A/N: --UPDATED-- And yet another Character Development chapter. In this we see more of everyone, and a squirmy side of Sirius.. :

- Cellie

Note: It is advised that you read I Never Knew before trying to tackle this piece.

Disclaimer: Cellie Rivera, James Metz, and Cassie Woods (No relation to Mother's Curse) are all mine. The plot, however odd, is mine. The Potters, and anyone else I may mention are property to J.K Rowling, and her alone—Remus will belong to me any day—Shut up, Cassie.


Chapter Six
Three Thousand Miles

August 1st, 1995

For a moment, the flat was silent, the only sound being the growing sirens. Sirius slumped himself against the wall, shaking his head in disbelief. The man who supposedly was James was looking very bewildered, while George Weasley looked somewhere in-between angry and frustrated. The girl that looked like Lily—Cellie, was it?—stared at Sirius with eyes quite wide, obviously not expecting to wind up in an escaped convict's hiding place. The boy he had yelled at, the one who looked like Remus, was the one who finally spoke up.

Uhm, say, Professor Evans? James looked up, and Sirius's eyebrows went up. Professor? Evans? Boy, who the hell was this person who was impersonating James? Suddenly, the kid looked towards Sirius.

Sirius—er—Mister Black? Don't you think we might want to jet, seeing as how the cops are most probably going to burst in here any moment? Sirius didn't really see how the kid could predict that the cops', as he put them, were coming here, but he nodded anyway.

Uh, yeah. That sounds good. He stammered, staring slightly at the flaming green fire. George shrugged.

I don't know about you all, but I won't stick around to find out. With that, he jumped back through, shouting, Metz's House!. The Lily lookalike and the Remus one followed rather quickly. Sirius turned to James.

So, you going to let me go, or would you rather not have me explain myself and cower under Avada Kedavra? He asked James. He studied the floor for a moment before looking back up.

I don't see the harm—you don't seem to've killed me yet. But what exactly are we going to do with your.. uhm.. your.. what is that— Sirius shook his head, signaling to James to not finish the sentence.

That's Buckbeak. He's a, Sirius chuckled, terminal Hippogriff.

James asked oddly. Aren't those, er.. dangerous?

If you really are James Potter, think for a moment. Since when do I care about danger?

.. Oh. Sirius gestured to Buckbeak.

Er, seeing as how I can't really Apparate, you think you could.. just bow to him, you're good with animals. He said.

James looked at the creature warily, before walking up to Buckbeak and bowing, rather slowly. The Hippogriff looked to Sirius with a skeptical expression, as to say, Is he trustworthy?'. Sirius nodded rather reluctantly. For now, Sirius thought. The Hippogriff bowed back, a curt little nod. Sirius grinned at Buckbeak.

See, that wasn't so bad. Sirius commented. James stood back up.

Are you talking to me or the Hippogriff? He asked.

I guess it could go either way. Sirius said, chuckling. Suddenly, a loud knock was issued on the door.

Open up! This is Scotland Yard! Sirius slapped his hand to his forehead.

Forgot about them.. Time to go, it seems; Buckbeak, be a good Hippogriff, and I'll see you.. where, exactly? He asked James quietly.

Metz's house. Sirius nodded, and went over to the fire. He gave a look to James.

You first. He stated. James rolled his eyes, and touched Buckbeak warily, closing his eyes and concentrating. When he didn't leave right away, Sirius frowned.

You can still Apparate, right? He asked, a bit worriedly.

Relax. I just haven't done this in awhile, that's all.. wouldn't want to splinch myself and the—. James started, but was cut off as he vanished with the large Hippogriff—just as the police force burst down the door. Sirius grinned at them sheepishly.

Uhm, I was being a bit too overzealous with fire? He joked, and yelled out the name, jumping in, ignoring the valiant protests of the muggles. He tumbled out of the fire into a house that smelled faintly of muffin.

Someone, close the floo gate! He croaked, his eyes still adjusting to the light. He heard someone—it might've been the girl—say something, and the fire went out. A moment later, he heard the bellowing of a Hippogriff. Sirius sat up, blinking as everything came into focus. The kid and the girl helped him up, and Sirius was aware of Buckbeak off to his right side. James was sitting in an armchair a few feet away.

'Scuse me, Mister Black, sir, you alright? The girl asked. Sirius nodded.

I'm fine, just not that used to floo powder anymore.. and it's Sirius. And now that we're assumedly out of immediate danger, can someone explain to me what the hell is going on? George entered the room from a side corridor about then, and nodded.

I'm with Sirius. He stated. James spoke up around then.

Well, to, er, start this off.. Sirius, I, uh.. He shrugged sheepishly.

You thought it'd be fun to scare the hell out of me because you thought I gave Lily and you over to Voldemort? Sirius said, accusingly. James looked down.

Look, Sirius, I was mad, okay? Wouldn't you act the same if you didn't know.. James trailed off, and Sirius saw a flash of some emotion flash across his face—was it understanding?

Well, Sirius, besides, you were the only one I could find over the network. You know the charm we performed didn't include Remus or .. Peter. He said. That's how I managed to get over. Sirius growled.

So that explains your appearance.. slightly. What about the rest of them? Celestia cut in.

Well, Sirius—James is a Professor at my school. He's been teaching there forever. Sirius raised an eyebrow.

What does he teach, Transfiguration?

It's a muggle school, Sirius. James cut in.

A muggl—a WHAT? Sirius stammered. The girl chuckled.

It ain't the end of the world, you know.. She said, slightly offended.

Sorry.. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against muggles—Just can't imagine James teaching at a muggle school. He said. She chuckled as James shook his head in hopelessness.

Well, putting your disbelief aside, he does work there. I only found out a week or so ago that he was, well, James. Then, today I got a letter from George—he and I've been communicating via owl for awhile—about You-Know-Who rising—and your innocence. Call it a feeling or something, but I assumed that James was going to leave or already had, so I rushed over to Metz's to use his fireplace—my dad's a pureblood, but my mum's a muggle, so he doesn't really like using anything from the wizarding world. So I came here to get over to James's flat—lucky guess that it was connected to the Floo network—but Metz redirected the connection to the Burrow—

I did not! The Remus lookalike protested. looked over to George for an explanation, who shrugged.

I'm not.. quite sure. Fred was asleep, and I'd gone down to experiment with a new idea—throwback Floo powder—so I shouted for Metz's house as a test, but I guess the powder acted as some sort of conductor, because I wound up following you all. George explained.

Sirius said. So, that explains you lot.. What about the police? Celestia shrugged, then a flick of understanding washed over her face.

Say, George, didn't you say there was some sort of integration of some Aurors into the forces over the UK, to watch out for constant Apparations, and all that? George nodded, as Metz frowned.

Yeah, but why were they tracing our floo jump, when there are so many—Oh, of course! George, your experimental floo powder must have looked suspicious to them, like something a Death Eater would do or something. Metz pointed out. George frowned good naturedly.

Guess that eliminates that product off Wizard Wheezes. He said. Sirius frowned.

George, there isn't a possibility of the Aurors coming over here.. where is here, anyway? Sirius asked. interrupted.

We're in California, Los Angeles, to be exact—

California?! As in, the United States? Sirius spit out, his eyes widening. James nodded.

Yeah, that's about right. Sirius looked from James to , his mouth agape.

Cali—Cali—Califor—The US.. He stuttered. Would someone care to elaborate how exactly I became an escaped convict that has now gone over three thousand miles of water via fireplace? Sirius put his hand out against the mantle to steady himself. looked over to James.

What's wrong with him? James chuckled.

Sirius has always been a bit—shall we say—hydrophobic.

Hydrophobic, Professor? She asked. Sirius turned towards her, a nauseating feeling in his stomach.

I don't like big—bodies of—water. He said, groaning. James shook his head and turned to George.

You don't suppose he'd kill me if I tried to drag him over towards the couch? George shook his head, smothering a laugh as Sirius slumped against the wall. James rolled his eyes, and held out his hand to Sirius, who groaned louder.

Three thousand miles.. He croaked out. James chuckled.

Come on, Padfoot, you big baby, are you honestly going to stay huddled there all day? Sirius nodded abysmally. James shook his head, and turned to .

Metz, a bit of help here? Metz bit back a laugh, and walked over to help James pry Sirius off the brick fireplace and carry him over to the couch. As Sirius was drifting into unconsciousness, he wrenched an eye open to look at James.

Yep. It's a fact. James raised an eyebrow.

What's a fact?

You're most definitely James Potter. No doubt about it. And with that, Sirius slipped into nauseating unconsciousness.


A/N: Hope that gives a bit of explanation.

Thistlemeg: George finds his way here.. well, you see in this chapter.

Ra-chan: I'm glad you like that line. I've been trying to get my MWPP characters back into character since I lost it a bit in the sequel, so I hope that sounds like something Sirius'd say. :p

Weasley, Weasley, and Jordan: Again, it's all explained in this chapter.. :p