Hope watched for a few moments as Sirius was cleaning up his equipment from tinkering with his motorbike before she took a seat on the front step, laying out her burden and beginning to mix it carefully.

"What are you doing?" Sirius rose to his feet and walked over to her after she'd been working for a few minutes.

"I'm making a soap solution."

"Why?"

"Because I am in the mood to bubble blow. Are you interested in joining me?" she patted the step for him to sit beside her.

"Is that a Muggle game?"

"I assume so. Your mum didn't know what I meant when I asked her for the ingredients," she held the bowl up to let him see what she was doing.

"What's in it?" he sat down beside her.

"Liquid dish soap and tap water," putting the solution into a bottle, she grinned as he peered into the bottle surprised.

"That's all?"

"Yup, do you want to try it first?" she held out the bubble wand to him.

"Wouldn't it be easier to just show me?" beautiful light grey eyes lifted up to her confused and she had to squash down the urge to hug him as he cocked his head to the side.

"Now where's the fun in that," she settled for bumping her shoulder against his, making him smile. "Take this, and blow through the small hole after you've dipped it into the solution."

"Hard or softly?"

"Softly, party pooper," she laughed as he stared at her bewildered. "Spoilsport?"

That got a suspicious glint in his eyes. "You were hoping I'd mess up?"

"Of course, that is the whole fun of it! Everyone does so the first time. It took Remus several attempts before he ever managed to blow bubbles."

"How old was he?"

"A year, maybe a year and a half?" she grinned at his raised eyebrow and tried to reassure him. "Remus' father was much older and it took him quite a while longer to learn."

"Uncle Lyall knows this game?"

"Yes, and as soon as you've begun, so do you," she encouraged him, nodding as he raised the bubble wand and softly blew through the soapy hole.

As she half expected, he almost immediately realised he was blowing too softly.

"Oh..." he gave a breathy hum of approval as the bubbles spread out immediately, twinkling grey eyes following the colourful bubbles and she couldn't help but mentally cheer as a smile slowly spread over his lips.

Her heart went out to her son's friend as it was far too easy to make him happy with small things like these, he was much easier to make happy than any sixteen year old should be in her opinion.

The boy never seemed to ask for anything, not even the bare necessaries and she knew Charlus had to almost wrestle him into a new jacket after the old one he wore consisted of more holes than actual fabric.

It worried her sometimes, how quiet and easy to please her son's best friend was. Especially when she heard her son's stories about their Hogwarts adventures and how often they got into trouble.

But Dorea had quietly explained to her that the family they both came from left little to no room for joy and simple things, especially not for Sirius and that was why Hope had ventured outside in the cold that morning in the hopes she could lure him into a simple childish activity.

She'd hoped he'd like the bubbles like any child seemed to do and was happy she wasn't mistaken as Sirius stared at the bubbles like he'd never seen anything as beautiful before, which with the existence of magic seemed fairly far-fetched but she could hope.

"Pretty, aren't they? When I was a little girl I would try to chase them and make sure they'd not break."

"They break...oh," his eyes widened slightly as one of them hit the snow and burst apart. "That's a shame."

"It is a fleeting thing, meant to last only for mere moments."

"Because if they were permanent, they'd lose their beauty and become common," the wisdom in his words didn't surprise her, though it made her sad as she knew he had been forced to grow up much too quickly.

"I used to cry many tears when I realised I'd never be able to keep them," she admitted with a wry smile before nudging him. "Want to see how big you can make the bubbles?"

"It's your turn," he held the wand out to her as the last bubble disappeared.

"We'll just have to make it a little game then," she decided as she dipped the wand into the solution again and blew several large bubbles into the air, smiling at the smile that spread over his lips again.

"Muggles are truly amazing," he eventually commented after they'd taken several turns.

"Funny, I always feel that way about wizards," she lightly elbowed him in the side, making him squirm as he laughed.

"You cried because you couldn't save them?" he glanced at her.

"Yes," she laughed. "I wanted to keep them, even if it would only be one. I loved the colours in them, still do actually."

"Well...I could help with that," he cupped his hands underneath a small bubble that floated towards him and softly blew on it, splitting it into three tiny ones before they fell into his hands.

She watched amazed as small silver lines appeared around the now seemingly solid bubbles, locking them loosely in a carrier-like structure before hooks formed at the end of two of them.

"They may be fleeting beauty, but with a bit of magic we can keep some of that close to heart," he flushed as he held them out to her.

"They are beautiful," Hope whispered as she could see from up close that they were still bubbles, but unbreakable now and softly floating in the silver carriers.

Sirius looked away from her nervously as she inspected the third one, realising it had become a pendant, meant to be hung on a necklace and completing a set.

"I love them, thank you, Siri," refusing to allow him to shy away, she wrapped her arms around him in a hug and pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Merry belated Christmas, Auntie Hope. Remus told me you love silver earrings, but they usually come in a set with a necklace, right?" he cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Usually, yes. Would you do the honour of putting it on?" she unhooked the simple silver necklace Remus had given her that Christmas and hung the pendant on it before holding it out to him, not commenting on his relieved expression as she realised he'd been nervous she'd not like it.

Like she would ever not love a gift and the simple childish attempt to preserve something of beauty for her warmed her heart as she understood his intention.

A moment later he'd attached it to her neck and she carefully put the earrings in before turning to him. "And?"

"Brilliant," he smiled shyly before he looked down at the almost empty bottle of solution. "We used up almost all of the solution."

"We can always make more," Hope smiled. "But first I have a question for you."

"Ask away."

"What did you do with your motorbike?"

He blinked surprised at the change of subject but accepted it gratefully as she'd known he would. "I added a few magical tweaks."

"That made it bigger? Cause it was half this size when your parents asked for my help in getting it."

"Ah, no. That is a side effect of my protective spells I think. I tried to add the same safety precautions to the bike as there are on brooms, but the more magic I used the bigger the bike became. I kind of like the result, though."

"Of course you do, for boys everything bigger is better," she winced at her poor choice of words, but luckily Sirius didn't seem to catch the double meaning as he looked at the bike thoughtfully.

"This way, Remus will be able to join for a ride without being cramped in the side-car if Peter's there too. I do wonder though, is his tallness a wolf thing, or a family thing?"

"You are not exactly small yourself either," Hope laughed. "If I didn't know better I'd say you put a stretching charm on yourself. James, too!"

Sirius chuckled. "True, since living here I've grown quite a bit."

"Hmmm, you all did. You better stop growing soon or you'll hit the ceiling," she ruffled his hair playfully. "I have to say the bike looks marvellous."

"Thanks, I quite love it," Sirius' smile grew as he looked at the bike. "I like it better than a broom."

"I've always wanted to fly," Hope confessed. "But brooms aren't designed to carry two people for long and a hover charm really isn't the same."

"Why don't you join me for a test drive? It's not exactly the same, but the speed is good."

She turned to him surprised as Sirius rose to his feet. "Wouldn't you want to make your first trip with James?"

"Already did last night. I just added the last few tweaks this morning," he held out his hand to her. "What do you say? I promise I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

"I know that," Hope made a show of accepting his hand and allowing him to pull her up. "You know, you are pretty strong for such a scrawny guy."

"Don't tell Rem, he's been obsessed with feeding me for years now."

"My lips are sealed," she grinned as he rolled his eyes at her, fairly used to her by now and together they walked to the bike.

Whistling approvingly, she climbed up behind him thankful that she'd chosen to wear jeans that morning instead of a skirt. "Do you mind if I hold onto you or do you prefer it if I hold onto the bike?"

"I'd prefer it if you held onto me, I'd hate to have to explain to your son why his mother became road kill because she didn't hold on properly."

"It's my son you're worried about? What about my husband?"

"I don't plan to share an apartment with your husband after Hogwarts."

Snorting at his words she nodded. "For the sake of your future, I'll hold on tight then."

Waiting until he'd kick-started the bike, she was startled by the loud roaring that filled the quiet morning and her heart jumped in anticipation as she wrapped her arms around his waist. It might not be flying, but she'd always wanted to ride a motorcycle.

"Ready?"

"Yes," she had to bite back a laugh as he tested her told before taking off, appreciating that he took off slowly so she could get used to the bike and automatically she leaned with him as he took a turn.

After crossing the lane three times, he looked over his shoulder at her with a half grin. "Want to feel what it is like to fly?"

"What?" she had to speak loudly to be heard over the roar of the bike and the wind whipping her hair back.

"Do you want to fly?"

Looking into his mischievous eyes, she found herself nodding.

"Hold on tight then," he grinned and waited just long enough for her to tighten her hold before picking up speed.

Unsure of what exactly to expect, she was pleasantly surprised by the rush of adrenaline at the burst of speed as he leaned forward and suddenly her stomach flipped as the bike took to the air.

"How..." a mix of horror and delight filled her as they gained altitude and she realised they were actually flying now. "We're flying!"

"Is it what you hoped?" he grinned back at her knowingly as they soared through the sky at a steady speed and flew several laps over the property.

"Even better," she answered his grin as she looked around her, tightening her grip for a moment to try and get across how thankful she was.

"Then wave at your family before your husband gets a heart attack."

Following his indication, she unhooked one arm from around his waist to wave at the figures standing on the balcony of where she knew their room was.

One waved back immediately while the other visibly hesitated before doing the same.

"Want to go say hello up close?"

"Can we?"

"Why wouldn't we?" another grin was shot her way before he steered the bike towards the balcony, slowing down as they approached until the bike hovered before the two.

"Hello there," she laughed as her husband could only seem to stare at them in morbid curiosity.

"So that is what you meant with tweaking it a little," Remus leaned over the railing to get a better view of the bike. "And you've kidnapped my mother while you were at it?"

"A very willing kidnapping," Hope and Sirius grinned at each other.

"I took James for a test ride last night to deem if it was safe."

"Oh, I know you would never have endangered my Mum and she certainly seems to be having fun," Remus smiled as he turned to her. "Do you like flying, Mum?"

"Yes! I want one too!"

"No!" Lyall's eyes widened in horror and Hope pouted, aware she was probably not at all acting like a responsible adult but couldn't find it in her to regret it as both boys laughed.

"What about the weight? Is it safe?" Lyall worriedly looked at the bike, not daring to touch it.

"It can hold three normal weighing men comfortable without a problem," Remus assured him. "He took James and me for several rides earlier this week."

"Do you want to join us for a ride?" Sirius asked.

"No, not in a million years will you get me on that thing."

"Fair enough, Rem?"

"We could join them on brooms and fly together," Hope turned to see James hovering behind them with a second broom in his hands.

"All right," Remus quickly grabbed his jacket before accepting the broom and mounting it.

Hope wrapped both arms around Sirius' waist again as he leaned back.

"Care for a little race?" James asked and Sirius turned to her questioningly.

"Let's see how fast this thing is," she suggested even as her husband's eyes widened.

"Don't worry Uncle Lyall, we'll take good care of her," James grinned as Sirius checked her hold before picking up speed again, the boys flanking them on both sides.

Never before had Hope been able to join her son in his magical adventures, but now she was flying with him for the first time and her heart jumped in delight at seeing him laugh joyfully.

"I thought this was a race," she yelled to be heard over the wind as they'd flown several laps.

"Are you sure?" Sirius called out to her surprised even as James, the most reckless of the three, turned to her uncertain.

"Finish line is the porch, winner has to do the dishes," she called out and immediately both boys spread out without a second prompt.

Sirius chuckled as he picked up speed as well, easily keeping up with the brooms as they raced through the sky.

But as they neared the finish, he slightly pulled back so James crossed the finish line first and Hope laughed as she knew he'd been the only one to have been listening to her properly.

"Why'd you hold in all of a sudden?" James raised an eyebrow as they all dismounted.

"She did say the winner had to do the dishes," Sirius cheerfully informed him and James groaned as he realised that was indeed what she'd said.

"That's sneaky, Aunt Hope!" he complained even as Remus burst out in laughter, having ended last and now being thankful for it.

"You just should have listened properly," Sirius laughed as James stuck out his tongue to him. "If that is the way you're going to treat me, I'm not going to tell you Kirry and I already did the dishes early this morning."

"You're the best!" James grinned and slung an arm around his shoulder.

"Thank you for the experience, Sirius, I really enjoyed it," Hope smiled as Sirius wrapped an arm around James' waist in return.

"No problem, it was my honour to make your dream come true."

"You're doing that an awful lot this morning," Hope smiled as she touched her necklace and Remus leaned in to have a better look.

"Are you trying to charm my mother, Siri?" he teased as he carefully turned the pendant over in his hands to see it from all sides.

"Of course I am, she's your mother, it is my job to charm her," Sirius gave him an easy smile as Remus grinned.

"Well, consider me thoroughly charmed," Hope laughed. "Are you quite sure the two of you can't start dating? Because if he is this charming when I'm just your mum, just how much am I going to get spoiled if he were to become my son-in-law?" she touched her beautiful earrings teasingly.

"Mum!" Remus choked out a laugh even as he flushed and Sirius and James laughed as they wrapped an arm around him.

"Relax Moony, she's just teasing," James patted him on the arm.

"I should hope so," Lyall came towards them. "You are much too young to be thinking of marriage to anyone. I do have to say, that bike is a lot faster than I expected such a heavy thing to be."

"I looked at jets in my research on how to make it fly. Those can go really fast, too, despite their size and I wanted that for my motorbike as well," Sirius revealed, looking up to the sky as it began to snow.

"We should move everything into the garage and get inside for a cup of hot chocolate," at Lyall's words, Hope watched the boys get into motion to clear their brooms and the bike safely away and took his arm.

"I got to fly with our son today," she smiled as he turned to her.

"Almost gave me a heart attack when I realised you were on that bike with him. Don't scare me like that again," he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close as he spoke to her quietly so the boys wouldn't overhear with their enhanced hearing.

"Sirius would never let anything happen to me and you know I've always wanted to fly."

"I know and I am glad you got to have your wish come true. I would never have thought of doing something like that, those boys are quite brilliant," Lyall turned to her.

"When he wrote us six years ago that he'd been sorted into Gryffindor and would share a dorm with a Potter and a Black, I feared for the worst," he admitted softly as they watched an impromptu snowball fight break out between the boys on their way back. "But I was wrong and to see him laugh and have fun like he is now, I never thought he'd be able to have that in his life."

"After he was bitten I'd always hoped he'd find a friend who'd accept him no matter what, but I'd never dared to imagine he'd find what he did," Hope agreed.

"They are remarkably close and what they've done for him, it's more than we could have ever hoped for," Lyall chuckled as both dark-haired boys tackled their son into the snow. "Though I am somewhat glad Peter's not here."

"It's horrible, but I agree. That boy gives me the creeps sometimes," Hope admitted quietly.

"But Sirius and James are good for him and I am glad he has them," he squeezed her close for a moment before whistling out to the boys, ending their conversation. "That hot chocolate isn't going to drink itself!"

Hope could only smile fondly as all three of them immediately ceased their play to make their way towards them.