Sirius stood outside the house as he smoked a cigarette and shifted in his coat. He was more nervous than a baby hippogriff near water. Harry, Hermione, and Ginny, with the kids, went in and told Andromeda the news. It made him anxious.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes," the smooth feminine voice chimed.
Sirius turned around and smiled as he puffed on the cigarette. "Hello, Andy."
Andromeda had aged overnight. Her face had crow's feet and some greys tangled in her dark hair. However, her eyes were warm as she approached and touched his cheek.
"My darling, favorite cousin. I missed you," she sighed.
Sirius smiled and breathed. "Not as much as I missed you."
Andromeda pulled his face to her and kissed his forehead. "My heart is lighter today."
There was feminine laughter with children's giggles that came from the open door. Sirius was smiling as he gazed off toward it as Andromeda watched. It was easily identifiable as Hermione's voice, and Sirius tilted his head as he attempted to listen to her chatting.
"How has my darling girl been treating you? I know she's taken a bit of your flair since the war ended," Andromeda voiced.
Sirius looked back at her and hummed. "She's stellar. What do you mean by my flair?"
"That girl thinks she can hide from me that she's running, but I'm still a Black," Andromeda declared with an elegant wave of her hand.
Sirius smoked and exhaled into the air before smiling. "I know, and I promise I'm working on it, Andy."
She arched an eyebrow as her nose wiggled. "I will trust you, Sirius."
"Under what condition?" he chuckled.
"That you take care of yourself as well," Andromeda touched his chest. "She's thorny, Sirius. Don't try for something simple."
Sirius wrapped his arm around her before stomping out the cigarette in the gravel. "Oh, don't I know it. She's thorny, hard to grasp, and a pain in the arse. But she's also soulful and kind."
Andromeda smiled up at him as they walked toward the house. "My, cousin, you sound enraptured."
Sirius snorted as they reached the door. "Don't be foolish, cousin. We both know that I," he stopped dead.
The view into the house was with the sitting room to the left. Sirius had a full view of the young boy with teal-colored hair embracing and kissing the witch in question as she sat on the floor. Hermione was beaming as she held him, and her face was serene with her eyes closed.
Sirius wasn't positive about how he felt.
"She spent her first few years here with us, running off on the weekends doing Merlin knows what," Andromeda whispered as they stood away from the room. "But she always made time for him."
Sirius pulled Andromeda to the other end of the hallway toward what seemed to be the kitchen. "Andy, tell me something. Why did she stop coming as much?" He voiced in a hushed tone.
Andromeda sighed as she waved her hand. "I'm not sure, Sirius. She has become so withdrawn, and it's a shame. No one can reach her, much as you used to be."
"Used to," Sirius snorted with a nod. "I know."
"There's something quite different about you," Andromeda said as her brow tightened. "Sirius, my darling, do you remember dying?"
She was the first person to ask. It surprised Sirius, but not that she asked. He was more shocked that no one wanted to know. His fingers caressed his facial hair as his shoulders bounced. "I remember very little, but then warmth. A warmth like nothing I've ever experienced that felt calm. Then I woke up in that dark room with the curtain and wandered in the ministry until that witch tossed me into a wall and threatened my life if I moved," he finished with a smile.
Andromeda stifled a giggle while shaking her head. "She is quite formidable. I do love that about her."
"Me too," Sirius chuckled.
"Let's go see my grandson?"
Sirius breathed and nodded as they moved toward the sitting room once again. When they approached, Hermione was on the floor, coloring with James and Teddy. She was on her stomach and swaying her feet back and forth with the bend of her knees.
"Aunt Hermione, can we go play in the field today?" Teddy inquired as he glanced over at her.
She rocked her head. "Whatever your heart's desire is, Lovely."
Sirius entered the room, and Hermione turned with a bright grin. Teddy's brilliant green eyes shot to the man, and he ducked by Hermione. The boy whispered to her, and she looked at him. "Don't worry," she declared and caressed his cheek.
Hermione climbed to her feet as Harry stood up from the sofa next to Ginny. The two adults looked at each other, and then Hermione scooped up the boy in front of her.
"Sirius," Harry started as he took a step toward him. "This is Edward Remus Lupin."
"Teddy, this is your Uncle Sirius. The one I wrote in the book," Hermione whispered loud enough to be heard.
Teddy glanced up at her, then stepped next to Harry, taking his hand. "Hello, Uncle Sirius," he murmured.
Sirius smiled and ducked down, keeping a fair distance from the shy boy. "You remind me so much of your daddy. You know, he was probably one of my favorite people on this planet."
"Are the stories all true, Uncle Sirius?" Teddy asked as his expression morphed to curiosity.
"All of them. Even the ones you don't know about, yet, kid," Sirius smirked as he bobbed his head.
Teddy approached him and touched his cheek. Sirius saw so much of his best mate in the young boy. It was the rumbling emotion that rolled over him. Teddy tilted his head and then smiled.
"I had a dream about you once, Uncle Sirius," he said.
Sirius huffed on his chest, tightening and pulled the child in for a hug. "Me too, Teddy boy. I dreamed about you too."
Teddy hugged him tightly as Sirius glanced up at Hermione. She displayed the emotion he felt as tears trailed down her perfect cheeks with a curl to her lips. 'Thank you,' Sirius mouthed and then closed his eyes to relish the hug.
Teddy pulled away and smirked. "Uncle Sirius, do you like hotcakes?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do," Sirius grinned.
"I think now would be a perfect time for food," Andromeda said as she stepped toward the witch.
Hermione embraced her and bobbed her head. "Yes, I can get it started right away," she voiced while clearing her face.
Her sleeves were rolled up as Hermione started the hotcakes. Her multitasking skills were impressive without magic. She did it all by hand, and Sirius loved watching her mind work. Ginny, Harry, and Andromeda were prattling about things while the children were busy with toys or books. Sirius watched.
Hermione turned to the stove and began cooking the bacon. Had Sirius admitted to ogling before? No, he'd been pretty decent about keeping his eyes to himself, but her arse in those leggings looked delicious.
"Love, why don't you ask my cousin to help," Andromeda voiced.
Sirius blinked over at her grinning that particular 'Black' smile. The secret smile that held so many things within. He wasn't entirely surprised but felt embarrassed to be caught.
"Only if he wants," Hermione said as she fried the meat.
Sirius jumped up and slid off his coat. "Love, of course, I'll help. You're feeding the entire quidditch team."
"So, Ron told me you were out with Pansy the other night, Hermione," Ginny declared.
Sirius reached the witch, and she smiled at him. "Yeah, Gin. She was having a hard time, and I decided to assist."
"Why don't you ever take me out?" Ginny asked with a tease to her tone.
"You never ask," Hermione smirked back at the table.
Sirius delicately moved her aside and gestured to the bowls. Hermione nodded and began working on the mix as he smiled over at her. The witch replicated his warm expression and bummed her hip against him as they worked in the kitchen together.
"Aunt Hermione, can we go to the zoo next weekend?" Teddy questioned.
"Of course, my lovely," Hermione replied.
Sirius began flipping the bacon, and Hermione reached around him for a measuring cup. The position she ducked into around his arms made him grin like a schoolboy. Sexy. So, sexy. When did domestic chores make him randy to get this witch naked? He knew he had to get a grip on his old nature here soon.
A voice cleared around the chatter as Hermione returned to her task. "Sirius, are you still interested in going to Molly's tonight?" Harry asked.
Sirius glanced back and rocked his head. "Yes, of course, kid."
"Can we go, Grandmother?" Teddy asked.
"Yes, of course," Andromeda smiled.
"I'm going to drag Aunt Hermione along and make her miserable," Sirius chuckled as he winked at the excited boy.
"Absolutely not," Hermione grumbled.
"Not!" James giggled.
Sirius rolled his eyes before stepping extremely close to the witch. "Why not, Love? You afraid we're going to end up in the broom closet?" He whispered as his face went next to hers.
Hermione jerked as she turned to him with a blush. "No."
His fingers trailed along her cheek as he brushed a few curls from her cheek. "High hopes, I suppose," he teased.
"Okay, Sirius, let's go take a walk outside," Harry huffed.
"Harry, leave them be," Andromeda waved it off. "My cousin has always been rambunctious."
Hermione groaned as she reached around Sirius and started pulling the bacon off the stove. Sirius stepped from her and crossed his arms while looking at the table. It was an eased posture as he smiled.
"I don't know, Andy. He might be right. I might steal this one away and buy us a house. I have the means for it," Sirius voiced.
"A house?" Ginny blinked.
"House!" James clapped.
"In the country," Sirius shrugged.
Hermione moaned as she cleaned off the griddle plate. "Sirius, stop."
"Wait, are you two," Ginny paused and tapped her index fingers together.
"No, no, and no," Hermione sighed.
"I just want to buy a house for a witch. It doesn't mean we have to get married, right Teddy boy?" Sirius asked as he embraced the child and ducked his chin over his shoulder.
Teddy smiled and nodded. "Right, Uncle Sirius."
"When did you two shag?" Ginny inquired.
Hermione was pouring batter on the griddle as she grumbled to herself. Sirius was enjoying that she was moderately uncomfortable. It was needed with how complacent life had gotten for her.
"We haven't," Sirius said. It wasn't a full lie. They didn't know they were each other. "I want to get her out of the city and out into some fresh air. I don't want to live alone, and she's an excellent housemate. Cleans her dishes, doesn't mind that my cooking is shite, and works fairly hard during the week."
"I'm not letting my flat go, Sirius," Hermione declared.
"That's fine, love," Sirius agreed and nosed the boy's cheek. "She's a bit tough, but let's find a house nearby so I can teach you about motorbikes," he whispered.
"There is a lovely piece of property a couple kilos from here, Sirius," Andromeda said with a stifled smile.
"You're serious?" Harry asked and winced.
"Absolutely Sirius, Sirius Black," Sirius joked with a wide grin.
Ginny glanced at Harry, who shrugged. "That's not a bad idea," Ginny declared.
"Mama, I hungry!" James huffed and banged the table.
"Luckily, my sweet James," Hermione said as she approached the table. "I have food for you."
Hermione set down plates in front of the children. The cakes were cut up and had syrup on them with pieces of bacon. When she got to Teddy's spot, she moved back toward the stove, and Sirius caught her by the hip.
"Hey, love, what do you say?" Sirius asked.
"Let's not talk about this here," Hermione murmured and patted his chest.
"Lovely, I do believe it would be excellent for my cousin to have a housemate. He's always done better in a pack and seems to enjoy your company well enough," Andromeda interjected.
Hermione pulled away and went back to cooking. "I suppose if he truly wants to buy a house, I could afford a bit of time to help him with the decorating. He's absolutely horrid about it."
Ginny's eyebrows were near orbit. Harry, who was giving a bottle to Albus, was scowling. Andromeda was smiling, but it was Teddy's reaction that sold him.
Teddy set down his fork and rocked his head. "You can always get married later, Aunt Hermione. Now that Uncle Sirius is back, you don't have to be so sad that he was gone."
"She did have a wicked fancy for you," Ginny smirked.
Andromeda gasped and covered her lips. "Oh, our Hermione does shoot for the stars, doesn't she?"
"Sirius, of course," Sirius winked at her.
"This isn't going to be a running joke, or I won't be going tonight," Hermione warned.
"Are you sure you didn't shag her, Sirius?" Ginny gasped with a brilliant grin.
"No, she would get too bored of me then," Sirius chuckled and walked back toward the witch at the stove. "Isn't that right, kitten?"
She exhaled and narrowed her eyes up at him. "Don't press your luck, Sirius."
"I wouldn't dream of it," he retorted as he snatched up the plates she had food on. "After all, you wouldn't love me if I teased you mercilessly."
"Aunt Hermione always makes the best hotcakes," Teddy said as Sirius set down plates for the adults.
"It's the bacon grease. There are some things that magic can't replicate," Hermione responded.
"There truly are," Sirius said as she watched the witch bring over the rest of the plates.
"Now, let's eat before we play in the field," Hermione murmured.
The table settled in for breakfast, and Sirius couldn't be happier. For the first time in his life, he got it. He understood James's incessant hunting for Lily. He understood the complexities of the word 'family,' and of course, he realized the most important thing; he had a second shot at life for a reason.