Just When Things Go Well...

Potter Mansion

Sirius and James walked downstairs and found Roger Potter and Remus talking to Christopher Evans, Lily's father. Frank was trying to drag Peter away from the wedding cake.

"You need to get ready," Abby told her son. "Don't let me catch you going upstairs again! And do something about that hair!"

Sirius and James grinned at each other and went into what they had dubbed the 'groom's room'.

"You too," Abby added, waving at her husband and Mr. Evans. "We have to leave for the church in half an hour. Hurry up."

Sirius closed the door after flashing a reassuring grin at the stressed look Abby gave him. He took his jacket from the chair he had hung it over and put it on. Lily had asked him to wear a Muggle suit, which he rather liked, but no way he was going to wear a tie.

The wedding ceremony would be held in a Muggle church where only a few people would be present. No need to scare the wits out of the Muggles by bringing dozens of wizards and witches to the church. Besides, there was the International Statute of Secrecy to consider. After the wedding, Lily and James would hold a reception here at Potter Mansion, where they could invite as many wizards and witches as they wanted.

Sirius checked his appearance in the mirror and ran his hands through his hair. He had had it cut last week. It now barely reached his collar. He turned to James and found him staring in another mirror, deadly white.

"You okay, Prongs?" he asked.

"I don't feel so good," James answered.

Sirius laughed and clapped him on the back. "That's just your nerves."

"Am I doing the right thing, Sirius?"

"Marrying the girl you've loved for seven years, you mean?" Sirius inquired innocently. "Yeah, I'd say you're on the right track."

James smiled. "I'm glad you'll be up there with me as my best man."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, James," Sirius said earnestly.

The door went open and Remus poked his head inside. "You ready? We have to go."

"I'm ready," James confirmed.


Rosedale Church

I loved the wedding ceremony in the picturesque church. Lily looked positively radiant in her elegant dress, Abby spent most of the time crying, and Sirius looked ridiculously handsome in a black Muggle suit.

Remus, who was sitting next to me, leaned over and whispered in my ear, "You're supposed to watch the ceremony, not stare at the best man all the time."

"He's looking mighty fine," I sighed with a drawl I had heard a Southern belle use in a Muggle film Lily had shown me. 'Away with the wind' I think it was called.

Remus snorted softly. "Thank you very much for that information."

In silence we watched Lily and James take their vows. Even Sirius managed to behave himself and refrained from making naughty comments when James kissed Lily. He smiled and applauded.

After the first dance back at James's house Sirius had thrown all decorum overboard and slid an arm around my waist. "Miss Carmichael, I do believe I saw you looking at me during the wedding. Have you taken a fancy to me?"

"Mr. Black, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about," I retorted haughtily.

"Does that mean I imagined the look in your eyes that said you wanted to rip the clothes off my body?"

"Yes, you must have been mistaken. I'm not that kind of woman."

"Should I perhaps whisk you away and teach you the ways of wicked men then?" Sirius suggested, smiling seductively at me.

"Surely you don't want to forsake your duties as best man?" I asked sweetly.

"I don't have to give a speech for another half hour. What is your answer?"

"Absolutely not. Everybody will know what we're up to," I protested.

"Of course not. We'll sneak out." He grabbed my hand and led me to an empty room, avoiding groups of talking wizards and witches with skill, making me wonder exactly how much experience he had with this kind of thing. He closed the door behind me. I turned around. "This is a bad idea," I insisted.

"I happen to be a great fan of bad ideas," Sirius grinned. "Get over here."

"I don't even look like myself," I said, folding my arms.

"What? And you think I don't know it's you? Just because your hair and nose are different, doesn't mean it's not you," Sirius replied, raising an eyebrow. "Although I am curious whether Gid's spell changed all of your hair."

"Pig!"

He walked closer, giving an alluring smile. "I know every curve of your body... every sensitive spot... every sound that you make... the way you part your lips when you want to be kissed," he said huskily.

My breath hitched. Damn that man.

"That's what I want," Sirius finished, running his thumb over my bottom lip. He bent down to me and brushed his lips over my jaw, kissing the sensitive skin below my ear. His hot breath in my neck sent shivers down my spine.

My eyes fell shut. "Not fair," I choked out, tilting my head to one side to allow him better access. Heat began to pool in my body.

Sirius chuckled in my neck. "I know." His hands slid over my body, pulling me flush against him.

"Merlin, I want you," I moaned and wriggled my hips closer against him. He turned us around and pushed me against the wall. His hand slid under my dress and up my thigh.

"Happy to comply," he said, sounding out of breath. I had no time to reply as he claimed my mouth in a hungry kiss.


Some time later we walked outside again after straightening our clothes. We found James and Lily with Remus and Peter.

"Where did you two go?" James asked. "You're supposed to give a speech in five minutes."

"Something came up," Sirius answered with a straight face.

I choked on the wine Lily had just given me. That's one way of putting it.

"I see," Lily said. "Tell me, when did you start wearing lipstick, Sirius?"

Sirius kept his face completely composed. "I like my lips red, thank you."

"Just pray that my mother doesn't find out you have been…" James stopped and cleared his throat. "Great, unwanted mental images," he mumbled then.

I chuckled and wiped the lipstick off Sirius's lips. He thanked me with a distinctly mischievous twinkle in his eyes and climbed on a chair to get everybody's attention.

"Your attention, please," he called and sent red sparks in the air with his wand. Everybody turned towards him. "I'd like to propose a toast." He looked at James and Lily and raised his cup. "To James, the best friend a man could wish for, and Lily, beautiful, smart, kind, and gifted. Who wouldn't want to marry her?"

He grinned at James. "Don't scowl, Jamesie. You're beautiful too, but I don't want to give people the wrong idea."

The guests laughed. James raised his cup at his best friend.

Sirius continued, "I don't have to tell you how James and I became friends. For most people that is well known. All I have to say is: Remus, Peter, Gryffindor, and pranks. I don't have to say anything about Lily either. We all know she is a great witch and a wonderful woman. I don't have to wish them the best, because I know they'll have the best. They have each other." He turned to the newlyweds. "Here's to you. I know you'll have all the happiness in the world."

Applause and cheers came from the guests. Sirius jumped down from his chair and was enveloped in the arms of a teary-eyed Lily. She whispered something in his ear and he gave her a bashful grin.

"Wow," I said appreciatively when he stood next to me again and smiled at him. A faint blush crept over his cheeks and he kissed me to hide it.

An hour of so later Sirius and I danced slowly around the dance floor. I saw Remus declining an offer to dance from an attractive witch. I frowned.

"It's Zarah," Sirius answered my unarticulated question.

"That's been a year," I said. Last year Zarah Williams had been murdered by Death Eaters, shortly after she and Remus had become involved in the Order.

"It's different for a werewolf," Sirius explained. "Wolves mate for life. Remus is only partly wolf, so it's not completely the same, but for him a relationship means instant commitment. When a wolf's mate dies, he pines away and dies. That won't happen to Remus," he added quickly, seeing my shocked face, "but losing a loved one cuts deeper with werewolves."

"I had no idea," I said softly.

"He's having a hard time right now," Sirius said, looking at his best friend. "You know, Zarah being Lily's best friend…"

Without a word I dragged Sirius over to Remus and dropped on the sofa next to him. I kissed the werewolf on the cheek. Surprised he pulled back and looked at me. "You told her," he concluded and glared at Sirius.

"I did," Sirius admitted.

"I'm sorry, Remus. I wish you would've told me," I said.

"I don't need pity," Remus said with a clenched jaw.

"Pity? I'm a Slytherin, darling. I don't do pity," I said with raised eyebrows. "I'm here to offer comfort." I summoned a bottle of Firewhisky and held it up to him with a cheeky grin.

Despite himself Remus smiled. "You have no idea how much you're like Sirius sometimes."

"No need to get offensive," I joked.

"Hey!" Sirius said angrily.

"Alcohol won't solve it," Remus sighed. "I just need time."

I Banished the bottle. "I know."

"Thank you for trying to cheer me up," Remus smiled.

I leaned closer to him, looking through my lashes, and brought my mouth close to his ear. Sirius's eyebrow immediately went up. "Why don't we try to piss Sirius off? That's always fun."

Remus snorted with laughter and whispered in my ear, "What did you have in mind?" He smiled seductively at me.

A distinct frown had now appeared on Sirius's face.

"Dance with me," I ordered.

Remus got up, grabbing my hand to pull me up with him.

"Oh, I know you're just trying to annoy me," Sirius growled, folding his arms.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I denied. "Sweep me off my feet, Remus."

He placed his arm around my waist and pulled me a lot closer to him than was appropriate. "It'll be my pleasure, Nia -- Nicole," Remus smiled.

Sirius huffed and slouched on the sofa.

Remus twirled me around the dance floor, slowly counting to twenty under his breath.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

"Just watch. Nineteen… twenty… twenty-one… twenty-two… wow, he has improved."

I frowned in confusion, but then I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Mind if I cut in?" Sirius asked gruffly.

Remus burst out laughing. "Not at all, mate." He handed me over to Sirius with a wink and took off.

"Pestering git," Sirius mumbled. "And you too," he added, looking at me.

I slipped my arms around his neck. "That temper of yours…" I admonished him.

"Fine, so I may be a little jealous and possessive…"

"…reckless, short-tempered, impulsive, big-mouthed, volatile?" I suggested.

"When did this wedding turn into a Sirius-bashing party?" said man asked indignantly.

I gave him a peck on the lips. "Loyal, passionate, protective, energetic, courageous, spirited, strong-willed…"

"Yeah, yeah, I get the point. I'm great."

"Arrogant, over-confident…"

"Enough already," Sirius sighed exasperatedly.

"Easily bored…"

"I know a way to shut you up, but you won't appreciate it in the middle of the dance floor," Sirius threatened.

"Lusty…"

"And you like it," Sirius said proudly.

"No, I like you," I said.

"Flatterer," he snorted.

"That's the best you can come up with?" I challenged him.

"Short, annoying, haughty, and big-headed," Sirius grinned.

"Bastard!"

"Foul-mouthed."

I pouted.

"Intelligent, sharp, strong, passionate, classy, determined, and brave."

"I'm only brave because of you," I admitted.

"Of course you're not," Sirius protested.

"I am. I would never have left my family if it wasn't for you giving me that choice."

"I think you would have," Sirius said. "Like Moony said, we're a lot alike. Maybe not in character traits, but we have the same background and we both see that background clearly. You're stronger than me, I think, because you managed to free yourself even though you were in Slytherin. It was a lot easier for me in Gryffindor."

"Not with your family," I said softly.

Sirius quirked an eyebrow. " Because your family relations are so wonderful."

I shrugged. I rested my cheek against his shoulder and was silent for a while. "Have we really freed ourselves, Sirius?"

Sirius pushed me back and locked his gaze with mine. "Yes," he said firmly. "We are free."

"What do you think we'll be doing twenty years from now?"

Sirius grinned mischievously. "I will still annoy you out of socks, James will have his own Quidditch team called Potter United, Remus will have taken up permanent residence in some library, Peter will have found some girl that loves him. Dumbledore and McGonagall will have realised their feelings for each other and everybody will know we love each other."

"I like that," I smiled. "The Dumbledore and McGonagall thing is quite the issue for you, isn't it?"

"Yes, my mission in life," Sirius said with a completely serious face.

I chuckled. "Kiss me."

"That's my other mission in life."


Two weeks later I was cleaning my house. Trying to, at least. Cleaning charms were a nuisance, but I didn't want my family's house elf in my apartment. She would die from shock anyway if she was asked to leave the house.

Lily and James would return from their honeymoon tomorrow. They had sent Sirius some photographs, looking perfectly happy and tanned on it. I hadn't seen Sirius for a few days. His guarding duties had increased so much he was barely home anymore. He had sent me a message that he would be home tonight. So, after I had given up cleaning I changed into something more appealing and Apparated to his house, letting myself in with the key he had given me when he didn't answer the door bell.

I wasn't worried. He was often later than he expected, having to be debriefed by the next shift. I made some tea and searched for the book I was reading. Sirius complained time and again I was turning his house into a library. I was shaken from my thoughts when the clock struck midnight. As usual I had been lost in my book and had not noticed how much time had passed. A pang of worry shot through me. What was taking him so long?

Unable to continue reading I got up and paced around. He had been this late before, true, but only when his shift ended much later than now.

I was just about to send a message to Remus, when Fabian Prewett rang the door bell. Panting, he leaned his arm against the door post for support. A deep gash ran down his face. He pressed his other hand against his ribs, but blood seeped from between his fingers anyway.

"Merlin, what happened?" I cried out.

He looked me reluctantly in the eye. "Sirius and Caradoc have been attacked."