A/N: Finally, it's my next chapter! I'm really, really, really sorry about the wait and now I feel like the worse person in the world. I had to split this chapter into two so that I could get this up 'quicker' so this is just part one, and part to should be here toward the end of the Christmas holidays- that's a promise! Speaking of Christmas, 'Merry Chrismas' to everyone who celebrates it, and if not have a good holiday anyway! Before I forget, this chapter is dedicated to Eton Road ( from the UK Xfactor series in case you don't know) and I love them so much and I cried when they got out (I don't care what you think Autumnlover)

Disclaimer: Guess what? I don't own Harry Potter. What a miracle, it's not like you've ever heard it before

"I don't believe you actually punched Snape! That's just… it's just…it's…bloody brilliant!" stuttered Harry, grinning up at his two guardians from his cross-legged position on his bed.

"Glad to see you're as articulate as ever, my dearest godson," said Sirius, smiling at the slightly dazed expression on the teenager's face. It was so good to see the boy smiling after all that he's been through- particularly these last few days. "Rather like James you are. Always the smooth talker Prongs."

" Really??"

"No!" came the chorused reply, though Sirius' was quite muffled, considering that Harry had just conjured a pie and thrown it as his godfather. "Ew Harry," said Sirius, spitting something out of his mouth. "You had to put shaving cream in this didn't you? Not any other type of cream that might actually taste good."

"Afraid that would defeat the whole point, Siri"

"Yes thank you for that, James" said Sirius shaking his head. "Anyway moving on from shaving cream. I seems as if we've been ignoring our furry, violent, friend haven't we?" said Sirius earning the head auror a slap on the back of his head.

"What? Snive…Severus was winding me up, and it was really no more than a spur of a moment thing. Case closed!" muttered Remus, but there was no mistaking the small grin tugging at the werewolf's lips.

"Well this is the last time I listen to your 'be a good boy' lecture Remus"

"Harry…" began the sandy haired wizard, but was quickly cut of by two pillows hitting him face on, and Sirius' muffled cry of something along the lines of 'a good boy lecture from a marauder.'

"Does this mean I can…?" began Harry, his voice full of hope.

"NO!!!"

"But Remus, you don't even know what I'm going to say."

"Okay then," replied the sandy haired werewolf coolly, carefully concealing his grin out of view. "Please do correct me if I'm wrong, but you were about to ask me whether this means you can attack Snape too."

"How???" stuttered the younger wizard, completely dumbfounded.

"Because…" Remus could no longer contain his laughter at the look of pure shock on his surrogate nephew's face. "Because I've known you since the day you were born, and your father 11 years prior. I think I know what the Potter's are thinking."

"They're thinking about girls, and how to get them in bed" injected Sirius mischievously.

Rolling his eyes at his best friend, the werewolf added, "Oh and legimency played a small part too." Then in a more serious tone he added, "But seriously Harry, please don't attack Snape. We all know what Happened the last time you lost your temper at someone."

Instantly the atmosphere in the room darkened. Remus mentally kicked himself for not keeping his mouth shut. For a fraction of a second the mask slipped off Harry's face, and the boy looked away sharply, tracing the tiny snitch on his bedcovers and regaining his composure. Truth was Azkaban had scared the living daylights out of the teenager. In that one night he had seen more than he wanted to in his entire lifetime. He'd seen each and every person he loved die at the hands of death-eaters …over…and over again. He saw Lord Voldemort triumph. He saw himself kill. Even now- 24 hours later- the images were still there, crystal clear, freshly burnt into Harry's mind. Those red eyes, the green lights, the screaming, the torture, those two words that seemed to end everything- 'Avada Kedavra'. But what hurt the most was the voice in the back of his head telling him that everything he saw could come truth. He'd got himself tangled up in a dark world and taken others down with him. His parents had already faced the consequences and not come out of the other end. What's to stop that from happening to the rest of his family and his friends…over…and over again. The dementors didn't exactly help things either. They seemed to stick to the prisoners like slime, so that it was impossible to shake of the feeling of impending doom. Each visit from the black hooded creatures brought you closer to the boundary of sanity and suicide. Harry hadn't slept the entire night during his stay at Azkaban, unless you count unconsciousness as sleeping anyway. Instead he found himself thrashing about on the stone floor: willing to escape his own mind, eyes prickling with a mixture of grief and shame. Twice during the night the boy-who-lived was forced to roll over on to his hands and knees and empty his insides of the screaming that filled it.

If he was completely honest with himself (which he wasn't) Harry knew he couldn't have survived much longer in Azkaban. 'I see why they just give everybody life sentences.' However his release was a quiet one. There had been no re-trial. Snape had paid a visit to the Minister early the next morning (Remus must have really hurt him) and a short while later, the stocky, balding man who had come with the food the previous night opened Harry's cell and led him to Fudges office where his guardians were waiting for him. It was typical of the ministry, hushing up Harry's release, whilst his capture was headline news, particularly in the 'Prophet'. But they wouldn't want the 'precious boy-who-lived' to get any good publicity of course; the more the people who think he's still a murdering nutter locked up in Azkaban the better. Not to mention the public won't exactly appreciate the ministry locking up their saviour when he was in fact innocent.

"Harry, you okay?" asked Sirius, his voice full of concern, as he got up off his position on Harry's desk and joined the boy on his bed.

"Yeah, yeah. I just…yeah I'm fine," he said leaning back on Sirius' arm that was now draped around his shoulders. "What happened to Snape?" the teenager asked suddenly, "I mean for not telling the truth in the beginning."

The two older wizards exchanged glances, but it was Remus who finally spoke. "Nothing, I'm sorry Harry. They couldn't really. And technically he never lied. Besides they couldn't afford to bring any more attention to you. I mean, of course they should've, but…"

"It's okay Remus. I don't mind," said Harry wearily, causing the to adults to exchange another worried glance. The boy just didn't sound like himself. Neither of them could imagine what the last night must have been like for him, but whatever it was, it certainly hadn't done him any good.

"So Harry, how are things between you and Ginny?" queried the werewolf, blatantly trying to change the subject.

The younger wizard shuddered briefly as an image of Ginny's red hair flying in the air as they tortured her filled his mind. "Good yeah," he said, his smile slightly forced.

"Well that's good to hear, though it would also be nice to hear an engagement announcement sometime soon." Harry looked up sharply, a blush creeping up into his cheeks. Though Lupin's tone was perfectly innocent, Harry had known the man just as long as he had known him, and there was no mistaking that all too knowing smile and the slightly raised eyebrows. Worriedly the teenager turned to look round at his godfather sitting on his left. However the other man seemed as oblivious as ever.

"You'll be seeing Ginny today," said Sirius, spotting his godson staring at him.

"Hmm," replied Harry vaguely, still preoccupied with finding out how much Remus really knew.

"Yeah she'll be at your party this evening along with the rest of the Weasleys, Hermione and Tonks."

"Umhumm…hold on what party!" A sudden sense of alarm filled the raven-haired wizard, as he realise what Sirius was on about.

"Your welcome home party of course…" began the head auror as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"No, no! Sirius stop! Rewind. I don't want a party. No party."

"Too late," grinned Sirius, jumping up, mocking Harry somewhat. "I've already invited everyone; besides Molly's bringing the food." Winking at his godson, the head auror skipped out of the room, leaving the boy to shake his head.

"Remus…" began Harry, turning to the other older wizard, fully intending to ask him how much he knew.

"Sorry Harry. Got to go help Sirius prepare. See ya!" then he too started walking towards the door. But just before he go there, the werewolf spun round to face his surrogate nephew. "Oh and Harry! I suggest you tell everyone your little secret before I decide to do the honours myself. If you ask me tonight's your best bet.

"Tonight's out best bet."

"No gin! Why do we have to do this," growled Harry, turning his back on the beautiful redhead arguing with him.

Ginny and Harry were currently in the latter's bedroom, whilst the others were downstairs at the party Sirius had arranged.

"I'll tell you why Harry James Potter!" countered Ginny, her fierce redhead temper certainly showing. "Because you chose to propose to me, and now we've got to tell everyone else. Honestly I don't even get what your so scared off."

"Your brothers," replied the boy-who-lived slightly too quickly, "and Sirius," he added as an after thought.

The female laughed, biting her lower lip ever so slightly. "They're my brothers Harry. They won't hurt you…seriously." "Besides," she said, nudging her boyfriend, "You've battled Voldemort, my brothers should be easy targets." Harry made a sceptical noise in his throat. "Come on love, for me."

The wizard rolled his eyes at the puppy dog eyes Sirius had taught her to do, and walked over to his bed, hunching up on it. "I don't get it," he started quietly.

"Get what?" asked Ginny, sitting down next to her boyfriend; smiling at his abstract way of admitting defeat.

"Girls. I mean boys can punch and kick all they like and still not get what they want. But girls…you guys just say a few words and look all innocent, and everything just goes your way."

"You forgot another thing in a girl's power," replied Ginny slowly, smiling seductively. Then she curled her arms round his shoulders and started kissing him passionately.

"Urm. URM." Came a voice a few minutes later, causing Harry and Ginny to tangle themselves from their position practically on top of each other. Standing in the doorway was Ron Weasley. "Mum says you two have to come down for dinner," he said, evidently embarrassed, his trademark ears glowing bright red.

Looking furious Ginny barged passed her brother wordlessly; disbelieving of the fact her brother was still so awkward, even after being engaged to Hermione.

"Thanks mate," said Harry to his bewildered best friend. 'Her goes nothing'.

A/N: That's probably my last chapter of 2006 finished! Like I said this is only part one of the chapter and part two will be here at the end of the holidays. After that I can't make any promises due to Geography coursework practically all of next term. I'll do my best though. LilacBookstar