Thank you once again for the reviews guys! Okay so chapter 17 is now posted. So why not follow me into the next stage of Harry's life. Let me know what you think and I shall talk to you later amigos!

Three years later when Harry is at the age of seven, some things remain the same whilst others do not. Harry is still living on the Potter Pride lands with his parents and Sirius and Remus still live next door. Ron is still Harry's best friend and the twins also play with them at times. Sirius and Sharina are together for three years now while Remus remains single voluntarily. The date is Thursday August 3rd; Lily has invited Sirius cousins over dinner, since they were over there the previous week. Andromeda and Ted Tonks have two daughters; Lucia who is twenty-four and Nymphodora (who prefers to be called Tonks) is sixteen. Tonks has a small crush on Remus ever since they met last month. At 7:30, the gallant party would be arriving.

At 7:00 James started the barbecue out on the patio. Ever since Lily introduced him to this several years ago, James and his fellow marauders just cannot get enough of it. Sirius was outside preparing the table for the guests while Lily was inside with Remus cooking chips and baking a sponge cake. Harry emerged from the kitchen with a jug of ice water. James saw him and smiled warmly at him. Harry reciprocated and asked;

"Hey dad what time are they coming at?"

"If you mean Sirius cousins when you say "they"…7:30."

"So that stuff will be ready by then?" Harry asked humorously.

"That stuff…." Harry walked over to the table and handed Sirius the jug while James stared at them hard but cynically.

"Sirius mate did you teach my son anything new recently?"

Sirius looked up and reflected on what James had said as he answered.

"What do you mean James?"

"You did didn't you? You taught my son how to infuriate me. You know that I hate it when people mock sarcastically or not, my cooking."

"Did it work?" asked Sirius with a wide grin.

"You are unbelievable mate…."

Lily then emerges from the kitchen carrying a basket of small rolls while Remus is carrying a jug of pumpkin juice.

"James do you two ever stop bickering?" asked Lily as she set the rolls on the table next to the pumpkin juice which Remus placed there a few seconds ago.

"Ah it's all in good fun Lils." Said James as Sirius came and stood behind him, overlooking his shoulder.

"So Sirius what time did Sharina say she would be here at?" asked Remus.

"Oh well she said she would be finished work by 6:30 so she hopes by 7:30 or at least before eight at least." Sirius replied with a smile.

Harry who was sitting at the picnic table looked up at the sound of Sharinas name and turned away sighing and muttering "Oh goodie!" under his breath. Luckily nobody heard him.

"Hey Harry how about you and I go for a quick fly around before dinner?" suggested Sirius.

"No. I'm fine thank you." Said Harry abruptly.

Everyone looked at each other quizzically before Lily tried to coax him. She bent down beside him.

"Harry, sweetheart why don't you want to go flying with Sirius?"

"I am not in the mood."

"Well why not darling? You always want to go flying with him. Is it something he said?"

"No. Just don't want to. Ok?" he asked turning to face her.

"Okay. If you are sure?"

"Yes."

Lily got up and looked at Sirius who was evidently hurt at Harry's reaction. He couldn't understand what he had done wrong. It just didn't make any sense for Harry to refuse the opportunity to fly on his broomstick. Lily walked over to Sirius and the others and placed a hand on his shoulder as she said;

"I'm sorry Sirius. I tried. Maybe he is just tired you know?" She smiled sadly at him.

"Ya maybe. Thanks Lils." Said Sirius as he smiled dryly at her.

"Ok. Well I have to go and check on the chips. Does anybody want anything from the kitchen?"

"No thanks." They all replied. Lily then re entered the kitchen, stealing one last glance at her son he was still sitting at the table with his elbows resting on it and his head down.

At 7:30 everyone arrived including the Weasleys arrived for dinner. Sirius and Remus seated everyone while Lily and James continued with the cooking preparations. All four of Sirius cousins sat on one side of the bench with the older Weasleys (Molly, Arthur, Bill, Charlie and Percy) while the younger Weasleys sat opposite them with Sirius, Remus Harry and his parents. Once everyone was seated and chatting amongst themselves, dinner was served within five minutes. Sharina arrived at 7:40 and Sirius naturally went to greet her. Harry stared with vengeance and became if possible, more withdrawn at dinner. Sharina sat next to Sirius who was co-incidentally next to Harry. Sharina greeted Harry amiably but Harry just smiled dryly. When she enquired what the matter was, Sirius just whispered that he was tired. Apart from the occasional bitter remark from Harry directed towards Sharina, dinner was an overall success. Everybody laughed and joked and in the marauders case, reminisced about their Hogwarts days. Once dinner was over everybody complimented on James steak and ribs and of course Lily's sponge cake went down a treat. Lily, James and Remus rose to collect the plates once everybody was done but Sirius insisted that he would clear it with Sharina.

"Are you sure Sirius?" asked Lily

"Ya no problem Lils. It's the least we could do after you two put on such a fine spread."

"Here here Sirius." Said Ted as he applauded him. Everyone else just murmured, agreed silently or smiled.

"Sharina you are our guest. We couldn't possibly……."

"Oh don't be ridiculous Lil. Id be happy to help out after all this. Now just sit and entertain your guests while we take care of the rest." Said Sharina as she gathered some plates with Sirius and headed for the kitchen behind him. The glasses were left on the table so Lily asked Harry to bring them into Sirius.

Once he stepped into the kitchen, he saw Sirius kissing Sharina passionately by the sink with his arms around her waist and hers around his neck. He stared in frustration at the spectacle before he called "Sirius!" With that they both looked up and once they saw Harry they relinquished themselves from each other and looked abashed. Sharina started rinsing the plates in the sink while Sirius said;

"Harry mate what…." At seeing him holding glasses he realised why he was there.

"Mom said to bring them into you guys." Sirius just nodded while Sharina said;

"Aww thanks a lot Harry." She smiled warmly at him. Harry did not.

"So how are you Harry?"

"What do you care?"

"Harry please don't speak that way to Sharina!" said Sirius abruptly.

"Oh don't worry Sirius. I'm sure he is just tired."

"Ya tired of seeing you around here!"

"HARRY. DON'T YOU EVER SPEAK THAT WAY TO SHARINA AGAIN! Do you understand?"

"I'm just gona fetch some more of the ware outside." Said Sharina leaving an angry Sirius and an upset Harry.

Sirius glared at Harry with anger while Harry stared at him with frustration. Sirius then realised that he had broken a promise to his godson, relinquished his angered expression from his face and said calmly;

"Harry I'm sorry mate……"

"You shouted at me." Harry said meekly.

"I know. I am so sorry Har….."

"After everything you said….."

"Harry……"

YOU LIAR!" roared Harry as he slammed a glass on the tiled floor and stormed upstairs to his bedroom. Sirius sighed to himself as he massaged his forehead with irritation. Sharina came in with James and Lily in tow on hearing the sudden outburst. Sharina, who was holding the plate which the sponge cake was resting on, placed it down on the counter near the sink. Everyone looked at Sirius for an explanation. He was standing side ways with one hand resting on the sink and sighed again as he rolled his head back. After another few seconds had passed, Sirius finally said;

"Ok yes your right I did loose it with him. The infamous Sirius Black shouts at his godson even though he swore from day one that he would never treat his godson or child the way his parents

treated him growing up." Sirius looked away from his audience, placed his two hands firmly on the sink as he bowed his head and admitted the sad truth.

"I'm a hypocrite."

Sharina approached him and put both hands on his shoulders and said

"No Sirius. You are not a hypocrite."

Sirius turned round to face her and replied

"I am Shar. You heard what I said there. I should not have shouted at Harry."

"From what I heard he gave as good as he got." Said James smiling broadly.

Sirius sniggered and confessed lamely

"Ya he sure did. Still though…..I don't want you to justify my actions James…."

"Why did you shout at Harry, Sirius? Asked Lily angrily.

"He was being ignorant to Sharina and I corrected him once before and he still thought he could get away with it obviously……"

"So you thought that you would try shouting at him? Sirius you know he hates that. It scares him…"

"I know Lily and I am sorry."

"Well you need to apologise to Harry, not to me."

"I know and I will."

"I'm Surprised that you didn't hit him."

"Lily you know that I would NEVER hit Harry don't you?"

"I used to think that you would never shout at him Sirius but well….there you go."

"Lily, Sirius would never hit Harry and I cannot believe that you would accuse him of something like that!" interjected James.

"I know but I cannot believe that he actually shouted at him James!"

"Look I'm so sorry ok? I swear that it will never happen again."

"Go and apologise to Harry, Sirius."

Sirius headed in the direction of the hall when Lily called out

"I hope you realise that you have now officially violated your trust with him Sirius."

"Please don't say that Lils."

"Well I am sorry Sirius but its true. Whenever we disoblige him by not allowing him to do something he ALWAYS ran to you. He knew that he could trust you; that you would never hurt him, shout at him or inconvenience him. Now what has he got? All I can say is thank god Remus is living here too because you Sirius Black, have an extremely rocky road ahead of you."

As Sirius left for Harry's bedroom Lily and Sharina left to go back to their guests while James cleaned up the broken glass. As Sirius approached Harry's door he breathed in once as he took a step forward and knocked loudly on it.

"Go away Sirius." Harry said abruptly.

"Oh come on Harry. I only want to talk to you mate."

"We are not mates."

Sirius leant his head against the door frame and sighed in exasperation.

"Harry please just let me talk to you please. I am so sorry for shouting at you. Please open the door."

After a few minutes Harry opened the door ajar. Sirius pushed it open to find Harry lying on his bed on his back. Sirius closed the door and sat down on the end of Harry's bed.

"Harry I am so sorry for shouting at you kid. I never meant to."

"Ill bet you wouldn't shout at Sharina."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Is that what all this is about? Sharina?" asked Sirius as he rose from the bed and stared at him.

Harry sat up a little with his back against the bed post.

"You know it is."

"No I don't. Would you like to explain?"

"You are angry now aren't you?"

"Can you blame me?"

"No. It's just that….you seem to prefer her to me."

"What? Harry why would you think that?"

"Coz you always wana spend time with her and…..never with me anymore and it bugs me Sirius. You said we were buddies. That I was your partner in crime now that dad has to work so much. Whenever I ask you to play quiddtich or something you always say lately that you can't because you have to meet Sharina. You never have time for me anymore Sirius. What did you expect me to do?"

Sirius who was once angered by his godson's actions to his girlfriend couldn't help but feel empathy. He knew that Harry acted out frustration and not spite or jealousy. He resumed his position on the bed.

"Harry why didn't you say something to me sooner? We could have resolved this long before now."

"Well what did you expect me to do or say? Every single day this month you have been with her."

"I am sorry Harry. I should have read the signs before now. I didn't mean to ignore you mate. Will you forgive me?"

"Sure Padfoot." Said Harry as he smiled at his godfather and hugged him.

"Glad to see that were back on "Padfoot" again." Sirius said smiling at Harry who reciprocated.

"So how about you and I spend all day together tomorrow?" Sirius suggested.

"Ummm….okay Sirius. That would be cool."

"Alright. So what do want to do?"

"I don't mind. Hey how about we go to Hogsmeade?"

"I like the way you think Prongslet. Sirius said as he ruffled Harry's hair while he smiled at him.

"We could go there for breakfast, lunch and dinner!" Harry said grinning.

"You are gona rob me blind kid!" Sirius said returning a warm smile to his godson.

"Well you and me gota lot of catching up to do. Plus you owe me a full month of activities!"

Sirius let his bark like laugh and Harry laughed at this.

"Come on. Let's go back downstairs." Sirius said as Harry jumped off the bed with him.