The atmosphere in the room was cheerful, and not forced for the first time in what seemed like eons. There was laughter, and everybody seemed to be soaring with the prospect of getting a chance to start anew, even if it wouldn't do much. He sat back in his chair, taking in the scene all at once, letting the sights, sounds, and smells take over his senses. The combination of a long night awake, a stomach full of food, and a couple glasses of firewhiskey had made everything a little bit softer around the edges, and as he shifted his gaze, something utterly impossible caught his eye. James, but it couldn't be… it only took him a few seconds to realize his error. He told himself that he definitely had too much to drink if he was mistaking Harry for his father. That was something Sirius might have done, but not him. The resemblance was amazing, however, and for a few moments, he allowed himself to be back there again, to reach into his past.
New Year's had always been a big deal to Lily; she had looked deep into the symbolism of it. Therefore, the Potters were always the hosts of the celebrations. Everything came flooding back to him as he sat, no longer in the crowded dining room of 12 Grimmauld Place, but in the cozy living room of the Potter's, Sirius and James caught up in an animated conversation, Lily sitting next to him, watching the pair with amusement in the green eyes she had passed on to her son.As he once again focused on the present, Remus realized again how much more than looks Harry had received from his parents. He was talking to Ron in the same voice Remus had once heard coming from James. He had the ability to light up a room just as Lily had. Remus was in the presence of his friends, in a way he had never expected.
Later, as Remus finally collapsed into bed, he muttered a message to his friends, who he was somehow positive were listening. There had been many toasts made that night, but this one was slightly more personal, "I would like to make a toast to Lily and James Potter, and to Sirius Black, for leaving behind a strong legacy in an equally as strong young man."
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Remus started to feel a bit foolish. It was all a bit too clichéd for him. Then he heard a small sound of movement from the doorway. Harry was standing there, leaning against the doorframe, with his father's crooked smile, and his mother's flaming eyes.
"Happy New Year, Remus."