All HP characters are the brain child of J.K Rowling who is an extraordinary writer and who thankfully does not take offense to those of us who like to mess with her world.

Warning: This will become eventual slash so if you gots a problem with that then read ne further!

Hooray!!!! A brand new shiny chapter. You do not need to here the details of the crap I have been through these past months but writers block had a surprisingly small roll to play. Let's just say that all technology hates me with a fiery passion and this chapter has been rewritten so many times it's just not funny.

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A peculiar event was occurring in the Lupin household. Sirius frowned and shook his head, as if what he was hearing was a product of his slightly damaged mind and by physically shaking his head he could knock loose whatever was causing him to have these delusions. No, it was still there, raised voices. Gods above he hadn't heard Remus Lupin loose his temper in years. An unexpected memory of one time in seventh year when Analise Horngrove had accused Peter of cheating in a charms exam because he had beaten the snobbish Ravenclaw came to mind. Remus who had been tutoring Peter for years had been like a proud father when Pete aced the exam and the normally mild mannered boy had lost his temper and cut Horngrove right down to size when she had public announced that "Peter was a cheating Griff". One thing you never do is attack Moony's pack, especially so close to the full moon. Mentally checking the date Sirius realized that the full moon wasn't for another two weeks so that didn't explain Remus' temper right now.

Calisto and Remus seemed to be having a very involved argument and Sirius desperately wished he could tell what it was about but once again his ignorance of the French language prevented him from eavesdropping. An angry sigh and the sound of the back door slamming heralded the end of the heated debate and Sirius watched as Cali stormed past him without noticing his presence. Her legs folded beneath her as she plonked to the ground and huffing another angry sigh, threw herself onto her back. Sirius was about to leave her to her teenage brood when he saw her pull something out of her pocket. It seemed like an odd object for a young girl to have and he could have sworn he saw something similar in one of Dung's pockets earlier.

The sun glinted off the tarnished gold finish of the pocket watch dangling from Calisto's hand. As Sirius silently approached her she continued to stare at the watch as it twirled back and forth in a mesmerizing manner. Sirius was reminded of the story Remus had told him about muggles who claimed they could hypnotize people into thinking they were chickens and other such nonsensical things. They apparently did it for entertainment but it reminded him too much of the way the imperious curse worked to be entertaining.

"Now where did you get that?"

His voice startled Cali so badly she yelped and shot straight up clutching her heart.

"Merlin Sirius, vous mavez presque donne une crise cardiaque"

She said breathlessly

Sirius looked down at her in a puzzled manner and it took her a moment to realize she had spoken in French.

"You nearly gave me a bloody heart attack"

She growled hitting the closest part she could reach, which happened to be his shin.

Sirius smirked then sprawled out next to her. Closing his eyes he tilted his head back and soaked up the warmth of the sun. As long as Sirius lived he knew he would never get tired of sunlight. He opened his eyes again and gave an inquiring glance at the watch that was now in her lap. Cali picked up the watch in question and stared at it as though it were a favorite pupil that had just let her down.

"I thought there'd be something a little more interesting then old watches in a thieves coat. Especially with the stories I've heard papa tell."

It took a moment for the words to really make sense but when they did Sirius let his head fall back as he roared with laughter.

"You actually managed to pick Mundungus' pocket?!"

He said through barks of laughter.

"I wanted to know what was in there."

She said like it was the most obvious answer in the world

"I can't believe you got away with that."

Sirius said shaking his head

"I think he saw me run my hand along my pants afterwards but he probably figured I was just being rude 'cause I'm French"

More of Sirius bark like laughter followed and Cali could not help the grin that spread across her face. His joy could be infectious when sparked.

"A word to the wise though junior, I wouldn't go sticking my hands in Dung's coat again. He might've only had watches in there this time but you'd usually find more interesting and inevitably dangerous things in his pockets.

Sirius paused then let out another little chuckle

"I would love to see old Dung's face when he realizes he's been had."

Cali looked entirely pleased with herself and Sirius shook his head in amazement. They were so like each other it was incredible. How many times had he seen that expression on Remus' face after he had pulled off an inspired piece of mischief? Of course Remus' sense of curiosity was more tightly reined in then Cali's but that was due to the fact that it was his curiosity that led him into a dark wood one full moon.

Cali began twirling the watch once more but her self satisfied smile was gone and there was a sadness behind her eyes that pulled Sirius attention back to the fight he had just overheard. Wondering how to broach the subject Sirius plucked at a few strands of grass.

"Haven't heard Moony raise his voice like that in years"

He said tentatively

Cali sighed and shook her head.

"He's not having a very good day.

She suddenly smiled slyly

"You should go cheer him up."

Sirius glared at her. He'd only been here three days but Cali was determined to get a confession out of him. She had a childlike impatience that reminded him strongly of himself at that age. She didn't realize that he and Remus had other things to sort out before Sirius laid his heart on his sleeve. One thing for sure was that he would tell him. Too much of what had gone wrong in the past had been born of silence.

"I've never known Moony to loose it like that over a bad day."

Cali suddenly became very interested in staring at the watch in her hand.

"It's my fault"

She said at length

"How's that?"

Sirius asked

Cali sighed angrily again

"Have you seen the papers today?

When Sirius shook his head Cali's eyes narrowed.

"They've started printing things about Harry Potter and Dumbledore."

"What things?"

Sirius asked immediately

"Nothing to obvious, they've just been picking up where Rita Skeeter left off. Suggesting as slyly as possible that Potter is unhinged and that Dumbledore's loosing it. I'm surprised that Skeeter woman isn't writing them herself"

"Son of bitches"

Sirius growled

"Then of course there was a big article for that revolting amphibian woman."

Calisto said scowling deeply

"Amphibian woman?"

"Oh you know, that disgusting little woman who looks like a toad and is the Ministers glorified secretary. Something to do with bridges."

"Bridges? Wait, do you mean Umberidge?"

"That's the one."

Sirius felt like a dark cloud had descended over him. He had educated himself in the past years on what he had missed during his imprisonment and the name Umberidge had come up quite a few times. She despised part humans and one of her pet projects was the ostrization of werewolves.

"What was the article about?"

Sirius asked between clenched teeth

"She's heading a campaign to have all werewolves tagged so there movements can be monitored, she wants to restrict there travel and she nearly has enough support for her "werewolf work program""

Calisto said sourly.

Sirius could feel a growl rising deep within his chest. He knew of the werewolf work program. It forced werewolves to reveal their true nature to all potential employers and also limited the jobs that they could apply for. Nothing that exposed minors to them and nothing that involved any kind of exposure to the dark arts. That would leave Remus working in remedial jobs that did not utilize any of his true skills. It was like everything that had been achieved for werewolf rights over the past fifty years had just taken a massive leap backwards. Sirius knew that once the world's eyes were open to Voldemorts return it would only get worse. Just as he was contemplating new and interesting ways to tear Umberidge and all her near sighted colleges limb from limb Cali's morose profile came into view. Curbing his anger over both Harry and Remus he wondered again what they could have been arguing about.

"Wait, how is this your fault?"

He asked

Cali looked up sharply, her cheeks colouring. She ducked her head back down and Sirius noticed that her fists were clenching and unclenching again.

"If this stupid work program goes ahead, he's going to lose his job again. They won't let him study all those ancient dark art books anymore.

Sirius knew that Remus had a very well suited job at the moment. He was decrypting Grimouies* for a museum of magical antiquities. Not only did it put to use his considerable knowledge on the subject but he could also work from home most of the time ensuring that his inevitable absences would go unnoticed.

"He won't be able to get work anywhere and setting up wards for peoples houses just doesn't make enough because it's not like he could advertise and set up his own business 'cause the ministry wouldn't allow it.

Violently pulling up strands of grass she continued.

I don't want him to have to stoop so low that he has to go into the muggle world for work. Not that I have anything against muggles per say, but that's just not where he belongs. He's a powerful wizard for the love all of things!"

"So why the arguing?"

Sirius pressed

She took a deep breath and Sirius realized that he was about to receive some more sensitive information about the private young woman.

"The only fatherly gesture that Romulas has ever made is to pay my way in life. I don't mind, at least it makes him acknowledge that I'm alive. Papa, however, hates that he has to rely on Romulas to provide for me when he's out of work. He's so stubborn and proud, he'll never accept anything from his family.

Sirius understood that all to well. It was the common thread that bound the two friends together. The Lupins were a very well to do French aristocratic family who were deeply ashamed of Remus' condition. Throwing money around was there way of fixing things. Like they had done when Remus was first infected, but there is no cure for lycanthropy and no amount of money could fix that. Sirius' own family was just as disappointing but in a more dangerous way. The Blacks were just as rich and pureblooded as the Lupins but their history was one steeped in dark magic, not just ties to the French royal family. When the two friends trusted another enough to be privy to each others backgrounds it became a running joke between the two. Sirius was the white sheep of the Black family and Remus was the wolf in sheep's clothing of his. Now Sirius understood what the argument would have been about but waited for Cali to continue.

"I don't understand why he won't let me do this for him. It's not like he's asking them for money, it's me giving it to him. It's the only thing he ever gets angry about, but I had to try you know? I mean, they act like we're such burdens, why let them be comfortable in there complacency, to never accept there responsibilities and recognize there failures? Why not make them remember and maybe even feel guilty?"
And there it was, the fundamental difference between the Lupins. Perhaps Cali was more like her biological parents then she'd care to admit. Inwardly Sirius cringed, it really wasn't his place to explain his old friends' psychological reasoning to his fifteen-year-old psdeo daughter but he knew that Remus would never be comfortable enough to tell her why. Cali's eyes were bright with unshed tears and Sirius tried to organize his thoughts wondering how he could be so devote to a man who had never even shown the slightest interest. Here he was, out here having this conversation when all he wanted to do was marvel in simple things like sunlight.

"Cali what you've got to understand is that money is a huge issue to Remus. His family's way of showing affection wasn't a pat on the back or a kind word, it was a new broom or a pile of gold. His parents tried to control Remus with their money. Paying medi-wizards huge sums of cash to find a cure that didn't exist, if someone discovered the secret or complained then they'd suddenly disappear to a brand new villa in Spain. They were about ready to buy off the headmaster of Beaxabons when Albus Dumbledore came to his rescue. Every aspect of Remus' life was controlled by their bank balance and he bloody hated it. His family was so afraid of him, an unexpected flare of temper had them trying placating him with new toys or books. That was probably the only sure fact they knew about their son, he likes to read, but any fool could figure that with five minutes of meeting him. They put the rest of their energy into their other children, providing what Remus needed with a healthy allowance. He hardly ever bought anything for himself with it. He use to give loads to charities, anything to get rid of it. When he was out of school and got his first job it was like he was free of them. Becoming financially independent was like being able to give them a great big two fingered salute, they had nothing over him any more and Remus swore that he would never go to them for another thing in his life. That's why he won't accept Romulus' money, it would compromise everything he has worked so hard for these past years. Remus Lupin might not be quite like the man I remember but some things never change."

Cali blinked back the tears that had been threatening to fall and took a deep breath composing herself.

"I didn't know"

She said softly

"He would never feel comfortable enough to talk about it."

"But he told you?"

Sirius shook his head and Cali looked at him with question in her eyes.

"Years of close study.

He said answering the unasked question

"Remus Lupin is a mystery wrapped in an enigma but it's worth it to figure him out."

Cali looked thoughtful for a moment and then mustered up a smile that to Sirius looked more like a grimace. She looked uncomfortable and kept glancing towards the house. Finally making up her mind she rose to her feet.

"I'm just going for a walk, I'll be back in an hour or so."

She informed him before turning and walking off.

Sirius sighed and wondered what he had done to upset the younger Lupin. Maybe he'd just been away from people for too long, shrugging he climbed to his feet and made his way to the house. Maybe he could get Remus to open up to him like in the old days. Sirius shook his head, here he was, the most unbalance person he knew trying to council this dysfunctional little family. He turned his head to the sky.

"Hope you appreciated the irony of this Prongs.

Sirius snorted

"Probably getting a right laugh up there aren't you. Git"

AN: Kay I had another crack at French but my translator promises that I got it right or he's just messing with me and considering the source that is highly likely. If it's not right it'll be an amusing note for those who understand the language.

Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long but with me nothing ever comes off like it should. Anyway hope you enjoyed, tell us what you think and what not.

Big thank-you to

SP-in-Sirius-Denial, Next chap will have Sirius and Rem but no Harry unless I write a sequel which is starting to form in my head, I'm glad people seem to like Cali I've tried to flesh her out as much as possible and make her into a real character Mencamiel, Young-Hee, Chibi Stickajin, Holly, & Eizoku

Reviews are cool I get so excited.

*Not clue how to spell it, but it's like a book of shadows only with dark spells, I think. I've read a lot of references as to whether there good or bad but for the sake of the story they contain tainted magic.