Oh, this story… simply makes me feel happy. Like Sirius I’m grateful for the simple pleasure of watching Remus enjoy something. And I’m happy to meet an OotP-era Sirius who (unlike my version of him) has a lot of genuine holiday cheer and even manages to – once again – give Remus something so important just when the moment is right.

The reverse timeline works excellently as we learn gradually more about the meaning of the dog to Remus. I also particularly adore all the vivid description of the setting in the middle part, and the interaction between all the boys in the last one.