McKinnon

| CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN |

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK!"

     A shrill voice rang out through the Lupin cottage. The start of a peaceful summer seemingly disappeared as soon as Sirius had moved into the Lupin household, per Remus' offer. Remus, who was drinking his morning tea in the kitchen, closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.
 
"Sweet Merlin help me." He moaned massaging his temples.
    
     Summer break was definitely an interesting one this year, since Sarai's biological father entered the picture. After spending years locked away in Azkaban for a crime he didn't do, it seemed as though he was doing anything he could to form a bond with his daughter after many years. Including pranking her, any chance he could. Remus originally had been the one to offer for Sirius to move on to help bridge the gap between the two. However he was beginning to regret the offer since he couldn't remember the last time he had a moments of peace in the household.

   "DAD!" Sarai's voice called out once more in desperation as she came bounding down the stairs into the kitchen.
    Remus looked up at her and blinked at her disheveled state. His daughter was currently sporting a bold red and gold hair color, the red matching the color of her face. He had to bite down the smile that was threatening to form on his mouth as examined Sarai's state.

    "MAKE HIM FIX IT!" She cried out.

     No it hadn't been a peaceful summer what so ever. But he never dared to say it was boring.
      "Sirius!" Remus called out, laughter in his voice betraying him, "Come on out."
      He quickly waved his wand and returned Sarai back to her beautiful black locks. Sarai crossed her arms together and huffed at him,
    
"It's not funny!" She snapped.

    Remus merely shrugged innocently, "I never said it was."

  "it's written all over your face!"

"Red suits you, you know."

    "Dad!"

     No, the Lupin household was never boring. The first week of summer had come to pass, and the new dynamic of living with Sirius was certainly different. Not that Remus was complaining.

    When Sarai had returned home from Hogwarts, she did seem a bit out of sorts. Quieter, she kept more towards her room. Definitely grumpier, Remus would argue. Originally Sirius had chalked it up to hormones. But Remus knew better. When he had tried to pry, she merely brushed him off and mumbled a lame excuse. He was worried for her.

    Sirius, in his mad brilliance, had taken to pranking her and bothering her until she would be forced out of her room to chase him around the house. Remus was grateful, Sarai did seem a bit more lively when she was on a rampage against him. Normally someone would argue that Sirius was doing more damage to his relationship with Sarai than good, but everyone in the household knew it was all in good fun.

   Sirius's head popped out from behind the couch. "You looked lovely, Siri!" He said with a cheeky grin.

    Sarai shot him a scowl while sticking her tongue out. "Yeah well let's see how you like it Snuffles!" She lunged towards the ex-convict.
     
     With a yelp, Sirius jumped over the couch and the mad dash of cat and mouse started once more. Remus shook his head with a small smile, before looking up at the ceiling.
    "You owe me big time, Marlene!" Remus said to seemingly no one, "they're supposed to be your problem!"

    A small draft went through the kitchen, almost as though mocking him. He rolled his eyes, "Even now I'm taking care of your messes."

     

        Meanwhile, upstairs in the spare (now Sirius') bedroom, Sarai was crouched next to the bed trying to reach Snuffles.

    "Sirius that's not fair!" She whined, "I can't transform into an animal."