The Good, The Bad And The Dirty

Kittens

Harry was staring at Sirius with a defiant look. "Siri. I'm not going to get rid of him. He's so cute." Harry was cuddling a black kitten that Mrs. Figg had gifted him. It was a Kneazle kitten that was quite taken with Harry. "Kneazles are useful and loyal too."

"The kitten was a gift, Sirius. It would be rude to get rid of him." Remus added softly. "Wouldn't want to offend her, would you? She did keep Harry safe after the dementor attack."

"Don't remind me." Sirius groaned, crossing his arms. He hated thinking about how much danger Harry had been in.

"Paddy, please? You don't even have to interact with him." Harry used the nickname that made the Grim-animagus blush faintly. "He's so tiny and innocent."

"It's a cat!" Sirius gave them puppydog eyes. He did not want the kitten. "My natural enemy!"

"He's a baaaaaby. He can be taught to like dogs." Harry wasn't going to give up. "Besides, I'm Lord Potter and this is Potter manor." He stuck his tongue out with a smug look.

"Oi, cheeky." Sirius laughed loudly. "Fine. You can keep him."

"Yay!" Harry cheered, cuddling the kitten more. The Kneazle stared at Sirius for a minute and then closed his eyes. Harry didn't notice though, too busy holding the kitten close.

"If he attacks the babies, I'll get rid of him." Was Sirius' final words on the subject. "I wonder what's for supper."

"Something food. The elves here are better than the ones at Hogwarts." Harry had a smirk on his face.

"Don't let Hermione hear that. She'll start her SPEW activities." Remus added, kissing Harry's cheek and then Sirius' cheek too.

~Few months later~

"Harryyyyyyy... Your Kneazle ate one of the fish." Sirius whined. "He's getting out of hand!"

"True..." Harry nodded, coming in with Ibrahim after bandaging a scrape on the 1 year old's knee that he had received after Moon the Kneazle bowled him over. The Kneazle was unhappy being away from his Pride and expressed it. Harry sighed and handed Sirius Ibrahim and wrote a letter to Mrs. Figg who got a Portkey with the letter.

Mrs. Figg arrived quickly, just in time for Moon to run into her legs. "Oh my. Moon here is not a happy boy...."

"We aren't happy either... Can you take him back? He's eaten four of my exotic fish, ran both babies over several time, BIT Remus, and scratched my arms to hell and back." Harry didn't waste time. He had wanted to do right by the Kneazle and clearly keeping him at the Manor was not what was right.

"Sounds like he needs to go back to the Pride." Mrs. Figg picked up the Kneazle and allowed Harry to show her to the floo. He waved as Mrs. Figg disappeared and sighed in relief.

"Well..." Sirius gave Harry a look. He was pleased to be correct. "I told you so."

"Shut up, you wanker." Harry scowled at him, taking Ibrahim back and going off somewhere for the baby to nurse. He was upset about having to return Moon.

"But I did tell you both so." Sirius addressed Remus who raised an eyebrow, carrying a freshly changed James. "Ah. We got rid of Moon. Mrs. Figg took him."

"Finally. But still. Don't tell Harry that... You know how he is. He's sensitive and probably feels bad for 'failing' Moon." Remus scolded firmly. "He's so precious with his care for other creatures."

"I mean... He got Snape to work with that American witch with her version of the Wolfsbane." Sirius grinned slightly. "Heard they're almost ready to test this one aspect for less painful transformation."

"Aren't they also talking to Damocles? Since he invented the original?" Remus was very interested. He hoped it would be more affective than the current available version.

"Yep. " Sirius didn't get a chance to say anything else as an owl swooped through a nearby window and dropped a letter on his head before swooping back out. "Bloody hell!"

"Hell!" James parroted and then giggled as his Papa Remus slugged Daddy Siri in the gut. He had taken to repeating pretty much everything he heard.

"Language! James, don't say that word. It's a bad word." Remus stroked the toddler's hair before setting him down with the Nurse Elf that helped Harry. The elf took James off to Harry to be fed.

"Ah Moony! That hurt." Sirius pouted slightly before retrieving the letter from the floor. "It's for you, Rem."

"Ah... Thanks." He took the letter, skimmed it and let out a whoop. "The new batch is ready for testing! And the full moon is in a week too."

Dear Remus Lupin, 

Our batch of the new experimental Wolfsbane has been completed. Its intended use is to ease transformation to being nearly if not completely painless. We would like for you test it and be the first user in the hopes of making your condition easier.

~Severus Snape and K. Crane

"This is amazing." Sirius looked thrilled. "Go on! Go tell Harry."

"Aren't you coming with?" Remus waited for Sirius with an excited expression.

"Nah. It's your news to tell. Besides, you and Harry need some alone time." Sirius shook his head, sitting down and reading a Quidditch magazine.

Remus nodded and hurried off, finding Harry in the room with the fish. "Harry! They've got the newest version of Wolfsbane ready. And they want me to be the one to test."

"That's amazing!" Harry was by himself and he stood up, throwing his arms around Remus' neck and kissing him soundly on the mouth.

"Hopefully it works. I want to not hurt so badly." Remus admitted quietly. He hated how badly the transformation hurt him.