Tomorrow Never Came
Chapter 5

Ren pressed the silver button which summoned the lift for what must have been the eleventh or twelfth time, her foot tapping impatiently as she did so. She had just finished her radio set and was eagerly trying to escape the Muggle Melody building so that she could go and meet Harry for brunch. 'Trying' being the key term there, as the elevator didn't seem to want to ever arrive at the fifth floor.

It had been a week since Harry and Ren had reunited, and despite owling every day since, Ren couldn't deny that she was beyond excited to see her Godson again.

"Finally!" She uttered as the doors of the lift slid open with a loud 'ding!', and Ren hurried inside, immediately beginning to pummel the ground floor button with what some may have deemed unnecessary force. However just as the doors began to slide close a voice from somewhere down the corridor shouted "Hold the lift!".

Despite Ren's initial reaction to let the doors shut whilst waving merrily to whomever the poor sod was, she instead stuck her arm out between the nearly sealed doors and caused them to jolt open once again. However Ren regretted this decision almost as soon as she saw the smug face of Daniel Dalton smirking back at her. 'Great' She thought to herself, resisting the urge to groan aloud.

Daniel was the host of the afternoon drivetime (3pm till 7pm) slot. He was an undeniably attractive man of the age of forty, with clear blue eyes, chiselled cheekbones, pink lips which pulled back to reveal a dazzling smile and floppy brown hair which he pushed back endearingly. Despite being perfectly friendly and indisputably charming, Ren had concluded that Daniel was all too aware of his good looks.

He was, to put it frankly, a peacock. Appearance was everything to him. And this was coming from a woman who had once dated Sirius Black. Daniel liked using his good looks to woo women, and he loved when the media took notice of it. After having three (very public) failed marriages, Daniel had seemingly settled on bouncing from girl to girl with no real commitment being involved.

And it seemed that Ren was apparently his next target. Since she had started at Muggle Melody, Daniel had asked her out for a drink at least once a week. While at first she had been almost flattered in a weird way, now, after countless refusals and excuses, Ren just wished he would take the hint.

The truth was that Daniel reminded her of the man that Sirius, according to the media, had turned into. She didn't want that in her life.

"Good morning Ren." Daniel was saying as he joined her in the lift.

"Morning Daniel. Ground floor?" Ren replied with a smile.

"Please." At Daniels confirmation she pressed the ground floor button once again. "You're looking rather lovely this morning." The man went on to compliment, taking in her appearance as the lift began to move. She was wearing a crisp white shirt tucked into a powder blue pencil skirt and a pair of nude coloured high heeled pumps on her feet, she had her trusty patched shawl draped over her arm, ready to throw on should the temperature drop once she left the building.

"Thank you." Ren said, not wanting to invite any more conversation on that particular topic. "What are you doing here anyway? Awfully early for work aren't you?" She asked, hoping to change the subject.

"Well I'm glad you asked. I was actually looking for you." Oh. So much for changing the subject. "I was wondering if you wanted to grab a bite to eat?" Ren tried to rearrange her features to look somewhat regretful.

"I'm sorry Daniel but I've already got lunch plans with someone. That's where I'm heading now as a matter of fact." She explained. At least this time it was a genuine excuse. Daniel, to give him his due, didn't even look the least bit crestfallen.

"Oh really?" He asked, to which Ren nodded. "With someone special?"

"Very special." Ren told him. If Daniel wanted to think she was going on a 'date' with someone special who was Ren to correct him? She wasn't actually lying to him. Harry was technically someone very special to her. Just not in the way Daniel was assuming. And anyway, maybe if he thought Ren was dating someone else then he would ease up on asking her out. Win win.

"Oh, well maybe another time?" Daniel mused as the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors 'dinged!' open.

"Maybe. Anyway, I'll see you around Daniel." Ren said, and after Daniel had bid her a breezy farewell, she hurried out of the lift and made her way across the reception to the Floo fireplaces. Harry and Ren had agreed to meet at a quiet little café in Hogsmeade that was slightly off the beaten track, so that Harry could keep a low profile, and Ren had decided to Floo straight over there. She stepped into the next available fireplace, took hold of a pinch of Floo powder and said "The Wizards Rabbit!" as clearly as possible while throwing the Floor powder into the grate.

However just as she began to disappear into a flurry of green flames Ren looked up and happened to see Daniel standing across the lobby, arms folded across his chest and a murderous look in his blue eyes, which were fixed directly on her.

-x-

"- So yeah, in the long run I've decided that trying to prank Fred and George was an absolutely horrific idea and I don't know why we even bothered. We should have known it would only start a war!" Harry finished, and Ren couldn't hold back a cackle of amusement. The pair were sat opposite each other and had just finished snacking on some of the homemade baked goods that The Wizards Rabbit had to offer.

Harry was indulging his Godmother in the recent tales of the Harry and Ron verses Fred and George prank war saga.

He had just finished telling her about the time in which himself and Ron had been hidden underneath the invisibility cloak in the twins' bedroom in the Burrow, waiting for either one of them to make an appearance so that they could hit them with a Dancing Feet Jinx, only to quickly descend into a state of pure mortification when George had hurried into the room with his lips securely locked with Angelina Johnson's and their hands thoroughly exploring each other's bodies.

Seeing as neither one of them (Ron in particular) felt like indulging in voyeurism they had loudly burst into a state of panic, tore off the cloak and bolted from the room in humiliation. Harry still found it difficult to look Angelina in the eye since that incident.

Ren was very much enjoying herself, so much so that she had nearly spat her tea out over Harry on numerous occasions.

"Honestly you're so like your dad! James also thought that his invisibility cloak meant he would be able to get the upper hand over you. His main problem was that he didn't always seem to realise that it wasn't soundproof. I can't tell you the amount of times he'd give himself away during a prank because you'd just hear this stupid little giggle coming from a supposedly empty corner of the room." She told him, enjoying the way Harrys face would light up at the mention of his Father. He seemed to absorb any smidgen of information about his parents up like a sponge.

"I'm not that bad!" Harry insisted.

"I'd be worried if you were!"

"So anyway, how was work this morning?" Harry went on to ask with a shake of his head, obviously trying to steer the conversation to a topic which didn't revolve around his pranking blunders. "I listened to the show. Playing Marvin Gaye at the end was really nice, it just put a positive spin on the day." He added, and Ren decided to indulge him. The fact that he could remember that her finishing track had been 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' showed that he had obviously been paying attention. She couldn't help but blush at his praise.

"Thank you." She said, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. "Yeah it all went nice and smoothly, so I can't complain. Although I had Daniel Dalton ask me out again. I'm going to have to come up with some more creative ways of turning him down because he just doesn't seem to be taking the hint." Ren said, and Harrys brows furrowed.

"Daniel Dalton? The afternoon DJ?" He queried, and Ren nodded.

"Wait did I not tell you about this?" She interrupted quickly. Truth be told each time her and Harry had met up it had been such an emotionally charged natter-fest that Ren couldn't one hundred percent recall every topic of conversation they had covered.

"No!" Harry insisted.

"Oh," Ren shrugged. "Well long story short since the first day I started at Muggle Melody Daniel has asked me out for drinks or dinner at least once a week." She explained. "I mean, can you blame him?" She added dramatically with a wink and a flip of her hair.

"Well why don't you say yes?" Harry had the nerve to ask with a cheeky grin on his face. Ren balked at him.

"I'm sure you've seen him in the headlines Harry." She stated calmly, trying to not let the boy wind her up. She didn't want to tell him that Daniel reminded her very much of a certain someone.

"I certainly have." Harry confirmed. "Mrs Weasley thinks he's very charming, even if he can be 'an utter scoundrel' at times. What's not to love?" He asked innocently.

"You're treading on thin ice Harry, I swear to God I'll-" However Ren's threat went unfinished, because at that moment a sudden bright FLASH went off through the window to their left.

Both Harry and Ren spun around just in time to see a stout, grubby looking man apparating away, and neither of them failed to notice the large camera that had been clutched in his hands or the shit-eating grin plastered over his face.

Paparazzi.

This was something which Ren was struggling to come to terms with. She was by no means a major star in the Wizarding community, but there had been a handful of times in which she had noticed that she was being snapped as she made her way to work or browsed through her local supermarket, or somewhere equally as trivial. A number of days later Loren would always very much enjoy pointing out her appearance in some kind of trashy magazines judgemental 'What Celebs Wear' column. Ren saw the whole thing as pointless. She was by no means interesting.

Harry, on the other hand, was a different story. He had always been a prominent name in the Wizarding World, but since the Second War his fame had all but skyrocketed, and it was easy to see that the boy loathed it. Even now he was slumping back in his chair, letting out a defeated sigh.

"Great," He muttered, trying to flatten down his messy hair. "That'll be all over the press by this time tomorrow. They'll probably say we're dating or something ridiculous like that." Ren's heart couldn't help but break for her Godson, he just seemed so dejected.

"Harry it's okay," She tried to reassure him, reaching out to give his hand a squeeze. "It doesn't matter, they're just pictures." Harry shifted uncomfortably but didn't loosen his grip on her hand.

"I know it's just…" He trailed off, not meeting her eye, and Ren prepared herself for the worst. For some kind of explanation about why Harry didn't want to keep in touch with her from now on, now that his curiosity about his Godmother had been sated. "… It's just that I haven't told Sirius that I've met you yet." Harry eventually explained.

Although Ren felt the initial balloon of panic within her deflate in relief, another one quickly took its place. Ah. Despite everything that had happened Ren had strangely found herself not thinking about Sirius whenever her and Harry had met up. Her Godson had always been the priority. The only time thoughts of Sirius occurred in her head was at night. Her mind would fill with painful memories of the man she had loved, keeping her awake.

"Oh," Was all Ren could say. While she knew that if she wanted to stay in Harrys life it would mean addressing Sirius (Harry did live with him after all), that didn't mean she was any more prepared for the conversation.

"Yeah," Harry said, seeming to understand the meaning behind her 'oh'. "And I know that if he, or even Remus for that matter, saw the Prophet tomorrow they'd be crushed that I hadn't told them." He added. Ren looked down, feeling almost guilty that Harry was in this position because of her.

Who was she to cause this rift between Harry and the people that had actually been there for him when he had needed them? She ultimately knew that if Harry had to choose between them that he would choose Sirius, and Ren expected nothing less. That didn't make it any less of a tricky situation. She knew that remaining in Harrys life would mean confronting the demons of her past, and Ren (despite being terrified) decided that she was more than willing to do so.

Harry was her priority. But Ren doubted it would be so simple. It was all well and good if she was willing to address the past, but what about Sirius? Ren had a feeling he would be in just as much denial as she was. If he hadn't even told Harry about Ren until the boy had found the only remaining evidence of her existence, then that showed that he was undoubtedly in favour of keeping their history buried deep beneath the surface. Ren sighed and braced herself.

"Look Harry, I don't want to make you choose. Y'know, this isn't a case of me or him." She began, and Harry's green eyes flickered up to meet hers, daring to look almost hopeful at her words. "I want to be in your life. More than anything. And I know that'll mean that Sirius, and Remus too, will be in my life again. So, I'll be there by your side whenever you're ready to tell Sirius." She finished, and a grin broke out over Harrys face. He looked like the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.

"I… I didn't think you'd ever want to see him again after everything that had happened." He confessed with a shrug.

"Well the fact that he didn't actually betray your parents and turn out to be a mass murderer definitely works in his favour." Ren admitted casually, and Harry laughed despite himself. He couldn't help it.

"So," He went on to say when he had stopped chuckling. "Do you… do you want to come over today? To see him?" He asked, the nerves creeping back into his voice. "I know this is probably rushing into it but we want to beat that photographer, plus we'll both probably chicken out it o-" Harry had begun to ramble in an attempt to justify his invitation but Ren cut him off.

"Okay." She interrupted quickly. Her hands were twisting with anxiety in her lap. Harry once again looked surprised. He had obviously thought that Ren would attempt to come up with a whole manner of excuses as to why she couldn't make it.

"Okay?" The boy couldn't help but clarify. "Just like that?" Now it was Ren's turn to shrug.

"Well as you said if we don't do it now we'll just come up with reasons not to." She agreed. Harry was still staring at her suspiciously, as if he didn't quite dare to believe her.

"Are you sure?"

Ren nodded, hoping that she appeared cool and collected. Whether she was nervous or not she didn't want to show that to Harry. Ren wanted to slap herself. 'Calm down woman!' She thought to herself. She feared that it had been too long, that too many years had passed. Ren was in no way expecting her and Sirius to pick up the pieces and go back to how they had been, nor was that what she wanted. A part of her simply hoped that they would be able to slip back into that easy friendship they had always had, long before they became a couple.

'Wishful thinking,' Ren couldn't help but reckon to herself. Too much time had passed. That was the simple fact of the matter. She couldn't see Sirius wanting his ex-girlfriend of nearly twenty years ago showing up and cramping his new-found freedom, and all honesty Ren didn't want Sirius to assume that she was the same person she had been back then. She had grown up and blossomed into a woman, damn it!

Admittedly a woman that made some questionable choices every now and again, but a woman nonetheless!

The best that Ren could hope for, she decided, was a civil enough relationship in which Harry didn't feel like he was put in the middle of them, and the first step to that would be Ren rocking up out of the blue with Harry and scaring the ever-living shit out of him. Simple enough, right?

"I'm sure Harry." Ren told her Godson confidently, setting her shoulders and raising her chin with dignity. Harry still looked doubtful.

"Okay… well when do you want to go?" He went on to ask cautiously.

"Fuck it, let's go now." Ren answered abruptly, rising from her chair and beginning to throw her cape over her shoulders. Harry remained seated, staring up at her now completely dumbfounded.

"Wha- now? Are you sure?" He suddenly snapped into action and rose from his own chair.

"Yeah, if I sit around and think about it any longer, Harry, I'll undoubtedly pussy out, and even if I was only in Gryffindor for one year I want to make the damn Sorting Hat proud." She said doggedly, and Harry looked both pleased and amused by her steadfast attitude. He shrugged on his hoodie and met her stare.

"Thank you." He said. Ren couldn't help but blush. "I bet this is a pretty daunting thing to do, so… I really appreciate it." The woman tried her best to appear indifferent.

"You really are turning my life upside down." She said. "Come on, let's go." She turned towards the exit and when Harry appeared at her side Ren instinctively put her around his shoulders and gave him an affectionate squeeze.

-x-

Ren couldn't help but gawk slightly as she watched the imposingly handsome townhouse that was number 12 Grimmauld Place slowly slide into view before her very eyes. No matter how old she was Ren would always find magic wondrous.

She stared up at the building curiously, and suddenly a long forgotten memory of the first time Sirius had told her about the house in which he had grown up suddenly resurfaced and pushed its way to the forefront of her mind.

29th January 1979

01:11am

"I can't believe we're finally in a house of our own." Ren mused hazily, and Sirius let out a satisfied hum of agreement. The pair lay naked in the creaky wrought iron bed in their new master bedroom, with their limbs entwined and Ren's head resting comfortably on Sirius' chest as if it was made for that place.

Today had been the day Ren and Sirius had got the keys for their new home. It was a poky, two bedroom terraced house in the next town over from Godrics Hollow but to Ren it was akin to a palace. It was a place her and Sirius could make a home.

Despite their currently being unpacked boxes taking up the majority of space in each room, the couple had invited all of their friends over for dinner, and the evening had been spent with everyone crammed together around the dining table chatting, laughing and drinking, and Ren wouldn't have changed a thing.

When everybody had eventually left she and Sirius had begun the task of christening each room, and having so far managed the kitchen, front room and their bedroom the couple were currently basking in mutual love and satisfaction. It had been the perfect finish to a perfect evening. "We can make this a real home Sirius," Ren was saying as the Marauder stroked her unruly curls.

"I know," He murmured, and Ren flicked her eyes up to look at him. She could immediately tell that something was playing on his mind. His silver-grey eyes, which were fixed somewhere across the room, were distant and distracted.

"What's up?" Ren asked softly. She knew that Sirius always took a while to process his thoughts and feelings, so Ren waited patiently for his reply.

"I…" He began after a minute or two. "… I was just thinking about the sheer amount of love that's already been experienced in this house, just tonight alone." He reflected quietly. Ren remained silent. "And how-" Sirius continued. "-I don't think I ever experienced anything like that in the house I grew up in the whole time I lived there."

Ren kept her brown eyes trained on Sirius, who eventually shifted his gaze down to look at her. She treasured these moments when he opened up about his past, as it was clear that he went out of his way to supress all memories of his childhood.

"What was it like?" Ren questioned gently, and she felt Sirius shift. He looked away once more and fixed his gaze back on the wall ahead of them.

"Grimmauld Place was…" He paused. "The house very much suited the people who lived inside it, let's just say that." Ren rolled herself over and propped herself up so that she was looking Sirius dead in the eye.

"It's just a house baby." She breathed. "And you beat that house. And the people who live there."

Now as Ren stared up at the house in which Sirius had suffered growing up, she had to admit that she had pictured it look a lot more… dark. Harry glanced at her, waiting for her verdict.

"Well?" He prompted.

"I have to admit, it's not what I expected." Ren confessed.

"What did you expect?"

"I thought it would be a lot more, y'know, bleak and depressing." Ren said. "Almost like the Shrieking Shack I guess." She added ruefully, and Harry laughed.

"Don't get me wrong about a year ago it definitely had more of that vibe." He admitted. "But now…" Trailing off Harry smiled. "I guess I'm actually rather fond of it." He said as they began to climb the steps leading up to the front door, Ren's heels clicking against the stone. "Sirius still wants to move out though." Harry added with a shrug.

'I don't bloody blame him,' Ren couldn't help but think, looking up at the looming structure as Harry pulled out his wand and tapped the silver ornate knocker. The clicking of locks could be heard, and Harry opened the door and stepped aside. "After you." He said politely and Ren, taking a deep breath, advanced forward through the threshold and into the hallway of Grimmauld Place.

Of all the sights that she had prepared herself to be met with, a toddler with turquoise hair unsteadily propping himself up against a hideous troll foot umbrella case was most certainly not on the list.

Ren froze as the baby noticed her and fixed his wide golden eyes upon her. She couldn't help it. She was so taken aback that she could barely even register the presence on a tall redheaded Wizard and a bushy, brown haired Witch, both of whom looked to be Harry's age and seemed to be chaperoning the baby. Ren was too busy staring at said infant to notice that the boy and girl were gawking at her in much the same manner.

When Harry appeared at Ren's side, however, a huge, gummy grin appeared on the baby's face and he let out a delighted squeal of "Awweey!" before ambitiously setting off in an unsteady toddle towards the Boy Who Lived.

Harry, grinning from ear to ear, hurried over to meet the youngster and save him from the inevitable fall. He scooped up the now giggling baby and pressed his lips against his chubby cheek before blowing a loud raspberry against the soft flesh, causing an ecstatic shriek to escape from the kids' tiny little mouth.

"Hey Teddy!" Harry greeted as the baby buried his joy filled face into Harrys neck. Ren's heart swelled at the sight of her Godson with the baby, and it took her a minute or so to register his name. Teddy! This was Remus' child! Ren's jaw dropped as Harry turned to the two people across the hall from them. "You guys alright?" He asked, and at their confirmation Harry turned back to Ren, who was busy trying to pull herself together and stop gawking at the baby in his arms (who in turn was peeking over Harrys shoulder at Ren, obviously trying to size up the stranger.) "Ren," The voice addressing her managed to stir some sense into her, and Ren looked up at the trio, giving them all a charming smile.

These two were obviously Harrys closest friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They had been featured in the Daily Prophet enough for Ren to know that, even without an introduction from her Godson. "This is Ron and Hermione," Harry confirmed. "Guys this is my Godmother, Ren."

While Ren suspected that, likewise, the pair knew who she was without the need of an introduction, they both still expressed a certain degree of surprise (Ron in particular) but that was more likely down to the fact that she was stood before them in the house of her ex-boyfriend from eighteen years previous.

"It's nice to meet you both." Ren said warmly, stepping forward and offering a hand to shake. Hermione, however, surprised her. Instead of taking her outstretched hand, she pulled Ren forward into a quick hug.

"Same to you." She said with a bright smile. Her voice was clear and crisp. Ron followed his girlfriends lead and greeted Ren with a hug (although it was slightly more awkward, and his ears were tinged pink when he pulled away)

"Yeah, this is crazy!" Ron said. "I mean, you've been pretty much all that Harry's talked about for the past few weeks, but it's just weird to actually meet you!" Ren laughed and turned to her now sheepish looking Godson.

"Well that's not true." He was muttering, his eyes gluing themselves to the floor. Ren couldn't help but laugh, however she decided to spare Harry of any more embarrassment, and instead focused her attention on Teddy, who was still peeping up at her. "Oh yeah this is Teddy, as you probably heard." Harry added, jostling the baby in his arms slightly, obviously jumping at the chance to steer the conversation in a new direction. "Teddy are you going to say hello to Ren?" At Harrys words Ren crouched slightly so that she was eyelevel with the baby.

"Hello Teddy," She said in a soothing, happy voice. A switch seemed to flip in the vivacious baby, and he suddenly grinned back at Ren with zero hesitation and leant towards her, arms outstretched as he began to coo at her.

"You want a cuddle?" Harry asked as Teddy wiggled and squirmed towards her.

"I don't think I've got much of a choice." Ren joked, reaching for Teddy and happily taking him into her arms. The baby immediately settled and looked up at the woman holding him curiously.

Before she even realised what she was doing, Ren found herself making faces down at him, and this seemed to please Teddy greatly and he began to giggle and grab at her curls. "Honestly I swear all babies seem to love curly hair. It's like a magnet! They just can't help but try and get hold of it. I'm sure you understand Hermione," She said with a smile, and the others laughed as Hermione nodded intently.

"Oh yeah, I know the feeling of having your hair yanked out all too well." The girl replied.

"He's always seems to like meeting new people, but he's really taken with you." Ron observed as they all admired Teddy draping Ren's chocolate curls over his own little shoulders. Ren began to bob and bounce gently which Teddy also seemed to enjoy if the streams of laughter were anything to go by.

"I guess I've had a lot of practice." Ren mused. "I've got a huge family. Someone's always popping out a baby." The others laughed. Ron had just opened his mouth to reply when the sound of footsteps coming towards them from the open doorway behind himself and Hermione interrupted him.

Before Ren even had time to register anything, she watched as a man she hadn't seen in eighteen years climbed his way into view.

Despite the time Ren still recognised him instantly. His sandy hair was now streaked with grey and a greater number of scars marred his handsome face, but it was undeniably Remus Lupin. The first real friend Ren had made when she had moved to Hogwarts. The sight of him caused Ren to freeze, much to Teddy's annoyance.

"Where's that boy of mine?" Remus had been saying as he climbed the stairs towards them, not yet having spotted Ren as his attention had fixed on Hermione and Ron. "I can't help but get suspicious when I hear that laugh, it usually means he's up to something- oh hey Harry, when did you get ba-" Remus' attention had passed over Harry and when his eyes focused on Ren she swore she could hear her own heart beating in the dead silence that followed.

Remus stared at her like a deer caught in Muggle headlights, his mouth gaping open, and all Ren could do was stare back as Teddy grumbled about his new playmate seemingly forgetting about him. Ren wasn't exactly shocked by Remus' reaction. He hadn't seen her in eighteen years and suddenly here she was holding his baby. Surprise!

"I," She stuttered, trying to get a grip on herself. "Hi." Was all she could settle on in the end, and at that moment Teddy spotted his father.

"Dadeee!" He cried gleefully, and Ren immediately knew that was her call to let him go. She carefully crouched down and place Teddy on the ground, helping him steady himself before the baby set off and toddled over to Remus.

However, the Werewolf in question still seemed to be in some sort of trance. Only when Teddy reached him and grabbed onto his trouser leg did Remus seem to jolt back into reality. "Dadee!" Teddy shouted again, obviously unimpressed that he was no longer the centre of attention, but Hermione soon came to the rescue. She hurried forward and diverted Teddy's attention, picking him up. "Shall we go and find Mummy Ted? Huh? Does that sound good?"

The magic word 'mummy' successfully pushed Remus from his sons' mind, so Hermione, after flashing a quick glance at the remaining party, hurried past Remus and down the stairs from which he had come with Teddy in her arms and Ron following her.

Harry, it seemed, had also decided to leave the pair alone. He flashed a quick glance in Ren's direction before swiftly disappearing down the stairs after his friends. Ren wanted to shout at Harry to get his arse back there! He was just leaving her?! She knew that she had said she was going to confront the people from her past, but Ren thought Harry would at least be there to hold her hand through it! The little shit! Ren's breathing sped up as Remus opened his mouth to speak.

"Ren…" Was all it seemed he could say, but Ren suddenly felt the need to stop him. She needed to be the one to speak first.

"Remus I'm sorry." She blurted out before he had a chance to say anything else. "For leaving you." She clarified. "I should have stayed. Stayed with you after…" Ren couldn't say it. She felt herself cracking as her courage seemed to slip through her fingers and trickle away.

Merlin she must have looked pathetic, standing in the threshold and stumbling over an apology that was eighteen years too late. "I shouldn't have run, we could have got through it together." Her voice was all but a whisper. "I should have been brave."

Ren could barely meet Remus' golden eyes. Eyes that were so familiar to her. Eyes from which she had seen every emotion at some point or another. Eyes that now looked remarkedly composed, which only succeeded in unsettling Ren even further.

She trailed off and looked down at her heels, trying her best to blink back tears. She heard Remus' footsteps approaching and suddenly a worn pair of brogue boots appeared in Ren's line of vision, toe to toe with her nude pumps. Ren took a deep, unsteady breath and slowly looked up. His eyes were no longer composed, but instead filled with emotion. Sadness, relief, but most importantly warmth.

"I've never thought I'd see you again." Was all he said before reaching out and enveloping the brunette in a hug. A hug which was enough to trigger the tears that had been welling up in not only Ren's eyes, but Remus' too.

-x-

Ren wrapped her hands around the mug Remus had placed before her, allowing the heat to thread through her fingers as if it was her lifeline. She was sat in the basement kitchen with Harry beside her and Remus taking the seat opposite next to his wife Tonks.

Tonks, it seemed, had been shocked but nevertheless over the moon to see Ren. Apparently the few memories the Metamorphmagus had of Ren had been sweet ones, so she was thrilled with the impromptu reunion. Teddy was perched on his Mothers' lap and Ron and Hermione had sat themselves beside Harry.

All eyes, however, were undeniably on Ren.

However when she subconsciously took a sip of her drink Ren found herself instantly relaxing. After all this time Remus still remembered how she took her tea. She had half expected him to slip something in there, so the lack of poison was reassuring to say the least.

"So," Remus said as Teddy clambered onto his lap. "How the hell has Ren ended up here Harry?" He asked, his eyes flicking to the boy in question. The Boy Who Lived flushed before sending Ren a sheepish smile which she found herself returning.

"After you," She said, and so Harry began to explain from the very beginning. Even though Ren knew the story she listened attentively, as did Ron and Hermione. When Harry had finished with the events of that afternoon Remus sat back and stretched while Tonks let out a low whistle, showing just how impressed she was.

"Well Ren…" Remus said. "Regardless of how you wound up being here, I'm just glad you did." He shrugged, and Ren smiled.

"Honestly Remus I thought you were going to hate me." She expressed. The Werewolf dropped his gaze at her words.

"I tried to." He confessed. Ren sucked in her breath, feeling the tension in the room mount. "I really did try to hate you when you left Ren. I resented that you had ran away but at the same time I couldn't blame you at all. No one should have had to put up with what you were dealing with."

"I said you should have come with me." Ren replied, her voice soft as she tried to refrain from allowing tears to blossom in her eyes once more. It was as if they were the only two people in the room. Remus looked away from her again, his fingers running through Teddy's curls.

"A part of me wishes I had."

Sunday 8th November 1981

5:24pm

Remus stood before the terraced house in Alloway Grove, staring hard at the cherry red front door. He had been rooted to the same spot for at least ten minutes already, simply studying the house which up until a week ago Remus had considered his second home.

A week. That was how long it had been since the 'great defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named', as people were calling it. They were the people who were still celebrating with their loved ones.

But that wasn't Remus. His loved ones were dead. To him it had been a week since his world had come crumbling down around him. A week since James and Lily had been murdered. A week since a now orphaned Harry had been taken from them. A week since Peter had been killed for standing up to his best friend. A week since discovering that said best friend had betrayed them all and was the reason for all this unbearable heartbreak.

A week since… since Ren had become a shell of herself. She had already been struggling immensely since losing her baby after the break in, but discovering that her partner had been on the side of Voldemort all along… it was too much.

Remus slowly climbed the steps to the house and used his own Muggle key to unlock the door. The whole building had a different aura now, and as he stepped inside Remus felt it wash over him in a wave of heartbreak, anger and misery.

As he pushed the door closed he had to pause and take a moment to gather himself, his grip clenching around the doorknob in frustration. This wasn't fair.

When he had regained his composure Remus began to climb the stairs to the upstairs landing, trying his best to ignore the now empty walls which had previously been decorated with pictures of the happy couple who occupied the house and their loved ones. Ren had taken it upon herself to destroy any physical reminders of Sirius. Remus tried to suppress the memory of her harrowing screams and sobs as Ren had blasted the photos, clothes and mementos with curse after curse (although he suspected she hadn't obliterated all the photo albums).

He suspected that Ren would be in bed. After spending the past week proving herself innocent of knowing anything about Sirius' betrayal along with Remus, and begging Dumbledore to take Harry from Lily's family and allow her to raise him all to no avail, Ren was both physically and mentally exhausted.

When Remus reached the master bedroom he peered inside and did indeed spy Ren, but she was not in bed as he had expected, instead she was crouched on the floor beside her wardrobe, a suitcase open beside her. She was packing. Remus' heart dropped.

He pushed the door open, and at the creak of the hinges Ren jumped and spun around towards the source of the noise, however her body sagged with relief only slightly when she saw who the visitor was. Remus stepped inside the bedroom as Ren did her best to fix him with a steely resolve.

She looked awful. Her curls, normally bouncing with life, were limp and deflated. Her usually glowing skin was grey and ashy. But her eyes were the worst. Her eyes were simply dead.

"I can't take it anymore Remus." She rasped, obviously trying to sound assertive but instead reminding the Werewolf of a frightened child. "I don't want to have to live like this. With people always watching and judging me. People thinking I was in on it! I want out!" She croaked, tears now falling down her gaunt cheeks. "That's how my own family is treating me." At that admission Ren shook her head as Remus moved forward and joined her on the floor. "If we can't have Harry then what's the point of living like that? What do I have to stay and be strong for?" Ren pleaded with him. Remus reached out and took her hands in his own.

"Me," He whispered managing to look her in the eyes, his own tears escaping now as well. His reply caused sobs to wrack Ren's body. After a moment or two she sniffed and squeezed his hands.

"Come with me," She pleaded. "We can start a new life together. Somewhere no one knows us."

Remus let out a sigh. He couldn't. With his Mother passing away the previous year he simply didn't have it in him to leave his Father to live completely alone. He didn't know how to express this to Ren. Remus didn't want it to seem like he was choosing between them but… wasn't that exactly what he was doing?

Instead he gently pulled his hands from Ren's.

The look that overcame her face broke his heart. She knew his answer.

"In all honesty Ren, I- I thought you'd hate me." Remus admitted, much to Ren's surprise.

"Remus I could never hate you. We both did what was best for us." She told him. "And I mean, if you had come with me you may not have had this beautiful family here." Ren nodded to Tonks, Harry, Ron and Hermione. Tonks was watching her husband with the upmost love and devotion in her baby blue eyes. Her gaze them flashed to Ren.

"Well you're part of this family now Ren." She said simply.

"No matter what." Harry confirmed.

"Oh you mean no matter how Sirius reacts?" Ren asked with a wry smirk, trying to keep her tone light-hearted despite the uncomfortable twist in her stomach at the thought of the Animagus.

"Pretty much." Harry said. "Where is he anyway Remus? Is he in?" He went on to ask.

"He is, but the fact that you've managed to smuggle his ex-girlfriend into his house and we've all managed to sit and have a cuppa together without him even noticing is questionable." Remus mused, and even Ren couldn't help but laugh along with everyone else.

"I think he's in the garden working on his bike." Tonks said.

"-Or Sunbathing." Ron added, but Ren was too busy gawking at Tonks.

"His bike? Please tell me it's not that same old Triumph!" She exclaimed, and Remus chuckled.

"The very same." He confirmed, to which Ren's jaw dropped.

"Jesus he really doesn't like change, does he?" She carped.

"He's always tinkering away but I'm not sure there's anything more he could do to it." Hermione giggled.

"Honestly it was like I was in a relationship with him and that bike at times. Nice to see how times changed." Ren rolled her eyes and Tonks let out a cackle

"Well if anything's going to stop Sirius from wanking-" she began, placing her hands over Teddys ears. "-over that bike, it'll be his hot ex-girlfriend waltzing on out there to say hello."

We're so close to Ren and Sirius reuniting! Sorry to leave you guys hanging like that but it'll be worth the wait ;)

I was very excited to reintroduce Remus into Ren's life! They had been so close before that I felt like this reunion would be just as important, plus I enjoyed giving you guys a look at why Remus and Ren lost touch in that little flashback scene. I hope it clears up any questions you guys may have had.

Also what do we think of Daniel Dalton? I picture him as Hugh Grant in all his prime (I couldn't resist naming him Daniel after his character in Bridget Jones' Diary seeing as he was pretty much my inspo, haha)

On another note I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who's left any kind feedback, particularly the reviews (especially some of the more recent ones) they're so lovely and I appreciate your kind words so much. PLEASE KEEP EM COMING!

Eve x

P.S. PLEASE FOLLOW/FAVE/REVIEW