Sirius had come back after a grueling night with James and Remus. Peter never showed up. They weren't exactly sure why, but they still managed without him.

Sirius arrived home when the sun wasn't even up yet. Mercy had a steaming mug of hot chocolate waiting on the kitchen counter. There was also a turkey and soup on the counter. He was worried Kreacher made it because he would have most likely poisoned the food, but the note said Mercy had made it for him. He gladly ate the food.

The only reason they were staying at 12 Grimmauld Place was because it became headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. They had to make sure everyone was who they said they were and there were no traitors.

Sirius really missed the flat he bought with Mercy, but he could wait. As long as he had Mercy, he didn't need much. When Dumbledore told them that Voldemort was on the loose, rallying up allies, he had formed the Order of the Phoenix and asked the Marauders and the girls - Emmeline, Dorcas, Lily, and Mercy - to join.

The Order was much larger now, filled with talented witches and wizards who battled Dark Wizards. Sirius consoled Mercy during a sad night when Dorcas had died. Mercy was inconsolable, sobbing heavily and wailing. Being surrounded by death brought her off her rocker. It was like those rumors she heard as a child was coming true - that a child born under the influence of Amortentia could never experience true love.

When they had gotten together, everyone was exchanging galleons based on a bet they had made during their sixth year at Hogwarts. Dorcas owed James and Lily ten galleons each, Emmeline owed only James ten galleons, and Lily owed Emmeline ten galleons. They had all bet on when Sirius and Mercy would get together.