"He proposed over Chinese take-out."
James scoffed. "What a tosser."
"I loved it."
"You would."
"Jamie... I don't know how to do this without you and Lily," Hermione whispered,
looking down at her ring. "I'm going to get married and continue on with life and you're
not here."
"What are you talking about?" James asked incredulously, smiling in approval when
Harry retook her hand. "We're right there."
Sirius sat at the table in the large dining room of number twelve, waiting to hear
either the sound of the Floo activating or Apparition to let him know that Harry and Mia
were all right. Remus and Tonks sat with him, his cousin holding his hand and her husband
draining a glass of firewhisky opposite him.
Remus poured another serving of the drink and held it out to Sirius, who shook his
head, rejecting the offering.
"All clean," Ginny declared as she walked into the room carrying Teddy in her arms.
The boy was wearing a tiny Halloween costume that looked like a lion constructed from
the dual efforts of Luna and Molly. "Any word yet?"
Before anyone could answer, a silvery stag leapt through the window and looked
directly at him before speaking in Harry's voice: "Found her. Everything is fine. Going to be home
in a few hours. Have some things to take care of."
Sirius let out a large sigh of relief.
Remus stared as the stag disappeared. "Is it just me, or does Harry's Patronus still
kind of—?"
"Freak you out?" Sirius nodded. "A bit."
"So now that the Potters are all taken care of," Tonks said as she stood up, "we all
need to get out of this depressing house and celebrate by apparently pretending to be
Muggles and collecting sweets from strangers. No harm in that, right?"
Sirius shook his head. "You go. I'm going to stay and wait for Harry and Mia."