A/N: So with quite an amount of sadness, I bring you the LAST chapter of Stranger in Paradise.

To everyone who reviewed... linac428, Sadiler, olifantje-emma, lilyskywalker3, kurama-forever, Amanda, Chyenne, Tanuki jo-chan, The Cheerio-junkies, K McNeely, Padfootz-luvr, MTothepowerof2, madpoet08, Phyre's Child13, Ythefrown2day, lizbeth, starlover88, DG of time and space and Dawn... Thank you all very much for taking the time to review the story for good or bad.

And everyone else who read but didn't review... well I won't hold that against you :) Thank you for reading... and hopefully you enjoyed it.

Hopefully the ending is okay, never really know how to end these things without making them too corny or deep.

As for sequels, I know some people expressed an interest. It's a certain possibility, though I have no idea which ending to do. The first one I think has interesting possibilities, but I like the relationships in the second one. We'll see, though don't expect it for awhile, I'm busy writing my other story Reality Upside Down (go read it.. really, go!) Please tell me all your thoughts on the idea and what would be most enjoyable to read.

And anyway, no more random rambling... Here's a cookie for reading this far, so now.. please enjoy the ending :)

Ending 2 Part 3

The next morning Serena rather carefully snuck out of Sirius' room. Since it was only six in the morning, there wasn't any real plausible excuse she could think of to explain coming out of the older wizard's room this early. Luckily for her no one else seemed to be up on this floor, that included the raven haired wizard she was leaving still in bed. She didn't think Sirius would mind her leaving though, since she at least had to get up and get ready for the wedding, help Hermione and all. All he had to do was shower and put on a suit...

The next floor down though was certainly a different story, with Ron and Hermione both awake, coming and going into their rooms, trying very hard to not look at each other and blush.

"Serena! Where have you BEEN?" Hermione cried out, seeing Serena descend the stairs rather secretively. She looked up the stairs, and then back at Serena, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Were you upstairs for a reason? Your room was down the hall."

"I went to see if the bathroom up there was free..." Serena smiled, rather amazed once again at her acting ability. Hermione nodded, and grabbed her hand pulling her back to her room.

"I have only seven hours before the wedding! That's not enough time!"

Serena hid her smile behind her hand, rather amused at the idea that seven hours wasn't long enough to put on a dress, but then a wedding day deserved more pomp and circumstance then any other event. She didn't doubt that Hermione had a whole long list of things that MUST be done.

"Do I have to be involved in this seven hour dressing?" Serena asked, yawning rather tired.

"When did you go to sleep?" Hermione looked suspicious once again, but Serena smiled innocently at her.

"Well I tried to get to sleep but I was too excited about your wedding."

This excuse seemed to work as well as the other one, and Hermione accepted it. Which was all well and good, since it would be a little awkward to explain what she HAD been doing in Sirius' bedroom all night...

"No you don't have to be involved in the seven hour dressing..." Hermione smirked. "I don't either... I'm just starting to get a little panicky... I won't actually start getting dressed for awhile yet. If you don't mind though I would appreciate you keeping me company. I'm starting to get worried."

Serena snorted, rather unladylike behavior she knew, but the idea of Hermione getting worried about marrying Ron was ridiculous. "You have nothing to worry about. You'll look beautiful, the wedding will go off without a hitch, I'm sure somehow even Ron will look handsome." At this Serena received a small glare from Hermione but she ignored it. "And by the end of the day you shall be happily Mrs. Hermione Weasley." She couldn't help smirking at the name, but this time Hermione luckily didn't notice, instead getting a rather sweet dreamy look in her eyes.

Around an hour later, Ginny and Luna both arrived in Hermione's room, showing that none of the girls were sleeping too well. It wasn't just the girls though. According to Ginny, Ron had woken Harry up to keep him company since he couldn't sleep in.

At around 10 o'clock sounds could be heard from downstairs, indicating that the rest of the house had woken up, and that likely Molly was making breakfast. This thought caused Serena's stomach to rumble, but she wasn't alone everyone else was doing the same.

"You all can go down and eat..." Hermione said, though at that point her stomach made noise as well. She laughed, but shook her head. "I can't go down though, I don't want to see Ron before the wedding."

Serena stood up and patted Hermione on the back. "I'll bring you up a plate of something. We'll be back up as soon as possible."

Together the three girls headed downstairs to the kitchen where Molly Weasley was indeed making breakfast. The girl's sat down at the table, and started to chat with the older woman about how things were going. At that instant there was a flash, and suddenly Remus Lupin appeared in the fireplace, coughing slightly from the floo powder.

"Sorry. I didn't realize you'd all be here." He smiled bashfully, but Molly just gave him a hug.

"At least I don't use the fireplace to cook..." She laughed.

At that point though Remus sighted Serena and he blinked slightly when he saw her. Her brain mentally poked her, letting her know that every single time she had seen Remus over the last two years, he had always looked confused when he saw her, hopeful as well. She didn't doubt this was because he was always waiting to see if she remembered yet or not. She grinned brightly at him and stood up, flying over to him and giving him a big hug, much to everyone's surprise.

"Remus! I've missed you!" Serena gave him a big sloppy kiss on the cheek, which caused the now older Remus to blush profusely. He had aged perhaps not as well as his friends, but he still looked much the same, his robes still a mess, his hair still sandy brown with only a touch of grey sprinkled throughout.

When she released him from the hug, she saw Ginny's wide eyed expression, and knew that she was getting the complete wrong impression from that.

"I wasn't even aware you two knew each other that well." Molly said.

"Oh the two of them are old friends."

Serena looked over to see Sirius leaning against the doorway, still wearing his sweat pants, but at least now he had a shirt on as well.

"So you remember now?" Remus looked at Serena, and then back at Sirius. Everyone else in the room looked completely confused, but Serena just smiled at her old friend.

"I got back a week ago." She held up her right hand, showing the ring. "See. It's me and everything."

"So are you two...?" Remus nodded pointedly in Sirius' direction.

"Well Moony old pal, that I don't think is supposed to be common knowledge." Sirius said blandly.

"Not that any of us have a clue what you're all saying." Luna said, though she didn't look confused, unlike the two Weasley women. She was too busy perusing the latest issue of the Quibbler.

"They'd likely die of shock I'm sure." Sirius said, sounding ever so slightly bitter.

Serena snorted, and pushed her hair out of her face. "You'll have to pardon old Padfoot there, Remus. He's suffering from oldmanitis... He's very bitter and cranky. Especially in the morning."

"Only when I get left on my own without any warning." Sirius looked at Serena sharply there.

"What? You were SLEEPING?" She blinked then and covered her mouth, everyone in the room looked like Sirius had said, shocked, though no one looked ready to die. Molly though looked outraged at the idea.

"You...She..." She sputtered, and Serena had to wince. Molly had a habit of treating all of the younger group as her children.

"Now Molly... There is a very good explanation for this." Remus started, but he paused trying to think of how to explain it. "They're in love?" He finished rather lamely, even if it was the truth.

Serena covered her face in her hand, and sighed, counting to three before Mrs. Weasley lost it.

1

2

3

"She's still in SCHOOL? And you're twenty years older? And you say you're in love? That's... that's preposterous!"

"Mother I never thought you'd say being in love was preposterous?" Ginny looked put out with her mother, standing up for her friend, even if she was surprised at this sudden turn of events. After all she had only found out her friend found Sirius attractive last night, and now all of a sudden they were in love.

"You know I don't think it's healthy to be yelling this early in the morning, especially before a wedding." James and Lily chose that moment to walk in. "Hey Moony. Glad to see you." James walked over and patted his friend on the back. "What is going on?"

Molly looked fit to be tied, and Lily went over to her, thinking that there was something seriously wrong.

"Sirius has... he's taken advantage of a young girl!" Molly exclaimed, thinking that the Potters as parents would understand, but they sadly disappointed her.

"So you two got all of that settled?" James sighed. "Thank god. I was worried it was going to be a few months of not talking like last time."

James seemed unaware of the glare he was receiving from Molly at that point. Serena and Sirius both smiled at James slightly, nodding.

"Now Molly..." Lily said, trying to calm her down.

"Last time?" Ginny picked up on this little tidbit. "I didn't think you really knew Sirius that well Rena, what IS going on?"

"Molly, there are VERY special circumstances to this..." Lily was still trying to calm down Mrs Weasley. The older woman though just couldn't understand how they all could be okay with this.

"Well... Gin..." Serena paused trying to think how this should be explained. "I'll explain everything when Harry, Ron and Hermione are here. So after the wedding." Ginny though didn't accept this, and immediately took off to drag the other three downstairs. She returned a few minutes later, three rather confused people behind her. Serena groaned.

"What is going on?" Harry looked around, before settling on his father.

"Well... " James looked a little put out to be the one to explain. "Serena is about to explain to everyone how she ended up in love with Sirius." He smiled, pushing off the explaining on someone else.

This started three new bursts of questions from the new comers. Hermione and Ron were so surprised they didn't even really notice each other, and right before their own wedding as well.

"Sirius..." Harry looked at his godfather quizically. "Have you been seducing my friends?" He asked this half jokingly, but there was definitely a serious note to it.

"Of course I haven't!" He answered gruffly. "She kisses me first anyway."

"Oh thanks..." Serena muttered. "Make it sound like I seduced you. You were the one following me around for two months, even though I said no."

This started Molly up anew, hearing what she assumed was a child's refusal of an older man's advances.

"Rena, would you just put them all out of their misery, before Sirius is hexed to oblivion by Molly." Remus said sternly, though he looked highly amused. Sirius for his part had rather sneakily moved behind his own godson.

"Oh fine..." Serena took a deep breath. "I went back in time this year." She decided to leave out the reasons why, and decided to go with the accidental story. "I didn't mean to, but I did... and ended up twenty years in the past at Hogwarts. And I was stuck there until Dumbledore could find a way for me to come back. So I stayed there...for nine months."

Lily chose to jump in there. "She became friends with me, as well as James, Sirius and Remus. Sirius fell in love with her, she fell in love with him. They were both only seventeen at the time, but despite all that when she was able to she came back here. So Sirius has been in love with her for twenty years, and she's still in love with him. Now isn't that okay Molly?"

Molly was at that point looking rather pitifully at Sirius who just snorted at her mood change. But then Mrs Weasley had always loved romantic stories.

"That's... amazing." Hermione said, blinking.

"So that's why you've been depressed all these years?" Harry asked curiously to his godfather, who just nodded. "Well then if this cheers him then I'm all for it. And Serena's my friend. Glad to see the two of them happy. Odd sure... but only as odd as Hermione and Ron." Harry ducked Ron's mock punch. But this seemed to remind everyone that they were going to have a wedding in just a few hours. Hermione noticed Ron, and Ron noticed her, and they both squeaked and flew out of the kitchen.

"Okay. Everyone eat your breakfast..." Molly was immediately the mother again, and made everyone eat up. Serena was just amused at how quickly all her friends had gotten used to the idea of her with Sirius.

"You know I woke up alone and figured last night was all a dream." Sirius whispered, coming up to stand next to Serena finally.

"Maybe it's your old and feeble mind." Serena fluttered her eyelashes up at Sirius who just snorted, deciding he was going to have to get used to the old jokes. "I promise next time I'll wake you up when I leave." She went on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek, but then blushed when she saw everyone watching her. "What? I thought you all were okay with this now?"

Harry was grinning, as well as his parents and Remus. "Of course it's okay. I'm just amazed that it only took you one night." James shook his head. "I was getting ready for a month of passed messages and glaring..."

"It's still just a bit surprising." Ginny said in wonder. "Up until last night I didn't think you even knew him. Of course all that time in the past is different." She shook her head. "It really is romantic though..."

Serena rolled her eyes. "Please Gin. Don't go on about how romantic it is that after twenty years we found each other... I don't need to think of my life as a romance novel."

"Some parts of romance novels are fun..." Sirius whispered into her ear, but she just elbowed him, smiling benignly.

"Padfoot, dear... Careful or this will turn into a horror novel."

"Well we already have the time travel, the werewolf, the defeat of a dark wizard..."

"The large furry black dog who trips over his own feet." James pointed out, ducking in case Sirius chose to punch him.

"Oh... right that time he broke his own nose." Remus started to laugh, soon joined in by James and Lily. Everyone else looked a little surprised at this news.

"My godfather... the AMAZING Sirius Black tripped and broke his OWN nose?" Harry looked mildly shocked. Like learning that Superman was actually a 14 year old kid who liked to wear his underwear outside his pants.

Sirius muttered, but Serena gave his hand a quick squeeze. "That was all my fault actually..." She smiled, finally telling the truth. "I sort of hexed his feet to trip at that point." Serena squeaked when Sirius made a motion to grab her, dancing away from him and hiding behind Remus. "Sorry if they've been making fun of you for twenty years because of that." Serena's grin though showed that she was anything but sorry.

"You are certainly going to pay for that later." Sirius muttered, but his eyes were smiling at her.

"I'm sure I'll enjoy it immensely." She beamed a smile at him. "But now I need to go up and get ready, and make sure Hermione is still alive." Together with Ginny and Luna, she left the kitchen.

Weddings are always beautiful, joyous events filled with all the love and happiness in the world. And all for just one single day. Today's wedding though was so much more then that for Serena. It was a affirmation of everything she had done, a successful mission completed. All of her friends were around her, old and new. Everyone was alive and happy. Harry was a normal, well adjusted boy who loved his parents and was in turn adored by them. Amazing how one single event changed can change so much. When she had first decided to go back in time everyone had been different.

So many of the people now laughing and congratulating the newly married couple, had been dead just a short period of time ago. Dumbledore, Lily, James, Remus, Ron... And even more had been devastated by their losses. There were no weddings in that future.

"You're looking far too serious and thoughtful for a bridesmaid." Sirius had suddenly appeared behind Serena, wrapping his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck. "You should be shagging the best man's godfather in the downstairs bathroom."

"Tell me again, is Harry the best man, or Neville?" Serena smirked slightly. "I don't really know Neville's godfather too well. Are you sure you'd be okay with that?" She let out a short scream when her side was pinched by the taller man.

"What were you thinking about?" His tone was serious now, his arms tightening around Serena.

"I was just comparing this reality to the one I had left just a week ago. It's much better." She tried not to sound too proud of herself, but it was hard to keep it out of her voice. Though it wasn't really right to do so, somehow this reality must have it's faults. Every one does.

Sirius stayed quiet, resting his chin on her shoulder, watching as Harry danced rather badly with the bride. Watched as James and Remus had their heads together by the bar, looking mischevious, and triumphant when Ron came running along, his face bright red from something that had just happened. Watched as Dumbledore danced rather well with Molly, twirling her along the dance floor, his eyes twinkling, likely from a few too many butterbeers. Watched as Lily giggled like a young girl as James magicked some floors to appear in her hair.

"Do you want to dance?" Serena pulled away from Sirius, turning to him and holding her right hand out to him, the silver ring bright.

"I sort of like just watching them all."

At his comment Serena just laughed and grabbed his hand, the silver rings connecting, pulling him onto the dance floor.

"No need to watch them. They're not going anywhere now."

"I'm a hopeless dancer."

"So am I."

"I might step on your feet."

"My parents always told me I had lead feet."

"My old back might give way."

"I'll hold you up."

"I could kiss you in front of everyone."

Before he could even follow through with his threat, Serena had wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips softly. It caused quite a stir with the people in the room who hadn't been appraised of the situation, but neither of them really cared.

"I can't have you starting a trend."

"Will you marry me?"

Serena lost her footing for a moment, but regained it quickly, dancing like nothing had happened.

"Absolutely not." She reached up and ghosted her lips over Sirius's cheek. "Ask me when I graduate school."

For Sirius that was good enough, and risking starting a trend, he closed the space between them and kissed her.