Reconciliation

The rest of the first week went by rather uneventfully. Although Thursdays are now generally hated by those taking the goblin course combined with having to stay up until midnight for Astronomy. It wasn't that they suddenly hated Astronomy but having to take the goblin course twice a week, and then stay up all night was exhausting. At least, Ghoul Studies was only once a week, which wasn't so bad as the goblin course, but still. There were an awful lot of flying tempers that first week that the weekend came as quite the relief.

It was Sunday, and three Slytherins were out relaxing by the lake. Terry kept tickling the sneaking limbs of the squid, while Severus and Rowan calmly read a book for pleasure. Finally, tired, Terry waved goodbye to the squid and retreated back to the shade of the tree.

Collapsing onto his side, Terry says, "Well, I'm exhausted. It's been a super hard week and I frankly can't imagine what next year will be like with two added courses. Severus and Rowan slightly shiver with dread as Severus raises his face from his book.

"Must you ruin everything, Terry?" Severus grumbled.

Terry flashes a grin and protests, "But it's true! Anyway, we first have to survive this year. How's the Gobbledegook going?"

Rowan winces as she puts down her book. "I'm not very good at it, I think it's all the low rumbling sounds, but Severus seems to be picking it up. The best at speaking at goblin is that 1st year Ravenclaw, Dirk Cresswell. Now that boy is an utter genius at it."

Severus huffs as if being insulted and mutters under his breath, "I'm just as good."

"Well, at least you'll keep Pomfrey busy," Terry mumbled with a stalk of grass between his lips. "I heard she's ordered an extra batch of cough drops all because of gobbledegook."

Pausing Terry glanced around says, "And where's our shadowy brat?"

"Who Regulus?" Rowan smirked. "Do my ears deceive me? Is that concern I detect in your voice, Terry Greengrass?

"No!" Terry snapped causing Rowan to only further grin.

"Why I do believe thou protests too much," Rowan snickered, but finally stopped teasing at seeing Terry's rapidly narrowing expression. "He's off playing with his friends' gobstones. Though I wish, he'd at least make one friend in his own year in Slytherin. Why even Severus managed that!"

"Hey!" Severus said. "Don't bring me into this!"

"But it's true," Terry said with a raised eyebrow causing Severus to stubbornly returned his gaze to his book.

Turning to gaze back at Rowan, Terry adds, "Well, I did see him chatting rather friendly like with two first-year girls. So, even if they're girls, I think he'll be alright."

"Well, at least that's something," Rowan said as she returned to read her book.

Terry was beginning to doze off when he heard footsteps. Reluctantly cracking his eyes open, he sees a red figure coming toward them. Quickly blinking Terry opens his eyes to see a familiar red-headed Gryffindor girl dragging a rather reluctant figure behind her. "Well, this is going to get interesting," Terry muttered as he sat up with evil glee.

Seeing Terry sit up, Rowan glanced up and froze at seeing that expression on Terry's face. Quickly glancing around, Rowan sees Lily dragging the doomed figure of Sirius Black behind her. "Severus keep quiet," Rowan sternly instructed as Severus furrowed his brow and glanced over rather challenging at his sister. The look quickly faded away at spotting whom exactly Lily dragging towards them.

Climbing to her feet, Rowan leans back against the tree trunk and folds her arms in front of her chest. Lily comes to a halt before Rowan and says, "Sirius has been moping all week in the tower and I'm sick of it!" Lily released Sirius's arm to only shove him forward.

Sirius flinches at meeting Rowan's gaze as he glances down at his feet in shame and regret. "Look, I'm sorry! I don't know why I said it, but it just came out. I didn't even mean it! I'm really, sorry, Rowan!" Sirius sincerely said as he kept his head ducked down.

"Took you long enough," Rowan said as she held her hand outstretched to Terry. "Apology accepted. Even if it was rather terrible."

"Really?" Sirius said as he gasped in disbelief at seeing Rowan nodding her head at him. "Wait, what are you doing?"

Terry grumbled as he took out five galleons and slapped them into Rowan's outstretched hand. "What does it like I'm doing?" Terry grumbled. "I'm paying my debt, that's what?!"

"Debt?" Sirius asked in confusion.

Severus's lips twitched as he said, "They had a running bet on how long it would take you to apologize, Sirius. Terry bet that it would take you two weeks to crack, while Rowan bet that it would only take one."

"You bet over this!" Sirius bellowed. "I've been sick with worry and shame all week, but the two of you were betting all along?"

"Would you rather I was weeping and sulking all this week?" Rowan huffed with a sneer. "I'm a Slytherin, Sirius. If I get hurt, I'll lick my wounds in private and move on."

Sirius guiltily flinches and whines, "But still, that was a bit rude."

"Well, you were more than a bit rude," Rowan deadpanned.

"Fair enough," Sirius said with a sigh.

"Well, I'm glad this is all over," Lily said with a beaming smile. "Well, I'll be heading back for lunch."

"I'll come with you," Severus scrambled to his feet. "I'm feeling rather peckish myself."

The two of them left as Terry merely shook his head and muttered, "Talk about a whipped dog." Rowan merely nodded her head in agreement as Sirius stared at the two of them in confusion.

"Well, you might as well have a seat," Rowan said as she slumped back onto the grass.

Sirius happily flopped down onto his back to stare at the blue sky. "I'm glad it's all over," Sirius said with relief.

"Just don't do it again," Rowan warningly said as Sirius shivered at the icy tone.

"I don't think there's a good chance of that," Sirius hastily replied.

"I don't know," Terry wickedly interrupted. "The Blacks are well known for their rash temperaments. Can you truly guarantee that you won't say anything rash in the future?"

Sirius opens his mouth to protest, before weakly saying, "You're right, I can't promise that. But I can promise I'll do my best."

"Well, that's something I suppose," Terry mumbled, before turning over to take a nap. The lakeside grows quiet as even Rowan is lulled by the breeze and puts her book away to gently lean back and rest for a bit. Her eyes were closed when she hears, Sirius softly ask, "You asleep, Rowan?"

"Almost," Rowan sleepily muttered in reply.

"I just wanted to say, thanks," Sirius softly said.

"What for?"

"For being so forgiving and for looking out for Regulus. I know that all of you have taken him under your wings and even went out of your way to guide him to his classes the first two days."

"Well, he's a cute kid. There isn't much not to like."

"Of course, he's my younger brother."

"Pfft, you sure have a high opinion of yourself, don't you, Sirius?"

"...I'm a Black."

"That you are."

The two of them fall silent as they fall into a light sleep. They don't wake up until Terry whines that he's starving. Either way, it was peaceful, while it lasted.