Disclaimer : All characters belongs to J. K. Rowlings. All were kidnapped in the dawn, and are not used to make money. They will be returned when I'm done.

See, don't own so don't sue, unless you're interested in my teddy bears collection...

Besides this work will contain : mpreg and people out of character since I am definitely not JK Rowlings, and some strange sentences since I'm French. Still here?

So, on with the show...

The sale

Chapter three – Discussion and the beginning of a plan

The day after, James and his parents were sitting in the kitchen, around the table where the contract was laying.

"We have to help him" James said emphasizing his point of view by banging his fist on the table.

"I've read the contract. There's nothing I can do, I'm not a lawyer." His father said dejectedly. "And we can't afford to shelter him...or we could be accused of guilt by association, and dragged in"

"You can't push him in the streets" James shouted, raising so quickly to his foot that his chair fall in the process.

"And we won't, James. But your father and I discussed it yesterday, and we came to the conclusion that if we weren't able to help Sirius, then maybe Dumbledore could. We aren't going to let him fall prey to those people." Helena placated her son.

"Meanwhile," his father went on, "he's gonna stay here. You are not going to let him out of your sight. He is not to come outside. Understood?"

James nodded. "And for his school supplies?"

"We can't buy two sets, we don't want to attract attention. You'll have to share."

"Ok. I'll do anything I can to help him. Do you think it's alright if I owl Remus? He's very levelheaded, and I'm sure he could help."

"Agreed. Ask him to come here for the last days of holidays, but don't use the real pretense. We don't know if our mail isn't spied on. We must be very careful if we don't want to make things worst."

"Tell him you want him here to plan your welcome back pranks."

"Mum!" mumbled a very embarrassed James, all the while trying to look innocent.

A small giggle coming from the doorstep interrupted them. Here stood Sirius, covered from head to toe in the comforter of James' bed. As soon as he saw all eyes on him, he stammered "Sorry about the comforter. Just seems that I can't seem to be warm anymore and.." embarrassed he casted his eyes on the floor.

James' mother then stood and embraced him, steering him toward a chair. "Don't worry and eat. James, you do have an owl to sent, don't you?"

James put his chair back on its legs before hastily leaving the kitchen.

"Don't worry, we'll do anything we can to help you." Nicholas assured Sirius, putting one hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks" said Sirius, all the while letting the tears fall. "I knew she hated me, it's just..." he broke into heavy sobs.

"Shh, don't worry." Helena said, embracing him and rubbing his back. "We'll find a way to bring you to Dumbledore. I'm sure he'll help you. Now stop crying and start eating" she singsonged the last sentence.

"Yup. Crying bad, eating good." assured Nicholas. "I'm off to work" he hastily left the kitchen with a piece of toast and a wail of "I'm laaaate!"

Which make both Sirius and Helena chuckle. "Now I see why James is the way he is!"

"Yes. But they make life so interesting, that you can pardon them everything. Or, at least not stay mad at them for long!"

"I completely agree!"

"Hey! Not fair! Stop conspiring against me, both of you!" said James playfully "Owl on its way, sir!" he added with an immaculate salute to his mother.

This was the last straw and threw the whole kitchen into laughter, lightening Sirius' heart. This and the knowledge that whatever would happen, he would have allies to help him face it.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Later that same day. Potter's Estate.

James and Sirius were in the middle of an eniem wizard chess game when there was a knock at the door. Sirius instantly froze but began to breathe again when Helena's voice rang. "Remus! At last! James is waiting for you in his room."

"Thank you madam."

"Will you stay till the end of the holidays?"

"Yes."

"So, hurry to James' room. Shoo with you!" she ended her sentence by the code they had agreed on to indicate James and Sirius that Remus was indeed himself and didn't bring unwanted guests with him.

Laughing, Remus did as he was told. "Siri!" he ran and embraced his friend.

"Hey! Don't I also got a welcome hug?" grinned James.

"No" laughed Remus, "For that, you should have told me Sirius was here!" Seeing his friends' faces fall, Remus arched a brow. "What's the matter?" he asked, perplex.

James sighed and explained everything to Remus, who dropped on the floor, horrified.

"Will you help me?" Sirius asked shyly.

"Of course," exclaimed Remus "you didn't even need to ask! But first, we should write your mother..."

James' eyes bulged "Have you gone crazy?" he interrupted.

Remus continued "...to throw her out of your trail. I think James should owl her and ask permission for you to come here with us."

"Huh?" James blinked. Sirius gasped. "I think you lost me here, Moony!"

Remus sighed. "Listen, both of you. I'll try to use words small enough for you to understand..."

"Moony!" huffed Sirius, his eyes shining. James chose to pummel the snickering Remus with his pillow.

"Hum boys?" interrupted Helena. "Could we go back to the topic at hand, please?" she chided, putting her tray full with four cups of tea and a plate of cookies on James' desk.

"Sorry" Remus said sheepishly.

After everybody had his or her cup of tea, Sirius put the conversation back on tracks. "So, Moony, you were saying?"

Remus stood, pacing in front of the three sitting people and explained his idea. " Yes. Your mother knows who your friends are." A nod from Sirius. "And you ran away, she didn't throw you out." Again a nod. "Then, she'll be looking for you. If not her, then this wizard will do." A trembling nod. "The first places they'll be looking in is your friends'."

"Shit!" James swore.

"Language, James!" his mother admonished him, all the while taking Sirius' ice cold hands in her own and squeezing, earning a watery smile in return.

"So, to inform her that we don't know where you are, so as not to have her coming here, we must owl her. To ask her if Sirius could come to James' for the rest of the holidays for revisions or Quidditch practice, for example..." Remus finished, and then sat Indian style in front of three hard thinking people.

He nearly choked on his mouthful of tea when Sirius laughed, startling them all from their silence.

"You know what, Moony? That's a really good idea!"

"I think so too." added Helena.

James only nod before getting up to write the message. After they had all agreed on the terms, it was sent and the answer was anxiously waited for.

In the evening, just when Nicholas was on the threshold of the door, the owl came back and landed on his head.

He blindly reached for the message and entered the kitchen where everybody was, forgetting the owl getting quite comfortable on his head.

"James, you got mail!" he said and gave his son the parchment. "Hello, Remus, had a nice trip?" he shook his son's friend hand. "Sirius, I see you're better" A nod from Sirius. "Helena, how was your day, dear?" he turned to his wife who was at the table, laughing so hard she had tears flowing from her eyes.

"What?" Nicholas frown, sending the three others into hysterics.

Just then, the owl hooted. "Ah, yes. You again. When you'll be finished making me ridiculous, maybe you'll go back to your real perch?" he added, pocking the owl, who chose this moment to fly away. Nicholas mock scowled to the four helplessly laughing people.

"What is this mail, James? Who is it from?" he enquired. The kitchen sobered instantly.

James enfolded the message and read it aloud. "My son thanks you for the invitation, but I'm afraid he caught a little cold and won't be able to come. You'll see him on the Hogwart's express. Dolores Black."

When he was finished, Sirius sat with a happy sigh, Remus smiled, James chuckled and Helena whispered to Nicholas "Remus' idea. Ask Sirius' mother if he could come for Quidditch practice for the end of the holidays. To let her know we don't know where he is."

Nicholas whistle. " Well done Remus!" Remus blushed.

"At least now, we know why James and his father have such messy hair!" Sirius quipped.

Everybody laughed again. Helena was reassured: if Sirius could make jokes, he was going to be alright.

The next three days were spent laughing and trying to forget the next step waiting for them: getting Sirius on the Hogwart's Express without getting stopped.