Hmm I got this one done pretty quick, I hope that's not a bad sign! I've made this one slightly more cheerful despite the chapter title! I apologise for any grammar or spelling mistakes but I am the worlds worst proof-reader, I hate reading my own work cos I'll end up analysing it to bits and rewriting it 10,000 times. Right then on with the next chapter.

Chapter Five :  Added Problems

The next stage of Lupin's memory began at 2pm the following day.

'Come on lazy!' Sirius shook his friend awake.

'Huh' Remus sounded groggy and struggled to open his eyes.

'It's afternoon already, I called Fudge and told him we wouldn't be going in to work today. Oh, yeah, here...'

Sirius handed his friend a small wooden goblet filled with a steaming purple liquid.

'...thought you could do with a Hangover Remedy'

The liquid let off a pungent odour which was steadily drifting it's way over to Harry, it wasn't unlike the smell of soggy sprouts. Harry thought he was going to be sick and he wasn't the one that had to drink it. He couldn't help but wonder why the wizarding world had not yet caught on to the delights of  the simple Paracetamol. Remus gulped the potion down, his face twisting as the bitter liquid oozed down his throat. This expression reminded Harry very much of the one Snape frequently wore when looking at Neville Longbottom.

'Urgh,' Lupin cringed. 'Thanks Padfoot but you should've woken me up for work. I take enough time off due to my transformations without adding to it.'

'I know Moony', his friend replied, 'but after all that you drank last night I doubt that you'll be able to see straight for at least a month!'

'Oh, please!' Remus scoffed. 'You had gallons more than me! I'll be surprised if Sonny doesn't get you done for harassment after the way you were behaving! Where is she anyway?'

'Still upstairs. I thought I should let her rest for as long as possible.'

Sirius strode over to the window and drew back the heavy velvet curtains to reveal a beautiful summer's day. Sun streamed in through the windows, illuminating and warming the small living room. Birds could be heard singing in the trees above half-a-dozen or so children who were playing in the streets. It was hard to believe that such dark things were happening in the world on a day like this.

'I've put some lunch on.' Sirius announced. 'Shouldn't be too long.

Remus nodded. 'Any news from the Ministry?' he asked.

'No' Black sighed 'The Daily Prophet hasn't reported any sightings of the Dark Mark though. That's a good sign'

Remus once again nodded.

Sirius left the room and reappeared five minutes later with three plates piled high with food.

'Hope you're hungry' he told Remus.

Harry 's eyes goggled. He decided that Dudley would definitely love to live with Sirius. He would have to mention the idea of  his cousin moving in with his godfather ('you know the convicted murderer') during the summer. The only place Harry had seen anywhere near as much food was The Great Feast.

 Just then he remembered, The Great Feast. He had just been there with Ron and Hermione , right before he'd gone to Lupin's office. He didn't know how long he'd been gone in his own time but he hoped they weren't worried.

Sirius lay two of the plates on the table and told Remus he was taking the other up to Sonny, meanwhile Remus tucked in. Minutes later Sirius returned looking slightly puzzled.

'She's not answering so I left it outside her door.

Once the two friends had eaten they began to discuss the events of the night before. After pondering over the information they had given Moody and the speed at which he had taken off after the Potters, they both agreed Lily and James would be perfectly safe. Just then , as though reading their thoughts, Alastair Moody's body-less head appeared suddenly in the fire place before them.

'Evening Gentlemen' Moody's face was stern and unsmiling.

'God Moody', Sirius jumped, 'What is it, have you heard from Lily and James?'

'I am afraid not' came the monotonous voice. 'I need to check some details with the two of you. You see, neither the Potters nor Jones have been anywhere near  the address you gave me last night. Holiday Cottage 401, Cragside Avenue, Little Forest you told me. Is that correct?'

'Yes' Remus replied  'But I don't understand, why would they have gone anywhere else?'

'The Potters had been present in The Three Broomsticks Inn prior to their dissapperation' Moony stated 'Were either of them inebriated?'

'Well yes, they both were.'  Sirius looked at the floor as he spoke, wearing the same shy expression Hermione always did when she'd just told on someone.

'Drunken Dissapperation!!!' Moody bellowed his face contorted in fury. 'Have you any idea how dangerous that is?! They could have ended up anywhere!!!'

With his outburst complete Moody disappeared. Harry was pleased, he hated to see floating heads at the best of times.

Remus looked aghast.

'We should never have let them go,' he muttered. 'This is all our fault. We have to go and tell Sonny.'

The pair silently made their way upstairs where Sirius knocked on Sonny's door.

'Sonny, can we come in?' he murmured.

There was no reply.

'Sonny?'

Sirius looked to Lupin and shrugged. He slowly pushed the door open.

The room was empty.

'Holy Jesus! Where is she?' Remus cried.

He spotted a piece of parchment on the bed and ran over to it.

'What does it say?' Black demanded'

'If you aren't going to help then I will' Remus read 'The ink is dry, this must've been written some hours ago.'

'But I've been up since nine!' Sirius protested.

'Well she couldn't have climbed out of the window it's too small. She must have sneaked out before you woke up' Remus concluded.

The two friends slumped down on to the bed, each holding their head in their hands.

Harry began to worry. He knew his parents would be ok, but his aunt? All he knew about her was that she wouldn't be around in his lifetime.

After fifteen minutes of ear-shattering silence Remus spoke.

'We have to report Sonny's disappearance to the Ministry.

'Oh to hell with the Ministry!' Sirius snapped 'Bloody great job they've done so far. Bunch of idiots, if we worked in the Dark Arts office we'd have found them by now! They haven't got a brain cell between the lot of them! You can sod that, I'm not going to them, I'd do better myself!'

'You know you couldn't Padfoot' Lupin said calmly 'If not the Ministry then who?'

'I don't know' came the angered reply 'There must be someone with more power than those arse.....'

'Sirius!' Lupin scolded before his friend could get his words out 'Well, how about Dumbledore. He's the only wizard alive more powerful than the Ministry'

A ray of hope glimmered in Black and Lupin's eyes.

'I'll send my owl' Remus offered.

'To hell with that we'll apparate. I don't give a damn if we aren't expected' Sirius grew more impatient.

Remus saw the flaw in this plan immediately. He sighed.

'Honestly Padfoot. Haven't you ever read 'Hogwarts: A History'? You cannot apparrate within the school grounds.'

Harry couldn't help but grin. How many times had Hermione used that exact same line? Judging by the look on Sirius face he was in the majority that had not read that book.

'Like I was saying I'll send Calador to Dumbledore requesting that he clear us a fireplace and then we can get in to the castle via Floo Powder.

Lupin left the room and returned seconds later holding a large, grey owl which had a piece of parchment attached to it's foot.

He held his arm out and the bird flew away.

'Don't worry Sirius. Calador is one of the fastest owls around, even faster than those stupid Concorde things the muggles invented. Caused some bloody awful Quidditch accidents those things'.

Sirius just stood silently by the window watching the owl as it flew out of sight, his head bowed as though in prayer. Harry watched his godfather knowingly.

 He was saying those exact same prayers.