Summer was coming to an end, and the kids would be off to Hogwarts again tomorrow. It was going to be very hectic, considering the amount of kids sleeping over that night. Jason was sleeping on the couch, since he needed to side-along apparate with Stella in the morning. Dean was staying in the boy's room, Austin and Adam were sleeping in Bella's room (with the door open, due to Sirius' demands), and Gabby and Kaylee were sleeping in Livia's room. Kaylee didn't typically stay over with her siblings, but her parents were on vacation, so she had to. She loved Stella's company anyway, though.

Between Dean, Gabby, and the twins, there were always sleepovers going on at Shell cottage. Sirius and Stella didn't mind though, they knew they'd miss it when the kids went back to school.

The next morning was one word. Chaotic.

"Do you have your bag?"

"I was supposed to pack?!"

"Have you seen my wand?"

"Where's my left shoe!"

"Ah! Watch it, Livie! That curling iron is freakin hot!"

"Sorry!"

"Can I have more pancakes?"

"Dean took my bacon!"

"Would somebody please tell Austin that bed head is not in style?"

"Your hair is identical to mine!"

"You'd have to take that one up with James."

"Stella! Bella hit me!"

"Tattle."

"Bully."

"Kiss up."

"Still looking for that shoe…"

"Pancakes are done!"

"I changed my mind, I want eggs instead."

"Ew!"

"What?"

"She cracked an egg on my head!"

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

"Not funny!"

"I beg to differ."

"Why is there an egg on Sirius' head?"

"Cause your sister is mean."

"Which one?"

"Stella."

"I figured."

"What's my history of magic book doing on the ceiling fan?"

"You threw it up there."

"Oh yeah!"

"Five more minutes."

"Everybody ready?"

"No!"

"Too bad."

The huge group apparated to Kings Cross and said their goodbyes to the kids. As soon as the train pulled away, Stella and Sirius went back home.

"Glad to have that over with." Stella sighed.

"Me too, but I'll miss them." Said Sirius.

"Ditto." Stella nodded.

Two weeks later, Stella got an interesting letter from Olivia.

Dear Stella,

Bella wanted to write you and fill you in this week, but insisted that I would because I'm sure she'd be leaving out the most important part. First of all, you were right! She made seeker for the quidditch team, she was thrilled. The twins made beaters, and there was victory party for the new recruits in the Gryffindor tower. Dom invited me, but me and Gabby got caught up in the library. We've got to be prepared for whatever tests they throw at us, you know. Anyway, here's the best part. Austin finally asked Bella out. And she said yes! She was surprised, I could tell. But he's liked her since second year, or maybe even first. I don't know, but I could tell from the moment I met him. She's just as oblivious as you sometimes, haha.

I've been good, nothing too new around here. Just hanging out with Gabby. She says hi, by the way. How are you and Sirius doing? Did Lily pick a date for her wedding yet? Make sure I'm off school whenever it is; I already bought a dress!

Jason's been fine. He's still friends with the Slytherins, but not the death eaters, luckily. They seemed to have turned on him, thank Godric. He's been hanging out with a blonde Slytherin girl in his year, I think her name is Chloe. She seems to have a crush on him. I've never talked to her in person, but I've heard she's alright for one of them. A bit snobby, though.

Nicky's been getting close with a girl, too. She has curly black hair, tan skin, and brown eyes. She's really sweet, too. He name is Angelina; I think she reminds him of Lola… She's been good for him, though. I haven't seen him smile so much in a long time.

Dominic's off to his usual start as a player, he and Dean have already started their ridiculous 'who can snog the most girls in a month' competition. Dom's already 14 ahead. Boys are such pigs…

Got to go, it's time for dinner. Everyone sends their love. Write back soon!

~Olivia xoxoxo

"Livia wrote to me." Stella told Sirius as they reported to auror training.

"Yeah? How they doing?" he asked.

"Great. Bella and the twins made the team, and Austin asked her out."

"Well that's the end of those two sharing a room!" Sirius exclaimed.

Stella giggled. "You're such a dad. Oh, and the boys are all off to a good start with the ladies. Even Nicky. Dom's dating around, as usual."

"Like sister like brother." Sirius rolled his eyes.

Stella narrowed her eyes. "I was thinking more along the lines of him being like you."

"Me?" Sirius gasped.

"Well I don't go around snogging random girls!" Stella defended.

Sirius cocked and eyebrow. "I wouldn't complain if you did."

Stella crinkled up her nose in disgust. "You're a wanker, you know that?" That only earned her a wink from him. She could have gotten mad, but she just laughed it off. You learn to do that when you're best friends with boys for years.

"Whatcha doing?" Sirius asked, peeking over Stella shoulder.

"Writing Liv back." Stella replied.

"What'd she say?"

"Not much, just the usual updates. She mentioned your brother." Stella told him.

"Oh?" Sirius cocked and eyebrow. "What about him?"

"He made seeker for the Slytherin team. I had no idea he even liked quidditch." She said.

"Neither did I…he sure waited long enough to try out."

"I suppose he was waiting for a seeker spot to open up." Stella reminded him.

"Oh, right. He'll be playing Bella, then."

Stella inhaled a sharp breath.

"What's wrong?" Sirius said, not missing a trick.

"It's nothing." Stella shook her head.

"Tell me." Sirius demanded. He sighed. "He said something to her, didn't he?"

"He shoved her off her broom before the game started." Stella breathed. Sirius' fist clenched, and she put her hand over his to calm him. "But she was only a foot up, she didn't get hurt. Austin was pissed, but…she's fine. Really."

"Good. I wouldn't want my own brother's death on my hands." Sirius told her.

"You're really protective over her, aren't you?" Stella smiled.

"She reminds me so much of you." He answered.

Stella didn't know what to make of that, so she let the matter drop.

"I've got it!" A new voice shouted. Sirius and Stella spun around to see Lily coming out of the fireplace, pulling James behind her.

"Last time I checked James was a he." Stella corrected her.

"Not him, the date!" Lily exclaimed.

"It's the 22nd, I believe. Right, Roomie?" Sirius.

"Right indeed, Roomie!" Stella grinned back.

"Oh, shut up, you two!" James yelled, exasperated. "Let my wife-to-be finish her sentence!"

"Thank you." Lily smiled. "I've got the perfect date for our wedding!"

"Well?" Sirius asked.

"Well what?" Lily raised her eyebrows.

"Tell us the date already!" Stella deadpanned.

"Oh! July 11th. I think it's perfect…It's a Saturday, and the kids will be out of school, so they can come. It just has a nice ring to it all together." Lily explained.

"It is perfect." Stella smiled. "And Livia will be happy, she already bought her dress."

"Awh!" Lily grinned.

"We have to go spread the news; we had to come here first, of course. You guys should stop by for dinner tonight. We're ordering pizza." Said James.

"Count us in!" Stella ands Sirius said in unison.

"See you, later then!" Lily waved as they apparated out.

"Well, that was productive." Sirius said. Stella nodded.

"Did you read the paper today?" Stella overheard someone say in the office. This was her least favorite part of auror training, filing records. She preferred field work by far.

"No, what happened?" a woman asked.

"A Slytherin student from Hogwarts was killed for defying the dark lord."

Stella's heart stopped upon hearing this. She took a deep breath and stood up, running over to the man who was talking about the paper.

"What was the kid's name?" Stella demanded.

"Excuse me?" The man asked, confused.

"The student who got killed! What was his name?" she snapped. She could feel her heart beating faster and faster.

"I-I can't think of it off hand." He stuttered, taken aback by her threatening voice.

"Think harder." She hissed.

"Er…Black something…Romoulus…Ra..Regulus. That was it." The man recalled.

For a split second, Stella almost smiled, her heart fluttering with relief that it wasn't her brother. But it was gone as fast as it had come. It was Sirius' brother.

She sprinted down the hall and to the main office. "Have you seen Mr. Black?"

The secretary looked up quickly at the frantic voice. "Um…yes. I believe he took of a few minutes ago, he didn't even remember to check out."

Stella nodded thanks, too worried about Sirius to bother with polite words. She apparated home, relieved to see that he was there.

"Hey…I heard what happened." She said quietly, walking up behind him. Silence. "I'm so sorry, Sirius." More silence. "They're saying he defied Voldemort, you know…at least he regained his honor. That's how I would want to go."

"He finally saw sense." Sirius whispered, so low it was barely audible. "And then they killed him for it."

"I know." Stella breathed, not knowing what to say. She put a comforting hand on his shoulder; hoping actions really did speak louder than words.

"He was just a kid!" Sirius cried; his voice cracking. "I was his older brother; I was supposed to protect him!"

"There was nothing you could have done, Sirius." Stella assured him.

"I could have been there for him. You're always there for your brothers! Even when they mess up…even when they make bad choices…you don't turn your back on them. I did! It's all my fault." He ranted.

"Sirius, listen to me." She ordered. "This is not your fault. The only one at fault is the one who did that to him. You didn't do anything wrong. He wouldn't want you to blame yourself; he'd want you to avenge him."

"I will." Sirius nodded. "I swear, I will."

Stella nodded. "Me too."