AN: Thanks for the nice reviews! Also I don't know how long this is going to be. Probably long, knowing my writing habits.


Harry knocked on the giant ornately carved black door as Snape put away his umbrella behind him.

"There's the birthday lad!" said Sirius, throwing it open mere seconds later. "Oh. And you," he snidely said, glaring at Snape. Sirius put his arm around Harry's shoulder and ushered him in, keeping his glare steady and nearly letting the door shut on Snape.

"Hi Sirius," Harry said, following him through the dark hallway. "Wow, this place is huge."

"It's my family home," Sirius said, sweeping his arm ahead as if he was giving a grand tour. "Gloomy and dark, just like the rest of them."

They walked all the way to the back of the house and Harry grinned as he could hear Ron and Hermione bickering behind the swinging kitchen door.

"Harry! Happy birthday!" Hermione called. She was sitting at the table with a giant book in front of her, as Ron, Fred, and George were picking through a box of streamers. Above the table were a few red and gold balloons and a crookedly hung banner across the dining hutch said HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

"George Weasley, that had better not have been a firecracker I just saw," Mrs Weasley said, tossing a dish cloth toward the sink. "Hi Harry dear, how are you doing?"

"Course not, Mum," George said, almost a whine. Harry caught him winking at Sirius when Mrs Weasley had turned her glance toward Ron.

"I'm fine," Harry said, not really feeling like discussing his concerns for the hearing when it was supposed to be a party. Just behind Mrs Weasley Harry could see a large blue cake with unlit candles sitting on a silver cake plate.

"Better than fine today, I hope," Sirius said, clapping Harry on the shoulders. He moved aside as Mrs Weasley came to give Harry a quick hug.

Beside Harry, Sirius stared over at Snape and crossed his arms.

"Dumbeldore's in the drawing room. We'll have our meeting and then you can leave."

"Ever such a gracious host," Snape dryly said. He glanced back at Harry. "I will pick you up tomorrow at eleven."

"Okay," Harry said. "I brought my key as well."

"No," Snape said. "You will not be travelling unsupervised until this hearing is done."

Harry opened his mouth as if to say something but then closed it and shrugged. Snape gave a barely perceptible nod, before turning and leaving the room.

Fred watched him go then glanced at Harry.

"That's it? I'll pick you up at eleven and don't travel alone?"

"Yeah?" Harry said, moving close to the table to see what Fred and George were hiding in the box. "What did you expect?"

"Behave or you'll lose points!" George said, lowering his voice.

"You'd better not step one foot out of line," Fred mocked.

Harry grinned. "Nah. Can't lose points in the summer. What's these firecrackers you're hiding?"

….

Dumbledore sat primly in the wingback chair next to the fireplace, opposite the one that Snape was in. An untouched cup of tea was on the table between them, and on the chesterfield across were Arthur and Molly Weasley. The only occupant in the room not seated was Sirius, and he was pacing back and forth in front of the door.

"How is Harry doing?" Dumbledore asked, looking toward the closed sitting room door.

"He's fine," Snape said, his tone quick and clipped. "He was able to cast a patronus charm quickly enough that the dementor was unable to latch."

"Dementors in muggle towns," Molly said, shaking her head. "They're only supposed to be at Azkaban."

"They're awful," Sirius said. "The cold really seeps into your bones and you feel like there's no life left to live."

Snape rolled his eyes.

"His hearing is on Tuesday," said Snape. "So far, no changes or other demands from the Ministry, but given they control the dementors and that I highly suspect this one hadn't gone rogue, I will be prepared for last minute nonsense."

Dumbledore nodded, more to himself than to anyone else in the room, and seemed to need a moment to consider the implications of that.

"Is your father okay?" Arthur asked.

"Yes," Snape said, looking slightly surprised at the question. "He's tougher than he seems."

"Severus, perhaps you and I can discuss the dementor attack again later, but I would also like to be present at the hearing," Dumbledore said. "It is my concern that Harry was targeted specifically –"

"To see if he could defend himself and make him break the law?" Snape finished. "I assume that this hearing will be publicised and thus it will be known that he can do advanced magic and doesn't listen to the rules."

"I'll be there too," Sirius said. Snape ignored him completely.

"The public still think of him as a hero, do they not?" Molly asked. "The Boy Who Lived."

"Yes. Imagine as well if they found out that the Dark Lord had not actually been dead, had returned, and that Harry Potter survived his killing curse again," Snape said. "The Death Eaters have known all along that the Dark Lord hadn't fully died that night in Godric's Hollow, but that he finally did two months ago."

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes.

"Does anyone know that you and Harry were the ones to have defeated him?"

"Yes," Snape said, drumming his fingers on the arm of the wingback chair. "Lucius Malfoy."

"Malfoy," Sirius scoffed, nearly kicking a vase by the sitting room door.

"He has a lot of influence at the Ministry," Arthur reminded Sirius.

"To do what though?" Sirius asked.

"Character assassination, perhaps. We have the word of Cornelius Fudge that Voldemort's death would be covered up," Dumbledore said. "No publicity, no articles. No mention of the horcruxes."

"Yes," Snape said, almost impatiently.

"And you demanded the guaranteed that should this come out, you would be absolved?" Arthur asked.

"Myself and Harry," Snape said, glancing up and noticing the twitch Sirius did upon hearing him use Harry's first name.

"However, I have a contact at the Ministry that I have requested keep an eye on a few things. Our general files; education records, medical, housing, for example. He informed me yesterday that the records have been accessed by a particular auror."

"Without just cause, I imagine," Molly said.

"Correct," Snape confirmed. "They have even attempted to access the adoption paperwork, which is classified and inaccessible."

He gave Sirius a nasty smile at that, and received a scowl in return.

"It is for this reason, foremost the dementor attack and internal investigations, that I highly suggest we reinstate the Order," Snape said, glancing about the room but looking more pointedly at Dumbledore. "I suspect that these are not just a coincidence."

"The Order?" Sirius scoffed. "What do you know about the Order?"

"Severus has been a member since just after the first war," Dumbledore softly said.

"Rubbish," Sirius said. "Did the bare minimum to save his skin, that's all. And who's your source this time, Snape? How do we trust you again, given the last time went so poorly?"

"Sirius," Dumbledore warned, shaking his head.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt," Snape replied.

"Shacklebolt…" Sirius muttered, furrowing his brow. "Slytherin, wasn't he? Figures you lot continue to stick together after all these years."

"He's an auror, isn't he?" Arthur asked, ignoring Sirius and speaking to Snape.

"Yes," Snape replied, glaring at Sirius. "An old acquaintance."

"We're in, absolutely," Molly said, patting Arthur's knee. "It may be difficult to recruit the others – will they be informed about You Know Who?"

"Not at this time," Dumbledore said. "I believe Severus is correct. Our agreement with Fudge was for a coverup. Not ideal, but his request. It is best we are prepared for when the news is leaked. And to handle this hearing first."

Arthur nodded.

"We'll quietly put out the feelers," Arthur said. "Not everyone is still around, but there are some."

"Is there anything else you need from us in the meantime?" Molly asked. "The kids know a little, but not all of the details, and they've been sworn to secrecy."

"That will do for now," Dumbledore said, with a kind smile. "For all we know we are preparing for a threat that will never come to pass."

"We should be so lucky," Molly said.

"There is time," Dumbledore agreed. "Now if you'll excuse us, I need to speak with Severus and Sirius for a few moments."

The mood in the room changed as the door closed behind them, Dumbledore even more solemn, and a spark of hostility smouldering between Snape and Sirius.

"Now, this next conversation will require participation and agreement from you both," Dumbledore said. "I'm well aware of your antagonistic relationship, but for the sake of Harry – and myself – I request that animosities be left aside as we work toward the same goal."

There was absolute silence in the room, as neither Snape nor Sirius looked at each other. Finally, after a moment, Snape spoke.

"I'm sure we can agree to no physical harm."

"Yes," Sirius grumbled, flopping down on the couch.

"Excellent. Then perhaps we shall move up the task I am currently working on," said Dumbledore, looking at Sirius.

"The dementor attack can be nothing but deliberate. It may be a test of strength, of loyalty, or of intentions. Either way, if we are to be under closer scrutiny, I will need assistance searching for horcruxes. And as you do not currently have employment that you will be missed from, perhaps you are best suited to this task."

"Yes, of course," Sirius preened, giving Snape a cutting look.

Snape rolled his eyes again.

"Severus, your potion was beyond successful," Dumbledore added. "It is the remaining parts that I am concerned with. Should this news of cover up be released, any mention of horcruxes may lead people to believe that Tom Riddle can be brought back once again. Or worse."

Sirius looked vaguely confused, and Snape crossed his leg elegantly.

"Now," Dumbledore mused, scratching his chin as if he was unsure of what he was going to say.

"I believe there is a short amount of time to find and destroy the remaining horcruxes without being discovered," Dumbledore said. "Fudge is mollified for now, with the exchange of Remus Lupin for my promise to never enter politics."

Sirius smirked at that, but Snape scowled. He'd known of Lupin's appointment and fought with the headmaster about it before end of term.

"We know of several horcruxes that Tom Riddle made," Dumbledore continued. "I have suspicions of the exact number, but we will need to destroy them before they are found by others, or before others assume that we are looking for them for alternate reasons."

"This is not something he ever spoke of," Snape said, drumming his fingers on the arm of the chair. "I don't believe even Wormtail knew of them."

"Which leaves a smaller pool of people we are up against," Dumbledore said, with a grimy smile.

"Your first task, Sirius, is to go to Little Hangleton. Severus has brought the plans of Riddle House."

Snape withdrew papers from his cloak pocket, unfolding them carefully and snapping the paper taught before passing them over.

"Right," Sirius said, grabbing the papers and immediately starting to studying them. "What am I looking for?"

"A very large snake."

"Absolutely not," Sirius replied, putting the papers right back down.

Snape smirked at that and took a sip of his tea.

"I notice you not running into the dangerous tasks," Sirius snapped at him.

"... now," Snape said. "Conveniently forgetting my double agent work with the Death Eaters both in the first war and over the last ten months. And the very fact that my potion and work was the one to kill him in the graveyard."

"Partially kill him. There's..."

"And completely missing the fact that my son has already lost his parents once, and I will not risk that again when I see no need to."

"He's not your son," Sirius hissed, standing up in annoyance.

"Legally and otherwise, he certainly is," Snape said, flicking his papers back up and snatching them away, nearly giving Sirius a paper cut in the process. "Go on your little adventure Black, as they are important tasks. But mine are complete, and my stakes are higher."

"And what, you're just giving up on this now?" Sirius said, his eyes narrowed in on Snape. "You were always like a dog with its nose on a scent. I find it hard to believe you're stepping back out now."

"I have a court hearing to see to so that he is not expelled," said Snape, speaking slowly as if he thought Sirius was too daft to understand his simple sentence.

"Severus has provided reasons to not get involved in this search, which I agree with," Dumbledore commented at the same time.

"Yes, I'm certain he has," Sirius sneered.

Snape held his tongue, but crossed his arms and glared.

"He has provided as much information for your first task as possible. I will share my research with you as it is found," Dumbledore continued, speaking directly at Sirius.

"And what will you be doing during this time?" Sirius asked, in an accusatory tone directed straight at Snape.

"Winning the hearing and then teaching," said Snape. "And preparing for the eventual fall out."

"What makes you so certain there will be one?"

"Two people can barely keep a secret," Snape said, pointing his thin white finger at Sirius. "Untold amounts know of this. It is only a matter of time before it gets out."

"I agree," Dumbledore said, speaking with a strong tone in an attempt to keep control of the conversation. "We have the upper hand, but only if we act now. The snake should be easiest to find, if it is still at Riddle House."

Sirius turned up his lip at that.

"Afraid of a snake?" Snape sweetly asked, provoking Sirius again.

"After twelve years in Azkaban?" Sirius barked back. "I've seen things you could never imagine, felt things that I wouldn't wish on my darkest enemy. While you were hiding at the school I– "

"Gentlemen– "

"I faced the Dark Lord," Snape snarled, standing up. "More times than I care to count, and for the last time knowing that he knew I was there to betray him. And Harry has done the same. Your little task is a walk in the park."

"Fuck you, Snivellus," Sirius spat, jumping to his feet and almost bumping his chest against Snape's.

"Fuck me yourself, you coward," Snape snapped back.

"Enough!" Dumbledore demanded. "If the Order is to be successful you two must get along. For Harry to have a relationship with…"

"Harry is fine," Snape interrupted. "I am not petty enough to remove his access to his godfather, despite how little I think of the latter."

"Oh, very nice," Sirius said, rolling his eyes and slumping back in his chair.

Snape flicked his cloak closed and pointed his wand toward the door, slashing it upward. A small fleshy coloured thing flew toward him, and a second later the door burst open, to show several Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione listening closely from the other side.

"What a surprise," Snape said. "You of all people should know that nothing good ever happens when one eavesdrops, Harry."

"I…" Harry stammered, glancing quickly between his friends to see if they would add anything in his defence.

"Tomorrow at eleven," Snape said, pointing his finger. He brushed past Harry and out the hall, slamming the door behind him.

"Drama queen," Sirius muttered.

Molly was finally shushed out the door at half nine, wagging her fingers at Sirius that he should cast a spell on the leftovers from dinner before they spoiled.

"Goodbye, Mother!" Fred yelled, covering the sound of George pulling a suspiciously large looking box out of a cabinet.

"What's that?" Harry asked.

"Shh!" George said. He put the box on the table and kept still until the front door banged closed and Sirius' footsteps were heard coming back down the hallway.

"This, Harry, is your distraction from that silly court hearing of yours," Fred said.

Hermione gave them a suspicious look and Ron snorted.

"Something explosive then?" Ron asked. Hermione crossed her arms.

"Some things, dear brother. There's more than just one cool thing in here," George corrected.

Sirius came back into the room and grinned.

"Is this the new stock?"

George started lifting out smaller boxes and Fred picked up a bundle of what looked to be felt Hogwarts house pennants.

"Stock?" Ron asked, picking up a tube that looked like a muggle bottle rocket. Fred slapped his hand away. "Thought you just liked blowing stuff up."

"We do," they said, in unison.

"And they're good at it," Sirius said. He'd turned to the side board and was pouring more wine. "No surprise, they're like junior Marauders."

He said it with a tinge of pride in his voice and Harry blinked as he looked between the twins and Sirius.

"Why do you have so many pennants?" Harry finally asked.

"Well, you see, Harry, we all know how house-proud students are," George said. He plucked a Gryffindor pennant from his brother and waved it slightly in the air.

"Those are not just pennants," Hermione stated, watching George and not the spinning pennant.

George grinned and spun the pennant around in a circle, causing an eruption of firecrackers to explode forth from the stick end.

Both Harry and Ron ducked immediately as little bits of the firecrackers shot toward them, whizzing about the kitchen and snapping apart in the air. Sirius watched the chaos with a smile on his face, and Hermione smacked as some of the little crackers with a plate. As the last of the little sparks flew out of the stick, George tossed the pennant up and it burst into red and gold confetti.

"We're opening a store, hopefully. That's why we had to hide this, because Mum found some of our other prototypes and confiscated them."

"She probably wants you to focus on your grades," Hermione shrugged. She picked up a Ravenclaw pennant and gingerly inspected it.

"Not everything is about grades, Hermione," Ron said, scoffing a bit. "If they made a store of this..."

"And they will," Sirius said. "A little bit of capital and they're well on their way to sell these to any Hogwarts student."

"I'm sure the Professors will love that," Hermione said, putting the pennant back down. "These are really well done, you could- "

"Don't say go into a legitimate line of work," George said. "This is what we want to do. Run a store."

"We've been working on products for years," Fred added. "There's loads of potential business from students and adults, if we get our market and supply right."

Hermione gingerly picked up a modern-looking quill from the box to see if she could figure out the trick, and looked confused as it seemed to flop over like a wet noodle in her hand.

"That's an anti-theft quill," George said, watching her.

"It's rather useless like this," Hermione said, holding up the flaccid quill. She shouted in surprise as the quill sprung back to life and shot ink and feathers all over.

"The Ink and Feather anti-theft quill," Fred corrected, with a grin.

Hermione gave them a very annoyed look and stood still as Sirius used magic to clean up the mess.

"And this is why Snape won't let you visit," Harry said, with a grin on his face. He'd snagged a second piece of birthday cake and sat with it at the table, with a lopsided paper birthday hat on his head.

"That and he's an arse," Sirius said. "Has he prepared you at all for your hearing?"

"A bit," Harry shrugged, not really wanting to get into it. He was still afraid he'd be expelled, never to return to Hogwarts again, and had been hoping to distract himself from thinking about the Ministry.

"I still can't believe there was a dementor in Lower Tarrow," Hermione said. She'd made tea for herself and joined Harry with her steaming hot cup.

"Definitely wasn't an accident," Ron said, watching the twins. They were unpacking another box, and Ron was justifiably wary.

"No," Harry trailed off. "You know, last year was the only year that I didn't get in trouble for doing magic outside of school?"

"Really?" Sirius said, with a bit of a grin. "Never managed to get one of those warnings myself."

"Yeah," Harry said. "That summer of my second year Dobby visited and did magic, trying to keep me away from school. And then in third year, I ... uh, blew up Aunt Marge."

Harry did not mention that that was the catalyst for him going to live at Snape's.

"And now the dementors," Sirius said. Harry nodded. "It's a stag, isn't it? Your patronus?"

Harry nodded again.

"Just like your dad," Sirius happily told him.

Fred, who'd finally finished unwrapping several small packages that were in the box, cleared his throat.

"And now, for our surprisingly on-topic next demonstration."

Hermione pushed her chair back further from the twins.

"Have you ever wondered what your spirit animal is? Ever wanted to send your familiar charging into the fray, to defend your honour? Now you can! We present…"

George lifted a handful of plain sticks that looks very similar to wands.

"Animal Fire-Crackers!"

Harry, who'd lifted his next piece of cake to his mouth, stared at them.

"With one simple twist and toss…" George said, flicking his hand forward and twisting it up, tossing the stick to the air above the table. "You get a random animal defender you can throw at anyone who is bothering you."

They all watched with interest as the stick sputtered to life into a small sparkling cheetah that appeared to be made of fire as it pranced around the table and silently roared.

"Woah!" Ron said, sitting forward and watching raptly as the cheetah ran faster. Harry and Hermione were also watching it with great interest, Harry even putting up his hand to see if the cheetah would run around it. He jumped back seconds later as the cheetah avoided him, but then exploded into a bright flash of multicoloured fireworks.

"Agh," Harry muttered, yanking his hand back and checking it. There was a bit of redness on his palm, but at least it wasn't bleeding.

"This is even better than you described," Sirius said, picking up one of the sticks. "How many types of animal?"

"Twenty so far," George said. "But we're hoping to make more."

"It doesn't work on dementors though, right?" Hermione asked. She'd covered her tea cup with her hand when the fireworks exploded, and now that Ron was also inspecting one of the sticks, hadn't moved it.

"Nah," Fred said. "Only Harry here can defend us against them."

"But works a treat on annoying siblings," George said, grinning at Ron.

"Bugger off," Ron scoffed, tossing the stick back to the table. "This is Harry's birthday, not take the piss out of me day."

George mimicked like he was going to toss another firecracker stick at Ron, and Ron flinched.

"Well in spirit of that, I think it's time for your real gift now," Sirius said, pulling a small envelope out of his jacket pocket. He had a playful grin on his face, and it broke into a smile as he tossed the envelope to Harry.

Harry pushed the cake plate aside and picked up the envelope, shaking it.

"Keys?" Harry said, opening it up and pulling out a brand-new set of black and silver keys.

"I've heard you can make your way around town already," Sirius said, "but trust me, this method is more fun."

He snapped his fingers and nothing happened right away, but after a few seconds the ceiling vibrated as the loud revving of a motorcycle rumbled from the formal sitting room above.

"No way," Ron said, standing up from his chair.

"A motorcycle?!" Harry blurted, staring up at the ceiling.

There was a mad scramble as Harry, Ron, and the twins rushed up the stairs, slowly followed by Hermione and Sirius.

"It's mine," Sirius said, leaning against the sitting room door frame as he watched the boys check out the shiny old-fashioned bike. "But figured you could learn on this one when you visit here, and I'll get you your own when you're 19."

"Wow," Harry said, running his hand along the handlebar. Sirius snapped his fingers again and the engine turned off.

"There are disillusionment charms on it, so muggles can still see you but won't pay you much mind. I'll teach you how to drive it first, then how to fly it."

Ron nudged Harry's shoulder.

"This is way cooler than Dad's old Anglia."

….

Harry wrapped his clothing up and shoved it into his bag, not bothering to fold anything he'd worn during the day. It was all going to be thrown in the wash anyway, and Harry didn't see much point to folding it when his bag expanded to fit whatever he was trying to put in it. He'd just managed to shove most of his gifts in there when a soft knock sounded on his door. Ron and Hermione had said good night thirty minutes earlier, and Harry knew it could only be Sirius.

"Hey Kiddo," Sirius said, stepping in. "Hope that was a grand birthday for you."

Harry smiled, not really wanting to get into details about how his birthdays had gone in the past. "It was, thanks."

"Ah well, good. You know you were rescued from Godric's Hollow on that old bike…"

"I know," Harry interrupted, with a nod. Sirius, who was tinkering with one of the photo frames on the dresser, looked over with a calm expression. "Brought to the Dursleys on it."

"That's right. The only flying bike at the time," Sirius said. He looked like he'd come in to say something else, but hadn't quite figured out the best way to put it. Harry, standing awkwardly in his pyjamas beside the bed, sat down.

"Are you going to be helping out on something for Dumbledore?" Harry asked, trying for nonchalance. He was curious about the meeting that they'd listened in on and had waited all evening to be able to ask Sirius in private.

"Oh, nothing really to worry about," Sirius said, eyebrows raising as if he'd not expected Harry to be so direct. "A fun little scavenger hunt for me, that's all."

"For the horcruxes," Harry confirmed, not matching Sirius' smile. "The ones that are still out there. I know that's the task still left and…"

"Perhaps," Sirius interrupted. "But we're taking care of it, Harry. You've done your part already and Dumbledore has a plan for all this. You just have to focus on that hearing, which I'm sure will all work out."

Harry turned and shoved his feet under the covers.

"Right, but Dad said…"

"Dad?" said Sirius sharply. "You don't mean…"

He paused and looked expectantly at Harry. Harry stared back, flopping his hands in his lap and absentmindedly touching the still-red mark on his palm.

"Yeah," Harry finally responded. "Snape."

Harry did not like the scowl that immediately darkened Sirius' face, but he wasn't surprised by it either. He watched as Sirius shoved his hands in the pockets of his dressing gown.

"If James..." he muttered to himself, shaking his head and walking toward the wardrobe by the door.

"My father knows," Harry pushed. "Remember? I talked to him when Voldemort nearly killed me?"

"I remember you saying that," Sirius gruffly said. "And let me guess, he calls you something else too?"

He didn't even wait for Harry to confirm or deny.

"It's just…" Sirius said, pacing a little. "You barely have any memory of your parents, and you call him Dad and now you'll drop the name they gave you as well? Maybe in death James has glossed over his memories a bit, but it'll take me a lot longer to do that."

"I'm not dropping my name. And we both have memories of Snape being a terrible person," Harry argued. "But you're not even giving him a chance."

"I don't really care to," Sirius bluntly said, stopping his pacing. "I trust you, but I still don't trust him. Just – just promise me you'll tell me if he treats you poorly."

Harry scowled a bit. "I will."

"Harry…"

"Yeah, I will. Thanks for the birthday party, Sirius."

Sirius let the tension in his shoulders out.

"Of course. There's a bunch more to make up for, and you can come visit here anytime, you know."

"Yep," Harry said, nodding.

"We'll get you on that motorbike soon. Wait till the others find out, you'll be the envy of everyone in your year," Sirius told him, stepping out the door.

Harry nodded and gave Sirius a small smile as he left.

"I doubt it," Harry muttered to himself, settling into bed and thinking again of the hearing and how he'd once again be in the newspapers.