Mean Spirits ⋆ Sirius Black

― xvii. "IT'S SAFER TO JUST GO"

     "You're adorable," said Melanie.

     Em twisted her lips. "You're confusing me."

     "Well, you know what, Em, you've got plenty of time to ask, or whatever," said Melanie. She started on her second slice of toast, looking down at the jam lovingly. "We've still got most of the school year left, give or take a couple weeks for Yule."

     "Yeah, I suppose so," said Em, frowning at the milk left in her cereal bowl. She had a feeling there were a couple pieces of cereal left at the bottom, but they'd be to soggy now anyway. Her mind quickly fell back onto the topic of the upcoming holidays and she felt her stomach drop with dread. "I'm not looking forward to the holidays."

     Melanie paused her eating, frowning at her best friend. She smiled softly. "If you want, Em, you can stay at mine," she said. "You'd be welcome to stay — really, Em, if you don't want to go there, then we'll make sure you don't."

     "I don't think I'll get away with not going," said Em. She rested her head in her hand. "I know I say it a lot, but he's really scary when he's angry. And I know he didn't actually do anything to Rupert, but still. Isn't the fact that I thought he was capable of it something anyway? I don't like it, Mel, but I don't know what he'll do if I don't go back..."

     "I don't think you should go back — I really don't think it's safe enough — but it's your decision," said Melanie. Her brows were furrowed again. She looked worried on Em's behalf, and she felt bad because of it. She didn't want her friends to worry about her. "Just be careful, OK? Make sure you've got some way to get out, if you need to... Em, I really don't think—"

     "It's safer to just go," said Em. It's safer for you and Carm and Di if I just go. It's safer to just go, because if I don't, I don't know what my godfather will do. It's safer to just go, because my godfather can get angry and I don't want you getting hurt because of it. Because of him.

     Melanie looked at her in a way that made Em believe that she didn't agree on that. Her best friend had a frown on her face, looking at her, as if the real answer would be sitting on her facial features, until she let out a sigh and continued eating her breakfast.

     Em frowned, and said, "You don't mind if I leave you to go to the Owlery?"

     "Go for it," said Melanie, smiling softly. She winked at her. "I wonder who your godfather's murdered this week."

     Shrugging and laughing back, Em got to her feet, pulling her school bag over her shoulder as she set off in the direction of the Owlery. It had been a couple of days since the last letter from her godfather, and recently, that was a worrying amount of time between each letter.

     She was a couple metres out of the hall when she heard a familiar voice go, "Where are you off to, then?" Em raised an eyebrow, and Sirius smiled back at her, catching up to her.

      "Where's the fuck, Salvatore?" asked Em.

     Sirius moved to put an arm around her. "If you want—"

     "I wasn't implying that," said Em. She rolled her eyes. "And I was going to the Owlery. I'm guessing Capulet's sent another letter, so... But my first lesson's close to it, and you've got the same as Mel, so don't come—"

     "I'm fine being late," said Sirius.

     "I'm not fine with making you late," said Emilia. She stopped in her tracks, pulling his arm off of her and holding onto his hand. "How about you don't get into trouble and we can go together later?"

     "Isn't it from your uncle?"

      "He can wait."

      Sirius' eyebrows rose. Em frowned back at him, as he scratched the back of his neck. "You know, Salvatore, I love that you're less worried about him, but still—"