He turned and looked back at Diana, smiling joyfully as she smiled up at him, her reddish hair framing her heart-shaped face and laughing eyes. He secretly hoped she would kiss him again, granted it hadn’t been anything but pecks on the cheek, but it still made him feel as if he could fly.

“Percy? Fernglennis to Percy” Diana laughed, tugging on Percy’s hand to get his attention. “How is it you can look right at me and not hear a word I’m saying?” she teased, “Have you grown tired of me already?”

“No, no, not at all Diana.” Percy replied immediately, blushing as he stumbled over his words. “I was just thinking about how much I wish the rest of my family would have been able to join us here. My father wants a full report about ‘everything’, and my brothers….”

“You have brothers?” one of the girls chirped in, “How many? Are they cute?”

“Are they funny?” asked another,

“Are they coming soon?” yet another chimed in.

Percy bit his lip nervously as he looked at Diana and Meg. “You know, I really would like to have my family meet yours.” seeing the look in Diana’s eyes, Percy felt his heart in his throat as a delightful shiver coursed through his body. Unable to think while staring at her, he quickly turned to her older sister Meg. “Do you think we could go back and try convincing Mum that its safe, ….she doesn’t like the idea of traveling without floo or brooms.” he gulped. He tried to think of anything else but the pretty Diana as she placed her hand delicately on his arm, causing a thrilling sensation between his legs.

“Oiy, those broom” Meg groaned, “Diana, do you believe they actually DO fly on brooms? They are the most uncomfortable things, not to mention slippery…”

“Meg? Do you thing you can convince my mother? I don’t want her to be upset,…to be honest, she doesn’t know I’m here, the twins and I…” Percy paused as he heard the giggles and whispers from the girls around him. <>P “Relax Percy” Meg smiled, “we have a lot of twins in our clan as well, and uhm..well,… we have a lot of ‘notions’ about them too.” she winked, causing Percy to blush yet again. Meg grinned as she nodded to her sister, obviously Percy was quite ripe for the picking, something which Diana had NOT failed to notice. “Does your Dad know you’re here? Is he alright with it?”

“Da? He wanted me to bring a camera and take pictures. He can’t wait for me to get back and tell him all about it.”

“Well then, I’d say we have a good chance at talking Molly into it. So girls, what do you say to a little road trip?”……

“Duncan,… Duncan stop it now” Remus laughed as Duncan chased Sirius around the table for some comment or another. “Come on Duncan, you asked for it, you’ve been egging him on all night”

“You be quite Remy” Duncan growled, lunging across the table in an attempt to catch Sirius. “And you stay still, you sorry excuse for a warrior.”

“I’ve told you before Duncan, I’m a lover, not a fighter.” Sirius shot back, attempting to keep his balance as he stumbled over his own feet.

“You’ll be a sorry sight if I get a hold of you wizard.” Duncan spat as he leaped over the table, causing glasses to crash across the floor as he gave chase to Sirius. The two men ran throughout the downstairs, yelling and stumbling as Duncan caught the tail of Siri’s shirt….

“Moira? How are you dear?” Cat cooed softly as she walking into the dimly lit room. Her heart went out for her niece, after all, she knew all too well the pain and horror associated with the visions. “Can I get you anything?” she asked, brushing Moira’s hair off of her face while the girl tried to smile up at her.

“No Aunt Kitty, I’ll be fine, just sore and tired right now.” Moira all but whispered, “Is Harry with you? I’m worried about him, he’s surrounded by danger.”

Cat took Moira’s hand in her own as she leaned close to her niece’s ear. “I know dear, but I’m here now, and I won’t allow anything to happen to him. Now relax and try to sleep. If you like, I’ll ask Harry to stay with you, sometimes company helps.”

“I’d like that, I feel safer when he’s close” Moira sighed, snuggling into her cocoon as the cold settled on her once more….

Howling with laughter, the two men wrestled, banging into walls and doorways as Sirius tried to evade Duncan’s strong hands and fingers. “Ow, stop it Duncan, or so help me.” Sirius yelped as Duncan pinched him once again.

“Brimstone! Sirius, if you can’t stay still, at least slow down.” Duncan insisted as the wizard once again sped out of his grasp. “How am I supposed to beat any sense into you if I can’t catch you?”

“I would think that was the entire point of running” Remus deadpanned as the two men dashed past he and Tris yet again. Turning to Tris, Remus sighed “So, how long do you think they can keep this up?”

Tris giggled as she shook her head. “I don’t honestly know, they’ve both had a bit, but Duncan is strong and has a lot of stamina, and your friend isn’t exactly at the peak of health.”

“This is true, I should do something to even up the odds.” Remus stated as he pulled out his wand. Then, before Tris could stop him he pointed the wand at Duncan’s feet and called out “ Lubricus calceare”, laughing as Duncan slid across the floor and hit the wall with a slight thud.

“Now that wasn’t very nice Remus” Tris drawled, “at least play fair.”

“Why Miss Tristessa, I have ’no’ idea what you are referring to.” Remus replied, a look of shock and indignation on his face. “Are you insinuating that I have somehow interfered with your muscle bound cousin chasing my poor, ailing friend throughout the house in the attempt to,.. now what was that phrase he used, ‘beat some sense into him’ I believe.”

“I’m doing more that insinuating, and your friend ‘does’ need sense beat into him.” Tris countered, doing her best not to laugh at Remus’s antics, charming though they were. “If he loves her as much as he says, then why doesn’t he tell her the truth, tell her why he abandoned her.”

“What? Tris, what are you talking about, Sirius never abandoned Kitty. She left us, she didn’t even stay to graduate. Up until just a few weeks ago, I thought she had been expelled.” Remus explained, “Sirius looked for her for at least three years, he was going to Japan to search for her when Lily and James were murdered.”

“Expelled?!.. She wasn‘t expelled, she was.… oh no, you mean he didn’t know? She never told him?” Tris slowly sat down, barely feeling Remus’s supporting arm around her waist. “You mean all these years I’ve been angry with him for something he didn’t even know about?” She looked up to Remus with large emotion filled eyes, she couldn’t have been ’that’ wrong about him, could she? “Remus, what did he do when she came home?”

“Sirius? He was unapproachable at first, either viciously angry or in tears for the most part, but we all expected her to return eventually. Even Lily was sure she would pop up at any moment, but when she didn’t come to see us graduate, or Lily’s wedding, … The minute school was over, Sirius and his mother went to Ireland, hoping to find her there, then to Scotland with no more luck…..”

“His mother went with him? But why?”

“Why?! Tris Mrs. Black adored Kitty, so did Mr. Black, they considered her their daughter, not daughter-in-law, daughter, a full fledged member of their family. James even told me that Mr. Black had written Kitty a letter that was given to her at his funeral, and he wrote another one to Sirius giving his blessing for the two of them to marry.” Remus explained, wondering why Kitty hadn’t told her these things herself. “Sirius and Kitty were firm about two things regarding marriage; it was two families being joined, not just two people, and it was forever…..no wait, make that three, they both wanted lots of kids.” he added, grinning widely as he recalled listening to the two couples planning out their lives together. “Did you know she and Lily had planned to buy houses next to each other, so they could always be near one another.”

Tris looked up at Remus, tears in her eyes. “They were much closer than they ever imagined Remus. But that still doesn’t explain why he didn’t know.”

“Why he didn’t know what Tris? And why are you angry with Sirius?” he asked gently. He had been wondering for the past week why Tris was so cold towards Sirius, he thought it had been something she had heard from Snape, but obviously it went much deeper than that. He thought she was finally going to say something, but instead she smiled widely, forcing her tears back as she stood and greeted Kitty.

“Just in time Kitty Cat.” Tris grinned, squeezing Remus’s hand and hoping he would have enough sense to let the conversation drop for the moment. “Think you can do something with these men? Short of blowing them up that is.” she asked sarcastically as Sirius and Duncan ran passed them yet again.

“Yes, Kitty? Any idea on how to stop this?” Remus asked as he tried to catch his breath from laughing at the two of them as Sirius skidded across the floor, grabbing a sandwich from the table as he zoomed passed.

“Oh merciful goddess” Cat sighed, “I can’t go away for ten minutes without one of them trying to get the other. This is almost as bad as having Slytherins and Gryffindors in the same class.”

“Is that a yes or a no, because if it’s a no, that means ’I’ll’ have to take care of them.” Tris commented.

“No you won’t, I’d like them to be in decent shape for a while thank you.” Cat shot back, then smiled slyly as she added, “And besides, think of the condition they’ll be in tomorrow and all the fun we can have torturing them.”

“Good point,” Tris winked, “so, what’s the plan?”

Tris and Remus watched as Cat walked into the center of the room, sighing deeply as she called out. “Does this mean I won’t get a New Year’s kiss?” Cat asked as Sirius ran past her once again, artfully avoiding a now clumsy Duncan.

“Not on your life Cat MacLeod, you stay right there.” Sirius yelled as he darted out of one door only to double back and reappear in another the moment Duncan ran out of the room. “Hello beautiful” Siri smiled as he wrapped his arms around Cat, spinning her around playfully as she giggled.

“Mr. Black, I think you’ve had enough” Cat teased as she wrapped her arms around him, as much to hold him up as to encourage anything romantic between them.

“You may ‘think’ I’ve had enough gra, but I ‘know’ I have.” he laughed, “in fact, I’d say I have had enough for several weeks. I’m not a young man anymore, I just can’t do this, and apparently, neither can Duncan.” he added as her brother stumbled over something in the hall, making a loud noise. “Any idea were our son is?”

“Yes, he’s with Moira, she had a vision tonight and I’m afraid she’s a bit worse for wear. She seems to take a great deal of comfort having him near her.” Cat whispered, a look of concern and sympathy in her eyes.

“Don’t worry Cat, they’ll both be fine. Moira’s a strong and bright girl, and I have never seen Harry happier than he’s been over the past few days.” Sirius confided as he slowly started to dance with Cat. “Any regrets about bringing us with you gra?” he asked, nuzzling against her while they continued to dance.

“No, none. In fact, I’m very glad Albus and Harry insisted I bring you all with me. Until we had the chance to spend some time together, I just didn’t realize how much I’ve missed you Sirius.” she admitted as she rested her head on his chest, listening as his heart beat a little faster.

“Hey” Siri whispered, causing Cat to look up at him, “Happy New Year gra, may it be your last as Miss MacLeod and your first as Mrs. Black.” he stated, kissing her tenderly as every clock in the house began to strike midnight…….

“Hey, Moira, its midnight, Happy New Year” Harry said softly as Moira rested against his shoulder, her strawberry blonde hair tickling his chin. She was exhausted and sore, but still she looked up at Harry and smiled.

“Happy New Year, Harry. Tell me, what do you do in the Wizarding world to celebrate midnight?” she asked, trying to do anything to keep her mind from the pain coursing through her body.

“Fireworks mostly, I guess. Why, what do we do here? And please tell me it doesn’t have anything to do with explosions or asking Mum to do something with the weather.” he sighed.

Moira laughed weakly, “No silly, nothing like that, we just kiss.”

“Kiss? Why?” Harry asked, waiting to hear a long and involved explanation. “I dunno, because we like to kiss I guess” Moira chuckled, “why do you set off fireworks?”

Harry grinned from ear to ear, “No idea, but I like to watch them.” he hesitated as he saw Moira smiling up at him, a sleepy look in her eyes. “Moira, are you tired? Do you want me to leave?” He smiled as she shook her head no, thinking about what she had said, and before he had the chance to get nervous and change his mind, Harry gently tilted Moira’s lips towards his, and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

“Happy New Year” he whispered, a feeling of happiness and relief flooding through him as he saw the smile on her lips and in her eyes. A delicious feeling of warmth shot down his spine as he realized what was going to happen next. She wasn’t going to run away like Ginny or Calli did, she didn’t mind the fact that he had kissed her, in fact, judging by the look in her eyes, she might actually have liked it.

“Happy New Year, Harry.” Moira whispered back as she lifted her lips to meet his, sighing softly as she realized he wasn‘t afraid of her or her visions………

Duncan draped his arms around Tris and Remus’s shoulders as he watched Sirius and Cat kissing tenderly. “They do belong together, don’t they?” he whispered softly as a smile stole across his face.

“Yes, they do” Remus replied immediately, his eyes darting to Tris as he waited to see what she would say.

“They do seem happy together.” she whispered, her eyes fixed on her mortal child. “Duncan, do you think he’s capable of being her husband, does he have what it takes?”

“Yea, I do actually” Duncan grinned, “Oh, and being its midnight, I think you two should be doing something as well. Because I may be a bit snookered, but I’m not kissing Remy, that’s your job Trissie.” he teased, winking at her as a huge smile appeared on Remus’s face. Then, without missing a beat, he turned and began walking into the crowd by the fireplace, “Hey, Mandy… where are you love? It‘s midnight…”

Rick lifted a rather ‘happy’ Severus in his arms, laughing deeply as the potion master continued singing Auld Lang Syne. He had been worried that Cash’s new found tolerance of the professor may have been pushed passed the limit when Sev mentioned a baby, but true to form, Cash’s love of his clan overrode any desire to inflict harm on Severus. After all, it wasn’t as if they didn’t ‘know’ what had gone on between Angel and Sev, but to have it laid out in front of them like that. Rick had the feeling that it had only been the tears in the potion master’s eyes that had saved him. A point well proven when Cash had finally returned to the office half an hour later, his knuckles raw and face still red.

Rick thanked his lucky star that Angus had been there and reacted so quickly, but then Angus had always been the peace keeper of their little group. Smiling softly, Rick thought of the way Angus had immediately stepped between Cash and Severus, not even thinking twice about his own safety as he gave Rick those precious few moments he needed to pull Sev out of Cash’s way. He had honestly been afraid Cash was going to kill him for a few seconds there, but Cash calmed down quickly.

After all its not like they didn’t ‘know’ what had happened between Angel and Sev, but to have it put right there in front of them like that…. Rick biggest concern was the way Cash would treat the potion master but he was still being fairly kind to Snape, although Rick doubted he could expect the same from Hamish when he returned from Fernglennis…

Cat and Tris couldn’t stop laughing at Sirius and Remus as they tried to get the two wizards to bed. In between the stupid jokes and the clumsy movements the women were holding their sides from giggling fits. “That’s it Cat” Sirius sighed, “laugh at me, embarrass me, abuse me….” <>P “Hang on there Padfoot, abusing you is my job, and if I’m busy, then it falls to Tris. Kitty’s only concern with you should be loving you.” Remus insisted as he attempted to squirm out of Tris’s grasp.

“Remus, would you please stay still and let me take these clothes off of you, you’re drenched as it is.” Tris sighed, rolling her eyes but laughing all the same as Remus gave her a look of complete shock.

“Good gods woman, have you no shame?! At least wait until those two are gone before you…”

“That’s enough of that” Tris stated, cutting off the rest of Remus’s comment as Cat and Sirius laughed hysterically at them. “Don’t encourage them Kitty Cat, you know what will happen if you do.”

“Kitty Cat?” Sirius repeated, wrapping his arms around Cat as he smiled down at her. “Kitty Cat, I can’t believe she gets away with calling you that. You would pinch me if I ever called you a name like that.” he teased as he rubbed his nose against hers. “So ‘Kitty Cat’ am I drenched too? Or better yet, are you?”

“Behave yourself Sirius Black,” Cat warned, “My clothes are fine. You, Remus and Duncan are the ones who decided to have the water balloon fight, not Tris and I. And you seem capable of taking off your own clothes, so get to it mister.”

“I love a forceful woman, don’t you Moony?” Sirius joked as he fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. “Cat, honestly I think I need help” he sighed as he threw his hands up in exasperation.

“You’re hopeless Siri, you know that?” Cat teased back as she conjured a towel, wrapping it around his head as she attempted to dry his hair. “And you Remus, I’m honestly surprise we didn’t have to roll you up here. How did you manage to eat all that haggis? What do you have, a hollow leg or something?” She asked as she forced Sirius to sit down so she could reach his head. “And would you please stop fighting me Sirius, I’m just trying to dry your hair.”

“Hey, you’re not the one in cold, wet clothes.” he whined, “and I didn’t exactly see you rushing to my aid when your brother attacked me.” he added, winking playfully as he flicked his wet fingers at her, spraying her with a drizzle of water.

“Watch it mister,” Cat smirked “I know your weaknesses and I’m not afraid to exploit them.” she stated as her fingers hovered near his ribs, waiting to tickle him.

Sirius reached down and grabbed her by the wrists, pulling backwards so that Cat softly slammed into his chest. “My only weakness is my love for you gra.” he whispered tenderly, “Stay with me, let me share my love with you.” he asked as he kissed her tenderly.

Tris stared at Sirius and Cat, not sure of what to make of the recent developments in their relationship. Nudging Remus, Tris motioned for him to say something. Shrugging his shoulders Remus did just that, “Padfoot, old boy, you do still have company, might want to take that back to her room…” he quickly ducked as Tris swatted him.

Sirius looked up at Remus as Cat giggled against his chest, “You really know how to ruin a mood, don’t you?” he asked snarkily. “Why don’t you and Tris stay here, and Cat and I can go back to her room. We have a lot to catch up on, and Duncan did finally give me his permission to ask Magnus for her hand in marriage.” he added as he lifted her chin and stared deeply into her eyes. “What do you say Catrianna? Would you permit me to ask your father, would you be my wife?”

“Why don’t you ask her that tomorrow when you’re sober” Tris interrupted. “It might be a bit more sincere then.”

“I am being sincere,” Sirius argued, squeezing Cat tightly as if he feared Tris would take her from his arms. “And this isn’t the first time I’ve asked her, although she has a very bad habit of not answering me.”

“Really? Do I?” Cat teased, pushing Sirius down on his bed and laughing as he fell backwards, laying across the quilt and chuckling at her “Would you please get up and take off those wet clothes, you are going to catch a cold.”

Sirius fumbled with the wet buttons once more, only to give up as he flopped across the bed again. “Never mind, I’ll sleep like this, I’ve been through worse than a night in damp, cold clothes.”

“Oh stop” Cat sighed, grabbing his hand and pulling him up as she easily undid the buttons and helped him remove his wet shirt. “The last thing Harry and I want is for you to be sick. I’ve only just started getting you healthy again.” she teased, but her words fell silent as she once again saw the scars littering his chest.

“No, gra, don’t” Sirius whispered softly as he pulled her down, sitting her on his lap. “It’s over now, I don’t even feel them anymore, honest. All that matters now is that we’re together and Harry is safe and happy, everything else is just a shadow, it doesn’t matter.” he insisted. He sighed softly as he felt Cat nuzzling against his neck, her head resting on his shoulder and her long, soft hair brushing across his bare back. “Tell me you love me Cat, tell me you’ll let me ask Magnus.”

Cat closed her eyes as she listening to his heart, her fingers tracing the outline of one of the deeper scars. “I love you Sirius, and I want to start a family. But I don’t know when my father will be returning, or if the crones will even allow us to…...”

“They won’t have a choice,” he stated firmly. “I won’t let you go, gra. My life is nothing without you, its like I’m only half a person.” he insisted as he kissed her once more, only this time he refused to allow her to push him away. He felt a momentary pang of guilt and emotional turmoil as he felt her hands pushing against his chest, but it was a half-hearted effort on her part and he knew it. He decided to take a chance and allowed his hand to slowly slide up her leg, lifting her long skirt as it did so……

Remus pulled Tris back as she moved to go to Kitty’s side. “Let them be Tris, they need to work this out.” he whispered, half dragging her into the bathroom, “besides, I’m having trouble with these buttons as well. Did Duncan hex them or something?” he asked as he narrowed his hazy eyes at the small discs.

Tris laughed softly at Remus, brushing his wet hair off of his face and smiling as his soft, hazel eyes met her own. “No silly, Duncan isn’t very good at magic, I’m afraid. He knows a few tricks, but he’s a warrior, he doesn’t bother with things like hexes and spells. YOUR problem is the shirt is cotton, and I’m betting its shrinking.” she teased as she helped him with the buttons, allowing her fingers to trail over his chest as she removed the shirt and hung it over the shower rail. She paused to admire his physique, her eyes travelling up and down the length of his body before continuing. “Maybe Harry will be able to fit into it by tomorrow, that is if….”

She was silenced mid-sentence by Remus’s lips covering her own, her arms instinctively moving to his shoulders as they deepened the kiss. Tris shuddered as she drank in both the warmth of his flesh and the dampness of his remaining clothes. Oh Goddess how she needed this, how she had longed to feel him pressed against her if only he would push forward, she thought, but she didn’t dare hope for it, after all, she wasn’t like him, not anymore, she had left the ranks of mortals so many centuries ago.