PART FIFTY-ONE
July 24, 1991, Zephyr, Ontario, Canada

Sirius was surprised he had been in a house long enough to learn how the floorboards creaked under his footsteps. Five years was a long time for him to have a permanent home. But here he was. Five years in the same house.

But an even more memorable milestone was the one he was celebrating to the day. The anniversary he'd made his family official. He stood in the door, watching Yuki check her dress and makeup in the mirror. "You look perfect."

Yuki smiled at him through her reflection. "I just want everything to be perfect. Big anniversary. Our fifth. Any regrets?"

Sirius stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He pressed a kiss to her neck. "I just wish it was longer. Should have been."

"We did it at the perfect time," Yuki insisted. "So you think Remus is going to be okay with the kids?"

"Ali and Frank are here too. Yeah, they've got their boys to look after..." Sirius replied. He turned her around, pressing her close to him. "But I'm sure they'll be fine."

He leaned in for a kiss when he heard thundering footsteps. "Kachan! Padfoot! Nori keeps going through my- UGH!"

Harry threw his hands up in front of his eyes. "You two aren't supposed to do that!"

Yuki pulled away from Sirius with a sigh. "What has your sister done now?"

Harry blinked his green eyes behind round glasses. "Wow... Kachan... Kirei."

Yuki smiled and ruffled Harry's permanently mussed hair. "Thank you. But what were you saying about Nori?"

Harry straightened himself up to full height, which hardly did anything. He was small for his age. Despite how much he seemed to eat, he was painfully thin as well. Of course, James was never that big either. "She keeps going in my room to play."

"She just wants you to play with her," Sirius explained. He grasped Harry by the shoulders. "She worships you."

Harry scrunched up his nose. "I just don't want her going through my stuff!"

"I'll have a talk with her," Yuki sighed.

There was more thundering footsteps. Sirius sighed. "You kids have to learn not to run in the house!"

JJ thundered into the room, slightly breathless. "Harry, Harry... The newest Which Broomstick? has come in. Look at it!" He thrust the magazine towards Harry.

Harry's eyes widened. "Wow! Look at it! The Nimbus 2000!"

JJ pushed his long hair out of his face. He wore it long and it fell elegantly, much like Sirius's own. He took after his mother greatly, with delicate features, but there was no doubting Sirius was his father, with his cool grey eyes and a swagger no ten-year-old should possess.

Sirius smiled at his boys as he put a hand on Yuki's waist. "All right, boys... Why don't you go to Harry's room and look at your magazine? Kachan and I are going to be heading out soon. And be nice to your sister."

Harry waved his hand dismissively, wrapped up in the article on the new broom.

Yuki leaned against Sirius as he led her out of the room. "Looks like we know what to get Harry for his birthday," she sighed.

"Mm." Sirius looked down at her. "I'll get the order form when he falls asleep."

Nori raced past her parents, her pigtails bouncing. Sirius groaned. "Come on, kids! Can't you follow the rules?"

"Look who's talking," Yuki muttered.

"Hey, watch it there..." Sirius started, but trailed off when Remus walked down the hall slowly, clutching something in his hand. His face was paler than normal. "What's wrong?"

Sirius knew it in an instant. Something was most definitely wrong. What could have happened? What now?

Remus held up what he was holding. "An owl just dropped this off," his voice was shaking slightly. "I thought you'd want to see it."

Sirius accepted the letter from Remus. His heart began to pound as he saw the distinctive green writing on the envelope

Mr H Potter
Dog House II
Zephyr, Ontario
Canada

Sirius swallowed hard. "I think we have a whole new problem."

TO BE CONTINUED IN "TWISTED STONE"