He stood in front of his child hood house. He looked down at his appearance and realized he was wearing the exact same clothes he had worn the night he had fallen through the veil. His wand was gripped in his right hand as he slowly came up to the house. Not knowing what to do, he settled on knocking. He waited a moment before the door opened a crack to reveal a face. A little girl stood there. He knelt down to her level.
"Is your mommy home?" She nodded and closed the door again. He stood and the door was opened once more.
"Elizabeth I told you not to answer the door with out asking who it was first." She said before turning to face him. She paled immediately and right before she passed out she spoke. "You're dead." He caught her and the little girl looked on eyes wide as he carried her to the couch.
It was only a minute and she woke up again. He had knelt next to the couch. She squirmed to a sitting position.
"This is impossible." He gave her a mischievous smile. He took in her appearance once again. Soft ringlets fell onto her shoulders, her skin was obviously much darker than it was at the moment. Her eyes were the color of cinnamon and her lips soft and full. He watched as she seemed to size him up as well. "You look exactly the same." She, shaking, lifted her hand and touched the cheek of his face seemingly just to see if it was real. She gasped when she realized it was. "But you're too late." She whispered barely audible. His brows furrowed. She looked so familiar, but he couldn't place her. "Why didn't you come back sooner? Where have you been?" Her questions kept coming and he suddenly placed a finger over her lips.
"I know you know me and I probably know you. But much has obviously changed while I've been gone." She blinked twice.
"It's me. Hermione." He almost fell backwards. This was little Hermione Granger. Harry's little friend, well she wasn't little anymore. "You've been gone for ten years, Sirius." He nodded knowingly.
"How old are you now?"
"I'm twenty five. Twenty six in September. Sirius you look as though you haven't aged a day since then." He nodded again. It was very possible from the experience he had just had that he hadn't. "I need to send Remus a letter." She said standing. The little girl ran to Hermione.
"Mum? Who's he?" She asked reaching her arms up to be held. Hermione picked her up and she looked over Hermione's should at Sirius with the emerald eyes he had come to know so well.
While she was gone he took the chance to look at the room. He smiled when he realized the entry room and living room had been painted Gryffindor red and tan. The couches had been replaced with comfortable stuffed ones. He looked to see the fire lit and a muggle television in the corner. The door to the kitchen had been replaced. He walked to see the stairs and realized they along with the floors had been redone. He ran his hand along the banister.
"As I said. You've been gone for ten years." He turned around and she was still holding the little girl.
"The war?"
"I think we should wait for Remus." She said walking once again to the living room. He followed and they sat on the couch.
"Mum says your uncle Sirius." She said looking up at him. Her feet just reached over the couch, but she still was extremely small and seemed to be being swallowed by the overstuffed couch. Her eyes were as bright as Harry and Lilly's were, and her hair black and curly. They heard the door open as Sirius nodded to the little girl. Hermione stood up and he heard the conversation clearly.
"Hermione, you said it was urgent. Is everything alright with Liz?" He asked in a clear worried Remus voice.
"Remus, Liz is fine, but something has happened." She lead him into the room and Sirius stood up. He watched as the now old man's face grew extremely pale.
"Remus, good to see you survived then. I'm surprised however. How did an old man like you ever get through the war?" Sirius smiled at the still shocked Remus. Remus just shook his head.
"Impossible." They heard the door open again and Tonks walked in.
"Remus? You said something was wrong with…." She stopped when she saw Sirius.
"Hello cousin." He said heartily. She too paled.
"Hermione I think we should speak with you in the kitchen." She nodded and went to grab the little girl, but she stood and grabbed onto Sirius's leg.
"I'll stay here with uncle Sirius." Said the little girl. Hermione hesitated. He could tell she didn't trust him again and why should she he'd been dead to her for ten years. Slowly she nodded and followed Remus into the kitchen.
Sirius bent down to the little girls height. "So who are you then?"
"Oh, I'm Elizabeth, but mum, uncle Remus, and aunt Tonks call me Liz." She said smiling widely. He looked her up and down and noticed her dirty stocking feet. The house was impeccably clean. He smiled at this.
"Your mum hasn't gotten around to fixing up the whole house yet has she?" Liz shook her head. "I think someone's been exploring."
"Oh no, I'm not allowed to do that." Her eyes showed that of someone who had just been caught.
"I promise I won't tell your mum." Liz breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Good, cause I would be in so much trouble." She said and wrapped her arms around his neck hugging him tight. He laughed a barking laughter. He liked this girl. He heard them reenter the room and Hermione came and picked up her daughter.
"Liz why don't we go make some tea while Uncle Remus and Uncle Sirius talk." She nodded and Tonks joined them. Remus sighed and sat in an over stuffed chair and Sirius sat back down on the couch.
"Forgive me if I don't completely trust that you are who you say you are." Sirius nodded in understanding. "Do you remember everything before you fell into the veil?
"I remember fighting my cousin Bellatrix in the department of mysteries." Remus nodded.
"What was your nickname?" Sirius smiled before turning into the beloved dog. This caused a smile on Remus's face. No one could do that if they weren't really Sirius. Sirius turned back and Remus hugged him hard. "I thought I was the last one left." He said once they had parted. Sirius nodded again. Silence came between them before Sirius asked the knowing question.
"The war?" Remus sighed.
"We won."
"Well, don't seem too happy about it." Sirius said sarcastically.
"We lost a lot." That's when he noticed. He hadn't seen anyone else in the house. Specifically Harry.
"Harry?" Remus shook his head. "How?" Remus seemed to swallow then clear his throat before he answered.
"He sacrificed his life for us all. He left a memory of himself if you'd like to watch it later." Sirius nodded sullenly.
"Who else? His friend Ron?" Remus sadly shook his head. "Little Ginny?" Again no. "Those twins?" Remus gave a small smile and nodded.
"They are both married and doing very well in fact. They come to visit in the summer for Hermione. I dare say they are coming soon."
"Bill?"
"Yes, he married too. About a year after you…left. They visit too."
"Charlie? Percy?" again Remus shook his head.
"Charlie died fighting and Percy got pulled over onto the dark side. We lost him not long after that." He finally asked.
"Arthur, Molly?" He braced himself, but Remus smiled.
"Alive and well, although the burrow is gone sadly." He nodded the sisters of fate had been right much had changed. "Now to ask you some questions. Where have you been."
"Well, no one told me not to tell." He said with the same grin on his face. "I suppose you could say I was dead." He then told his tale of the sisters of fate. Once done Remus looked pensive.
"And they sent you here?"
"They said this is where my destiny was to begin." Remus nodded and the women came in with tea not long after that. Liz came and sat by Sirius.
"Well, I have to say. Liz is a good judge of character, but I've never seen her take to someone so fast." Said Hermione handing Sirius some tea. He thanked her and looked at the little girl next to him.
"I don't know. I just like him mum. He's a lot nicer than uncle Draco." She said sipping what looked to be pumpkin juice.
"Uncle Draco?" He asked looking at Hermione.
"I suppose you didn't get to that?" She asked Remus who shook his head. She sighed. "Draco came after my sixth year at Hogwarts after Dumbledore died to asked for help for him and his mother."
"Dumbledore's dead?" He asked almost dropping his tea. She nodded solemnly. She explained the events of her sixth year at Hogwarts.
"And why is he uncle Draco then?" Sirius asked angry.
"Calm down. He helped the light for many years and still helps to find his father." Hermione reasoned
"Lucious? Was he never captured?"
"He was. He escaped. We've been looking for him since the final battle. Every once in a while we get a pocket of terrorism and signs prove that it was him who had done it." Explained Tonks.
"And Elizabeth you shouldn't say such things about Uncle Draco."
"I'm sorry mum, but I've never liked him all that much." She turned to Sirius and whispered. "He's a bit of a snob." Sirius laughed at this.
"Elizabeth, go to your room until you can speak nicely of those who love you." Said Hermione harshly. Elizabeth didn't seem to mind and put down her mug on the coffee table and skipped off to the stairs. Hermione watched her go and spoke once she was gone. "He really is much nicer than he used to be. He's changed."
"Yes, well I'll keep my opinion the same as Lizzie's until I see different.' He said causing Hermione to sigh again. She took everyone's empty cup and left once again into the kitchen. He took this time to talk to Remus and Tonks.
"Elizabeth is?" He asked and watched as both their eyes went wide. "She has to be Harry's right?" Remus shook his head harshly.
"We do not speak of it."
"Ever?"
"She married Ron." Tonks informed him.
"But Elizabeth? Her eyes?"
"Yes, we know, but we do not bring it up. When she became pregnant she went into a very deep depression. We had thought it had been the fact that not only had her friends died but her husband as well. When Elizabeth was born we all were very surprised to see her green eyes. She never explained and we never asked." Explained Tonks. It was then he noticed the wedding rings on both Tonks and Remus's fingers.
"Married then eh?" They both nodded smiling.
"Two children. A boy and a girl. We'll bring them over soon to meet you." Exaplained Tonks. Sirius smiled and nodded.
Hermione entered into the room just as Remus pulled out a picture of his kids. "Are they coming again this summer? Liz loves playing with them." She said sitting once more.
"Oh yes and Anna just adores Liz. She's talked of babysitting if you want." Hermione nodded. "They are nine and seven." She explained to Sirius.
"Maybe in another year then." Said Hermione smiling. Tonks nodded understanding.
"Speaking of our children, Remus. We told them we would be home by dinner." She said looking at the clock causing her to stand. Remus followed.
"Married and whipped now there old man?" Sirius asked teasing. Remus smiled.
"Some day you'll understand young man." Remus said with fake authority. They hugged once more and the two left.
"Well, how about some dinner then?" Asked Hermione making her way to the kitchen. He followed and watched as she began to pull things out of the pantry and began making dinner by hand.
"Why no magic?" He asked leaning against the counter.
"We do as much as possible with out it around here. I want Elizabeth growing up knowing how to do things the muggle way." He gave her a grin.
"You're teaching her everything you know." She had trouble holding back a smile. "Well, she'll be just like her mother then. The brightest witch of her age." She blushed and turned away from him. He wanted to bring up Lizzie's father, but the shock of him returning had already been a lot for the small woman. It had been enough for one day.
She had left to get Lizzie as he magically set the table. They sat down to eat and he watched as Liz hummed while she drank some more pumpkin juice.
"Mum are grandma and grandpa coming soon?" She asked with her mouth full. Causing Sirius to smile behind his own cup of pumpkin juice.
"I think so." She looked to Sirius who gave her a questioned look, but she didn't bother to answer it.
They finished and Hermione cleared the dishes to the sink. "Liz, if you go and get ready for bed now, I'll read you a story."
"Mum, would it be okay if Uncle Sirius reads me a story?" Hermione looked from Sirius to her daughter and hesitantly nodded. She ran from the kitchen.
"She likes you." Hermione said as she begun doing the dishes. The urge to ask her was becoming great and he decided to leave and take a shower.
Coming into a large bathroom he realized he had no clothes beside what he wore at the moment. A small knock came to the door. He opened it and Hermione stood there with some clothes. He smiled and took them. "Liz will wait up until you tell her a story don't be too long." He nodded and she closed the door behind her.
The warm water comforted him and allowed him to think. The one question that kept his thoughts going: Why was he sent back here?
He walked into Lizzie's room and she smiled toothily. "Alright what does your mum normally read you then?" he said sitting next to her on the large bed.
"Well, sometimes from a book and sometimes she just makes then up."
"Hmmm." He thought rubbing a hand on his now shaven face. He then settled to a time of the Marauders. She snuggled into him causing him to smile and place an arm around her as he spoke.
He heard her breathing become deeper looking down he confirmed she was asleep and slowly slipped away from her. He covered her and went to the door where he saw Hermione leaning against the door frame. He cocked his head to the side and smiled.
"Still don't trust me?"
"You just came back and this is my daughter. I have a right to still be suspicious." He nodded as they closed the door to the sleeping child behind them.
"Where am I sleeping then?"
"Well, it is your house. I suppose that is up to you." She said walking down the hallway. He followed. She stopped in front of his parent's old room to which he had only been in once while they were alive. "This is the room I sleep in. Other wise it is your pick." He nodded and went up one more floor to his familiar room. He realized that this one was about the same as it had been before except for the paint and the floors they had left it the same. He flopped onto the bed. He couldn't remember having a longer day in his life.