Mia smiled affectionately at the still-sleeping dog. She looked to a nearby table
where her birthday presents were still stacked from the night before and, next to them, lay
her original wand. She grinned at the sight of it and reached out, placing her second wand
beside it, noting the similarities between the two as well as the slight difference in length.
She turned and winked mischievously at Harry before stretching her arms in front
of her and shifting into her Animagus form. The little fox looked up at Harry, her ears
twitching slightly as she wove in between his feet, her long bushy tail curling around his
leg.
Harry's eyes were wide, and he grinned at the sight of her, covering his mouth to
quiet a laugh as the dog on the rug in the corner snored softly. Mia crept over beside
Padfoot, turning once before curling up beside him, resting her narrow muzzle on his large
black paws.
Hours later, Remus and Harry sat at the entrance of the library, peering inside at
Sirius and Mia who were cuddled together on the sofa; Sirius with his head in her lap,
looking up into her face as though she hung the very stars in the sky. Mia was running her
fingers through Sirius's hair like it was the finest silk, smiling down at him with complete
love and adoration.
"I don't think I've ever seen Sirius so happy," Harry commented thoughtfully as
they left the library and began walking back to the kitchen to put away the items Remus
had purchased earlier from the apothecary for Mia, as well as the few things he had snagged
from the sweet shop. "I don't think Hermione's ever been so relaxed either."
Remus smiled, inwardly reflecting on the perpetual tension in his shoulders that
seemed to have eased overnight. "This is how they always used to be. He was crawling in
her lap like that on our very first train ride to Hogwarts." Noticing the way Harry's gaze
lingered back toward the other room, Remus asked, "How are you doing?"
Harry shrugged, sticking his hands in his pockets. "I think I'm okay. She's still
Hermione. I was worried she wouldn't be. Don't get me wrong, she's different. A little
scarier, but... she seems happier. I think growing up with you, Sirius, and my parents was
good for her. Was her life good?"