Authors Note: Thanks as usual to fortheloveoftea for the amazing beta. Now go to her profile and check out "Pride, Prejudice, Potions and Potter".

Disclaimer: The story is mine, the characters are not... unfortunately... :-)


Chapter 3.

'Remus!' Lily smiled before leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. 'Don't you clean up well!' She laughed.

Remus grinned.

'You look wonderful Lily.' And she did. With a shock of red curls that trailed down her back and a pale face with a sprinkle of freckles along her nose, Lily Evans would often turn heads. She was dressed in the finest fashions in a dress with a fitted bodice and long full skirt, coloured an emerald green that matched her eyes.

'Mr. Gracewood, Mrs. Gracewood, this is Mr. Remus Lupin, he is a friend of James and I. I believe you knew his father, Lord John Lupin?' Lily spoke to the husband and wife.

'Ah! Of course! Terribly sad to hear of his death. I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times. He was a true gentleman.' Mr. Gracewood spoke as he shook Remus' hand.

'Thank you for your kind words. It is very much appreciated.' Remus replied, feeling suddenly very sombre.

After a brief conversation involving the wedding and the such Lily made her excuses to leave.

'Would you excuse us please? Remus has been wanting to talk with James all day.' Lily asked her company and grabbed Remus by the arm, dragging him over to a seat by the window.

'Sit.' She ordered him, her hands on her hips, a smirk on her lips.

He laughed lightly at her mothering.

'Yes madam!' He smiled and placed his cane by the wall beside before he sat down.

Lily sat beside him and turned to him. 'Firstly, thank you so much for coming.'

She grabbed his hand and squeezed. 'I know life hasn't been easy the past few weeks.'

Remus nodded grimly. 'You know I wouldn't have missed this. It's a big day for you.'

Lily smiled. 'You really are too good Remus.'

'Secondly, what was Aunt Jane talking to you about? Introducing you to Emma no doubt?' Lily smiled slyly.

'I had a brief conversation with Aunt Jane and an even briefer one with Emma. She appears to be a very proper young woman but she is entirely too quiet. It is an effort to get her to rope two words together.'

'I'd watch your back if I were you Remus, Aunt Jane has her eye on you. You would be a perfect gentleman to court her daughter.' Lily warned.

Remus shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat. This was a problem area with him before. A moment passed.

'I don't suppose it would be any use telling her that I'm not interested would it?' Remus answered a trace of humour in his voice, hoping to cover up his initial unease at the comment.

'You obviously don't know Aunt Jane. Anyway I just wanted to warn you. And Finally...' Lily stood up and gave Remus a small rectangular black box with a white ribbon tied carefully in a bow.

'Happy Birthday Remus.' Lily kissed him once more on the cheek.

Remus smiled in shock. 'Thank you Lily, you really shouldn't have...'

'Well open it up!' she laughed impatiently.

Remus tugged on the ribbon gently and set it on the seat beside him. He opened the box slowly, still a little shocked at the gesture, inside was a beautiful red quill. Remus' smile grew.

'Why thank you Lily, really...'


Sirius lay slouched in his seat, his head leaning upon his hand, which in turn was leaning on the arm of the chair, when a mop of black hair came into his line of vision. James was heading straight for him.

'Sirius Black! Get up!' James called.

'I don't suppose there is any point hiding now that you've seen me.' Sirius asked lazily.

James stood in front of him and handed him a glass of cognac.

'Cheers.' James smiled as he clinked his glass against Sirius. Sirius only murmured in acknowledgement.

'Come on, everyone is asking to hear you play on our new pianoforte.'

Sirius sighed. 'Do I look like a performing dog? I feel like I am an object of abject entertainment. Really James, do you expect this of all your friends?'

'Don't be so dramatic Sirius. People want to revel in the awe that is you. Surely your egotistical side feeds on their admiration?'

Sirius stood up. 'Alright but I'm not doing this to stroke my ego. I just want you off my back.' He answered moodily.

James led Sirius out to the corner of the ballroom that held the brand new shiny black pianoforte. A crowd began to gather around, while Sirius took his seat in front of the piano, and began to lovingly stroke the piano keys lightly, getting to know them before playing. James found his bride-to-be and brought both her and Remus over to the piano. A hush descended upon the ballroom as the crowd waited with abated breath in anticipation of the pianist's performance.

Sirius began to play, his fingers moving across the ivory and ebony keys in a fluid motion of lyrical notes at a frantic but upbeat pace, his ability to keep the piece as an uninterrupted series of notes once again cemented his place amongst the other virtuoso's of the world. Once he finished his performance the ballroom erupted into an ocean of applause and praise. Sirius stood from the piano and bowed his head in appreciation, then proceeded to make a quick escape from the room.

James followed him up to his bedroom.

'Well done old friend.' James laughed. 'You were marvellous.'

'Thanks.' Was his only reply.

James knew his friend was in a rather sombre mood and also knew Sirius well enough that he should let him be. Sirius wouldn't appreciate James butting into his private life, he would come to him in his own time. If his melancholy was not resolved in the next few days James would do his bit to get his friend out of his subdued mood. Usually a couple of drinks, a few cigars and a game of cards would loosen Sirius tongue.

'I should get back. I seem to have neglected to talk to my fiancée also some if not most of my friends for which I feel dreadful!' James said cheerily and left Sirius to his thoughts.


The previous comments about Sirius' father had begun to plague him. All he had done as he brooded in that small room at the back of the ballroom was think about his previous life. Then James caught him at a bad moment and now all he wanted was the peace and quiet of his room.

He had not heard from nor seen his father in over three years. That wasn't what bothered Sirius though. Truth be told he couldn't care less if he ever saw him again, the cruel hearted tyrant that his father was. What troubled him was the constant need to please his father, the constant need for his father's approval. He knew that the nonchalance he showed in relation to his father was only an act, and at times he felt like a child as he vied for his father's approval. Something the old man would get great pleasure from no doubt.

So with those thoughts he sat at his desk and stared out the window, a host of various melodies filling his head, tunes playing out the story of his life. Cheerful and fun, mournful and morbid, some twisted and cut like thorns, some quiet and repetitive. Regardless if the tunes were beautiful and brilliantly composed or just chords of chaos and discord, they were his life story and he loved each and every one of them.


Lily cheered along with the rest of the crowd as Sirius finished playing and nudged Remus with her elbow so he could follow her back to where they were sitting originally.

'That is Sirius Black. He is considered the most talented young maestro of our times. He's a resident here in the Potter household. Lord and Lady Potter are his patrons, they moved him here three years ago. A genius on any instrument really but especially the piano, but this he knows already of course!'

'I was talking with him briefly earlier on.' Was Remus' only reply.

'Well what did you think of him?'

'He seemed a little strange. However I can see he is highly talented.'

'He is a little strange. He and James are best friends so I guess he isn't that bad.' Lily smiled.

'God knows what you think of me so?' Remus chuckled.


James watched Lily and Remus as they sat again by the window laughing. Many a man would have found cause for jealousy at the scene of their young love and another in such high spirits but for two reasons James would never feel this way.

The first reason being that he trusted both Lily and Remus. He was a good judge of character and he deemed both of them one hundred percent trustworthy. The second being that it was not in his nature to be jealous of others and he found himself happy at his fiancée and his friend's happiness.

So with a smile on his face James Potter went to the window to join in their conversation. Remus stood up at his approach to shake his hand, however James grabbed Remus at the shoulder and hugged the man. Both men laughed before letting go.

'Remus, please forgive my absence all day!' James pleaded with a smile. Remus brushed away the apology.

'Don't even worry about it James. I've been introduced to all and sundry!'

'Oh I am sorry. Mother tends to take new guests under her wing to show them off!' James smiled and turned to Lily.

'Lily, you look marvellous.' He took her hand and kissed her lightly.

'Flattery will get you everywhere.' She answered sarcastically but the faint blush that tinted her cheeks would argue against her initial annoyance.

James grinned and took her hand. 'Are you enjoying our party my love?'

'Yes. I was particularly enjoying it when we went talking to the guests together... as a couple. Oh wait!' she exclaimed and continued. 'We've yet to do that because you've been off gallivanting with Sirius!' Lily spoke, removing her hand from James' and placing it on her hip.

'Well I suppose I should begin to show you off...' He answered a trace of boredom in his voice.

Lily sighed. 'You enthusiasm is too much.'

'Oh love its nothing to do with showing you off but everything to do with the repetitive conversations we are going to have. Can't we just send a polite note to everyone with the frequently asked questions and answers on it to save us the hassle?'

Lily giggled a little. 'If only it could be that easy.'

Remus coughed gently to garner the attention of the couple and with a smile he spoke;

'Lily, James, as always it has been a great pleasure but I must be off. I have some business to attend to regarding my father's estate. Enjoy your day and I will certainly see you at the wedding.'

'Oh Remus you're going so soon? Please stay a while more if you can spare it!' Lily begged.

'If I could I would certainly stay much longer but Lawyers are not a breed known for their patience and I've an appointment to keep with one.' He grinned.

'Ah! Of course. Far be it from us to keep you from such an entertaining evening.' James said drolly.

Remus nodded in agreement. 'Yes it should be eventful!' Sarcasm dripping from every word.

'I must say goodbye to your parents before I go. I will see you soon.' He hugged Lily and shook James' hand.

'Goodbye my friends.' He smiled and quietly (as was his way) he left the ballroom, a slow and steady click upon the marble floor that signalled his departure.


Read and Review if you would so please...

Also hopefully chapter 4 will be up soon...