Title: Repetitions

Pairing: H/D

Rating: PG-13 to R

Warnings: Complete AU, Set in America, Slash, WIP

Summary: Orphaned Harry Potter is adopted by Sirius Black just before his 17th birthday. In his new town he begins a relationship with Draco Malfoy and tries to uncover the mystery of his parent's death.

A very pleased smile rested upon Harry's face when he emerged from Dumbledore's office. Not only had he gotten Severus for Homeroom but he had also gotten the last spot in his Honors Chemistry class. Harry took a moment to thank the Dursleys. For if it hadn't been for them Harry would have never spent hours locked in his room with nothing to do but study, thus enabling him to take the advanced class.

Sirius arrived five minutes later with a stern looking lady introduced as Mrs. McGonagall, the English teacher. For the millionth time that week Harry was given a thorough look over and was told how much he looked like his father. After a few moments of polite conversation he and Sirius headed back to the parking lot.

"Took ya long enough," proclaimed Ron as he leaned against his car. "Did Dumbledore give you that long spiel about the founding of Hogsmeade?"

Harry nodded and pulled out his schedule. "I'm in Slytherin."

Ron made a face and yanked Harry's schedule from him. "Yuck! Now you have to take all those math and science classes. Oh! We have art and gym class toget-What is Sirius doing?"

Harry quickly turned, expecting Sirius to be behind him, instead he saw Sirius slowly inching towards Severus' big pick-up truck with his head swinging around as though he were looking for something.

"What are you doing, Sirius?" called Harry.

"Ron, get the car started. Harry, you open the back door and get in the front seat," replied Sirius in a loud whisper. Harry and Ron hesitantly complied and once the two boys were settled in the car, Ron asked, yet again, "What in the hell is he doing?"

Harry shrugged and watched in confusion as Sirius approached the passenger door of the truck. He reached into partially open window and a few seconds later opened the door. Chilling realization dawned on Harry as Sirius waved his hands in a come hither motion. Harry slammed his hand against his forehead. "Oh shit..."

"What?"

"Sirius is stealing Snuffles."

"What's a Snuffles?"

"Mr. Snape's dog."

Ron looked at Harry, eyes as large as saucers. "You're shitting me, right?"

"Nope."

"But...but that man is so mean and he will kill-" Ron jerked his head out of his window and frantically yelled, "Sirius, you can't steal Mr. Snape's dog!"

"It's...not...his...dog!" panted Sirius who by now had taken a more forceful approach and was attempting to pull Snuffles out of the truck.

"He's lost his freaking mind!" exclaimed Ron.

Harry was inclined to agree. Especially after Sirius leaped into the cab of the truck and reappeared a minute later with Snuffles firmly gripped in his arms. Sirius awkwardly carried the yelping dog across the parking lot, pausing every second or so to strengthen and adjust his hold. Harry might have found the sight rather funny were it not for the gravity of the situation. Both Harry and Ron twisted in their seats to stare open-mouthed at Sirius as he pushed Snuffles into the car

"Sirius," begun Harry. "This is going to far. You can't steal Snuffles!"

"Especially not when he belongs to Mr. Snape!" piped in a hysterical Ron. "For God's sake, he tried to kill a student in my freshman year for accidentally touching his damn hat. What do think he gonna do when he finds-"

"You exaggerate, Ron," interrupted Sirius, calmly as he patted the whimpering dog's head. "And I'm not stealing him. Snuffles has belonged to me since I was in college. I'm merely bringing him home."

Harry and Ron exchanged a look. Biting his lip, Harry turned to Sirius and tried a new approach. "Sirius, I really think he wants to stay with Mr. Snape. I mean look at him, he's crying."

Sirius looked into Snuffles watery eyes and sighed heavily. "He just has to get used to me again."

"But-"

"Ron, we had better going," said Sirius. "Severus will be back soon."

"But Sirius-"

"Don't you 'but Sirius' me, Harry. Snuffles is coming home and that's final." The look of grim determination on Sirius's face left little room for argument.

They had just passed through downtown Hogsmeade when Sirius suddenly groaned and dug into his back pocket, pulling out a black leather wallet.

"Shit. I forgot about Remus' wallet. He left it at the birthday party and I told him I would return it today."

Ron backtracked a few blocks and pulled alongside Lupin, Shacklebolt and Tonks. Sirius handed the wallet over to Harry asking him to take it to Remus, as he should stay with the still whimpering Snuffles.

As he entered the law firm Harry braced himself for an olfactory assault that was not forthcoming. The new paint smell had dissipated and Harry inhaled with relief. A deep chuckle sprang from a corner.

"Yup. You can breathe in here now," said Shacklebolt from were he stood next to a filing cabinet. "So what can I do for you, Harry? Here to see Remus?"

Harry nodded and Shacklebolt gestured towards a hallway. "He's back in the staff room. It's the last door on the right."

Harry started to walk down the hall when a door opened and out stormed Tonks, now in a long black wig reminiscent of Cher in her 'Sonny and Cher' days. Remus bolted out of the same room and twisted Tonks around so that she was facing him.

"Leave me alone, Remus!" shouted Tonks as she pushed Remus away and stomped deeper into the hall. Harry glanced nervously over to Shacklebolt who gave a wry grin and said, "They fight like cats and dogs all the time."

Harry shifted on his feet and said, "Perhaps I should-"

"Just listen to me, damn it." Remus' voice exploded through the office but his touch was gentle when he gripped Tonk's wrists in his hands to hold her still.

"No, I've already given up my clients. I'm not doing any more."

"I just want..." Remus broke off and pressed Tonks against the wall. The two stared at each other with a strange calmness before slamming their mouths together in a violent kiss.

Harry let out a load gasp and the wallet he carried tumbled to the floor. Remus and Tonks seemed completely oblivious to Harry's presence and continued kissing. He stood there in shock but Harry's trance-like state was soon broken by an urgently shouted, "Harry!"

He jerked around to the sound was greeted by a very panicked Ron. Ron ran over and grabbed Harry's arm. "We have to hurry! We just saw Mr. Snape's truck!"

Still in shock, Harry allowed himself to be dragged out of the law office. It wasn't until they reached the street that Harry broke from his reverie and tried to pull away. "Wait! Wait!"

"C'mon Harry!" yelled Sirius, who had his entire upper half hanging out the car window as he looked up and down the street.

It was not their persistence but rather Severus' big truck barreling down the road that lit a spark under Harry. He hadn't even fully gotten into the car before Ron was pealing off.

"Oh god. Oh god. Oh god," droned Ron as he drove down the streets of Hogsmeade. "What are we going to do?"

"Just drive!" commanded Sirius. "He won't try anything as long as we stay in Hogsmeade."

And indeed, both Ron and Severus strictly obeyed the speed limits as they circled the streets of Hogsmeade. Severus maintained a very close distance often times no more than a few feet from Ron's car. When he that close, Severus would lift his fist and shake it menacingly at them. Harry spent the time staring hopelessly at Sirius, the scene at Remus' law firm repeating itself in his head.

"Shit, Ron, you better head towards the river," said Sirius, as they passed the post office for the fourth time. "Sheriff Umbitch is getting suspicious."

Harry followed Sirius' gaze to where a squat, dumpy looking woman with dark curly hair and toad-like face stood next to a police car. Donned in an ill-fitting tan uniform, she twisted her hat in her hands and eyed Ron's car warily.

"Fucking HELL!" sobbed Ron as he turned onto a side street and drove towards the river. Severus followed, of course, increasing his speed as they drove further and further away from downtown Hogsmeade. Finally, they reached a long stretch of deserted highway with nothing but rows of corn on one side and the murky waters of the Mississippi River on the other.

"Speed up, Ron!" shrieked Sirius. "He's gaining on us!"

"No!" cried Ron, even as he accelerated the car. "We can't run forever. I-I haven't got much gas and-LET'S JUST GIVE HIM THE DAMN DOG BACK!"

"Never!" Sirius pulled Snuffles into a tight hug. "He'll have to pull this dog from my cold dead body."

That's when they heard the gunshot. Everyone screamed and slouched in their seats. The car violently swerved to the right, grazing the first layer of corn. A stalk of corn flew into the car and popped Harry right in the face. Harry glared at the offending stalk before throwing it back out the window as Ron attempted to steer the car back onto the road.

"What are you doing?" asked Sirius, as Ron brought the car to a stop.

Ron answered with unintelligible blubbering.

"Sirius...He shot at us," said Harry, attempting to be lone voice of reason as he cowered in the space beneath the dashboard. "We can't-"

"He didn't shoot at us," said Sirius, insanely calm as he petted Snuffles. "That was just a warning shot. Severus would never-"

Three shots. Right in succession. Two of them hit the back tires and the car abruptly sunk, jerking everyone back. The third hit Ron's side mirror. Ron's mouth was completely stretched open, his face scrunched up as he stared at the obliterated mirror. He turned to Harry, high pitched choking sounds spewing forth.

"Go, Ron go!" insisted Sirius. Ron shook his head violently; he raised trembling hands to the steering wheel and gripped it tightly as he looked in the rearview mirror. Harry took the moment to take charge. "Listen, Sirius, this what we are going to do. You are going to open the door and let Snuffles out."

"Oh fuck, he's coming," whispered Ron.

Breathing loudly, Harry looked out of his side mirror and saw Severus walking towards them, a long barrel shotgun slung over his shoulder.

"Go Ron!" repeated Sirius, urgently.

"But my car..." trailed Ron. He resumed his blathering.

"I'll buy you a new car. Just drive!"

"No shit?" asked Ron, suddenly very composed and perking in his seat.

"Yes! Now drive!"

Ron did not need any further encouragement. He slammed on the accelerator creating a shower of sparks as the back end drudged against the asphalt. Harry remained squatted underneath the dashboard with his head banging uncomfortably against the glove department.

Unfortunately, Ron did not get very far and the car completely died not even 100 yards later.

"Fuck!" yelled Sirius. "Roll up your windows and lock the doors!"

Against his better judgment, Harry did just that. He was sorely tempted to open his door and release the trapped dog but seeing his Godfather's fanatical face quickly disabused him of the notion. And he didn't want to cause Sirius any suffering seeing that others were doing that quite enough. Feeling a surge of resent towards Remus and Tonks, Harry pushed the lock down with much greater force than necessary.

Severus approached the car and tapped the barrel of his gun against Sirius window. "Let the dog out, Black." Came Severus' muted voice as he sneered at Sirius through the glass.

"I will not!" said Sirius, gripping Snuffles even closer.

"You know I won't hesitate to blow a whole through this window."

Sirius smirked at Severus. "No, you won't! You won't risk hitting Snuffles."

Severus returned the smirk and brought the back end of his gun to the window. He slammed it a few times causing the window to crack but not completely break.

"They're both fucking crazy!" declared Ron, giving Harry an incredulous look. "All this over a damn dog!"

"Such fowl language, Mr. Weasley," said Severus in a stern teacher-y type of voice. "That will be two detentions when school resumes. Another ten to you both for helping this mad man steal my dog."

"You can't do that!" Ron looked over at Harry. "He can't do that, can he?"

Harry shrugged helplessly. "How am I supposed to know?"

Severus continued pounding his gun against the window and Sirius pushed himself against the opposite end of on the car. Snuffles was yapping behind him, very excited at seeing Severus. Finally, Severus managed to crack the window enough that he was able to push the glass in making it fall into the car. He reached around the shards that remained in the window, unlocked the car and pulled the door open. Pointing his gun at Sirius, he calmly said, "Let him out."

"Over my dead body!" hissed Sirius, glaring at Severus.

Severus grinned maliciously and bent into the car. He pressed the tip of the gun under Sirius' chin. "You've already pushed me enough this week, Black. Do not try my patience any longer. Let. Him. Out."

"You won't do it," said Sirius, with great confidence.

Severus pumped the gun and he nodded in Harry's direction. "Think of the boy, Black. You're no good to him dead. He'll have to go back to those people."

"We both know you're not going to shot me so you might as well-"

Everyone but Severus screamed when the gunshot sounded in the car. Harry frantically leaped up to look over his seat, terrified of what he might see. Sirius lay there, clutching his crotch, staring crossed-eyed at the smoke curling up from the seat where Severus had blown a hole right between his legs.

"I can't believe you did that!" cried Sirius in a high, shrill voice. Snuffles managed to claw his way out from behind Sirius and leaped at Severus who pulled him out of the car and calmly walked away. Sirius immediately scrambled out of the car.

"Come back, Snuffles!" called Sirius. Neither Severus nor Snuffles looked back. Sirius fell to the ground and sat cross-legged on the highway, wistfully staring after Severus' truck as it made a u-turn and headed back towards Hogsmeade. Ron and Harry looked at each other and slowly got of the car.

Harry stared at Sirius sadly and sat next to him. "Sirius, maybe we can get another-"

"I don't want another dog, Harry," said Sirius, quietly. He continued in a much louder, resentful voice. "I raised that damn mutt from the second he was born. He was such a tiny little puppy, no bigger than a mouse. Even his mother didn't want him and I had to feed him for weeks with just a little tube. Everyone said just let him die. Including that BASTARD Severus! That dog wouldn't even be alive today if weren't for me and this is how he repays me."

A look of righteous anger passed Sirius' face and he shook his head. "It's just the principle of the matter, you know?"

Sirius looked up expectantly at Harry who, in turn, dutifully nodded. Sirius stood up and slapped the dust off the back of his jeans. He headed back towards the car and grimaced when he saw the blasted tires.

"Eh..." He began uncertainly. "Did I really tell Ron I would buy him a new car?"

"You sure did!" spoke up Ron, very elated.

Sirius' grimace deepened and he sighed heavily. "Alright, everyone get what you want to keep out of the car. Now, this is what we are going to tell Molly..."

Harry stood there holding his brand new helmet under one arm and the papers he had gotten from the high school under the other as he watched the back end of the Ford Anglia plunge deeper and deeper into the Mississippi river. After a large flurry of bubbles the car had completely disappeared. Ron gave the car a stoic salute. "Good riddance to bad rubbish!"

"Well, that's that," said Sirius, he motioned up the road. "Hog's Head should be just a mile up that way. We can hitch a ride with the Thestrals."

"Hell yeah!" exclaimed Ron. He grinned widely at Harry as they followed Sirius up the road. "God, I love Sirius," he said, completely forgetting that he had declared the man certifiably insane not even 30 minutes ago.

Harry was extremely quiet as they walked towards Hogs Head. Now that the ordeal with Snuffles was over, he couldn't help but fully think about Remus and Tonks. He was at a loss over what to do. Did he tell Sirius he had seen them kissing? Did he confront Remus? Did he try to pretend it never happened? Ron aptly filled Harry's silence; chatting incessantly about the exact type of car he wanted.

Hog's Head was a very grubby looking bar situated on the outskirts of a sprawling industrial park. A rusty old Cadillac was the only car in the small crowded parking lot. The remaining slots were filled with about 15 motorcycles, each them of differing makes and models but every one of them had strange winged horses with dragon-like heads and skeletal bodies airbrushed on the peanut tanks.

The inside of Hog's Head was even grubbier than the outside and consisted of two rooms. The front room was completely empty save for a very thin old man with a long gray beard wiping down a chipped and scarred counter. He reminded Harry of a grungy Mr. Dumbledore.

"Hey, no kids allowed in here," said the man in a gravelly voice.

"We won't be long, Aberforth," replied Sirius. "I just need to talk to Tenebrus."

"Still, better make them wait outside," countered Aberforth. "Umbridge has been breaking my balls all month. Last thing I need is for her to come in here and find under aged kids."

Sirius motioned for Harry and Ron to go outside as he headed for a door where loud laughter and music escaped from the closed room. Harry and Ron returned to the parking lot. Ron immediately picked up his car talk, asking Harry if he should get his soon-to-be-new-Porsche-Mercedes-or-BMW in red or black. Harry, distracted by thoughts of Remus and Tonks, did not answer; instead he stared off into space focusing mindlessly at a blue bird drinking from a puddle. That was, until Ron leaned over, bringing his face in Harry's direct line of sight causing him to start slightly.

"You okay? You're just kinda...I dunno...spacey."

"Yeah, I'm okay," said Harry, absently. He wondered if he should tell Ron. Maybe he would know what to do.

"Are you sure?" Ron looked very uneasy. "Are you thinking about your parents?"

"What? Oh...no, it's not that. It's just..."

Harry trailed off, hearing the door to Hog's Head open. Sirius walked out, animatedly talking to a very large beefy older man with a completely baldhead and a magnificent handlebar moustache. He wore jeans and a black t-shirt with the sleeves cut off revealing sun burnt arms covered in various tattoos. Harry noticed that one of them was the very same strange horse that decorated the motorcycles.

"Harry, Ron, this is Tenebrus and these-" Sirius gestured towards a group of people who had spilled out of the bar behind him, each of them clad in varying levels of denim and leather. "-are the Thestrals."

"So you're Harry. Heard all about you..." said Tenebrus, looking at him in that accessing way Harry had become accustomed to in the past few days. "God, you look just like-"

"My father?" supplied Harry. Tenebrus let out a gruff laugh and said, "I wasn't gonna say that but now that you mention it." He raised his hand in a waving motion. "Let's ride!"

For the next minute or so the air was filled with rumbling and growling motorcycles as the Thestrals brought their machines to life. Sirius sat behind Tenebrus and Ron quite happily slid behind a very tan, bleached blonde female in cut-off jean shorts and a leather vest. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Watch it, Gingersnaps!" growled Tenebrus over roar of the bikes. "Those who manhandle my woman find themselves with nothing to manhandle with."

The female laughed as Ron quickly moved his hands to a more modest place. Harry eyed the remaining Thestrals nervously as he put on his helmet. He rolled up his school papers and pushed them deep into his pockets. He finally approached a muscular black man with a green bandana wrapped around long dreadlocks. The man smiled encouragingly at him and nodded for Harry to come over. "Hang tight," The man instructed as he wheeled the bike forward.

And off they went. All of Harry's previous concerns and distractions momentarily subsided as he gave into the exhilaration of riding with the Thestrals. In the blur of wind and countryside, Harry occasionally got a glimpse of Ron who looked equally thrilled with his body pressed close against the blonde. Catching Harry's eye, Ron slowly nodded his head and flashed a thumbs up sign. The ride was much slower, though none less exciting, as they traveled through the streets of Hogsmeade.

Soon, far too soon for Harry, they were on the familiar road that led up to Grimmauld Place. The Thestrals lined their bikes up on the front lawn and Harry begrudgingly got off the bike. The ground felt shaky underneath him as adrenaline rushed through his veins. Ron ran over to Harry with look of pure ecstasy etched on his face. It matched Harry's own.

"That was awesome!" Ron stomped the ground for emphasis. "Fucking awesome!"

Sirius invited the Thestrals to stay for lunch and quickly ordered several pizzas. As they waited for the food to arrive Sirius told the Thestrals about Harry's Harley Davidson Firebolt causing a mass exodus to the garage. The Thestrals surrounded the bike eyeing it with much approval. Tenebrus rolled the Firebolt out to the front and fired it up.

"You hear that rumble?" he asked, looking over at Harry with great seriousness. Harry felt as though his life depended on the way he answered. "Yeah?"

Tenebrus revved the bike up. "That is how you know you're riding a Hog. Don't no other bike sound like that."

The clustered Thestrals all grunted and murmured in agreement. Tenebrus shut the bike off and lovingly ran his hands down the bike's tank. "This is a very sweet scoot, ya got here." He looked over at Harry, a deadly glint in his eye. "I'm going to consider it a personal insult if you don't take care of it."

Harry gulped loudly. Tenebrus' statement unleashed a series of speeches about proper motorcycle maintenance. Every Thestral had something to say about it and each them were very adamant about their convictions. Harry looked over at Sirius, slightly overwhelmed. Sirius merely laughed and told Harry to pay close attention, that he would need to know it all.

The pizzas soon arrived and abruptly ended the lectures. The delivery guy took one fearful look at the assorted bikers and did not wait around long enough to get his tip. The tables and chairs from Harry's birthday party were retrieved from the garage except this time they were placed in the frown lawn. Ron managed to procure a spot right next to the bleached blonde, who Harry learned was named Crystal, and flirted shamelessly with her whenever Tenebrus was out of earshot. The fact that Crystal was well into her forties and attached to a very intimidating biker did not seem to hinder Ron's attentions at all.

"Tenebrus is coming this way," lied Harry, whispering in Ron's ear. Ron immediately scooted away from Crystal and anxiously looked around. He punched Harry's shoulder, realizing he was in no danger. Harry's entire body shook with silent laughter, it came to a sudden still as he saw Remus' car drive up to the house. Harry walked over to where Sirius stood in deep conversation with Jackson, the dreadlocked man Harry had ridden with. A sense foreboding doom twisted itself in Harry's stomach. He stood in front of Sirius, wanting to block him from Remus' view even though Harry knew it really wouldn't accomplish anything.

Harry still hadn't decided what to do about Remus' betrayal but he couldn't bring himself to do nothing. So he stood there jumping in front of Remus, glaring at the man whenever he tried to capture Sirius' attention.

"What's the matter with you, Harry?" asked the frustrated lawyer.

"Nothing," replied Harry, very curtly.

"Hey! What's going on?" asked Sirius, finally noticing Remus' arrival.

"That's what I would like to know," said Remus. "Kinglsey said that Harry was acting strange in the office when he saw me kiss Tonks and then Ron Weasley stormed in and dragged him out screaming something about Severus Snape."

Harry was shocked; he couldn't believe that Remus just outright admitted to kissing Tonks. Sirius' reaction surprised him even further.

"Never mind Severus Snape," said Sirius, quickly. "You were kissing Tonks? Good job!" Sirius pounded Remus on the shoulder.

"Don't you care?" asked Harry, his eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Care about what?"

"About Remus kissing Tonks!"

"Why would I-oh shit!" Sirius erupted into loud cackles that drew the attention of everyone at Grimmauld Place. "Harry, Harry, Harry..." said Sirius between breathless chuckles. "Remus and I are NOT together."

"But I thought-"

"I am not gay!" declared Remus, staring at Harry in wonder. "I am very straight. Very, very, very straight, thank you very much!"

"Got enough verys in there?" Sirius' laughing renewed tenfold. It was a full minute before he was able to compose himself. "So why did you think Remus were together, Harry?"

Harry stood there, his face bright red and feeling very stupid as he looked back and forth between Remus and Sirius. He was aware that every single person there was waiting for his answer. "Well," he hesitantly began. "Remus stays over a lot and I saw you hugging and..." Harry then realized he really had no concrete reason to believe that Remus and Sirius were lovers.

"Oh...that..." said Sirius, suddenly very grim. "See, Tonks and Remus here are married, or at least they used to be. Been married and divorced twice already. Even though they are divorced they still live together and Remus stays with me when Tonks goes for her chemo treatments. She's, ah, dying of breast cancer."

"She's not dying, damn it!" interjected Remus with great force causing Harry and Sirius to flinch. "She'll be fine. At least she would be is she would quit acting like it not even happening. She thinks she can do what ever the hell she wants. She needs to stay at home and rest but no! Not Nymphadora Tonks!"

This was obviously a favored rant of Remus' and he continued in a similar vein for several minutes. Sirius managed to calm him down somewhat and Remus stalked over to tree stump and kicked at it madly.

"That was a really bad choice of words," admitted Sirius, looking very shamed as he continued his explanation. "Remus doesn't like to stay at their house alone when she getting treatments so he comes here. Tonks won't let him come to the hospital with her. That hug you saw was probably just me comforting him."

"Oh," Harry said meekly. He felt horrible and went to apologize to Remus. Remus had calmed down considerably and brushed aside Harry's apologies saying he had no need to apologize for a little misunderstanding. He smiled weakly at Harry. "Really, no harm done. It will cheer Tonks up when I tell her about it. She was very worried about you." Remus laughed. "No wonder you looked like you wanted kill me."

Harry smiled shamefacedly and returned to where he had sat next Ron. Remus decided to stay for lunch. It wasn't long before he brought up Severus again.

"Really, Remus, it was nothing," said Sirius. "We just had a little disagreement over Snuffles' living arrangements."

Ron nearly choked on his pizza. "He calls that a little disagreement?"

"I can't believe you're still chasing after that cowboy," said Jackson. "You don't want to get mixed up with that type."

Sirius snorted. "Says the biker. Besides," A coy smile fluttered across his smug face, his words fraught with meaning, "Who says I'm still chasing him?"

Harry's mouth fell open, Ron's soon followed. Their partially chewed bites of pizza rolled out of their mouths and dropped to the table in rather disgusting looking balls of mushed crust and cheese.

"Does that mean what I think that means?" Ron asked Harry after several seconds of awe-struck contemplation. Harry made a choking sound and nodded.

"Damn...Mr. Snape is gay?" Ron's eyebrows were pressed together as he tried to process this fantastical bit of information. A similar look rested on Harry's face, though he looked far happier about it. Ron stood up and looked over at Sirius. "But he tried to kill you!"

Sirius snickered. "That's just foreplay."

"I'd hate to see what you do as the main act," said Remus.

"I wouldn't mind," said Harry, dreamily.

Thankfully, only Ron heard him and the red-headed boy shuddered. Even as Ron attempted to get the images of Severus and Sirius together out of his head, Harry embraced them fully, only substituting himself as Severus' lover. He felt pangs of guilt, not only for lusting after Sirius' apparent boyfriend but also because it somehow seemed as though he was cheating on Draco. Which was right ridiculous when he thought about it, after all, they had only shared one kiss and hadn't even gone on a date.

After everyone had finished eating, Remus returned to his office. The Thestrals stuck around for Harry's riding lessons, often shouting out tips and instructions. Mostly they laughed at Harry when he did something horribly wrong and went tumbling to the ground. Harry felt incredibly inept around all the experienced bikers. Ron watched the proceedings with much jealousy. That was, until he noticed Tenebrus was greatly distracted and he resumed his courting of a very amused Crystal. So enamored was Ron, that he did not notice Tenebrus' looming presence until the biker picked him up and easily tossed him into a pile of dried leaves.

The Thestrals left a couple hours later with promises to return tomorrow to help Sirius teach Harry the ways of the biker. Though their help mainly consisted of showing off their own skills and mocking Harry in his frequent failed attempts to control the Firebolt.

The lesson ended completely when Mrs. Weasley arrived with Ginny a half hour later in a white minivan to continue cleaning Grimmauld Place. She immediately noticed the missing Ford Anglia. Sirius gave Ron and Harry a quelling look as he step forward to present their explanation.

"You see, Molly, Ron and Harry here," Sirius gestured towards Ron and Harry. "Decided to give me a driving lesson-You know what a horrible driver I am-and well, I was driving along the expressway down by the river, doing quite well, I must say, when a big black dog darted out onto the road. I, ah, lost control of the car and drove it into the Mississippi."

"We barely escaped with our lives!" Ron added fervently, eliciting a glare from Sirius before he turned back to Mrs. Weasley with a sheepish smile.

Mrs. Weasley bought their story hook, line and sinker and spent several minutes examining Ron and Harry for injuries. She admonished Sirius and made him promise to never involve her son in driving lessons ever again. Initially, Mrs. Weasley refused Sirius' offer of a new car saying the car wasn't worth much to start with. It was only after much whining from Ron and guilty insistence on Sirius' part that she relented and the cleaning of Grimmauld Place was abandoned in favor of buying Ron's new car.

Ron got not the Porsche, the Mercedes, nor the BMW he had wanted. Ron's new car wasn't even red or black. In the end, Ron received a forest green Ford Escort. A nice, sensible car in Mrs. Weasley's estimation, that wasn't hard on gas or insurance. The car was brand spanking new, which greatly eased Ron's disappointment.

Sirius looked greatly aggrieved and cursed Severus Snape under his breath as he wrote a large check out to a very happy salesman.

"This has been the best day of my life," said Ron as he sat in his new car, drinking in the new car scent with a rapturous look on his face. Ginny Weasley glowered from where she stood next to her mother's minivan, declaring it completely unfair that Ron had already gotten two cars when she had been 16 for months and hadn't gotten a single one. Ron stuck his tongue out at her and patted the car as Mrs. Weasley and Sirius finished filling out the paperwork. Ginny made a very rude gesture and huffily got into the minivan, slamming the door shut.

Once everything was settled Mrs. Weasley, Sirius and Ginny returned to Grimmauld Place without them as Ron decided they needed to go joy riding for a bit. Though Ron's definition of joy riding was driving up and down the same strip of road several times in succession. Harry noticed many other cars doing the same thing.

"This is kinda boring," said Harry as they turned around in a bowling alley parking lot for the eighth time.

"Everyone does it," said Ron, shrugging. "We turn around at the bowling alley and then drive the strip and then circle the Tastee Freeze and then, well, drive the strip..."

"But that's stupid! What's the point? You're just wasting gas!"

"It's all about seeing and being seen," replied Ron, as if that was enough justification for the incredibly repetitious activity. "Just one more time then we need to get gas."

"I wonder why..." said Harry as they circled the Tastee Freeze, yet again.

Ron disdainly eyed the gas gauge. "You'd think they would at least give you a full tank of gas."

One more time actually turned into three more times with Ron trying to grab the attention of a car full of giggling girls who had also taken it upon themselves to drive the strip. He eventually gave up and to Harry's relief turned down a side road and into a combination auto mechanic's garage/gas station. A large sign declared the place to be Zabini's Garage.

"A little help here, please?" Ron called out, proudly, to a short, brown haired boy sitting upon a stack of tires, deeply engrossed in a book and smoking a cigarette. The boy wore extremely baggy jeans that hug very low on his hips showing several inches of red boxers and an oversized black t-shirt with a picture of Tupac Shakur on the front. A baseball cap, along with the book covered most of the boy's face. Without looking up, the boy raised his middle finger then used it to point at a sign that read: Self Serve.

"Blaise! Come see my new car." said Ron, exasperated. Blaise finally got up and smirked as he sauntered towards Ron's car.

"Where's the Anglia?" asked Blaise. Harry then realized, with some surprise, that if the throaty voice and the mounds under the t-shirt were any indication, he was actually a she.

This was confirmed a mite second later when a swarthy man in grease-splattered blue coveralls came out of the garage and yelled, "Damn it, girl, I told you about smoking around the pumps."

He yanked the cigarette from Blaise's mouth and inserted it his own. "New car, Weasley?" he asked, idly leaning on one of the pumps as he smoked Blaise's cigarette.

"Yup!" said Ron as he got out the Escort. Harry, likewise, got out of the car and smiled shyly at Blaise and the man. Ron continued, "The Anglia is at the bottom of the Mississippi, courtesy of Sirius Black."

"No shit?" asked the man. "How the hell did he manage that?"

Ron looked over at Harry. "Eh, Harry and I tried to teach how to drive."

The man howled with laughter. "Oh, wait until I see Sirius. He's never gonna live this down. So you're Harry, huh? I'm Nicky. I fixed your Firebolt up last week. That's a fine machine..." The man scratched at his throat as he recollected the Firebolt. "Fine, fine machine. If she gives you any trouble bring her in again."

Nicky returned to the garage and as soon as he was gone Blaise turned to Harry with a very amused look. "Harry Potter! I've heard all about you!" she said, smirking.

"You have?" asked Harry, feeling very put off by her gaze, especially after she walked in circles around him, examining him from every angle.

"Unn-huh," she murmured. "You're Draco's new meat. Some of us have a bet going on how long you'll last. I gave you two weeks. Don't let me down." Blaise finished that last statement by pounding roughly Harry on the back causing him to stumble slightly.

"Harry is not Malfoy's anything," said Ron, frowning at Blaise as he pumped the gas. "Are you, Harry?"

"Uh, no, not really," spluttered Harry. Though he would like to be...maybe. The more he learned about Draco the more he wondered if it would be wise to pursue anything with him. It was true that Draco made feel...things, but he did not want to be just another name in long list of names.

"Really? That's not what I heard." Blaise's eyes sparkled with mischievous delight as she reached into her deep pockets and pulled out a cell phone. She pushed a button and brought it to her ear. "Hey Millie," she said as she returned to her spot on the tires. "You know that bet we have about Draco Malfoy and his new friend, yeah, well, I just happened..."

Harry strained to hear her words, wondering exactly what had been said about him.

"Don't pay any attention to her, Harry," said Ron, noticing Harry's pensiveness.

Harry shrugged dejectedly and walked into the gas station section of Zabini's Garage to find out where the rest room was. The lady behind the counter gave him a key attached to a hubcap and directed him to a door in the back. When he had returned, Ron was at the front counter paying for the gas.

"There goes the last of my allowance," said Ron, morose. "Give me that." Ron took the hubcap and key. "I'll be out in a sec."

As Harry headed back towards Ron's car he heard Blaise's loud voice say, "I got 20 bucks that says Draco gets him in less than a week."

Harry's face burned with embarrassment, painfully aware of what Blaise was betting on. He walked around the gas pumps so he would not have to pass the girl. Distracted, Harry bumped right into the man.

"Oh, sorry!" said Harry as he stepped back and adjusted his glasses, which had become skewed.

"That's quite alright," came the polite voice. Harry looked up and astonished to see an older man in a very old-fashioned sherry colored suit complete with a neatly tied cravat. A top hat rested apon his head and the man promptly removed it as he bowed to Harry. "Dedalus Diggle at your service. And you are?"

"Er, Harry Potter, sir."

Dedalus looked delighted and firmly shook Harry's outstretched hand. "Dear me, you've seemed to hurt yourself," he said, noticing the bandage around Harry's hand.

"Just a little accident," said Harry, quickly putting his hand behind his back, embarrassed at the grubbiness of the gauze. He had forgotten to change it after his motorcycle lessons.

"Well, be sure to take proper care of it, you don't want to get an infection." Dedalus turned to his vehicle, which was a rather luxurious classic convertible that looked like it straight from the 1950s. He pulled out a large map. "Perhaps you could help me, I have only just arrived in town, you see, and I don't know my way around. I need to visit an old friend over on Wiltshire Lane but I'm afraid I've no idea how to get there. This map is doing me no good what so ever."

Harry shrugged. "I'm new myself and really don't know where anything is. Sorry. They will probably know inside there." Harry nodded towards the gas station.

"Perhaps, they will." Dedalus brushed nonexistent lint off his top hat before placing it back on his head. He gave Harry a slight nod. "Thank you very much for your time, Mr. Potter."

Harry was treated to several trips up and down the strip before they finally returned to Grimmauld Place. Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Sirius were working in the main hall, taking down portraits. Harry noticed a bunch of them lying in a messy pile near the door.

"Oh you can leave that one," said Sirius as Mrs. Weasley started to pull down a portrait of an old man. "I liked Phineas." He turned to the portrait in front of him. It was the one with the mean looking lady. "But this old hag is coming down." Sirius yanked hard on the frame. It would not budge.

"Who is that?" asked Harry as Sirius attacked the frame with all his might.

"Just my mother," he said, glaring at the frame. "She was quite the old bitch." Sirius shrugged and continued pulling on the frame. The frame finally broke free but the portrait itself still remained firmly attached to the wall.

"Jesus Christ! Its glued to the damn wall!" exclaimed Sirius. He picked up a hammer from a nearby box of tools and began hacking at the edges of the painting.

"Don't do that, you'll damage the walls," said Mrs. Weasley. She took the hammer away from Sirius and walked to the kitchen, reappearing a minute later with a bottle of vegetable oil and two butter knives. She handed those to Harry and Ron and led a surly Sirius away from the painting.

The vegetable oil helped greatly in loosening the glue around the painting yet after two hours Ron and Harry still hadn't managed to wrench it completely free. Sirius called it a day and splashed a can of turpentine over the painting.

"Shoulda done that ages ago," he said with a satisfied smirk as the deteriorating paint ran down the canvas.

Harry was rather shocked by Sirius' animosity towards his mother but didn't feel it was his place to ask questions. He set the thoughts aside. Thinking of Sirius and his mother only brought up reminders of his own mother and the way she had died. Harry had been doing his best to not think about it. He didn't see the point on dwelling on something that he could not change. Yet, try as he might, the thoughts still lingered in the back of his mind.

True to their word, the Thestrals came by everyday to point and laugh at Harry as he tried to master the Firebolt. Harry had just about given up hope until the fifth day when he managed to ride over a mile without incident. Sirius decided to mark the occasion with a celebration and invited everyone to dinner at The Leaky Cauldron later that night.

Ron had also been coming by everyday, mostly to dote on Crystal from afar. It had been Mrs. Weasley and not the fierce Tenebrus who finally cooled Ron's rampant flirtation. It seemed she greatly disapproved of her youngest son's infatuation with the middle-aged biker chick.

It was still a few hours until everyone was supposed to meet up for dinner and Sirius insisted that Harry needed to get out and have some fun. Pressing wads of money into both Harry and Ron's hands (he still felt very guilty about the Anglia), Sirius practically shoved them out of Grimmauld Place. His godfather's unyielding persistence greatly confused Harry until he saw Severus' truck pass them on the road that lead to Grimmauld Place.

"Do you think they are gonna, well, you know?" asked Harry, unable to suppress a big grin.

"I'd rather not think about it," said Ron, grimacing.

"Do you think Mr. Snape wears his hat when they-"

"Harry! What part of 'I don't want to think about it' don't you understand?"

Harry chuckled as his mind wandered with thoughts of the delectable Severus Snape. He was very jealous of Sirius right now.

Harry was relieved when Ron completely bypassed the strip in favor of downtown Hogsmeade. Ron pulled up to a place called The Three Broomsticks. Several tables and benches sat outside and teenagers occupied nearly all of them. As Harry got out of the car he saw Ginny Weasley sitting at one table sharing a milkshake with a tall black boy. She threw her brother a nasty look.

Ginny was not the only one who had noticed their arrival. Very loud laughter called Harry's attention to a group of teens sitting at the edge of the tables. Blaise Zabini was in the middle of the group and whispering in the ear of a large. black-haired girl. The two girls, along with every one else in their group, stared at Harry as they talked amongst themselves.

Feeling very annoyed, Harry ignored them and followed Ron to entry of The Three Broomsticks. Their journey was abruptly halted by girl with bright blue eyes and long blond hair pulled up into loose bun and held together with two yellow pencils.

"Hello Ronald," she said, smiling widely. "I like your new car."

"Thanks Luna," replied Ron, rather blandly.

"You're welcome." Luna's smile deepened as she turned to Harry. "And who is your friend?"

"Harry Potter," said Ron, impatiently. "He just moved in with Sirius Black."

A dreamy look passed Luna's face. "Stubby Boardman," she murmured.

"Huh?" asked Harry.

"Yeah, whatever, Luna." Ron rolled his eyes and pulled Harry towards The Three Broomsticks. "God, what a loon," Ron said once they were out of Luna's hearing range. "I guess it's to be expected."

"Why is that?" asked Harry.

"Her family owns The Quibbler," explained Ron, indicating a national tabloid well known for it's outrageous and far-fetched articles. "She actually believes all that crap they publish. Definitely a nut case."

Harry didn't think she was all that odd though he did wonder who Stubby Boardman was.

The inside of The Three Broomsticks was divided into two sections. One side seemed to be a concession stand type eatery selling pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream and various drinks while the other side consisted entirely of arcade games with a couple of pool tables in the middle. Harry and Ron purchased themselves root beer floats and began a game of pool. The two were evenly matched in the game and Harry was having a great deal of fun until Blaise Zabini and her group of friends walked over to them.

"Hey Harry," she said as she perched herself up on the corner of the pool table. "So...seen Draco lately?"

"No, I haven't seen him all week," said Harry, irritated.

The large, black-haired girl let out a whoop of joy. "Pay up, Blaise!" she exclaimed.

"Damn," muttered Blaise, thoroughly put out. "I still have time, Millicent! The week's not over yet."

"S'just about..." said Millicent.

"Are you done now?" asked Ron. "You are interrupting our game."

Blaise hopped off the table and lifted her hands in a surrendered motion. Ron shook his head at the group they departed. "Damn bitches need to get a life."

Harry noticed a light brown haired boy standing next a video game and staring at him and Ron. The boy realized he had been caught staring and quickly turned away.

Harry and Ron finished their game without any more interruptions and afterwards Ron decided he needed to order a pizza even though they were going to eat dinner in just a few hours.

"I'm a growing boy," said Ron as he ordered an extra large pizza with all the toppings. "You could use with a little more food yourself if you are going to play football. We need to bulk you up."

"I'm not that skinny," said Harry, looking down at his body as they walked to a table on the outside patio.

Ron scoffed. "What are you? Six foot and what? 150 pounds? That's practically anorexic, Harry!"

"No it's not! I am well within my weight range," protested Harry. "And you aren't exactly much bigger yourself."

"I am 185 pounds I'll have you know. All muscle!" Ron flexed an arm and kissed the mound of bicep muscle that had emerged.

Their pizza soon arrived and with it came a horde of boys each of whom took a slice as Ron shrieked and tried to slap their hands away. It was futile. After a scant 10 seconds all that remained on the pan were a few crumbs and a lone nugget of sausage.

"Damn it!" cried Ron as he flicked the piece of sausage at a very large, bulky boy. The boy immediately stopped eating, popped the piece of sausage in his mouth, and then returned to his pizza.

"God, you're a pig, Vincent," said Ron, disdainly. He gave all the boys a very sullen look. "No one invited you to our pizza."

"Here," said a well-built, dark haired handsome boy, tossing Ron a twenty dollar bill. Ron grudgingly scooped up the money and ordered another pizza.

Harry learned that they were members of the football team. The boys closely scrutinized Harry after Ron told them that he was going to try out for the team. Harry got the impression that he did not measure up. Which was quite all right with him, as he really didn't want to play football. However, Ron insisted that he at least try out and since Harry was feeling a tad guilty about choosing to be in Slytherin when he could have gone into Gryffindor, he gave in.

It became clear to Harry that, unlike he had previously thought, Ron was not the star of the team. That honor seemed to belong to Justin Finch-Fletchley, the boy who had given Ron the twenty and the team's quarterback. Rather it was Ron's passion for the game and his creative strategizing that had earned him the top position. Ron was currently outlining one such creative play to the enthusiastic players.

Harry felt decidedly out of place and more than a little bored. So he excused himself under the pretense of needing to use the restroom though he really intended to play a few video games, hoping that by the time he returned the conversation had turned elsewhere.

Harry had just finished his third game of Space Invaders when he felt a light tap on his shoulder. It was the boy who had been staring at him earlier.

"Hi, I'm Terry Boot," he said, blushing a little. "You're Harry, right?"

"Yeah..." said Harry, cautiously.

"And you're dating Draco Malfoy?" asked Terry, blushing even harder. Loud snickers and giggles came from a few feet away. Blaise and Millicent were watching them eagerly. Harry turned away from them and eyed Terry with mistrust. "Look, if this is about some stupid bet..."

"A bet?" asked Terry, alarmed. Blaise and Millicent were wild with laughter by now. Terry startled Harry by abruptly taking his hand and pulling him far from them. "God, I can't stand them," Terry said, glaring in the girls' direction.

Terry's hostility towards Blaise and her friends greatly warm Harry towards him. He dropped his suspicion and looked expectantly at Terry. Terry glanced about nervously and asked, "So, are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Going out with Draco?"

"Er, no. I'm not," said Harry, wondering why Terry was so interested.

"Good," said Terry, firmly. Though he stammered with uncertainty as he mumbled out his next words. "So would you like to go on a date?"

Harry immediately flushed a bright crimson. "I-uhhh...With you?"

"Yes," said Terry, turning just as red as Harry.

"Er...well, we really don't know each other," said Harry, feeling very hypocritical considering he didn't know Draco when he invited him to his birthday party.

"Well, we could get to know each other," said Terry, with growing confidence. "If you're not with Draco, are you seeing someone else?"

"No..."

"So why not go out with me?"

Harry couldn't think of a good reason.

"It's just a date. Nothing more," said Terry, in Harry's silence.

"That's true..."

"Are you busy Friday night?"

"No..."

"Great!" said Terry, offering Harry a shy smile. "I'll pick you up at 7 o'clock. You live out at Grimmauld Place, right?"

Harry found himself nodding.

"Well, I'll see you then," said Terry. He hesitantly walked up to him and looked as though he might kiss Harry but Terry must have changed his mind as he stopped short and merely gave him a small nod. And then he was gone.

Dazed, Harry remained rooted to the spot for some time. Did he really just agree to go on a date with Terry? Harry didn't recall ever having said yes but it seemed that he did, indeed, have a date with Terry Boot this Friday. "Hell..."