Chapter Eleven

A/N Another chapter! I'm so happy with the response to this story! Much better than I thought, especially since it's my first. Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers, your words and help have been great. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed, and favorited this story.

Later, after Harry had gone to bed, Remus and Sirius sat in the living room to talk. Remus brought out cups of tea, and Sirius cast a modified silencing charm.

"What was that for?" Remus asked, handing Sirius his tea.

"So Harry can't hear us, but we can hear him," Sirius said as he sat in the armchair across from Remus, "we need to talk, and as curious as he is, Harry might listen."

Remus nodded and sipped his tea, "is it wise for us to do that with the Dursleys? You saw Vernon's expression. Do you honestly think he'll cooperate with us? Can he really leave Harry alone? Is it right for us to keep exposing Harry to them?"

Sirius grinned, "a lot of questions," he set his teacup down and looked at Remus, "to answer, I don't know. No, I don't think he'll cooperate. I don't trust him as far as Harry could throw him."

Remus chuckled at that, "then why?" he asked.

Sirius flashed a grin that Remus knew all too well, "a few reasons," he said, "first, the protection. The longer Harry can keep it, the better."

Remus looked at him, "how do we know they're real? I don't trust what Dumbledore said."

"Neither do I," replied Sirius, "that's why I Disillusioned myself one night and took a look at the wards. Much as I hate to say it, about those Dumbledore is right. It wasn't worth it with the way they treated him, but with us here…."

Remus nodded, "all right. I see your point."

"Next, he has a tracker on Harry."

"WHAT?!" bellowed Remus.

Sirius nodded, "found it when I was checking his injuries. Tracking and health monitoring charms."

Remus' eyes flashed, "Albus knew! He knew all along how Harry was treated!"

Sirius nodded, expression grim, "that's another reason for my plan. The longer we can stay here, the longer Harry will be out of the old bastard's eye."

Remus nodded, "but how do we keep the whale from making trouble?"

Sirius smiled, "for one thing, we scare the pants off him. He's terrified of magic. You heard what Harry told us, he got punished for even saying the word. As for him having to deal with them, you heard him. He'll be fine, but the minute he is uncomfortable, we leave. Protection or no protection."

Remus nodded and gave him a mischievous grin, "after everything they put Harry through, I think they need a little terror."

Sirius smiled wickedly, "my thoughts exactly. Now, I have a few ideas. Moony what do you think of….."

They grinned widely as plans began to form. It wasn't just the Dursleys and Dumbledore. By the time the two Marauders went to bed, the plans were fixed, They grinned at each other as they made their way to their room. The whole magical world was about to be set on its ear.

This was going to be fun.

….

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast Remus and Sirius left Harry coloring in the trunk's living room and flooed back to Remus' cottage. From there, Remus sat at his desk to write and send a few letters. (the wards on the trunk prevented owl post) while Sirius flooed to Gringotts. With the Wizengamot session to be held next week, he wanted to talk to Harry's account manager and see just what was happening with the Potter vaults. The brief overview he had been given showed a few "irregularities," and Sirius wanted to see just what the old bastard was up to.

….

Albus grinned as he tied the letter to Fawkes' leg. This time, he hoped that the letter would actually make it to Black. It wasn't much, just a request that Sirius contact him. But it had a hidden surprise. A good idea, he thought, smiling to himself, one of my better ideas. To put a tracking charm on the letter so I can finally find out where he and Lupin are hiding. If it gets through. Fawkes trilled a mournful sound.

"Oh shut up," he snapped at the bird, "take the letter to Black, and wait for a reply. Go!" he shouted when the phoenix just looked at him mournfully.

Fawkes gave a last mournful trill just before he flamed out.

Stupid bird, thought Albus as he reached for his ever-present lemon drops, would have got rid of him ages ago if I didn't need him. Still, maybe I should start giving him more of the potion. If he's able to disobey me, even a little, it might be wearing off…

….

After Sirius was done at the bank, (it hadn't taken him that long, as they were still inventorying the vaults) he Apparated back to Lupin's. They shared a quick kiss and were just about to floo back to the trunk, when Fawkes appeared, with a letter tied to his leg. Sirius had just reached for it when Fawkes gave a warning trill, and Remus stopped him.

"Knowing Dumbledore, there's probably a few charms on that," he said, "tracking charms at the least."

Sirius retracted his hand, "you're right, let's see what we've got."

Sirius pulled his wand and cast a spell at the letter, "damn, I can't get any readings with it still attached to Fawkes."

Remus nodded, "all right. At least we aren't in the trunk. Let's take it and see what we have."

Sirius nodded and untied the letter. He dropped it as soon as it was free, and cast the detection spell again. "You were right, Moony. Tracking charm. Glad that's all that's on it. Let's see what old Dumbles has to say." Sirius picked up the letter, brought it to Remus, and they read;

Dear Sirius,

I would like to speak to you about Harry's guardianship. I commend you on taking the time to recover from your stay in Azkaban before seeking guardianship. I would like to speak to you as soon as possible. Fawkes will wait for your reply

Regards,

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Sirius seethed as he crumpled the letter in his hand, "I'll give him a reply all right. I'll shove it up his-" Remus chuckled as Fawkes trilled comfortingly.

"Maybe I should meet him…" Sirius began.

"You mean WE should," said Remus.

"Moony, maybe it should be me. I know Occlumency…"

"And the one GOOD thing about my lycanthropy is that it gives me an ironclad defense," said Remus, "the wolf protects my mind. Anyone who tried would get torn apart."

"True," said Sirius, "I forgot. Now, when should we meet him?"

"The Wizengamot is next week," said Remus, reaching for a quill and parchment, "he'll definitely want to talk to you after that, so…"

"Brilliant, Moony," Said Sirius with a grin, "he'll be off-balance from the meeting, so that's a bonus."

Remus nodded and began to write.