Skylar POV

August 9th, 1983

Today was my birthday, and I'd chosen to spend it with Sirius this time around. I knew the kids had some kind of surprise planned, from what I gathered from their memories, but I decided to play ignorant and let them have their fun.

Nick pouted. "Why can't we stay here with Uncle Remy?"

Tonight was the full moon, and he was staying away from the kids, just in case he ended up snapping at them. He was currently sleeping in his room. At around 4, I would apparate him to the fenced area off the Potter property, which James had inherited when his parents passed away in 1980, and was now Harry's.

"Tonight's the full moon, sweetheart."

Nick's eyes widened with realisation. "Oh, okay."

I raised an eyebrow. "Nick? What's going on?"

Nick looked around. Seeing that Kate was still in the bathroom, he whispered, "Percy scares me."

I laughed. "Does he, now?"

"He always wants me to follow the rules! And when I don't, he sneaks on me to Mrs. Weasley!"

I shook my head, grinning. "When I was at school, I knew someone like Percy, too."

"Really? What happened to him?" Nick asked interestedly.

"Her, Nick, and she..." I trailed off, realising who I'd been talking about. I took a deep breath. "She married one of my best friends and they had a beautiful baby boy together."

Before Nick could question me further, Kate had finally come down. "Mommy? Could you give this to Daddy?" She handed me a folded piece of paper.

I smiled at her. "Sure, dear." Kate smiled, then hugged my knees (she couldn't reach any higher).

"I miss daddy. When is he coming back?" she asked, pouting up at me.

I sighed. "I know honey, I miss him too." I couldn't tell her that he wouldn't be coming back, so I just kissed her forehead and led her to the car, where Nick was sitting, bouncing on his seat. No doubt, he was already planning the mischief he would do.

Once again, I dropped them off at Molly's ("Some rhubarb pie, dear?") before making my dreary trip to Azkaban.

When I reached Sirius' cell and stepped in, he took my hand and pulled me into a hug. "Happy Birthday Sky." he said, only the faintest hint of sorrow in his voice. I wouldn't have recognised it if I didn't know him so well.

When he let me go, I stepped back and took a good look at him. He had become even thinner, and his cheeks were hollow.

I shivered. "I'm scared, Sirius," I said, not able to stop myself.

"Of what?" he asked. His voice had also become hoarser since the last time I'd seen him.

"I'm scared that the next time I see you, you might be... mad-" I choked out the word, "-or... worse! After all, there are so many people who go mad in Azkaban. And I can't stand it if anything happens to you."

He took my hand, trying to soothe me.

"Hey, don't worry about that. I won't go mad. The Dementors feed on only happy thoughts. And though I have happy thoughts for them to take, I also have one thought which keeps me sane. It's not really a happy one, but it's enough. So, don't worry."

"What is that?"

"I'm innocent. They can't take that thought from me."

I smiled wryly.

"So, what are you doing for your birthday?"

"I'm spending it here, with you," I said, trying to be cheerful.

He rolled his eyes, but gave a small smile.

"Okay, then what are Nick and Kate doing for your birthday?"

"Well, I know they're planning something, but its supposed to be a surprise, so, I'm not completely sure. I tried to tune out their thoughts... but they're both too cuddly."

He barked a laugh. "Speaking of which... Is Kate like you?"

I shook my head. "No, nothing that I've noticed yet. I guess it will set in only later. After all, mine did only when I was around five."

He nodded gravely. "That would be interesting to see...especially after what Dumbledore mentioned."

I nodded, wondering how it would be. I really hoped that Dumbledore had been right and that Kate didn't have to go through what I had.

"That reminds me... Kate gave me something for you." I held out the crayon drawing she'd made. It was a picture of our family, standing together in a sunny meadow. I knew Sirius wouldn't be able to keep it, in Azkaban, but I wanted him to see it anyway.

He looked down on the drawing, smiling at the way she'd drawn us, figures with giant bulbous heads and scrawny, stick- like bodies. It was adorable.

"How are they? Nick is six, and Kate's four now, right?"

I smiled, "Yes. I left them at the Weasley's. Nick seems to get on really well with Fred and George. They're almost exactly like you and James were - complete pranksters. Are you happy that your son is following in your footsteps?"

He grinned, looking a bit more like his old self. "Of course. And what about Kate?"

I sighed. "She misses you, and wants you to come home."

He sighed. Holding my hand, he showed me exactly how heartbroken he was that he couldn't grant his daughter that one wish.

I felt tears pricking my eyelids. Blinking them back, I took a deep breath and said, "Oh, and by the way, Remus is living with us now."

"Oh," he said, his tone slightly guarded. "He is?"

I nodded. "Yes, but of course, he was really reluctant in the beginning. But he soon accepted it. It's kind of tough to refuse anything when Kate and Nick are holding on to your legs, looking up at you and making puppy eyes. I think they got that also from you."

"Are you sure it's just me they got it from?" he teased.

We both laughed, and the dementors outside paused and turned towards us. The air immediately became much colder.

"Will I ever get to see them again?" he asked morosely.

"I'll bring a photo next time... And maybe I'll have one of them visit you instead of me when they are of age."

He sighed. "We'll see, then. It really hurts that I have to miss them growing up, though."

I couldn't say anything. He was right, it really was horrible. I hoped that Wormtail was suffering in hell, for all the pain he had, and still was causing us.

When it was time to go, I kissed him gently, and for a minute, it felt like nothing had changed. Then I felt a wave of despair, and the cell became colder, and I knew that things could never go back to normal.