Nem (Host)

He had never seen Sirius so embraced by anyone, let alone a member of his family.

Remus made his own way slowly down the stairs as Mrs. Potter entered the hallway now, smiling widely, looking very pleased with herself.

A good surprise, then?

she asked as Sirius shook Ted's hand and tentatively patted the baby's head.

You did this?

Sirius stared at James's mother in wonder.

Effie was kind enough to invite us, Ted smiled, his eyes twinkling.

Pleased to meet you, Sirius.

Nice to meet someone in Andromeda's family.

Come in, come in, Mrs. Potter ushered the gathering into the hall.

They all followed her towards the dining room, Remus last of all.

Andromeda was the polar opposite to the rest of the black family, or at least those Remus had met so far.

Though she was as strikingly beautiful as the rest of them, with the same piercing eyes and biting wit, she was full of laughter and merriment.

Ted clearly adored her too, and hardly seemed to mind that she left him with the baby most of the time.

Dora was the strangest infant Remus had ever seen, though admittedly he had not met many.

She was as cheerful as her mother, with a gummy grin.

Her wisps of hair changed from purple to green to blue with each moment, which everyone else seemed to find cute rather than bizarre.

Before sitting down to eat, they were joined by several other guests, old family friends of the Potters, including, much to Remus's excitement, old Darius Barebones.

A toast, Mr. Potter raised his glass rather tipsily at the end of the meal.

To friends, old and new.