Euphemia Potter awoke with a start. There was a thump downstairs, and then all was silent. She shook her husband, Fleamont Potter, awake. "What is it?" he asked. SHe held a finger to her lips, and motioned for him to follow her. They rose from the bed and crept out of their room and down the hall. The stopped at the top of the stairs. "Lumos," whispered Euphemia, her wand illuminating the stairs. She and Fleamont tiptoed down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs stood a boy that drew a striking resemblance to ames. His dark hair was rumpled, and he was knobbly and slender. He was shirtless, to reveal a sunken chest and prominent ribs. His pants were ripped, and he was covered in ash and bruises. "I'm so sorry," he said, "I Floo'd here. James said that if, if she hit me again, and it got really bad, that I could… I could come stay here, I just…" While Fleamont looked skeptical, Euphemia could tell that this boy was in danger from his trembling voice and skittish demeanor. She pointed upstairs. "Fleamont, go get him some pajamas and a blanket." She helped Sirius onto the couch, promising that he could stay the night and they would discuss the situation in the morning.
When Euphemia went back to check on Sirius an hour later, having decided he could stay as long as he needed, even if that meant the rest of the summer, she was shocked at what she found. Tangled up with Sirius was James, his head at Sirius' feet. And from her point on the stairs, the boys looked identical. And even if she didn't know it, in that moment, Euphemia had acquired another son.