Sirius thought that dinner was going fine, for the most part. Having to immediately diffuse things between Remus and Tonks when he walked in the door was something he'd been anticipating, but once Lyall arrived, the pair went out of their way to avoid eye contact and conversation. Plus most of the attention was on Harry and Lyall and Aurora.

Harry was practically lit up from the inside being with Aurora. Any anxiety he had about dinner seemed to have dissolved. Aurora also looked like she might implode from happiness all evening.

That changed immediately the moment Harry and Aurora were out of the room. Lyall let out a deep breath and sipped the last of his wine.

"That boy is really something," Lyall said.

"Aurora seems to think so," Remus said, still staring down the hall to her bedroom. "She could definitely do worse."

Lyall scoffed. "Better I'd say."

Sirius was a bit taken aback. "Better than Harry?"

"Of course," Lyall said. "Seemed like he was putting on a bit of show."

"I promise you he wasn't," Remus said dismissively. "I've always known Harry to be very genuine."

"Well, he'll want you to think that if he wants to keep snogging your daughter," Lyall said. "I can't believe you let him go into her bedroom, by the way. Certainly not how things were done in my day."

"It's a bit old-fashioned for them to need a chaperone, Lyall," Sirius joked, trying to keep things light. Lyall waved a dismissive hand at him.

"I trust Aurora and I think she's entitled to some privacy," Remus said.

"And yet you reminded her to leave the door open," Lyall said. His tone was oddly accusatory and condescending.

Remus let out a long-suffering sigh. He'd clearly had some version of this conversation with Lyall before.

"I happen to be quite capable of making decisions for my daughter if you haven't noticed," Remus said. "As a result, I trust that she's also capable of making her own decisions."

"She's certainly got better decision-making skills than I ever had," Theo said.

Sirius turned to her. "Was that a dig at me?"

"Obviously," she replied.

"That's valid, but it's still hurtful," he replied. "It is a testament to your parenting skills that she's not as much of a menace as I was, Remus."

Sirius certainly didn't agree with all of Remus' parenting tactics and had recently told him as much, but on the whole, Aurora had turned out to be a remarkable person. And when it came to Lyall, Sirius was always just naturally very defensive of Remus. The two of them hadn't even been speaking when Sirius went to Azkaban. No matter how many harsh words had been spoken between Sirius and Remus lately, Sirius was always going to defend his friend, especially when it came to Aurora.

"I'm sure Aurora is perfectly trustworthy," Lyall said. "I just don't think it's proper. I'd have never let you take anyone into your room when you were 16, not that there was ever any danger of that."

Sirius restrained a laugh as Remus' eyes seemed to roll back into his head.

"This is not the time or venue for that conversation," Remus said. "And as for Harry and Aurora, I'm sorry you disagree with the way I'm letting her manage her relationship, but I learned very quickly that being over-involved was not the way to handle the situation. I want this to be an environment where she feels safe and where she feels like she can be honest with me."

"Well, if you think you know what you're doing," Lyall scoffed.

"He does know what he's doing," Tonks chimed in suddenly. She'd been mostly quiet all evening and her voice startled Sirius. Lyall looked over to Tonks. "I mean, he clearly does. Aurora is at the top of her class. Remus trusts Harry to look at cookbooks in Aurora's bedroom because she tells him everything. By the way, I'm sure they're back there snogging, but they're also definitely just looking at cookbooks because they are truly the most wholesome and obnoxious couple on the planet."

"I don't mean to speak out of turn, Auror Tonks, but it sounds like you think you know my granddaughter better than I do," Lyall said.

"If your only concern about Harry being in that room with her was that it was improper you wouldn't have brought it up," Tonks said matter-of-factly. "Teenagers kiss. And I know that that's all that's happening back there, and if you think otherwise, maybe I do know Aurora a little better than you."

Sirius turned his gaze not to Lyall, but to Remus, and he was looking at Tonks with the same love and admiration in his eyes that Aurora looked at Harry with. His best friend was a bloody idiot.

"As for Harry," Tonks went on, "I'd trust that kid with my life. And I can't say that about some of my colleagues if I'm being honest."

"I'd trust him with Aurora's life," Remus said. "And I've had to. And he's never let me down."

"I watched him fending off curses from Deatheaters to make sure that nothing happened to your granddaughter at the risk of his own life," Tonks said. "Harry Potter was not putting on a show, but it's clear someone in this room has been."

Sirius held back a laugh and took a drink of his wine while Lyall turned beet red.

Footsteps came down the hall and Harry and Aurora returned. Harry was holding the cookbook in his hands.

"I definitely think I could make the tart, but I imagine the decorative crust would be a nightmare, but I also wouldn't want to do it halfway," Rory said. Harry sat the book on the dining table. "If I'm going to do a Mary Berry recipe, I have to go all the way, obviously."

"You're an overachiever, but when you channel that into baking I don't find it as frightening," Harry said. "Which is good because baking shouldn't be scary."

"I do think about how thrilling and scary and amazing it would be to be in the Bake Off tent. Maybe that's what I should do with my life. Establish myself as the Mary Berry of the Wizarding World and start hosting baking competitions," Aurora said.

"Has anyone ever told the two of you that your wholesomeness is so sweet that it makes it feel like my teeth are rotting?" Sirius asked.

"Quite often, actually," Harry said.

"Usually they just say we're annoying," Aurora replied opening the book and flipping to a page. She dog-eared it and closed the book. "Which I don't understand. Why would someone else being happy cause you to be unhappy? Makes no sense."

"I love that attitude," Theo said.

Sirius liked that attitude as well. He was not good at being unashamedly and unapologetically happy in his relationships when others were judging him. He wasn't even good at it now. He could learn a thing or two from Harry and Aurora. Everyone in the room probably could.

"Harry Potter, you know what I would like to know," Lyall said suddenly. Sirius braced himself for whatever he was going to say next. "What exactly are your intentions with my granddaughter?"

Aurora and Remus both opened their mouths to protest, but Harry answered quickly and unhesitatingly.

"I just want her to be happy and safe," Harry said. "So I just want to do things that make her happy and keep her safe, for however long she lets me."

Aurora was beaming. Maybe someone who didn't know Harry could hear him say that and think he was putting on an act and laying it on thick to impress Lyall, but this was just how Harry talked about Aurora, how he truly felt about her.

"Well, that's quite good to hear," Lyall said. He looked to Aurora. "And you are happy?"

"Quite," she replied, taking Harry's hand almost defensively.

"Suppose that's all I need to hear then," Lyall said getting to his feet.

"You're leaving already?" Aurora asked.

"Yes. I can only do a late evening every once in a while I'm afraid," Lyall said. "But this was a delightful meal, as always. Remus, walk your father out won't you?"

Remus did as he was asked and walked out the front door with his dad. Aurora turned to Sirius.

"So why are the vibes off?" she asked.

"The vibes are not off," Sirius said.

"They definitely are," Aurora said. "That's one thing I'm excellent at. Walking into the room and feeling out the vibes."

"What are you, some sort of vibrator?" Sirius asked.

"Don't say that," Tonks and Harry said in unison.

"I'm just saying, I heard tense voices and then walked in the room and suddenly Grampy is asking Harry what his intentions are like it's the olden days something," Aurora said.

"I did feel slightly blindsided," Harry said.

"Don't worry about it," Sirius said.

"I don't think Lyall Lupin will be interested in questioning you about Aurora again," Tonks said. "You're lovely, Harry."

"And you went into your girlfriend's bedroom to literally look at a recipe book and that is unheard of," Theo said.

"I mean, not every boy just tries to get you alone to feel you up," Tonks said.

"I'm sure that's probably true, but most of my dating experience as a teenager was him," Theo said pointing to Sirius.

He frowned. "You make it sound like I was—."

"The school slut," Aurora said.

Sirius groaned. "You have to stop saying that."

"Even if it's mostly true," Theo said.

The door opened again and Remus walked back in. He closed the door behind himself and looked relieved.

"Everything alright, Dad?" Aurora asked.

"Yes," Remus said. "Did you show Harry your ABBA collection?"

Aurora gasped. "Oh, my gosh!" She grabbed Harry's hand, pulled him to the other side of the living room and opened a trunk.

"ABBA?" Theo asked.

"A Swedish pop band," Tonks said.

"She's obsessed," Remus said.

"I'm putting on the Gold record," Aurora proclaimed.

"Of course," Remus said. He looked to Theo. "One of her favorite greatest hits album, not that Aurora has a least favorite ABBA anything."

A few moments later music started playing.

"When you said 'pop music' I didn't think you meant disco," Theo said. "Aurora's favorite things are Swedish disco music and baking?"

"And Quidditch," Remus said. "I don't have an explanation for you."

"What was it she said about people who don't like ABBA?" Sirius asked.

"That they 'can't reach the ideal plane' of existence," Tonks said. "Also she 'loves' ABBA. She corrected me."

Harry was sitting on the ground with Aurora. She was opening a record and pulled out the inserts to show him.

"Look at how diligently he's listening to her," Sirius said. "He must like ABBA also."

"He doesn't," Tonks said quietly. "He told me. ABBA is not even close to one of his favorite things. I think he was being polite about it when he explained it."

"You'd never know it," Theo said. "I guess that's the key though, isn't it? He cares about it because she cares about it and that's what matters."

"She wants me to watch that movie," Sirius remembered.

"It's called Mamma Mia. It's very over the top," Remus said.

Aurora gasped. "Did you say Mamma Mia?"

"It's getting late, Aurora," Remus said.

She pouted. "Please? Sirius has never seen it before."

Remus looked to Sirius. "I won't make you stay."

Sirius shrugged. "Why not? No time like the present after all."

Aurora squealed excitedly.

"I think you've made her evening," Tonks said. "But I'm going to get going."

"No," Aurora whined.

"I'm sorry. I have a meeting in the morning. Not how I want to spend my Saturday, but things are busy at the moment. I'm sure you understand," Tonks said.

"Sure," Aurora said. "But can I talk to you first?"

"Okay," Tonks said. Aurora walked over to Tonks and pulled her away down the hall to her room.

"Wonder what that's about," Sirius said looking at Harry.

He shrugged. "You're assuming that I can keep up with her long enough to know what's going on in her brain."

"Fair," Sirius said.

"Can I ask something though," Harry said walking over to the group, "I don't understand why Rory's grandfather doesn't like you."

Sirius chuckled. "So she doesn't tell you everything."

"Small miracles," Remus said.

"But, I've had wine and have no boundaries," Sirius said. "The truth is, Remus and I have a history that his father is not entirely pleased about."

Harry looked between the two men and then nodded. "Oh! That makes perfect sense, actually."

Remus gave Harry a curious look. "Sorry. What do you mean by that?"

Harry shrugged. "Well, sometimes I remember that time in the Shrieking Shack and Snape said you two bicker like an old married couple, and the more I've gotten to know you I've just felt like, yeah, that tracks. So. Yeah. That makes perfect sense."

"See!" Theo said. "I was not out of line when I told Aurora. Everyone thinks it. I just offered confirmation."

"Yes, thank you, Theo," Remus said.

Rory had wanted to talk to Tonks tonight, especially after her earlier conversation with Harry. Rory wanted a more conspicuous conversation to happen, but since Tonks was fleeing, she had no other choice but to corner her. Even if it was for Rory's personal reasons, she needed to tell someone.

"Is everything okay, Aurora?" Tonks asked.

"I'm fine," Rory said.

"About your dad—"

Rory waved a dismissive hand. "Whatever you and my dad are arguing about is not my business today. I'm talking to you for purely selfish reasons."

"Oh," Tonks said, and she seemed to relax a bit. "What is it?"

"My dad recently put in place a 'no questions asked' policy regarding my relationship with Harry," Rory said.

Tonks groaned. "Oh, no."

"I haven't even finished talking," Rory said.

"And I kind of hope you don't," Tonks said.

Rory shushed her. "Harry and I haven't done anything. It's just like I said before when you were at dinner, no one's getting pregnant. But—."

"Here we go," Tonks said with a deep breath.

"I believe that my dad would take me seriously and listen to me honestly if I said that I was thinking about sex," Rory said.

Tonks brought her hands to cover her face. "But instead you've picked me to have this conversation with?"

"Yes," Rory said. "Because, before I've ever even had any type of sexual intercourse, I want to be on birth control."

Tonks' hands came down from her face. "You're asking me to get you a birth control potion?"

"No! That would be completely overstepping," Rory said. "I'm asking you to mention it to my dad."

She groaned again. "Aurora, I love you. That is still a big ask."

"How?" Rory huffed. "I know things are tough since Emmeline was murdered and whatever he and Sirius are arguing about has nothing to do with you and one hundred percent to do with them not being able to co-parent, but you should at least be able to say 'Rory feels like she'd rather fling herself into the surface of the sun rather than ask you to put her on birth control even though she knows you'll be fine with it.'"

"If you know it will be fine—."

"Tonks, when you were my age, would you have asked your dad for birth control, or did you ask your mum?" Rory asked.

Tonks crossed her arms. "You're supposing I did ask when I was your age."

"I've seen pictures of Charlie Weasley who you thought you were going to marry so, yes, I am supposing," Rory said, crossing her own arms.

Tonks narrowed her eyes on Rory. "I'll mention it to your dad."

Rory didn't want to ask. But Tonks had been at her flat almost every day since she'd gotten home from school. If Sirius and Theo weren't visiting, Rory felt very much like a third wheel. In fact, Rory had convinced herself that Tonks being over as often as she had been was a way for her dad to test the waters and see if Rory acclimated to his new girlfriend being around. Rory loved Tonks being around and hated that she hadn't seen Tonks in days.

Tonks saying that she would "mention" it to Remus did not sit well with Rory.

The worry on Rory's face must have been evident because Tonks softened and put a hand on Rory's shoulder.

"I'll talk to him," Tonks said. "It's fine. Everyone is just… Even you know things have gotten complicated since Voldemort has come back into the open."

Rory nodded. They had been. Tonks' words were placating, but at the same time, they made sense. Rory would randomly check out in the middle of conversation. Who knew how Tonks dealt with the events from that evening.

She hugged Tonks again and was pleased when Tonks hugged her back.

"Don't tell Sirius, but I think you might be my favorite cousin," Tonks said.

"Feel free to tell everyone you're my favorite," Rory said. "Your competition is, like, Draco Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange though, so it's a pretty low bar." Tonks chuckled and pulled away from her. Rory look her over, her brown hair and brown eyes, and sad features. "I miss you."

"I know. I'm sorry. I've been busy," she said.

"It's not that. I mean you're here but like," Rory said, searching for the words. "You just… You don't seem there."

"I'm here," Tonks said. "For you, I'll always be here. Even if I can't visit every day."

Rory nodded. "But if you could try to visit that would be nice. I don't know why you two aren't getting on at the moment, but Dad is a bit of a fuddy-duddy without you."

"I'll do my best," Tonks promised.

They walked out of the bedroom and back into the kitchen.

"Has Matilda mentioned her party to you?" Rory asked.

"Relentlessly," Tonks said with a sigh. "Watch for an owl with your formal invitation because I'm a pushover apparently."

"Thanks, Tonks," she said hugging her again.

Tonks said goodbye and went on her way. Rory was disappointed, but it passed quickly when she found herself sitting on the couch with Harry and Sirius watching her favorite movie. She was even delighted to see Theo seemed to really enjoy it.

She was sad to see them go at the end of the night, but it had been a nice night overall.

Except Rory noticed her dad was visibly more relaxed after everyone had finally gone home. She walked over to him and hugged him tightly while he stood at the kitchen sink.

"Sorry," she said.

"For what?" he asked.

"That I made you have such a rough night," she said.

"I didn't have a rough night," he said.

"I don't believe you," Rory said sitting in a kitchen chair. "You got into an argument with Tonks. And then Grampy was super weird before he left. I told Sirius the vibes were off. I know they were."

Remus sighed and turned around to her. "Sorry. It was a difficult evening for me, but please know, that is not your fault that this gathering was so stressful for me. It is purely of my own doing."

"Are you and Sirius—"

Remus shook his head. "Aurora, Sirius has been my best friend for nearly 30 years, and I'm sure he will be for 30 years to come and even in death, I'm sure he will not let me have peace. I was especially grateful for him tonight."

Rory smiled. That was a relief. That probably made Rory feel more relieved than anything. She wasn't sure what she would do if Sirius and her dad ever stopped getting along. It had been sitting badly with her all week.

But now she had to ask another question.

"Did Grmapy not like Harry?" Rory asked. "I just don't know why he would ask him what his intentions are like after chatting with him nicely all night."

Remus sighed. "He's a difficult man to please."

Rory frowned. "Harry's difficult to dislike. You said so yourself."

"He's your grandfather. He's protective of you," Remus said.

"You're my dad. You're protective of me. You know all about why Harry and I broke up, and you still like Harry," Rory said. "It doesn't make sense."

"I just don't think he believed Harry was as genuine as he let on," Remus said. Rory scoffed. "He just wants what's best for you." Rory still wasn't pleased. "I know that's not a suitable explanation for you."

"Voldemort tried to kill me a few weeks ago and come hell or high water Harry was going to get me away from him," Rory said. "That's good enough for you."

"Better than good enough," Remus said. "I know I might come off as being a little irritable when it comes to Harry. I will never think anyone is good enough for you because I'm your father, but I really do think you are a good match. And it does make me happy to see the two of you together."

Rory groaned. "Then what's his problem?" Remus took a seat next to his daughter.

"I can't tell you how to have a relationship with your grandfather," Remus said.

"Did you really only start talking to him again because of me?" Rory asked.

He nodded. "And he's been excellent with you. I could not have been the father you needed if he hadn't helped me. And I'm grateful to him for that."

"But you only really still see him because of me," she said.

Remus sighed. "There are times when things with my dad are great. And I do love him very much. But he's always wanted my life a certain way. I think he always saw you as making up for me."

"What's there to make up for? You were like a perfect student, you were a prefect, head boy. You adopted the world's most perfect child," Rory said.

"I was a werewolf," Remus said.

"But he's your dad," Rory said.

"I know," Remus said. "And I was still a werewolf. And until I was one, my dad did not see things the way he sees them now. And if I'm being honest, I have never truly felt that he gave up believing all the things he used to believe. Even if he doesn't mean to still hold onto those things, there are times when I know he resented me for being a werewolf."

Rory frowned and sank back in her chair. How could he resent his own child for being a werewolf? He'd only been turned into a werewolf because of something Lyall had said to begin with.

He'd said something awful enough that Fenrir Greyback attacked his son. Bad enough that her dad never truly felt safe growing up.

"What did… What did he say?" Rory asked. "To Greyback?"

Her dad paused like he was trying to remember, but Rory knew better than to think that. She was sure the words were etched into his memory as sure as the words on her hand were.

"He said that werewolves are 'soulless, evil, deserving nothing but death,'" he said calmly.

Rory's stomach sank. No wonder her dad questioned whether or not Lyall didn't resent him.

"I'm sure my dad never actually wanted me dead, but I think he might still feel that way about all the others," Remus said.

"… Maybe he doesn't like Harry because he's too much like you. Or that Harry likes you too much," Rory mused. "Maybe he thought someone who was famous for being Voldemort's arch nemesis as a baby would be less tolerant."

"Maybe," Remus said. "But it's nothing for you to worry about. If you want to go to his cottage tomorrow and tell him to get over whatever it is that he dislikes about Harry, I'll support you."

Rory hugged her dad. "I think I'll write him instead. So I can gather my thoughts concisely instead of going off on a tangent."

"That's fine," he said.

"I love you, Dad," Rory said. "And there are bunches of things about you that bug me, but being a werewolf is not one of them."

He hugged her back. "I love you too, Aurora. More than anyone."

She gave him one last tight squeeze and let him go.

"How about you get to bed? We can go and visit the Weasleys tomorrow. I'm sure you've been dying to commiserate with Hermione about ancient runes," he said.

Rory had been. Her dad knew her well.

She went to her bedroom and got herself ready for bed. She'd just turned off her lights when she heard her name. She turned on her bedside lamp and picked up her mirror.

"Was afraid I'd missed you," he said.

"Where are your guests?" Rory asked.

"Since someone decided to watch a movie, they stayed at Ron's house," he said. "So you get me all to yourself for a night."

"For a few minutes. I'm going to pass out," Rory said. "I'm sorry my Grampy asked you what your intentions are with me. That was quick thinking on your part."

"If I'm being honest, I thought up a list of uncomfortable questions I could get asked tonight and prepped my answers," Harry said. "Not that what I said wasn't true."

"Didn't you say you wanted to marry me a few days ago?" Rory reminded him. He laughed. "I wasn't doubting you. Never would. Not ever again."

"Good to know," he said. "He seemed fine otherwise. I can see why you like him so much. Even if it got a little weird."

"He's never been like that before," Rory said. "I just thought he was going to love you. My dad said it wasn't really like that."

"Sirius told me too," Harry said. "That your grandfather thought maybe I was putting on a show."

"Rubbish," Rory grumbled. She was more irritated than she'd ever been with her grandfather. "My dad thinks you're wonderful. And he's sorry he always seems irritated with you, but he thinks you're excellent, and he doesn't know what it is that makes my grandfather not see how great you are."

"You see me. That's all that matters," Harry said. "Am relieved to hear your dad's on my side though."

Rory managed a smile, but it faded quickly. "My dad told me what my grandfather said that made him get attacked by Greyback."

"What was it?" Harry asked.

"My grandfather said that werewolves were 'soulless' and 'evil' and that they all deserved to die," Rory said.

"Wow," Harry said. "Guess that answers your question about why things seemed uneasy with the two of them."

"I'll say," Rory replied. "Doesn't explain why he doesn't like you."

"Like I said, you like me. So who cares," Harry said. "And again, I'm really glad your dad doesn't hate me."

"I'm glad he doesn't hate you either," Rory said. "I have to go to sleep. I'm exhausted. But I'll see you tomorrow. I'll be by the Burrow."

"Excellent," he said. "I haven't seen enough of you."

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too," he said. "Goodnight."