Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Harry Potter.

Remus' POV

My blindfold was beginning to itch. "Cub, you know I don't like surprises."

"Just a little longer Remmy, quit whining."

"This better not be illegal." I felt the vein in my head start to protrude as my statement was met by complete silence. "Star…"

"Okay, technically this is very illegal."

"St—"

"But from a moral standpoint, we are totally in the clear," Star added hurriedly. "Have some faith Remmy, you raised me right." I sighed. I'm going to have a full head of gray hair by the time I'm 35 at this rate.

Suddenly, my blindfold was torn off and a neglected wooden door was in my vision. "Ta-Da!" Star exclaimed.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Hate to break it to you Cub, but I have been to the Shrieking Shack a time or two."

"It's what's inside the shack," Star rolled her honey-colored eyes at me. "Here I was thinking you had to pass some sort of IQ test to be a professor."

"If that was a rule, I'm not sure that Gilderoy Lockhart would have been the professor before me."

"Fair enough," Star snorted, opening the door for me to go through.

I hesitantly stepped through, wary of the alleged illegality of the situation. I'm not sure what I expected. Perhaps a baby thestral that she had been fostering, or a wild party of students. I definitely didn't think that I'd be face to face with my best friend, staring wide-eyed and frozen.

"I'll leave you two lads to it," I heard Star say, but I was too stunned to register it as the door slammed.

"Long time no see, mate," Sirius' hoarse voice chuckled, and just like that, I was snapped back to reality. Tears stung my eyes as I gave him a watery smile, both of us lunging at each other.

"I'm so sorry," I sobbed into his shoulder. "I'm so so sorry."

"Moony, you took care of the most important thing that I didn't even know I had. I can never thank you enough."

"Still,"

"All those full moons on your own…"

I pulled away, looking at Sirius in utter awe. "Merlin, Pads, don't worry about me, you were the one in Azkaban all these years."

"I know," Sirius cracked his familiar smile that I'd been missing for 12 years. "Who knew you'd look so old!"

"You wish you aged like me," My heart quite literally did a leap as we joked like old times, falling so easily back into the swing of our old friendship.

"I dunno, are those wrinkles I see on your forehead?"

I flipped him the bird. "It's your daughter who's been causing me all this stress."

Sirius shot me a proud smile, all his teeth showing. "She's amazing, isn't she?"

Silent tears spilled down my face as I looked at him. "She's just like you two."

"I have half a mind to yell at you, you know." I gulped, knowing how badly it must be hurting him that I got to raise Star and not him. "Little birdie told me you corrupted her. My daughter! A nerd! Can you believe it?"

My face split into the widest grin that I've been able to form in ages as I wrapped him into a second hug. "You are full of surprises, you prat."

Sirius released me, his features icy. "I've got one more surprise, Moons, and it's not a good one."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "You're not gonna murder me, are you?"

"You're twisted." Sirius snorted, slapping a hand to his face. "I should just for that joke."

"C'mon, Pads, you're making me anxious."

"Moony...Peter's alive." I examined his face for a trace of mirth, but he was a perfect statue, stone cold. "The Weasley pet rat. It's him. That's why I escaped. Fudge handed me a newspaper and right on the cover, there Wormtail was. Missing a pinky. I've seen that rat hundreds of times, Moons, I'd recognize him anywhere."

"I think I'm going to be sick." My head spun as all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Slow Peter. Sweet Peter. Tag-along Peter. The one who wasn't as clever, wasn't as good looking. He'd outsmarted us and the entire wizarding world.

"I didn't tell Star, I didn't want the kids getting involved. She did mention that Ron hasn't been able to find his pet rat lately though. Moony, he can't get away. Not after what he did to Prongs. To Lily. To Harry."

"To all of us," I finished for him, a mixture of rage and sorrow burning in the pit of my stomach. "We'll find that rat and kill him. We'll prove you innocent. You and Star will be a family, you have my word."

"Us and Star. Harry too. Us against the world, Moony, just like old times."

Author's Note: That's a wrap, everyone! I just want to take a moment to say thank you to each and every one of you. Every single reader, favorite, follow, and comment meant more to me than you know. I am so grateful that you have all stuck around for my story, letting my voice be heard. I really thought that I'd have maybe one follower if I was lucky. ALSO, exciting news! I just posted a new story, called Curiosity Killed the Cat. It's from James Sirius' POV and I have big plans for it, I've been mapping out all the twists and turns of the story all week. Please check it out!!!!! Love you all!!!