When Emeline and Sirius arrived in the empty street, all was quiet except the pounding of her heart. Sirius hurriedly waved his hand and the walls started separating, opening a new small entryway between them.

12 Grimmauld Place

"Is this-" Emeline breathed quietly before Sirius cut her off.

"-my family's home? Yes." He glanced around quickly, motioning her to follow him. "Let's get inside, shall we?"

Emeline followed him and stepped inside to the largest home she'd ever seen. She was speechless looking at all of the vintage interior and decor. The stairs were massive and there were so many rooms. In front of her, the hallway led to a large dining space. She looked up at Sirius and smiled.

"It's beautiful."

He offered a smile back, though it was forced.

"I wish the memories were as such." He responded. With a wave of his wand, the dust evaporated and the home looked more alive.

"There should be a house elf around here somewhere. I'll go in search for some dinner, you choose a room."

Emeline nodded and slowly began to explore Grimmauld Place.

•

When they were situated a bit better and Kreacher had put dinner on, Sirius sat at the table with Emeline. It was fit for dozens of visitors in here, but it felt far less inviting than her dad's cottage despite its beauty. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Why don't you tell me what happened, from the beginning." He offered gently, spooning up a bit of stew.

She moved her own spoon around in the bowl, focusing on separating the meat from vegetables and took in a shaky breath, divulging everything Severus had told them.

Sirius' mouth hung slightly open at this information, trying to grapple with what this meant.

Though it wasn't fair, he understood Remus entirely now.

It all stemmed from gut-wrenching, crippling fear.

And he was not getting anger from Emeline, but hurt.

Deep hurt.

"So I left." She finished, still having not taken a bite of stew.

"Fair enough." He replied, watching her closely. She looked back with an eye roll.

"You're on his side."

"I'm on nobody's side."

"But?"

"But," he began gently. "I understand."

She scoffed. "He has no excuse for treating me that way. I'm not just a stranger, I'm his daughter!"

"I know that, Emeline. The moon has… a variety of ill effects. The timing was terrible."

"So you think being a werewolf is a disadvantage as badly as dad does?"

He shook his head side to side. "I feel disloyal to say no, but I feel wrong to say yes. I've always encouraged your father away from the despair surrounding his … furry little problem," Sirius smirked. "But he's heavily affected by it. It would be doing him wrong to discredit those emotions."

"He can't choose for me." She replied, not wanting to deep dive into her usual concern and support of her father.

He knew it.

Sirius knew it.

She wasn't in the business of defending herself right now. She just wanted to be understood personally.

"No, he can't. But taking his concern into consideration is a kindness I'm sure you can afford for him."

"He was… different, Sirius. I can't explain it."

He nodded.

"Emeline, a boy just died. A new war is mounting when the first one stole nearly everything your father held most dear. The full moon is days away and he's on edge. The cherry on top is the simple fact that you are the single most precious person to protect in his life. You're fifteen, Emeline! Remus has felt cursed since he was bitten and would never wish it on anyone; you will never have him see lycanthrope as anything but a plague. And if you aren't infected, you could die the moment he does. There's a little slack to be cut here, I think. And that's not choosing sides. That's playing fair."

"Sirius, I -"

"-I would never discredit you, either. I know how much those words hurt. I'm not asking you to forget that pain, he needs to slow his tongue during the moon. But know this: it still came from a place of love. A place where that love is driving him to a maddening fear. I'm sure you can understand, Emeline. There's no way out. In his eyes, he has damned you. It is most parents' worst fear." Sirius looked away with sorrow flooding his eyes and Emeline nodded slowly, beginning to feel guilty for leaving the way she had.

But she had never seen her father like that.

Even during transformation he seemed more composed, if she could venture that far. Normally level-headed and kind, he felt completely cold.

That's when she heard it again.

The crying.

She looked at Sirius who was none the wiser, back to focusing on his supper. This was a connection thing; her father was distraught and worried.

She focused as hard as she could.

I'm okay.

She wasn't sure it worked when awhile past where she felt nothing.

Finally, an air of concern and slight bitterness washed over her.

Where are you?

With Padfoot.

Silence again. It wasn't until she was finished supper, bidding Sirius goodnight, and heading up the stairs that she felt it:

Lonely.

She threw herself on the first 4 poster bed she saw in a room to her left and sobbed.

Sirius' heart broke at the sadness that flooded his bestfriend and niece. He knew Remus could be harsh without meaning to when the moon was nearing, and all of this was a perfect storm. He wanted to help, but he also knew the value of time to mull over your own thoughts - something he believed they both desperately needed.

With that thought, he took the room across the hall and shut the door.

•

Emeline's dreams that night made sure she was restless and plagued.

She was walking down a dark corridor, illuminated only by her wand. Her footsteps are the only noise she heard until a low growl came behind her ear. Spinning on her heel, she came face to face with Greyback.

Towering above her, ready to lunge, she surrendered to his attempt before her father threw himself in front of her.

If this mauling was not nightmare-ish enough, the wounds her father received quickly tore into Emeline with no physical touch. Gasping for air, she fell beside him, blood pooling around her and Greyback looming overhead.

•

She awoke with a piercing scream, hot tears pouring down her cheeks and her body trembling. She looked frantically around the room before the bright light of a wand forced her to squint and hold up a hand to her face. Sirius bounded in the room to flip the lights on and she blinked rapidly, unable to focus with such brightness surrounding her.

"Darling, we're right here."

"Dad? I didn't ask for anyone, I'm fine." She mumbled, pulling her blankets up higher around her.

"Emeline," Sirius warned gently. "Come on."

The same guilt she felt bit at her throat again and she nodded sleepily.

"It was just a bad dream."

"Three guesses as to what." Remus said quietly, reaching out to move the hair from her face.

She turned from him.

He hid his hurt with the belief that he probably deserved that and straightened up.

"I have a Dreamless Draught if you'd like it." He offered, still softly; almost as if it was his peace treaty.

She nodded silently, still not facing him.

"Sirius," he spoke quickly. "Perhaps you'll bring it to her. And maybe we can discuss this all further in the morning."

She could tell he wanted to be close to her, but her pride was too strong for that right now. He had hurt her, and hurt badly. This bonded by now, she would never have expected his explosion.

"No problem, Remus. I have a drink you may be interested in, too."

•

Once Emeline had taken the draught and was asleep, Sirius and Remus headed downstairs to the sitting room, Sirius holding a bottle of Fireball. He conjured two glasses and filled them, handing one off to his mate.

"Lay it on me." He said, as he sat in a large recliner and Remus took the leather couch. "I've heard it all from her; I'm interested in hearing it from you."

Remus ran his hand over his face and into his hair before taking a large swig of the burning liquid.

"Sirius, I was awful." He crossed one leg over the other and sunk back into the couch, taking another drink. "I didn't feel like me, I -"

"-the joys of the moon." Sirius nodded. "She understands that."

"She does?" He asked quietly, hard pressed to contain the hope in his voice.

"Yes, but I overheard you two in there; I can't sort out what the bloody hell is wrong with either one of you."

"I can't either." Remus groaned. "Between the moon, the mirror-ing, her being a teenager…I'm lost in the midst of all of this. He's back, Sirius. She's in real danger and I don't know how to protect her. My one job."

"Moony," Sirius leaned forward. "That's all fine and well. But this choice does need to be hers and hers alone, you understand that, right?"

Remus contemplated this, afraid to agree, though knowing he must. "I do, but I have the choice to be unable to infect my child, Sirius." He said desperately.

"Think about this, Remus. You'd rather her find someone else to do it? A pack who may very well want her dead to begin with, considering that your integrating so strongly into the Wizarding World instead of remaining with them in the pack, is taboo? Most packs are almost a cult, you know this. And Remus Lupin's daughter is going to walk into one asking to be bitten? This is insanity!"

"The whole thing is insanity!" Remus agreed, his eyes wide, forcing his point. He drank down the rest of his Fireball and refilled it to the top. "I physically could never bring myself to do it. But ofcourse the thought of another wolf makes me absolutely ill. Then, there's the fact that if we don't, she will die if I do. If things unfold like before and I don't-"

"-Moony."

"If I don't make it, Padfoot, Emeline will lose her life. She's fifteen for Merlin's sake! She's gifted and kind and borderline in love. She wants to be a healer, you know." He finished sadly.

Sirius stood and moved to sit next to his friend, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

"Remus," he whispered. "You are both strong enough to carry this burden together. There is a right answer and it will give you both peace one day. Let the answer be hers. And do what you need to do as her father. Despite your disdain for this affliction, she will always be safest with you. No matter the terms it is on." He stood with a pat to Remus' knee and his friend offered him a weak smile.

"Thank you." He said quietly as Sirius walked to the door.

"And Remus?"

"Hmm?" He asked, finishing his second drink.

"Moony is not a monster. Nor are you."

•

When morning came, Emeline awoke with a groan. Her bones ached and her stomach was on fire. She felt nauseous and weak, her head swimming.

Dad

It was a subconscious call as she clutched her stomach, keeping her eyes closed.

The door creaked just moments later and she heard her father suck in a painful breath after stumbling over the coat rack near the door.

"Pup?"

"I feel awful." She whined, holding her blankets close, eyes still tightly shut.

Remus chuckled and sat on the bottom of the bed, squeezing her ankle underneath the covers.

"Me too." He responded. "I'm sorry; one too many Fireball were my equivalent to the draught. You should recover quicker than I."

She didn't respond.

"Well," he pat her leg, understanding that the call was involuntary. "If you need me I'll be downstai-"

"- No, stay." She caved, opening her eyes slowly, the light burning them. "You said we should talk."

"It can wait."

"It can't." She shook her head.

"Alright," he started slowly. "We can. Emeline, I am -"

"-so sorry."

"So sorry." They both spoke at the same time.

She pushed herself up slowly in bed and looked at him with heavy eyes, the draught still in effect to some degree.

"I had a dream that Greyback killed you. And me. I'm afraid of what's coming. To me, Lycanthrope would bring protection. I understand that is not and never will be how you feel."

Remus was taken aback.

He had never looked at being a werewolf as anything less than the curse of a lifetime. He supposed he could see, to some degree, why she'd come to the assumption she had and he could not blame her.

"I don't know what it's like for you," she added sadly. "I've wanted nothing more than to help you. I was only thinking of myself yesterday and I should have been more sensitive. I don't view this as your fault."

"Oh, pup." He pulled her into his arms and to his surprise, she responded immediately. "I love you. My only desire is to protect you. I should have never said such awful things. There are better ways to help you understand this so that," he hesitated and she pulled away to look up at him. "So that you can make the choice that's right for you." He finished.

Emeline knew it was the most difficult thing he'd ever said and that he hardly believed it.

"I love you, dad. Thank you."

He nodded and breathed in slow, struggling to find his next words.

"So, a healer? Really?"

"Oh, yeah." She nodded, her head falling. "I probably wouldn't be any good. I don't think my marks will even get me in."

"You'd be wonderful." He whispered. "I don't want that taken from you."

"I know." She said sadly. "I guess I never realized how hard it's been for you. I had a glimpse with Calliope; I still didn't think it would uproot my entire life."

"I'm sorry about Calliope, too. So much of your heartache is from me and it kills me, Emeline. I never want to hurt you, not on purpose. That's why this is so hard for me to grapple with." His eyes looked completely lost.

She felt horrible.

"Maybe we should take our time thinking this over?" She suggested. "Professor Snape will be here next week. It doesn't have to be right now."

He knew she meant this moon.

The thought alone sent a shiver down his spine.

"I think that's a good idea." He agreed, looking down at the floor. "I will try to control my temper better as the moon approaches. You didn't deserve that. The Wolfsbane affords me a much more docile demeanor."

"I assume you've taken it then." She couldn't help the sarcasm spill from her mouth.

"I deserve that." He nodded. "It's hard when I don't know where I end and wolf begins."

"You're just you, dad. Stop second guessing it."

He gave her a small smile and reached in his cloak, pulling out the book she'd left last night, gingerly. He set it on the bed and slid it over to her.

"I came here last night after looking through these. They're precious." His face was struggling between downcast and grateful. He was exhausted but full of the usual love she was used to.

She felt warm.

"Thank you for sharing them with me."

Emeline nodded softly, picking up the book.

"Did you see the one where she was holding me an-"

"-and the mug? Yes." He smiled.

"She always wrote those little messages on the side of the photos: the date, what we were doing in them. She always said it was in case I was showing someone someday and couldn't remember all the details." Emotion overtook her and she sniffled. "She knew I'd be showing you."

"I'm sure she hoped." He said quietly, grabbing Emeline's hand as she set the book down. "I remembered last night what I promised you: that I would never miss more of these moments." She nodded as he stared at her, still holding his hand. "That doesn't just mean good. It's every moment, even these hard ones. I'm sorry I let you down last night."

She shook her head and started to speak but he interrupted her.

"You don't have to say anything. I know how you felt, pup. I'll never retreat like that again."

"Just talk to me, like we have been." She pleaded. "If anything is wrong or if there's a decision to be made, just be open with me. We've only got eachother; it hurts to be ignored and pushed off."

"Ofcourse." He kissed the back of her hand softly before letting go. "Do you know what my favorite photo was?"

She shook her head and handed him the book back.

He flipped it open quickly; she noticed he had dog-eared the page which was nearly a sin in his book, and she smiled.

He held it up in front of her with the happiness across his face that she was used to and loved seeing, especially a day before the moon.

Staring back at her was a three-year old Emeline, chubby cheeked with the worst fringe she'd ever seen. She had dark curls flecked with a mix of brown and ash and her eyes were shining (on a sugar high, no doubt).

She was grinning with her birthday cake; Chocolate frosting covered her face; her gift was clutched in her hands: a small stuffed wolf.