Okay, I lied. I'm still going to work on some fanfics. Just don't expect as many as you would otherwise. I own nothing.

It was still beyond Sirius how he had managed to do it, but somehow he had convinced his parents to let his friends come over for summer. Just three days, but the fifteen year old boy was happy. His three best friends in the world, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin, had never before been inside his house. Remus might be a day late, depending on how his transformation went, but he would come at some point.

Right now, Sirius was sitting in the living room, staring intently at the fireplace. James should be the first one to arrive. He was Flooing. Peter was too, but Remus was coming by Side-Along Apparation. Sirius was getting bored out of his skull waiting for his friend. In fact, he was starting to consider going to the kitchen to eat something when he saw the flames in the fireplace turn green. In just a moment, James's lanky figure was spinning in the flames. He stepped out of the fireplace, grinning from ear to ear. "Padfoot, buddy!"

"Hey, Prongs. How's things? Is your mom any better?" Mrs. Potter had been hurt in a duel with a dark wizard, and was currently in Saint Mungo's.

James grin faded a bit. "No change. She still doesn't recognize any of us." Then his grin was back again, full blast. "But hey, that's why she's an Aurour, isn't it? To fight bad guys and save the day! Besides, she put the guy she was dueling in Mungo's, too, and he don't look like he's gonna recover. How's things here?"

"Eh. Y'know. How they always are. Mom and Dad have got someone named Fern Brownback or something like that coming over for dinner tonight. Probably just going to discuss evil, top secret matters. Special missions from Voldemort and all that." He rolled his eyes to show he didn't care, but there was just a trace of bitterness in his voice. "But who cares? I'll just make Kreacher bring something to my room. We can eat in there."

James nodded. "Sure. Soo... Can you give me a tour?"

"You don't really want one, but okay. Let us be off!" He threw his head back and pointed his fist forward. "First," he said in a dramatic, pompous manner, "in here is the living room.It is in this room that Peter Pettigrew shall arrive." They stepped out of the doorway. "And this," Sirius said, "is the hallway. I'm sure you apprectiate it." And so, in this dramatic manner, they passed through the whole house until they were once again sitting in the living room, staring at the fire.

"So, when is Wormtail getting here?" James asked for the seventeenth time.

Sirius checked his watch for the twenty-third time. "Any minute now."

"And Moony?"

"Later today or tomorrow. Who knows, with him?" His voice softened, almost imperceptibly. "I wonder how it went."

James leaned forward, placing his chin in one hand. "Yeah. They've gone so much better since we started going with him. I wonder how bad it is when we're not there?"

"He keeps saying he'll be fine, he did alone for twelve years, but I don't know. Remember, in our second year..."

James face grew solemn. "He was unconscious for three days. I can never forgive myself for that."

"Well, it wasn't just you. It was all three of us. Mostly me, actually." His voice grew bitter.

"Yeah, but at least he can forgive us. At least, he says he does."

"And Remus always keeps his promises."

At that moment, the flames in the fireplace turned green and Peter's short, pudgy form appeared. He stepped out, coughing. "Hey, guys. Ugh, I hate floo."

"Don't we all, mate. Don't we all," said James, grinning broadly. "Have a seat, Wormtail, old buddy." The three were somewhat smushed, sitting on the couch together, but they were good friends and didn't care.

"So," James asked. "When's Remus showing up?"

Sirius groaned. "Not till at least two."

"What tim-"

"It's ten thirty-two."

"So how much lon-"

"Say one more word, Prongs, and I swear I will murder you."

James pulled an innocent face. "But..."

"That's it!" Sirius roared jumping up. He pulled out his wand. "James Potter! Much as I hate to do so, I must carry through with my promise! Have at ye!" And then, brandishing his wand like a sword, he began hopping from side to side. "What?" he taunted. "Be ye too cowardly to fight me? I challenge you to a duel!"

James stood, slowly taking his wand out of his pocket. "I accept." They then proceeded to leap around the room, pretending their wands were swords, as they could not yet do magic outside of school. Peter, still on the couch, was in hysterics, tears streaming down his face as he gasped for breath, even though it wasn't as funny as he made it seem.

Suddenly, they heard a harsh screeh from somewhere in the house. "Sirius Orion Black! What is that noise? Be quiet!" Sirius grimaced. "Oh, yes, I have yet to introduce you to my dear family." Nevertheless, he pocketed his wand, and James copied him. Sirius looked at his watch again. "It is now 11:02 AM," he declared. "I say we go outside and make trouble. What say you, good fellows?"

James bowed theatrically. "I say... We shall! C'mon, Pete." Peter nodded eagerly, hopping up from the couch. And with that, they left.