Moon and Stars || James Potter *Editing*

21

"Hey- erm, thanks for distracting James earlier." Sirius pulls Lily to the side as Euphemia calls everyone to dinner. "You didn't get much information and didn't ask questions, I just- thank you." He felt awkward, finding it hard to show his appreciation, and he scratches the back of his neck as his ears turn red. 

"Family is family, I'd do the same for my sister- no questions asked." She comfortingly smiles at him and pats his shoulder softly. "Also, I know we're not very close, but I'm great at listening and according to Alice, I'm a great shoulder to cry on."

Before Sirius could answer, she pats his shoulder once more and moves to join James, Euphemia, Alana and Brandyn at the dining table. Remus went home three hours earlier to spend the rest of the holiday with his parents before he went back to Hogwarts for the rest of the school year.

"Alright?" Celeste asks, pausing next to Sirius who stood by the staircase, he seemed as if he were deep in thought.

He gives her a short nod and walks ahead, Celeste furrows her eyebrows for a moment, but follows closely behind to the dining table. She sits herself in the middle of Alana and Lily, the redhead sitting to her right. Sirius sits to the left of James and Brandyn to the right so the bespectacled boy is in the middle of the two.

"Just got a letter from yer father." Euphemia tells James, walking out of the kitchen with various flying places following closely behind, but no letter in her hands. "-says he's a bit backed up at work. He should be back soon, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we begin dinner without him, yeah?" Plates of potatoes, steak, salads, pasta, and garlic bread land on the table in front of them.

James looks up for a moment and looks into his favorite green eyes. They both softly smile at each other, Celeste's cheeks go red and she looks down at her plate.

A loud crack in the living room catches the attention of all six children at the table. Fleamont pauses in his spot as he sees all eyes on him before he calls his wife to the side, he seemed to be out of breath.

After Euphemia rushes into the living room, the children quiet down in hopes of hearing what Fleamont had to say to his wife. "What do yeh think it is this time?" Alana whispers to her brother who is sat across from her, a smile on her face.

Brandyn hushes Alana, she sneers at him, "I actually need to hear to know what it is."

"Nice come back." Alana rolls her eyes.

Brandyn and Alana had gotten used to Fleamont apparating in and out of the homes at random times of the day in the short time they've stayed with the Potter's. Some of the days, he'd show up as he was at the moment, very sweaty and out of breath, and he'd pull his wife to the side, the two talking in hushed tones. Their conversations always seemed frantic and rushed as if they got all the words out quickly then children wouldn't hear and Fleamont would feel better after he gets the weight off his chest.

"... Everett."

Brandyn groans and kicks Alana under the table, annoyed that he missed the beginning of the sentence. "Ow." She copies her brother's previous action.

"What does this mean- did you catch them?"  The teens hear a soft gasp and strain even more to hear what Fleamont has to say.

"Catch them?" A chuckle. "Not them, we think there's only one man who did this. There's no way to find him if he doesn't want to be found. We have an idea of who it is, but it's been very difficult."

"And the children?"

"They cannot know until we catch him- it could be very dangerous for them to know. He may try to go for them too."