LYALL LUPIN did not remain oblivious to everything taking place around him since his arrival at Grimmauld Place. It was true that he was bathing in the pure joy of being able to be around his son more than ever. And after the death of his wife and finding himself alone for several years, it was nice to be in the company of others. He attempted to keep a cheerful air about him, while the other adults struggled to keep their heads above the stressful waters.

It pained him to see them all, struggling so much when it was supposed to be some of the best years of their lives. Remus had been living in stress and surrounded by pain since the time he was a boy, some times were easier than others, but still, Lyall would always blame himself for Remus' problems. And Charlus and Sirius had been dealt with the short stick over and over, seemingly never catching a break.

They were attempting to provide the best life for Harry, who despite being left in a terrible environment for years, still held onto his innocence. His simple request to have Walburga be let out of her room and relieved of her punishment was never meant to come across as disrespectful. It showed that he didn't know the severity of the damage Walburga had inflicted on the others. It wasn't something that could be solved with a simple apology, but even then Walburga had yet to even offer that to her own son.

He could see the hurt on Sirius' expression whenever the topic came up of his mother, quickly replaced by anger. Sirius' reactive behaviour was understandable, but it wasn't appropriate during a time where Harry was trying to adjust and get to know his newest guardians. Of course, Sirius needed to work on his temper a bit more, but Walburga also needed to take responsibility for what she did and at least, use the rest of her lifetime, trying to mend ways with Sirius.

Perhaps he wouldn't forgive her, he had every right not to do so, but she could at least try.

After Harry came downstairs with his request, Sirius was ready to charge up the stairs and probably reprimand his mother for trying to manipulate Harry for some sympathy. But before he could do anything, Lyall stopped him.

"Allow me to speak with her, Sirius."

Sirius was noticeably caught off guard by the request as his facial features drastically softened from anger to confusion. He didn't understand what Lyall would say or do, given the opportunity to speak to Walburga one on one. His mind flashed back to confrontations that his mother had with Euphemia and Fleamont Potter and he didn't want to subject Remus' father to such a thing.

"You...you want to speak with her?" he asked. "But-"

"You need to spend less time worrying about these type of things, when you should be spending more time with your nephew, "Lyall said, " don't make the same mistakes I did. Harry needs you all to be focused on him right now. These times are crucial and he just came out of stressful environment, let's make this one as least stressful as possible, alright?"

Like an obedient child, Sirius nodded his head before backing down the stairs and allowing Lyall to walk by him. He shot a glance over his shoulder before retreating back to where Charlus and Harry were on the sofa.

Slowly, but surely, Lyall made his way up the stairs of the Grimmauld Place to Walburga's bedroom. As usual, she was resting in bed, only this time, she was sitting up rather than lying down. She shared the same puzzled expression as her son when Lyall knocked on the door and asked to come in. At first, it seemed she was going to refuse but her curiosity got the best of her and she gestured for him to enter.

"What do you want?" Walburga asked, wasting no time as her eyes followed Lyall's every movement. He didn't bother to answer her right away as he walked around until he reached the nearest window.

"You know," he began, " second chances are hard to come by. Seems like this group is lucky and yet, some of us don't seem to understand just how lucky they are."

With a roll of her eyes, Walburga let out a sigh. She wasn't looking to make any sort of chatter with the likes of Lyall Lupin and she didn't appreciate the way he was talking vaguely, rather than getting to the point.

"What nonsense are you going on about?"

Lyall's smile faded instantly as he faced her. " It's funny, before our children are even born, we plan to give them the best life. We make all these promises that we're going to do everything we can to protect them from anything or anyone else. And then, sometimes, we end up being the ones who hurt them the most."

"If you're here to lecture me-"

"I was talking about myself, " Lyall told her, rendering Walburga speechless. " Remus may tell people that I was a good father to him, but I wasn't. I could have been better. I made those same promises to him before he was born. Promised my wife that I would protect both of them by any means necessary. But it was my own ignorance that nearly killed him as a boy and what still haunts him today."

Walburga didn't know what he was going on about, but she was in too deep at the moment to just tell the man to get out of her room.

"I was once a very prejudiced man," he admitted without her asking. "I didn't care about pure-bloods, half-bloods, or muggle-born. It was werewolves that boiled my blood. The mere thought of them, I labelled them all as monstrous predators. My own wife, Merlin rest her soul, was a muggle and had sympathy towards werewolves, but I didn't. Even though I knew how one became a werewolf, I simply didn't care. I didn't care until one of them crawled into my son's bedroom and almost killed him."

"Your son is-"

"A werewolf, yes, " Lyall replied calmly. "And it was only then, that I realised how much control a person infected with lycanthropy lacks. All slaves to the full moon, but outside of that, they are just people dealt an unfortunate hand. I couldn't see my son as a monster or a predator. But the whole time I kept my prejudice views, I was looking at someone else's son or daughter that way. It was my own doing that put my son in such a predicament. He didn't know it when he was younger but he knows it now as an adult. The things I said....I know it hurt him. I couldn't take back what happened to him or what I said in the past."

There was a pause as Lyall seemed to need a moment to gather himself. His voice quivered with emotions as he admitted all the guilt he had carried for so long.

"We became distant after his mother died. I know in some ways, it was difficult for him to face me, knowing that I was responsible for what happened to him. Knowing what I said about people that were just like him. He carried his own fears as well and had to live his own life. But then, when he came around again, I realised it was my second chance. Would he ever see me as the perfect father figure? No, I wouldn't expect him to, but I would still want to be there for him in any way that I can even if he never forgave me."

"What's the point if he never forgives you?" Walburga questioned him. " The difference is, your son was willing to forgive you, I doubt Sirius ever will. He hates me. He has for many years and nothing will change that."

"You say that and yet, where did he come when he needed help? He came to you-"

"Because he had no other choice!"

"He did have a choice, maybe not many, maybe not great ones, but he did have other choices and he still came here. It was your second chance. People like you and me, we don't deserve second chances because of what we done. That makes us lucky. Remus could have left the country without a word and I would have never seen him again. Sirius could have been freed from Azkaban and you could have never seen him again. I will spend every last minute I can, trying to fulfill those promises I made to Remus before he was born. What will you do?"

Walburga looked down at her hands that came to rest in her lap.

"I believe the best thing I can do for my son is die, so he doesn't have to think about me anymore."

"Or you could try to be better. You could try to change-"

"What's the point now?!" she growled. "I'm practically one foot in the grave!"

"Every last breath counts," Lyall said with a small smile, " that's what my wife told me. She fought her illness long and hard, and even on her roughest days where she felt her weakest, she still made every breath count. You may not earn Sirius' forgiveness, but you can make an impact on Harry's life too. You can pass on some of your parental wisdom onto him and Charlus, so that when you're gone, they can still carry out what they need to for Harry's sake."

After Lyall left her alone with her thoughts, Walburga was unsure of what to do. She thought allowing Sirius into his childhood home, providing him with meals, and Kreacher's services would be enough for him to understand that she wasn't looking to fight anymore. And while she wanted his forgiveness before she died, Lyall had made it clear that just because she wanted it, didn't mean she was going to get it.

She had come to terms that her parenting had led to the death of her youngest and the practically dead relationship between her and her eldest. And she was sure if she said "sorry" that Sirius would scoff in her face and deny there being any sentiment behind it. And if she tried to help any way personally, wouldn't Sirius see it as a form of manipulation?

But perhaps that was what Lyall was getting at. Even if Sirius didn't want a sorry, she should still say it. And even if he did see it as a form of manipulation, she should still help him. Because that was what she promised to do when he was born.

The minute he was placed in her arms, she kissed his forehead and promised him the world.

Pushing herself out of bed, Walburga could hear Kreacher's scurrying towards her door as her movement alerted him. Seconds later, he appeared in the doorway, waiting on any sort of instruction, but she said nothing. She walked passed him and towards the stairs, where she gripped the railing and slowly made her way down. She had only made it down several steps when she heard the sound of light snoring.

Taking a look over the banister, Walburga caught sight of Sirius resting on the sofa, his eyes closed as he appeared to be asleep. Tucked into one of his sides was Harry, who was also asleep. There was a book in Sirius' lap, one that Sirius had been reading aloud to Harry more than likely before they both succumbed to their sleepy slumber.

In those moments, Sirius looked more like his father than he would probably ever know. The image of Orion sitting on the very same sofa with Sirius and Regulus cuddled up into his sides as he told them silly little stories before bed, it nearly brought Walburga to tears. Sirius probably didn't remember those times because he had been too young and when he was old enough to remember, things in the Black Household were far from good times.

She went to step down one more, only to see Charlus enter the room. As soon as he did, Sirius opened one eye and reached out to grab the mug of hot tea that his husband had brought for him. Charlus took the open spot next to him and pointed at Harry before signing something that made Sirius chuckle softly. He set down the tea after a sip and pulled Charlus closer to him, placing a kiss on his forehead. The two cuddled up together, closing their eyes to join Harry in getting some rest.

The age old argument that Walburga had used time and time before after learning that her son was attracted to men. How would Sirius start a family of his own?

Clearly, he had done so without a problem.

Charlus had never done anything to jeopardize her son's safety, in fact, he had been the one to save Sirius. Whether it was the Potters welcoming Sirius into their home without question or Charlus risking everything to get Sirius out of Azkaban, Walburga couldn't say she had done the same as a wife or a mother. She had let her family slip through her fingers and didn't put up much of a fight, only to regret it later.

And Harry, he needed his family. Because like many parents before him, his parents had promised a safe world for him and unfortunately lost their lives fighting for it. Now he had a family, willing to keep that promise of keeping him safe.

Walburga had once promised her son the world and finally, she could see what his world was.