Fifteen Years Later

Disclaimer: I do not own any character, except Natasha Welles. The rest belongs to the brilliant J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 1

He walked the streets of the village alone, marveling that 15 years later little had changed.

Fifteen years since he had last been here. It almost didn't seem possible.

He roamed the streets until he came to the Inn on South Main. It was quaint as ever. He remembered her reaction.

"Oh, it's perfect, just perfect."

They spent two weeks here, making love night and day. It was the happiest time of his life. After, when they returned to the world, nothing went as planned. In the weeks that followed everything went to hell.

He had betrayed their friendship - for a woman.

"I love her."

It didn't matter. "She is not yours to love," his friend screamed. "And if you could betray me, then who else?"

The implication stung.

A week later, James and Lily Potter were dead. Sirius Black was taken to Azkaban, accused of aiding Lord Voldemort. And she was gone.

Remus Lupin was once again alone in the world.

******

For the first few years he walked the earth a ghost. Then one day an owl came with a letter. It wasn't signed, but it didn't matter. He knew the writing. 'Do not try to find me. Know these things are true: I am safe. I love you. We will see each other again.'

Every so often an owl would arrive with a similar letter - a few sentences, no signature. They gave him hope in his darkest moments. Almost as though she knew he was in despair. He kept the letters, 20 in all, in his cloak pocket. And now, as he stared at the inn he held her most recent letter. It was only three words. But they were the words he had waited 15 years to read. 'I'm coming home.'

******

The Order gathered at 12 Grimmauld Place, waiting for Albus Dumbledore to arrive and discuss their next move. The Ministry had finally acknowledged Lord Voldemort's return. The Second War was about to begin.

"So where is he?"

It was not like Dumbledore to be late.

"Don't worry, he'll be here."

The group sitting in the kitchen was getting restless. Mad-Eye Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, Sirius Black, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Mundungus Fletcher and Remus Lupin - all dedicated to the Order. The door to the kitchen swung open and they looked up, but it was Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall.

"He's not here yet?" she asked, finding a seat.

"Clearly," snorted Black, in the weeks that followed the Ministry attack, he had been cleared of the charge of killing the Potters, but he was still smarting from his limited roll.

Snape smirked at Black. "He has his reasons for being late."

Black just glared back.

"Indeed I do Severus," said a voice from the doorway. "I apologize. I had to make sure someone received the information I had for them."

"Is everything set?" Snape asked.

"Yes."

With that Dumbledore sat down and the Order got to business. They discussed possible recruits and most importantly, Harry Potter.

"He needs to join the Order," Black said, pounding his fist on the table.

"He's still a child," argued Molly Weasley, her voice rising.

"He's 16."

"He's still a child."

Dumbledore raised his hands, quieting them. "I understand your concerns Molly, I had them as well. And my efforts to protect him - because of his youth - failed. But I am afraid Sirius is right; I think it is time for Harry to join the Order."

A noise in front hall broke up the conversation.

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE YOU FILTH!!!!"

"Oh shut up, woman!"

A blast was heard and the voices fell silent.

"Ah, she's here," Dumbledore said with a smile.

The door to the kitchen swung open and she walked into the room. Natasha.

"Sirius, I see your mother is as charming as ever," she said walking to the table.

Lupin's mouth fell open. She was beautiful as ever, perhaps more so. Age had only refined her features.

Dumbledore stood and hugged her. "Natasha, glad you made it. It has been too long."

"Thank you Albus. It's good to be back."

Dumbledore turned to the group at the table. "For those of you who do not know, this is Natasha Welles. She is a Hogwarts graduate and has done work for the Ministry and myself."

They all looked at her for a minute before someone at the table spoke.

"You're a Watcher," said Moody.

"I am - I was an Auror at first, but found I lacked your skill, sir," she said with a smile. "Besides, being a Watcher allowed me to work for Albus."

A Watcher - that was how she always found him. He should have known.

"You flatter me," said Moody, who seemed to blush under his scars.

"You must be tired," Dumbledore said. "Why don't we resume this meeting Thursday evening, say 10 p.m.? That will give you time to rest and catch up."

She nodded and the group at the table began to rise.

"Sirius, can I speak to you a moment?" Albus asked, holding open the door.

Black rose, his gaze never leaving Natasha. His eyes smoldered as he took her in, standing there in his family home.

Black and Dumbledore headed into the front hall. "Are you going to be able to handle this?"

"Handle what?"

"I may be old, but I am no fool. I know about your history with her."

Sirius looked at the floor. He had been 18, she only 15 when it began. But he had been head over heels, intoxicated, entranced by her. He was convinced she would be his forever. But things had not gone as planned.

"It'll be fine Albus, we are all adults, and it's in the past," he said. "To be honest, I thought she was dead."

Dumbledore said nothing, just nodded then headed out the door.

******

Back in the kitchen, Remus did not know what to say or where to begin. He let the others make her acquaintance and leave before approaching.

"Hello Tasha," he said softly, finding his voice.

"Hello Remus," she whispered, smiling at the use of the nickname. "It's good to see you."

The door swung open and Black walked in. "Hello Natasha."

"Sirius, how have you been?"

"Well, you know, 13 years in Azkaban, escape, living like an animal... not bad," he said, making a poor attempt at a smile.

"Oh."

"So where will you be staying?" Sirius asked.

"For now, I'm staying here. Albus thinks its best," she said, picking up her bag.

At that Molly walked in. "Come dear, you must be tired. I have a room made for you."

"Thank you. Good night Sirius. Remus."

Both men nodded and watched her leave the kitchen. They then turned to each other.

"We are grown men - we can handle this right?" Remus asked his best friend.

"Sure, it's been 15 years," Black said. "I'm sure she forgot all about us."

Remus nodded in agreement, but in his heart he was quite sure the opposite was true.

******

Natasha followed Molly up the stairs to one of the bedrooms.

"Here you go," Molly said opening the door. "We cleaned up best we could. The house is in quite a state, as you can see."

"It's great. Believe me I have slept in far worse." She put her bag down and sat on the bed.

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just tired."

"That's not what I meant."

Natasha looked at her. So she knew.

"It will be fine. I am here for Albus. And Harry."

"And what about the two men downstairs?"

Natasha shrugged. "There will be time for that later."

Molly looked her up and down. She was a beauty. Even Arthur had noticed. Hell, she made Moody blush. But Molly feared her presence was like sitting on a fire keg.

"Well, goodnight."

"Night Molly, thanks."

She nodded and left, closing the door behind her.

Natasha pulled off her cloak, hung it and reached into her bag for a nightshirt. She pulled off her jeans and shirt. Looking in the mirror she saw the necklace and remembered the day he gave it to her.

******

They sat at the window of their room watching the rain fall. They were naked, wrapped in a blanket together. It seemed they had spent the last few days this way.

"I'm sorry it's raining," he whispered.

"I'm not. I like us just the way we are," she said with a smile.

He studied her. Most women would be frightened by the intensity of his gaze, but not her - she reveled in it.

"I have something for you," he said, getting up from the window seat.

She watched him walk across the room and sighed. She loved to look at him. He went into his bag and pulled out a box. He walked back and she opened the blanket in invitation.

"It's not much," he muttered, handing it to her.

She smiled and opened it. She gasped. It was a necklace of white gold, delicate, shaped like ivy. The leaves were a deep green-blue. Moonstone. It was breathtaking.

"I know it's not much, but when I saw it, I thought of you," he mumbled.

She silenced him with a kiss. "I love it. Put it on me please."

She turned so he could hook the clasp at the base of her neck. She turned to face him.

"I'll never take it off," she said, touching it.

"You really like it?"

"I love it. I love you."

"I love you too."

******

She stared in the mirror at the necklace; tears stinging her eyes as she removed it for the night and set it carefully on the dresser. Other than three days when she left it with a jeweler to put new clasp on it, she had kept her promise.

Chapter 2

Natasha woke to sunlight pouring into the window. She had slept soundly - better than expected in fact. She rose, picked out some clothes and headed for the small bathroom. She turned on the water, which came out brown and gritty. She let it run a minute until the water cleared then hopped in and quickly showered.

She got out, drying herself off with the towels Molly had left for her. Back in her bedroom Natasha dressed, putting on her necklace and tucking it into her shirt. It could wait. Her first priority was the Order and protecting Harry. Dealing with the two men in the house would come later.

"Deep breath girl - you can go this," she said to her reflection as she toweled her hair dry.

"Sure you can," her reflection muttered back.

******

Natasha walked down the stairs, smelling breakfast and hearing voices in the kitchen. Her stomach rumbled and she smiled at the notion of getting a real meal.

"Good morning," she said cheerfully as she walked into the kitchen. Molly, Arthur, Moody and Tonks were in the room. "What can I help with Molly?"

"Help your self to something to drink and have a seat," she said, fussing over the stove. "What would you like to eat?"

"Umm, one of everything," she laughed, pouring herself some coffee.

"Come sit, I was just heading out," said Arthur, standing up.

"Thanks," she said.

Arthur went to his wife, kissed her cheek and headed out the door.

She sipped her coffee as Molly brought over a plate of food.

"So are you really a Watcher?" Tonks asked.

"Yeah."

"Cool."

"Sometimes," she said.

"What do you mean?"

"Not now Tonks, let her eat," Molly scolded.

"You'll have to excuse my cousin, Natasha, she sometimes forgets her manners," Sirius said as he appeared in the kitchen.

Tonks scowled at him, but Natasha placed her hand on hers. "It's okay, I understand. There are not many of us out in the open."

Tonks smiled and stuck her tongue out at Sirius.

"Mature."

"You're one to talk Sirius," Natasha muttered.

"Excuse me?"

"I seem to recall you had some pretty juvenile responses to things you didn't like."

"Such as?" He was staring at her, daring her to start.

The sound of Molly clearing her throat ended the conversation.

"So, what is on the agenda today?" Natasha asked, prying her eyes from Sirius.

"Well the house still needs some cleaning, especially since the kids will be coming soon."

"Kids?"

"Well, Harry of course, and my two youngest, Ginny and Ron. And Hermione."

"Oh, well, let me eat and I'll help you out. You can fill me in on what's been going on," Natasha said.

They ate in silence for several more minutes. She rose and got a second cup of coffee and more toast. The door swung open and Remus walked in. He was still handsome, despite the worn expression his condition gave him. She suddenly wanted to leap into his arms, kiss him and tell the world to go to hell. Instead she sat down and busied herself with buttering the toast.

"How did it go last night Remus," Tonks asked.

"Good, quiet. I can deal with quiet," he turned and looked at her. "Did you sleep well Tasha?"

"Yes. Best sleep I've had in a long time."

Sirius looked from one to the other. "Tasha?"

She flushed as Remus quickly turned to get breakfast. "It's what he's always called me."

"How sweet," Sirius said, throwing his napkin down and leaving the room.

Natasha watched him leave, then shook her head and smiled. "Only took 12 hours. I think that's a new record. Excuse me."

She rose from the table taking her plate to the sink. "Thank you Molly. That was the best meal I've had in a long time."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just need to talk to him."

Molly nodded. As she walked out of the room, Tasha placed her hand on Remus' shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. He nodded and watched her leave.

******

"Hey." She called as she followed him into the drawing room.

"What Natasha? Or should I call you Tasha - or is that his pet name for you?"

She pulled the doors closed to give them some privacy.

"He's called me that since Hogwarts you ass, and you know it," she said, fighting her anger.

"Whatever."

"Please don't do this."

"Do what?"

She looked at the floor. "Sirius, I'm sorry."

"For what - screwing my best friend or vanishing when I needed you most?"

"That's not fair. I didn't screw..." she ran her hand through her hair in frustration. She would not stoop to his level. "I tried to help you and you wouldn't let me. I told you to not trust Peter. And then - it just looked so bad Sirius. There was nothing I could do."

"Fuck you!"

"Oh, that's mature."

He glared at her. He hated her but could not help feel the pull. The urge to kiss her, make her his again. After all these years and the other women, only she had this power over him. He had once loved her. He was not sure what he felt for her now, but it was not love. It was possession, obsession.

"It was 15 years ago Sirius, can't you let it go?"

"Why, clearly you two haven't."

She was slightly taken aback. "What makes you say that?"

"I see the way he looks at you. Remus is good at controlling his emotions in front of everyone but me," he said, daring her to challenge him. "And you could never hide anything from me."

She looked at him, knowing it was true. "You and I stopped loving each other a long time ago."

"You don't know that. I always loved you," he said, but even as he said the words he knew they were a lie.

"Bullshit Sirius, we stopped loving each other long before I... long before anything happened," she said. "I knew you were seeing other women. Lily told me. I fought for you because I thought I could make you love me again. And then, then I realized that I didn't love you either."

He stared at her open mouthed. He had suspected Natasha knew about his dalliances, but had assumed in his anger and jealousy that Remus had told her so he could take her. Sirius remembered how his best friend had looked at her back then. How he had longed for her. It had been obvious for some time.

"Lily told you?"

"Of course," she said, studying him. "You thought it was Remus didn't you? Thought so. He would never do that. He knew it would only hurt me and that I probably wouldn't believe it."

"Saint Remus," he muttered sarcastically.

"I'm going to ignore that," she said. "Look, I'm sorry about a lot of things. There are things I should have handled differently. But I can't change the past. I am here to do what I promised to do and that's take care of Harry."

"How noble of you. So you never considered getting back into his bed while you were at it?"

She sighed and looked at the wounded expression on his face. The years in Azkaban had ages him, but she could still see the handsome school boy she met and fell in love with at Hogwarts.

"After 15 years can't you let this go and look at the big picture," she stepped to him, touching his cheek. "Can't you please let it go? For Harry's sake. For our godson's sake?"

Sirius looked into her eyes. He could still see the girl he had fallen in love with all those years ago. He nodded. "For Harry," he whispered.

"Thank you," she kissed his cheek, then left him standing there.

******

He knew it was wrong. She was only 15 and he was 18.

"I can get sent to Azkaban for this," he joked.

"I'm not making you stay."

They were in the Astronomy Tower, the place they had been meeting almost nightly for weeks. Natasha was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She had dark-blonde hair and the deep blue eyes, a young body full of curves begging to be explored. Sirius, normally so cool when it came to girls, was at a loss. He was desperate to have her.

"So when is your birthday?" he joked.

"Two weeks, you know that."

"I do. Two weeks then. In two weeks - I promise."

She studied him. Sirius was the handsomest boy in school. And he wanted her. It still amazed her. She would do anything for him. And in two weeks, when she turned 16, she would give herself to him completely.

"Well, then I guess we should leave," she said, smiling.

"What?!?"

"There's no point to our being here, making each other crazy, if we have to wait two weeks," she said, her fingers playing with the buttons of his shirt.

He acquiesced. He knew there was no choice - once Natasha made up her mind about something it was impossible to convince her otherwise.

The next two weeks seemed to take years to pass. The night of her birthday finally arrived. Lily and some of the other girls organized a party in Gryffindor Tower. James walked over to him, drinks in hand.

"So what are you giving Natasha for her birthday?"

"None of your business," he answered, trying to hide his grin. "I'm giving it to her later, alone."

"Boy have you got it bad," laughed Remus, who approached. "She's got you wrapped."

It was true of course, but Sirius did not care. She turned and looked at him, smiling.

Later they made their way to the Astronomy Tower. He took her virginity that night under the stars. And she claimed his heart.

******

Sirius stood there, stunned at how clearly he remembered the first time. The smell of her hair, the softness of her skin; how eagerly she had given herself to him. How eagerly she always submitted to his desires. How the simplest touch from her could excite him. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, suddenly aware that he had an erection.

"Shit," he muttered, willing himself to calm down. After a moment he regained control and walked out of the room. He needed to get out of the house. Now.

"Molly!" He called.

"Yes Sirius?"

"I have to go out for a while - do you need anything?"

"No, we're fine - when will you be back?"

"I - I don't know. Later."

Molly walked into the hall and looked at him. He was clearly upset about something. Most likely Natasha, she thought. "That's fine Sirius. We'll see you later. Just be careful."

He nodded, grabbed his cloak and walked out the door.