Edited 3/2/2022

Chapter Nine, Brothers and Padfoot's Birthday

It's been three days since the Halloween Ball, and two since Gryffindor had won the first Quidditch match of the season against Slytherin, which meant Josie could finally put her plan into action. And just in time too. As today was Sirius's 16th birthday and she wanted to make it special for him, which included inviting Regulus.
"Morning Jamie," Josie whispered to her twin brother early that morning. The Potter twins had planned to meet up early before Sirius woke up, so they could go over the plan.
"Mornin' Josie." James greeted, pulling his twin sister into a hug. "Don't worry everything is set up in the room you showed us. How'd you know about it anyway? Or that it couldn't be put on the Map?" He asked confused, but Josie just gave him a look. "Oh. Right, your visions." He said, shaking his head at his own stupidity.

"Is it a good idea to bring Regulus? What if they fight? You and I both know that they're both as stubborn and bull-headed as each other." James asked.
"I know, but they're both miserable without the other. Even if they don't want to admit it." Josie said, rolling her eyes. "And if they don't make up, Regulus will give into peer pressure and join the Death Eaters, and he'll die and Sirius will always regret it. I don't want him to live with that heavy burden, Jamie."
"Okay," James said, taking her hands. "I'll follow your lead on this Josie and I'll stand by you I promise." He swore.
"Thank you Jamie." She said gratefully. "Let's go wake him up and hurry the drama Queen in and out of the shower before Remus throws a fit and we're late for McGonagall's class." She said, standing up and sweeping her braid over her shoulder.

***

The day had passed by rather quickly with hardly any confrontation, (only a minor confrontation with Snape when Josie came to tell Regulus the time of the party in the R.O.R).
"Happy birthday Siri." Josie said, leaning up to kiss his cheek.
"Thank you Josie." Sirius said, kissing her softly, before she pulled back after a while causing him to pout and give her puppy dog eyes.
"Don't give me those." Josie laughed, "come on. I have a surprise." She said pulling him up off the sofa and out of the Gryffindor Common Room as she figured everyone would be there by now.
"Where are we going? Sirius laughed, allowing Josie to pull him away from Gryffindor Tower.

Although he was confused about why they were going up to the seventh floor in the direction of the painting of Barnabas the Barmy.
"If I told you, Padfoot, it wouldn't be a surprise. Now, would it?" Josie replied.
"So, when we get there, wherever we're going: will Prongs and Moony be there?" Sirius asked, trying to pry information from his girlfriend and betrothed.
"Mmm." Josie said noncommittally. Sirius sighed in frustration making Josie laugh as she paced in front of the wall three times. While Sirius watched on confused until a door appeared in the middle of the wall that hadn't been there a moment ago. "After you." She said, trying to keep the excitement and nervousness from her voice as he opened the door and stepped in with a confused frown on his face.

As Sirius and Josie stepped into the room; James, Pandora, Remus, Marlene, and Regulus all jumped out of their hiding places and shouted: "Surprise!!"
Sirius blinked in shock for a moment, before a wide smile spread across his face as he took in the crates of Butterbeer, piles of presents, balloons and banners, and soft music playing in the background, but most importantly: his friends and surprisingly his brother.
"Happy birthday Sirius." Pandora said, hugging him tightly.
"Thanks Dora." Sirius said with a wide smile as everyone came and wished him happy birthday until his brother was standing in front of him.
"Regulus."
"Sirius. Happy birthday." Regulus said unsurely, as if he was afraid that it would spark an argument between them. But much to his surprise and everyone else's, except Josie's, Sirius pulled his younger brother into a tight hug.

"I've missed you Sirius. And I'm so sorry about what they did, I tried to stop her but she said.." Regulus rambled.
"Reggie, it's alright. I'm sorry too. I should've realised that you weren't to blame but I was so wrapped up in escaping that torment I forgot about you. I'm sorry." Sirius apologise sincerely.
"What made you realise you were being a prat?" Remus asked curiously, making everyone laugh.
"James did actually." Sirius replied, which only made everyone more confused. "I called James out on his behaviour towards Josie in the summer and I realised I was also being a hypocrite as Reggie and I have the same relationship. I wanted to fix it but I didn't know how. I gather you organised this and got Reggie here?" Sirius asked Josie, smiling widely and pulling her into a loving kiss when she nodded.

"Ow!" Sirius yelped, jumping away from Josie when he was hit by a Stinging Jinx. "Prongs!" He exclaimed annoyed, rubbing his now sore backside, when he saw James pointing his wand at him.
"Hey! She's my baby sister and I have to chaperone the pair of you when Dad's not here." James said, shrugging his shoulders while Josie rolled her eyes at her overprotective brother.
"Can we start over again, Siri?" Regulus asked. "I don't want to be a Death Eater like mother and Bella want! I just want my brother back."
"How about: you were both idiots and leave it like that!" Marlene exclaimed, making everyone laugh while Remus rolled his eyes and fondly kissed her temple.
"Of course Reggie as long as you forgive me too." Sirius said.
"I think I can forgive your Gryffindor pratness." Regulus joked before he held out a present. "Happy birthday."

Smiling Sirius sat down on one of the sofas that was near the large fireplace and tore into the neatly wrapped wrapping paper revealing a rather expensive set of art materials.
"Wow. Thanks Reggie, I haven't drawn in ages." Sirius said, feeling amazed and extremely grateful.
"Well, I thought you'd like to, and you're welcome." Regulus said happily. Marlene passed Sirius his present from her which was a Pennywhistles Broom Servicing Kit; from Remus he got the new edition of Quidditch Through The Ages; from Euphemia and Monty he got an expensive grooming kit with a personalised brown dragon skin wash bag; from Pandora he got a drawing of himself, Josie, James and Remus with their animal forms shrouding them. And from James:
"Really James!?" Josie and Remus asked when Sirius unwrapped a brown leather dog collar as he and Sirius burst into loud raucous laughter.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." James said in between his laughter as he held out another present to Sirius. "Open that." James said, once they'd both calmed down.
"Thanks James." Sirius said, chuckling, as he unwrapped a mug that had a black shaggy dog on it and it said 'I like my coffee Siriusly Black'. "I love them." Sirius laughed.
"You two are terrible." Marlene said, shaking her head, though she too was trying not to laugh at the on-the-nose joke presents.
Finally it was Josie's turn and she nervously held out her present which was considerably smaller than everyone else's, she just hoped he'd like it. As if he could sense how she was feeling, Sirius took her hand and kissed the back of it before he opened the present revealing a brown leather cord bracelet that had a golden clasp with his initials S.O.B engraved into it. 

"Thank you, love. I love it, will you help me put it on?" Sirius asked looking pitifully at Josie, knowing she can't refuse his puppy eyes but then he can't refuse hers either.
"Of course, Siri. I'm glad you like it." Josie said happily as she clasped it around his left wrist.
"Don't you dare." Dora whispered to James warningly, when she saw the mischievous glint in his eyes.
Once the rest of the presents had been safely put to the side they spent the rest of the evening until past curfew, playing Gobstones, Exploding Snap, Wizards Chess or dancing to the music. Sirius smiled over at Josie who was talking over the Animagus process with Regulus, Dora and Marlene. He didn't know how he got so lucky to have such a wonderful woman who he is starting to love with all his heart, but he was so grateful to her. She had reunited him and Regulus again after four years of being estranged, something they wouldn't have done on their own. He could say without a doubt that this has been his best birthday yet and it was all thanks to the love of his life.

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Authors note/ what Animagus forms should Pandora, Marlene and Regulus be?