Disclaimer: I don't own it. Awww...how sad. Oh, well.

Comments

Rosaleen: Yes, we all love the classic family scene (everybody go "Awwww! How cute!").

kyer: It would be nice to take Mrs. Black's portrait down, but it clearly states in The Order of the Phoenix that her portrait is mounted on the wall with a permanent sticking charm. I dunno how they're gonna get her off the wall (everything has failed so far). We'll just have to wait to find out...

excessivelyperky: Yeah, this story's coming to a close, but I think I'll get up to Chapter 22 or 23 before the end comes...

MoroTheWolfGod: You want more? Here you are; sorry the wait was so long!

Rikki8879: If Sirius carried Severus in the actual series, I think they would have started World War III. Heck, they'd probably kill me for even writing something like that!

kidarock: I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for your review!

Hey guys! Sorry it took so long for me to update; it's the end of the school year, and we all know what that means: CRUNCH TIME! My AP U.S. History exam is next Friday, and I've got a lot of other deadlines next week, so I probably won't update then (I'll shoot for next weekend, though).

Sorry if you guys think this chapter is stupid. There are some parts that are kinda out of character, so please forgive me if you don't like it. Enjoy!

saiyanwizardgurl

Chapter 20: Talkings at Grimmauld Place

Minerva McGonagall's eyes fluttered open. It was still dark, but the Transfigurations teacher could see the brilliant blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore staring into her own green ones. "Good morning, love," said the headmaster, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek.

McGonagall smiled. "Sleep well, love?" she asked, snuggling into his beard.

"Just wonderfully," he said, stroking her hair. "You?"

"Very well, yes. What time is it?"

"Six-ten."

"There's no need to get up right away, right?"

"I don't think so."

"Good. What shall we do today?"

"I'll be away on Order business tonight, but the rest of my day is free."

"I wonder if anyone else is awake yet."

"I don't know. Do you need to see someone?"

"No, it's just I feel really awake now."

"Me, too. Want to go and check? I can make us some tea as well."

"Okay." The Transfigurations teacher kissed Dumbledore before rolling out of bed, the headmaster following suit. They quickly got dressed and walked downstairs. As they headed for the kitchen, they heard someone say, "I dunno, Moony. Am I just being stupid?"

Following the voice to a rather large sitting room, they heard another voice. "Not at all. Your concerns are legitimate."

"Yes, but – "

"Oh, Merlin, Padfoot, you're his godfather! It's okay if you're worried; that's your job!"

Deciding to make their presence known, Dumbledore knocked on the slightly open door. "Are we interrupting?"

"Not at all. You can come in if you like."

The headmaster opened the door and walked in after McGonagall. Sirius Black was sitting on one of the leather sofas that occupied a large portion of the sitting room, his head in his hands. Remus Lupin was standing behind him, gently massaging his shoulders. "Are you okay, Sirius?" asked the Transfigurations teacher.

"He's just actively taking part in his role as Harry's godfather, which of course means he's worrying himself silly. He'll be okay," said Lupin.

"What is he worried so about?" asked Dumbledore as he and McGonagall sat together on the other sofa.

"Just the fact that – " began the werewolf.

" – I cannot be with my godson to support him through this war," said Black, rather hoarsely.

"Oh, Sirius, I'm quite sure Harry knows that you care for him," said the Transfigurations teacher.

"I suppose, but I'm stuck here in the sanctuary of all things dark," said the Animagus, taking his head out of his hands.

The headmaster felt a pang of guilt that always hit him whenever this subject was brought up. "You know that you have to stay here for – "

" – for my safety, yes," said Black, keeping the bitterness in his tone to a bare minimum. "It's a bit different for me, though. At least you all have your freedom."

"Correction. I am currently a dangerous old crackpot that is considered a raving lunatic," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling.

The others smiled at this comment. Even the Animagus smirked at the headmaster's remark. "That may be true," he sighed, "but you've got a way better chance of getting your freedom back than I do."

"Stop that, Sirius," said Lupin, sternly. "We will get your name cleared. You will get your freedom back."

Black smiled. "Thanks, Moony," he murmured, leaning back into the massage.

Dumbledore reached into his pocket and pulled out his watch. Checking the time, he said, "I'd better go check on Severus."

"Severus is here?" asked the werewolf, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes, he stayed overnight in one of the spare rooms," said McGonagall as the headmaster left the room.

"Well, that's the surprise of the century," said the Animagus. "Snape stayed in the house of his mortal enemy. He must be going crazy."

………………

Dumbledore silently opened the door to the room the Potions Master was staying in and closed it behind him with a small snap. Walking over to the bed, he saw through the darkness a small lump under the sheets that was Severus Snape. He gently sat down on the edge and brushed a few stray strands off the younger wizard's pale face. The Potions Master's eyes fluttered open. "Albus?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, child. I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's okay," he said, hoarsely, "I need to get up anyway. Wait; where are we?" he asked, looking around.

"We're at Grimmauld Place," said the headmaster. "It was rather late when we had sorted out all the Order business, so we decided to stay the night."

"Oh. Well…I'll just go get dressed," said Snape, quickly swinging himself out of bed and striding into the bathroom. He emerged after about five minutes later, dressed in his usual black robes. Dumbledore stood and beckoned him to follow. The two wizards went downstairs and headed towards the sitting room.

McGonagall, Lupin, and Black all looked up as Snape and Dumbledore came in. The Animagus and the Potions Master exchanged their usual glares that they reserved especially for each other, but as both were extremely exhausted, and neither held his expression for very long. Snape and Dumbledore sat down with Minerva so that the younger wizard was in the middle.

"Does anyone want breakfast?" asked the headmaster, waving his wand. A huge silver tray crammed with fruits, jam, toast, and a pot of steaming tea and teacups. Dumbledore poured out a cup for each of them and grabbed a piece of toast. "So, what were you two planning to do today, Remus?"

"Well, we are a bit ahead of the cleaning schedule, so we were just going to take the day off," said Lupin, walking around the couch to sit next to the Animagus. "But we don't really have anything planned. Is there anything you need us to do for you?"

"Not until tonight. Depending on how the mission goes, I may call a last minute meeting tomorrow. What about you Severus? Are you busy today?"

"What?" The Potions Master, who was on the verge of drifting off to sleep, sat up quickly and put his teacup back on the coffee table.

"Do you have anything planned for today?"

"No. Am I needed for anything?"

"Perhaps, but it depends on how tonight turns out."

"All right."

"So," said the werewolf, "did you see that article in last night's Prophet?"

"The one about that project St. Mungo's is working on?"

"Yes."

"Actually, I did read about it – "

"You can lie down if you're still tired, Severus," whispered McGonagall.

"I'm okay, Minerva," he whispered back, but I'll remember that."

McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Lupin spent the next hours talking. The other two, who were still very tired, had fallen asleep on the couches. The witch and wizards smiled, and the headmaster covered the Animagus and the Potions Master with soft blankets with the flick of his wand. "I guess they couldn't make it," said McGonagall, smirking.

"Either that or our idle chatting has bored them to death," said Dumbledore.

"No; I think they just couldn't think of insults to throw at each other, and therefore decided to use their time for something else," said Lupin.

"Perhaps," said the Transfigurations teacher. "They've fought so much; you'd think Sirius and Severus were brothers."

At that, the werewolf burst into laughter. The two sleeping wizards shifted slightly, but neither showed any signs of waking. "What's so funny?" asked the headmaster with mock innocence.

"Don't act as if you don't know!" said Lupin. "Anyone would laugh at the thought of their expressions when hearing the words 'Sirius,' 'Severus,' and 'brothers' in the same sentence!"

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