Eventually the tears ceased, Sirius had held him the entire time, now he released him slightly, allowing Harry to move backwards so he could get a good look at him. "Alright now pup?" Harry just nodded, not trusting himself to speak, Sirius smiled warmly down at him, "How about some breakfast then?" Harry nodded again, slightly overwhelmed with it all. His dream had turned out to be real; he was living with his godfather who had actually told him that he loved him and even though his tears had soaked through Sirius's shirt the older wizard hadn't punished him; instead he had hugged him and let him cry.
Harry was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed that his godfather had reached down to pick him up. "What are you doing?" he gasped out as his godfather hoisted him up into his arms.
"Carrying you downstairs of course," Sirius answered as if he thought it was obvious. Immediately Harry flushed scarlet with embarrassment,
Discover moreFoodChildren's BooksFan FictionBreakfast FoodsHospitals & Treatment Centers"I'm not a baby," he protested as he struggled against the animagus's grip. Somewhat surprisingly he discovered not only were his struggles ineffectual, they had absolutely no effect on his godfather who just stood patiently, waiting for him to stop. After about thirty seconds Harry gave up and he was shocked to find he felt drained, almost as if he had been working in the garden for the last four hours. Once he was satisfied Harry had completely stopped Sirius gazed down at his godson, "Last night you collapsed on me before you had taken three steps, scared the hell out of me too," he added, the ghost of a smile touching his lips, but his expression quickly turned serious again, "You were starved for the last few weeks and are extremely weak because of that so forgive me if I'm not going to take any chances." His faced softened, "I don't think you're a baby Harry but I am not going to do anything to endanger you." He smiled at his godson but Harry could see the worry still clearly marking his features.
A warm feeling rushed up inside him as he listened to Sirius's words and as the animagus started walking once more a long forgotten instinct rose up in him, leaning back slightly he rested his head against his godfather's shoulder and closed his eyes, trusting Sirius to keep him safe. He heard the man's sharp intake of breath as Sirius registered the action and he opened his eyes, looking curiously at his godfather. "What is it Sirius?" The animagus glanced down at him, a distant look in his eyes,
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"You just took me by surprise that's all," at Harry's questioning look he continued, "I can't count the number of times I saw you like that as a baby; you absolutely loved being carried. Nearly every time I'd come over I'd see you being carried by James, your head resting against his shoulder. We had to let you go to sleep on the shoulder of whoever was holding you whenever it was time for your nap or you wouldn't go to sleep," Sirius chuckled, "It drove Lily absolutely wild when she couldn't get you to settle down in your cot, she was hoping you'd grow out of it before you got too big to be held comfortably." Harry listened with rapt attention, he knew hardly anything about his parents and his first year and he hoped Sirius would be willing to tell him more stories and talk about his parents, even if the things he told him about were embarrassing he wanted to know as much as he could. His parents were nothing more than images to him, they didn't quite feel like real people and even though he missed them they still didn't feel wholly true to him. Hopefully Sirius would be able to tell him enough to fill in the void and make his parents people he could relate to rather than pictures.
Discover moreE-BooksScience Fiction & Fantasy BooksScience Fiction & Fantasy FilmsFiction writing guidesWriter communityGently Sirius placed Harry on a corner of the sofa and the boy quickly wriggled round into an upright position looking confused. Sirius just grinned at him and sat down next to him pulling the coffee table towards them as he did so. "I thought we could eat in here for a few days." He said in response to the unasked question, "It would probably be better if you didn't move around too much for a few days." Harry grimaced but nodded, it was more than a little annoying, he was effectively confined to the sitting room and the bedroom he had spent the night in but the drained feeling he had experienced after struggling for no more than a few seconds was enough to convince him that he needed to rest, he was just surprised he was going to be allowed to. Still, he conceded, Sirius was nothing like the Dursleys, so maybe the man's expectations would be different.
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"Harry," his godfather's voice broke into his thoughts and he shot a question at the man with his eyes, "I was wondering what you would like for breakfast?" Immediately Harry started to try and get up, while he had been caught up in his thoughts breakfast still needed to be made, already his vow to be good was being broken. Firmly Sirius pushed him back down onto the sofa. "You are not going anywhere pup until you've eaten." Bewilderment crossed his face,
"But I should cook, I always cook." Sirius shook his head,
"Not here you don't," he said, ruffling the boy's hair, "Nixie would have my head and yours if we even did so much as step foot in her precious kitchen."
"Nixie?"
"Our house-elf, lovely creature if a bit enthusiastic, especially when it comes to food and calling me Master." Harry snickered, hiding the thrill that went through him at the word 'our'. Was he finally going to get a family? "Sounds a bit like Dobby."
"Dobby?" Sirius questioned.
"A hyperactive house-elf I tricked Malfoy into freeing at the end of my second year. He is absolutely obsessed with me now and insists on calling me Master and he would do anything for me." Sirius let loose a bark like laugh.
"You can tell me that story later pup, now what do you want for breakfast?" Harry bit his lip indecisively, he didn't want to upset his godfather by asking for too much or the wrong thing, finally he reached an acceptable answer, "I don't really mind," he said quietly. Sirius shot him a look that said plainly that he didn't believe him but thankfully he didn't press the issue. "Nixie," he called and instantly a small elf popped into the room,
"Master called?" she asked in her squeaky voice. Sirius nodded,
"I need breakfast for the two of us, but remember Andromeda's instructions; he can have the other part in a few hours time okay?" The elf nodded and vanished. Sirius ran a hand through his hair and turned towards his godson sucking a deep breath as he did so, "You are going to have to take nutrient potions for the next several months I'm afraid, also you won't be able to eat large meals for at least a week," the faintest hint of a grin touched his features, "In fact I'm under strict orders to feed you little and often so you are going to be eating six small meals a day for a week. If you eat too much at once before your body is used to food again it will make you sick." Harry nodded his acceptance immediately, he was well aware of the consequences of eating when he wasn't used to it. He had learnt that the hard way his first night at Hogwarts, whilst the Dursley's had never starved him to the extent they had this summer, he had never eaten much and stuffing himself at the Feast had resulted in him losing the vast majority of the food that night. It was not an experience he particularly wanted to repeat.
Discover moreApp store marketingApp download campaignsAuthor resourcesCreative writing coursesCrossover storiesIn a matter of minutes Nixie had returned with a large tray containing a variety of food and a potion for Harry. Grimacing he grabbed the potion and swallowed it in a single gulp, the hours in the Hospital Wing had taught him that all potions that were beneficial were invariably foul and he didn't want to have to taste it more than he absolutely had to. Cereal was then placed in front of him and he had to force himself to eat at a moderate pace instead of scoffing the food down, another thing he knew was guaranteed to make him sick if he did it on an empty stomach.
Soon the pair of them were finished and Sirius turned towards his godson, "So what do you want to do today?" He held up one hand, "Strenuous activities are forbidden for a month and I doubt you are going to be up to much today anyway." He tousled the boy's already messy hair, "I don't mind what you want provided it doesn't endanger you, your life or your health in any way." The teen considered the question for a moment before looking up shyly,
"Could you tell me some stories about my parents please, as long as it's not too much trouble? It's just that I don't know very much and..." His voice trailed off and his gaze dropped as he studied the floor intently. Sirius reached out and cupped the boy's chin in his hand, drawing Harry's face upwards, making him look into his eyes. "Of course I'll tell you about your parents Harry, it will never be too much trouble to talk to you about them." Suddenly he found his arms full of Harry as the teen wrapped his arms around him, chanting "Thank you," over and over. Eventually Harry broke away, his expression flickering between fear and shock that he had actually hugged his godfather of his own violation. Then his gaze dropped from Sirius and he began to mumble apologies. Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder although his heart ached to see his godson apologise for something so simple as giving him a hug, "You don't need to apologise Harry. You are allowed to hug me whenever you want too, I promise I don't mind." Harry gazed up at him, his eyes full of hope. Sirius just opened his arms and waited.
After a few seconds, his eyes flickering up to Sirius's as if checking that it was okay, Harry launched himself at his godfather and wrapped the animagus in a tight hug which Sirius gladly returned, relieved that his pup believed him and was becoming more comfortable around him despite the fact no other adults previously had shown him any affection whatsoever. Sirius grinned down at his godson who grinned back sheepishly and extracted himself from the embrace. Turning towards Sirius his face shone with anticipation as he waited for his godfather to begin and Sirius couldn't prevent himself from smiling at the joy that shone from Harry's eyes. It was a far cry from the terror and pain that had marked them when he had opened the cupboard. "Alright Harry, James finally got his act together in his seventh year and asked your mum out properly. It took both me and Remus two hours to calm him down after she said yes, he was prancing round the dorm all night. He finally asked her..."
Harry listened enraptured as Sirius told story after story about his parents. Admittedly his dad featured in more than his mum did but Harry drank in every last detail, he was learning more about his parents than he had ever known before and Sirius seemed to have an almost inexhaustible font of stories. He felt like he could listen forever but a few hours, another meal and several tales later he was struggling to keep his eyes open. Sirius had warned him that he would be exhausted and weak for several days but he still tried to stay awake, however he hadn't counted on the animagus's sharp eyes.
Noticing his godson was virtually falling asleep on his lap, Sirius stopped talking and gently eased Harry down so his head was pillowed in his lap. Too tired to fight Harry allowed Sirius to lay him down and cover him lightly with a blanket. "You must think I'm a baby," he murmured drowsily as he slipped away towards sleep. The last thing he was aware of was Sirius's fingers carding through his messy hair as the animagus whispered words of comfort.
Sirius smiled tenderly as he felt his godson relax into sleep. It amazed him that despite the awful treatment Harry had received at the hands of his relatives Harry still trusted him. It had taken all he had not to do anything more permanent to those who had hurt his pup, especially last night when the extent of the abuse had become clear, but the sight of his godson sleepingpeacefully against him was a powerful reminder of the fact Harry needed him and if he actually looked at himself he was forced to concede he needed Harry. He didn't know what he'd have done if he hadn't got his freedom and Harry hadn't made it through the summer. That thought reminded him of more unpleasant matters, he still had to deal with Lucius Malfoy. Even though he would much rather do anything than deal with the slimy git he knew he had to. Sighing he called quietly to Nixie, asking her to bring parchment and a quill. A frown gracing his features he began to pen a letter to Malfoy.
Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk sucking on a lemon drop as he mulled over the events of the day before. He had been as shocked as anyone else in the Wizangamot when Amelia Bones had presented the case for Sirius's innocence, he had been aware statements had been taken from the three students but that was standard ministry procedure, especially considering the manhunt that had existed at the time, he hadn't even been aware of the investigation. Not for the first time he wondered what Sirius had done to persuade Fudge to open a review of his case, when the man had visited the school he had been vehemently opposed to the idea of Black's innocence yet here he was supporting an investigation. He was well aware Fudge could be bought for the highest bidder and the Black family were certainly rich but how on earth had Sirius managed to get close enough to Fudge to bribe him without ending up in Azkaban? If that had been what he'd done.
Dumbledore laid that line of questioning to one side, yes it was interesting but the more pressing issue was that of Harry Potter. The wards around Privet Drive had alerted him last night when a wizard had left the property accompanied by Harry. He had instantly responded but it wasn't until he had reached the Dursleys and removed the body binds that it had become apparent what had happened. A few hours after he had been cleared Sirius had come to Privet Drive and taken Harry or Harry had gone with him willingly. In fact Dumbledore would be willing to bet money it was the later. He had been shocked to discover that the Dursleys had starved Harry and kept him in the cupboard, he had known they were slightly neglectful of course, but he knew the Blood Wards kept Harry safe and a small amount of neglect was a price worth paying for his safety in the holidays and growing up.
But now the situation had become a lot more complicated. Sirius was the legal guardian of Harry, there was nothing he could do to separate them short of throwing Sirius back in Azkaban and that was not going to happen now, especially after it was revealed he had spent twelve years there as an innocent man. It had been useful when Sirius had managed to end up in Azkaban originally, it made it much easier for Harry to be kept safe so he could fulfil his destiny. The last line of the prophecy rose in his mind once more, "neither can live whilst the other survives."
He knew Sirius would never let Harry return to the Dursleys and Dumbledore had to admit he had a good reason not to so he had to have them both in a position he could influence them, particularly if the boy was a horcrux like he suspected. He would have to manipulate them to save the rest of the Wizarding World. He sighed, the game had become a lot more complex, but he was Albus Dumbledore, he would be able to cope. He smiled slightly as a possibility occurred to him. He had intended to ask his old friend Alastor to become the DADA professor, but having Sirius in that position would allow him to have both him and Harry under his influence. Yes that would be an appropriate solution for the next year. His plans would have to be modified but the boy had to fulfil his destiny, it was for the Greater Good after all.
He heard a banging on his door as an irate Serverus Snape entered the office, brandishing the morning's Daily Prophet like an weapon. Dumbledore rubbed his temples, already he could feel the beginning of a headache forming, he sighed, it was going to be a long morning.
Life on Black Island soon settled down into a regular pattern. Sirius would wake Harry in the morning and they would eat breakfast together before Harry would do homework for two hours whilst Sirius dealt with Black family business and accounts until he was expected to eat once more, then Remus would come over and they would study defensive magic until lunch. Duels were classed as strenuous activity so he was mainly learning the spells and practicing them, martial arts, duelling and dodging were waiting until Andromeda said his body could cope. It was brilliant learning from both Remus and Sirius although Harry often found it difficult to remember he was no longer his professor and he was supposed to call him Remus or Moony. Once he had managed to call him "Professor Moony," and Sirius had laughed so hard Remus had to silence him before they could do anything else.
However whilst the mornings were reserved for work Sirius was adamant that he had fun in the afternoon. Stories of his parents, games of exploding snap and chess generally filled the afternoon and Harry was so grateful to his godfather. Sirius had taken him from the Dursleys and was giving him all the love and affection he had been denied throughout his childhood. He was more than willing to hug Harry and comfort him and although most teenagers would have resented the affection Harry was more than happy to accept it. He had never felt more loved and whenever Sirius held him he knew he was loved, safe and protected. It was everything he had ever dreamed of when he had lain lonely and afraid in his cupboard.
But even though he knew he was loved he couldn't prevent the fear that rose in him. What if he did something that stopped Sirius caring for him? So far he had been completely good; doing exactly what Sirius told him to without complaint and avoiding anything that might result in him being punished and so far he had succeeded but he knew it was only a matter of time until he did something wrong and he dreaded the day he did.
As his strength returned Sirius had begun to relax the restrictions he had placed around him. Although Sirius still carried him up and downstairs in the mornings and evenings he allowed Harry to move around downstairs provided he didn't go very far. Harry accepted the restrictions easily, the first time he had tried to walk his legs had trembled and he would have fallen if Sirius hadn't caught him and he still wasn't strong enough to walk for more than a few minutes before he needed to steady himself.
He was walking towards the bookcase to extract a book on potions for Snape's essay when it happened. His legs gave out and he fell forward, his hands clawing frantically trying to find something to hold onto to keep him upright. His fingers caught the edge of the bookcase, scrambling as they tried to find purchase against the smooth wood. The edge of his fingers caught a shelf and he hung on desperately trying to keep his balance but his sudden weight was too much for the shelf to handle. With a jerk it shot forward, caught by surprise and already falling Harry tumbled to the floor, yanking the shelf along with its contents with him.
With a thud the heavy piece of hardwood impacted the floor, narrowly missing Harry's fingers, scattering books and pages of parchment across the room. Fear burst through him, he'd done it now. The Dursley's had punished him severely for making even a fraction of the mess that littered the room, what was Sirius going to do to him now? The only thing he could do was try to reduce the mess before Sirius came to check on him. Shakily he pushed himself up only for his legs to give way again the moment he reached his feet. There was nothing he could do.
What would happen now, would this make Sirius stop loving him? Harry wished with all his heart that wouldn't happen but he knew that Sirius was going to punish him, he deserved it for creating such a large mess and this would result in the worst punishment he could get. He knew Sirius withholding his love and care would be the worst sort of punishment he could be given. To experience it and then to be denied the love would destroy him. A horrible thought struck him. What if Sirius decided he was too much trouble and sent him back to the Dursleys? The more he thought about it the more convinced he became that it would happen. He had been so much trouble for the animagus and even though Sirius didn't appear to mind it he knew it was only a matter of time before Sirius saw him for what he really was, a freak and sent him back. This incident would show his godfather that he was worthless and he would be sent back. Sirius had told him that he would love Harry forever but bitter experience had taught him that no love was unconditional, no love was forever. Everyone who had ever loved him had left him and now Sirius was going to leave as well and it would break him. Sobs forced their way out of his throat and he started to cry.
Sirius had leapt to his feet the moment he heard the crash, his mind racing through possibilities and he rushed down the stairs two at a time. Please let Harry be alright he thought desperately as he burst into the sitting room his wand already drawn and in his hand. Relief coursed through him as he saw that there were no Death Eaters or similar in the room but it was almost instantly replaced by worry as he took in the mess and saw Harry curled in a small ball sobbing. With one swift step he was at Harry's side having taken in the situation with a glance. Harry must have taken hold of the shelf to steady himself and accidently overbalanced bringing the shelf down with him. Nothing appeared to have hit Harry but Sirius wasn't going to take any chances.
Gently he pulled the boy into his arms, lifting him and carrying him over to the sofa. He felt the teen stiffen slightly before clutching him desperately, "I'm sorry, Sirius, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, it was an accident," he pleaded, "Don't send me back, please, please don't send me back. I understand if you don't love me anymore just please don't send me back." Harry voice cracked and his tears soaked the front of Sirius's shirt as he clung to him still apologising frantically, the fear and terror plain to hear. Sirius felt his heart break and he tightened his grip on his godson, pouring as much love and comfort into the hug as he was able. Harry thought he would give him up and send him back over an accident, not for the first time Sirius damned the Dursleys, hating that they had instilled such fear into his godson.
"It's alright Harry, you're safe here and I will never send you back to the Dursleys no matter what you do." Tear bright, hopeful eyes rose to meet his and Sirius smiled at him comfortingly, "You won't send me back?" Harry whispered, not quite daring to believe it but Sirius nodded emphatically and pulled him closer.
"You're my godson Harry, I love you like my own child. I will never give you up and I will never, ever send you back to those people." Wide, child-like emerald eyes bored into his and he felt Harry's grip slacken slightly as he moved back to look at Sirius properly, tear tracks still marking his face. "You still love me?" He asked, hope and wonder shining through his face. Sirius smiled, his eyes never leaving his godson, "I will always love you Harry, and I will never stop loving you."
Finally Harry nodded, accepting his words and burrowed deeper into the embrace. For several minutes neither of them spoke as Harry relaxed in Sirius's arms, soaking in the love that surrounded him. In turn Sirius felt the love his godson had for him and it warmed his heart to realise that despite all the mistakes he had made and the ones he could never forgive himself for, Harry had forgiven him and loved him in return. Eventually Sirius broke the silence, "Did you really think I'd abandon you pup?" he asked softly. He felt Harry nod against his chest. His arms tightened around his pup,
"I will never abandon you Harry, it doesn't matter what you do. You are right where you belong, safe in my arms and I will always love you." Harry glanced up shyly, he had never felt so safe, so loved but he just had to make absolutely sure, "You'd love me even if I went Dark?"
"Yes pup, even if you went Dark," he paused for a second then added, "Of course if you did I'd drag you back here and ground you until you saw sense but I'd still love you." Harry couldn't help but laugh. He got a sudden image of Padfoot growling and dragging a protesting Harry up the stairs towards his room. He smiled and buried his face into Sirius's chest, "Love you Siri," he murmured, the words muffled against the fabric. Softly Sirius stroked his godson's hair,
"Love you too pup, I love you too."