Remus and Sirius stood in the corner, smirking. Of all the possibilities, no one even considered what Severus now was. The arctic fox was almost a given for Lucius—even the coloring was not surprise. The man was crafty and sneaky. It would do him well later on when he needed to take up his position as spy.

The lycanthrope covered his mouth to hide a giggle. "I have to say, Severus. This suits you."

Lucius popped back into human form. "Does this mean he was in the wrong house?"

"No," Sirius said, shaking his head. "You're confusing name and animal."

The sleek, black raven cocked his head. He cawed and then turned back into human form.

"Shut up, all of you," Severus said, crossing his arms.

"You know," Remus quirked a brow, "that the raven is a symbiotic friend of wolves, correct?"

"I said shut up. That doesn't sound like shutting up."

To avoid the wrath of Snape, Sirius walked over to the dining room table and picked up the newest issue of The Daily Prophet.

"I'm just surprised it only took you a month. Took us marauders three."

Remus hit Sirius upside the head. "It took the entirety of fourth year."

The man ignored his friend and scanned the headlines. It had been a month, and yet nothing was said about his escape.

"I don't know what this says about our justice system, but don't you think the dementors would miss me?"

"Didn't you spend most of your time as a grim?" Lucius asked, staring at his fingernails. "Dementors can't sense animal spirits. They probably never noticed you in the first place."

"I couldn't spend the entire time as an animagus," Sirius said, sitting down next to his friend. "The dementors should have figured out by now they're missing somebody."

Remus's eyes scanned the two Slytherins. "What did you do?"

Severus shrugged. "Two days after the full moon, Harry and I were walking down to the park. Came across a man that was very interested in the boy. Looked into him. He has a bad tendency of getting close to little boys who suddenly disappear." The man sat, folding his hands. "He was already grooming the boy. Didn't care to see Harry disappear on us. It was easy enough with Lucius's help to glamour him into a Black-effigy."

"Severus!"

"He was child molester. He deserved it."

Sirius giggled. "Does that mean you don't think I deserved it?"

"Shut up, Black. You still are confined to this house."

"Yes," Lucius said with a smile. "Two Sirius Blacks are not a good idea." He leaned against the door jam. "Cissy wants her favorite cousin over for dinner."

"We can't resurrect Regulus," the Black heir said, leaning his head on his hand.

"She meant you, dimwit."

"Never knew she cared."

"Well," Remus said, trying to avoid a yawn. "Considering her son spends quite a bit of time here with Harry, I believe she wants to make sure you're safe."

"Draco spends a lot of time here?" Sirius asked.

"You've been here a month. In that time, how many times has the Malfoy heir been here?"

"Practically every day, but I thought that was a special occasion."

Severus furrowed his brow. "And what occasion would that be?"

"Why, my release of course." The animagus smiled broadly. "I'm kidding. However, I thought he was just along for the animagus ride."

"No," Remus shook his head, "that is a regular occurrence."

"Especially with the school year beginning," Lucius said, smiling.

"Why's that?" Severus asked. "I now have two sets of eyes on Harry. That should be enough to keep him safe."

"But I have procured a tutor for Draco."

"Who in the world did you convince to tutor your three-year-old?"

Remus yawned. "That would be me. I've already picked out curriculums."

"How did you convince Malfoy to let you teach his son?" Sirius asked, eyes narrowing.

"I was already planning on homeschooling Harry. Lucius walked in on me comparing curriculum. He thought it was an excellent idea."

"And to start young," Lucius said. "My son is a genius, but it's always a good idea to begin education as early as possible."

Sirius threw his hands in the air. "Why are we torturing three-year-olds?"

"School is not torture, Black," Severus said, glaring.

"Sirius," Remus crossed his arms, "the only reason you didn't like school is because you couldn't sit still that long."

"And the books. Don't forget the books," Sirius said, eyes widening in horror.

"What about the books?" Severus asked.

"I had to read them."

The doorbell rang. Sirius jumped up and ran to the door. He opened it.

Petunia's eyes widened. "Snape!" she called out. "Why are you acquiring more men? Is this becoming a male brothel?"

"Do they have those?" the grim asked, smirking.

Lucius rolled his eyes. "I hope not." He smiled. "Petunia, dear, I'd like you to meet Sirius Black, Harry's godfather."

"Where's he been the past year-and-a-half?" the woman asked, trying to ignore the child pushing his way toward his Uncle Sev.

"Azkaban."

Her eyes widened. "What the hell game are you trying to play, Snape? First you bring a werewolf to our neighborhood…"

Remus glared at Severus. "You told her?"

"Well it's only fair. People deserve to know who their neighbors are." The potions master crossed his arms. "And who's she going to tell? The moment she says a word, she's in an insane asylum strapped in a straight jacket."

"Now you invite a wizard convict to live ten meters away from my nephew," Petunia continued.

"Like you care."

"Fine, ten meters from my Dudderkins."

Lucius leaned on the door frame. "Are Vernon and I still on for golf next Saturday?"

The woman rolled her eyes. "Here. Take the brat."

"You know the rules, Tuney," Severus stood and walked over to the door, "no daycare the day before, the day of, or the day after a full moon."

"Marge is coming. Would you rather him here or at my house?"

The potions master tilted his head, shoulders sagging. After a minute of silence, he turned to Remus. "Lupin, go to your room."

"I'm not a child." The werewolf glared. "I don't get time-outs."

"It's for Harry's safety."

"It's after the full moon. I have no energy to stand, let alone maul him to death."

Lucius turned to his friend. "To be fair, Draco is here every day of the month, no matter what. Do you honestly care more about the Potter boy more than your own godson?"

"Uncle Sev," Harry cried out, arms outstretched. He whimpered.

Severus sighed. He made his way through the tiny crowd of people to pick up the boy. "Hello, imp." He looked back at Petunia. "Fine."

She smirked and left, almost skipping down the sidewalk. The group of men stared after her in silence. Finally, someone began humming.

"Ding, dong, the witch is dead. The wicked witch, the wicked witch. Ding, dong the wicked witch is…"

"Lupin, shut up or I will personally see to adding a high dose tranquilizer to next month's potion," Severus said, glaring at the lycanthrope.

Remus shrugged. "That might actually help," he said, closing the door. He, Lucius, and Severus made for the dining room. "You hungry, little one?"

"Yes, Uncle Remus," Harry said, snuggling into Severus.

"Thought so," the werewolf said, ruffling his hair. He glanced over his shoulder. "Coming, Padfoot?" After a moment of silence, he stopped and turned. "Padfoot?"

The animagus stood at the door, arms crossed and bottom lip puffed out. Lucius stopped and leaned against the door jam to the kitchen, excited to see a good row…he meant show. "Black? Is everything okay?"

Severus didn't bother to turn around. He paused momentarily at the door and looked over at Remus. The lycanthrope rolled his eyes.

"Severus, go ahead and feed Harry. This could be awhile."

"Let me know if Black needs to be put down. I know several poisons that could help," the potions master said, smirking.

"It's just a temper tantrum. Would you give Harry those poisons if he stomped his foot because he couldn't have a fourth biscuit before dinner?"

Lucius stifled a laugh. "Last time that happened, you just gave it to him."

"I'm sorry I don't have the emotional range of a teaspoon. He was crying."

"Enough," Severus said, using his free hand to rub his eyes. "Black is an adult and Harry is a child. I can't very well put the man in a time out to think about what he's done."

"But that's the only way he'll learn."

"Why are you all talking like I'm not in the room?" Sirius yelled, stomping his foot and pounding his fists on the front door.

"You take this tantrum, Lupin, and I'll take the next three with Harry," Severus said, walking into the dining room and letting the door swing shut behind him.

Remus took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes. His hand flew up just in time to grab Sirius's shoulder before he could burst into the kitchen.

"Padfoot, no," the lycanthrope started. He glared over at the blond who refused to move. "Would you mind giving us some privacy?"

"Hell, no. I figure this is prime learning time. If you haven't forgotten, I'm married to a Black and have a half-Black child. I need to know how to deal with them."

At that moment, a wail echoed through the house. Lucius sighed.

"I do believe," Remus said, hiding a smirk, "your genius has encountered another door. Would you go and help him through this trauma so I can deal with the overgrown toddler before us?"

The blond sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine." He turned and walked toward the stairs. "Draco, it's just a door. It's not going to hurt you." The man disappeared behind a wall, allowing the last two marauders privacy.

"Is my cousin seriously afraid of doors?" Sirius asked, momentarily distracted.

"He just hates not knowing how to work something. It'll be fine once I work on hand-eye coordination with the two of them." The lycanthrope scowled. "Now, don't redirect our conversation. What the hell was that stupid fit you just threw?"

The animagus glared. "The hell if I know." He turned toward the window, ignoring his friend's concerned gaze.

"Seriously?" Remus furrowed his brow. He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "You have no clue why you were so upset?"

"No." Sirius shrugged off the offending appendage and rubbed his hands together. "Now what's this I hear about biscuits?" He walked over toward the kitchen.

Remus grabbed him. "Oh, no you don't."

Silver eyes dimmed. "Why the hell not?"

"Padfoot, you nearly strangled Severus a few moments ago. Why?"

"That's our thing." The animagus waved flippantly. "He says something pretentious. I try to kill him. It's all in good fun."

"That's not what I call 'good fun.'"

"I can't help what you call it."

"Padfoot," Remus sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Think. What happened to make you start getting mad?"

Sirius rolled his eyes, but leaned against the wall and looked off for a moment. He bit his lip. "I guess when Harry started crying for Snivellous."

"Alright, rule number one. What was it again?"

The animagus sighed. "Don't call him Snivellous."

"Good boy," Remus said, patting his friend on the head. "And how did it make you feel when Harry wanted Severus?"

"Angry."

"Why?"

"I don't know." Sirius scrubbed his face. "I guess I just thought that with my being out of Azkaban, Prongslet would automatically prefer me over the ol' dungeon bat."

"What did you expect?"

"The point is, it's not fair that Harry likes Snape more than me."

Remus sighed. "Sirius, may I be frank for a moment?"

"But you're Moony. Frank's in St. Mungo's."

"You know what I mean."

"Fine." Sirius smiled. "Yes, you may."

"You were there for Harry during the first year of his life. Then, you went after a rat and destroyed your chances of freedom. You're lucky Luci, Sev, and I figured out what happened and helped you escape." The lycanthrope paused, searching the ceiling for the right words. "Most children are incapable of creating memories until they're three or four. In extreme cases—like trauma—they can begin at two, but not any earlier. Harry's earliest memories were of Severus taking care of him. He took Prongslet out of a terrible situation and ensured that things would get better."

"But I would've done that if I could've." Sirius scowled. "And how is it fair that I spent a full year with Harry when Snape's only really been around for six months?"

"Technically in Harry's mind, you've only been around for a month," Remus pointed out, smirking as his friend's mouth dropped. "And even during the school year last year, Sev came by fairly often, if Tuney's nagging complaints are anything to go by."

"So, now we're here, he won't have a reason to come around as much and Harry'll like me more?" Sirius asked, perking up.

"Let's think about it a different way…" The lycanthrope sat his friend down on the couch. "First, Severus has even more reason to come around regularly now that we're here."

"Why?"

"He and I are working on an experiment together? He's now an animagus that can make observations concerning werewolves under a full moon? His greatest nemesis will now be living in his house for nine months out of the year fairly unsupervised? You take your pick."

"You're here to supervise me."

"Yes, because you listen to what I say so well." Remus rolled his eyes. "Second, it's not fair to Harry to destroy his image of Severus. He idolizes the man…practically sees him as a second father. The boy is not in any place emotionally to have someone come in and tear his hero down."

Sirius sighed. "I guess you're right." His brow furrowed. "Do you have a third reason?"

"Yes," the lycanthrope said, smirking. "It wouldn't be fair to Severus to take away the one thing that has made him a decent human being."

"Yeah, right," the animagus scoffed. "Snape's a regular old Mother Theresa."

"No, listen. With something to love and that loves him, he's become decent. He's nothing like the man who turned tail to the death eaters." Remus searched conspiratorially around the room before whispering, "In fact, he dotes on Prongslet."

"No."

"He does. Come see."

The two men snuck over to the door and propped it open a smidge. On the other side, Severus sat next to Harry, offering him another biscuit. While the boy happily nibbled on the treat, Severus told him a story of the great maiden and the okay knight.

"The maiden's red hair glowed in the sun as she used her magic to take back her book from the knight. You see, even though he had glasses, he never seemed to care for reading. You shouldn't take that to mean reading's bad, though, Harry. Instead, the knight ended up okay enough for the maiden in spite of his lack of good sense," Severus said, handing Harry another biscuit.

"Is he telling Harry the story of Lily and James?" Sirius asked, moving away from the door.

"Yes," Remus answered, crossing his arms. "He's not exactly fair with James, but he's better than you would think." He rubbed his eyes. "He's trying. He cares about Harry enough to put aside his differences with us. Shouldn't we try and do the same for him?"

The animagus snorted. "Are you giving me any choice?"

"No, but I like to make it sound like I did."

"Prat," Sirius muttered, walking through to the kitchen. He smiled at Harry, who waved at him.

"Coming to join us, Black?" Severus asked, glaring at the man suspiciously.

"I came to hear the story of the maiden and the okay knight. I heard he had a deviously handsome best friend."