New Year's Party -- Grimmauld Place -- 31 December 1996/1 January 1997

I laughed. "The only main cousin that I figured I'd see on a regular basis of yours is Harry... and I know him quite well already," I said.

I laughed, " Yeah, well Harry isn't really who I was worried about..." I said shrugging. " I know Harry's not a prick spoiled brat." I said simply. I really loved when they got Malfoy or any of his ilk. It was a total blast and something to see most of the time. I remember when he was picking on a younger Gryffindor and I punched him in the face. Which resulted in loveliness to my parents which I was sorry about. They didn't seem to care that much about it. Told me to not worry about it.

I smiled, " Y'know, I am glad that we don't see the other side of my family. I mean, we're not exactly buddy buddy....but you know...the family I have means the world to me. " I said to him.

I chuckled. "Yeah, I think I'm rather glad you don't get along much with the other part of your family," I agreed, thinking how hard it would be if the Malfoys were here. "And I know you do... it's an important thing, to love one's family. Even if they're horrible sometimes..." I thought about Percy and shuddered. I wans't quite sure what was wrong with him.

I laughed, " Don't worry to much about it darlin'...my father would kill them before they took a step in here.." I said simply. Just imagining my dad looking to them as he took his wand out to pretty much destroy them.

I smiled at her. "Does it look like I'm a worrier?" I asked her with raised eyebrows.

I laughed, " No not really.." I said sitting up onto his lap. " You are comfortable." I said as I just wanted to sit like this for ever.

I turned to my wife, " I don't like him.....well I do...she seems to be happy with him." I said to her as I stood up and headed for the door to grab myself another drink. I knew I would need it to see her and her boyfriend. Not really, I didn't mind the kid really, it was just he was dating my little girl. It just seemed like the thing I had to do as a dad.

I rolled my eyes at my husband.  "George is a nice kid, Sirius.  Give him a chance," I pointed out to him.  "What would you have done if my dad hadn't given you a chance?  You were nearly two years older than me and Dad knew exactly how you were.  So just be nice and give him a chance."  I smiled at him, letting him know that I was not scolding him per se, I was just trying to keep him from doing something Elena would not be too pleased about.

I pouted at her, she was using logic. Something I did not want nor use when it came to my little girl dating. It just wasn't there. It was as if I couldn't use it in my vocabulary. I looked to her as she was behind me now, " Your dad loved me..that's why he gave me the chance...he knew me...so he knew when I had grown up." I explained, that is how we are different.

I raised my eyebrows at him.  "You grew up?" I asked playfully, a smile playing at my lips.  "When did that happen and how did I miss it?"  Sirius would always be a child at heart and that was why I loved him.

I raised my eyebrows as she spoke.I put a hand on my chest, " Ouch you know that hurts....deep" I said with smirk to her as she grinned. " For your information I am older than you." I pointed out as if she needed to know that. I looked the other direction," I still don't like him." I mumbled.

"Trust me, I don't forget who's older than me... you all will be turning forty before me... I can never forget that," I said, my grin spreading wider.  Then I rolled my eyes.  "Honey, you'll never like any of your daughter's boyfriends... but George is actually a good one."

Jetty Pettigrew wrote:

Dean Black wrote:I wasn't one hundred percent sure about that, but I was willing to give him teh chance.  "If you ever need help, I'm here for you.  I know... sounds odd, but there was a kinship with our fathers and even though it's broken, I almost feel like there's this unsaid connection between us whether we like it or not," I told him.  "It might be because of our mum's or something... I don't know.  I just don't want you to go down a road where you cant' return just because you think it's your only option."  I was talking about the dark road... so I hoped that he kenw that.

Way to be subtle... I bit my tongue to keep that one to myself.  I wasn't sure if Dean would realize that it was a joke, even if it sounded like I was offended.  "Thank you," I said to him quietly.  I had always felt kind of like an outcast.  I never really fit into my house and my friends always wanted to do things that revolved around the Dark Arts.  I preferred not to do that.

I sighed and looked about.  "You know... this didn't turn out to be that bad of a shin-dig," I pointed out, trying to lighten the mood back up in the place betwen the two of us.  "Would you like a new drink?  You know Mum and everyone don't mind us drinking..."

I did not want to lose sight of Dean.  We were finally back together and he was okay -- he was healthy and was sober.  I could not believe that Ember and Sirius let him loose with so much temptation.  But perhaps they thought that he had so many eyes on him that all would be fine... which I did realize all his family and everyone was looking over at him every now and again, just to make sure.  I walked up to him and Jetty.  "Please tell me Dean is being nice to you, Jet," I said, giving my boyfriend a pointed look.  I wanted to make the last handful o fmonths disappear and act as though we had never spent them apart.

I chuckled slightly when Addie came up.  "Yeah, he's trying to get me to drink for the both of us, I think," I teased, giving Dean a hard time.  I think he could drink in moderation, but he just happened to lose control when he mixed it wiht drugs.