The editing of this really isn't coming the way I wanted it too...I just can't seem to part with some of my cheesier scenes. But I'm still going to keep changing some of the really cheesy stuff. There's a very cringe-worthy chapter coming up which will require some serious reconstruction. I'm guessing that some of my second time readers can guess which one that is...

Anyway, sorry the updates are so few and far between. I'm busy most of the day and when I'm not I'm just lazy...

Sirius drew the jar up to his face, and stood there for long moments, simply staring at the rat inside. A look of pure loathing upon his face. It was almost as if the rat was hypnotizing him, trying to enrapture him.

Downstairs, Harry was wondering what was taking Sirius so long. He figured maybe he was just having trouble getting the broom out from where ever it had been placed. When Sirius had been gone ten minutes, Harry got a little suspicious.

"Sirius!" he called, "What's taking so long?"

Meanwhile, Sirius had gone further with the rat in his hands. He had slowly begun to unscrew the cover of the jar, which had been shut very tightly by Remus. Sirius was almost maniacally trying to open the jar. He had succeeded in loosening the cover when Harry's voice reached his ears. He broke out of the trance and dropped the jar with the loosened cover onto the ground. He scooped up the broomstick and headed downstairs, completely ignoring the rat.

"Sorry about that, Harry," he replied hurriedly. "You ready?"

Harry looked suspiciously at Sirius, but nodded his head, and didn't press Sirius with any questions. Sirius held out the broom to Harry who took it quickly. He had missed his broom. Sirius scooped Harry into his arms and headed for the door to the backyard.

Remus had a huge backyard, and Sirius walked Harry to the middle of it. When he got there, he maneuvered Harry, the broom, and himself into a position that allowed him to hold both the broom and the boy. Once he felt that all was secure, he took off from the ground, and flew high into the air. He felt Harry tense up when they first soared into the sky, but eventually he relaxed. Harry had a smile on his face that wrapped around his entire body. Sirius couldn't see his face, but could tell just how happy Harry was. They just flew around in circles, varying speeds and directions, for nearly an hour.

An hour is quite a lot of time for a rat to open a jar. While Harry and Sirius were flying around outside, Wormtail was in his jar, working hard to unscrew the loosened cover, and he was making some definite progress.

Through all this, Remus was traveling all over Europe. As planned, his first stop was the Weasley house. He flooed right into their kitchen, to find the youngest Weasley, Ginny, sitting at the table.

She looked up startled when he entered, and just stared at him, mouth agape.

"Hi Ginny," Remus said uncertainly. He was a little put out by the way he was being stared at.

"Uh. . . Hi, Professor Lupin," Ginny stuttered. "What are you do- doing here?"

"Well, I was actually wondering if Ron and your parents were around, I need to talk to them for a few minutes."

"Okay," Ginny peeped before running from the kitchen to get the requested people. Remus was really surprised by her behavior, she had always been a little shy, but she was 14 now. It struck him as odd that she was still so timid. "Maybe it's just because she knows I'm a werewolf," Remus thought grimly. He took a seat at the table and waited for the Weasley clan to enter the room.

All of a sudden, a chill came over Remus's body. The wolf in him was signaling that something wasn't right. Yet, as soon as it came, it vanished. Remus just shook his head, thinking, "weird."

His thoughts were interrupted, when he heard someone running down a flight of stairs. It was Ron, who made quite an entrance into the kitchen, clearly happy to see any reminder of Harry. When he neared the table, he slowed down, and said "Professor Lupin, what's shaking?" He was trying to be cool, but it just wasn't working. Remus just laughed out loud, saying, "Nothings shaking, Ron. How's it going?"

"It's going good, how's Harry? Dad said he was staying at your place," Ron said excited.

Remus nodded that Harry was indeed staying at his house, but had to add, "but, he's really not doing so good. All I'm going to tell you is that Harry is currently paralyzed, he can move most of his upper body, but can't get himself out of bed at all."

Ron's face went pale and his mouth was agape. "Bloody Hell," was all he could say. He finally recovered from his initial shock, which turned directly to worry, "Well, what happened?! Did Voldemort attack him? I need to know Professor!"

"Shhh, Ron calm down okay? I'm going to let Harry be the one to tell you how it happened, okay? I think it's his story to tell, not mine. Now I'll tell you this, it had nothing to do with Voldemort, or magic at all, so don't get too stressed about it. I can also tell you that Harry is no longer in any danger."

"Okay, I can deal with that. But how's he dealing with it? Is he okay?"

"Well, he's handling it about as well as can be expected, he had a pretty rough day yesterday, but today he seems to be doing great. I think his biggest problem is with letting other people help him."

Ron nodded, knowing full well how much Harry hated being helped. He was the most independent kid Ron knew. "So, why exactly are you Professor?" Ron asked turning slightly confused.

Remus smiled, "I'm here to make Harry's day even better. Right now Sirius is taking him flying, and I am gathering his closest friends for a visit. What do you say?"

Ron looked speechless, but of course, he wasn't, "Are you serious!!! I can go see Harry? Wicked!"

Remus couldn't help but laugh at Ron's exuberance. "Yeah, I'm serious, it's a surprise, so we're going to have to be a little sneaky, though."

Ron nodded seriously, "Okay, well I have to go ask mum, she said she'd be down in a minute, but I'll just go find her." Ron exited the room in much the same manor as he had entered. Remus smiled, thinking how similar the bond between Ron and Harry was to that of the Marauders.

After sitting for a while, Remus realized he had forgotten to check on the rat that day. Through the night the rat could have potentially escaped or done a variety of other things that would make getting Sirius his freedom even more difficult. Remus stood to go home but remembered what he was there for.

Deciding to wait for Ron, Remus concluded that he had to check on the Wormtail before he could get Hermione. She could visit another time. He sat back in his chair and waited impatiently for Ron to return. After what seemed like an eternity, but was really only one minute, Ron walked back into the room, trailed by his mother.

"Remus, how nice it is to see you." Mrs. Weasley said perkily.

"And you, Molly. Has your son told you why I'm here?"

"Yes he has, and I have no problem with him going. I trust he'll be quite safe at your home, and it will really brighten poor Harry's day."

"Yeah, and he really needs it brightened. He's had a really tough time."

Mrs. Weasley nodded sadly. Remus, not wanting to sound rude, but really wanting to get back home, stopped the conversation quite short. "Well, if Ron doesn't need to bring anything we best be off, there's something I need to take care of at home. Thank you very much Molly, I think Harry will really enjoy this."

"It's my pleasure Remus," she said, then turned to Ron, "You be on your best behavior Ronald Weasley." She was holding him by his shoulders like he was little, although he was now just as tall as she was. She was the epitome of an overprotective mother. Despite his worry, Remus had to struggle to keep from laughing.

"Now Remus, when will you have him back?"

"Probably this evening, after dinner. But if Harry and Ron want, I may just have him stay the night. I'll be sure to contact you before though."

"That sounds good," Mrs. Weasley said, before zoning in and kissing Ron on the cheek.

Ron turned bright red and looked ready to blow a fuse. "Bye mum," he said shortly.

"Have fun Ron," she replied and then left the room.

Ron shook his head when he left and Remus grinned at him. "I was going to get Hermione too, but there's something I need to do at home first. Now, since Harry's at my house there are special wards up. I'm going to have to go through first. Say exactly what I say. Only, once you reach my house you won't be able to go straight through, a bell will alert me that you're coming through and you'll have to state your name. Don't panic, okay? And then I'll let you through."

Ron nodded his head, thinking, "Wow, all this for Harry. They must be pretty worried that something is going to happen."

"Are you ready?" Remus asked. Ron nodded. Remus stepped up to the fireplace, threw in some floo powder and said, "Lupin Loft."

He almost immediately found himself back in his living room. The first thing he did was march to the window facing the backyard. He sighed with relief when he found that Sirius and Harry were still flying through the air. He then tapped his foot waiting for Ron to come through the fireplace. The bell finally rang and he yelled, "Name please."

Ron's voice came through the roaring flames, "Ronald Weasley."

Remus called, "Enter," and Ron came through the fireplace. "Take a seat Ron, I'll be right back. If you hear Harry coming hide in that closet okay? I want to see his expression when he sees you."

With that, he ran up the stairs two at a time.

Wormtail had finally managed to get the jar open, and sat panting inside it. It had taken so much effort for him to open it that he didn't have enough energy to get out of it. He had been resting for only one minute, when he heard running outside, and looked up in time to see the door burst open. "Oh Bloody Hell," the rat thought as he saw Remus stride into the room. He dove onto the floor and clasped his hands over the rat, as it tried to get away. His hands just missed the body of the rat, and it was slowly scurrying away. Remus rolled on his side in the direction the rat was traveling and slapped his hand down hard on the floor. He just barely pinned down Peter's tail and began laughing insanely.

"Gotcha you little shit," he said through his laughs. He held tightly to the rat and put him back in the jar. Screwing the lid back on very tightly and this time adding a charm that wouldn't allow anyone to open the jar simply by twisting it off. "Sirius," Remus thought, "He must have done something, there's no way that rat could have gotten out if Sirius hadn't been messing with it. I need to get this rat out of here ASAP."

Remus stuck the rat on a shelf in his closet and shut the door. He then tried to calm down a little before going downstairs. He glanced out his window and saw Harry and Sirius whiz by. It looked like they were heading towards the ground, getting ready to head inside. Time for Remus to return downstairs.

He hurriedly went down to the living room where Ron was getting comfy on the couch. "They're coming in, now a word of advice, don't look shocked at his state, or he's going to feel uncomfortable and self-conscious."

Ron nodded, looking nervous, and a bit worried about his friend. They heard the back door open, and Sirius and Harry's laughs came through the room. Sirius was walking down the hall with Harry in his arms, until they reached the living room. Ron and Remus stood up upon their entry, hoping to see the surprised look on Harry's face. What they were hoping to see, however, they did not. Harry turned bright red at the sight of his friend, and didn't even crack a smile.

Ron looked a little put out, he smiled meekly at his friend, "Hey mate. . . It's good to see you?" Ron had turned the statement into a question, as he was really unsure of himself due to Harry's facial expressions.

Harry nodded, and looked down sadly. Ron looked down as well, he was thoroughly hurt that his presence hadn't meant more to Harry.

Sirius had felt Harry stiffen the moment they had entered the room. His mood had gone from lighthearted to depressed by the sight of his friend, which really shocked Sirius. "Uh, Ron, I'm going to talk to Harry for a few minutes. Moony, I think you should come too. We'll be right back, Ron."

Ron nodded his head sadly and sat back down on the couch looking more than a little upset. Remus saw the look on his face and went to talk to him for a moment before following Harry and Sirius. "I don't think it's that he's not happy to see you, he probably just doesn't want you to see him like this. I should have known that it would happen. I think Sirius and I can get him to come around though, don't worry about it, okay?"

Ron nodded, but he looked a little skeptical.

Sirius had taken Harry upstairs to his room, so Remus had to climb the stairs yet again. Sirius was just setting Harry down on the bed when Remus entered the room.

They all just sat around silently for a few moments before Sirius spoke up, "Harry what's up? We thought you'd be happy to see Ron."

Harry looked at him for a moment before speaking, "Well, I am happy to see him, I guess. It's just, I don't want my friends to think I'm completely helpless, you know? I mean, I want my friends to see me the way they always have, not as an invalid who can't even walk through the house."

"Understandable, Harry," Remus said. "But Ron's your friend, he's going to be there for you. You'll have some moral support from someone your own age rather than two old men."

"Who are you calling an old man!" Sirius yelled indignantly.

"Also, didn't you say this morning that you would really like to see your friends again?"

"Yeah," Harry said, "But I didn't think it was really going to happen. Thanks, though. I don't want to sound ungrateful. You guys are awesome, it's just, I don't think I was totally ready to face Ron after what happened, you know?"

"We understand, Harry. Do you want Moony to take Ron home? I mean, we invited him over to give you something to do while we figure out what we're going to do with Peter, but if you'd rather he left. . ."

"No, I think I'll deal with it. Thanks for trying to make my day fun, I'm sure in the long run it'll be okay. You want to send him up?"

"I'll go get him," Sirius said before leaving the room, "I didn't even say hello really."

"So you're not mad right Harry?" Remus asked.

"No I'm not mad, sorry I wasn't as excited as you seemed to expect me to be. I was definitely shocked, I guess I was pretty rude there, huh?"

"Maybe a little, but it was completely understandable. I'm sure even Ron will understand."

Ron was slouched on the couch when Sirius made it back down to the living room. Sirius slid over to the couch and flopped down right next to Ron, throwing his arm over his shoulders. "Hello," he said smiling.

Ron looked at him like he was insane, but said, "hi," anyway.

"Soooooooo, how's the summer been going?"

"Fine," Ron said shortly, his mind clearly on Harry's unhappiness at the sight of him.

"So, you weren't too impressed with Harry's entrance were you?"

"Is he mad at me or something? What did I do?"

"It wasn't anything you did. No, he's not mad at you. He's just really insecure about his. . .umm. . .condition. However, Remus and I just talked to him, and he wants you to stay."

Ron perked up, "Really?! Are you sure?"

"Absolutely, and unless I'm much mistaken he feels like a shit-head for his, umm. . . rudeness."

Ron grinned at how easygoing Sirius was about the whole situation.

"Now, he's waiting upstairs for you. Follow me and I'll take you to him."

They both stood up and climbed the stairs. They heard laughter when they reached his room. Harry was telling Remus about flying, and how a squirrel who was in a tree dropped all of his acorns when Sirius and Harry had flown at it. It was really more like Harry was laughing and Remus was nodding his head like he thought Harry was insane.

"I guess you had to be there," Harry said through his laughter.

"Had to be where?" Sirius asked upon entering the room.

Harry grinned at him, and said, "Outside when that squirrel lost all of his acorns." Harry started laughing again, and Sirius soon joined in. Remus just shook his head, thinking they were crazy. Ron just grinned at the two. He was happy that his friend now had someone like a father that he could just goof off with.

Once Harry had recovered from his laughter, he glanced over at Ron, and smiled. He then looked pointedly at Sirius and Remus, who took the hint. Before leaving, Sirius said, "Have fun, and don't do anything the Marauders would do!"

Harry grinned as he watched them leave.

Ron stepped further into the room before saying, "Look, Harry, I'm really sorry about before. . ." Harry put his hand up to silence him.

"You've got nothing to be sorry for. I was the one acting like a complete prat. It's just. . .well. . .I didn't really want anybody seeing me like that. But I guess it was inevitable. I just wish Sirius and Remus had given me a little warning, you know?"

Ron nodded, relaxing a bit at the fact that Harry wasn't mad at him. He went and sat down at the bottom of Harry's bed.

"So, how's your summer been? How's the family?" Harry asked, relaxing as well.

"Everyone's great, the summer's been pretty eventful. Fred and George somehow got a ton of money and there inventions have been getting wilder and wilder. You have to see them!"

Harry grinned, happy his money had gone to something good.

"Have you talked to Hermione at all?" Harry asked. "I wonder why Remus didn't bring her over, too."

"Well, he told me he was going to, but that he had to get back here really quickly, he didn't tell me why though."

Harry was curious about that, but decided not to focus on it. "I did get one letter from her though. She's already studying for the OWL's and say's we should be as well. There so far away, that I would forget what I studied if I started studying now!"

Harry laughed at the indignant expression on his friends face. Nobody could get Ron fired up quite like Hermione.

Ron soon calmed down though, and his thoughts turned back to Harry. "So, what happened to you Harry. Remus wouldn't tell me anything except that it wasn't Voldemort."

Harry looked down, he knew he was going to have to tell his friends some day, but was hoping it wouldn't be for a while. He decided that it was going to be just as hard now as later, though, so he chose to tell Ron everything that had happened.

Harry talked for nearly half an hour non-stop about the abuse he had suffered over the years, before he even reached the part about the summer. Ron was shocked at what Harry had been through. And even more shocked that Harry had come out of it the way he had. Ron expected that someone who had been through torture like that all of his life would be a little more introverted and weak, which was the opposite of Harry. He may not be the most outgoing guy in the world, but he was definitely strong and self- confident.

"Why didn't you tell anyone Harry?" Ron asked tentatively, looking at his friend sympathetically.

"I didn't think there was anything anyone could do. I mean, half the wizarding world already had my back, I didn't want to add to anyone's worries."

"You should have told me or my parents. We would have taken you in! I know Dumbledore wouldn't let you stay this summer, but if he had known that you were getting the crap beat out of you, I think he would have changed his mind."

Harry looked down. "I know. . . It's just, I don't know, I just didn't want anyone to know what was happening. It made me feel. . . like I couldn't take care of myself, you know?"

"Harry you're barely fifteen!. . . Wait, you're not even fifteen yet! You're not supposed to take care of yourself!" Ron yelled, throwing his hands up. "Ah. . . you're hopeless you know that mate?"

Harry grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, it's just the way I am."

"That's why we like you Harry," Ron said, "Now why don't you finish your story?"

Harry took a deep breath, and began telling him about the most recent events with the Dursley's. He told him, in detail, about being called the murderer, being a human punching bag, and that last night at the Dursley's.

Harry was near tears when he finished. Thoughts of Cedric resurfacing in his head, as well as the guilt that always accompanied them. Ron was near tears as well. Both of them, however, were too manly to let their tears fall. Harry hastily wiped his dry, as Ron looked up at the ceiling, pretending to be staring at the ceiling fan. They were silent, for a few minutes while they got over their sadness.

"So," Ron began, "How'd you end up at Professor Lupin's?"

Harry broke into the first real smile Ron had seen on him since before the third task. He described how Sirius had sent that letter, and then they had rescued him. He also told Ron about the attack on the Dursley's, and how relieved he felt because of it.

"I know it's pretty awful of me to be happy they're dead, but it's just such a relief. Together they've caused me more pain then Voldemort, and now they can never hurt me again. So it's really just a relief."

Ron nodded, understanding completely. "I'm relieved for you mate."

Harry grinned at his friend. They talked for a while about much lighter topics, and then decided to play a little chess.

Meanwhile, downstairs, another pair of friends immersed in a deep conversation. However, it did not start off as amicably.

"What the Hell is the matter with you Sirius!" Remus yelled. "Do you WANT to be in hiding forever? If not, I'd really like to know why Wormtail escaped his jar after I left!"

Sirius looked at Remus shocked, and for a while remained speechless. Then, he surprised Remus by starting to cry.

BTW, I'm still working on the next chapter of All for You. I'm gonna work on it a little bit now, but it's 4th of July time, and I must partake in some of the festivities :)