It was late the next day when Holly staggered back home. She was way beyond exhaustion. She flung her torn and slightly singed robe on a chair.

"Holly…" Remus said getting up from the couch where he was reading. "Are you ok?" he said helping her sit down.

"Fine. I'm just a little tired."

"I would say so, you've been gone almost twenty-four hours."

"I wanted to stay, but my boss sent me home to get some sleep. I have to be back tomorrow morning."

"But tomorrow's Sunday, that's your day off!" he protested.

"I know, I know, but with this new promotion, the only day I can grantee I have of is the weekend for Lily and James' wedding. At least until this whole thing calms down. Then it will be calm for a while, then it'll start back up again."

"Come on, let's get you to bed, I'll bring you something to eat in a while." Remus said picking her up and getting her into bed. He gently tucked her into bed. She fell asleep immediately.

Remus was doing the dishes from his and Holly's dinner when a knocking sound came at the door.

"Sirius, come on in." Remus said a little surprised when he opened the door.

"Where is she? I've been worried sick about her. She may not want me around, but damnit, I need to see her."

"Sirius, stop." he said grabbing him by the wrist and stopping him from going into her room. "She's sleeping. She needs to, she just got off a twenty-four hour shift and she has to be back at work early tomorrow morning."

"But tomorrow's Sunday!" he protested in the same way Remus had earlier.

"I know. But with her new promotion, what's been going on with what happened last night, and everything else, she needs to rest."

"This will only take a minute. Wait. What new promotion?" Remus ignored that last comment.

"Sirius, think. If you go and wake her up, she'll stay that way. Come on, we both know you care about her, but she needs to rest." With a look of defeat Sirius stopped.

"Is she really ok?" He ran his hand though his hair.

"I don't know. I've only talked to her for a few minutes. But I think she'll be fine, she's gone through a lot in the last day." They both nodded. "Have you talked to James?" Remus asked, wondering if James had told him about Holly yet.

"Yeah, only for a minute though. He, Lily and Peter are fine."

"Good to hear." For once in a long time there was an awkward silence between the old friends. Likewise, this was the first time everyone knew something Sirius didn't.

"Well then." Sirius had come here for one reason and that was to see Holly. And he couldn't help but feel frustrated. "You sure?"

"Yes." Remus said firmly.

"What has she been doing anyway?" Obviously James hadn't had the talk with him yet. Remus didn't feel it was his place to tell Sirius.

"Well, you know with all this extra stuff going on I suppose that there's been a lot of work to do at the Ministry. Paper work and the like." Smooth Remus, really smooth. Remus thought sarcastically.

"She hasn't been at the Ministry. I checked."

"Well, I guess they've got her doing something. Gathering evidence, talking to people, uh, fixing memories?"

"I guess so. That must be why they told me she was out in the felid. You're a horrible liar Remy." Remus didn't know what to say next so he gave up.

"What's going on?" Sirius said holding up the robe Holly had thrown over the chair a few hours earlier. "Remus, you know what's going on, tell me." When Remus didn't say anything, Sirius threw down the robe down and walked right past him to Holly's room. When Remus tried to grab him, Sirius just pushed him away. "Not now Moony." was all he said.

When he got to the door he opened it and just looked in. There she was, sleeping peacefully. She looked exhausted. It wasn't as if Sirius had doubted Remus, it's just he needed to see her for himself.

"I told you so Padfoot." Remus said rubbing his arm. He wasn't that much smaller than Sirius, and if he needed to he could out power Sirius, but considering the mood his old friend was in, he didn't want to risk it.

"When am I going to see her again?"

"It looks like at the wedding." Holly stirred and moved on to her side, her back now facing them.

"Alright then. Sorry about that Remy."

"It's alright. It happens. Next time warn me."

"Alright. So when's the next…"

"Next Thursday." He said cutting off Sirius' question.

"Same place as always."

"Naturally."

"Wait, next Thursday. Like two days before James's wedding Thursday."

"Yeah. Luck for me huh?" There was a bit of anger in his words, but Sirius didn't pick up on this.

"Are you going to be ok by then?"

"Well, I should be. A friend of mine has elected to make something for me that should help."

"Who is this friend of yours?" Sirius was hesitant. The only person who he knew that could make that potion was a certified scum and the last person he'd want helping his friend out.

"Not the person you're thinking of. I do have a life out side you five you know."

"Funny. Seriously who?"

"Don't worry about it. It's just someone I met through my travels. He had a son like…well, like me. And it helps that he's fully loaded with money and makes it a point to go out and help people…with my condition."

"I'd wish you'd stop calling it that. Why don't you just go out and say it you're a…"

"Shut up." he looked down at the floor.

"She doesn't know yet does she?" Sirius waited for Remus to answer, when he didn't Sirius took it as a yes. "You need to tell her. She's bound to figure it out eventually. I'm surprised she hasn't already."

"You're not the only one. Then again, it took you guys how long? Fifth year was it?"

"Shut up Remus." Sirius couldn't help but smile.

"I've nearly told her a few times, but something has always interrupted the conversation." Just then a stuffed bear came hurling towards them. "I think that's our cue to move our conversation elsewhere." Remus finished reaching for Holly's door.

"Hold on." Sirius interjected picking up the bear.

Sirius walked slowly to her bed and placed it next to her. He looked down on her and decided that she looked so incredibly beautiful, with her hair all messed up, and a peaceful look on her face. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, a faint smile came to her face, he couldn't help himself, he smiled back. "Goodnight lovely, I'll see you soon." he kissed the top of her head again and left to have a good long talk with Remus about why he hadn't told Holly off the bat.