"Minister, welcome to our home, but what are you doing here?"

"Oh, Mrs. Black, I just wanted to assure Harry that his Aunt Marge has been properly punctured and her memory modified. She'll have no recollection of the incident whatsoever."

"But…I used magic outside of school! Shouldn't I-"

"We don't send wizards to Azkaban for blowing up their aunts, Harry!" laughed Fudge. Harry, Sirius and Stella sighed in relief.

"It was just a simple mistake and it's been properly taken care of. Hopefully you'll enjoy the rest of your summer, dare I say so my dear boy?" Harry beamed at his godparents.

"Yes, I definitely will, Minister."

"Now that that matter has been taken care of…Stella, Sirius, might I have a private word with you?"

Harry went back into the dining room.

"What is it, Fudge?" asked Sirius, gruffly, taking a seat next to Stella on the sofa. Stella sighed; she knew that Sirius hated the minister, but prayed that he wouldn't lose his temper in front of him.

"Peter Pettigrew's escaped from Azkaban. I was notified by the prison just about half an hour ago and well, he's coming after Harry. Apparently he would mutter 'He's at Hogwarts, he's at Hogwarts" in his sleep and well, no one knows where he is."

Sirius clasped Stella's hand in his and squeezed it.

"I must get going, Mr. and Mrs. Black. I want you to tell him that Pettigrew's on the run. He must know and it's better that you both tell him. You must take every precaution to keep him safe." Fudge got up and Stella walked him to the door and gave him his traveling cloak. He Disapparated and Sirius sighed.

"Well, I guess in the words of Mad-Eye Moody…constant vigilance will be enacted over Harry and even our own lot," he said.

"Go bring the four of them in here. They're all old enough to know, Sirius. I'm not sugarcoating it for the girls."

"So Peter Pettigrew's escaped to come after me?" asked Harry. Stella and Sirius grimly nodded.

"Harry, we have to take precautions. You can't wander Hogwarts alone; stay with Ron, Hermione, Iris and Lux if you get a chance to find him. Send us letters with code names so that way Pettigrew can't figure it out if your owls are intercepted for some reason. Stay in big groups at Hogsmeade, Harry. Just keep constant vigilance…all four of you. Kids, keep an eye out for Harry. Send us letters if something seems suspicious; any little thing at all. We'll have the Auror department there faster than you can say Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."

"You're ranting, sweetheart," said Stella.

"Mum, is Harry going to be okay?" asked Freya.

"Frey, sweetie, of course he is! Do you really think we're going to let anybody hurt him? And with you all keeping an eye out for him, he'll be better than okay!"

The Daily Prophet was emblazoned with the headline "Peter Pettigrew: First-Time Azkaban Escapee!" It was written by Rita Skeeter; Stella noted with a grimace and threw away the paper.

"Oh, God, she wrote this article?" asked Sirius, setting down his glass of pumpkin juice.

"You would think they'd give it to someone else that had I don't know? More merit?"

"You're just upset at the fact that she pushed you into the lake when we first arrived at Hogwarts, Stella."

"Who did what to mum?!" exclaimed Lux, coming in the dining room with Harry and the girls for breakfast. Stella threw Sirius a look that had murder written all over it.

"You know Rita Skeeter, right kids?"

"Is she that crazy, fake blonde lady that kept coming around the area to try to see if she could get a statement from you last year?"

"Yep, that's her, Lux. Insane bit-" started Stella, but Sirius cut her off.

"Yes, that was Rita. But she never got anything out of me. Thank God for the fact that she sucked at dueling. Oh, look at the time. I've got to go to work! Kids, behave for your mother. Stella, I'll try to get out early again, but-"

"No promises, I know."

"Have fun going to Diagon Alley again!" he said, slipping on his traveling cloak. The kids' smiles widened at the fact that they got to go again, but Stella rolled her eyes.

"Maybe I should go to work and you should take the kids to Diagon Alley."

"Stella, you mustn't interrupt me while I am trying to focus on my Apparition! Remember, dear; destination, determination and deliberation!"

"You're not sixteen anymore; you can Apparate into a room without anybody noticing!"

"Bye, love! Bye, guys, see you later!"

They bought all of Harry's school things rather quickly after getting money out at Gringotts. They had gotten out of Flourish and Blotts, and Stella bought ice cream at Florean Fortescue's. As they were eating, Harry caught sight of a familiar looking boy and girl; the boy was tall and gangly with red hair and the girl had a mass of bushy brown hair.

"Ron! Hermione!" he exclaimed, waving them over.

"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione, giving him a big hug. Ron was a little more reserved and only said a simple, "How are you, mate?" They said hello to Stella and Ron happily greeted Lux, while Hermione gave a hug to Iris.

"Come and sit down. Do you want some ice cream?" offered Stella. Ron and Hermione agreed. Soon, they were enjoying their sundaes with everyone else and Lux saw a basket by Hermione's feet…move.

"Mione, what the hell is in that basket?" he asked.

"Oh! That's my new cat, Crookshanks! My parents gave me ten Galleons for my birthday and I bought an animal at the Menagerie. Ron was with me."

"I got an owl! Mum and dad bought me one along with the replacement wand. We bought it about a week ago."

"And Harry…what's this I hear about you blowing up your aunt?" asked Hermione. Lux and Harry couldn't help but start to laugh and left it to Stella to tell the story.

They found the Weasleys and asked if Ron and Hermione (who was staying over for the last week before school) could come for dinner. Molly gladly obliged and Stella went to go buy some groceries at a Waitrose before going back home.

"Mum, there are wizard market places in Diagon Alley," said Lux.

"I know that, but you know I prefer shopping in Muggle places. I'd really like to have both worlds mixed into our lives. Your dad's a pureblood and I'm not. I grew up knowing the Muggle and wizard ways of life."

"Okay, okay. I'm just saying, it would've been more convenient."

"I'm sure it would've been, Lux. But don't worry. We're here. And why don't you go get some of those Cornettos you and Iris like, okay?" Lux smiled and ran to the frozen foods department. Harry and Hermione were simply helping out Stella and the girls with her shopping list, but Ron was going insane. He had never been inside a grocery store and was amazed by how everything was set up.

"Like father, like son," whispered Hermione in Harry's ear.

When they had paid, they took the underground back (much to Ron's amusement) and Sirius was already home.

"Oh, we've got more company! Ron, Hermione; it's great to see you!"

It was like a replay of last night. The kids went upstairs and waited for supper while Sirius stayed with Stella in the kitchen.

"When did you run into Ron and Hermione?"

"Today while we were at Florean Fortescue's."

"I'm glad they're here. Harry looked like if he needed some cheering up. Stella, I'm not going to be able to sign that form. Minnie refused; she said because we weren't his guardians."

"Or maybe it was because of all those times you gave her hell back in the day and she's finally giving you payback at Harry's expense."

"Nah, I doubt it dear."

"Oh well…so, the steaks are cooking and here is a little pick-me-up for you," she said, handing him a glass of fire whiskey. She drank one with him.

"Do you remember when you had your first glass of this? And then we got drunk and…"

"And then Lux came around nine months later?"

"Happy seventeenth birthday, love." Sirius poured out a shot of fire whiskey and handed it to Stella.

"How strong is this?" she asked, grimacing at the scent the alcohol gave off.

"You're such a prude. Just drink it. You are seventeen after all."

"And it's about time. Can't believe I had to wait to be legal two weeks before graduation."

"Well, at least you can celebrate the proper way with the rest of us," he said, bashing her glass against his. She took the shot, made a face and then asked for more, much to his amusement.

Three shots later…

"I'm so fucking wasted already," she groaned.

"Yeah, I'm not doing so well myself."

Stella caught a glance at the diamond ring that she'd grown so accustomed to ever since Sirius gave it to her only hours before when they had gone out, or rather, snuck out to Hogsmeade to celebrate her birthday with the Marauders, Lily, Frank and Alice.

"I can't believe we're getting married."

Sirius picked her up in his arms and kissed her.

"I can."

"Since when have you been so cliché?"

"Since I met you." She rolled her eyes but this time, she kissed him. Sirius started to unzip the back of the black dress he'd insisted she wear that night and Stella didn't stop him. She went for his tie and jacket and before they knew it, they were both completely undressed. Stella's blue eyes were sparkling intently.

"You're beautiful."

"Shut up."

"It's true. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Just do it before I change my mind."

"That was probably one of the greatest nights of my life," she said as she placed a bowl of green peas on the dining room table, while Sirius set down the platter of steaks.

"Too bad your mum's reaction wasn't the greatest."

"Oh, she got over it, didn't she?"

"You're pregnant?! Stella, you're seventeen!"

"And I'm still going to be able to become a Healer, mum! Sirius is in with the Aurors; we'll be fine."

"We plan to get married as soon as possible, Ms. Martin. Please, don't-"

Before Stella could intervene, Proserpine had shouted "Rictusemptra" and Sirius was doubled over on the floor, laughing away.

"Mum!"

"He had it coming!"

"I love it whenever she says 'rictusemptra' just to piss you off."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever."

Stella laughed.

"You're so cute when you're angry! Kids, dinner!"

Everything at dinner seemed normal. Hermione and Iris kept telling Freya that her classes would be fine and that they would make sure the older kids didn't pick on her and the boys were talking about the Quidditch season.

"Harry, I will have no mercy on you when Ravenclaw beats Gryffindor this year."

"Sorry, Lux, but I think this year is Gryffindor's year."

"Stella, could you please pass the bread?" asked Sirius.

"Sure, love." She had grabbed the basket but before she knew it, she was on the floor, laughing away and Sirius had a smirk on his face. The kids, especially Lux, Ron and Harry were in stitches.

"Sirius…ah! Ha, ha , ha! Stop, ha, ha, ha…the…ha! Curse! Ahh!"

"No, dad, don't!" exclaimed Lux.

"Stella, have you learned your lesson?"

"Yes! Ahh! I have! Sirius!" He muttered the counter curse and helped her up from the floor.

"I'm sorry," he said in a voice that truly wasn't sorry.

"You'd better be." And Stella smacked him on his head before giving him a kiss.

"Ah, gross!" said Lux and Ron together.

When we laugh indoors the blissful tones bounce off the walls
and fall to the ground.
Peel the hardwood backs
and let them loose from decades trapped and listen so still.

Death Cab for Cutie, "We Laugh Indoors"

So, yes, Peter Pettigrew is the murderer and is in Azkaban! Ron doesn't have Scabbers. It's Fan Fiction people! Deal with it! If you have a problem with that, then don't bother reviewing!

But if you liked it, then please, go ahead and do. And thanks to my reviewer chocolate fish! I appreciated it!