A/N: Awwwwwww. It's so cute, you'll hardly be able to stand it. And I generally don't do cute.
Once more, folks, I am telling you, go read Starlight's It's A One Time Thing That Just Happens A Lot. The lady just out-does herself with each new chapter. You will not regret the time you put into reading this wonderful story.
I was going to do a great deal more with this chapter, but time simply would not permit. I hope you enjoy it still.
On with the story.
Chapter Six: Three A.M. Visitor
Remus returned straight to his house as soon as he left the ministry building. Now he sat in the cozy livingroom of his small, two story home before a cheerfully blazing fire, reading to the child that was dozing in his arms.
A sudden bolt of lighting and a loud rumble of thunder shook the baby awake again as surely as it shook the house. Harry grabbed tightly onto Remus' robes and hugged his tattered blanket to him as he buried his face against Remus' chest.
"It's all right, Harry." Remus tried to reassure the frightened child. "It's just a storm."
'Just a storm', Remus mused to himself unhappily. The 'storm' had blown up just as he arrived home that night. He had barely made it in the door when the wind started blowing, and minutes later the rain had started.
Remus turned to the window. Things couldn't seem to be going worse. What if Sirius did manage to escape tonight? He'd be stepping out into the full fury of the storm. As sick as he had looked that morning, how would he manage to make it to Remus' house safely?
Maybe he should go out and try and meet him half-way?
No. What if he missed him?
He should have made some sort of better plan to meet Sirius somewhere closer. He could have picked him up and brought him to his house.
No. Sirius would never have agreed to that. He was too loyal to put his friends in that kind of danger.
Another bolt of lighting and another rumble of thunder snapped Remus back to the present. Harry whimpered unhappily in his lap.
"Paf?" The baby whispered hopefully.
"Soon, Harry." Remus whispered back as he leaned down and kissed Harry lightly on his head before he caressed a hand over the baby's head. "Soon."
The sudden chime of the doorbell nearly jolted Remus out of his chair. The sudden movement made Harry let lose with frightened wail.
Remus stared expectant towards the front door.
'That can't be him.' He thought, trying to calm himself down. 'It's much too soon. Get a grip, Lupin.'
Getting to his feet with the crying baby in his arms, Remus made his way to the front door. Slowly opening it, Remus found himself facing a slightly wet Dumbledore. He quickly stepped aside and ushered the older man in.
"Albus! Good heavens! What brings you here on a night like this?"
Dumbledore studied a crying Harry for a moment as he shook out his umbrella. "Seems I'm not the only one upset by storms." He remarked as Harry continued to cry. He gently stroked the baby's cheek. "Never could stand a loud storm. Always scared me something awful."
Remus stood patiently waiting for an answer to his question as he tried to quiet Harry.
"I don't suppose you've heard the news yet." Dumbledore stated finally. "That's why I came straight away. Though it'll probably be front page of tomorrow's Daily Prophet."
"News?" Remus asked, genuinely curious.
"Sirius Black escaped from his cell at the ministry." Dumbledore stated as though he were discussing yesterday's weather report. "No one seems to have the slightest idea how he managed it."
"Sirius?" Was all Remus managed to get out past trying to stifle his own surprise and relief.
"Yes. I suppose it's a good thing we left the protection spells around your house for the time being. Makes getting here a bit harder, not being able to come by floo powder or apparating. No telling what Black might try. Being as deranged as he is and all that."
Remus wasn't sure if he saw a trace of a smile on Dumbledore's face or not for a second. But the Headmaster was just as quickly all business again.
"I came to let you know, of course, and suggest perhaps you might want to bring Harry to the castle until things settle down a bit."
Remus stood for a moment without answering. Sirius had actually managed to escape.
"Remus?" Dumbledore asked, looking at him curiously.
Remus snapped out of his thoughts. "What? Oh, I'm sorry, Albus." He apologized quickly. "Ahhh..., no, I think Harry and I will stay here. As you said, the protection spells are still in place. No one can get into the house if they intend to harm Harry. We should be perfectly safe here."
"I see." Dumbledore smiled at him. "You know, they say you were likely the last person to see Sirius before he escaped. I don't suppose he said anything to you? Something that might have indicated what he was planning?"
Remus adopted the blankest expression he could master before answering. "Sirius said very little, Albus. He was very sick when I left him tonight. In fact, if I were to worry about him at all, I suppose I would be. Out in this weather. As sick as he was. If he had some plan of where to go, I would worry if he could even reach it safely at all."
"Indeed." Dumbledore paused for a moment as he studied the man in front of him. "Well, I won't keep you. I would guess it's near little Harry's bedtime." The Headmaster said. He turned back to the door, but stopped suddenly as he turned back to Remus. "Just so you're aware," He added, "I would guess the ministry will be watching your house just in case Sirius tries to come here...for whatever reason. I wouldn't want you to be alarmed if you saw someone standing outside or so."
Remus stood for a moment. They were going to be watching the house! What if Sirius did show up? He was sure to get caught again. And it was unlikely he could manage another escape. Remus pushed the thought to the back of his mind. He would think of something before Sirius showed up. He had to. "No, of course not, Albus. Thank you for letting me know." He replied in as normal a voice as he could.
"Do keep me informed if there are any problems, won't you, Remus?" Dumbledore said as he stepped back outside the door.
Remus nodded quickly. "Yes, sir. Of course."
Remus watched Dumbledore unfold his umbrella and step out into the rain. He walked to the end of the stone path, then quickly disapparated.
Remus slowly closed the door, locking out the storm.
Someone was watching the house.
That was all Remus could think of since Dumbledore had left.
How was Sirius going to get past the ministry Aurors? He likely wasn't even going to be looking for them. All he would likely be focused on was getting to the house.
Remus tried to distract his worried thoughts as he put Harry to bed. The baby thankfully was exhausted and went right to sleep without much fuss.
Checking once more to make sure everything was all right, Remus headed back downstairs to wait. He had already resigned himself to sit up all night if he had to, waiting to see if Sirius would try to contact him somehow.
Outside the storm raged on.
Close to three in the morning Remus found himself jolted upright in his chair. At first he wasn't sure what had caught his attention. Possibly the lashing of the rain or a crack of thunder he heard fading in the distance. But as he listened another sound caught his keen hearing.
A whine.
A scratching.
Remus was on his feet in an instant. He listened again.
The sound came from the back door.
Remus flew through the house and yanked open the back door of the house to the darkness outside.
There, laying on the back steps, was an enormous black dog.
Remus breathed a genuine sigh of relief for the second time that night.
Sirius had come in his animagus form. Something the ministry wouldn't be looking for.
Reaching back into the house behind him, Remus flicked the switch that turned on the light over the back steppes. A sudden bright light cut through the steady downpour. If anything, Remus wanted whoever might be watching to see the dog. Hoping they would mistake it as nothing more than a family pet, who had gotten caught int he storm and was late getting home.
"Well, finally!" Remus called out to the darkness, adding to the scene. "I thought you had gotten lost in the storm, Blacky." He added, looking relieved at the return of his 'pet'. "Well, come on. Let's get you inside and dried off."
Remus found he practically had to haul the dog up the steps as Sirius offered little in the way of help himself. He was, in fact, from what Remus could tell, shaking violently under his coat of hair and barely conscious. The dog barely managed to remain standing on its four feet as Remus lifted it up to a standing position.
Remus half-dragged the enormous animal into the livingroom and settled it on the rug before the fire. He then set about closing the curtains of the room, which he had left open in case Sirius tried to come to one of them and tried to get his attention by tapping on the glass.
As soon as the windows were all closed, Remus quickly cast a spell to break Sirius' animagus form. Within seconds the black dog dissolved into the shape of a man, drenched and shaking on the rug before the fire, but apparently taking little to no further notice of his surroundings.
Remus quickly pulled a cover off the back of the couch and threw it over Sirius. Next he ran to the bathroom and returned with a large, fluffy towel which he used to start drying him off. Within a few minutes Sirius was drier and warmer, but he was still shaking violently as he lay in front of the fire.
Sitting next to him on the rug, Remus continued to use the towel to wipe the dampness off of Sirius' face and arms. Sirius had broken into a heavy sweat as soon as Remus had gotten him dried off. Now he knelled in front of the fire with Sirius resting in his lap, brushing the dampened hair away from Sirius' face as he felt each shiver run through his friend's body. Through it all Sirius seemed absolutely unaware of Remus' presence or of anything around him for that matter. All he did was shake and cough and fight for each breath he took.
Remus had never felt so helpless in his life. He had already lost one friend. He didn't want to lose another. Not Sirius.
Remus pulled Sirius' fevered body up against his as he fought back his tears. He softly called Sirius' name over and over as he sat rocking back and forth with his friend in his arms, desperately trying to get some response from him. But the only response he got was Sirius' hands tightening their grip on him as long, thin fingers wrapped themselves about his lower arm. A response Remus felt was due more to pain than recognition, since the grip tightened every time the coughing started.
Remus had no idea how long he sat there before the fire with Sirius wrapped tightly in his arms. At first all he could concentrate on was Sirius' breathing. Praying fervently for each breath that followed each one before it. And slowly but surely, Sirius' breathing did seem to ease up and seemed to become easier for him.
Remus slowly sighed in relief as an errant tear made its way down his cheek. That, at least, was one positive sign.
Not sure what else to do for the moment, Remus eventually moved Sirius to the couch and, levitating it closer to the fire, settled him into a make-shift bed. The cushions of the sofa were large and soft and seemed to rise up around the body laying on them to gently cradle it in a warm, soft half-shell cocoon. Taking a lesson from what he had seen of Sirius' illness in his cell at the jail, Remus set a large bowl by the side of the couch. Finally looking things over and sure he had done all he could for the moment for Sirius, Remus checked on Harry once more before settling himself back on the floor beside the sofa to wait out the night.
The rest of the night was anything but peaceful. Between trying to keep Harry calm during the storm and watching over Sirius, Remus wasn't sure he was going to make it to morning. Several times every hour Sirius would cough up a mouthful of blood and phlegm and spit it into the bowl as Remus held it up for him as he sat rubbing and patting his back to try and help clear the congestion from his lungs. But the sound always seemed to somehow reach Harry's bedroom and the baby would start crying almost as soon as Sirius started coughing. After several tries to divide his time adequately, Remus ventured to simply bring Harry downstairs for the rest of the night. Hopefully the child would doze off in one of the large, soft chairs by the fire. At least until the next time Sirius was caught in another coughing spell.
But as soon as Remus walked by the couch where Sirius was laying, Harry seemed to immediately recognize the form under the blanket. He suddenly squirmed about in Remus' hold and reached two tiny arms out to his godfather.
"Paf!" The baby cried. He shoved as hard as he could against Remus' hold on him, then reached out again to his godfather. "Paf!" He cried again as tears came to his eyes.
Remus stopped and turned the baby to him. "All right, all right, yes. Paf. But Paf is very, very sick. Much too sick for little babies to be near him."
All of this made a great impression on Harry, who shoved against Remus again and turned back to his godfather, reaching two tiny arms out for him again. "Paf!"
The commotion seemed to attract Sirius' limited attention as he turned slowly to the sound.
"Harry?" He asked in a weak, hoarse voice.
Remus sighed to himself, but with a small smile nonetheless, and knelled down in front of Sirius.
"Well, that's the most coherency you've shown all night, Sirius." He commented as the baby continued to squirm in his arms and reach out for his godfather. "How do you feel?"
Sirius' eyes scanned the area around him, then focused back on his godson, who he reached a finger out to from under the cover.
"Where am I?" He asked in a whispered voice, barely getting each word out.
"You're at my house." Remus answered as Harry happily grabbed hold of the offered finger and dragged it straight for his mouth. But before it made it to it's destination, Remus lightly slapped it away, causing Harry to lose his grip on it. "No, no!" Remus instructed in a would-be sharp tone. "I know where that's been. And on account of that, it's not going in your mouth."
"Mean old Moony." Sirius rasped as he smiled at his godson and reached out to stroke his cheek.
"You're sick." Remus replied, pushing Sirius' hand away from Harry. "Now, again, how do you feel?"
Sirius pulled the cover back up around him, as though he were suddenly keenly aware of how cold he felt.
"Cold." He replied as Remus laid a hand on his forehead while trying to keep Sirius out of Harry's reach as the baby tried to grab hold of Sirius' hair this time.
"Well, that's the last answer I expected." Remus replied. "You're burning up with fever."
"That too." Sirius grunted weakly.
"Well, at least you're a little more coherent. You were barely even conscious when you got here."
"How long?"
Remus looked at the clock. "You showed up about three hours ago. Sun'll be up soon, I suspect. And Dumbledore stopped by earlier."
Sirius looked up at him expectantly.
"He came to tell me you'd escaped, and to warn me that the ministry was watching the house."
Sirius suddenly tried to pull himself up. "The ministry? They're here?"
Remus quickly fought to keep Sirius on the couch. Thankfully, it wasn't much of a fight. "No. Sirius, no. They're probably watching the house, but they're outside. And I won't let them in. No matter what. You're safe. Please," Remus eased him back down, "just lay back down. You're perfectly safe here."
Sirius slowly let himself be guided back under the covers. "They...they didn't see me arrive?" He asked worriedly.
"If they saw anything at all through the downpour, all they saw was me bringing in my pet dog. But I doubt you even remember that. You were so sick, I had to use a spell to break your animagus form."
Sirius slowly shook his head, pulling the covers back around him. "Just remember...running. That's all. James....James' cloak...and the wand...I left them hidden outside."
"You can tell me where they are later and I'll go get them. It's not important right now, Sirius. All you have to work on right now is getting better."
Sirius had gone back to playing with Harry, wiggling his finger in front of the laughing baby.
"Will you stop trying to get him sick too." Remus stated, slapping at Harry's new toy.
"He's got a ton of spells on him to protect him." Sirius rasp out past a slight cough. "Never got sick before this."
"You think you can make it upstairs?" Remus asked. "I think you'd be better settled into a bed."
Through a long and arduous process, assisted largely in part by Remus, Sirius managed to make it to a sitting position. He slowly tried to get to his feet, but halfway up he suddenly wavered and collapsed back on the couch.
"Nope." He replied bluntly.
"All right. Just stay there." Remus advised. "Let me put Harry down and I'll be back to help."
A few minutes later Remus returned to the livingroom to find Sirius still sitting on the couch. But his head was now resting against the back of it and he looked like he had fallen asleep again.
"Sirius?" Remus asked, poking him slightly. "Come on. You can sleep in a few minutes. Let's get you upstairs first."
Sirius got groggily to his feet with Remus' help and nearly collapsed against him as soon as he was up-right. Several long, exhausting minutes later, Remus managed to make it up the stairs with Sirius and get him into a bed he had prepared for him.
Settling in to the crisp, white sheets, Sirius sighed contentedly as his body relaxed against the mattress.
Remus watched his long-time friend settle into the bed. It was probably against anyone's better judgment to move Sirius, but Remus simply didn't want to risk anyone outside accidentally catching sight of Sirius on the sofa downstairs. All in all, Remus felt he was safer in an upstairs bedroom.
"All right." Remus said, straightening the sheets and pulling the comforter over him. "Just try to get some sleep."
Sirius coughed again as Remus crouched next to the bed. He lay a hand on Sirius' forehead. "How are you feeling?" He asked as he brushed a few of the long black strands away from Sirius' face.
Sirius sighed quietly and nodded his head a bit. "Safer and warmer than I've been in months." Came the soft reply.
Remus smiled slightly. "Sleep is the best thing for you, Sirius." Remus replied as he got to his feet. "That and we need to get a few decent meals into you." He added as he started to get to get up again.
But Sirius' hand reached out and grabbed Remus' wrist.
"Moony," he rasp out, staring up at his friend, "thank you."
Remus crouched back down by the bed. "For what, Padfoot?"
"For believing. For saying....that you don't believe I had anything to do with James and Lily's deaths. Thank you....for believing that."
Remus paused for a moment. Sirius seemed a bit more lucid. "What about the muggles, Sirius?" He asked. "What happened at the Dursley's?"
Sirius shook his head slightly. "I don't know, Remus. I swear. I took Harry and I left. That was all."
Sirius started to cough again and Remus quickly held the bowl up for him as he spit a mouthful of blood-tainted phlegm into it. Remus frowned slightly as Sirius lay back in the bed, wheezing for breath again.
"You need to let your body get some rest, Sirius." Remus advised. "Try and get some sleep."
A sudden wail down the hall screamed for his attention. Remus disappeared out the door and reappeared a few minutes later carrying Harry in his arms.
"You need to try and get some sleep too." Remus advised the crying baby.
But a sudden flash of lighting outside the window, followed by a roll of thunder elicited another loud wail from the child.
"Harry's afraid of storms." A soft voice offered from the bed.
Remus looked down at Sirius. "No kidding."
Sirius reached up for the baby. "Give him here."
Remus pulled back. "Forget it, Sirius. You're too sick."
"He doesn't stop until the storm does." Sirius stated past a cough. "He'll cry himself hoarse by then."
Remus thought for a moment, then slowly laid Harry down on the bed next to Sirius.
Remus watched as a look of pure joy took over his friend's features. Sirius immediately began cooing and coddling the baby as a happy, giggling Harry grabbed at the finger wagging in front of him.
Another bolt of lightening lit the room and a clap of thunder shook the windows. Harry immediately burrowed into the sheets and pulled tightly against Sirius' chest. But this time he didn't cry.
Remus sighed to himself as he headed for the chair in the corner of the room. As he settled into it he glanced back over at the bed. For all appearances, Sirius was already asleep again. But Harry was staring wide-eyed out from where he laid wrapped safely in Sirius' hold. Remus watched as another flash of lightening and clap of thunder caused the baby to squirm closer to his godfather. But still he didn't cry. Instead he rolled over and, grabbing two tiny fistfuls of Sirius' long, black hair, pulled tighter against his godfather. All of his efforts were rewarded as Sirius stirred slightly and wrapped both his arms about the baby and hugged him tightly to his chest. Satisfied that he could no longer see the lightening at least, and was now wrapped safe and warm in the cocoon of Sirius' arms, Harry seemed to slowly drift off to sleep, follow in suit by Remus.
Q&A
O.K. You had your fun. Now its my turn.
First and foremost, I am going to Padfoot's Bone. COME ON! Get up here!
*P.A.R. drapes an arm over Padfoot's Bone as they walk up on the stage and turns them to the audience.*
O.K.. I want everyone to know just how happy this person has made me. P.A.R. has been smiling for DAYS now. Why? This wonderful person here has decided to go and make P.A.R.'s day by reviewing Family Life.....CHAPTER BY CHAPTER! So, Padfoot's Bone *Shakes hand.* P.A.R. is pleased and honored and just tickled silly to aware you this weeks gold star! (*). THERE YOU GO!!!!!!!!!!
O.K.. Back to the regular reviews.
*Grabs Padfoot's Bone by the shirt as they try to walk off stage.* Get back here. I'm not done with you yet. You had some comments I need to answer.
First off, I'm glad you like anguishy stories. If you didn't, BOY, are you reading the wrong thing! This story is loaded with anguish. I'm even keeping Wolf happy. And I didn't think anyone could put enough anguish in a story to keep Wolf happy!
Also, again I can't say thank you enough for reviewing Family Life. One chapter at a time no less. Thank you for liking the scene with Arabella and the dictionary. Sometimes you do have to be a bit direct with Sirius. And you know? I never thought of it (and certainly didn't plan it), but your right, the last line of chapter five was awfully familiar.
I'm glad you liked chapter nine. It was one of my favorites. Chapter ten was actually one of the original chapters and close to (in my opinion) one of the best. (By original chapters I mean, this story wasn't written in order. It was written as ideas came to me and then I arranged them into a story and filled in the blanks with the other chapters. Chapter ten was one of the first written chapters. Chapter eleven was, by the way, THE original chapter.)
Sirius as Padfoot is one of my favorite ways to write about him. I don't know why. I guess it's because dogs have so much expressive ability and its fun to try and use that to make him able to communicate his wants as a dog.
Sirius, Remus, and Arabella were all Auror's (in the world according to P.A.R., mind you). And of them, Sirius was, without a doubt, the most powerful. Which is a factor in the sequel.
If you hadn't won the gold star this week for doing such a nice thing for P.A.R., you'd have won for commenting on Moody's description of Padfoot. I can't think how many times I re-wrote that.
Actually I'd like to point out that the fact that Harry is almost ALWAYS walking in on them is sort of a running joke throughout the story.
Don't worry about the amount of time this takes. I come home every day and immediately jump on the site to see what you've added. It's been so long since anyone reviewed this story, I was wondering if it was being read anymore.
If you have questions, feel free to ask. And just as a warning, near the end, in the Deatheater's lair, Analisa is stated as talking to someone as Voldemort launches his last assault on Sirius. That is being changed and it is important. She isn't talking to Lupin there. She's talking to Snape.
Oh, and say something nice about Analisa. P.A.R. likes Analisa.
Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!
Nagini: Oh dear. Disappointment to report. The sequel to Family Life is looking to be a summer reader. Enemy has to go up first. And that's a story I'm currently a little worried about posting. It'll be my first 'R' rated story, (For content, not sexual encounters. Get your minds out of the gutter, people. Shame on you!) and it really is a 'love' or 'hate' story. You either love it, or you shake your head and wonder where mild little P.A.R. ever came up with this one.
Sorry about the suspense thing, dear.
vmr: Thank you, as always.
Me: A 77% for misspelling 56 words!? Exactly how many words were in this test!!!? I mean, you work the percentages there and you're looking at what.......around two to three hundred words?
Oh, and don't asked P.A.R. about spelling, dear. It's just not advised. Go read the bio. page again.
Well, I don't know how 'easy' it was to get out for our favorite convict, but 'escape' does seem to be Sirius' middle name.
Glad I made your day.
Lin-z: O.K., you can take this as a threat, a warning, or, I'll never understand why, something to look forward to, but Harry Potter and the Gryffindor's Secret is next on my list to be critiqued. So get ready. And remember, one, YOU asked for it, and two, I critique very honestly. (You did asked for it, right?)
I never thought that 'sneak' ever did Remus justice. 'Well thought out' seems better.
O.K., you can get out of bed. But come on! At least an hour a day, O.K.? Body needs some rest. Honestly!
Actually, I hate to say it, but most creative people do seem to be night-owls.
19!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Rolls on the floor.* P.A.R. can't even REMEMBER 19. Good Lord! That was twen..............it was a while ago.
*Pats self on back.* Yah, P.A.R.!
Alexa Black: Quick and easy? When did I ever make anything 'quick and easy'? O.K., there were those brownies last week, but that was it!
Wait a minute! It'll either be 'easy' or 'hard'? Isn't that like saying the answer is either 'right' or 'wrong'?
Remember, AU. I get to change the past all I want. Yay!
Black Sparkles: You guys are making me feel guilt with the amount of trouble I'm causing with the suspense thing. I'm glad a lot of it was cleared up with this chapter. But it is anguishy. You were warned. Gotta be suspense to be anguishy.
Peacockgirl: Ohhhhhh, look! Someone got a 'Word Of The Day' calendar for Christmas.
I have NEVER been one to accuse any 'read but not reviewed' person. Like I have room to do that with how many stories I've read and not rev...........Oh! Look! Isn't Mars bright tonight!
Honestly, I appreciate every review I get.
I'm happy to hear that you aspire in your life to work dusk to dawn for little money and almost no recognition. (Such is the life of an author, Dear.)
I don't generally read outside of this genre. However, if I don't get around to reading your story it certainly isn't that I don't want to, it's simply due to a lack of time.
My best advice to you is this, if you want to be an author, you'll know in one simple way if you'll make it or not. If you sit down to write and it brings you joy no matter if anyone ever sees that story or not. Praise from the outside is a wonderful thing, but you have to write for yourself. I wish you all the luck in the world.
Karla: WHAT!? You believed that?! I mean.............., I simply felt that needed to be clarified a bit.
Yeah. You're my favorite new trouble-maker. I had one before (won't say who), who I think use to strive every week to see if she could paint me into a corner or not. Man! I love that! Keeps me on my toes.
But it's anguish! I'm allowed to make things rough on the characters, aren't I? *Pages through her copy of the Fanfiction handbook, then holds it up proudly, pointing to page.* See? It's right here on page 615.
You read ALL of these things? Good Lord, either I have to start making my stories longer or definitely more interesting. People are starting to enjoy the Q&A more? Honestly, though, I'm glad you like the Q&A section.
Brazil!!!!!? I'm being read in Brazil!? WOW! (Oh, and sorry, but I don't think my book was sold in Brazil or any of my articles.)
I don't know about being 'a real writer'. I haven't published anything in a few years because I decided to go out and earn a living instead.
I wish I could tell you more about myself than I have, but it's serious law stuff if I do. Sorry. But my stuff out of fanfiction reads pretty much the same as it does here. An author really doesn't change her 'voice' based on what she's writing.
Thank you for a wonderful review, and if you can help me any on the 'child developmental' stuff, since you have kids (when they talk, when they walk, when they say their first dirty word), I'd be most appreciative.
And don't give up on the writing stuff. If you're meant to be a writer, you'll find writing very natural and unstoppable.
MKH: (Great! Another trouble-maker. Just what I need.)
O.K., why doesn't Sirius tell anyone anything. *Stares at the ceiling for a looooooooooooooooooong time.* No idea! Next question!
Seriously (no pun intended), first off, you have to look at the story a bit harder than I wrote it. There's a lot in-between the lines that didn't get spelled out. Sirius knows that Peter was the Potter's secretkeeper, but he isn't sure that Peter 'betrayed' them. For all he knows, Peter was captured and tortured by Voldemort for the information. Peter was, after all, their friend. Sirius isn't automatically going to think Peter betrayed them. Next, Sirius has no real idea he's being accused of anything more than kidnapping an infant (oh, and grand-theft-auto). I think in the last chapter was the first time it's been even remotely mentioned to him that he's under suspicion for James and Lily's murders, much less what happened at the Dursley's. Past that, does Sirius suspect Peter? Yes. Does Peter suspect as much? Yes. Is Peter laying low? Lower than stuff under rocks (Not much difference really.).
I hope that clears things up a little bit.
hi: Sirius has pneumonia. And a very nasty case of it to boot. Hence the coughing up of blood.
Kiara O. Lawrence: The Beginning Of The End. Isn't that yours? *P.A.R. looks at her reading list.* Yup. Right after Lin-z's story. You're up next, dear. Threat, warning, or something to look forward to. Your choice.
Awwww, Wolf would never do that. *Pats Kiara on the shoulder.* Things'll get better, Dear. And just when they do, P.A.R. will review The Beginning Of The End and likely crush most of your dreams and aspirations. (Feeling better now?) You go ahead and ramble all you want in my reviews. Just think of me as the Dear Abby of the site.
Dumbledore's True Love: I am so glad you are enjoying your gold star, Dear.
Ohhhhhh, if Padfoot's Bone hadn't got the gold start this week.........! I wish you'd gone a little further with that, though. Yes! Dumbledore had James' invisibility cloak and his wand. Now, for all of those of you who have been hounding me about Dumbledore working with the ministry........WHERE do you suppose Remus got the cloak and the wand? (Now go away and leave me alone!)
Sirius can't transform into Padfoot. He's too sick. He got out by opening the lock with James' wand. Something that didn't require nearly as much magic or concentration as a full transfiguration on yourself.
suNnY GuRL: Really, really, really thank you!!!
Sirius is one of my favorite character's too. I'll try to be nice to him.
Lotesse: Yup! MoM better beware.
I thought everyone liked mint!
Nope. No dementors at this point. But stories are always up for revision the week before they post. So 'never say never'.
No, no, no, Dear. Remus wasn't brainwashed. He just wasn't being given the chance to think things out. And every time he started to, the ministry started talking again and sorting things to look logical based on how they wanted poor Remus to see them. Remus only started to sort things out for himself when the ministry had what they wanted from him and left him alone.
I didn't know what else to call your mum.
Yeah, I've thought about changing the Sunday evenings thing to a Wednesday or so. It's purely selfish, you see. Posting Sunday night gives ME something to look forward to Monday mornings (reviews!).
Whisp!
How's it going, Whisp?
Knowing nothing about basketball, 'Suicides' do not sound like a good thing, Dear.
I'll review! I swear on a stack of Bibles! And I'm catholic!
Ummmmmm, wait until he NEARLY dies? That's a little too soon for the ministry. As far as they're concerned, why bother trying to cure him when the problem looks like it's going to take care of itself?
Sorry, looks like poor Sirius isn't going to get a trail again.
Actually, he is guilty. Grand-theft-auto.
Starlight: Every Sunday, as regularly as I can.
Kit: Well, I tend to do it as a legal document at the first chapter and forget it for the other chapters. My first chapter disclaimer is worded to cover all chapters of the story. Check it out at the first chapter. Past that, I just add it as the first thing I write when starting a story. Then my author's notes, then the first chapter heading. Or something that resembles that order. Does that help?
Oh, and congratulations at getting on.
Hayleyhedwig 11: I gotta ask. Is there some significance in the name? It's one of the more interesting ones I've come across and was just wondering.
Unfortunately, due to the restrains on my time, Family Relations, the sequel to Family Life, is beginning to look like a summer reader. Family Ties, the third part of the story arc, is likely coming out in the winter.
Zimmy Russell: Awwwwwww, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Actually, that quote's darned good.
Actually, Dear, I've been looking at the sky for the past two days (Friday and Saturday), and I've seen a lot of dark. *P.A.R. smiles. Likes rainy days.*
The ministry knows Sirius is sick, but its sort of a 'why work at fixing a problem that's going to solve itself real soon'.
Jolt cola? Jolt Cola? P.A.R. has not seen any Jolt Cola!
Your Dad BLOCKED this site? WHY? This is such a great site.
That's all for now.
Reviews are as of 02232002. As always, if I missed you, let me know. It's great for blackmail.
See you next week.