Epilogue

Christmas dawned at Hogwarts all of a sudden. The entire school population had been so preoccupied with their studies and frantically leafing through the Prophet every morning in the hope that they wouldn't read a name they recognised that they hadn't really noticed the time of year. Then all of a sudden the weather had turned. Instead of rain pouring in droves it was now flurries of snow falling out of the sky.

The last week of term had sent a chill of happiness down everyone's spine, students and teachers alike. With the gloom of the year so far, they all deserved what little joy they could get and Christmas promised to do just that.

With snow on the ground and Hagrid putting up the Christmas trees it was hard to escape the holiday feeling, even if it did start off a little forced. As December had dawned the teachers had seen fit to encourage their students to look forward to Christmas and carols had echoed through the halls of the school. But after a week of enforced cheer the emotion turned genuine as the snow began to lay and the end of term dawned.

James Potter was particularly looking forward to the school holiday. He told everyone who would listen that his best friend would be spending Christmas with his family this year and that Sirius Black would be moving into his house to stay forever.

Sirius always smiled politely when this particular conversation arose. Despite constant reassurances by James and James' parents themselves, Sirius still felt uncomfortable with the whole arrangement. He didn't like the idea that he would be imposing on his favourite family at this celebrated time of year. He knew the Potters always made a big deal out of Christmas and that it was a big family affair. Thus, Sirius didn't think that it would be right for him to intrude when he wasn't part of the family.

The teen was still in two minds until he received a letter addressed directly to him and signed by Dorea Potter herself. It stated, in no uncertain terms, was he to remain at Hogwarts. And that he shouldn't feel out of place because he was now as much family as James was and had been since he had first spent a couple of weeks at their home the summer of second year.

Sirius' heart had warmed at the words and he couldn't bring himself to inform her that he wouldn't be joining them, especially when she said she had already made up and decorated a room for him to live in from now on.

So there he was, the Saturday after term had finished, stood with the majority of the school facing the scarlet steam engine that would bring them back to their families. For the first time in his life, the view from Hogsmeade Station was not a depressing one for Sirius. The train would not be taking him back to the harsh and violent world of his family, instead he would be going to James', to people who wanted him there enough to write to him.

The conversation between the Marauders did not dwindle the way it usually did as the train ride wore on. Despite his nervousness, Sirius did not recede into his mind as he was so used to doing as they pulled up at King's Cross station.

The four boys said their goodbyes before exiting the train so they wouldn't be interrupted by people pushing past them.

'Have a good Christmas guys.' Remus said, grabbing on to his trunk and beginning to haul it through the door. He was looking forward to this Christmas more knowing that the month's full moon was over and done with.

'Yeah, you too. Stay in touch.' Peter said, following his friend through the door.

Once they were alone, James turned to his friend and noticed his rather strained smile. 'Oh don't worry Padfoot. You've been to mine before. You know my parents like you.'

'I know but it's different knowing that I'm going to stay there.'

'How does it?'

'It just does alright. Now are we going or not?' Sirius just wanted the whole awkwardness over and done with. He had soon dragged his trunk off the train and was scanning the crowd for Mr and Mrs Potter with James huffing along at his heels.

James soon spotted his parents stood at the fair end of the platform, near to the queue for the exit. He quickly overtook Sirius in his urgency to greet his parents. With the war in the stage that it was, nobody was ever too sure if they'd see their loved ones again.

Sirius' pace had slowed as he neared the Potters. James was still hugging his mother and Sirius didn't want to get in the way. Unfortunately for him, Charlus Potter had already hugged his son and had noticed his other houseguest standing off to the side.

'Sirius! What're you doing over there?'

He didn't have the chance to even open his mouth before he was clapped on the back and pushed into the small circle of family. Mrs Potter gently pushed James to the side so that she could hug Sirius just as lovingly.

'You ready to go home lad?' Mr Potter asked Sirius causing Sirius' eyebrows to furrow slightly before a small smile spread across his lips when he understood the meaning behind the man's words.

Soon the greetings were over and the Potters plus Sirius apparated to the Potter manor in Berkshire. There were anti-apparition wards over the lands so the group had to walk from the main road, levitating the trunks ahead of them (James had to get his father to levitate his trunk as he'd not yet turned seventeen).

As soon as they were through the door, Mrs Potter grabbed Sirius' arm and tried to drag him up the stairs, causing his trunk to drop heavily to the floor.

'Calm down Dorea. He's here for two weeks I'm sure he'll see his room soon enough.' Mr Potter chuckled.

'Oh Sirius. I just want to know that it's okay for you.'

'I'm sure it'll be fine Mrs Potter.' Sirius answered a little awkwardly. It felt off for someone to pay this much attention to him, especially when it was positive attention.

'At least come and drop your trunk off before dinner. I want you to be comfortable here and know that you're loved.' Dorea still hadn't let go of his arm.

Sirius studied his shoes intently feeling his cheeks heat up. This was worse than he had expected. It was not rejection he had feared when moving in with the Potters, it was that they'd try to compensate for the family that they now knew he had come from.

Quickly understanding Sirius' predicament, Charlus Potter laid a hand on his wife's arm – the one still clinging onto Sirius – and turned to his son's best friend.

'How about you two go outside and fly for a bit before dinner, you don't have to unpack just yet. Feel free to leave your bags here, I'll get Totsy to take them upstairs.'

James smiled broadly at his father. 'Good idea Dad. Come on Sirius, you can use one of the brooms in the shed instead of fishing yours out of your bag.' James had felt awkward watching his mother accost his friend. He knew it made Sirius uncomfortable but he couldn't very well tell his own mother to leave him alone.

The two boys rushed through the house and out the back door, both equally glad to be out of that difficult situation.

Back in the hallway, the Potter matriarch was curled up against her husband's chest as he wrapped his arm around her.

'You don't need to coddle him you know. He's a good kid, he knows we want him here.' Charlus said softly.

'I just feel so bad. All those times he was in this house and I never thought he was in danger. Oh Charlus, did you see that scar on his face? To think that parents can do that to their own child!' Dorea was very close to tears now.

'I know dear. But he knows he doesn't have to go back. I made sure James stressed the point. But obsessing over him will only make him feel awkward. Let the lad take it at his own pace.'

Mrs Potter wiped her eyes before pulling back from the hug and pecking her husband on the lips. He gave her a small smile and gently pushed her in the direction of the living room.

'Best you go and rest up before dinner. I'll go and make sure everything is on track.'

~#~

Sirius opened the door to his new bedroom cautiously. He had made sure he was alone and that Mrs Potter was preoccupied two floors away, James was in the shower and he had waited until he heard the water turn on. He didn't want an audience for this.

The room beyond the door was slightly larger than he had expected. The spare rooms on the top floor were smaller than those occupied by the Potter family on the floor below. However, this room was large enough for a four-poster bed, wardrobe, desk and en-suite bathroom. The walls were painted beige while the carpet and all the furnishings were a deep red.

It was everything his room at Grimmauld Place wasn't. This room was warm, carefully designed to let in the light and filled with soft furnishings. He liked it as soon as saw it. He sat carefully on the edge of the bed, looking around.

A small photo frame caught his eye, in it was a picture a year or two old. He and James had painted faces; Sirius was yellow and black for his team the Wimbourne Wasps, James was light blue with a dark blue T across his face representing the Tornados. Mr Potter was in pale blue robes matching his son's face and was arm in arm with a neutrally dressed Mrs Potter. Sirius remembered that day. It had been his first professional quidditch match and his first 'family' day out with the Potters. He didn't know that a picture of that day existed.

A single, happy tear rolled down his face.

Standing suddenly, Sirius quickly showered and dressed. He hurried downstairs, ignoring James' room and kept going until he got to the ground floor.

He located Mrs Potter in the living room, staring at pictures on the mantelpiece, there was no one else in the room. He shuffled over quietly until he was stood next to her.

'Mrs Potter?' He said quietly.

She spun around, almost dropping the photo in her hands in her haste, 'Sirius?'

'Thank you.' The teen mumbled before wrapping his arms around Dorea's waist and hugged her gently. She ruffled his hair affectionately before hugging him back and pulling away.

'We just want you to feel at home dear. After what James told us about you feeling awkward spending Christmas here, we wanted to make sure you knew that you are family.' She gestured towards the pictures she had previously been occupied with. 'You're in as many of these pictures as James is.'

Sirius stared. He'd had no idea the Potters thought of him as family, let alone that they had kept pictures from the times he'd spent at their house.

The moment was broken when the living room door was thrown open by a wet haired James.

'Sirius, there you are. I was looking for you. What are you doing down here?'

'What, I'm not allowed to roam about my own home?' Sirius grinned at James who grinned broadly back before the two sat side by side on the sofa.

'James, be a dear at go and dry your hair properly, you'll catch a cold.' Mrs Potter admonished gently. Sirius snorted in laughter.

'Yeah, Prongs. Be a deer.' He couldn't stop laughing. When James through a cushion at him before standing, Sirius' only reply was to wiggle his hands above his head in imitation of antlers. James huffed and left the room.

Still chuckling to himself, Sirius looked back at Mrs Potter who was looking at him strangely almost as if she thought he had gone insane.

'It was a er… transfiguration accident. Er, James accidentally sprouted antlers.' Sirius' usually fluid lying was interrupted both by his giggles and a sudden inability to lie to the woman who had given him a home.

'Right… Anyway, I think dinner should be nearly ready.'

~#~

Christmas day dawned slowly and darkly on account of the rain pouring past the window. James had risen as soon as the clock chimed seven o'clock and was soon clambering up the stairs to Sirius' room. He didn't even bothering knocking on the door before barging in and diving onto the sleeping form of his friend.

Sirius groaned into his pillow.

'Come on Pads. Get up, it's Christmas!' James shouted into his ear.

'Yeah and it'll still be Christmas in a few hours. Piss of and let me sleep Prongs.' Sirius grabbed the second pillow and covered his head.

Not put out the slightest, James bounced off the bed, seized the quilt covers and yanked them off the bed. Sirius squeaked as the cold hit his bare skin and curled up into a ball. James grabbed his ankle and pulled him off the bed.

Sirius sat up from the floor with a glare on his face.

'Come on Padfoot.'

'Fine.' Sirius huffed before grabbing a pair of old jeans and loose jumper. Unlike James, Sirius slept only in his underwear and he didn't think Mrs Potter would appreciate him sitting in their living room barely dressed.

Within five minutes James had managed to rouse both his parents and gathered the entire household in the front room.

Sirius was still rubbing sleep out of his eyes when the Wireless was turned on and James threw his first present at him.

After James had ensured the bottom of the Christmas tree was cleared he sat back next to his own pile and threw off the wrapping paper of the first one he picked up. It was a new pair of Quidditch gloves from a vaguely distant uncle.

Just as he reached for another present he was stopped by a gentle cough from his mother.

'Seeing as you're no longer the only child in the house James, I thought we should do this properly this year. Rather than just watching you open your presents all at once.'

James looked vaguely surprised but looked over to Sirius expectantly.

'Actually, James is the only child in the house Mrs Potter.'

James threw his wrapping paper at the other boy. 'It's my birthday in a couple of months! We'll see who's laughing then.' Mr Potter chuckled. 'Just open your bloody presents.'

'James.' Mrs Potter admonished. 'Language.'

'Sorry mum.'

Sirius didn't know where to start. It looked like he had more presents than normal this year. Deciding he'd just start at the top, he picked up a light, elongated present from James. He unwrapped it carefully to find that it was a poster. He unrolled it before chuckling at what he saw. It was a detailed poster of the current Holyhead Harpies team.

'Thanks James.' He said, grinning.

'But I thought you supported the Wasps?' Mrs Potter said, confused.

'That's not why he wants the poster dear.' Mr Potter answered, winking at Sirius.

'What? Oh. Sirius!' The boys all laughed gently at her indignation.

The unwrapping continued with Sirius receiving a new chess set and board, a photo album, a set of eagle quills, a dark blue jumper, a camera, a ticket to the final of the Quidditch league on the 29th of this month and a bumper box of sweets from Honeydukes from Mr and Mrs Potter.

He looked at them astounded. Every year previous the Potters had only gifted him one present and the Honeydukes box.

'We knew there were things you couldn't salvage before you left home so we thought we'd help out.' Mr Potter said by way of explanation.

Sirius continued to gape.

'You're family now dear.' Mrs Potter said, as though that explained everything. 'You get treated the same way James does.'

'Th- thank you.' Sirius stammered still a little wide-eyed.

'Don't worry about it lad.' Charlus said, grinning at the boy's reaction.

Sirius also received Adorjan Conlido's biography (a world famous beater) from Remus; Honeydukes chocolate from Peter; a book on defence techniques and a pair of quidditch gloves from his Uncle Alphard; and a deck of Exploding Snap with a long letter containing pictures of baby Nymphadora from his cousin.

It was the most presents he had ever received in one sitting. It didn't even bother him that only two family members had bothered to give him anything.

Mrs Potter gushed over her present from Sirius: a beautiful silver necklace with a small willow tree dangling from it. Sirius quickly found himself wrapped up in a tight hug.

When Sirius could breathe again he was clapped on the back by Charlus Potter in thanks for his embossed ink holder.

The rest of the morning passed pleasantly though James and Sirius did have a wrapping paper fight when James gloated at his team beating Sirius' the previous evening.

Sirius discovered that the Potter house elf also liked to pull out the stops at Christmas. There was enough food to fill the entire dining table (which wasn't even close to being described as small), not to mention three different desserts.

Thus it was, by the time dinner had finished Sirius was slumped back in his chair contentedly listening to the conversation around him, trying to ease the waistband of his jeans. He'd also discovered that the Potters didn't like to make Christmas a formal event, Sirius had been encouraged to dress comfortably that day which made a change to the formal dress robes he used to be forced to wear.

~#~

Sirius was sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen watching Mrs Potter bustling around baking cinnamon biscuits the following day. Sirius, having come from an old pureblood family, was still a little perplexed by the idea that a pureblood woman would want to do anything such as baking when there was a house elf to do that sort of thing for her. But he found he liked the idea, especially when said biscuits tasted better than elf-made ones.

Mrs Potter passed him a slightly floury butterbeer as she continued rambling to him about her old friends from St. Mungo's that she was meeting up with the following day.

Just then, Mr Potter entered the kitchen through the back door, shaking his hair free of rain water.

'Post's here. For some reason the owl went to me instead of you seeing this is all yours except for one.' He said, pecking his wife in the lips before sitting beside Sirius with his own butterbeer.

'Thank you. Where's James?' Dorea asked, wiping her hands on a dish cloth to clear it of flour.

'He's upstairs writing a letter to some girl or another who doesn't want to talk to him.' Sirius snorted into his bottle. That could only be Lily Evans.

'Oh that reminds me, I got you two boys a post-Christmas present. Well, maybe it's a pre-New Year present.' Mrs Potter passed Sirius one of the two packages Mr Potter had brought in.

Sirius took off the brown paper packaging curiously. It was a small bottle of Oakridge's cologne. He looked up with raised eyebrows, wondering why on earth Mrs Potter had thought to buy him cologne, especially expensive cologne.

'I know you don't usually wear cologne but I quite liked the smell of that one and Charlus has his favourites already.'

'I'm not sure that was a good idea darling, all it'll do is attract the opposite sex and I'm sure Sirius doesn't need any more help with the ladies. From what I hear, he needs more help fending them off.' Charlus chuckled nudging Sirius with his elbow.

'Charlus! You should not encourage that sort of behaviour. I know Sirius has a bit of a reputation but he needs to learn that girls don't exist solely for his pleasure.' Mrs Potter cuffed her husband on the ear.

Sirius looked down at his bottle awkwardly. He'd never been scolded for the behaviour in itself before, only his choice in girl. In fact his father had practically encouraged the whole thing, providing of course, they were at least half-blood girls.

'Sorry Mrs Potter. I don't mean anything bad by it and I try not to be disrespectful. It's just nice to be told that someone loves you.' Sirius said quietly not making eye contact.

Instantly Dorea Potter regretted her words and seized her practically adopted son in a hug.

Sirius was pretty sure Mrs Potter was trying to hug the sadness out of him.

'We love you Sirius.' She mumbled in his ear.

~#~

James and Sirius had both received quidditch tickets for Christmas and were both overjoyed to be going though they did have to be escorted by Charlus Potter who didn't 'trust his sons out there while the attacks are as bad and as frequent as they are.'

Even though neither of their teams were playing, both boys were on the edge of their seats for the entire game. They were over the moon that it took five hours before the snitch was even spotted and Mr Potter was glad that he too was a quidditch fan else he would have been bored to tears by now with the length of the game even though it was a hard fought match.

The three of them returned home drenched to the skin with confetti stuck to every part of them. They looked so ridiculous that Mrs Potter couldn't help but laugh at the sight of them.

~#~

Sirius found himself relaxing into a pattern of happiness at the Potter residence. Just knowing that nothing he did would be rewarded with a beating was enough to put his mind at ease. Yes he had stayed here before but some part of his brain assumed it would be different now that he would be calling this place home.

And it was different in a way. Sirius had his own room this time whereas before James had always insisted he share his room. He also had the occasional chore but nothing that took any length of time.

On the evening of the second of January, Sirius was in his room reading the autobiography that Remus had given him instead of packing his trunk as he was supposed to be doing.

There was a knock on his door, expecting it to be James, Sirius called out to invite him in.

Instead of James however, it was Mrs Potter holding his washing. She glanced about his room and frowned at the obvious appearance of disarray suggesting Sirius had barely even started packing.

Noticing him on the bed reading a book, she placed the clothes on the end of the bed and cleared her throat.

Sirius started and dropped his book, face flushed with embarrassment at having been caught out.

'I thought you were packing?' Mrs Potter asked with raised eyebrows.

'I er, got distracted.' He answered, retrieving his book from where it'd fallen.

'Well best you get a move on, there won't time in the morning.' She said pointedly. Sirius shuffled off his bed and grabbed his empty trunk out from under the bed where he'd stored it and quickly packed his freshly laundered clothes.

On her way out of the room, Mrs Potter glared at Sirius' new poster. Wilhema McKenna had just gone into a sharp dive causing her robe to push down a little too far for it to be decent. Mrs Potter's scowl deepened and she shut the door with a sharp click.

With the door shut, Sirius smiled at the poster. His own mother wouldn't have let him hear the end of it if she had seen the poster but Mrs Potter just disapproved that the thing had been made in the first place, she didn't object to Sirius having it though she would have preferred him not to have put it up on his wall.

Sitting down on his finally packed trunk later that night, Sirius reflected once more on the differences between his new family and his old one. It surprised him that he now thought of the Potters as family though it wasn't too weird, he thought. He had long felt like James was a brother to him, why shouldn't he feel affectionate to that brother's parents too.

The warmth in his chest made him realise that perhaps you didn't need blood relatives to have a family. He would always miss his real parents, or at least, how they used to be, but he wasn't as alone in the world as he had believed. People still cared about him. Or more specifically, he now had somewhere he could call home.

~#~

And that is that. The actual, final chapter. For real this time.

Thank you so much for you for sticking with me, especially those who've been with me from the very beginning – more than a year ago now. And thank you to all those who've reviewed, you've kept me going in ways I can't describe. It's nice to know that other people enjoy something you've created.

Thanks for putting up with me.

Over and out.