Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't make money from this fic
August 16, 1978 London, England - Sirius's Flat
James and Remus plopped down heavily on Sirius's couch, sighs escaping them. Hermione curled herself up in her favorite chair, Sirius himself perched on the arm of it. It was late and they were just getting in from an extensive Order meeting, their first real one since being sworn in at the end of July. Lily Peter had opted to go on home, as they had work the next morning, but the others needed to talk over their assignments away from prying ears.
"So you're going to have to talk to Greyback and his pack?" Sirius said on a sigh. It was the easiest way to approach the topic. Remus looked at his hands in his lap.
"I suppose so. I don't know how I feel about it." He said, wringing his hands.
"I know how I'd feel about," James said quietly. "Scared. You haven't seen him since the attack, right?"
"Yes. The last time I saw the man, I was nearly five. And that interaction wasn't exactly one I wish to revisit." He said.
"Is anyone going with you?" Hermione asked. "Surely Dumbledore won't send you by yourself."
"He has spies amongst Fenrir's pack, but for them to accompany me would out them as such. So I'll be going alone. I'm not in as much danger going alone as an ordinary wizard would be. Dumbledore's spies will do what they can without being obvious." Remus said, leaning forward, bracing his forearms on his knees. James nodded, running his hand over his face. He hadn't shaved in a day or so, and his face was scruffy with stubble.
"So you and Sirius are just supposed to tail Death Eaters?" Hermione asked James.
"Just supposed to tail Death Eaters. Do you hear this, Prongs?" Sirius asked, looking around at his girlfriend.
"Yes, that's pretty much it." James said. "He's supposed to tail Mulciber, I've got Avery. Lily's supposed to keep an eye on Wilkes, and Snape when she can." James said.
"Mulciber?Did he have to give you someone known for being so…"
"Violent? I think that's why he's sent me, actually." Sirius said, a little groan in his voice. "For one, I can take a hit. For two, I think Moody kept his word and passed along his praises of me. Even though you did most of the work in that skirmish."Sirius grinned at her.
"Just be careful. I really don't want to use my training before I'm done with the program." Hermione said with a smirk, but Sirius could see the worry in her eyes. He smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Always are." He said, slipping his hand into hers.
"What's your mission, Hermione?" Remus asked.
"Learn to control my visions." She said. "Same as always. Dumbledore wants me to finish the Healer program before I get any more involved in the Order. Right now, I'm more of an informant than anything." She said, stretching. "You two staying the night?" she asked.
"Yeah, might as well. It's too late to go back home. Mum would have a fit." James said.
"Well you're more than welcome. Extra blankets and pillows in the closet in the hall, the couch and chair can be transfigured into cots, if you prefer. I'm headed to bed, make yourselves at home." He said standing and stretching.
"Yeah, I'm headed to bed, too. Did I leave any clothes here, Sirius?" Hermione asked.
"You have a clean change of clothes for the morning, but no pajamas." Sirius said, running a hand through his hair.
"That's fine. Just, do me a favor, boys," Hermione said to Remus and James. "Knock before you come in."
"No problems there." James said. "I don't need to see my cousins naked. I'll pass on that experience."
Hermione giggled and waved them goodnight, heading to her and Sirius's room. Sirius watched her go with a small grin.
"When are you two gonna move in together?" Remus asked with a chuckle. "I mean, she basically already lives here."
"Haven't talked to her about it yet." Sirius said. "But I think soon. You're right, she spends more time here than at home."
"Mate, how far do you think this will go? You and her?" James asked, seriously.
"I love her, Prongs." Sirius said, rubbing a kink out of his shoulder. "I want to marry her eventually. But with your wedding and the war…" he said. James nodded.
"I understand." He said, "Just making sure you weren't messing around with her heart."
"I would never." Sirius said. "Not Hermione."
"Well, you better head to bed before she gets suspicious. Night, Pads." Remus said, standing to get their beds ready.
"Night." He said, kicking off his shoes by the door and padding to his bedroom. Hermione's clothes were in a the hamper beside the door, and she was already in bed when he came in, the lamp on her side of the bed on. She looked up from a book he'd had on his nightstand when he came in.
"So this is where my Ancient Runes book got to." Hermione said, with a smirk. " If you wanted to use it, you could have just asked."
"Yeah, but then you'd wonder why. I'm not really known for studying am I?" Sirius said, blushing a bit.
"True. What did you want it for?" Hermione said, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to show you sooner or later." He sighed, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it into the hamper. There, on left pectoral, over his heart, a black rune was tattooed. His chest had been partially shaved, there was stubble growing back, and his chest was shiny with lotion. The skin was peeling, and the area was still a little red.
"Nauthiz." Hermione said. "Think before acting. Learn who and what you really are. Limitations and boundaries. Awareness of your own needs and requirements. Don't do things you'll later regret. It's fitting."
"I thought so, too." He said, looking down. "I wanted a reminder after we left school that this is the real world, now. We have to be careful, and I have to grow up." He felt his cheeks heating up, and busied himself with taking off his pants and socks, placing his wand on his nightstand, trying distract himself.
"I like it." Hermione said quietly. He climbed in bed next to her, and he looked over at her.
"You do?"
"Of course. You know Ancient Runes was one of my favorite subjects in school. I think it's wonderful that you put so much thought into a tattoo and that it has meaning for you." She said, leaning her head on his chest.
"I'm glad you don't think I'm stupid for it." He chuckled, laying down on his side and wrapping his arms around her.
"Your choices make you who you are. I love you. Whether you're an idiot or not." She giggled. "Good night."
"Night, love." He said, nuzzling close to her. He fell asleep almost at once.
September 5, 1978 London, England - Sirius and Hermione's Flat
"That's the last of it. You really do have too many clothes." James said, putting down a box.
"Blame your mother, she bought them for me!" Hermione said, sorting through the boxes in the living room.
"I can't believe I'm the last to move out, but the first to get married." James groaned, leaning up against the back of the couch.
"You're moving out next month, don't whine." Sirius said, coming out of the bedroom.
"While this is true, I still have to put up with Mum's shit and Lily and I are going insane trying to plan this wedding." James sighed.
"I asked her if she wanted help." Hermione chuckled. "Aunt Effie can be a bit much."
"Please, for the love of Merlin, Hermione, help her. Take her planner and send her to the spa. Something, anything. I can't handle it."
"Alright, James. For your sake, I'll help. But you'll owe me." She said.
"I will not! From what I heard, you already collected twenty galleons from betting on my proposal!" James said indignantly.
"Heard about that, did you?" Hermione said, handing Sirius a box and moving to the next to sort it out. "Well, if it's all the same, you wouldn't be giving me money as repayment."
"Oh?" He said, his interest piqued. "Then what?"
"Let's just say there will come a time when I ask a favor of you." Hermione said.
"Didn't know you had Slytherin tendencies, Hermione." Sirius said. Hermione shrugged. "Been spending too much time with Reg."
"I haven't heard from him since school started back, actually." Hermione said. "I need to write to him and see how he is."
"Saw him last week, he stopped by to check on everyone while he was in Diagon Alley getting school supplies. He's…" Sirius sighed. "He's looking pretty rough, not going to lie."
"Yeah. His letters have been all over the place. He usually writes me once a week. I'm lucky if I get one once a month, recently." She said.
"He's strong." Sirius said, brushing a strand of hair out of Hermione's eyes and pulling her chin up. "He'll be okay. He's got us, remember?"
"Yeah. I hate this, Sirius. This war. This whole situation." Hermione said, sighing.
"I know, love. Me too. But you have to remember, without the darkness, we'd never see the stars."
October 31, 1978 Norfolk, England - Drayton Old Lodge
Sirius adjusted his tie for the third time as he waited for James to pull on his brown suit jacket. It was finally his best friend's big day and he was nearly as nervous as James seemed to be.
"How do I tie this damn thing?" James asked, giving up tying his bowtie for the third time.
"You're a wizard, aren't you?" Sirius asked. "Use your wand."
"This is why you're my best man, Pads. That sort of forward thinking and deductive reasoning." James said, and Sirius smirked. James picked up his wand from the dresser and gave it a wave, then coughed as the tie knotted itself a bit too tightly around his throat.
"Definitely need some practice with that." James said, loosening the knot a bit. Sirius looked up at him and shook his head, crossing the room to fix his tie and adjust his suit.
"Prongs, this may be the only time you hear me say this," Sirius said, looking him over. "But you clean up good. Lily won't be able to take her eyes off you."
"Well, that's probably a good thing, cause I'm not sure I'll be able to take my eyes off her." He said, adjusting his glasses. There was a quiet tap on the door and Hermione peeked her head in.
"We're just about ready to start." She said, opening the door further. Sirius took in her forest green dress and updo and tried his hardest not to stare.
"Alright. Do I have another minute to mentally prepare?" James asked.
"Not getting cold feet, I hope?"Hermione asked.
"No, just not ready to break down in tears in front of my family and friends." James said, with a grin that Sirius could see was forced. Hermione nodded, seeing what Sirius saw.
"Yeah, just a minute though. Most of the guests are seated." Hermione said, giving him a smile and retreating from the room. Sirius knew it was time for the big pep talk. The biggest pep talk he'd ever given. He took a deep breath.
"You've got this, Prongs. Moony, Wormtail, and I, we've got your back, but this is your new adventure. There's gonna be a lot we can't help you with. But you'll be just fine. You're one of the strongest people I know. You and Lily, you two were made for each other. Now let's get you out there before your mum kills us both, yeah?" Sirius said, clapping James on the shoulder.
"Yeah. I'm ready. Let's do this." James said, with a nod, and the two friends left the room, heading for the leaf-strewn grounds and the ruins where the ceremony was to take place. Sirius had thought it ironic that they were to be wed on the site of ruins, but Lily had found it poetic. They were beginning their adventure together in a place many adventures had already been had. A smile touched Sirius's lips when he joined Hermione and the rest of the bridal party. He watched James take his place next to the officiant, and gave him one last thumbs up before the music began to play and the ceremony began.