Remus shivered and pulled his cloak tighter. It was damn cold. He and Sirius were waiting for the Hogwarts Express to return, bringing the students back for Christmas. Alex had managed to escape with Kura, and Remus was half convinced that he should have found a way to go with her. Not that he wasn't looking forward to seeing Harry of course; it was more the fact that they were also looking after Ron, Fred and George. It was only a few days until the full moon and Remus wasn't sure if he could cope with the two thirteen year old pranksters.

"I wish the train would hurry up. I haven't been this cold since – well, for a long time"

Remus winced at Sirius' words. He'd obviously been about to mention Azkaban, and then had stopped himself. Remus always felt a pang of guilt whenever those three awful years were mentioned. If he'd trusted Sirius, maybe he wouldn't have had to suffer those years of hell. James and Sirius had given him everything at school, but he didn't give Sirius the one thing he needed. Trust. The thought always made him feel slightly sick, he could distinctly remember the feeling of horror and revulsion when he realised what happened.

"Stop it Remus", Sirius' voice interrupted Remus' thoughts. "You got me out, and that's all that matters. The horror of those three years was nothing compared to the joy I felt when they said I was free"

Remus knew that wasn't true, he knew that Sirius still had nightmares about Azkaban sometimes, but the fact that Sirius was trying to make him feel better automatically did. Remus smiled and placed a gloved hand on Sirius' shoulder, both of them resuming their vigil for the train.

In no time at all the red steam engine had pulled into the station and the students were disembarking. Remus stood on his tiptoes, desperately looking for a messy black head. His search was interrupted by something fairly large crashing into him. He would have fallen over if Sirius hadn't been there to grab his shoulder. Remus looked down. It was Harry.

"I guess I'm a bit too big for that now, huh?" Harry asked, grinning as he moved over to hug Sirius.

"Well, I can't swing you up onto my hip anymore, unless you fancy both of us falling to the floor?"

"I'd rather not, if it's all the same to you" Harry smiled, and then waved six people over. Remus recognised the three Weasleys, who all grinned at Sirius and Remus, but he didn't have a clue who the bushy haired girl in front of them was, but he was sure that the two adults with her were the girl's parents. "This is the girl I told you about, Hermione Granger" Harry fixed them both with a look that clearly told them both not to mention that Harry had told them both that she was bossy and annoying.

After warmly greeting the Grangers, and numerous promises to get together over Christmas, the six of them made their way to the car. Sirius and Remus had shared a look, both clearly remembering the last time trunks and this car were combined, and levitated the trunks into the boot, Harry sniggering behind them.

"That wasn't funny you know. I nearly broke my toe" Sirius said, mock indignation clear in his tone.

"But you didn't, so I'm allowed to laugh. Isn't that what you told Remus when he nearly broke his nose after falling down the stairs?"

"That was completely different"

Remus shared a knowing smile with Harry and climbed into the car. They were on their way home – with Harry. Everything was right again.

OoOoOo

"Morning Remus" Harry said sleepily, forcing his words around a yawn. Remus turned around and laughed. Harry's hair was stuck up in nearly every direction.

"Morning Harry. Nice hair"

"I thought so. I think I'll leave it like this" Harry replied seriously, raising his hands to feel his hair.

"It would certainly be a conversation piece. Toast, Harry?" Remus asked, already walking into the kitchen. Remus and Harry both froze in the doorway to the kitchen. Sirius was trying to make Kura sit in her highchair and eat, but the only thing she was interested in was the presents under the tree, as her repeated cries of "PRESENTS!" could testify.

"Thank god" Sirius said in relief as Remus braved the room, after having decided that not having breakfast would be a more worrying prospect than a crying two year old. Remus jumped past the table and went straight to the counter, where he began the gargantuan task of preparing breakfast for four teenage boys.

"Kura, come on. Breakfast first then presents" Remus shook his head. He doubted that logical reasoning would work on the two year old. Remus turned around and laughed. Kura took one bite of her breakfast and then looked pointedly at her father, clearly telling him that one bite was enough and she should be allowed to go open presents now. Harry glanced at Remus, and it was all he could do to stop laughing.

Sirius sighed. "I'm really glad I offered to help with her breakfast. NO" Sirius added sternly as Kura began to struggle to get out of her highchair. She fixed him with a look so like his own puppy dog look that Sirius apparently didn't know what to do.

"Oh for Merlin's sake Sirius. I'll do it…I spent long enough with you to have an immunity to the look" Remus said exasperatedly, trying to hide the amused smile that threatened to ruin the stern look he sent Sirius' way.

"Nice hair Harry," Sirius said, eyeing him critically, "James did that once, do you remember Moony? He tried growing his hair, I think in a vain attempt to win over Lily, and it just stuck out of his head"

Remus looked up, smiling. "I also remember you hiding stuff in his hair"

Sirius laughed. "I managed to hide three galleons, two ink pellets and half a packet of Bertie Botts"

Harry roared with laughter. "You forgot the quill," Remus added, turning back to help Kura.

OoOoOo

"PRESENTS!"

"Well said Kura"

Remus rolled his eyes. Alex was handing out presents, and he wasn't sure who was more excited – Kura or the Weasleys. It was quite funny really, Fred and George were both bouncing in their seats, Kura kept fidgeting on Sirius' lap and Ron kept standing up. Though, Harry wasn't much better – he was sat next to Remus and Harry was fidgeting so much that Remus swore the sofa was actually moving.

"Well go on then, open them," Alex said. Remus wished she hadn't. Wrapping paper was literally thrown everywhere in the race to open presents. Remus was half tempted to hide.

"Wow. Thanks Remus" Harry breathed, having unwrapped the present just from Remus. It was a miniature Quidditch pitch. Remus had spent four months making it, ever since he and Sirius had brought Harry the miniature Wasps team for his birthday. Remus had to say; he was rather pleased with how it had turned out.

"I thought you'd like a pitch for your Wasps to play on" Remus said, suddenly worried that Harry didn't like it. "I mean, I had to make it by hand, but I thought it looked alright?"

Harry didn't say anything; he just threw his arms around Remus' shoulders and then pulled away quickly, blushing. He was obviously embarrassed to be seen hugging Remus in front of his friends. It didn't matter though; the three red haired boys were still ripping open presents. Remus smiled at Harry, he could remember feeling the exact way when he was younger, most especially when Sirius was there. Sirius didn't get much (or any) affection from his parents, and Remus had always felt guilty, having parents who loved him when Sirius didn't.

Remus unwrapped his own presents and was unsurprised to find a hand knitted jumper from Molly. He smiled and pulled it over his head, watching as Alex pulled the jumper over Kura's head. That little girl had been utterly spoiled this year, as per usual. The problem was, one look at her little face and you just wanted to spoil her. She was so different to the little boy that Harry had been, and yet they all loved her fiercely anyway.

Sirius leaned over to him, whispering in his ear. "Open the one from me, and don't react" Remus slightly nervously opened the small present from Sirius. He gasped.

It was a photo of all of the Gryffindor prefects and heads. It had obviously been taken in seventh year because James and Lily were both stood there. Remus was stood next to them, along with four other people. Roscoe Graves, Penelope Barbary, Ciaran McKinnon and Sierra Blake were stood, smiling at the camera. Remus felt his entire body go cold as he looked at the photo; three of the seven people in front of him were killed before the war ended. Remus glanced up at Sirius.

"I figured you can always have more reminders of the good times," Sirius whispered solemnly.

Remus tried to smile back, but he had a feeling it came out as a grimace. "Where did you find it?"

"I went back to the Potter's house, I was going to do it a long time ago…but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. They've got so many photos of James, and quite a few of Lily and the rest of us. I found some good ones for Harry, but I thought you'd appreciate that one"

Remus nodded numbly, his eyes still fixed on the photo in front of him. "Thank you Sirius"

"Remus, can you come and help me do the vegetables? I need another pair of hands, and I think Sirius' are full?" Alex asked, watching Sirius play with Kura. Remus nodded and rose to his feet, following her to the kitchen. Remus frowned when she pointed him towards the mountain of sprouts in the corner. Memories of peeling sprouts with Sirius, and starting a sprout war began to surface, and smiling slightly Remus began the task in front of him. Despite having the three Weasleys with them, or maybe because of that, this had been one of Remus' best Christmases for a very long time.

AN: I am so sorry this is late! I have literally been working like a madman to finish Uni work so I would have time to write and upload. It hasn't worked, and now I have a bad case of writer's block. It's OK though; I have a few chapters ready to upload, so all is good.

Also, I wrote a one-shot to go along with the last chapter – about Sirius and Remus finding out about the mirror. I would love it if you guys would go and check it out, and tell me what you think. Obviously, I'd love to hear what you think about this chapter as well.