the_debt_of_time

Chapter Fifteen

Courage and Craft

Time stands still

Beauty in all she is

I will be brave

I will not let anything take away

What's standing in front of me

Every breath

Every hour has come to this

(A Thousand Years - Christina Perri)

September 17th, 1998

Sirius sat on the front porch of his ancestral home, a glass of Ogden's finest on the
step beside him, lit cigarette in his mouth. He scanned the neighbourhood curiously,
smiling as he watched the people around his home going about their business. With
Grimmauld Place under a renewed Fidelius and an extra Muggle-Repelling Charm for good
measure, he was able to enjoy Muggle-watching from the open door of his home. Even
though Hermione often called it voyeurism—considering the Muggles in question were
unaware they were being watched—he still found it soothing.
It was only one of many criticisms that she brought up in regards to his behaviour
following the end of the war. Muggle-watching was relatively low on the list of his annoying
habits, especially when compared to his drinking and smoking. Now those were Grade-A
pet peeves of Hermione's that she was not shy about vocalising. His smoking easily made
it to the top of the list once he had permanently signed over Kreacher to work at Hogwarts;
he avoided any talk of house-elf enslavement or mistreatment around her ever since.
In fact, Sirius had been going out of his way to knock items off her list of his
annoying habits, thus avoiding any form of confrontation with her.
Which was why, at that very moment, he was enjoying an early afternoon drink and
cigarette on his front porch because Hermione was currently not there to berate him about
it.
Since Harry, Ron, and Hermione had moved into Grimmauld Place with Sirius, she
spent most of her time secluded in her room. Sirius worried constantly, as did Harry,
though everyone else—meaning most of the Weasleys—insisted that perhaps she needed