3. Meetings

Remus joined Sirius in bed very late that night. They slept through though and Remus, who didn't need as much sleep as Sirius, was well rested. So was Sirius who was eager to start working. He prepared the list of topics to discuss at the staff meeting with Remus, who then gave him the memo to Arthur to sign. Sirius smiled when he did that and sent it down to Arthur's office.

Shortly before lunch there was a knock on the door of Sirius' office and Elsa Kenneth entered.

"Governor Black, Madam Malkin would like to have a word with you, can I let her in?"

"Yes, please, Miss Kenneth. Thank you."

Little Madam Malkin swept into the office and waited for Miss Kenneth to close the door again. Then she looked at Sirius and asked:

"How do I address you, sir?"

He smiled and replied while guiding her to a seat:

"How ever you like, Madam Malkin! You know my name. Mr Black is more than enough!"

"I think, that will do then, thank you, Mr Black. I've known you since your childhood days when you came to my shop to get your first robes after all."

"You suffered, I suppose! What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to thank you for what you did! I think it was incredibly courageous. And while not all shop owners of Diagon Alley will speak up like I do, I'm sure that many of the others are as relieved as I am. The situation was getting dire! Are you aware that Minister Fudge and his cronies have implemented about twenty different extra taxes in the last five or six years? I'd like to petition that these laws should be looked over soon. Because they harm trade in any form and it's been close to impossible to prosper on any shop lately. We had to raise prices in an unreasonable way."

Sirius nodded.

"In other words, it has been difficult to still earn any money because taxes are too high?"

"Definitely. There are five different sales taxes alone. I don't know what they financed with it, but I think these are more than excessive. For every robe I sell I pay about 65 of taxes."

Madam Malkin handed him a list of taxes, which Sirius looked over. Then he looked up at her and said:

"I can't say how quickly we can abolish some of this, but if we can't do it in a reasonable time there will be refunds. I have a staff meeting today and this will be one of the questions I'll ask the Head of the Finance Department. This is a part of the Ministry I haven't yet touched at all. I'm still gaining an overview of everything, learning the structures and the people. But I agree with you, taxes that weigh too heavily on trades are not exactly good for a prospering economy. Are you content for now if I tell you that this will be looked at and that we'll do what we can, Madam?"

"Yes. I'm amazed that I even got to see you so smoothly. To see Cornelius Fudge one had to have a date about a month ahead."

Sirius laughed and said charmingly:

"Well, who knows? Right now everyone seems to kind of wait for what we'll do and I get the time to do some work, but the demand for my person may rise in the next few weeks. Already I have to plan my days very well or I'll be dead within a few months! There is so much to do. – But I can certainly see the necessity of a stable economy, so I'll have to weigh the actual needs of the Ministry against that. And we'll of course try to find out where tax money has been wasted."

She looked at him admiringly and remarked:

"Mr. Black, I was most amazed at your intentions not to take any salary for your work here. I know that your family has always been very wealthy and that you can afford to do this, but I'm sure that no one else would do this! It's what made me trust you and believe in your sincerity."

"Thank you, Madam! I'll probably come by your shop to have a few sets of robes fitted in the next days and weeks. I'll have to spread my orders over some of the clothes shops, but I'd be glad if you could make my business robes and the ones for my assistant."

"I'll have time for you both whenever you come to my shop, sir!"

Madam Malkin got up and thanked Sirius for his time. He shook her hand and thanked her for her support. Then she left and he sat down for a moment, a dozen ideas going through his head, which he noted down. Remus came in a while later and said:

"Lunch time, love! Come on, take a break, you have to eat!"

"Sure, love! I'm just jotting down a few questions for the financial department. I want an exact statement of the Ministry's expenses…"

Remus looked at him.

"That's something we haven't even touched yet!"

"Exactly."

"By the way, was that little Madam Malkin who just left?"

Sirius laughed.

"Yes. And she's the reason why I noticed we'll have to talk about finances, too, this afternoon."

"There will only be the deputy of the deputy, both head and deputy have already abandoned their posts. Should we add them to the list of those who should be investigated?"

"I'm beginning to think so, yes!"

"Oh dear! This will never end! It looks like most of the departments will be without a head for a while. We'll have to learn to know the people in those departments and see their merits before anything can be decided…"

"Did you get to talk to Hermione? I'd like to be rid of Miss Iceberg out there as soon as possible…"

"In fact I did. This morning. She's interested, even though it's a subordinate position with no real career prospects. I think I have convinced her that it's a pretty powerful position… and that she'll have to re-evaluate her career anyway once you finish your work here. Unless you do it so well that people beg you to stay."

"You know, that's not even so impossible, if I get more visitors like Madam Malkin…"

"So she was nice?" Remus asked.

"Her usual charming self," Sirius replied with a chuckle.

"Do you remember when you and James almost ruined her shop window back in sixth year, when you were supposed to shop for school robes?" Remus reminded his lover.

Sirius hooked his arm into Remus', led him out of the office and grinned.

"I even told her I was aware she probably suffered from having known me since I needed my first robes. – We're taking a lunch break, Miss Kenneth, we'll be back in an hour and then we'll head for the staff meeting. I hope, everything has been set up for this?"

"Yes, Governor Black."

She almost exaggerated on the title. Sirius thanked her politely, but grimaced as he walked away.

"So what did our Hermione say?"

"Wanted time to think about it until tomorrow evening. We're supposed to go to the Burrow for dinner. I'm busy collecting our different belongings from my place, Grimmauld Place, Hogwarts and the Burrow to move everything here. I've been busy with the house-elves to have Fudge's stuff removed."

"Good. Nothing to remind us of the git in there anymore by tonight? Only the furniture?"

"Yes, but the furniture had been bought on Ministry costs, so we can't well throw it out."

"No, we can't. But assorted things will have to go. And next Saturday you and I will have to take a shopping trip. We'll have to get dressed a bit better, love. I've already told Madam Malkin that we would show up at her place for all the business robes. We can get the dress robes at Gladrags in Hogsmeade."

Remus sighed.

"I suppose that will have to be."

"Oh yes, it will."

They ate at their flat and headed down to Sirius' office to gather everything for the meeting. It was a very long list of topics and the meeting would certainly not only last this afternoon, but also the next day. Sirius had asked for detailed lists of the staff in each department and their salaries. He also asked for detailed reports on what was going on in each department. He expected that some of the department heads would likely try to back out, especially the deputy of the Department of Mysteries, since they liked to see their work as a secret. Sirius intended to either make them talk about their activities and show their expenses or threaten to close the whole department.

An owl reached them just before they wanted to leave. It was Hedwig. Sirius welcomed her and she sat on his arm. Remus took Harry's letter from her leg.

"Hello, girl! Do you need an answer? Then you'll have to wait until tonight, I'm afraid, as we have to go to a lengthy meeting now. Are you okay if we just confirm receipt?"

Hedwig hooted and Sirius wrote a quick note:

"Harry

Got your letter and will read it as soon as I can. Staff meeting right now, so I'll reply tonight!

Love

Sirius"

They were in the conference room a few minutes later. Kenneth had set up all seats, had seen that the house-elves held coffee, tea and other beverages ready and supplied all seats with Sirius' prepared list of topics. They were sorted by departments. Each department head would have to answer to his questions, which of course were only the beginning of most probably more questions. Sirius had a folder set up where he would gather all the replies to his questions. There was a whole stack of empty parchments and an enchanted quill to record everything that was said.

Some of the people were already gathered in the room when Remus and Sirius entered. Amelia Bones walked up to them and greeted them cordially.

"Hello Sirius, hello Remus!"

"Hello Amelia! How are you today?"

"Thank you, just fine. – This will be long, won't it?"

"Yes. Better expect it to last well into tomorrow. I need an overview over the structures, the workings, the finances, everything…"

"Too right you will. I know you were an Auror, but that was long ago," she remarked.

"I do want to learn as much as I can. I'm not dumb…"

"No, of course you aren't. Will you have any other counsellors besides Remus?"

"I suppose. I need to learn to know people and see if I can trust them. Albus will certainly always have good advice."

She nodded. Then she took her seat at the large oval table. Amos Diggory came in and greeted them. He jovially started to talk about several things going on in his department when other officials entered, whom Sirius didn't know yet. He greeted them and suggested:

"Would you mind if I made kind of a roll call and you get the opportunity to present yourselves and your departments to me shortly once we get started?"

They accepted and they all waited for the room to be filled. When finally all twelve departments were represented, Sirius bade everyone to sit down, while he stood up.

"Thank you for coming on time. As you all know full well, my name is Sirius Black and this is my assistant, Remus Lupin. He's going to watch over our quill recording this session.

Now, I'm fully aware that I'm standing here on a completely illegal basis after a completely illegal action. You may or may not know that I have been a member of the Order of the Phoenix and while technically still a fugitive Azkaban prisoner I have nevertheless fought for the Order against the Death Eaters and Voldemort. All of you should now know that I have never killed outside of my line of duty and even there my record is clean. I was charged to have betrayed my friends, the Potters and killed Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles. You probably know by now that I had been successfully framed by Pettigrew. I have been sent to Azkaban without a trial. When I escaped I still had to fear for my life until we were able to finally arrest Peter Pettigrew and thus prove that he did not die that day. I am most thankful to the assistance of all Aurors and the team around Amelia Bones to have my name cleared.

Taking this position the way I did was illegal. I have been kind of legitimised by the Wizengamot who decided to give green light and rectify my doings, thus giving me the chance to follow on my promises. Before I even started out I assured myself of the support of the Aurors and several persons among you. With the help of some Aurors we have arrested Cornelius Fudge on the charge of treason and corruption and finally, once we had a chance to check him up, the charge of being a Death Eater. As of now we do not know yet when he joined the ranks of Voldemort's servants, but he definitely has the Dark Mark on his arm. Jeffrey Smith is leading the investigation as the lawyer of prosecution.

I'd like to welcome you to the first full meeting of the heads of departments. I don't know how it was handled under the former Minister, but I'd like us to meet every Monday afternoon at two for a short briefing about the goings-on in each department. I expect a written report and a short aural presentation of the most important activities, staff decisions, problems etcetera, so we can all discuss pending problems and advise possible solutions. The main goal behind that is that every head of department knows a bit of what's going on in the other departments.

I expect from you transparency. I wish to be informed of all major decisions on the basis of the heads of departments and the heads of all offices within the departments. You are therefore asked to gather such information on time before the Monday afternoon session. I suggest, if this hasn't already been done before, that you keep a list of all of your units and enter details on Monday mornings to be presented at the Monday afternoon meetings. I intend to have written protocols sent back to you."

Amelia held up her hand and Sirius nodded.

"We did have meetings about once every half year, but only to be informed about plans of the Minister. This may take some organisation before we can hold those meetings regularly."

"I see. Well, it's Thursday now, so I think we can forego next Monday, but by the week after you should be able to have things ready. Inform the team-leaders of your sub-units of this soonest. Miss Kenneth, please note down the 13th July, two o'clock as the set date of the first meeting. I do not intend to send invitations to those meetings, I expect every head of department or their deputy to turn up on time."

There was a bit of murmuring, but then the people nodded.

"Good. I'd like to make a bit of a roll call so I can get to know those of you I've not been introduced to yet. May I start with you, Mrs Montgomery?"

"Yes, sir. I'm Elizabeth Montgomery, 58 years old, have been the head of the Hogwarts Board of Governors for three years and a member of this board for eight years before that. I'm the head of the Department of Education, every wizarding primary and secondary school as well as the two wizarding academies are in my jurisdiction. I have been head of the department for a year now. I've been appointed by Cornelius Fudge on advice of Albus Dumbledore and the rector of Avalon Academy, Rector Brown."

"Thank you, Madam. – Ludo, I've known you for a long time, so you don't need to present yourself. Mr Celli?"

"I'm deputy head of the Department of Mysteries. I've been an Unspeakable for 38 years and have worked on all sorts of assignments. As you know the head of our department, Herbert Macnair has resigned and already left his office. You will have to appoint a successor."

"Thank you, sir. This will be discussed at length with the Wizengamot, I think, as this is a staff decision I will not make all by myself. I will certainly keep you informed. Until such time as we have a successor for Herbert Macnair I will appoint you to take over his duties. It should not be long."

"I will, sir. But my department will have to be exempt from public meetings."

"I'm afraid that I cannot accept the secrecy of your department to the extent that you were used to until now anymore. I'm prepared to have the whole department dissolved if the willingness to contribute to the community's interest is not shown properly. The matters you research in this department could well be handed over to one of the academies. I will, however, allow you to report in the confidentiality of my office under certain circumstances which will have to be negotiated and only on previous demand."

Celli nodded and seemed to accept the offer. Sirius turned to the next person, who was Barnabas Colby, the head of the Department of Economy, a seemingly very old gentleman.

"My name is Barnabas Colby, I have been the head of the Department of Economy for twenty-four years. I have come to the Ministry after forty years of being the chairman of the Board of Flourish & Blotts. I then started as an adjunct in my department and worked my way up. I was appointed to my office after the demise of my predecessor."

Sirius nodded and said:

"I'll have a few general questions to you later on, Mr Colby, regarding the general feel of the wizarding economy."

"I'm ready to answer them, sir."

"Percy and Arthur, I can pass over you both, so I'll pass to the next person. I'm afraid I don't know your name yet, Madam…"

The deputy of the Department of Internal Affairs stood up and presented herself:

"My name is Octavia Winter, I've worked in the Department of Internal Affairs for 38 years and became its Deputy fifteen years ago. As you already know, the head of my department also abandoned his post."

"Yes, I'm aware of that. We'll get to these things afterwards, thank you, Madam."

The next was Jack Hancock, the representative of the Department of Finance.

"My name is Jack Hancock, I'm heading the tax collection agency at the Department of Finance and since no one else wanted to represent the department I volunteered. I've been in this position for the past six years. I'd like to say that I'm not at all feeling comfortable with answering to an usurper of the Minister's position. I am only willing to stay on until a replacement for my position is found."

"I'm well aware that some of you will not want to be part of this. You are very welcome to hand in your resignation, sir. Thank you for staying on and being open about your discomfort."

The man nodded and sat down again.

The last one who needed to introduce herself was Zelda Jones:

"I'm Zelda Jones, head of the Department of Magical Transportation. I've been in this position for eighteen years now. I can still remember you, sir, you used to have a few little quarrels with us…"

Sirius grinned. Now he remembered the woman again. He nodded and said:

"I hope those little incidents have been cancelled from my records once I was of age…"

"They have. Like this kind of incidents usually gets cancelled after five years."

"I'm glad for that! Well, that leaves you, Amelia and Amos and I know both of you well enough. So, let us move on with the list of topics we all have in front of us. I would like to cover as much as humanly possible to become familiar with the Ministry's structures and workings. At the end of my long list of questions you will all receive an overview of what we think we should reorganise and I expect you should have some input as well. I want critics and comments. Can we go ahead?"

Sirius started to interview each and every head or deputy about their departments' structure, sub-units, offices, about the people working there, what they did, why they did what they did and more. They got through three of the departments by dinner time and Sirius postponed the rest to the next day.

"This meeting will continue tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. Thank you for your attendance and cooperation. And yes, I'd like everyone to turn up again."

While the people started to file out of the room, Arthur stayed behind on a wink of Sirius'.

"I hope you have forgiven us for dragging you up here in this way and making you head of the department without any formal offer and all. But we do think you are the right person to do that, Arthur."

Arthur smiled.

"I was held back by Fudge long enough, Sirius. I think, I deserve that."

"Fine. Including July your salary will be that of a head of department. We plan on renewing every Ministry official's contracts starting with the heads and deputies, and then going down to the team-leaders and common officials. It's going to be part of my re-evaluation of the costs of the Ministry. It might be that we will have to re-negotiate salaries, but I think you can certainly expect a considerable pay rise."

"Thank you, Sirius. I didn't expect that, but I'm gladly taking the position. Can we expect you and Remus to dinner at the Burrow tomorrow?"

"Yes, Remus told me already, thank you, we'll gladly come over."

"I just have to warn you about Molly, she's still furious! I just kept her from sending a howler…"

Sirius laughed and said:

"You know, I got one from the twins! But they practically screamed that they thought it was a bloody good thing we did! And so far only two other howlers. But we still get letters every day and expect it to go on for a while. Do you think, Ginny would like to come and help us sort the letters out?"

"Ask her! I'm quite sure she'd like a summer job and that sounds like a great one."

"That's fine then. Maybe she knows some friends who would like to join her, because it's a hell of a lot of work. I think we could easily occupy three or four kids…"

"Oh, sure, shouldn't be a problem. Just ask her tomorrow."

"I will."

When they reached their apartment again, Sirius finally read Harry's letter.

"Dear Sirius!

Since I couldn't see you since… well, since, I thought I'd send you my congratulations in a letter. We were all floored when we heard you on the wireless! Boy, I hope you've kicked his butt, too!

I had the intention of just staying to myself for a year or so and quietly get out of the spotlights, but if you want my help in any way, I'd like to offer it.

Harry"

Sirius and Remus smiled. Both thought that this was just plain Harry. Sirius sent him another letter and offered to talk about it the next day when he and Remus would come to the Burrow to dinner.

The work went on the next day. It was hard work and everyone felt like Sirius pulled them through a mangle, but Sirius was interested in details and he noted down everything. Remus put some order into the notes and checked that they were filed systematically right away. Sirius kept finding new questions and Remus added some of his own, which he thought should be asked. Together they covered most of the aspects that needed to be discussed and at the end Sirius had a pretty solid image of what he needed to know.

"Good, thank you all very much for this input. Now, I'll come and look around each and every department and I'll talk to your staff and continue my questioning on the lower levels to get an understanding of them. I can't just decide that this and that should be reorganised without knowing of its possible importance. But I think I can already see where we need reinforcement and where we might be able to go without. For the time being I beg you to continue your work as usual, we will see to get replacements for the persons who resigned soonest. I expect you back Monday in a week for our first weekly meeting. I'm sure we'll manage to get through by Monday evening. All meetings will be recorded and you will receive the protocols the next day. With that I'm closing today's meeting. Since this has been mostly for my own benefit I'm offering a full protocol for everyone who's interested, but you may not need one."

"I'd like one, if you don't mind," said Amelia.

"Got that noted, Amelia, you'll get one," said Remus.

"Thank you, Remus! I hope for a very prosperous cooperation with you two! You're welcome to start nosing around in my department if you wish to. I have tried to keep it as clean as possible, but I cannot guarantee that it's free from Death Eater sympathisers."

"Don't worry, if it's completely clean that would be a miracle! I'm not looking the departments through for that, I'll have Mad-Eye taking on this job. I'll discuss it with him next week."

"I'll tell him that he should come to you. I'd like to get through this mess as fast as we possibly can. Cornelius obstructed everything! Now that I know about the Dark Mark it makes complete sense. When I was appointed five years ago he still listened to Albus and I was lucky, because he had nothing to get me out of the position," Amelia said.

"You've certainly done your best. I hardly dare going deeper into the finance and economy departments. Looks like these are kind of self-service shops…"

"I'm afraid that goes especially for the financial department. Anyway, it's getting late and I see Arthur is waiting for you two, so we can discuss these things further in the weeks to come, I'm sure!"

"Thank you for your support, Amelia! You are one hell of a courageous witch!"

"That's okay, I've gone through very dark times and I expect them to brighten up a lot now! Glad it was you who took action! Could have been a lot worse!"

Remus and Sirius joined Arthur to apparate to the Burrow. They were welcomed with loud cheers from all the youngsters, a sneer and tight lipped 'hello' from Molly and a warm smile from Minerva, who had remained at the Burrow to teach Harry and Hermione the basics of the Animagus transfiguration. They had asked her to do this, Hermione because she was genuinely interested in mastering the art, Harry because he was interested in doing what his father had done. Ron had bowed out as transfiguration had been his weakest core subject.

Bill and Charlie were also there. They both thought the same thing as the rest of the younger generation, that Sirius and Remus had done something very cool.

"Getting rid of this old beast was the best thing that could have happened to the wizarding world. He was getting worse every day. Everyone complained, even the goblins at Gringotts," Bill said.

"They are still on my list of people to talk to, as well as the Muggle Prime Minister. Then I'll need to get into contact with the International Confederation of Wizards. And in the longer run I'll have to speak to foreign ministers. You guys don't even want to see that task list I've set up for myself. Remus adds to it on a regular basis. But I think, our first priority are internal affairs. Which reminds me, have you come to a decision, Hermione? At the moment I still have Miss Kenneth, but she's a bloody iceberg! Not too cooperative either and strictly does only what I have spelled out for her to do. You could start right away! And believe me, if you do this for a year or two it will look bloody good on your résumé."

Hermione grinned.

"I've discussed it with Harry and Ron and I've decided to accept the offer, Sirius!"

He held up his hands and grinned.

"Oh, thank the heavens! Two organisation freaks in my office, nothing can go wrong then!"

At this point even Molly smiled.

"I really have a bad feeling of putting people into positions who could be accused of taking advantage of their knowing me well, but this is a job where I need someone who I know and trust. No one will suspect you of favouritism, Hermione, because it's well known that you've been the best in your year at Hogwarts throughout your schooling. So I just snatched the best out of the available people!"

"I do hope no one will sneer because of it. Though I do expect some who will make snide remarks."

"So, report to the General Secretariat on Monday morning at nine, gal! Remus and I will be there to welcome you. You're going to head a staff of four people who are working directly for the Minister."

Hermione's eyes went wide.

"I wasn't aware that I'd have to lead other staff…"

"Well, yes, of course. They're doing the written jobs, the organising according to your orders etcetera. You'll be working closely with Remus, so don't worry. You even get a title, you're the General Secretary."

"Wow, Hermione! Sounds pretty good. Did you ask what this is worth in your monthly salary?" asked Ron.

"Ron!"

"He's right, Hermione, you'll make a pretty good salary. Though not as much as the current secretary earns, but that is because I'll have the new entries levelled lower in general. I also intend to re-negotiate existing salaries in order to cut expenses. – Arthur will still earn quite a considerable bit more than up to now, Molly…"

Later in the evening, Sirius talked first with Ginny, then with Harry.

"Ginny, did Arthur tell you that we'd like someone to sort out all the mail we received? There are three big boxes full of letters by now and we really need to have them pre-sorted and filed, so I can go through them systematically. It's a job that I'd pay out of my own money, but I'd offer you fifty Galleons for your time – as long as you need. And you can bring a friend or two and I'll give them the same."

"Yes, Dad told me. I'd love to help, Sirius. I can bring Luna and maybe Colin Creevey."

"Fine. Just tell Colin that he's to leave his camera at home, please! Then report to my office on Monday morning as well."

"I'll do that, Sirius."

"Are you sure you want to give them this much, Sirius?" Molly asked.

"Yes, Molly, I'm sure. I'd get nowhere if I just started to read the stuff and I do want to have a good look through it. After all I told the people to write and I am interested in what they have to say. Only I got pretty busy in a pretty short time and I will be that busy for a while."

"If that meeting yesterday and today was any indication of your willingness to work, then I think you'll do a great job, Sirius," Arthur said.

"That was very efficient indeed! I don't know how often I suggested such meetings to Fudge. He preferred to talk with the heads of departments in private. That was the reason why I returned to the Department of International Cooperation. This way we'll all be up-to-date on all departments' affairs," Percy said.

"Thank you, Percy, I'm sure you will do your best as well," Sirius said with a smile.

Molly looked indignant that her most trusted son would support Sirius. She scowled at Sirius whenever he looked in her direction, but he tried to not see it.

Finally Sirius talked with Harry as well. He invited him for a walk outside to be out of the others' hearing.

"You'd be an asset, though I don't know as of yet where, Harry. You've been forced to emphasise on Defence, but apart from the Aurors we need people who have administrative skills. Hermione will fit right in on that position she gets. You might be better off thinking about how you'd like to proceed! Many of the departments are fairly boring stuff, but you might like to join Percy's if there are vacancies. That's one, the other I could think of would be Arthur's Department of Muggle relations. The rest either demand legal or administrative or mathematical skills. How about we see what kind of vacancies turn up and tell you to apply? We don't want to shove you into any kind of job where you'd just kind of withered in the shadow."

"Frankly, that's what I'd like right about now. I'd like to blend in and vanish from the public attention and all, you know…"

"I completely understand that, Harry, but there will be one thing you'll have to endure. You're already on the list for an Order of Merlin and that is handed over in a small public ceremony. Can I count on you to accept that?"

"Yeah, I guess I won't be able to avoid that…" Harry said.

"I know it's hard! I've chased the journalists a bit away and warned them from misusing you, but I don't think it will last long."

"I wish I had your skill of talking with them. You were amazing during that press conference."

"It's a gift, Harry. You either have it or you don't. I've always had an easy time talking to people and the bath in those press hyenas may not have been pleasant but it didn't frighten me. You probably won't ever like that kind of attention. If it weren't for that I'd suggest you should go pro for Quidditch! You'd have a lot of fun doing that…"

"I just think that I should do something more productive than Quidditch."

Sirius laughed and hugged Harry, then he said:

"You remember what you said to the twins when you gave them your winnings? That we might need a few laughs? Well, we also need a lot of fun right now, it helps a lot in building up hope and normality after such insecure times. You would do something productive by playing Quidditch and if you harboured the idea yourself, follow it! There will still be jobs at the Ministry later on! Dare to dream and dare to follow your dreams, son…"

Harry looked up at Sirius, who was still a bit, but not much taller. Sirius could clearly see some unshed tears blinking in those green eyes, but he didn't say anything. Harry had a tight voice, when he replied:

"I was thinking of going pro! Professor McGonagall thinks I should, too, and she's got a pretty keen eye for good Quidditch players. If you really think you don't want me anywhere in the Ministry…"

"Harry, don't misunderstand me, we would certainly find something for you to do there! We'd want you there if it was what you really wanted. But I do think you could finally allow yourself some fun, even if it's hard work. In the long run I do have something in mind where you could be an asset. But it's still quite a bit away, and we still need a lot of research for this, on several levels and that's not your best side."

"No, you're right, it's not. It's Hermione's best side."

Sirius laughed and asked:

"So you have lessons with Minerva to become an Animagus? How's it going?"

"She's okay with us, but keeps telling us we're a long way away from the goal yet!"

"She'll teach you well, Harry. We did a dangerous thing back then, believe me! I wouldn't want you to do it the way we did it. With Minerva you have the best possible teacher!"

"I think so, too. Hermione likes her anyway, but I like her a lot better since I'm out of school."

"I know what you mean. She's softening, eh? Was that way when we had left school, too. She's a great softie deep down, you know. Your Dad and I always got along with her perfectly well, but we were about as clever in her subject as Hermione. That was very helpful. – Do you plan to stay at the Burrow?"

"No, not really. They're all awfully nice, but I think I'd like some solitude, too. I'll probably look for a flat either in Diagon Alley or in some close by area of London."

"You do well doing that. Maybe you should bunk with a roommate though. It's always a good training to have to live together with someone. Don't leave your friends completely, that would only hurt all of you…"

"Ron will be at the Auror quarters during his training, do you think I could ask Hermione? I mean, is it acceptable to share a flat with a girl, even if one's not… you know…"

"All you have to do is ask her. She might be interested. Just friends, eh?" Sirius asked with a wink.

"Yes, just friends, why do you ask?"

"You might not see it, but the way she looks at you…"

"She looks at me?" Harry asked, incredulous.

"Of course she does. And you do like her a lot, don't you?"

"Well, there's many people I like a lot, but I don't have to…"

"Ah, ah… you do like many people a lot, that's right, but you might ask your heart a few questions. I had to do that back when I fell in love with Remus and, boy, that was even harder. Ask your best male mate what's in his heart and then open up yours with the fear of losing the friend completely! I think, you have an easier trip with your female best friend there. Especially since she does not strike me as someone who takes the first step. Not many women dare to, even now."

Harry sighed. He knew that Sirius had a point. He had seen some of Hermione's glances, only he didn't want to believe that she might really fall for her best friend. She'd tried it with Ron and it had been agony for all of them. Finally it had been Ron who had seen that it was better to return to being friends instead of lovers. Harry had always expected things would turn out the same if he should turn to her and ask her out.

"I'll keep you posted," he only said.

Sirius grinned.

"Just tell me in case I'm right. Or don't tell me, I'll probably know since I'll see her every day! Just go ahead and ask her out, tomorrow is Saturday, go out and have a nice evening away from everyone and everything. Oh, and I was wondering if you already applied for the apparition license?"

"Yes, we all did. For Ron it's a must anyway, so we're all learning right now."

"Good. You are cleared to come and see us at our flat in the Ministry at any time. Next week the last of my accounts will finally be open again, so Remus and I plan to go house hunting. That will certainly be somewhere out of London. We want it cosy and away from the bustle of the city."

"I can help with that, if you like…" Harry offered.

"Sure, why not. You go and look and tell us which ones are worth for us to see them. Thanks for that offer."

Remus found them outside on the porch swing.

"Hey! Done having deep conversations about Quidditch?" he teased.

"We've been through a lot more than Quidditch! Do you want to go back to the flat?" Sirius asked.

"How are you doing? I think I'm ready to go back…"

"I'm fine. We'll strictly take weekends off, Remus. We need the recuperation time."

"Well, you'll have to be there if anything really grave happens."

"Yes, but only for that!"

"That's what you get for doing something stupid like that, love!" Remus said and ruffled Sirius' long hair.

"Yes, I know. But I said A, now I'm saying B. You suffer right with me," Sirius replied cheerfully.

"See how I always got drawn into their schemes, Harry? They were merciless! I'll never know how I got that prefect's badge…"

Harry grinned.

"I do. Like Hermione! Dear me, the stuff she got away with… and all the while she looks like she can't even kill a fly!"

"Oh, you accuse me of being deceptive? I'm hurt, Harry!" Remus said theatrically.

They all laughed and returned back into the house, where Remus and Sirius said their goodbyes before apparating back to the Ministry and their flat.

As soon as they apparated into the living room, Sirius turned to Remus and pulled him into his arms for a long kiss. Remus held him tightly and when they let go, he whispered:

"Let's make love, sweetheart, I'm missing you so badly."

"Yes, love, I've been missing you as well. How long has it been? Since well before the battle, wasn't it?"

Remus nodded. Then he pulled Sirius into the bedroom and started to undress him. Their lovemaking was a bit frantic, like they had almost forgotten how to do it, but after a while they were back into the rhythm and when both of them found their release, they both agreed that it had rarely been that satisfying. Sirius caressed Remus tenderly, stroked over his hair and looked into his eyes.

"I love you, Remus. Never would I have dared to do what I did without you. We're still out on thin ice, but we'll get to the solid stuff soon…"

"Do you know how much I love you, Sirius? You've taken the responsibility, but we're in this thing together…"

Sirius sighed.

"And I'm glad for it."


Kungzoune: Thanks! I'm happy you like it. I did want to write something quite different and keep the clichés a bit out... managed that for most of them, I think

Wolfstar: Thanks! I think so, too, especially since he's described by McGonagall as one of the most gifted students in Hogwarts at his time in PoA, so I thought he'd be well able to handle something like this - and with someone like Remus in his back as his assistant... those two could really do great things. Somehow Sirius' character has really been wasted by Rowling, I could never treat him so horribly :-)