Another long one, I got super inspired today to write this, I was going to wait to post it after the new year, but decided against it, I was too excited. Hope you all enjoy!

Thank you again to all that are following this story and who have commented!

Have a happy new year!

Sirius paced back and forth as the sun went down. He scratched at his beard, ready to be rid of it. He was also certain he had lice and he grimaced, hugging the blanket tighter around him and stepping closer to the fireplace. He began pacing again, closer to the fire this time, grunting in frustration. Her heard laughing and shouting outside and saw children from the school running around the perimeter of the Shack, daring each other to get closer to the "haunted" building. He smiled. He and his friends had started that rumor back when they were in school, to cover up Remus's transformations. He leaned back against the wall. Times had been simpler then. They had felt invincible, untouchable, geniuses in their own right. Nothing seemed like it could go wrong. Now look at it. Everything had gone to shit, and he was responsible for it, regardless of what Lily and Remus and Dumbledore said, the facts were the facts. He sighed and watched the room darken as the sounds of children who were carefree and happy went about their evening.

No one returned for a few days. Remus only brought more food and stayed a while each time before leaving again, having no news to report. He didn't even know what day it was. 10 days had passed when there was a soft pop from downstairs. Expecting to see Remus again, he slowly walked down and saw Lily standing there, instead. She looked up and smiled at him and met him halfway up the stairs and hugged him tight, wrinkling her nose.

"Damn, you smell." She had humor in her eyes, however he stepped back, trying to keep his distance so she didn't get the lice he was certain he had. "I was only joking, Sirius–"

"I know– it's just– pretty sure I have lice, so…." He grimaced at her.

"Oh," was her response and she stepped back as well, making him smile. "I think…I think that you should come home now. I know–I know that Remus thinks we should keep waiting, but Christmas is almost here. You should be with your family. Remus will just have to accept that. The ministry thinks you are in France for some reason anyway, hiding out. It was in the paper this morning. Of course Remus thinks that it is a diversion tactic to rout you out of hiding, but we want you home. So…. let's go." She took his hand, but he pulled away and went back upstairs. He put out the fire and grabbed the blanket. He remembered this from Godric's Hollow he stuffed it back into the suitcase then took Lily's hand again. She gripped his hand tighter and turned, taking them back to the house in Hampton Gardens.

They disapparated into the kitchen, where Remus was sitting with Harry at the table, feeding him lunch. He looked up and started, but then smiled and shook his head. He handed Harry his refilled sippy and then stood up and extended his hand to his friend and they gripped each other into a hug, Remus also wrinkling his nose.

"Mate, go take a shower, an extra long one, at that." he smiled and clapped him on the back looking at Lily. Sirius left the kitchen and went straight to the bathroom in Lily's room, because he knew she would have hair products, and flicked on the light. He looked at his reflection and curled his lip. He scratched at his beard and tugged at his overly long hair. He hadn't had it cut in almost 2 years, but it had to go, as soon as he got rid of the lice. He stripped down and waved his wand at the clothes and made them disappear. He stepped into the hot shower and groaned, letting the water run down his body. He scrubbed everything twice and vigorously scrubbed his hair, hoping the lice would wash away, but knowing he would need something stronger than regular shampoo. As if on cue, there was a knock at the door and Remus came in.

"I brought you some stuff. A razor to shave and some stuff for lice, Lily went to the muggle store for it. Says it should help…" Sirius opened the curtain and reached for it, dripping water all over the floor. He poured the shampoo over his head and scrubbed and then poured it over his entire body, scrubbing everywhere there was hair, then repeating with conditioning cream that he found. He stepped out as soon as he was certain he didn't feel all creepy crawly any more and dried off, wrapping the towel around his waist. He grabbed the razor and cream and shaved his face clean. Next, he opened drawers, finding scissors and started hacking at his hair. There was a chuckle behind him and he looked over his shoulder's reflection. Lily was standing in the doorway, watching him butcher his hair.

"Give me those and sit down on the toilet." He did as he was asked and she took the scissors and a comb and started to cut his hair. He winced as she went through the knots in his hair, tugging hard. When she was done, she waved her wand at the hair covering the floor and sink. He ran his fingers through the much shorter locks. His bangs still falling into his eyes. It was the style he wore in school, but a little shorter.

"Thanks, it feels a lot better. Long time coming." He stood and turned around, looking down at Lily, who immediately took a step back, blinking. She cleared her throat and looked him in the eye, avoiding looking at the bare chest in front of her nose.

"I'll let you get dressed, I think Remus left you some clothes on the bed." She turned and walked back into the bedroom and grabbed the clothes from the edge and handed them to him then she left and Sirius only then realized that he had been very much naked the whole time she was cutting his hair with only a towel on. He felt his face redden a little before he shook it off and dressed quickly. Remus must have gotten clothes from his old flat. He had lost weight since he had been gone and the clothes were loose. He ran his fingers through his short hair again and then walked into the bedroom, this time noticing a small cat laying on the bed. She yawned and stretched and walked over to him and rubbed herself against him. He scratched her behind her ears and then made his way downstairs, looking around at the living room.

He noticed the pictures on the mantle, pictures of Lily and James and Harry, Lily and James on their wedding day, Sirius and Remus smiling at the camera and waving, Peter was missing from the photo, having deserted it. He looked further and saw a wand setting on the mantle as well, James wand, the mahogany glinting in the sunlight shining on it. He reached out to it, the wand feeling cold and dead under his fingers, he withdrew his hand and saw his broom in the corner. They must have gone back and collected things from Godric's Hollow. He heard giggles from the yard and looked out, he saw Lily and Harry outside in the snow with Remus sitting in a chair beside a magical fire. He opened the door and went to sit next to him.

"You look a lot better, nice hair." Remus gestured to his head. He self consciously ran a hand through it, breathing out, his breath misting into the air. He watched it rise and disappear. Then he looked over at Lily, who was picking up handfuls of snow and letting it float down around Harry.

"How–how is she? She seems…. A little better." Harry was giggling and was trying to catch the snow as it fell.

"She is a little better. It will take time, for all of us. Life doesn't just go back to normal after something like this. Christmas is in 2 days, I don't think she wants to think about it, but she wanted you here to make it seem normal. Like last Christmas when we were all together. She wants family around her. We all want family around us right now." They watched Harry and Lily play in the snow.

Christmas, 1982

Christmas morning was sharp and cold and sunny. Lily lay in bed early in the morning, listening to the morning birds ring in the holiday. She heard Harry start to stir, but still she didn't move. She burrowed deeper into the blankets, the kitten, which she had named Miri, came up and snuggled into the side of her head, purring loudly.

"Good morning, kitty, sleep well?" She reached out and scratched the kitten behind her ears. "I suppose I could get up, you know. Harry is looking rather expectant. Remus will be here for dinner. Lots to do, Miri." She groaned as she slipped out of bed and stretched. She walked over to Harry and kissed the top of his head, walking into the bathroom and grabbing her robe after relieving herself. She swooped Harry into her arms and twirled him around, making him giggle.

"Good morning baby boy! Happy Christmas, sweetheart." She hugged him close and then changed him. They went downstairs and she made a small gasp. There was a tree in the corner of the living room, lit up and decorated with gold and silver balls, red berries speckled the branches and a dusting of magical snow covered the evergreen. It was beautiful. She set Harry down as Sirius walked in from the kitchen, wearing blue jeans and a blue button down shirt and barefoot. Harry walked over to the tree.

"Did you do this, Sirius? It looks beautiful!"

"Remus got the tree and helped me decorate it last night after you went to bed. I'm glad you like it." He walked over and embraced her. "We thought it would be nice to have a tree, this year. Happy Christmas, Lils." he walked over and picked Harry up and tossed the giggling child up into the air and caught him again. He put him back down and showed him the packages under the tree. Harry started ripping at the paper and unwrapped little toys as Sirius sat down and patted the cushion next to him. Lily sat next to him and watched her son.

"I know some of them are toys he already owns, but every kid needs something to open on Christmas morning." He paused as he cleared his throat. "He's too young to understand what happened to him. Best to give him good memories." Harry was standing up and toddled over to the couch, he had learned to walk over the summer, and was still not very good at it.

"Mumms, ook!" He held up a book, which Lily took from him and he climbed up in between them and sat. "weed, peas." It was a muggle book she had gotten about Father Christmas. She read him the book while Sirius looked on, his arm across the back of the couch as he leaned in. Harry pointed at a little black haired boy tucked in bed and said, "MEEE!" very excited about it.

"Yes, kid, that could totally be you in a few years!" Sirius said, ruffling his hair. "Father Christmas only comes to give gifts to good little boys." Harry gave him a determined look.

"'Mm good. A'wes good." he looked up, expecting Sirius to agree with him.

"Yes, yes you are, Harry. A very good little boy." Harry turned the pages, more interested in the pictures than the actual story. He pointed at the picture of the family together by the tree.

"Wha is daddy, mumms?" He looked expectantly up at his mother. Sirius looked to Lily as well. This wasn't the first time he had asked where his dad was. The past year had been hard on all of them and the answer Harry wanted was one they could not give him. The true answer was never one Harry could actually understand. She looked at the picture of the happy family on Christmas and tears stung her eyes.

"Daddy…. Daddy isn't here… anymore, Harry. He isn't…. coming back." Lily said haltingly.

"Why?" His question was so innocent, but Lily found she wasn't able to answer. Sirius took over with an answer.

"Your dad, he had to go away. He had to leave you and mummy, but I'm your godfather. It means that because your dad can't come home anymore, he wanted me to be here for you." Harry looked back at the picture, and Sirius got up and grabbed a picture from the mantle, one of the three of them at Harry's first birthday.

"Daddy!" Harry exclaimed as he looked at the picture. "Daddy…." he thought for a moment then looked at Sirius. "Siwus daddy now?" he pointed at Sirius's chest. This just became really confusing to explain. He was only going to ask more questions as he was 2 and starting to understand the world around him.

"Kinda…." he looked at Lily and she shook her head and closed the book.

"Harry, why don't we get some breakfast." She picked him up and placed him on the floor and held out her hand for him to take. He did and walked with her to the kitchen. Sirius placed the picture back on the mantle. Maybe next year, he would understand better.

Lily and Sirius cleaned the dishes from breakfast and had just started preparing for Christmas dinner when there was a knock at the door. Sirius came around the corner, drying his hands on a towel. His hand on his wand.

"Muggles…. What do they want?" Sirius whispered as he peeked around the door, stashing his wand in his back pocket as he opened the door. Lily walked towards the door as well.

"Good afternoon! Happy Christmas!" a young woman a handful of years older than themselves stood with a little girl on her hip with bushy brown hair and kind eyes, her daughter looked quite like her, honestly, and a man slightly older still with thinning brown hair, stood holding a plate of Christmas cookies. "We wanted to come and welcome you again to the neighborhood. Christmas is tough after a move, so we wanted to bring you something to help settle you in." She looked at Lily who was directly behind Sirius.

"Thank you, Mrs. Granger. How kind of you." She smiled and Sirius stepped back so that she could greet the woman at the door properly. "And this must be little Hermione," she smiled at the little girl who smiled and said "hello" very cheerfully. "Would you like to come in? I could make a pot of tea?" Sirius shot a quick look at Lily, who ignored him, his hand in his back pocket around his wand. "You must be Mr. Granger, it's so nice to meet you." The tall wispy man smiled and offered his hand.

"You can call me Robert. My wife Nancy and I would love a spot of tea." He reached his hand out to Sirius who shook his it, seeing the look Lily shot at him, and introduced himself.

"Sirius," he shook Robert's hand and then Nancy's, who gave him a peculiar look before she set her daughter down and stepped into the house. Harry had come in then and smiled at the little girl who ran over to him and they both retreated into the living room to play with Harry's toys, babbling in toddler as they went.

"I met Nancy at the grocery a while back, she lives just down the block." Lily informed Sirius, who was staring at her expectantly as she accepted the cookies proffered and made her way into the kitchen again. "Please, make yourselves comfortable, the coat rack is just behind the door, there." Sirius followed her into the kitchen as the two strangers removed their coats and made their way into the living room where the kids were exclaiming excitedly.

"Lily… what?" he looked at her questioningly and Lily whispered back.

"It's fine, Sirius. They don't know anything. They are just friendly neighbors. Now please be normal." She looked at him imploringly as she set the kettle on the stove and started the burner. She walked back into the living room seeing Harry and Hermione chatting away happily.

"How was your morning?" She cheerfully asked, going to the fireplace and inconspicuously moving James's wand behind the photographs and whispered a spell to freeze said photographs, pretending to straighten them. She turned back to them.

"Oh fine, fine. You have done a lovely job with the place, Lily. The Carrigan's left rather suddenly last year, but they never did much with it. It is good to see it occupied with such a lovely young family." She smiled at them, then looked at the children and Harry laughed at something her daughter said.

"No no no!" he exclaimed. "Hip-gwiff," he said as she was holding a stuffed hippogriff in her hands, chuckling at whatever she had called it before. Luckily at that moment, the kettle went off in the kitchen and Lily went to prepare the pot of tea, telling Sirius to bring the cookies to the coffee table as she followed him into the living room with the teapot and cups.

"Where did the Carrigan's go?" Sirius asked, actually quite curious about the previous home owners. Robert replied.

"Something about moving to Australia, they were retired and wished to move somewhere warmer. Good to have some more young people in the neighborhood. What is it that you both do?" Lily stilled and Sirius spoke.

"Between jobs, really, at the moment. I just finished university for…" He paused for the briefest of moments, wracking his brain for a muggle job. "Accounting. I've been looking for work in the area. Hopefully after the new year. Lily stays home with Harry." He poured the tea and handed the cups to each in turn, widening his eyes slightly at Lily as he handed her her cup.

"Wise choice, that is! With computers being more and more common in the office, we will need your expertise on how to use them in accounting for upstart businesses. Where is it you went to school, Sirius?" Sirius inwardly winced at the question, but Lily came to his aid.

"The University of North London, actually."

"That is a terrific school, congratulations, young man!" Crisis averted.

"What do you do, Robert." He asked politely.

My wife and I are Dentists. We just opened up our practice a few years ago." Sirius made a mental note to find out what a dentist was, and an accountant for that matter. They sipped their tea. As the conversation turned to sports, which Sirius actually knew a little bit about since the television broadcasts football, he was able to talk knowledgeably. Lily and Nancy talked pleasantly for awhile about the weather. Once the tea was finished, the Grangers got up to leave, Hermione reluctantly so. As they walked them to the door, Robert shook Sirius's hand again and said,

"Thank you for having us on Christmas. It was a pleasure to meet you and your wife and son. We will have to get together and catch a football game." He reached to shake Lily's hand as well and Nancy said her goodbyes. Sirius was shocked at his words and just smiled in return, he said nothing as Lily closed the door behind them with a wave.

"Well, that was pleasant, Mr. Accountant fresh from University. Do you even know what an accountant does?" She was teasing him, and he just turned to look at her.

"They think we're married, Lil. I swear Nancy recognized me as well." he saw her face drop a little. But then she laughed, light and infectious and Sirius couldn't help but smile. She laughed so rarely.

"I guess that would be the conclusion they would come to, yes. I'm going to see Nancy again soon for coffee. I will… straighten that out with her. They are just such nice people. We don't talk to anyone outside of each other and Remus and Harry, who is 2. Besides, they are muggles, they don't know who you are. You could be anyone to them. It's fine. Maybe…. Maybe we should get regular jobs."

"Regular jobs? Like muggle jobs? How the hell are we supposed to get muggle jobs? I for one know nothing about muggles. I don't even know what an accountant is. I heard it on the telly!" He looked at her, frustrated, but he understood. They had both been in hiding for over 2 years. They didn't worry about money, but being at home all day doing the same things, it was boring.

"I'm sure we can figure out exactly what accountants do, Sirius." She smiled and patted his chest as she walked by, heading to the living room, checking on Harry, then went back to her turkey that she was marinating and shoved it into the oven. She set the timer on the counter and smiled at Sirius again. "It can't be all that hard. I think it has something to do with finances or something. The library will have books on it. What time is Remus stopping by? I feel like we haven't seen him in forever. Also, I haven't heard from Petunia, so I do not think she will be coming." He saw her crestfallen face as she spoke about her estranged sister. And wrapped an arm around her shoulders and planted a kiss on the crown of her head.

"Good riddance then and he said around 5." She watched him walk away before turning to stare at the falling snow outside.

"I was just hoping it would be different this year." She whispered to herself and sighed, following Sirius into the living room to watch the holiday special parade.

Remus arrived a little before 5 in the evening, not bother to knock but calling a hello as he entered through the back door. He kicked off his boots and walked to the coat rack and shook his cloak free of the falling snow. He stooped to grab Harry into a hug, kissing the top of his head. He was pale. The full moon was due in the next couple of days. He greeted everyone with a soft happy Christmas and placed a pie on the counter that he had picked up from the local grocery the day before. He had just taken a seat on the couch, his body sore, when there was a knock at the door. He looked up at the other two and Sirius and Lily looked at each other, slightly panicked. Who could it be now? Sirius walked to the door, hand on his wand again as he opened it and blinked.

"Can I help you?" He stared out at a tall thin woman with blond hair and a little boy, who was quite round, holding her hand and then to a rather large man with an even bigger mustache, his black hair shining with gel. He blinked again, waiting for an answer. The woman spoke.

"We are here to see Lily." She looked at him and her lip curled as she looked down at his bare feet and blue jeans. She was impeccably dressed in a long trench coat and purple satin dress, fur lined gloves on her thin fingers. Her husband was dressed similarly smart as was the little boy, who just stared up at him in awe. He ran a hand through his hair, he would need Lily to cut it again, and this time the man harumphed.

"Well are you going to invite us in, boy?" he grumped at him. Sirius immediately took umbrage to this and his back stiffened. He was about to speak when the woman in front of him gave a little gasp.

"Lily?" she asked. Sirius looked behind him to see Lily standing in her apron and oven mitts, stock still and staring at the woman at the door. She walked forward, slowly, pulling off the mitts and shoving them at Sirius, who was still putting two and two together and Lily embraced the woman. This must be Petunia! He thought. The two women were crying now and Remus had gotten up and was standing in the doorway to the entranceway, looking as baffled as Sirius was. Her husband looked uncomfortable. Grumbling about being kept out in the cold on their doorstep like hobos. Harry had come to investigate as well and smiled at the little boy in the doorway and waved.

Lily and Petunia finally separated and made their way into the living room, still sniffling, as the husband, Vernon, entered unceremoniously into the house and took off his jacket and threw it at Sirius, who let it drop to the floor, glaring at the large man, before picking it up and hanging it on the coat rack. The little boy came in much like his father, only he handed his coat to Sirius and said thank you. Which was significantly better. Sirius followed them in, curling his lip at the trail of snow that he stepped in from Vernon's shoes. How rude, he thought to himself and looked up to Remus.

"We didn't think that they were actually going to come. They didn't reply to Lily's letter." He explained to the bewildered man in front of him. Remus shrugged. Too tired and sore to do much of anything but follow the troop of newcomers into the sitting room. He smiled amiably and offered his hand to Vernon.

"Remus Lupin," he introduced himself. The man stared at his hand in disgust.

"Are you one of them? A freak?" he blustered and Petunia shushed him but he ignored her. "I don't shake hands with your kind, I can only assume by your unusual get up that you are one of them." Remus just smiled, and Sirius saw the look in his eyes.

"I'm not sure what you mean by 'one of them'. I don't consider myself to be a freak" he enunciated this word heavily, "in any way. However, I am a wizard, if that is what you mean." He smiled kindly again, which only seemed to upset the man even more. Sirius sniggered and Lily threw him a look.

"Dudley, get away from that, do not touch it!" The large man yelled at his son, who was about to play with the stuffed hippogriff that Harry had offered him.

"It's just a toy, Vernon. Now sit down and hush." Petunia's eyes flashed at her husband, who did as he was told, but sat on the edge of the couch as if he would get mites. Petunia turned back to her sister. "I am sorry about what happened. I received a letter from— from that man, Dumbledore, after- after it happened." She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts and then changed the subject. "Do you need help in the kitchen?"

"Sure, Tuney. I just took the turkey out…." She smiled warmly at her sister as they made their way into the kitchen, leaving the men staring at each other. Vernon avoiding eye contact for the most part, settling it on the television, where the two boys were sitting side by side, watching some Christmas movie, playing with Harry's toys. Dudley's eyes lit up when Harry showed him the golden snitch he had received. He turned around to his father and demanded.

"Daddy, I want one too!" Vernon's eyes bulged at the sight of the flying ball, lost for words, his face turning an awful puce color. Remus decided it was time to move away from Harry's toys, and placed the snitch back in its golden box.

"Harry, why don't you take your cousin to get a treat from the kitchen?" As the boys walked away, Dudley moving quickly at the promise that he would get a sweet, Remus turned to Vernon.

"How has your Christmas been, Vernon?" He asked politely, hoping to pull the man into polite conversation. "Hopefully the drive wasn't too terrible."

"It was fine, up til now." Vernon grunted, worried about what food his child would be fed. He didn't intend on eating, but it smelled very good. Sirius and Remus took a seat in the chairs and waited in pained silence. When Vernon said nothing else, Sirius addressed Remus instead, excluding the rude man from the conversation, but he barely had a word out when Lily called that dinner was ready. They sat down at the table together and Lily and Petunia started serving. Lily turned to Vernon.

"How is work, Vernon? I'm sorry, I don't remember what it is that you do."

"I sell drills," he replied gruffly.

"And is that terribly hard? Selling drills? What do muggles use drills for?" Sirius inquired and was ignored and Vernon asked his wife to pass the brussels sprouts. Sirius turned to Remus at that point and addressed him instead.

"You know, Remus, I was thinking about getting a muggle job. I was thinking about becoming an accountant, you know. Give me something to do. Apparently I went to university for it and everything." Remus gave a short laugh.

"A what? Why an accountant. What are you talking about? You can't sit still long enough to have a job in an office, Sirius. What brought this on?"

"Sirius…" He ignored Lily and answered the question.

"Well the muggles down the street stopped by this morning with cookies and we had tea. I feel like such a family man now, sitting having tea with the neighbors, gossiping like old hens, talking football. I panicked really. Couldn't think of a muggle job fast enough, so I just said accountant, should have said I sold drills. I think I'm stuck with it now." Remus snorted into his potatoes.

"I would pay galleons to see that. We should get you a sweater vest and some khakis to go with it. We could make a muggle of you yet." he said sarcastically. Vernon decided at that moment to interrupt, ignoring the insult.

"Sirius? As in Sirius Black? The mad man who escaped from prison?" He had his beady eyes trained right on Sirius's face. He blanched when he recognized the man from the photos on the telly.

"Ahhh, I get that a lot. Popular name, popular face, I guess." He reached his hand across the table to the man, "Haven't been properly introduced. Sirius Black, convicted felon, reformed mad man." He waited for the ball to drop. Vernon's face paled and his chest heaved outward as he sucked in a breath.

"Sirius, I will murder you." Lily seethed just as Vernon let loose.

"PETUNIA!" he shouted and his wife dropped her fork and knife at the sudden shout. The children startled from their food, staring at the man across the table. "We need to leave right now! Immediately! This– man– this– he's— convicted felon–" his words failed him as Sirius roared with laughter, Remus shaking his head, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. Lily looked murderous herself, Petunia just stood in shock.

"Sirius is playing a bad joke. He isn't a– well he is, but he is…. innocent." She finished, lamely. Looking at Sirius, who was laughing so hard he fell out of his chair, wracked with silent giggles. Vernon was still blustering in his seat. Sirius started to calm down, his face red from laughing and he sat back in his seat. Lily's face could not have looked more irate.

"Sorry, but the look on your face, Vernon. Priceless." A chuckle slipped out as he tried to straighten his face. " I'm actually not convicted of anything, as there was no trial. They just threw me in jail. I decided I shouldn't be there, so I left." He looked at Lily again and added. "You are perfectly safe, muggle. I'm innocent of all crimes…..except escaping prison." He grabbed his wine and took a sip to hide his smile. Remus was just shaking his head and Lily continued to stare daggers at him. Petunia was looking at each person in turn, not sure what to do until a laugh escaped her. She immediately covered her mouth, hysteria building a little, and took a deep breath. Sirius chuckled again, and a smile quirked at Lily's lips before she forced her face back into one of anger. But then Petunia giggled again, and Remus fought a smile and Vernon just got more angry.

The rest of dinner passed in silence amongst the adults, the children chattered on about nonsense. For Lily, the night could not have ended soon enough. It had been both a success and a disaster, in that order. She sighed as she hugged her sister goodbye. Vernon and Dudley were already in the car.

"Write to me, okay, Lily? And visit, perhaps without Sirius Black. For the best." She looked back at Vernon. She clutched Lily's hand for a moment as tears came to her eyes. "I am sorry…about James. I'm sorry I didn't come to the wedding, and I'm sorry I never kept in touch." She turned around stiffly and walked to the car and got in. Lily waved goodbye from the door and then stood there. Exhausted mentally and physically. She closed the door and then turned on Sirius, who was standing behind her. He headed her off from the start.

"I wasn't the one that brought it up. What was I supposed to do, Lil, he recognized me!" She held up her hand and walked past him to the cabinet that held the whiskey and poured a glass, then sat on the couch with her head back.

"I know. But you could have at least tried to be tactful. You aren't a child anymore Sirius."

"I'm not, and he is rude and insulting and deserved it. Acting like he is better than us."

"Enough, Sirius. Let's put Harry to bed, he is falling asleep. He picked up the small boy and dragged Sirius with him, leaving Lily to decompress alone.

"Not a wise choice mate, even if he did deserve it. But Lily didn't." He gave Sirius that look that always had a way of shaming him. He looked at his feet.

"I'll apologize. Tomorrow. I promise. You should go home, it's late. The full moon is tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes." He patted his friend on the shoulder as he walked out of the room. Downstairs, he said goodbye to Lily, kissing her cheek.

"He doesn't mean it, you know. He just can't help himself, sometimes." Lily sighed and stood up from the couch, downing the rest of the whiskey.

"We'll see you soon, Rem? After the new year?" He nodded and gave her a quick hug.

"Be nice to each other, ok?"

"I'm always nice."

With that. Remus grabbed his cloak and slipped his boots on and walked out into the back and was gone with a whisper.

Tonight could have gone so much better, but now, at least, she had her sister again. She turned out the lights and headed upstairs, nodding to Sirius as they passed in the hall and went to bed, closing the door behind her.