A/N – I want to thank Becky Silver Black, Luvguurl and Sailor Hecate for reviewing this fic! You lot don't know how much I appreciate it!

Chapter Summary – A bit of plot and some packing!

Fic Summary – the small family try to have some summer fun!

Dedicated to – Sailor Hecate for being there to review when I though this fic was a flop!

History does not repeat itself--historians merely repeat each other
funny sayings by Cute Girl

Gardenia Foster adjusted the glass she was looking through by the black knob on the side of the stand. Below was a rounded slice of glass, but this one held something she found very interesting. She took out her wand and tapped the experimental glass, it expanded and she smiled a little.

Gardenia was not your run of the mill Potions Mistress, she dabbled in Muggle Science and even though some of her colleagues thought she was crazy because of it, she could determine what a potion held if in fact she knew what the molecules of the potion ingredients looked like. However, this potion that she had gotten from Lupin wasn't any that she had seen before.

She turned to her huge fireplace when it flared to life; Lupin gave her a small smile: "How is it going?" he asked.

"Well, I have determined that it is not a potion that I have seen, however, I think if I can get it to react to some of my acids, that I'll be able to determine that way. Did you, by chance, drink it at all?" Gardenia asked.

"No, I didn't want to chance it; I don't know what Dumbledore was up too, but it didn't smell like a calming potion," Remus replied.

"That's because it isn't, I've talked to Severus and he agrees,"

"Oh?"

"Yes, however, we shant know anything if you don't let me get back to work!"

"Sorry, talk to you later then," Remus blushed a little then the fire place went dull. Gardenia sighed. Gave a glare at the potion she was testing and then she exited her basement.

While on her way to the kitchen, Gardenia went through everything the ministry Potions Master had told her; which wasn't much, but on Sirius request, she did take on the task of finding out what the potion was. It wasn't that Sirius didn't trust Severus (he sort of did but it was still an if-ie question) it was the fact that he didn't want anything getting to Dumbledore.

Gardenia was just a bit worried about what the potion could be; she had never seen bat's wings used with guts of worms, which made for a very vile concoction that would surely blow up in your face than work the right way. However, it could be done, but only by someone very talented.

She made herself a cup of tea and perused her news paper; she was tired, but she would get back to work after a small break.

"What do you think? Nordica?" Harry asked as he held up a shirt, it was a puke green and reminded Harry of the time Ron had up-chucked slugs. Nordica whined and clawed her snout, burying her head in the blankets of Harry's bed. Harry laughed at that and threw the shirt away. Next, he brought out a red and white shirt, which he put into his bag.

They would be leaving the next day for the World Cup and Harry could hardly wait! The only Quidditch game he had ever been too was the ones his school held and he was on one team. He was the youngest Seeker in a century and he liked it that way. Harry put in a cloak and some pants; socks, underwear, and some more shirts that were not green. Nordica was becoming a true Gryffindor; at least, that was what Sirius said.

She was a Golden Retriever that Hagrid had seen in a Muggle shop; how he even got the puppy was beyond Harry but he was glad. She was a dark gold in color and one of her ears drooped downwards. She had a white spot over her left eye and she liked to talk, a lot!

Remus knocked on Harry's door and then poked his head in; he smiled when Nordica rolled onto her back and looked at him expectantly. Remus entered the room and took stock of the tornado that had reeked havoc upon his nephew's room.

"Sorry about the mess, I'll clean it up," Harry said bashfully.

"That would be nice, however, I did live in a boy's dorm for seven years, it was worse in our last year though, I never could find anything," Remus sighed.

"Well, at least I don't have Hermione after us, telling us to clean up our dorm," Harry laughed.

"You're lucky, Lily would sneak in and clean up, then, I never could find my homework though she thought it was in a place where I would easily find it," Remus replied.

"Where was that?" Harry asked.

"Pettigrew's shoe," Remus dead panned. Harry blinked at him.

"Mum put your homework in Pettigrew's shoes?" Harry asked incredulously.

"And believe me, I never want to smell his feet again!" Remus pinched his nose and waved his free hand in the air, gibing off the implication that the room stank. Harry made a face and then they both started to laugh.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Harry said.

"After a while, I made Pettigrew get it, and then I'd disinfect it,"

"Poor Remy!" Sirius yelled as he bound into the room and tackled his friend onto a pile of green clothing. This made Nordica bark loudly.

"Sirius, you prat! Get off!" Remus yelled.

"Sure thing, boss!" Sirius replied, he jumped up and then he tackled Harry to the floor.

"Daaaaaaaaaddddddddd!"

"What is it son?" Sirius asked, smiling innocently enough.

"Get off," Harry rolled his eyes.

"Fine, fine, say…are you done yet? Because, I am!"

"I hope you didn't pack pranks, you'll get in trouble by the ministry if you prank anyone," Remus said.

"Whoever said I would prank anyone? Honestly, Remy-kins, you think the worst of me!"

"Gee, I wonder why…" Remus rolled his eyes this time, he had finally gotten to his feet and glared at Sirius.

"Would you kindly help Harry then?"

"Why do you think I'm here?"

"To annoy me?"

"Right as rain!" Sirius laughed. Remus shook his head and then made a swift exit. He didn't need to be there anymore. Sirius, however, had an idea….

"Say, Harry, would you like to see exactly how a prank works?" Sirius asked.

"Er – all right," Harry agreed, not knowing what he had gotten himself into.

Harry finished scrabbling down on the parchment he held; Sirius grinned as Harry looked at him skeptically; "You sure this works?"

"Yeah, this is what we always did after we played a prank," Sirius said.

"Does that mean…?" Harry never did get to finish his question, for at that time Remus plunged down the stairs, his wizard robes discarded in his room. Sirius snickered when he saw his friend.

Remus had his boxer shorts on over his brown slacks, and the boxers said "I Love Snivellus!"

"What happened to your pants?" Harry asked.

"Ask that prat!"

"Moony swore! Moony swore!"

"Sirius!"

"I was just teaching Harry the Marauder way of pranking," Sirius explained.

"Yeah? Well next time, pick a different target," Remus muttered and then he returned to the stair well, he waved his wand and the prank boxers were gone. He leveled a glare at Sirius before he went back up stairs.

"I don't think I'll ever pull a prank on Uncle Moony," Harry muttered. Sirius just laughed at this. It was amazing how un-like James, the boy actually was. Sirius just took this as a sign to teach him how to be a "True Marauder".

"Do not worry, young Apprentice! I shall teach you everything!" Sirius said as solemnly as his name suggested. Harry just shook his head and looked down at the notes.

The first rule of pranking was the best, Harry decided, Never Plan on an Empty Stomach. Figures that would be the first rule; Sirius never usually thought of food first but when it came to pranking, thing were different. He couldn't come up with anything if he wasn't eating something. Sirius had said that brilliant ideas come from eating.

Harry looked up at Sirius; who had been watching him. He sighed and stood, secreting away the notes he had made while his Father had lectured him on Marauder ways.

"I'll try that prank out at school; honest," Harry said.

"You don't have too…"

"But I want too, Malfoy would be the perfect target," Harry smirked and then he too went up stairs and too his room. Sirius smiled, Harry looked exactly like James in that instant. It was uncanny and it sent a chill down Sirius' spine. He knew he was blessed to a degree farther than he had ever imagined. And he hoped it would stay that way.

A/N – Please review!