"YOU'RE NOT MY PARENTS! YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" He screamed.

Ouch. That hurt. Remus knew that eight-year-olds, being angsty little humans, were prone to saying things they didn't mean. So he knew that Harry didn't mean it, but it was still a kick in the gut.

He raised an eyebrow and stared at him, avoiding Sirius's gaze.

"Actually, Harry, we can. We're your guardians; do you know what that means?" Remus asked gently. He knew that screaming would get them nowhere.

Harry shook his head.

"No," he muttered sullenly.

"Everyone who is too young to look after themselves gets-"

Harry met his eyes fiercely, "I'm not too young!"

Sirius stepped up beside the werewolf, grasping his hand subtly. Remus almost sighed in relief. This was a hard conversation to have - but the comforting weight of Sirius' hand in his own reminded him that he didn't have to do it alone.

Sirius crouched so he was on Harry's level.

"That you're even saying that, Pup, suggests you are too young," Sirius said calmly, but Remus could hear the strain behind the words.

Harry clenched his fists, "Am not too young! I can take care of myself!"

"No, you can't, Harry. Where would you get food from? Where would you live?" Remus asked, somewhat wearily.

Harry stared mutely at the floor.

"That's what I thought. Now, you have a choice to make," Sirius responded, not unkindly.

"You're not going to the Weasley's until the 13th, as we've already discussed with Ron's Mum and Dad - so you can either go on the 13th or not at all. Which is it going to be?" Remus added, picking up on his cue easily.

Harry fidgeted, scuffing the toe of his shoe on the floor.

"13th…"

Remus swallowed his hurt at the eight-year-olds previous careless words and squatted down beside Sirius.

This was by far the easiest way to get them past this so he could go and have a (sorely-needed) nap. It was far too close to the full moon to be exerting the energy fighting required.

"Hug?" he asked, holding out his arms.

Harry looked up before diving into Remus's arms.

"What do we say, Harry?" Sirius prompted, brushing tears from Harry's cheeks.

"Sorry for being mean, Moony and Padfoot."

Remus squeezed gently, "Thank you for apologising, Harry. I accept."

"Me too," Sirius said, embracing them both from behind.

He released them, allowing the adults to stand up.

"Harry, why don't you go wash your face? Then we'll make some brownies?" Sirius asked.

His visions of having a nice 20-minute power nap vanished.

The eight-year-old nodded vigorously before running out of the room.

"Slow down!" Sirius shouted after him.

Remus sniggered despite how drained he felt.

"What?" Sirius asked curiously.

"You," Remus laughed, "You've finally become an adult."

Sirius's eyes widened comically, "An adult? So I've matured?"

Remus snorted, "I wouldn't go that far…"

Sirius shook his head, "Why do you insist on being mean to me, Moony?"

Remus just shook his head, not feeling quite up to their usual form of banter.

As usual, Sirius picked up on what was actually bothering him.

"He didn't mean it, Moons."

"I know," he sighed, sagging slightly on the spot. "I'm actually surprised he hasn't said it before."

Sirius nodded before wrapping him in a hug.

"Nap? I'll supervise brownie creation?"

Remus affixed him with an incredulous look.

"And wake up to find all the brownies gone and the house on fire? I'm not quite that suicidal, Pads…"

A/N - Peach97 - you asked xD I provided. I hope it lived up to your expectations :/ :) Ideas are always welcome - even if it takes me *cringes* almost a year to actually write them.

Thank you so much to everyone who reviews - I don't know if I've said this before (if I haven't I sincerely apologise) but it makes my week to get one of those lovely review emails. I will do my best to catch up on answering those I haven't yet.

Thank you to both Li and Becky for taking this from illegible to (I would like to think) fairly pleasant to read... However, I may be greatly overestimating it xD Please feel free to let me know in the reviews and/or by thumping the Favourites/Follows button (brushing it with a thumb/anything in between are also welcome).

SNR