A big thank you to the followers of my story. Knowing that some people are waiting for the next chapter is quite an incentive. It'd be so nice as well if some of you could leave a review ! I'd like to know your opinion about any point you would choose to comment, what you like or don't like. I also welcome any suggestion for the following chapters. So please, people, give me some feedback !

The dinner party was going well. Hermione smiled at the sight of Sirius, his eyes full of life, laughing at some funny story Remus was telling about Hagrid's new monstrous pet.

As for her, she was sitting next to Andromeda. She was glad to be rather far from Ron, who was still a little resentful over the breaking of their engagement, and from Amanda and Ginny, with whom she had rather strained relationships, in spite of her efforts to be friendly.

Andromeda was a very nice woman. She had the haughty good looks that was the Blacks' distinctive mark. But her beautiful face, aged by many years of suffering, had a sweet expression. Her eyes as well were brightening any time she looked at her cousin.

"I didn't think I would see Sirius again", she said. "He was my favorite baby cousin, you know. He and I never got along with the rest of the family. We were allies against the rest of them."

"I always wondered how Sirius had managed to become the man he is, growing up with such a family", said Hermione, shivering at the memory of Walburga Black's dreadful portrait.

"He didn't become different. He was different from the start", answered Andromeda. "As warm-hearted and impulsive as they were cold and calculating. As traighforward as they were devious. As boisterous and fun-loving as they were collected and straight-laced. He was getting himself in trouble all the time. I remember the first time I covered up for him. He was five and he had broken some precious family herloom. I said it was me. As a guest, I was only lectured, and not hexed and locked up in a room as he'd certainly have been."

Hermione's chest constricted at the thought of the abuses Sirius had suffered as a child.

After a pause, Andromeda went on : "Maybe they would have been less hard on him if he hadn't been that beautiful and talented. But all the eyes were on him as soon as he entered a room, and instead of making them proud of him as he was, it only made them hell-bent on forcing him to live up to their expectations. And that's how he spent all his childhood being told what a disappointing heir he was for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. He had only me on his side, and uncle Alphard, bless him. I remember what he said to Sirius one day, after aunt Walburga had yelled at him for having played with a Muggle child who lived nearby. Sirius was no more than six years old, and he was sad, even if he tried not to let it show. Uncle Alphard told him that he didn't have to be the son Walgurga wanted to have, that he just had to be himself, and grow up as a good person. Sirius never forgot that. I think he decided at a very young age that if he couldn't be the son his parents wanted as an heir, he'd become their worst nightmare as a son. A goal I think he achieved quite perfectly", she added, laughing.

"I'm afraid that both of you you had a very unhappy childhood", replied Hermione.

"It wasn't all that bad", replied Andromeda. "When we were young, Narcissa and I got along quite well. It was the same for Sirius and Regulus. And Uncle Alphard took a liking to Sirius and invited him at his place every holiday. Because he had a huge fortune and could favour whoever he wanted in his will, Sirius' parents agreed. It allowed him a measure of freedom during several years. As for me, things only got really bad with my parents when I fell in love with Ted. She smiled sadly. He was my own personal rebellion. But Sirius was a rebel at heart."

Hermione glanced again lovingly at Sirius, and realized suddenly that Molly was observing her, frowning. A little ill at ease, without knowing exactly why, Hermione looked away and resumed her conversation with Andromeda.

"I'm really sorry for your loss", she said. "Ted was such a courageous man."

"He had to", said Andromeda with another wistful smile, "for daring marry me against the will of the Black family. And in spite of my long illness, in spite of the danger, we had years of happiness. I hope it will be Sirius's turn, now. He didn't deserve what he's been through. He deserves to be loved", she added with a knowing look that made Hermione wonder if the older woman had seen right through her.

"But even if the war is over", Andromeda continued, "danger might not be that far away. He's the heir of the House of Black, now, and I suspect that his way of living up to that responsability will not be appreciated by everyone. Not all the pureblood supremacists joined Voldemort. Many of them prefered to wait and see the outcome of the war. You, Harry, Remus and I will have to watch over him, especially as prudence has never been his strong suit."

Again, Hermione's chest tightened a little at these words. But she decided it was not the moment to worry. Sirius was back, they were having a nice dinner, surrounded with friends. Tomorrow, he would be officially cleared of all charges, and within a week, they would be together, on the shores of a beautiful Italian lake.