My sleep was disturbed my the feeling of a dog licking my face to wake me up.
I groaned, peeking one eye open to find myself staring at Sirius who was in his dog form and panting excitedly. I tried to hide myself by slipping under the covers, but Sirius quickly flipped them over and threw them on the floor.
August 4th.
I was now officially 20 years old. I was now officially out of my teens. And this would be the first birthday I would be spending in Grimmauld Place for the first time in 10 years. And the first birthday I would not be spending in the Tonks' house.
"Happy Birthday, pup." Sirius chimed, transforming back into his human form and sat on the end of my bed, cross-legged and grinning brightly.
"Thanks, Sirius." I chuckled.
"Your presents are downstairs waiting for you with everyone. C'mon! Let's start your birthday with fun!" Sirius beamed, trying to pull me out of my bed.
"Sirius – just give me five minutes to take a shower! I can't go down looking like this." I laughed, pushing him off the bed.
"Ouch!" he said, feigning pain but ended up laughing hysterically on the floor. "Alright, alright. I'm gonna wait outside."
I grabbed the towel on my chair before heading towards the bathroom. I emerged after five minutes, wearing a nice dress Andy bought me two years earlier and also – the locket Remus had given to me during the Christmas of 1993.
I had not worn it for almost a year and I thought that now would be the best time to wear such a sentimental piece.
Sirius stood outside, arms crossed and still wearing his usual grin.
"Hurry up, you 20-year-old." Sirius smirked, dragging me down the stairs and into the living excitement with utmost excitement.
The Weasleys and Remus were all sprawled all over the sofas in the now decontaminated living room and looked up once Sirius and I had entered.
"Happy Birthday!" they all said in a chorus and standing up from their seats to give me a hug.
"Thank you guys. Wow, Gin, gently!" I laughed as Ginny had pulled me into a bone crushing embrace.
"Open the presents, pup!" Sirius exhorted me, placing an arm around my shoulder, and pointed at the bundle of presents that were placed together in the middle of the living room.
"Oh, you didn't have to." I said sheepishly, staring at the presents in awe.
"What? And keep our money for oursleves?! I planned this for about two days," Sirius stated proudly, as I gave him a slight punch on the shoulder. "Anyways, these are all from your friends and loved ones."
"Come on now, open them up Selene." said George as Fred grinned.
The fourth of August 1995 was the year I had gotten the most presents in my whole life. Cassette tapes and discs of my favorite muggle artists, a bunch of sweets from the twins, an Auror history book and Muggle history from Hermione. Handwoven bracelets from Andy and Ted, another Quidditch jersey from Ollie, a beauteous parcel of crystals from Ginny, sweaters from Luke and a bracelet from Monica.
The next present was a defensive bracelet from Tonks.
"Tonks told me that you might need this for your Auror traning. You know, in case you get hurt or something. And it shocks anyone who touches you with bad intentions." Sirius explained, sitting beside me as I smiled.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had given me a bunch of sweets and a lavender sweater with the initial S on it, perfume and jewelry from Bill that came from Egypt, and a small dragon figure from Charlie.
"Seriously, out of all the things Charlie can give to her as a present, it's a dragon." Fred muttered as the Weasley children and Hermione giggled.
Mrs. Weasley gave them a glare which caused them to stop immediately.
"No, no no. I like it really." I chuckled, as the twins shook their heads and grinned.
And the last present was from Ana – who bought me a vintage muggle camera. To be honest, Sirius was more shocked than me when I unwrapped the parcel.
"How very nice of her." Sirius remarked, looking at the present with fascination.
~oOo~
I spent the whole morning in the children's bedroom playing games as the meeting would be starting at two o' clock in the afternoon.
Tonks, Bill, Mad-Eye, Kingsley and Ana had come at quarter to 12. Much earlier than I expected.
"Happy Birthday Selene! Mum and Dad wishes you Happy Birthday as well." Tonks squealed, giving me a bone-crushing hug.
"Thanks Tonks. Oh, and thank you too for the bracelet, I didn't know I needed it until now." I smiled sheepishly, Tonks giving me a cheeky wink.
Mad-Eye and Kingsley had both given me
friendly pats on the shoulders and more happy birthday greetings.
"Happy Birthday." Ana greeted with a nice smile, giving me a hug.
Sirius's jaw dropped as Ana had embracd me.
"Thanks." I chuckled, breaking away from her hug that almost suffocated me.
"I hoped you liked my present. That was for being my shoulder to cry on a few days ago." she said.
"Oh, I love it. Thank you, Ana."
I saw Remus waving his hand to snap Sirius out of his thoughts, which did.
"Wait- what?" Sirius asked, confused and looked around.
"You were staring at Ana like you're attracted to her or something." Remus smirked as Sirius shook his head repeatedly, Ana glancing at Sirius with a tiny smirk before entering the kitchen.
"No I wasn't. I'm just staring at her because she hugged my sister, unexpectedly. Such a rare move for her." Sirius insisted.
All of us proceeded to the kitchen for lunch. After finishing lunch, Mrs. Weasley sent the kids into their rooms and I had left the kitchen to have some time alone.
I walked up the creaky staircase, and made my way towards the room located by the dark hallway of the second floor. Looking around repeatedly, I carefully opened the door and closed it.
I found myself staring at the Black Family tapestry; I heaved a sigh, reminiscing that this was my favorite room of the house and this was the room where I would often retreat whenever I felt bored or lonely when I was a child.
My eyes scanned the centuries-old tapestry, it was faded like the last time I saw it and gnawed by moths. On the top of the tapestry engraved the words:
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black
'Toujours pur"
The small, round scorched holes were my family members who were blasted off for not following the family tradition. I saw a familiar name: Andromeda.
And then Sirius's name. Between his burnt face was my other brother Regulus's. My eyes found my name, which was beside Regulus's, but I saw that my name was now blasted off as well.
But I was quite happy, I hated seeing my face on the tapestry with my relatives who I did not get along with at all. Kreacher must've burnt my face off when I left.
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"
I quickly spun, Remus was standing by the doorframe with a small smile on his face.
"Oh- I er ... want some alone time. Wait - how did you know I was here?" I said.
Remus chuckled.
"I have heightened hearing, remember? I heard your footsteps heading to the second floor of the second to the last room of the hallway." he said, l let out an ohhh, recalling that Remus did have heightened hearing which I found at first a bit creepy but otherwise a little cute.
"Seems like they've blasted your name off as well." he mumbled, standing two inches away from me.
"Hmm."
Then about seconds of silence, I felt his soft fingers slowly entwining around mine, I hesitated for a few moments I finally let our hands touch, bringing me into ecstasy and comfort.
"Now that it's just the two of us I'm going to give you my present." he said with a smile, looking at me.
"What?" I asked, bewildered.
"It's not much but –"
"I'll be grateful to have any gift, Remus."
He took a deep breath, and we fully faced each other as he took my other hand.
"Selene ... will you ... be my girlfriend again?" he asked. His face blushed furiously and bit his lip nervously. And at this my eyes bulging at his question and I
felt my heart hammer in my chest. "I-I know I don't have any fancy birthday presents like flowers - or, or chocolate or any gifts they all gave you this morning, but I –"
"Of course, Remus — I'll be your girlfriend again." I said chuckling, my hand on his the side of his face and my eyes looked firmly into the beautiful green eyes.
"Really?" he froze.
I nodded my head firmly. "I got you back now, this is the best birthday present I've ever gotten in my whole life. You are my best present, Remus. I've been waiting for this moment for a year."
His cheeks suddenly turned pink, and a beautiful smile were forming in his lips, the most beautiful I have ever seen so far. He bent his head towards mine and pressed his lips against mine, very tenderly, adoringly.
I felt his hands find my waist, as I kissed him back, throwing my arms around his neck. I finally felt like I could finally kiss him again properly, without recalling of all our misunderstandings, it seemed like the breakup never really happened. And I didn't care at all if Sirius- or somebody would burst the door open and find the two of us.
He was mine.
"I love you." I said breathlessly, pulling away for a second.
"I love you too."
I ran a hand through his hair, all the butterflies returning into my stomach when he smiled and our lips returned for another long, tender and meaningful kiss.
And when we finally broke apart, minutes later, he lifted me from the ground and wrapped his arms around me, spinning me endlessly. I grinned to myself and rested my head on his shoulder. For in that moment – I felt like the luckiest person in the world.
A/N - I can't wait to write the next chapters with Selene and Remus as an official couple again. Feel free to leave your own thoughts and questions. I never get tired of reading them <3!
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Love,
Jazl xxx