Oh look! Epilogue's here. This, I think, ties up most of the loose ends, although if you're particularly eagle-eyed you'd pick up on a few plot holes. This is mainly because I started this story 6 years ago and did not keep good notes. Ah well.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed! I, for one, am extremely relieved (and satisfied) that I can finally tick this off at "complete". It's been a long journey.

6 Months Later…

When Remus arrived, the party was already in full swing.

Grimmauld Place was unrecognizable. As Remus stepped through the door, he admired the rainbow streamers that hung along the corridor and up the stairs banisters, the showers of sparkles that exploded from the corners of the living room every fifteen minutes (Hermione's spell work, without a doubt), and the giant banner that hung above the fireplace proclaiming "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" in shimmering gold. There was even Celestina Warbeck warbling in the background.

The interior of the place had even been largely (if subtly) redesigned, although to great effect. Any old remaining furniture from the Black era had been banished and replaced with sleek, modern looking pieces in polished wood, black and white. Paintings hung in every room lending pops of color, and the whole house was ten times cleaner and neater than it was six months ago. Brand new lights hung from the ceiling of every room, brightening the entire house. Remus was impressed.

Harry came up to him, holding out a goblet of firewhiskey. "It's great, isn't it?" He said, grinning happily. "I never imagined it could look this good."

Remus accepted the drink with a returning smile. "It doesn't seem quite like your work," he teased.

Harry blushed. "Draco did most of it," he admitted, and Remus had to laugh. "But I did the decorations for tonight! Well, most of it, anyway. Hermione did anything magical."

"Did I hear my name?" From behind Remus, Draco Malfoy appeared, toting a flute of champagne. "Hello, Remus."

"Draco," Remus replied, wincing at the slight awkwardness in the way the name came out. He was still getting used to using the blonde's first name, although it was getting easier every time he saw him. Harry had surprised everyone by breaking up with Ginny the day after Remus and Sirius had successfully performed the spell required to send the Death Eaters back to the Veil. Remus had not been present, but he had heard from Ron afterward that the breakup had been amicable and Ginny hadn't been all that surprised. "I don't understand women," Ron had muttered to him. "I mean, what does ´ 'it makes sense, he's always been obsessed with Malfoy' even mean? Apparently, she started getting suspicious when we told her Malfoy came over to return one of Harry's textbooks." Remus had only laughed and given Ron a comforting pat on the shoulder. The news that Harry and Draco had gone on their first date reached him only about a week later.

"I was just telling Remus that I helped with the decorations tonight," Harry said.

Remus watched as Draco slid an arm comfortably around Harry's waist. "By "help", do you mean "almost ruined"? If so, that is definitely the case."

"Hey!" Harry said, feigning indignation. "I'll have you know I hung up that banner."

"Yes, but did you make it shimmer?"

Harry opened his mouth to retort just as a swish of silver swirled into the room and a patronus in the shape of a rabbit bounded in a circle around Remus before speaking, Tonks's voice coming through clearly. "Remus. Teddy and I are back at home safe and sound. I just wanted to wish you a happy new year – and all the happiness for the year ahead." The patronus vanished.

Remus looked into his firewhisky cup and smiled briefly. Things with Tonks had improved vastly since he had opened up to her about Sirius, and she had been surprisingly understanding. Remus had moved to his own apartment, leaving Tonks the house, and Teddy alternated weeks between them. It wasn't a perfect arrangement, but Remus knew that he and Tonks would work it out.

Just as the sound of silverware tinkling on glass echoed around the room. They all looked over to the center of the living room where Sirius was now standing on the table, banging a considerably larger-than-necessary spoon against the side of his butterbeer mug.

"Attention! Ahem," he said, clearing his throat with a theatrical flourish. "We are five minutes away from the new year, and I would like to say a few words." He paused, looking around the room, coming to a stand still when he caught sight of Remus. "Ah, Moony! You've arrived, I was starting to think you were going to abandon me at the start of the new year, and that would be tragic." He held a palm to his chest dramatically.

Remus rolled his eyes, hiding a smile. He was late as he had to wait for Tonks to arrive to pick up a sleeping Teddy before he could leave. Their arrangement for new year's eve allowed Tonks to attend her own function with various members of the Ministry, then return to watch Teddy while Remus attended Harry's party.

"Anyway," Sirius took a gulp of butterbeer, and turned serious. "Look, I'm not great with speeches. But given what's happened this year—" he paused, took a slightly shaky breath, before continuing, "I never expected to live past the first war. I had accepted that I would die. When I was in Azkaban, it seemed like death was always around the corner – waiting. Being able to spend the years after I escaped with Harry was one of the few joys I had during that time"—he turned a smile to Harry—"and then, finally, I did die. And through sheer fate, I am again here, alive, with far more years behind me that I have ever, ever expected." He turned so he could look at Remus, his black eyes sharp and sincere. "The one constant through all of this has been my partner, my forever after, in every cheesy sense of the word—" here his voice wavered, and Remus found himself blinking more than necessary, "Moony, you've always been there for me, you've never failed as a friend or partner—I can only try to do my best to do the same."

Remus took a gulp of firewhisky. He was going to lose it soon if Sirius didn't switch tacks.

Luckily for him, Sirius did. "Whoops, I only meant for this to be short," Sirius said with a little choked laugh. Beside him, Remus heard Harry give an amused snort. "What I really wanted to say, was that a wise person once showed me this poem by a muggle poet called Robert Frost. It asked if all the scars you get from living was worth being alive. And I just wanted to confirm, as someone who has gotten a second chance at life – that it is definitely worth it. So thank you, to everybody in this room. I wouldn't be here – literally – without you all. Happy new year." He raised his glass and drained it.

Remus followed suit, and when he looked up, Sirius was in front of him, his smile wide as he slid his hands over Remus's hips with a lifetime's familiarity. "Hey, Moony."

"Hey Padfoot," Remus smiled. "Nice toast."

Sirius shrugged. "One of my better efforts," he grinned. "Remember the one I gave at James and Lily's bonding ceremony?"

Remus did. Sirius had been so drunk his speech had ended when he lost his balance and fell off the table, upsetting half the plates causing food and drink to go flying everywhere.

"I can't believe you remembered the poem," Remus murmured.

Sirius chuckled softly and kissed Remus lightly on the forehead. "I don't forget things about us, Moony," he said. "That was the night I knew I was in love with you."

A pleasant warmth flowed through Remus. "That was the night I knew I was in love with you, too," he said.

"Well how about that," Sirius whispered. He pressed his forehead briefly against Remus's.

From the other side of the room, Harry called out, "Ten seconds!" And Remus looked away from Sirius for a moment to watch the tempus Harry had cast tick away in the middle of the room. As the party started to shout the countdown, laughing, Remus surveyed the people around him. Harry and Draco, arms around each other, Harry's head leaning on Draco's shoulder; Ron and Hermione, snuggled together on the couch, her fingers woven into his. He smiled.

As shouts of 'happy new year!' echoed around the room, Remus turned and pressed his lips to Sirius's. For a first time in a long time, he felt completely at peace.

~END~