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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
- 6
- 7
- 8
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.

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Chapter 7

After Apparating into the park across from Grimmauld Place, PJ was about to cancel the Disillusionment spell when he stopped cold, eyes widening. Yeah, there was something really off here. Tapping on Poe's cage to make sure the bird stayed quiet, he looked at the two people standing there. Oh, they were trying to act casual and were in Muggle clothes, but the way they were dressed, something slightly off from the way true Muggles did, was enough to tell him they weren't Muggles. As Sirius had warned him to keep an eye out for people that seemed out of place before coming into the house, he had taken to Disillusioning himself before Apparating in to stay safe. It was a damned good thing he did. Not sure what to do as he was certain these two weren't Order members, he tried to think. Oh, they hadn't noticed him yet, something good, but he knew being Disillusioned didn't fully protect you. This meant he needed to set up some kind of diversion to get himself across the street to Grimmauld Place and warn Sirius.

Making sure the normally talkative Poe stayed quiet so neither of the two men glanced in their direction, PJ finally drew his wand then set a nearby pair of dustbins moving around. It wouldn't work for long to distract them, but it should be enough and would create plenty of noise so that he could Apparate onto the front steps without them noticing the sound from it, thus keeping out of danger. Thankfully, it worked too.

As the ruckus from the dustbins drew their attention, he Apparated over rather than walked to make sure they didn't see the wards shimmer. Relieved that the two didn't seem to think anything was off, talking about it being a cat or something, then going back to trying to act casually, PJ quickly let himself into the house. This was something Sirius needed to know about.

Sending most of the packages he had with him to his room and letting Poe out of his cage, PJ glanced up when he heard a noise. Seeing Sirius poke his head out of the doorway, he motioned him closer. Keeping his voice down when his godfather was near him, he said, “There's company in the park. And it's not anyone I recognize.”

Though Sirius' eyes were drawn to the way PJ was dressed, something he liked as he hadn't seen his godson in anything but casual wear so far, what PJ said had him on alert. Brow drawn down, he stepped over to the nearby window and peered out. “Shite,” he mumbled then shook his head. “Yeah, I know who those two are and it means trouble. Alright, we have to alert Albus and some others.” Glancing back at PJ, he asked, “They didn't see you come in, did they?” Oh, he was well aware the other side of this nightmare knew where his home was, but they hadn't focused here yet or tried to get through the wards. The fact that Yaxley and Rowle were in the park didn't bode well.

“I made sure of it,” PJ assured him then explained what he did.

“Let's see what we can figure out. It might be better to start Apparating straight onto the front step from now on,” Sirius sighed. Motioning PJ to follow, he said, “We have a few people here, so we can get the word out. Let's see what they can manage. I'm damned sure that Albus can come up with something to scare those two off. I don't know, though.”

Pulling out the last of the packages, the one that was their supper, PJ followed as Sirius motioned him to tag along while the man headed towards the kitchen. He had spent the day in the States not only getting his picture taken for his new book, but giving that interview and submitting his piece to the wire service. So, he was tired as it had been a long day. All he really wanted to do was eat then get some sleep, nothing more.

Stepping in, seeing Ginny eye PJ with some interest as he looked good dressed up, he ignored that for now. Quickly, he told everyone what was going on in the park and said, “Someone needs to get in touch with Albus to let him know and see what he wants to do about this. And to warn everyone to start keeping a better eye out or protect themselves as they come in.”

About to compliment PJ on how good he looked, Remus' face took on a grave look. Nodding, he stood then said, “Let me get in touch with Albus. Someone needs to let Moody, Tonks, Kingsley and a couple of others know. I'm not sure, but I think the Ministry is looking for those two. If the Aurors show up, that might scare them off.”

“It will get rid of them, but I bet others without problems with the Ministry will just take over,” Sirius sighed, shaking his head. “We will though.” Quickly, he dictated to those in the kitchen that were part of the Order who to contact, then sent off his own Patronus to a few of the higher ranking members, like Minerva, so someone could get in touch with Snape. The man showing up and being seen wouldn't end well, so he needed to protect himself.

Flopping on the bench with a soft sigh, happy to be done for the day, PJ unshrank the few packages that he had left and sent the food off with the elves to serve up. This was good. Once he ate, he planned to find his bed.

Taking a seat by PJ once that was done and they were now alone in the kitchen as the others there went to handle business, Sirius grinned at him. “You look good!” He was dressed in a nice pair of black slacks, boots and a crisp white dress shirt. His hair was lying perfectly flat and styled slightly. Yeah, he looked really good.

“What can I say? I clean up nicely when I have to,” PJ grinned at him. Tossing the last package on the table, he sighed when the elves delivered the food. “I wasn't sure what you and Remus would like as you're not used to the food from the States’, so I just grabbed some good barbeque. I've eaten at the place plenty of times before, so I know it's great.”

“Not had their version, so I imagine we'll like it,” Sirius told him with a nod. “How did it go? All fine?”

“Nothing to worry about,” PJ told him honestly. “Just tired from it is all. It made for a long damned day. Thankfully, I don't have to do it too often.” Glancing up as the door opened, he gave an internal sigh as Ginny and Molly came in. Molly he wasn't worried about, Ginny—that wasn't going to end well as she didn't seem to want to stop giving him the eye. He'd let Sirius handle it, though. The man probably knew better what worked than he would.

Shooting Ginny a look as she sat down and began eying PJ hungrily again, he asked, focusing on Poe, “Why did you take Poe along? You didn't explain that.”

Pulling out the pictures taken, PJ handed them over. “They wanted him for the picture for the back cover. Looks mysterious, I guess. Got me. Either way, that's how they planned for it and it worked. They're using a couple of them for the interview too. I guess it’s odd for someone to have a raven for a 'post owl'. I don't know.”

Taking the pictures and looking through them, Sirius nodded, grinning once more. “These are great! They're your copies?”

“Thanks,” PJ told him, looking a bit sheepish. “They're mine.” Pulling the one out of him with his arms folded, chin resting on the table, with his folded arms covering his mouth, Poe perched on his shoulder, he said, “That's the one that will be on the back cover.”

“That's a damned good one!” Sirius told him honestly. Though you couldn't see PJ's mouth, you could tell he was smiling and it was a wonderful looking shot. Watching Poe ruffle his wings and caw soundlessly in the picture, he said, “I like this. They did a great job with it.”

“It's better than the amateur ones, I admit that,” PJ shrugged, taking a beer from an elf. “Plus the paper I did the interview with could use them as well and I didn't have to sit through more of that. Once a day is more than enough with that bit.”

“I'm going to make a copy of them to keep, if you don't mind,” Sirius said, sitting them down.

“Have at it,” PJ told him with a chuckle. He planned to send these to Toonie as she just didn't have many of him because of the risk of keeping those things. She would like it as that's one of the things she wanted from him when she moved.

“When's the interview going to be in the paper? And will we be able to read it?” Sirius asked, pushing the pictures aside.

“This Sunday from what they said. It's in one of those magazine things that come in the Sunday paper. Not sure if it'll show up here in the UK as I haven't read the Prophet in years to know what they carry now, but it'll be in both the English language papers I get. So, you'll get to read it.” Shrugging, PJ added, “It's not much. Just a bit of a fluff piece. You know the kinds of things—like what the papers geared for gossip and that carry.”

“Either way, I can't wait to read it,” Sirius told him honestly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny eying the pictures covetously and her gaze sliding towards PJ. Grinning, he said, without looking in her direction, “Mine, Ginny!”

A disgruntled and furious look passing over her face, Ginny folded her arms over her chest then hissed, “I didn't say a word, Sirius!”

“I could see that look on your face. Not to mention you were almost drooling over the pictures,” Sirius chuckled, finally glancing her way as he took a sip of his own beer. “Give it up, Ginny. There isn't a chance in hell and you don't want to try to take me on over him.”

Grinding her teeth, she huffed, “I haven't made any overt attempts at anything.”

“Not yet anyway,” Sirius snorted. “I've seen this from you before. Just making it clear.”

Shaking his head at that, PJ didn't say a word, sipping at his beer. Changing topics, as it looked like Ginny wanted to argue with Sirius, he said, “Not to be rude, but I'm going to eat. I'm dead on my feet and just want to get some damned sleep.”

Knowing that his godson had left early that morning and that it was now dusk, not to mention the travel, Sirius nodded. “Have at it. No offense taken.” Chuckling again, he nudged him as he looked around at the food and said, “Just explain what some of this is before you turn us loose with it. I've not seen several of these things before.”

Snorting at that, loading up his plate after tossing Poe one of the rib bones, he began to explain the odd dishes to his godfather, telling him what was in them. “It's all good,” he admitted as he dug into his coleslaw. “Just not what you're used to if you're from the UK.”

Snagging one of the ribs, Sirius took a tentative bite of it then nodded vigorously as he chewed. “Bloody hell, this is good! Spicy and sweet with just the right amount of tang to it. I've not had anything here that tastes even close.”

“They take their barbeque seriously in the States,” PJ chuckled as he dug in.

“You're bringing more of it back the next time you go,” Sirius told him as he began to load up his plate. Seeing Remus come back in, he said, “You have to try this, Moony. It's great!”

Chuckling at Sirius' enthusiasm, Remus sat down and began to take small portions of the food. They hadn't been sure when PJ would return, so they held off on dinner though Molly offered to bring some over when they came. Taking a small bite of the meat and nodding at the wonderful flavor, he said, digging into the rest, making sure to butter up one of the wonderful looking scone-like things that came with it, “Albus will be over shortly. He's getting in touch with the DMLE. That should either get the two arrested, as they're wanted, or scare them off. From what he said, he's trying to find a couple of things that will help us monitor the park. However, he agreed that we all need to start Apparating onto the front step rather than walking across the street from the park. Then he's going to see what we can all figure out when it comes to keeping the other side away.”

“I doubt there is anything we can do about that,” Molly said with a sigh as she took a seat. “We'll see what we can do, though. It just means that they are starting to focus on us more. That, more than anything, is what we need to worry about.”

“We just need to make damned sure to be really careful then,” Sirius sighed. Taking a big bite of the scone-like thing, his eyes widened then he took another. After swallowing, he said, “This is damned good! What is it?”

“It's called a buttermilk biscuit. The butter you're using isn't like what we have over here. It's mixed with honey.” Quickly, he explained the difference in terminology to Sirius and Remus.

“Yeah, well, you're bringing more food back from the States if it tastes this good,” Sirius told him firmly, devouring more.

“Next time I go, I'll bring back some Cajun food. You'll love that. It's really spicy and hot,” PJ told him with a chuckle.

“I love spicy!” Sirius grinned. “The spicier the better!”

“You'll love that then,” PJ snorted, shaking his head. “Some of it is hot enough to singe your nose hairs. It's damned good, though.”

“If you ate like this all the time while living there, I'm surprised you aren't overweight,” Remus chuckled as he ate more. He wasn't sure what to make of some of it, such as the potato salad as it looked far different from what they called potato salad in the UK, but he loved the beans and meat.

“Why do you think I go to the gym?” PJ laughed. “American food can be really fattening, especially their fast food. It's bloody good, though!”

“I get it now,” Sirius snorted, grinning. The mention of the gym again, coupled with a glance at the pictures of PJ had him giving another internal groan. However, another thought took over. Sobering up, he said, “If the shite across the street doesn't stop, we might have to take you to the gym and pick you up. We don't want anyone following you then you ending up alone. They haven't seen you yet and I don't think anyone knows about us besides Order members, but we don't want to take chances. I'm sure you understand that.”

“I do,” PJ told him with an internal sigh. He was so used to going and doing what he wanted that he rankled slightly to have people tagging along with him while he did it. And they were going to have to come up with something for him to be able to work as it wouldn't do to have known Order members tagging along with him while he worked on stories for the paper. That would just scare off the few good contacts he'd been able to cultivate over the years. He would mention that to Sirius later so they could work something out. That also reminded him that there was something he had to get with Sirius about, alone, after everyone cleared out. Well, Remus could listen in, of course, but he didn't want it being overheard by anyone else.

“Two days after I get Toonie out, they're running the story,” PJ explained, passing the rest of what was going into the exposé to Remus and Sirius. They had an Order meeting not long after he had gone to bed, but he made sure Sirius woke him when it was over so he could explain what he learned. Quietly, he added, as the two looked through the additional research there, “I can't do anything about the bits you see there. Du Bois did that on his own with the research department. They know I'm safe and hidden, so that's all that matters. And this isn't going to end up nice, for plenty.”

Groaning at what he was reading when it came to research on known Order members, Sirius shook his head, “Any way to stop some of this? I get that the ones mentioned here are well known, but this isn't pretty.”

“No,” PJ told him with a shake of his head. “The only thing I managed was to get them to list Snape as a known Death Eater to protect him. When I came across with that I know he's a spy, Du Bois and Johnny were more than willing to do that for me. Those in the DMLE they won't list either as they don't want to chance that and they have no proof they are in the Order. The rest—they're going to run with. The same with the workups on known Death Eaters.”

“You two are fine. There isn't anything there that's not already well known. It's some of the others that are going to have a right bitch of a time. Ron alone is going to get nailed. They have more than enough proof of all the women he cheated on Hermione with. Hell, some of them talked to Du Bois because they are right pissed at being used. Ginny—that's bad. I knew from the initial research that she liked to chase men. There was no clue about that list there or some of her other habits, like man stealing. Even her Harpies teammates had plenty to say about her going after their boyfriends. Hermione isn't bad as there's not much there other than her know-it-all attitude. I was able to get my hands on everything Du Bois has on her. Most of it isn't anything they'll use in the article, but I can if she keeps digging on me. That we might need.” Lowering his voice and looking between the two, he said, “Dumbledore—what is there won't be nice. And they have plenty of real proof to back up every bit of it. Couple that with all I had to say and they are taking him to the cleaners.”

“Bloody hell,” Sirius moaned, tossing the papers down and shaking his head. “I don't think any of us heard that shite before, ever.”

“He hid it well if it's true,” Remus sighed, leaning back as he kept skimming what was there.

“I'm going with what I know of those that did the research. Du Bois alone knows what he's doing and has a couple decades of experience at it. The ones in the research department are probably better than him at some of this. Yeah, I'll bet my wand it's all true and that they didn't find everything.” PJ told both of them, shaking his head.

Glancing through the part on known Death Eaters, brow furrowing as he looked at the bit about You-Know-Who, Remus asked, “How sure are they about this name for You-Know-Who? I mean, Albus refers to him as Tom, but I don't think we've ever heard his full name.”

“It's dead on accurate from a source that the great evil git himself told,” PJ told him firmly. When the two looked at him, he said, “Me. The bit in the Chamber—he told me his name then showed how he used the letters to come up with the name that he uses now. So it's real.”

“And the fact that it's out there with his family history is going to piss him off in a way that nothing has before now,” Sirius said with a sigh. Grinning a little, he added, “And that's a damned good thing! He's going to stop these bullshite games and go off his nut. Then the Ministry is going to have to stop denying he's back.” Looking at PJ, he asked, “The bloke that wrote this—he aware that he's going to have to seriously watch his back? You told him, right?”

“Du Bois knows,” PJ told him with a firm nod. “I've made that real clear. He's no fool. The same with Johnny. Before this hits, the wire service is pulling out all staff from the offices here and shifting them to France then shutting it. At least for the duration of the war. They'll be close enough everyone can get in and out. It's also going to help me with submitting. I'm all that's going to be left staying in the UK. As no one knows me by my pen name, I'm safe. And I can get in and out of France far easier than I can doing the hop to the States if I have something big. They're setting up in the States for keeping watch for fools from this end to show up there and beefing up security, especially for Du Bois.”

“Good,” Remus sighed, putting the papers aside. “Now we have to start watching our ourselves. Albus might come up with part of this early, but I don't know.”

“He won't,” PJ told him firmly. “This is big enough they are keeping it tightly under wraps until the night it hits the presses. Dumbledore has no way of getting his hands on it before then. Only a very select few in the main office of the wire service even know its coming. They'll be doing a teaser about something huge with the war as that always sells, but no hint that I'm talking or what they found. And nothing is going to hit a UK paper. Nothing. At least until after it hits elsewhere. One of the weekly rags is picking it up, but that won't come out until after the main story hits. They're going to advertise it for one of the French papers here, though. So I bet my wand everyone is going to read it the day it does.”

“And we can expect hell when it does,” Sirius said, smoothing down his goatee. “That's not a bad thing, though. We've been trying to kick this into high gear since you left. The time has come that we can manage. That's what we need because what we're doing isn't going anywhere. And if Albus is stalling it to keep looking for you, he'll pull his head out of his arse and start moving too. We need that, desperately.”

“This should do it,” PJ nodded, sipping at his drink. “I do have something to ask about this mess, though.” Seeing the two nod, he pressed on, “Toonie is safe where she's going and hidden. I'm not worried about that. The night she leaves, though, can you two come along? A better safe than sorry thing when it comes to keeping watch. That will be the first time I've been in Little Whinging since I left and I don't want to go it alone, for obvious reasons, even though I'm damned sure I'm protected.”

“Of course,” Sirius told him firmly, seeing Remus nod as well. “We'll come along. In fact, I wanted to insist we did. As you said, this is one you need to watch your arse on.”

“Good,” PJ said with a sigh of relief. “After it hits—Dudley. He's at uni and lives on campus. Not sure what anyone can do to protect him, but someone might want to try. Vernon? I don't give a shite there. Let him handle it on his own. I wouldn't piss on him if he were on fire at this point in my life. Dudley is going to have no clue what all this means and Toonie has no way to warn him what might come without giving up plenty the two of us have hidden over the years. I'd rather she not have to do that, for her sake and mine, both.”

“We'll find a way,” Remus assured him with a nod. “In fact, your name coming out is going to have that end focus there, I bet. Probably as a way to draw you in. With your aunt giving up some of what she did and her being out, plenty are going to end up irate then see what they can do. We'll push Albus to do what we can for them. There has to be a way to do something for Dudley without being overt.”

“Good,” PJ said with a relieved sigh. Shaking his head, he added, “I've protected those that need it the best I can, but this—it's time. I know it won't be fun, but it has to end. And it can't if Dumbledore keeps looking for me without pressing to finish this off, others are trying to figure it out and all the rest of mess. I know it won't be easy, but it's time.”

“I agree,” Sirius said with a nod. “The longer this goes on, the worse it would end up, PJ. It's time you put it out there and stop it before someone pulls something that ends up with you being drawn in. We'll manage to keep you out. You have my word.”

“While I didn't see it that way at first, I do now,” Remus told him softly. “Your friends alone deserve to know you're not dead. The same with Molly and Arthur. They've spent many a day since you vanished plenty upset, wondering what happened to you. It's time they know you're safe. I also think that more than Albus is counting on you to come riding in on a unicorn and saving all of us. Plenty of those in the public that realize all we've been saying for years is real, but won't do anything to help, are also counting on you to come save all of us. Everyone needs to know that's not happening. If they want us saved and this nightmare to end, they need to help. The same with the Ministry. I don't hold out a great hope that Fudge will take this as the slap he needs, but it might work for some. Especially the higher ranking members of the DMLE. Kingsley and Tonks, both, have told us that most of those that run things there are on the fence about it. They have some proof, but don't want to believe it. This might kick them in the direction we need.”

“Something needs to give. I'm not stepping in, so they have to,” PJ told them with a shake of his head. “I hope this does that.”

“I think it will. Not for all the areas we need, but enough that we'll get help in plenty of areas,” Sirius told him with a nod. Changing topics, he said, “And we have to start getting in the habit of you not going anywhere alone. At least for most things. I get the bit about working on stories and whatnot, but other bits you need us with you, PJ. For your own safety. No one knows we're attached beyond a few of us, but that's not going to last. So, we need to come up with something. And a way to work with this while you investigate stories.”

“Yeah, we do,” PJ admitted with a nod. “I at least need to get in the habit of not going it alone.”

“We'll be as unobtrusive as possible,” Remus assured him gently. Then he began talking about various areas they could work with and how to go about them.

While PJ didn't like giving up his freedom to wander on his own, he realized that it was better to start now than attempt to close the gate after the dragons absconded. So, yeah, he needed to deal accordingly and help plan what to do so he could keep as much of his freedom as he could.
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Toonie\'s Love