Writer: Azure K Mello

Title: A Bond Never Dies

Part: 57?

Words: 594

Warnings: Angst. Non-canon. I'M COMPLETELY IGNORING HBP.

MRHG- I adore you. Just don't hurt me. Because then you won't get pocket money. (And forget fanfic, YOU'RE more important than con work)

The little boy was sitting on his dad's lap sucking an everlasting ice lolly, it never melted, never diminished and whenever the eater got bored it changed its flavour. The ice was currently dark purple, staining Harry's mouth an endearing shade of black. Wafts of fake blackcurrant flavour were assaulting James' nose. Nuzzling the top of the little boy's head he watched as his two closest friends signed the custody papers he had arranged to be drawn up. It took less than twenty minutes to sign the guardian papers and the deed to the house, James was pleased that goblins disliked spending time with wizards or else it surely would have taken longer.

The ride down to the vaults thrilled Harry who sat between Remus and Sirius laughing with unfettered glee. James took two bags of gold from his vault, one because he needed some money and one which he handed directly to Remus saying, "12,334 galleons. That's a third of the house."

"No," said Remus trying to push back the bag, "That's way too much."

"For a three bedroom with two bathrooms and three toilets in Kent?" asked James raising an eyebrow, "This is fair."

"It's not. It's two bedrooms and one bathroom with two toilets,' Remus said shaking his head.

With a little laugh Sirius said, "Not when I'm finished with it." He saw Harry who was standing looking longingly at the cart. His lolly was now a very pale pink and Sirius said, "Someone wants another ride. We still need to go to my vault and yours so stop bickering."

The trip to Sirius' vault was much the same save for the fact that when he opened the door gold actually fell out into the hallway. He too retrieved two bags one of which he handed to Remus and hushed the werewolf before he could protest.

Remus' vault was different. It was located much more deeply within the catacombs of the bank. It seemed that no one ever bother to light any lamps down in the heart of the building and there was a thick layer of dust and cobwebs over everything. When Remus opened the large door into his vault it creaked ominously as though it were about to fall off its hinges. There was a tiny pile of gold in the center of the room. Remus tried to keep his back to the door as he poured the gold out of the two bags his friends had given him so as to obscure their view of the nearly empty room. He didn't want them to know about the wretched turn his life had taken. He pocketed 200 galleons and left the rest of his assets to sit in the bank and collect some interest. The room was fuller than it had been in years and the surfaces suddenly looked much cleaner, as though the building itself hadn't been bothered to deal with upkeep of a worthless room but felt the need once there was some wealth stored there.

Turning back to his friends he saw that they were looking into the room despite his efforts to keep the view cloistered away from them. Sirius was looking at him with studying eyes and he said, "I just don't put much money in here. I live," he was about to say 'hand to mouth' but realized that the phrase wouldn't comfort Sirius and so instead said, "fine. I'm fine." He saw that both the men were still watching him closely and he said, "Harry needs shoes," and walked to the cart.