A/N: Hey all! I'm back from beneath the giant pile of back-to-college homework with a new chapter! I know I told some people that this would be the Dursley chapter, but it was pushed to next chapter. Yes, I know, I keep pushing it off, but definitely next chapter!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and followed this story!

Enjoy


Sirius groaned and rolled over as a heavy weight settled on his back. "Moony, it's way too early for you to be – "

"Unca Pa'foo?" came a quiet voice.

"Oh, hey, Prongslet." He shifted so that Harry fell off his back and landed on the bed. "Why are you up so early? It's only – "

"Harry, you have to finish eating," Remus called through the open door.

"No! Don' like!" The toddler buried himself into the blanket, his head pressed into Sirius's side. "No eat!"

The werewolf sighed and reached under the blanket, grasping a small ankle gently. "It's oatmeal. It's good for you. Now come on, you're going to meet someone new today."

"'Kay." Harry looked at Sirius, who was sitting up in bed half asleep. "Pa'foo come?"

"In a couple of minutes. I have to get dressed first," Sirius replied. "I'll be there in a few."

"Now that that's taken care of." Remus swept the boy into his arms and started for the kitchen. "You're going to meet another little boy today."

"Neviw?" Looking down at the bowl of oatmeal on the table, Harry wrinkled his nose. "No wike."

"I'm sure you don't like it. But it's good for you." After setting him down by the table, Remus spooned a spoonful of oatmeal into Harry's small mouth. "You're not playing with Neville today. You're going to meet Sirius's cousin, Draco Malfoy."

"Wait, what? Narcissa didn't say anything about that." Sirius finished pulling his shirt down before sitting beside his godson. "She said she's meeting me at the Black offices and is leaving Draco at home with Lucius."

"She sent an owl saying she was bringing Draco with her. Lucius has other plans today and she doesn't want to leave him with the house elves." Seeing Sirius's annoyed look, Remus correctly interpreted it and held up a hand. "I wouldn't have opened your mail if not for the fact that the owl looked ready to murder me if I didn't take the letter and respond."

"And what did you respond?"

He shrugged. "That it would be alright. What else should I have said?"

"You could've woken me up!" Sirius retorted. "I would've told her – "

"Told her what? No, she couldn't bring her son because you're worried that he'll influence Harry? I was under the impression that you wanted to see if mending fences was even a possibility." The worn-looking man met the flint-like gaze. "You know you would have been even more upset if I woke you up. This was three hours ago."

"What?!" Looking at the clock hanging above the stove, Sirius's mouth dropped open. "Moony, it's nearly eleven! I'm supposed to meet Narcissa in fifteen minutes!"

"Then I suggest you get ready. Harry here is all set to go once he – Harry, what's wrong?" Both men looked down at the toddler for the first time since they began arguing. He had stopped eating and was looking up at them with an expression of fear on his young face.

"No hurt Hawwy. Hawwy good boy." Both hands went up to cover the small head, shielding it from any coming blows. "Hawwy sowwy."

"No, Harry, we're not upset with you," Remus said softly, kneeling down so that he was on Harry's level. "We're just arguing. No one's going to hurt you."

"Yeah, champ, we're never going to hurt you like your aunt and uncle did. No one will hurt you when you're with us. Don't cry." The other man wrapped both arms around Harry, holding him close. "You'll come with me to meet the Malfoys and we'll see if they're really good. How does that sound?"

"'Kay." Harry quietly looked down at his bowl and started eating by himself. His guardians shared a meaningful look over his messy head. From now on they had to make sure that all arguments happened either behind closed doors or after Harry had gone to bed. There was no way either of them was going to risk his happiness. "Aw done."

Remus lifted Harry off the chair and rested him on his hip. "Then let's go get your shoes on while Padfoot finishes getting ready."

"Good idea. Have fun, you two." Sirius went back into his bedroom to finish getting ready. He felt like he had to keep an open mind about Narcissa, however much he wanted to believe that Lucius was a Death Eater. At the moment he couldn't think of how having Malfoy on the Dark side would help Dumbledore, but if it turned out that Lucius had been controlled...who knew. He also had to admit that Narcissa had never seemed the type to go dark, as far as he could remember from when they were younger. She had always made a big deal of keeping her family safe and Voldemort was not the way to do that. The man had had a reputation of torturing his followers to keep them in line, and that would have included Lucius and even Draco, if he was around.

He exited his bedroom to find Harry standing by the door, now wrapped up in his winter gear. "Hey little guy. You all ready to go?" At Harry's solemn nod, Sirius swept him up into his arms and gave Remus a two-fingered salute. "We'll be off, then. What will you do with your new found free time?"

"I suppose I'll offer my help to Severus in fixing up his Manor. I'm sure he can use some help." Remus gently patted the top of Harry's hat-covered head. "Have fun."

"Thanks."

"And try to have an open mind. Allow Harry to play with Draco and try to listen to what Narcissa says. She may not be evil." He gave Harry one last look and turned to leave the room.

Sirius rolled his eyes, muttering, "I'm not an idiot."

"I heard that."

"You were supposed to!"

Remus let out a low chuckle and left the room.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

"They seem to be getting along well," Narcissa commented quietly, watching her son and Harry pushing a ball back and forth.

"Yes." Sirius had to admit that he hadn't thought they would. If he was being completely honest, he had been hoping they wouldn't. It would have made it easier to hate the Malfoys. As it stood, right now, he could see where they were coming from and understood why they had done what they did. "You were saying?"

The blonde, regal woman inclined her head slightly. "I discussed the situation with my husband. Lucius was able to pinpoint a time when he felt that his mindset changed – approximately seventh year. You would have been in first year. Could it be that Dumbledore was controlling us from then?"

"Anything is possible. He influenced Severus and I as well," he replied. He looked down as a small hand patted his knee. "What's up, pup?"

"Up." Harry pressed both hands to his godfather's knees, trying to lift himself up. "Peas?"

Draco's tiny blond eyebrows scrunched together, making Narcissa smile. "Come here, Dragon. You can sit on my lap as well." Wrapping an arm around his waist, she lifted him to sit on her lap. "You were saying, Sirius?"

"Right." He brushed a hand through Harry's hair, making the toddler look up. "Nothing with you. Now, Narcissa, the reason I called you here...you're more of a Slytherin than I am."

Narcissa raised a single eyebrow. "Your point?"

"I want you, Severus, and Lucius to help us bring down Dumbledore. Us being Remus and myself," he added quickly, seeing her begin to ask a question. "We need someone who can think like that, who thinks in that sneaky way."

"I see. What would be in it for us?" At his incredulous look, she continued, "You do realize that no Slytherin will do something for free, correct?"

"I just figured - "

"Do not assume anything. That is your first lesson about Slytherins." She looked down at the top of her son's head. "Of course, for many Slytherins, the safety of their families will be enough. For myself and Lucius that is all we require: a guarantee that the Dark Lord will never be able to come after us, even if he does return."

"So you believe Dumbledore, then, when he says Voldy isn't dead?" Sirius asked.

The blonde, aristocratic woman sighed quietly and brushed her fingers through Draco's hair. "Yes. The Dark Lord was too smart not to have a contingency plan in place in case of anything happening to him. I do not know what he may have done, but I am certain he did something to prolong his life."

"We just have to figure out what it is." The Animagus set Harry on the ground and stood up. "I think we are finished here, then. I will tell Severus that you and Lucius are willing to help."

"Thank you. You will work on a plan in case of the Dark Lord's return, to keep us safe?" At his nod, she finished, "Then yes, I suppose we are finished. Draco, it is time to go."

"Bye." The blond slid off Narcissa's lap as she stood up and waved to Harry.

"Bye-bye." Harry gave him a shy smile before latching onto Sirius's leg.

Narcissa let a slight smile break through the Pureblood mask. "I also suppose we will have to stay in touch for playdates with the boys."

"Yes, I'll send you an owl for a playdate sometime next week." Sirius ruffled his godson's hair. "Have a good day."

"Thank you. To you as well." With that, the Malfoys exited the room, leaving Sirius and Harry alone.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Severus glared at the two men in front of him. "I am not mind-raping Dursley, even if he is a muggle."

"No one said to mind-rape him," Remus said with a sigh. "Sirius wants to make him feel what Harry must have felt. That can be accomplished with a spell. What I'm asking is for you to see if you can find out any information Dumbledore may have given Vernon and Petunia about Harry. That's all."

"Fine. But that, and only that. Any more and I will not go along with this plan." The Potions Master gave them one last glare to enforce his request and continued, "Other than that, I have special potions prepared to put on the walls and floorboards to attract vermin. It can only be removed by an antidote I possess."

Sirius nodded. "Good. They are going to pay for what they've done to Harry. They're not getting away with this."

"Trust me, they won't." Remus's amber eyes hardened. "They are going to get exactly what they deserve. No one hurts my cub and gets away with it."

Severus contemplated the werewolf in front of him. One of the things that set werewolves apart in terms of family was the concept of a pack: having to have a large family, whether it was a blood family or one the werewolf chose for itself. During his research to perfect the Wolfsbane Potion, Severus had observed several werewolves and their 'packs'. When with a pack, a werewolf was much calmer and able to be controlled more easily. It was when the wolf became agitated and alone that it would attack others. A werewolf living with a pack, whether its human family or its chosen pack, would fare better than a werewolf alone in the wild. It was impressive that Lupin had gone without biting anyone for so long, seeing as his "pack" had only contained Black, Potter, and Pettigrew.

"I already asked Alice if she could come over to keep an eye on Harry. She'll be here - " Remus started, but was interrupted by the crackling of the Floo.

"I'm here. Harry will be completely safe in my hands." A hard look entered the woman's normally soft eyes. "Give them hell from me."

Sirius gave her a small bow. "Your wish is our command, milady."

"No child should ever be treated in such a way," Severus agreed. "They will pay."

"Just...don't get yourselves hurt or arrested, alright? I don't know if Dumbledore will allow us to take Harry." Alice gave Remus a pat on the back. "Good luck."

The werewolf nodded firmly. "Thank you."

She watched as the unlikely trio exited the house into the night, intent on revenge.