Author's notes: OMG, we actually have a new story out! Sorry'bout that, took me forever to find time to type the chapter up. Full course load at college plus lots of other stuff does that to a girl. You can motivate me to get the next chapter out sooner by reviewing... lots.

Anywho, we don't own it (duh) and yada yada yada. You know, this is our disclaimer. We won't put it in again, but we're doing it now cuz we have to. Stupid rules, WE ALL KNOW THAT NONE OF US OWN THIS STUFF! Wish I did, I'd be out buying leftover Halloween costumes for really cheap right now.

Paige walked up the path, overgrown weeds snagging her bulging luggage. Dropping one of the larger suitcases, she cursed and continued to the door.

With both hands full, she had no way of knocking, so she kicked the door. When no one answered, she growled and kicked again. "Fucking hell, Sirius! Open the Goddamn door before I blow it open," she yelled.

Frenzied footsteps could be heard inside and she sighed in relief. Something hit the door with a thump before it inched open and Moody's face appeared in the crack. He barked out, "Password!"

Paige sighed and snarled back, "I don't remember, let me in, Al!"

Moody didn't budge. "No, all Order members know the password. No one gets in unless they tell me. You have ten seconds to tell me what the password is before I hex you into the Stone Ages!" He turned suddenly and yelled behind him, "Sirius, that was my leg!"

A muffled voice answered him. "Well, I would've bit higher, but you're STANDING ON MY CHEST!"

Moody turned back to Paige and grudgingly let her in, but not before pointing menacingly at her and growling, "I warned you about those ankle biters!"

She shouldered past him, only to trip over Sirius. Letting out a string of curses, she got back up and waved behind her. "There's one more bag outside, I dropped it on my way in. Would you get it, Al?"

Moody left and Paige was enveloped in a hug. Allowing a small smile, she wrapped her arms around Sirius. "It's good to see you again."

He answered by hugging even harder and placing a wet kiss on her forehead. "I've got a bed all prepared for you, I reckoned you'd need it. Judging by your appearance, I'd say I was right. You look horrible."

Paige scowled at him. "Well, I spent eight hours flying from Vegas to New York, three hours in customs, sixteen hours flying to London, then another fours hours in customs here. To top all of that off, your ruddy cousin didn't pick me up like she was supposed to! Yes, I look horrible. I have an attitude to match, so watch it!"

Sirius put his hands up defensively and winked at Moody. "I meant no offense, luv." Grabbing her shoulders, he turned her towards the stairs. "A hot bath is all ready for you on the second floor, it'll be the third door on your left. Second door on your right is your room. Go, relax, get some sleep, and I'll give you the tour of the house tomorrow."

Paige smiled sleepily at him and waved goodnight to Moody before disappearing up the stairs. Sirius watched her go with a contented smile on his face before turning back to Moody. "It's good to see her again."

The Auror trained both eyes on him, critically evaluating his mental state. "Are you sure you want that one? She's difficult enough when she's happy, put her into a bad mood and she turns into a hellcat bent on castrating any man around!"

Sirius nodded. "I know, isn't it great?"

Moody shook his head and walked down to the kitchen, muttering things like, "Ankle-biters," and, "sexual preferences."

Paige woke the next morning, refreshed and cheerful. Sitting up, she noticed all of her luggage piled in a corner and smiled before getting ready for the day.

Making her way downstairs, she smiled again when she saw Sirius sleeping in a chair in the drawing room. Moving toward him, she bumped into a table, making a loud thump and the sleeping man stirred. A bottle fell out of his lap and clattered onto the floor, fully waking him. He sat up, bleary eyed and groggy, yawning out, "Mor-morning."

Leaning down, Paige picked up the bottle and examined it. "You have good taste, Sirius. Twenty-seven year old Poncet Black Merlot is hard to come by. Let's see, here's one empty bottle. From what Remus has said about your drinking habits, you'll have more than of these lying around. How many did you have?"

Sirius scowled at her and put a hand to his head. "I don't have to answer to you; my drinking habits are none of your business." Paige crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow, waiting for more bottles to appear. She spotted one in the chair and another in an urn on the mantle. Walking over to it, she picked it up and noticed water dripping off. Sirius, why is there water in this urn?"

He grunted before responding, "I needed an ice bucket. That's my mum's urn; keeping my wine chilled is the best thing she's ever done for me. Paige sighed and grabbed the last bottle from his lap. "Damn it, Sirius, why did you drink?"

He grimaced and rubbed his temples. "I needed the stress relief."

She snorted. "So, it takes three bottles of prime alcohol to relax you? That much could get Hagrid plastered, and you drank it to relieve some stress?"

Sirius stood up. "So what if I do? Remus is depressing, you were exhausted last night, and you'll be at Hogwarts the rest of the year; I have no one to talk to, and I can't go out. I can't even go see my own fucking godson because he thinks I'm dead! So what if alcohol makes me forget all of that?"

Paige narrowed her eyes and waved one of the bottles at him. "This will not help you, Sirius, this will just cause you more problems! Yes, you had a stressful day. Know what? It's called, 'life!' Get used to it! It's full of problems and things you'd rather not do, but that's no reason to go drowning your sorrows in this shit and leaving the rest for another day!"

He snarled back, "What do you know of my problems? You, a nice little witch with a perfect family and all of your friends are still alive!"

She stared at him for a moment before throwing a bottle at the wall, shattering it. She pointed at him, her fiery eyes betraying her calm expression. In a level voice, she responded, "You know nothing of my so-called perfect life, Sirius Black. I know, however, that you can't just drink your fucking problems away and expect everything to turn out fine, no matter how much you would like to." Wiping away a tear in her eye, she walked out of the room.

Molly bustled into the kitchen and graced Paige with a small smile before turning to scowl at Sirius. "Couldn't you have at least dressed respectably for company?" she chided before sitting a plate in front of Paige. "Here you go, dear."

Remus quietly walked into the kitchen with a forlorn look on his face, not looking at any of the occupants. "Morning," he grunted, taking a seat by the window.

Molly leaned conspiratorially to Paige. "Poor man has been like that since he came back from America," she said in an exaggerated whisper before rolling her eyes at Sirius. "Not that you've been much help. He seems to be getting worse by the day."

Sirius snarled at the matron. "Molly, I can't bloody help him, can I? I'm not a witch, and even if I was, he wouldn't bugger me if I wanted him to."

Molly glared back at him. "I don't see what that has to do with anything," she huffed before turning to Remus. "Would you like anything, dear? Some tea or perhaps some toast?"

Remus shook his head and turned toward the window. "No, thank you, Molly. There's no point in it, is there? Nothing matters now. It's all just futile, isn't it?" he sighed. Molly glared at Sirius and left the kitchen and it's occupants to their breakfast.

Paige and Sirius picked at their food in silence, the only sounds in the room being the dripping faucet and an occasional sigh from Remus. After the third sigh of the morning, Sirius threw a piece of toast at him. "Just go wank off, already! I realize you miss her, but you are making my brain hurt!"

Paige smacked Sirius in the arm and quipped, "No, that's just the strain of actually thinking, Sirius!"

Remus removed the toast from his shoulder and dropped it on the floor before returning to his spot at the window, oblivious to Sirius's glare at Paige.

Remus staggered into the kitchen sometime after 2 a.m. to find Sirius drinking a bottle of Ogden's finest. Shrugging off his coat he sat by the fire.

"If you're going to sigh, please do it in another room," Sirius growled.

Remus glared at the Animagus. "Why don't you just shut it and pour me a glass?"

Sirius nodded numbly and did as he was told. "Since when do you drink?"

"Since it doesn't matter," Remus snapped back, taking a swig.

"Well," Sirius retorted, pushing another glass into Remus's outstretched hand, "since you're going to ask so nicely…."

He sat for a minute before continuing. "What do you have to be upset about, anyway? At least you get to leave this pit," he pouted and took a drink.

"Yes, I get to leave and run errands for Dumbledore. I just spent 10 hours trying to unsplinch Aberforth and a black Angora you call that job satisfaction? 'Cause I don't," Remus stated before slamming back the rest of his drink

Sirius cracked a smile. "Angora, like the sweater?"

Remus shuddered as he finished his second drink. "No, like the rabbit. Please, don't make me relive it."

Sirius chuckled at his friend and poured him another drink. "Come on, mate. You can't miss her that much."

Remus stared off into space for a moment, before answering. "I felt whole, Padfoot. Now, it feels like my heart is missing. I don't want to eat or sleep. Half the time, it feels as if I can't catch my breath."

Sirius snorted and shook his head. "Is that why you sigh so much, you silly wanker?"

Remus finished his third round and chuckled as the alcohol finally hit his system. "Not a bad idea. I'll be back," he stated with a slight slur.

Author's note: We've left this one short, I know. Actually, it was supposed to be longer, I just liked leaving it off with Remus giong to wank. hehe. Anywho, next chapter is Paige's first class, Dumbledore introducing her and another of our characters -not Rowling's, but ours- to the students, and lots of other stuff. Review, and I'll update sooner. :p