Okay, Sunny Moonlight asked me for a timeline of events, and so I decided to put it here for all of you just in case it was confusing:

Chapters 1, 2, & 3: 31 October, Hallowe'en—day after full moon, chapter one is early morning.

Chapter 4: 1 November

Chapter 5: 2 November

Chapter 6: 21 November

Chapter 7: 28 November—day after full moon

The full moon dates here are not accurate for 1985, but we'll all pretend, won't we? I'm pretty sure I've got the full moon spaced right, at least. I'll try to post the date at the beginning of each chapter from now on.

I love my marvelous reviewers!

Reyna: You do realize that if Remus got laid, Sirius got laid too, right? And I'm glad that made your chapter. Siriusly.

Sunny Moonlight: Hope the calendar helps! Remus is gonna be daddy too, I promise. And Harry will get saved soon! Oh, and Maggie will be back in future chapters, so it's good that you liked her.

molloch: 'Interaction'? o.ô You can tell my mind's in the gutter. But there is some interaction in this chapter. Just not 'interaction.'

Becky Silver Black: I'll free him soon, really!

If I owned these characters, would I really be writing fanfiction?

At first it felt like a dream. He'd had lots of dreams like it in the past. Waking slowly, only a few scratches and a bit of joint ache to remind him of the full moon last night, long limbs tangled with his own… That was the moment Remus was sure he wasn't dreaming. The legs tangled with his were too thin, and the body sprawled half on top of him was too light. He opened his eyes to see a curtain of black silk across his chest and the pillow and the porcelain-pale shoulder beside him, and smiled. That was different, too.

Four years in Azkaban had left Sirius's hair a matted mess. But three hours of combing and detangling spells and a bottle of shampoo had turned the rats' nest into a waist-length fall of ebony silk. The now-registered animagus had planned on getting it cut until he realized how often Remus went out of his way to run his fingers through it. Which is what he was doing now, moving it away from the sleeping face of his lover. Still too thin, that face, but nowhere near as skeletal as it had been a month ago when he'd first left Azkaban. Before too long he'd be just as handsome as he'd been five years ago.

Sirius could sleep through earthquakes, thunderstorms, and the piercing cries of Adara and Alhena when they woke in the night, but Remus's featherlight touch on his face brought him out of dreamland with a smile. Silvery grey eyes met gold, and Sirius chuckled. "Good morning, Mr. Moony."

"Good morning yourself, Mr. Padfoot. Sleep well?"

"Like a log, as always. But… I dreamed." Sirius's face clouded over, and Remus knew from experience that his lover wouldn't say more about the dream than that. "I'm worried about Harry, though."

The werewolf nodded. He'd expected this question, but had never quite worked out how to respond. While he thought, the comfortable silence between them lengthened, and was flavored by the quiet sound of the rain drumming on the roof for the seventh day in a row, and the distinctive aroma of the animagus potion Rory was brewing. She'd laughingly said she wasn't going to be the only adult in the household not in touch with her animal side. Finally Remus sighed. "You know what Dumbledore said…"

"Yes, but… we were more Lily's family than Petunia ever was! And look at us. You're one of the best ward-builders in Europe, Rory knows as many defense spells as Madeye Moody, and we all had auror training while we were in the Order. Harry couldn't possibly be safer with the muggles than he would be with us. And I know he can't be happy with them."

Remus hugged his lover, trying to comfort him. "We can't interfere unless Harry asks us to. Which is absurd, because the boy doesn't even know we exist, but there it is."

Just then, the window burst open and a sodden, bedraggled owl flapped in and deposited an equally sodden and bedraggled letter on the bed before perching on the bedpost to preen itself.

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Harry curled up in his cupboard, staring off into the darkness. It wasn't fair. Just a few days ago his punishment from the zoo had ended, and now he was being punished again for something he hadn't even done! He'd gotten a good grade on his homework and Dudley claimed he'd cheated. 'I didn't steal Dudley's work. Why would I? Mine was better. It's not fair. Now I've got to spend the entire weekend in this stupid cupboard.'

Watching a spider weave its web in a corner of the cupboard, Harry wished someone would take him away.

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The animagus potion was the next to last step involved in becoming an animagus. It smelled rather like lavender and cinnamon, although Sirius insisted it tasted like buttered toast. An hour after it was consumed, the would-be animagus could attempt the exceedingly difficult transfiguration spell that would allow him or her to assume animal form.

All four children had been remarkably quiet today—apparently the incessant rain had subdued their usual high spirits. Rome and Raul had even gone to take a nap without their mother's persuasion. All of which left Rory free to finish up her potion. She was just tossing back the required dose when her housemates entered the kitchen.

"You're right, Sirius. It does taste like buttered toast." Putting her mug down, Rory turned to smile at them, and paused. Both men showed signs of getting dressed hastily. Sirius's shirt was on inside out, and Remus obviously hadn't combed his hair. They were both grinning from ear to ear. Before she could ask, Sirius held out a damp, crayon-written letter. After reading it, her grin matched theirs. "You two had better get to work."

"Work?" Remus blinked, momentarily confused.

"Yes, work. Dumbledore can't argue with that, but he'll argue anyway. You know how he is. It's just as well, though. It'll take me the rest of the day to get Harry's room ready." Rory did some mental calculations, and smiled. "Dumbledore will delay you until about bedtime tonight, so it will work out just right."

"Whaat?" Indignant, Sirius folded his arms. "We're not waiting until tomorrow to spring Harry from the muggles. Remus, get ready to go. I'm going to Floo Dumbledore right now, and we'll have Harry here in time for tea." The dark-haired man headed for the hearth, and within seconds was up to his waist in green flames.

After watching for a moment, Remus stepped over to the stove and poured himself a cup of tea before sitting down at the kitchen table. He chuckled in amusement as Sirius's feet disappeared through the Floo. "So, what colour should we paint Harry's room?"

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I hate it when Rory's right. The worst part is, she never even says 'I told you so' like any normal human being. Sirius had been arguing with Dumbledore for what felt like weeks, although a glance at his watch told him it had only been seven hours. 'Only' seven hours. The headmaster's animagus form obviously had to be a goat. Nothing else could be that stubborn. He looked rather caprine, too. "No I don't want another cup of tea you stubborn old goat!"

In a castle in Scotland, a dog butted heads with a goat.

Well, I didn't get as far as I'd intended with this chapter, but I rather like this version better than what I had in mind. Randomly, if anyone has ideas on what Rory's animagus form should be, feel free to mention it in your review. I've a general idea, but suggestions are always welcome. Next chapter: We'll see.