the_debt_of_time

Most of the Order nodded anxiously, while a few—most notably Moody—looked
angry that details were clearly being left out of whatever it was that was happening.
Instinctively, Hermione reached out and clutched Ron's hand tightly, using her
other hand to grip Tonks's robes.
Remus approached the fireplace, tossed in Floo powder, and shouted, "The Den!"
before sticking his head into the green flames. "Come on through," he called loudly before
stepping back to make room.
The green flames burned higher and brighter. When they finally died down, every
wand in the room was drawn as the shocked Order members stared defensively into the
grey eyes of Sirius Black.
"Some 'Welcome Home' party this is." Sirius looked pointedly at all the drawn
wands. "Surely only one or two wands are necessary. What'll happen if everyone shoots a
curse off at once? The whole bloody house will cave in." Catching sight of Mrs Weasley,
Sirius flashed his well-remembered smile. "Molly, you're looking well."
Her jaw had dropped at the sight of him. She clutched at her husband with her
wandless hand and shrieked, "You're looking alive!"
"And handsome as ever," Sirius said with a grin, dusting off his robes. "All right,
Remus said you lot use security questions now, yeah? Let's get this over with. It's been a
long time since I've had some good home cooking, and I can smell the treacle tart from
here."
Mr Weasley gaped at him. "How are you alive?"
"That," Sirius said, pointing at the man, "is a terrible security question, Arthur. Try
again."
"Umm, I... What song wouldn't you stop singing when we all spent Christmas
together at Grimmauld Place?" Mr Weasley blurted out, clearly too flustered to think of a
good question.
"God Rest Ye, Merry Hippogriffs," Sirius answered blithely. "Good to see you, old
friend. I've been told you have my bike. I'd like it back." He peered at the man warily, and
Mr Weasley laughed in response, still in shock. Sirius predictably turned toward Moody,
who was fuming with suspicion. "Next?"
Moody narrowed his one good eye at Sirius, while the other spun in its mechanical
socket until it was facing backward as though he were waiting for another recently not-