Grace groaned as she rolled over onto her side, pulling her duvet close and tucking it under her chin. She groaned again when she felt something soft and wet run across her cheek; her face scrunched at the unpleasant smell of dog breath, and she hid her face in her pillow. "Dad, go away," she moaned into her pillow. Sirius whined softly and started licking her ear. Grace swatted him away and Sirius let out a huff and started pawing at her duvet, trying to lift the blanket. "Let mesleep," she groaned and tried to push his snout away.

Sirius let out a snort, rolling his eyes before clamping down on her blanket and started to tug it off her bed. "Dad!" Grace exclaimed as she cracked her eyes open to glare at the black dog, who stared at her innocently with the pink blanket in his mouth. Dropping it, he stood on his hind legs, resting his front paws on the mattress and barked. "You think you're cute," she started, narrowing her eyes at him and he only tilted his head to the side and smiled at her with his tongue hanging out. "But your breath stinks." Sirius barked at her then jumped up on her bed, not caring about personal space or that his paws dug into her legs, and started licking her face.

"Dad!" she exclaimed, trying to turn her head away from him, but he ignored her. "Okay, okay! I'm up!" she sighed in defeat and glared at the dog. With one more final lick along her face, he jumped down from her bed before transforming back to normal.

"Time to start getting ready for the day," He smirked at her as he made his way out of her room.

"Couldn't you have woken me up like a normal person!?" she huffed as she sat up.

"Where's the fun in that?" he replied with a smirk. "Come on, we've only got so much time before Harry comes over," he reminded her then shut her door.

Grace glared at her door for a long minute, before huffing and getting out of bed. She was annoyed because now she was going to have to spend extra time getting ready because she had to wash dog break and dog slobber off her face. After returning to her bedroom, she looked through her wardrobe to try and find something she liked. Pulling out three different outfits, she frowned at them. One was a light blue dress with little white stars, the second was shorts and a yellow spaghetti-strapped, floral shirt, and the last one was a scarlet spaghetti-strapped, ribbed, dress.

"Dad!" she shouted. A minute later, there was a soft knock on the door. "Come in."

"You rang?" Sirius asked, drawing out the vowel in a low, dull tone.

"I don't know what to wear."

"...You called me up here to help you pick out an outfit?" Sirius asked slowly, and she nodded. "The first day Harry came over, sure, I understand... but now?"

"It's his birthday, Dad," she answered as if it was obvious. Sirius blinked and stared at her, before letting out a deep, dramatic sigh. She glared at him playfully and he smiled at her, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

"The red one," he pointed to the red dress on her bed. "But aren't you going to make the treacle tart? Why are you going to get changed before doing the tart?"

"Harry wants to help me make it like he did last year," she answered. "Hopefully it comes outperfectthis time. I don't want Mum to throw it away like she did last year."

"What?" Sirius frowned, and she shrugged. "No, tell me, what happened last year?"

"Well, Harry and I went to the corner shop to get the ingredients for the treacle tart. I was going to make him a cake but I thought he should pick out his dessert instead since it's his birthday and he's never had a choice on what he wants before... so I told him I would make it, and well he helped me a bit," she started, and Sirius nodded, encouraging her to continue. "Well, it didn't come out right. The top was a little burnt, and the bottom was a little underdone, and it was far to sweet... but Harry said he liked it anyway," she continued, and Sirius nodded slowly. "Mum came home that night... said it was too sweet, and undercooked, and burnt on top... she said Harry was just being polite and didn't want to hurt my feelings as she threw it away. I don't want that happening again this year-"

"It won't," he shook his head.

"But what if it doesn't come out perfect-"

"Then it doesn't," he told her softly. "Nothing comes out perfect the first time, Gracie. That's why you try again. Perfection is never attainable, because perfection means that you've pleased everyone, and that's impossible because everyone has a different idea of what is perfect," he said gently, with a small smile. "If Harry said he liked it, he said it because he meant it, not because he was being polite. He liked it because it was something you did for him. He liked it because of you," Sirius smoothed out her messy hair before resting his hands on her shoulders. "There will not be a repeat of last year, I won't allow it," he promised. "Now, it's time to get dressed."

"Hey Dad," Grace called before he could leave her room.

"Yeah?"

"You called me Gracie," she smiled at him. Sirius paused, looking back at her, feeling his own smile grow.

"The pictures were developed properly, right?" Grace asked as she held the wrapped gift in her hands.

"Yes," Sirius rolled his eyes. "Believe it or not, little star, I have developed a photo or two back in my day."

"I don't understand why you're giving him picture frames when he's got a photo album," Helena rolled her eyes as she set a box down on the coffee table.

"Because, he doesn't have anything around his bed at school," Grace shrugged.

Thump.

Clank.

Clunk.

Remus, Helena and Sirius all stared at her with wide eyes. "What?" she asked, confused.

"How do you know what Harry does or doesn't have around his bed at school?" Helena asked, her hazel eyes narrowing at the girl, then she turned to Remus. "I thought you were watching her!

"You know as well as I do that once they go back to their common room I can't control what they do," Remus defended. Grace frowned in confusion as she looked at them, then turned to her father who was still staring at her in surprise. "I certainly can't control if she goes up to his dorm room."

"Why are you all making such a big deal out of it?" she asked. "I've been up to the boys dorm many times before. Neville's often left things and I go up there to grab them for him, so I notice things. I noticed last year when I went to help Ron with Scabbers before... you know, and as I was looking for him, I noticed Harry didn't have anything personal around his bed," she told them with a shrug. Instantly they all seemed to relax, and she didn't know why. "Anyway, I just wanted him to have something to put around his bed, something that's his," she shrugged.

"Well, I know he'll love it," Remus nodded, placing a small package on top of a mountain of them that were from her mother. Clothes. That's what her mum got Harry. That was where she was all day yesterday, why she couldn't take Grace to the Leaky Cauldron, she went out shopping for Harry. A part of Grace felt a little pang of jealousy, that her mother would spend what seemed like a small fortune on her friend when she never would've done something like that for her own daughter. Then Grace remembered that Harry's never had clothes that were his, that fit him, he always had Dudley's old, ill-fitting clothes.

There was a small knock on the door, and Sirius instantly turned into a dog and bolted to the front door, barking loudly. "Oh my God Si-Snuffles! Down!" Helena hissed as she made her way to the front door. "Bad dog!" she scolded, and Grace looked at Remus, trying not to laugh. "Sit!" Helena hissed, and that was when Grace started laughing. She turned her body at the waist, and held onto Remus as she laughed.

"Even today it seems like Dad can't stay out of the dog house," Grace laughed, and Remus groaned.

"A pun? Are you serious?"

"No, but he is," Grace nodded to the black dog who was jumping on Harry in greeting. Remus groaned.

"Not you too! That joke died in 1971!"

"What joke?" Helena asked as she walked back into the sitting room.

"The serious and Sirius one," Remus replied dryly, and Helena groaned.

"That pun wasn't even good then!"

"Of course it was, shut your mouths," Sirius spoke up as he and Harry entered the room. Grace's gray eyes met Harry's green ones, and they smiled at each other. Grace wrapped her arms around Harry tightly, and he returned the hug, letting himself take in the scent of her shampoo and perfume. Harry's never been one to like the smell of flowers until he smelt her.

"Happy birthday," she whispered as she pulled away, her hands resting on his shoulder, and he smiled at her, not taking his own hands from her waist.

"Thanks."

"Ready to make the tart?" she asked, pulling way from him fully and he nodded.

"Tart?" Helena asked, frowning.

"A treacle tart... it's Harry's favorite," Grace answered nervously.

"Why? I already made one last night-"

"They want to make one together," Sirius spoke up, cutting her off. Helena turned and glared at him. "Like last year, right?" he asked, looking at Grace with a small smile; she nodded.

"Why so she can mess it up? It was hardly edible," Helena replied, and Harry noticed Grace shift uncomfortably.

"Well it's a good thing that there's a backup, isn't it?" Sirius asked, narrowing his eyes at Helena. "This is what Harry wanted on his birthday, Helena. Leave it,please." Harry, Grace and Remus stared at Sirius and Helena, waiting for something to happen. They let out the breath they were holding when Helena nodded stiffly and sat down on the armchair.

"C'mon," Grace whispered and dragged Harry to the kitchen. "If you ruin my dress, Mr. Potter... I'll have to kill you," she teased as she pulled the apron over her clothes, and Harry rolled his eyes playfully. "Where is it..." she muttered as she started shuffling things around on the counter.

"Where's what?"

"Aunt Molly's recipe. I sent her an owl asking if she could write everything down for me so I wouldn't mess up this year. I thought I brought it in here, I must've left it in the sitting room," Grace huffed.

"I'll go get it," Harry offered and when she went to protest he shook his head. "I'm the assistant remember?" he smiled and she felt her cheeks flush before nodding. Harry grinned and walked out of the kitchen. He paused when he heard Sirius.

"Don't start this, Helena, not today."

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"Really?" Harry heard Sirius scoff. "Do youhaveto belittle our daughter every chance you get?Especiallyin front of her friends?"

"I donotbelittle Gracia-"

"So you didn't purposely make a treacle tart,knowingthat Grace wanted to make one for Harry, because you thought it wouldn't turn out good?" There was a pause, then Sirius scoffed again.

"I don't belit-"

"You can hate me all you want, Helena," Sirius cut her off. "You can scream at me, hit me, hex and jinx me until you're blue in the face, I don't care, but you do it when we're alone. Do not take out your anger and hatred for me out on her."

"You think I hate you?" Harry heard Helena ask, her voice full of hurt. "Sirius I don't hate you, I could never hate you!"

"Really? Because you have a funny way of showing it."

"Was I angry that you left me alone with Gracia after I begged you to stay? Yes. Was it hard to look at her because every time I saw her, I saw you? Yes-"

"So you treat her badly because she looks like me?"

"She's so much like you, Sirius! I-I couldn't-"

"Remus could do it," Sirius cut her off, and then there was silence.

"Put yourself in my shoes, Sirius. What if the roles were reversed? What if I was the one that left and wound up being framed and sentenced to life in prison, and you were forced to raise our daughter on your own and she looked just like me? What would you have done-"

"I would love her," Sirius answered. "She's our daughter, Helena. I couldn't treat her the way you do,ever," silence. Harry wanted to go back to the kitchen, he felt like he shouldn't be listening to whatever this was, but he couldn't turn away. "You need to release whatever you're keeping bottled up. If you want to wait until Grace goes to stay with your sister for the World Cup, then fine, I'll wait; but I can't stand here and watch this continue. We finally have a chance to be a family again, to make this work between us, and I want that. I let you go once, because I thought that's what was best at the time, but I can't do it a second time. I love you Helena, I've never stopped-"

"Sirius-"

"No, please, let me finish," Sirius asked desperately, and Harry felt like he really should go back to the kitchen, but he wanted –needed to know what Sirius was going to say... for Grace's sake. "I understand a lot has changed. You're not the same as you were thirteen years ago, and neither am I... but I want to try this again. I want to get to know you again. Don't you think we deserve a second chance?"

"And if it doesn't end well?"

"Then we'll figure it out... we've always been able to figure it out."

Harry jumped when he felt someone touch his shoulder, and he stared wide-eyed at Remus, who held a finger to his lips, and then nodded to the kitchen. Harry nodded and followed him. "I-I didn't mean to, I was going to go get the recipe-" he started but Remus shook his head as he pulled out a folded piece of parchment from his pocket, then handed it to Harry.

"I'm sorry you have to hear that on your birthday, Harry," Remus apologized gently.

"It's fine," he shrugged. "I understand, at least they're trying right? For Grace?" he asked and Remus looked down at the floor.

"Sirius is, at least," Remus answered awkwardly. "Helena... for yours, I think."

"Mine?" Harry asked confused, but Remus cleared his throat.

"I think Grace might need that recipe. Don't want to wait too long or else we won't be eating it until late," Remus told Harry before walking away. Harry frowned in confusion before going back into the kitchen.

Harry smiled as he watched Grace start preparing the tart crust and frowned at the food processor. His eyes trailed down, and noticed that she was wearing a red dress that ended an inch or so above her knees. She was barefoot, and he noticed she had painted her toes a scarlet red, the same shade of red as her dress and her fingers. He thought she looked pretty in red.

"There you are! Did you find it?" she asked, and he nodded, holding out the paper for her. She smiled as she unfolded the paper and began scanning the words. "Great, it looks like I've got everything right for the crust. Now I just have to...mix it together," she sighed, frowning at the food processor. "How does this thing work again?"

"Here," Harry laughed lightly as he came up behind her, resting his hand on the counter, and reaching around her with his other hand and turned on the processor.

"Ah, my prince charming, coming to help me again," she teased, turning her head to look at him, and Harry laughed. There was a click, and a flash, making both of them jump and turn to the source. Remus smiled at them as he brought down the camera.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist," he shrugged and Grace rolled her eyes before turning back to stare at the food processor. Harry noticed her cheeks were a little pink, and he wondered if she was embarrassed.

"Well, go on, shew!" Grace waved her hand at Remus, who rolled his eyes playfully.

"Teenagers," Remus muttered, shaking his head.

"Sorry about him," she said but Harry shook his head.

"It's fine, I like it," he shrugged. "I feel like...this is how things were always supposed to be. If Sirius was never sent to Azkaban, that is..."

"Or if your parents never..." she added, her voice fading sadly, and he nodded. "Well, I think they're happy, your parents, I mean..." she said, turning off the food processor, then began the next steps for the crust. "I think they're happy that you're not alone on your birthday, that you're here with Dad, and Mum...and Remus."

"And you," Harry added and Grace's cheeks turned pink.

While they waited for the crust to chill, Sirius (who was incredibly impatient) thought it was a good time for Harry to open his presents He was surprised at the mountain of boxes from Helena, and even more surprised that they were all closed.

"If there's anything you don't like, or that doesn't fit, we'll go and exchange them," Helena told him with a smile, but Harry shook his head.

"No, they're all great, thank you," he smiled.

"If they don't fit," Grace started, whispering in his ear, "I know a charm to fix that. I learned it last year." Harry grinned, and there was a part of him that wished that something didn't fit, just so she could show him that charm.

The next gift was from Sirius, it was a new broom servicing kit and a new pair of protective eye-ware. "They're big enough to fit over your glasses," Sirius told him. "And they're charmed to repel water. Your dad had a pair just like them when he played for the Gryffindor team."

"Really?" Harry beamed, and Sirius nodded.

The third gift was from Remus, who sheepishly handed it to Harry. It was small, and wrapped in brown packaging, but the fact that he had gotten Harry anything meant more than a present. The gift was a book, it looked old and worn, like all the books Grace had up on her bookshelves so Harry knew it must've been second hand. "Five Hundred Harmless Spells to Create Mayhem?" Harry read.

"You still have this, Moony?" Sirius asked softly, smiling sadly at the book.

"You know me, I can't throw away books," Remus smiled. Harry looked at them confused, before opening the book. The front page yellowed with age, but there were four names scribbled in messy handwriting. Harry's fingers grazed over one name .James Potter."That was a book we carried around with us for years."

"Yeah," Sirius chuckled, shaking his head. "We memorized every word on those pages."

Harry grinned as he flipped through the book, he could see that they had marked and written notes and ideas in the margins, some pages even had spells crossed out, some were circled, there were even spells they had created written down. "This is brilliant, thank you Pro-Remus," Harry grinned.

"Open mine!" Grace said excitedly as she handed Harry a beautifully wrapped gift. He almost didn't want to open it, and instead savor the beautiful red paper. Inside the box was picture frames. Harry pulled one out, and it was a picture of him, Ron and Hermione from first year. The next one he pulled out was a picture of his parents when they were in school, they had to have been in their last year. He watched his dad made it rain lily petals fall around them and his mother tried to look angry, but couldn't as a smile spread on her face. Harry smiled as he watched the picture repeat itself. The last picture, was a picture of him and Grace. The picture was of them dancing in the common room. He watched as he spun her around, her head falling back as she laughed. It was the night that they won the Quidditch cup. It was the night he noticed just how pretty she was.

"It isn't much, but I noticed you don't have anything around your bed-"

"I love them," Harry shook his head, smiling at her. "Thank you." Grace's smile grew, pink dusting the tops of her cheeks, and that's when Harry's heart skipped a beat.

A/N: Surprise~ Here's a surprise update!

It's Sirius' birthday today (November 3rd) so I decided to post today :) But don't worry there's still going to be an update tomorrow! :) Y'all gonna be real spoiled this week.

But this chapter was Harry's birthday~

Yes, Helena is a major bitch, and her true colors are starting to come out - at least we're starting to see them surface more and honestly it's only gonna get worse from here regarding Helena :( Her and Sirius are so toxic together, and for each other it's so sad :(

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this surprise update, and I hope you all enjoyed this chapter~ :)