Chapter 134

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Disclaimer: If you recognise it, surprise, I don't own it.

Chapter 109- An Unexpected Friendship.

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Andromeda had been dreading the night of the gala ever since Gilderoy had decided to host the party, and while the man just wanted an extravagant party to show off, the businesswoman in Andromeda saw the opportunities it could hold. So, even though she wants to stay as far away as possible from such a party, given the despicable participants, she has to attend. At least she was somewhat able to lessen her presence given some expertly applied magic and strictly associate with the families and people she was close to and that were not such bigots, leaving Gilderoy to handle the more dark-inclined families that would want her head on a pike.

After a very long evening, Andromeda was glad to say that she was finally finished with her duties and had gotten some good deals. The evening had been mildly stressful and draining on her, given the amount of talking she had to do, and her only respite was the finger snacks going around and the wine she was drinking. She didn't binge on the wine, but after a whole evening, it added up, and she was a little drunk. So, after a stressful evening, she wanted to find a way to destress, and so is it any wonder that she went for the one way that had once been so readily available for her even though she rejected it, but then went away for a year, and now it is back?

So yes, she was heading up to the upper floors, having asked a house elf where Gilderoy was. Having gotten the information that he was on his personal floor, in his private room, she assumed he had indulged too much on alcohol and food and was now napping it off in his room. No, that was wishful thinking. He was most likely having a fun time with some woman he had picked up that evening. But at this point, Andromeda knew Gilderoy Lockhart as much as one could without having had relations with him. He was a lusty son of a bitch, and she knew that by now, she had gotten used to it, and she doesn't actually mind it now.

Hell, with the way she was feeling right now, she might even join in if it was a nice good lucking girl, or she might tell Gilderoy to kick her out if she is one of those stuck-up pureblood bitches. Honestly, Andromeda had surprised herself with how far she was willing to go now that she was free from the fetters of her marriage. Her love life was very plain; Ted not willing to do more, given his Christian upbringing, so Andromeda was very repressed and had a lot of things she wanted to do. At this point, she wasn't even bothered that Gilderoy was her daughter's first time and took her virginity.

Honestly, having reviewed the situation more she could see it was actually her daughter that took the initiative and was deceptive to sleep with him. And if Andromeda was even more honest with herself, many a night of hers were spent reminiscing on those glimpsed memories and then using them as fuel for her starved affection. So it was no wonder she no longer had a problem with it; if anything, her imagination and drive had been amplified to an all-time high, one that she could hold onto no longer and was ready to give in.

And so she made it to Gilderoy's door and took a deep breath to prepare herself. She was keyed into all wards and security measures as Gilderoy trusted her more than anyone else, and she handled everything, so she was able to open the door slightly and peer in, wanting to see what she would soon be doing herself. And then all that drive and passion flooded out of her. She saw what was happening inside, and it was something she couldn't have imagined. She had even had an intrusive thought that her daughter might be in there and even thought about whether she would join, but what was inside was worse.

It was her sister. Narcissa Malfoy was in there, with Gilderoy Lockhart, taking her place. Andromeda quickly left and headed home, ready for another bottle of wine and no longer feeling in the mood for anything intimate. It seems that Gilderou was determined to fuck everybody related to her. She wouldn't be surprised if the next time she entered his office, Bellatrix was lying on his desk, Gilderoy having his way with her.

She was going home.

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I sat in Andromeda's office, waiting for the woman to show up. It was the next day after the gala, and I was riding a high from having a new connection with Narcissa. At this point, I am just pondering whether or not this is only going to be a one-time thing or if it is going to be something that happens on the regular. It was Narcissa's decision, and I am sure she will contact me when she decides to have regular meet-ups. However, I will think about that later; right now, I am waiting for Anddromeda to report on the business I drummed up yesterday. She would draw up contracts and show up disguised when things came to signing, but she would ultimately handle it, and I would just be a face piece.

But the woman wasn't there, which was very unlike her. She was usually first in and last out every single day, which means that it is actually quite worrying, which is why I am waiting here. If she isn't here soon, then I'll be heading out to her home to look for her or maybe contact Nym, because this is very out of the ordinary. Thankfully, it seems my worries were for nothing as the fireplace lights up green, and Andromeda walks out looking as good as ever and as cold as ever as well. I held back a sigh as I was sure I was making progress there, but I guess not. I'll never understand women or what I could possibly have done to upset them, but I do upset them through no fault of my own.

"Andromeda, you're here. Good, I was getting worried and about to come to your house to drag you out of bed." I greet her in a friendly way, but as always, she acts cold, not even bothering with a response, and just sits at her desk and immediately gets to work. "Right, anyway, I handled the business deals with the not-so-friendly people last night, and I've collected everything into paperwork, which I've left on you're desk. It's all there." I point to the aforementioned items on her desk, and she nods her head, showing that she has heard me, picking up her quill and starting to write.

After a moment more, I speak again, not sure what is going on with her today. Yes, she has been cold to me lately, but she does at least respond to me, but today she isn't. I'm actually quite worried. Maybe something happened, perhaps at the gala yesterday, and that's why she is acting like this. "Andromeda?" I start, and though I do feel some trepidation when her sharp eyes shoot up to meet mine, I carry on nonetheless. "Are you oka-" Before I can finish, she slams her quill down onto the desk, and then the room is silent.

"Why are you here?" The air turns frozen, and I chuckle awkwardly at Andromeda's pointed stare. "I'm here to give you those, and, well, this is my business, so I have to be here," I say, but even though I say that, and the words are fully valid, they feel weak coming out of my mouth, and I can see I have misspoken as Andromeda's eyes narrow at me. "Is that it?" She asks, and though I do so hesitantly, I nod my head. Andromeda sighed and then put her hands underneath her desk.

"I am going to be one hundred percent honest with you now, Gilderoy. This may get me fired, but I think it needs to be said." Oh no, no one wants to hear those words, and though I want to quickly leave and avoid this conversation, I am frozen in place as she begins to break me down piece by piece. "You don't need to be here. I handle everything, and when I need you for your face, I will tell you. You don't seem to really gain anything from business, and you aren't ambitious and hungry enough to run this business, which is why you leave all the work to me, not even bothering to look over the major projects. I could have screwed you over a million ways by now, but I am a woman of principle."

"Outside of work, you don't have anything. Your family doesn't talk to you, you don't have any friends. Nearly every day of yours is spent chasing after women and indulging in meaningless sex. Right now, Gilderoy, I am sorry to say it, but you don't have much going on, and you are just going through the motions. You are wasting your life." She finishes there, and I take a moment to just digest everything she is saying, as well as come to terms with how much truth there was to it. I get up without a word and leave the office, needing to think. I hear her call for me from behind, but I continue out. She's right. I am kind of wasting my life.

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The air felt thick with tension as I adjusted my dark robes and peered around the shadows of Diagon Alley at night. People were acting scared and shaky, upset by the recent news, but I didn't care about it. News had recently spread about Sirius Black's dramatic escape from Azkaban, and though most wizards were on high alert, I didn't care, knowing the man was innocent and that there was no way to profit from this knowledge. I quickly altered my clothes with magic to be more muggle and left the alley, heading to a nearby muggle pub where nobody knew me and I could relax.

I had been there a while, just drinking and thinking, when a tall figure stepped into the pub, his dishevelled hair and anxious demeanour a stark contrast to my polished aura. Sirius Black had the look of a man who had just emerged from a nightmare, but the eyes held a glimmer of mischief and mild insanity that intrigued me. "Sirius Black, I presume?" I said, a charming smile plastered on my face. The man looks startled but quickly hides it with cocky self-assuredness that isn't quite real.

"Yes, and you must be Gilderoy Lockhart, the 'Famous Wizard'," Sirius replied, his tone thick with sarcasm. "What do you want, Lockhart?" He acts confrontationally, but I just continue to sip at my drink. "Nothing, just having a quiet drink. Feel free to join me." I point to the seat next to me. Sirius studied me for a moment before a reluctant smile began to break through his sombre expression. "Alright, Lockhart. You've piqued my curiosity. Plus, I can't really pay, and I do need a serious drink." He sat next to me, ordering a hard whiskey from the bartender.

And just like that, over mugs of alcohol, an unlikely friendship began to bloom. The initial wariness faded as laughter filled the air, and they soon realised they shared a similar sense of humour and had quite a few other similarities.

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They decided to go to Grimmauld Place, Sirius's ancestral home. Sirius, ever the prankster, suggested they play a harmless joke on the unsuspecting house elf Kreacher. Using his famed charm, he convinced Gildeeoy to help him enchant a series of portraits to snap photos of anyone who walked by, complete with comical expressions. When the portraits began to flash, the reactions from the house elf were priceless, and both men erupted into laughter, bonding over their love of mischief as Kreacher did his best to destroy the frame.

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As friends do, they find themselves sparring with magic. Lockhart boasted of his prowess in duelling, while Sirius, a man trained in combat and cunning, readily accepted the challenge. Their duels were playful yet competitive, with Gilderoy attempting to charm his way to victory while Sirius used clever tactics and transformations. They spent a few hours honing their skills, Gilderoy realising that he needed to step up his game in the face of true magical talent.

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Late into the night, feeling hungry, Gilderoy suggested they try their hands at cooking. Armed with a dubious cookbook titled 'The Gourmet Wizard: Enchanting Meals for the Discerning Sorcerer, ' they set to work in Grimmauld Place's kitchen. The results were, unsurprisingly, chaotic. Explosive soufflés and overboiled cauldron cakes littered the kitchen, but the duo found joy in the mayhem. In the end, they barely managed to whip up a somewhat edible portion of pumpkin pasties, and sat down, grinning from ear to ear, as they shared their culinary masterpieces.

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Sirius was eager to explore the Muggle world, having been trapped for so long. Gilderoy suggested they visit a nearby park, and the two wizards embraced the mundane straightaway. They played frisbee with some Muggle teenagers who were out late tonight being rebels, much to the kids' delight, as Gilderoy used a little charm work to make the frisbee fly in loops. Sirius laughed heartily, his burden lightening for a moment as he embraced the joy of carefree fun.

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As Gilderoy's mind worked overtime, he proposed a collaborative writing venture. He wanted to see if he could still write, so came about 'The Misadventures of an Escaped Wizard and His Glamorous Companion', a book that would never be published. Sirius, initially hesitant, eventually warmed to the idea. They spent hours crafting outlandish stories filled with their mischief, laughter, and near-misses. It became a delightful project that strengthened their bond, with Sirius sharing his stories of Azkaban and Gilderoy embellishing them with his signature flair.

In just a mere night, their camaraderie deepened, evolving from an encounter of mere chance to a genuine friendship. Though the world around them was ever-cautious of Sirius's past, they chose to celebrate the present with laughter, pranks, and wizarding wonder. Thus, in the midst of chaos, a peculiar friendship blossomed, turning two seemingly opposite characters never meant to meet into comrades, ready to face whatever magic (or mischief) life threw their way.

Or perhaps it was just two men, both lonely and friendless, that made do with each other for a night.

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The dim light of the cosy pub flickered as I swirled the fire whiskey in my glass, my smile reflecting the warm glow. We had decided to go back to the wizarding world, going into a pub again, but with disguises on. Across from me, Sirius Black leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face as he took a long sip from his own glass. "Remember those days at Hogwarts?" I began, my voice full of nostalgia. "Every prank, every adventure—you seemed so invincible back then." I do have memories of those times, and I liked to look at them from time to time, not having actually had a real Hogwarts experience.

Sirius chuckled softly, though the sound wasn't as cheerful as it once would have been. "Yeah, those were the days. But real life hits you hard when you grow up. It's not all fun and games." He paused, the shadows of his past creeping into his mind. "I've had my fair share of troubles since then." I looked at him curiously, sensing there was more to the story. "What's been bothering you, Sirius? You seem… burdened." I knew the story, but it helped to talk, and my new friend needed help.

Sirius sighed, his expression darkening. "It's about my friends, particularly Peter. I can't shake off the feeling of betrayal. We were supposed to be a family, but he sold us out." He took another sip of his drink, the whiskey burning down his throat, yet it did little to warm his heart. I frowned, stirring his drink. "I can't imagine how that feels. But you know, he was scared. Maybe he thought he was saving himself." Sirius had already talked about the real events that took place with me, so he was free to be open.

"Saving himself?" Sirius nearly scoffed. "While we paid the price? Harry deserves to know the truth. He's been left in the dark about so much, and I feel responsible for that. I never wanted to leave him with all this baggage." His voice softened, tinged with concern. "I need to confront Peter. I have to find him and make sure he knows I won't let him get away with what he did. It's not just about revenge; it's about setting things right for Harry." I nodded slowly, my mind processing Sirius's words. "You're right. Harry deserves to know. But you have to be careful; everyone is looking for you now."

With a slight smile, Sirius added, "I just wish it didn't mean exposing more pain. I care deeply for Harry, but the truth can be brutal. It will be hard for him to hear the truth, let alone his best friend's rat is actually a grown cowardly man." I leaned forward, earnest for once in my life. "You've faced darkness before, Sirius. Azkaban. And nothing can compete with that, so keep your head up. You and your friends have had your share of trials. Confronting this—facing Peter—might just be what you need to finally move forward."

Sirius took another drink, his gaze steady. "You're right. I can't let fear hold me back anymore. I need to do this for Harry, for everyone." He looked up, meeting my eyes. "And in doing so, maybe I can begin to heal from the past." We clinked our glasses together, a silent vow exchanged. "To facing the truth and making things right," I toasted, but Sirius laughed. "What truth do you need to face?" He asked, and since he was so honest, I was honest. I told him about having no real purpose and just coasting through life, having no real passion, and he listened.

"Why don't you try a holiday? Sometimes, it can help to get away and remove yourself from everything, and that way, figure out what really matters to you. That's what Azkaban did for me, but obviously, you can go somewhere much nicer." Sirius advises. and I look down into my drink, contemplating.

"A holiday, huh?"

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Hey guys, what's up? To the one dude who responded, I've seen Expedition 33, and I like RPGs, but I have a lot of games on my list to play, so I am staying away from it. I don't know much, but I will get around to it at some point. I've finished Crisis Core, and now I am going to wait until FFVII Rebirth is on sale until I play it. I am going to play Sand Land now, the last game from Akira Toriyama. Still trying to figure out where I was going and writing with my other fics, but I'm working on it.

Upcoming Chapters:

Hero: Chapter 110- A New Journey?

Super: Chapter 112- The Arcane.

Legendary: Chapter 114- The Cry.

Galactic: Chapter 118- Regroup.

Mythic: Chapter 119- The Next Leader.

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That is all for now. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I will see you in the next one!

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