Disclaimer: Any characters, locations, and plots no not belong to me. They were all thought up by the wonderful and talented J.K. Rowling.

Set up: This story begins during the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Even though the story will not always follow either Sirius Black or Harry Potter, they will be majorly involved in the story.

-Yuushi-Chan

Chapter 1

Sirius sat in one of the old wooden chairs placed around the large dining table. An Order meeting was in progress. There was discussion of how they were going to get Harry Potter to Grimmauld Place safely. They had heard of the dementors in the little muggle village where Harry's aunt and uncle lived. The time for action was now.

"We cannot wait any longer. The ministry is not on our side anymore. We need to get Harry before they do," Sirius said for the umpteenth time.

"We understand that, Sirius," Remus told his friend. "The dilemma is how we are going to accomplish that."

The others nodded in agreement. Sirius groaned and raked his finger through his shoulder-length dark brown hair.

"What if we send a letter to get Harry's aunt and uncle out of the house?" Tonks suggested.

"What do you mean?" Remus asked.

"Well, muggles fuss over very trivial things, don't they?" Tonks started. "I could send a letter by muggle post telling the Dursleys that they've been short-listed for the All-England Best-Kept Suburban Lawn Competition."

Everyone stared at her with blank faces.

"What? I thought it was a decent plan," Tonks mumble.

"No, no, it's brilliant!" Remus praised her.

"Very good. Why don't you get started on that," Albus Dumbledore, sitting at the head of the table, told Tonks.

"Then, once they're out of the house, we'll go in and take Harry back here," Remus finished.

"Who's going to get Harry?" Sirius asked.

"Not you, I assure," Severus Snape sneered at him.

Sirius growled at him, "What did you say Snivellus?"

Molly Weasley hit Sirius upside the head with a roll of parchment. "Stop it, Sirius. You know very well that it's too dangerous for you to leave Grimmauld Place."

Sirius nodded. He sighed and slumped in his chair.

"So, who will retrieve Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked looking at everyone sitting at the table.

"I'll go," Remus offered. "Tonks, would you mind tagging along?"

"Not at all, Remus," She answered.

"I'll go with you as well. You never know what kind of trouble there will be," Mad-Eye Moody spoke up.

There was some silence as Dumbledore scanned the table for any other takers.

"All right, then I shall assign more people to this mission," Dumbledore said. "Kingsley, Emmeline, Elphias, you will all be accompanying Remus, Alastor, and Miss Tonks. Someone must inform Dedalus he will be joining you as well. You are now the members of the Advanced Guard. Dora, I must inform you that the muggle post will take a couple of days. So when the post arrives at number 4 Privet Drive, we will make our move to take Harry. I need all of you to be ready when the time comes."

They all nodded, listening intently to what Dumbledore told them.

"This meeting is adjourned," Dumbledore declared.

"Well, then, who's ready for some dinner?" Molly asked everyone at the table.

"Sounds wonderful, Molly," Kingsley Shacklebolt smiled.

"I must be off, sorry Molly," Elphias Dodge said in a squeaky voice.

"Same here, I'm on duty tonight," Emmeline Vance said standing and leaving the room quickly.

Severus Snape stood said a short goodbye to Dumbledore and left.

"So, is everyone else staying for dinner then?" Molly asked.

Dumbledore stood, "I'm afraid I also must take leave for tonight, Molly."

"Oh, of course, Albus. We'll see you at the next meeting," Molly said.

Dumbledore opened the door to the meeting room and left it open indicating that the meeting was definitely adjourned. Sirius walked out of the room. He was quiet; he just wanted his godson to arrive safely and unharmed.

Sirius heard whispers coming from the hallway upstairs. "Kids, you can come down now!" He called. The Weasley children and Hermione filed down the stairs. "Your mother's cooking up dinner right now."

"So, is Harry coming soon?" Ron asked nervously.

Sirius smirked; they were always trying to listen in on the meeting. "Yes, soon. We've just made arrangements. If everything goes as planned, he'll be here by the end of the week."

Ron and Hermione exchanged looks. It was a mixture of excitement and caution.

"Ah, don't worry. If Harry is anything like James, he'll forgive you for not writing. Besides, you were ordered by Dumbledore not to tell him anything."

The two visibly relaxed at Sirius' words. They left him and went to the dining room, waiting for dinner to be finished cooking.

Sirius, on the other hand, walked in the opposite direction, toward the stairs. He went to his mother's old bedroom where he kept Buckbeak. He closed the door and sat down with the large creature who was currently dining on rats.

Sirius was thinking too much these days. He thought about James and what it would've been if he and Lily hadn't died. Remus was still here with him, but he wasn't James. Sirius was so deep in thought that he didn't hear the knock on the door.

"Sirius?" He heard Remus' voice. "May I come in?"

"Yeah, sure, Remus," Sirius said in a dull tone.

"Dinner is ready. Are you going to come down and eat with us?"

"Yeah, I'll come eat with everyone." Sirius stood up from the floor and followed his old friend downstairs to the dining room.

"I know I'm not James, Sirius, but you have to understand that I'm still your friend. I want to help you." Remus said clasping a hand on Sirius' shoulder.

"I know that Remus. And you're my friend, too. Thank you," Sirius answered.

The pair entered the dining room, their conversation finished, and sat down to eat with the large group.