A/N: Thanks for reading & reviewing everyone!

& I want to say an extra thanks to TT who reviews every chapter but who I can't reply to, just wanted to let you know I really appreciate it!

Remus nodded to the Weasley twins and steered Harry quickly around the bookshop, wanting to get out as quickly as possible, disastrous things could occur when Sirius was left to his own devices after all, while he queued to pay for the books he watched Harry walk back over to Ron. He smiled. The Weasleys were a nice enough family, Remus had taught five of them already and was sure that Ron would be a perfectly acceptable friend for Harry, even if he had managed to inherit his brother's mischievous streak. Harry had no doubt gained James' talent for rule breaking.

Harry smiled at Ron, he felt happy to have gained a friend already, even though he already knew Neville, it was nice to know he had made a friend that hadn't been set in stone for him since before he could walk properly, he felt warm inside, not that he was about to admit it out loud. He felt Uncle Moony's hand on his shoulder and looked up, before returning his attention to his latest friend. "I think I've got to go. I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express?" Ron nodded.

"Can't wait." Harry grinned and allowed Remus to lead him from the shop. They were both surprised to find Sirius hadn't strayed very far at all and was merely leaning against the wall outside. He was surrounded by young girls and Harry looked bemused. Remus cocked an eyebrow at his friend and laughed, in their younger years it was certainly not unusual to find Sirius in the middle of a gaggle of girls, by the time they were fifteen he had his own fan club and many of the girls at Hogwarts had reached a stage where they either fancied James or Sirius. They would follow them around in large groups, Peter always basked in the attention whilst Remus shied away from it, he had no desire for the loud and excitable girls and had always been happier meeting girls of his own way of thinking in the library. He had, in fact, been the first of the marauders to actually get to know Lily, something she had told him she regretted immensely for by befriending Remus she had subsequently come to James' attention resulting in his long lasting obsession with her. She had gone as far as to blame Remus for the pain she had gone through whilst in labour with Harry.

Sirius, however, had never formed an obsession with any girl, true, he had pursued some longer than others, but that was more to do with thrill of the chase and his love for a challenge than anything else and generally he was happiest in a crowd, much like the one he was currently standing in, and had he still been seventeen he would probably be attempting to seduce each and every one of them. As it was, he was making casual conversation but seemed pleased to see Remus and Harry and eagerly met their eyes. The girls turned around and, upon seeing their professor, moved a considerable distance away from Sirius, who put his arm around Harry fatherly, looking pleased to have been granted an escape. The girls smiled sweetly and Remus avoided their eyes.

"Hello Professor Lupin."

"Hello girls."

"Fancy seeing you here, sir."

"Yes, fancy that." Remus mumbled, looking at Sirius for help. Sirius, however, did not look eager to assist, but whispered something to Harry and almost doubled over laughing.

"What're you doing here, professor?"

"Err, shopping. Come on Sirius, Harry, we better hurry up…"

"No rush Moony, my son." Sirius smirked. Remus fixed him with a look that would make stronger men than Sirius Black recoil in fear. Sirius, however, was both far too used to Remus and far too amused and merely continued to grin. Harry giggled, although he seemed uncertain what he was laughing at. The girls let their eyes flick from Sirius to Remus and back again, before settling their gaze on Harry who, feeling uncomfortable, faced away from them.

"Who's he then, sir?"

"Not your boyfriend is he, sir? You're not gay are you?" The girls looked almost desperate for him to say no, Sirius was laughing so hard that he could barely breathe, Remus was clearly confused as to why they were more often than not mistaken for a couple and swore under his breath before smiling kindly at the girls as he shook his head.

"No, no, this is my brother, and my nephew, and we really need to go because we've got an awful lot of things to buy."

"Oh." The girls looked considerably more cheerful and were still shouting goodbye to him, and informing him that they were looking forward to seeing him when school started again, long after they had walked away and were opening the door to Madam Malkin's. Sirius still hadn't stopped laughing but Harry's expression was set. He looked at Remus thoughtfully and then at Sirius, but said nothing. He remained silent all the while his robes were being fitted and didn't look very excited about his new uniform at all, which puzzled Remus as he had expected him to be overjoyed to find himself actually wearing the robes he would spend much of the rest of the year wearing. Instead he continued to stare into space until they left the shop, and remained much closer to Sirius than he did Remus, who frowned.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing Remus." Sirius stopped dead and looked at his godson, Remus too stared down at Harry, the fact that he'd called Remus by his given name was surprising enough, but it was more surprising that he had dropped the Uncle from the front of his name. Remus found it gave him an uncomfortable feeling somewhere within his chest, it felt incredibly painful. Sirius patted his friend's back reassuringly and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"What did you just call him?"

"Remus."

"Why?"

"It's his name." Harry said, meeting Sirius' eyes determinedly, his hands shoved into his jeans pockets, but he was deliberately avoiding making any eye contact with his honorary uncle.

"You've never called him Remus."

"Moony's not a real name."

"What happened to Uncle?"

"He's not my uncle." Sirius' eyes drifted to Remus, who was pointedly looking away, hiding his hurt. Sirius looked angry, which surprised Harry considerably, Sirius had never been angry with Harry, or if he had been he had never shown it, but then again, Harry had never been cold or unfeeling towards Remus, nor had he ever denied that they were a family, they had always been a family.

"Harry… I think you should apologise."

"What for? I'm only telling the truth, he's telling everyone I'm his nephew and I'm not. I'm not his nephew and he's not my uncle and he's not your brother and you're not my dad!" Harry's voice was raised and a few people began to stare at them but, other than to glare at a few of the more curious looking ones, Sirius ignored them. Harry folded his arms across his chest and Sirius ran a hand through his hair. He sighed.

"No one's saying otherwise, Harry."

"He is!" Remus sighed and looked at James and Lily's son, a paternal smile on his face.

"Harry, our family situation is complicated enough to explain… I'm not trying to force you to think of me as your real uncle, I'm just trying to make things a little bit easier." Harry nodded and looked up at Remus guiltily.

"I sound spoilt, don't I?"

"No…"

"Ungrateful?"

"Not at all." Harry fixed Remus with a disbelieving look that seemed far too old for him, one hand on his hip, Sirius smirked, Remus laughed and put a protective arm around the young boy.

"Okay then, maybe a tiny little bit. Come on, you can buy me an ice cream and make up for it."

"What flavour?" Sirius sighed in exasperation and shook his head at his godson.

"How long have you known him? Do you really have to ask?" Remus rolled his eyes.

"I might surprise you."

"What flavour d'you want Uncle Moony?"

"Chocolate." Remus said with a smirk and walked on ahead before Sirius could announce that he had told Harry so.

A/N: Oh dear, that appears to have gone in an entirely unplanned direction, therefore, unless I'm met with incredibly strong objections, I shall have to do a third Diagon Alley chapter.

Hope you enjoyed it anyway & reviewers can join the boys for ice cream!