Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books, Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros. Inc. and any other company that managed to sink their teeth into the merchandising outfit. I own nothing at all.

Apologies for the huge delay in updating. The hiatus is still more or less in effect: profile will link to my livejournal which will explain.

However, the next five letters of this fic have been written, progressing the plot quite nicely. Expect a few regular updates as I attempt to kick myself into a decent updating pattern :) For Gryffindor Princess, Slytherin Prince readers: have also been working very hard on that too.

There's no recommended fic this week: laziness strikes. Badly. Thank you to my beta, Cyropi the amazing, as ever. Hope you enjoy!

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Dear Sirius,

I finally saw Remus today. He didn't look too good, but what can you expect when the moon is full? I bet Snape makes the potion taste foul on purpose. Almost anything can taste nice with the right ingredients. Snape's just got a broom up his-

The mental images are making me stop. Sorry if I made you feel ill with that thought. You're lucky though, Snape isn't constantly in the same building as you during your summer holidays. It's the only chance I have to be away from him.

I did speak to Remus, eventually. We managed to have a completely awkward conversation about nothing in particular. It's a talent.

I found a really neat spell to teach the DA. It's a shield spell, more powerful than the ones we learn in Defence Against the Dark Arts. As soon as we get back, I'm learning it. I owled Cho back, and Hermione, Ron and her are owling the members to get them to brush up on their work. Learn theory, and stuff. Trust Hermione to think of that, eh? But she's lending me loads of books and scrolls. I think I'm going to love it when I become an Auror. Tonks and Kingsley said they'd lend me some books if they could steal them from work. I told them not to break any rules for me, but somehow I doubt they'll listen. I'm not exactly the best person to lecture them about sticking to rules, am I?

Bill is on holiday for a few weeks, so he's staying with us, when he's not running off to meet his girlfriend. You remember Fleur Delacour? Ron can't believe it. He keeps gagging whenever Bill starts going on about her. Although Bill doesn't get much chance, what with Mrs. Weasley trying to grab him and cut his hair all the time. Bill is really cool, though. He's going to show Ron and me some tricks that he got taught when he started working for Gringotts.

We've got to finish our homework soon. I wish the professors would all go senile and let us off all our summer work. Fat chance of that happening, though. At least we don't have Defence Against the Dark Arts homework. I wonder who we'll be getting next year? It would be great if Remus could come back and teach us. I think I learnt more from him than I did from any others. It's a shame that Dumbledore can't let him back in; although right now, with the mood Dumbledore's in, it wouldn't surprise me if he let a vampire or something in to teach us.

Dumbledore still hasn't properly spoken to me. I got half an explanation after you left, and that was it. I wish he would treat me like an adult. I'm not a useless little boy any more, Sirius, so why does he still treat me like I am?

Maybe you could talk to him. I hate to keep nagging you to do things for me, but Dumbledore just doesn't listen. At the Ministry, though, and afterwards, I saw him for what he truly is. An extremely powerful, incredible wizard- and all the same, an old man with more than his fair share of troubles. It made me realise that he is human after all. It's funny, isn't it? All through Hogwarts, I've never been truly afraid, because I've always believed that Dumbledore could make everything better. Now, I can see that he's not omnipotent and omnipresent. And I have more respect for him than ever before. I guess I just wish he could see me for what I am, the way I see him. He probably sees me as immature, and thinks I won't listen. Please tell him I'm not. He listens to you more than he listens to me. Sometimes I think he never listens to me.

He came here yesterday, but do you think he spoke to me? No. He just ignored me, Ron and Hermione. Maybe if he told us what was going on, all of it, then we'd be much better prepared. The Extendable Ears weren't much help last year, and I doubt they'll be any good this year either. You wouldn't have had to go into hiding abroad again, if we were told things, because I'd have paid attention and worked hard at my Occlumency lessons.

If he speaks to me soon, I'll tell him I know. I'm fed up of everyone talking about you as if you're dead. You spoke to me in my dreams again. If you teach me the spell you used, maybe I can use it too. All you ever tell me is that you're still alive, and I shouldn't give up hope. I've never given up hope, Sirius, and I know you're still alive. When you come back, and we catch that lying rat Wormtail, we'll have a huge party! As soon as your name is cleared, I'm moving in here permanently and getting away from Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Ickle Duddykins.

Ron's giving me funny looks now; I guess I've spent too long writing this letter. Hedwig's out hunting at the moment, but as soon as she gets back, I'll send it. Try and talk to Dumbledore for me?

Be careful!

Harry.

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On the count of three. One, two, three:

Aawwwwwwww bless!

Next chapter sees the trip to Diagon Alley, and soon a return to Hogwarts. And then things really kick off. See you next chapter!