"Brumous"

"Chapter Thirty-Six: Happy Birthday, Sirius"

It was just past two in the morning. Sirius had been thirty-seven for over two hours, but felt much older than that. He stared at his cold coffee, thinking he should have placed a Warming Charm on it. Honestly, he didn't think he should still be awake so late but he couldn't will himself to go upstairs and expose his mind to the nightmares that often plagued him.

After Voldemort and his Death Eaters showed up at Godric's Hollow, Sirius had been on edge. Ted was fine, just a small gash in his side that Andromeda fixed with no issues. But Sirius was now the Secret Keeper of the cottage and he hated that. He never wanted to be a Secret Keeper for anyone, because he should have been the Potter family Secret Keeper. If he had denied to protect them, why should he protect anyone?

A soft hissing sounded. Furrowing his brow, Sirius pushed back his chair to see the small garden snake Harry had conjured a few days ago. It looked up at him with its dark eyes. Sirius snarled at it, having thought he had gotten rid of the damn thing. Except it slithered up the leg of the table closer to him.

"Go away," Sirius snapped. "I don't want to be around any damn snakes."

The snake didn't listen. It stared at him, looking up at him with its dark eyes like he wanted to wrap around him once more. Sirius refused to go anywhere near it, not allowing it touch him. For the first time ever in his life, he was immensely annoyed with his godson for conjuring the damn thing to begin with.

The stairs creaked. Sirius knew it was probably Andromeda coming down to push him to sleep like she had the previous few nights. He really wished she wouldn't. She wasn't his minder. And now he would have to explain to her why there was a bloody snake in her house that wouldn't leave him alone. The door pushed open a few moments later and Andromeda peeked in.

"I'll go to bed in a few," Sirius said in an exhausted tone, not bothering to meet her gaze, as he shot the snake his best death glare.

Andromeda shook her head. "It's not that," she insisted. "It's Harry. He's upstairs vomiting. I thought you should know."

Sirius didn't waste any time jumping up from the table, his previous annoyance gone in one fell swoop. He crossed the room in five long strides.

"What's wrong?" Sirius snapped, pushing past Andromeda.

She was at his heels. "I don't know. Ted and I heard him in the bathroom. Ted's with him now."

Sirius took the steps two at a time, the snake in the kitchen long forgotten. The sound of dry-heaving filtered through his ears as he rounded into the loo. Harry crouched bent over the toilet while Ted rubbed his back.

"Sirius is here," Ted said in a soothing voice, before he rose to his full height. "I'll go grab my wand to run some diagnostic spells."

Sirius nodded as he took Ted's place next to Harry. Wrapping his fingers around the back of Harry's neck, he waited for the kid to be done. His skin felt hot to the touch and Sirius noted his dark locks were damp with sweat. Harry seemed like he had been vomiting for a while because nothing but bile escaped his lips by this point.

Finally, after several long moments, Harry pulled away, his back collapsing against the wall next to the toilet. Sirius flushed the vomit down before he turned to face his godson. His eyes were closed, his glasses absent. His skin glistened with sweat, his t-shirt damp and clinging to his skin. Sirius cupped Harry's face, his eyes flickering to the extremely red and angry-looking scar on his forehead.

"Harry…" Sirius trailed off.

"Voldemort's in my head," Harry explained through clenched teeth. "He knows I'm not at Hogwarts. He wants to see where we are."

Ted burst into the room, crouching down next to Sirius. He pressed the tip of his wand to the side of Harry's neck, a frown appearing on his face. Sirius reached up a shaky hand and pushed back the hair plastered to his forehead. The scar was searing hot, nearly throbbing. Sirius glanced over at Ted.

"This is what I was telling you about," Sirius hissed. "Feel his scar."

Sirius moved his hand, resting it on the side of Harry's neck. He could feel the kid's heartbeat pumping harshly against his fingertips. Harry still hadn't opened his eyes. Ted pressed the back of his hand against Harry's forehead before he specifically traced the scar.

"It's hotter than the rest of him," Ted mused. "His fever is pretty high."

"What is going on?" Sirius demanded.

Ted only shrugged. "I haven't the faintest idea, Sirius, I told you that before. This is, this is beyond my expertise."

"Does he need a fever potion?" Andromeda asked somewhere behind them.

Ted shook his head. "It won't do any good until Voldemort's out of his mind. It's not a normal fever."

"Harry, you need to push him out," Sirius insisted. "You can do this. You've done it before."

Harry swallowed, his face scrunching. "I'm trying," he hissed.

Sirius eased down onto the floor, his knees aching from the crouched position. The seconds dragged on. The only thing that could be heard in the eerily quiet bathroom was Harry's ragged breathing. Sirius didn't know how much time passed. He refused to move from his spot on the floor next to Harry, his hands keeping contact with his godson to support him in the only way he knew how.

Finally, Harry let out a heavy sigh of relief, his eyes fluttering open. Sirius offered Harry a strained smile but the kid didn't return it. Harry's chest heaved, his head dropping back against the wall.

"Are you all right?" Sirius asked.

Harry nodded.

Ted pressed his hand against Harry's forehead. "His fever is already gone. He's cool albeit clammy."

Sirius chewed on his bottom lip for a second. "There has to be someone who can help us understand this."

"If I'm being honest, I wouldn't trust anyone with this information," Ted admitted. "This type of connection isn't ordinary. You wouldn't want some Healer or Dark Arts specialist performing tests or experiments on him."

Harry shuddered. Sirius placed a reassuring hand on Harry's knee. He'd be damned if anyone experimented on his godson.

"Dumbledore doesn't know?" Andromeda pressed.

Sirius glanced back at her, watching as she chewed on the skin around her thumb. "He has his little theories. That's all. No real answers. Or if he has real answers, he's not giving them."

"I don't think you'll ever fully know the answers you're seeking, Sirius," Ted spoke in a gentle tone. "Harry's situation is completely unique. There's no research, no one else you can talk to."

"I hate it," Harry whispered. "I just want it to stop."

Sirius squeezed Harry's knee, his head nodding. "I know, mate. I'm trying."

Harry searched Sirius' eyes, a deep frown working its way onto his face. "I know."

Sirius offered a stained smile. "Do you want to go back to bed or I can head downstairs with you for a bit."

"Sirius, you haven't slept yet," Andromeda protested.

"I'll have a lie-in," Sirius replied, rising to his full height and reaching out a hand for Harry to grab. "You said I could do whatever I wanted on my birthday and I want to sleep on my birthday."

Andromeda sighed but didn't say anything. Harry grasped Sirius' hand and stood up. Sirius wrapped an arm around the kid's shoulders, pulling his godson closer to his side. Harry rested his head on Sirius' shoulder. The kid looked exhausted, and Sirius had no doubt Harry would fall asleep downstairs within the hour. That was fine by Sirius. He'd just make sure they were both comfortable on the sofa before Harry dozed off.

"Why don't we get you changed first?" Sirius suggested, steering Harry out of the bathroom. "You need your glasses too."

Harry nodded, allowing Sirius to led him out of the bathroom. When they entered Dora's old room, they broke apart. Harry dug through his wardrobe for a clean shirt and joggers. Sirius turned around, giving the kid privacy to change. His eyes landed on the picture that Harry had taken from the Hollow several hours earlier. The one where he held Harry in his arms while telling Marlene to get away. Sirius had done that more times than he could count with Marlene, keeping Harry happily in his own arms. Marlene had always laughed about it, saying how loving of a godfather he was. Sirius' heart twisted in his chest as he stared at his tiny godson in the picture.

Harry had been small when Sirius re-met him after twelve years apart. Short and skinny. His eyes had been haunted on his childish face, like he was older beyond his years. Now, Harry was nearly as tall as him and looking more like a man than a child. All grown up. In a blink of an eye. Sirius wondered if it would feel that way even if he had raised Harry like he was supposed to.

"I'm ready," Harry announced in an exhausted tone.

Sirius turned around to face him. He had on joggers and a hooded sweatshirt, his hands shoved into the front pocket. Sirius noticed the kid liked a comfortable wardrobe, dressing like James used to in athletic style clothing.

"Come on, kid," Sirius said, holding out his arm for Harry.

Sirius led Harry downstairs, making their way to the parlor. Easing down onto the sofa, Sirius pulled Harry close to his side with an arm wrapped tightly around his shoulders. Harry rested his head on Sirius' shoulder, his knees drawing up to rest on his godfather's thighs. With a flick of his wand, Sirius summoned the quilt from across the room and laid it across them. Sirius pulled the quilt up to Harry's chin.

"You warm enough?" Sirius asked, kicking his feet up onto the coffee table.

"Hmm, yeah," Harry replied.

Within moments, Harry's soft snores filled the parlor. Sirius stared at the fireplace across the room, soaking in the pictures on the mantel. Resting his cheek against the top of Harry's messy mop of hair, he let out a long sigh. While the attempts to invade Harry's mind had lessened in recent months, Sirius was relieved that Harry had successfully pushed him out once again.

The floors creaked. Sirius glanced over to see Andromeda creeping into the parlor, her arms wrapped around her chest. She closed the space between them, peering down at Harry before her gaze flickered to Sirius.

"Do you need anything?" Andromeda whispered.

"Nah," Sirius replied, matching her volume.

"Ted can help you get him upstairs if you want," Andromeda offered.

"I'm good," Sirius said.

Andromeda stared at him, tears brimming her eyes. "I'm proud of you, Sirius."

Sirius' throat narrowed at the words.

"I know this hasn't been easy for you," Andromeda continued as she took a seat next to his feet on the coffee table, her hand gripping his ankle. "I know you've been through a lot. Azkaban was… Merlin, it was awful. But you have loved and protected Harry so fiercely. You have stepped up for him. Now, you're seeking the help you need to be the best version of yourself for him. Ted and I love you. We're so proud of you. We're here for you, all right? Anything you need, any time of day, we're here for you."

Sirius screwed his eyes shut, trying to keep his emotions at bay. "I love you too, Andy. Thank you. For everything."

Andromeda squeezed his ankle. "What are big sisters for?"

Sirius opened his eyes, his gray eyes staring into hers. "Our childhood was really fucked up. But the one thing I loved the most about it, was how close we were. All of us, even Reg and Cissy when we were really small. We were more like siblings than cousins. I always, always viewed you and Cissy as my sisters and not my cousins."

Andromeda frowned. "I miss her."

"She picked her side, Andy," Sirius replied, lifting his head from Harry's. "She married Malfoy of all people. She's not our sister any longer."

"What if she's trapped like Reggie was?" Andromeda asked. "What if she just needs help and wants out?"

"Then she has to ask for it," Sirius replied. "She has to come to us. We can't help her if she doesn't come to us."

Andromeda licked her bottom lip. "She looked sad at the Quidditch match."

Sirius shook his head. "I didn't notice."

Andromeda snorted. "You were too busy having a cock fight with Malfoy."

Sirius resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Narcissa married a monster," he said instead. "She watched and didn't do or say anything when Malfoy would degrade Reg and me. We were just kids. She was supposed to protect us. You would have protected us. You never would have married a man who hurt children in the way Malfoy did."

Andromeda's chest heaved. "I think… I think they were scared. Reggie and Cissy saw what happened to us when we rebelled. They didn't have the same support we did. You had the Potters. I had the Tonkses. Reggie and Cissy had no one.
"They had us," Sirius insisted, his jaw tightening, because that was a bullshit excuse. "They could have come to us. And, and, yeah, I had the Potters, but I also relied heavily on you and Ted. I leaned on you, Andy."

"Yes, but we were always each other's favorites," Andromeda leveled, a soft smile crossing her face. "It was always the two of us together and then Reggie and Cissy together. While you leaned on me and I leaned on you, Reggie and Cissy leaned on each other. They were closer. I think they were both drowning with us gone. They only had Bella after we left."

"Narcissa knows if she left that I'd take care of her," Sirius replied in a bitter tone.

Andromeda arched an eyebrow. "Does she?"

Sirius rested his head against the back of the sofa.

"She knows how much you loathe Malfoy," Andromeda continued. "Would you help her if that meant helping her son as well? You saw him at the Quidditch game. You've heard Harry talk about him. He's a Malfoy as well and was raised by that awful man."

"I heard he took the Mark," Sirius whispered, his eyes searching Andromeda's face. "Sixteen with the Mark. Just like Reg."

Andromeda leaned forward. "You were a child yourself when Reggie took the Mark, Sirius. You couldn't have helped him. But you can help Draco. You can help Cissy. We can have our family back."

"What makes you think they want to even be our family, Andy?" Sirius pressed, because he didn't trust Narcissa any longer.

"Hope," Andromeda replied.

Hope. The word swirled around in Sirius' head. Hope was a dangerous thing, especially in a time of war. Narcissa could destroy them, destroy their carefully hand-picked family. Worst of all, she could hurt Harry so easily if she was given foolhardy access into their lives. Sirius knew he could not risk it all for a cousin who had turned her back on them, no matter how close he had been with her as a small child. He just didn't know how to tell Andromeda that.

Ginny woke up Sunday morning, feeling like she had barely slept. She clutched the quilt her mother made her close to her chest, her brows furrowing as she stared at the closed hangings around her bed.

She had spoken to Harry briefly on the mirror once on Friday and once on Saturday. Despite assuring her Sirius was fine after his release from the hospital and mentioning visiting Godric's Hollow, he hadn't said much, seeming distant and exhausted. Ginny couldn't blame him. Not after the way they had found Sirius nearly dead on the floor of his kitchen. She herself felt exhausted and anxious about the entire ordeal. She couldn't even begin to imagine how Harry felt because it had been his parent on the verge of death that night.

Ginny had come to respect Sirius and enjoyed his company. He often acted like an uncle-figure to Ginny and Ron, taking the time to explain things to them and even helping them develop some Occlumency skills. Sirius had kept them safe when her dad had been attacked the previous Christmas, staying up with them and answering their questions to the best of his ability. He had successfully stopped her brothers from leaving the house in a huff. Ginny had grown to love Sirius and cherished him as a part of her family.

The hangings around her bed opened, interrupting her thoughts, revealing Demelza. Ginny rolled onto her back, not feeling like doing anything. She had spent the majority of the weekend locked up in her dormitory.

"How are you actually doing?" Demelza asked, leaning against the bedpost.

Ginny stared up at her friend. "Fine."

"G, I know you," Demelza insisted. "You've been pretty fucked up since Thursday."

Ginny sighed, her eyes closing shut for a few moments. "It was ghastly, D. I mean, I've never seen anyone like that before. And it was Sirius. You should have seen Harry. He was so upset and he was so quiet after it all happened."

Demelza nodded, a frown working its way on her face. "Don't be upset with me, all right?"

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "What did you do?"

"I talked to Ron last night. We may have agreed that you needed someone to talk to because of what you saw… anyway, he contacted your mum," Demelza explained. "Then she contacted McGonagall and, well, now your mum's sitting in her office."

Ginny blinked. "What?"

"Your mum is in McGonagall's office. She's here to talk to you," Demelza repeated. "I thought, well, I thought you needed someone to talk to. I know you've talked to Harry and got a small update, but I thought your mum would have more information and more time to talk and it would, you know, be good for you."

Ginny's heart expanded in her chest. She bolted up in her bed and threw herself at Demelza, her arms wrapping tightly around her best friend's neck.

"Thank you," Ginny whispered. "Yes, yes, I want to talk to my mum."

"Okay, good, because if you were upset, I was going to blame your brother and tell you it was all his idea," Demelza replied, squeezing Ginny to her chest.

Ginny laughed, pulling away from Demelza and then jumping out of bed. She changed quickly before throwing her hair up into a ponytail. Rushing through the corridors, she tried to reach McGonagall's office as quickly as she could. Her mother always had the best advice and just listened when she talked. Surely, her mum would understand and reassure her that everything was all right. She would know what needed to happen next as well. Her mother was a bottomless pit of knowledge.

When she burst into McGonagall's office, she saw her mother and Ron already there. Her brother gave her a sheepish look, ducking his head and having his red hair flop in front of his face. She marched up to him, wrapping her arms tight around his waist and holding onto him tight.

"Thank you," she whispered, looking up at him.

He smiled. "Yeah, yeah, now can you just stop?" Ron asked, grabbing her arms and pulling them away from him. "McGonagall's here for Merlin's sake."

Ginny pulled back, a wide grin on her face. Ron merely rolled his eyes.

"I'll leave you three be to talk," Professor McGonagall announced. "Molly, have them back by nine, please."

"Of course, Minerva, thank you."

McGonagall nodded at each of them before she left her office. Ginny turned towards her mum, her eyes wide.

"You're signing us out?" Ginny asked, her mouth hanging open.

She nodded. "Yes, dear, I am. Ron said you were upset after what you witnessed on Thursday. While I can reassure you I heard Sirius is doing well, I can say that I am also anxious because I haven't seen him yet myself. After speaking with Andromeda at Friday's Order meeting, she invited us by the house for Sirius' birthday today. I thought it would do us all some good to see him and check in."

Ginny grinned, hitting Ron in the arm with the back of her hand. "Did you hear that? We're getting signed out for once! And for something fun!"

"I'm just excited for cake," Ron replied, rubbing his arm where Ginny had hit him.

Ginny's mum smiled softly at them. "Now, let's sit down and have a chat first before we leave."

They took a seat at the little round table in the corner of the room. Ginny settled next to Ron, across from their mother, and scooted her chair close to his.

"I know I don't have to explain to the two of you just how dreadful the Dementors of Azkaban are," Ginny's mum started, a frown working its way on her face. "Being exposed to them for hours on end, day after day, for years, absolutely destroys one's mental health. Just because the Dementors are gone doesn't mean that those feelings can leave just as easily. Sirius has been struggling with depression for a long time, longer than any of us could imagine. From what I understand, he struggled with it even before his stint in Azkaban."

Ginny frowned. "Can't he get help?"

Mum smiled sadly. "Oh, dear, yes. Yes, he can get help. But often admitting you need help is the hardest part. We often think those feelings will go away if we just will for it to happen. Or maybe we just think it's temporary and it will get better. I can tell you, from personal experience, how I went on potions for a bit after your Uncle Gideon and Uncle Fabian were murdered. A huge light was taken from me and I struggled. I had just had Ginny and she was only days old when I buried my brothers. Your father was wonderful. More wonderful than I could ever imagine. He helped me through the worst of it, making sure I received the help I needed. While we've all seen the warning signs with Sirius and we tried to help him, he wasn't ready to accept that help."

Ron leaned back in his chair. "So, is he getting help now?"

Molly nodded. "From what Andromeda said, yes, he's finally ready. Sometimes, it takes time for things to get better. Sometimes, things may get worse before they get better. It's a long road to heal oneself. Sirius is going to need a little extra support from his friends and family. I think Harry may need a little extra support from the both of you as well. I want you both to remember the mirrors Sirius gave you over the summer. I am always here to answer questions or to talk to. I don't want either one of you to forget that."

Ginny nodded, sinking back in her chair. "I should have contacted you about it. I just… oh, Mum, it was awful!"

Her mum reached across the table and Ginny grasped her hand. "I know, dear. Don't be afraid to call me in the middle of the night. Your father and I are always here for you lot, all right? We love you all."

"Thanks, Mum," Ron said in a sincere voice.

"I know things are hectic right now with, well, the war and the Order," Ginny's mum explained. "There's a lot of everyone's plates right now, but we will always make time for you."

Ginny, not for the first time, felt grateful that Molly Weasley was their mother. She listened with rapt attention as her mother went into depth about alcohol, depression, coping mechanisms, and knowing when someone has a problem. Honestly, Ginny took the explanations to heart and asked questions. Even Ron participated a bit, trying to understand how someone could find themselves at rock bottom like Sirius had a few nights ago.

A couple hours later, they joined their father in Hogsmeade. The four of them Apparated to Exeter and walked down the dirt lane towards the Tonks' cottage. They stopped in front of a vacant lot and Ginny frowned. Out of thin air, Ted Tonks rushed towards them with a piece of parchment in Sirius' large elegant writing.

The house appeared out of nowhere and they were rushed inside. In the house, Ginny saw Harry standing next to Sirius, both of them looking lighter and happier than they had been recently. Harry turned, catching her eye. A smile crept on his face as he took a step away from Sirius.

"Gin!" Harry exclaimed.

That was all Ginny needed. She bolted towards Harry, practically flinging herself at him. His hand pressed onto the back of her head, holding her close to his chest. Ginny savored the contact, having craved his comfort all weekend. Pulling back, she grinned up at him.

"Hey," she greeted.

"All right, enough, let me say my hello," Ron complained, shooing Ginny away from Harry.

Rolling her eyes, with a smile dancing on her face, she stepped to the side to let Ron pull Harry into an embrace. She turned towards Sirius, her smile faltering just a tad. Ginny stepped closer to him, her stomach twisting into knots. Sirius smiled tightly at her. Ginny rose on her tiptoes, her fingers grabbing his arm and pulling him down to her height because he was too damn tall to even attempt to hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck, knowing it probably looked comically at how low he had to bend down for the embrace.

"I'm really glad you're okay," Ginny whispered into his ear. "But if you ever do anything like that again, I'll hex you so bad you won't be able to walk for a bloody week."

Sirius only chuckled. "I'll hold you to that."

Ginny pulled back, letting Sirius stand up properly. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his face pulled tight as he stared down at her.

"I'm sorry, Ginny," Sirius added. "You didn't deserve to see me that way."

Ginny wrapped her arms around her stomach. "It was awful, Sirius," she admitted in a hushed tone. "You can't do that anymore. You can't do that to Harry again."

Sirius didn't say anything, wincing and glancing down at the floor. She wanted to say more. She wanted to scream at him. But she didn't. She could see the pain in his eyes, the way he bowed his head in shame. Ginny knew that he it was another regret he'd add into his mounting pile. She had never been happier that her mother had sat down with them for so long to explain the complexity of the situation. Sympathy rolled off her. She hated that everything had piled so high for Sirius until the weight crushed him.

"Oi, Sirius, mate, happy birthday," Ron greeted, clapping Sirius on the shoulder and being annoyingly tall like the older man. "Glad to see you make it to thirty-seven."

"Ron!" Ginny's mum bustled, pulling out of an embrace with Harry and making her way towards them. Sirius let out a chuckle, seemingly unbothered by Ron's tactless joke. "Sirius, dear, how are you doing?"

Ginny's mum gestured for Sirius to bend down so she could cup his cheeks. Sirius looked a tad misty-eyed as he stared down back at her, his eyes blinking rapidly.

"I'm okay now," Sirius replied, his voice thick.

"I've missed you, you know," Mum told him, her voice soft and filled with affection. "I think we need to start back up our weekly dinner dates."

Sirius nodded. "I'd love that. I'm sorry I've been so… distant."

Ginny's mum only smiled up at him. "I think you should find a hobby. Something to help occupy your time and keep your mind off things. I started knitting when Gideon and Fabian died. It helped with the grief, just something to focus on."

"Yeah, yeah, I think that'd be a good thing for me," Sirius admitted.

Ginny's dad stepped forward, holding out a hand to Sirius with his free hand clapping him on the shoulder. "I'm glad you're all right, Sirius. You had us quite worried."

Sirius swallowed visibly. "I didn't mean to make you two worry."

"It's what family does, Sirius," Dad replied, peering at Sirius over the tops of his glasses. "You have helped us plenty. You opened your home to us, treated our children like your own, helped ease some of Molly's worries, and been a great friend to us both. Let us share some of your burdens now. Because we are always here for you, Sirius, no matter the day or time. Don't hesitate to contact us."

Harry stepped up next to Ginny, his fingers tickling the inside of her wrist. Her fingers wrapped around his palm, her gaze turning to look at him.

"I really appreciate that, Arthur. I think the world of your family," Sirius replied, his voice thick with emotion.

Ginny's parents moved to greet the Andromeda, Remus, and Tonks. Sirius turned look between the three teenagers.

"Don't get old," Sirius told them. "It fucking sucks."

Ron snorted. "Yeah, fat load of luck we'll have with that but thanks all the same for the advice."

Sirius grinned, his head shaking.

"So a hobby?" Ginny asked, looking up at Sirius. "Any ideas what you're going to do to occupy your time?"

Sirius shrugged, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Not fucking knitting, I can tell you that much."

Harry laughed, his fingers giving Ginny's hand a squeeze.

"Well, what's Andromeda's hobby?" Ginny asked.

Sirius snorted. "Meddling in my life."

Ginny rolled her eyes, her head shaking.

"What about Ted? Can't you do something with Ted?" Ron supplied. "What's his hobby?"

"Ted's hobby is being, well, Ted," Sirius replied with obvious affection in his tone. "He probably helps old witches cross the street for fun."

Ron laughed. "Well, you mentioned before you used to fix up old motorbikes and enchant them to fly when you were younger. Do that again. Dad would help you. He had an old Ford Angela he enchanted to fly before. Drove Mum bonkers."

"I don't have a driveway at the Hogsmeade house," Sirius replied with a shrug. "The back garden is too small," he added as he turned to look at the three of them. "Look, I appreciate it, but I can find a hobby all on my own."

"You're thirty-seven and don't have a hobby besides drinking a questionable amount of caffeine," Harry chimed in. "You should get a pet. You know, maybe something small that likes to curl up in your pocket."

Sirius shot Harry a look, a small huff escaping his lips. "If I put my hand in my pocket, am I going to find something that I don't want?"

Harry's face remained expressionless. "Uh… yeah, I probably wouldn't check your pockets right now."

"I'm going to go talk to the adults now," Sirius announced as he stared at Harry, his jaw tightening. "We are going to have a talk later though because you're going to solve this annoying problem you brought into my life."

Without another word, Sirius crossed the room. He shoved a hand into his pocket and pulled a thick long thing out. After tossing whatever it was into a potted plant, he joined the small circle of adults. His palm pressed against Tonks' back, his shoulders hunching forward as he joined in on the conversation.

Ginny turned towards Harry. "What was he talking about?"

"I may or may not have conjured him a pet snake," Harry said, a slight wince crossing his features.

Ron burst out laughing. "Why the bloody hell would you do that?"

"I thought it'd be funny," Harry replied before turning towards Ron. "Hey, want to grab something to eat? Andy went overboard with food and fizzy drinks."

"You had me at food," Ron replied, wrapping an arm around Harry's shoulders. "You know me so well. No wonder we're best mates."

Ginny shot Harry a look, but he ignored her as they made their way over to the little folding table that had an array of food and drinks on it. Harry grabbed three fizzy drinks while Ginny and Ron prepared their plates of food. While Ginny filled her plate with enough food for her and Harry, Ron piled on food for only himself. He took bites of the food while filling his plate, acting like he hadn't been fed in years.

Once satisfied, the three made their way over to the sofa. Ginny leaned back against the cushions, kicking her legs up onto the coffee table with a fizzy drink in her hand and the plate of food balancing on her lap. Harry sat next to her, squished between her and Ron, but he didn't seem to mind. Making room, Harry wrapped an arm around the back of the sofa, his fingers tickling her shoulder as she eased into his side.

"I actually had to pay attention in Transfiguration on Friday," Ron complained. "Hermione refused to give me any notes. I told her it was for you too, but she said it would do me some good to pay attention once and awhile. That was exhausting so I skived off Charms. Sorry, mate."

Harry chuckled, taking a sip of his fizzy drink. Ginny watched as Sirius picked at the label of his fizzy drink, looking lost in the conversation happening around him.

"It'll be fine," Harry said with a shrug. "We barely take notes anyway when we're both in class and manage not to fail."

"Ginny didn't go to class on Friday either," Ron announced.

Rolling her eyes to the ceiling, Ginny tried not to let out a noise of annoyance. Ron and his big fat mouth.

Harry turned his attention to her. "Why didn't you go to class?"

Ginny shrugged, brushing her long ponytail behind her shoulder. "I was worried about Sirius. I wanted to be able to answer the mirror if you called me."

Harry had called her later that day so she could have gone to class and not missed him but it was fine. She didn't regret not going after what she had witnessed.

"I would have called back if you didn't answer," Harry insisted, his eyes searching hers.

Ginny rested a hand on his thigh. "I know."

The three of them chatted, avoiding the topic of what had happened on Halloween. Instead, Ron gave Harry the rundown of the Quidditch practice he missed on Saturday. Ginny had barely participated in practice, too busy checking her mirror midair. It was fine though. Neither she nor Harry really needed the practice anyway. The team was shaping up to be pretty solid.

After the food had been eaten and the empty bottles of fizzy drinks were discarded onto the tables, Andromeda brought in a cake filled with an absurd number of candles. Ginny could only guess that it was exactly thirty-seven candles. Jumping up from the sofa, Ginny pulled Harry up with her.

"Ted, get the lights!" Andromeda called.

With a flick of Ted's wand, the lights dimmed. The room broke out into song as Andromeda eased towards Sirius, a wide grin on her face. A crooked smile crossed Sirius' face as he bent down and blew out the candles once the singing ceased. Everyone clapped. Ginny hooted, her hands gripping Harry's arm.

"Thirty-fucking-seven, Merlin fuck, Sirius," Tonks laughed, wrapping her arms around Sirius. "I remember when you were clean-shaven and rode that motorbike that drove Mum bonkers."

"And the dog tags," Remus added. "You used to wear those all the time."

"Don't forget when he only had the one ear pierced," Ted said with a laugh. "What was that? A year or two you wore that earring?"

Sirius shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Fuck off, all of you."

Andromeda laughed as she sat the cake down on the end table while Ginny's mum stood next to her with plates and forks. "Ah, but none of you remember him when he was a wee little boy in fancy little dress robes and three-piece suits for when we'd go out in the Muggle world."

Sirius sucked in a breath, his face pulling. "I don't think I owned a t-shirt until I stole one from James when we were eleven and it was too fucking hot to wear a dress shirt."

Remus burst out laughing. "I remember you dressing like that our first year. Always in dress shirts and fine pressed trousers. I think you stole one of my jumpers as well."

"Muggle street clothes were beneath the Blacks," Sirius commented in an aloof tone as he accepted a plate of floating cake. "Formal Muggle attire was tolerated. I remember James taking a bunch of my favorite shirts home in his trunk the first few years until I stopped giving any fucks."

Ginny had stopped paying attention when her mother started floating the plates towards them. Lunging forward, she snagged the first floating plate coming their way before Ron could grab it. He snarled at her as Ginny handed the plate to Harry. She positioned herself between the plates and Ron, making it clear he'd be last to receive a plate of cake.

Ron pointed at her. "Stop it!"

Ginny only grinned. "Make me."

"Merlin, I'll take the last piece of cake," Harry said, blowing out some air as he held the plate out for Ron to take. "Waiting thirty more seconds isn't going to kill me."

"It does if you want seconds," Ginny challenged.

Harry shot them a look, his face drawn in a thin line.

"Stop tempting me with the cake, Harry!" Ron exclaimed, batting his hand at the plate. "It's about principle now that Ginny gets the last piece."

Harry shoved his fork into the cake and took a bite, seemingly trying to ignore them. Ginny saw the plate floating towards them out of the corner of her eye and she shifted her body. Before she could leap towards the plate, Ron tackled her to the floor. She landed hard on the hardwood, all the air escaping her lungs.

"Honestly!" Ginny's mum huffed.

Ron scrambled off Ginny, pushing his body weight into her shoulders to keep her pinned down for as long as possible. He dove for the plate, securing it, and stumbling forward. Except he couldn't stay standing. He face-planted into the floor, the cake smearing on the ground and the plate smashing.

"Andromeda, I am so sorry for my children!" Ginny's mum exclaimed before shooting them a dirty look.

Ginny laughed, scrambling to her feet and ambling over to the cake. She grabbed a plate from Andromeda and did a little curtsy. Shoving her fork through the moist sponge, she moaned as she took a bite and stared right at Ron's fuming face.

Harry sat on the bed that he had claimed as his for the entire weekend. He could hear the shower going, knowing that Sirius was getting ready to take him back to Hogwarts. Picking at a piece of fluff on the comforter, he realized he didn't want to go back to school. The main reason being, he was nervous to leave Sirius all alone again. What if Sirius stumbled again like he had on Halloween?

All summer, while Harry had stayed with Sirius, he had never seen his godfather drink. Sirius seemed happy, laughed easily, told countless stories. Harry couldn't help but think that ever since school started, Sirius had started to steadily decline. Maybe Sirius was just lonely. Harry knew better than anyone just how dreadful it was to be lonely.

A soft knock sounded at the door. Harry called for them to come in. Ted peeked his head in, a bright smile on his face as he eased inside and closed the door behind him. He wore his Healer robes.

"Hey, I wanted to say goodbye before I leave for work," Ted announced. "And to check in on you. Make sure you're all ready to go back."

Harry shrugged. "I don't know, I guess I'm ready."

Ted frowned, moving across the room and taking a seat in front of Harry on the bed. Reaching out a hand, he wrapped his fingers around Harry's.

"What's on your mind?" Ted asked.

Harry's eyes flickered to the bedroom door. The shower had just turned off. Turning his attention back to Ted, he took a deep breath.

"I'm worried about Sirius," Harry admitted, his stomach churning.

Ted nodded. "I know. I am too," he admitted. "That's completely normal and natural to have some fears and worries after what happened on Thursday. I don't think any of us knew just how badly Sirius was struggling. He's very good at hiding his pain, always has been."

Harry nodded. "I just… he did better over the summer when I was around."

Ted frowned, his blue eyes searching Harry's. "You have to go back to school, Harry," he said in a gentle tone.

"I could get a tutor," Harry argued. "Remus is already going to teach me Defense if Dumbledore allows it. Sirius is really good at Transfiguration. Andy's a Potioneer by trade. And I'm sure between everyone, I'll be fine with Charms."

"Harry, your only job at sixteen is going to school and getting an education," Ted replied, his eyebrows tugging down.

"But Sirius–"

"Sirius will be fine," Ted insisted. "Trust me, Andy and I are going to be keeping a close eye on him. Remus and Dora are as well. Andy spoke with Molly. She and Arthur both agreed to help. We have eyes on Sirius. I will personally make sure he goes to his Mind Healer appointments. I'm good friends with his Mind Healer. She will let me know if Sirius doesn't show up. Once he starts taking a potion for his depression, he'll be a completely different person. He'll feel so much better, I promise you. It only takes about a week for the potion to kick in and help."

Harry only nodded. "What if I stayed with Sirius for that week then?"

Ted reached out a hand, pressing his palm against the side of Harry's neck. "You are a very kind and amazing young man, you know that?"

Harry shrugged, a lump forming in his throat.

"I think you are wonderful to want to put your life on hold to help Sirius," Ted continued. "But that is not your job. You are sixteen years old. You need to focus on school. Sirius wants you to focus on school."

Harry frowned, his eyes dropping back down to the comforter on the bed. School didn't matter, not really. Honestly, he was supposed to kill Voldemort. Training for the inevitable battle was more important than sitting in class every day.

"You know, I was an only child," Ted said, leaning back against the footboard. "All my cousins were a lot older than me, so we weren't that close. When I met Andy, I was fortunate enough to get to know Sirius as well. Andy views herself as Sirius' big sister. She looked out for all the kids in that family, Regulus and Narcissa included. But her bond with Sirius, it was unmatched. The more I got to know Sirius, the more I started to view Sirius as a younger brother. Sirius and I are very close. I love him. I view it as my job, as his older brother, to watch out for him. Andy views it as her job to watch out for him. I promise you, Harry, Andy and I are not going to let what happened on Halloween to happen again. Remus and Dora stopped by the Hogsmeade house and dumped all the alcohol and cleaned up the kitchen. From what Remus gathered, Sirius has been regularly going to the Hog's Head. Aberforth agreed to contact Remus if Sirius wanders in. We have all been in contact with one another. We are all coordinating how we can watch out for Sirius without him suspecting too much. Because you know Sirius, he'll flip a lid if he knew we're all working together even if it's all out of love."

Harry didn't know what to say. It eased his mind to know so many people were going to start paying a lot closer attention to Sirius going forward. But his godfather would still be alone in that house. He could easily be able to obtain some alcohol and drink it in the dead of night with no one the wiser.

"What if I stayed in Hogsmeade with him and went to school during the day?" Harry suggested. "I wouldn't miss class but I'd be with Sirius at night."

Ted smiled sadly. "Harry, I understand the anxiety surrounding this, but you are giving plaster solutions to a very big problem."

Harry's heart quickened, suddenly feeling very hot. "He didn't drink all summer when we were together."

Ted folded his hands in his lap, his legs kicking up onto the bed and crossing at the ankles. "Tell me, Harry, what will you do when you are older? When your work demands a stakeout overnight? What happens when you are ready to take the next step with Ginny and decide to settle down? Not to mention, if you plan on having children, how does that all fit in with you minding Sirius every night?"

Harry's teeth pressed together, but he didn't say anything.

"Sirius would not want to hold you back," Ted reasoned. "I know how you are feeling. You have lost so many people in your life in such cruel and unthinkable ways. You even lost Sirius for a period of time. I understand that sorrow, Harry. All of us, we love Sirius. We want him to be around for a long time. But most importantly, we want Sirius to be genuinely happy and seek help. I think the best thing you can do for him is to go to school and to call him on the mirror nightly to check in. If you think he seems sad or upset, you need to call Andy or me so we can make sure he's all right. But, Harry, you cannot leave the castle again on a whim. It is too dangerous right now. Voldemort wants you."

Harry let out a long sigh. "If I didn't leave, Sirius would be dead."

Ted nodded. "Maybe. Maybe not. We'll never know. I'm all right with not knowing. But the one thing I do know is that if you died sneaking out of the castle to check on Sirius' wellbeing… he'd never forgive himself. He already struggles with an immense amount of guilt. Harry, I'm telling you, he's only doing as well as he is because he has you. You are the only person Sirius cares about. Truly. He'd be devastated to lose Andy or me. But you? Merlin, Harry, he wouldn't survive that."

Harry's head dropped, his gaze focusing on his hands in his lap. "I don't want to lose him either. He's the only person who has ever treated me like, like a son."

Ted shifted on the bed, scooting closer to Harry. His hand wrapped around Harry's, his head ducking down. Ted tried to catch Harry's gaze, but he stubbornly refused to meet it.

"That's why we are all going to work a lot harder to make sure you both are all right," Ted assured him, giving his hand a squeeze. "Sometimes, we can get wrapped up in our own lives. We miss subtle signs that people are truly and deeply struggling to the point of breaking. We all knew Sirius struggled, but none of us knew just how much. Now we know. We're not going to let anything happen. That's what family does. You are as much my family as Sirius is. You understand that, don't you, Harry?"

Harry looked up, finally catching Ted's gaze.

"You are my nephew," Ted stressed. "I will forever see you as my nephew, no matter what. I know you never had a good uncle figure in your life. I promise you that I take the role of uncle very seriously. I know Andy takes her role of aunt very seriously. We are very family-oriented. We are here for you to talk to as much as we are here for Sirius."

The corners of Harry's lips twitched, his eyes growing misty. Ted Tonks was so different than Vernon Dursley. For that, Harry was more grateful than he could even put into words.

"In another life, I like to think I was Uncle Ted to you, but I'll settle for just Ted in this one," Ted added with a soft smile. "Whatever makes you comfortable, as long as you know you are so loved."

Harry nodded, his chest expanding oddly. He couldn't find the words to tell Ted just how much he had grown to love him in the past six months. It had been easy slipping into the family, like he was always meant to be there.

"Come here, son," Ted said, holding his arms out for Harry.

Without hesitation, Harry wrapped his arms around Ted and pressed his face into the crook of his neck. It was amazing how much his life had changed in such a short timeframe.

Ted pressed a hand against the back of Harry's neck, holding him tight. "I love you, Harry."

All the tension in Harry's shoulders loosened. "I love you too, Ted."

Harry was very acutely aware that he had only ever said those words to Sirius before. But after the way Ted had sat with him in the hospital all night on Halloween, the way Ted assured him time and time again, the way Ted had always made sure Harry felt included in conversations and sought out his opinion, Harry knew that he loved Ted just as much. Harry didn't know what he did to deserve so many wonderful people in his life.

Ted pulled back, his hands gripping Harry's biceps. "I want you to know, that there is no shame in seeking help if you need it. You've heard Sirius talk about his childhood. You know how the Blacks abused him. A lot of his issues as an adult stem from him just trying to survive his childhood. I know you didn't have the easiest time growing up, Harry. I see so much of Sirius in you. The very blatant signs that you too were abused. I can find you someone to talk to as well, if you'd like."

Harry frowned, not liking the idea of talking to a stranger about his sad pathetic life. What was he supposed to do? Talk about his dead parents and how vile the Dursleys were? It didn't even matter anymore, surely. Sirius had custody of him. Then again, Sirius, at sixteen, had lived with the Potters and he still needed help as an adult. It all seemed too confusing to even process.

"You don't have to decide now," Ted added in a rush. "It's just something to think about. Maybe once you see how much it'll help Sirius, then you'll want to go too."

Harry swallowed. "I'll think about it."

A knock sounded on the door and Harry called for them to enter. Sirius poked his head in, his hair looking damp but slicked back.

"You ready to go, kid?" Sirius asked. "You don't want to miss your first class."

Harry nodded before he turned towards Ted. "Thanks, Ted. For… you know. Everything."

Ted beamed. "Anytime. We'll see you at your next Quidditch match, all right? Andy already bought a Gryffindor blanket for the next game, since it'll be even colder than the last one."

Harry laughed, an easy grin spreading across his face.

"She never bought anything Gryffindor when I was a kid," Sirius commented, leaning against the doorjamb. "I can clearly see who her favorite is."

Ted eased off the bed. "You didn't play any sports, Sirius. Nor did you even do any extracurricular activities."

Sirius scoffed. "I'll have you know that my extracurricular activity was cleaning the bloody trophy room once every other week while serving detention. I probably broke the record for most detentions ever served by a single student!"

"That's not something to be proud of, Sirius," Ted said with a chuckle, crossing the room towards him.

"I beg to differ," Sirius replied, his lips curving.

Ted clapped a hand on Sirius' arm. "I have to go to work. Don't impart any rule breaking wisdom onto Harry, yeah?"

Sirius' gaze flickered over to Harry, a glint shining in his gray eyes. "I think the kid manages to find trouble without any help from me."

"I don't go looking for trouble," Harry insisted. "Trouble usually finds me."

Sirius snorted. "Yeah, I've heard that one before."

Ted laughed before he bid his final farewells. Harry remained stubbornly on the bed, looking up at Sirius.

"Come on, kid, before McGonagall gives me a detention for bringing you back late," Sirius said, gesturing with his arm.

Harry straightened, not moving. "I don't have to go back."

Sirius arched an eyebrow at him. "Oh? And what would you do if you don't go back to school?"

Harry shrugged. "Train with you?"

Sirius nodded, kicking off the doorframe. "So, after Voldemort is dead and we can go back to our normal lives, what are you going to do with no N.E.W.T.s to your name?"

"You don't have a job," Harry argued.

"I was also in Azkaban for twelve years. Little hard to get a job when I'm in prison," Sirius countered, no amusement in his voice.

"You said you didn't work before," Harry added. "You just went on Order missions."

Sirius nodded. "Yeah, but I'm not exactly the best role model out there," he said with a sigh. "Look, your dad worked at Sleekeazy's and your mum was a potioneer. What happened to you wanting to be an Auror?"

"I don't know," Harry lied, because he wasn't about ready to tell his godfather that he was scared Sirius would actually drink himself to death if he was left to his own devices. "I just thought… well, I mean, I don't need to go to Hogwarts. It might be better if I just stay with you and train."

"There may come a time when you can't attend Hogwarts," Sirius leveled, a frown tugging on his features. "But right now, you need to and you are able to attend Hogwarts. That is where you need to be. Until the war amps up, you need to be at school."

"But–"

"No buts," Sirius interrupted, holding up his hand. "This isn't a topic that you can debate with me. The answer is no. End of discussion. You are going back to school."

Harry scowled. He should at least have an opportunity to discuss what he wanted. Right now, he wanted to stay with Sirius because family was surely more important than school. But Sirius only told him they needed to leave or else he would miss his first class. Grabbing his hoodie off his bed, he shoved it over his head and sulked out of the room after Sirius.

Sirius was exhausted. He had barely slept over the weekend, opting to survive on pure caffeine and stubbornness. While he loved Andromeda more than he could put into words, her constant hovering suffocated him. There was only so long he could push down his annoyance and smile at her. Sirius knew Andromeda meant well and she worried. And Merlin had he given her enough to worry about for years to come, but he was happy to go back to having a bit of space.

Once Sirius and Harry arrived at McGonagall's office, Sirius offered her a strained smile, knowing she knew what had happened a few days ago. He didn't feel like making small talk as he signed Harry back into school. What could he really say after all? Hello, how was your weekend? Oh, that's wonderful. Mine consisted of a terrible night of binge drinking that landed me in the hospital after my godson found me in a puddle of my own vomit. Yeah, that was fun.

Sirius glanced at his watch, watching as the second hand ticked in front of the constellation face. A lump formed in Sirius throat as he jotted down the time onto the parchment. Fleamont and Euphemia had bought him and James matching watches for their seventeenth birthdays. James hadn't even minded that his parents had bought watches with constellations on them. Astronomy was one of the few things he enjoyed about being a Black - the naming scheme of them all and the interest in the stars they all seemed to share.

"Professor Dumbledore has agreed for Harry to take private lessons with Remus for the remainder of the semester," Professor McGonagall announced.

Truth be told, Sirius forgot about the request. He sat his quill down and turned towards Harry to see he was beaming.

"Although, Professor Dumbledore wants to amend your request, Sirius," McGonagall continued. "He wants Remus to meet with Harry once a week. Harry will be required to take a knowledge exam before the Christmas holidays to ensure that he is keeping up with his studies. If he passes, he may continue with the arrangement next semester."

"Sound good, Harry?" Sirius asked.

Harry nodded. "I'll get an Outstanding. I promise. Remus is the best professor I ever had," he added, staring at McGonagall. Then, he squirmed for a second. "In Defense, I mean. You're brilliant too, professor."

McGonagall looked amused. "Thank you for the glowing review, Mr Potter."

Harry shot Sirius a desperate look. Sirius felt himself smiling, his hand reaching out to grip Harry's shoulder.

"Hey, I'll see you Sunday, kid," Sirius assured him. "You only have a half hour to run to your dorm and grab your things before class starts."

Harry nodded, taking a step closer. "You're all right, right?" he asked in a soft voice.

Sirius sucked in a breath. "Yeah, I'm all right. Remus stopped by and dumped everything in the house. It's all gone."

Harry didn't look convinced. His fingers picked at the skin around his fingernails.

"Will you call me tonight on the mirror?" Harry pressed.

Sirius nodded, both hands resting on Harry's shoulders. "Promise. Every night," he assured in a hoarse voice. "I'm going to that Mind Healer this afternoon, all right? If I have the urge to do something stupid, Andy gave me a calling tree. She put herself as number one, of course."

Harry shifted. "Am I on the calling tree?"

Sirius nodded. Harry was at the bottom, given his age, but his godson didn't need to know that. Honestly, Sirius didn't think he'd ever get that far down in the list.

"I'm all right," Sirius assured him. "Promise. I won't do anything stupid again."

Harry chewed on his bottom lip, his green eyes boring into Sirius. Not waiting for a response, Sirius pulled his godson into a hug and threaded his fingers through his unruly hair. Sirius screwed his eyes shut, savoring the contact to remind him why he needed to seek help. Letting Harry down again wasn't an option.

"Have a good week in class," Sirius whispered, pulling out of the embrace. "Call me whenever. I always have my mirror in my back pocket."

"I know," Harry replied.

With a quick goodbye, Sirius watched as Harry left the office. Sirius turned towards McGonagall, nodding in her direction.

"Sorry about the late night sign out," Sirius said. "But I, uh, I appreciate you letting Ted sign out Harry."

McGonagall peered at him over her glasses. "If you would like, Mr Black, you may add me to your call tree. While I don't have one of your mirrors, you are always welcome to stop by my office. I daresay that you know where my private living quarters are. I remember you and Mr Potter placing plastic cats outside of my portrait hole for my birthday one year."

Sirius chuckled. "Yeah, we ordered like a hundred plastic little cats. You'll be glad to know we spent three nights straight transfiguring them to look like your Animagus form."

McGonagall gave a rare smile as she pointed to a bookshelf behind her desk. Sirius followed her hand and spotted the small plastic cat acting as a bookend. He had never noticed it before in all the weeks he had been signing Harry in and out of school every single Sunday.

"I kept one," McGonagall replied. "It was impressive work."

"I'm glad," Sirius said in a soft voice, his chest expanding oddly.

"I know it may not be my place, Mr Black, but there are a lot of people who care about your well-being," McGonagall said, her hands clasping in front of her. "I hope that you are open to seeking some help. Azkaban is a dreadful place. It can be nearly impossible to recover from the effects of the Dementors. I know that life has never been particularly kind to you. But I see how wonderful you are with Harry and how Harry has blossomed under your care. I would hate to not only have to say goodbye to you but to see the sheer devastation your death would have on Harry."

Sirius shifted his weight, his hands shoving into the pockets of his leather jacket. "I'm seeing a Mind Healer this afternoon. Her name is Vidya Patil. Apparently, Ted and Andy went to school with her."

McGonagall nodded. "Yes, she was a Ravenclaw and a prefect. Lovely girl. She actually has twin daughters in Harry's year – one in Ravenclaw and one in Gryffindor."

Sirius perked up at that. He hadn't made the connection in the names before. He could remember Harry and Ron talking about taking the girls on a double date to the Yule Ball. What a small fucking world. Sirius didn't know if that made this entire ordeal better or worse. Either way, he was going to find out soon enough.

I'm back! Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter. Don't forget to drop a review. They keep me motivated to keep chugging along in this writing journey.

Special thanks to justalittleconfusing for editing for me this time around! She'll be taking over for Bell for this story! She is faaaaaabulous.