Chapter 20

'Happy Birthday, Gracie,' everyone yelled as I brought out the cake. Everyone included my mother, brother, sister and their families. Our small dining room was filled with family and there wasn't much room to move.

'Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday, dear Gracie. Happy Birthday to you.' My family sang the familiar song off key and Grace silently contemplated her wish. When she finally decided, she took a deep breath and blew out the candles. The smoke curled in the air and the whole room smelled like candles. It was such a familiar smell, I couldn't help but smile.

Everyone clapped and I handed her the knife to cut the first piece. 'What'd you wish for, Grace?' Her cousin Katie asked, eyeing the sugar flowers on the cake.

Grace cut her eye up at me as I took the knife from her and continued cutting slices. 'You know I can't tell you, Katie, the wish wouldn't come true.'

I handed Katie a piece of cake, with a sugary flower, and passed the rest around the table. 'You're looking well, sis,' Alan said, taking a small piece of cake from the table. 'How's work been going?'

'It's going well, managed to sell a new book idea to my publisher. Now I just need to sit down and write the thing.'

'Oh, that's great,' Mum exclaimed. She puttered around the dining room, cleaning up stray plates and cups.

'Mum, I'll take care of all that,' I said needlessly. It didn't matter what I said, Mum would still be Mum and she would clean half the house if I let her.

'I know, but I'm doing it now…' she shrugged and carried the trash into the kitchen.

Stepping back from the table, I leaned against the wall and scanned the room. Everyone had cake, drinks were filled; I had nothing left to do here.

My brother and sister laughed while their kids raced around the house, hopefully running of a sugar high. I couldn't help but smile at the scene. My family might be crazy, but I loved them dearly.

Later that night, after everyone had left, Gracie and I sat on the couch, watching some ridiculous program on the telly. The lights flashed, characters giggled, and I rolled my eyes. 'Did you enjoy your birthday?' I ask, leaning back against the sofa. Grace tucked her legs underneath herself and rested her head against my arm. 'You got a lot of good gifts.'

'Yeah, I enjoyed it,' she said softly, and I knew something was up.

'What's wrong?' I brushed back her hair and kissed her forehead softly. 'What's wrong, Gracie.'

She was quiet and I didn't want to rush her. What could possibly be bothering her? 'I…,' she sighed, 'does he know when my birthday is?'

And there it was. Sirius. I hadn't heard from him since June when he left. Remus said he was doing well, somewhere far south of here. But would it kill him to send a letter? To at least acknowledge that it was his daughter's birthday.

Maybe I'm asking too much. He has only known about her for a few months. Not long at all really.

'Mum?'

Startled, I glanced down at my daughter. She's staring at me, and I realise I never answered her question. Which answer would hurt her less? Should I lie? Tell her that no, he doesn't know when her birthday is. It might score him some points. Or do I tell her that yes, he does know it's her birthday but couldn't write her a letter? Maybe I could embellish it a bit… explain that he probably can't write where he is. This might very well be the case.

'Yes, baby, he knows when your birthday is. But think about it, he might not be able to write, or it might take longer to get here. Remus said he was very far south of here. I'm sure we'll hear from him soon.'

'You think so,' she asked, looking hopeful for a fraction of a second.

I smiled. 'I'm sure. He's also not used to being a Dad yet. He's only known about you for a few months. We'll give him time to sort all this out.' I kissed her forehead again and she curled against my side.

I had no right to complain about him. It's only been a few months.

It's taken some time, but I'd put some thought into it and realized a few things. I know, what an idea. I dropped a bomb on him. He didn't expect to come back to a kid, and I didn't expect him to come back period. I had to give him some time to adjust. Harry was his only concern and now he had to add his own kid to the mix? Not at all what he was expecting or probably wanting.

Three weeks later, we were wandering Diagon Alley with Remus. Grace needed new books, potion ingredients and various other magical items. It was easier than last summer, and I was more accustomed to the sights and sounds of the Alley. But I couldn't stop looking into the windows of all the shops. Remus must have rolled his eyes at me a dozen times already, a small smile playing on his lips.

Grace and I were more comfortable than last year and I was able to figure out wizard money without Remus looking over my shoulder the entire time.

'Professor Lupin?' Grace asked as she quickly scanned around the Alley. Her eyes were wide and she was grinning .

'Grace, I'm not your professor any longer. You don't have to call me that,' Lupin said with a smile and asigh. He had been correcting her every time we had seen him over the summer. But it would take longer than a few months to get used to him not being her professor. If we ever got used to it.

'I know,' she replied, with barely a pause. 'Do you know who the new Defence teacher is going to be?'

He shrugged, 'no idea. From what I heard, Professor Dumbledore is having a difficult time finding someone to fill the spot.'

'Well yeah. The position's cursed…'

'Grace!' I scolded, glancing around us. Thankfully, no one was listening

'It's true,' she said under her breath, or tried to at least.

'Krista, she does have a point. I don't know if I would go so far to say "cursed", but there is a problem keeping someone in that position. I suppose you'll find out at the banquet. He did assign a book though, so that's positive.' Remus skimmed her shopping list and shrugged. 'We'll see.'

Grace crossed her arms and pouted. 'I don't want to wait that long.'

Rolling my eyes, I glanced over at my friend. We shared a smile before I looked down at her school list. 'Okay, Gracie. How about you go to the bookstore and get your books while Remus and I refill your potion ingredients? We'll meet back here in… twenty minutes?' I glanced at Remus, making sure this was okay with him. I'm sure he had better things to do today than accompany us shopping.

'Okay,' she said, reaching out to take the list.

I watched her head down the roadway toward the bookshop, slightly nervous about letting my little girl wander alone in a place I'd only been once. 'She's fine,' Remus said softly, taking my elbow and directing me toward the Apothecary. I glanced over my shoulder and caught sight of her. She walked up to the front of the store, but paused before going inside.

'Remus, what's on that wall?' She was staring at something, something on the side of the building. What could be there?

'A wanted poster,' he said softly, glancing quickly over his shoulder.

I stopped in the street and watched her shake her head before stepping into the bookstore. 'She's fine,' he said again, once again taking my arm.

'I know. I just worry about her around here alone. What if she says something about… him? What if she makes some comment or a quick word?'

'She won't.' He sounded so certain, so sure. I just hoped he was right.

I raised an eyebrow but let him lead me into the shop. Together, we purchased Grace's ingredients and headed back out into the street. We sat on a bench that had a direct view of the bookstore.

'Have you talked to him recently?' I tried to sound offhand, like I didn't care, but he knew I didn't. I never mastered that casual conversation. I was always awkward.

'No, not since just after your house in June. He's due to check in with Dumbledore in a few days, so I'll let you know what I hear. He went south, far south. At least, he was supposed to go that far south.'

We fell silent, waiting for Grace. I was giving her another five minutes before I went in there after her. 'Mum! Guess who I ran into in the bookstore!' Grace came out carrying a large sack of books and a friend trailing behind with two smiling adults behind them. 'Mum, this is Kaitlyn.'

Remus and I stood and I held out my hand. 'It's nice to meet you, Kaitlyn. And you must be her parents. I'm Krista Thomas and this is Remus Lupin.'

'Hi, Professor Lupin,' Kaitlyn said softly, her cheeks growing pink.

'I'm Christopher Carmichael and this is my wife Elizabeth,' Kaitlyn's dad said and we shook hands. 'It's nice to finally meet you. We've heard so much about you all from Kaitlyn.' I couldn't help but notice that they shifted slightly when they looked at Remus. Kaitlyn must have told them about him.

From what I understood, most of the magical world had a negative attitude toward werewolves. I could understand why, especially after looking up some information about them. But I had known Remus for years before finding out. I just couldn't see him as anything other than my dearest friend. No matter how much I thought about it.

Glancing down at Grace, I smile wryly and shook my head. 'I hope it was nothing too bad.'

'Oh no, not at all,' Christopher said with a smile.I instantly liked him and his wife. They seemed like such nice people!

'I understand you have another child at Hogwarts?' I wracked my brain, trying to remember everything Grace had told me about Kaitlyn, but I couldn't come up with much. They did have a son though, didn't they?

'Yes, Eddie. He's a fourth year, in Ravenclaw. He should be around here somewhere; probably at the Quidditch shop. Do you have any other children?'

I shook my head with a smile, 'no, it's just Grace. I would have wanted more, but… it just didn't work out that way.'

The six of us stood in awkward silence for a few moments until the Carmichael's announced they had to find their son. We said our goodbyes, shook hands and soon, the three of us made our way back down the street and toward the entrance.

'Well, only another week and you'll be off,' I said as we climbed into my car. 'Are you excited?'

'Yes and no. It's bound to be easier than last year, right?'

'Definitely. You already know your way around the school, you already have friends and know the teachers…'

'Except for the Defence teacher…'

'Except for one, and you're a year older.' I glanced at her in my rear-view mirror and caught her rolling her eyes.

Remus smiled, 'your mum is right, Grace. Second year is always better. I hated the beginning of my first year, but once I found friends like Mr Potter and Sirius, second year was much better.'

In the backseat, Grace nodded, looking reassured, but only slightly. Hopefully this year would be better. I didn't need to worry about Sirius finding her, nor her finding out about Sirius. We should have neither crises nor problems. Everything should be just fine for Grace this year.

AN: Thank you to: Senzathar, DietCokeIsMyLife, SARAHBEBE215, the_werewolf_gal, HPGinny77, Hi, LadyStrider17, AllenPitt and JocastaSilver for reviewing the previous chapter.

Once again, I apologize for the extremely long amount of time between chapters. The next one should be up soon, I hope! :) Thanks for reading and reviewing!