AN: Before you guys read this chapter, I just want everyone to know how close this story was to being deleted last night. If it hadn't been for whydoyouneedtoknow, it would have been gone. But again, she's convinced me to stick with it. Thank her. Not me. And also thank her for editing and fixing a few things in the chapter. Thank you, Anne!

Complicated

By Neurotica

Four

He was walking through the corridors of a place only familiar to him in his dreams, wearing a pair of dark red silk pajamas, though he knew for a fact that when he'd gone to bed they'd been green. In one arm, cuddled close to his chest, was a stuffed lion; he'd never seen it in real life, but in his dreams he carried it with him at all times. He followed the lantern-lit corridors expertly until he reached a large dining hall with a round table set in the middle of it. Normally, it would have looked quite out of place in a room this magnificent, but when he spotted the faces smiling at him from the table, he thought nothing of it.

He grinned widely and ran the remaining distance to them, his bare feet making small slapping noises on the floor. There was a chair waiting for him between a man with sandy-colored hair and a woman with bushy brown hair. He didn't know any of the names of the people at the table, but that never really mattered to him.

With a snap of fingers belonging to a man with shoulder-length black hair, a feast appeared before them, and they all began to eat and talk and laugh, just as they had in the other dreams. Across from him, a dark-skinned woman was trying not to laugh at something the long-haired man said as she cut up the food of the boy with glasses. A girl with the same bushy hair as the other woman was happily talking with the sandy-haired man, and a dark-skinned little girl seemed to hang on their every word.

For as long as he could remember, he'd been having dreams like this one. He knew they'd never come true, but he liked the way he felt when he was with these people. He felt like he belonged, like they were his family. That, of course, was not true. This little boy's family consisted of his mother and his father; the latter hadn't been seen in months, since last September to be precise. So now his mother took care of him with the help of the family house-elf.

He'd once told the house-elf about his dreams, only because he wanted to tell somebody, and he knew the house-elf would never tell his mother. The house-elf told him he shouldn't be thinking the things he was – like wanting to go and find the people from his dreams and go live with them instead of his mother. There was something about the dream-people that intrigued him and made him want more.

A few nights after he'd talked with the house-elf, his mother asked him about the dreams – apparently, she'd overheard him telling the house-elf. At first, he denied ever having any sort of dream like that – his father always told him that he should be proud of what he was and where he came from, and not want to be any different. He knew that if his father was to find out about these dreams somehow, he'd be in serious trouble. So he told his mother she hadn't heard what she thought she had.

But she told him, in a voice he'd never heard her use, that his father would never know of this, and that if he liked, he should continue to dream of these people. She only wanted him to be happy, after all, and if these dreams made him happy, then she wouldn't try and stop them.

Their family hadn't been the same since his father left; people gave them strange looks when they went out, and people from the Ministry of Magic had come to their home to do searches for things he had no idea about. The only thing that he knew was that his father had done something involving the Boy-Who-Lived and the Dark Lord. Those were two titles he'd known about since he was very small. His father told him how great and powerful the Dark Lord, but he wasn't sure he liked the Dark Lord. From the stories his father had told, the Dark Lord did bad things to people like those in his dreams – he knew some of those people were Mudbloods.

So after his father had had to run away from a man called Black, his mother insisted that he needed all the happiness in his life that he could find. And the dreams made him happy. He could sit and watch the people in his dreams talk for hours and not actually do any talking himself. He never felt out of place with them like he sometimes did with his father around. And when the other three children were sent off to play, they'd always drag him along, just like he was one of them…

He never wanted the dreams to end, but he knew that when the sun rose, the house-elf would come to wake him, and he'd have to wait until bedtime the next night so he and the other kids could finish their game of hide-and-seek. And just like every time he woke from one of these dreams, he'd tell himself that one day, maybe, they would come true…

A pair of brown eyes appeared over the side of a bed to look at a sleeping face framed in bushy brown hair. Hermione Granger, more commonly known as Neenie, sighed at her sister, wondering about the best way to wake her today.

In a few hours, Danger and Neenie would set off for the London fair to meet Harry and his guardian Remus, and though Neenie was well aware that it was only seven in the morning, she also knew that if Danger didn't wake soon to help Neenie get all of their household chores finished, they'd be late.

"Danger," Neenie whispered. She wasn't too disappointed when her initial attempt failed miserably and Danger continued to sleep. Neenie went to the end of the bed and climbed up easily, crawling over to her sister, and sitting on her legs. "Danger, get up," she tried again, a little louder. Still no response. Rolling her eyes, she knew what she had to do, even though she knew Danger would be grumpy for a bit afterwards – that was a risk Neenie was willing to take…

"DANGER!" she yelled.

This got results. Danger sat straight up, her eyes wide and her hair flying in all directions. She looked around for a minute and then heard the all-too familiar giggles of her baby sister. With narrowed eyes, Danger looked to where Neenie lay laughing hard on the bed. "Hermione Jane Granger," Danger said severely. Her sister continued to laugh. "You're in for it now, young miss…"

Following an attack that involved Danger's fingers and Neenie's very ticklish ribs, the two sisters collapsed on the bed. "Now what, may I ask, was the point in waking me up like that?" Danger asked in a mock-irritated voice – her real irritation had faded shortly after hearing the infectious laugh of her sister.

Still red in the face from laughing, Neenie sat up. "The fair is today," she said in a tone that suggested Danger was being thick.

"Are you sure?" Danger asked, furrowing her brow in thought. "I thought I heard that they cancelled the fair…"

"They did not," Neenie said, rolling her eyes again. "And if you don't hurry, you're not going to get to see Remus." She had a very smug look on her face that made Danger have to fight to push down a blush – one should never let one's little sister see one blush.

Danger raised an eyebrow. "First of all, I'm not going to see Remus; I'm taking you so you and Harry can see each other. And second, how do you remember the names of people you met once, over a week ago?"

Neenie gave her a look that said she knew something her sister didn't. Not entirely impossible, Danger thought. She gets more chances to read these days than I do, what with work and all. And she's reading things that I didn't even understand at her age.

But instead of explaining, Neenie hopped off the bed and went to the bedroom door. "Breakfast, please," she said happily.

"You actually think you're getting breakfast after the way you woke me up?" Danger asked.

Neenie shrugged. "If you don't want to make it, I will." And before Danger's eyes could even widen properly at the threat, Neenie ran down the stairs and to the kitchen.

"Neenie, if you touch the stove–" Danger yelled through the house. All she got in response was another set of giggles. Wondering idly if Remus would trade Harry for Neenie while they were at the fair, Danger quickly got dressed and made her way downstairs, hoping her sister hadn't made too much of a mess.

Sirius was learning quickly that with the combined talents of Harry and Meghan in the same house, his chances of sleeping late on weekends were fading into nothing. Not that he was complaining – well, maybe a little, but anyone would complain when they woke up on a Saturday morning just after seven a.m. to the sound of a crash and then silence, followed moments later by small hurried footsteps.

The casualty had been a lamp – a very ugly lamp – that Remus had found in some boxes in his basement. He said his grandmother had given it to his mother one Christmas, and after displaying it for about a month, his mother stowed it away in a box. She'd told her mother-in-law that Remus and his father had been horse-playing and had knocked it over. Sirius always did like Remus' mother…

Both Meghan and Harry claimed total innocence in the lamp's fate until Aletha used some sort of raised-eyebrow-interrogation that Sirius was sure she'd learned from Remus. The result was Harry breaking down – much to Meghan's annoyance; apparently, she'd become immune to her mother's raised eyebrow (Sirius would have to find out how she'd done that) – and told the adults that he and Meghan had been playing with Harry's charmed dragons. It seemed that while racing the Hungarian Horntail and the Norwegian Ridgeback, the two children turned a corner too fast and hit the end table that held the lamp – the results being the crash Sirius, Aletha, and Remus had all woken up to.

Since it was Remus' lamp, Aletha left Meghan's punishment in his hands. After a display of the most adorable puppy dog eyes Sirius had ever seen in his life, Remus sentenced the pair to breakfast dishes that morning to make up for it. Meghan seemed rather relieved by the ruling, but Harry had bowed his head and nodded as though waiting for something worse.

Later, Sirius and Remus recalled that while Harry lived with the Dursleys, his "punishments" had been a lot more severe, like a day in a dark, smelly cupboard with no meals. As well, they'd never really punished Harry – there'd never been a need – so the boy might have been having a flashback to the time with his former guardians. To remind Harry where he was and whom he was now residing with, Remus went in after the dishes were finished to remind him about the fair in London later in the day with Danger and Neenie. The news had the exact effect Remus wanted: Harry's eyes lit up and he smiled widely.

"Are Meghan and Sirius and Letha going with us?" Harry asked as Remus helped him pick out what he would wear that day.

"Er…" Remus said. It was getting to be his favorite expression. In truth, over the last few days' excitement of Aletha and Meghan coming to stay with them, he'd completely forgotten to mention he was taking Harry to the fair for the day. And he couldn't very well take Harry and leave the others at the cottage… He wondered if Danger would mind some extra company… "Hold that thought, Harry."

Remus quickly went into the kitchen and located Danger's phone number. Sirius, Aletha, and Meghan were in the living room doing something that involved the two females throwing pillows at Sirius. He dialed the number and waited.

After three rings, a breathless voice answered and Remus spoke. "Danger? Hi, it's Remus Lupin." He laughed. "You seem to be having a good time," he said in response to the laughter in her own voice. Danger told him she and Neenie were just picking up the house a bit. "Well, the reason I'm calling is about the fair today. My friend Sirius' wife and their daughter are in town this week, and I was wondering if you'd mind if they came along?" Danger seemed a bit surprised, but replied that she didn't mind one bit. "Great, then we'll see you in a few hours."

They said goodbye and Remus hung up the phone, smiling a bit at how Danger's voice sounded when she laughed. Then he shook himself; he was acting like a teenager, and this wasn't even really a date – or was it? – it was just for Harry and Neenie to spend some time together. That was it… And Remus would keep that train of thought for as long as it took to convince himself that it was the truth.

"Sirius, could you come here for a second?" he called.

"Gladly!" the Auror called. As he entered the kitchen one last pillow flew at his head followed by laughs from both Aletha and Meghan. "Why is it that I'm always the one getting pillows thrown at me?" he asked his best friend.

"Because you're an easy target?" Remus suggested innocently. Sirius glared at him. "How would you feel about going to London today for a fair?"

"A fair what?" Sirius asked blankly.

Remus shook his head. He loved Sirius, but the fact that the man still didn't even know the proper name for a television blew his mind. "A fair, Sirius. It's an event with rides and games and food…" The mention of food seemed to perk Sirius' interest. "Do you remember just after seventh year when Lily took all of us to that thing where you and James decided to sing karaoke?"

"Oh, that," Sirius said, cringing. "I don't have to do that again, do I?"

"If you do, I will have to kill myself."

"Well, I'm up for it," he said. "Just us, then?"

"Actually," Remus began slowly. "Harry and I were invited by Danger and her sister a few days ago. I just forgot to mention it."

That grin that Remus always hated had returned to Sirius' face. "Oh, I see what this is… It was supposed to be a date, but you're too chicken to go alone, so you drag me and my family along to make it seem like it's just a group of friends…"

"Sirius, do you want to go along, or not?" Remus said flatly. "Because I can just as easily take Harry and go without you."

"Now, now, Moony, don't get hasty," Sirius said, still grinning. "I'm rather interested in meeting this Danger, since you seem to think so much of her."

"Aletha, do you have any more pillows in there?" Remus called to the living room.

Silence, then, "Yes, we have three more. Do you need one?"

"I don't know. Sirius, do I?"

"Why are all of you so bloody violent? Fine, we'll go to the fair, and I'll back off about Danger…" Remus knew he wouldn't do anything of the sort, but for the moment he'd keep his mouth shut. "What time?"

"About three hours from now."

Aletha had been thrilled to hear that they were going to see her childhood best friend, and Meghan was just happy to hear she'd get to go to a fair. Due to his position in the Ministry, Sirius was allowed to make a Portkey that would take them just outside the fairgrounds, once Remus gave him the coordinates. They prepared to leave at ten minutes to noon, and gathered around a piece of the lampshade from the lamp Meghan and Harry had broken earlier.

"Alright," Sirius said, picking Meghan up. "Everyone put a finger on the lampshade…" Ten seconds later, they'd arrived in the sunshine of London, and Remus quickly reached out to grab Harry before he fell to the ground. "Are we all in one piece?" Sirius asked, tickling Meghan's sides and earning a giggle. "Lead the way, Moony…"

They bought their tickets for admittance and waited just inside the gates for Danger and Neenie – Remus had already bought their tickets, much to Sirius' amusement. "Where are they?" Harry asked from atop Remus' shoulders, looking around the parking lot.

"They'll be here, Harry," Remus said. He was also looking out in the parking lot for the other two members of their group. Just after noon, Harry pointed out a bushy head in the crowd of families making their way through the ticket lines and called out for Danger. She saw them and waved, smiling, approaching with Neenie at her side. "We've already gotten your tickets," Remus told Danger.

"You didn't have to do that," Danger said, smiling at him.

He only shrugged, smiling back. "Oh, this is my best friend Sirius Black, his daughter Meghan, and his wife-"

"ALETHA!" Danger cried, spotting the widely grinning woman.

"Ow," Sirius said, rubbing his ear and wincing away from the screams of the excited women.

"What are you doing here?" Danger asked after embracing Aletha tightly.

"I'm married to this git," Aletha said, grinning. "God, it's been so long! How are you?"

They began talking quickly, catching up on fifteen years of news, while Sirius and Remus looked on, shaking their heads at one another. Harry, Meghan, and Neenie were somewhere around their legs, Harry introducing the girls to one another. Ten minutes later, the women turned back to the wizards. "What?" Aletha asked at Sirius' raised eyebrow. "Are you telling me that if you hadn't seen your childhood best friend for years you wouldn't be excited?"

"Oh, believe me, I was very excited when I saw Remus again… It meant…" Sirius began. Remus cleared his throat, giving him a very pointed look. "Well, it meant I hadn't been as much of a prat as I thought I was."

"Don't be so sure." Remus grinned. "So, shall we?"

Once Sirius realized what a fair was, he wanted to go on every single ride there around. Danger made a comment to Remus that he acted like he'd never been to one of these before, and Remus replied that Sirius had a very sheltered childhood – which wasn't a complete lie – and that seemed to satisfy her. After a quick lunch of hamburgers and chips, Sirius dragged the group to a game booth. The goal of the game was to throw beanbags at cardboard ducklings moving across a conveyer belt.

"How cruel," Sirius commented before picking up one of the beanbags and throwing it as hard as he could. He missed. "Oh, like you could do any better," he said to Remus' snigger.

"I could," Remus said. Sirius pushed him forward. The man behind the counter handed Remus one of the beanbags, and after taking careful aim, he threw it and knocked one of the ducks over.

"You win!" the man said. "Take your prize!" Remus looked over at the shelves of stuffed animals and pointed at a stuffed lion. The man handed it to him, and Remus turned around to Neenie, handing her the toy.

Neenie rewarded him with a bright smile that matched her sister's. "Thank you," she said a bit shyly.

"You're very welcome," Remus said, winking at Danger.

Remus tried three more times at Sirius' insistence that the first one was a fluke, and won three more stuffed lions. "Are you happy now?" he asked his best friend as each of the children took a stuffed animal from him, Meghan cuddling hers in her arms and Harry tossing his into the air. "I'll give you a lion if you stop pouting." Sirius laughed and snatched the fourth lion from his best friend's hand.

"Are they always like this?" Danger asked Aletha quietly.

"Always," Aletha said, laughing.

Next on their list was the Ferris wheel. Danger told the group that she'd rather wait for them than go on the ride, but Remus coaxed her into it by promising to share a cart with her. Sirius rolled his eyes at them before leading Harry, Meghan, Aletha, and Neenie to the line.

"You're afraid of heights, aren't you?" Remus asked Danger quietly once they got to the front of the line and were waiting for their turn at the carts.

"No, not afraid of heights," Danger said. "More afraid of falling from heights."

Remus chuckled. "You won't fall," he said certainly.

"And how do you know that?"

"Because I won't let you."

He and Danger locked eyes, and for a brief second Remus swore he knew what she was thinking, and thought he was enjoying this day a lot more than he believed he would too. But the second passed, and they were being ushered forward. The operator of the ride found them an empty cart just behind where Harry, Neenie, and Meghan shared one. Aletha and Sirius were in front of the children, turning occasionally to make sure they were all right.

The bar of the cart closed in front of them, and Remus smiled at Danger again, scooting closer to her without even realizing it. The ride began and Danger tensed a bit. "It's okay," Remus said soothingly.

"I hate these things…" she was muttering over and over.

By the time they'd reached the top of the wheel, Danger had her eyes shut tightly. "Open your eyes," he said.

"No, I'm just fine, thanks," she replied.

"Please?" he asked.

Sighing, Danger slowly opened her eyes and looked out over the fairgrounds. From where they sat, they could see everything around them, and even parts of London.

"See, that isn't so bad, now is it?" Remus said.

"No, I suppose not," she said, inwardly wondering how a man she'd only (technically) met a week ago could know exactly what to do to keep her calm. But the Remus she knew from her dreams always knew the right thing to do or say.

The wheel jerked to life again, and they slowly began to make their descent to the ground. When the bar was lifted, Danger was smiling, thankful to be on the ground, but enjoying her time with Remus even more.

"So where to now?" Sirius asked as they left through the ride's exit gate.

The group spent the rest of the afternoon going from game booths to rides and back again until Sirius finally decided he wanted to sit down, and chose ice cream as a good excuse to do so. "It's on me," he told the group. Danger insisted she could pay for her and Neenie's ice cream, but neither Sirius nor Remus would listen to a word she said.

The two wizards made their way to the booth that sold the ice cream and bought seven chocolate cones – Remus paid since Sirius didn't know the first thing about Muggle money – and went back to the table. While trying to enjoy his dessert, Sirius looked around the fairgrounds, then frowned.

"What's wrong?" asked Aletha.

"Nothing," said Sirius automatically, taking another lick of his ice cream. But it wasn't true. A bit down the way, he had spotted someone who couldn't possibly be there. Or at least, he shouldn't. But the longer he stared, the more the Auror realized he actually was seeing what he thought he was seeing.

"No way…" he whispered, standing and dropping his ice cream cone into a trash bin.

"Sirius, what's wrong?" Aletha asked again.

"Remus, come here," Sirius replied, without turning back around. Remus stood and went to stand by his best friend. "Look over there at that booth… Do you see who I see?"

Remus followed Sirius' line of sight and felt his eyes widen and his jaw drop simultaneously. "Is he really that stupid?"

"Seems so…" Sirius said, his voice now hard and furious. "Stay here…"

Before Remus could try and stop him, Sirius walked off, his hand going to his wand. "What is going on?" Aletha demanded.

Remus quickly weighed his options. Danger was a Muggle, true, but that meant the name wouldn't mean a thing to her. And Aletha deserved to know.

"Sirius just saw Lucius Malfoy."

AN: How's that for a cliffhanger? Remember, this story is set in the Truths universe, and in that universe, Lucius is on the run. Please be patient with me on this story, guys. I'm doing my best, but I also want to make sure I'm doing things right. I'll get the chapters out as quickly as I can, okay? So until the next time you hear from me (which should be tomorrow night with an update of Altercations...). Thank you for reading, and please review.