Disclaimer: See Prologue

He was livid. That was evident enough.

Harry wondered whether he would have the guts to continue beaming at Lupin when he looked like that. In fact, if Lupin's eyes blazed, his jaw clenched and he balled his fists at him, Harry's first instinct would have been to run as fast as possible in the opposite direction.

Yet the much younger Sirius in the photograph he held, stood his ground and smiled angelically.

Lupin still seethed, sending a glance in Sirius' direction that Harry would not much care for had it been aimed at him.

June 1979

Apparently, your best friend's wedding was one of the best places to pick up a girl. Not that the thought had crossed his mind. It would shut Lovett up though, no doubt about that.

"What about her?"

"Shut up, Sirius."

Sirius smirked. "You're the one looking at her. You got yourself into this mess."

Lupin rolled his eyes. "I'm not looking at anyone."

"No, of course you're not."

They fell into silence, allowing the noise and darkness in the corner of the reception hall flow over them. It soothed Lupin. So his life had been completely screwed up by the same woman repeatedly. That was just…bloody unfair, he supposed. These things always happened to him.

"Where's Electra?" he asked, smirking and raising an eyebrow.

Sirius folded his arms and leant against the wall. "She's at a family thing," he explained. "Why?"

Lupin shrugged. "Just wondered," he muttered. "You two seem joined at the hip these days so I thought perhaps she'd had you surgically removed."

Sirius clicked his tongue. "Remus, do I detect a hint of jealousy there?"

Lupin laughed. "Jealous? Of you and Electra Nott? No. I need sleep, and fun as being shagged to death by a pretty girl seems to be, I'll pass."

"What happened to Gemini?"

"I had her surgically removed."

Sirius smirked. "Funny. What really happened?"

Lupin sighed, exasperated. "How can I be with a girl who is a) three years younger than me and therefore still at school, b) who's life I will ruin just by being myself and c), the all important c), I've just messed up my life with Anna Lovett."

Lupin's nail biting was a sure sign of his worry. His eyes darted across the room, as though playing head tennis.

"Alright," snapped Sirius, dragging him by the sleeve of his jacket into the adjoining hall.

"Don't crumple it!" cried Lupin, mortified. "I haven't paid for it all yet!"

Sirius ignored him and slammed the door shut, flicking his wand and lighting the room. Taking a seat, he said in an overly polite tone, "Right, so would you mind please telling me what the fuck is going on?"

Lupin took a deep breath. "I am essentially a walking target for Mulciber right now. I'm worried for her as much as I am for me."

Sirius shook his head slowly. "Let her go."

Lupin's next words were a mere whisper. "I can't." Watching Sirius open and close his mouth, wanting to no doubt shout something at him but knowing he couldn't ruin today for the Potters, he hurriedly elaborated. "She won't let me let her go."

"What you need is a good woman."

Lupin's already large eyes, widened ridiculously. "A woman? I'm staying away from women for the rest of my life."

"You're not though are you? You still insist upon torturing yourself with Lovett. If you want to do that; fine. Don't expect me to keep picking you up and dusting you off because if you think I will, you can dream on."

The door slammed behind him and Lupin slumped into a seat, allowing himself five minutes to wallow before he resurfaced with a brilliant white smile on his face.

"I'm going through a divorce," she said, her lank hair and sunken in eyes slightly worried James who nodded with passion.

"That's um…encouraging." He opted for sarcasm and hoped she would laugh. She did not and he winced. "Hey, Sirius!"

If there was one person who could rescue this situation, it was Sirius Black and James was relieved to find his best friend at his side in seconds, his eyes narrowed and burned with anger but at least he smiled.

"This is Nancy. She's mid-way through a divorce."

God, this was awkward.

"Right," said Sirius, following James' example and nodding fervently. "Yes, that must be awful. I suppose you're lucky to be free of him."

James sighed. Why hadn't he thought of that?

Nancy nodded. "He screwed me around. I need a nice man, I think. I don't want to be celibate while he buggers off with some pretty, young thing."

Sirius smirked, catching James' eye and winking.

"Luckily for you, my dear-"

"Sirius, no. Please don't offer yourself up."

Nancy laughed. "I'd say it was the last thing on his mind."

"We," Sirius gestured to himself and James. "Happen to know a very nice man who is in desperate need of a good woman."

Unfortunately, the subject of this remark chose that moment to make his entrance.

"Remus! Over here!"

Lupin was so shocked to find Sirius in such high spirits that he blindly followed this order as Sirius led him like a lamb to the slaughter.

"This is Nancy. She's getting divorced."

Seeing where this was going far too late, Lupin politely shook her hand and attempted an excuse.

"Yes, well I have a lot of things that I should be doing and obviously James, I couldn't be happier for you and Lily and I offer my best but considering I'm not a very lucky person, don't hold your breath."

Nancy smiled at him, her bright blue eyes shining as she bit back laughter. Still though, he could make out the crow's feet and a few laughter lines around her mouth. She was much older than he. This woman was the anti-Anna.

"You can't leave now," protested Sirius. "You've only been here a few hours."

Lupin shot him a glare but managed a faint smile for the woman before him who was now wishing she could retreat hurriedly behind enemy lines and hide in the bathroom for at least ten minutes.

"Remus, you're free Friday nights, aren't you?"

"No. It's my Pottery class."

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Oh? I didn't know you were interested in clay."

Lupin fiddled with the buttons of his suit jacket. "Yeah, it's been an ambition for years."

"To make a vase?"

Lupin nodded. "Besides, if you're going through a divorce then, obviously you're a married woman, right?"

Nancy thought about this. "Some people could take that view, yes. Some people could say that because my soon to be ex-husband has been shagging another woman for the past three years, I am single."

All four of them fell into an awkward silence that there was seemingly no end to. Obviously, some time soon Lupin would be lying in bed and this would be over. He tried to comfort himself with this thought.

"In that case, I could probably miss one Pottery class."

"No, it's fine. If you're using that then stick to it." Her eyes met his and she hurriedly scrawled her address on a paper napkin. "If you mean it, then you mean it."

Lupin took a deep breath and pocketed the napkin.

"You took that well, Loop."

Lupin nodded.

"You look kind of…serene," James lied, watching his friend's nostrils flare.

"Good. Calm was the look I was going for because let me tell you, Sirius. I am this close to having an actual cardiac arrest."

CLICK!

"Get that away from me if you want to live."

"Oh, come on," coaxed Sirius. "Why not?"

James shrugged. "You do know she's a Muggle, right? She'll never know about your furry little problem. Who the hell is going to tell her?"

Lupin frowned. "What's she doing here?"

"She's a friend of Mrs. E."

His jaw dropped. "Lily's mother? How old is this woman? I don't even know her name and I've been emotionally blackmailed into taking her out on Friday."

James clicked his tongue. "We told you her name is Nancy. Don't you know how hot the older woman is these days? Look, sorry I've got to go but I want to know what happens next week."

And with that, James disappeared into the crowd, identified only when Lily's red hair and bright white dress were spotted.

"What's the worst that can happen?" asked Sirius. "You both need someone to pick you back up. Am I right or am I right?"

"I could go off you."