SIRIUS BLACK HAD ONLY DATED ONE WOMEN IN HIS LIFE. Seraphine Oxley had been an enigma to his 15 year old self. Sure, he had his fair share of feminine company but Seraphine had been experienced. A beautiful seventh year, with a deep love for Quidditch and Rock & Roll, she had stolen Sirius' heart the minute her onyx eyes had met his.
She had been born and raised in Japan until she moved to her fathers homeland at age 8. Despite not having remembered much of her birthplace, many saw her as an accomplished foreigner who had seen the world. And Sirius had been enamoured.
The 'relationship' had lasted one month, but it was still the longest one Sirius had ever been in. She had broken it off due to her impending graduation, and she also didn't want to be tied down as she traveled after Hogwarts. At first Sirius had been heartbroken, he was quite dramatic about it all if he was being honest. It wasn't until Seraphine had actually graduated and left did Sirius realise it hadn't been love at all.
Everything about the relationship had been physical. There was no romance or getting to know one another, only snogging in broom closets and late night rendezvous in abandoned classrooms. That was why he was so nervous when he and Joséphine took the carriages to Hogsmeade.
Sirius had no idea how he was supposed to act, or how a date usually went. He wasn't used to anything even remotely romantic, not exactly having the best example with his parents. His mother and Father had hated each other for as long as he could remember. Since he was young they never exchange secret smiles, or looked at each other with something other than contempt. When he was 9 he had caught his mother brutally hexing his father for the first time, it wasn't until later on that he realised what domestic abuse was or what constituted as a toxic relationship.
All he knew was that was exactly what his parents marriage was.
He tried to rationalise it when he was younger, their marriage had been an arranged one, between cousins nonetheless. Maybe his mother had loved someone before his father but never got the chance to pursue anything because of Pureblood norms.
Although, Sirius couldn't see his mother loving anyone other than herself. She had always been cold and unforgiving where his father had been distant and unaffected. If he had to choose between the two, it would obviously be his father as his mother was too scary to even think about, although his father was no better.
He had always been afraid of his family, though he guessed it was more of being afraid he'd turn out like the lot of them. That was why he stayed away from relationships. Not wanting to eventually resent the person he chose to spend his time with. His whole life had lacked intimacy, so he didn't know how to give it or receive it without being suspicious.
He always felt people had an agenda when it came to him. They always wanted something. Whether it be for his looks, his families social status or even his own popularity. He was used to being defensive because he never wanted to get hurt.
That's why he liked to be around Joséphine. He never felt that way, never felt that he had to be anything but himself. Maybe it was her kind persona or the fact that she understood him on some level, but Sirius found he absolutely adored the presence of the French witch. The only thing he felt when he was with her was guilt, for the idiot way he had first acted with her - and would no doubt continue acting in the future.
He just hoped she had the patience to stay.
"Wow," Joséphine whispered, breaking Sirius out of his daydream. "It's so pretty."
They had finally reached Hogsmeade, and Sirius felt his heart warm as Joséphine marvelled at the small town. It wasn't much, especially since it had rained last night and the aftermath left the town looking less pretty than it usually was.
"You should see it when it snows," Sirius grinned over at the girl. "It's absolutely magical."
"I bet," Joséphine whispered once more. Trying to take in as much of the scenery as she could. She had always loved architecture and the buildings of Hogsmeade were old, the kind of buildings Joséphine loved.
"So where'd you want to go first? Honeydukes for sweets? Or the Three Broomsticks for a butter beer? We can go see the Shrieking Shack later on, maybe we go and see the Zonko's joke shop first?" Sirius started listing off buildings, he and his friends usually went to the more suspicious businesses when they visited the town. Though, he figured Joséphine wouldn't quite appreciate the Hogs head as her first destination.
"Take me everywhere!" She exclaimed in excitement, absentmindedly grabbing Sirius' arm. "I want to see it all."
Sirius couldn't help but think, that he'd show her the world if she asked.
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"And this is the Magical Menagerie." Sirius raised his hands in a dramatic pose, causing Joséphine to laugh.
He had shown her every place he could think of. They had just come from the Three Broomsticks after seeing the Shrieking Shack. Sirius had enjoyed the way Joséphine had practically hugged his arm when they went past the 'haunted' place. She had blamed it on the cold, but Sirius hadn't minded, enjoying the way they shared warmth when they were close.
"Oh, I love animals." Joséphine smiled as she wandered into the store with Sirius following her closely.
"What's your favourite animal?" Sirius asked. He had questioned her quite thoroughly throughout the day they spent together. He found out that her favourite colour was yellow as it reminded her of sunshine. Her favourite flowers were Peonies- he made a mental note of that for later - she missed France a lot, but enjoyed the new experience that came with attending Hogwarts.
She had one friend at Beauxbatons, Jane, who was half veela and very secluded. She had one aunt and cousin she didn't get along with well. She enjoyed the outdoors and adored all animals, she thought her mother had been disappointed in her since she was born - she suspected her mother had wanted a son - and she wasn't very close to her dad who was always working.
Sirius had learnt more about Joséphine in one afternoon than he had about anyone, ever. He wanted to know everything about her, the ins and outs of her mind, her dreams and aspirations, and he found himself falling more and more for her whenever she answered him.
"Probably dogs," Joséphine answered. "Or maybe Elephants, I visited India last year and they're quite majestic creatures they are."
Sirius smiled at her answer, she had unknowingly guessed his animagus and the answer had made his chest swirl in pride.
"Mines definitely dogs." Sirius grinned widely at Joséphines questioning look. "They're loyal, will be your best friend and cute as hell. What's not to love?"
Joséphine rolled her eyes and made her way towards the back of the store, where a small dark grey tabby cat was isolated. It had large guileless eyes that stared back at Joséphine cautiously, causing the girl to frown in confusion. When Joséphine had tried to pet the cat, it had swiped at her as if she were trying to attack it.
"Sir," She called the shopkeeper over. "What's wrong with this one?"
"Oh this one," The man scratched at his beard. "Abandoned she was. In the storm last week. Won't go near anyone, so I'm finding it hard to sell."
"What's her name?"
"Duhno," The man stared at Joséphine curiously. "Random girl called it Mrs Norris so that kind of sticks."
The cat meowed loudly at the mans words, causing Joséphine to coo at it.
"I'll take it." She smiled as she stuck her fingers through the cage, only for the cat to try and swipe her. "How much?"
"You sure ma'am? She's been giving me quite the trouble lately. Scratches anyone who comes within a foot of her."
"I'm sure," Joséphine only smiled at the mans warnings.
"Your funeral." The man shrugged before grabbing the cage and hobbling towards the front of the shop. Before the two could follow, Sirius grabbed a hold of Joséphines shoulder to hold her back.
"Don't you already have an animal?" Sirius frowned, referring to the pure white Owl, Kaya, That Joséphine owned. "You can't have two pets at Hogwarts."
"It's not for me silly," Joséphine giggled, slipping out of the boys hold and making her way to pay.. Before she could, Sirius had thrown the galleons on the counter and grabbed the cage before Joséphine started to protest.
"C'mon Josie," Sirius dragged the reluctant brunette from the shop towards the carriages. "I'm curious as to who you intend to give this to."
Sirius didn't have to wait long, after a short carriage ride to the castle, it mostly filled with Sirius trying to find out who the cat was for, the two found themselves the only people in the front entrance.
"Come," Joséphine ordered the boy, before making her way to an unfamiliar room. There was a brass nameplate that read 'Argus Filch' on it, which only made Sirius even more curious as to what they were doing. After knocking twice, and hearing a scratchy 'come in' the two slowly stepped into the small office, glancing around quickly before settling on the short balding man behind a big desk.
"What is it?" Filch glared suspiciously at the two teens. "Did you make a mess that needs to be cleaned up?"
"No Mr Filch," Joséphine smiled warmly as Sirius still stared at her confused. "I just brought you something I thought you'd like."
"It's not another dungbomb is it?" He glanced between the two before settling on Joséphine, who he evidently trusted more.
Instead of answering, Sirius watched as Joséphine brought the cage from behind her back and rested it on the desk. Filch only stared at her as if she was mental before he looked at Sirius as if to say 'is she for real'. The boy shrugged in response, he himself having no idea what was happening.
"This is for you," Joséphine smiled wider. "Her name is Mrs Norris."
Her words were met with a deafening silence as both men looked at her as if she was crazy. Filch was untrusting while Sirius was even more confused at the idea that someone would give someone they don't know a cat.
"Is she a prank?" Filch finally asked after a moments hesitation.
"No. An early Christmas present." Joséphine spoke as she opened the cage. "She was very lonely at the Magical Menagerie and I thought you'd appreciate some company as well. I know you don't have any family, and neither does she, so maybe you can be each other's family?"
Filch froze once more as the cat made its way out of the cage and stared at him almost as if it was sizing him up. A minute passes before the cat lets out a soft meow and jumps into Filchs arms, who starts petting her as if on reflex. Nobody had ever done something so nice for him, but the girl in front of him had always been kind to him despite his status as a squib. Whenever they crossed paths, she would always engage him in friendly conversation despite what she was doing.
She was probably the kid to him at the school, the only one who saw past his lack of magical ability and saw him as a person.
"I couldn't possibly accept this," He begrudgingly told Joséphine, holding the cat out to her although it was very obvious he didn't really want to.
"No Monsier, It is a gift." Joséphine stepped away from the man, pulling Sirius with her to the door. "Enjoy!"
Before Filch could properly protest, Joséphine was dragging Sirius up the stairs and through random corridors. Sirius was still completely baffled at what just happened, not understanding it one bit. He couldn't help but stare at Joséphine, who was wearing a bright smile on her face as she practically skipped through the halls.
He didn't understand her in that moment, didn't understand why she would do something like that for someone she barely knew. Someone who, to his knowledge, hated everyone in the school and vice versa.
"What the hell was that?" He finally asked as she pulled him down another wrong corridor.
"You know Sirius," She finally stopped and turned towards him with a smile once more. "Kindness goes a long way."
"My grandmother always taught me that no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. If I can pass that on, even a little, I'm going to try to." Joséphine finished as Sirius stared at her with a slack jaw.
Maybe he didn't understand her, maybe he never would. But he understood the large tug in his chest when she spoke to him, or the the way his heart warmed when she smiled at him with the stars in her eyes.
Sirius had never felt love before, but in that moment, he swore that he did.
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COMMENT, VOTE, FOLLOW
this was so long lmfao, 2000 words wow.
also, Sirius' face when he looks at Josie, all brooding and everything. ^^