Disclaimer: I own nothing!

A/N: Thanks, everyone, for reading. This one was harder to write. I had a lot less to go on, and I had to actually research Lily, James, Sirius, etc. for this. I hope to go back to Harry for my next one…maybe try my hand at a Harmony story…Who knows? Anyway, the final installment of What We Had…

October 31, 1999

"Lemon drop?"

Rachel's head shot up, and her eyes met a set of twinkling eyes over a pair of crescent-shaped spectacles. "Sir?"

"I asked if you'd like a lemon drop. However, I'd understand if you didn't, since you don't know me. I'm Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I believe you're acquainted with a Sirius Black?"

The thought of Sirius brought back a new wave of tears. "Y..Yes. He…He's gone."

Dumbledore held out a tissue to the girl. "There, there. I'm afraid there's not much we can do for young Black right now. He as much admitted to killing all of these people, and that's what the Wizengamot will take into account. Not to mention, he was the only one who knew the Potters' whereabouts before they were killed."

"James and Lily truly are dead?" Rachel couldn't believe it. "What about Harry?"

"Harry's alive, and he's been taken care of. He's with relatives right now, so he's safe. You knew the Potters?"

"Sort of. I've talked to Lily on the phone some over the last couple of years, especially while we were both pregnant. Sirius and I dated a while…"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled again. "I'm well-aware of this, Ms. Howard. The Wizengamot keep a close watch on the relationships between wizards and muggles."

"Muggles, sir?"

"Non-magical beings. You're a muggle. Our world has to be kept a secret from muggles. We can't let the Salem Witch Trials happen over here, and if our secrets got out, that's exactly what would happen. Not all muggles can handle our lifestyles."

"What will you do about all of the 'muggles' who were witness to the events of today? Surely they saw the magic flying through the air. Sirius never told me he was a wizard until today."

Dumbledore nodded. "That's why I'm here. As Chief Warlock, I have to be here to oversee the Obliviation of this many muggles. I asked to personally see to you."

"Obliviate?"

"Alter your memories. Basically, all the muggles will remember will be the explosion."

Rachel was appalled. "And you're going to obliviate me?"

"Actually, no, I'm not. Like I'm sure Sirius mentioned before he was taken away, you've been in a 'physical' relationship with the man for three years, am I correct?"

"Um," Rachel began with a blush. "Actually, I just finalized my divorce from my husband Ethan."

"Did you stop your relationship with Sirius?"

Embarrassed, Rachel admitted, "No, not truly."

"Well, then, you're entitled to this knowledge. I trust that you know how to handle this; no other muggle can know. It's not your secret to share."

Rachel nodded as Dumbledore stood. The old wizard held out his hand.

"Come on; let me get you home. You've had quite a shock."

"Mum?"

Rachel looked up to see Maria poke her head into the room Rachel was supposed to be working in. "Yeah, love?"

Maria walked over to her mother and sat down on Sirius's bed at Grimmauld Place with Rachel. "Whatcha got there? A book?"

"Yeah, it was a journal I kept many years ago. I still have Sirius's at our house. Your dad never saw it." Rachel looked up at her daughter guiltily.

The girl ran her hand over the front and shook her head. "Mum, what's in here? Just thoughts, or…?"

"Letters. It was when I thought Sirius was in school, but he was actually fighting off Death Eaters every day. I feel so shallow for the things I wrote in it. Open it; I don't mind you reading my thoughts." Rachel stood up and walked out to find Harry.

She was helping her son-in-law clean out a particularly disgusting fireplace when she heard her daughter behind her. "Mum, I think you need to see this."

Rachel cleaned her hands off and took the book from Maria, who walked over to her husband and explained the situation as Rachel sat down in a chair. What she read shook her to her core.

July 12, 1995

Happy birthday, love. Can't believe I remembered, right? You probably also won't remember that I also have most of these letters in here memorized and that I thought about them while I was in Azkaban. I wish so much that I could come see you, but I have to focus on what I escaped to do, and I can't put you in danger. Imagine me, an escaped criminal, showing up at your door!

Plus, I've ruined one marriage of yours. You and Ethan could have been happy had I never been in the picture. Yes, I'm feeling sorry for myself. I think I deserve the right to feel a tad sorry for myself right now. I have to sit around here day after day and stare at the same thing. For the past year, I lived in caves and ate RATS and things Harry was kind enough to send to me. Being an escaped convict isn't all what it's cracked up to be!

Maybe when all of this is done, I'll pay a visit. I have my godson back (in a way), but there's another little one I've missed over these last fifteen years, and that's your Ria. I want to fix this fucked up world for those two. They don't deserve to grow up in this, and my Harry is at the core of it all. I still have plans for Ria and Harry, but we'll see how that plays out in the future, won't we? We may be in-laws, love!

Anyway, I may write another letter later, but I guess I'll go see what Remus is up to. Yeah, I'm living with that fleabag again!

I love you,

Sirius

Rachel was in tears by the time she was finished, and Harry came over and hugged her, knowing just how much this letter meant to her. He had found many reminders of his godfather throughout the house, and he had finally stopped crying at each one, but he knew that his beloved mother-in-law, or "mum," had not expected anything to be discovered for her.

"Let it out, Mum. He loved you, you know. Like I told you a few years ago, I only wish I'd have known. I'd have gotten him to you." Rachel looked in Harry's emerald eyes and smiled, knowing he was telling the truth.

"I know, love. And I appreciate it. Now, let's finish cleaning up this house; you two actually wanting to live here?"

"Gods no." Harry shuddered. "As much as I loved Sirius, I know how much he hated it here, and I have very few good memories here. Ron, however, is thinking about it; after his and Amy's honeymoon, they'll want to be away from the Burrow, and I can't think of a better wedding gift than Grimmauld Place."

Maria nodded. "Plus, I like our house. Awfully convenient to school for me."

Rachel clapped her hands. "Well then, let's get this place cleaned up then. When's Hermione and Dean coming over? We want to be sure to leave them some work to do!"

The three continued to laugh and joke the rest of the afternoon, Harry and Maria still basking in the newness of their marriage and Rachel relishing the thought that Sirius, after suffering, what she considered, the ultimate punishment for his innocence, still loved her. She knew the best way to honor his memory was to take care of his Harry and Ria, and like him, she knew if she had to, she'd die doing just that.