Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Toonie\'s Love	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Sirius Views: 50460 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 10
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money off this story.

Chapter List
- 24
- 25
- 26
Beta'd by the amazing Tenchi. Love you, woman, you're the best!

With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues.

A reminder of what's on my profile: reviews whinging or complaining about lack 'o smut in stories get deleted. If you want something that is one long, smut-filled story, find something else to read as my work isn't for you.

Chapter 25

“All right, what do you want to talk to Remus about?” Sirius asked, highly curious. PJ had them holed up in their room to talk. What he had mentioned was he needed to get with Remus about something, a bit which was highly odd, so he wanted to know. Oh, he doubted it was anything 'bad', but it wasn't something he had asked for before either.
“I talked to Du Bois last night about several bits. One of the things he mentioned was finding more sources here in the UK he can use,” PJ started. Then he walked him through what they discussed. When he finished, seeing the two nod in understanding, he pressed on, “My thought was Tonks, for plenty of reasons. Of course, my name won't come into it. The same with other names. If she's willing, I'll have a way for her to get in contact with him. Any other people you can think of would be most helpful. He'll approach directly in a normal manner then go from there, so I'm not at risk for anything in this.”
“I'll talk to her,” Remus assured him with a nod. “It's a good idea, for many reasons, and I'm sure she won't mind. You both protect sources to the utmost.”
“We can't give them up because of spells we use and other bits,” PJ assured him. “The rest? We know how to write without revealing anything. Don't worry there.”
“I'll go over and talk to her tonight,” Remus assured him, already liking the idea and what it could mean.
“Let us put a list together of ones we think might end up willing to help. Not sure there. Bill comes to mind right off the top of my head. The same with the twins. As hopping mad as they are over the bit with Albus, they might,” Sirius told him, already pondering who might work.
“He's thinking about Snape, though it could end up tricky with who he is.” PJ said, looking around.
“I'm really not sure of that, PJ,” Remus said with a shake of his head, looking concerned. “He wrote the article, so he knows plenty. Severus is being pulled in plenty of directions in this and Du Bois has information both sides want.”
“I'll let him decide there as he knows the risks,” PJ told them, looking between the two. “Snape can't get information out of Du Bois about me as it's protected by spells because of the interview. There is no way to break those.”
“He better be protected if he tries anything with Snape,” Sirius cautioned.
“I think he's going to try with Aberforth,” PJ added, looking between the two. “It was my suggestion, I admit it, because of what I know of him and Albus.”
“And Aberforth might be his best bet,” Remus nodded. “Not only do he and Albus not get along because of plenty, with his pub and the information he overhears, he could be a boon.”
“My thought,” PJ agreed. “Will let him do whatever. He's not going for direct links with me, like both of you, though I bet he'll use you both if you hear something huge, because of the risk to blowing my cover. We don't want to chance it.”
“Understandable there,” Sirius agreed. “Aberforth is a good one. I bet he'll help as he's furious with Albus over plenty. I'm sure it's more than the mess going on, but it's there.”
“I’ll let Du Bois do what he does best.” PJ told the two. “It's better if I don't know too much, honestly.”

“Right, there is something else,” PJ told them, moving on to the next topic. He then walked the two through the article coming from Du Bois and the editorial along with it. When he finished, he said, “I’ve not seen the article, but I know what he said. I also know who is writing the editorial. Guarantee it won't be pretty and will set off hell from the wrong side here. I'm sure Fudge and plenty in power won't like it either.”
“It's the damned truth, though!” Sirius huffed, rolling his eyes. “Not holding my breath that it will change anything. They'll just go back into denial mode. Well, and covering their arses.”
“The more times it's put out there, with proof, the more it can help,” Remus told his oldest friend. “It's been mentioned before and it did move things along, though not much. If it comes out again, as bad as this is already, it might assist. And a scathing editorial by a Brit will help as well. It'll show the disgust plenty have with the whole mess.”
“They are disgusted; you can trust me there because I've talked to plenty who no longer live here. To a number, they don't like what's going on.” PJ told them both with a disgruntled shake of his head.
“I just hope it does a tiny bit of good and makes it move in the right direction a tad,” Sirius grumbled, slouching in his chair with his arms folded over his chest.
After agreeing with Sirius, PJ jumped to the next topic. “Right, I have an article hitting next week, on Wednesday as well, about the Prophet. And it's not pretty either. It's the first of several. I talked with Johnny last night about it and we decided to do a series of them. So far, it's five, but that might change, depending on what all I dig up. The first will be an obvious topic; how they don't cover news. Then we'll go from there. As I'm still digging, it might end up more. Along with each article, there'll be an editorial like the one for Du Bois. And, from the sound of it, as I've not seen the first one, it won't be pretty either. Johnny is letting those writing them lambast the Prophet for plenty. He's not telling them to, but is letting them have free rein to go at it. Not only is it true, but it'll sell, as we all know.”
“Nothing we take umbrage to either,” Remus said, looking amused.
“Same here,” Sirius nodded. “How much do you have and where is it going?”
“More than you can imagine and I'm still digging,” PJ told them honestly, looking between the two.
“Is it just what we see or is there more?” Remus inquired, very curious.
“Mostly it's related to what we all know. There's more, though. I've managed to get my hands on a few internal memos which prove what we know with Fudge, but it’s also leading me elsewhere. It's the elsewhere I'm still working on. Not sure what some bits mean, so I have to keep digging. Even if I find leanings, it won't do me any good unless I can find real proof,” PJ explained, looking between the two.
While Sirius understood part of it, PJ was vague about the other. As he was curious, he was going to ask, “What do you think is happening?”
Because of the spells applied to the two, PJ knew they couldn't talk, not like they would anyway, so he said, “From what I've seen, I think Fudge not only bribed the owner of the Prophet, probably to only publish what he wants, but is paying him regular installments. I just can't prove it. Yet anyway. One of my sources set me on the path and I'm still digging. Let me see what I can find. They also told me Lucius Malfoy has his hands in part of this. If he does, I'm damned sure it's at the behest of the evil idiot he follows.”
“Oh, I bet it is,” Remus said, eyes wide, glancing at Sirius, who appeared just as stunned as he was.
“Can you prove even part?” Sirius asked, curious. If it was true, it would help with plenty.
“Not yet, but I have enough research done which tells me it's probably at least mostly true. Let me see what else I can find,” PJ told him. With a groan, he added, “This isn't easy to trace because it involves private bank accounts and such. I have someone in the States doing most of the digging for me so I don't end up pulled into a nightmare. Doing what I can here with sources who might be able to give me some, but not sure how much I can get my hands on. Unlike the Prophet, I'm not tossing this out there if I can't find real proof.”
“Completely understandable,” Sirius nodded. “With as tight as Fudge and Lucius are, it wouldn't surprise me, honestly.”
“Me either,” PJ admitted. “If the Lucius connection pans out and I find proof, not sure if I'll take on that part. Du Bois is still digging there and plans to do more than just this article. I'm thinking of tossing it his way to see what he can find that I can't then if it matches up with what he's worked on. As he has plenty of research done already, it might be for the best.”
“As long as it is put out there for everyone to see, I don't think it matters who did it,” Remus told him with a smile.
“I agree there,” PJ nodded. “It's not like I don't have a ton to work on anyway. If I do, I'll receive credit, and the pay, for my part. Not worried about it, honestly.”
“Anything we can do to help? If this is the case, something not at all surprising if it is, it needs out there.” Sirius offered.
“No, nothing you can do,” PJ told him with a shake of his head. “It's one I have to go it alone with. What I'm doing involves sources who want to remain anonymous and not end up exposed. They're plenty touchy as well about so much for very good reasons. I have to tread very lightly with them to start with. Don't want to make it worse than it is.”
“Understood,” Sirius nodded. “If you need anything, let us know and we'll assist all we can.”
“Appreciated,” PJ smiled. He then settled back and decided to see if they were doing anything that night. He had to go to the gym like normal, so he wanted to plan around anything they had to take care of.
“Nothing really,” Sirius told him. “We thought, since it's your night for the gym, to go out for a bite to eat afterwards. Tonks will join us, of course. We thought it best as the more we have around, the less likely some are to pull a bonehead stunt.”
“That's fine,” PJ told him with a smile, liking the idea. A night out to have fun would do them all good.

“You going to work tonight?” Sirius asked after flopping down in his chair in their room with a sated groan. It was after eleven and they were just returning after going out. And it was a riot, like most times. The two of them had double dated with Tonks and Remus, going out for pizza and beer. They had finished eating long ago, of course, but had sat around talking afterward, something quite enjoyable.
“Yeah,” PJ confirmed, sitting down in his own chair, tossing some bits to the birds who were doing their normal noisy bit since they were back. “I’m caught up with what I have to tend to for articles, so I’m working on the book tonight.”
“How's it going there?” Sirius asked, curious. PJ didn't talk much about the book the way he did the articles, so he was generally clueless when it came to it.
“Quite well actually,” PJ told him with a nod and smile. With a snort, he added, “Easier than the last couple, honestly. Probably has more to do with having an almost endless supply of research materials on the topic. Always makes it easier.”
“How far along are you or don't you know?” Sirius inquired, curious and just wanting to talk for a bit before he went to bed. Spending time and talking with PJ was something he adored. While he had Remus to talk to, PJ was far different and sometimes saw whatever differently than they did.
After thinking it over for a few moments, PJ finally said, “I think I've passed the halfway mark. Not sure there as a story does what it wants to when it comes to writing and finding its end. From what I can determine, I have all the major landmarks and clues in I need to press on then wrap it up. Again, not sure there as you never know what it might be tossed into it later on. We'll see.”
“Any idea how much longer it'll take you to finish? Since I've not dealt with you and the stories, am curious there.”
“If I can keep going like I am without spanners being tossed in, a couple more months for the writing,” PJ told him, smiling a little. He adored talking about writing and what he was doing. It was just something he tended not to bring up as he could talk someone's ear off about it and they'd end up bored to death. Before Sirius could ask, as PJ was sure it was coming, he added, “Then I go back to work on revising and the basic edits. Once I finish, I send it off to my publisher to see if they'll pick it up. The process is more complicated than that, of course, but that’s the basics. I let my agent take it on from there.”
“Still a lot of work then,” Sirius observed.
“Oh yes,” PJ chuckled, grinning. “Even if they pick up the book, the work isn't done. I have plenty more to do if they sign me. More edits and revisions then other bits.”
“A ton of work,” Sirius chuckled, shaking his head. He didn't know there was so much put into writing and publishing. Curious, he asked, “What are the odds of signing you for this book? Do you know?”
“As long as I don't pull some completely bonehead stunt and screw it up, pretty good,” PJ chuckled. “I'm not a worldwide bestseller when it comes to this, but am consistent. The uptick here in the UK should help as well.” He then added, sobering up a tad, “This book will determine if I get a longer term contract rather than just doing it for each book. Well, the sales for the current one as well. Since I haven't received my first quarterly statement and royalties, I don't know how well I'm doing.”
“From what I saw in Flourish and Blotts, and what we heard, you're doing well. At least here in the UK,” Sirius observed. “Almost everyone had plenty good to say about the books.”
“True,” PJ nodded with a small smile. “The States should do fine as well. It's rated well there in the papers and had good reviews. We'll see.”
“I take it the contracts for longer terms are better?” Sirius then asked, trying to understand what PJ was talking about. “Is it more money?”
“It's not more money as I get the same 25% for either, but it's more stable in that I don't have to worry about some of the submission process. What it also means is they'll tend to push my work a bit more since I have a proven track record. The authors not under contract don't always get the same attention as ones who have proven to have consistent sales. It'll help,” PJ explained.
“Gotcha,” Sirius told him, understanding at least the basics. Then he asked the one bit he was curious about, “Does your publisher know about your reporter alter ego?”
“They do,” PJ confirmed with a bit of a grin. “It's kept tightly under wraps, of course, but I made sure they knew going in.” Then he added, still grinning a tad, “They're even putting out feelers for a book from JP about some bits I've worked on. Won't be the same kind as my others, but non-fiction. Not sure there, though I might try. Either go it alone and work on some areas I have research on or team up with Du Bois on something. We'll see. Leery of it right now because I'm staying here. If I do, it'll be about what's going on here in the UK as it's a current bit and would sell. Would rather do it if I wasn't, but we'll see. They've just put out the first feelers, so I’m not sure if they're really interested or just curious.”
“As well as you write, I'm sure it'd do well,” Sirius observed, wondering about that end and if it was coming. Might complicate plenty more than it already as, but could help as well.
“Thanks,” PJ said with a bit of a sheepish grin. “Not sure, though, as nonfiction is touchier to do than fiction. I can prove what I need, but it's a delicate dance, so not sure if I'm willing to try.”
“I can understand that bit as well,” Sirius sighed after thinking it over.
With a tired groan, Sirius' head went back, eyes going shut. Scrubbing his hands through his hair, he admitted, “I’m knackered so am going to hit the sack.”
“That's fine. Got work to do anyway,” PJ told him with a smile. He was thankful he had most done he needed to for the JP part of his life, so he could work on his book. The more he was able to finish, the faster he'd get it done.
Sirius then stood with a groan and came over to where PJ was seated. Leaning down, he gave him a kiss. While it wasn't the fiery passionate sort they had shared before, it was a nice one. Hand on the back of PJ's head, he held him there until he broke it off. When he did, he smiled at the other man and rubbed his head where his hand still rested. “We need to go out more often,” he observed.
“We do,” PJ agreed, smiling a tad. He then pulled Sirius down into another kiss. While he liked this part and how slow they were going, part of him was itching to press further. He just wouldn't yet. This was all too complicated to let the lust part drive the relationship. Lust could come later, and probably would considering what the two of them were like.
Sirius was pleased with the second kiss and how PJ had initiated it. He was generally the one to start whatever. Smiling at PJ, he then said, sighing as he did, “I have to get to bed. You know what it's like around here anymore. Some arse is bound to demand I drag myself out of bed before I'm ready.”
With a chuckle, knowing it was true, PJ told him, “Oh yes. Though it's fun to listen to you grumble and snarl, when I'm awake to hear it, sleep is good.”
“Sadist,” Sirius grinned as he straightened up. Ruffling PJ's hair, he said, “Like your dad in that trait.” While there was a small frisson of guilt when he mentioned James and his relationship with PJ, he found he wasn't as bothered as he had been in the past over it. “Right, will let you settle in and do some work while I find the bed.” Then, with a bit of a stretch and loud groan, he slumped and headed to get ready for bed.
PJ watched Sirius go with a small smile. Yeah, he liked this, probably more than he ever thought he would. While strange, he would go with it. What he told Toonie when it came to the reasons was true, but it was more than that. Sirius was someone he adored and liked being with. It was a relationship he wanted, more than he cared to admit.
Once the door to the bathroom shut, he shook his head then stood himself. Time to get to work. After putting up the partition so he wasn't distracted, he sat down at the desk and planned to dive in. He hoped he could knock out the next chapter fairly quickly then press on from there.

After PJ had gone to bed for the night, about five in the morning, Hedwig was startled awake by Poe landing on one side of her and Edgar on the other. Giving the two cold looks, clicking her beak in an irritated way, she hissed at them, not pleased at being woken. As the two generally irritated her to no end, she planned to give them a good flapping and pecking to let them know not to do it again.
However, as the two began to talk, she calmed down. Head swiveling between the two birds as they seemed to do the whole bouncing sentences the way Fred and George did, she pondered what they were saying. While humans would hear just the normal the two said, she was picking up on what they meant. As they continued, she glanced at the sleeping PJ then to Sirius, who was doing the same. Yes, this might not be a bad idea.
When the two finished their yammering, she clicked her beak and hooted a few times to let them know she was on board with their plans. While she couldn't do what the other two could, being just a normal owl, she wanted to see PJ find happiness before she finally died. In all the years she had been with him, he found happiness in what he did and his life, but hadn’t let anyone close. It was time he did. Sirius was perfect for it as well. Yes, she would help the two black phoenixes all she could. After all, no one knew PJ as well as she did.
When the two flapped off to perch where they normally rested, Hedwig settled down again, getting comfortable. Looking between the two men, she clicked her beak softly then shut her yes. The two birds needed to hurry so she could see this before it was her time to go. And she would do what she could to help push it along. It wasn't long before she dozed off once more, pleased she might see her 'boy', as she still thought of him all these years later, find someone to make him happy.
- 24
- 25
- 26
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Toonie\'s Love