It is April 2003, the fifth Anniversary of the famous Battle of Hogwarts is round the corner, and for Sirius this means the anniversary of the day he became more proud than ever of his godson is soon approaching, though said godson has not long moved out of their home at Grimmauld Place, London. Since Harry had moved out Grimmauld Place had become really quiet and rather lonely, not being filled with the sound of laughter from Harry and Ginny and their friends when they were around. One of these mornings, when Sirius was feeling pretty lonely, he had woken up from a nightmare about when he was in Azkaban, and went looking for Harry completely forgetting he wasn't there any more and then he suddenly realised he was now living in a house that was far too big for him with some awful memories. While he was aimlessly walking about the large, empty, eerily silent house it dawned on him that he could fill it up with the laughter and presence of children, he could open it up to all the children that had lost parents in the Battle of Hogwarts, who were being looked after by grandparents that couldn't exactly cope with little children all the time while they were mourning the loss of a child and friends. He could also open it up to runaways, name it after James, seeing as when he ran away from this house he was now standing in the only people kind enough to take him in were James' parents after James had begged and pleaded with them to do so.
But obviously he would check with Harry as to if this was okay, after all this was Harry's home too now, as it had been since the Ministry of Magic cleared his name back in 1994. Any time he offered his house out to help people he had always checked with Harry first, like when it became the headquarters for the Order back in the day. So he decided to draft a letter and send it to Harry there and then.
Harry,
I know you have not long left and I know you had your reasons, but this house feels so big and empty and quiet without you and Ginny an all your friends around filling it with happiness and laughter. I am not guilt-tripping you here or trying to make you feel bad for leaving me, it wouldn't have been fair to ask you to stay, you needed your own place for you and Ginny to start a family and call home.
Anyway, can you remember back when I wanted to offer Grimmauld Place as headquarters for the Order to Dumbledore, and I asked you if that was okay as it was your home as well as mine, well this is why I am writing to you now.
I had the idea of making this place into a halfway house and orphanage, for those that run away from home or have lost their parents and other relatives cannot look after them any more. I was lucky enough when I ran away from here that your grandparents were nice enough to take me in, but I know there will be teens out there that aren't that lucky, and orphans, definitely magical ones need to be raised in a magical home rather than a muggle foster home. That won't do them any good. Plus it will bring life back to this big empty house, I was thinking of calling it The Marauder's Halfway House and Orphanage, in honour of your father and Lupin. What do you think?
Padfoot
He knew he didn't have to still sign letters as Padfoot, but he had gotten so used to it with James and Remus and with how much Harry reminded him of his old friend it seemed natural to sign it like that. So now he just had to play the waiting game, to see what his godson thinks of his idea. Surely Harry would be okay with it, he's pretty good with things, and he has moved out and it wont stop him visiting.
So he went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast, and opened his copy of The Quibbler anxiously awaiting Harry's response.
Harry and Ginny were just beginning to settle into what was to become their new home, the home they would raise a family in together. They had only been here a few days so were still rearranging furniture. It was times like this that Harry was glad they both had magic, it made rearranging the heavy pieces of furniture very easy indeed. They were in the middle of rearranging the living room for a second time in as many days when the owl came swooping through the open window dropping a letter onto the floor in front of Harry. He turned it over and immediately recognised the handwriting as his godfathers. Wondering what Sirius could want so soon after Harry and Ginny had moved out Harry sat down on the chair he had just moved and read over the letter.
"Harry," Ginny said, wanting his opinion on the placement of something, though he had gotten used to just agreeing with her as she always went with what she thought anyway and it saved the hassle of a disagreement. "Harry, dear, are you listening? I asked if the table looks better there or if it should go nearer the window?" she said, not turning round till she had finished. She then saw him sat there reading the letter, she had been so preoccupied that she hadn't even noticed the owl come in or leave again. She came and knelt down on the floor in front of Harry, who had now finished the letter, and was processing.
"Who is it from?" She asked, not wanting to take the letter off him, but really wanting to know who had written to him. "Sirius, he wants to turn Grimmauld Place into an orphanage and halfway house for runaways, because it is too big and empty and quiet for him now we have left. He wants to be there for people like my dad was for him when he ran away, and take care of those who have lost parents. He just wants to know how I feel about it." he replied, handing her the letter so she could read it for herself, "I think it is a good idea, if it is what he wants to do and I know he would be good at it, plus if it gives hi more good memories to fill that house with then I say good for him."
Harry decided to immediately respond letting Sirius know it was fine, and that he thought it was a good idea. So he got notepad and pen and started writing a response.
Padfoot,
That is a brilliant idea, if it is what you want to do then go ahead, I am not going to stand in your way as it isn't my place to. The name idea is good, and a fitting tribute. if you have a picture of all of you then frame it and put it up. If you need any help then let me know, I will gladly help and I am sure Ginny would led a hand where she could around training and matches. Sorry this is short and sweet we are still settling in and rearranging things.
Harry
After finishing the letter, he passed it to Ginny and let her read over it, whilst she was doing that he called over their owl, Athena, to attach the letter to her to send off to Sirius. He watched her fly off into the distance before turning around to see if there was anything more he needed to do in the living room or whether or not to move onto another one. Wondering if his godfather was going around Grimmauld Place seeing what he would have to do to the house to make it fit for this new idea.
