The Order

 

By Chelsea the Muse.           Chapter One: Only One Loo

 

            Sirius rolled over and stretched out his arm. His hand collided with empty air and the space that had been occupied by Celeste was now empty and cold. He was instantly awake and out of bed, haphazardly pulling on his robes. He could hear Lily and James whispering in the next room, and he raced to pound on their door, all the while yelling their names.

            There were a few curses and it sounded like someone tripped over something, but the next thing Sirius knew, both Lily and James had tumbled out of their bedroom, looking frightened.

            “What? What’s happening?” Lily gasped, looking around. James only stared at Sirius.

            “Have either of you seen Celeste? Did you hear her go out?” Sirius asked in one breath. Lily and James exchanged a worried glance and shook their heads no.

            “I doubt that it’s anything to worry about. Is she in the loo?” James asked, unhelpfully. Lily elbowed him in the stomach.

            “Why don’t you go look around outside and James and I will get dressed and follow?” she suggested quickly when Sirius looked homicidal. Sirius nodded and raced outside, nearly knocking their tent over. He was still amazed that it looked like such an ordinary Muggle tent from the outside.

            The morning air was crisp and a little bit chilly, and a light breeze was blowing as Sirius looked around the yard. He heard singing coming from the barnyard and he headed in that direction at top speed.

            He found his wife kneeling at a cage containing Puffskiens. She sang quietly to them, and for a moment, Sirius stood still watching her. He was still amazed that she was his wife. His forever.

            He stepped forward and inadvertently snapped a twig. Instantly, Celeste was on her feet, her serene look gone and replaced by a look of sheer anger and concentration, as she pointed her wand at his chest. Sirius laughed as her face cleared and she smiled, running forward to hug him.

            “Sirius Black! Don’t EVER do that to me again!” she cried, kissing his cheek. Sirius turned and caught her mouth, giving her a real kiss.

            “Or what, you’ll hex me?” he teased, pulling at a lock of her dark brown hair. Celeste shook her head impatiently, pulling the hair from his grasp.

            “Aren’t you cold?”  Sirius asked, noting that she was wearing only her pyjama bottoms and a camisole. She shook her head.

            “No, not really. This farm is really sweet. It was so nice of the Longbottoms to allow us to stay here.” She said, turning back to the Puffskiens again. Sirius gently turned her back towards him.

            “You know, it isn’t safe to be out by yourself.” He said. Celeste bit her lip and cast her dark brown eyes down for a moment, but then she was looking back up at him, and Sirius could see she was more then a little annoyed.

            “Sirius! I am twenty-three years old; I can more then take care of myself! Am I not an Auror?!” she demanded, turning away again. Sirius caught her by the waist, and pulled her close, resting his face in her hair.

            “Yes, you are the best damned Auror I know, but that doesn’t mean that something can’t happen to you.” He whispered. He felt Celeste relax against him and she sighed almost inaudibly.

            “If something were to happen to you, I’d die.” He said, and she stiffened again, knowing what he said was true. She turned around his embrace, and looked up at him, her eyes shining.

            “Sirius, I’ve got to tell you something…” she said. Sirius waited for her to go on, but then Lily and James were there, having Apparated at Celeste and Sirius’ sides.

            “You found her?” James said. Celeste scowled.

            “I didn’t need to be found, James. I was never lost. I woke up early and Sirius looked so cute sucking on his thumb like he does…”

            “I DO NOT!” Sirius yelled. James dissolved into fits of helpless laughter and imitated Sirius sucking his thumb. Sirius let go of Celeste and took off after James, who ran extremely fast, considering that he was still laughing. The two women watched as Sirius leapt onto James’ back and they both fell into a pile of crup dung.

            Celeste sighed and Disapparated back into the tent, followed by Lily. They were cooking breakfast when Sirius and James came in, already announced by the smell that preceded them. They promptly had a swift and furious fight over who got to shower first, which ended when Sirius shoved James into his bedroom and locked the door, racing into the shower.

            Lily looked at Celeste and they both sighed, “Boys.” and burst into giggles as the bathroom door opened and James threw a very sudsy, and very naked, Sirius out into the common room, which served as both parlor and kitchen.

            Lily promptly dropped the bacon on the floor and covered her eyes as Celeste stood at the table doubled over in laughter as Sirius raced to his bedroom door, which he discovered was locked.

            “Help me!” he pleaded. Celeste raised her wand and laughed out “Alohomora!” and Sirius wiggled the door again, but it didn’t open.

            Without warning, there was a sudden POP and the room was filled with people. Sirius turned scarlet all over as he saw Dumbledore, McGongall, Remus, and Celeste’s sister Leigh all staring at him.

            Celeste looked up, her face red with mirth. “Professor, can you please unlock the door so Sirius can get decent?” she choked out. Looking very bemused, Dumbledore raised his wand and muttered an incantation and the door sprung open and Sirius leapt inside, slamming the door behind him.

            Leigh looked at her sister with one eyebrow raised.

            “Ummm hmmm.” she said, watching her sister rock back and forth with silent giggles. Lily looked up at her former professors, who were waiting patiently for an explanation.

            “There’s only one loo in this tent.” She finally said, before dissolving into serious giggles