Sirius didn't think he'd ever been so nervous before in his life. It was strange; he never used to get nervous around women. But then again, that had been before Azkaban and he was still only a shell of the man that he'd once been and no matter how hard he tried, he didn't know how that carefree, cheerful man back. It was alright when he was with Remus and Harry, but when he was alone, his thoughts became depressing and the memories of Azkaban would start again. Sirius shook his head quickly; today was meant to be a good day. He had a date, when he could work up the courage to knock on the door. He fidgeted nervously with his collar and knocked on the door in front of him.

The door swung open after a few seconds to reveal a petite woman with shoulder length, curly brown hair, dark green eyes and tanned skin. "Sirius! Hi"

"Ready to go Alex?" Sirius asked. He held out his hand to help her down the step (never let it be said that the heir of the house of Black had no manners). He smiled and pulled Alex to the side, both of them spinning into the darkness.

The noise and smell hit Sirius as soon as they materialised into the city. The smell and sound of the sea washed over the both of them as Sirius led Alex along the seafront to the restaurant. He'd been organised enough to book a table, but not organised enough to apparate near the restaurant. What an idiot.

"Alex, why were you in the auror office? I thought you were a translater?"

"I am, but one of the aurors was working on a case that needed someone who could speak Gobbledegook. Aren't you rejoining auror training soon?"

"Yeah, it was the only thing that really, I was good at. Apart from being a menace at school. I want to feel like I'm doing something to help keep Harry safe"

Alex smiled sadly. She didn't say anything, but she didn't need to. It was obvious what she was thinking. Alex had been one of the lucky students to have found her sweetheart at school. Oliver Morgan and Alex had been dating from the beginning of sixth year, and had remained together after school. However, he was a muggleborn and he'd been brutally murdered by death eaters in 1981.

"Does he still look like James?"

"He's the spitting image of James. Apart from his eyes, he's got Lily's beautiful eyes. He looks so like them that I never know if I should smile because they left him behind, or cry because they're gone"

"A bit of both I think. James was your best friend, and losing someone that close to you…it takes time to heal"

Bugger. Sirius had inadvertently drawn her into a conversation about the loss of a loved one. That had not been his intent when they'd started talking about Harry. "Sorry, I didn't mean…"

Alex stopped and whirled to face Sirius, placing a hand on his cheek. "Sirius don't apologise. We all lost people in the war Sirius, but that doesn't mean that we can't talk about them. Yes, it was horrible, but the bad memories don't wipe away the good. I've had three years to heal, its only right that you get that too. You don't need to apologise for that"

Sirius smiled sadly. She was right, as per usual. He'd had his chance to heal stolen from him. Harry was a godsend, he couldn't deny that, but they were all healing – and it would take time. Though more pressingly, he'd ruined the tentatively optimistic mood by bringing up the war. "I've been a bit of a killjoy, haven't I?"

"A little bit"

"Sorry about that. I promise I won't be so depressing anymore"

OoOoOo

Sirius found that talking to Alex was no different from talking to Remus, once they got over the initial awkwardness that comes with not seeing each other for three years. They talked about school and Christmas, but most importantly to Sirius they talked about Harry. Alex had been friends with Lily, and eventually James, at school and she obviously wanted to know if he was still as alike to James as he had been as a baby.

"Did Harry like the griffin?" Alex asked pausing in eating her slice of cherry cheesecake. Sirius had to say, this date had gone swimmingly.

"When he realised what it was it went down a treat" Sirius answered, already spearing his cheesecake with his fork. It was true, they'd had to explain what all the magical, moving animals were, but once Harry understood what they were he'd loved them.

Alex smiled, "What else did you get him?"

Sirius laughed, "What didn't I get him seems a more accurate question. We got him dragons, and horses and a magical puzzle. Oh, and a dog, stag and wolf. I wanted to get him a broomstick, but Remus told me to wait for his birthday"

"Good idea that, or you'll run out of things to buy for him"

"That was Remus' logic too, but he forgets that I was the most creative marauder" Sirius answered happily. Talking to Alex was so brilliant because he didn't have to try and hide who he'd been at school. She already knew the best and worst of him.

Alex raised her eyebrows "So was that you that came up with that idiotic idea to sabotage our Confusing & Befuddlement draught? Lily thought she was a mermaid until we forcibly took her to the hospital wing"

Sirius winced. That prank was meant to get Snape, but Lily had got in the way and it had affected her instead. James had nearly been in tears by the end of the day at the thought that he'd hurt Lily. "It was meant to get Snape, Lily just…got in the way. But yes, it was my idea" Sirius finished awkwardly.

"So your plan was to make Snape think he was a mermaid? That would have been brilliant" Alex answered, trying to restrain her laughter. Sirius had to admit that it had been one of the best pranks he'd come up with; it just didn't work. Sirius laughed along with Alex as the implications of Snape thinking he was a mermaid hit them both. Sirius paid the bill and led Alex outside.

OoOoOo

"I had a really good time tonight Sirius" Alex said. They'd apparated back to her house, and were currently stood outside the front door. Alex hadn't let go of his hand, and Sirius had to admit that he quite liked it.

"Me too Alex, we'll have to do it again" The words had left Sirius' mouth before he'd grasped the true meaning of what he'd actually said. Tonight had been good, and he would like to do it again, but for the whole night part of his mind had been thinking of Harry, and how much he didn't want to leave him again. He had a dilemma to face now, and he could only face it when he was alone.

"Is your house connected to the floo network?"

"It is, but there are a lot of defences on it. Obviously, I can't tell you where the house is, but a letter should get to me, if you put my name on it obviously"

Alex didn't exactly look thrilled at that piece of information, but she accepted it with a small smile. Sirius couldn't exactly do anything to change that, Dumbledore had only let them take Harry if they would put up absurd numbers of defensive spells and he wasn't exactly going to argue with that. He would haave done anything for him, including putting up with the Dursleys if that's what it took.

"Maybe I'll send a patronus"

"That's a good idea. I should probably go, I have to be up early tomorrow if I want to spend any time with Harry" Sirius leaned forwards and kissed her quickly on the lips, before stepping back.

"Bye Sirius. I'll see you at the auror office" She smiled and unlocked the door. Sirius raised his hand in farewell and watched as she stepped inside the door. That was a habit he'd picked up during the war, ensuring the safety of friends. He didn't move until she closed the door, unlike everyone else, he'd never had a chance to adjust the peace. For his whole free life the world that he knew had been at war, and he needed a chance to get used to the new found peace.

AN: Only one more chapter left. Still, I have the first few chapters of 'The last years of peace' written and I'll upload the first soon. I really hope you lovely readers will check it out :D

About this chapter though, I really hope nobody dislikes Alex. Anyway, please review