The one where pudding is involved
'Sirius, when are you going to get married?'
He sighed, passing the rolls to his father. His mother's incessant questioning on his life was beginning to bug him. He chewed thoughtfully for a moment before answering her in a truly Sirius manner. 'If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, Ma. Lesath won't marry me.' He grinned at his sister, who kicked him under the table.
'Darling, I do wish you wouldn't joke about things like that.' Sirius and Lesath's mother continued. 'I want you to settle down so I can have some grandkids to smother unbearably.'
'What about me, Mrs. Black?' Harry asked, putting on a hurt expression.
'I'm sorry, Harry dear,' she leaned across the table and patted his hand. 'I want to see my grandchildren grow up. You're old enough to have children of your own!'
He nodded and "accidentally" dropped his fork.
The table was quiet except for the sounds of people eating the food. Ginny, Remus, Harry and Hermione were there, in spite of the fact that it was an "all family" affair. Sirius had introduced each of them and their ties with the Blacks. 'This is Harry, my godson. Hermione is Harry's girlfriend so she had to come along. Ginny Weasley is an old friend of mine, from when I went to Hogwarts, just like Remus, except old Moony isn't the mother of my godson, is he? Remus is Ginny's significant other and if he gets his act together, he will hopefully be the soon-to-be stepfather of Harry.'
Mrs and Mr Black had barely raised an eyebrow at their son, but extended their table to allow for their visitors.
Dinner was finished and the Marauders, as well as Hermione, were allowed to leave the table. Sirius led them to the backyard where they could see the night sky in crisp detail. He flung himself on the soft grass and rolled over on to his back, taking a crumpled cigarette from his jacket and lighting it. He didn't need to have his eyes open to know that his friends would follow him on the ground.
'Hey, you can see your star, Sirius.' Harry said, adjusting his glasses.
'Canis Major.' Hermione announced softly. 'Eastern civilizations were far too quick to blame evil influences on the Dog Star. A faithful heart, charitable, yet violent with dangerous passions.'
'That sounds an awful lot like astrology, Hermione.' Ginny teased.
'Astronomy, thank you very much. It's just the mythological side of things.' Hermione shook her head at the smoke Sirius, Remus and Ginny were sharing. 'You're going to destroy your lungs by doing that.
'If Madame Pomfrey can regrow an arm, what makes you think she can't regrow a lung?' Ginny asked, knowing more about wizard medicine than Hermione had ever wanted to read.
'Point well taken.' Miss Granger laughed, but she still refused to take a drag when the smoke came back to her.
'I can see your own star, Ankaa.' Remus told Ginny, smiling.
'Ankaa?'
'Another name for Phoenix.' He took her hand and pointed out the phoenix constellation. 'You really do have to use your imagination, but it almost looks like a bird rising from the ground.' Remus moved her arm to another portion of the beautiful window of the sky. 'That's the wolf constellation, lupus.'
'Neat.' Ginny said, taking advantage of his interest in the stars to kiss him.
'Hey, Sirius,' Hermione called over Harry who was between her and Padfoot.
'Hmmm?'
'Why is your sister called Lesath?'
Sirius grinned, flicking away some ash. 'My father liked the sound of it, and so did my mother. Little did they know what the story was behind the star.... Lesath is a person who will shoot first, ask questions later. She is sharp witted, sarcastic, would give poor ickle Snapie a run for his money and used to make my life a living hell.' He shuddered. 'She's and Animagus too. I don't know what was worse, waking up and finding a scorpion in my bed or waking up and finding my sister in my bed.'
'Tonight's conversation told us that wouldn't have minded Lesath under the covers with you, wink wink, nudge nudge.' Remus said and laughed as Sirius tackled him as he used to when they were at school.
'Guys, come on, let's go back inside and see if dessert is ready,' Hermione said, wiping grass from her skirt. Harry put an arm around her shoulders and they walked off. Ginny sighed and pulled the two wrestling men from each other.
'Stop acting like children, you two.' She rolled her eyes.
'Yes Ma'am,' Sirius bobbed his head and ran inside like a good boy.
Ginny laughed and walked inside, arm in arm with Remus.
'So, you're a lawyer?' Hermione asked Lesath.
'And a ruddy brilliant one at that,' Sirius added, putting plates in front of people. 'She got me pardoned, didn't she?'
'You don't have to be an excellent lawyer to convince a bunch of media sensationalists that you weren't guilty. Dumbledore made sure that the public loved you.' Lesath said. 'I have all these clippings from magazine articles running about past girlfriends and the mischief that your little gang used to get up to.'
'What can I say? I'm the bad-boy of the Ministry,' he laughed and sat down.
The Blacks started serving themselves some of the desserts that Meissa Black had outdone her previous successes in the kitchen. There were two hot pies; one of rhubarb and one of peach, just waiting for whipped cream and ice cream. Smooth and rich chocolate pudding was there too, along with chocolate sauce to dribble over the top. Hermione and Harry both exclaimed over the discovery of a Muggle Trifle made with a sponge cake, apricots, sherry, and jam and topped with custard.
'Why on earth do you have a trifle?' Harry asked around a mouthful of the dessert in question.
'Because us Blacks haven't always had it this easy.' Altair announced. 'We used to be quite poor, and we never believed in any of that Pureblood rubbish.'
'Ah, so the trifle signifies your affinity with Muggles and your past.' Hermione deduced, enjoying some of the rhubarb pie with cream.
'Yes, my dear,' Meissa said, smiling.
'So, Remus, what are you up to?' Altair questioned.
'I'm still working for Professor Dumbledore at Hogwarts. I still teach Defense against the Dark Arts, this will be my third year there.' Remus smiled at Ginny who had found the wonders of chocolate pudding and a touch of brandy. 'I'm lucky enough not only to have a solid job, but I work with Ginny,' In a deft movement, he had pulled out a velvet box from the pocket of his jacket.
'Ginny Weasley, will you marry me?' He asked, eyes meeting hers.
She let the spoon drop on to the table, her face paling. Ginny stood and ran out of the room, followed by Meissa and Lesath Black as well as Hermione Granger, the last one of whom warned the menfolk to "stay out of it".
'Well damn, Remus.' Sirius said after the dual shock of the proposal and the hasty exit made by Ginny had ebbed slightly. 'I believe this is what they invented Firewhiskey.'
Remus accepted the shot glass of whiskey and downed it instantly, putting it out for more.
Hermione and Meissa followed Ginny until she reached the bathroom, where she locked herself in. They Summoned chairs from the other room and sat down, prepared for a long night. When Hermione heard Ginny sobbing, she decided it was time to talk to the girl.
'Gin, why are you crying?'
There was a moment of silence before: 'Because I'm so overwhelmed with joy, 'Mione!'
Her sarcasm made Lesath grin. 'Hey, Ginny, I know right now isn't the right time to be asking you questions, but you have a very good looking man out here preparing to get smashed. Maybe he would like an explanation before he gets senseless from the whiskey.' The lawyer used her most persuasive voice and tried to get some results.
'Les,' Ginny was on nickname terms with Sirius' sister. 'I was awfully rude, running out of the room, wasn't I?'
'No more than Sirius turning up with - no, Sirius turning up is rude enough.'
Ginny gave a half laugh. 'I love Remus so much, but when he asked me, I got scared. I guess we are rushing things...and I miss James, as I would miss an arm or a leg. It hurts, Lesath, and I want it to so that I feel like I'm not forgetting him.'
'Oh Gins,' Hermione murmured. 'No one is saying that you're forgetting him...'
'But it feels like it. I don't deserve Remus, he's too good for me.' She coughed and her voice sounded clearer when she continued. 'You know what he said to me the night I told him that I love him?'
'Obviously not, but please, go on.' Lesath replied.
'He said that the reason he never stopped being in love with me is because I needed someone after James.'
They were quiet, thinking. Finally, Meissa spoke for the first time since Ginny had retreated into the bathroom. 'Ginny, dear, he is right. You need someone to make you feel special and loved. Remus is that someone. Who else would have welcomed you with open arms when you spurned his affections when you were on this world, and didn't immediately fall for him once you returned? Who else would have proposed to you so soon after being an item?'
The door creaked open and a very worn, very emotional looking Ginny walked out. In her hand was a soaking tissue that had been used with her tears once too often. 'Where's Remus...? I need to apologize and tell him that I love him.'
Ginny made her way to the dining room where her love was nursing a glass of the whiskey. She sat down next to him, sniffling slightly.
He almost leapt out of his skin when he saw her. 'Ginny, I am so sorry! I shouldn't have expected you to...'
She placed a finger over his lips. 'No, listen. I'm sorry that I ran off.' Ginny replaced her finger with her lips and gently kissed him. 'Don't ask me to marry you just yet. Can you wait a bit?'
He nodded. 'Of course Ginny, don't apologize. Hell, if someone like me proposed, I'd run out of the house screaming.'
She laughed, wondering not for the first time why Remus stuck with her.
Author's Notes: People, check out the timeline that is in place as the first chapter. It will help a helluva lot, at least I believe so.
Jen: It's evil? *whacks the story with a stick* stop being so evil or I'll do it again! Thanks for the review
Iselin: Thank you, my friend. I've been waiting to use the punching line ever since I first started writing here on ff.net. It originally came from a Harry/Hermione then Remus fanfic I was writing that started with that line, but I lost interest as the Harry part of the ship was pretty boring. My mum isn't as...attached...as I am to Remus. She just thinks he's another character to be used for the good of the plot. Thanks for reviewing and thanks for continuing to enjoy my story!
Darth Flirt: Oh man, that was my pancake! Nuts. Guess I'll have to eat Ginny's tissue instead...ewww. Anyway, I hope this explains a bit about her love for James. I had it in my head it just has to be released.
Brianna Brantly: Glad you loved it. I hope this one is as good.
Teri: It makes my teeth hurt thinking about it, lol.
Bluegirl18: Sadly enough, I say "Yo ____! How's it hanging?" About three times a day. It is a complete rip off of the Simpsons, in the ep where Apu is almost deported. Homer replies "Low and lazy".
Iselin (on the timeline): I made the timeline before I wrote the fic. I just turned it into HTML and put it up here for everybody's benefit.
Sir Crig: Thanks man. I was sorta thinking along those lines when I was writing it. And, if I can go up to my crush and tell him how I feel, why shouldn't my fic characters do anything less? *insert evil laughter here*
Aurora: I'm glad you like it. In 2000 (I think it is now, there was a new years eve part and all) the Ginny hanging out with the Marauders is the one that has survived Voldemort because an older version of herself went back and saved her younger self. This probably made you more confused. Sorry.
Thanks to all those who read this story.
Finally, and for once this isn't thanking everyone who reads my story (that's above)...if anyone out there with some good HTML sense could do me a favor, I would SO appreciate it. Contact me at sunburnt_archer@hotmail.com if you think you can help me...I'll send you the draft of my next chapter if you can! lol...