(Coeus Black - PoV)

"Knock knock," the betrayer loudly announces.

"Go away," my default response, as Iris stirs on top of me.

"Nope. Sorry little ones, mother dearest is insistent this morning."

I groan as Iris fidgets more, slowly opening her eyes.

"Why?"

"Someone's coming over, apparently. She won't tell me who."

I groan again. That means we won't like the answer.

"Yeah, I know. Still, chop-chop. Up and at em'. All that good stuff."

Iris is slowly looking around but is unable to move much with Phoebe's arms wrapped around her.

"Mmmm. No." I reply. "Comfy."

I wrap my loose arm around Iris as well, causing her to yip quietly. Phoebe's legs tighten around mine, meaning she is awake as well, even if she never shows it.

Visitor person can shove off. Especially if Andy won't even tell us who it is.

"Well, fair warning, if you don't make it down soon it is open season on the bacon."

I hear the footsteps retreat out of the room and down the hallway.

...

My stomach grumbles.

"My bacon..." I mutter into the pillow.

Begrudgingly, we do get up and get readyish for the day.

Well, we get up and get bacon.

Ok, Iris and I get up and drag Phoebe down to get bacon. Then get ready afterward. That said, since someone won't tell us who the visitor is, we are certainly not dressing up for them. We put on clean clothes, and I help brush the girls' hair, but that is as far as we will go.

Together we head into the living room and plop down on the sofa with various books until our "mystery guest" arrives.

"You know if it's Sirius I'm cursing him, right?" I announce, not looking up from the book.

"It's not Sirius!" Andy insists. "And I thought you were going to at least try to be open-minded about him!"

I nod, still not looking up.

"Yeah, but this," I wave my hand in a circle, indicating the whole situation, "is really annoying, and makes us automatically hate whoever is involved even more. And we can't take it out on you. So instead..." shrugging, I mime casting curses.

Andy is quiet for several long moments before Dora laughs.

"The worst part is that I know you are actually serious, not just trying to be manipulative," Andy says.

"I told you and told you it was a stupid idea," Dora taunts.

"Enough!" Andy snaps back. "Enough," she repeats, rubbing her eyes.

"Fine. It's Lupin. Remus Lupin, if you remember him?" she asks Dora.

The currently short-haired purpelette scrunches up her face, considering.

"Was he part of the Order? And friends with Sirius?" she asks.

Andy nods. "And, more importantly, with James and Lily," she says, looking towards Iris. "Specifically, out of James' friends, he got along the best with Lily...from what I hear anyway."

Iris stares at Andy, extremely conflicted. I can almost feel the desire coming off of her but...

"Ok...so where has he been all this time if he was such a good friend?" I ask.

Iris nods.

Andy winces.

"He ah, travels a lot. Due to his condition."

I blink.

"What? He has something that makes him travel more? Isn't it sort of the opposite in...um every case I have ever heard about?"

I admit I am very interested now. That is so weird, assuming Andy isn't just trying to play us.

Phoebe and I cock our heads simultaneously, with Iris following only a moment later.

"Exactly what condition does he have?" I ask.

Andy is saved from answering by the traitorous fireplace, which chooses exactly that moment to turn green and spit a random homeless man onto our floor.

"Wait, Muggles can use the floo?" I ask.

Everyone looks at me, including the homeless guy, despite currently being sprawled out on the floor. I will say, he is surprisingly well shaven for a drifter. Maybe he has a mental illness? No one stable would willingly choose to have a mustache like that. Yuck.

"What?" Andy asks.

I point my wand at the intruder, who is slowly standing up.

"I think a Muggle homeless man somehow got into the Floo network. Can they do that?" I ask. "Also, you should probably step to the side, we are waiting for someone," I tell him.

Getting ahold of the DMLE is going to be annoying since we don't want to use the floo while wait-

"I, uh, think I am who you are waiting on? Remus Lupin?" the Muggle interrupts, not moving and carefully eyeing my wand.

What?

I eye the terrible hair, hideous mustache, shabby muggle clothes, lack of luggage...even his shoes are practically falling apart. This is not the worldly individual I was expecting.

I turn to Andy, betrayed.

"You said he was a traveler, not homeless!"

Dora starts laughing, while the man sags in front of us.

He does show some relief when I lower my wand.

Homeless, really. That hardly qualifies as a condition Andy!

...

Though I admit it would explain why he couldn't help with Iris. He can hardly be expected to take care of her when he can't even take care of himself. And I suppose even letters or visits may actually be out of the question when you get to a certain level of destitution...

Lupin looks away when he sees me frowning at him, I suspect he is getting the wrong impression.

Hmm, or perhaps the right impression? I suppose it really depends on why he is so poor. A livable amount of money is hardly difficult to come by, even squibs rarely fall to such dire straights. Lupin went to Hogwarts, so how could he end up in such a state?

He finally takes a seat at Andy's insistence, as she bustles about, playing hostess and such. It is an awkward few moments while she prepares, and then silence descends.

Question time I suppose? I am sure Iris has tons of questions about her parents.

"So why are you dressed like a Muggle homeless man?" I ask, getting us off to a nice, awkward start.

He needs to have some good answers to these questions if he is going to talk to Iris about the important stuff. Also, I am really curious.

"Worse, actually. A few of them at least have some decent clothes."

Dora laughs again, while Andy mutters under her breath.

Iris gives me a half-hearted glare...but she agrees with the question, I know she does.

I pat her on the leg.

Lupin opens his mouth to respond but I preempt him.

"They shave better too. I mean, you've done good at keeping the beard off, but that mustache? Why?" I turn to Andy. "Are you sure he's Lupin and not just a deranged homeless man?"

Andy rests her head in her hand.

"Coeus. You promised you would be good if I told you who was coming beforehand."

"I did not. I implied I would curse whoever it was if you didn't tell us, but at no point did I make any promises."

"He's right, he made no deals. I was a witness." Dora chimes in.

I point at Dora and nod.

"Now then, Mr. Lupin! The mustache. Why?"

He stares at me, opening and closing his mouth several times.

"I...what?"

"Do I need to repeat the question?"

He reaches up and rubs his face.

"What's wrong with my mustache?" he asks.

I shake my head sadly and look at Phoebe.

"Lost cause?"

She nods sorrowfully.

I look back at the deranged man in front of us.

"We are in agreement. Tell me, have you considered visiting Saint Mungoes? They have Mind Healers, and you are clearly in need of them. I'll finance it if need be. Ridding the world of the mustache will be worth the cost."

"I...do believe we have gotten rather off-topic," he replies evenly, ignoring our advice.

Frowning, I concede the point.

"Fair enough, fair enough. So, why are you dressed like a Muggle homeless man?"

He lowers and shakes his head, but I can hear a quiet chuckle.

I can also hear more angry muttering from Andy, at least until Lupin addresses her.

"You didn't tell them then, Andromeda?"

She won't look at him directly, instead shifting guiltily in her seat.

"I was...trying to explain? When you came through," she says.

Tell us? And explain?

"She did say you have a condition?" I say, drawing his attention back towards myself, so Andy can sit still.

"One that causes you to travel a lot? Though frankly, I don't see how being homeless counts as a condition."

Lupin blinks, before laughing.

Most of the others either facepalm or join him in laughing.

...

What?

Phoebe is facepalming, so Iris leans over to me.

"Uh, I think the homeless thing is because of the condition. Not...the condition."

...

Yes, that does make more sense.

I pat Iris on the head, and she flushes.

She goes to draw back, but I'm having none of that, instead wrapping an arm around her.

Much better.

Lupin is staring at us.

"You two get along much better than James and Lily did when they were your age," he says.

I feel Iris's curiosity spike.

"Ok, make a note of that for later. Later." I say, before pointing at him with my free arm. "Now explain!"

He grimaces a bit, before leaning back in his chair and glancing around the room.

"Ah, well. When I was young, much younger than any of you, my father angered a werewolf. Said werewolf came to our house for revenge. Father drove him off, but not before I was bitten."

"...Ah."

I see. That would explain a lot, especially if he is actually trying to stay legal. It is not easy for werewolves to keep steady employment.

Iris speaks up. "Umm..."

Oh right, she probably hasn't looked at any werewolf stuff, has she?

"We can go over weres another time, Iris. For now, just know that it does explain everything. Well almost everything, not the mustache. They do have a hard time getting work though."

Generally for good reasons, but Lupin has been very reasonable, so no need to bring that up now.

The man nods gratefully.

Oh no, we are just getting started! Now it's time for you to answer all of Iris's questions, furball!

"So, what was that about...(Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap) Iris's parents?" I ask.

Lily! That's her name. Blast, why could I not remember it for a moment?

Lily and James, ugh.

Thankfully, no one calls me out on my momentary lapse, though Phoebe gives me a side-eye.

Indeed, Andy seems glad things are finally on the topic she presumably wanted. Dora has relaxed onto her sofa, sprawling out lazily while eating all of the snacks again. I assume Andy will yell at her about it later.

Actually, I should probably tell her off too. Lupin might actually need those? I dunno, he hasn't touched the tea, but that might be because Andy isn't very good at making tea.

"Oh, Lily and James met on the train to Hogwarts." Lupin interrupts my thoughts again, smiling. The smile fades slightly and he winces. "They uh, didn't hit it off quite so well, however."

Iris blinks, and I cock my head.

"Go on."

You are not leaving it there wolf-boy.

His smile is a bit more strained.

"Well, James liked Lily immediately. She was already friends with Snape, however, and James and Sirius rather laid into him, which in turn caused Lily to lay into them..." he retreats slightly into his terrible excuse for a jacket.

"Well, by the time all was said and done the Prefects had to break it up, and more than a few curses had been thrown."

"Huh..."

Well, that was unexpected.

I look over at Iris, who is still processing.

Yes, we really did get off to a rather different start. I suppose technically you could argue we still practice spells on each other, but it is obviously not the same.

Also, Snape was involved? And was Lily's friend? No one has mentioned him at any point.

I have questions...but I suppose I should give Iris a chance since this is supposed to be her show?

...

I poke her in the side with my free hand, causing her to jerk and look at me.

A raised eyebrow and she gets the message.

"Umm...I..."

Yeah, hard to pick where to start, isn't it? Fortunately, Lupin seems the patient sort.

Very odd trait for a frickin werewolf.

Iris clears her throat.

"So my parents didn't get along at first? Or, well, Lily...My mom...didn't like my dad? For how long? What changed?"

Lupin smiles sadly as he sits back in his seat, and begins explaining.

"Aye," he says. "James was fascinated by Lily from the moment he met her. Hounded her constantly, really, but," Remus shakes his head.

"He was full of himself, and honestly he could be a bit of a prat when he was younger."

"Don't get me wrong," he adds, seeing Iris's frown, "he was never a truly bad person, not intentionally, but, well, the best example is Snape. The two of them never got along and fought constantly. Combine that with James's arrogance and, well, constantly annoying her? Trying to get her attention? She cursed him more than Snape did." Lupin admits with amusement.

Lupin stops a moment to reach over and pour a cup of tea. He takes a sip and immediately makes a face. He quickly schools his expression, but I saw it. The cup is quickly put back on the table.

I share a smirk with Dora.

Yup. Even homeless people can't drink Andy's tea.

"Anyhow," he continues, "it really started changing around our Sixth Year or so? In Fifth Year Lily had a falling out with Snape. And then the next year James started finally growing up and maturing a bit. Fewer pranks, less silly stunts to get attention. Funnily enough, that finally managed to actually get her attention, and they ended up meshing well. Seventh Year they were Head Boy and Girl and spent a lot more time together, and that really sealed things."

"Dumbledore played matchmaker didn't he?" I suggest.

Remus hesitates.

"I...hadn't considered that but...I could see it. I could easily see it," he admits.

Iris hesitates again, obviously loaded with questions.

"What about, uh, Snape? Isn't he a teacher at the school now? You said he was mom's friend? No one has mentioned him before."

Lupin winces.

"Yes...well, Snape took a rather...different path than we did."

"Employment?" I blurt out, causing everyone to stare at me again.

Wow, that was rather dickish of me.

"Sorry, couldn't help it."

Really though? Homeless, prison, dead, dead, and some sort of fugitive or something. Your friend group did not do well for themselves. I feel there are better role models.

Lupin looks at me levelly and replies, "Oh, well I suppose it did work out for him in the end. He decided to spend the war as a Death Eater, however."

...

"Wait, Dumbledore hired a Death Eater to teach Potions?" I ask. "I thought for sure it would be Defense from everything Dora has said..."

The adults don't seem to appreciate my reaction.

"What? It also makes sense, I mean, I would assume that would be the class they would be the most qualified for..."

"Ok, since Coeus is not going to ask, I will," Dora speaks up. "What?"

Lupin nods at her.

"Snape met Lily before Hogwarts," Lupin explains, going into backstory mode, "so they were friendly before ever getting on the train. Unfortunately, Snape went to Slytherin, and fell in with a bad crowd."

I roll my eyes. Gryffindors.

"I did talk to Lily some, so I noticed that she and Snape slowly drifted apart over the years. 5th year...really cinched it. And once their friendship fell through...well, Snape went full in with his other friends. All of them ended up as Death Eaters. Many ended up dead or imprisoned after the war."

"So how did he end up teaching classes at Hogwarts if he was a Death Eater?" Dora asks.

"Imperius defense?" I suggest, making everyone look at me.

"What? We know tons of former Death Eaters, and that's how most of them got off. We literally went to a party with dozens of them like, two weeks ago? You were helping greet them as they arrived, Andy."

She looks away when Lupin looks at her.

What?

"I...appear to have missed a lot while I was away. But no, Snape never even claimed Imperius. Dumbledore announced that he turned double-agent before the end of the war."

H-uh.

"Man, that must be really awkward when he meets all the loyalist Death Eaters who bought or lied their way out of prison."

Why does everyone keep looking at me like that?

"I...yes, I suppose you would think so, but I have heard he is still friendly with Malfoy," Lupin replies.

Weird. Wasn't Malfoy Voldemort's chief minion? You would think he might be a little more upset about the whole betrayal thing.

The man shakes his head.

"Sorry, I am afraid I don't know too many details beyond that. Snape had far too great a rivalry with James and Sirius for any of us to be close. I used to get along with him at least a bit better but after Sirius's stunt...well. He never forgave either of us."

"Oh? What did he do?" I ask.

"Very nearly got him killed."

I nod. "Most people do tend to hold grudges over things like that."

"Speaking of Sirius," Andy interjects, "I was hoping you could perhaps...?"

Ugh, I knew it. That is what this is about. Sirius's friend, not James and Lily's, she was just deflecting suspicion earlier.

Remus nods.

"I spoke to him after I got back to the country. Is there anything I can do to help? Anything you want to know?"

I stare at him for several seconds before sighing and turning to Andy.

"Andy, I know you are trying to help, but really? How is this supposed to change anything? A random person we don't know who looks like a hobo tripping out of the fireplace claiming to know a bunch of other people we don't actually know? It's good he can talk to Iris about her parents, but if we want to know about Sirius? We can ask him directly."

I turn back to Lupin, who remains quite straight-faced despite my admittedly somewhat offensive comments.

"Sorry about everything just...ugh. Really though, what's with the tripping? Don't you travel a lot? Iris has the Floo down already."

"Werewolf," he replies. "Heightened senses and Floo travel don't mix very well."

I wince.

"Ok, yeah, I can see that."

I shudder.

No, that doesn't sound fun at all.

"Regardless, is there really nothing I can do to help with the situation between you three and Sirius? Maybe you could explain the problem?"

Ugh.

I lean back fully into the couch, huffing.

Iris leans back with me, and Phoebe leans over and lays down sprawled across our legs.

Finally, I explain, for what feels like the millionth time, our problem with him.

How he abandoned everyone. Every time. How his family never mattered. How his responsibility meant nothing.

Just...ugh. I hate even thinking about it, having to go over it all again just makes me want to curse him that much more.

I admit I am thoroughly grumpy and glaring at Lupin by the time I am finished.

"Happy?" I ask him, trying to settle down. Phoebe and Iris help immensely, though neither of them enjoy going over everything again, and send their own unhappy looks at wolfy.

"Yes, thank you. I understand that was difficult," he replies.

I glare harder.

Stop acting so reasonable, what kind of werewolf are you?

Remus sits forward in his chair, his hands clasped.

"Now, I do believe that you have a misunderstanding of the situation. I know you love the Black family, but for Sirius? All he ever knew was pain. We got more than a few stories out of him over the years, and his time with Walburga was much like...I'm sorry, but it was at least similar to Iris's time with the Dursleys."

The three of us freeze at his comment.

That...I...

...

I want to argue. To deny. But I remember Grandfather's comments. A Black gone wrong. Someone so far out there that...

...

I look back at Lupin.

He has been sitting quietly, waiting. Giving us time to think. Seemingly sensing our attention back on him, he continues.

"Eventually, he ran away, and the Potters took him in, much like you did Iris, and he fell in with them just as strongly. James wasn't his friend, he was his brother. Sirius was absolutely loyal to his family. It is just that, by the time we graduated? His family was not the Blacks, despite the name he carried. It was the Potters."

I look away again, for just a moment.

I don't like it. I really, really don't like it. Just, leaving the family like that. But, can I blame him? Really?

Grandfather explained things from his point of view. But...

And I obviously don't blame Iris for leaving the Dursleys...

"I really cannot overstate how close the two of them were, especially after James' parents died. We were all he had left. Please, don't look at it like what would happen if you lost a friend. Do you think you would have been able to think rationally in his situation? If you had turned up to find out that the worst had happened to your sister, Phoebe?

(Remus Lupin - PoV)

Sirius, how do you always get into these messes? You are barely out of prison and I am already having to try to unf- help fix your life.

I carefully try to explain things to the young children (and the idea of Sirius of all of us having children, and twins at that!) in such a way that will actually help their relationship rather than damage it further. All while hopefully avoiding doing anything to set them off.

Fortunately, we seem to be making progress. At least until my last comment makes the boy, Coeus, go completely still.

Completely, unnaturally still.

My attention is drawn to the older girl, Dora, as she slowly pulls out her wand.

I think I made a mista-

Every piece of glass in the house explodes simultaneously.