JKR owns the people and places, I own Karista, Julia, Amaia and the dream...


Chapter 6: Midnight stargazers anonymous

Sirius and Remus gathered their bags down in the entrance hall just as Amaia approached them.

"Where are you two leaving to go?" She asked quietly, stepping down the marble staircase into the summer sun. Remus, caught off guard, dropped his bag on Sirius' foot.

"Visiting Harry…Sirius' godson," He said, trying to cover the surprise of her talking to him. She shifted her gaze slightly to Sirius, then turned to go back up the stairs.

"Ama, can I talk to you when I get back?" Remus asked slowly, obviously working up his courage. To his surprise Amaia turned to him and smiled.

"Yes, you may," she said sheepishly, once again resuming her pace up the stairs.

Lupin smothered a grin with the sleeve of his cloak while Sirius shook his head.

"School boys," he muttered, slugging his bag over his back and walking out of Hogwarts to beyond the gate, where he Apparated instantly to the Burrow.

***
"Okay, now Harry, no snogging your girlfriend, got it?" Fred and George yelled from their broom. By now, they were sniggering uncontrollably at the pair, who were trying hard not to fall off the broom from laughter. Bill and Charlie zoomed by, laughing much like their brothers and Ron and Hermione flew away from Ginny and Percy. The game turned out to become one of tag, as there was an odd number of players. Harry and Karista managed to dodge Bill and Charlie, who happened to be it, with a spectacular spinning move that nearly sent Karista flying.

"Percy and Ginny are it! We might as well give up, as they are the slowest of the lot!" Charlie smirked, giving Bill a hi-five. Percy and Ginny tried desperately to catch up with Harry and Karista, yet their attempts were in vain, as the firebolt whipped through the air at high speed. No one seemed to notice the two figures on separate brooms kick off from the ground and gradually climb into the air, nor did they notice that they were both laughing hysterically.

"Thought you lot might need a bit of help there," Sirius called, pointing merrily at the pairs zooming around below them. Harry looked up and immediately careened out of the way of the twins in time to flock up to Remus and Sirius, both hovering in silent giggles.

"Sirius! Remus! When did you both get here?" Harry called, pulling in front of his two favorite people. "Come to think of it, you both are late!"

Sirius and Remus seemed to laugh harder at this statement as the rest of the Weasley children flew in to great them.

"How are you lot?" Remus called to Bill and Charlie, who grinned evilly at the two grown men in front of them.

"Grand, and yourselves?"

"Well, a bit tired and hungry for that matter. Your mother sent us up here to retrieve you all," Sirius said happily, swerving his broomstick and diving to the ground.

"Food is a good thing," Fred chortled stiffly, also maneuvering George and himself towards the ground. The rest of the Weasley's followed until they reached the back yard in enough time to watch Fred and George try and race Sirius to the back door.

***
"So Harry, what have you been doing this summer?" Sirius asked, lounging further into his chair. It was after dinner, and both Sirius and Remus were glad to say that not even Hogwarts' food was that delicious. "Anything 'interesting'?"

Harry managed a small, mischievous grin as he watched a shooting star blaze across the night sky.

"Nothing entertaining so far. You both?"

Sirius and Remus looked at each other and managed to laugh.

"Oh, you can say that…I mean, finding Bertha Jorkins and becoming celebrities is a major part of our summer," Remus mused, folding his hands behind his head. "But there are a few more 'recent' developments at the school."

Harry looked at their faces and noticed that Sirius was shooting daggers at Remus, who happened to be grinning cheekily at his sidekick.

"What 'recent developments' do you mean?" Harry asked, turning his body to face the two.

"Oh, well I guess you can say that a few old friends have come to Hogwarts," Sirius mumbled grumpily, crossing his arms on his chest. Harry registered this gesture as a sign of defeat and therefore began to press into Remus.

"What old friends?" Harry asked, his tone rather cheery.

"Oh, two aurors that attended Hogwarts in our heyday. They were close to the three Marauders," Remus said smiling. Harry knew that Sirius and Remus had resorted to dropping Wormtail's name from any conversations surrounding the Marauders.

"Really? What are they like?" Harry asked, amusement rising in his voice.

"One is a cotton-picking, egotistical twit and the other one is in love with Remie here," Sirius said triumphantly, raising his chin while Remus hit him on the arm.

"I told you not to call me Remie how many times now, Siri?" Remus muttered angrily before a wide grin spread on his face. "Their names are Julia Glideron and Amaia Romiliono."

Harry nodded, bracing himself for a swat from Sirius as he was trying very hard not to laugh. In the most feminine, singsong voice he had, Harry asked, "Which one is the twit and which one is in love with 'Remie'?"

At this, both Remus and Sirius glared at him while Harry rolled with laughter. Only when he quieted down did Sirius reply.

"Julia is the twit, Amaia is in love with Remie," Sirius said resignedly, letting out a deep sigh. Harry simply smiled and lay back on the lounger. Soon, the back door opened and Karista came outside.

"Awfully quiet out here, isn't it?" Karista laughed, pulling up a chair. Before she could sit down, Harry motioned for her to share he chase with him. She creeped over and laid next to him.

"Yeah, but it is nice out here, you know?" Sirius murmured, adjusting his arm slightly. "I remember looking at the stars outside my cell in Azkaban and it was incredible how many you could see."

Harry, Remus and Karista shifted their gazes towards Sirius, who looked weighed down, almost as if he was in Azkaban again.

"I always like star gazing…which reminds me…the two of you have to see my poster," Karista said smoothly, nestling her head on Harry's chest.

"I'll be looking forward to it then," Sirius chortled, closing his eyes.

(A/N: Julia, don't take offense to Sirius' comment, okies? He is just being is usual arrogant self. Oh yes, and need I also mentiont that I owe later chapters to the mind of Prongs here on ff.nt?)