'Crap.' Sirius's entire body went rigid, as he stopped all movements. I looked up to see his eyes shut closed, clenching his jaw. I slowly released my grip on his shirt, allowing my arms to fall to the side. Peeking over his shoulder, I locked eyes with a rather fire-breathing Molly. 'Double crap.'

Sirius refused to look up. In fact, the wizard was still attempting to regain his breathing. "Molly, can you give us a moment."

"Of course not!" Molly growled. "Have some respect for Merlin's sake."

'Great, here we go again.'

In a blink of an eye, he pushed himself off and stood between us. "Kissing my wife has nothing to do with respect. I am in my house, with my wife."

"You are practically mounting her in the family room!" Molly yelled. "Should you had even the slightest of decency, you would take it somewhere else!"

"Should I want to mount her here or on the kitchen counter, that is our choice." He stood toe to toe with the witch. "Where we choose to enjoy our moments in my own house, is not your concern."

'Did he really just say that?' I swear this man had no filter. Seeing the look of pure rage in her eyes, I quickly jumped to stand between them. "Mum, please."

"Please what?!"

"Look, we were talking and things got a little too heated." I began. "But Sirius is correct. He is now my husband and things like this will happen." I raised my hand, pausing her from speaking her mind. Loudly again. "But we will be more cautious where it happens. I assure you it will not be in here or on the kitchen counter."

"When anyone else is in the house." Sirius grinned, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into his chest. "Now, can we please have a moment?"

"Si-"

"Athena let's g-" Hermione came to a brute stop, looking both scared and confused. "S-sorry. Athena, the others are waiting for us."

"Right, Diagon alley." Pulling myself away from Sirius, I leaned up kissing him on the jaw. "I will be back in a few hours. We have to grab a few things."

"Very well."

Turning my attention to Molly, I pulled her into a hug. "I know you don't like this or him, but please for me."

Molly cupped my face, kissing me on the forehead. "No promises."

Time jump:

Hermione, Harry, and I made our way down the Diagon Alley. I had Black trotting beside without a care in the world. Hermione was in need of some new potion items and books. Harry and Ron, were just seeing what they could spend their money on. I was simply window shopping, waiting for Hermione to finish her school shopping. Stopping at a critter shop, I pushed the door in, the small bell over the door ringing. Greeting the clerk, I made my way through the aisles. A small bright red collar caught my attention. Picking it off the hook, I called black overslipping it over his head. He was quick to shake it off, showing his dislike for the color.

"What, don't like red? How about pink?" Seeing his eyes flash, I threw my hands up. "Okay, fine you pick it." Black jumped up on the base, jabbing his nose at the black collar. "Black. Or course. Stupid me for thinking of any other color." Grabbing the collar, I placed him back on the floor. "Alright, what else do you want?" To my surprised, he ran towards a small tag station. "You want a tag? Fine." To say he was a happy puppy was an understatement. I had the clerk make the tag in the form of the Black crest. "I swear you are a spoiled mutt." That earned me a snip on the ankle. "Hey!" Reaching down and grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, I raised him to my eye level. "Do that again and I will bite you back."

"Is that a dire wolf?"

I turned around to find a young woman. She was blond-haired, with vibrant blue eyes. Her skin was a dark olive complex. "Yeah."

"I have never seen a full black one." She spoke in awe. "May I?"

Handing her Black, I watched her carefully. "My previous one was all black as well."

"Pure black dire wolves are considered a rarity." She was currently conducting a full inspection of Black. She raised his lips, glancing at his teeth. Ran her hand down his back, chest, legs, and paws. Her fingers raking through his long coat. "The fact that you have one as a pup of just amazing."

"I don't understand. As I said, I had a pure black dire before him." I replied. "I thought dire themselves were rare."

She laughed, handing me Black back. "There is a myth when it comes to dire wolves."

"What myth?"

She glanced around, gesturing to a shop. "If you have time, we can grab a drink and talk."

Spotting Hermione and the others walk into another book store, I knew I had enough time for three stories. "Sure." Ordering a glass of water and a chicken leg for Black, I asked her to begin.

"Centuries ago, it was said there was a tribe of wizards and witches that lived to protect the muggles. They had the ability to shift into great beasts without the need for magic. Shapeshifters in a way." She began. "When the battle with you know who occurred, the wolves fought against him. But it came with a price. They offered their ability to become humans again in order to fight the dark lord. Something about them being stronger as wolves. As time went on, they were no longer able to shift back to their human bodies, staying trapped as wolves."

Okay, that had to be the fakest story I have ever heard. "So, this tribe gave up being humans to gain full strength and ability of the wolf?"

She nodded, reaching over to pet Black. "Yes, as stupid and lame as that sounds, it's true."

"So, what's that got to do with one being black?"

"The blacks are the Alphas." She said it in the most obvious of tones. "There is only ever one black wolf at a time."

"How do you know this?" I asked.

She grabbed a napkin, writing something down on it. "It's all in this book. Take a look at it sometime." Pushing her chair back, she stood up to leave. "My name is Samantha."

"I am Athena ga-Black." I had to get used to that.

"I know."

"Wh-" I looked up to see her already walking away. "I swear I can't have a normal evening anymore." Glancing down at the wolf, I laid my hand on his head. "Are you a shapeshifter?"

"A what?" Hermione startled me appearing from behind.

"Jesus 'mione!"

"Sorry, I thought you had heard me." She took a seat across from me. "Now why did you ask if he was a shapeshifter?"

I waved her question off, looking around for the others. "Where are Harry and Ron?"

"They stopped at George and Fred's store." Grabbing my glass of water, she took a sip, giving me a curious look. "So, why did Ms. Weasley want to kill Sirius this time?"

I groaned, leaning my head back. "You noticed that?"

"I felt the hostile energy in the room, yes."

"She walked in on me and Sirius, in a rather-" I wasn't sure how to explain it. "Let's just say our kiss got a little out of hand. Next thing you know he was on top and well, things got a little heated."

Hermione's jaw dropped, slowly changing into a grin. "Oh my god!"

"Shh!" I sent an apologetic look to the glaring couple next to us. "Keep it down."

"Sorry." She whispered, leaning forward her features changed into a serious look. "You asked I help clear the house tonight and I will, but only if you I am satisfied with your answer."

"What answer?"

"What do you feel for Sirius?"

Again, with the complicated questions. How long does it take to fall in love? A second? A month? A year? It's like asking someone how long it takes to fall asleep. Some people are gone as soon as their heads hit the pillow. Others lie awake for hours and it's only when their brain stops churning for a while that sleep sneaks in and drags them under. I guess I was the one dragged under. Glancing back up at Hermione, I bit my lower lip. "I'm in love with him."

"Are you sure?"

"He never leaves my mind, he's always there; mentally if not physically. It's just incomprehensible. He's become my one stable force, my one stability in a world filled with chaos and I so desperately need that in my life. I love him so much for that. I'm in love with him Hermione and I can't believe I've only just realized it." I knew I had a stupid grin on my face, but I couldn't bring myself to care at the moment. This feeling is so strange; it's overwhelming, yet makes me feel complete. It has no bound nor length nor depth; it's just absolute. It feels as though I'm in a dangerous fire, yet I'm completely safe at the same time. As if someone has given me peace. A hole I was never aware was there, has been filled. Like I am on top of the world yet my heart is constricting and it feels as if there's no oxygen in my lungs. It's strange-frightening even-how you can go from someone being a complete stranger to then being completely infatuated by them. Wondering how it ever was that you were able to live without them? Because you sure as hell couldn't imagine being without them now. "I know I am still young and most people would consider me to be foolish and naïve, but it's true when I say that I love him more than I could ever love myself. And as cheesy as it sounds, he's become, my anchor."