Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay, I have been having exams so yay street month! Just wanted to say thank you for all the wonderful reviews! Just wanted to address a few things, sorry to the person who got incensed reading 'falling to the ground' instead of 'floor', English isn't my first language and I'm still new to so having a bit of a hard time figuring out how to change it. Also to the person who pointed out that the name is Saul and not Bertie, I had read it as Bertie in some fanfictions and it stuck, Sorry! To Kitty279, thanks for your awesome reviews they made my day and also for pointing out that I need to add Molly to the floo scene.

Okay enough talking (or writing I guess), hope you enjoy this chapter!

Conversations and family

Chapter 13

Remus Lupin was a fairly decisive person. One would have to be, to be the reasonable force behind the marauders, to be able to reign in the chaos twins that are James Potter and Sirius Black and persuade them that filling Mcgonagall's office with cat treats was not a good Christmas present. Though as he recalled that had just backfired since they had showered her with chocolates and flowers, quite literally, from the roof of the great hall while fireworks spelled out 'Mery Christmas Minnie' right in the middle of the great hall. McGonagall had awarded them all 10 points for the chocolate and the excellent spell work instead of detention to their immense shock. It was Christmas and she did love Chocolate. A slow smile curved his face at the memories of the past, it was the first time in nearly years that his happy memories hadn't drenched him in sorrow.

"What's got you so happy Moony?" Sirius asked from the door frame observing the quiet delight on his friend's face.

"I just remembered when we showered McGonagall with chocolates as a Christmas present."

"Ahh, that was a good one. You always did have the best ideas Moony." Sirius replied dreamily.

"But anyway what's got you reminiscing? I thought you were sorting through assistants and paperwork and whatnot." Sirius continued.

Remus noncommittally, his eyes falling onto the parchment in front o him. Recognizing Remus's evasive behavior, Sirius's grey eyes narrowed.

"Moony..." He began a tone that Remus knew well. The one he and James always used when he was hiding something from them and they were warning him not to.

The auburn hair man sighed deeply before picking out two parchments and speaking.

"McGonagall wrote." An apprehensive yet happy expression slid onto Sirius's face.

"And..so did Dumbledore. Again" He mumbled softly, yet he knew the canine animagus would pick it out. For the past few days, Dumbledore had been sending letters and they had been deliberately ignoring.

The ex-prisoner stiffened before forcing his body to relax.

"Oh? What did he want now?" He tried to be flippant but Remus knew his friend like the back of his hand and wasn't fooled. He was anxious and annoyed.

"The same thing. He requested a meeting, to discuss Harry's living situation."

"Did he now?" The ice in his voice chilled the room itself.

"I think we should just get it over with. Do we take it or does Astrid?"

"Astrid would just straight-up murder him and then charm her way to freedom. It's better if we take it." Sirius said dryly.

Remus cocked an eyebrow, asking silently if he wouldn't do the same.

"I won't murder him." Sirius protested. Seeing Remus's 'Really?' look he amended.

"Just, slightly maim? Oh, come on Moony don't tell me you don't want to go complete wolf on him." Sirius whined.

Remus sighed. "It is tempting, but with what Astrid said..."

"We need him." Sirius concluded.

The werewolf nodded glumly. "I'll tell him we will meet him at Grimmauld tomorrow with Minerva." Remus stated.

"Hmm." Sirius hummed noncommittally, his gaze wandering over his friend's office/study. Remus had officially taken on the role of Sirius's estate manager. They both knew it was just a way for the dark-haired man to support his friend without hurting his pride. Plus Remus did enjoy the work, the bonus that he could do it while being with his best friend and his nephew was the best part of it.

"Where are Harry and Astrid?" Sirius wondered out loud.

"Astrid was taking him to meet the Weasley's and Hermione in Diagon Alley. They should be back soon."

A few minutes passed with Remus scribbling notes and replies and Sirius was lost in thought before Sirius spoke again.

"Do you think he's happy?" He wondered out loud.

Remus paused in his writing. Slowly placing the quill he leveled his gaze on his friend.

"Padfoot, you escaped from Azkaban at the slightest thought of him being in danger. You actually took action and removed him from a place where he was unhappy and you are now working on making sure he is safe from a madman with an unhealthy obsession with him. I would say you are doing a fantastic job. And Harry is happy. He looked so burdened last year like he had the whole world on his shoulders. But now? He's smiling so much. He actually has fun. He's concerned about normal things a 14-year-old should be concerned about. Friends, exams, and girls and boys." At the last word, an amused smile had slid onto both men's faces. They had had a few excursions outside and both times they had noticed the young teen focus drifting to both girls and boys. They had had the talk and Harry knew there was nothing wrong with falling in love with someone of the same gender and all the various safe sex talks. But it had given the two marauders more ammunition to tease and rib him. Hary though wasn't the type to blush and stutter, he would just turn the tables on the men and teased them for their more than affectionate relationship. While they weren't together now, Remus and Sirius gay, they had had a relationship pre Azkaban but had decided it was better to focus on Harry rather than their own messy complicated issues.

Before they could continue their conversation they heard the floo next door and the distinct sounds of raging female as sharp boots clacked against the floor angrily. They both cast apprehensive looks to each other just as the door banged open unceremoniously. The wolf and the grim winced the sharp bang hurting their sensitive senses as Astrid strode still muttering beneath her breath. Harry entered behind her, his expression shifting from amusement to apprehension.

Astrid paced the room muttering under her breath something about madmen, meddling, infuriating, and plans of murder. Sighing the two men got up, Remus assisted Harry in guiding her to a sofa while Sirius got a shot of Ogden's finest. He shoved the glass into her hand just as Remus had finally wrestled her into an armchair. Astrid quickly snatched up the glass tipping it and consuming the alcohol in one breath. The familiar burning sensation calming her rage.

"So who are we murdering?" Sirius asked with just barely hidden glee.

"Padfoot." Remus said reproachfully before leaning on the desk opposite Astrid and subjecting her to his 'professor stare. Astrid refused to look at them, glaring at the wall opposite her until she could regain her breathing and feelings.

Harry moved to his adopted fathers' sides and squeezed between them before speaking.

"Dumbledore met us in Diagon Alley." He said neutrally. Remus's eyes widened as his head turned to him sharply. Sirius's arm shot around his shoulders, his still bony fingers clutching almost painfully.

Harry paid no mind to it, already knowing how overprotective they got whenever the issue of Dumbledore came up.

"He asked to speak to me privately." He continued while his lips twitched slightly as he remembered how deftly Astrid had handled said leader of light.

"Don't lie Harry he practically demanded you go with him without any regard for the fact that I was standing beside you! He asked Molly freaking Weasley if he could speak to you! What am I? Invisible?" She fumed interrupting Harry.

"What did you do?" Remus asked slightly apprehensively. A wicked smile stretched the young woman's lips. "You didn't kill him did you?" Sirius asked as he wondered which lawyer could get Astrid off of a murder charge.

A laugh erupted from her finally breaking the increasing tension in her shoulder. Her eyes met Harry's and even he descended into peals of laughter.

"Nothing." She said in between her fit of giggles.

"I swear! Nothing! Ask Harry!" She protested putting her arms up. Harry shook his head, the memories of the afternoon assaulting his mind again as his decreasing laughter increased again.

Astrid finally regained her control and spoke, her eyes alight with delight and relish.

"I just told the great Albus Dumbledore that accosting an underage wizard in the middle of Diagon Alley and requesting to speak to them privately out of school without the presence of a guardian was highly suspicious and that I was someone else I would take offense and suspect him of, ah, less than professional behavior. It was also unfortunate that Diagon Alley was highly populated and I had to speak quite loudly to be heard over the din." The was in fact part truth. Diagon Alley was populated but there was no din. Astrid had spoken loudly on purpose and had watched with secret delight when a Dumbledore had blushed with embarrassment.

"And then I shrunk his underpants with an irreversible spell." She added as an afterthought.

Silence prevailed over the study before howls of laughter emitted from the room. Harry had collapsed down, his stomach aching from the laughing so much.

"You...you...shrunk..." Sirius couldn't even complete the sentence, while Remus just keeping saying underpants to himself and dissolving into a new fit of laughter every time.

After many many many minutes the family of four finally quieted down. Harry picked himself up and perched on the armrest of Astrid's armchair.

"I still can't believe you did that Astrid." he said amused.

"Well, it did turn Molly Weasley a darling shade of puce as she watched her great leader be humiliated. That's always a plus." Astrid grinned with a wink at the teen.

"Well, all things considered, I think we do need to meet Albus tomorrow Pads. And only us." Remus stated firmly.

"Smart." Astrid said nodding. "I don't think I can keep myself from killing him if I was in close quarters with him."

"Will you both be alright?" Harry asked a little apprehensively. He loved his little family and was secretly worried Dumbledore would convince them that he shouldn't be with them and force him back to the Dursleys.

"Don't worry cub, we'll be meeting him at Grimmauld, and besides we won't be alone." Remus said cryptically as he and Sirius shared a secret look.

Astrid laced her fingers with his, squeezing his hand comfortingly, assuring him quietly that they would be fine. He smiled back at her, comfort flowing through him.

"Alright. So what are we doing now?" He asked.

"Nope. Not happening. It's time for your dance class, come on." Astrid said as she stood up. His hope that she had forgotten crashing, he turned his green eyes on her, doing what Sirius called 'puppy eyes' onto her.

"Love, we girls invented that. It won't work on me." She snorted derisively.

Green eyes turned pleadingly to the two men in the room. Sirius deliberately avoided meeting his eyes whistling nonchalantly, while Remus just shook his head sadly even though he could see the tiny smirk on his face. Traitors. Harry mouthed to them as he was dragged out of the room. Remus just waved cheerfully while Sirius winked at his son a marauderish grin splitting his face.

Oh well, Harry considered he would just get his revenge one way or another. After all, he wasn't James Potter's son for nothing and the time he spent with the marauders had only bought his inner hidden marauder to the forefront. A devilish grin spread across his face as he followed Astrid to the ballroom.