I was looking forward to seeing Moony again. The last time we'd seen each other had been in the shrieking shack two years previously. Twelve years had passed between us , twelve long years in Azkaban before I had seen him again, my old friend. It hadn't been the best reunion but it had been worth the wait, I got to see my godson that night as well. Now at last I was going to have the kind of reunion I had envisioned in my cold, dark cell. Moony was coming and soon Harry as well. The order was being re-established. I was thankful that Dumbledore had given me something useful to do. It was almost like old times with the old order. My mother's house was not the best location in the world but it was perfect for the secrecy essential for the order. I would have been more thankful were it not for the fact that Snivellus was part of the order, greasy haired old bat coming in reminding me that while he got to go out and be in the centre of the action my status as a wanted man kept me behind closed doors trying to make my house fit for human habitation. It felt strange to be back, even stranger to have my friends over, after all I had left to live with James when I was only thirteen. The old portrait of my mother was less than thrilled to have me or my friends in her house, and Kreacher, the horrible little house elf I'd inherited seemed to be well on her side. I was brought out of my thoughts by the door opening. I turned to see him, Moony.

"Moony!"

"Padfoot! So good to see you old friend."

"FILTHY BLOOD TRAITORS! FILTHY HALF-BREEDS!" My mother's portrait had unfortunately been disturbed by our enthusiastic greeting. It took Remus and I a whole minute to force the curtains over her and silence her rant. Afterwards we hugged fiercely.

"It is so good to see you Moony!"

"And you Padfoot, it has been too long. How is your work coming." I shook my head as we walked to the kitchen.

"It would take years to make this house a fit place Moony. I can't believe I thought to bring Harry here when he wanted to live with me. My mother's also put unbreakable sticking charms on many of the possessions I should dearly love to tear off the walls and incinerate."

"Well, do not worry. With so many of us residing here it will only be a matter of time. You've got a good handful of rooms ready for us."

"Ready perhaps but not very fit. Indeed the kitchen's the only place I can sit in and feel a sense of pride to be the secret keeper of my old house." We had reached the kitchen by now. I put a kettle on the stove to make tea before I saw Kreacher skulking in a corner muttering.

"Oh my poor mistress, what they is doing to your house. And now the werewolf traitor comes. Oh my mistress, Kreacher will help..."

"Get out, Kreacher!"

"Oh yes Master Black whatever you say. Oh my poor Mistress your own son..."

"OUT!" Kreacher scuttled off to his room, still muttering about my mother, his beloved mistress.

"He still causing trouble for you Sirius?"

"If he steals one more of my mother's things to add to his perverse little collection I shall be tempted to burn his room down." I sat at the table with Remus and he smiled at me."

"Ready for the news Padfoot?"

"Of course."

"Well, the Weasley's will be coming for the summer, all except the three eldest, I believe Hermione will be coming shortly after and them Harry for the ;last week."

"Only the last week? Surely he can come sooner!"

"Dumbledore thinks it's best that he stays at his aunt and uncle's house for as long as possible, it is the last place with his mother's blood Sirius."

"Harry's aunt is an insult to Lily! I should have more time with my godson."

"I know you miss him Sirius and you no doubt love him as much as you would James' son but you know that Dumbledore makes these decisions for a reason." I scowled, I hate it when Remus is right. The kettle whistled and I made the tea. There was silence between us for a moment.

"I miss him too Sirius." I knew we weren't talking about Harry any more, he meant James.

"I know Moony. It's just...Harry is the last link we have to him and I hardly see him. I hoped after we found Pettigrew all the waiting would be over and if anything it made things worse."

"It is not your fault he got away Padfoot, I was the one who forgot to take my potion..."

"Don't blame yourself Moony, neither of us managed to keep him with us that night." Remus nodded and sipped his tea.

"So Sirius, tell me. Which room should we start on. I knew this was his way of us evading difficult

subjects but I let it slide. There were more important things to worry about than the past.