When Imelda screamed she made both Sirius and Simon jump and she dropped the food she was carrying. Rushing over to Sirius she pulls him into a tight hug something that was so familiar and comforting to Sirius he started crying. He couldn't help it because even if James, Remus and Peter hated him forever he knew at least one person was happy to see him. Imelda held him but looks at Simon.

"Where on earth …?"

"Mercer's Way he bumped into me. Where's Jimmy?"

"He went to Remus' and got permission for Remus to stay here for Christmas. You know how his mum's always dragging him off to that Aunt of hers. They will be very happy to see you Sirius but … why?" Sirius bit his lip now that he was there safe he was scared of what would happen next. "Come sit down and eat you look starved." Simon nods,

"The more we talked the more I wanted to bring him home. We have to go to the Ministry to file the reports but I'm pretty sure we'll have a new house guest for Christmas." Sirius shakes his head.

"James hates me and if Remus is coming here … I can't stay. They hate me and don't want anything to do with me." Simon saw he was shaking.

"Sirius, if that is true I'll eat my robes. I don't know what happened other than your usual mischief got you sent home and they got mad about it but they do care about you. Both were devastated that you were dead and blame your parents." Imelda puts a bowl of stew in front of him with hot bread.

"When they read the note it just got worse. Jimmy thinks they caused you to kill yourself." Sirius shakes his head.

"No, I wouldn't … I wanted to disappear and for no one to go looking for me. It had nothing to do with James and Remus not that they would care but ..." Imelda hugs him.

"Just trust us Sirius, they are not going to be mad that you're here."


Sirius did trust her because she was always kind and gentle with him. He figured if nothing else they would make sure James and Remus didn't murder him. At the Ministry he was examined by a healer after pictures and a statement were given. Then while he was waiting his mother arrived hearing the news.

"Oh Sirius, you had us so scared. I can't believe they found you alive. When they told us they found your clothes … why did you run away?" Sirius didn't know what to say and couldn't believe she was there. "Well at least you're here and your alive. Your father and brother cannot wait for me to bring you home." Sirius looks around for Simon frantically but couldn't see him but the Minister was right there.

"If you can give us a few minutes Mrs. Black we'll finish the paperwork to consider this case closed and you can take him home."

"Thank you Minister." He closed the door and Walburga turns on Sirius. "What did I tell you ungrateful fool? I told you that you could never escape me … this time they won't just find bloody clothes they're going to find your body with it. Embarrassing me by bringing all the attention to yourself like the selfish boy you are. Well I hope you enjoyed your chance at freedom because you won't get it again."

"Mr. Potter said I could go home with him." As expected Walburga back handed him leaving a cut where her rings touched him.

"You fool, why do you think he brought you here? It wasn't because he wanted to take you home with him. Why would he want an old foolish brat like yourself? Not even that old fool Dumbledore wanted you that's why he sent you home and that's where you'll stay." Sirius' hands went into his robes where he had a small pendant that they all wore when at school. "What are you doing? What do you have there?"

"Nothing, it's nothing." She grabs his hand and snatches the pendant out of it. "Where did you get this? Now you're adding thief to all your other crimes?"

"I didn't steal it … I've had it for years ..." Walburga strikes him again before shaking him.

"Don't lie to me boy. I know you and I know you're the worthless scum who will never see daylight again. I'll make sure that when they find your clothes this time they find your body with it." The door flew open and Walburga suddenly lets go of Sirius who slumps to the floor to get away from her. He didn't even look up at who came in and just scooted back against the wall.

"What do you think you're doing to him?"

"Telling him the truth. You don't want him, your son doesn't want him and they certainly don't want him at that school. We should've drowned him at birth and saved all the trouble he's been causing us. It's not any of your business and if you try to interfere with him anymore I'll have you thrown in Azkaban." Simon looks at her.

"I just obtained custody of him. It seems your tale of just sending him to his room for being in trouble doesn't match up with the injuries."

"He's been gone for over a week how do I know where he got the injuries? He's just a liar and a thief who can't be trusted."

"Where do you get off calling him a thief?" Walburga shows him the pendant.

"This proves it. He claims he's had it for years but I've never seen it."

"That shows how much you pay attention to him when you claim to love him. All 4 boys have had that since 1st year." Walburga throws it as hard as she could at Sirius who flinches.

"So what he's still a liar and he should be thrown in Azkaban just for the stunt he pulled. He's worthless and he told me he did it just to start more trouble." Simon looks at her. "What?"

"We heard everything said and done here in this room. That's why he's in an interrogation room Walburga not just because we questioned him … all we did was ask him what happened leading up to him to run away."

"So … he's still lying, making up stories to get sympathy."

"No, this room is protected so anyone who enters it can't tell a lie. It's bewitched so nothing but the truth comes out so we know what you said is also what you plan to do. Only thing is you don't realize we do want him. I brought him here so what happened could go on record and charges against you and your husband could be pressed."

"Preposterous and Sirius doesn't want to go home with you do you Sirius?" Sirius covers his head and was shaking on the ground. Walburga kicks him making him whimper. "I asked you a question you worthless piece of ..." Simon pulls her away from him.

"Step away, sign these papers letting him come with us and you can walk out of here with no charges. You can't be in touch with him before he becomes of age and your no longer responsible for him." She glares at him.

"What happens if I sign the papers and he doesn't want to go with you?"

"Then it'll be my responsibility to see he finds a good home." Walburga looks at Sirius who still hasn't moved but was rocking back and forth and humming.

"Fine, I want nothing more to do with him anyway." She signed the papers and leaves so Simon sits on the floor with Sirius.

"Sirius, it's okay. She's gone and she can't hurt you anymore." Sirius doesn't respond but when Simon touches his arm Sirius screams. "Hey, it's okay. You're safe now." Sirius looks at him.

"She's not going to leave me alone until she hurts me. You said she couldn't hurt me anymore and she still did."

"I know and I'm sorry but we didn't think she would try something here. We thought she might admit something but if I knew she was going to hurt you I would've never agreed to her seeing you."

"She's still going to come after me. She might say she won't to get you off her back but she will."

"No, she won't. These paper state if she does then she goes to Azkaban on all the charges she's racked up against you. Now do you want to come home with me or do you want us to look for another home for you?" Sirius takes a deep breath.

"What if they still hate me?"

"Like I said if they're not happy to see you then I'll eat my robes but I think you'll be surprised. We'll never lie to you and we won't hurt you. Just come to the house and if you need some time to deal then we'll leave you alone. Well Imelda and I will I'm not sure about James and Remus." Sirius nods as he knew what kind of houses the Ministry provided on short notice and it wasn't anywhere he wanted to spend Christmas. Even though they hadn't planned on having him for Christmas just being with people who wanted him there was good enough for Sirius.


Meanwhile when James and Remus got back to the house it was almost dinnertime and Simon and Sirius weren't back yet. Imelda was busy cooking and getting together a list of possible Christmas stuff they could get Sirius and some stuff for all three boys. She knew Sirius wouldn't expect anything but if he got to come home she wanted to make sure it was a good Christmas.

"Hi boys, how are you doing?"

"Okay Mrs. Potter, just trying to sort through what happened. Thanks for letting me stay here … I can't take my aunt this year."

"Your welcome and we try to get your mum to let you stay every year but this year will be okay." James shakes his head.

"Is dad here? I wanted to tell him about Sirius' note."

"No, he came home earlier and I told him and then he went to the Ministry to sort some stuff out but he'll be home soon. Take your stuff upstairs Remus dinner will be done soon." When they came back down they were still quiet and Imelda was starting to worry about Sirius.

"Are you okay mum? Did something happen?"

"Yes and no … I'm waiting for your dad to hear about something but nothing you need to worry about. Tomorrow I need to go shopping and I was just wondering how many things I need." James looks at the list.

"How many people are going to be here for Christmas?"

"Um … we might have one more person." James barely contains a groan as the floo activates and Sirius steps out. James and Remus just stare at him. "Are you okay Sirius?" He shakes his head.

"Can I just go lay down?"

"Of course, the guest room is ready for you." Sirius went upstairs not even looking at James or Remus as Simon came through. "What happened? He looks worse then when you left."

"She attacked him and basically told him that next time they're going to find a body. She told him all sorts of horrible things and wrote him off as our problem now." James and Remus exchange looks before racing upstairs to talk to Sirius. They couldn't belive he was there and alive but they knew who Simon was talking about.