This is my first time, just wanted to see what it would be like…

All characters and events from the Harry Potter series belong to J. .

This Story: Centred around Harry and Sirius. Harry is older and learns that he has a godfather in prison who is to be released. In this story Harry has had a rough childhood and was kind of like that dodgy neighbourhood kid. Also, this story starts just as Harry has finished school. He defeated Voldemort without the help of Sirius and I will also be ignoring the other deaths in the books. My Sirius and Harry are also quite different from the ones in the books. Well, here goes…

Chapter 1: The Visit

When Harry climbed out of the Ministry boat that had escorted him to Azkaban, he was not expecting to feel nervous. All the build-up, all the opinions from those who advised him against this visit seemed to disappear as he allowed his mind to finally accept the fact that he was about to see Sirius Black. He pulled his hoody tightly over his head as he silently cursed the icy wind. As he walked beside the Azkaban guard he wondered briefly if his goose bumps were from the cold or from the unwelcoming stone face of the massive prison in front of him. As the prison got steadily larger and larger, he couldn't help but notice how the guard beside him kept giving him half glances. "What the hell is Harry Potter doing here?" he probably thought. Harry smiled to himself at this…he could read people far better than most thought.

When finally Harry stepped through about three heavy barred gates, he was escorted through the maze of passages to the wards where prisoners were kept separate from each other, under maximum security. He was taken into a brightly lit room which contained one table with two chairs on either side and a guard standing in the corner. Harry couldn't help but shudder at the prisoner's chair which had chains hanging limply from the armrests.

"Mr Black will be with you shortly." The escort said and left the room. Harry sat there, staring at the empty chair for what felt like ages, getting somewhat annoyed by the guard that kept glancing at him. When finally he could hear footsteps outside the door, he felt as if his heart was going to explode. The first man to enter was a guard who looked a little unsettled; he took his place in the corned opposite the other guard. The second man that entered was not at all what Harry expected. This must have been Sirius Black…he was wearing a prisoner's uniform. However, this was not at all the image Harry had mentally. This man was tall and confident. He looked young and handsome, clean shaven and strong. The only features that hinted towards incarceration were the slight shadows under his eyes and his almost underfed physique. Yet he carried a relieved expression that quickly turned to blank shock when his eyes fell on Harry.

Harry gazed at him, completely hypnotised by the crystal blue in Black's gaze. Sirius Black took his seat across Harry and stared at him with a straight face. The longest moment passed by before Harry finally realised that Sirius was waiting for him to say something. After clearing his throat, Harry willed himself to speak, "Mr Black, do you know who I am?" It was a simple question yet it never altered the blank expression on Sirius' face.

"Well judging by your eyes and hair," He said softly, "you must be Harry."

He looked at Harry for a long moment with an almost smile. Harry could not find any words to respond with. He had imagined everything up to this point; the prison, the meeting, the introduction. What the hell was he supposed to say now? He started with the reason he decided to make the visit in the first place.

"Yes…I'm Harry." He said, "Peter Pettigrew was captured during the fight against Voldemort a few months ago, he confessed to everything…I didn't know I had a godfather, no one told me…I guess when I heard you were to be released tomorrow, I wanted to visit you."

Sirius smiled at Harry yet Harry knew he could not decide what to say. "Tell me Harry," He finally responded, "What were you expecting to gain from today? Closure?"

Harry didn't know what response he was expecting but that certainly was not it. He didn't know what he really wanted from this; he just had to meet this man, whose existence only got thrown into his life a few months ago.

"No…" Harry replied, "I didn't want to gain anything. I guess I just wanted to meet you. You were imprisoned here but you are innocent. You…you're my godfather…"

Sirius' expression saddened slightly. He looked at Harry curiously, taking him in. "You look quite a bit like you parents, Harry. Your eyes are so much like Lily's yet they are darker. I'm so sorry Harry, for everything that has happened to you and that I could not fulfil my duties to you as I promised…However, I still remain your godfather, regardless of what our pasts has taken from us. If you came here because you hope to gain a kind of relationship with me, I will do my very best."

That last statement shocked Harry. Was that what he wanted? Was this more than curiosity? Apparently this man was also good at reading people. Yet he didn't know Harry, he had only met him, how could he so easily want a relationship with a seventeen year old boy?

"You look like you could throw a good punch" Sirius said, breaking the silence. He smiled broadly and added, "The newspapers make you out to be very small and fragile, but I can see you easily gaining respect from people"

Harry thought that was an odd thing to say but realised that his godfather was just trying to break the ice. "You know," Harry replied, "I can say the same about you…you only look half as intimidating as the papers make you out to be"

Sirius chuckled and Harry laughed with him. His godfather knew Harry was referring to his shaven head and well set jaw line. Harry found himself growing fond of this man, he was not angry or bitter, just grateful that he was soon to be free and that Harry recognised this. When they finally stopped laughing, Harry looked down at his hands with a smile on his face, he felt that getting along with Sirius would come easy.

"So you're seventeen Harry," Sirius finally said, "All done with school…What do you plan to do now?"

"Well," Harry replied, "I have been accepted by a university to study to become an Auror."

"Excellent," said Sirius, "Last I heard you were living with your aunt and uncle, where do you plan to stay while you are studying?"

Harry frowned slightly. He certainly wasn't staying with the Dursleys. He had been staying with the Weasleys since school ended but the prospect of living there whilst studying was looking less appealing by day.

"I haven't really thought about it yet…" Harry replied. He looked at Sirius who raised an eyebrow and smiled again.

"I own an estate." He stated casually, "It is where I am planning to stay from tomorrow. It was my parents'. If you wish, you are more than welcome to join me."

"What?" Harry asked, "That's a very kind offer but… I mean you hardly know me, nor I you…"

Sirius nodded and smiled, "Remus Lupin has been paying me visits lately, he has told me a lot about you. He said how kind and friendly you are… he said you were looking for a place to stay and that if I ever wanted a relationship with my godson I should start by moving you into my estate. However, I can assure you Harry that you have been on my mind every day since my incarceration and that I will do my very best to be a good godfather to you. I am not expecting miracles or expecting us to bond over tea, but I am offering this to you because Remus said you needed a break…from everyone…Of course you don't have to, but you can always try it out, just for a bit if you like."

Harry stared at him. This was a risk and they both knew it. Yet when Harry looked into Sirius' eyes he saw nothing but sincerity. This man was kind; he was not the monster that Skeeter had made him out to be. This man cared for Harry so much that just after a few minutes of knowing him he wanted to take him into his home. Harry did need a break, he needed to be refreshed, he needed a new experience…he needed this unpredictable journey.

"Alright," Harry said, "I mean…yeah…Remus was right, this would probably be good for me."

Sirius smiled brightly, accentuating his laugh lines and finally making him look his age. He glared at Harry until finally one of the guards took a step forward and said, "Unfortunately time is up Mr. Black, we have another visit booked in a few minutes."

Sirius stood up and before he left the room he said to Harry, "Remus will escort you to my estate tomorrow, Harry. I will see you there."

Harry nodded and stepped between Sirius and the guard to exit the room, "Alright." Harry said, wondering if he might regret this later.

As Harry turned left where Sirius was to turn right, Sirius turned to look at him and said, "You know Harry, you just gave me a reason to look forward to my freedom." And with that Sirius turned to leave, eliminating any doubts Harry had previously had.

Upon Harry's departure from the higher security section, he walked past the person who had clearly booked the next visiting session, Draco Malfoy. They glanced at each other for a moment, neither angry nor frowning, simply understanding. For the first time in his life Harry truly felt sorry for his former enemy and Draco simply nodded to him.