"Moony, why are you trying to put a bow in her hair?" Sirius asked, scowling as he entered Siria's nursery.

"She's a girl, Sirius," Remus said, trying to center the sparkly clip. "That's what they wear." He grimaced. "Besides, the last time I took her on a walk, someone mentioned what a beautiful baby boy she was."

"But where'd you get it?"

"I got it for her," Regulus said, leaning against the door jam. "The lady in that grocery shop down the way said it was a good one."

"What are you doing out?" Sirius asked, eyes widening. "Everyone's supposed to think you're dead." He scowled. "And what are you doing buying her things? That's my job."

Regulus rolled his eyes and sighed. "It's the parent's job to raise the child. It's the uncle's job to spoil them."

"This girl has got too many uncles and not enough fathers," Draco said, shaking his head.

"You're one to talk," Sirius said, glaring. "You're the worst offender. You got her an entire play potions kit…cauldron and fake fire included."

"She has to learn young. Just like I did."

"I just want to see what happens when she hits puberty," Harry said, sitting in the rocking chair. "None of us are girls."

"Do we count Dora as a girl?" Draco asked, brow furrowed.

"Well, of course. She's a girl."

"Well, there you go! There's our girl."

"Yes," Sirius said, grabbing his daughter from the doting werewolf. "But she's not raising my child."

"No, that's my job," Remus said, glaring. "Exclusively."

"Not necessarily true."

"Who put her to bed the past five nights?"

"Well, it's not like you have any pressing plans since Annie broke up with you last week."

"Low blow, Black," Regulus said, playfully glaring at his older brother.

"Remind me again how you're still alive," Harry said, brow furrowed. "Last time, you were definitely dead."

"Not true, scarhead," Draco said, arms crossed. "You just didn't Accio him out of the lake."

"I didn't know he existed at that point."

"Enough," Remus said, standing in-between the two time travelers. "Harry, Severus has explained this three times now. He was pulled into the lake, which had a stasis charm on it. Originally meant to keep the inferi from deteriorating, it in fact had a similar effect as cryogenics would on a recently deceased body."

"But that only explains why he was in pristine condition," Draco said, head cocked to the side. "It says nothing as to why he was in an alive condition."

"He drowned and swallowed some of the water," Sirius said, rocking Siria, "effectively placing his entire body under a stasis spell."

"In normal person terms," Regulus held up his hands and struck a pose, "ta da!"

"And people say I'm the drama queen of the family."

"I think you all tie for first place," Remus said, folding Siria's blankets back. He jumped when a cellphone began to ring.

"Nope, not mine," Sirius said, cleaning Siria's mouth from the bout of spit up she'd just had.

"What is that?" Regulus asked, eyes surveying the room for the source of the noise.

"Cellphone," Draco said, lazily skimming through some of Siria's books. "But not mine, I swear."

"When did you get a cellphone?" Harry asked, brow furrowed.

"Aunt Andy likes to keep tabs on me," Draco shrugged, "and Hermione's appreciating it, too."

"You know," Regulus grimaced, "the thought of Cissy having a son is almost as strange as Dora dating Severus."

"He's not just dating her, mate," Harry said, throwing his legs over the arm of the chair. "He's marrying her in three months."

"Three months?"

"They wanted to wait to make sure Siria could hold her head up and sit in a wagon pulled by Padfoot."

"Who planned that?"

"Sirius did," Remus said as he pulled out his phone. "Looks like that's me. I better take this."

Remus walked out of the room, leaving the four Blacks and one Potter to their own devices.

And for most of the day, that meant they did absolutely nothing. Sirius did some lesson planning. Regulus read some modern history books. Draco worked on his thesis for his potions mastery. Harry played with Siria.

Around five, Sirius got up and stretched.

"Well, it's time for me to make dinner."

"Wait, what?" Harry jumped to his feet. "Didn't Mione, Dora, Andy, Severus, and all the house elves ban you from cooking?"

"Yes," Sirius crossed his arms, "but I found a cook book. And it is ten times better than Mione, Dora, Andy, Severus, and all the house elves combined." He lowered his voice. "Mostly because it's not five different people all telling me what to do at once."

"What possessed you to do this?"

"Mione required all the house elves to take a mandatory vacation and our current cook is out doing God-knows-what. Moony said he'd try and do it, but he had an urgent phone call to take and he has yet to be back." Sirius motioned to his cousin. "And do you trust Draco to do the cooking?"

"Hey," Draco scowled, "I almost have a potions mastery."

"Draco, I know for a fact the potions and cooking are not the same thing." Sirius shook his head. "And when you try to do cooking with potions you either blow things up or poison people." He pursed his lips. "Either way, I'm the only one available to do the cooking."

"What about me?" Harry asked, brow furrowed. "I used to cook for the Dursleys all the time."

"And you never actually got to be a child." Sirius pushed the boy out the door. "Go have fun."

Draco followed Harry outside. Regulus followed Draco, holding Siria in his arms.

"Well, what are we supposed to do now?" Draco asked.

"You know," Harry quirked a brow, "he only sent me outside."

"Yes, but we don't really have anything else to do," Regulus said.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"Well, I have always wanted to take Sirius's motorbike for a ride…"

Sirius finished putting together the dinner and placing it in the oven. He walked over and began washing his hands. Siria needed to be fed and bathed before they ate. He looked out the window, cherishing the beauty of the summer day. The horizon was beautiful and…Was that a flying motorbike?

Sirius ran out into the yard in time to see Harry turn the steering wheel left, causing the entire bike to somersault before righting itself. Draco yelled, holding on tighter to Harry as the wind whipped through his blond hair. Regulus tightened his grip on Siria.

"Harry James Potter, Draconus Lucius Black, and Regulus Arcturus Black, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Sirius called out. Harry landed the bike within seconds.

"It's just like flying a broom," Harry said, hopping off.

Draco pointed his wand at his bum. "And sticking charms are dead useful."

"You were almost dead!" Sirius crossed his arms. "What were you thinking sending Siria up with you?"

"Isn't it poetic justice?" Harry asked, brow furrowed. "Godfather taking their godchild up on the motorbike?"

"Moony told us you did that when Harry was a baby," Draco said, jumping down.

"Yes, and he remembers it so well because he had to keep Lily from killing me," Sirius said, scowling. "Whose idea was this?"

Draco and Harry both stared at Regulus. The man cautiously backed away.

"Now, Siri, you have to remember the time you and I took Dad's broom…"

"Harry," Sirius said, turning to his godson, "take Siria to the kitchen and give her a bottle."

Harry reached over and took the infant. "But, I wanna see…"

"Harry James, if you know what's good for you, you will leave the area. Anyone left here in five seconds will be fully responsible for the harm I inflict on them." Regulus jumped and made to run. Sirius grabbed the back of his robe. "Not happening."

The two Hogwarts students walked inside, leaving the two brothers to hash out their grievances.

"Now, Siri, remember just a few weeks ago we were celebrating I was alive…"

"Regulus," Sirius rubbed his eyes, "you were the responsible one."

"Yeah," the younger man crossed his arms, "I had to be because you weren't." He scowled. "So now, I'm taking back my childhood."

"No one asked you to be responsible, Reg…"

"Then who was supposed to be?"

"No one?"

"Oh, yeah, and that would've worked well."

"We had two adult parents." Sirius scowled. "It was their job to be responsible, not us."

"Oh, yeah, when?" Regulus glared. "Those few times when Dad wasn't at the business end of the bottle? Or how about that one time Mum was actually lucid enough to eat regularly and act like a human being?" He dropped into a patio chair. "One of us had to be the adult, Siri. I knew you had the worst of it. They expected you to take on that role, and you rebelled against it."

"That didn't mean you had to."

"Yes it did," Regulus said, jumping up again. "One of us had to keep the family running. One of us had to keep Mum sane and Dad away from the liquor cabinet. One of us had to keep up the family image. And it sure as hell wasn't going to be you." He took a few deep breaths. "So, for once, I want to lose myself in the moment. I want to enjoy my life. Be a kid. Make some mistakes."

"At the cost of my daughter's life?" Sirius asked, scowl deepening.

"She was fine. I made sure of it." Regulus frowned. "Did you really think for a moment I would put my niece in danger?"

"Well, I…"

"I would die before I let her get a scratch." Regulus's throat tightened. "I love that little girl. And I love you, Siri. I wouldn't want you to lose her, too."

Sirius crossed his arms. "Your actions aren't saying that."

"You just need to learn to trust someone, Siri. And who better than me?"

"I do trust you. But this has nothing to do with trust."

"Then what are you so mad about?"

"You sent my three-month-old daughter into the air without even informing me!" Sirius shook his head. "Merlin, I sound like Lily."

"Guess that's what happens when you become a mother."

Sirius sighed. "Just go inside and get cleaned up." He rubbed his eyes. "I'll deal with all of you once Spots gets home."

{Scene break}

Remus stumbled out of the floo. This was not happening. This was just a bad dream. He'd talk with Padfoot and Spots and they'd all laugh. Right? He shook his head. Where was everybody? At this point in the evening, everyone usually congregated in the living area. Yet, the only sounds he heard came from the kitchen.

He moved closer, hoping to find someone to talk with at the moment.

"Where were you tonight?" Sirius's voice pierced through the door.

"I had a meeting," Severus replied, his voice hard and tired.

Remus opened the door quietly. It probably wasn't the best time to interrupt them, but he needed to get this out.

Before he could say a word, Sirius thrust his hands into the air. "And you didn't think to tell me about it?"

"I was at a death eater meeting. What was I supposed to do? Ask the dark lord to stop the meeting to floo call my worried housewife to say I wouldn't be here for supper?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "The kids made us communicators for a reason, Severus. You could've at least sent a short message so I knew to keep some food waiting for you with a warming charm."

"Risk my position with the Dark Lord for some warm dinner?" Severus weighed the options in his hands. "That sounds reasonable."

The animagus glared. "You could have at least had the decency to let me know you might not be here for dinner. I made a good meal and it had to go to waste…"

Severus rolled his eyes. "You are a wizard, Black. Use a spell."

"Send a patronus!"

"Fine! Next time, I'll call. I'll also tell them to address my body to Potter Manor, where the worrying wife can find me!"

Remus backed away slowly.

"Hiya Remus." The werewolf spun on the spot clutching his chest. "Something wrong?" Harry asked, brow furrowed in concern.

"Harry," the man said, catching his breath, "the only way I could explain it to you was in a therapy session with dolls."

"I'm sure it couldn't have been that bad."

The door opened, interrupting Harry. Sirius walked backwards, facing the potions master whose glare froze all in terror. Well, all except for one grim animagus.

"Fine. Pretend to be the Dark Lord's little puppet. Let Nagini bite and kill you like last time. See if I care."

"There's no reason for the dark lord to have Nagini kill me because I didn't kill Dumbledore."

"Oh, yeah, that's the only reason anyone would ever have for wanting to kill you, Spots." Sirius glared. "You're lucky I like you now."

"Or what? You'd sick the werewolf on me again?"

"It's just a few days until the full moon. Wanna see?"

"I'd love to see the wolf bite the hand that feeds his wolfsbane addiction."

"It's not an addiction," Remus said, stepping forward a tad.

"Moony?" Sirius turned, brow furrowing. "Where were you all day?"

"Oh," Severus placed his hands on his hips, "he gets to be AWOL all day gallivanting around, but I miss one dinner due to the dark lord's incessant need for bureaucracy and I'm the one tearing this family apart."

Harry turned to Remus. "Now I see why you're scared."

"Oh, hi Harry. Didn't see you there. Finished helping Regulus put Siria to bed?"

Severus's mouth dropped. "I thought that was exclusively my job!"

"Well, excuse me for wanting my daughter to go to bed at a decent time." Sirius crossed his arms. "Siria can't stay up until two in the morning waiting for her Uncle Sev to put her in her crib."

"What's going on?" Regulus asked, walking through the door. "I just put Siria to sleep. Unless either of you want to deal with a wailing infant for the next three hours, I suggest we lower our voices."

Sirius sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I'm trying to convince Ol' Spots to give up his position as spy."

"Why?" Draco asked, popping up from behind the couch.

"Dragon," Severus's brow furrowed, "what were you doing behind the couch."

"Petting my snake."

"You were what?"

"But then it went missing."

Harry stared down at himself before looking back at Draco. "How does it go missing?"

Draco shrugged. "One minute it was there. The next minute it was gone."

Severus, Sirius, and Regulus all exchanged defeated stares.

"Dragon," Severus walked over and patted his shoulder, "you really shouldn't do that in the open."

"What do you mean?" Draco tilted his head. "Severys loves it."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Sirius held up his hands. "Why did you name it Severus?"

"Wait," Remus walked over, picking up the offending creature, "I think he meant this snake."

Draco scrunched his nose. "What did you guys think I was talking about?"

Severus rubbed his head. "And why were you doing this behind the couch?"

"I was hiding."

"From what?"

"From being pulled into your civil war." The blond shook his head. "I don't want to pick a side."

"Missing the point," Harry said, flopping down onto the couch. "Why are you trying to convince Uncle Sev to leave the death eaters?"

"It's dangerous." Sirius held up a finger. "It puts a strain on his schedule." He held up a second finger. "And we already know what's going to happen."

"Not necessarily," Severus said under his breath. "Any number of things could have changed from last time." He pointed to Regulus. "Your brother rose from the dead."

"Are you calling me wizard Jesus?" Regulus asked.

Remus scowled. "How did you come up with that reference?"

"Being stuck in a house with nothing to do but read has left me with limited choices to do with my time." Regulus held up a history book. "I'm in the middle of the Crusades."

"But still, Jesus?"

"There was a footnote about their religious text: The Bible."

"And so, you read it?"

Regulus held up a leather-bound book. "Cover to cover."

"This is one rabbit-trail that needs to die," Severus said, sitting down in his recliner. "Black, I need to be in my position to ensure I become headmaster next year."

"You're the headmaster?" Regulus smirked. "I don't know what's scarier: Sirius as head of Gryffindor or you as head of Hogwarts."

"That being said," Severus said, gritting his teeth. "Without my high position in the inner circle, who knows who he'll place in charge of Amycus and Alecto?"

"Wait," Sirius's brow furrowed, "I'm still the DADA professor. How did they end up as professors at Hogwarts?"

"They haven't yet."

"Hold up," Draco said, raising a hand, "how the hell are you still DADA professor? You did your time. The curse should have thrown you out on your behind."

"I signed my contract back in November," Sirius said, turning to his cousin. "Since Harry still had the horcrux, the position accepted me as Ol' Voldie."

Draco's eyes sparkled. "So, does that mean the curse is broken?"

Remus shook his head. "Sadly, no. If we don't defeat you-know-who by the end of the year, Sirius's life is in mortal peril."

"I get Siria," Draco yelled, hand raised in the air.

"Why do you get Siria?" Harry asked, scowling. "She's my goddaughter, too."

"She's my niece," Regulus said. "If anyone deserves her, it's me."

"Enough," Severus said, clearing his throat. "I think we all would play a prominent role in Siria's upbringing in the case of Black's unfortunate demise."

"Hey, I'm not dead yet," Sirius said, scowling. He turned to Remus. "Moony, why didn't you fight for her?"

"Oh, me?" The werewolf shook his head. "Nah, I'll have my hands full already."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, that's what I came here to tell you. Annie's pregnant."