Sirius lay happily in Ramona's lap, where she was playing in his hair as he read aloud to their son. Remus had mentioned that it was good for the baby, and Sirius had loved the idea, so he had taken to reading what Remus had called 'the classics' and was currently about halfway through Treasure Island.
It was probably one of the very happiest moments of his life, and he'd pretended not to notice that Tonks had crept in with a camera, and back out, capturing their intimate little family moment. Sirius paused his reading for a moment, having to lick his finger and thumb to turn a stuck page, and the baby kicked almost as if to tell him to get back to the story. The kick landed against his cheek and made both Ramona and Sirius laugh.
This was how they'd elected to spend their morning, cuddled together on the couch of the now newly renovated drawing room. It was the day of Harry's hearing, but as Ramona didn't know him well and Sirius was still on the run, neither of them were with him. It only seemed logical to have a quiet morning to themselves as they waited for news from Harry and Arthur.
Sirius could tell something was on Ramona's mind, but he wanted to let her tell him about it when she was ready, rather than pressing the matter, so he kept reading. She'd stopped her idle coming of his hair and she clicked her lips together a couple times, as if she were debating on whether or not she wanted to speak.
"Hey, Sirius?" She started, causing him to look up from the book to her.
"Yes, love?" He replied gently.
"I wanna go see Andy and Ted." She said quietly.
"I think you should." Sirius encouraged.
"No." Ramona shook her head. "I want us to go see Andy and Ted."
Sirius was quiet at this, though he did smile each time his son kicked at the silence.
"Listen, 'Mona..." Sirius sighed, closing his eyes. They both knew the drill. It was a bad idea. Dangerous, even. A hundred reasons why he shouldn't go with her to see his elder cousin came to both their minds.
"I know." She replied back, her voice betraying her attempt to hold back emotion. "But Andy has always taken care of me. She's the only mum I've got, and I really- I could use a mum, you know?" She sniffed as she spoke. Sirius sat up and swung his legs to the ground, pulling her over to him, wrapping his arms around her.
"Then we will just have to figure something out. Maybe Tonks will go with us, help keep them from immediately sending for officials to come arrest me." He suggested. "I always really loved Andromeda. I'd be so happy to see her again."
"Really?" Ramona ask, her voice much lighter now. She smiled through the tears threatening to run down her cheeks.
"Absolutely." Sirius nodded. He gently took her cheek in his hand, and moved in to place a quick kiss on her still quivering lips.
Emotions had began to run more over the witch beyond her control, and Sirius hated seeing her cry. He'd nearly killed his mother's beloved house elf, Kreature, for the foul things he'd said that made her cry. Luckily, he'd hexed the bloody thing enough that he knew better than interacting with her at all. He'd pulled back enough to look into her eyes, still stroking her soft cheek with his thumb when the sound of a throat being cleared sounded loudly from the drawing room doorway.
"Harry!" Sirius greeted cheerily, kissing the tip of Ramona's nose again before getting up to hug Harry.
"I was cleared." Harry breathed, obviously relieved. It was as if he had every muscle in his body tensed since the attack, and now he could finally relax and begin to rest. He held tightly to Sirius and Ramona waited patiently, only coming over as the hug broke apart.
"I'm so glad for you, Harry!" She smiled. He returned the smile, and she even felt confident enough to give the boy a small hug of her own, which he, to her surprise, returned. "We should celebrate, right? A cake! I'll go get a cake. What do you like?"
"Oh!" Harry said, surprised. "Erm, Chocolate is always good." He shrugged.
"Chocolate it is!" She beamed, standing on her tiptoes to kiss Sirius quickly before heading out. Sirius and Harry both watched her leave, then Sirius turned his attention to the boy.
"She's been worried about you." Sirius said. "I'm glad you two are getting along, now."
"Yeah, no, Ramona is great." Harry nodded. "I guess it was just... awkward. Ya know?"
"I do." Sirius nodded. "I once upon a time had a close friend who had a brief fling with my younger brother. There are always intricate oddities to getting used to someone being close to your loved ones, adding to a family. I'm just happy to see you two not be afraid to be around each other. Now, why don't we go grab a cuppa and you can tell me and your poor ol' Uncle Moony about the hearing. I believe he's still in the kitchen with his new favorite mug."
Harry and the other kids had not gotten over the mug yet. It had been a joke of a gift from Tonks, 'World's Okay-est Uncle' written on the side, but Harry, after laughing, had defended him. He pointed out that even though they'd missed a big gap of each other's lives, Remus had stepped back in immediately with love and attention as any good uncle would've. Remus looked very moved by this, by actually getting to be more of 'Uncle Moony' and less of 'Professor Lupin' to the boy. He'd been insistent that the new baby would be in good hands all around.
Sirius was right, and they did indeed find Remus, mug still steaming on the table, the werewolf lost in a book. Harry slid into the chair directly to Remus left, and it startled him into dropping the novel, nearly spilling his tea.
"Harry!" He greeted, seeing the boy's smile. "All good news, I expect?"
"It is!" Harry nodded. "And after having to re-live the events again today, I just wanted to thank you again."
"Oh, of course." Remus said, eyebrow raised. He returned the hug Harry had slung on him with the one arm he could, Harry pinning his left to his side. "You seem to be feeling a bit better, then." He complimented.
"Its like I couldn't breathe before. I can now." Harry beamed. "And Ramona said she was going out to get a celebration chocolate cake."
"And there it is, the only thing that could've made this day better." Remus laughed. "I am sorry about the Daily Prophet and their constant stream of shit, however."
"Eh, used to it, I suppose. Skeeter started all that last year. Its just a rumor mill, nothing more." Harry shrugged. "I'm going to go tell the others, if that's okay?" Harry ask, look to both men, who nodded, then he set off upstairs. Sirius, now with his own cup of steaming tea, filled the seat recently vacated by the young wizard.
"He seems more himself." Remus commented, picking up his tea for a swig.
"More than we've seen in days." Sirius agreed. "He even hugged 'Mona."
"Really?" Remus ask, amused.
"I was a bit surprised, too. They're coming around." Sirius nodded. "But since we have that all worked out- are you going to tell me what has been up with you?"
Remus bristled at the question. He started to get immediately defensive, but took a moment, and a breath, before replying.
"What are you on about?" He ask, trying to make his voice sound genuinely confused.
"You've been... weird." Sirius said, narrowing his eyes as he looked his friend over.
"No one ever accused me of being normal, mate." Remus snorted.
"Not 'you' weird. Weird-weird." Sirius elaborated.
"How so?" Remus ask, sitting forward.
Sirius thought about how to explain this for a moment. Remus' comings and goings had changed, he seemed edgy at times he wouldn't be, more on guard than Sirius had seen in a long time.
"You're just... uptight." Sirius said finally.
"Life's fucking stressful, mate. And I've decided to try and quit the smoking, because I know Ramona hates it, and won't let me hold the baby if I smell like smoke. That doesn't help at all." Remus explained before sipping at his tea again.
"You're not telling me something." Sirius replied firmly. It wasn't a question, or an accusation. It was a stated fact and both wizards knew it.
"Am I not allowed secrets?" Remus defended.
"Well, last few secrets you and I have kept from one another haven't ended well, have they?" Sirius reminded him. Remus simply stared for a moment, knowing well his best friend was right.
"See, now, you're right." Remus sighed heavily. "But its a bit of a touchy situation. And you could be angry with me, and you'd have every reason to be."
"What did you do?" Sirius pressed.
"Who." Remus replied quietly.
"What?" Sirius shook his head, forehead knitted together in his confusion.
"Not what. Who." Remus replied, still keeping his voice low.
"I don't unders-" Sirius froze for a second, but then a giant grin crept across his face. "You slept with Tonksy, didn't you, Moony?"
Remus looked pale. He didn't nod, or reply, but he didn't deny it. Sirius' grin only grew.
"You sly devil, you." Sirius laughed. Remus, however, did not seem nearly as amused.
"Should've never happened." Remus murmured.
"Bullshite." Sirius replied. "I think she'd do you worlds of good. According to Ramona, she's been head over heels for you for years."
"What." The word came out flatly, landing hard on the conversation like a book slammed to a desk.
"Oh." Sirius replied, still obviously amused, "You didn't know."
"No." Remus shook his head.
"Oops." Sirius said sarcastically.
"I should go-"
"Talk to her?" Sirius finished, knowing that was not what Remus was about to say, but he wanted to steer the conversation, and Remus' reaction, so he didn't pull a famous 'Lupin escape act' on them.
Remus sighed heavily, his shoulders drooping.
"I suppose so, yeah." He nodded, heading out the door.
Sirius sat back in his chair, his tea still in hand, and he smiled into the cup, thinking to himself about what a small world it was, but what a nice, close family they had the potential to be if everything could keep going their way.