Hi! I'm back with thank yous for all my reviewers!

Oh- I do not own Harry Potter or Star Wars or The Sound of Music or Power Rangers or Fraggle Rock or Doctor Who. All I own is the plot bunny. Sniffle.

Also I had to tweak chapters 4, 5, & 6 as apparently I accidentally used 1995's date of July's full moon instead of 1994's which is the correct year. It's nothing earth-changing, but just letting you guys know in case you're rereading & puzzling about any changes that seem to have occurred.

Chapter Eight: One by one they fell asleep with the rain still falling ceaselessly onto the roof.

A week after his birthday, Potter stumbled downstairs into the library before dawn had ended. Behind his glasses his emerald green eyes were troubled, even frightened. His godfather was sitting on the couch, a mug of coffee in one hand, gazing into the sputtering fire. Potter gulped, "Padfoot?"

The wizard started slightly, and then frowned in worry at his godson. "Harry? Harry, what's wrong?"

Quietly, shyly, the pajama-clad teenager cuddled up to his godfather before exhaling in relief. With his free arm Sirius hugged his godson.

"Did you have a bad dream too?"

"It wasn't exactly a dream… I woke up with my scar hurting."

"So it was Voldemort related."

Potter nodded, his head resting comfortably on Sirius's still too thin chest. "He was talking about having killed someone… and that… and that he was planning to kill me."

"Not to belittle your concerns or anything, but that seems to be a common occurrence with you," Black observed. Potter half-smiled. "True, but he also talked about coming back, gaining a real body."

"You foiled him the last two times he tried that- maybe the third time is the charm?"

"For him or for me?"

"Good point," Black conceded. Potter blanched. "There was a giant snake, and it told Voldemort about the Muggle man listening in at the door. He was brave, but he didn't get away…"

Black bit back some words that he really shouldn't say in front of his godson. Potter stared up at him with those eyes so like Lily's yet so completely his own at the same time.

"But Padfoot… he was talking to Wormtail, calling him Wormtail by name."

Black stiffened. "How?"

"Wormtail found him in Albania I believe," Potter volunteered. Then he paused. "Or is that where Professor Quirrell found him? I forget."

Black closed his eyes and held his godson closer to him as he thought out loud. "Of course- Pettigrew pulled the same stunt I did to escape Azkaban. The Ministry doesn't want to reveal that they messed up AGAIN so they're keeping it quiet. But they feel guilty enough to want to send in an unsuspecting Auror ostensibly to keep an eye on you."

"Oh."

"Can you remember anything else about the dream, Harry?"

"Something about getting a more loyal follower into Hogwarts… they were in some kind of manor… it's getting fuzzy, I'm sorry Padfoot."

"It's all right," Black soothed the teenager. "It's all right."

"But will it stay all right?" Potter wondered bleakly. "It never has been before… it feels like the higher I get, the farther I then fall. And this has been the highest I've been yet, here with you and Lupin and Snape."

"I will never willingly leave you, Harry. You know that, right?"

Potter looked up at Black with sad eyes. "I bet my parents would have never willingly left me either, though."

That was a punch to the stomach, but Black couldn't deny it. Potter suddenly sat upright but Black pulled him back into the one-armed hug of before.

"You can't do this alone, Harry. You can't. Even Dumbledore can't defeat Voldemort alone."

"But the prophecy says-"

"That's at the end, we're still probably in about the middle of the adventure right now. You'll need all the help you can need, Prongslet."

Potter just shrugged. Black leaned back. "I'm just glad Tonks will be coming by tomorrow since then we can ask her if she knows anything. It's a long shot but it's probably our only shot."

"Right," Potter agreed. Black asked, "Do you want to write to Ron and Hermione about the dream?"

Potter grinned, "Ron would just worry and suggest asking his dad about it. Hermione would lecture a bit before going off into a book. But since no one else has ever survived the Killing Curse I don't think there are any precedents for me to follow."

"True, very true." Just then Black's stomach rumbled so he unwrapped his arm from Potter. "Well, maybe we continue discussing this while we make breakfast?"

Whistling Tonks strolled up to the house at Spinner's End the next day. It was extremely humid in the area, with looming storm clouds on the horizon. So she quickly shortened her magenta hair to a curly bob while keeping her eyes golden brown. She wore a neon pink V-neck T-shirt with her jeans, having left her cloak at her desk. Happily she knocked on the front door, hoping Lupin would answer.

Unfortunately it was Professor Snape. He was dressed in black slacks and a green-black turtleneck sweater that contrasted with his sallow skin and slick shoulder-length black hair. Nonetheless she beamed at him, saying, "Wotcher, Snape!"

"Miss Tonks, please come in."

"How are you enjoying this steamy Monday?" she inquired as she followed him back to the kitchen. Snape observed, "Shouldn't you be asking Lupin that?"

The roots of her hair turned bright red in embarrassment. "Snape! I didn't mean it like that!"

He smirked. "Sure you didn't."

She would have made a face at him but then they entered the kitchen. Black was leaning against the counter while Lupin and Potter were sitting at the kitchen table. She and Snape took the remaining two seats. Tonks didn't like the smoldering look on Black's face or the way his arms were crossed against his chest.

"Is he in a mood?" she asked Lupin. Somewhat soberly he rumpled the back of his hair, which made her heart skip a beat despite the circumstances.

"You could say that, Nymphadora."

"I don't like being called that."

"Well, I like calling you Nymphadora, Nymphadora."

The twenty-one year old Auror glowered at the lopsidedly smiling wizard. Black grumbled, "Stop flirting you two."

"We're NOT!" yelped both. Snape rolled his eyes while Black snorted. Potter looked back and forth between the two, asking, "Personally I think you're acting a bit like Ron and Hermione. But if Padfoot thinks that's flirting would that mean…?"

While Potter attempted to sort out this new notion Black pressed, "Tonks, are you sure that you don't know why the Ministry is so interested in keeping an eye on Potter?"

"Well… I know there was an emergency meeting the day before I got this assignment," Tonks admitted. Faintly blushing she admitted, "I remember only because I daydreamed that me getting this assignment was a direct result of that meeting."

"It could have been," Snape stated flatly. "Tonks, we don't want what we're about to tell you getting back to the Ministry."

"None of us here particularly trust it, and while we do trust you we want to make sure you don't tell anyone who would misuse this information," Black explained. Tonks rolled her tongue around her mouth for a minute before admitting, "I promise. Sometimes I think that Fudge is putting us down the loo."

Lupin chuckled darkly. "That's a good metaphor for it."

Potter shifted uncomfortably in his seat, taking a deep breath before explaining. "Because of what Voldemort did to me when I was a baby, we have a sort of connection now."

To Tonks' credit she barely flinched when he said 'Voldemort'. Curiously she asked, "What sort of connection?"

"Nobody knows for sure because what happened between us has never occurred before," Potter frowned. "But here's what I do know. When he's nearby or feeling particularly angry my scar hurts."

"Really?"

"Really. And last night… I dreamed of him."

"Um…"

"Well when you put it like that, Harry," Black had to snigger. Snape and Lupin exchanged consoling looks while Potter's eyes widened. "Not like that! I overheard him telling Wormtail about him planning to get a new body and kill me!"

"That's not good."

"No, really," Snape snipped at her. Lupin stated, "Snape, that's enough."

"He also talked about getting a loyal follower into Hogwarts," Potter frowned. Snape acknowledged, "A few days ago I received an owl explaining matters since I am a professor there and let's just say that it'd be relatively easy to sneak into the school this upcoming term."

"Uh no."

"Why me?" Potter muttered darkly to himself, and no one could come up with a satisfactory answer beyond the prophecy. Lupin tousled Potter's hair. "We're here for you, Potter. All of us."

"Whether I like it or not," Snape shrugged. Potter smiled weakly. "I'm here for you all as well."

Tonks frowned. "But what-"

"Constant vigilance," Black quoted Moody, his posture now more relaxed. "For now, that's all we can do."

Tonks made a face, leading Lupin to gently chide her, "We don't know the location of Voldemort's hide out, we don't know what loyal follower he's seeking out, and we don't know the details of his plan. We should be glad that we have any warning at all that he's planning to kill Harry."

"Again," Potter added moodily. Black stated flatly, "I won't let anyone hurt you."

The look in his eyes worried Snape, as if Potter couldn't believe Black even though he wanted to. So he just told Tonks sourly, "Basically, actually do what the Ministry assigned you to do, even if they weren't all that serious about it: protect Harry."

"All right," she nodded. Glancing at her Star Wars wristwatch she sighed, "I gotta get back to work. Wotcher, everyone!"

Tripping over her chair, Tonks left. The four wizards split up for the afternoon as the storm clouds rolled in, the humidity now stifling. Black in his dog form slept under the kitchen table, his leg twitching edgily. Lupin tried to read in the library, but in the end he just stared at the bookshelves lost in thought. Snape was tucked away in the cool basement, doing inventory on his potions supplies so he could restock when the time came to go to Diagon Alley for Potter's school supplies. And Potter sprawled out on his bed, too lazy from the humidity to do much of anything.

With a long roll of thunder the storm broke towards evening, bringing the quartet back together in the kitchen to watch the torrent from the sink window. With the heat broken Lupin made tea for everyone. Sipping his cup of tea after adding a rather large quantity of sugar and honey Black suggested, "How about we play truth or dare?"

"How about just truth?" countered Snape. "It's still just a tad too humid for dares. Besides, I don't trust you, mutt."

"Well, Sevy boy, I don't trust you more."

"No, I don't trust you more."

"No, I don't."

"No, I don't."

"No, I don't."

"No, I don't."

"Enough," laughed Lupin. "Enough, you two."

"So truths it is then?" Potter inquired. Black and Snape exchanged a long look before nodding their consent. Lupin commented, "How about we each write down two questions, then mix them together in a hat and pull one out going in a clockwise direction? Plus everyone has to answer, that way no questions are asked that the questioner wouldn't answer themselves."

"That actually sounds reasonable," Snape nodded, standing up. "But instead of a hat how about a mug-"

But Black had already conjured up his black fedora with a smirk. Muttering under his breath about 'mangy, mischievous mutts' Snape got out a slightly yellowed scroll to tear into eight as well as some old ballpoint pens which he passed out to the other three. Seriously the four wrote their pair of questions and put them in the fedora. Slyly Snape said, "Since it's your hat, Black, how about you go first?"

"I'm game, and it's a fedora Snape, not a hat," Black stated, shaking the upside-down fedora to shuffle the folded slips of paper. He then pulled one out, unfolded it, and read it out loud.

"Who was your first crush? Um… Marilyn Monroe by a landslide. It was before I went to Hogwarts, see."

"Good taste," Lupin grinned lopsidedly. "I think I'm getting mine on Tonks… don't tell her though!"

"I think you were and are her first crush so it's okay," Black decided. Snape looked uncomfortable as he conceded, "Lily."

"Cho Chang," Potter admitted bashfully. "She's the Ravenclaw Seeker."

"Ah," went Black as he passed the fedora to Lupin. "Well, I hate to break it to you, but from the sounds of things she isn't a redhead. And Potters always in the end get with a redhead."

"Uh-huh," Potter raised his eyebrows doubtfully.

"They do, trust me," Lupin laughed as he shook the fedora around. Pulling out a slip of paper he unfolded it. With a sigh he said, "This is one of mine. Should I answer it anyway?"

"Yes," chorused the other three.

"Fine," he grumbled prior to reading. "Who is your hero? Mine is Dumbledore, I think."

"That's a cop-out," Snape disagreed. "Everyone thinks of Dumbledore as a hero. Someone else."

"Mm, my mum probably then. I couldn't have been an easy child to raise, being a werewolf and all."

"Mine would have to be… well, Lily again," Snape confessed, glaring at the other three as if daring for them to comment. Quietly Black told him, "No, you're right. She always brought out the best in people."

"But it wasn't enough for me?" he sighed bitterly. Potter suggested, "Well, she left a good impression on you at least. I think mine is now you three for surviving raising me."

"Please with these two you have to worry about surviving them," Snape retorted. Potter cheekily inquired, "What about you?"

"What about me?" grumbled Snape, but his usually sallow cheeks were pink. Black mused, "Well I guess my hero would be James- he was the best of us at pranks."

"Don't tell the twins otherwise I don't think I'd like their reactions," Potter groaned, making the adult wizards laugh- well, Snape just smiled sardonically as he took the fedora from Lupin but it was close enough for him. Taking out a slip he read, "What is your Patronus?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "Well, um…"

With a loud crack of thunder the overhead light flickered. Everyone flinched. Lupin frowned, "Snape? Come on, it's not even that hard of a question."

"Itisadoe," he spat out hurriedly. Black puzzled, "Wait, dough? Like cookie dough?"

"No," he shook his head. "Like in the song, from the musical…"

"Wait, what?"

"Oh. A doe, a female deer," Lupin realized. Black demanded, "Like Lily's?"

Snape nodded sheepishly, his hair flopping forward to cover part of his face. Oddly Potter found it made him look ten years younger. Dubiously he broke the silence of the rain. "You all know that mine is a stag like Prongs."

"Dog."

"Werewolf."

Quietly Potter shook the fedora and got out a slip. "What is your favorite memory of your best friend? Well, I have to say, how the three of us became best friends- fighting that troll- is definitely a fond memory looking back. Especially since it really wasn't all that dangerous considering what else we've gotten ourselves into."

Nobody could deny that. Black commented softly, "I think it was my first night at the Potters' since James was sharing his room with me. We stayed up most of the night, talking."

"Planning pranks, more likely," Snape drawled, but Black shook his head. "Talking."

"When you and James told me that you knew my furry little secret and were okay with it… I was so happy," Lupin exhaled. Snape looked out the window where the rain was pouring down furiously. "Our pre-Hogwarts days were the best."

Black got back his fedora to get out a new slip of paper. "What is your favorite telly show? Well, Lupin, want to say it with me?"

"Sure," he chuckled happily. Together they chorused, "POWER RANGERS!"

There was another peal of thunder. Potter observed, "I don't think the storm approved of your interest."

"Meh," Black shrugged cheerily. Snape admitted, "As a boy I enjoyed Doctor Who."

"Doctor Who?" a baffled Black echoed. Snape sighed, "Don't ask."

Potter frowned, "I didn't watch much telly… um, Fraggle Rock was fun though."

Lupin pulled his second slip of paper from the fedora. "What is your favorite-"

With a thunderous crack of thunder the electric lights went out, plunging Spinner's End into darkness. Black got out his wand, stating, "Lumos."

A dim light emitted from his wand. Snape got out a range of candles which he and the two Marauders set up in the library, lighting them up by magic. Meanwhile Potter got a fire started in the fireplace. The four sat in a circle like they had at the kitchen table, Lupin joking, "Let's try this again, shall we? What is your favorite position in Quidditch? Hm, Keeper probably."

"Beater," Snape decided. Potter retorted, "Seeker!"

"Nah, Chasers are the best," Black attempted to overrule them all but only a heated debate on which Quidditch position was the best ensued. At length, being the least Quidditch-crazed as well as it being his turn now, Snape grabbed the fedora and snatched the second to last slip of paper from the fedora. Over the others' voices he stated, "What was or is your favorite course at Hogwarts? Mine was Potions, of course."

"Defense Against the Dark Arts was fun with you, Lupin," Potter stated earnestly, making the werewolf blush in the muted light of the library. Black observed, "I always did like Astronomy, although Divination could be interesting at times…"

"Since I am one, Care of Magical Beasts was quite enjoyable," Lupin joked, pushing back his graying hair. Snape gulped as Potter pulled out the last slip of paper, knowing which question it was.

"What is your biggest regret?" Potter read softly, almost inaudibly against the pounding of the rain. "Well, I guess that it was kind of stupid of me to get stabbed in the arm with that basilisk fang."

"WHAT?" yelled the other three in shock. Potter shrank down sheepishly. "I did kind of skim over that part, didn't I?"

Black poked his godson in the arm. "How are you even alive if that's true?"

"Fawkes cried on me."

Looking over at his remaining best friend Black frowned, "I'll be as grey as you if Prongslet keeps getting up to such serious mischief."

"Well, I can't exactly manage it on command," Potter chuckled wryly, making Black and Lupin smile. Snape suddenly felt left over, and for some reason it hurt. Black rested his head against Potter's. "It's a tie between trusting Peter as the Secret Keeper and that 'prank' I played on you, Snape, with Lupin."

Snape blinked in surprise, but before he could comment Lupin sighed, "Maybe I should have, could have asked Tonks out for a Butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron."

"For not being a good enough friend for Lily," Snape sighed, knowing that the others would get all the implications of 'good enough'. Potter stated softly, "I think you're a good enough friend for me, Snape. Maybe I've been a little hard on Slytherins…"

"Us too," Lupin and Black chorused awkwardly. Snape chuckled, "I've been more than a little hard on Gryffindors over the years so I guess we're even."

"Mm," went Black. "Could we all sleep down here tonight?"

"I don't see why not," Snape replied. Potter beamed, "Right. But first could we have some food?"

"Food sounds nice," Lupin admitted. So the quartet popped some popcorn on the fire in addition to some cans of soda and store bought cookies. Then they sprawled out onto the couch, sharing a huge quilt. One by one they fell asleep with the rain still falling ceaselessly onto the roof.