Edited 2/2/2022!

Chapter One,  A Fresh Start

James sat in silence after Josie had finished telling him about Peter, his face slowly turning red with anger.
"After all we've done for him, after all you've done to help him before this vision. This is how he repays us!?" James raged as he leapt to his feet and started pacing.
"Jamie calm down, we can stop this. I will not lose my big brother, I won't! If you distance yourself from him like Sirius and I have, he has no reason to be your secret keeper." Josie placated. Sighing, James sat back down beside his sister and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry Josie. Will you forgive me?" James asked.

"I forgive you, but you're still a dick." Josie said seriously, before the pair of them started laughing. "I better change before Mum kills me." Josie laughs, as she stands up and stretches, placing Poppy, Twig and Button back into the tree and says goodbye to them as she heads back into the house with James and Merlin. The foyer of Potter Manor was very grand. The floors were a checkered blue and white marble pattern, the walls a crisp, fresh white with candelabras hanging from a very ornate and colourful ceiling. At the far end on the wall there was a painting in a golden frame with a dark wooden desk and chair beneath it. Statues, potted plants and suits of armour were dotted around very beautifully, a grand clock stood next to the large white marble stairs that had a silver railing wrapping around the curved staircase.

As soon as James and Josie entered the foyer they were greeted by the Head House-elf, Lou-Lou dressed in a white shirt and a red skirt with the Potter Family crest stamped on both.
"Master James, your parents and Master Sirius and Mr Lupin are waiting for you to have dinner. Miss Josie you may need to change before you join them." Lou-Lou states as she bowed softly to them.
"Thank you Lou-Lou, can you tell Mama and Papa I'm just quickly changing please?" Josie asked before she ran upstairs to her bedroom with Merlin behind her, while James entered the Family Dining room, which was smaller than the Dining Room they used for parties.

Unlike James, Josie's wand and bedroom were completely different to her brothers. Her wand reflected her affinity for Magical Creatures much like her personality. Her wand was made of Ash wood, was 12 and 1/2 inches and had a Hippogriff feather as its core which was rather unusual and was custom made by Mr. Ollivander when they couldn't find her a wand. Her wand also had a purple gem on the end and had star and moon patterns on both ends of her wand, along with grooves in her making it stick out in certain places making an almost vine-like pattern.

Unlike James' Gryffindor style bedroom, Josie's bedroom was extremely elegant and was painted and designed how she wanted it and not dictated by her House at Hogwarts. Josie's bedroom has a Slytherin esque style to it as James would say, but they were her favourite colours. Like all rooms in the Manor her room was rather large and had its own walk-in closet and bathroom. Her walls were painted a deep green with silver accents for the skirting boards, she had a dark wooden flooring that was magically heated for the colder months, and a plush silver-grey rug at the bottom of her bed with Merlin's cat bed on top (although he mostly slept on her bed with her).

Her large queen-sized bed sat against the large windows that faced the grounds with long white curtains over them. Her bed had a silver headboard, a multitude of silver pillows and a grey bedspread. Next to her bed on either side were dark wooden nightstands, against her green wall was a potted tree that the Bowtruckles used when they wouldn't leave her. Besides that, sat a dark wooden chest of draws that held her sleepwear, a dark wooden desk that had a number of draws, and a silver tall back chair sat beneath a large ornate silver mirror. Hanging from the ceiling was a large ornate silver chandelier bringing light to the room, on the opposite wall was a floor to ceiling white bookcase that took up most of the wall.

Except for a bit by the window where a plush grey armchair sat, and on the other side of the bookcase in the corner, was a dark wooden door that led into the bathroom. Just opposite the bathroom door lay another door that led into the large white walk-in closet. The closet had an off white wooden flooring that was also heated like her bedroom and bathroom, and held her multitude of clothes; dresses (both normal and formal), robes (her school ones and her cloaks), skirts, tops, trousers, underwear, swimwear and hosiery, shoes, makeup and accessories. There was a vanity table in one corner and a plump dark grey stool in the middle of the room.

Her school truck and bag was even stored neatly away in here. The bathroom was designed much like her closet with white walls but with dark grey flooring. There was a large shower that took up one corner of the room, a bathtub in the other and a toilet and a sink with marble countertop, a mirror lay above the sink and a large hamper basket sat in the corner by the door, and on the back of her door  hang her dressing gown.  Overall, Josie's bedroom was extremely elegant and it suited her perfectly.

As soon as Josie and Merlin entered the bedroom the Kneazle ran straight towards her bed and jumped up on it curling up into a ball and going to sleep. Josie shook her head with a soft smile on her face as she went into the bathroom to wash-up and change out of the dirty top and skirt she was wearing. After she made sure she had washed off all the dirt on her and put her clothes in the hamper basket, she went back into her bedroom, only pausing on her way to her closet to stroke Merlin then went into her closet to change. Looking through her clothes she decided on some red jeans, a black T-shirt with some red and silver on it and some black heeled boots, putting her hair up in a high ponytail after running a brush through her curls, she was ready.

Before she left her bedroom she stoked and kissed Merlin's head who opened one eye and purred at her before going back to sleep. Laughing Josie rushed out of the room and down to the dining room where everyone was waiting for her. As she entered she noticed Sirius kept his eyes on her all the time, but paid it no mind.
"Sorry Mama. Sorry Papa." Josie apologised, as she kissed her parents cheeks before sitting in between James and her mother, Sirius sat opposite her and Remus sat opposite James.
"That's okay, sweetheart." Her father laughed from the head of the table in between her mother and Sirius. A moment later their dinner, which was roast chicken today, appeared on the table and they all tucked in.

"Now, James. What had you tearing out of the Manor like a herd of Hippogriffs were after you?" Fleamont asked his son as he cut up his chicken. James took a gulp of his drink to delay the answer slightly as he knew he was about to be in big trouble, but he knew he deserved it.
"I had to apologise to Josie." James said sheepishly.
"Whatever for?" Euphemia questioned, staring fiercely at her eldest.
"I haven't been all that nice to her the last few years. I didn't even realise until Sirius called me out on it. I didn't mean to, I swear, first it was because I was worried she'd get sick and wanted her with me at all times and made her play Chaser when she's a Seeker, then I favoured Lily over her. I was an arse and I'm sorry I didn't mean to make her feel second best." James said deeply troubled and deeply sorry for what he'd done.

"I am very disappointed in you Jamie." Euphemia said sternly a frown set deeply on her face as James nodded his head as he awaited his punishment. "But, I'm also happy you realised and apologised to your sister. She used to be your world Jamie, and you've let your infatuation come between you." She said, sighing and shaking her head at her son's foolishness.
"I know and I'm sorry Mum, Dad, Josie. I won't let it happen again. I want a relationship with my sister." James insisted when Fleamont said nothing and just stared hardly at his son, anger and disappointment showing on his face.
"There will be no flying for a month Jamie. If I catch you on that broom before you have Quidditch tryouts at Hogwarts, you will be in serious trouble." Fleamont said firmly as he looked at his son over his round glasses.

"Yes Dad." James agreed readily as he knew they could have given him a worse punishment and wasn't going to argue. Where James looked exactly like his father, practically a carbon copy with dark brown wavy hair that never lay flat, his father's nose, hazel eyes, round glasses, and tall muscular stature (having only come into his growth spurt at thirteen). Josie looked exactly like her mother but with her father's colouring, she had her mother's heart-shaped face, almond eyes, button nose, full lips and willowy hourglass figure. She would have made for a carbon copy of her mother if she didn't have her father's dark brown wavy locks that was down to her waist, and hazel eyes, a lot of the boys at school wanted her which made James and the others incredibly protective of her.

Sirius cleared his throat awkwardly, attracting everyone's attention to him. "I want to admit something too." He said avoiding James' eyes which made the bespectacled teen frown at his best friend. "Mr and Mrs Potter thank you for letting me move in after what happened at home, I greatly appreciate it. But I love Josie very much and I hope you will let me court your daughter. I've always cared deeply for her and helped her anyway I can and helped her come out of her shell. But I noticed this last year that I have fallen in love with her." Sirius said his eyes locked on Mr and Mrs Potter. Euphemia had a wide beaming smile on her face as she had already guessed that Sirius loved her daughter and that Josie felt the same for him, given the blush on her cheeks. She was ready to offer her acceptance, but she knew her husband and son would be a little more tricky.

Fleamont didn't want his daughter to grow up so soon, and someone asking to court her, even if it was someone they loved, would classify as Josie growing up and Fleamont didn't want to lose his little girl. James on the other hand, no matter what he's done, is incredibly and fiercely protective of his sister, even more so since she got sick, given by what he's done. Yes it was wrong but his heart had been in the right place (disregarding the Lily situation), his overprotectiveness just got the better of him.
"Of course Sirius. You know we love you as another son and I've seen with my own eyes how you and Josie feel about each other. I'd want no one else to court my daughter." Euphemia exclaimed happily.

"Mia!" Fleamont exclaimed.
"Now, Monty. Josie will always be your little girl, Sirius isn't taking her away from you and Jamie. So you both can stop glaring at the poor boy, you too Remus. Who would you prefer, Monty? Someone who already loves our daughter and she loves in return. Yes, sweetheart I know, you can't hide things from me. You know that, and you won't spoil the friendship because Sirius feels the same and has asked to court you." Euphemia said to Josie as she ran her hand through Josie's hair and kissed her head, before she turned back to her husband. "Or someone who hates our daughter and is only interested in marrying her for her dowry and status?" She asked, raising a perfect blonde eyebrow at husband, her blue eyes gleaming as if daring her husband to challenge her on this.

Fleamont sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he knew his wife was right.
"You're right Mia, of course." He said as he kissed his wife's forehead. "But," he said sternly, as he turned towards Sirius, a hard look in his once warm hazel eyes. "If I found out you have hurt my baby girl, an overprotective Jamie and Remus in his wolf form will be the least of your worries. Am I clear?"
"Yes Sir." Sirius said, nodding his head. He knew how protective James and his Dad were of Josie and would take this seriously even if he wanted to laugh as Josie sat there rolling her eyes.
"Good. Then you have my blessing then, Sirius." Fleamont said, smiling softly.

"Wait!" James shouted. "Remus and I need to give our blessings first. I know you've helped Josie where I should have and I'm grateful for that. But, you better not mess my sister around, Sirius. I mean it! You may be my best mate, but that doesn't mean I will side with you regarding my sister." James said firmly.
"Oh for pity's sake! This is ridiculous! Mama!" Josie exclaimed, turning to her mother with a look that said 'help me' and put an end to this.
"I'm sorry darling." Euphemia apologised. "I had to go through the same thing with your grandfather, when your father asked to court me." Josie just sighed and rested her head on her mothers shoulder as she let things play out.

"Sirius, I'm warning you. You better not hurt Starfall or you will not like what Moony does. She's like a sister to me, my best friend." Remus warned, as James and Mr Potter had pretty much said everything else he'd wanted to say.
"I swear I will never do anything to hurt Josie intentionally or otherwise." Sirius swore.
"Good. Sweetheart, do you accept Sirius' proposal of courtship? You can say no, if you don't want to... ow Mia!" Fleamont exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder where Euphemia had slapped him as the children laughed at them.
"I accept, Sirius." Josie said with a blush on her cheeks and a smile on her face as Sirius got up and slipped her grandmother Braithewaite's courtship ring on her finger and pressed a kiss to her temple.

"I thought you didn't feel the same." Josie mumbled so only Sirius could hear (and Remus with his werewolf hearing) while everyone gave them a moment and went back to their dinner. Euphemia and Fleamont berate James again for his behaviour towards his sister.
"Of course I do. How could I not? You're a smart, funny, beautiful, kind and caring woman. I couldn't help but fall for you." Sirius said seriously, as he chuckled slightly at Josie's blush until she slapped his shoulder. Proving she was her mothers daughter, which made a slight smirk come to her mothers lips.
"I promise to never hurt you Josie." Sirius promised, kissing her forehead before he went back to his seat. For the rest of the night the pair of them had wide beaming smiles on their faces.