"Checkmate. Moony, you aren't even trying," Sirius's voice interrupted the daze Remus had settled in.

The werewolf was exhausted; the full moon was two nights ago, and Christmas was tomorrow. They had Harry, Ron, and Hermione with them… along with most of the Weasley brood. Molly felt it was only appropriate to have everyone stay at Grimmauld Place while Harry wanted to spend time with Sirius… he couldn't blame her.

"Pads, I am done," The werewolf grumbled and settled back in his chair.

Sirius gave him a sympathetic glance and then followed his gaze to the three children huddled together. Ron was talking about Quidditch with Harry as Hermione was going over their next terms books. Her quill was racing across the parchment as she took private notes on transfiguration.

"They are quite a set. Remind you of us a bit, doesn't it?" Sirius questioned, and Remus grunted softly.

"They are better than us, Pads. Look at them closely. See how they fit together so nicely… makes you wish you could do it all again, doesn't it?"

"Ronald, don't you have something better to do than to eat like a bottomless pit," Hermione retorted as she wiped crumbs off her page.

"Hermione, there is nothing wrong with how I eat. My mum says all my brothers were like that," Ron snickered, and Harry slid from between them.

"That isn't a proper excuse. At least grab a plate," Hermione snarled and pulled her books out of his range.

"Well, excuse me. Not everyone is bloody perfect," Ron spat at her and waved the biscuit in his hand wildly.

Hermione heaved and closed her eyes before shutting her book with an audible snap. She proceeded to stand up and march from the room, her curls bobbing with her footfalls as she disappeared from sight. Remus saw the look of pain she wore on her face as she left, making his heart knot slightly.

"Maybe not, that little witch would give us a run for our money," Sirius whispered and settled back in his seat.

"It would be worth it. She is far more intelligent than anyone credits her." Remus murmured, and the animagus sent him an arched eyebrow in reply.

"So, are we actually going to talk about this tonight or are you going to make like it is nonexistent again?"

The werewolf indeed ignored his friend and picked up the book on the table. "I heard that Arthur is in better shape. We should be able to take them to go see him by Christmas."

"Moony, what gives?" Sirius hissed, and Remus's gaze was fierce as he took in his friend's expression.

"This, Sirius, will never be a topic of concern. The case is very much closed and basted up nicely. I refuse to ever speak about what could possibly be another horrific reminder of my lack of humanity."

Sirius Black wasn't entirely sure when his friend's endearment for the teenager started, but he was right, he wasn't allowing anything to breach his decency. It eased the animagus and the urgent warning bells in his mind were receding. They had started chiming after a late night of confession both marauders were giving last night.

Sirius with his worry that he would never surmise as a good godparent… and Remus with his admission to the teenage girl being a potential mate. It was a disaster. Sirius saw the look of loathing the werewolf had when he confessed. It ruined him and made the doubt in his heart about himself grow.

Werewolves. Such fickle beasts as Sirius would grow to find out through their years together. Unfortunately for them, they rarely found solace in partnerships. While the human could be satisfied, the beast would claw and bite. Mates weren't entirely unusual, being as one wild being speaks the language of another. If the girl were a werewolf, they would be of a similar nature, no doubt. However, she was a girl and him a grown man and former professor… it was not correct under any standard of life.

Still. Sirius felt empathy for his Lycanthropy ridden friend. It was hard enough to come to terms with a vicious illness, but to see a being of equal measure not within grasp was a hard thing to swallow. He would just have to find what he sought in someone else; it could be possible. At least Sirius prayed to any deity, magic or otherworldly inhabitant that it would be.

"I am going to check on the poor witch," Sirius said after their pregnant pause.

Remus continued to read his book and listened to Molly reprimand Ron for being so rude. Hermione went out to the garden to cry about what was apparently another slight by her friend. The boy was a fool not to see she was a bit keen on him.

Sirius strolled outside and pulled out a pack of stale cigarettes as he glanced around the overgrowth. "Merlin, this place looks like my appearance after Azkaban," He said, passing her but knowing she would come out from hiding when she was ready.

The animagus lit his cigarette and took a deep drag before sighing. It was a beautiful brisk night and thoughts of him, and Regulus playing in the snow erupted in his mind. He would never admit it out loud, but the ghost of his brother followed him as he lived here.

"I wasn't crying," She said with an indignant tone as she crawled out from hiding.

He turned and raised an eyebrow at her. "I didn't come out here for you, little witch. I came out here for the stimulating conversation with the night."

She approached him and glanced back at the door before speaking. "He can be so frustrating. They both are frustrating. Harry barely listens to me, and Ron never does," Hermione responded with a toss of her hair.

Sirius's lips curled, and he shrugged his shoulders. "Boys are quite dunderheads at their age, Hermione. It is a curse you witches place upon yourself," The animagus confessed with a cock of his head; much like his furrier self.

She snagged his cigarette and took a small puff; her face looked exasperated when she blew out her ragged breath. "Those are awful, Sirius." She choked as she handed it back to him. "I have a friend back home who used to sneak cigs into the garden with me this last summer. Don't give me that look," her voice was scratchy from the cigarette.

"So you sneak cigs and apparently break the rules at Hogwarts… you are far more like a marauder and less of a Head Girl than I thought." He teased her, and she huffed.

"Everyone deserves a secret of their own. I share almost everything with them. It sometimes is nice to feel normal and have a secret."

Sirius took another deep drag and slanted his head. "Everyone does."

"I just said that," She replied and Sirius smiled at her. "Why does that surprise you?" Hermione giggled at his perplexed expression.

"Just enjoying the fact that some things never change. Gryffindors will always break the rules. Sometimes for courage, sometimes for the heart, most of the time it is just a moment for declaration," Sirius mused and the warmth of memories cascaded over him.

"Smoking is hardly either," Her voice was curt as she folded her arms against her chest. "Why did you look so lost when you stepped out here?"

He took another drag and shrugged his shoulders. "I have more memories than I wish to have in this house," Sirius stated with a sway of his head.

Her frame altered and he could see the empathy she held for him. "I am sorry you are shut away here, Sirius. If we had another choice, I am sure we would give it to you. It isn't right for you to feel so out of sorts after this long," Hermione responded with her bottom lip jutted forward a little.

She was charming, and he knew that. He quite liked her when she wasn't yelling and recognized that she would make any wizard a delighted man when she grew into her confidence. "Thank you, but I am not your responsibility. I only ask that you make sure my godson stays safe. I worry about him," Sirius said while shifting on his feet.

Her smile was genuine when she patted his arm, and her head bobbed. "Always, Sirius. I love Harry like the brother I never had," Hermione smirked and rocked on her heels.

"You are too young to worry about this much in life. I wish it didn't have to be like this. You, Harry and Ron, should never have to worry about dying at this age. It unsettles me. We should be sheltering you from evils of this world; not put you all on the forefront," Sirius grumbled, running a hand through his knotted waves.

Her face scrunched, and her hands shoved deeply into her jumper pockets. "We do what we must, we all do. This is the reality we have to live with. I promise I'll take care of him, Sirius. Harry needs us," Hermione responded with a bob of her head.

He reached out and tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "I know, but I wish it could be different. It is an adult's worse fear when the next generation, our children, have to fight a battle not won by us," The animagus rumbled with a scowl.

Her cheeks grew pink even in the waning moonlight. "We can do this, Sirius. I won't let Harry down and neither will you," Hermione affirmed, staring up at the ragged wizard.

He lingered a touch longer than he should have but abruptly pulled his fingers away before finishing his cigarette. "Well, we will definitely try."

"Sirius?"

He glanced back at the disheveled garden, not chancing a look at her as he hemmed. "Yes, Hermione?"

"I hope when all of this is over… you can find your happiness too. Harry told me of you living together, and I just wish it could happen sooner. We will make sure you never have to be locked up again."

Sirius did end up turning to see the girl looking at him with wide, glittering eyes. "I know. That is why you three are so very special. Never forget how remarkable each and every one of you are. That means you as well; not many can say they are as intelligent as her professors."

That last word made Hermione flinch a bit and turn her gaze back to the house. "Well, almost every one of them." She replied and snapped her vision back with tinted cheeks. "I am going to go in for some hot chocolate, did you want me to make you a cup?"

"Yes, please. Make Moony one too? He will feel put out if you don't." Sirius wanted to kick himself, but she just smiled and gave him a motion of agreement.

Hermione cleared her throat and scuffled some of the snow with her shoe. "Thank you, Sirius. I know you came out here to make me feel better and you accomplished that." She soon pivoted and left the animagus to ponder.

Things would have been entirely different if he could have it. No missing James on nights to celebrate or nights to be somber. No feeling captive by memories or sadness of a life long lived in misery and darkness. Mostly, no more dark in the latter half of his life. If it were simple enough, he would hoard all of his loved ones away from the bubbling of dread that was consuming him.

There was a stirring in the air as he watched the two phantom boys playing in the snow. The innocence was stripped from him in such an aggressive vengeance that he forgot what empathy felt like from others. He could see now the devastation of a world to come if things did not grow sweet like honeysuckle in summer once again.

He wanted to toss rocks at the vision, clear it from his mind because as soon as the boys would succumb to their laughter and joy, his mother would be along. She would punish them for it, and it would be another lousy image amongst the rare pleasures he had as a child here.

His mind did not waver on its own accord. It tormented him with the rare possibilities that maybe he did suffer enough to find that content peace. He and Remus could seek a semblance of normalcy after all of this. It was possible, wasn't it? He grew the courage to physically shake himself out of his mind so he could trek back into the house of silent horrors once again to brave it for his godson and all those that counted on him.