Sirius was pacing in front of the entrance to Dumbledore's office, muttering to himself. The others followed him with their eyes silently. After about ten minutes Jessi was getting dizzy.

"Sirius, dear," she called out in a sing song voice, "if you don't stop pacing RIGHT NOW," her voice was rising above normal pitch, "I'll be forced to drag you outside and beat you with a stick. Then I will drag you up all 25,000,000,000 stairs BY YOUR HAIR, and tie you to that chair. Now, my love, are you going to sit, or will you force me to become violent?"

Sirius laughed a little as he sat down in the chair opposite hers. "I know, I'm sorry. It's just that they've been in there so LONG! What on earth could they talk about in front of the TWINS," he spat, " that they can't say in front of us!? We've known them since we were first years, and..." he let his sentence trail off.

Ron looked over at Harry, and it was clear they were both wondering the same thing. What could be going on in the room off of Dumbledore's office?

"Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"What's up with Sirius? I don't think I've ever seen him this..."

"Stressed?" suggested Harry.

"Exactly."

"Well, I'm almost positive it has to do with Jessi, but I could be wrong."

"Can you believe Sirius and Jessi are married?" asked Ron, disbelief mixed with astonishment in his tone.

"Well, it's hard to imagine Sirius married, period. But... Jessi and Sirius are a lot alike. I can tell. They have the same tempers, the same joke sense... and the same loyalty. They must have loved each other a lot if they would get married and keep it a secret... and they really must have been good friends to keep it a secret to protect each other."

Jessi leaned over to them. "Just what is this fascinating conversation you two are carrying on?" Her smirk betrayed that she knew EXACTLY what they were talking about.

"You guys really love each other.. I can tell," said Harry with a decisive nod.

Jessi looked at the son of her childhood friends thoughtfully. He had been with them for an hour and had already picked all that up accurately. Yes, he was very much like Lily... and James.... her train of though was broken when Snape came in.

"Potter, Weasley, what are you doing in here?" Snape seemed decidedly flustered. His eyes darted around the room, and he sneered when he saw Sirius.

"Get out. Thirty points from Gryffindor."

Sirius raised an eyebrow and asked, "For what, exactly?"

Snape replied, "For being out of the common room after school hours."

"Surely Professor Dumbledore will not be pleased with that at all, seeing he called them here?" answered Jessi, standing up and giving him an icy glare.

"Who are you to tell me..." he trailed off as he saw exactly who he was talking to.

"Jessi?" stuttered Snape. "But... you're... everyone said you... that Volde..."

"Voldemort? Please." She rolled her eyes. Harry and Ron exchanged looks; she sounded like Sirius had that day in the Shrieking Shack. Her husband definitely rubbed off on her.

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Obviously I was misinformed."

"As was everyone else," said Jessi coolly.

"Including your husband, Mrs. Black?"

She started to lunge at him, but Sirius' strong arm stopped her.

"Don't." Sirius threw a crooked smile at Harry and continued, "He's not worth it." The two of them laughed for a moment... but them Snape caused the death of their laughter very quickly.

"There are many things I know about you, Jessica Black... some of which you don't even know," hissed Snape. He turned and left, saying over his shoulder,

"Tell Dumbledore I need to see him as soon as possible."

He knew when he had been insulted.

When they finally stopped laughing, they realized Harry had been somber for some time. Being his best friend, Ron immediately knew what it was; Harry was thinking once again about his parents.

Jessi crossed the room quickly and hugged Harry tightly.

Harry just let her hug him, knowing that this had been his mother's best friend... Sirius came over and realized Harry's eyes were overly bright, and put his hand softly on his shoulder. Ron did the same.

None of them noticed when a family of four slipped out of the other room and down the stairs to a place they could talk more comfortably. They all noticed Dumbledore at the same time.

Sirius plopped into a chair and said, "I don't mean to be blunt, Dumbledore, but what the hell is going on?"

Dumbledore sighed. Harry mumbled, "Uh oh," under his breath. Jessi, who was sitting between him and Sirius, stifled a laugh.

"Perhaps this can explain it better than I can," he said simply, pulling a blank piece of parchment off of his desk. Sirius started to laugh.

"Where on Earth... last time I saw this, Filch took it off of me on a prank run!!!"

Dumbledore smiled. Sirius took out his wand and threw a look at Jessi. She took out her own wand and they whispered, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

Sirius and Jessi were still laughing. "How long it's been," they said together, then looked at each other in surprise. Harry, however, who had been looking over Jessi's shoulder at the map, gasped suddenly, and all eyes were on him.

"Professor... is this... can this possible?" he stammered.

Dumbledore smiled at Harry. Sirius grabbed the map. "Let me see that!"

He took a look at the hall outside Dumbledore's office and saw four dots marked Lupin.... wait a minute, FOUR dots?

~*~*Sirius' POV*~*~

My mind raced back two years... Hermione and Remus, both standing in the Shrieking shack...

hands clenched, lower lips bit...

brown hair... worried ice blue eyes....

my mind raced backwards even further.. .

Remus, the studious one, the one to shout the warning, but also the brains behind the Marauders....

Hermione, cautious when the occasion called for it, but loyal to her last breath and always ready to one up the boys...

Just like her mother.

Why hadn't I seen it before?

~*~*Back to general POV*~*~

"Dear God," was all Sirius could stutter for a moment, then he broke out in a smile when he saw a face in the doorway.

"Damn, Moony, never would have thought you had it in you!"

The face laughed, and Remus came in quickly, shutting the door.

"A typical... if not flattering... congratulations, Padfoot, my friend."

The two embraced quickly.

"Where's Hermie and Sephie?" asked Harry.

"They're downstairs with their mother... talking." He rolled his eyes. "I got out of there as fast as I could."

They all laughed.

Dumbledore slipped out for a moment, then returned with a smile on his face.

"Remus," he said loudly, "what would you say if I told you I have jobs for both you and your wife?"

All talking stopped.

"Wh-what?"

"Well," Dumbledore started, smiling at Harry and Ron, "I believe we are in need of a DADA teacher, and Ally has gracefully accepted the position.." He was interrupted by Harry and Ron giving discreet *yeah, right* high-fives.

They laughed, and Dumbledore said in an aside to Harry and Ron, "I don't blame you."

Then he said to Remus, "And I have need of you...elsewhere."

"Against Voldemort," muttered Harry loud enough for everyone to hear. Ron nudged him.

"Sorry," Harry said.

Just then they were interrupted by the girls. Dumbledore pulled Remus out of the room and they continued to talk.


A/N: Next chapter: the new DADA teacher, and the twins change their last name back to its rightful one

OOOOOOHHHHHH, what does Snape know? Find out in the beginning of the chapter AFTER next, where you'll meet a new character... and a new set of complications.

Live Long! Prank Hard! And NEVER GET CAUGHT!!!!

~Lady Lily and Queen Julie