Chapter 119 - – Reconciliation (2/2)
”You bet over this!” Sirius bellowed. ”I've been sick with worry and shame all week, but the two of you were betting all along?”
”Would you rather I was weeping and moping all this week being just as miserable as you've been?” Rowan huffed with a sneer. ”I'm a Slytherin, Sirius. If I get hurt, I'll lick my wounds in private and move on.”
Sirius guiltily flinches and whines, ”But still, that was a bit rude.”
”Well, you were more than a bit rude,” Rowan deadpanned.
”Fair enough,” Sirius said with a sigh.
”Well, I glad this is all over,” Lily said with a beaming smile. ”Well, I'll be heading back for lunch.”
”I'll come with you,” Severus scrambled to his feet. ”I'm feeling rather peckish myself.”
The two of them left as Terry merely shook his head and muttered, ”Talk about a whipped dog.” Rowan merely nodded her head in agreement as Sirius stared at the two of them in confusion.
”Well, you might as well have a seat,” Rowan said as she slumped back onto the grass.
Sirius happily flopped down onto his back to stare at the blue sky. ”I'm glad it's all over,” Sirius said with relief.
”Just don't do it again,” Rowan warningly said as Sirius shivered at the icy tone.
”I don't think there's a good chance of that,” Sirius hastily replied.
”I don't know,” Terry wickedly interrupted. ”The Blacks are well known for their rash temperaments. Can you truly guarantee that you won't say anything rash in the future?”
Sirius opens his mouth to protest, before weakly saying, ”You're right, I can't promise that. But I can promise I'll do my best.”
”Well, that's something I suppose,” Terry mumbled, before turning over to take a nap. The lakeside grows quiet as even Rowan is lulled by the breeze and puts her book away to gently lean back and rest for a bit. Her eyes were closed when she hears, Sirius softly ask, ”You asleep, Rowan?”
”Almost,” Rowan sleepily muttered in reply.
”I just wanted to say, thanks,” Sirius softly said.
”What for?”
”For being so forgiving and for looking out for Regulus. I know that all of you have taken him under your wings and even went out of your way to guide him to his classes the first two days.”
”Well, he's a cute kid. There isn't much not to like.”
”Of course, he's my younger brother.”
”Pfft, you sure have a high opinion of yourself, don't you, Sirius?”
”...I'm a Black.”
”That you are.”
The two of them fall silent as they fall into a light sleep. They don't wake up until Terry whines that he's starving. Either way, it was peaceful, while it lasted.