...

I'm back in the saddle again

I'm back

I'm back in the saddle again

I'm riding, I'm loading up my pistol

I'm riding, I really got a fistful

I'm riding, I'm shining up my saddle

I'm riding, this snake is gonna rattle

Back in the Saddle-Aerosmith

...

For Sirius, there was nothing better than getting back to the old way of things. He was back in the Order, he was going on little missions here and there, he was volunteering ideas at Order meetings, and he felt great whenever Miss Granger told him his ideas were clever ones. Coming from her, her being so smart and all, made him feel like he could outwit anyone he wanted to.

Hermione was the only one allowed in these meetings. She was only going into her fifth year, but she was so smart it would be a crime to keep her out. Sirius tried to sneak Harry information, but with Mrs. Weasley around, it was nearly impossible to do so.

Along with being in the Order, though, he still maintained his titles around the town. He went out and partied as Steven Stevensons, he spent as much time as he possibly could with Michelle, who continued staying in his old house, and he was having the time of his life. Michelle was right-he had to get those years back. And the only way he could think to do that was by returning to the old way of things and working his way through that.

The other day, Sirius received a mission, partnered with Remus. They were to sneak into Malfoy Manor and retrieve several men who had recently been kidnapped.

Game on.

He left late that Saturday night, Remus holding his leash as Sirius walked along in his dog form. They had apparated a few blocks down, and were trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible.

No one was out as it was. No one came out anymore. Not with rumours of Sirius Black and Voldemort and Bellatrix and many other Death Eaters on the loose. So, they might have seemed out of place, but if no one thought about it, then they seemed right at home.

Sirius could have run the entire mile there and still have been up for a game of Quidditch. He had so much adrenaline rushing through him, he wondered how he was managing to keep it all inside.

There it was. Sirius was feeling jittery at just the sight of the manor, the place in which he had spent so many horrid Christmas parties with his parents. He cringed.

Remus removed his collar and leash, sliding Sirius' wand into a pouch wrapped around his torso. He hid in the bushes, and finally, Sirius could run. He bolted towards the front door, straight up to where two Death Eaters were blocking the doors.

"Bark!" said Sirius joyfully.

"Get out of here!" said one of the Death Eaters. "Go on, scram."

It seemed they had somehow forgotten they were wizards, for their wands stayed out of use. Well, except for being waved at Sirius madly.

"Bark!" Sirius let his tongue hang out as he jumped around, as if he wanted to snatch one of the wands from the Death Eater's hands.

Which is just what he did. Once he felt his teeth clench around the smooth wood, he bolted.

"Hey!" the Death Eater screamed. "Come back here!"

The other Death Eater apparently couldn't help it-he burst into uproarious laughter, watching gleefully as the second Death Eater chased Sirius around the yard.

It was never a good idea to get distracted from your job, as those Death Eaters learned that day.

"Stupefy!"

Remus took the fallen Death Eaters wand and chucked it as far as he could into a bush. Then he turned to watch as Sirius quickly transformed into a human, pulling his wand from the pouch now hanging from his neck. He blasted the Death Eater across the yard.

Remus threw a cloak and a pair of boxers at his ridiculous best friend, who was now jogging in place ecstatically.

"Come on, you dunce," Remus whispered fiercely, grinning nonetheless. "Somebody ought to have heard that. We've got to get in and out before we're noticed."

"Duh," Sirius replied, running ahead of Remus and sneaking in through the front door, having the time of his life.

It was great, being on a mission again, just like he used to. It felt amazing, back doing what he'd always known he was meant to do. The moonlight streaming through the large, stain-glass windows inside the manor made his skin prickle. He felt like a gun, a finger on his trigger. He was just ready to be fired, though Remus would rather not run into any unnecessary fights. But if things went his way, then he was calling all of the shots that night.

They made their way through the big, nearly empty manor, and found their way down into a sort of dungeon-slash-basement. They silently took out the Death Eater guarding the door and hid his wand, just as they had the first man. Of course, all it took was a little looking or a simple accio from another wand to find it, but it would buy them a little much-needed time.

The door was locked, but Remus, the genius he was, was easily able to break through the wards. While Remus stood guard, Sirius darted down the stairs at full speed, his wand held in front of him for light.

He heard Remus perform a spell behind him before he found anyone.

Their cowering faces breathed a sigh of relief when they saw who it was.

"Ready to leave?" Sirius asked them, grinning. "Good. Follow me. If the plan's gone correctly, Remus should have your wands. Get ready for a fight, if necessary."

Sirius waved his wand, unlocking each of the prisoners from the wall, and he turned, climbing the many stairs.

Remus stood at the top of the stairs, looking around nonchalantly. He let out a held breath when Sirius reached the top and grinned at the rescued prisoners, holding out their wands for the taking.

And then, they left.

Sirius was getting even more jumpy than before, just as during each of the other missions. By the end he would have completely worn himself out, but for now he was just enjoying his energy, the rush he felt whenever he fought for good.

They were greeted by several dozen Death Eaters surrounding the manor. Sirius grinned. Bring it.

He threw the first spell, and he danced around the battlefield with his skilled magic.

He would have remained unscathed if not for his cockiness.

But, if not for being hurt, then our story would not have happened at all. But it did.

...

The romance and Hermione are coming soon guys, promise, promise, promise! Just stick with this. It's got a nice plot, I think, that goes all of the way to the end. I worked very hard on the planning of this story, so bear with me, here.

Hope you enjoy! Please review, if it's not to much to ask! ^^