Just Like Old Times

Without replying to any of Sirius' questions, Remus escorted his long time friend from the kitchen and to the stairs quietly, so not to wake the portrait, leading the way half up before he stopped to speak. He turned slowly and looked intensely at Sirius. "Now just listen to me."

Sirius looked at his old friend. There was something happening he needed to know about, but Moony was being decidedly secretive. He was beginning to get angry, but held his temper-for the moment. "Okay, Moony, but this better be good."

"I mean it, Sirius." He looked him straight in the eye.

As he took a breath to steady himself for the blow of bad news, he leaned against the banister. He didn't say Padfoot, he said Sirius. This must be important, Sirius thought. "What's happened, Remus?" he put more emphasis on the name than was necessary.

"You're face has been all over the papers. All over the world." Remus paused.

"I know that," Sirius interjected.

"No," Remus said. "I don't think you do." He placed himself a few steps above Sirius, to block the man if he tried to get upstairs before Remus had a chance to prepare him. "For almost eighteen years you've been the bad guy."

"I know this, Remus. This isn't news for me."

"There were some people who didn't know. Who weren't sure." Remus again paused.

"Cut the shit." Sirius held his hand up. "What is it you are trying so very hard not to tell me?"

Remus looked at him and took a deep breath. "It's Jen, Sirius. She saw you in the paper."

"Jen?" he repeated, denial and uncertainty lacing his voice. Putting a hand to his chest for emphasis, clenching his heart he asked again, this time in utter disbelief, "My Jen?"

Remus nodded.

"Where is she?" He started to push past Remus, knowing she had to be up the stairs, wherever Remus was not letting him go.

"Stop!" Remus's voice was more commanding than Sirius was used to hearing from the wolf. "There are some things you need to know before I can let you see her. It's complicated." He smiled inwardly; thinking Jen used the exact same words. "Listen. A lot has happened to her in eighteen years."

"A lot has happened to me as well!" he exclaimed, astonished at his friends comment.

Remus shook his head. "No, it's different. You have to promise me your going to try to stay calm, so I can tell you some things you need to know first. If you can't, we're staying right here on the stairs."

Sirius raised his head just a bit, as if to say 'who do you think your kidding?'

"I mean it. You can't loose it right now," Remus said cautiously.

Sirius nodded his head in agreement.

"Alright," Remus began. "After Voldemort killed the Potters and you were thrown into Azkaban there was nobody left to tell Jen what had happened but me." He shook his head still seeing her tormented face in his mind when he told her of Sirius's betrayal. "She didn't believe you did it. Not for even a moment. I am not exactly sure what I was expecting from her then, but I wasn't prepared for the way she attacked me." Remus looked into his best friends' gray eyes. "She had some choice words for me. She didn't doubt you and she couldn't believe that I did. We argued for a very long time before she disapparated." He huffed a breath and closed his eyes before continuing, "We never had the chance to discuss anything but you. She never had the chance to tell me about her trip or what had been happening with her."

"Hold on." Sirius crossed his arms over his chest. "We've already had this discussion, Remus. I know all about your fight and how she vanished. This isn't new information."

"No," the werewolf agreed. "I suppose it's not, but I want you to keep in mind she felt that she had lost us all; and would never see any of her school friends again. Try to remember this, she felt like everyone she'd ever known and loved had either betrayed each other or were dead."

Sirius nodded, growing steadily more impatient. "Are you going to make a point any time soon?"

"Just remember," Remus put a hand on Sirius's shoulder, "no matter what happens, she did love you and never wanted to hurt you." At that, Remus led him the remainder of the way up the stairs and to Jen's door. "She's here." He held his arm up stopping Sirius from bursting into the room. "Your emotions are just as raw as hers, Sirius. Please. For your sake and hers, try to remain calm."

Sirius took a very deep breath, looked at his old friend and leaned in close. Then spoke loud and clearly, so not to be misunderstood, "Remus, open the door."

Remus turned the knob slowly, and then pushed the door open.

For a moment the two just looked at each other. She standing by a bedside table, he in the doorway, they just stood, stunned. Remus was not sure which of them moved first, but suddenly they were standing in front of each other, looking into the other's eyes. Remus slowly backed towards the hall, quietly pulling the door behind the couple, not quite shutting all the way.

Jen hadn't changed much, Sirius thought surprisedly. Her chestnut hair was cut just below her shoulders when once it had hung long down her back. He smirked spontaneously at the memory of when he had jinxed it orange. She also had small lines framing her eyes. But that was it. She was wearing a light blue jumper with jeans. He brought his hand slowly to her face, hesitant to touch her, afraid that this was just another dream, another night when she haunted his sleep.

Sirius seemed taller to her. She guessed it was because he was so much thinner. His hair still hung to his collar and dropped into his eyes, though it was as thin and lanky as the rest of him had become. He didn't seem as cocky as she had known him to be, Azkaban had not been kind to this once powerful and confident wizard. However, he was here, in front of her, touching her face. She could feel his breath on her skin. She closed her eyes against the sensation, relishing it. He was innocent, he was right here, and this is how she wanted it to stay.

He caressed his hand down the side of her face, and then pulled her closer. He stood silently holding her, the smell of her hair and skin stirring long forgotten feelings, waging war as he fought to keep control of his heart. He pulled slightly back and cupped her face in his hands and lightly brushed his lips back forth across hers and then gently kissed her. Yes, she was real. Her hands found their way to his chest and waist as a small whimper escaped her throat. He pulled back and looked at her. When she opened her eyes, a tear dropped from her lashes onto her cheek. He rolled his head and pulled her to him tight. "Jenny."

She wrapped her arms about him, clinging tightly.

Remus saw Jen's hands clench into Sirius' shirt and Sirius wrap one arm around her shoulders and the other hand hold the back of her head as he softly kissed the top of her head. Remus smiled and pulled the door close, listening to it latch.

He crossed the hall to where Jimmy and Lily were waiting. He knocked before he entered the room and found Lily sitting at the table with her head resting on her arms and Jimmy pacing the floor.

The small bedroom was dimly lit and the drapes had been pushed away to reveal a rising half-moon. One of the Twins had lit several lamps that cast long shadows across the floors and walls.

The trip had been long and the emotional strain an ordeal that had hit the Twins brutally.

"How are they?" Jimmy stopped pacing and asked quietly. It was almost more than he could stand, to wait to meet his father after all this time of waiting, already.

Remus shrugged his shoulders. "Too early to tell. I think they're happy to see each other." He crossed the room and sat at the table across from Lily. "We will know after she tells him about you two."

"How do you think he'll take it?" Lily asked

Remus thought for a moment and then shook his head. "I really have no idea. He's still furious he that didn't get to see Harry grow. There's no telling how he'll react to hearing he was unable to see his own children grow."

"He won't hurt her, will he?" Jimmy asked.

"Are you asking if Sirius might hurt your mother?" Remus smirked. "No, he won't hurt her. He may yell and break a few things, but he would never physically hurt her." He folded his hands on the table. "Besides, she wouldn't let him."

"So we just wait?" Jimmy asked again.

Remus nodded. "We just wait."

########## #####

Harry paced impatiently around the kitchen. Now and again he'd stop and look at Hermione or Tonks, still angry they had not told him about the owl. What was going on up there? What could possibly be so important?

"Harry, you're making me dizzy," Ron said from the table.

"What's going on up there?" he almost shouted. "And why wouldn't they tell me? I'm his godson! If something's wrong, I should know about it!"

"Here, dear." Molly pressed a cup into his hand. "Now you just sit and wait. There's no sense in expecting the worst."

Harry took the cup and plopped down beside Tonks. "And all you got was Roxanne Black from that owl?"

Tonks nodded her head. "If I'd known you'd be this upset, I'd have told you from the start. But Remus seemed to want to keep it quiet. Like it would disturb Sirius's party if people knew what he was going to do."

"I'm sure Remus has a very good reason why he doesn't want us to know what's going on." Bill reached across and stilled Harry's hand that was madly tapping the table. "But whatever it is, they'll tell us when they're ready. You need to calm down."

"How long have they been up there?"

"It's only been about an hour, Harry," Hermione stated.

"Only?" Harry slumped back into his chair. "What's taking them so long?"

A loud crash from somewhere upstairs interrupted them.

########### #######

Jennifer sat next to Sirius, waiting for his reaction. After the initial violent embracing and disbelieving touches, they had both started to talk at once, justifying past decisions and reactions. After several loud and confused moments, he stilled her words with a finger on her lips and sat with her on the end of the bed. Not letting go of her hand, he had her start from the beginning. He had listened in silence as she told him her tale, never once stopping her or asking any questions. He patiently listened to all she had to say, holding tightly to her hand between them, hoping she wouldn't decide to disappear again. When she told him about his children, his face contorted a bit, but was soon replaced with an impassive mask. He sat and looked at the floor letting her get it all out before he reacted.

"Jimmy and Lily?" Sirius loosened his grip on her fingers and let his palm slip away from hers.

She nodded. "I was going to call them Peter and Marie. But changed my mind at the last minute."

"Why?" Sirius asked, trying to mask his anger.

Jen breathed deep and tilted her head. "I carried them almost two weeks past term." She looked up and into his eyes. "They were born on July thirty-first. I took it as something of a sign."

Sirius thought on that a moment, remembering his best friend, James, and his wife. Then figured the math on the last time he'd seen Jennifer. "So that makes them, what? Seventeen?"

Jennifer nodded. Her empty hand tingled oddly and she rubbed it nervously in her lap.

"Seventeen," he said to himself and looked at his feet. "Seventeen," he repeated then suddenly stood up, grabbed a spindly desk chair and threw it against the wall. "How much more, Jennifer?" he bellowed at her. "How much?" He grabbed a vase from the nightstand and threw it against the wall smashing it as well. "Taking James and Lily wasn't enough, was it? NO! I also got a wonderful stay at Azkaban, I missed out on Harry's life and now this! I was denied my own children! This was my life, Jenny! Mine! But I never had the freedom to build it or see it, or even love it! It was just taken from me! How much more, Jennifer? How much more is going to be taken from me?"

"I'm sorry," Jen cried out, slipping off the end of the bed onto the floor, subconsciously putting distance between herself and those angry hands, hugging herself into a tight ball. Through the tears streaming her face, she sobbed, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know!"

When he saw her break down he put his anger in check, feeling guilty. "No, Jenny, not you." He crossed to her falling onto his knees in front of her huddled form. Gently he took her hand and folded his fingers in hers. After all this time, and even after that explosion, she still trusted him. "Not you." He heard the door burst open, but paid it no mind. "It's that damn Pettigrew," Sirius whispered. "This is all on him, not you. You didn't betray anyone. If he were still alive, I'd kill him again. Only much more slowly."

"B-but I kept them from you," she sobbed into his chest.

He released her hands and pulled her closer to his body and stroked her back, trying to soothe her. "You were protecting them. I can't say I'd have done any differently."

"I-I'm so sorry," Jen sobbed

He pushed her back and bent to meet her eyes. He cupped her face and wiped her tears with his thumbs. "You did nothing wrong."

"Sirius?" Remus spoke from the doorway. "I'm sorry, but after that noisy display, I'm not going to be able to keep these people out much longer."

Sirius nodded. "Would you get Harry? I think he should be here."

Remus nodded and turned to leave the room.

"Now, I think I'd like to meet my kids." Sirius smiled at Jen, standing and holding a hand to help her up.

She smiled and took his hand, wiping her eyes with the other. Then led him across the hall. She lightly tapped on the door, and then pushed it open.

Lily and Jimmy stood in the center of the room when Jennifer and Sirius entered. With a seeming déjà vu of Jen and Sirius's meeting, the four of them stood silently drinking each in. Lily moved first, crossing the room to stand in front of her father.

She smiled at him tentatively. "Hi."

Sirius looked at her and smiled. She was beautiful. She had long dark hair and her eyes were bright, her skin was just a hint darker than his and she absolutely reeked of mischief. Even with his absence he could sense she shared the affinity he once had for finding trouble. "Hi," he replied. Then suddenly she'd wrapped her arms around his neck and was hugging him. He hesitated only a moment before he returned her embrace.

Jen looked at her son who was looking at his father with a mixture of relief and mistrust. This man had just scared the hell out of him and his twin throwing a temper-tantrum. But his mother seemed to still trust him. And even if he didn't trust his father yet, he did trust his mother. He looked at her and she tilted her head slightly and glanced at Sirius and Lily, indicating he should do something. He took a few steps and held out his hand. "Hello, I'm Jimmy."

Keeping one arm wrapped around Lily, Sirius held out his other and for the first time, shook his son's hand. "And I'm Sirius." Before he thought about it, he pulled Jimmy into the embrace with his daughter. His daughter. He was holding his children. His children.

A throat being cleared from the doorway distracted Jen from the wonderful scene; she looked over and saw Remus standing with James. Audibly, she gasped. It wasn't James. His eyes were green, green like Lily's had been. She was looking at Harry. That infant she'd held and played with so many years ago had grown into this man. He was eyeing her suspiciously from behind glasses almost identical to James'.

"Who are you?" Harry asked, voice soaked with mistrust.

Realizing she'd been staring, Jen blinked her eyes. "I'm sorry. Jennifer, I'm Jennifer Lennox."

"Harry." Sirius reluctantly pulled away from his children. With a hand proudly on each of the twin's shoulders, he used his head to indicate each family member, "This is Jennifer, Lily and James."

"Jimmy," Jimmy corrected as he held a hand to Harry. "James just never fit."

Harry reluctantly took his hand, gave it one firm shake then looked at Sirius. "What's going on?"

"These are my children," he said simply. There was just no other way to share the news than to state it so simply.

Harry looked at him, incredulous. "Just like that?" A feeling had been growing inside him since he stepped into the room and saw his Godfather hugging these two strangers so very lovingly. He couldn't quite define it; anger? Betrayal? Jealousy? He wasn't sure, but he didn't like it. Or the people in this room.

"Well it's a bit more complicated, but yes," Sirius replied, anxiety slowly rising as he watched his Godson's face.

"This is who owled me today, Harry," Remus interjected, feeling the same anxiety begin to rise. He'd been so wrapped up in reuniting his two friends, he'd scarcely given thought to how Harry would react to this sudden and most stunning news.

"So she sends you and owl and you jump to her whim." Harry looked at Remus, then to Sirius who's expression had gone from joyous to concerned. "And then she tells you she's the mother of your children and you just say, 'okay. Anything you say'?"

"Harry," Sirius spoke softly as he released his arms from the twins and crossed to him. "I know this is something of a shock, but can we just enjoy the moment and worry about the ramifications later? You were telling me just this morning to look her up!" He smiled trying to ease the tension, as well as the frustration. He knew it was sudden; it would take some time to adjust, certainly. But couldn't Harry be happy for his Godfather?

"Yes, but I didn't think you'd be getting an instant family!" Harry's mind was reeling. He continued to eye the interlopers. The twins did look a lot like Sirius, and there was no doubt this was the same woman in the classbook with Sirius. But still. Why now? Where has she been and why hasn't anyone been able to find her? There really was no doubt that these 'twins' were related to Sirius, but after so many years, why had this woman who was supposedly so in love with Sirius kept them secret? This was all far too suspicious. He didn't like it at all. "How do you know she's telling the truth?"

Anger started to surface in Jimmy. "You better not be calling my Mother a liar."

"Jimmy." Jen put a hand in front of him, warning him to stay calm.

"Harry," Remus soothed, putting a hand on his shoulder, "calm down. We've known Jennifer for a long time. And although it is something of a shock, it's for real."

"Well, think about it!" Harry said, allowing his resentment to be heard, and jerked his shoulder away from Remus. "She's kept herself isolated from everyone until Sirius is cleared, then shows up with two children. I'm sure she stands to gain a lot if you buy into this."

"Hey, buddy!" Jimmy was loosing his self-control, rapidly. "Why don't you lay off my mom? Huh?"

"Harry, look at them," Sirius said calmly, trying to pull the situation back under control. "Is there really any doubt?"

"Oh, I don't know," he said eyeing them. "She could have bedded the first man she met that looked like you, Sirius." Then looked closely at Jimmy. "I mean what's to say he's your son and not Regalus's?"

Before the sentence was completely out of Harry's mouth, Lily's fist connected with Harry's jaw, sending him into the hall on his back. Lily flew out of the room behind Harry and landed on his chest immediately slapping and punching any part of Harry she could reach. "Don't you dare talk about my mom like that!" she spat as her hands continued to flail.

Stunned and flat on his back, Harry looked in disbelief at the girl straddling his torso pummeling into his chest. Instinctively he reached up and snatched both her wrists into his hands and easily tossed the girl aside. "I'll talk however I please in my Godfather's home!" He quickly jumped to his feet. "You are not in authority here! I don't even remember and invite being sent to you!"

"You called my mother a whore!" Lily screamed, picking herself up.

"Those are your words! Not mine!" Harry retorted just as loudly. "And there must be a hint of truth to it for you to say it!"

"Jimmy, No!" Jen shouted as she saw her son lunge at Harry.

The normally mild mannered boy was raving. At first he was going to leave Harry and his unreasonable behavior to his sister, but when Harry made an attack on both his mother and sister, he decided he'd had enough of the famous Harry Potter. A moment later the two boys were shoving and tumbling over each other on the second floor landing, pounding and grabbing.

"Stop! Jimmy!" Jen shouted again as she and Remus tried to pull Jimmy from Harry, while Sirius tried to pry Harry away.

But the two young men were enraged. Every time the adults got the two young wizards separated, one would break free and try to pummel the other. To make things worse, Lily had taken great offence not only that her mother had been insulted, but also that Harry was beating her twin, and joined the melee. Jumping on Harry's back, she knocked her father aside and pulled on Harry's hair and hit him with all she had. "You can't ruin this!" Lily shrieked into Harry's ear. "I've waited too long!"

With Sirius trying to pull Harry away, Jen wrapping her arms around Lily's waist, and Remus trying to wedge himself between the boys while pushing Jimmy back, they made a mess of flailing arms and legs. The three adults were being overpowered. No matter what they tried, the three youngsters managed to break free, becoming more out of control.

Suddenly there were several others pulling them all apart. The Weasley's, Hermione and Tonks had intervened.

It took some time, effort and a few random elbow impacts but they finally broke the fighting teens apart. Sirius, Bill and Ron were holding Harry against one wall, while Remus, Charlie and Arthur had Jimmy against the opposite wall. Jen, Tonks and Hermione had Lily securely pinned against the stairs.

"You son of a bitch!" Jimmy shouted at Harry, thrashing behind his captors.

"Oh, I think that expression applies better to you!" Harry replied, thrashing just as violently.

"Harry!" Molly said aghast from the top of the stairs with Ginny trying to get past her to get a better view of the goings on.

"What's the matter with you all?" Remus shouted. "This is not how this should be happening!" He wheeled about and grabbed a hold of Jennifer then turned and pulled Sirius from Harry. "You two, in here!" He pushed them both into a room and slammed the door, locking it. Then turned to the others. "Now we have a problem here that needs to be handled. I know it's going to be hard but I want to make one thing clear." He fixed his eyes on Harry, then Jimmy, then Lily. "I will not have the first night they," he pointed at the room he'd just shoved Sirius and Jennifer into, then continued, "have back together be spoiled by a trio of brats! I have known them longer, I know them better, and judging by your behavior, I obviously care about them more!" he took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself. "Now are you going to behave yourselves, or should I set the Weasley's loose on you?"

########## ######

Jennifer dropped into an overstuffed chair and looked at Sirius. She could hear Remus shouting on the other side of the door, and wanted to go back out. But she knew Remus would take control of the situation and she was just too tired to argue about it.

Sirius lowered himself onto his hunches in front of her and put a hand on either of her knees. He smiled with sad humor. "That could've gone better."

Jen looked at him and half choked out a little laugh, then looked at the remnants of Sirius's earlier tantrum and laughed a bit more loudly. "If Harry really needs convincing, we need only show him this room to see where Lily gets her temper."

Sirius looked at her and was dazed at how well he could still read her. She was trying so hard to be strong. He looked at her hands as her palms rubbed back and forth across the back of his hands on her knees. She was lost yet not ready, and too proud, to ask for help, just as she always was. "He's just like James, Jenny," Sirius tried to explain Harry's actions. "He doesn't want to give up anything he cares about. And whether or not we want to admit it, you and your kids-"

"Our kids," Jen snapped sharply.

"Our kids," Sirius corrected himself, and then went on, "represent the possibility of him loosing the only person who he's ever known to really love him. When James and Lily died, Harry had no one. No one," he repeated clearly. "He was alone and Dumbledore figured with what Voldemort had done Harry would've been safest with the Dursleys, and he was kept safe for many years. Unhappy, unloved and mistreated, but safe."

"I should never have left," Jennifer said, fully feeling the impact of her decision to miss so much of her friend's lives to pursue a life in medicine. She was recruited straight out of Hogwarts and spent much of the following two years traveling and training in various magical places around the world. Even though she was training to work at St Mungoe's, during the two years she spent training, she'd spent less than two months in England. If Jen hadn't left she'd have seen the Potter's wedding, she'd have been there when Harry was born. She'd have known Sirius wasn't their secret keeper. The guilt and pain was welling up within her so quickly she knew she couldn't contain it much longer. "Oh, god Sirius! What was I thinking?" she buried her face in her hands, fighting against her tears. "My friends needed me and I ran away!"

Sirius slid onto his knees and squeezed her knees in his hands. "You're wrong." When she looked up at him, eyes glistening with unshed tears, he clarified, "You weren't running away from anything. You were running towards something. We all were. Lily and James never felt slighted by you because you were doing what you were meant to do." Jen tried to look away from him but he ducked his head down, forcing her to look in his eyes. "If you had stayed and not gone to Brazil Lily would've killed you herself, if she could! And if you'd missed any of those trips to those magical places James wouldn't have been any happier!"

"How can you know that?" She blinked her eyes furiously, still fighting the tears.

"Because they told me," Sirius said quite plainly, and then continued, "Do you really think you girls have the market cornered on confiding in your friends?"

Jen blinked several more times, still trying to prevent the inevitable tears and shook her head. "Of course not." And again tried to look away. "I should've taken time to talk with them. I should've been there."

This time he put a hand to her chin and pulled her face to his. "James and Lily cared about you. They loved you and wanted you to be the best damned Medi-witch the world has ever known. To think anything else would be and insult to them both."

Surrendering, Jen nodded and let her tears fall. "It's just amazing how much it still hurts after all this time."

*** **

Molly Weasley was standing at the top of the stairway with Ginny looking at each of the teens that were being restrained. She wasn't sure what had just happened but was fairly certain these two newcomers were of some relation to Sirius; the resemblance was that strong. But they looked at Harry with a loathing she could imagine coming from a Death Eater, and Harry's face showed the same signs of disgust. "Remus, can you explain what's just happened?" she asked in bewilderment.

"Oh, yes," he said, his voice was seething. "These three infants are trying very hard to stomp all over any hope of happiness Sirius or Jennifer may find!"

"You think that Colonial can make Sirius happy?" Harry shouted still staring at Jimmy, trying to push past Bill and Ron. "If she's even telling the truth, which I seriously doubt. I mean, she's been lying to him for twenty years!"

Jimmy suddenly slammed his forehead into Charlie's face, knocking him away and then shoved Arthur aside. He was across the hall, worming his way around Ron and Bill, trying to wrap his hands around Harry's neck. He was incensed by the insults to his mother and wanted to see blood flow. Although Jimmy knew words could wound as well, and he would try that tactic as well. "And you've done a damn shitty job keeping my father happy!" With his hands securely around Harry's neck, Jimmy pulled him forward then slammed Harry's head against the wall-hard. "You don't know shit! My mother spent years getting over him!"

Remus and Arthur were each trying to pull an arm from Harry's neck, with Bill and Ron trying to pin Harry's arms back when Remus noticed Molly and Ginny pulling their wands. "No!" he shouted, holding one hand out. "No wands!"

The two looked at him, stunned.

"I won't have this family starting off with curses and hexes being tossed about!"

"What's going on here?" Charlie said from the floor, clutching his nose. "I mean what in the hell is going on?"

"Get off me!" Lily was struggling against Tonks and Hermione, fighting to get free. She wanted to help her brother. "I'll kill him myself!" She jerked back and forth trying to get at Harry. "When did you decide he was innocent, Harry? Before or after Remus cleared his name?"

His anger shifted from Jimmy to Lily, "Shut-up you stupid skank!" He brought a foot up, and pushed it against Jimmy, allowing Ron and Bill to restrain him as well as balance his weight against the thrust that sent Jimmy stumbling backwards into his would be captors. Then tried to get past his best friend and his older brother to reach the girl. "You have no idea what we've been through! How could you? You and your mummy were hiding in The States! You're just a bunch of cowards!"

"Stop it!" Remus barked then slowly turned to each offending teen and said hotly, yet quietly, "that is quite enough. I said stop." He looked at Ron and Bill. "Get Harry out of here. Take him back downstairs."

With need of no more encouragement, they dragged Harry, struggling to throw more insults behind him, down the stairs. Remus looked at each of the twins who had calmed considerably once Harry was out of their sight.

"Who does he think he is?" Lily said in a low voice, traced with venom.

"He thinks he's Sirius' Godson," Remus said clearly. "And the only family he's had since he's been free of Azkaban." He looked at Jimmy who he was still being restrained by Arthur. "And he's right."

Both Jimmy and Lily stopped fighting against their jailers. They looked at each other with the same look Molly had witnessed pass between George and Fred so many times before. A look of conspiracy that only twins can understand.

"Be careful," Molly said, very calmly. "I've a set of my own twins, and I know that look."

Lily shook her head. "Harry has no right to treat us like that!"

"He has every right," Remus said calmly. "We should have thought this through more clearly," he said as he raked a hand through his hair. He took several breaths and looked to Molly. "I don't know what to do."

"Well," she said, taking that motherly air of control. "First, you tell me who these two are."

"I'm sorry." He shook his head for focus. "This is Lily and Jimmy Black. Sirius's children."

There was a collective gasp as mouths in the corridor either dropped or snapped shut. They all looked from Jimmy to Lily to Jimmy and back. The twins made no reaction. Except to share an angry look and waited for someone to recover.

And Charlie recovered first. "How is that possible?" he asked Remus still looking at Jimmy, clutching his bleeding nose in the sleeves of his robe to try and slow the flowing blood.

"Surely you don't need that explained to you," Jimmy said dryly.

"I don't think this is the time for sarcasm," said Arthur disapprovingly with an arm still firmly across the young man's chest. "Now while I'm sure this is a fascinating tale, it will have to wait." He looked at the twins skeptically. "Do you think the two of you can behave long enough to get your family sorted out?"

"We were doing just fine until Harry started throwing insults!" Lily cried.

"That would be a no." Arthur looked at Jimmy. "How about you? Are we going to be forced to tie you down?"

Jimmy looked the older man straight in the eye. "No, I'll be fine. But I won't be silent while my mother is being insulted."

"Fair enough." He stepped back and gave the boy his freedom.

Jimmy immediately walked to Lily and began to roughly pull Hermione and Tonks away from her. "Don't worry," he assured them. "I won't let her do anything unless it's necessary."

They looked at him skeptically, but allowed him to push them aside. Lily stood beside her brother and pushed his dark bangs from his forehead revealing a nasty gash. "You're bleeding."

He shook her hand off and looked directly at Remus. "I want to see my Parents, now."

"I'm sure you do," Remus said lightly. "But you have to know there's no way I'm letting any of you in that room until I'm convinced there will be no further attacks."

Jimmy shook his head and crossed to the door. The knob wouldn't turn and any knock he made was absorbed. He turned back to Remus. "You bewitched the door?"

He only nodded.

"You can't keep them away from us."

"Not forever, no. But for now I will do everything in my power to keep you all separated. That was not a good show you just put on."

"Uh, Remus?" Tonks softly touched his arm, "I'm not sure, but don't you think some of us should go home now and leave the family matters to the family?"

"Yes, yes. Absolutely." Molly motioned all to the stairs.

"If Ron and Bill have Harry under control, would you send him back up?" Remus asked Molly, who nodded.

Jimmy put his arm out to stop Charlie as he passed, and pointed at his nose. "I'm sorry."

Charlie nodded and smiled through the sleeve of his robes. "No worries." He held out a hand, that Jimmy accepted. "It's been a long time since my last broken nose. You should think about dragon taming. You break a nose almost as well as a Ridgeback!"

Jimmy smiled. "I've another year before I actually have to decide anything, but thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

Charlie nodded and followed the rest down the stairs. Tonks briefly looked at Remus, wanting to demand a full report, but thought better and continued on.

Looking at the twins Remus sighed. "Sit down." He held a hand to the stairs that led up to the third floor. Lily and Jimmy complied sitting on the third step as remorse was beginning to set in. Remus turned and placed his palms against the wall, leaning on them. He had lost his temper. He isn't supposed to do that. Although the full moon was still ten days off, he couldn't risk loosing his temper. But damnit, these infants were hurting his friends. His family. He never thought he'd see Sirius and Jen together again, and he was thrilled at the thought of Sirius finally finding a bit of happiness. He took slow deep breaths, waiting to hear the signs of Harry approaching. How could he have lost control like that? Why didn't he think this through? In hindsight he should've known Harry would be angry. He should've known Jimmy and Lily would defend their mother with force. He should've known this would be a tense situation. But he looked past all the realities because he wanted to see his dearest friends happy. Happiness takes work. You can't just throw five people together after eighteen years of separation and total ignorance of the other's existence and expect complete understanding and joy. He knew better than that. Thankfully Sirius hadn't lost his temper. He could handle three teenagers, but Sirius? He thanked Merlin for keeping Sirius in check.

Harry was walking up the stairs. Instead of turning to him and speaking, Remus remained leaning on his hands, pretending he didn't hear. He wanted to see what the three would do. He knew if another fight broke, several Weasley's would be back up the stairs. So he waited, not looking. He was pleasantly surprised when he heard Harry stop in front of the twins. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lily slide closer to Jimmy, allowing Harry to sit beside her. He waited. He wanted to give the three a few moments just to get used to the feeling of being next to one another. Then finally took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. He dropped one arm from the wall and turned to look at them.

"So what are you going to do?"

All three looked at him, fighting confusion.

"Let me try again," Remus said as he stood straight and crossed his arms over his chest. "What are the three of you going to do to convince me that letting you into this room," he tilted his head at Sirius and Jennifer's door, "will not hurt them further?"

"Hurt them further?" Lily asked. "How have we hurt them?"

Remus allowed one side of his mouth to rise. "Do I really need to answer that?" He stepped forward and lowered onto one knee in front of the trio. "Have you thought at all about what's going on behind that door?" He looked at each of them, and finding the blank expressions he expected, he continued, "Right now Sirius is holding Jen. She is probably crying onto his chest. Sirius of course is trying to be stoic, so he hasn't shed a tear. But make no mistake his heart is breaking wide open. You three are the most important people in the world to him, and here you are tearing each other apart. I know this is the last thing either of them wanted to happen."

Harry and Jimmy lowered their heads. Understanding found them. However, Lily was not so quick.

"We've done nothing to hurt them!"

"Lil," Jimmy started, but was stopped by Remus raising a hand.

He leaned forward and took Lily's hand. "Think about the 'what if's' Lily."

She looked at him in bewilderment. "Why you say something like that? Those 'what if's' don't matter." Her voice held an edge trying to mask the fact that she'd already thought about the 'what if's'. She thought of what if Mom and Dad had been married, what if Harry's parents hadn't died, what if she'd had the life she always dreamed of with a real family? But she stubbornly refused to admit she wasted even one moment on those trivialities. "I won't waste any time or thought on things that are impossible."

Remus took her hands in his. "Why not?"

"Because," she started, gripping his hands tight in hers, "If I think about the 'what if's' I think that Harry would have been a friend, probably almost family. I know that I would've attended Hogwarts, Jimmy and I would have other brothers and sisters. I know that Harry would be the oldest in a family with many kids as well. I know. I know. I know." She was vaguely aware of the intense stares both Harry and Jimmy were giving her, but ignored them and tried to keep a firm leash on her emotions. "So when you ask me why I don't look at the 'what if's'? I tell you the anger you see today, me and Jimmy tossing Harry about this landing here is just a small part of what I'd be feeling if I really thought about the 'what if's." She pulled his hand to her chest. "And I have to say you surprise me! You surely have lost so much more! How is it you are able to stay so calm? Why are you not more angry? Don't Jimmy and I pretty much represent you loosing Sirius?"

"Because you have known my Godfather for so little time," Harry said quietly, looking at his hands folded between his knees, "I will not take offense at that comment."

"What is that suppose to mean?" She tried to keep the irritation out of her voice, it wasn't lost on Jimmy, but if Remus or Harry heard they made reaction.

Remus pulled his hands down from her chest and looked thoughtfully into her eyes. "Would your Mother abandon you so quickly?" he asked Lily. "Would she dismiss you for another love?"

Lily opened her mouth to respond but found no words. She shook her head.

"Nor would Sirius." He put a hand on Harry's shoulder and the other on Jimmy's. He looked at them all deeply. "You have Now. You can be each other's family. And although we may not be able to go back and live the what if's, we can start today with the possibilities of the 'what has yet to come'." He stopped, and made direct eye contact with each of them. "Don't allow pride, or hate or anger deter that. Sirius and Jen are capable of the greatest kind of love. Not only to each other but to all they love. And I for one feel grateful to be one of those they love. Can you?" He allowed a few moments before continuing, "We have all lost out on something. But we do have the Right Now. And right now, there are two people who want nothing more the three of you to find a way around to each other." He looked at Harry. "If you stop to think, Jen knew your mother quite well. No one, except perhaps James, knew Lily better. I'm sure she would love to help you get to know your mother better."

Harry stared blankly at Remus. He hadn't ever given that much thought. He'd known Sirius was his father's best friend but never thought of whom his Mum would confide in. He slowly nodded his head, giving his brain a few minutes to wrap around this new information.

Remus squeezed his hand on his shoulder, and then looked at Lily and Jimmy. "And the same applies to you. You may not know much about James and Lily Potter,"

"We know all about them," Jimmy interrupted him. "Mom used to talk about them all the time."

"Then you already know they were the best friends Sirius and Jen had. And Harry knows Sirius. If you would take the time to trust each other you could all help each other learn so much about the people you all want to know and love." He rose and leaned on the door. "Now should I open this, or leave you to fight more?"

Harry rose and walked to the door opposite where Sirius and Jennifer were and pushed it open. "Actually, I think me and my..." he stopped and thought for a moment, then smiled weakly at the twins, "God brother and sister should probably talk a bit first." He then looked at Remus. "I mean the least we can do is explain to Sirius and Jennifer why throwing us all together like that was a bad idea."