A/N I have no idea when Star Wars actually came out in the UK. So I'm taking dramatic licence and saying it's playing circa winter 1977. Also, I haven't been back to the UK myself since 1993 so if the terminology is a little off, maybe someone who lives in the UK could let me know? My mother always said "go to the pictures" and "films", while I-Yank that I am-always say "movies" and "theater".

"So, love, how was the picture? Did you enjoy it?" Mrs Potter was asking James as a whole crowd bundled up in mismatched muggle coats came crowding in through her front door. James was taking off an old trench coat that looked like it had spent time in the attic, but on him it worked. Harry considered that his dad had the self confidence to make anything look good.

"It was brilliant!" he enthused, "And it was about wizards!" he turned to Lily who was hanging up her ski jacket, "D'you suppose the muggle who made it has any family who were wizards? Maybe he's a Squib?" James didn't give Lily any time to answer, just turned back to his mum, "So, there's this bloke and he lives with his aunt and uncle, and he doesn't know he's a wizard..."

Sirius had hung up his own jacket and broke in to say excitedly, "And there's this dark wizard who's gone as far dark as you can get. He's hunted all the wizards who've opposed him out of existence, and there's this emperor who's another dark wizard. It seems like he rules the muggles."

"And he's got this big space station." put in Peter who had thrown himself onto a chair in the living room.

"And there's this old wizard in hiding who tells the bloke he's a wizard and takes him on like an apprentice..." inturrupted James.

The conversation devolved for a moment into a flurry of all of them trying to tell Mrs. Potter about the film. Her eyes sparkled as she listened.

"Well, it sounds wonderful." she said when they'd settled down a bit, "My mum used to like the pictures. Her and me, we used to go a lot."

"She did?" asked Lily surprised'

"Oh, yes," said Mrs Potter, "She was muggle born, you see."

Lily smiled at her broadly, and Mrs. Potter winked.

"Oh, Remus?" Mrs. Potter asked after a moment. "It's all right..." she paused as though choosing her words, "with your parents I mean...if you stay here tonight, is it?"

The boys looked at each other knowingly, and Remus glanced at Lily. Apparently Remus didn't know that Lily knew. "Yes, thanks, Mrs Potter," Remus assured her smoothly, "They...uh...they won't need me home till next week."

"Well, that's fine then. Why don't you children help me set the table?"

Harry wondered idly why James was the Potter's only child, as it was clear that Mrs Potter enjoyed the happy chaos that the Marauders (and Lily) brought to her home.

"Harry, dear," she said from the kitchen. Harry looked around, confused, "You're home early."

"Took the afternoon off." said a man's voice. Harry brushed by James to look at the man who was speaking. He was fairer than either James or James' mother. Actually, he looked a bit like Lucius Malfoy, only with a kindly expression. Harry remembered what Sirius had once told him about all the pureblood families being interrelated. He wondered if the Malfoys were some distant cousins. That was a disturbing thought.

Mr Potter (Harry assumed thats who he was when he kissed Mrs Potter in greeting), looked tired, "I thought I should have a word with Mr. and Mrs. Black."

Sirius' expression turned from one of good humor to horror, then to sullen resignation. He leaned against the wall, his hands in his pockets, "What'd my dad tell you?" he asked looking at the ground.

Mr. Potter shifted uncomfortably, "Well, your dad didn't say much. It was mostly your mum. I-" he seemed to decide to change what he was going to say and changed his tone to one more bracing, "Well, they said that you can stay with us, until you go back to school. And next summer, if you like."

James looked delighted, but Sirius still stared at the floor, "They didn't want me back, did they?" he said quietly. Now he looked up at Mr Potter. Harry had seen that look on Sirius' face only once before, and that was when he had confessed to Harry that he felt responsible for James and Lily's deaths.

Mr Potter looked round as though trapped, and Harry realized why James was such a terrible liar, "I'm afraid not." he said slowly, "But, you know, sometimes these family things take a while to work out..."

"It's all right, Mr Potter," sighed Sirius, "It's not like I didn't expect it." he pulled away from the wall, "I suppose mum's already burned my name from the family tree like she did with 'Dromeda's." he sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve.

"Sirius, dear," said Mrs Potter gently, "You know you're always welcome here." she put her arm around him.

He smiled a little, "Thanks."

The sound of Lily clearing her throat softly made Harry turn back to her. She had turned her face to the window, blocking the others in the room from seeing her, but from where Harry stood, he could see she looked upset. "I'm just going to clean up for tea," Lily said, softly.

Harry followed her to the small guest room where she was apparently staying. No sooner had Lily sat on the bed, than there was a knock on the half open door.

Mrs, Potter stood there looking concerned, "Lovey? You alright?"

Lily shook her head, "It's just. Since my parents died...my sister won't talk to me. She always hated magic."

"But now its more than that, is it?"

"She got an owl from the Ministry of Magic. They suspect there was Death Eater involvment. Now she says "our lot" killed her parents.

"Oh, Lily." said Mrs Potter. She sat down beside the distraught girl, "I'm so sorry." she put her arm around Lily's shoulders now, "Like I said to Sirius, you're always welcome here."

Lily sniffed and Mrs Potter used her wand to conjure a handkerchief, "Mrs Potter?" Lily asked rather shyly, after she had wiped her nose. "Does James really talk about me?"

"All the time," the older woman smiled, "Since second year. I've been telling him to just invite you up. but I think he was a little shy to be honest."

"James? Does he have a shy bone?" snorted Lily, amused.

"You'd be surprised. Sometimes I wish he was a little less concerned with impressing people. But he always talks about you. I'm just pleased that the reality matches his talk."

Lily blushed.

"Come on, love. Let's go have our tea." Mrs. Potter said