Why am I writing this? I've got school at nine, work at noon, more school at six and I won't be home till eleven.

I plead insanity.

Tempting as sleep sounds right now (being sick and all), this chapter has been hovering around in my head for weeks but I just wasn't sure how to start. The obvious answer would be Remus, but aside from that, how would he react? I guess I was just thinking in terms of guilt and moving on and all that, and whether Sirius would even realize that he isn't…..alive in the normal sense.

I do hope everyone had a mauraderous Halloween, and I'd like to send a great deal of love and gratitude to all of my reviewers, you guys really mean a lot to me. Thanks for keeping me motivated.

Now without further ado, your next chapter!

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Lukewarm Welcome

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Remus Lupin was no stranger to the unexpected. Finding out he was a wizard, becoming a werewolf, falling in love with another man; a select few things that made his abnormal life that much more complicated. So naturally, all previous attempts to anticipate the course of his life had been abandoned and Remus long ago decided to let whatever would happen, happen.

Not that it made those little twists and turns any easier.

Losing two best friends and having the third locked away for murder had been difficult enough, but everything that happened after? A nightmare. So while Sirius' death a year earlier had been an unexpected tragedy, nothing could prepare him for the shock of finding his previously dead lover asleep on the kitchen floor.

"Merlin's beard…" Molly breathed, eyes fixed on the heap in front on her. Remus flinched, the sound of her voice bringing him back to reality. "Harry….what did you do?" Tonks murmured, eyes wide with shock, uncertainty, and a glimmer of hope. "I already told you! I brought him back Tonks, I brought-"

"Harry don't."

Remus interrupted, voice harsher than he had ever heard it. The boy froze mid-step, standing between his godfather and the Order.

"I know it looks like him, but Sirius is dead."

The words were cold and even, with unshakeable finality. "He died, he isn't coming back, and chances are that this is nothing more than a cruel trick of You-know-who's or just the magic of the house playing tricks on us." As he spoke, Remus pulled his wand out of his pocket, the others quickly following suit.

Harry quivered with rage.

"I want to believe it too Harry, but Remus is right. We need to be sure." Tonks' voice was insistent but gentle, and green eyes slowly lifted to meet her gaze.

It seemed an eternity passed in silence, no one daring to move. Harry thought this over carefully. It wasn't that he had any doubts about the man behind him, but only that it would be far more complicated if he didn't let the Order see for themselves.

"Fine." He answered at last, expression the epitome of defiance. Harry moved aside, standing between Ron and Hermione. "Just don't shoot first and ask questions later." The statement was hard, angry, and the fact that he refused to brandish his wand escaped no one's attention.

Molly moved forward to stand beside Remus as Tonks cast a glance at the trio behind her. "Alright." The man said softly, keeping his wand aimed and ready while nodding to give Molly the go ahead. The redhead took a breath, grip tightening slightly. "Who are you and how did you get in here?" She nearly shouted, making the trio jump slightly.

There was nothing but silence from the man on the floor; not a movement or even a breath in response. Remus gritted his teeth. He hated jumping to conclusions, but he really saw no other course of action.

"Flippendo!" He shouted, light shooting from the tip of his wand and connecting with the man in the corner, his head slamming back with a thunk. Harry yelled in outrage, surging forward with a growl as Ron desperately tried to hold him back. "You said you wouldn't shoot him!" He bellowed, furiously trying to break away. "You said you weren't going to-!"

"Oh fuck"

Harry froze, protest halted by the interrupting outburst and with the groan that followed, all movement in the room ceased immediately.

"Shit that hurt." The man grumbled, pale white hands reaching up to cup his head. "Was that really sodding necessary!" Striking blue eyes glared out from under tangled ebony locks, face quickly changing from anger to confusion. Waking up to a jinx in your face then finding your old friends staring at you with aimed wands?

Definitely not the welcome Sirius had been expecting.

"Who are you and how did you get in?" Molly repeated, obviously shaken by the man before her, but still trying to sound firm. Sirius was dumbfounded, looking first at the redhead, then his cousin, and Remus, before his eyes landed on Harry. The green-eyed boy watched him, his expression one of simple confidence and warm joy. Yes, Harry knew. Harry trusted him.

Harry was not afraid.

He felt a small smile tug at his lips.

"Answer the question or the next hex will be to your head." Sirius' eyes darted back up, resting on the face of the man who had spoken. Remus. Of all people, Remus. Standing there, threatening him, trying his hardest to look intimidating. He looked more worn than Sirius remembered.

"I'm Sirius Black and I used the front door?" He answered, annoyance evident. "Why the interrogation?"

Tonks took a small step forward, voice cracking noticeably. "Prove it."

Sirius sighed exasperated, looking at the group in disbelief. Prove it. He rolled his eyes. Easier said than done. About as quickly as the thought crossed his mind, the answer came to him.

"Tonks. When you were sick during Christmas, I tried to cheer you up by wearing one of your dresses. Molly, you think I'm a completely irresponsible godfather and an all around bad influence on Harry. Remus-" He paused. What was there to say, other than everything? There was too much to try to say in one breath. There had to be something simple, something personal-

"Moonpie." He said softly, watching Remus' body relax and wand falter.

Molly was the first to break the silence, lowering her arm and sighing in relief. "Well, I'm convinced." "Just a second." Tonks said, resting her hands on her hips. "What color was the dress you showed up in?" A collective curious look was sent to the man on the floor who replied with a grimace. "Yellow."

The woman smiled, bending down to look at the man's face and brush stray hair out of his face.

"Welcome home Sirius."

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"So it's true. Black wasn't as dead as we thought." Severus Snape stood in the doorway, watching the man opposite him. "Sorry to disappoint" Sirius responded, eyes narrowed in irritation. "I'm sure you are." The man sneered, arms crossed. "But how, exactly, you managed to drag your mangy body back from the grave is the real concern. Though I'm convinced that you did it solely to annoy us."

"I already told you," Harry interjected from beside his godfather. "I brought him back with a spell from-" "But Harry look at him. I mean yes, he's here, he's walking around, but he doesn't seem quite right." Tonks said, looking at the boy with a mixture of sympathy and understanding.

"Right, could we not talk about me like I'm not here?" Sirius sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Er, yeah sorry." The woman furrowed her brows, looking away.

"Well, we gave Dumbledore the spell book, so all that's left to do is wait." Molly said, sitting with her hands clasped in her lap. She looked exhausted and beside her, Ron and Hermione were silent. The weary tension in the room was nearly tangible, pressing in on them. Only a soft voice dared to intrude.

"I've made tea. Would anyone like a cup?"

Remus stood in the kitchen, gathering mugs with a quiet sort of grace and placing them on the table. It was the first time he'd spoken since jinxing Sirius, and his half-dazed expression gave him a sort of disconnected look.

Ginny was the first to answer, adding a sense of normalcy and comfort. "Tea sounds great." Her voice was subdued, unsure how to act. "I'd like some too if that's alright." Hermione added, immediately followed by Ron's "Yeah…tea."

Sirius also reached for a mug, Harry following suit. Harry seemed to be in the same daze as Remus, eyes not really focused on anything in particular until he glanced up at his godfather. The man tucked a lock of ebony hair behind his ear and offered a small smile. "Your cup?" The boy blinked, startled back to reality.

"Oh right. Sorry."

Remus poured silently, filling Harry's cup almost to the brim before turning to the man beside him. "Sirius?"

Blue eyes met gold, and pale hands offered him the cup, never once breaking their gaze. Milk white fingers brushed against warm skin and suddenly Remus jerked back, a soft gasp tearing from his lips.

"Sirius, your hands are like ice."

The man blinked, brows furrowing slightly as he curled his fingers into his palms. "Sorry. I hadn't noticed." He took the mug back delicately, careful to avoid touching the other and directing his gaze elsewhere. Meanwhile all eyes were on the couple, not quite sure what to make of the outburst.

"Here Remus. I'll help you make some more tea." Tonks interrupted, standing slowly. Remus nodded absently, clutching the kettle and heading towards the kitchen.

Sirius felt a twinge of irritation watching his cousin's tender gaze. Oh he wasn't an idiot. It was obvious how smitten she was with Remus, but the dark-haired man felt a swell of cruel satisfaction. It was also true that he and Remus were lovers, and had been for many years.

So much had been called into question since- he felt a tightening in his chest; since James' death. Azkaban, and being on the run, and his own death. One could argue that their relationship had been on a one-way track for the past sixteen years. But in the same token, Sirius just wasn't willing to believe that.

Maybe it was that he took comfort in the wolf. Knowing that wolves mated for life, Remus was as much his as he was Remus'. But you died. A voice whispered, cold and tugging at the back of his mind. His mate died and you really don't expect him to have moved on? Yes he is part wolf, but he is human too.

Sirius clenched his teeth. Well it would certainly explain a lot; the less than warm welcome, the awkward distance between them. He was interrupted by the sound of the front door creaking open. The misadventures of his love life would have to wait.

Dumbledore was here.

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