The Countdown continues…..It is approaching……I wish I could tell you guys how much all your support has meant to me on this story, but words can't describe it. Well, I won't delay……I promise there is will be a big surprise at the end of this story…..and it isn't what you think.

Please read and review…

Nothing is my own.

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Chapter eighteen: The Approaching

Sirius Black popped suddenly into the Potter's living room, completely out of breath.

"Damn it," he yelled as he examined his bleeding leg.

"Sirius," Lily shrilled as she raced towards him.

Sirius flinched as Lily placed pressure on his leg with a wash towel, "that make the third attack on me this week."

Lily bit her lip as she examine his contorted face, "this is too dangerous."

"Lils, when are you going to learn, danger doesn't come looking for me, I go looking for danger."

"Your being stupid, taunting the Death Eaters, trying to spread rumors that…"

Sirius placed his finger on her quivering lip, "I'm doing my part, I'm not going to let anything happen to you and James," he looked up towards the stairs, "or Harry."

"Fine," she spat, "if you insist on going out there and getting your bloody self killed I won't stop you, but at least stay here until I can clean up this leg."

Sirius cracked a grin, sometimes it was so obvious what James saw in Lily.

The Death Eaters had doubled in numbers as the Order had predicted. It wasn't even safe for those close to the Potters, much less their decoyed secret keeper. Oddly Peter hadn't been attacked, not even once. Sirius was jumped almost every single day, and December had even been attacked a few times.

"Shit," Sirius swore loudly breaking Lily's train of thought.

"What now," she said as she purposely roughed up his injury; just to warn him in case he was thinking about a sudden getaway.

"I left my motorbike at the Hog Head," he said suddenly, "ouch, easy down there!"

"Serves you right, your going to get yourself killed on that stupid contraption," Lily said coldly as she wrapped a healing cloth around Sirius's injury.

"Thanks Lils, I guess," Sirius joked.

"So where is Prongs?" he asked noticing that his best friend had not yet made an appearance.

"He's asleep, and don't even think about waking him right now," Lily scolded.

"Your sounding more and more like a mother everyday," Sirius joked again.

Lily gave a sarcastic grin and took her bloody cloth into the kitchen.

Sirius propped up his legs on the coffee table and made himself comfortable.

He closed his eyes thinking about something he shouldn't be thinking about. Since he was always running from those damn Death Eaters, his social calendar was getting rather empty.

A loud pop from the foyer made him jump suddenly, "Lily, are you  home?"


Sirius had to smile at December's stupid question, "of course she's home, where else would she be?"

December made her way into the living area and shook her head at Sirius, "you think you're so cute, don't you?"

"There is no thinking to it, I am cute," he said arrogantly.

"Whatever you say, where is Lily?" December asked shortly, not wanting to start any kind of in depth conversation with Sirius.

"In the kitchen," he motioned, but December had caught a glimpse of his injured leg.

"Holy Merlin, what happened to you leg?" she asked eagerly taking a seat next to him on the couch so she could examine it.

"Bloody Death Eaters again, they're getting worse, they attacked me in broad daylight this time, right in the middle of Diagon Alley."

December cringed her nose as she pulled out her wand.

"What are you doing?" he asked worriedly.

"Sirius, I'm practically and auror, I think I can heal a minor wound like this," she assured him.

"I don't give a damn if you're the minister of magic himself, your not touching my leg," he warned her.

"Don't be such a baby, I promise you won't feel a thing, hardly," she smirked.

"Woman I'm warning you, put the wand up," he said trying to hold back her wand hand.

"Sirius, stop moving. I said hold still," she spat at him.

"Helliaous Rictallius," she said clearly when she got a clear aim at his leg.

"SHIT!!" Sirius swore as he flung himself off the couch.

"I thought you said it wouldn't hurt!" he reared on her.

"It wouldn't have, but I added the Rictuallius part in because you annoyed me, it's just a minor stinging spell," she said evilly.

"Minor my ass," he said rubbing his leg.

She let herself slip off the couch, "oh, it didn't hurt that bad, let me see."

"Get away from me, you've done enough damage," he said sourly.

"I think your overreacting a little," she badgered him as she tried to wrestle for a closer look at his leg.

The two tumbled for a brief moment before Sirius stuck his foot into his mouth, "so is this the only way you can figure out how to get close to me?"

"Excuse me?" she scolded.

"Well, after all you did say you love me," he let his eyes stare at her, he knew he was risking a lot by saying this, but he had carried it in his mind for far too long.

"This is ridicules, this isn't the time or the place to be having this conversation," she pulled herself off the floor and crossed her arms around her chest.

"Why isn't it? Why do you always get to decide when a where we're going to have these conversations?" he questioned.

"That isn't fair," December's eyes now welling up with tears.

"What, are you still in love with Remus too?" he asked accusingly.

Lily bit her lip as she leaned her ear against the kitchen door, she knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but this was one time she didn't care. As the voice grew louder, she questioned whether or not she should put a stop to the conversation; she didn't want them to wake Harry and James.

December turned her head away from Sirius's piercing gaze, she didn't want to answer his questions, she didn't need to be interrogated by him like this.

"I deserve to know, you at least owe me that," Sirius tried to pressure.

"Owe you what? Why do I owe you anything, you've kept me dragged along like a little play toy since we left Hogwarts. Remus was the only one who ever treated me like I meant something. What choice did you give me?" she practically screamed in a whisper.

"I dragged you along? You're the one who said your career was the most important thing in your life. You decided our fate along time ago darling," Sirius rebutted.

"I choose my career? I only took the job because I got tired of waiting for you to settle down!" December informed him.

Sirius bit his lip, but was deprived of his chance to argue more of his points when Lily finally entered the room.

"December, I was wondering when you'd be here," Lily tired to say pleasantly.

December walked over and gave Lily a hug, not taking her eyes off Sirius.

"I can't believe what day it is today," December tried to smile.

"What is so important about today?" Sirius asked a bit confused.

December shook her head and rolled her eyes, "it's the 30th of July."

"So, what is so important about the 30th of July?" Sirius asked still not catching on.

December let out an exasperated sigh, "Harry was born on midnight! The 31st of July. A year ago today we were all sitting in this very room waiting for young Harry to make his introduction to the world."

"Ah, I'll never understand you women," Sirius muttered.

"What's not to understand?" Lily questioned.

"Lils, if I remember correctly, you looked like someone was sticking a crowbar up your nose, it looked well, painful. And now you want to reminisce it? I mean, I'd be trying to forget it ever happened," Sirius stated.

"Sirius, why were you born without a heart?" December asked sarcastically.

Sirius gave a mock expression, "that hurt D."

"Hey Padfoot, December," James greeted as he appeared at the top of the stairs with Harry still half asleep in his arms. Both boys' hair was messier than usual.

"Hey Prongs, thank God another man is finally here to save me," Sirius cackled.

"Your beyond the point of saving," December muttered under her breath.

"Mama," Harry screamed when he caught sight of Lily.

"Hey, how is mum's big boy doing?" Lily asked as she took her son from his father's arms.

"Sirs," Harry cooed as he caught sight of his Godfather, and tried to push his way out of his mother's grip.

"I swear sometimes I think he likes you better," Lily said shaking her head.

Sirius didn't respond, he just smiled and bounced Harry slightly above his own head.

"Well, I better get dinner ready," Lily finally sighed, realizing that she was having company tonight.

It wasn't anything magnificent, but dinner was nice. Lily had been given of the "Cooking Spells Cook Book" as a wedding present from her late in-laws. With a simple wave of her wand a few muttered words over a raw chicken, a wonderful meal was prepared.

The group laughed a giggled relishing in the few happy moments they had left together.

Lily finally excused herself from the table, and went to feed Harry some of his favorite toddle type foods. He was very fond of cooked carrot chunks and mash potatoes.

James smiled as the light reflected in his eyes, "you know, I think she gets more beautiful everyday."

"You always were silly over Lily," Sirius said as he rolled his eyes.

James didn't answer; he just stood up and walked over to his son and wife.

He let his arms slip around her waist as she tried to urge Harry to eat.

"I wouldn't trade this moment, this life for anything," James said swaying her back and forth.

Harry let out a happy sound and pointed at his father.

Lily tried to smile, "you wouldn't wish for a different life?"

James kissed Lily's cheek, "I would rather hide the rest of my life, than live without you."

Harry held a carrot firmly in his fist as he watched his father and mother.

"Ouch," James said playfully as Harry flung a carrot into his nose.

"No, we don't throw food," Lily reprimanded her young son.

James pulled away and watched his beautiful wife few moments longer.

"Come on," he urged her trying to pull her off the couch.

"James, I have to feed Harry," she said.

"No, come on, just for a minuet."

She never could resist him when he laid on the thick Potter charm.

"Okay, I'm up," she gave in.

James let his arms slip around her waist and he began to sway her around the floor.

"James, what are you doing?"

James continued to move back and forth, "I'm dancing with you. I never got to ask you to dance when we were at Hogwarts."
Lily laughed at first, and then she saw James was serious.

"I never told you, but the reason I suggest the Halloween Dance was because I wanted to dance with you," he confessed.

Lily let a smile creep over her face, "I kind of figured that was the reason."

"Well, it would have been a perfect plan if that no good lying…" James started.

But Lily distracted him as she planted her lips on his.

"They were always so sickening to watch," December jeered turning her head from the romance on the floor.

"What are you staring at?" she asked as she noticed Sirius was looking at her with a dreamy expression.

"Nothing," he said quickly turning his head.


December ignored the situation; she didn't feel like pushing herself into another "it's your fault our relationship failed" argument with Sirius. She was saved from this fate as a large barn owl landed on the kitchen table.

"For me?" she asked the owl sweetly, but he hooted unhappily and nodded over towards the dancing couple on the floor. December was about to tell the bird he could leave the letter on the table when he read her mind, dropped the letter and flew off.

December felt her breath fall short as she stared at the tattered paper on the table. She'd recognize that hand writing anywhere. She tried to control her trembling fingers as she lifted the letter off the table, Sirius eyeing her as she fondled the paper with her fingers.

"It's from Remus," he said, recognizing the handwriting as well.

Dearest Lily, James and Harry,

I just wanted to wish the youngest Marauder a very happy first birthday. Hopefully, I'll be in touch again before long.

Your Friend,

Moony

December felt her eyes welling up with tears and her eyes found the sight on Lily and James kissing.

"It's so short," Sirius said with concern as he stared over the table and read the letter upside down.

"So, what are you thinking?" December asked examining Sirius face.

"I'm thinking maybe Peter is right," he said quietly.