Chapter One: Living Arrangements

It was nearly a week into the summer holidays but Harry Potter was bored. He was restless and waiting for when he could leave Privet Drive for the summer. He hated the summer holidays, he hated Privet Drive and he hated the Dursleys. However, life is not all bad. At least this summer he had company. His godfather; Sirius, was there – albeit in his Animagus form. The large black dog that was his godfather had proved very useful, particularly when Dudley had returned from his own school; Smeltings, with a letter to Vernon and Petunia about their concerns for Dudley and his weight as the school shop no longer had knickerbockers that fit him, also advice on a diet for Dudley, which the Dursleys had been following ever since. Attempts to make Harry follow the diet too had been met with a frightening growl from Snuffles.

It was the next day when Harry's boredom was finally alleviated.

They had all just finished breakfast when there was a knock on the front door.

'Boy, get the door,' said Vernon from behind his Daily Mail. Snuffles growled but Harry got up and went to answer the door as Vernon paled.

'Hello, Harry,' said Remus as Harry opened the door.

'Hello, Prof – Remus. Are we leaving by any chance?' Harry said hopefully.

'Yes, we are. Are you packed?'

'Yes and no, come in and I'll just repack what little I have unpacked.'

Remus entered the house and found the Dursleys still in the kitchen as Harry went to pack. Harry arrived back into the kitchen as Vernon said, 'YOU! Who invited you into my house?'

'Well, if you had gotten off of your fat, lazy arse and answered the door yourself …' said Harry.

Remus raised his hand to stop Vernon from speaking and said; 'I have come to take Harry and Snuffles for the rest of the summer, his godfather awaits their arrival …' Snuffles leapt up and ran to the door as Remus and Harry carried his trunk outside towards a large black car.

'It's Sirius' car,' said Remus.

'Have you got a driving licence, then?' Harry asked as they heaved the trunk into the boot while Sirius had leapt into the backseat, Remus closed the door and boot before getting in the car, as Harry sat in the front passenger seat.

'Yes, Sirius and I both took Muggle Studies and when we learned about Cars and Motorbikes, Sirius took a real interest, and we both got our licences after our sixth year at Hogwarts,' Remus replied. 'Fasten your seat belt, Harry.'

'What about Dad? Did he get a licence with you too?' asked Harry.

'He thought we were bonkers. He said, "Why drive when you can fly?" But we did it anyway,' said Sirius who had transformed, 'Just stop around the corner, Moony, I want to drive.'

Remus complied and once they had swapped places the drive was smooth and fun. Sirius put on the radio, wound the windows down and opened the engine as they sped undetected through the country.

'Where are we going?' asked Harry.

'We're going to a new cottage I bought. It is Floo connected, but only to the Burrow. That way you can go and see Ron anytime you want, or to simply go for a fly. Molly says you're welcome to go over anytime you want,' said Sirius. When they arrived, Sirius showed Harry to his room and then the three of them went to the kitchen and sat at the table.

'Right, Harry, some house rules. One: no brooding or moping. If I see you doing either, I will give you a tickling charm. Two: I expect one prank a week from you. On anyone you choose, however, a word to the wise, don't prank Remus during the week of the full moon. Three: you can go to bed whenever you want, eat when, what and how much you want. You're free to come and go as you please, but please make sure you tell us where you're going, or if we're not around, leave a note on the table, or the fridge. You can invite your friends around to stay anytime, unless it's the full moon, in which case you'll be going to the Burrow. I think that's everything. Okay?' said Sirius.

'Yep, sounds good. Can I go and see the Weasleys? I'd like to go for a fly.'

'Yeah, go for it, Pup,' said Sirius. Harry grabbed his Firebolt before Flooing to the Burrow.

0o0

The summer holidays, so far, for Ron had been going well. Hermione had Flooed him the moment she arrived home and they had spent a couple of hours talking, despite Fred and George hanging in the background chuckling and making kissing noises, for which they had been told off by their mother. Another surprise had been the arrival of Bill, Ron's oldest brother to the Burrow. He had come to visit as well as to see some international Quidditch. The dinner at Hermione's parent's house had gone better than he could have hoped. Her parents were very nice and insisted that Ron call them by their first names; Richard and Helen.

Right now, he and Hermione were walking back to the Burrow from the village of Ottery St. Catchpole, where they had been on a date. It was a beautifully warm summer evening. They stopped down by the river where the Burrow was visible. Ron sat down on the cool grass and pulled Hermione down to sit next to him. Smiling at her, he pulled her into a kiss. They had entered the long make-out stage of their relationship. She lay back taking Ron with her. He stroked her cheek gently as he kissed her. She wrapped her leg around his waist as she kissed him back. His hand found her bare leg, caressing it as gently as he did her face, causing her to moan a little into his mouth. They broke apart for Ron to look into her eyes and for Hermione to catch her breath. Eventually, Ron broke the silence.

'Hermione, there's something I have to tell you …'

'You can tell me anything, Ron.'

'I-I love you, Hermione.'

'Oh, Ron … I love you, too.'

Ron then began kissing her again. It was such a relief to both of them. Ron was scared that he might have scared her off, and Hermione had been scared that it might be too soon. They kissed one another with even more passion than ever before, however, it was getting late, and together they stood up, straightened themselves out, and walked back to the Burrow, where they found three very familiar people.

'Harry, Sirius, Remus!' said Ron loudly before clapping Harry on the back.

'Ronald Weasley! It's Mr Black and Mr Lupin!' said Mrs Weasley.

'Ahh, no, no, no, please don't call me Mr Black, it makes me feel old!' said Sirius as if wounded.

'Molly, it's fine, I've already told them all to call me Remus,' said Remus.

'Oh, sorry, dear, why don't you sit down, dinner is almost ready,' said Mrs Weasley.

As if on cue, there was a rumble from the stairs and Ron's stomach, as Fred, George and Mr Weasley joined them at the dinner table.

'Hey, Fred, George, do you remember that map you gave me?' said Harry.

'Of course,' they chorused.

'Well, I'd like you to meet Messrs Moony and Padfoot,' said Harry indicating Remus and Sirius.

'What!' said Fred.

'Really?' said George. Harry just nodded.

Then Fred and George threw themselves on their knees, bowing before Remus and Sirius exclaiming, 'We're not worthy! We're not worthy!'

Sirius and Remus both chuckled at the twins before Mrs Weasley told them to get back to their seats.

'Who were Prongs and Wormtail?' asked Fred.

'Prongs was my dad, but Wormtail is a rat,' said Harry.

'Cool, a son of a Marauder! You have to come pranking with us, Harry,' said George.

'Yeah, we'll corrupt you yet,' said Fred.

Then talk began of Harry's previous years at Hogwarts, which left Sirius looking at his godson and his friends in awe.

'You three are heroes,' he said.

But all three shook their heads humbly and said, 'We did what anyone else would have done.'

But Sirius shook his head and said, 'It's the Quidditch World Cup this summer, I'll buy out the entire Top Box so we can all go.'

The Weasleys looked uncomfortable at this, but Sirius insisted as a reward for the trio and a thank you to the Weasleys for everything they have done for Harry.

When dinner was over, Harry, Sirius and Remus returned home and Sirius broke out the Firewhiskey.

'Here, Harry, try some of this. You're the same age as James and I was when we first tried it, so, down the hatch!' said Sirius. Harry watched Sirius down the shot and copied him, he gagged slightly as he felt the burn in his throat, but it only led to the three of them finishing the bottle, before staggering off to bed.