A.N. Whoa guys, I never honestly believed, in my wildest dreams that my story would get such good recognition from you all like this. I have an infinite amount of gratitude to you all like... wow thank you so much to everyone who has favourited, alerted, followed me on tumblr (like my new url?) and reviewed. I just love reviews so much because I get to hear all your feedback and talk to you all - I've really made a good friend over this now, thanks! Please keep them coming and expect replies to your reviews tomorrow!

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this sadly, apart from Lydia and even her surname is borrowed :(

Previously: Instead of dying, Lily and James were put in a comatose state for forty dates, leaving Harry in the capable hands of Sirius and Remus. Remus has been accepted for a new job at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures for the rights of werewolves like him, and other magical creatures with a heap of prejudice against them. At his job he met a beautiful nineteen-year-old girl called Lydia Greengrass who he was instantly attracted to and asked out on a date. While on that date, Sirius met a Witch named Helena, who he had sex with.

Contact: satansbowtiedottumblrdotcom - replace dot with .

Enjoy =)


Helena Rosier was no different than any other girl Sirius had slept with from a bar. The next night he slept with a girl named Clea Tompkins and three hours later, Jamie-Lee Hartley. It was Sirius' life, and no amount of nagging from Remus or anyone would change his ways. There was nothing wrong with sleeping with an incessant number of women; he could see himself doing it until he was at least thirty-five. There was no point in stopping him.

Remus went on three lunch dates with Lydia over the next week and one dinner date on Saturday night and he was having the best week he could ever imagined he could have, given the circumstances. But there was just one problem: he had not plucked up enough nerve to kiss her. No one apart from themselves knew about their relationship; they couldn't openly admit it to anyone in the office because Remus was one hundred percent sure that Amos wouldn't like it and consequently fire Lydia. Remus couldn't tell Sirius, either, because Sirius was, well, Sirius. Remus loved Sirius like a brother, and he knew it was unfair how he was treating him... but Sirius wouldn't be able to understand how Remus could do something as nonchalant as dating while their best friends were in comas.

So Remus and Lydia were sat in Remus' office one lunchtime. Lydia sat across from him at the desk, eating noodles from a Tupperware box as Remus skimmed through paperwork. It was one of the rare lunches that Remus had to work through, but that wouldn't stop the secret couple spending as much time as they could together.

"My parents have invited you for dinner next Sunday," Lydia announced on that day. "If you want to come."

Remus risked a glance up from his work. "I'd like that. What time?"

"Mum normally serves dinner at three o'clock so get there for two. You don't have to come if you don't want to..."

"It'll be fine Lydia, I want to come."

She smiled, twisting her hair with her finger like she had done with her noodles. "When can I meet your parents?"

"Good luck with that," Remus said dismissively.

"Why?" She asked, puzzled.

"Because they're dead." An awkward silence passed but Remus paid no heed, and just continued his work like he had done before his announcement. Lydia could not think of anything to say, and sensing that, Remus looked up and smiled at her. "Don't worry; I get that reaction a lot. It's fine anyway; my Mum died eight months ago and my dad four years."

"I'm really sorry," Lydia said in a quiet voice.

Remus shrugged and reached over the desk to squeeze Lydia's hand. "It's alright; I'm over it now."

"I don't know how you could be."

"I'm used to death now; nearly all of my friends from Hogwarts have. Only three of us have escaped the war unscathed: Mary – I think, Sirius and I."

"What happened to the others?"

"Dead mostly. It's a long story," Remus stated.

Lydia looked at the clock that hung on Remus' wall. "We have forty minutes."

So Remus informed Lydia on his tragic background starting from when the war started, who died and what else had happened. She was silent all throughout, listening intently to every word he said. She knew a lot about the war by what she added, but clearly did not know the dangers and the tragedy the war had produced for so many.

At the end of the story Lydia walked round his desk, sat on Remus' lap without hesitation and put her arms around him, burying her head into his shoulders. He responded by putting his arms around her waist, moving his hands up and down her back. Then when she pulled her head back, the couple made eye contact and Remus went into kiss her.

It was a light kiss that lasted no more than ten seconds, but even then Remus felt the hairs on the back of his neck stick up and his heart race around his body. When she pulled back she smiled at him and placed her head back on her shoulder. Remus was scared she could hear the thoughts racing through his mind or his heart beating in his chest. He tried to remain calm and closed his eyes, wishing that there was no work to get back to, and it was just he and Lydia together forever in that loving, tender, warm embrace.

...

There were only three weeks left until Lily and James were out of their coma, and the weeks had dragged. Sirius missed his best friend and he missed not having to go out with a screaming one-year-old in a pushchair all the time. Yes, he loved Harry, but he couldn't wait until his parents could be reunited with him again. They'd had fun together, but Harry wasn't Sirius' kid and he belonged with James, not Sirius, and he was grateful he made that realisation early on.

One day, Remus took Harry down to the local park in his pushchair. Harry was warmly dressed in a jumper and a coat, hat, scarf and gloves but he was still shivering in the pram. It was only November and even Remus felt the cold. His hat was pulled down to his eyes and coat buttoned up to his chin, but the bitter weather seemed to get in all the nooks and crannies.

Remus didn't want to stay long in the park, but he thought the fresh air might do Harry good, but when they reached the park Harry was fast asleep, but once they were at the playground he was wide awake again.

"Swing!" Harry demanded.

So Remus complied, took Harry out of the pushchair and followed him to the swings. The werewolf placed Harry in one of them and Harry gripped the bar as Remus slowly pushed him. He wouldn't let Harry go too high, despite his constant pleas of "HIGHER!"

"No," Remus said. "You'll fall out and hurt yourself."

"Higher!" Harry cheered.

Remus pushed him higher, though it wasn't much of a difference, Harry seemed to notice; he laughed and clapped his hands playfully.

"We'll have to stop now Harry."

"No!"

"Uncle Remus is tired."

"No!"

"How are you not tired?"

"No!"

Harry couldn't understand what Remus was saying and Remus took Harry out of the swing. Harry ran away from Remus and to the slide where he attempted to clamber onto it. Remus let him climb and slide a small way down the slide, until Remus climbed the ladder, sat on the top of the slide, put Remus in his lap and the twenty-one-year-old man and fifteen month old baby went shooting down the slide and, once at the bottom, Harry gurgled with delight, clapped his hands and demanded more.

"Later," Remus promised. "We'll feed the ducks now."

"Ducks!"

Instead of running to the lake, Harry ran to his pushchair and sat inside. Remus joined Harry at the pushchair and wheeling him away from the park and to the lake, where he released Harry, put him on his reigns and the pair fed the ducks.

"This is fun, isn't it Harry?"

"More bread!"

So Remus tore off another piece of bread to give to Harry to throw to the mixture of geese, ducks, swans and seagulls pouring around for some food. When they went to feed the ducks, Remus found it was never only ducks they fed, but an assortment of different birds which inhabited the lake.

When the bread was gone Remus returned Harry to the park. Remus sat on the bench and allowed Harry to go a little distance away and play on the small kids' apparatus. Remus watched him with admiration, Harry occasionally bragging how high he was (when he was no more than two metres off the ground) or how strong he was, when someone approached Remus from behind.

"Never thought I'd see the Boy-Who-Lived playing in a tunnel - a bit mundane from what he's usually used to, isn't it?"

Remus spun around and a tall man with dark hair stood behind him. "Are you - are you following us?"

"No," the man said and moved around to sit next to Remus on the bench. "I thought it was Harry Potter while I was over by the lake - and who can blame me for wanting to meet him?"

Remus was sceptical. "Everybody does."

"Exactly!" The man said. "Name's Isadore."

"Remus."

"Horrible weather, isn't it?"

"Very," Remus agreed. "Who are you with?"

"My daughter," Isadore informed. "She's over on the swings."

"How old is she?"

"Five - they grow up so fast, don't they?"

"Harry's only one."

"But it must seem only yesterday he was born, mustn't it?"

"I guess," Remus replied. "Well, we better get going now."

He rose, so did Isadore. "It was nice meeting you, Remus."

"Yeah... you too. Come on Harry - we're going home."

Surprisingly, Harry obliged and stumbled over to Remus who picked him up and stuffed him in the pushchair. As he was leaving, a small girl with thick locks of black hair came running over to Isadore on the bench, tugging at his hand.

"Papa, Papa, Papa! You have to come and see this!" She cried. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! The daisies are dancing! The daisies are dancing in the wind and the birds are singing along. Papa, you have to come and see this!"

Isadore turned to Remus in explanation. "Sybbie's just started using her first bits of magic. Come on then darling: lead the way."

And the small girl with bouncing black locks of hair ran with her Father to the dancing daisies and singing magpies. Remus watched them go, pushing Harry in his pram out the park.

...

Remus went back to Sirius' to drop of Harry. It was nice of Sirius to let Remus look after him, but when his knock on the door was answered by a young, half-naked blonde girl, eyeing him sceptically wearing one of Sirius' t-shirts, Remus understood why Sirius had given Harry up without much persuasion required.

"Is Sirius in?" Remus asked dryly.

Then she eyed Harry. "Is that his baby?"

"Yes," Remus said sweetly, "it's our baby."

She looked horrified. "He's gay?"

"Gayer than cum on a moustache - is he in?"

"Yes," she said and wrapped the t-shirt round her body. "And I'm out."

She dashed back into the flat and came out moments later, hastily pulling on her skirt. Remus bid her farewell and pushed Harry and himself into the flat, quietly closing the door behind him and perching on Sirius' sofa. Harry was fast asleep.

"Janine... Where are you hiding?" Came Sirius' lofty voice from the bedroom.

"She's gone, Sirius," Remus called. "Took one look at Harry and assumed the worst."

"You have impeccable timing, you know that Moony?" Sirius called. "I'll be out in a minute... Just let me get dressed." And a minute later he came out. He collapsed onto the sofa with a heavy sigh. "I'm exhausted."

"I lack sympathy," Remus noted. "Your Godchild and I had fun in the freezing cold while you were having sex with a girl you probably don't even know the name of."

"Her name's Janet."

"You called her Janine a moment ago."

Sirius paused. "Do you want a drink?"

"Coffee will be fine," Remus laughed. "How'd you meet her?"

"Tesco," Sirius answered, leaving the sofa to go into the kitchen. "Two sugars?"

"Yep," Remus returned. "What happened to Emily? I thought you liked her."

Sirius returned with two magically made coffees. "I did... Until I slept with her sister."

"Padfoot-"

"-Don't moan at me Moony; I'm not doing anything wrong; they're all of age and giving me consent," he passed the coffee to Remus and cheekily added, "consent's not the only thing they're giving me."

"Too much information, Padfoot," Remus cringed. "Cheers."

"Cheers." Both men drank their coffee. Sirius put his down with a gasp of breath. "You should follow my lead; having sex is a great way of clearing your head and meeting new people."

"No; I believe you should only have sex if you love the person and or know their name."

"So when was the last time you got laid?"

Remus couldn't remember. It must have been a long time ago when he was still dating his ex in Hogwarts. He must have been eighteen the first and last time they did it and after their catastrophic break up, he hadn't conjured up the strength to ask out any girl ever since. So now he was alone with Lydia, who he kissed every day but never anymore than that.

"Proves my point," Sirius grinned. "Moony... You would tell me if you were seeing another girl, wouldn't you?"

Remus delayed the question by taking another sip of coffee. "Of course."

"So will you tell me who that bonnie bird was I saw you snogging in the corridor last night?" Remus froze, his cup inches away from his mouth. "She's very pretty."

He lowered it and cleared his throat. "Yes - yes she is."

"So who is she?"

"My secretary," Remus replied.

"How cliché."

"She's very nice."

"Would I know her?"

Remus shook his head. "You dated her friend when we were in seventh year for a few weeks: Leah Hiddleston."

"Is she the friend I cheated on Leah with?"

"No Padfoot."

"Oh," he said, "what's her name? How old is she? What's she like?"

"She's Lydia and she's nineteen and she's very nice."

"She looks it," Sirius agreed. "How long have you been seeing her for?" When Remus didn't automatically answer, Sirius added: "I won't mind if you've been seeing her for a while and not told me. Honest to Merlin I won't."

"Then you're in luck because we've been together no more than three weeks."

"Who else knows about you?"

"No one," Remus said, "and we're hoping to keep it that way for a while; I don't want her to lose her job over me especially if it doesn't last between us. I hope it does; I really like her."

"When can I meet her?"

Remus thought about it for a minute. "Soon, but not yet. Wait until James and Lily have come round so you can all meet her together. I think you'll really like her."

Sirius clapped Remus on the arm. "I'm really pleased for you - have you scored yet?"

"Sirius..."

Padfoot laughed and got up. "I'm only kidding. Do you want to stay for dinner tonight? I'll put Harry down and we can have a Lads night in, in replacement for the one neither of us could get to. I'll order pizza from the place down the road if you like and I've got plenty of beer in the fridge... Unless you're going out with Olivia that is."

"Lydia," Remus corrected. "You have terrible memory when it comes to remembering girls' names and that sounds great. Just let me go home and get changed and I'll be back in half an hour."

...

Remus was back at work the following day, trying his best not to ogle at his girlfriend through the glass wall as he attended countless tedious meetings throughout the day. She'd make subtle motions to him through the wall which would instantly cheer him up, only to be caught off guard by a question or statement being thrown his way, to which he would have to reply with a weary answer.

At three o'clock the meeting finished and Remus made haste to leave the room before having more irksome questions being asked. Amos ran alongside him and immediately ordered a coffee from Lydia and went straight into the office. Remus, however, lingered by Lydia's desk.

"It looked like you were having fun," she noted. "All those boring old Ministry Officials in suits their Mother's picked out for them. I was jealous."

"Mhm... Sorry I couldn't do lunch today. Meeting number seven went on for a bit longer than I planned and when that finished, it was time for number eight. You didn't happen to get me anything while you were out, did you?" Lydia produced a cheese and onion pasty, and a smile. "I'd kiss you right now if I could."

"You can just make up for it by taking me out to dinner tonight instead."

Remus took the pastry out the wrapper and took a lustrous bite. "Sounds good - give me a minute to get some money. How much do I owe you for this?"

"It's on me."

"Are you sure?" Lydia nodded. "Thank God for that; now I haven't wasted my money on this disgusting pastry."

Lydia laughed. "I made it."

"And it's lovely." Once more she laughed, and Remus took another bite. "Did you really make it? It's delicious."

"I did," she smiled. "It was going to be for my lunch, but Jarvis came round with the food trolley and I couldn't resist."

"Resist Jarvis or the food?"

She shot him an amused look. "You know my eyes are only set on you."

"As they should be," he gobbled up the rest of the pastry. "And mine for you."

"It doesn't feel right hiding it from people in the office though-"

"-Lydia..."

"What? I know you said that we shouldn't publicize it, that you don't want me to be the girl who's seeing the boss, but it's so hard not to want you when you look so divine in your lovely suit and tie..." Her fingers played with the tie round Remus' neck, and Remus pulled away, anxiously looking around. "Are - are you embarrassed by me?"

"No," Remus said abruptly. "Of course not, but I don't want you to-"

"-lose my job. I know," Remus frowned. "I don't care if I lose my job! I'd go and quit right now if you let me. But you won't; you're too kind."

"And you're too young to throw your life away for one romance-"

"-Remus, this is a shit job working for a shit boss!" Her voice rose. "Mr. Diggory hates me and I know he's looking to replace me with some new model-"

"-Don't be ridiculous-"

"-I'm not, I just don't want our relationship to be a sordid little love affair! You either pay your affections to me at work or you don't pay your affections to me anywhere. Capiche?"

Remus bowed his head. "Please just give it some time, Lydia. I'd tell Amos - Mr. Diggory today, but he's not in the best of moods what with all of these meetings... Please darling... Just give it some time."

"Fine," she replied. "Fine I'll give it some time."

"Thank you."

She wasn't hard to persuade, Remus had found that out easily. Lydia handed him two mugs of coffee, one for him and one for Amos. "You didn't spit in his, did you?"

"Of course not," she said angelically, batting her eyelids, "he's my favourite boss."

"Get back to work now Miss. Greengrass and I'll be round yours at the usual time. Unless you've got other plans, that is."

"My other plans were watching Coronation Street on our new television in the front room with the dogs. I'm sure the Rover's Return will remain standing for one night while I'm absent and out with you. I'll just have to ask Mum very nicely if she can make note on what's happening. I'm sure the insubstantial love life of Audrey and Alf is much less significant to my real one."

"Anyone's relationship is less important than ours. I better give these coffees to Mr. Diggory now - eight o'clock, don't forget."

She wouldn't forget, and watched longingly as Remus walked slowly into his boss' office, carrying two mugs of steaming hot coffee. One contained love and the other ink.

...

The day of December tenth the Wizarding World was anxiously waiting. There were updates at the Ministry of Magic and Witches and Wizards came in from all over the world for the latest news on the Potter's. While everyone waited for second-hand updates, four people were allowed access to see James and Lily Potter first hand: Albus Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Harry Potter.

Albus was the last to arrive and he got there at ten o'clock in the morning. They were told that they would come round at any point during the day and only Albus ever left their side to get coffee for the men. Remus and Sirius waited ages, with baited breath, for the young couple to awaken, and after seven hours of anxious waiting on Albus' part they finally did. It was James who woke first.

His hazel eyes fluttered open and looked around his surroundings. He expected to be at home in Godric's Hollow, but the blank white ceiling told him that he was not. Sirius jumped up in alarm when he saw the first bit of movement and shouted: "PRONGS!" Which alerted every staff member to crowd around the Potter's bedside.

"Padfoot?" James asked. "Is that you? Where am I?" James sat up and looked around. "Am I in Mungo's?" He glances across at his wife. "What happened?"

Sirius didn't give chance for anyone to explain and dived on his best friend, throwing his arms around him and locking him into a tight hug. James patted Sirius on the back but was none the wiser to what had happened. "What happened? Why aren't I at home?"

"That doesn't matter," said Remus with a smile. "We're just so pleased you're okay."

"I'm not okay at the moment I've got a great lump attached to me. What do you think you're doing Padfoot - get off me!"

Sirius wouldn't let go and said, through tears in his eyes. "We thought you were dead."

"Dead?" James reiterated.

"Where am I? Where's Harry?" The voice came from the red head beside James. Sirius let go of James and hugged Lily instead. She was a lot nicer than her husband about it and embraced Sirius warmly, kissing him on the cheek. "What happened to us? Was it Voldemort?"

"Voldemort?" James asked. "Voldemort! Oh Merlin Lily, are you alright?"

"Where's Harry?" Lily repeated. In order for her to hold Harry, Sirius had to let go of Lily. Remus passed Harry to Lily and she held him in her arms, and she laughed. "How long were we out for? He's a lot bigger than before. James, come and see how big our son is now!"

James crawled over to Lily's bed. "Blimey, what have you been feeding him?"

A look of concern passed everyone's face. It was Remus who asked the question everyone was thinking: "How are you so nonchalant about this? Voldemort attacked you for Merlin's sake."

"Because we know what's happened Moony. We could hear everything you said to us and about us. Voldemort attacked our home and tried to kill us and Harry."

"But again, how are you so nonchalant about it?"

"We've had forty days to get used to it," Lily answered, not taking her eyes off Harry.

"You're right Sirius; this scar is amazing!"

"But you don't understand, Voldemort tried to kill you..."

"Moony," Sirius hissed. "Just leave it."

"And - and Pettigrew? You know about him?"

"I think it's a good thing James was out cold for that; he would have slaughtered him."

"But - but-"

"-Remus, James and Lily know everything we know, and it's been forty days. One can only imagine the panic that must have been going through their minds when they first found out. But forty days have gone by and they've gotten used to it like we did. I think they're just happy to be with their son again."

Remus watched the scene that took place in front of him. Lily was lying in her bed, propped up by pillows James had arranged for her and had Harry on her lap. James was kneeling beside her on the bed tickling him and Sirius was on the foot of the bed, craning over Harry and his best friends. Remus found it impossible to comprehend how easily the Potters' got used to the ordeal and how quickly adapted they were to it, but when James looked up at him, smiled and said: "come sit here, Remus," he understood; they were just pleased to see their friends and Harry again that the initial shock of forty days ago wore off, and they obsessed over something new.

So Remus took James' advice and joined them on the bed. "So, has anything new happened in your lives?"

"You remember about Frank and Alice, surely?"

"Of course," Lily said, "oh I was so upset for days after you told me! I longed to see them and Neville... But I'm pleased the Death Eater's who did this to them, to us all, are in Azkaban now. Albus, does this mean the war's over?"

Albus had gone, as had the rest of the staff. "He's gone," Sirius stated.

"I thought he'd turned invisible," said James sarcastically.

Sirius scowled at his best friend and said: "I think I preferred it when you were in the coma. At least you can have Harry now."

"Has he been a good boy?" Lily cooed.

"What, you mean apart from drinking all the beer in the fridge? Yeah, he's been good."

Lily shot him a look. "Don't even joke about that."

Sirius smiled and leaned over and kissed Lily Potter on the cheek. "I missed your nagging, Potter."

"And I missed your irresponsibility, Black. I can't believe they trusted you to look after my son."

"It was either me or Petunia," Sirius said, "they were going to give Harry to her, but we were adamant that they would not. I fought your corner, don't worry Lily. So you should be thanking me, I'm pleased to get rid of your little bugger."

"He's better behaved than you," Lily scolded.

"Not even five minutes and you're at each other's throats," said James, "I missed you guys."

"So did I," Sirius admitted. "And the two of you are welcome to stay with me as long as you want seeing that your house is... destroyed."

"We don't want to cramp your style."

"Should have thought about that before you got me stuck with your kid. Couldn't you guys have just kept your legs closed for one day? If you had, we wouldn't be in this mess."

James looked at his wife and said: "I wish he'd shut up."

Lily grinned back at her husband and leaned in to give him his first kiss on the lips since they awoke. "I love you, James. You risked your life to protect me and Harry from Voldemort, unarmed, without a wand. I love you so much."

"Get a room."

"Shut up Padfoot."

"Soppy."

"Slag."

"Idiot."

"Dolt."

"Children," Lily interrupted. "Could you save this for a different time, preferably when James and I haven't just woken up from a five week coma?" The argument was discontinued. "Thank you. So is it true what Albus told us? That the war's really over?"

"Well, there hasn't been any fighting since the Longbottom attack so, yeah. Voldemort's been defeated, the Death Eaters have either fled, dead or gone to Azkaban and no one's tried to kill anyone yet, so I say yeah, the war's over."

"That's fantastic," Lily smiled.

"We can all get back to our lives now before the war."

"The only life we knew before the war was Hogwarts," James pointed out. "What have you two been doing since the war ceased?"

"Looking after your kid - but Moony got a job, and a girlfriend." James and Lily's heads both shot to Remus, Sirius mouthed 'you're welcome'.

"A job?" Lily echoed.

"A girlfriend? Flaming hell Moony, what's wrong with her?"

Sirius cackled with laughter. "Rude," he said.

"What's her name?" Lily asked, intrigued.

"Lydia Greengrass," he admitted. "She's-"

"-Nineteen."

"Yes, nineteen and positively wonderful."

"That's great!" Lily gushed. "How long have you been together - what's she like?"

"We've been together almost four weeks now and she's my secretary. I work for the Ministry of Magic, for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures with Amos Diggory. They opened up a new division recently for the study and rights of creatures like Werewolves and Centaurs and Hippogriffs. It's really interesting actually and I'm the Head of the Division and have loads of people working for me."

"That's fantastic; bird and job within a month, you've picked up your game. No, I'm only joking; that's bloody fantastic." The added bit on the end was in result to a glance from Lily. "So... um... what's the um... day today?"

"December tenth."

"You know Padfoot; it surprises me that out of all the useless crap you informed me on, you never thought to tell me how the Tornadoes are doing in the league."

"Seventh from bottom."

"Aw shit."

"That's pretty bad," agreed Lily. "I told you that you should support the Holyhead Harpies."

"You have no interest in Quidditch. You just support them because you're all for Women's rights - a feminist."

"Well I think it's totally sexist how every other team in the League are strictly male!"

"Leslie Turpin for the Appleby Arrows is a woman."

"No she's not Padfoot; we had this discussion last May when they won the cup. She's just a very pretty man."

Sirius gave Lily a smile and a shrug. "Close enough?" He asked.

Close enough was all she would get out of them. The four friends were so delighted to be reunited with each other at last they didn't care about anything else. Their friendship and conversations picked up like nothing had happened since October and two of them hadn't been hospitalised. Two days later they were released from Hospital and stayed in Sirius' flat until they found a new place to live with Harry, but it was so good to be around him again they didn't rush. And he couldn't have asked for anything else...