was sat opposite to her in a chair, "Under your circumstances it would be understandable"

      "Don't worry, Minnie" Sirene waved her off, "I'm absolutely fine"

      "It's Professor Mcgonagall to you Ms Black" Mcgonagall said her voice stern as always as she gave another look to the girl who seemed bored as she played with the paperweight on her desk.

      "Right" said Sirene, "So...I can go now?"

       "Yes, you may leave" Professor Mcgonagall said putting away some papers to the side, "And on your way out, send your brother in please"

      Sirene gave Mcgonagall a small salute and then walked out with her hands in her pocket. As soon as she got out she found Sirius leaning against the wall rubbing his eyes furiously.

      "Do they look red enough?" Sirius asked Sirene who leaned forward and then nodded, "Great"

      "Wait" Sirene said putting some water droplets on his eyelid, "Perfect."

      "Alright, then see you in the common room" Sirius said before walking inside the room.

       Sirene walked away from the office doors and made her way to the courtyard where all her friends were waiting for her. James threw an apple towards her that she threw back at him.

      "What?" James said annoyed at the girl, "You need to eat"

      "I don't like green apples" Sirene said sitting down next to Alice who was busy making a flower bracelet.

     "Alright then don't skip lunch next time" James rolled his eyes at the girl before getting back to doing his homework.

       "Hold on!" Sirene said in a panicked voice, she put the back of her palm against James head who slapped it away with annoyance, "Are you sick, Prongs?"

      "No..?" He said in an unsure voice, "Why do you ask?"

       "You have your homework in front of you, and you're actually doing it!"

       Lily released a small chuckle at that slapping Sirene's arm lightly. Alice shook her head with a small smile on her face. Marlene was full on howling with laughter at the offended look on James's face, whereas Peter was simply sniggering.

       "Shit" Remus said as he laid down on the grass next to Marlene who gave him a curious look, "I'm going to fail and I'm going to tarnish the reputation I created for myself-"

       "Did you forget to do your D.A.D.A homework again?" Sirene asked a pouty Remus who nodded in return.

       "Yeah, thought so" Sirene said rolling her eyes at the boy's dramatics, "Worry not, friend, I've got an idea" Sirene smiled mischievously as Remus raised his eyebrows at her.

✨

      "This isn't going to work" Remus said as Sirene went behind the trees, "Maybe we shouldn't do it"

      "Remus, are you doubting me?" Sirene said in an offended tone.

      "Would you rather not give your homework and have the teacher know you didn't do it?"

      "See you in a minute."

      Sirene rolled her eyes before looking around to make sure no one else was looking, she then hid behind a big tree and slowly transformed into her animangus form.

      The white cat made her way towards the teenager who was pretended to be busy chatting to his friends with the homework next to him.

      Sirene made her way to the boys and then took the homework in her mouth.

       "OH NO!" Sirius said in an overly dramatic voice that Sirene cringed at before she started ripping the empty parchment with her paws, "REMUS THE CAT IS RUINING YOUR HOMEWORK!"

      "You're right, Sirius!" Remus said trying to act frustrated as he looked around to see the defense against the dark arts teaching staring amused at the kids, "Whatever will I do now?"

      "Look, it's running away with it!" James exclaimed as Sirene walked away with the homework between her teeth and back into the forest, "Pity, I know you worked hard on it, mate" James patted Remus's shoulder with fake sympathy.

I have no idea how to write about romance.