the (social) floo network / owls from last night [March/April]

[xoxohogwarts]

the (social) floo network / owls from last night



How to play

This is a general inbox that you can use for misc. communications (texts/floo mail/letters/etc) for all characters! Feel free to come back to it as much as you want!

canon . cross-canon . aus . oc's they're all welcome.

① Tag in
② Tag around!
③ Have fun. :)

Comments

[canemstellam]

He hummed. If Sirius heard the nervous tone in her voice, he didn't mention it. Although he could blame it on any number of things (such as recovering), he wasn't about to start making any sort of excuses.

Not with her.

"Bloody fuck, I'm glad you're no longer there," he muttered and glanced up at her when she rest her hand on his forehead. "Who wouldn't miss me," Sirius said in an attempt to joke but despite the words, he was really glad that she had. "Thank you again for being here. I doubt my parents or brother did much of anything once I arrived."

He settled into a sitting position so he could start on the large tray of food she'd brought up.

[lancifolium]

"Your brother came in a few times, mostly to criticize whatever it was I was doing at the time, but to be fair - he did seem very worried about you, in his own sort of way." Sirius's brother wasn't exactly good company, at least not to her, and Lily kept a respectful distance from the man. He didn't have a favorable opinion of Muggleborns, even as servants, and unless he had an order or her, she stayed away.

Moving back to the chair beside the bed as he righted himself to eat Lily settled into her seat and looked on with a smile. "I suppose this means your appetite's returned Sirius."

[canemstellam]

"Are we talking about the same brother," he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Was he worried that I was getting better?" And while there was a teasing edge to his tone, he was curious as well. He loved his little brother, he did. There was a time when they were closer than now but then his parents dug their claws into him and he hardly recognized him at times.

Sirius chuckled as he took the first bite. "I suppose so. Not sure when the last time I had a good meal was."

[lancifolium]

"Believe it or not, he was worried you weren't going to get better," and because of it, Regulus had fussed at Lily over her how she was taking care of Sirius. It had been a hassle, but she had made it through, and the happiness she felt about his recovery surpassed any of the trials that had occurred while he was sick. Even Bellatrix.

There was a knock at the door and Lily rose to open it, letting two house-elves carrying a large copper bathtub inside, watching them set it down in front of the fireplace in Sirius's bedroom before leaving again.

"After you're done I'll draw your bath and leave you to rest, alright?"

[canemstellam]

Sirius blinked in surprise and made a small noise. That was a pleasant surprise, to know his brother, in his own way, still cared. He continued to eat while watching the two house-elves bring in the copper bathtub and set it down.

He nodded in agreement before tilting his head just a little. "Have you been taking care of yourself? Eating? Drinking?" He had always appreciated Lily's dedication to everything she did. Which was why she was the first person he thought of for his plans. In order for that to work, she would have to take care of herself and not just him.

[lancifolium]

Using the stout, short wand all servants were outfitted with to summon water into the bathtub, Lily smiled to herself, enjoying how pleased he was to hear that his brother had been worried.

"I've been staying in that chair for the most part, but I promise I've left to fetch a meal and a bit of sleep for myself." He could wake, or take a turn for the worst any minute, when she wasn't sure what would happen she couldn't bring herself to leave his side. Of course, she wasn't going to tell him that, already Lily was sure what she had said about the close watch she kept was a bit too revealing, not that she hadn't been absolutely brazen with her happiness at his awakening.

"Shall I leave you, or do you need help undressing?" It wasn't meant to sound as provocative as she suddenly worried it did.

[canemstellam]

"Good, it wouldn't do to have you weakened due to me," he said with a smile. He must have really been out of sorts and ill if she had been that concerned and his brother had feared for him. He couldn't recall the last time he'd been that sick. Surely he hadn't had someone as skilled (and as lovely) as she was to care for him.

There were social and practical protocols he knew considering their stations but he knew that wasn't even a fraction of the reason she cared for him as much as she did. Or, heavily suspected, at least.

Once the tray with the dishes was lifted from his lap, Sirius shifted and slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Stay for a moment, let's see how I do standing... I may need your assistance," he said, not even daring to try magic right now. "If you don't mind."

Although, he rather liked the idea of her helping him undress and of helping her undress, if he were honest.

[lancifolium]

"Of course."

Using her wand to clear the remains of his dinner she nodded at his request, trying not to think about undressing him and wishing she hadn't opened herself up to imagining it in the first place by mentioning it. Rationally she knew - he was her boss, he was ill, she should offer to do everything for him, but the idea still gave her butterflies in her stomach.

Reaching a hand out for him to help him get to his feet Lily got closer to the side of the bed, looking down at him with a concerned frown, the business of his welfare far more worthy of her focus than any of the silly thoughts trying to take root in her head.

"If you start to feel weakness anywhere you've got to tell me alright? It'll help me sort how to heal you."

[canemstellam]

Sirius grasped her hand as he slowly managed to stand and missed the concerned frown on her face. He took a minute to stand beside his bed, finding his bearing before letting go of her hand.

"I will," he assured her with a little smile and slowly walked toward the steaming tub. He loathed feeling so exhausted as he did and appearing weak, especially around other people but Lily had seen him at his absolute worst over the last week. He didn't have much to hide from her.

He came to a stop next to the tub and stifled a yawn as he tugged up his shirt. "We will have to talk about her hair soon. That color is an abomination on you."

[lancifolium]

After helping him to the tub, Lily turned to Sirius as he pulled his shirt off, reaching out to lift it over his head for him without thinking. She caught herself and couldn't bite back the entire gasp that escaped her lips the moment she realized what she was doing, and quickly turned her head to the side, looking away from him as she held an arm out so he could support himself on his way down into the water.

Which was the only thing she had any business doing at all. If he seemed incapable of it, or if he asked her to do it, it would be alright to remove his shirt for him, but just taking it off like that for him was out of line.

She tried not to blush, keeping her head firmly turned, though the remark about her hair color was sobering enough to get her to respond.

"I'd like my old hair back whenever it's not too much trouble." Lily wanted her hair back right now, but she was a servant and he was injured, there were many reasons she couldn't just ask that of him.

[canemstellam]

Sirius didn't mind the extra help in taking his shirt off and had to bite back a smile when she gasped, turning her head away. "Don't be scandalized on my behalf," he said and slid down into the water with just a little help from her. He sighed gratefully, closing his eyes for a moment, and found himself grateful that the water would stay hot until he was ready to get out.

Magic was a handy thing like that sometimes.

He opened his eyes and glanced up at her. "Tomorrow then. I fear I may turn it a horrid green color if I try tonight," he said with a little grin. "And while no doubt a fetching color, it would not suit you any more than your current hair color."

After a solid minute or two of just lounging in the warm water, he got to work bathing. "Tell me, any other house gossip I should know while I've been out?"

[lancifolium]

"I shall venture to be patient then," she answers, looking anywhere else but at him. If he hadn't been sat, nude in a bathtub perhaps she would have minded the wait, but given the circumstances, it's hard to think of much else beyond what's happening in this room.

His request for gossip is a blessing, forcing her mind to drift beyond how awkward this felt. Lily laughs at the question, still avoiding his gaze when she shakes her head.

"Well, your brother's made some proper pureblooded friends. He spends his time in his room or out, which your mother and father seem quite pleased by."

GASP. I adore them. And you.

[canemstellam]

"I promise you'll be back to your normal hair in no time," he says, looking at her before scrubbing the sweat off his body.

His mouth curls up when she laughs. He would admit to only himself that he had missed that sound while he'd been away.

"Ah, yes - I imagine they're thrilled to bits that he is making the "proper" kinds of friends," he responds with a little roll of his eyes.