"Padfoot, slow down!"

"I'm walking normally, Prongs."

"Sirius, 'walking normally' is not synonymous with 'dashing through the woods at full speed'."

"Thanks for the lesson, Professor Lupin."

"You know," wheezed James when Sirius had finally outrun them. "We should tell him he can't be alone with her for most of the night."

Remus rolled his eyes. "You want to do it or shall I?" he asked sarcastically.

"Is that even a choice?"

"Prongs-

"He'll murder me in my sleep, I have to share a room with him tonight!" protested James.

"I'm not telling him anything," said Remus firmly. "And you're not sharing a room with him, your mum put him up in the spare that she was going to give me and Pete since he's not coming and I didn't mind the floor."

"She spoils him," muttered James.

Remus smiled a little. "Let her. That's the only attention he's going to be getting for a while once Sierra arrives, your parents are more excited than him."

"Her dad won't be here for Christmas, it's the least they can do," James ran a hand through his hair. "The twins might stay this year too. Good thing you don't mind the floor, we might end up sleeping in the kitchen."

Remus chuckled. "Guests don't normally spend the night, do they?"

"No, but we don't know when the party will end and considering that the Ministry is one step away from imposing curfew, it's a better idea to just have everyone leave in the morning. Thank Merlin mum and dad toned down the ball this year though."

"There are over three hundred people."

"Do you remember fifth year?"

Remus shuddered. "Unfortunately, I do. What a nightmare."

"Tell me about it. Sierra hated me for that party. Wouldn't leave my side. This year she'll have someone else to keep the blokes away."

Remus chuckled. "What's her plan for tonight? Lily mentioned that they went shopping in the morning so that means she's walking fine."

"She shouldn't be walking. She said she'll forgo the crutches tonight," James ran a hand through his hair nervously. "I had the house elves bring them over just in case. Did you remember to put that charm on the stair railing?"

"She won't fall," Remus assured him as the house came into view. "I told you, the charm acts like a sticking charm and the opposite of a jelly-legs jinx. And I added it to the walls near the doors as well in case she needs to make a quick escape. Your dad said Lockhart might be coming."

James snorted and tossed his and Remus's broomsticks to the waiting house elf near the door. "Sirius will keep him away."

"Let's just hope he doesn't hex him before the day is over."

They entered the house and were greeted by two identical shrieks of laughter, a dog's loud bark, another, softer laugh and then silence. They exchanged a look and ran for the entrance hall. Mad and Al were jumping up and down in excitement in matching pink dresses with bows in their hair. Lily was sprawled on the floor, her face ashen. Sierra was leaning against the wall with her arms folded across her chest, trying to hold back laughter.

"Girls, why don't you go see if Aunty needs help in the kitchen," she said finally. Her voice was steady but she still sounded like she was about to burst into laughter. "I'll catch up."

"Okay, sissy," said Mad. Both girls threw James and Remus brilliant smiles, chirped out a "Merry Christmas!" and then ran for the kitchen. Lily remained on the floor. Sierra caught James's eye and pointedly indicated the redhead on the floor. James blinked and offered Lily a hand. She took it automatically.

"You never told us you had a dog, James," said Sierra. Her lips twitched. "And I don't think Lily ever told us how scared to death she is of them."

Lily shook her head vehemently. "I'm not scared of dogs! I just didn't expect to see one inside. He was… big," she offered weakly. Remus turned away to hide a smile.

"Was this dog big, black and furry?" he asked gently.

Sierra snorted. "It looked like an overgrown bear cub."

James frowned. "He's, err, not supposed to be inside the house," he ran a hand through his hair and craned his neck to see up the staircase in the corner. "Oi, Padfoot!"

"He's not here?" asked Sierra. Her eyebrows shot up.

"No idea, he ran ahead of us," said James, not taking his gaze off the stairs. "He knows the, uh, dog is supposed to stay outside at all times. What a complete- SIRIUS!"

"I'm sensing some trouble in paradise," snickered Sierra. "Come on, Lils, let's get you some coffee and make sure the big bad dog doesn't come anywhere near you."

Sierra linked arms with her friend and tugged her towards the kitchen. As soon as they were out of sight, James ran for the stairs. Remus sighed and followed at a leisurely pace. Once he reached James's room, he peered inside. Sirius was running a towel through his hair, calmly listening to James's whispered version of the story.

Remus sighed. "Padfoot, that was reckless."

"They came in and I was sweaty with a broomstick in my hand," Sirius shrugged and threw the towel towards the bed. It hit James in the face. He continued talking as if nothing had happened. "I just ran for the twins but Lily yelled and fell down. I didn't even do anything."

"You're not supposed to transform like that!" hissed James through the towel. Remus rolled his eyes and snatched it off his friends face. James fixed his glasses and glared at Sirius. "You can't do it again, Padfoot. Telling them about you means telling them about Moony too!"

"Telling us what?" all three boys turned to look at the doorway. Sierra stood there leaning against the door frame. She raised an eyebrow at their expressions just as Lily joined her.

"Oh, you found them," the redhead obviously hadn't heard anything. "Hi, Sirius."

"Hey, Lily," he sounded distracted. Lily rolled her eyes and nudged Sierra, who hid her smile behind her mug of coffee.

"James, your mum is calling you downstairs," she said. James nodded and stood up. Remus followed suit, leaving Sirius alone with Sierra.

"The funniest thing just happened," said Sierra once they had left. "A dog almost ran over Lily."

"Did it?" Sirius shrugged nonchalantly and picked up the towel off the floor.

"Yeah. It looked pretty wild too," she put down her mug on James's writing table and pulled out the chair for herself. "But it also looked really familiar."

"Familiar?"

"Yeah," she sat down and raised an eyebrow at him. "I think I even told you about that dog that would sit by me near the lake."

Sirius threw the towel onto the bed and held out a hand. Sierra took it and he helped her stand up. She folded her arms across her chest when he stared unabashedly at her lips. "You have only one thing on your mind right now, don't you?"

"I don't know what you mean," he murmured. His face came closer and Sierra's eyes fluttered closed of their own accord. She couldn't help it. His arm was around her waist and his hand was running through her hair and his lips just felt so good against her own. "I have quite a few things on my mind right now," he managed to say in between kisses.

"Such as?" gasped out Sierra in one of the moments he left her mouth alone.

"The door is unlocked."

"Lock it."

"That would involve moving."

"Good point."

"I think our friends know better than to come upstairs for a while."

Sierra smiled against his lips. "True. But Mr. and Mrs. Potter don't."

Sirius froze. "That would be bad."

"It would be," she tore herself away from him and closed the door, but didn't lock it. "You need to listen to me. What was that dog?"

"It was a dog," Sirius shrugged and ran a hand though his hair. "Does it matter?"

"I've been using that dog as my personal diary for months. I need to know if its really a dog or-"

"-Or what?" Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Or me?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Sierra glared. "Does it belong to James?"

"It's a wild dog, it lives in the woods behind the house. I'm pretty sure its not the same one you saw at Hogwarts, unless it boarded the train with us last summer."

"And if it did?"

He groaned. "Then you've been using a wild dog that lives behind the house as a diary for months."

Sierra gave him a suspicious look. "If you're lying to me, Sirius Black, Merlin himself won't be able to save you from what I'll do."

"I believe you," he grinned and kissed her forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she rested her head against his chest and sighed. "But I think I need a nap. Lily dragged me all over Diagon Alley because I needed a dress that didn't make me look like a hag for tonight."

"You couldn't look like a hag even if you tried," Sirius rolled his eyes. "And you can sleep here. They're making up the other rooms for the guests tonight."

"And you get your own room?"

"Well, I'm the favourite," he smirked. "Prongs doesn't like to admit it. I heard him say him and Mooney might end up on the floor in the kitchen."

"I wonder where I'm sleeping then," said Sierra thoughtfully. "I usually stay with the twins, but if they're not coming this year then I might end up in the kitchen too."

She felt his arms tighten around her waist. "You'll stay here, I'll take the kitchen with the blokes."

"Or you could just stay here too," she felt him stiffen at her words. "Oh, for Merlin's sake, Sirius, its not like I'll molest you in your sleep."

He laughed at that. "You can molest me whenever you want," he kissed the top of her head. "I was just surprised."

"Why?"

"You had a problem with how you looked yesterday, and now you're inviting me to sleep with you."

"I'm inviting you to sleep on the floor," Sierra grinned at his confounded expression. "Well, the floor here has got to be more comfortable than the kitchen, hasn't it?"

Sirius narrowed his eyes at her. "You're evil."

"Thanks," she gave him a brilliant smile and untangled herself from his arms. "Now, get out. I'm taking that nap."

!

"You look better," Remus smiled as he brushed some fake snow off his jumper and made space for Sierra on the sofa he had been sitting on. "The twins just went to help Sirius put up decorations."

Sierra raised an eyebrow as she carefully lowered herself into the seat next to Remus. Her nap had been relaxing, but forgoing her crutches meant a slight backache. She ignored it. "I really hope they don't set the house on fire."

"Lily is supervising, don't worry."

Sierra smiled. "How are you, Remus?"

"I'm well. I should be asking you that question."

"I'm fine, honestly. I look worse than I feel."

"You look as lovely as always," the sincerity in Remus's voice was impossible to argue with, so Sierra merely smiled. "I've only ever been to one of these before, so don't think this is a stupid question, but does James's mum always insist on Muggle clothes?"

Sierra smirked. "Yeah. Why do you think James owns so many suits? She doesn't like dress robes. Neither do I, to be honest, so this is always the highlight of my year."

Remus chuckled. "I don't have a liking towards dress-robes either."

"They make me feel like a nun," Sierra huffed.

"My girl looks beautiful in anything," Sirius's voice caused goose bumps to form at the back of Sierra's neck and his warm breath tickled her skin. She turned back to grin at him, then blushed when Remus chuckled warmly and excused himself from the room. Sirius winked and took his friend's empty seat, tugging Sierra closer so she could rest her head against his chest.

Sierra rolled her eyes playfully. "Don't be such a charmer, Sirius Black. I am far from beautiful right now."

"As long as you continue to strike fear into the hearts of men, you're still you and therefore you're still beautiful," Sirius grinned and leaned down, catching her lips in a soft kiss. He tasted like peppermint. Sierra hummed in pleasure and angled her body to the side so she wasn't bending her neck too much. In doing so, her shirt rode up slightly, and Sirius's warm fingers caressed her bare stomach fleetingly. She attempted to pull back immediately, but he didn't let her. "Don't be scared of me," he murmured against her lips. Sierra closed her eyes tightly and turned her face away, but he merely started pressing kisses to the rest of her face. "I don't care what you look like, Sierra, I promise." Sierra didn't open her eyes. He sighed when her rigid posture didn't slacken. "Okay, I'm sorry," he tugged on a lock of her hair. "Do I get a kiss for good behaviour?"

Sierra's lips twitched. "Maybe. When will you start behaving?"

Sirius ignored her and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth. He sighed. "You don't have to be afraid of what I'll think."

"I'm not," lied Sierra. She leaned her head against his chest once again and pretended to absently play with his fingers. "What's your plan for tonight anyway? James said you always skip out on the party early."

"I go where you go," he entwined their fingers and added teasingly, "Somebody's got to keep the blokes away, right?"

Sierra rolled her eyes. "Yes, of course. I imagine I'll be very desirable in my cast."

"You will be," Sirius stifled a yawn with his free hand, and Sierra looked up at him in concern. He grinned sheepishly. "Rough night."

"You should have taken that nap instead of me."

"Nah. I'll be fine."

Sierra poked his side. "Shut up and get your arse upstairs. I'll wake you when James's mum comes yelling."

"But I want to stay with you," whined Sirius. He buried his face into her hair and wound his arms tighter around her, causing Sierra to giggle. "You avoided me for weeks. I'm allowed to be slightly clingy."

"Slightly?" Sierra asked teasingly. "You're everywhere I go!"

"As it should be," Mrs. Potter's voice caused Sierra to jump and attempt to push Sirius off of her. Considering her conversation with her only yesterday, she didn't want to be teased within an inch of her life so soon.

Sirius merely swatted her hand away and rested his chin on top of her head, throwing James's mother a cheeky grin. "Hey, mum."

"Hello, darling," she gave him a brilliant smile that warmed Sierra's heart. The Potters' treatment of Sirius always made her love them even more. "I hope you're not harassing her too much."

"Not too much," said Sierra before Sirius could answer. "He's quite well-behaved when he wants to be."

"Too bad he still isn't house-broken," Mrs. Potter winked at the two teenagers and went off to the kitchen, leaving behind a giggling Sierra and an affronted Sirius.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN AWAY AND I'M SO SORRY I FEEL TRULY AWFUL but I went through a "I can't kill these characters I won't survive Sirius' death again" phase which prompted me to give up all thoughts of this story and now I just belted out 2500 words in less than two hours so I guess its safe to say I'm back...?

I'll be revisiting this story and making a list of all the sub-plots I had started, if you have any comments etc. or even loads of hate (which I deserve) please leave a review so I know I still have some people willing to put up with me! I will be more regular now, maybe once a week or once every two weeks I'll try to give you guys something! Much love xx