A/N~ So, this actually isn't the same person as usual. . . we're at bagpipe camp. This is her roommate (who is NOTHING like Emilia. Nope. Nothing.) We took turns writing this chapter. Some delicious haggis for anyone who reviews! :D

The house was small, the blue paint just beginning to peel. The Headmistress unlatched the gate and led the Potters up to the front porch. "This is where Sirius is hidden?" Hermione asked in an undertone. McGonagall nodded as Harry knocked on the door. "She was in training to be a Healer when some. . . unforeseen circumstances arose. "

The door was opened by a younger woman wearing jeans and a dark sweater. Her long, brown hair was pulled back into a braid, and her expression was unfriendly.

"Yes?" she asked.

McGonagall stepped forward. "Good evening, Emilia."

The woman's expression relaxed. "Oh, hello. You must be here to see Sirius?"

"Yes." The Headmistress said as the party filed into the house. "This is Mr. Harry Potter, Sirius is his godfather, and the family."

"Well, come in, then."

The main room was cluttered with the evidence of several unfinished projects. Hermione's gaze was attracted by a basket filled with balls of yarn and half of a blanket. Remus and Albus immediately wandered over and began to pull on the yarn, undoing the half-finished project.

"He's in the back bedroom," explained Emilia, as she led them in. "I think he's doing better. He ate a bit of something this morning." She lightly rapped on a partially open door and poked her head in. "Sirius? There's someone to see you. Well, several someones, actually." She turned back to McGonagall, Harry, and Hermione, who were staring at her with a mixture of apprehension and eagerness. "Come on."

As he entered the room, Harry suddenly felt like he had been hit in the stomach. The man lying in the bed was Sirius, all right. But he looked like he had when he had just broken out of Azkaban. His face, framed by his shaggy dark hair, was almost as white as the pillow. His eyes seemed sunk into his skull, and there were deep shadows around them. Harry didn't know how long he stood there, staring, but sooner or later he realized that Sirius was staring back, his eyes shining brightly out of his worn face.

"Harry," came the pathetic croak that was Sirius' voice.

The next moment, Harry had crossed the small room and thrown his arms around his godfather, both of them awash in tears. Hermione and Emilia were crying too, and even McGonagall dabbed at her eyes.

Emilia suddenly seemed to realize that she was intruding on their moment, and she stumbled toward the door, blushing. "I. . .I'll just make us a cup of tea, then. . ." She raced out. Sirius followed her with his eyes until the door banged shut behind her, smiling slightly.

Harry watched him with interest. "Sirius, you aren't. . . I mean, you and her, you don't. . ."

Sirius shrugged and tried to sit up. "Don't know what you're talking of."

Harry smiled. "Well, she seems like a nice girl, and you're-"

The glare that he received was fierce enough to silence him. "Harry, I've been dead, or close enough, for three years. I'm not going to have a wife on my mind right now."

"Alright then" Harry said smirking. If he knew his godfather, that's what would be on his mind eventually.

"So, you have some people to introduce me to, I believe." Sirius' eyes raked over Hermione very briefly giving her a warm smile, and eventually landed on Remus, who was sitting in Hermione's lap, sniffling because Albus had been too rough with him.

"Hold on, then." Harry got up and left the room for a few seconds, before he came back Albus tightly secured in his arms. The boy was making desperate attempts to escape his father's grasps. Well, he was until he got a look a Sirius. The gaunt man's features frightened the child and he buried his face in Harry's chest. Albus might act like the tough one, but he certainly was just as prone to nightmares as his brother. Harry chuckled and sat into the chair next to Hermione.

Sirius' eyes had widened as Harry walked in with another boy. "Wow, someone's been busy, haven't they?"

Hermione threw a sarcastic glare at him and said, "Sirius, this is little Remus James Potter, and sitting in Harry's lap is Albus Arthur Potter." Sirius' eyes twinkled at the names of Harry and Hermione's sons. She continued. "Boys, I'd like you to say hello to Sirius Black. He's your daddy's godfather."

"You mean like Uncle Ron and Uncle Draco?" smart little Remus interjected.

"Yeah, exactly like that," Harry explained as he watched Albus take a peek at Sirius.

Noticing the boy's uneasiness, Sirius flashed him a smile. It wasn't going to win any Witch Weekly Most-Charming-Smile awards, but the boy responded with his own goofy grin.

"You know, Albus, you look a lot like your father." Sirius attempted a conversation with the two-and-half year old.

Albus, apparently no longer scared, jumped out of Harry's lap and climbed up into Sirius' bed and sat next to him, allowing the man to stroke his soft black hair. "Mommy tells me that alla time. An' then she thanks Merlin that me'n Remmy not look the same."

Hermione laughed and buried her head in her hands, slightly embarrassed by his actions.

Harry chuckled and ruffed the boy's hair. He turned to Sirius. "So, when you get better, I want you to move in with me. I've got a house with plenty of rooms. You can stay in the guest room; it has its own bathroom and everything. And also anti-child locks"

The boys were now running around the room, causing mayhem as was usual.

"I'd be glad to Harry. I'll just have to check with Emilia. I can probably come over next week."

At the mention of her name, Emilia walked in the room carrying a try with a pot of tea and several cups on it.

"Would you like a cuppa?" she asked, her Scottish brogue apparent, but not as pronounced as McGonagall's was.

After pouring tea for everyone, Emilia sat down and turned towards Harry. "So, Mr. Potter, what do you do?"

"You can call me Harry." He said quickly. "And I'm starting a new job September 1st. I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts."

Emilia open her mouth with a smile to reply, but another voice responded instead. "Are you really? Harry, that's wonderful!" Sirius' voice quieted when he noticed Emilia's stern frown in his direction. He blushed, "Sorry, Em."

Harry grinned at this. "Em, eh?" He turned laughing to Emilia.

"Only Sirius calls me that." She shot a teasing glare at the bed-ridden jokester, but Harry noticed her cheeks turned pink again.

Hermione's voice filled the awkward silence that followed this remark. "Oh, Emilia. We've invited Sirius to come live with us. Is that alright with you?"

"Oh . . .Of course. I mean. . .I'm just keepin' an eye on him, until he recovers a bit. Nothin' more." The brown haired woman looked disheartened. Hermione, sensing the root of the problem quickly added, "And you could come and visit as often as you liked. Plus, I'll need your help to take care of the old man."

"Ms. Granger-" Sirius began. Hermione stopped him however, waving her wedding band in the air.

"Right. Sorry. Let me start over. Mrs. Potter, in no way am I an old man. In fact I think being stuck behind the veil decreased my age a tad. I feel no older than 30."

Harry studied his godfather. Upon closer examination, if Sirius filled out a bit, got some color in him, and cleaned and cut his hair, he would look much younger than he had the last summer Harry had seen him all those years ago. It looked as if Sirius' words were true.

Harry also caught the haggard man smiling genuinely at Emilia. No matter how much his godfather tried to deny it, he was definitely getting involved with the girl, and he deserved it.