Title: Needing You Always

Written By: Landell

Disclaimer: The characters of this story are not mine.  All characters belong to J. K. Rowling and the Harry Potter Series.

            ~ This is my second story.  I hope that you like it.  I think this one is better than the first.  Read it and Read: Destined to Love and tell me what you think.  I love to hear from readers.  Thanks a bunch!!!~

Chapter 10: What's Happening in the World?

            The group spent the next four hours lightly talking about the weather and quidditch.  Mostly they talked about quidditch.

            Finally, Molly Weasley sent the "children" upstairs to bed.  Arthur, Molly, Sirius, and Remus watched as the teens (or young men and woman) went upstairs only after Molly threatened them with a transfiguration curse.

            "Thank you again Molly, Arthur, for watching Harry this summer." Remus said with a glance at Sirius.

            "We would have had him stay with us." Sirius said sadly.  "I mean, if we had had our house finished and you hadn't already asked him first."

            "We're glad to have him, Sirius." Arthur said.

            "He is such a pleasure." Molly said as she magiced the cups and dishes over to the sink.  The dishes then began to wash themselves.  "Besides, he is Ron's best friend.  They do everything together."
            'Not everything.' Remus thought.  A wide-toothed grin spread across his face.

            "Have you heard anything about Voldemort, Arthur?" Sirius asked suddenly.

            "Not much." Arthur said grabbing some paper work and flipping through it.  "Several people have reported seeing him in and about Europe.  They've reported some Death Eater activities as well."

            "Thank goodness for the Order of the Phoenix." Molly said.

            The others in the room all nodded.

            "If it weren't for Dumbledore reacting so quickly, The Order would have never passed." Remus said with a shack of his head.  "Fudge was such an idiot about that."

            "Well, we don't have to worry about that for long." Arthur said closing his folder.

            "What do you mean?" Sirius asked looking concerned.

            "It has come to the Ministry's attention that Fudge was acing against Dumbledore and The Order." Arthur said softly.  "Therefore, Fudge was removed from power and placed under arrest."

            "Arthur?  You don't mean…" Sirius started.

            "Fudge is a Death Eater." Arthur finished.

            Molly gasped so loud that Remus was the only one who heard the muffled gasps from behind him.  'I knew that their scents were too strong for them not to be down here.'

            Making sure that the others were not watching him, Remus wrote a quick note on a napkin.  He quickly pressed the note to the back of his chair.

            Ron and Hermione nudged Harry in the ribs as they all hid under Harry's Invisibility Cloak.  Harry focused his attention on the note Remus was holding to the back of his chair.

            "Be quiet you three!  They'll hear you!" The note read.

            "Well, who is going to take over the Ministry?" Sirius asked bringing everyone's attention back to the matter at hand.

            "Well, the Ministry has offered me the position." Arthur said.

            "What?!" Molly exclaimed, jumping to her feet.

            "Yes, Molly." Arthur said resting his hands on the table and pushing himself to his feet.  "They have offered and I have accepted.  You are now looking at the new Minister of Magic."

            "Oh Arthur!  I'm so proud of you." Molly said hugging him and kissing him deeply."

            "Congratulations, Arthur." Sirius said shaking his hand when Molly had let Arthur go.

            "You will be a great Minister of Magic." Remus said soundly.

            "I do hope so." Arthur said sitting down again when he had retrieved a plate of Chocolate Frogs.  "God knows we could use the money.  But in such a hard time, there is going to be a lot more work."

            "You can handle it, Arthur." Sirius said as he devoured a Chocolate Frog in one quick bite.  "We'll be there if you need help."
            "I'm glad you said that." Arthur said as he took a small bite of a Chocolate Frog himself.  "The Ministry is running low on staff.  The Aruors are very few in number.  You were one of the best during your time."

            "That was a long time ago, Arthur." Sirius said sadly, as he caught onto where the conversation was going.  "I didn't have then what I have now.  Harry, Remus; they mean too much to me."

            Harry blushed scarlet underneath the Invisibility cloak.

            "All the more reason to become an Aruor again." Arthur said firmly.  "To protect the ones that you love."

            The room fell silent for a minute while Sirius thought the matter over.

            Remus could see the fear in his eyes.  He could see the pain from past memories coming back.  Memories from Sirius' days in the fields.

            Remus reached out and took a hold of Sirius' hand.  He gave it a great squeeze.

            Relief flashed across Sirius' face.

            "Whatever you decide, Sirius, remember that I will always love you." Remus said.

            Sirius smiled at his lover and fiancée.  He began to lean down to kiss Remus but stopped at the look in his eyes.  It wasn't a look like he didn't want Sirius to kiss him.  It was a look that said something about the stairwell that lead upstairs.  Remus' eyes began to twinkle just like they had when they used to make trouble at Hogwarts.  Sirius stared at him still confused.

            "Invisible." Remus barely mouthed.

            Sirius' eyes widened in shock.  He turned his head and looked hard at the stairs.

            "Busted." Ron whispered to Harry and Hermione.

            "What is it, Sirius?" Molly asked, following his gaze.

            "Oh nothing, Molly." Sirius said turning back to his hosts.  "I just thought I heard something.  It's nothing."

            "Well, the offer stands, Sirius." Arthur said turning back to the topic.

            "I'll take it." Sirius said gripping Remus' hand so hard that Remus thought his fingers might break.

            "Great!" Arthur exclaimed clapping his hands together.  "Can you come into the office two weeks from tomorrow?"

            "I'll be there." Sirius said.

            "What about you, Remus?" Arthur asked.  "Would you want to become an Aruor?"

            "No!" Sirius shouted.  "He will not become…"

            "Sirius." Remus said speaking up for himself.  "I can decide what to do with my life for myself, sweet heart."
            "But Remus…" Sirius began before Remus placed a quick finger on his lips.

            "I am not going to become an Aruor, Sirius." Remus said removing his finger.  "I know what you went through and I do not want to face that.  But you must do what you have to."

            "Remus, I…"

            "No, Sirius." Remus said shaking his head.  "You must do this.  You know you wouldn't have said 'Yes,' if you hadn't thought you needed to do this.  Besides, I already have a job for this fall."

            "Where will you be working, Remus?" Molly asked.

            "Yeah, Remus.  Where?" Sirius asked feeling he had been left out.

            "You're not the only one Dumbledore sends Owls to, Sirius." Remus said softly.  "I have been offered a teaching position at Hogwarts again.  I have accepted."

            "Congratulations." Molly said with a happy tone of voice.

            "Yes, congratulations." Arthur asked sounding rather disappointed.  "What will you teach?  Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

            "No.  Severus has finally landed that position." Remus said with a smirk.

            "I'm glad we graduated when we did." Ron whispered.  "Poor Ginny."

            "I'm taking over Transfiguration because McGonagall was best suited for Poisons.  I'll also be the Head of the Dueling Club."
            "Remus? Why didn't you tell me?" Sirius asked sounding very hurt.

            "The letter just came today." Remus said softly as he reached out and stroked Sirius' cheek.  "You know I wouldn't keep anything from you."

            Sirius smiled fondly at Remus.  Not caring whether Ron, Harry, and Hermione were watching, Sirius leaned down and kissed Remus.

            Molly and Arthur shared a look that seemed to say, "They are a perfect couple."

            "Well, that was nice." Sirius said when their lips had parted.

            "Nice?!" Remus said shocked.  "That was great."

            "So have you picked a date yet?" Molly joked as she went over to the stove and pulled out a big kettle.

            "No. Not yet." Remus said with a smile when he saw Molly's surprise.

            "So, so you are getting married." Molly asked.

            "Yes." Remus said happily.  "Sirius asked and I accepted."

            "So you haven't picked a date yet?" Arthur asked.
            "No.  We have to see when is good for Harry." Sirius said.  "I would like him to be my Best Man."

            "Oh yes.  That makes sense." Arthur said taking a bite from another Chocolate Frog.

            "We need to check with Dumbledore." Remus said pulling for Sirius' attention.  "I would like for him to wed us."

            "Yes." Sirius said nodding his head in agreement.  "He's the perfect person to do it."

            "What about you, Remus." Molly asked as she poured some fresh tea in Remus' cup.

            "Excuse me?" Remus asked.

            "Who do you mean to have as your Best Man?"

            "Oh I have an idea." Remus said with a twinkle in his eyes.  "But I'm not telling."

            The other three stared at him as well as the three youths that were not seen.

            "But why?" Molly finally asked.

            "I have my reasons, Molly." Remus said coolly.  "I want it to be a surprise."

            "Well, who ever it is, I'm sure that the wedding will be beautiful." Molly said softly recalling her own wedding.

            The room fell silent.  Each thought their own thoughts, basking in the warm feelings that surrounded the Weasley house.  It wasn't until Arthur spoke that the silence was broken.

            "Umm, Sirius?  May I speak with you in the other room?" Arthur asked as he began to stand.

            "Sure Arthur." Sirius said as he got to his feet.  He quickly followed Arthur into the Weasley's living room.

            "What's that all about?" Molly asked as she watched the two leave the room.

            "I'm not sure." Remus said as he sipped his cup of tea.  "I wish I had an invisibility cloak or something.  Then we could go in there and find out."

            Molly nodded her head in agreement.

            Harry got the hint.  He nudged Ron and Hermione into action.  They quickly but quietly made their way into the living room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ I just wanted to apologize for my major spelling and grammar errors in my past chapters.  I am so sorry!!!  I am such a horrible speller that it's not even funny.  Add to that fact that I wrote most of these chapters in highly emotional states and the very late hours of the morning, you can see where I'm coming from.  Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter.  We're leading into something big here.  Can't wait to post the next chapter.  Thanks again.  Peace, Love, and Magic!!!  Landell!!!~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~