Chapter 21

Hermione laughed as she watched Sirius try to bend his legs in to fit in the small sled behind Elaine. He ended up folding them awkwardly in front of her before pushing off down the hill. Elaine squealed with delight. When they both stopped in a heap about ten feet in front of Hermione, and Sirius fell backwards into the snow as Elaine jumped up, crying to do it again.

"Why don't you do a few rounds by yourself, hon?" Hermione called, "I think Sirius might need a break."

Sirius rolled off the sled and Elaine grabbed it, making her way up the hill again. Sirius stood, brushing the snow off his pants, and walked over to Hermione.

When he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, she giggled, and kissed him lightly on the lips, then they turned to watch Elaine.

It was late February, and they were enjoying another day in Hogsmeade. They had just had a big snow fall, and the weather was perfect for sledding, so Elaine had asked to go. Sirius had conjured a sled, much to Elaine's delight, and had proceeded to join her in several runs down the hill, much to Hermione's surprise.

The past couple months with Sirius had been amazing. They had gotten off to a bit of a rocky start when their relationship was transitioning from friendship to romance. Sirius had been somewhat uncomfortable showing physical affection, but he had loosened up quite a bit in the last month or so after he had figured out she wasn't going to rebuff his advances.

And she had to try really hard to quell her misgivings and fear over their relationship and over losing him. She found that when she could manage to bury those thoughts, she had a lot of hope for the future.

She laughed again as Elaine made her way down the hill, much slower than before without Sirius' push off and weight to help the sled gain speed. "Once more! Then we'll go for lunch!" Hermione said. Elaine nodded and ran up the hill again.

While they watched her, Sirius said, "After lunch, I thought you two could do some shopping while I stop in at the Hogshead to talk to Aberforth."

Hermione looked over at him, "I thought you decided barkeeping wasn't your thing?" When he had brought up the subject last month, he hadn't seemed keen on the idea.

Sirius shrugged, "I have to do something. And I can't think of anything else. It wouldn't hurt to talk with him, would it?"

"No..." Hermione trailed off as Elaine ran up to them. After Sirius banished the sled, he took Hermione's hand on one side and Elaine's hand on the other and lead them to the Three Broomsticks.

Halfway through lunch, Sirius stiffened in his seat. He had just glanced over and watched his godson and his three children walk through the door, all bundled up against the cold. He glanced at Hermione, who couldn't see anything as her back was to the door.

He watched as Harry caught sight of him. Harry smiled, but then hesitated, obviously seeing Elaine sitting next to him, and Hermione's head over the back of the booth. But it was too late. Harry's youngest, Lily, not quite three, saw him too, and cried, "Unca Siri!" And ran toward him.

His relationship with Lily had always been closer than it had been with James and Albus. He had been around her whole life and she seemed to take a shine to him like the boys never had. And though they hadn't spent much time together because of Ginny's interference, little Lily was always happy to see him.

He leaned down to scoop the red-headed girl in his arms. She giggled and kissed his scruffy cheek. Sirius looked at Hermione, who was staring at him in shock. Then Harry appeared with the two older, black haired boys in tow. James, at almost eight, looked rather painfully like his namesake, having inherited his eye coloring from his fraternal grandfather. Six-year-old Albus had more Weasley coloring, though his hair was Potter black.

Harry was rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Sirius, Hermione! It's, err, it's nice to see you both."

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, looking at each of the boys and Lily in Sirius' arms, suddenly hiding her face in his neck, shy with the strangers she hadn't noticed before, "It's good to see you too," she said, sounding sincere, much to Sirius' surprise.

"Hello," Elaine predictably piped in.

Harry smiled at the girl, and Sirius made introductions.

"Are you here for lunch? You should sit with us." Elaine said, obviously excited to spend time with other children.

"Well, err..." Harry said, looking at Hermione.

"Yes, you should!" Hermione said. She looked into Sirius' eyes then, clearly looking for his approval. He smiled, and gave a slight nod. He was thrilled by her overture of peace.

"We can make room," Hermione said, sliding out of the booth to join Sirius and Elaine on the other side.

"If you're sure?" Harry asked, taking Lily from Sirius."

"I'm sure, Harry," Hermione said reassuringly.

He studied her for a moment before nodding. As they all settled into the booth, Sirius said, "Albus, Elaine is six too. That means you'll be in the same class at Hogwarts."

Albus, always a bit on the shy side, widened his eyes, looking at the girl, "Really?"

"Oh, that would be so cool!" Elaine exclaimed. Then she started chattering away at the bewildered boy.

Sirius, glad to see his attempt at ice breaking was successful, turned to Harry, inquiring as to Ginny's whereabouts. Harry shot him a look that clearly said he was aware of Sirius' real motive in asking-making sure she wasn't going to show up and catch them all together.

"She's out shopping in London with Molly. It's just me and kids today, so we thought a trip to Hogsmeade sounded fun."

The lunch went surprisingly well. Harry and Sirius kept everyone entertained with stories of their days as partners with the Aurors. And all three Potter children really seemed to enjoy talking with Elaine, who of course considered them all immediate friends.

Hermione did not join in the conversation much, but neither did she discourage it. She laughed in all the right places, and even asked Harry some questions here and there about things that had happened since she had been gone. Harry, for his part, just seemed immensely relieved that she was even talking to him, and he couldn't seem to help the smile that was perpetually plastered on his face.

When everyone was bundling up to head back outside and go their separate ways, Albus tugged on his dad's sleeve and asked, "Can I ask Elaine to play sometime?"

Harry's wide eyes shot up to Hermione's, but she just nodded. Harry, in turn, nodded down to Albus. When Albus stepped over to the girl to ask his question, Sirius couldn't help the grin that formed on his face. He put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close, heedless of Harry's curious eyes on them. He kissed her temple, then whispered in her ear a soft, "Thank you."

She smiled up at him, eyes sparkling. He knew she had done this for him. And he loved her for it, and for so much more. Perhaps it was time to tell her.