Bill frowned.
"A lot of the origin stories about family magic indicate that it was given as a gift so that the Ancient and Noble Houses could protect the wizarding world. It's likely all our magic responds encouragingly when we take steps explicitly to that end." Sirius said. "But if you truly wanted to devote your life to curse-breaking, which in its own way helps to protect others, I don't think it would up and abandon you." He took a breath. "But if today gave you a taste of what you could be a part of when your House is ready to fully take its place again and you were attracted to that…I guess the question is what do you want to do?"
"That is the question, isn't it?" Bill mused out loud.
"Think on it." Sirius said. "I'd be happy to help you in any way I can."
"Thanks." Bill murmured.
Sirius searched his expression. "You're worried about something else?"
"Seeing Harry with his political peers…" Bill sighed heavily. "I'm concerned about where Ron fits into the picture in the future."
Ah, a big brother's concern and a well-warranted one in Sirius's opinion as Ron hadn't shown any interest in Harry's new political skills and experiences, and had shown flashes of jealousy instead.
"I think much of that will depend on Ron." Sirius answered truthfully. "Harry's very attached to him and he won't abandon Ron. I get the impression that he'll always consider Ron his best friend so long as Ron considers Harry his. Whether your brother is mature and secure enough to accept that truth in amongst recognising that a great deal else in Harry's life has changed though…"
Bill nodded. "Ron is…Ron is a good kid. But I just worry that he's going to feel left out."
"Harry's invited him to all his lessons and excursions. I believe he asked him to change to Runes." Sirius pointed out a little defensive at Bill's words. "I'm not sure what else Harry would have to do to make Ron feel included."
"Neither do I," Bill admitted, "but maybe I should talk to Ron."
"If you think it's a good idea." Sirius agreed. "His friendship is very important to Harry."
A sharp rap on the door stopped Bill from replying openly and Sirius accepted Bill's mouthed thanks as Remus entered, looking tired and worn.
Sirius's eyebrows went up in concern since his friend had spent the day at the DOM helping with the cursed ring. "Are you OK?"
"Peachy." Remus muttered, waving a hello at Bill and slumping into the chair beside his own desk.
Dobby popped in with some tea for him and Remus drank it gratefully.
"It didn't go well then?" asked Sirius impatiently.
Remus shook his head, the faint hint of silver strands catching the last of the afternoon sun streaming through the window. "We've managed to establish that we think the compulsion and the curse are parseltongue in origin and therefore…"
"Will need parseltongue to break them." Bill grimaced. "Bollocks."
"Yes, that sums it up well." Remus caught the worry on Sirius's face and shook his head. "Harry would need to learn how to break the original Latin curses before he could attempt to break these."
"So, we throw the thing in the furnace and be done with it." Sirius said.
Remus sighed. "Lawrence thinks the stone that's set into the ring is important somehow although he wouldn't say how and we think the stone is clean of the horcrux. Bertie's going to give him some time to work on it and see if he can't unseat the stone from the ring without giving into the curses."
"If Lawrence thinks it's important, it probably is. He's incredibly knowledgeable." Bill said. "Caro and I can work on Godric's Hollow in the meantime."
Sirius pulled a face but nodded. "Fair enough."
Bill stood up. "If you don't need me for anything else?"
"Have a good night, Bill." Sirius said, confirming it was OK for Bill to leave.
Remus called out his own farewell and they watched Bill leave the room, closing the door silently behind him.
"How did your day go?" Remus asked, taking a sip of his tea.
"Good." Sirius said succinctly. "At least until Bill pointed out that Harry probably needs the Little Wizard's Talk."
Remus choked.
"That would have been my reaction if I'd been drinking a liquid at the time." Sirius said, wagging a finger at him as Remus coughed and spluttered to regain his breath.
"Bugger." Remus said and then coloured as though realising as Sirius had how inappropriate the word was in connection with the topic they were discussing.
"That was my reaction." Sirius said lightly.
"I think Harry knows?" Remus said questioningly. "At least the basics?"
"The strict biology of men, women and babies, maybe," Sirius allowed with a wave, "but beyond that?"
"Well," Remus said, gathering his composure, "what are you going to do?"
"I don't know," Sirius said, glaring at him since Remus had lobbed the whole thing at him with his use of the 'you' rather than 'we,' "I'm not an expert."
"How did your father tell you?" asked Remus.
Sirius shifted in his chair not wanting to discuss it. "Let's just say I won't be doing the same thing with Harry."
His father had taken him to a brothel in Paris the Christmas after his fourteenth birthday, handed him over to the Madame for the weekend with the instruction that Sirius be taught everything he needed to know. He would die before Harry would experience the horror and terror Sirius had felt during the first awful minutes before the Madame – Evie – had realised he wasn't there by choice to get practical experience and bundled him into her private quarters and fed him a calming draught.
Remus stared at him as though gathering some of what Sirius wouldn't say out loud. "My Dad was crap at it." He said, thankfully letting go of Sirius's past. "I was seventeen and hardly a virgin when he sat me down to explain everything and then it was the most pathetically short explanation ever. I learned more from you and James…"
Their eyes snapped to each other.
"James!" Sirius said with glee. "The Summer before our fifth year! Do you remember?"
"Charlus had given him the Talk as soon as he gotten home." Remus nodded. "When we went to visit…"
"James sat us all down and repeated what his Dad had told him!" Sirius crowed. "This is perfect! I can put the memory in a pensieve for Harry. OK, the rat will be there but he didn't say very much. And it'll be like James giving Harry the Talk."
"Well, you probably should check it for veracity and accuracy first, and you'll probably have to deal with any secondary questions." Remus pointed out before he broke into a grin. "But, yes; it's a splendid idea, Sirius."
Sirius was about to agree when he glanced at the clock. "Crap! We're going to be late! We both need to get changed into muggle clothes and get to the Grangers! Harry's probably at the floo wondering where we are!"
Remus followed him sedately as Sirius leaped from his chair and hurried towards the door. "Do you think we should ask Augusta about Neville?"
"What about Neville?" asked Sirius distractedly.
"Well, what are the odds Augusta's given Neville the Talk?" asked Remus slyly.
Sirius came to a sudden halt and Remus bumped into him. Sirius looked over his shoulder with wide horrified eyes. "Bugger."
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