Chapter thirteen; Love talk in the kitchens
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How Peter knew any information was left to be found out. As well as the information itself, since the stubborn boy didn't say a word more. He was pestered about it day to day though nothing worked. The fact that the Marauders had this kind of deal of no secrets, which in some's opinion was probably very untrue, didn't help either. When some days passed Jasmine seemed to forget about the matter, the same couldn't be said about Sirius and James. Remus left it to them to get it out of the boy, once or twice suggesting a clever way, though still nothing worked. The world of Hogwarts was yet to be informed about the unknown of the party.
Sirius Black was seated on the bench at the table in the kitchens yet another sleepless night. His fingers were slowly drumming on the tabletop as he lazily blew a strand of his raven coloured hair away from his eyes. The taps were synchronised with a tune playing in his mind. The room was filled with the most beautiful smells of sweetness that could make one's mouth water just sniffing around. His head snapped to the kitchen counter when two mugs clinked together.
Jasmine was just picking up a tray with two mugs, which were emitting steam and a plate of freshly baked muffins. She placed it on the table in front of Sirius and sat down on the other bench. Both reached out for a mug of theirs and brought closer to themselves.
''What is it this time?'' The question, said many nights before over and over as it was this night as well by Sirius.
He grabbed for a muffin and examined it shortly before taking a bite out of it. It was almost a routine for them. Jasmine was in the kitchens prior to him, then Black came, sat down and waited for her to make him the guinea pig of tasting her treats. He asked what it was that night, she explained while he moaned about the tastefulness of it. After that, they talked. About the most non-important things in their lives or they simply enjoyed the peaceful silence.
''They're just ordinary blueberry muffins.'' Jasmine shrugged.
She hugged the mug with both her hands and brought it closer to her face. The warm aroma of hot cocoa filled her nostrils and the steam caressed her face. She carefully took a sip, not wanting to burn her tongue, then lowered the mug back on the table. She observed Black enjoying his muffin, all while he full-mouthed protested that the muffins are nowhere near ordinary. A question kept repeating itself in Jasmine's mind the more they stayed silent. She bit her lip thinking about it and though there was not a more perfect time for it to be voiced out loud.
''How are you and Robyn?'' It was specifically meant for him to answer it.
She heard about Black on a daily basis from her best friend so she was curious of his perspective. They looked cute, oftentimes showing very much affection in the public, but never has she heard the words boyfriend or girlfriend.
Sirius finished his muffin and swept the last crumbs off the table. ''We're good.''
Neither his expression nor his tone told much more of it. Jasmine released her mug and leaned her elbows on the tabletop. Her head then rested on the palms of her hands as she narrowed her eyes at him. She studied him closely and soon he mirrored her posture, not scaring away from her thinking eyes. Since his emotions were stone-cold Jasmine couldn't depict anything from him.
''What are you two exactly?''
Sirius almost naturally rolled his eyes. It seemed he heard that a couple of times before and probably reacted in the same way. ''Why does there have to be a label on everything?'' He sighed deeply, not expecting an answer from the girl across. ''We are something, but not exclusive.'' Sirius then nonchalantly shrugged and picked his mug again.
Jasmine's eyebrows drew together in the last sentence. ''Not exclusive?'' Her voice was laced with confusion. ''Are you certain Robyn knows that?'' Jasmine doubted the 'couple's communication skills. As far as she knew it was Black and no other than him for Robyn. Though she didn't see Sirius associate with any other girl either.
''Yes, she knows,'' Sirius grumbled, stopping the conversation from advancing since he started eating another muffin.
The thoughts didn't linger in Jasmine's mind for much longer as she decided to leave it be. She already accustomed for the atmosphere to be quiet from now on and she watched the hot beverage swirl in her mug. Though she didn't know the boy across wanted to keep on talking.
"Steering conversation away from me, though I don't mind the topic at all..."
Jasmine narrowed her eyes at the tabletop before lifting her head to look at Sirius who portrayed a smirk. They observed each other for a moment before he continued his sentence.
"I heard you might have some luck in the love department." Sirius couldn't help but wiggle his eyebrows a little.
He stopped as soon as he realized he was acting more like James than himself at that moment. He recomposed and his signature smile tugged at his lips. Jasmine drew her eyebrows together, the question sweeping the floor from underneath her.
"What? What do you mean?" Never has anyone, other than Robyn, asked her about relationships and love.
And even more that she would be in a relationship. It just wasn't a topic which would connect the speaker to her. She knew Sirius was a flirt and probably a major gossip as well, though it wasn't shown to the public eye. She drank the rest of the cocoa in her mug and stood up from the bench. She turned her back to Black, tired of his watchful eyes and she waited for his answer.
"Well for all I could ask you since it's about you, but anyway, I heard that you and Remus have a thing." A sudden clutter in the kitchen sink made him look at Jasmine's figure.
"What!?" Her hands gripped the edge of the counter, her knuckles whitening. Her back was stiff and her head hunched over completely. She took a few deep breaths before she hastily picked up the fallen mug, rinsed it and set it at the side. She turned back around and all Sirius could see was fear in her eyes.
"Who told you that?" She tugged at her previously rolled-up sleeves.
It was as though a chill ran through her, so she brought the edge of the sleeves over her whole hands. Her eyes searched Sirius for any sign of him to be joking, but he wasn't though he still kept that stupid smile on his face.
"So you don't deny it. I think it's nothing wrong with that I actually support it, it was time for Remus to find someone already." The teasing could be heard in the tone of his voice which alerted Jasmine even more.
The look in her eyes somehow made him stop from continuing his rant and for the first time the corners of Sirius' lips turned down. Jasmine was pressing the teeth hardly on her bottom lip and she took her first few steps away from the counter. Then she twirled the opposite way and took another few steps and again turned around, and again and again.
Sirius observed her pacing with furrowed eyebrows. "What's the matter?" Her behaviour was bizarre, not at all something he would expect from a little tease.
"It's not true! Whatever you heard, all of it. Nothing is true. Now, who told you?" Jasmine stopped and faced Sirius. She had to do something with her hands they couldn't just stay still and wrapped around her torso. So she started messing with her previously tied hair.
"Robyn asked." Sirius sat up straighter and concentrated on Jasmine's actions. She immediately rolled her eyes at the sound of her best friend's name.
"Robyn asked me if you two had a thing. I not knowing anything about it asked James and he didn't know either. But then somehow it got around and then I heard two girls chatting in the study hall about how cute of a couple you two would make. I have no idea who they are but someone spread some rumours, I guess." His voice became a little panicky with explaining the situation. He would explain calmly if the light brunette wasn't a nervous wreck in front of him.
"Rumours!?" She exclaimed loudly and ran her hands through her hair. She turned sideways again and began pacing. While she dragged her feet around she continuously repeated, "No, no, no, no this can't be happening, this can't be..."
The room felt suffocating at least to Jasmine. Her mind ran wild with worry and trying to figure out how far the rumours have spread. Sirius forgot all about the food in front of him.
''Calm down.'' He tried but it looked like his voice hasn't reached her ears. ''It's just stupid rumours. If you say it's not true it's the only thing that matters.''
This time, however, Jasmine's pacing stopped. She again faced the raven-haired boy whose eyes hadn't left her since the moment she decided to stand up.
''Just rumours!?'' A dry laugh escaped her lips. ''I'm sorry but this is a big deal especially if it spread as far as you described it. It becomes oh so very serious if something made about me comes to William.'' Jasmine was splattering about, arms waving, voice filled with emotion. Her face paled after she finished and she covered it with her hands. A frustrated sigh escaped her.
The first thought that ran through Sirius' mind during her rant was that he wasn't sure if she said his name or the word serious. Then he asked himself who was William. By the point when Sirius' brain finally registered he has to do something about the situation, Jasmine was already sitting on the floor and leaning her back on one of the cupboards.
Sirius rose from the bench and walked to sit down beside her. He grabbed her wrist just as she was about to start biting her nails. That would be a first for her in a nervous state. Her scared eyes looked to her right where he was sitting and she knew he wanted to talk.
''Take a few deep breaths.'' She did as he instructed and looked at the floor instead. He waited for as long as her breathing started normalizing and she stopped fiddling her hands. ''Now will you tell me why this kind of reaction was necessary?''
Jasmine gulped down and her look stayed centred on the floor. ''Remember when we talked about problematic families?'' From the corner of her eye she saw Sirius nod slowly.
''Well,'' she continued. ''William, as mentioned before, is my cousin, he's a seventh year Ravenclaw. He lives with my parents and me and he's the perfect child. His ego is boosted as soon as either of my parents compliments him and he thrives even more when they are disappointed in me. Well, mostly my father. But given that, he started making things up in his letters to home and every letter I have gotten so far is not pleasant to read since my father loves to use very different adjectives in expressing how much of a failure I am. And it's even worse when he adds, why can't you be more like William. So a lie that goes around which no-one knows the truth of it, might just be the death of me.''
It was time for Sirius to show some comfort for her, in return for all the listening she's done for him. He offered her a sympathetic smile and patted his own shoulder lightly. Jasmine's eyes flickered down to it before she slid down and leaned her head on it. And that's how they remained to be in peaceful silence.
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