Hi all! It's been a while since I updated and I apologise, I woke up one morning and discovered that I actually do have a life. And I got stuck. It's a pretty poor excuse, I know, so I've made this chapter a bit longer to make up for it.

Thanks to my wonderful readers: Sami Potter, RonandHermy4ever, Inuyasha-lover601, padfoot-dreamer, MarsMoonStar, Edward Wong Hau, Sirius's Secret Lover, DeadAngel, Courtney, wavey avey, SassyMorg, angelm, lupine flower and Heather Grissom.  I now have over 50 reviews! Sweet! Thanks for your patience, guys.

Interesting point raised: Tonks saying the Malfoys are hot when they're related. Well there's nothing wrong with saying your relatives are hot, and as Tonks said she's only trying to help Harry out. Besides, cousins are legal, I think. Hope that clears that up ^_^

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"Harry! Oh, it's so good to see you again!" Harry had barely got the door open before he was enveloped in a bone-crushing hug. He hugged Hermione back just as tightly before turning to Ron, grinning, and giving him an awkward one-armed hug.

"Hey! Have a good summer?" he asked, standing back to let them in.

"Ooh, yes, I finally got to go to Egypt, those old pyramids are so fascinating, did you know that . . ."

"Oh, here we go again," muttered Ron. "We don't need a history lesson, Hermione, we've only just got in the door!"

"Well maybe if you broadened your mind a little bit instead of just thinking about Quidditch, food or sex the whole time . . ."

"I do not think about Quidditch or food or sex all the time! Yesterday I was thinking of that new broomstick Cleansweep are bringing out . . ."

"Brooms are related to Quidditch, idiot!" Harry rolled his eyes and vaguely wondered whether his friends would ever stop bickering enough to admit that they liked each other.

"If you're quite finished," he said loudly, "I'll give you the tour." He gave them a brief tour of the house and dumped their stuff in their rooms while they chatted briefly with Remus, then took them out into the village.

"It's a bit gloomy, this," muttered Ron, gazing around uncertainly at the half-ruined buildings.

"It's alright once you get used to it," protested Harry. "And it's safe, no-one can catch us here, even the Muggles have deserted it."

"Ron's right though, Harry, this is creepy," murmured Hermione, gazing into an empty house. "What happened here? And what on earth was that?" She jumped at the loud crashing sound that had come from the church behind them; seconds later Sirius had crashed into Harry, out of breath and laughing, bearing them both to the ground.

"Hide me!" Sirius gasped. "Old Carne's really got it in for me!" Harry laughed as he struggled out from under Sirius, stumbling as Sirius grabbed hold of his legs and tried to hide. Ron and Hermione ducked as the ghost swooped over their heads carrying something very large and heavy-looking. He zoomed off into the distance, shrieking oaths and curses, and Sirius scrambled up, still laughing.

"Hey there Ron, Hermione!" he greeted, draping his arm casually round Harry's shoulders as he slowly got his breath back. Ron and Hermione grinned back. "Shall we have a look in the church while he's gone?"

"Hey, look, there's a Snape in this book!" Ron exclaimed, picking up the electoral register.

"Yeah we know, we found him a few days back," smirked Harry. "What have you found there, Hermione?"

"It's a list of people who were sent to fight in the War. This place is so fascinating."

"We'd best be moving on, guys," stated Sirius from the doorway. "The curate's back and he looks pissed off!"

There was a beach near to the village, a little bay that was virtually comprised of the rock from cliff falls over the ages. As it was an overcast day, there were very few visitors. Sirius, Harry, Ron and Hermione amused themselves by skimming stones in the water, or looking for fossils amongst the rocks.

Ron sat himself down underneath an overhang, having quickly gotten bored with looking for fossils with Hermione. He watched Harry and Sirius for a while – they were having a skimming competition down by the waters edge, and laughing. He had just made up his mind to go and join them when Sirius grabbed Harry and planted a kiss on his lips. His eyes narrowed and he nudged Hermione.

"What's going on with them?"

"What?" Hermione swung round to look at Harry and Sirius. "Oh! Well, I suppose it's not that unexpected . . ."

"WHAT?" roared Ron, scrambling up. "It's bloody weird! I'm going to go and talk to them."

"Oh, no, Ron, just leave them be!" Ron ignored Hermione and picked his way out towards the couple.

Harry pushed Sirius away, laughing.

"That's cheating!" he protested. "You can't plant a kiss on the victor just because you're losing and it might distract him!"

"Why not? It's working, isn't it?" laughed Sirius. "Oh hey, Ron!"

"What's going on here?" Ron demanded, his face flushing slightly.

"What do you mean, what's going on? Isn't it obvious?" countered Sirius. Harry said nothing, just eyed his best friend apprehensively. Apparently, Ron's reaction to his and Sirius' relationship wasn't going to be favourable.

"It's . . . it's weird, I mean I've got nothing against you, mate, but shouldn't you be looking for someone your own age? Both of you?" Ron added, shooting a meaningful glance at Harry.

"What does it matter, Ron?" demanded Harry.

"He's so much older than you! He's your dad's best mate! It's a bit perverted, if you ask me."

"I don't recall asking you anything," said Harry coldly. "What goes on between me and Sirius is our own business, all right? Oh, hello," he added, as Hermione made her way over. "Come to tell me that what I'm doing is wrong as well?"

"No, I'm not actually, I came over to tell Ron to mind his own business. But I would like to talk to you, Harry, please?" She took his hand and led him away from Ron and Sirius, who were glaring at each other.

"What do you want?" demanded Harry. "We've had all the its-so-wrong-he's-too-old-for-me-I'm-not-James stuff from Tonks and Lupin already and I'm not going through all that again!"

"Will you just calm down? I'm not going to tell you anything of the sort but you must imagine it is a bit strange. Why Sirius? Why not, I don't know, Lee Jordan or someone?" Harry sighed and sat himself down on a rock, Hermione following suit.

"Because Sirius is, well . . . Sirius," he shrugged. "And I just feel so safe when I'm with him, I don't have to worry about Voldemort or anyone, it feels like nothing can touch us when we're together, you know? I can't imagine feeling that way about anyone else. I don't want anyone else. And he makes me feel like the most special person in the world. It's . . . I don't know, kind of hard to explain." He shrugged again and scrabbled amongst the stones, finding a flat one and skimming it out to sea.

"You're doing a good job of it." Hermione smiled at him and took his hand. "Why don't you try and explain all that to Ron? He's just worried about you, Harry. We all are."

"I'll try, but you know Ron."

"Yeah, I know Ron." Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry and he laughed. They stood up and headed back to Ron and Sirius, who were shouting at each other.

"You're not the only one who cares for him! I don't want to see him get hurt, he's suffered enough!"

"I'm not going to hurt him, Ron! I love him, can't you get over that?"

"Sirius, mate, he's . . ."

"If you mention James I will hurt you, I know he's not bloody James, hasn't it occurred to anybody that I like Harry because he's completely amazing, and not just because he's my best friend's son?" Harry looked at Hermione and rolled his eyes.

"This could take a while," he muttered.

They made their way back from the beach in virtual silence. Harry and Hermione tried to start several conversations, but they could not compete with the silence coming from the other two, who appeared determined to ignore each other for as long as possible. It was a relief to get back to the house, where weird noises were emanating from the kitchen. 

"Tonks! Watch out for that . . ." A crash, a yell and a sheepish voice mumbling an apology greeted them from the kitchen. The group laughed, the tension surrounding them easing slightly. Sirius strode to the kitchen door.

"What on earth . . . oh, I do apologise!" Harry moved to the kitchen door to see Remus covered in cheese sauce, and Tonks on her knees in front of him trying to clean him up. Tonks scrambled up as she noticed the group around the door.

"It's not what it looks like!" she protested, waving around a stained tea towel and flushing bright crimson. "We were making dinner, and I knocked the pan off the stove!"

"Any excuse to feel up your wolfman, eh?" grinned Harry, receiving a face full of cheese-sauce-flavoured towel in reply. Remus pushed past the group, muttering something about getting changed, while Tonks set about trying to clear up the mess in the kitchen. Hermione went to help her, trying to stop herself from laughing. Harry caught Ron's eye, grinning, but caught sight of the black look that had almost immediately settled on his friend's face and sighed.

"Can I have a word with you?" he asked, closing the kitchen door. Ron shrugged.

"I'll, er, go and see if Moony needs a hand," muttered Sirius, disappearing out of the other door. Harry sat himself down on the sofa, while Ron perched awkwardly on the edge of the chair opposite.

"What is your problem with me and Sirius?" demanded Harry as soon as the door was shut.

"What? Harry, you've got to admit it's a bit perverted. He's your godfather!"

"So what? He's an amazing man and I love him, Ron. Can't you understand that?"

"But . . . how? Why? I don't understand, Harry! Why can't you go for someone your own age?"

"Because I don't want anyone my own age, I want him! He cares for me, he makes me feel special, he loves me, and I love him. I can't love anyone else, I just . . . I can't." He fell silent and glanced over at Ron, who was now looking uncomfortable. "Voldemort's after me and half the time I'm so scared, I don't know what to do with myself. But whenever I'm with Sirius I feel safe, I feel like nothing else matters and it feels good to forget about everything else for a while, you know?"

"Bloody hell, mate. Why didn't you tell me this before?" Harry shrugged. "Well I'm not saying that I approve, because if I'm completely honest I don't, I think it's weird. But hey, it's your life and I'm not going to judge you for it. Guess I should apologise to Sirius too." He grinned at Harry. "So what's going on with old Moony and Tonks?"

Dinner that night was a very enjoyable affair. Tonks and Remus had to endure constant teasing from the others, and were trying to avoid each others eyes. Ron apologised to Sirius for his earlier outburst which Sirius graciously accepted, and Harry overheard them once or twice plotting a way of getting Tonks and Remus together.

Remus left the table early, saying that he needed an early night as he had a meeting with Dumbledore the next day, and was shortly followed by Tonks. Sirius disappeared after Tonks, eager to see if she was sneaking up to Remus' room, but came back disappointed.

Later, Harry lay awake listening to Ron's muffled snores from the next room, and thinking about Sirius. He had been a little angry at Ron's reaction to their relationship but, on reflection, it was only to be expected. It was weird, but it was so good at the same time.

There door opened slightly, and Sirius stuck his head through.

"You awake?" he whispered.

"Yeah," replied Harry, sitting up and smiling. Sirius shut the door and moved over to the bed.

"I can't sleep," he admitted. "Been having dreams." He yawned and rubbed at his temples.

"What sort of dreams?" asked Harry, feeling a sudden jolt of fear.

"Nothing much, the usual I'm back in Azkaban affair." Sirius fell silent and glared at the sheets. Not sure of what to do, Harry placed his hands on his godfather's shoulders and started kneading away at the knots of tension that had formed. Sirius grunted and closed his eyes.

"That's good," he mumbled. Harry grinned and let his hands move lower down the older man's back. Sirius squirmed under his touch. "That's really good!" Sirius turned to face his godson, smiling, and brought their lips together.

Later, Harry lay in Sirius' arms, idly tracing a pattern on the older man's stomach and listening to his deep, even breathing. He couldn't find words for what had just happened. Sirius was just too incredible for words . . . Harry smiled and closed his eyes, preparing to drift off to sleep.

Suddenly his scar seared with pain. Harry yelled out and sat up, rubbing his scar. The searing pain passed, leaving just a dull, throbbing pain.

"Whas'matter?" mumbled Sirius sleepily, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Nothing. Scar hurt," mumbled Harry, settling back down into Sirius' embrace and trying to shake off a feeling of joy that was not his own.

A thousand miles away, a cold, high-pitched laugh rang out into the night.