Disclaimers: I do not own any of the characters written in my stories. I'm not earning anything from this so please don't sue me.

Okay, I know this is really late but I've got a major examinations coming up. I've got my last exam result and I can now satisfy myself knowing that I'll do well for that major exam.

I know it's short. But I didn't want to keep you all waiting.

CHAPTER 16

Silence descended the entire room. Remus and padfoot stared in fright. James looked at both of them in confusion while Marcus and Richard just stared back and forth repeatedly.

The gears in Remus's head were working to its limit.

'How am I going to get us out of this mess? There has to be a way. I can't reveal Sirius's secret. It's too dangerous. I don't trust them enough yet. And worse, I don't think they trust us yet either. Especially not after the display Padfoot put on. Damn Sirius and his temper. Damn him, damn him.' He thought to himself.

'Moony is so killing me. What am I going to do? What are we going to do? How could I have been so stupid? He deserved it though. I can't believe him... can't believe he got himself another wife. How dare he? Uh Oh! Moony is looking this way... he doesn't look very please with me...'

'Stupid dog.' But why did it strike me? It must have been something I said. I feel... I somehow feel that it understands me. Every word I said. But how? Why does Remus evade my question on the dog so often? If he's telling me such a big secret, why is he keeping such a small thing to himself? This is too much in one day. This is a mess. I think I believe them, I really do right now but it's so confusing. Things keep happening to me. Like that dog, I don't think it's what it looks but I do not know better. And if I am so suspicious of it, why do I feel safe with it? I don't care. I'll be rude if I have to but I will get all I need out of him about the dog.'

'Hmmn..hmn...' Richard, feeling awkward broke the silence with a soft, fake cough.

Again he repeated his question,

'Who's Sirius?'

Trying to take the easier way out, Remus pretended to look at his watch, look up and said formally,

'We've got to go. I've got another appointment to head for and I fear we will be late for it if we don't go now. I'm really, really sorry about the dog's behavior and I hope that it has not upset you.'

Turning on his toes, he head towards the dog as quickly as he can without raising suspicion, the movement didn't fool James.

'Wait a minute, before you go, I have one, last question, the one you didn't answer before. How can a dog live for so long? He's really active too.'

Remus turned to face James slowly, trying to find out what to say.

'He's magic. Magic animals live longer.'

His statement was calm and factual. I seem to make sense for Marcus and Richard believed it immediately.

For a while, James seemed to look as though he accepted it but looking at Remus once again, he accused him.

'You're lying.'

'Excuse me.'

'Something tells me, instincts probably, that you're lying to me.'

Remus cursed under his breath.

'He still knows, doesn't he? Nothing escapes him.'

Desperate, Remus did something he never thought he would do, he turned towards Richard and Marcus and said,

'I'm taking him with me for a while but please don't worry, if he's not here by midnight, you are free to report to your...urm...what do you call them... policemen.'

Barely giving anyone time to absorb what he said, he grabbed James hand and apparated out. Padfoot, seeing Remus apparating out, knew that there was nothing he could do. Finding a nearby window, he jumped out of it and headed to the place they planned.

Upon reappearing in the living room of Remus's house, James pulled himself away from Remus immediately and screamed.

'What are you trying to do???'

'James, James please, just sit down.'

'Why are you doing this?'

'I couldn't be honest with you in front of your friends. A man's life is at stake.'

'I trust them.' James said fervently.

Shaking his head solemnly, Remus stated his own.

'But I have yet to be able to do the same.'

There was silence for a while as both men sorted their thoughts out. In some ways, they are happier, but in others...

For James, his thoughts were in a mess. 'I believe all he says and I think I am beginning to trust him... them. But that dog, there's something about that dog. I want to know more about it. My mind is telling me to learn more. Wait a minute... I've seen him before... in front of a door... he...

For Remus, they had found what they wanted and the result was great. Unfortunately, fate took a cruel twist and the situation was beginning to get out of hand.

James, suddenly feeling awkward in the silence, asked the question which had been playing around in his head.

'Padfoot... Padfoot is human, isn't he?'

Shocked at the question, Remus looked up quickly, wanting to know if that was really said or did he imagine it.

'Did you say something, because... I thought I heard something... forget it, I might have imagined it.'

'I did ask you a question. Padfoot is human.'

Curiosity and fear surged through Remus.

'How does he know? How much does he know?' he thought to himself.

Out loud, he asked.

'What makes you say that?'

'I've seen him before, just like I've seen you... In dreams, in the middle of the night. You're not who you appear to be. You're just like him; you can change yourself into a wolf, just like he can change himself into a dog, whoever he is. I remember seeing him, in front of a door, licking me then changing himself into a human being.'

'James...'

At that moment, a low growl came from the door. Before going to James's place, Remus had enchanted a portkey to bring Sirius back in case of an emergency.

'Padfoot, hold on.'

Remus opened the door and Padfoot trotted in and sat down on the furthest couch there is from James.

James has no idea why but he felt a slight stab of pain seeing the dogs fear on him.

Remus sat himself down on the couch and put a hand on Padfoot's back. He had made up his mind when James told him he had dreamt about him.

'Padfoot, it's time for you to change back.'

Padfoot looked up to Moony in disbelief.

In his mind, the thought rang loudly through his ears,

'WHAT!!!!'

Padfoot shook his head violently. However much he wanted James back, how much he wanted to trust James again, this was no longer the James he knew.

James sitting at the side, watching the scenario unfold in front of him, worked his brilliant mind, trying his best to piece the puzzle together.

Thinking to himself,

'The dog... he is the key to a lot of things. By unlocking his secret, I think I can find out more. I know him... I'm sure I do... that man, that clean shaven man in my dreams... he looks... no ... but they reacted just now... Could he be? There was never a trail... never enough evidence... I've never believe him to be guilty... I've never understood but... he never seemed the kind...It can't be, can it?'

Wanting to test the water, James braved himself and called out softly,

'Sirius?'

Immediately, two heads snapped towards him. He knew he was right.

'Please Sirius, tell me what's going. Moony, Padfoot, help me understand what's going on.'

Thinking to himself,

'Please... please let me be right. Please let him be innocent.'

Continuing out loud,

'Please Sirius, I know who you are and I've always believed that you're innocent. I've seen you before, in dreams. I just never related the guy in my dreams with the guy I saw in posters but I'm sure it's you. It just struck me and I don't think I'm wrong. I've never believed you murdered that 13 people. There wasn't a trail if I remembered correctly.

Padfoot could not contain himself much longer. Letting out a loud ruff, he turned himself back into human and stood awkwardly in front of James.

There, standing in front of James stood Sirius Black, clean-shaven and looking healthy after all the rest and looking after he had gotten from Remus.

'I don't care anymore. If what you just said was all a lie, a trick to make me reveal myself, I'll willingly go back to Azkaban ...

'No, Sirius!'

'I will willingly go back to Azkaban at your hands. It was after all my fault and my mistake.'

James blinked twice as he appeared before him. His guess was right, this guy is the guy he has seen on posters, but more importantly, he looked like the guy that he dreamt of in dreams where he told him of his fears.

With this man's presence, even though he is blamed for murder, he knew everything he is told by them would be true. He has already realized that he is able to see through Remus.

Picking himself up from the couch, he brought himself close to the awkward standing man. Turning towards Remus, he brought from his memories what he thinks belong to this man.

'Moony, I believe.'

Shocked, Moony stood up.

Grabbing both Padfoot and Moony in a manly hug, he told them solemnly and sincerely,

'Thanks for finding me.'

Padfoot and Moony glowed at that. Returning the hug, Padfoot's old humorous ways came back.

'Anytime. Can't have you getting lost in that big world out there, don't think you will last long.'

They smiled at that.

They were not as close as they used to be seeing that the only comfort James has is that he feels like he can trust them but they were quick on building the path to where their friendship once stood and soon, they will once again be inseparable.

NEXT TWO CHAPTERS: YEAH!!! James now knows that he has a family.

Sirius and Remus know that Henry is James. But... It's been

Long. Can they trust him with Padfoot's identity? Will he

Except a so-called murderer in his house?

Will there be jealousy between Sirius, Remus and Marcus and

Richard for James's friendship.

I hope to get a few reviews for this. GOOD or BAD.

Thanks a lot.