"Did you get arrested?"
"No."
"So you're not ringing me from jail?"
"No."
"So from where?"
"I'm in work. They just cautioned me, that's all. I think a couple of them even found it romantic."
"I found it romantic."
"It was romantic. Have you told your dad?"
"No, I'm telling him tonight."
"Do you want me to be there when you do? I can come down, I don't mind."
"It's probably best if I tell him on my own. He might be a bit shocked."
***
Barry Island, Wales
"Oh for the love of Christ."
"Dad, please don't be like this." Remus sighed.
"Me? Be like this? Oh, that's it, I'm calling Poppy."
"Dad!"
"Alright?" Lily emerged from the kitchen.
"Have you heard about this Lily?" Lyall asked.
"I have, yeah." Lily nodded.
"And what do you think?" Lyall crossed his arms.
"At the end of the day, when all's said and done, I'm not gonna judge." Lily shook her head and Lyall sighed. "I've been judged myself and it's not nice. That's life though. If the truths be told, I'm made up for him." Lily smiled at her friend.
"Thanks, Lil." Remus muttered as they shared a hug. Lyall picked up the house phone and quickly dialled the number before holding it to his ear.
"C'mon, it's Weakest Link." Remus took Lily's hand and the pair sat down on the squashy sofa, in front of the television.
"Poppy, he's done it again. I know, I know. Alright." Lyall hung up and put the phone down. The back door opened and Poppy burst in. "Where is he?"
"Oh, Poppy. That was quick."
"Where is he?" Poppy stood in front of the television, her hands on her hips. "Put that tele off, now."
"Alright Poppy?" Lily said as Remus pressed the power button on the remote.
"Alright Lily, love. What do you think about all this?"
"For your information, Poppy, she's made up for me. To be honest, it's what I thought everyone would be when I told them that I was getting married."
"And so we were, the first time you got engaged." Remus sighed and shut his eyes. "We loved Gilderoy if you remember. We embraced him as one of our own." Remus looked up at Poppy. "I mean, the second time even, we were still over the moon. Davy Gudgeon and his family treated us like royalty."
"He was a prick." Lily muttered.
"He wasn't to everyone's taste, Lily, I'll give you that, but Rem loved him and therefore, so did we. Now, the third time, with er...um...er-"
"Mulciber." Lily supplied as Remus scratched the back of his head.
"Oh, the less said about him the better. Number four, oh number four eh? You couldn't meet a nicer bloke than Caradoc Dearborn." Lyall moved to sit next to Remus. "He'd walk over hot coals for you, my boy." Lily shrugged.
"He did once, for charity." Lyall and Remus nodded in agreement.
"I know, I remember. He was a lovely fella, salt of the earth. This will shock you, I miss him." Lyall, Lily and Remus all stared at Poppy. "I do. I can't tell a lie. He still sends a card at Christmas. They don't even celebrate it. You didn't want him, and we accepted it."
"But none of them were like Sirius!"
"Excuse me, number five, Benjy. Benjy Fenwick. He's very much like Sirius."
"How?" Remus and Lily said in unison as they looked at one another. Poppy thought for a moment before continuing.
"Well, they're both attractive looking boys. Melt in your mouth, and I hope to god, that is where the similarity ends. I'm not driving you up and down to Strangeways like your mother used to do."
"I know I've made mistakes, alright? I've got five engagement rings upstairs to prove it. In my heart though, I know that Sirius is the one for me. He's my soulmate!"
"You said that about Benjy-"
"I thought you said that about Caradoc-"
"Didn't you say that about Gilderoy?" Lily, Lyall and Poppy spoke over one another.
"I'm marrying him with or without your blessing!"
"Well, I'd love to know what his family say about all this." Lyall tutted.
***
Essex, England
"We've got to have a party!" Euphemia smiled at Sirius, excitedly, "Just a little soirée."
"We've been saying we want to have a party, but we never had a reason." Fleamont stood up and walked over.
"Now we have!" Euphemia laughed causing Fleamont to chuckle at his wife's excitement.
"Yeah, now we do."
"Oh come here." Euphemia pulled Sirius into a hug. "Oh, I've got to phone Ruth and tell her!" Euphemia let go of Sirius and Fleamont took her place.
"Congratulations, son."
"Cheers, Monty."
"Now, you're really sure about this?" Fleamont let go of Sirius and the pair stood facing one another.
"A thousand percent." Sirius grinned.
"It's all a bit sudden, that's all."
"I know, but when you know, you know."
"Mhm." Fleamont nodded. "I'm proud of you, mate." Euphemia came rushing back into the room and thrust the phone at Sirius.
"Right you, get on the phone to your fiancé and invite him and all his family up this Saturday. We'll have a nice do."
"His family?"
"Yes, Sirius. We've got to start making bridges now. They can all stay."
"Where?" Fleamont asked his wife.
"Well you'll have to get in the loft and get the Z beds."
***
Barry Island, Wales
"Party? London? Saturday?" Remus nodded, "A party in London, this Saturday?" Poppy shook her head.
"It's Essex." Remus stated.
"Yeah, in my book that's London."
"His family want to meet you all, and you can stay over."
"Can I indeed? Is that a fact?" Remus held his phone back up to his ear.
"Sirius, I'll have to call you back." With that he hung up and placed his phone down on the coffee table.
"You want me to go to London, to stay in the house of a family I've never met before? Well thank you for informing me," Poppy turned to Lyall, "Have you ever heard such nonsense?"
"But it can't do any harm, can it?"
"You've changed your tune." Poppy shook her head at Lyall.
"Well, what's the problem? We can drive up and you'll get a chance to try out your new sat-nav." Poppy thought for a moment.
"Ooh, now there's an idea." Lyall smirked at Remus, "That is a thought. Yes! Yes! Remus, please inform the Potters that I accept their offer, and very much look forward to meeting them." Poppy smiled.
"You're coming, aren't you?" Remus turned to Lily who was flipping through a magazine.
"Alright." She nodded, "Count me in."
