chapter 6:
A/N: This is just after Sirius has left home.

Disclaimer: I'm not JK Rowling

July 2nd 1975:

After telling the Potters that he was touched that they would consider adopting them, and letting them down as gently as he could, he decided that he needed to go see Andromeda. It was exciting to think that no one could stop them from seeing each other now, and he couldn't wait to see baby Nymphadora.

A ridiculous name, for a fairly ridiculous little girl, but that was Andromeda.

James had offered to come with him, but Sirius declined. This was something he needed to do alone and Andromeda was the only person who could really understand what it felt like to get kicked out of their family.

It was two o'clock when he found himself outside the little cottage. He took a deep breath and knocked loudly.

"Coming!" he heard Andromeda call. "Dora! Stop!"

Suddenly the door flew open and there was Andromeda holding what appeared to be Dora over her shoulder, although really it could have been any two year old girl, all Sirius could see was her bottom.

"Oh!" she gasped. "Sirius! What are you doing – did something happen?"

Sirius laughed at her expression and she relaxed. "I made it fifteen whole years in that house, it wasn't too bad an effort!"

"Oh, Sirius!" she cried, setting Nymphadora down and embracing him. "Come in, come in! Tell me all about it, you poor boy!" She lead him into the house, before turning around sharply. "Have you got somewhere to stay?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm staying with the Potters," he said. He laughed, still confused by their kindness this morning. "Yeah, they offered to adopt me."

"What?" she asked, ushering Nymphadora, who was yet to speak and clearly confused about who this stranger was, into the kitchen. "What did you say? Tea?"

Sirius was astounded by Andromeda's calm attitude when she didn't even know the whole story yet. Perhaps having to deal with her metamorphmagus daughter's antics on a day to day basis had mellowed her.

"I said no. Figure if I become a Potter then Mother will really be able to pretend I'm not related to her. Whereas, if I stay a Black everyone will always know what happened. I need to find someway to keep infuriating them if I'm not allowed into the house anymore. Not that I'll miss the house."

"What about Regulus?" she asked. She was sure Sirius would pass off his concern for his brother with bravado, but would really miss him.

"I can't care anymore. He doesn't. He made that clear last night. I mean, for God's sake, he's 13. He doesn't even understand what he's agreeing to. I blame this all on your sister."

"Mm, me too, to some extent. But in the end we make our own choices and we have to be able to live with them. But surely Regulus hasn't got the Mark or anything yet, has he? He's only a kid."

"No, he hasn't got the mark yet. But I believe he is a fully fledged member of the junior divisor," Sirius said bitterly. "And it's not like he'll have difficulty getting in once he finishes. Or even before that. I'm sure Bellatrix will give him a glowing recommendation. "

"Mmm," agreed Andromeda, sipping her tea. "So what happened last night? It was last night right?"

"Yeah. There was a dinner party, and afterwards dear Bella and Lucius came to have a little talk with me. We ended up arguing, and then Mother came in and joined in, telling me what a disgrace I was, with no proper pride, just like, well, you," he said, looking at his cousin, "and then Bellatrix went a little bit crazy at the mention of your name, and then Mother blamed it on me. So I chose some of my finest swear words to tell them all exactly what I thought of them and their organisation, Bella went even crazier, so I turned her robes red and gold. And then Mother blasted me off the tapestry right then and there. In front of me. Anyway so I hadn't actually unpacked my trunk yet, so I just grabbed it and left. Didn't have much money on me, so I had to walk part of the way, but eventually I got to the Potters."

"Oh Sirius," she said, getting out of her chair and walking around the table to hug him.

"It's ok. I'm ok. It's done now. We all knew it would happen sooner or later. And now I can come see you and Ted, and your lovely daughter whenever I want. I'm freeeeeeee!" he cried, throwing his head and arms back, relaxing into the feeling. "So anyway, how is my lovely second cousin?"

"Dora this is Sirius. He's my cousin. Guess what? He goes to Hogwarts!"

The girl laughed happily, her hair turning a magnificent yellow colour.

"She really is something, Dromeda," said Sirius, happy that he would get to see her a lot more often now. "How's Ted?"

"Pretty good. He should probably be stressed about everything that's going on, but it's Ted, so of course he's not," she laughed, her face full of joy as she talked about her husband. Sirius was glad that Andromeda had been brave enough to leave their family for something that made her happy and stand up for that, rather than just getting kicked out for petty misbehaviour like he had.

"Dromeda, there's something else I should tell you," he paused. "It's not important really, I just, it feels like I should tell you. You've always trusted me."

Be brave, Sirius. She trusted you blindly when you were ten to tell you that she was seeing a Muggleborn. You can tell her anything.

"I'm, well, I'm gay."

"Oh," she said. "Well, that's ok, I don't mind. I don't think even your parents would have minded that part Sirius, except that they would have wanted lots of little Blacks to contaminate with their outdated views."

"I know, I just, I thought you should know."

"Have you got a boyfriend?"

Sirius blushed. "Well, yeah..."

"Is it James? Do his parents know? They really should if you're staying with them Sirius."

"God, no. James. Please, he's my brother. No it's Remus. Remus Lupin."

"Oh, right. Was he the blonde one or the brunette one?"

"The brunette. Do you think that I don't have taste?" Sirius said, with a trace of disgust on his face.

"I thought Peter was your friend," Andromeda said.

"He is, but I'd want to shag him even less than I'd want to shag James, and shagging James would feel incestuous."

Andromeda laughed. "Stop talking now, please. Anyway, I hope things work out for you and Remus. How long have you been together?"

"A couple of months. To quote someone very wise, 'maybe one day I could love him. But I don't love him yet. Sixteen is too young to be in love.' Or something like that."

"Well, I was right."

"Yeah, but you also said that seventeen was too young to get married, and that didn't work out so well for you did it?"

"Well, no, I guess not. I guess my ten year old cousin knew what he was talking about after all."

Sirius spent the afternoon playing with Nymphadora while Andromeda relaxed with a book. She looked tired, even though she was clearly happy, and Sirius was more than willing to look after the two year old for a few hours. Eventually he told her that he had to go so he could write to Remus and Peter.

"Thanks for coming to me first, Siri," she said, hugging him again. "If you ever need anything, Ted and I are always here, ok? And we'll invite you and the Potters over for dinner sometime soon."

"Thanks Dromeda." He bent down to flick Nymphadora softly on her nose, which she proceeded to turn into a pig's snout. He laughed. "Bye, Dora. I'll come back soon, promise."

"Bye, Siwius!" she said giving him a hug and her most pig-like snort.

A/N: Please please pleeeaaase review and tell me what you think!