Claire stood in the midst of the tri-mirrors, twirling the dress, which was the fifth Lily had picked out and weighed at least half her own weight. "Too old fashioned." Lily commented.

"All of them are." Claire grumbled as the seamstress tugged at the zipper, releasing her from the heavy gown. She turned to the woman who had been assisting them. "Is there nothing more- Simple?" She ask, hopefully.

"I might have something in the back that would suite your needs." She replied, and shuffled off to the back of the small shop. Lily held up the dressing gown for Claire to shrug on while she waited. Claire wrapped her arms tightly around herself and shrugged into a pink velvet chair beside the dressing stage. Lily sighed and sat down beside her.

"Want to talk about it?" She ask quietly.

"Nope." she snapped back.

"I just heard what Peter was telling and I-"

"Drop it, Lily." She snapped again.

"Claire, We're shopping for your wedding dress. It is supposed to be a happy day- I thought you and Sirius were doing good?" The redheaded witch of course knew the truth, but for the sake of getting her sister-in-law to speak from her heart, she decided to play the fool.

"Doing good." She said with a tight nod and small smile. "I'm just stressed is all. James has too much invested in this little party. I don't like the big to-do."

"Hmm..." Lily hummed, ignoring her lies, and she took the dress from the shop assistance. "Well, you need to pick soon. It would be a shame for the boys to have their suits all picked and tailored before you have a dress.

"Yeah, suppose so." Claire mumbled in reply. "And how many are they getting?"

Lily knew what Claire was asking. It was not a question she wanted to have to be the one to answer. Sirius and James had already tried to convince Remus he should be in their wedding party- It was his place. He was no less one of them. He, however, was not only turning down that offer, but was most likely refusing to attend all together. Lily looked to the ground.

"Four. Regulus has finally agreed to come round, for his mother more than his brother."

"I see." Claire said, gasping as the corset backing on her newest option was laced tightly on.

"OH." Lily said, clapping her hands, both excited by the newest dress and trying to provide any sort of distraction. "Please pick this."

Claire twisted to one side, then the other, watching the shine of the subtle details on her gown glimmer as she moved it. It was, Claire had to admit, a very lovely gown. It was off the shoulder, but had lace sleeves with similar detailing to the skirt and tail. The train on it was not long either, and it gave her freedom to move as she pleased. Or maybe to run, she couldn't help but think.

"Yeah, I think we're done." She said, turning once more. She held her hands out in a 't' and allowed the seamstress to place marking pins where tailoring was needed before she took it off and stepped down.

"Your ticket, miss?" The seamstress ask, handing the price of the full services over to Claire. She did not take it, but thought for a second before replying.

"Send it to Walburga Black." She said with a smile.


Sirius sat in the corner of the tailor's shop in Diagon, barely able to make himself laugh along when Peter fell backward from his place on the stool needed for the tailor to measure the young man. He himself, as the groom in question, had already been and had his measurements done, and James insisted they allow Peter go next before his nervous sweating got too bad. Peter and James were both having such a guffaw, and even Regulus seemed to be having himself an enjoyable time. But Sirius couldn't. It wasn't right. Remus should be here.

"Alright, Mate?" James called, his hands steadying Peter back up in place.

"Fine!" Sirius replied, standing from his corner spot and joining the other men. He tugged a bit a Peter's coat and looked to the tailor. "He needs a bit longer, don't you think?"

"Sir." The quiet older wizard nodded.

"Can you believe its less than a week out now?" Peter ask. "Think they'll have them all ready?"

"I'm sure they aren't willing to let mother down, eh?" Regulus ask. The tailor did not look up, and the group knew why. They knew exactly who Sirius and Regulus both were, and their mother was no a woman you'd want to have angry at you. As he moved away from the young men to get something from his tools for measuring, Sirius stepped over to him, speaking quietly.

"I'm sorry about him." He started, and the man nodded, scratching his balding head, unsure of that was happening. "Listen, I need an extra, right? I have measurements here. Add two inches to the legs and sleeves, I think." He winked to the other man, a silent signal to keep the extra order between the two of them before going back over.

"So, Pads-" James said, taking his turn standing up on the stool, "Where are you taking my sister for a Honeymoon?"

"Do you even want to know anything about that?" Peter ask, amused. It was always a point of humor to the shorter Marauder how uncomfortable James was about his sister's romantic choices and activities.

"Well, I thought about it- But she doesn't really have any interest in one. Plus its not really safe to leave just now- Claire has a list of why. All very excellent points." He concluded, making himself sound as in agreement as possible. "Plus, we really need to find a place of our own."

"Actually-" Regulus spoke up- "Mother has that taken care of. But shh-" He held his fingers to his lips, "You didn't hear it from me."

"Oh, Gods-" Sirius covered his face for a moment, "I hope she didn't decorate."

"I think she got Cissy to, actually." Regulus answered. Sirius considered this. Of his many cousins, Narcissa was one of the more bearable. She too, was in a marriage she did not choose herself. She never seemed too unhappy though, though her spouse, Lucius, was always unpleasant. He was a bit older than Cissy, at least seven years. He never wanted to dirty himself with others he viewed below his status. But Narcissa and her sister, Bellatrix both stuck with Walburga, always tightly clustered at family events, usually gossiping.

"Cissy?" Sirius ask.

"She likes to get out. Comes to Mother's quite a bit." He replied calmly, shrugging. "She helped."

"Hmm." Sirius replied, giving his own shrug. "Not bad, then."

"So, lets talk about your stag night!" James piped up, hoping to bring some light to the subject.

"They're all Stag nights when you come!" Peter reminded him, and the three animagi laughed. Regulus seemed confused, but assumed it was an inside joke and ignored it.

"I don't think I really need one, mate." Sirius said quietly.

"No. You're... You're you. We need an absolute burner!" He said. "I know a place," He bent closer to Sirius, grabbing Peter by the collar and pulling him into the huddle. "It's in muggle London. Dancers, drinks- Its excellent."

"You think Lily isn't going to mind you going to watch naked women dance?" He questioned. James shrugged.

"I'll be paying them to dance on you, not me!" He defended. "Come on, mate. You need something to loosen up."

"I'm in!" Peter nearly shouted from excitement. James clapped him on the back.

"See?" James said, nodding at Sirius. Sirius blew his breath out of his nose, giving in.

"Fine. But just for a bit. And someone has to see if Moony will come."


Remus nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the knock on his door. The sound wasn't overly loud, but between the new hangover he was coming to face and his lycanthropic hearing it was like a gong being sounded next to his glanced over at the other side of the bed, and he groaned. The young woman, young muggle woman, he couldn't name her. He'd met her the night before, she was sweet, bought him a drink. He had done a lot of this lately- trying to drown himself in the alcohol and the noise and the distraction.

"Er-" He started to speak, but the woman was still sleeping. He brought the sheet up and covered her, cringing when the knocking on the door sounded again. He found a pair of pajama pants and jumped in them- and he pulled the door to his bedroom shut and silenced it as he came hurried to the door.

"Moony!" James boomed, pushing on in when Remus opened the door. He knew if James knew enough to get through his wards to even knock then he was the real deal.

"James." He said, rubbing his pointer finger and thumb in his temples.

"You look like hell." He said, in such a voice as if it were a genuine compliment. Remus did not return the humor.

"What can I do for you this morning?" He ask in a gruff tone. James laughed.

"First off, its almost three in the afternoon, mate." James informed him. Remus shrugged.

"Late night." He replied.

"Well," James brought him back around to the point, "I need you to have another one. Padfoot's stag night is coming up. You have to come."

Remus stared blankly at his friend. "Why would he want me there?" Remus ask.

"You're our best friend?" James replied, equally baffled.

"I do not think that you want me there. Number one, I find those things wildly disrespectful. I believe I voiced that when we had yours." Remus rolled his eyes as James laughed. Shaking his head, he continued, "Number two, I don't think he needs a reminder of Claire being with me there to celebrate their marriage."

The smile faded from James' face. "But- Remus- you're part of why Sirius is doing this. He's just trying to protect her. Because she's my sister. She is his friend. And because you love her."

"The fuck that's why." Remus growled. "I wish you'd all just leave it alone." He replied, flopping back on the couch. Jame shook his head.

"Not happening." He sternly stated, crossing his arms. "Now, are you-" But he stopped mid sentence when a young woman suddenly joined them in the sitting room. Her hair was a mess, clothing still quite wrinkled from being in a pile on the floor. "Hello."

"Have you seen my other shoe?" She ask sweetly. "I can't seem to find it anywhere." Remus' eyes fluttered shut, his face burned red, embarrassed. The young woman tossed her long blonde curls to ones side, and laughed. "Here it is!" she bent down beside the couch and grabbed her other purple high heeled shoe, slipping it on.

"Uh-" Remus struggled with what to say, but she only smiled as she walked to the door.

"Call me!" she shouted over her shoulder, "I left my number on your desk!" And she pulled the front door shut behind her.

"But a stag night is 'disrespectful'? James said, sitting back.

"Mind your business, I'm not with your sister anymore. Remember?" He spat back. James looked down, staring at his feet.

"Right. You're right." He nodded. "But really, mate. We miss you." He sat forward. "Please say you'll come?"

Remus sighed and rubbed his face again. After a moment, he nodded. "I'll try." He replied. James smiled, and gave him a brief side-hug before leaving.


The drinking, the noise, and the dancer grinding herself on Sirius' lap- it as all too much for Remus. He came at first for the party, just a show of no hard feelings, and he had missed his friends. But he could not handle this. He wanted to punch something, or maybe even someone. How can he stand that? He pondered to himself. He has Claire, what interest should he have here? He stormed out without any pause when they called after him. It made his skin crawl. Claire is a beautiful woman, sweet and brilliant- She did not deserve this situation.

He realized he was doing no better. The girls he now kept company with now were little distraction to the ache in his heart. The breakup had killed him as much as he knew it had her- But at the same time he felt as if he never should have tried to be with her in the first place. Claire and James where not from the same sort of life Remus was. But Sirius is. He too, is rich, pureblooded, good social standing. There was no way, he knew, that he could offer her the kind of life she was accustomed to like Sirius can.

He swallowed the thick emotion brewing within and for a difference of scenery took himself over to the Lamphook Tavern right where Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley intersect. It was not the most upstanding establishment, but also not the roughest magical England had to offer. It was however, one of the few places he knew he wouldn't be the only werewolf drinking and not have to totally worry about watching his back. He knew of this place from the Order, and sometimes it was nice to just sit and have a double butterbeer.

The place wasn't took crowded, a couple groups here and there. He settled into a corner booth and ordered a drink and decided to people watch. It was a calming thing, and the his extra sharp senses allowed him to sit and listen to conversations. Might as well make himself useful and see if he can hear anything from the enemy. Anything to take his mind off Claire's wedding. He was so engrossed in the happenings of the pub around him, he almost didn't notice someone settle in next to him- Until the smell hit. Though this new comer tried to mask their scent, Remus recognized another wolf.

"Evening." He said, settling back into the booth across from Remus, who instantly set up guard.

"Hi." Remus said shortly. He looked this stranger over. The man was probably something in his late twenties. He had on a dark cloak, and his face bore a horrible set of deep, disfiguring scars, a bite scar right at the base of his neck.

"How's life been treating you, young blood?" He questioned as a waitress sat down a firewhiskey before him, which he instantly downed. Remus tilted his head, stiffened.

"Excuse me?" He demanded.

"Well, you were out with your friends. Celebrating the pretty one getting married, yeah?" Remus snarled at the man. He didn't know him, and he didn't like how much he seemed to know.

"Mind yourself, mate." Remus said, and he took a swig of his own drink.

"Believe me, I am." The man replied with a toothy grin. "It's... Your lady love... That is the bride, is it not?"

"I said mind yourself." He growled again, his nails digging into the table between them. His anger was apparent, but again, the other werewolf smiled.

"Come on, son, hear me out. It's real noble, you backing off the little princess that way. You two do make a charming fairytale couple, but you are doing the right thing. But where does that leave you, hmm?" He waved over the waitress for a new drink. "And that is where I come in."

"I'm not interested." Remus replied quickly, harshly.

"You can't really be happy like this." The man replied. "I know. I know what its like- to have your mate taken from you. I had someone too, we had been married about a year. And I was bitten." He closed his eyes, and looked as if he was in pain, but he smiled. "Oh, Merlin, I loved her. But she and I both knew there was no life left with me. So she left, and I didn't argue. She married someone else, too. They have a couple kids now. New husband doesn't even know about me."

"Why are you here? How do you even know who I am?" Remus demanded. He was unsettled by this man.

"I know someone who knows you, that is all. He thought you and I might see eye to eye on this subject." He replied. Remus bristled.

"Tell Greyback I'm not interested." He replied dryly.

"Ah, but there are things to consider, mate. The world is changing fast. We don't have to be society's trash anymore. There are other ways." He said. "All he wants is a little loyalty."

"Is he who bit you?" Remus ask, confused, and increasingly angry.

"No, actually, why?" He seemed unsure of this question.

"I didn't think so, nobody would be so dense as to give themselves to the man who destroyed their life." Remus replied, and he drained the last of his glass. "But you and I- we're not the same. I was a very small child when he infected me, on purpose, for revenge. As far as I am concerned, he and anyone who would stand with him can all go rot in hell." He spat and stood from his seat, throwing his money on the table as he rose to leave.

"Think it over, young blood. We'll be in touch!" He called after Remus, but he didn't even react as if he heard, hurrying out of the pub for home.


Hi everyone! Its been a looong time, but I hope you enjoyed the new chapter. I'm back to writing, and will be updating pretty regularly now. Thanks for reading and maybe be kind and leave me a review? Thanks!