Hello, two new chapters here today! I'm trying to get this one done quickly, not much left to go. Like I said at the beginning, this was only meant to be a small fic to tide me over until the end of exams and I'm all excited about part three now! I'd also like to say that if you don't like this chapter I won't hate you cos I'm not too happy with it myself.

Polkat: I'm sooo pleased that you think Sirius and Remus are keeping in character cos I love them and worried that they might not seem right. Ebony's father? I didn't really want to get too hung up on that but I'll drop the odd clue, mainly in part 3 (which is coming very soon!) but there could possibly be one lying around here somewhere!

Hermione 'DB' Granger: Would I EVER make Sirius act like a nasty brat?! He's a little angel really, just a cheeky one! I suppose you would be able to guess Sirius's actions, I never really talk about much else do I? I told you I wouldn't let him…you know.

Gaul1: Glad you're enjoying! I'll keep writing as long as you keep reading!

Together Again

As Remus left the Martin house that afternoon he couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy about the meeting that had just taken place. Ebony seemed very happy to be meeting her brother and even suggested that they meet during her next weekend visit, just six days away. Sirius was obviously overjoyed, maybe too overjoyed. Remus worried that his friend may have been building his hopes too, high too soon. Ebony had only agreed to one meeting, there may never be another and she certainly had no intention of leaving her father. On several occasions Remus tried to put this point across to his friend but there was something about the twinkle in Sirius's eyes that always stopped him mid sentence. Remus hadn't seen so much happiness in that face since it left him sixteen years ago. Knowing that his thoughts would anger his friend, Remus held his breath and forced the words to go unspoken. Only time knew for certain how Sirius and Ebony's relationship would end, for now the former deserved some sunshine. The next morning Remus simply wished his friend good luck before journeying alone back to Hogwarts.

Five days. Just five days. Sirius could hardly contain his happiness as the time slowly passed. It seemed impossible to wipe the grin from his face as he went about the most boring chores in a sickeningly chirpy fashion. Mrs Lupin found herself on the point of exasperation after asking him to help clean Mr Lupin's Land rover. After three choruses of  'Starman' and a very loud rendition of  'American Pie' she was ready to tip a bucket of soapy water over his head.

After lunch Sirius entertained the chickens with his version of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', complete with air guitar and then attempted to re-enact 'Grease' as a one man show. (Lily had ensured that the Marauders all knew her muggle music records off by heart, prompting James to mutate from reasonably sane wizard to disco king)

By bedtime Sirius found that he had lost his voice. When he hadn't uttered a word by Friday, the Lupin's began to worry that he may be permanently mute.

Saturday morning arrived and, to his relief, Sirius found that his vocal chords had fully recovered from their prolonged abuse.

Now that the initial excitement had worn off a strange sense of fear swept over him. He suddenly felt very alone. Remus was no longer here to tell him what to do, to reassure him and to give him advice. He now had to face his greatest fear alone. If Ebony rejected him now, there would be no one there to pick him up and help him to his feet.

 It was times like this that he wished James were here. Of course, he always wished that James were here but now he wished it even more. The void James had left in his heart seemed larger than ever.

James always knew what to say.

 Remus was a great strength to Sirius and he was eternally thankful to have him back in his life, but somehow Remus just didn't understand. Maybe it was because James had a son of his own that he always seemed to have the answers. Harry had been the most precious thing in James's life and after the child was born the bond between the two friends seemed to grow even stronger. The fact was that Remus could never understand what Sirius felt in the way that James could. He could always give his opinion and offer support, but he lacked the solid knowledge that James always had to share.

'If only Prongs were here now.'

The thought swirled around in Sirius's mind as he climbed out of bed. He felt instantly guilty as his mind wandered to Remus and all of the support he had shown over the last few years.

Trying to close his mind Sirius began to prepare himself for the day ahead. He pulled on the smartest muggle clothing he owned and made his way into the bathroom.

After showering and applying enough aftershave to knock out a small army, Sirius began to nervously rehearse what he was going to say to Ebony when they met.

'Hello Ebony, I'm you brother,' he said softly, smiling into the mirror.

A shrill giggle came from within the glass surface.

'What?' Sirius snapped angrily 'Don't you ever sleep?'

The mirror did not reply.

Clearing his voice Sirius repeated the sentence in a deeper, more formal tone.

'Hello Ebony, I am your brother.'

This time the mirror began to laugh hysterically, causing Sirius to clench his fists and yell.

'That is it!' he fumed. 'I have had it with you! If you aren't making crass comments and ogling me in the bath, you are being insolent and frustrating, I'm going to have you taken down!'

Looking into the mirror, Sirius saw that his face was now bright red, his eyes burned with anger.

'Pull yourself together!' he told himself. 'Yes it's going to be a stressful day but for god's sake you are shouting at a mirror!'

Back in his room, Sirius sat down upon the bed heavily and gave a loud sigh. How he was going to get through today he did not know, in truth he would be glad when it was all over.

Four hours to go.

Although he knew he had everything prepared Sirius could not stop double checking everything; his hair, his clothing, even his motorbike.

'Hair fine, clothes not creased, bike polished' he muttered to himself for the forty second time.

Mr Lupin came down the creaking stairs and, watching Sirius stood in front of the kitchen sink sniffing his under-arm, he laughed loudly.

'It must be a woman,' he chuckled, 'I know that behaviour very well.'

Sirius grinned remembering the days that Lupin was referring to. It didn't seem so long ago that he and Remus were pacing around the Lupin farmhouse, preening themselves and exchanging successful chat-up lines.

He wished Remus could be here.

Two hours.

Sirius wandered aimlessly up and down the hallway chanting silently in his head.

'Hello Ebony, you probably don't remember me. I'm Sirius, your brother.'

Yes, that would probably do, to the point without being over the top. And then…..Goodness this was going to be hard work. Just an hour and a half to go and he had only just worked out the first line.

What should he say?

What did they have in common?

The past. He could talk about the past.

'Well Ebony I don't actually know who your father is but mine certainly didn't want you.'

No, the past was a subject best avoided, for now anyway.

What do teenagers do these days?

School?

No, kids don't want to talk about school.

Careers?

This was getting harder by the minute. Sirius sadly realised his problem. Ebony was more than twenty years his junior. That hadn't mattered when she was a baby, but now they were worlds apart. What did Sirius know about sixteen year old girls? Of course at Hogwarts he had been acquainted with numerous sixteen year old girls, but this was very different. He had become very skilled at attracting young girls at school but he doubted that he had ever sat down to have a serious discussion with one. It wasn't only the age difference that scared Sirius; his sister was living in a completely different time zone. After twelve years in prison he had lost touch with the world; even his time with Harry had not given him a clear picture of how teenagers in the nineteen nineties lived.

There was so much that Sirius had not considered. He had only one hour left to think and that time would be spent on the journey. He pulled on his leather jacket and clambered up onto his trusty motorcycle, the chilly winter air blowing in his face. The Lupin's both came out to wish him good luck and a safe journey.

With the turn of a key the motorcycle roared into action, leading its rider higher and higher into the pale blue sky. With his mind set firmly on the clouds in front of him Sirius gave himself little room to think about what he was about to do, arriving at the Martin house in one piece was now his main priority.

The thick, grey cloud cover continued for miles making it very difficult to see the ground below. After almost an hour of driving Sirius  checked his compass and realised that he was almost there. Easing his handlebars into a downward position, he prepared to descend.

The cloud cover quickly gave way to a view of the quiet country lanes surrounding the Martin's home. The green meadows stretched out as far as the eye could see with a few thatched cottages littering the landscape.

There it was. The Martin's house.

The small leaded windows with their bright blue shutters were coming into plain view.

With a thud the motorcycle hit the ground and skidded to a halt.

The homely little cottage seemed to bear down upon Sirius like an almighty giant. He sat upon his motorbike, perfectly still, just inches away from the garden path. The dapple grey pony could be seen grazing just on the other side of the garden fence and the swing chair by the front door swayed gently in the wind.

Sirius pulled off his helmet and using his wand fastened it securely to his brake lever. Slowly dismounting his bike he felt his breathing quicken as his heart began to pound. Feeling very self conscious, he let his eyes wander over the front of the house.

Could Ebony see him now? Was she watching out of a window, or standing on the other side of the wooden door?

Sirius urged himself to walk forwards, if Ebony was watching she'd probably think he was weird if he just stood there staring at the house. With each step forward he took, his legs seemed to grow weaker and weaker. His knees shook violently causing him to walk like a cross eyed pigeon.

On approaching the front door he found himself once again suffering from his door phobia.

'Just knock, it isn't hard' he urged himself.

But he didn't need to.

Before he had the chance to raise his hand, the front door swung open.

There stood in the doorway was the young girl Sirius had dreamed of for so long.

Something in Ebony's expression told Sirius that she was feeling just as nervous as him. She wore a pretty, frilled dress robes with her long, black, wavy hair hanging loosely down her back. Her lips curved into a friendly smile but her wide, brown eyes gave an anxious glint that betrayed her act of confidence.

Sirius opened his mouth to introduce himself but found that he could not recall his own name. As he stood with his mouth hanging open, the young lady spoke in the soft tones that were so similar to her mothers.

'I'm Ebony.'

She held out a hand that trembled ever so slightly.

Taking his sisters hand in his own Sirius felt as though he could cry. Her soft skin warmed his cold palm as he finally regained his composure.

'I'm Sirius. I'm your brother.'