[A/N: This is set in the summer after GoF, more specifically it takes place on the 30th and 31st of July. :) It was written based on head-canons I had floating around at the time (so between 2001-2003… yes, this is old school fic lol).
EDIT: I have contemplated taking this down many times, but I have received many reviews and faves over the years, for which I am incredibly grateful and flattered. So instead of taking this down, I have finally re-read it, edited some glaring typos, and cleaned up the writing style of 14-year-old me. I also changed the part about their house being the old Black residence, as it is obviously not Grimmauld Place (which didn't exist at the time of writing), and his parents obviously would not have made accommodations for Remus. I also slipped in one cheeky reference to a character who wasn't introduced until OoTP. Otherwise the story remains as is for your enjoyment.]
{Disclaimer: All characters remain the intellectual property of the amazing JKR}
Freeing Padfoot
(Liberatio Quem Canis)
By Cassie Lee
Harry sat on his bed, staring out the window, thinking about his last year at Hogwarts, contemplating all the things that had changed. He wondered how Sirius was. What was happening in the Wizarding world that he didn't know about?
Voldemort could have taken Azkaban by now.
Harry shuddered, as he thought of the Dementors roaming free, and what they could be doing. They were unpleasant creatures at the best of times, but if they were free to roam the streets…
His stomach growled hungrily. He'd already had lunch, but Dudley was still on his diet, so lunch would have only filled a rabbit. He should write to his friends for snacks again.
Harry decided to try and think of happier things, and he remembered the train journey to back to Kings Cross. The games of Exploding Snap, the icy pumpkin juice… then he imagined what new jokes Fred and George had made with his Triwizard winnings by now. He laughed to himself thinking of all the different things Neville could unwittingly turn into this year, and he imagined Hermione's disapproving frown when Neville or one of the other Gryffindors turned into a chicken or some other animal.
Then he remembered Hermione doing something quite strange at the station when they had said goodbye, she had kissed him on the cheek before joining her parents. It has been different, but not unwelcome. He smiled slightly remembering this, but then smiled wider as he thought about Cho Chang. His smile faded again as he remembered her silent tears at the leaving feast; the image of Cedric Diggory's slightly stunned face as he fell, dead next to him a couple of weeks ago flashed in front of his eyes…
The sound of flapping wings stirred him from his memories.
Hedwig flew through the window and landed next to him on his bed. She had a small piece of parchment attached to her leg, Harry took it off and saw that it read simply "Free!"
Harry stared at the parchment, trying to figure out what on earth it meant. His mind was blank, it didn't mean anything at all to him, he looked at the writing and knew it was familiar, but whose was it?
Harry was still staring down at the parchment when the doorbell rang downstairs. Harry knew the Dursleys weren't expecting anyone, because they always made a big fuss over guests, and Harry was always asked to be quiet and stay in his room (and as long as no house elves showed up, that always worked best for everyone). He crept downstairs, the note still clutched in his hand, as he watched Uncle Vernon go into the front hall to answer the door.
"Yes?" he said when he saw who was standing on his front step, "If you're selling, we're not buying."
Harry crept up to uncle Vernon and peered around him. When he saw who was standing there his jaw dropped.
When the man on the doorstep saw Harry standing there, he grinned at him, but Harry didn't grin back, he simply yelled, making Uncle Vernon jump.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING HERE, HUH?!" Harry yelled in shock, "You could have been seen!" he said slightly more quietly after realising he'd been yelling.
Uncle Vernon rounded on him, "Y-you know this man?" he asked angrily, swelling up slightly and glancing at the man's messy hair.
"Oh-yeah," said Harry now that he remembered Uncle Vernon was there too, "Uncle Vernon," he said, smiling now, "this is my godfather Sirius Black!"
"Pleased to meet you," said Sirius, still grinning, and now looking as though he was trying to hold back a laugh.
Uncle Vernon now looked terrified at the sight of Sirius, but said as pleasantly as he could, "Oh-yes very nice to meet you," he was now pulling Sirius inside and sitting him down in the living room obviously not wanting to make a murderer angry, especially a wizard one.
"Now would you like some tea or something Mr. Black?"
"Actually, that would be nice," replied Sirius. Then Uncle Vernon hurried out of the room, and Harry was sure he was off to warn Aunt Petunia that there was a murderer in their house.
Sirius turned quickly towards Harry and said urgently, "Don't say anything for a moment, I need to explain." Harry nodded, so Sirius continued.
"Peter was spotted last week by several wizards while he was following orders from Voldemort, he was also caught on a muggle security camera which was sent to Fudge, who finally agreed that Peter is still alive. Remus showed me the paper last week and the front page said- well read it yourself," he handed Harry a slightly crumpled newspaper clipping that read:
Ministry's Biggest Mess-up
The Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge has today put out an official apology to Sirius Black (see page 3). The Daily Prophet can exclusively reveal that Peter Pettigrew, who was thought to have been murdered by Black 14 years ago, has been spotted by several Wizards and Muggles.
The fact that Pettigrew is still alive matches with evidence allegedly given to Minister Fudge by Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore a year ago, as well as several other alleged witnesses. It was alleged at this time, that it was in fact Pettigrew who acted as the Secret Keeper for the Potters, and who turned them over to You-Know-Who on that fateful Halloween night in 1981 (for more information on the notoriously difficult Fidelius Charm, see page 31). Further investigation by the DMLE uncovered these witness statements, filed by Headmaster Dumbledore in June 1994, as well as the arrest records of Mr Black from 1981 that show no trial was ever held for official persecution.
An enquiry is being made into Fudge, who failed to provide this information to the Ministry and its Aurors. Additional questions have been raised regarding the fact that Fudge was present at the time of Black's arrest.
All these revelations have led to Minister Fudge announcing that Black is clear of all charges, and Minister Fudge is calling for Black to collect his Order of Merlin, 2nd Class to compensate for serving a 12-year sentence in Azkaban without trial and persecution.
The Ministry is now searching for Pettigrew, who is wanted for questioning on the matters of: the murder of twelve Muggles 14 years ago; now multiple breaches of the Statute of Secrecy; operating as an unregistered animagus; being a member of the infamous hate-group known as the Death Eaters; as well as the manslaughter of James and Lily Potter.
This could possibly mean that Sirius Black will search for his g-
Here it looked as though the paper had been purposely ripped, but Harry looked up at Sirius hardly daring to believe it, "But this-this means that…." He looked into Sirius' eyes and Sirius grinned at him again.
"It means," Sirius continued for Harry, "that I'm free!"
"You sent this then?" asked Harry holding up the parchment that was still in his hand.
"You don't recognise my writing yet?" Sirius asked pretending to look hurt (and rather succeeding thanks to his penchant for looking like a wounded puppy).
Uncle Vernon returned at this moment, holding a plate of biscuits followed by Aunt Petunia carrying tea on a tray and an extremely nervous looking Dudley peered around the door, but didn't dare to come in after his experiences with wizards in that room the previous summer.
"Wh-what brings you to the area Mr. Black?" Aunt Petunia asked while pouring the tea.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could take Harry for the rest of the summer," said Sirius, looking down at Harry and smiling when he heard him gasp.
"I've convinced Dumbledore that Remus and I can look after my godson ourselves, especially since Voldemort thinks you're here," he said to Harry. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia looked horrified at the thought that another wizard knew where they lived.
"H-how many of you lot know where we live?" asked Uncle Vernon, now looking angry again. Harry glanced at Sirius and they agreed silently that they could have some fun with them.
"Oh, all wizards have known I've been here since I arrived, I mean I am famous after all," Harry stated, holding in a smile.
"Yes, definitely," Sirius went on, "After Harry defeated the most powerful Dark Wizard when he was one, all the evil ones have wanted to come here, especially Voldemort."
"Th-they want to come here?" said Uncle Vernon, now looking as though he was battling between being furious and nervous.
Harry wanted to get back to the subject of him leaving with Sirius, so he thought he'd have to tell them with a grin that, "Your house is surrounded by magic so no dark wizards can get here, but others can."
"Harry might have to come back for a while next summer it depends what's happening in our world," said Sirius looking as though he wanted to get on too.
"Have I seen you before Mr. Black?" asked Aunt Petunia finding her voice again, then Harry remembered, almost laughing she had seen him on the news about two years ago.
"Do you remember the day Aunt Marge last came?" asked Harry quickly continuing before they remembered too much of Marge's last visit, "Remember the news, Uncle Vernon said that his hair was a mess and they should tell you where he escaped from. They didn't say because he escaped from wizard prison." At this Aunt Petunia looked quite alarmed and put her arm around Dudley who had sidled into the room.
"Um-yes that wasn't the best of photos was it," said Sirius smiling, "it is nice to see you again Petunia, it's been, what, 16 years?" Aunt Petunia's eyes widened,
"L-lily's w-wedding. You're Sirius?"
"Yes, we have been over that, sorry about that frog by the way...you should go get your things Harry, I'm sure your Aunt and Uncle don't want me here any longer." The look on the Dursley's faces in that moment made it clear that this was a true statement.
Harry left the room, only slightly reluctantly, not noticing that he was being followed by Dudley until he reached his bedroom.
"How did you defeat an evil wizard?" Dudley asked sceptically, sitting down uneasily on the end of Harry's bed and watching him as he started to throw his meagre belongings together.
"You mean how did I escape him four times, because last I checked the jerk hasn't been defeated. And your parents wouldn't like it if they knew you were talking to me," Harry replied, pulling his trunk from under the bed.
Dudley shrugged and asked, "Is he really your godfather?"
"Uh huh," Harry replied while shooing Hedwig back into her cage. There was a pause for a moment as Dudley appeared to be processing this information and deciding on his next question. Harry used this time to drop his school books he had been reading out of boredom into his trunk. Really, with the amount of reading he did in the summer, he felt he should know as much as Hermione at this point. If only he wasn't stuck reading the same books he already owned.
"Who's Remus?"
At this question, Harry looked up from his mission to get the last few books in around his clothes and smiled, "He's a werewolf, and he and Sirius were my parents' best friends. Is that all? Because I want to get out of here." Harry had never packed his trunk so fast, and he was pretty sure it could have only been done faster if he was allowed to use magic during the summer.
"Yeah," added Dudley, "who's Dumdlebore?"
"Dumbledore is my headmaster and the greatest wizard there is," replied Harry now getting impatient, "Though I wonder about that, as it was his idea to bring me here." Dudley frowned as he processed this information, and Harry suspected he'd be answering questions all afternoon if he didn't get out of here quickly.
'So much for not being allowed to ask questions in this house', Harry thought with an internal eyeroll.
Harry turned and left the room, dragging his trunk down the stairs with one hand while juggling his broom and Hedwig's cage in the other. Dudley followed quietly behind him, not bothering to offer assistance. They both re-entered the living room before Harry realised there was something Sirius hadn't told him.
"Sirius how are we getting to Professor Lupin's?" he asked, assuming since Lupin had been mentioned, that this was where they were headed.
Well," said Sirius, standing now Harry was back, "for one thing you can call him Remus or Moony now, and I thought you might have had enough of Portkeys for a while, so after a bit of searching I found something you might like a bit better."
He led Harry out to the hall, Harry carrying Hedwig's cage and his broom, while Sirius lugged Harry's trunk and smiled at his quizzical look. "I believe you've used it once before, though I'm not sure you'd remember," Sirius continued while opening the door.
Harry gasped and Dudley (who must still be not far behind Harry, despite his parents remaining in the living room) whispered "Wow" under his breath.
"You found it!" Harry said excitedly examining the very large motorbike sitting outside 4 Privet Drive, "I mean, it is the same one?"
"The one and only!" Sirius laughed at Harry's excited face.
Harry suddenly stopped looking at the motorbike and went into a kind of trance. He could see different pictures flashing before his eyes; a flash of green light, a very devastated young man looking sadly around with a baby in his arms, another man, this one huge trying to comfort the first and then taking the baby off him.
"No, I'll take Harry, I'm his godfather Hagrid…."
"Harry, Harry, HARRY!" Harry looked around, someone was calling him, and then he remembered where he was. He was still in Privet Drive and Sirius was holding his shoulders looking at him with sad eyes, "Are you all right Harry?" he asked when Harry looked up at him.
"Yeah, I'm-I'm fine," he said, not really feeling fine at all. Sirius looked at him as though he knew he was lying, then turned back to the Dursleys who were now cautiously peering out the front door and said, "Thanks for the tea, we'll go now." The Dursleys stood in the doorway to number four looking stunned.
Then, after somehow putting the trunk and broom in the compartment under the seat, and strapping Hedwig's cage to the back, he hoisted Harry up onto the giant motorbike, passed him a helmet and said, "Now here's the fun part!"
The engine revved up and Harry put his hands round Sirius' waist before the bike flew up into the evening sky, leaving the open-mouthed Dursleys behind.
The wind rustled through the young man's hair, making him shiver while he was still fighting hopelessly to keep his godson, to no avail.
"Okay, then take this Hagrid, I won't be needing it anymore."
"If-if ye sure, Sirius. I'm really sorry." The young man turned away to try and hide the fact that there were silent tears streaming down his face. The huge man got on the bike with the baby and they were flying over the town, flying away from the destruction, the death and sadness. Then over the water, the scene went blank, the baby was asleep in the giant's arms and everything faded.
The images now were of the same baby being poked and pinched by a big fat baby making the smaller cry.
"Harry, Harry wake up! We're here, we're home!" Sirius said holding the still sleeping Harry. Harry's eyes fluttered open with a sad expression clearly inside them, the same one that had been there at the Dursley's.
"I remember," he whispered, shivering slightly at the cool breeze blowing.
"Okay Harry, let's go inside and you can tell me," Sirius answered Harry, who clearly wasn't fully awake yet. Harry swung his left leg back over the bike and landed on both feet on the ground. In front of him was a small cottage with a thatched roof and a small front garden with a low front gate. The rest of the street had similar looking cottages, although one end of the street changed to terrace houses further down. It wasn't obvious from standing here, in what part of Britain the cottage stood.
"Wow, is this it?! Is this where we're going to live?" Harry asked taking in his surroundings.
"Yup," replied Sirius, "it's kept me busy in the last few weeks, believe me," he continued leading him down the front path and opening the door with his key, "Voila!"
Harry was speechless as he crossed the threshold and stared around the house that was obviously not a one-story cottage, then he noticed Sirius standing nervously by the door waiting for a reaction from Harry.
"It's-it's great!" exclaimed Harry, still trying to find the words. From where he stood in the hall, he could see a cosy looking living room with a couple of overstuffed armchairs placed around a fireplace, a big soft rug on the floor, and a chessboard shoved against the wall. On the other side of the hall there was a staircase leading up to the upper level of the house that shouldn't exist, while down the end of the hall he thought he spotted a kitchen.
"You mean it? I mean I didn't know what you'd like, being a fifteen-year-old boy and all, and it was a long time ago when I was 15, and my room was full of Filibuster fireworks and Dungbombs to give to Filch."
"Sirius, it's fine, really, I wouldn't care if you took me to live in a cave, 'cause you've freed me from the Dursleys and so this is the best birthday present ever!"
While exploring the house, Harry managed to find his new bedroom, so he could unpack. His new room had pale blue carpet and one wall of red, there was a built-in wardrobe on the left side of the room and his bed and a desk on the right. He opened the chest of drawers under his window to find some new clothes that were actually the right size for his small frame (compared to Dudley). The wardrobe was a similar story with new robes hanging proudly, which Harry realised weren't even Hogwarts robes. He had actual, regular wizard robes in his wardrobe! There was also a set of dress robes he acknowledged with a slight grimace at the memory of the previous year's Yule Ball.
He discovered the door next to his wardrobe went to his own bathroom with his own talking mirror. Harry had never felt so spoiled in his entire life. He was about to go back downstairs when a picture hanging above his new bed caught his eye.
He lifted it off the wall and saw five people standing (well four standing, one lying) in the photo talking (and burbling) adamantly to each other about something. The first man had light, sandy coloured hair and kind, blue eyes, which were rolling at the man next to him. The next had scruffy, dark hair and deep laughing, brown eyes. The last man had messy black hair and dark, friendly eyes. This man was talking to a pretty woman with long auburn hair and sparkling, emerald green eyes, she was holding a small baby with the man's messy black hair and the woman's sparkling, emerald green eyes.
Underneath this picture it had been signed by each person:
Moony, Padfoot, Prongs, Lily and • (Harry) 4ever. There was a kind of splodge where Harry's name should have gone, and someone (Lily?) had written his name next to it.
Harry was about to put the picture back when he noticed a small dent in the wall, he was just about to put his finger on it when there was a knock on his door.
"Harry, you hungry?" called Sirius through the door. Harry quickly put the picture back, answered "definitely!", and resolved to check it out later, when Sirius poked his head in the room.
One glance at Harry told him all he needed to know.
"You found it then, did you?" he asked looking at the photo, "That was taken before all the real trouble started. Or at least before we thought it started, notice someone missing?"
"Wormtail," Harry whispered frowning. "I thought he owed me his life he doesn't have very good way of showing it, does he?"
"No, but we must have saved him heaps of times, and he rewarded us with betraying us, killing us and sending us to Azkaban. I'm guessing you found the other bit then, as the picture's still swaying?" asked Sirius grinning at Harry again.
"Other bit?"
"Here," said Sirius, lifting the picture and pressing the dent with his finger. Harry gasped as a hole appeared in the wall, it was full of Dungbombs, Filibuster fireworks and many other pranks and fun things.
"Wow!" said Harry, making Sirius grin again.
"I told you my room used to be full of Dungbombs and stuff, I thought you could have my old stuff, as you still have three years in which you can terrorise Hogwarts!"
"That's Fred and George's territory, I'm just the innocent 'hero' that only Snape suspects of anything," answered Harry with a small grin. "In fact, Hagrid thinks that those two could give you four a run for your money," Harry indicated to the picture still in Sirius' hand.
"Oh, does he now? Well his memory's obviously going in his old age, and I wonder how far they could have gotten without the Marauders Map."
"They idolise you for that by the way, they said they owe you everything!" Harry told him, remembering his conversation with the twins when they passed the map to him in third year.
"Well I might have to meet them then, won't I?" asked Sirius, eyeing the contents of the wall.
"Can I invite the Weasleys over then?"
"Hmm, maybe, how many of them are there now by the way? I lost track after Bill and Charlie, or maybe there was another one…"
"Well before you went to Azkaban there would have been Bill, Charlie, pompous Percy, Fred and George, and now there's Ron and Ginny too."
"Wow Arthur has been busy since last time I saw him, fancy looking after all those children. He was Head Boy in our second year at Hogwarts," Sirius explained to Harry who was starting to get lost, "He and Molly had enough of us four to last them a life time. Arthur was also in the league against Voldemort with us."
"Why is all this stuff still around though?" asked Harry still curious, looking at the hidden stash in the wall.
"This was my house after my parents kicked me out. Well, after I moved out of your grandparents' place anyway. James was meant to live here with me, and I guess he did for a little, but Lily-flower suggested getting their own place after she got pregnant for some reason." Sirius grinned, "Remus was living here on and off after Hogwarts, because he was having trouble finding a place, and your mother had sound proofed the basement so he could use it every month… she really was the best at charms. I had hoped Remus would continue using this place after I was taken to Azkaban, but I don't think he really liked coming here after that.
As for the stash, I guess Remus just left it here, because I know he knew about it and only he, Lily, James and I could open it, Peter wasn't with us that day either…"
"I can't open it then?" asked Harry wondering why he was being shown this in the first place if he couldn't use it.
"Of course, you're related to both Lily and James so you can as well. There's one little favour I have to ask you to go with all this."
"What?" asked Harry thinking a favour from a prankster couldn't be anything good.
"You have to feed this," he reached into the hold and held up what looked like a dead mouse, "to Mrs Norris, we never got the chance," Sirius said almost sadly.
Harry laughed at Sirius' strange request, "You're meant to be my responsible guardian! What will it do anyway?"
"Firstly, James was meant to do the responsible bit, and I promised no matter what I'd lead you astray, I can't go back on my promises." Sirius smirked before continuing, "And secondly, it's meant to turn her fluorescent pink! Though it might not, as we invented it."
That did it, Harry was laughing harder than he had in a long time and all he had to do was imagine a pink Mrs Norris to start it off again. Finally, he needed to breathe again so he stopped and said, "I-I'll do it!" He needed a laugh anyway.
"Great, now let's find Remus and get some food, oh, but I thought you might need this," said Sirius, standing and passing Harry a blank piece of parchment. Harry looked at him curiously, "The Marauder's Map? I can't open it, magic's not allowed in the summer."
"Still? I thought that would be long gone by now." Sirius made a face at what he clearly thought was a pointless rule.
"It was around when you were at school?" Harry asked, curious again, he'd never had his father around to tell him about his days at Hogwarts.
"Around? We caused it, your father and I blew up the shed at your grandparents' place!" Sirius answered jabbing his thumb in the direction of the back garden, despite not being at the old Potter residence. "Anyway, I solemnly swear I am up to no good!" Ink seeped out of the parchment until the map of Hogwarts was in Harry's hands and Sirius was beaming down at it. "For what it's worth, I don't think this counts as a spell, and even if it did, you live in a wizard's house now, so no one will notice! …Not that you really need it here I guess."
"Where-" Harry started, wondering how it ended up here after the fake Moody had confiscated it while he was still at Hogwarts.
"Dumbledore sent it, saying that at least Fred and George don't have it, he wants you to have it, and he hopes to meet you down one of the secret passages one day."
"Oh."
"Yeah, I think it's best not to question it," Sirius chuckled. Harry silently agreed, while filing away the information about doing magic in a wizard's house as something to look into later. Maybe with Hermione, she might even know about it already.
They both went back downstairs to find Remus asleep with his head on the kitchen table.
"Shh!" said Sirius creeping up behind him, obviously going back to his old ways very quickly, "Wake up Moony, it's time to go down to the willow, Prongs is waiting with the cloak." Harry shook his head at the morbid joke but made no move to stop him.
"Wha' abou' Pe'er?" asked Remus obviously still asleep.
"He decided to go play with Tom Riddle instead."
"Oo?"
"Mouldy Voldie, y'know? Voldemort?"
"That's nice," replied Remus, but then all that was being said seemed to sink in, "WHAT? Padfoot what are you on about?"
"You heard me, it's time to go!" Sirius replied with a surprisingly straight face.
"Padfoot, I'm in the kitchen and Prongs died 14 years ago," Remus stated as if speaking to a particularly slow child.
"You didn't seem to think that a moment ago!"
"Sirius," Remus sighed, obviously he was used to being waken up like this.
"Oh no, he's cranky now Harry he used my real name you better run!"
Harry definitely couldn't go anywhere right now he was sliding down the wall, laughing.
"Harry?" Remus asked getting very confused now.
"Harry, you know James' son?" Sirius rolled his eyes and gestured behind him.
Harry peered around Sirius from his position on the floor, still laughing, "Hi Professor!"
Sirius sighed, "It's Remus, Harry, or Moony if you prefer."
"Yes, I'm not a professor anymore Harry, when did you get here by the way?"
"Sirius got me this afternoon, didn't he tell you?"
"You really think that Sirius would be that responsible? I guess you haven't known him for very long have you?"
"He's moody Harry, he's using my real name again," Sirius said in a very audible whisper, "he's always being so serious."
"Really, I was under the impression that you were Sirius, and I was Remus, that's Harry."
"Oh don't start that again, I'll agree with Lily now, it is getting old."
"Of course it is! It's 21 years since you started that, and Lily tried to convince you after seven and now you realise it's old!"
Harry cleared his throat, assuming (correctly) that this could go on for a while and said, "I was under the impression that we had food in this house. And aren't you two a bit old for this?" he asked.
"Oh, of course Harry, but maybe it's easier to owl for a pizza tonight, there's a place that takes wizard orders nearby. Really Sirius you're meant to be his godfather, you're meant to be setting an example."
"Yeah, but he also lives with you, so you can set the example and I can carry out my promise to James. Plus-" Sirius added with a sly grin on his face.
"Oh-no not that grin Sirius, every time I saw that grin at Hogwarts the result of that grin nearly always ended with us in detention."
"Oh, but Remus, we're not at Hogwarts any more so we can't get any detentions!" Sirius' grin did not waver in the face of Remus' scepticism. "Besides we never got to test out that Mrs Norris food we made." With that, Remus' tired face suddenly had a grin plastered on it, not unlike Sirius', highlighting for Harry that, no matter how much he protested, Remus had been a Marauder through and through.
"Oh, in that case... that stupid cat still doesn't trust me, followed me all 'round Hogwarts when I was teaching."
Harry sighed, seeing this wasn't getting him anywhere, so he scribbled down a pizza order and tied it to Hedwig's leg telling her to be quick, assuming, as always, that she would know where to go. With that he sat in a chair listening to the two Marauders arguing over the best way to get Mrs Norris to eat a mouse until they both jumped when Hedwig and a delivery owl came in through the window with two large pizzas and garlic bread.
Later that evening, all three wizards sat around the fire in the living room; Sirius in a big squishy armchair, Remus in a smaller, while Harry was laying on his stomach on the thick carpeted floor.
"Remind me again why I got the floor," Harry said in a mock-grumpy tone.
Sirius shrugged, "We're bigger than you?"
"I didn't think dogs were allowed on the furniture," said Harry even though he was quite happy on the floor. An 'argument' with these two, he had found, was funny and quite hard to resist. He almost shuddered to think what the four Marauders were like all together. No… three Marauders, Harry no longer counted Wormtail as one.
Remus snorted into his tea at Harry's comment. "You know he's got a point there Padfoot," he said laughing.
"But I saved you from the Dursleys didn't I?" Sirius pouted.
"Ok, ok you win, where did you find your bike by the way?" asked Harry, sitting up and leaning against Remus' chair.
"Hagrid kept it this whole time, and after the newspaper article on me he thought it was time I got it back. I hope he didn't let any of his pets near it," replied Sirius with a grimace.
"Hmm," Harry murmured thoughtfully.
Sirius bit his lip then decided to ask the question he'd been thinking all afternoon, "Harry what was wrong this afternoon when you were looking at the bike? You were staring into another world."
"You said I might remember the bike, and, well, I did," Harry said simply.
Sirius raised his eyebrows knowing he wasn't saying something, "You were only one Harry."
"Well, I've been dreaming of that bike since then, and tonight I saw more. I saw everything, I saw you."
Sirius' face fell slightly and both Harry and Remus heard him mutter, "Damn Dementors."
"Well I think it's time for bed, it's been a big day and we'll be busy tomorrow," Remus said covering the uneasy silence. Harry raised an eyebrow in question, but Sirius and Remus just smiled.
"Fine, don't tell me, just don't be surprised if you find Dungbombs in your bed in the morning," Harry grinned, "I happen to know where there is a good supply of them."
They all went to bed, and when he checked on him less than half an hour later, Sirius found Harry fast asleep with a smile on his lips.
Even after telling Sirius that living with him was the best birthday present ever, Harry woke up the next morning totally oblivious to what day it was. He had enjoyed the day before immensely, and the idea that he was in his new bedroom, in his new house, with his new family had overshadowed all other thoughts. He dressed in his new, proper fitting jeans and a t-shirt, before going downstairs for breakfast.
"Morning Harry!" said Sirius grinning.
"Morning Sirius, Remus," replied smiling back curiously, "What's for breakfast?"
"Ahh, truly James' son, first words in the room: 'what's for breakfast!' You'll enjoy Sirius' company then," said Remus, also smiling at him.
"But I believe my first words in the room were: 'Morning Sirius, Remus'," Harry replied, he had quickly learned how to put the mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Oh, honestly you two are as bad as each other," Remus said, "I give up!"
"Yay, I won! Now, what is for breakfast?" Harry asked, sitting at the round kitchen table.
"Pancakes this morning, just don't dis my cooking abilities," Sirius answered, as Remus groaned at the thought of Sirius cooking.
"Um-Remus, what are exactly Sirius' cooking abilities?" asked Harry nervously.
"Pancakes and toast are pretty much the extent of them, anyway I thought you should have learned being around Fred and George that no food from pranksters should be trusted," said Remus, remembering his teaching experiences clearly.
"Oh," said Harry, carefully eying his plate.
"Don't worry Harry I wouldn't put anything in yours today," Sirius reassured him with a grin, which was replied with raised eyebrows from both Harry and Remus. They both cautiously ate their breakfast, managing not to turn into anything that day. Sirius ate his breakfast happily, smiling to himself at the paranoia he'd caused.
Just as Harry was taking his plate to the sink which was already magically washing Sirius' plate, he heard a knock on the back door that lead off the kitchen.
"Could you get that please Harry?" Sirius asked from behind his newspaper, Harry raised his eyebrows, but went to the back door anyway. He slowly opened the door, and for the second time in two days his jaw dropped.
"SURPRISE!" Standing in the back garden were, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, actually it looked like all the Weasleys, Remus (when did he leave the room?), Seamus, Dean, Neville, and lots of other people he knew, including:
"Professor Dumbledore? What are you doing here sir?" Harry asked in amazement.
"I just dropped by to see how you were doing and to wish you a happy birthday Harry," Dumbledore replied cheerfully, his blue eyes twinkling. Something in Harry's mind finally clicked as he remembered with a jolt that today was his 15th birthday!
"These are all for me?" he asked spotting the mountain of presents sitting on a table on the other side of the garden.
"Every last one," replied Sirius coming out behind Harry.
"Wow this is the be-no, sorry, second best birthday present ever!"
"Good, now go talk to your friends while I sort out Fred and George," said Sirius grinning.
"OK," replied Harry, then quietly followed Sirius over to the twins, waving to his friends as he passed.
"Hi boys, judging by the fact you're trying to hide fireworks in my garden, I'll say that you're Fred and you're George," Sirius pointed to each twin correctly.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" they replied in unison, grinning.
"I've heard a lot about you two, plus you're wearing your Weasley jumpers!" Fred and George looked at each other's jumpers realising one had a big letter G and the other an F. It was unfortunate for them that it was unseasonably cool today.
"Oh," Fred said sheepishly.
"Who're you?" asked George, looking the stranger over cautiously, as though he recognised him, but couldn't place why.
"Me? Sirius Black at your service, otherwise known as Padfoot," Sirius did a mock-bow.
"You're Sirius Black?" their eyes widened.
"Yep, amazing what a shower, some food and a haircut every 14 years can do isn't it?" Harry grinned as the realisation of what Sirius had said earlier came into the twin's minds.
"Harry? What are you doing?" Ron had come over to where Harry was standing, quietly watching Sirius.
"Shh, look," was Harry's reply, not looking away from the scene before him. Ron shrugged and joined him.
"Um- I was wondering did you say your name was Padfoot?" Fred asked oblivious to Harry, and now Ron, watching them and laughing silently.
"The one and only!" Harry and Ron couldn't keep their laughing silent anymore seeing how slow the twins were being. Sirius turned around and sighed, "I should have known you wouldn't do what you were told, like father, like son."
"S-sorry," Harry laughed, "couldn't help myself, I wanted to see how long it would take for them to figure it out," he smiled innocently.
"A-hem!" Sirius, Ron and Harry turned to see Fred and George looking at them expectantly, "what's going on?"
"Ah, well, Harry should you tell them, or should I?" Sirius smirked.
"Oh, can I?" Harry laughed. Sirius nodded so Harry continued, he'd been wanting to let the twins in on this secret for a while. "Fred, George meet Padfoot from Moo-"
"Padfoot, Harry what are you doing over here? The guests are that way," Remus had walked over to their corner of the garden.
"Ok, slight change, meet Padfoot and Moony from Moony, Wormtail," Harry spat out the name with a sneer, surprising Fred and George, "Padfoot, and Prongs."
"Professor Lupin?! You're Moony? After all those times you told us off for sneaking around secret passage ways?" Fred asked incredulously.
"And Sirius Black is Padfoot?" asked George, just as amazed.
"I told you off because we had a fugitive lurking about and you weren't meant to be sneaking around," Lupin said, not bothering to hide his obvious enjoyment of the situation.
"Yep, he knew that I could remember every passage we ever used, and I was a mass murderer after all," Sirius mocked with an exaggerated wink.
"If you're Padfoot," Fred pointed to Sirius.
"And you're Moony," George pointed to Remus.
"Then who are Prongs and Wormtail?" they asked together, not meaning to, but going back to the old habit of finishing each other's sentences without realising.
Three sets of eyes moved to Harry who shrugged and sighed, "This isn't as fun is it? Well I think they have a right to know, they trusted your map for years." Harry looked up from the dirt he'd been staring at in thought, and continued, "Prongs was James Potter, my dad, and Wormtail," he spat the name again, "was Peter Pettigrew."
Fred and George looked at each other for a moment, then nodded and turned to Ron and said simultaneously, "And you knew about this?"
Harry laughed and turned back to Sirius, the mischievous glint back in his eyes, "When's it time for cake?"
"Told you, always thinking about his stomach," said Remus, turning and walking back to the guests, shaking his head as he went.
"My perfect son," was Sirius' reply, as he starting to walk back to the others with Harry. He paused, then turned back and called, "You two keep those fireworks out of my garden, the ladder to the roof is round the side of the house," and with that he took Harry back to the guests.
"Harry where have you been? Where's Ron?" Sirius grinned and left Harry with Hermione, moving to join Remus at the drinks table where he was chatting to a young woman with bubble gum pink hair.
"We thought Fred and George would like to know where the map came from and now Ron's getting the third degree for not telling them sooner," said Harry innocently. Almost to his surprise Hermione giggled in response. "Hey Herm, did you end up going to Bulgaria?"
"Um, yeah I did," said Hermione said with raised eyebrows, "did you just call me Herm?"
"Oh, yeah, I just thought that for four years we've called you Hermione and Herm's just easier to say," Harry shrugged. "We don't call Ron 'Ronald' after all."
Hermione laughed, "It's fine, it just surprised me that's all. Oh, but you should have seen Bulgaria it was beautiful! And Victor showed me all these great places, did you know wizards have lived in Sofia for almost 9000 years?! The wizarding district there was amazing! Victor was telling me all about its history, and we've decided just to stay friends and- um here comes Ron, I'll tell you about it later. Please don't tell him I went, you won't, will you?" Harry smirked at the amount of words that had just been said in quick succession but shook his head in response just as Ron reached the table where they were sitting.
"Harry, you should have seen their faces! They can't believe that we knew all this time!"
Ron was about to continue when they heard someone yell: "CAKE TIME!" The three teenagers looked up to see Remus and Sirius walking towards them with a giant chocolate mud cake, which was set on the table in front of Harry.
"Sirius didn't cook this, did he?" Harry asked grinning from ear to ear and eyeing the cake cautiously.
"Nope," Remus answered lighting the candles with a wave of his wand, "I believe this cake was made by Mrs Weasley, now blow out the candles and make a wish Harry!" Harry looked down at his first ever birthday cake and thought hard, he took a deep breath and blew thinking 'I wish Mum and Dad were here too.'
Everyone cheered as the last candle went out and started singing "happy birthday" and Sirius started magically slicing the cake.
Harry's final thought before stuffing a large piece of cake in his mouth was, 'Well maybe this summer isn't going to be that bad after all.'
[A/N: That's it! There was a sequel planned (and written), but unfortunately I never uploaded it, and have lost it over the years, so Freeing Padfoot will remain a one-shot. For anyone who cares, the sequel was called 'Padfoot's Request' and involved Harry using the 'Mrs Norris food,' and a new DADA professor who was a surprise for Sirius, Remus and Harry.]