Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Sirius Black x Fem! OC
Prompt: "It hurts. After all this time, all that effort I put into forgetting, it still hurts."
Warnings: angst, fluff
Word count: 944

ISABEL BLACK had been married to Sirius Black since 1980. It was a lovely wedding, small but still delightful for the couple. They only invited their closest friends and closest family members. Which wasn't many.

Isabel has only had a mother, a father and a sister. Sirius didn't invite any of his family as they had disowned him. So instead, they invited the Mauraders and a few other friends from Hogwarts.

It was delightful. Yet terribly short.

The next year, their best friends, James and Lily, were brutally murdered by Lord Voldemort, leaving their son, Harry, alone. It was not taking lightly by Sirius or Isabel. They demanded that the Ministry take action for their innocent friends yet what they did was far different.

They had arrested Sirius for the crime. Isabel fought and fought for his case. Yet, they wouldn't listen. Whatever evidence they had was false and Isabel provide valid evidence that Sirius was with her the night of the Potters murder, yet they wouldn't listen.

They even refused to give Harry to Isabel, his god-mother. Dumbledore had informed her that he was with Lily's muggle sister - it was safer for him to be away from the wizarding world. Isabel couldn't argue with that, but it still hurt knowing how Petunia treated Lily - it would be even worse for Harry.

It has been 14 years since Isabel had last seen Sirius. The Ministry wouldn't allow her to write or visit her husband, and it broke her heart everyday.

She was lonely and hurting. Isabel couldn't live in Grimmauld Place anymore as it kept haunting her with lost memories so she moved out and lived in a small cottage closer to the Weasley's. And instead, offered the empty apartments to the Order of the Phoenix to hold meetings.

Isabel tried to live her life as if she was fine. But her close friend, Molly Weasley, could see through her paper thin facade and saw the fragile woman under the fake smile. So as a good friend, Molly tried her hardest to bring the light back in Isabel's life.

As a member of the Order, Isabel has been summoned for a meeting in Grimmauld Place. She was the last to join the meeting.

Ginny was the first to see her and rushed up and hugged her. "Hello, Auntie Issy!" She exclaimed with a smile. "I'm so glad you're here!"

Isabel smiled, hugging the youngest Weasley child. "Thank you, daring."

Fred and George apparated begins them and scaring Isabel. "Hello, boys. How's the business coming along?"

"Excellently," Fred stated.

"Thanks to you," George finished. Isabel had adored the idea that Fred and George were starting their own business so became their investor.

Isabel shushed them. "I did nothing. You're the ones with the good idea."

The twins high-fived each other and ran off to work on their products. Harry walked up to his god-mother and hugged her. "Hello, Issy,"

"Hello, my darling, I've missed you," she spoke quietly, whilst holding him close. They had reunited during his fourth year after his parents murder

A voice called out from down the hallway that started Isabel. "You haven't aged a day, Isabel."

Isabel froze. Her heart raced at the familiar voice. After all these year, she could never forget the way his voice sounded. How it made her knees weak. She turned away from Harry and saw him in all his glory.

He hadn't changed much from when she last him but at the same time, he looked so different that she was sure that she wouldn't recognise him without hearing his voice. He was wearing a smart velvet suit, his long dark brunet hair ended at his shoulders and he now had a full moustache and a light beard.

Her mouth hung open as she stared at his smiling face. "Sirius?" she whispered in disbelief, moving to stand a little in front of Harry rather than behind him.

Sirius nodded with a loving grin. "Hello, my love," he answered. "Long time no see."

"When did you get back?" She asked, approaching him. "How did you get back?"

Sirius looked down, mumbling something that she couldn't comprehend. So she asked again. "2 years ago," he said quietly.

Isabel processed the information quickly. Perhaps too quickly. Out of pure fury, she raised her hand and slapped him across the face. "Two years!? You've been out of prison for two years?! And you didn't think of mentioning it to your own wife? Not even a letter!" She scoffed.

Sirius rubbed the cheek that she hit, it strung red. "I know, I'm sorry, Issy. But it wasn't safe. I couldn't risk them hurting you."

Isabel sighed sadly. "It still hurt. It hurts. After all this time, all that effort I put into forgetting, it still hurts," Isabel ranted, sadly. "See you now hurts knowing I could've years ago. 14 years I've spent lonely, waiting to see you next."

"Issy, I love you and it was for your safety. And Harry's," Sirius added. "Please forgive me. I was foolish not at least trying to contact you. Even as a old dog," he chuckled.

Isabel cracked a smile. "I hate you, Padfoot," she whispered softly, a smile still stretched over the features.

Sirius grinned. He moved closer to his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest to press a kiss to her forehead. "I love you too, Birdie."

THE END