Thirteen seconds later… the painting was shredded and silenced… permanently.

"Damn Pup." Padfoot's face shifted from shocked to gleeful. "We've been trying to do that since we moved in here!"

"Damn it, Sirius!" a Female voice raised in anger from the door leading down, "Can't you shut Her up?"

A well known to young Harry, as he often heard it raised in expiration at two of his school-house teammates. Harry chuckled at the sound of her ranting, the look on Sirius' face, and the collected faces of Remus and Tonks.

Opening the door now just behind him, Sirius grinned at the puffing redheaded witch that was powering towards said door. "Now Molly-wobbles, I think you will find that matter is no longer an issue."

"Oh?" the matron pulled up two metres from the door. "What did you do?" She gave him the same glare she reserved for the twins.

"Nothing…" the rouge smirked. "It was all Harry."

"Harry?" three voices sounded from behind Mrs. Weasley, Two female, and one male.

A sharp double crack sounded behind the Matron as the twins arrived, causing Molly to shriek, then swat them.

"Harry." the twins chorused in warm tones, "We were not expecting you for another week."

Tonks snorted from the floor. "We had to bring him." she levered herself to her knees and then climbed up the lad. "He and his cousin were staring down two Aurors with wands drawn with nothing but a slice of pizza… and winning."

Hermione snorted. "Only Harry." She was heard to mutter.

Kingsley pushed past everybody, grabbing Tonks by the Collar of her Dragonhide robes on his way to the fireplace in the kitchen. "We need to report in." a flick of his wrist and the fires bloomed green. "Ministry, Atrium." the two of them disappeared into the green fires.

"Come in Deary," Mum Weasley ushered the green-eyed lad to the rough beam table in the middle of the kitchen. "Let's get you fed."

"No need, Mrs. Weasley." Harry allowed himself to be seated beside Ginny. "I filled up on Pizza before coming here."

"Nonsense." The frumpy matron ladled a bowl of stew into a bowl, before setting it before the Lad. "A growing boy is always hungry."

{My Host, the food before us is laced with something. Not a Poison, but something designed to affect you.}

Harry smiled, then switched bowls with Ron when Molly's back was turned. The girls smothered their giggles as Ron quickly destroyed all evidence of the caper. "Twins Weasley, I do believe I made a request of you two before we boarded the Express last month. Before we turn in, I would like to hear how you are coming along."

"Of Course…" One started.

"Your Commission." The Other finished.

"What are you three up to?" Molly eyed the twins.

"Nothing." Harry started to say when an inhuman shriek sounded from the first-floor parlor, followed by a thump. The two Marauders bolted from the room, as the twins shared a look, before twisting in place and vanishing with a crack. Harry bolted from the Kitchen with Hermione and Ginny on his heels.

Ron was not quick enough and Molly caught him as he tried to stand up.

HPHS

When everyone arrived at the doorway to the parlor, they witnessed Dobby cackling madly as he swung one of the twins' beater bats, smashing small black flying orbic creatures that were swarming him. The scream seemed to be emitting from the black orbs as they swarmed the mad elf. The thumping was when the orbs hit the wall as the elf readied his next swing. The Elf's skin seemed to be thick enough to ignore the bites of the creatures.

The Adults exchanged looks and backed away. The witches were quick to follow their example. Harry shook his head and grinned as his friend seemed to be enjoying himself.

The twins exchanged looks… "Uh… Elf? Could we request the remains of your battle for a little research? Just a stone of two?"

Dobby looked at them, before nodding and returning to his little war.

Sirius snorted and waved at the doorway while looking at Remus. Remus sighed, before drawing his wand and flicking it at the doorway, silencing the noise emitting from the battlefield.

The girls just shook their heads and headed back to the kitchen.

Harry looked around while holding up a finger. Once the girls were out of range, he looked at the twins. "I am wondering if these two Wizards ever introduced themselves?"

The twins nodded. The twin wearing the 'F' sweater, "They are your Godfather Sirius Black, wanted mass murder…" the twin with 'G', "...and former Professor Remus Lupin, werewolf."

"So that would be a no." Harry sighed dramatically. "Messers Weasley, it is my pleasure to introduce my two uncles in everything but blood, Messrs Padfoot and Moony."

Sirius peered and posed as Remus just smirked as the twins went slack faced. Before 'Fred' grabbed Harry by the front of his shirt. "Either you are pranking us…

"...or you are holding out on us." 'George' growled over his brother's shoulder.

{My Host… they assaulted us, but I sense no malice.}

'They are surprised and upset that I denied them certain information.' Harry sent his thoughts at the armor, 'My Friends and Family are very tactile, they will handle me often. There are also some that will grab me who are not friendly, but I need you to remain hidden until I call you.'

"Not a Prank." Harry raised his hands. "And the reason I did not tell you is when I last saw them, Padfoot was riding away on a 'dead' Hippogriff, and Moony was packing up to run away with his tail between his legs… almost literally. I did not know I would ever see either of them again. But I knew that if they returned, I would make sure you two knew them."

The twins released the speckled lad, and backed off to turn to the 'adults'. They bowed at the waist. "Oh Great Ones, teach us your ways! Take our art to the next level!"

Harry snorted, "First you must learn to walk the Dog before you run."

Sirius grinned at his pup, as Lupin groaned. "Cub, you are mixing your metaphors. But it is a good pun." Remus turned and headed toward the kitchen, "I am getting a cup of tea."

"Okay… let's get Harry settled." Padffot rubbed his hands together. "I know your mother planned on putting him up with Ron… but I want to put him in my brother's room. Right next to mine."

"I would be honoured, Padfoot." Harry smiled at his Godfather, following him up the stairs.

On the 'Second' floor Sirius led them past several open doors of bedrooms that looked clean only by comparison to Ron's room at the burrow. Three doors were closed. A chalk slate was on each door, with the names of the occupants. Harry read as he was walking by, 'H.G./G.W.', R.W./H.P.', and 'T.W.'. Harry suppressed a grin, as he kept walking past the door with his initials.

On the 'Third' Floor, Padfoot led them past a set of double doors that Harry heard a crooning come from. He frowned and opened the door to look in. He saw Buckpeak on a nest made of pillows and a lumpy feather mattress. The beast was 'talking' to itself as it worried a femur of a big beast. It froze as its eyes peered up/over at Harry at the door. Harry smiled, bowed his head and shoulders, as he backed out, closing the door behind him.

"He is looking good, but might need to fly more," Harry said to the dog-wizard.

Next was a door marked 'Regulus Arcturus Black'. Sirius waved at the door, "This is your new room. We will bring your trunk up from the front hall later."

The door opened at the touch, as Harry pushed in. A bed from the fifties was pushed up under a small window. A desk took up the wall to the left of the bed, with an old metal swivel chair tucked in. To the left of the was an ornate wardrobe. Beside the wardrobe was a 'Hogwarts Chest'. Above the chest was a selection of newspapers pinned to the wall with pushpins, straight pins, and thumbtacks. Most were from the rise of the Dark Lord.

"So…" Harry looked about… "He was a Death Eater?"

"Yeah…" Sirius sighed as he leaned on the door frame. "He joined because Mother wanted him to. He died before you were born… something about him refusing an Order from the Dark Lord, and the Bastard killed him for it. But nobody knows why."

"Not True." a hatchet-nosed elf in a dirty loincloth made from a ratty tea towel exited the wardrobe. "Kreature Knows. Master Reggy died spitting on the Dark Lord's plans. Yes, Master Reggy did. Bad Kreature not able to complete his last task!" The Elf cried, "Kreature Tried and Tried, but Kreature could not destroy it… could not kill the evil within it!"

{My Host. Ask the creature if it could bring 'it' to us. I am sensing many things in this house that I could eat. I will need Soul items to grow, but dark magic could enhance what I already have, and allow me to improve your health as well.}

Harry knelt to peer into the eyes of the Elf. "Kreature." Harry allowed his eyes to glow with the power of Necroplasm. "Could you bring it to me? I want to see what troubles a Good and Loyal elf, causing him to fail in his duty."

"Follow Kreature." The elf turned and exited the room. Harry followed as Sirius turned into Padfoot and walked at Harry's side, his tail high and wagging.

The twin exchanged a look before they too tagged along. Kreature led the way to the First Floor Parlor before pausing as he watched Dobby bounce a black orb off three hard surfaces before it splattered on the wall beside Keature's head.

"Form Sloppy," Kreature grumbled before hobbling into the war zone, opening a glass cabinet, and drawing out a Green and Silver locket encrusted with diamonds in the shape of an 'S'. He walked out, ignoring the flying black orbs. As he crossed the door frame, he held the locket to Harry.

{My Host, That is one of the Items the Master sent us to Hunt.}

Harry took the Item in his palm and peered at it closely. He tried to open it but it refused. Then he remembered his second year. $Open.$

The Locket popped open and a shadow collected over the open item, as each half had what looked like eyes under glass. "Potter… your secrets are now mine!" the image shifted from a shadow of a man to a gray, crowned Cobra. $I see everything…$

Harry smiled at the 'ghost'. "Ah, but Tommy-boy. I know your secrets." Turning his head to the twins, "I will explain later. Keep mum." Harry called upon the Necroplasam. As the black tar almost instantly encased the teen, before the white stripes and skulls appeared. Harry brought the locket to his 'heart' where the 'tar' peeled away leaving a cavity for the locket. As the 'tar' closed around the locket, Harry's 'eyes' glowed brighter as a scream issued from his chest.

The black cloaks flared from his shoulders before a third cloak, Blood red in colour, billowed out from just under his shoulders. The three cloaks merged into one, interweaving on the individual thread level. The resulting item was a deep emerald cloak that hid his face in shadow that no light could pierce.

Just as quickly as it appeared, the Necroplasam withdrew. The Locket dropped from his chest to land on the floor between his feet. Harry blinked twice before stepping back.

Kreature scampered forward to pick up the polished Silver and dark green piece of jewelry. "It Gone! Kreature finished Last Task!" He bowed his head to Harry. "You are Black by Blood and Chosen Heir of No-Good Master. Kreature choose to Serve You…Young Master." He pushed his head into Harry's palm, "Kreature Serve Master." a flash flared through his palm, as the old Elf lost wrinkles and stood up straight. "Kreature tired. Kreature return to nest." the Elf snapped and vanished with a pop.

Harry leaned on the rail. "Bonding two elves and eating that … item. Harry tired. Harry need nap." Harry mimicked the Elf speech. "Twins bring trunk to Reggy's room? Then spend night plan prank with bad Dogfather?"

Padfoot woofed, as the twins shared a look. 'Fred' smirked, "Yes, Harry, we will…"

George grinned innocently, "...bring your truck to your new room."

Fred eased into a smile, "Then we will spend the night…"

"...Planning with Padfoot, the ultimate prank." George's grin turned evil.

Harry just waved as the twins cracked away to fetch the trunk. Padfoot the Grim pranced along at Harry's side, his tongue hanging from his mouth in a doggy grin. At Reggy's room, the two entered, Harry removed his glasses, kicked off his shoes, and rolled onto the bed. Before he stopped moving from the roll, he was asleep.

HPHS

As Remus entered the Kitchen, he sat beside Ginny as Hermione finished telling the others what happened at the Parlor.

"Ah, Molly. Can I get a cuppa? I can feel the Moon tonight." the ragged werewolf asked.

As the chipped mug was set before him, sweet steam floated in the air, Hermione frowned. "The full moon is still three days out."

"Yes, but you mix Padfoot with the twins…" Remus sipped his hot tea.

"Merlyn!" Ginny hissed. "They spoke often of wanting to meet them. It was always Prongs this and Padfoot that. They whispered about Moony and joked about Wormtail."

Hermione snorted. "You already met Wormtail." Ron flushed and bowed his head. Hermione glared at the boy, "After all, your family 'kept' him for twelve years until he ran in our third year."

Ginny frowned. "I should know this…" She tapped the table as she looked over Ron's shoulder… where for two and a half years a shabby shoe-brush of a rat… "Scabbers!" She blurted out.

"Yes…" Ron yelled, "Rub it in that a man slept in my bed, ate from my plate, and rode around in my pocket!"

Molly eeped and stubbled against the counter. "What was that Ron?"

"The one who framed Sirius, betrayed the Potters, and killed those muggles, spent twelve years living the simple life as a pampered pet." Remus sighed. "He escaped the Cub's grasp and fled into the wild the last Full Moon of the year I was teaching at Hogwarts."

"Harry?" Molly clenched the wooden boards under her nails. "What was Harry doing out during a Full Moon with a known Werewolf in the area?"

"We all were," Hermione spoke softly, "We had just gone down to Hagrids to say goodbye to Buckbeak."

Ron snorted, "You Popping Malfoy right in the Kisser…"

"Where Hagrid passed Ron Scabbers, and we had to sneak past Fudge and the Headsman." Hermione sniffed, thinking that Buckbeak had lost his head. We were depressed when this ratty black dog knocked Ron down, then drug him under the Whomping Willow. Of course, Harry and I followed."

"I was grading homework as I watched Harry from my office," Remus spoke softly, "Do not ask me how, that is Harry's secret to tell. While watching them turn onto the main course to the castle, I spotted a name I knew to be dead… or thought I did, just before a name I was looking for dashed from one side, collided with Ron, and the Deadman, only to pull them towards a tree and would soon be out of sight. I bolted from the office, just before Severus arrived. He saw me running towards where the kids were and saw Black's name just before it vanished from sight. He was quick to join us."

"Getting under the tree was a minor challenge, but Harry and I managed." Hermione reclaimed the story. "We followed the tunnel to a trapdoor that led to the shrieking shack. We followed the drag trail up the stairs to the first floor, where we found Ron, shivering and clutching his rat, like the mangy shoe brush was a life perseverer. Sirius stepped from the shadows, his eyes sparkling with madness. Harry had him under wand-point so quick…"

"Then I showed up, disarming the Lad." Remus sighed. "After hugging my brother, my Packmate…" He hunched forward, "Hermione read me the riot act, as Sirius kept calling out to Peter… to Wormtail."

"Before anything could be taken further…" Hermione shifted in her seat, "Professor Snape arrived and disarmed Professor Lupin. He made some remarks about them plotting things together when Harry drew my wand from my pocket and disarmed Professor Snape so hard that he hit the far wall, knocked out for the hour. Harry was Raging. Malfoy only annoys Harry and you have seen what he does to that ferret-faced fink. He was all set to gut Black when Black cried that he was innocent, that Peter was the Traitor, and he kept pointing at Ron. Turns out Black did not want Ron, but what Ron was carrying…"

"Scabbers." Ginny was really getting into the story.

"Scabbers broke away from Ron as Black and Lupin tried to hit the fleeing rat." Hermione sneered, "For a twelve-year-old rat… he sure can bolt when the spells are flying."

Lupin snorted. "Prongs and Padfoot used Peter as target practice when they could not find Severus."

"They Got the rat as he tried to dodge and dive through a hole in the shack's wall. They then pulled this short man out of the wall. The only thing he could do was smipper and plead for everyone to protect him. Black wanted to kill him, but Harry said no, Death was too good for him, too easy… too quick."

"I had broken my ankle when Padfoot drug me off, so we were slow to exit the tunnel." Ron sighed as he lifted his head. "I was hobbling along, Snape was on a stretcher, Peter was cuffed to Potter. In the excitement, everyone forgot what night it was."

"Moony had his Packmate back, so he was happy, My bones did not hurt, nor did my skin itch." Lupin sipped his tea. "Then the Moon broke cover."

"Black tried to hold Moony off, while Peter transformed and vanished." Hermione looked at Molly. "Moony threw Padfoot down the hill and turned on us…when a howling in the Forest drew the beast away. Harry went after Padfoot, as I got Ron to the Nurse. Sometime later, Snape brought Potter and Black into the Castle. Harry came to as Fudge was promising Professor Snape an Order of Merlin for bringing in Black. We tried to tell Fudge that Black was not guilty of the crimes… but he declared us Confounded by Black. Professor Dumbledor went to lock us in, so that we would not get in the way, but told us that three hours should do it."

Hermione bit her lip as she realized she had said too much… but Molly did not notice.

Ginny on the other hand did.

"Okay you three." Molly looked like she was going to need a few minutes with an open bottle of Ogden's, "Get to bed. Big day tomorrow."

tbc