A/N. Thanks for all you lovely reviewers. This chapter goes to a certain Slugston who got everything I was trying to achieve in the previous chapter. Give yourself a cookie and perhaps a kiss from James xx

The Summer Holidays

"FILTHY MUDBLOODS!" Mrs Black screamed. "THEY ARE DISGUSTING! HOW DARE YOU DISGRACE OUR NAME WITH THEIR KIND? HAVE YOU NO PRIDE? HAVE YOU NO SHAME?"

"Mother," Sirius said annoyed looking up from his porridge. "I'm eating. Pep talks and me eating do not go well. As Remus proved accordingly all through term."

"FILTHY!" Mrs Black spat in Sirius' porridge. His face twitched angrily. He pushed the bowl away, standing up and rushing out of the narrow kitchen. "YOU DON'T DESERVE THE TITLE BESTOWED UPON YOU!"

"Now, now, mother," Came Regulus' soft pleasant voice. "Do not worry yourself, you still have another son."

Sirius stormed up the stairs making as much noise as he possibly could. He slammed his bedroom door behind him stamping hard on the floorboards with his boots. Three weeks he had put up with this. Three whole fucking weeks. He looked around and saw the picture of himself with his best friends which he had promptly decided to put up on his wall with a permanent sticking spell. Along the wall were banners and posters of bright red and gold across the silver silk walls just to highlight Sirius' difference to the rest of his family. He had put them up almost immediately after he got in the door and most of the time had locked himself away in his room avoiding his parents altogether. Seldom did he eat except when Kreacher entered with a plate of gloop that he had prepared – no doubt on his mother's command. Sirius had one aspect of comfort though and that was the letters that he had been exchanging between himself and his three other friends. On his desk was an open letter from James and beside that was Sirius' unfinished response. He picked up his quill and continued to write.

-Family is treating me worse that their treating Kreacher. Darling mother just spat in my food. You never spit in anyone's food let alone your own son's. Regulus is cuddling up to her promising that he will continue to uphold the family honour. To be perfectly honest, I can't see much honour in killing people because of their blood status. When are you getting back? Remus suggested that we meet for shopping in Diagon Alley before we go back to Hogwarts. Are you interested? I hope you haven't forgotten the Quidditch game we're meant to go see.
Quick question – if you were on a Quidditch team, which player would you be? I personally would love to be a beater. I would ask Remus but he doesn't seem to care much for flying even though it appears that he is an expert in the field – well you remember Madame Hooch's class. Seriously, what is up with that boy?
Peter says he'd make a good Keeper – I'm not too sure, I think he's better suited as a seeker, he's small and nimble so he can fly fast. Okay I will admit he's not the lightest load in the world but I don't want to be too mean.
How's Egypt? I mean apart from the mummies, tombs, sun, sand and general sweatiness. Learning any cool magic? Well of course you are. You're parents want you taught in the best ways. What kind of magic are you learning anyway? Mind teaching me some?
The knife's come in handy when daddy dearest locks me in my room because I put down the Black family name when discussing Bellatrix's wedding to some prat called Rodulphus. Another pure-blood manic in the Black family tree. Fan-bloody-tastic.
Anyway, write back when you can.

Sirius sealed the letter and gave it to the large tawny owl and sent it off watching it glide through the sky with majesty. He knew that his father had locked the door again, but instead of being disheartened and knowing full well that his parents weren't likely to check on his well being, he grabbed his wand, cloak and arranged the pillows under the bed to look as if he was sleeping. Then unlocking his bedroom window with his knife he climbed out. He slid across the wall, finding his footing in the gutter where Kreacher had obviously forgotten to clean. He kicked the gunk off his trainer and aimed for the large tree branch. He leapt and landed neatly on it. Smiling, he made a move to go for the other branch. This did not work and instead he landed in the bushes below. Annoyed, he sat up rubbing his head. He could hear his parents inside. Stowing under the window he crept away from the house and out onto the street surrounding his home.

He knew he was going to go through shit for it, but he didn't care. He continued on, happy that he was free.

...

Remus could hear them in the next room as he pretended he was asleep. His blankets pulled over his head begging for the noise to stop.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" His father bellowed.

"I'll talk to you however I like!" She bellowed back. "Your pathetic arrogance cost us everything!"

"Arrogance?"

"Yes John. Arrogance. You weak pathetic man."

"You think I wanted this to happen? Do you think I enjoy this?"

"I don't know John, do you? Because these last few months have been a dream for you haven't they? No kids? Not needing to care? Not once did you visit Emily!"

"Like she would be able to recognise me!"

"I think you like it. You like to pretend that Remus wasn't here. So you can pretend that you're still a teenager. That none of this ever happened. You make me sick."

"How dare you!"

"Don't you talk to me about 'daring' John. How dare you talk to me about that? You knew what he was long before insulting him. You knew his methods. It's almost like you wanted this to happen!"

"YOU THINK I WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN?" John screamed. "YOU THINK THAT I WANTED ANY OF THIS TO HAPPEN? TO TURN MY TWO CHILDREN INTO FREAKS? WHERE THEY CAN NEVER BE ACCEPTED IN THE WORLD FOR WHAT THEY ARE? YOU THINK I ENJOY YOU CONSTANTLY BLAMING ME?"

"EVERYTHING IS ABOUT YOU ISN'T IT?" His mother screamed in return and Remus buried his head deeper into his pillows. "YOU SWAN IN AFTER 8 HOUR SHIFTS AT THE MINISTRY STINKING OF ALE AND SHOUTING AT YOUR SON! YOU DON'T EVEN LOOK HIM IN THE EYE ANYMORE, DO YOU? WHEN HE'S SCARED WHO'S THERE? BECAUSE ITS NOT YOU. IT NEVER IS YOU."

John didn't reply.

"AND THEN THERE'S EMILY! YOU DON'T EVEN VISIT HER ANYMORE. SHE CALLS OUT FOR YOU CONSTANTLY AND YOU IGNORE HER."

"WHAT ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?" John bellowed. "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO TALK TO FREAKS LIKE THEM?"

"JOHN, THEY'RE YOUR CHILDREN!"

"THAT THING IS NOT MY CHILD." John said, slamming the door behind him as he marched from the room. Remus heard the front door open and slam shut. Then he heard his mother weeping. There was a growing gnawing in his stomach, as if something was chewing him from within. He wanted to go comfort his mother but he knew that if he did she would work out that he had been listening to their entire argument. So he lay listening to his mothers cries. His eyes glanced at the moving photo by his bed. The photo of him and Emily, her barely a week old and him smiling away before it all happened. Remus began to cry softly wishing for the warmth and comfort and the real feeling of home that Hogwarts always gave him. On his desk, he could see with blurred eyes the letter from James that he had not yet replied to yet and the letter from Peter to which he had. Under the letters was the open textbook describing the Fountain of Fair Fortune and how it had the power to give one salvation from its own darkness.

...

Peter had never felt more alone than he had right now. His parents fawned over his other older brothers as they performed beautiful acts of magic now that they were over 17. They applauded. They gasped. It was as if they had never seen magic before. Peter slumped on his chair, wishing that the bloody wizarding laws did not exist. Not that he could impress anyone. But if they weren't in place maybe then he could show them what he was really made of... His father looked around at Peter.

"Peter, why are you so glum?" He asked.

Peter shrugged. "I miss Hogwarts."

"You won't be saying that when the teachers start piling on the homework like there's only tomorrow." Moses said, casting an impressive Patronous charm of a cat which bounded onto the table and began to purr.

"Yeah, then you'll wish you never went," Said Theodorus. He was slightly older than Moses, but was quite happy to show off the magic that he had learned in Russia. "Besides, learning all of it... It's not that fun. When you get out into the real world... Practice becomes the difference between life and death and it's a hell of a lot cooler."

"Well, I hope you boys never get into such conflicts," Mother said. "All I want is for you to be healthy and happy."

"And married with several bouncing grandchildren?" Moses challenged.

Mrs Pettigrew blushed. "Well, now that you mention it."

Theodorus let out a guffaw. "Funny mother,"

Peter stood up. "Where are you going?" Asked Mr Pettigrew. Peter looked at his parents.

"Well, you obviously don't need me here." He said. "I'm just gonna go upstairs and write back to Remus."

"Aww..." Mrs Pettigrew said. "I always hoped that you would find friends."

"You make it sound like I'm unsociable mum." Said Peter distastefully.

"No," She replied. "I'm just saying that, you were never the popular one and it's lovely to see that you have popular friends who obviously like you and help you with your studies. I know your brothers only had about a friend each but they obviously didn't need as much help from others as you do."

Peter nodded. "Yes, mum." He said. He turned and ran off up the stairs hearing the cheers from his parents as Moses cast another spell correctly and perfectly. He closed the door and picked up his quill chewing on the end trying to make out James' barely legible writing.

Pete It read
Sirius has found a few interesting things in some books that seem to correspond with Remus. I'm curious to read them but unfortunately they are his parents books and he would not be allowed to send them over to me. Not that I would be able to read them at the moment anyway (EGYPT IS AWESOME) Why don't you ask your parents to get them for us? Or do you think it would be better to look it up in the school library? The problem with that idea is that Remus is always there and if he caught us spying up on his "condition" whatever it may be he might rip our pretty little heads off (not you obviously but Sirius and I have very good looking head and we wish to keep them)
I've narrowed down the list of what he could be to about fifty creatures. It's not easy trying to do that when you're on holiday and all you want to do is eat ice cream. I know there's something we're missing. I just can't put my finger on it.
I'm thinking he might be one of the creatures that the ministry has a deep vendetta against. I've asked dad but he can't seem to think of any at the present time. I think the sun is having an effect on him.
Mum is of no use. She doesn't work at the ministry and like me she barely listens to his ramblings about the ministry.
Anyway, sorry I could not write more. I only have a few minutes before we go hunting for mummies. Teehee. Dad says he's gonna pin me to one of the hieroglyphs, not if I do it to him first.
Talk to you later.
Your friend. James Potter.

Peter looked out the window, contemplating. Would he be able to persuade his father to take him into Diagon alley so that he could look up the books that James had indicated on a separate piece of paper. He thought not and scribbled his reply.

...

James got into the hotel exhausted from the days activities. He collapsed onto the bed and saw the large tawny owl sitting at his window. He got up and took the letter and opened it. It was from Remus.

James,
I hope you are well and enjoying Egypt, from the letters I've been receiving from Sirius and Peter who go on at you for going on at Egypt so much, I gather that it is an enlightening experience. But then again, I must remember that for you it shall not be enlightening, just fun. Which is good. Egyptians are fascinating people, more so than any other country steeped with a magical heritage, but I'm certain that you know this already.
I meant to write sooner, but I've been trying to set aside my homework so that I can enjoy the rest of the holidays stress free and not hurry it all out during the last few days which undoubtedly you, Sirius and Peter will do. Furthermore, I was unsure whether or not your owl would be able to travel to Cairo and back, I don't like putting animals through stress for no obvious reason.
Britain is cold as always but we did have a lovely few afternoons where we could go out without perishing, some of us even managed to remove our fur cloaks! If you could not tell I was trying to be humorous.

"Well, duh, Remus!" James said."Point out the bloody obvious."

I hope Sirius has written to you about our plans to visit Diagon Alley before returning to Hogwarts. It's not for school supplies, that would be silly, but a general day out enjoying what we can find.
Sirius keeps asking about the Quidditch game you two are meant to go to, please reply to that. It's getting on my nerves. It seems rather silly that players would risk themselves injury (or in some cases death such as Karolus Galante in 1953 or Vranck Alfakim in 1967) I'm sure you really don't care about my concerns over Quidditch and have skipped onto the next paragraph.

"Too bloody right." James muttered to himself.

Things are well back here. Mother and Father seem to be overjoyed that I'm back. Not so much as your parents would be but remember that I have another sibling to contend for my parents feelings. I accidently broke my arm about a week ago and to be honest it hurts like hell. I wasn't doing anything strenuous at all, I guess I haven't been getting my full intake of calcium.
Anyway, I shall leave you to your holiday. I hope you have a wonderful time and please write back as soon as you can.
Remus

...

"OI!"

Remus turned quickly and saw Sirius bound towards him wearing what looked to be a brown velvet suit. Only it wasn't velvet, it obviously couldn't be. Next to him was James glowing from the tan he had gotten in Egypt. A rucksack on his back and hands tucked into his jeans he walked over with an air of confidence and arrogance. Remus' face broke out into a grin and he called out for Peter who was standing by one of the bookshelves, his nose buried deep in one of the thick leather bound books. He looked up.

"Hey," Peter said, attempting to push the book back where he found it.

"Hey," James said, grabbing the book and reading the cover. "Dark Creatures: A Comprehensive guide to Recognising One that is Not Human. Light reading?"

Peter turned red. "I was interested." He muttered, stowing a look at Sirius.

"And when we're interested in something," James said. "What do we do? We ask Remus if he can recommend books that do not require much concentration."

"Oh, ha ha," Remus said.

"Oh I got you guys something each in Egypt." James said, taking off his bag and unzipping it. "Here." He handed Remus a thick set book covered in Hieroglyphs. "It's supposed to be an accurate replica of the Book of the Dead. I couldn't get the real thing for obvious reasons, but I thought maybe you would enjoy reading it. Or at least trying to read it. I couldn't understand a bloody word."

"Thanks, James." Remus said. "But I couldn't possibly take this-"

"I did not bring home an extremely heavy book on my back just so you could say no." James said reaching in and pulling out a leather wrist strap with a silver carving of Anubis which moved accordingly attempting to leave the leather constraints. "Sirius, this is for you. I er... I liked the idea of a man being part human part dog or wolf hound. I thought this would suit you. It's Anubis, the God of the Dead. He's said to guide people on their passages through life (and come to think of it, death) It just sort of reminded me of you."

Sirius took the strap and put it on his wrist. "Jeez man, this is really cool."

James turned to Peter. "I didn't get you anything." Peter's face fell. "Except for this." James pulled out a miniature brass pyramid with tiny depictions on the side. Peter took it. "See, the Hieroglyphs tell the story that the Egyptians believed in."

"Thanks," Peter said blushing.

"I hope to dear god that you weren't trying to buy our friendship with fancy toys," Sirius said.

James looked shocked. "Like I would do a thing like that."

The boys looked at each other sheepishly for a moment. Remus sat down and opened the book reading it intently, a small dent folding between his eyes as he read. James had noticed that this always happened when he was concentrating on something.

"How's your holiday been?" James asked Sirius.

Sirius shrugged. "You've gotten my letters. Pretty much continued after I stopped writing them."

"Oh, not that great then?" James said.

"No, they were better than most holidays I have with my parents. Need I remind you of the Jar of Spit?" Sirius said.

"True," James said. "What about you Pete?"

Peter shrugged. "Not much. Been rather boring to be honest."

James turned to Remus. "I'm not going to even ask you because you'll say something incredibly dull and send us all into a pleasant nap."

Remus grinned. "You know me all too well."

"Did you really break your arm?" Sirius asked.

"Oh so you were told that too?" James said.

"Yeah," Sirius said. "What did you do to it?"

Remus said nothing, rubbing his chin in his hand while staring down at his book. "I really want a coffee." He muttered.

"Remus," James said folding his arms.

"It was nothing James," Remus replied "I just bashed it up a little whilst moving furniture."

"Why on earth were you moving furniture?" Peter asked.

"Does it really matter?" Remus asked getting up and stuffing the book into his bag. "Come on,"

"Hold on," James said. "I want to get something."

Remus shrugged and left, Sirius and Peter following. James grabbed the book that Peter had been reading previously and took it up to the counter to pay for it. The shop clerk gave him a look.

"Not hunting dark monsters now are we?" he asked.

"I'm a big boy now, just sell me the book," James replied.

"12 galleons," The Clerk said.