Chapter 1
Remus Lupin and Sirius Black stood together in a room back at the Order of the Phoenix Headquarters, awaiting the rest of the Order to return. They were supposedly bringing a couple of new members, and a couple of old. Hermoine and the Weasley children were upstairs. They stood near a great desk, catching up with one another, joyous to be reunited once again but pained under the circumstances.
“I feel like an old man now, Padfoot,” Remus sighed, cracking his back.
“You look like a spry young pup to me,” Sirius flattered.
“Oh to be sixteen and free from aches again,”
“To be sixteen and chasing that little minx around once more!”
Remus chuckled and shook his head, remembering all too clearly his and his friend’s adventures pursuing the same woman back in their school years.
The same woman, as luck would have it, that burst through the door at not a moment later.
"On your best behavior girls, just because it's your seventh year now doesn't mean-" Marigold was telling her twins as they entered further into the haven.
The three adults in the room stood at attention, the first time they’d been reunited in at least two decades.
Marigold Noble, now Marigold Leopold, stood straight as an arrow, her eyes blown wide and brows raised so far on her forehead they were buried in her dark chocolate bangs.
“Fancy seeing you here, baby,” Sirius was the first to speak, a feeble attempt at their ancient flirting regime.
“Sirius, Remus, my word, I heard you were here but I…I,” The woman’s left hand pressed flat against her chest, trying to calm the wild beating of her heart. “I don’t know, I guess I was hoping to clean up a bit before I saw you two,”
“You look amazing, Gold,” Remus crossed to her, and extended an invitation for a greeting hug.
Marigold was quick to accept, her cheeks blushing like a schoolgirl’s. Remus smiled at her heart rate, he remembered how easily he could feel it when they’d gone to school together. He always knew when her heart was racing and her body temperature was rising.
Sirius, however, was skilled in predicting when her knees would go weak. That’s why as soon as Remus took a step back, he swooped in, smirking. He wrapped his arms around her instantly and she swooned like a teenager all over again, her legs buckling slightly despite her attempt to hide it. She never could keep a secret from her boys though.
“That smitten to see us, love?” Sirius grinned mischievously, just as excited to be in her presence.
“Don’t tease,” She hushed, gazing between both the men with so much admiration and amazement, you’d think they were rockstars.
“Mum,” Came from the doorway, and Marigold jumped in surprise.
“Sirius, Remus, these are my daughters,” She ushered the young brunette twins into the room.
“I had them in my class a couple of years ago,” Remus beamed at his pupils.
“Pip and Pralice, these are some old friends of mine from school,” Marigold forced herself to peel away from Sirius’ arm around her waist, for fear of appearing immature.
“It's nice to meet the men my mum was in love with,” Pip grinned wickedly, extending her hand to Sirius.
“Pippy, hush!” Marigold scolded in embarrassment, covering her face bashfully with a hand, peeking through a crack in her fingers at the men, a smile permanent.
“Aw Goldie, that’s too sweet, you told the girls about us?” Sirius hummed.
“How could I not, I want them to pursue the right kind of men, don’t I?” She fought back in an air of adolescent confidence.
“There she is, that’s the girl!” Remus cheered.
"I've got questions for these two," Sirius addressed the twins once more. "Tell me everything about you, what will you do when you graduate?"
"You know plenty about them, Pads, everyone knew you begged Lily to show you Gold's letters!" Remus sat down in a chair by the fireplace.
"Alright yes, I wallowed to read them, thank you for that embarrassing addition, dear friend Mooney...and yes, I know plenty about your births and first two years of life, but-" Sirius glared harmlessly at his best friend and slumped onto the large couch.
"I never knew that," Marigold hummed softly, sitting next to the long-haired man, albeit a foot and a half away. Here girls followed swiftly, squeezing in between her and the arm of the plush brown cushions.
"I was so excited when I found out you were both healthy," Sirius indulged the girls, too nervous to look his old flame in the eye.
"We used to see your pictures, mum kept them in her closet," Pip grinned at her mother.
"Oh Merlin," Marigold rolled her eyes.
"I want to study marine creatures," Pralice answered Sirius' original question.
"I don't want to have a job," Pip gave.
"Pip is her mother's daughter," Remus joked.
"She's much much more talented than I, she's amazing at potions much to Snape's dismay," Marigold wrapped an arm around her shoulder fondly. She grabbed Pralice's hand with her other. "And Pralice has a real connection with magical sea creatures, she possesses a very strong bond with those in the Black Lake!"
"Impressive," Sirius smiled. Before he could formulate his next question, a couple of the children from upstairs clambered into the room, whooping and laughing.
Anyone could see that it was the Weasley twins and their friend Oliver Wood. If one wasn't certain, however, it was made more than obvious as one ginger leaned over the back of the couch to kiss Marigold's and Pip's cheek. Oliver slumped down on the armrest, an arm placed around Pralice.
"Hello boys," Remus grinned at them.
Chimes of greetings were given before Marigold stood. She offered her seat to Fred and excused herself. The entire conversation it had been difficult to tear her eyes from the men she once knew. She needed to take a breath, to clear her brain of the memories and buried emotions. She didn't have much of a chance, however, as Sirius was quick to slip out behind her.
"Goldie," He grinned ear to ear, they stood nearly chest to chest in the slim hallway.
"Don't," She gave meekly, unable to stop the goofy smile from slipping onto her own face.
"There's so much we need to catch up on,"
"Later, I promise Sirius," She agreed. "How's Harry?"
"Not as well as we hope," Sirius sighed. "The dementor-"
"I know, Dumbledore wrote me," She nodded. Her composure slipped and clutched onto him for a tight embrace. "To think you've been inflicted by those demons before,"
"It's alright, baby, I got past them every time," He chuckled at the sudden movement but was quick to reciprocate.
"Baby?" Harry squinted, standing not half a dozen feet away, followed by Tonks and Mrs. Weasley.
"Harry!" Marigold jumped away from the man, reaching out to him.
Harry took her hand and looked to Sirius. Marigold had always been in his life, even if he hadn't known it.
When Hagrid dropped Harry off at Petunia's, Minerva and Dumbledore weren't the only ones present. A bat watched from the foliage in a tree down the street, a secret animagi. Both of her old professors acknowledged her at that moment, and did not press for words.
When Harry was taken to Diagon Alley for the first time, it had been Marigold in her new position for the ministry leading him around. She had been appointed as the Magic Laison to muggle-born or orphaned wizards and witches, her sole responsibility was to guide them in their adjustment to life with magic. Having been raised by one witch and one muggle, she was a great resource. She'd had such a maternal charm to her, Harry had thought, welcoming and forgiving.
She was close with Molly Weasley as well, having their twins the same year. She had never been far from him after he'd been admitted to Hogwarts, and she'd even come to visit Lily when he was firstborn. He had grown to regard her as an informal maternal figure, just as his parents would have wished.
But now, to see her next to the man he did in fact formally describe as his father figure, his mind was reeling.
"Sirius, and I were close friends when we were your age," Marigold smiled, remembering he was entering his fifth year.
"More than close friends I'd say," Sirius smirked.
"You can have that conversation a much later day when I'm not present," She groaned, passing Harry to the man behind her. "You must be Tonks? I've been looking forward to our meeting,"
"Yes, I have as well," Tonks hugged her.
"Well, supper's ready down below," Molly kissed her friend's cheek in greeting, before shouting up the stairs for the children.
In the makeshift eating arengment Marigold sat between Harry and Remus, Sirius directly across from her.
"Sirius, I had the opportunity to greet your mother when we arrived," Marigold gave the mentioned man a sort of smile. "She's as lovely as she ever was, isn't she?"
"That's one way to describe it," He scoffed with a bitter look.
"Sirius, I have some questions," Harry tried to squeeze into the adult conversation. His attempt proved unfruitful, as the room suddenly grew silent.
"Alright," Sirius' eyes drifted from his old flame to Harry.
"What was discussed in the meeting?"
Marigold's head snapped to look directly at the boy.
"No." Molly shook her head. "You're too young!"
"Now, Molly, when did the Order of the Phoenix have an age restriction?" Sirius gave back defensively.
"He's a boy, he doesn't need to worry himself!"
"Your not his mother,"
"He's the likes of a son to me...you seem to forget he's not James anyway!"
"I know my godson, thank you."
"Only, you act as if you have your best friend back." Molly tutted.
Sirius stood up abruptly at the accusation. Marigold reached across the table just as swiftly, grabbing Sirius' hand.
"Sit down, Sirius," Remus entered as a voice of ration.
"What do you make of it?" Sirius sat back down with a huff, eyes boring intensely across to Marigold.
"What?" She gaped, retracting her hand from his. "I arrived late, I mean, I wasn't even present."
"He's right, your position is relevant and thus your input is necessary," Remus alluded.
Marigold gave Harry a glance, her emotion nothing short of sorry and sad. She then looked between Remus, Molly, and Sirius, all of whom were looking at her expectantly. She pinched her nose bridge, deciding something she found out of her jurisdiction.
"Better he hears it from us, than somewhere else." She gave up eventually.
Remus nodded next to her and drank from his cup, unsurprised. Molly huffed, but Sirius grinned at her thankfully.
"The Maurders' loyalty is exhausting," Molly gave in. "Alright Harry, what do you want to know so badly?"