Writer: Azure K Mello

Title: A Bond Never Dies

Part: 81 of 82

Words: 362

Warnings: Angst. Non-canon.

I love school. Because when I'm at home, I run up my cell phone talking to you.

"So he agreed to let Harry go later?" asked Remus in awe, it was so rare anyone went against Dumbledore.

"Yeah," James nodded. "He also was shocked to hear that you're a common gardener. He thinks your herbology skills merit more. Be ready to field a teaching offer."

"Should I be prepping myself for teaching?" asked Sirius from where he was sitting on the couch with Harry in his lap as they did a puzzle, it was tricky because the pictures of the pieces kept moving.

"Sigh, we barely trust you with our kid do you think others would let you meld young minds?"

The description of Harry as "our kid" didn't slip by Remus or Sirius, but trying to act casually Sirius said, "That's not fair. Hey, Harry, want to learn how to spit?"

Before James could reprimand his lover Harry answered, "Only bad boys like Dudley an' his sriends spit."

Suppressing laughter at Sirius' crestfallen look James turned back to Remus and spoke softly, "Saw someone who misses you today."

"Who?" asked Remus as he started to make the tea.

"Severus." Remus nearly dropped the tea kettle, "I know you haven't been friends since. . . since I used you as a weapon. But from the way he still flinches at your name he isn't over you."

Almost snorting at the thought Remus asked, "So the fact that he's pained by the mention of my name should give me hope? No, I screwed up. I was so busy with our shared adoration of Lily that I failed to see what was developing. And then I got together with her and I stabbed him twice both by being with her and by not being with him."

"Look, I know he shut you out after that. But if you try now I think he'll forgive you. Enough time has gone by so that he can forgive and not so much has gone that he becomes set in his hatred. Give it a decade and he'll never let you back in. But this is your window. Grab the snitch by its golden wings, Moony."

Just then, a knock came at the floo entrance.