Harry went to Dumbledore's office and stood in front of the fire.
"You know how to travel by Floo powder, Harry?"
Harry nodded.
"Good. We're going to Versispellis Villa." He offered a pot of green powder to Harry.
Harry nodded again and threw the shimmering powder at the flames. "Versispellis Villa!" When the fire let him go again he was standing in a cozy kitchen/living room. It appeared to be a kitchen but with a sofa sagging against the wall beside a rather small table. The archway that led out of the kitchen/living room was suddenly occupied by a man with shabby robes and prematurely gray hair and a man with a shaggy mane of black hair. The black haired man gave a bark-like laugh, "Harry!" He ran to Harry and enveloped him in a bone crushing hug.
"Sirius, it's good to see you too but let me breathe!" laughed Harry.
Sirius let go of him and ruffled Harry's hair. "You look more like James everyday."
Remus came and greeted Harry too, with a handshake that midway he changed to a hug. "It's good to see you, but shouldn't you be in class?"
Dumbledore appeared from inside the fire. "Harry just learned some startling things that he'd like to share with the two of you."
Harry saw Remus, Sirius, and Dumbledore exchange a meaningful look over his head.
"Harry, do you want me to stay?" asked Dumbledore.
"No thank you, professor."
"We'll send him back to school when he's done, Albus," said Remus.
"Goodbye, Harry. To get back to my office the name registered with the Floo network is Headmaster's office at Hogwarts. It's also one of the few places on the network that requires a password, the password is.love." Dumbledore went back threw the fire.
"Sit, by all means sit!" said Remus, ushering Harry to the sofa. Sirius joined him. "I'll make some tea. It'll only take a moment." True to his word, Remus returned with a kettle of steaming tea and 3 chipped mugs not long after.
"So how have things been?"
"We won the Quiditch game on Saturday."
"That's terrific! Was it against Slytherin?"
"No. Ravenclaw. We had cheerleaders."
"They brought back the cheerleading teams?" asked Sirius, a gleam in his eye.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
Lupin said, "Well, when we were at school some people managed to convince Dumbledore to allow cheerleading teams. But the cheerleading came to an end when some of the members of the Quiditch team weren't exactly very respectful to them." He shot a meaningful glance at Sirius.
Sirius tried to be innocent, he wasn't. "James and I just gave them a hard time is all! Not that bad." He looked a little sheepish. "All the girls loved me."
"Yes, and the still do," said Lupin, dryly. "Find you absolutely irresistible."
"What can I say? The chicks totally dug me. Anyway, James was trying to make Lily jealous. He could've had any girl he wanted but he really only had eyes for her."
"I know the feeling," said Harry.
"What?"
"Renata and I got back together after the game."
Harry expected Sirius to tell him not to let his schoolwork suffer (as he'd said last year when Harry was dating Renata) or for Lupin to say it (Lupin had been the good boy of their group). Instead Sirius and Remus exchanged looks and then Sirius said firmly, "Good. You should be having fun this year. But you know important things will be happening this year outside of school. And you got to keep your guard up, despite anything that any of us can do, Voldemort is going to find you sooner or later and you have to be ready for him."
"Sirius is right, Harry. Nothing we can do or say will shield you from him, but we're going to do all that we can. No one, especially someone your age, on the threshold of manhood, should have to carry the burdens that you must carry. For this I'm truly sorry."
"I know about the prophecy."
"Well, Remus, it was only a matter of time before he found out. We always knew that."
"You're right, Sirius. Only a matter of time. Okay, Harry. We're here to answer any questions for you that we can."
"Dumbledore mentioned journals."
"Journals that you can't have access to yet, Harry. We're keeping them safe for you. But you can't have them yet."
"Why not? I know my parents didn't want me to but-"
"That mother of yours put a charm on them. If you open them before you turn 18 they'll burst into flames."
"Lily was handy with a wand. Remus, do you remember the time when you, me and James switched her ink bottle with disappearing ink when she was taking that History of Magic exam in our 3rd year?"
"Yes, if I remember correctly it was your idea."
"I only did it because James wanted an excuse for Lilly to ask to borrow his ink. He wanted an excuse to talk to her."
"But instead, after class she turned our ears green and had PRAT written on our foreheads with some type of ink that wouldn't come off for a week."
"Good times, good times," said Sirius. "But I don't think you're here to listen to us reminiscing our youth, are you, Harry?"
"Not right now." He smiled sadly. "But just so you know, Sirius, Renata's been taking very good care of me since your letter. Doesn't let me out of her sight and when she does she sets somebody else to watch me and threatens to hex them if they don't do their job. She didn't want to let me come with Dumbledore here. Not that she knew where I was even going." He sighed. "I should stop rambling. Did the two of you read this morning's paper?"
"Yes, Harry. We did."
"It's his fault my parents are dead, almost as much his fault as Voldemort's. He's worse than evil, he's a traitor. You guys and my parents trusted him. And he went just sold you all out! He's worse than a rat! He made a better rat than a man! He worse than Malfoy! At least Malfoy is loyal to his friends, most of the time. Pettigrew was a sellout!" It felt good to release this anger.
"We know, Harry."
"Harry, I had twelve long years to think about that day in and day out in my cell. Four years ago you told us to spare him, and we did, it's what James would have done. But James was a much more forgiving person than I am, Harry, and if that rodent and I ever cross paths again he won't escape. I'm not so forgiving as James, and I'll end his life. I promise you."
"I know, Sirius." There was a solemn moment. "What do you think of the new Minister?"
"He's already received death threats. They're assigning two Auror's as part-time bodyguards. If things get worse he may need full-time ones. I wouldn't be surprised to see him or his bodyguards assassinated before the end of the year."
"Really?"
"Welcome to the real world, Harry. As you know already, it's harsh."
Harry sighed, "I guess it's true what they say."
"And what's that?"
"Life's tough, get a helmet," quoted Harry.
"It's true enough. What are your post-Hogwarts plans?"
"I haven't given it much thought. I don't know if I'll even be around after Hogwarts. "
Sirius and Remus made no reply to this.
"A few years ago I thought I might like to be an Auror. But I was younger then, naïve. If I live through this year I'm not sure I want to spend my life chasing after bad guys or having them chase me. Maybe I'll go into teaching. Something peaceful.like Charms. Flitwick's been there long enough. Probably getting ready to retire or die soon," Harry rambled on, distracted and saying whatever came to mind. "Not going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. After this year I just want to forget it all. I'll settle down. Get a house, marry, have a family, and die quietly. As long as he doesn't get me first. If he does. " Harry trailed off, his eyes wide and unfocused.
Sirius responded quietly, "We understand perfectly, Harry. You've got a lot on your shoulders. Too much for a boy your age."
Harry looked at his watch. "I've missed the rest of today's classes," he said abruptly, standing up. "I should be going. It was great talking to you both. I really needed it. Thanks."
"We're here for you anytime, Harry, remember that." Sirius hugged him tight, not wanting to let go.
Eventually Sirius let go and Remus gave Harry a hug, whispering to him, "I hope you reach that happy vision, Harry. For various reasons, the four Maruaders weren't so lucky. Of the four of us only James reached that happy period of contentment, but because of Voldemort, that didn't last longer than a few years."
Harry nodded. He stepped up the fireplace and through a pinch of Floo powder into the flames, "Headmaster's office at Hogwarts."
A crackly voice that sounded much like metal grating on metal, or like the crackling fire itself replied, "Password?"
"Love."
The flames swallowed him and soon Harry was back within Dumbledore's office.