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A/N: Hello to Favorite story readers: .; Story Alert readers: . and ! You guys are superb and I hope everyone enjoys the last chapter


Julia watched her sister flit around the kitchen, confusion on her face. Not that she didn't enjoy seeing her sister happy by this was just weird. She seemed so – carefree.

It just seemed weird! She was gone for school, staying in her new place with Will and she comes back to find her sister has quit the Department and had been training at the ministry. Why? She wasn't sure but her sister was always smiling now and she never brought up the ministry, as if it didn't even exist.

"Are you alright?" Julia asked.

"Never better," Christiana told her, grinning. "Why?"

"No reason. I – I just feel like I've been out of the loop lately."

"Well wedding planning is busy work, you know?"

"Right. Speaking of, you're still going with me to dress shop tomorrow right?"

"Right. Ginny and I are coming as soon as I get off work."

"Work. At St. Mungo's."

"Yes St. Mungo's, the same place I've been working for the last four years."

Not a thing. She didn't remember a thing.

Julia picked up the newspaper. The article that had been bugging her since it first came out. "So Sirius Black huh?"

"I know isn't that amazing?" Christiana said with a smile. "Harry was so excited when that article came out. Teddy didn't get it but I'm sure he'll catch on once he gets to know his cousin."

Right. This sudden buddy-buddy relationship she had with The Harry Potter and his wife Ginny. Of course, Julia was automatically included but it was still so very random. "How did you meet Harry again?"

"I've told you. He brought Teddy to the hospital one day (you know the boy's a metamorphous, always messing around and getting stuck) and would you believe I couldn't remember him? I mean, how do you forget meeting Harry Potter of all people? But I guess I met him and Teddy before that stupid accident at work. You remember right? The one that knocked me out a couple of months back. Thank goodness I was lucid enough to write a letter to myself. I gave it to Harry for safe keeping."

"Right." Well, let's try one more thing, shall we? "Well, doesn't Sirius Black kind of remind you of Corvus Brown?"

"Corvus Brown?" Christiana turned to her sister then, nose crinkled. "Who's Corvus Brown?"

"The guy you let stay in your house for a while."

"Guy I let –" Christiana approached her sister, placing the back of her hand against Julia's forehead. "Are you feeling alright, sis? Maybe you should come with me to the hospital."

She had planned all of this, Julia realized. Her sister was just too freaking smart for her own good sometimes. Absolutely ridiculous. She had done all this and hadn't even told her. Leave it to Christiana.

Julia smiled brightly. "No I'm fine! It must have been someone else I knew. I've got to get going!"

She stood, kissing her cheek. "Have a good day at St. Mungo's. Where you work."

Julia hurried to the lift, leaving Christiana standing confused. Though a lot more was confusing . . . like the pink and yellow striped toe socks she now owned and the pink and purple stuffed elephant and bunny that sat on her dresser.


Six Months Later

Sirius Black stared out the window to the street. He could hear Harry and Teddy laughing in the background. Ginny had gone out with little James to meet with a friend, Julia something or other.

Meanwhile, Sirius was feeling lost. It had been six months since he got out of the hospital. Snow landed on the ground and Christmas coming soon. He should have been happy to be alive, happy that he was with his new family even if all his friends were gone. He still had Harry and now Teddy.

He couldn't stay at Grimmuald Place forever though. It was starting to get to him again. But it was weird to go outside and not have people look at him like he was a criminal. They actually smiled and waved and it should have been welcomed, was welcomed but it was strange all the same.

However. . . .

He was having dreams, albeit incredibly weird dreams. Dreams about socks, strawberry-blonde hair, and dancing to the Sex Pistols. These dreams always took place in weird places too like his jail cell at Azkaban or, the weirdest, a carnival. But the thing that bugged him most about his dreams was the eyes: a beautiful set of brown eyes that were always laughing and smiling and just wonderful. Who did those eyes belong to?

"Oh. Oh crap."

Sirius walked in the direction of the playroom where Harry and Teddy were. "What happened?"

Harry sighed, turning the little boy in Sirius's direction. Sirius smiled at the beak that was now Teddy's mouth and nose. The little boy quacked, his eyes alight with a smile. "He's stuck again. I'll have to take him to the hospital before Ginny gets home."

Harry stood, his hand on Teddy's shoulder, but suddenly he stopped, looking thoughtful. When he looked up, he was smiling. "Well, maybe you could take him."

"Me?"

"Yeah! Give you two a chance to bond and get you out of the house for a while. Don't think I haven't noticed you've been moping, just like before."

"You'd have been moping too if you had been stuck here."

"Yeah well you're not stuck here this time. You're free to go out and do whatever! So how about you take Teddy to St. Mungo's."

Sirius sighed. "Okay, fine."

"Great! When you get there, go up to the fifth floor. Ask for Healer Anderson; Teddy knows her and she'll be able to help you."

"Alright. Come on, kid!" The five-year-old jumped up and down, quacking before hopping onto Sirius's back. Sirius looked over at Harry as they headed towards the fireplace. "We'll be back soon."

Harry grinned. "Take your time."


Seconds later, Sirius and Teddy were on the lift to the fifth floor of St. Mungo's like Harry directed. "You know who we're looking for right?" Sirius asked.

Teddy nodded excitedly and the lift pulled to a stop. The doors opened, revealing a large, round, brightly colored playroom. Toys scattered the floor in front of the many children's rooms that lined the wall. Sirius had never been up here before and was surprised by how quiet it was.

That was when he noticed all the kids sitting on the floor in front of a rocking chair, eyes rapt with attention. A woman was reading to them now, her voice changing to match the characters.

"'And someone's been sleeping in my bed'," she said in a tiny voice. "'And they're still here!'"

She held the book so the kids could see the pictures. Grinning she asked, "Now how many of you have ever been woken up by three bears? Me neither! Can you guess what Goldilocks did when she saw them?"

"She ran!" called a little girl.

"Let's see, Crystal." She turned the page. " 'Goldilocks woke up and was so startled by the three bears! She gave a scream, hopping from the bed and –' You know what she did? '—right out the window!'"

The kids laughed at the picture, the woman smiling. "That's the end of our story time. You guys are free to go play."

She stood and the kids ran off, picking up the forgotten toys. Teddy broke free from Sirius running forward and crashing into the woman from behind. "Oh! Hey Teddy!"

The woman finally turned full around and Sirius couldn't help but stare.

Brown eyes.

"You got stuck again?" the girl asked, smiling softly, kneeling. "Alright, close your eyes and say 'Ah'!"

Teddy did so, though his 'Ah' sounded funny. She ran her finger down the top of his beak, tickling his stomach. Teddy quacked and with a pop his nose and mouth were back to normal. "Thanks Chrissy!"

She finally looked up, her eyes catching Sirius's. "Hello Mr. Black," she said with a smile.

"You – You know me?"

"Well, you were only in the Daily Prophet for three weeks straight." She stood straight, walking to him with her hand outstretched. "Christiana Anderson."

"Chrissy, you remember Sirius!" the little boy argued but he was distracted, running off to play with the other kids.

Sirius, trying to stop gaping at her, shook her hand. Looking down, he saw that she was barefoot. . . . and wearing pink and yellow stripped toe-socks. He smiled, albeit a shaky smile. "Nice to meet you, Chris."

Christiana smiled, tilting her head. "Have we met before?"

Sirius almost said yes but he stopped. He barely remembered her, but he knew he knew her. It was there on the edge of his mind but he shook his head. "No, I don't think we have. But – but Teddy goes on about you a lot. Says your amazing."

"Oh he's just being modest," she said, her smile widening. "Uh, can I have my hand back?"

"Oh." Sirius let go of her hand, blushing. "Sorry."

Christiana giggled. "Well, I – I guess I better get back to work."

"Right. We better be heading home too. Teddy!" The little boy, hearing his name came running over. He threw his arms around Christiana's legs before taking Sirius's hand. "Suppose we'll see you around."

"Yeah, see you." Sirius smiled at her, feeling like a total idiot as they made their way to the lift. "Uh Sirius?"

He turned back around. Christiana's cheeks were blushed slightly pink and now she looked nervous. "I don't normally do this but, er, I get off work around seven. Would you – would you maybe like to go get something to eat or something."

Sirius grinned. "Yeah. Yeah definitely."

"Alright." Christiana smiled back, her cheeks still pink. "I'll see you then."

"See you." Sirius waved at her awkwardly before stepping onto the lift.

She was still smiling at him as the doors closed.

Things were definitely looking up.


A/N: Hope you guys liked this story. I had a lot of fun writing it! Thanks every one for reading and reviewing! You guys rock. Look for my continuing story: The Little Things That Matter starring George Weasley and Luna Lovegood.