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Disclaimer: I do not own, nor claim to own, anything pertaining to Inuyasha or Harry Potter. Only the ideas that pop into my mind.

—Summertime—

"You're not gonna forget about me, are you?" Sirius asked as the train pulled into the station. His bottom lip was sticking out, trembling just slightly, and his eyes were widened to gaze upon them imploringly for added effect.

Rolling her own eyes at his dramatics, Kagome shoved at him. "Shut up, idiot. It's only the summer." When Sirius just pouted at her, turning up the notch on the puppy eyes, Kagome caved and draped an arm around his shoulders to pull him in close for a hug. "Like any of us could ever, anyways."

Sirius grinned widely; there were dimples and everything. He wrapped his arm around Kagome in return, squeezing snugly.

"Yeah, mate," James snickered across from them, a gleeful glint to his eyes. "You're unforgettable. I'd even say annoyingly so."

At that, Sirius stuck his tongue out at James, and then at all of them when they began to laugh.

Finally, the train came to a full stop. They stood and left, merging with the crowd. It was slow going as they trudged their way down the corridor and out of the train. They then headed over to grab their trunks and the boys their respective owls, helping each other before moving on to find their parents.

It didn't take very long.

"Mum! Dad!"

As soon as they saw them the twins broke out into a run, pulling on their trunks and almost tripping over themselves when they skidded to a stop near their parents. Artemis, James' horned owl, hooted loudly in protest, her dark, spottled wings flapping sharply from within her cage. Luggage forgotten, the twins threw themselves at their parents' legs.

Their parents let out a startled laugh. "Eager to get out of school, I see," Ella remarked.

"Maybe we just missed you," Kagome replied as they pulled away to switch parents. Kirara wiggled and gave an annoyed sniff at being momentarily smothered, leaping to the ground when she went to hug her father.

Beside her, James let out a wild snort. "Speak for yourself. I missed sleeping in and Mum's cookies."

Ella scoffed and cuffed her son over the ear. "Knew it," Charles said fondly, his arm curling around Kagome's smaller body and stroking her hair. Beside them, a man chuckled deeply.

"Uncle?" Sirius blurted out as he and the others caught up to the twins.

"Ah, Sirius, my dear nephew," Alphard Black rumbled warmly, stepping up to ruffle the boy's hair. "Your mother sent me to collect you, and I met this charming couple while we waited for you children to arrive." He caught sight of Kagome and winked at her. "And it's lovely to meet you again, Miss Potter. Quite a coincidence that my nephew not only found you again, but was also sorted into the same house as well. A coincidence, but a fortunate one nonetheless."

At the elder Potters' questioning looks, Alphard explained, "We met many years ago, when they accidentally ran into each other in, ah yes, Diagon Alley." The man cut a sly glance to the Potter matriarch. "I can see where young Kagome here gets her beauty from."

"Oh, you did, hmm?" Ella remarked wryly, looking between the two. "And now I see where Sirius got his charm from."

Sirius gaped at his Uncle. "Uncle, don't hit on her. She's married," he exclaimed in a hushed, scandalized whisper, glancing at Charles pointedly.

James, however, choked suddenly and gaped at Sirius. "You mean you hit on our mum?!"

Their father snorted, laughing loudly as their mother hid a smile behind her hand.

"Oh, Remus! There you are!" called a female voice nearby and soon another couple was joining them.

Peter, who had yet to find his mother, spotted her just yards away. "Mum! Over here!" he called out, bouncing on his heels as he waved her down.

"Hm, I believe a round of introductions may be in order," Charles murmured in amusement as Mrs. Pettigrew finally joined them. "My name is Charles Potter, and this is my wife, Ella," he said, gesturing to his wife who gave a polite nod. "And our children, James and Kagome Potter. A pleasure to meet you all."

"Very good to meet you, Lord and Lady Potter," Mr. Lupin returned quietly. He was a slim, fair-haired man. Deep wrinkles were carved into his otherwise young face and his blue eyes contained a certain sharp edge to them. He shook Charles' hand thoroughly when the Head Auror extended it and nodded at Ella in return. "Lyall Lupin, and my wife, Hope." In contrast to Lyall, Hope was a tiny, beautiful brunette who had rested a fond hand on her son's head as she smiled in kind. "This is our son, Remus." Said boy gave a shy wave to the adults.

"Teresa Pettigrew," the blonde, round-faced woman introduced herself in a soft, yet firm voice. "My son, Peter." Peter grinned and waved.

"Alphard Black." Alphard's head dipped in greeting, and said nothing when the smile on Teresa's face became slightly forced and Lyall's a bit tense. Hope smiled and nodded politely in return, unaware of her husband's sudden distant expression. "My nephew, Sirius." He patted the boy on the head, smirking when Sirius swatted at the offensive hand. "A pleasure to meet you all."

"So you all are friends, then?" Hope asked with a curious glance about the children. "Gryffindors, isn't it?"

James grinned and nodded. "Yes ma'm. Best of friends, actually. We all stayed in the same dorm. Well, us guys anyways. Kagome stayed in the girl's dorm, obviously."

Remus and Peter shared a look and a secretive grin. Kagome hid one of her own, innocently petting Kirara.

Sirius snorted. "Not always," he snickered quietly under his breath, only to stop short and gasp when a certain someone's elbow dug into his ribs. Rubbing the sore spot gingerly, he glared at James who happily ignored him.

"It's really nice to meet you all," Kagome said, hurriedly changing the subject. She didn't like the way her mother's or Alphard's eyes had narrowed at Sirius. Though, she worried more about her mother than Alphard for obvious reasons. Besides, she could have sworn Alphard almost grinned for a split second.

"And you all as well," Lyall replied, peering at them. "A nice group of friends you have here, Remus."

His son ducked his head, slightly embarrassed. "Dad…" he muttered under his breath, making the adults chuckle.

o.O.o

As it usually took a while to leave the platform, on the account of the guard at the barrier only letting a few through at a time so no one attracted attention by bursting out all at once and alarming the muggles, the adults let them have a quick moment to say goodbye while they conversed with one another.

"Anyway," James was saying loftily. "It's not like we won't see each other during the summer, right? You guys can stay over too!"

Peter and Remus nodded almost immediately. Sirius looked more hesitant.

Overhearing her son, Ella interjected chidingly. "Of course that would be acceptable, but perhaps you might want to check in with what their parents have to say about them spending the night?"

James pouted.

"Well," Teresa murmured, "I suppose that would be alright," she agreed, though with some reservations. She gave her son a stern look. "But only if you stay on track with your summer assignments."

Peter nodded readily. "'Course, Mum."

Ella nodded seriously. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe we can even set up study groups. I wouldn't mind keeping an eye on them."

Lyall raised his eyebrows. "All five of them?" he murmured, amused. "At once? Are you sure they won't be too much of a hassle?"

"Us?" Sirius said, feigning offense. "We are absolute angels," he proclaimed.

Perhaps it would have even been convincing if Remus had not made a suspiciously incredulous noise immediately after.

Charles chuckled, waving off the other man's concern. "Oh, it shouldn't be a problem. I doubt they'll be anything like the twins at their worst."

In a mock-whisper, Ella added, "Not long after they began to walk, they went through a naked phase. They had a habit shimmying out and streaking through the house. Thank Merlin for sticking charms."

Alphard and his nephew burst out laughing. The women broke out in giggles. Remus and Peter were hanging off each other, doubled over and trying not to fall from their heavy laughter.

The twins, however, were decidedly not amused. Their stares were absolutely stricken; their cheeks glowing red."Mum!" they exclaimed, horrified.

"Oh, I never thought to use them on clothes," Teresa mused.

"Oh, well, I used it on those too," Ella replied, grinning. "It helped with catching them and making them stay still. Getting them both dressed and remaining that way was a bit of a hassle. I'd be finished with one only to find out the other was already naked again and dashing down the hall!" Their mother shook her head fondly at the memories. "It was difficult at times, and I didn't want to foist them on the elves. They had enough to deal with what with their messes."

"Merlin and Morgana, I can't. I just can't," Kagome breathed out in mortification.

James turned to her, wide-eyed. "I think we should make a run for it."

"I think so too," she agreed with an eager nod. "Should we make a break for it and do it now, or wait until later, when they least expect it?"

"Kids, if you're planning an escape, a helpful tip would be to wait until we're not within earshot to hear you."

"I don't know you," James said loudly in reply to his father. "I'm disowning you guys." To Kagome, he said. "Now that I think about it, we must be adopted. We're nothing like them. They're too evil."

Their friends, who were by then all but rolling on the ground laughing, stopped and just stared. They exchanged looks, looked between the twins and their parents, and broke down laughing once more.

"Mate, you've no idea just how alike you guys are." Sirius managed to choke out. "No idea."

To further that point, they looked between Kagome and her mother in particular.

Still chuckling, Lyall shook his head. "Well, the platform looks to be clearing up. We ought to start going."

Teresa nodded. "It really was a pleasure to meet you all, and you kids as well. Floo me whenever you want Peter over," she told them, and the children waved to Peter as they left.

"We should leave as well," Hope added a moment later, after sharing a look with her husband. That her son had made friends and looked at home with them, more relaxed and happy and smiling so, so widely filled her with such joy and relief that it was a miracle she hadn't begun to cry. "And we'll be more than happy to let Remus spend time with his friends," she readily agreed. "Just let us know when. They're welcomed to stay the night as well."

Remus waved as he left with his parents, a grin fixed on his face. "See you guys later!"

"Bye Remus!" they chorused.

Alphard chuckled. "I better get you home as well, kid."

Sirius, however, frowned, not looking forward to going home. Seeing it, Alphard sighed and patted his shoulder. "We'll swing by for ice cream before, though."

"Do you think Sirius' parents would mind letting him stay over?" Charles inquired to Alphard. Sirius looked to the ground.

The man paused, a split-second grimace crossing his face. "Sirius is the first of his branch of the family to not be sorted into Slytherin, never mind that he was sorted into Gryffindor. To say my sister is unhappy at the turn of events would be an understatement."

"Well, that's a load of bollocks!" James exclaimed angrily. Though she remained silent, Kagome agreed, not forgetting the events of Sirius' birthday.

Charles palmed his face in exasperation. "James!" Ella chided sternly, but James stubbornly refused to say otherwise. Ella and her husband sent Alphard an apologetic look but the man only shrugged.

"Well, I happen to agree with the lad," he murmured wryly.

Kagome looked at Sirius, who had yet to say anything. Taking in his sad, vacant look, she thought back to what he said on the train and wondered if there was more weight to his words than she realized.

When he wasn't looking, Kagome ambushed the boy and pulled him into a tight hug. "No, really. There'll be no forgetting you," she whispered in his ear. Louder, she continued. "We won't even have time to miss you, we'll be writing you so much even if your parents don't let you come over."

Sirius went bright red. "You—you too," he stammered, eyes wide. He quickly cleared out his throat. "And besides," he continued, trying for nonchalant. "I'm sure my parents will jump at the chance to be rid of me."

That certainly earned a sharp look from the Potters, though no one but one really noticed. Alphard gave a sad sigh and a helpless shrug when the Charles and Ella turned their stares to him.

"Well, whatever happens, you can be assured you'll be welcomed at our home, dear," Ella said kindly.

Sirius stared up at her, eyes wide. "Thank you," he breathed out.

Alphard reached over and ruffled his nephew's hair. "I'm sure we can figure something out." When Sirius blinked at his Uncle, the man winked, causing Sirius to grin widely.

o.O.o

After they and their parents parted ways with Sirius and his uncle, the Potter family passed through the ticket barrier. She could still pick out other students, but none she really knew. She did, however, catch sight of Lily and Severus on their way to the exit.

The pair were standing with a few adults, a pale, willowy, dark-haired woman with a drawn face that Kagome suspected was Severus' mother, and a couple—a fair-haired shorter man, with a bright grin and bright green eyes and a blue-eyed, red-headed woman who was a few inches taller than her partner—who must've been Lily's parents.

Behind them was a young, skinny little girl with light brown hair that clung to them like a growth, alternating between glaring at Lily and Severus and flinching when other students passed through the barrier. Petunia, her mind supplied her, along with a disquieting feeling behind it that had Kagome puzzling after why for a moment.

However, no further information or flashbacks made itself known.

Seeing that James was busy chatting with their father, Kagome tugged on her mother's sleeve, cutting a quick look at the pair when she glanced down. "Be right back?"

Smiling down at her daughter, Ella nodded. "Be quick though, love."

Nodding, Kagome briskly jogged over, weaving through the crowd. "Lily! Severus!" she called when she was only a few feet away.

The pair turned slightly as she came up. Lily grinned and Severus nodded curtly.

"Just wanted to wish you guys a good summer before you left," she chirped. Lily's grin widened and Severus blinked at her, startled. Turning to the adults, Kagome bowed her head slightly in greeting. "Hello, I'm Kagome Potter. I roomed with Lily this year, and shared a couple of classes with Severus."

"Pleasure to meet you, dear," Lily's mother replied with a smile. Her husband and Severus' mother, who was watching her keenly, both nodded, the former with a smile of his own.

Petunia, however, gave Kagome the stink eye to which she politely ignored.

"Kagome, dear! We must get going!"

Kagome shuffled Kirara in her arms, Petunia squeaking in fear when she caught sight of her second tail. "And that would be my Mum," she explained. "Better get going then."

"Oh!" Lily said as something just occurred to her. "Kagome can come over sometime this summer, right?" she asked, turning to her parents.

They shared a glance before nodding. "Of course. As long as it's alright with her parents." Petunia's face became deathly pale and from the corner of her eyes she saw Severus duck his head to hide a smirk.

"Thanks!" Kagome grinned. "Well, gotta go, but I'll be sure to ask. See you two soon, then!" she said with a wave to each of them.

Severus waved back with a sort of dumbfounded expression, and Lily let her go but only with a quick, parting hug and a whispered. "See you!"

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Snape, Mr. and Mrs. Evans!"

The adults nodded as she took her leave.

"What were you doing over there?" James asked when she returned to his and their parents' sides.

Rolling her eyes, Kagome replied, "Just wanted to wish them a good summer."

"Even Snivellus?"

She shot her brother a sharp look, but James stubbornly ignored her. Groaning under her breath, Kagome nodded. "Yes, even Severus."

James' face twisted at her pointed use of the Slytherin's name. "I'm not even going to ask why," he muttered. After a beat though, he couldn't help but ask. "What did Lily say?"

It was so hard not to snort at her brother. Instead, she ignored him.

"Kagome? C'mon! Did she say anything about me? Did she?"

o.O.o

Lily,

How's your summer so far? Enjoying the freedom? The lack of my brother and company? ; )

K

P.S. Tell Severus hello for me!

o.O.o

"Ka-go-me, c'mon!"

"I'm coming, James!" Rolling her eyes as she rummaged through the shed, Kagome grabbed her quidditch gear — guards, helmet, broom — out of storage. Hands full, she shuffled out, hooking the edge of the shed door and swinging it shut behind her. Dumping her things to the side, she sat down against the wall and went about suiting up.

It hadn't even been a couple of days since they've started summer break when James began needling her to practice with him. "It's been a year since we, since I, have been on an actual broom and played Quidditch. If we're gonna make the team next year, we need to practice!" he kept on saying. And yeah, she loved flying — without the risk of the broom going rogue, of course — but if James had his way they'd be practicing every day for hours for the rest of break.

Kagome sighed. She hadn't even told him she wasn't planning to make the try-outs next year yet, trying to avoid the inevitable, dramatic scene she knew he'd make. There was also the fact that she didn't look forward to seeing his crushed face either. He had been so excited for the Potter Twins being a force to be reckoned with on the Quidditch team.

"You ready yet?!" came the faint shout from the field, and she rolled her eyes in exasperation, not bothering to deign her twin with a reply. She was wrapping up fastening her arm guards when, suddenly, she heard the hissing.

*Greetings again, child-speaker.*

Kagome blinked and turned, eyes widening at the large brown snake coiled to her left, its head hovering in the air and its tiny, dark copper eyes staring right at her. It was hard to tell how long the reptile was when coiled, but the snake itself was thick bodied and possessed a dark-brown zigzag dorsal pattern. Her eyes widened even further with recognition. *Siki!* she exclaimed happily. *It's been a while! How have you been?*

The snake let out a pleased hiss, its forked tongue flicking out to lick at the air. *Well. Prey-food has been abundant since the last we've met.* Siki moved, slithering over to Kagome's foot, languidly sliding up and around her calf. Upon reaching the girl's raised knee, the snake paused to rest on it. *And yourself?*

*I've been well, also. Not that I'm not pleased to see you, but what brings you out of the forest?* Kagome wondered. They've only met a few times since their first meeting, and it was always in the forest surrounding their home.

*It has been too long since I last had intelligent company. I also saw that you were without that feline monstrosity of yours at your heels, and so thought a chat would be nice*

Kagome grinned. She knew Kirara liked Siki, and was pretty sure the lazy pawing was just Kirara's way of teasing the adder. She'd seen the feline do as such often enough with Shippo's tail, so long ago. Obviously, though, the feeling wasn't mutual.

*Y'know Kirara's harmless.* When the adder gave the snake equivalent to a scoff, Kagome giggled. *To you, anyway.*

Before Siki could reply there was a surprised yelp and as Kagome's head shot up to look, Siki's swiveled followed.

James stood ten feet away, hazel eyes wide and eyebrows raised. His white-knuckled fingers were gripping his broom tightly. "Kagome. That's a really big snake. On you. Wrapped around your leg." His eyes dart to lock with his twin's before quickly returning to the snake who had yet to blink. "Kagome, it's staring."

A laugh spilled from her mouth. She'd forgotten that James had yet to meet Siki, their meetings so few and far in-between. "James, this is Siki. Remember when I got chased by that fox? When I first found out I was a parselmouth?"

James gave an owlish blink. "Oh." He looked up at her, relaxing just a tiny bit. "She's the snake you stayed with?"

Kagome nodded and turned to Siki, missing her brother's slack-jawed expression when she began hissing. *Hey, Siki? This is James, my brother.*

Siki's head pivoted back to face Kagome once more. *He is not a speaker?*

Kagome shook her head. *No. Just me.*

*A pity, then. Does he often make that face?*

Kagome glanced up and snorted. *Not always, no.* To her brother, she raised her eyebrows. "James?"

She watched as he shook his head and offered a sheepish shrug. "I've never heard you speak parseltongue before," he said quietly and Kagome bit her lip, her stomach twisting at the tone he took.

"It's…" Her throat felt tight all of a sudden. "That's not a bad thing, is it?" she asked, forcing the words out. When they first discovered her ability, James didn't think anything of it aside from how cool it was. But that was before he knew it was a Dark ability, before their parents were caught in an attack by Dark wizards, before his dislike for the Dark arts had really culminated.

James shrugged, gaze fixated on Siki, thoughtful and pensive and wary. "No, not really. Just… Salazar Slytherin was a parselmouth as well, y'know? That's why the symbol for the house is a serpent," he said idly. "And that Voldemort?" And there, Kagome froze, her lungs constricting, her insides feeling as if they was doused with something cold. "I overheard a couple of older Snakes say he can speak parseltongue too."

The stares were heavy, settled uncomfortably against her back as she briskly walked through the halls. She tried hard to ignore as people on either side drew away as she approached, like they were frightened. Frightened of catching something.

Frightened of her.

Kagome jerked in her spot, stung. Siki coiled tighter around her leg, sensing or smelling something off, she didn't know, but the adder did raise its head higher to stare hard at James. "James?" she whispered, unable to help the hurt coloring her tone. "What's that supposed to mean? What are you trying to say?"

"…he's a parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a Dark wizard. Ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes?"

"…who knows what happened, how he survived… Maybe that's why You-Know-Who wanted to kill him in the first place. Didn't want another Dark Lord competing with him. I wonder what other powers Potter's been hiding?"

Kagome swallowed thickly, fingers grasping tightly at the hem of her shirt, the hurt, the crushing feeling bearing down on her — her own or Harry's, she couldn't even tell anymore — pounding in her skull and threatening to overwhelm her.

Something in her tone must have tipped James off, because his head shot up to look at her and his pensive expression quickly shifted to horrified. "Merlin, not whatever you're thinking! Stop making that face!" he exclaimed, panicking. He scrambled forward, hands flailing, but a quick look at Siki stopped him short in his spot.

"Being a parselmouth doesn't mean you're evil," she stressed with feeling, suddenly angry. She held out her palm to Siki, moving to stand once the snake had wrapped around her arm. Her whole body begun vibrating. "It's just an ability. It's not like I can help it or anything!" she went on, her voice rising in pitch with each word.

James quickly took a step back and shook his head, face drawn and pale. "No, I just meant—if anyone found out. They might think the wrong thing about you! Kagome, please."

But her chest still felt tight, her breathing coming quick and shallow and furious. "I'm not gonna shout to the world that I can talk to snakes, James, but I won't be ashamed because some crazy mass-murderer has the same ability as me!"

Her brother threw his hands up in the air, palms up in a gesture of surrender. His eyes were wide and wet. "I know, I know! And you shouldn't, I'm sorry! I really am, Kagome! I didn't mean to make it sound like a bad thing. I'm just—I guess I forgot you could do that and just got worried, thinking about if people found out—all the bad things they might say about you if they did."

Kagome pointedly looked away, swallowing thickly, quickly calming down in the face of her brother's pleading expression and the frank concern in his voice. Yeah, maybe James shouldn't have phrased it so carelessly but he was right to be worried, she couldn't deny that. It wouldn't be good news if other people found out.

It was just… Those flashbacks… The heavy stares and the distrust and fear radiating from them — the loneliness, the anger, and the hurt entwined with the memory… It felt so real, like they came from her, and the look on James face scared her, and it was hard to separate herself and her own feelings from Harry's.

"Merlin was a parselmouth too, y'know," she muttered, hating how petulant she sounded.

"Yeah, I know," James agreed quickly. "That's pretty awesome. Slytherin and that Voldemort creep just give it a bad rep." The boy shifted restlessly, casting his sister a worried look. "We're okay, right?" he inquired in a small voice. "I know you're not evil. You gotta know I'd never think that. You're my sister."

Not really. I was never meant to be.

The thought voiced itself in her head before Kagome could help it, and the reassuring smile she gave to her brother felt like it came off more tentative than she would've liked. "I know. We're okay. I just…" Kagome sighed, rubbing her free hand over her face. "You're not the only one that's worried. I really shouldn't have shouted at you, though. I'm sorry, James," she said quietly.

James shrugged it off. "It's fine," he replied

*Is everything alright?*

Blinking fast, Kagome glanced down at her arm, feeling a rueful twinge from having half-forgotten about the snake she was carrying. *Sorry about that, Siki. Everything's fine now. It was just a…misunderstanding.*

*Hmph. I find that as an understatement from the way you were practically sparking.*

Kagome's eyebrows furrowed at the wording, but then James was stepping forward tentatively. "I won't lie though, it's kinda weird," he said, with a sheepish shrug. "With the hissing? Cool, but a little weird."

Kagome relaxed a little.

James ventured closer. "So, uh, she's not poisonous, is she?" he asked with a half-hearted smile.

Kagome shrugged. "Even if she was, she isn't going to bite." To Siki, she asked, *Maybe. But it's fine. He was just worried about me. Now he's just asking about you, whether if you're poisonous.* Kagome made a thoughtful sound. *Are you?*

*I am. But I doubt it would do much harm to ones as large as you. In any case, humans do not taste good.* Kagome had the feeling that if snakes could roll their eyes, Siki would be doing just that.*Human children even lesser so.*

When Kagome laughed, James squinted at her. "What?"

"Apparently we're not exactly tasty," she answered with a little grin. James snorted, grinning a bit himself, and just like that Kagome felt a little better.

o.O.o

Dear Kagome,

Since we've left Hogwarts, I haven't woken up earlier than eleven. It's absolutely amazing. I love it. But honestly, I miss it already. It's kinda weird, knowing I won't be able to cast magic until September… Everything is so normal here that it feels off. Sometimes I think the past year was all just a dream and I'm gonna to wake up and go to secondary school in the fall. Do you know what I mean? Or maybe you don't. You've grown up magic all your life, after all. The "no magic outside Hogwarts" rule really sucks though. But it's probably for the best. Tuney keeps glaring at me, and Sev whenever we're together for that matter, like we're gonna grow warts or cast a spell on her any second! And she hates it whenever an owl comes by! She's worried about the neighborhood seeing them and might think us some weird, owl collecting family or something. It'd be way too easy to just… cast a spell and change the color of her dress or something. Anyway, does your family have anything planned for the summer? We'll be going to Spain next week, I'm so excited!

Lily

P.S. Tell him yourself! :P I'm sure he'd appreciate getting a letter from you.

o.O.o

Not even two seconds after the fireplace flared and Remus stumbled out did the twins let out a shout.

"Remus!"

Grinning, Remus stepped away from the fireplace just as it flared again and his parents stepped through as well.

He was not, however, expecting the dual-ambush they suddenly bestowed him, a twin tackling him from each side. Though shocked, his face split into a wider smile as he hugged the pair in return. "Merlin, you two!" he breathed out, exasperated. "You act like it's been years since we've left Hogwarts! It's barely even been a week!"

James was the first to pull away, grinning toothily himself. "Mate, you live with this one and a day seems like a decade!"

With an offended gasp, Kagome pulled away next to gift her twin with a smack. As her brother rubbed his arm with a pout, Kagome turned to Remus' parents with a sunny smile. "Lovely to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Lupin!" she chirped.

Remus ducked his head and coughed to cover his snort.

Hope, who was biting her lip, her amber eyes a tad misty, smiled in return. "And you as well, dear," she replied, her husband nodding in kind with a small wry smile of his own.

"Children, don't be so rude!" James and Kagome squeaked at their mother's voice. "Invite them in already!"

"Sorry!" they chorused, scrambling back from the fireplace to let them through into the entrance hall.

Ella was shaking her head fondly at her children's antics. "My apologies, Mr. Lupin, Mrs. Lupin. Neither my husband nor I know what we've done to deserve such unruly children. We've tried to impart the two with manners, but, they've got such hard heads that it's rather difficult for anything to get through," she said lightly, lips pursed in a half-hearted attempt of disapproval.

Anyone could tell she wasn't serious, though. Her fond light in her blue eyes as she regarded her children gave her away. Still, her children followed suit to look appropriately chastised and contrite.

Laughing softly under her breath, Hope shook her head. "It's fine, Lady Potter. Your children are a delight. And please, it's Hope."

"Hope, then," Ella repeated, pleased. "And none of that Lady nonsense! It's Ella. With our children such close friends already, I have a feeling we'll be seeing one another quite often, so no sense for such formalities. Welcome to my home. Would you two like some tea?"

"It would be a pleasure," Lyall murmured.

"Follow me, then," Ella said, stepping away to lead them into the sitting room. "You can run along now, children," she told them, shooing them off. "And remember the rules. If you're going to play outside, you're to stay in the perimeter!"

"Okay, Mum!" they chorused, sharing an eye roll. Remus snickered.

"Peter's just got here himself," Kagome told Remus as they dragged him up the stairs after he waved his parents goodbye, rucksack in hand. "He's up in James room at the moment, checking out James' chocolate card collection. Sirius should be here soon."

"So he's coming?" Remus asked, jogging after them.

"Yeah. I mean, they're still not happy he's been sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin, though, of course," Kagome explained, and she snorted, rolling her eyes. "And I'm pretty sure his mum doesn't like ours."

"Mhm," James hummed, his voice tinged with distaste. "But apparently Sirius' father pointed out that at least our family is of noble and pure blood or whatever, and that Sirius could've done much worse making friends in our House. So that's that."

Remus shook his head. "Why doesn't his mum like yours?"

The twins shared a look and shrugged. "Bugger if we know," they chorused.

o.O.o

"I've never been in a girl's room before," Sirius commented upon entering Kagome's room, and without permission at that. He had only just arrived, and after stopping off at James' room where the boys would be camping together for the night, he all but demanded for Kagome to show him her room as well because it was only polite.

Kagome thought he just wanted to snoop.

"Is it everything you've dreamed it to be?" she drawled sarcastically, leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed.

Sirius' nose crinkled as he spun, taking it in. "Lot cleaner."

Kagome rolled her eyes, remembering the disarray the dorms was often in, worn clothes littered everywhere and whatnot. Even Peter wasn't exempt from adding to the mess, though he definitely wasn't as bad as James or Sirius. Remus was the only one she could count on keeping a clean space. "Not everyone enjoys living in a pigsty like you or my brother does."

Sirius, who had spied her little stuffed fox animal and was grinning, shrugged as he moved onto the bookcase with the pictures. He let out a little laugh when he came across the one her father had taken on their birthday, of her on the transfigured pony with James hovering nearby on his new broom, and their mother in the background with a grudging smile on her face. The sound itself was an amused one, but it was bittersweet, tinged with a sad, wistful note.

"Looking for something incriminating, are you?" she joked, trying to cheer him up. "Don't get your hopes up. I made sure to hide anything potentially embarrassing just in case. "

It managed to coax out a little smile. Sirius glanced over as he moved on in his inspection, eyes brighter and dancing. "Meaning there is something to be found, eh?"

Kagome just cocked an eyebrow in reply.

Sirius picked up a letter from her nightstand, flopping down onto her bed with a grunt and sitting back. "Who else have you been writing, hm?" he teased, shaking the letter as he wiggled to get comfortable. The parchment flapped nosily between them.

Rolling her eyes, Kagome jumped up and walked over, intending on snatching it back. "Give it here."

He laughed. "Thought you said you hid anything embarrassing?" he teased, taking his chance to scan the writing. Sirius suddenly sat up, eyes going wide as he caught the sender's name. The parchment crinkled under his tightened grip. "Severus Snape?!" Wide, gray eyes turned to stare at her accusingly. "You're writing letters to Snivellus?"

Eyes narrowing, she deftly snatched the letter back. "Who I write to is none of your business!" she informed him succinctly, stuffing the letter into her nightstand drawer. When Sirius made movements to grab it again, she gave him her most withering glaring, daring him to go for it.

Wisely, Sirius merely swallowed lightly and slowly drew his hand away. As soon as the death stare melted away, however, Sirius started up again, disdain thick on his tongue. "Are you serious? Snivellus?"

Kagome's lips twitched and she quickly turned to hide her oncoming grin. "Have you gone mental? That's your name, not mine."

An indignant squeak escaped her friend and she sniggered under her breath. "Merlin!" Sirius muttered, rolling off her bed and brandishing the envelope the letter had arrived in, waving it wildly. "This isn't something to joke about!"

Ignoring his dramatics, Kagome flounced to her bed, falling back onto it with a puff. "Didn't I just say who I write to is none of your business?" If she didn't already know it was a lost cause by now, she would have said something. Unfortunately, as it was, Sirius' dislike for Severus—and James', for that matter—was solid. "So we write sometimes, what of it? He was just thanking me for sending him this article 'bout potions."

He sucked in a scandalized breath. "You're sending him articles?!" Sirius stared at her as if he couldn't even recognize her. "But—but, Snivellus!" he whined.

"But nothing," she mocked in return, groaning heavily, thrown an arm across her face. "Merlin, you're like a broken record," she muttered.

Sirius blinked over at her. "What?"

Shifting her arm, Kagome blinked back at him, staring, before quickly shaking her head. "It's a saying. When a vinyl gets scratched, sometimes it repeats itself?"

"Then why not just do a spell to repair it?" Sirius asked, confused.

"It's a muggle saying," Kagome explained patiently. When Sirius furrowed his eyebrows at her, as if saying, 'How would you know?', and she shrugged and lied, saying, "Lily."

"Oh." Sirius started, narrowing his eyes at her. "Hey!"

Kagome snickered.

o.O.o

Kagome was sitting next to James, head propped against his shoulder as they stared at the fireplace and watched the tendrils dance and lick at the air.

Outside, they could see the full moon shining full force.

"I feel bad for Remus... it's not fair," Kagome confessed as she glanced outside, her words quiet and morose.

Once upon a time, such a sight used to be beautiful—the moon, full and bright, in the midst of a sea of stars. More often than not, they used to camp out under the night sky. Not her new family, that is, but her old one.

The thought of them had her heart clenching even more so.

She could remember it clearly now, despite it being—and wow, how her stomach twisted at the realization—over a decade since she'd last lain eyes on her friends, her family. Over a decade since the last time she had been tucked in her sleeping bag, staring up at the darkened sky with Shippo cuddled into her chest, eyes tracing the constellations as she waited for sleep to take over.

"You should be asleep by now, idiot. Gotta wake up early tomorrow."

Kagome clenched her eyes as they suddenly began to sting. It was hard, sometimes, remembering what Inuyasha's voice sounded like… His gruff, low timber, edged with fondness…

"I know. It's just… do you ever take the time to just… look at the stars?"

James arm curled around her back, squeezing lightly. It was almost ironic, Kagome thought with a wry, bitter twist of her lips. Inuyasha and Remus. One best friend turned human at the new moon; one lost his humanity when it was full.

And she could almost imagine it, too, familiar as she was with demons and half-demons losing their grip on reality, transforming under an influence out of their control… She could hear Remus' pained growls and whimpers as he hurt himself in the transformation. The heart-wrenching howling at being alone, without a pack and imprisoned by four rickety, old, wooden walls, left to stare forlornly out at the moon through a small, smudged window, unable to answer its call or feel its light through his fur as he ran free. Could imagine his own claws tearing through fur and skin because of the energy thrumming through his veins, like an angry itch he couldn't bear to ignore…

James remained silent at first, giving a murmur of agreement because what else was there to say? It wasn't the first time they had sat there, unhappy with the circumstances of their friend's furry little problem.

"I wish there was a way to help him out, or make it easier on him," James confessed, words coming as a fragile whisper. "I've read that… that werewolf wounds, scratches or bites—they leave permanent scares."

Kagome shut her eyes.

His own claws tearing through fur and skin because of the energy thrumming through his veins, like an angry itch he couldn't bear to ignore…

"I wish that we could somehow spend the night with him, so he isn't alone." Kagome swallowed thickly, her eyes darting to steal a glance at her brother's pensive face, the question - should she, shouldn't she? - crossing her mind.

On the same vein, Remus' face as it is now, young and pale and drawn and scarred, flickered to life in her head, switching with another image —

She trudged down the stone corridor, pulling sharply on her coat to keep the biting cold of winter out. With a look ahead she spied a form yards away, tall and thin and hunched over in a thread-bare cloak, elbows leveled on the stone edge, staring blank-faced through the columns into the snow-swirling air.

Her footsteps faltered. "Professor Lupin?"

And the man's head turned and her stomach squirmed uncomfortably at the sight of the dull amber eyes boring back into her, at the agony dwelling deep in it depths. Then a split-second later a flicker of life and recognition had sparked at the sight of her standing there, awkward and cold, gloved hands digging into the fabric of her coat.

His scarred face shifted; there was crooked tilt to his mouth. "Oh, hello there, Harry. A bit nippy out, isn't it?"

And she wouldn't realize, not ever, not until now, the date and its significance.

December 29th.

Sirius Black's birthday.

— and if her voice was a little shaky, a little weaker when she finished speaking, well…

"I bet that's the worst part – going through it alone..."

And James suddenly stiffened, a thought coming to him. His eyes lit up excitedly. "Maybe…" he mumbled, amazement colouring his voice. "Maybe there is a way..."

Kagome froze, her heart tripping and speeding, and she quickly looked at him. "What do you mean?"

A slow grin was finding its way onto his face. James grabbed her wrists, laughing at the surprised yelp she let out, and dragged her up. "You'll see. We gotta hit the library though," he told her, and then he was pulling on her and leading out her out the door and downstairs. "Come along, sister dear!"

"James?" Kagome whispered-shouted, trying not to grin in the face of his excitement.

"Animals, Mel! Animals!"

o.O.o

Words - 7,229

Yeah... I've got nothing except my sincere apologies for the six month wait for this chapter. I was hoping to get it out by March or April but... Well, life, y'know? I shan't bore or depress you guys with the details. Anyway, hopefully the next chapter won't take so long. I'll try my best.

My eternal thanks to all who are still sticking with this, I really do appreciate it! And thanks, as always, to ArmyWife22079 for proofing.

Thank you also for all the wonderful reviews you guys gave me. In particular, those that let me know of any mistakes I let slip since the last chapter was kind of a rush job, lol. I really appreciated that.

Speaking of reviews, I can't remember who/if I replied to for the last chapter... X.x But there were some really nice, touching reviews that are making me feel really shitty if I never replied to them, so know that they were read and so very, very appreciated. I can only promise to try harder to give your reviews the proper responses they deserve from now on.

Also important announcement! More gorgeous fanart has been created for the previous chapter by the gracious and talented sweetlessly. Head over to my profile to find the link!

Next up on my to-do list is to update IWD, if any of you are interested in knowing.

Until next time, guys!

-RainLily^^