A/N: Hello! I thought I might give you all a special gift: a new chapter! Enjoy and review! :)

Ch.3

"Something to Fight For"

Harry walked up the Grand Staircase to Gryffindor Tower. He was tired, more tired than he ever felt. When he was in the Hospital Wing, allowing Madam Pomfrey to tend to his wounds, he could barely hold himself up. If it wasn't for the fact that he did not want to stay in there, he would've fell asleep immediately on the bed. Even now, as he continued his slow walk, Harry just wanted to collapse onto the stairs and fall asleep. But, he was almost to the portrait of the Fat Lady. Almost there to his bed.

As he took his last steps onto the landing in front of the Fat Lady, he noticed that she was awake and attentive. Harry walked up closer to her, making sure that she caught him in her line of vision. Once she had seen him, the Fat Lady proceeded to ask, "Is it true? Is Dumbledore back?"

Not really in the mood to give an answer, Harry just nodded. The Fat lady smiled widely, and then said, "Well, in that case, you can go on in. No need to give me the password."

Harry smiled a little, as the portrait swung open. He walked into the Common Room and looked around. The fireplace, which was now out, was over on his right, along with the couch; ahead of Harry was the way to the boys' dormitories; on his left, a few people were lounging in chairs, reading The Daily Prophet or talking to friends; and finally, in the far right corner, Harry saw Ron and Hermione at the table by the window, talking. As soon as they saw Harry, they got up from their chairs and walked over to him.

"Hey. Where were you? We've been everywhere looking for you," said Ron.

"Harry, are you okay?" asked Hermione, noticing that Harry looked a bit off.

Harry simply looked at his best friends. Seeing the look of concern in both their eyes, Harry wanted to tell them everything that he just heard in Dumbledore's office. However, all he really wanted to do was go up and lay in his four-poster. He was too exhausted to explain things to Ron and Hermione and extrapolate on the meaning of it all.

Harry sighed. "I'm going up to bed. I'll see you guys later."

Harry then proceeded to the entrance of the boys' dormitories and walked up the stairs. Ron and Hermione looked at each other, worry and concern etched even more into their faces. They walked back to the table and sat down, allowing the silence to fill between them.

Harry pushed the door to the fifth year boys' dormitory open. He looked around the room, glad that Neville, Dean, and Seamus were elsewhere. He then locked his eyes onto his bed, walked over, and crashed onto his pillow, not bothering to pull the covers out and down. Feeling the warmth of his pillow beneath him, Harry stared up at the top of his bed. A few hours ago, the only thing on his mind was his bed. Now, after his talk with Dumbledore, his head was filled with so many thoughts that he didn't know which to focus on first.

As he laid there, Harry began thinking about Ron and Hermione. It killed him, not knowing how to tell them about the prophecy. How would they react? What would they say? He, Ron, and Hermione had been through a lot together. The fact that he had to go this alone, of fighting Voldemort and possibly dying, alone, scared him. Then, he thought of Sirius. How little time he has had to spend with his godfather, to know him. Sirius didn't even say anything to him after the prophecy.

But, Harry knew that Sirius wanted to say something. To say that he was too young, that he didn't deserve this. And then the fact that he has to go back to the Dursleys and not be with Sirius made him angry. Why couldn't Dumbledore just let him live with Sirius? He'd be happier with him, much happier than at the Dursleys.

But, the one thought that lingered in Harry's mind, as he laid on his bed, was what Professor Trelawney said in the Pensieve: "For neither can live while the other survives." He always knew that one day he would have to fight Voldemort, but to possibly die?

Harry continued to lie on his bed, thinking about everything that just happened. Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door. Harry sighed, knowing full well who it was.

"Ron, I'm fine, okay! I just want to be left alone. It's not like I'm going to take my wand and use 'Avada Kedavra' on myself." However, when the door opened, it was not Ron who stood on the other side: it was Sirius.

"Well, that's good to know. Because honestly, I wouldn't know what to do without you, Prongslet," said Sirius, simultaneously closing the door and walking over to Harry's bed.

Harry simply smiled at his godfather. As Sirius reached the edge of the bed, Harry moved over so Sirius could sit. He wondered why Sirius was here, in his dormitory, when he had to walk past what must have been loads of people who thought he was a murderer. Sirius sat down beside Harry and looked at him, smiling. After a few seconds, Harry couldn't help but ask, "What?"

Bringing his hand up to rest on the back of Harry's neck, Sirius replied, "It's just, every time I look at you, you remind me of your dad. You just look so much like him, and after the talk I just had with Dumbledore, I just wanted to see you before I left."

Harry jerked his head up when he heard Dumbledore's name. He shifted on his bed, bringing his right leg up under him, facing Sirius. He couldn't help the smile that spread across his face, for hope ignited within him.

"Did Dumbledore change his mind? Can I come live with you?" said Harry, not even masking the excitement in his voice.

Sirius gazed into Harry's face. Seeing the hope and excitement in his godson only made Sirius regret the answer that came out of his mouth.

"No, Harry," replied Sirius.

Harry's face fell back into sadness, along with his head. His shoulders slumped, and he felt miserable and tired all over again. He thought for sure that Sirius could convince Dumbledore to let him finally live with his godfather.

After a few minutes of silence, Sirius could not take looking at Harry all miserable anymore. Lifting Harry's head to look at him, Sirius then said to him, "But, there is something I want to ask you. Something that would affect us both in a big way."

Harry stared at Sirius in confusion. Seeing Harry's inquisitive look, Sirius smiled and continued, "Harry, there is an ancient magic that allows witches and wizards to adopt someone into their family. It is complex, but it can be done. Harry, your mum and dad wanted me, in the event that they were no longer here, to adopt you. They wanted you to have someone who loved you and be there for you. Well, even though I've been in Azkaban for 12 years, I would still like to adopt you, Harry. I love you just as much as James and Lily did, and I want to be there for you always."

When Sirius finished, Harry looked to the ground once again, thinking. This was it. His chance at a somewhat normal family. Okay, yes, Sirius was already considered his family, but by making it official, he could leave the Dursleys once and for all and be happy. Harry raised his head and turned to Sirius who had his head down to the floor, waiting. With a grin spreading across his face, Harry asked, "So, how soon can we do it?"

Sirius jerked his head up and turned to Harry. The grin that he saw on his godson's face made him grin in return.

"You're sure?" Sirius asked.

Harry simply nodded his head, the grin still on his face. He then leaned forward, wrapped his arms around Sirius, and gave him a hug. Likewise, Sirius wrapped his arms around his godson and smiled. He then raised one of his hands, rested it atop Harry's head, and hugged him tighter. After a few seconds, tears began to fall down Sirius's face and onto Harry's shoulder. His godson said yes. Now, Sirius could protect him from anything, anywhere.

Both of them stayed like this for awhile, until Harry broke out of Sirius's arms, and asked, "Wait a minute. Doesn't the Ministry still think you're a fugitive? Aren't you still being chased?"

Sirius leaned back and stared at Harry. Seeing the confusing look once again on Harry's face, Sirius began to explain. "Dumbledore took care of that, Harry. I'm a free man now."

Harry still had the confused look on his face, not sure of what to make of that. Smiling, Sirius continued, "When Dumbledore left the school after they caught you and the rest of the DA, his focus was not entirely on the Order. Much of it was in finding Wormtail and bringing him in to free me."

The confused look was now gone from Harry's face. However, Harry simply continued to stare at Sirius, waiting for more. Obliging, Sirius continued, "You see, Harry, there is another bit of complex magic that allows one to find those who do not want to be found. Dumbledore had to use very advanced spells, plus know what Wormtail looked like, to be able to find him. Long story short, Dumbledore found him in the end, took him to the Ministry, and he confessed everything. Peter Pettigrew is now in Azkaban, under high security, for the remainder of his life."

"So, your name is cleared at the Ministry? You're free?" asked Harry.

Sirius nodded, smiling. "Yes, Prongslet. I am free."

This statement allowed Harry to breathe a sigh of relief. He no longer had to worry about Sirius sneaking out. He no longer had to wonder whether someone noticed Sirius. His godfather was free, and he was now able to go and live with him. Harry smiled widely at this thought.

Sirius noticed this, smiled himself, and then said, "You smile just like your dad. He always smiled widely, like he was the happiest person in the world. Which he was, but still…"

Sirius paused for a moment, laying his hand on the side of Harry's face. "It's just good to see you smiling. To see you happy."

At this, Harry leaned in once again and hugged Sirius tightly. Sirius reciprocated, and then said, "I love you, Prongslet."

"I love you too, Sirius," replied Harry.

Sirius continued to smile. Then, he broke away from Harry and simply looked at him. After a few seconds, Sirius then stood up and said, "Well, I better be going and let you sleep. I'll let Dumbledore know about your decision."

"Okay," said Harry, looking up at Sirius.

Harry pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. As he watched Sirius walk back to the door, doubt began to sink in. Everything that was on Harry's mind before Sirius walked in came flooding back and began freaking Harry out.

Sirius had now opened the door and was about to walk out when Harry's voice yelled from behind, "Sirius?!"

Sirius stepped back, closed the door, and turned around to gaze at Harry. Upon his face, Sirius saw fear and worry, two things that he knew were not natural for his godson. Walking away from the door a little, Sirius asked, "What's wrong, Harry?"

Harry just stared at Sirius. He could not find the words that he wanted to say. Indeed, Harry stammered around, trying to find the right words. After a few moments, Harry found them.

"Sirius, what if I can't beat Voldemort? What can I possibly do that'll defeat someone with greater power than me?"

Sirius continued to just stare at Harry. He looked into his eyes, finding more fear and anxiety. Obliging to the imploring look on Harry's face, Sirius said, "Okay, first of all, who are you and what have you done with my godson? Because my godson would never talk like that. And secondly…"

Sirius then walked back to Harry's bedside and sat down. Harry still had his arms wrapped around his legs. His face was down, in shame after what Sirius had said. However, Sirius reached out his hands, grabbed Harry's face, and lifted it up so that he was staring at him, and gently said, "You can do this, Harry. You can fight Voldemort. You have something that he doesn't have."

"Like what?" asked Harry, confused.

"You have something to fight for. And, you have me, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, the Weasleys, and a whole bunch of other people who care about you and want to help you."

Harry looked into Sirius's eyes. He then smiled and finally said, "Thanks, Sirius. I feel a little better."

Sirius smiled at his godson and removed his hands from his face. He stood back up and then said, "Now, go to sleep. You need it. I'll see you later."

Sirius then turned and walked back to the door. Opening it, he looked back at Harry, waved, and then left. As the door closed, Harry stared at the space where Sirius stood. Then, fatigue hitting him, he let go of his legs, stretched out on his bed, and put his head on his pillow. Smiling to himself, he closed his eyes and finally fell asleep.