A/N - I know I know I know. I'm awful. I've had hideous writer's block on this story recently, but fear not. I actually have an idea for the next chapter! On the downside I am going away for two weeks, so it won't be up for a while, but I promise a quicker update next time!

Disclaimer: If I was making money off this, I'd be a better updater.

Stangely, it was Remus who first apologised the next morning. Wandering into the kitchen as Sirius was pouring the tea he said,

"I shouldn't have been so hard on you last night. Yesterday was very trying on me but that's no excuse, it's just difficult sometimes to appreciate that other people also suf-"

At that Sirius shook his head in disbelief and exclaimed,

"Don't be ridiculous, Remus. Just sit down and have some Goddmaned tea."

Remus smiled, sat, and they said no more about it.

The rest of the day was spent filling Sirius in on the finer points of Order work that tended to be skirted over in meetings, much to Sirius's chagrin.

"It's really much less exciting than it appears - I imagine the most dangerous job at the moment has fallen to me. Although no-one really knows what Dumbledore's been up to, and knowing him it'll be something far beyond what would usually be expected of a... how old is Dumbeldore anyway?"

"I've no idea." Sirius admitted with a shrug, "He's probably be around since the dawn of time, watching over us as the same siver haired old gent."

Remus chuckled,

"You know, I'm almost convinced. He's barely changed since we were at Hogwarts ourselves."

"What I wouldn't give to be back there." Sirius sighed, a small smile playing on his face as he remembered the lazy afternoons basking in the sunlight by the lakeside, sneaking through the castle in the dead of night, trying not to laugh as they heard Filch stagger past their hiding place, cursing their names. Remus smiled in return, but his eyes were sad.

"I wish Harry could hace had the same experiences, but every year it seems he has a heavier burden to carry. It's a wonder that he manages to pass his exams each year. Mind you, with James and Lily as his parents he certainly has an impressive level of natural talent to fall back on; for a thirteen year old boy, especially one who has known so little happiness, to produce a corporeal Patronus still astounds me to this day."

"I don't know why Molly still insists on treating him like a child. He's seen as much as any member of the Order (well, except perhaps old Mad-Eye) and a great deal more than some." Sirius griped.

"She's only trying to help, Sirius. She wants to keep him happy and safe, which few people truly appreciate is something that he really needs." Remus said patiently, "But I do agree it seems wrong. Tonks mentioned the other day that she felt it wasn't right for her to be able to know things about Harry's fate that he isn't allowed to know himself."

"She's got a wise head on her shoulders, that one, despite appearances." Sirius agreed, "But Dumbledore has his rules, even if they don't make much sense to us mere mortals."

Remus must have picked up on the bitterness in his tone, because he shook his head a little before asking,

"Have you spoken to Harry recently?"

"He sent me a letter a couple of weeks ago. You were away with Darius I think. He did well to avoid giving anything away to someone who could intercept it. Apparently the new Defence witch is 'almost as nice a s my Mum'." He chuckled to himself for a second, and Remus raised his eyebrows,

"Who is it?"

"Ministry hag, Umbridge. No doubt she'll be feeding Fudge reports of Harry's dangerous and unhinged behaviour. He's managed to get on her bad side already." Sirius told him, and Remus frowned,

"Umbridge? Not the one who got that werewolf employment legislation passed a couple years ago?" he exclaimed, and Sirius nodded solemnly.

"The very same."

"What was Dumbledore thinking? He must know she's an evil old hag with veiws imported from the Dark Ages, and Death Eater sympathies to boot." Remus raged, and Sirius was shocked at the venom in his voice,

"I doubt he had much of a choice. He has to play along with what Fudge wants if he doesn't want more slander in The Prophet." he explained.

"Looks like we're pretty trapped, doesn't it?" Remus sighed, running a nervous hand through his greying hair.

"Harry more than any of us. If only I could see him. If only I could meet him in Hogsmeade as Padfoot..."

"No, Sirius." Remus interrupted, a hardness in his voice that Sirius was now hearing with deressing frequency. "The last time you got out you were recognised. We don't need Harry getting into more trouble if he's seen with you, and we don't need you getting caught."

"That's what Harry said." Sirius spat, crossing his arms and hunching over in his chair.

"You've seen him?" Remus asked, and edge of panic in his voice.

"I flooed my head into the Gryffindor fireplace." Sirius said, silently daring Remus to chastise him, and though Remus had to draw a breath, closing his eyes for a moment, he did not protest, simply asked,

"And what in Merlin's name possessed you to do that?"

"I needed to speak with him face to face. I needed to see someone other than Kreacher." Sirius stated, "Though little good it did me."

Remus looked at him with curiosity and concern creasing his features,

"How can he look so like him and yet be so different?" Sirius muttered, and Remus seemed to stiffen.

"Because he isn't James, Sirius, not as you remember him. Perhaps you are choosing to remember James as he was at school, but he ceased to be that person long before he died. At fifteen, Harry is a much better man that James was at that age. I wouldn't resent that if I were you."

Sirius opened his mouth to argue, but found that he could find no challenge. Instead, he sighed,

"Do you never get tired of being right, Moony?"

"No, not really." Remus replied with a smirk, picking up the Prophet from the table and flicking it open.

"Now then, what tripe is being broadcast to the wizarding world this morning?"

"Let me guess: Dubledore has taken to wearing a Niffler as a hat, and is training Harry to impersonate and replace Fudge as our most illustrious leader, bowler hat and all?" Sirius suggested wryly,

"Almost word for word." smiled Remus.

Sirius was only allowed one day of company before Remus was sent on another mission, but the next Order meeting was the following evening, and Sirius was kept busy making sure the house was presentable, for although he was grateful that there had been no sign of Kreacher over the past few days, it meant that the house was growing dirter by the day. Molly would be appalled, he thought as he swept the crumbs off the kitchen counter with his wand. Sooner than expected, there came a soft knocking at the door.

"Wotcher, Sirius."

"Evening, Tonks. You're early." Sirius commented as he led her through to the kitchen.

"Yeah, thought I'd spend some quality time with my favourite cousin." she said with a grin, and Sirius raised an eyebrow.

"So Remus sent you, then?"

"Glad to see you appreciate it, and for your information, Remus has very little to do with anything. He mentioned that you'd been a little down recently, due to lack of company. I thought it might be nice if I came over a little early to see you." she replied tartly, but maintained her good natured smile.

"Oh. Sorry. Hello." Sirius muttered, but Tonks waved him off.

"You're lucky I don't take offence easily, and that's a rare trait in our family." she told him, pouring them a measure each of Firewhisky.

By the time the rest of the Order members had arrived, Sirius was in a surprisingly good mood, and even managed to smile at Snape as he stalked into the kitchen. The meeting that evening was mercifully short, with Sirius delivering the Darius story on Remus's behalf and Kingsley reporting on what exactly had gone wrong for Sturgis Podmore. Those members who been assigned guard duty in the next few weeks were advised to excercise "constant vigilence!"

Tonks, Emmeline and Kingsley were persuaded to stay for another hour after the rest of the Order had left, discussing where Sirius would like to be for the next few weeks, so Kingsley could misinform the Ministry.

"I always fancied Canada." Sirius mused, "Lots of wide open spaces and wildlife for Padfoot to hunt."

"Nah, the Canadian authorities are horribly vigilant. They'd be offended that we suggested such a thing and would put everything on hold to try to prove me wrong: which they then would." Kingsley pointed out, and his deep voice assured all of them that he must be absolutely right.

"Wasn't there a rumour that You-Know-Who was in Albania for a few years?" Emmeline suggested, "Might it not make sense for Sirius to be there, since he's so devoted to the Dark Lord?"

Sirius pretended to gag, but Tonks was nodding her approval,

"I think that sounds plausible."

"Albania it is, then." Kingsley agreed, "That is, if I can persuade Fudge to stop listening to Lucius Malfoy."

"And the Muggles think they've got a poor leader." Tonks sighed.

A/N - In all honesty, I don't really like this chapter. So if you did, then I'd be grateful to hear it. If you didn't, I completely understand and hope you stay with me!