Minerva McGonagall eyed Sirius curiously. The wizard had held Charlie several times but had not held Rose at all. What is he hiding? she mused. "Sirius," she drew the family's attention. "Why haven't you held Rose?"

Sirius looked startled at the question but then denied it. "I have," he retorted.

"No you haven't," Euphemia said as she frowned. "You have held Charles many times but Rose is ignored by you. Why?"

Sirius looked down at the floor and struggled with a suitable answer. Words failed him. He honestly didn't know how to answer them. He had an overwhelming feeling of something he couldn't quite describe when he thought of Rose. He couldn't fathom why either.

"He's afraid," James offered. He moved towards the bassinet and gently picked up a fussy Rose. He drew her near and soothed her. He looked at his bestfriend and sighed. "I couldn't understand why you were so fearful of a baby. Harry adores you, you are great with Charles but then there is Rose. I watched you around her and I finally understood. I had seen all of those emotions on another's face. Minerva's face showed those same emotions when she was coming to terms with Harry returning to his childhood. I could see her discomfort in the situation at first. You have the same look."

"Soulmates," Minerva whispered lowly as realization dawned. "That's what Death meant when he said enjoy the suprises. We assumed he was referring to just Rose but he wasn't. He was referring to the soulbond as well."

"I was," Death confirmed with a chuckle. "Lily saw how Harry's fate mingled with Minerva's. She wondered if Harry needed to control both Potter House and Black House to lead the Wizengamot. She convinced the fates that House Black needed to continue through its own heirs and asked for the soulbond for Rose. She really solved every issue for you. Harry would have less of a burden, Minerva wouldn't feel alone in her personal burden of having a soulmate so young, James wouldn't have to worry about Rose dating when she came of age, Euphemia wouldn't have to worry about Sirius' future and Sirius would finally grow up in the regal Lord he was destined to be."

"So what I feel is the soulbond?" Sirius managed to get out.

"The overwhelming feeling of something rather unfathomable, indescribable really," Minerva whispered as she looked at Sirius. "The need to be close to her but fear of your own emotions and mindset. The need to give whatever you can to make her happy but the overwhelming fear you aren't strong enough to prevent unimaginable situations from arising as she grows."

"That's how you feel daily?" James asked suprised as he glanced from Minerva.

"It is," she confessed. "At least Sirius won't have memories of a lifetime where the soulbond was completed and then have that torn away from him."

Gasps of horror crossed the family's faces as they thought of what Minerva had been forced to endure. Death glided to her and gave her a calculating look. "Your memories from the past life hasn't faded?"

"Most have," she admitted. "Anything relating to Harry is vivid."

Death moved towards Harry before asking, "What about your memories Champion?"

Harry nodded his head. "The same," he answered. "I can still remember talks we had word for word."

"I would have assumed those memories would have faded," Death said puzzled.

"Harry is your Champion," Euphemia offered. "You cannot take anything he doesn't wish to part with nor his soulmates."

Death chuckled darkly at Euphemia before asking, "How did you come to that conclusion?"

"I have observed them," she admitted. "Harry is more stubborn than any one human has the right to be. He is determined to do whatever he wishes or sees fit and no amount of redirecting from us can change that. Yet a single touch or a heated glare from Minerva changes that instantly. We all fade from their world in those moments. Its reasonable to assume they still have vivid memories of each other from their past because they still exist in their own unique bubble here and now. You were unable to take the cloak from Harry at the train station yet Minerva can find him regardless where he hides. Harry doesn't wish to be parted from Minerva so she remembers whatever he wishes her to."

"Intriguing," Death said as he thought about the situation. "You have a very solid theory. I knew it would be hard on them when they returned yet it had to be done. I wonder if the handfasting done more harm than we realized."

"I believe it did regarding their intense bond but it had to be done," Fleamont offered. "Minerva's unique situation with her Morgan Ley Fey glamour forced our hand. She had to have an unbreakable bond to Harry to keep them both on the straight and narrow. I would suggest we avoid that with Rose and Sirius. An ironclad betrothal should still satisfy their bond enough."

"I agree," James added as he gently deposited a fussy Rose in Sirius' arms. "We should ask Lord Black over for drinks."

"I shall arrange it," Fleamont said as he watched Sirius curiously.

Sirius stared at Rose in pure wonder as the babe instantly stopped fusing. "You feel this?" Sirius asked Minerva in wonder.

"Every touch," she answered. "Its a magical feeling."

"All is right," Harry added as he gripped Minerva's hand.

Sirius looked at his godson and nodded in agreement. "I understand now Pup," he offered. Sirius shifted Rose closer and closed his eyes. He could feel her little heartbeat throughout his entire being. He had never experienced anything as emotional as he felt now. He felt like his soul had been shredded and this tiny being in his arms was the only one that could piece him together. He felt protective and instantly knew he would be whatever she needed him to be. He would be her bestfriend until she came of age.

"When you invite father over," Sirius spoke as he tore his gaze from Rose. "Insist on a purity vow. I can just imagine what some of the pureblooded bastards would do in a situation like this. You should probably have Donavon Ross bring forth new amendments to betrothals with a significant age gap."

"Why Donavon," Fleamont asked curiously.

"Uncle D can reach out to more dark leaning families than you can," Minerva whispered as she eyed Sirius appraisingly.

"We can hold him to a higher standard now?" Harry asked her. Minerva snorted at the reminder from days gone by. The rest of the family joined in her mirth.

"Indeed we can," she answered amused by the situation.