Author's note: Sorry for the long wait, I'm back off holiday now and the next few chapters are written and so the next updates (hopefully till the end) will be quick and regular. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 6: The talks

After a big full English breakfast (of which, most was edible) Remus Lupin hugged his 'niece' and Harry very tightly before apparating back home despite Sirius's protests that he could stay just a little longer.

With Sirius, a little usually meant most of the week. Sirius seemed to be under the impression that Remus was extremely lonely and so tried to include him in everything and anything (once he called him around so they could clean the kitchen which Sirius obviously thought would be the highlight of Remus's week.) In actual fact, Remus was quite lonely. But he felt as if he was intruding when he spent too long with the Black family. They had busy lives and when he popped in unannounced, something was always going on.

Apart from when Emerald returned to school after summer, when that happened Sirius was more lonely than he was and practically lived at Lupin Lodge. Not that Remus minded, it sort of reminded him of their Hogwarts years.

He had been all too eager to leave that morning especially, mainly because if Sirius didn't talk to Emerald and Harry today then he never would. He knew his friend, he would use any excuse, and having Remus there would definitely count as a good excuse.

So at the time of Sirius's 'talks' Remus was sitting in Lupin Lodge with a steaming cup of tea and a good book.

Harry would have given anything to be sat with him. Instead, he was sat in his room, nervously fiddling with his bedspread as he waited for Sirius to finish interrogating Emerald. He was hoping so badly that Emerald would tell Sirius everything but deep down, he knew she wouldn't.

Sirius would definitely have given anything to be sitting in Lupin Lodge reading a book (even with his dislike of all things literacy) rather than sitting in front of his teenage daughter trying to find the words to talk to her in the most tactful way possible, tact had never been Sirius's strong point.

"How are you finding living with Harry?" He began, his cheeks slightly red.

Emerald's eyebrows rose very slightly and an unreadable expression crossed her face before it turned blank. "Well, I think he's okay when he's asleep."

Sirius frowned. "But Emerald, surely he isn't that awful?"

"He can be okay, when he isn't being bad." Emerald muttered.

"He isn't bad, Emerald, he can just be…naughty."

Emerald shrugged.

"If you just give him some time to settle down, I mean, he's never been in a family situation like this. Not since he was a baby anyway, it's all new to him. He has to adapt."

No response from Emerald.

"Em…you haven't…I mean…you have been as nice to Harry as you could, haven't you?" Sirius's cheeks were more than rosy now.

Emerald shot up to her feet instantly. "You're accusing me? You bring him into our home and ruin my whole summer because he's being a total brat and then blame it on me?"

"Now, Emerald. You know I wasn't-"

"All I know is you are taking his side!"

"There are no sides, Emerald, I just want us all to settle down as a family and be happy."

"Well, it's not looking very likely!"

"All we have to do is work together and-"

"Well you obviously feel that I'm the problem so why not just send me to the orphanage Harry was at? You'd obviously prefer it that way!" Emerald shouted before bursting into tears, to Sirius's dismay.

He hugged his daughter tightly, guilt filling him. It was hard for Emerald to adapt too, maybe he should be concentrating on helping her as well as Harry.

"You know I wouldn't swap you for the world. You or Harry. I love you both so much. I just want…I just want us all to be a family."

"I do too! But Harry is so mean when I just want to be friends." Emerald sobbed.

Now the guilt was overwhelming. Sirius felt tears rise to his own eyes as he hugged the girl.

The tears didn't last long and all too soon Emerald was sauntering off to meet her friends, her pockets laden with money she had conned the guilt-ridden Sirius out of.

"Bye, Daddy!"

"Bye Emmie, have a nice time!" Sirius called, as he made his way up to Harry's room.

One down, one to go.

Harry looked up quickly as his bedroom door opened and Sirius stepped into the room.

"Emerald has gone swimming." Sirius announced, sitting down next to his godson and gently removing the bedclothes from his clenched hands.

Harry remained silent.

"So after we've talked. We have the whole evening together; just you and I." Sirius said with a kindly smile.

Harry fidgeted nervously, his fingers twirling the bottom of his t-shirt sub-consciously.

"You can tell me anything, Harry, and I promise I won't get angry."

Harry shifted slightly on the sofa. Sirius sighed and leant forwards slightly. How similar both of his children were.

"Aren't you happy living with me, Harry?"

Harry's head shot up quickly. "No, I am! I love living here, Sirius, really."

"So what is all this trouble with Emerald about?" Sirius's voice got slightly firmer.

Harry's head dropped down again, oh no, please don't start talking about that.

"You know I love you both the same?"

A feeble nod.

"And you don't feel jealous of Emerald at all? Or that she is getting more attention than you? Is that why you do it, Harry? To get attention?"

The last thing I want is attention, especially this sort.

"Because we can always do some stuff together, just me and you, sometimes."

Harry felt a smile grow on his face and he looked up quickly. "Yes please!"

Sirius's face didn't turn any less grimmer. "So the problem does lie with Emerald. Harry, she is desperate to become friends with you." He glanced at Harry's sceptical face. "She really does."

She's got a funny way of showing it.

"She just wants to make friends with you before she goes back to Hogwarts. She'll be going in a couple of weeks and then she won't be back until Christmas, and then after that she won't be back until next summer."

Harry definitely couldn't fight the grin coming across his face now, he kept his head down, hoping Sirius wouldn't notice.

"So we need to all settle down nicely this summer so that we're all a nice happy family by September."

Harry nodded mutely.

"So, Harry, this is the last time I'm going to ask you. Is there anything you want to tell me?" Sirius asked.

Harry swallowed.

"What is it, Harry?"

Harry stared into the earnest slate grey eyes of his godfather and felt his throat go dry. He licked his lips and opened his mouth, this was his chance. This was it. Emerald was out, it was just him and Sirius and Sirius was actually asking him, he was giving him the opportunity to spill his guts. This was his last chance to tell the man. He had been putting it off for the last ten minutes. He had to do it now.

He could tell him right now and Sirius would make it all okay and they would all be happy and he wouldn't get in trouble anymore. All he had to do was look into Sirius' searching eyes and tell him the truth…

He would find out once and for all whether Sirius really would believe him over his daughter…

"What's for lunch, Sirius?"

Some risks are too big to take.