Remus and I were already walking over the Christmas market for two hours, our bags filled with things we made and bought when we passed Damien Norris's tattoo shop. I stopped looking at the dark shop. I knew what I wanted as my second tattoo, I wanted it for years now. And before Moony could open his mouth and object, I pressed the doorbell. It didn't take long before Damien appeared downstairs, wearing an ugly Christmas sweater.

"Alec, Lupin. What a surprise." He smiled kindly.

"I hope we're not bothering you." I said.

"A pretty girl can never bother me." He winked. "Are you here for your second tattoo?"

"If you could squeeze me in." I asked sheepishly. "It's something simple."

"Always." He said, stepping back to let us in. He looked at Remus who followed in silently. Since I was seventeen, he couldn't stop me. And he knew I wanted a few tattoos, and he knew it wasn't something decided on a whim, so he would never truly object. "I heard about Sirius. How is he?"

"He's adjusting. It's not easy, but he'll get there."

"I can't imagine." Damien shook his head. "Being imprisoned in Azkaban for so long when your innocent." He shivered. He looked at me with a small smile and patted the chair for me to hop on. Guilt stirred inside of me. I never asked him about Azkaban. I've been so angry the past year that I never thought about what he had gone through.

"He doesn't want to talk about it, but he'll get there. He's almost at his healthy weight again, got a new wand this summer and he is just enjoying being outside."

"Tell him I said hi, and if he ever wants a new tattoo, he's always welcome."

"I'll tell him." He smiled, then turned to me. "What are you getting?"

"Uhm." I bit my lip. "Can you wait outside until we're done? It's a surprise."

He raised his brows, but leaned forward to kiss my forehead and walked to the front where a waiting area was.

"Grab yourself something to drink, Lupin." Damien called after him. "So, how can I help you, love?"

I took out the drawing from my bag that I had on me all day and night. "I want this on my other arm." I opened the paper and showed it to him. It was a full moon with a date in roman numbers beneath it. "The numbers are the date Remus took me in, the moon is because I call him Moony."

He smiled at me. "He means a lot to you, doesn't he?"

"He's in every way my dad. I wouldn't be here without him. For as long as I can remember, he's been there for me."

"I think the same goes for him." He said as he copied the tattoo to the right paper. He placed the lines on my inner arm before he gathered his supplies.

When the buzzing noise filled the room again and the needle touched my skin, I asked. "Seeing that Remus trusts you so much, I thought I ask. I'm an Animagus," He stopped for a second, looking up at me in surprise before turning back at the task at hand. "- and when I change, the tattoo is visible on my fur. Will that happen with every tattoo?"

"No." He said, dipping the needle in the ink. "It is you who decides if it becomes visible. You choose this consciously or subconsciously. This usually only happens with tattoos that are very close to your heart. Like this one -" He tapped on my arm. "If you allow it, it will also become visible."

"Is there a way to remove it, so I won't be so recognisable."

The side of his mouth quirked up. "Another unregistered Animagus?" I opened my mouth in surprise, but nothing came out. He laughed. "The first time I tattooed your father, the needle scared him so hard that he changed into a shabby black dog right in front of me. I guess he didn't think it would hurt that much." He looked up at me with a broad smile. "You did much better last year." I laughed and tucked the story away to ask Sirius about it later. "So, what is your Animagus form, if I may be so curious."

"An artic wolf. So, the tattoos really stand out."

"You can't remove the tattoos from your Animagus form once you decided you want it on your wolf form," He said as he started on the roman numbers. "- but you can always put a charm over it to make it invisible."

I took in this new information as I watched him work. His hands, like last time, working elegantly over my skin.

"Congratulations on becoming an Animagus, by the way. It's a great achievement for an adult, so for you to be one at this age. Pretty brilliant."

I felt my cheeks heat, knowing I was bright red. I was happy he didn't look up from his work. "Thank you."

"And how is the Tournament going?"

"Oh, you know about that?"

"It's all in the papers. That Skeeter woman plastered everything on the front page."

I snorted. "Don't believe anything she writes."

"I went to school with her, she was a few years below me. I didn't believe her then, and don't believe her now. But what can you tell me?"

I smiled as I started telling him about the Tournament. I mentioned Harry a few times, but he didn't ask more about him. Not such a gossip as almost the rest of England, thank Merlin. After about forty minutes, he was done. He rubbed my arm in with the same cream as last year, giving me the same instructions as we walked to the front of the shop where Remus was flipping through a magazine.

He looked curious at me, looking me up and down in search of the tattoo. But it was already well-hidden underneath my sweater. After I paid Damien for his amazing work, we made our way to Diagon Alley to use the floo.

"So, you and Sirius... something happening on that front?" I asked.

Remus stopped dead in his tracks and gaped at me. He cleared his throat. "No."

"You know I don't have a problem with it, don't you? I just want you to be happy. You deserve to be happy, to be in a relationship."

"I don't need a relationship to be happy. As long as your happy, I'm happy." He kissed the top of my head. "And I know you said you're okay with it, but Sirius and I talked about it. And we agreed that he'll focus on his relationship with you first and deal his own demons before we can talk about us."

I wrung my hands together, frowning. "Is he having that much trouble with his time in Azkaban?"

"He has nightmares, forgets to eat, he-" He stopped and shook his head. "It's nothing for you to worry about. He'll get there, don't worry." I opened my mouth to say something, but he quickly changed the subject. "So, when can I see the new addition?"

"I'll show tonight after I get ready for the Yule ball."

"Alright." He said as he pushed the door open to the Leaky Cauldron. "I don't know how Sirius will react, though. He doesn't even know of your first one."

"He was fifteen with his first tattoo, and he has a lot more than me." I huffed. "There is not much he can say."

"I guess not." Remus laughed.

LB

When we came back around noon and unpacked our bags, Sirius and Harry dragged us over to the couch and pushed us down.

"Since you left in a hurry this morning, we forgot to open the presents. So, first presents before you get to eat." Sirius said, already pushing gifts in our hands. I shared an amused look with Harry and Remus before focusing on the gift in my hands.

I just untied the bow wrapped around the small gift when Remus gasped softly. I looked to him, he was holding a very old book in his hand, the title read Children's and Household Tales. Moony's fingers trembled a little as they grazed over the cover.

"Sirius." He whispered.

"I know you love the brothers Grimm. This is a first edition with the original title. I thought you might like it."

"I love it." He placed the book carefully on the couch before he stood up and enveloped Sirius in a tight hug. A hug that went on a bit too long to be casual.

Harry got new Quidditch gloves and a photograph of him and Sirius, when Harry was just a few months old. He was shaking a little as Sirius wrapped him up in a hug. Giving them some privacy, I looked down at my own present from him. I lifted the lid and saw a silver locket inside. A family tree was engraved on the front and when I clicked it open, it had a photograph of my mum on one side and the other side switched between Uncle Moony, Draco and Harry and Aunt Cissy. We had invited Aunt Cissy to join us for Christmas, but she decided to go celebrate in France with some old friends.

"I hope you like it." Sirius said, rubbing his neck nervously. "I didn't know what you would like and with this, you always have your family with you."

I was lost for words as I looked back at the locket. I couldn't stand up and hug him because otherwise I would burst into tears again like yesterday. I took in a deep breath. "It's beautiful, thank you." He gave me a small smile before Harry stood up to hand out presents.

Harry and Remus were easy to get presents for, Sirius was another story. I still wasn't that comfortable with him, and I didn't know him. He has money enough to buy whatever he liked. Remus was no help at all. So, I was holding my breath when he opened the envelope.

He read the paper inside, a large smile spread across his face. He looked so much younger when he smiled like that, like the ghosts of Azkaban disappeared, even for a moment. He looked up to me with that smile and tapped the letter. "I will cash this in this summer."

"What is it?" Harry asked, leaning closer to his godfather.

"Alec got me a coupon. A coupon to spend a full day alone with her to get to know each other." He looked back to me. "This is more than I could ask for, thank you Alec."

Moony squeezed my hand and shot me a wink. Telling me, I did good. He clapped his hands. "I think it's time we eat, otherwise they won't be able to eat tonight." We all gathered at the dining room table and with a wave of Sirius's wand, food and drinks came flying over.

LB

"Uhm, Alec." Sirius stopped me a few hours later when we stopped playing boardgames and it was time to get ready. "There is one last present. It's from me and Harry. It's in your room."

"In my room?"

"I just put it there and went out immediately. I didn't snoop but I like the colours you chose."

I chuckled. I wasn't afraid he would snoop; there wasn't much to snoop anyway. I was just wondering what kind of present they had put upstairs in my room and not under the tree.

"I'll go check it out then." I said before I walked up the stairs.

When I came in the room, I saw a garment bag hanging on the wardrobe and I knew that must be it. I zipped it open, and a beautiful dress revealed itself. It was a satin burgundy dress that reached the floor, it had a V-neck and short sleeves. The bustier and sleeves were in the same colour lace. The back was cut out, and the skirt was wide enough for me to move in easily. I couldn't wait to put it on, so I stripped from my clothes and put the dress on. It fitted like a glove and the fabric felt like it was caressing my skin. I stood in front of the mirror that was hanging on the back of my door. I gasped. It was by far the most beautiful dress I have ever owned. I put on my mother's ring and the locket Sirius had given me before I did my hair. It was almost seven when I finished, and I quickly made my way down.

Harry was already there, looking all fancy and handsome in his black dress robes. His hair still that bird's nest on top of his head. I brushed his shoulders. "You look good, Potter."

He blushed a little. "Me? What about you?" He took my hand and twirled me around. "I think we chose the right dress, Sirius."

"You will blow everyone's mind." Sirius smiled, his eyes sparkled when he saw the locket.

"You look beautiful, cub." Uncle Moony hugged me, kissing my temple. "Cedric won't know what to do with you."

"Thank you for the dress." I kissed Harry's cheek, then Sirius's. "Both of you." I said and quickly stepped back. Sirius was frozen in place, looking at me, like I had lost my mind.

Remus gently took my arm in his hand, his thumb caressing over the new tattoo softly. "Alec." He whispered.

"You are the most important person in my life, Moony. You raised me and loved me like your own. This is just a reminder at how much you mean to me, all that you did for me." I said equally as quiet. He wrapped me up in his strong arms, burying his head on my shoulder. Harry and Sirius looked curiously at the tattoo.

"What does this mean?" Harry asked, pointing at the numbers.

"That's the day Remus took me in. The day my life changed."

"When did you get this? This looks fresh." Sirius asked. I couldn't make out if he was going to shout or not.

"This morning. We passed by Damien's shop, and he squeezed me in."

Sirius blinked at Remus, who had pulled back. Dapping his eyes with his sleeve. "Damien Norris?"

"Yes, he gave me my first tattoo last year." I answered.

"Your first? How many do you have?"

"Just these two. One for my mum and one for Moony." Sirius eyed the tattoo for my mum with a curious expression. He was probably thinking he saw it on my wolf form. I turned to Remus. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful, cub." He kissed the top of my head.

"He's right." Sirius said with a soft smile. "And it says so much about you that you choose those two as your first tattoos. Mine was something stupid." He snickered.

"Oh, -" A grin spread across my face. "Damien told me a story about your first tattoo." Sirius eyes turned wide. "We will certainly discuss that next time."

"Oh, now you got me curious." Harry said, bouncing excitedly on his feet.

"Next time, Harry." I laughed a little at Sirius panicked face. "We better get going. We don't want two of the champions to be late now, do we?" I grinned at Harry.

"It would make a statement." Uncle Moony winked. He held out his arms for me and Harry. After we waved a still baffled Sirius goodbye, Moony apparated us away.

LB

We were almost at the castle. I could hear music and voices already coming from inside. We must be on the late side then, our dates probably already waiting for us.

"You and Sirius seemed to get along the past days."

"He's trying, so I'm trying too. It's not always easy but I hope it will get better. We will always have bad days between us. And he will never replace Moony, but I think we can build some kind of relationship. Not without some headbutting probably." I chuckled a little.

"While you and Remus went to the market, Sirius was running around like a headless chicken because he wanted everything to be perfect for you and Remus. He was afraid either of you would regret spending the holidays with us, since you normally do it just the two of you."

"I'm not going to lie; it was an adjustment. For as long as I can remember, it was always just me and Moony. We didn't need to think about anyone else but the two of us. But I wouldn't want to change this Christmas for another." I looped my arm through his, pulling him closer. "You are my family too, Harry. I was actually thinking it would be nice to have Cissy and Draco with us next year." Harry scrunched up his nose. "Relax, it's still a year away." I laughed.

We stopped in front of the large double doors, glancing upwards. Harry sighed like a defeated man.

"I'm really not looking forward to dancing in front of everyone."

"It will be okay." I nudged him. "Your dancing skills have really improved over the past weeks. And it's one dance, after that everyone will join the dance floor. Just keep your eyes on your date or if that's too awkward, -" I snickered at his shocked expression. "- then look at her shoulder."

"Right, I can do that." He nodded, glumly.

"You defeated a dragon, Harry. You can handle a dance." I squeezed his arm with a reassuring smile. "Ready?"

He swallowed. "Ready."