Sirius was anxious to go home for the first time since he was a child, if ever. It was mainly about Harry who he was told was with his Aunts. But after being in prison for years, it would be nice as well. He was convinced to go to Malfoy manor first though and clean up. He agreed, and the shower and food did him good, but he was anxious to see Harry. He knew though there was another reason for sending him there first. They told him Harry was new to them and he would be a bit spooked. He was sure they had gone home to tell Harry he was coming. He would never trust his mother with a child but he loved both of his Aunts. Both women had remained in his life after he had left home, especially Druella.
Wallburga was not happy to have her son coming home. Her words had been true about her husband and their sons. Her son may doubt them but Orion had loved both boys in his way. Just because he did not gush over them like William Potter, did not mean he did not.
Lucretia looked up when they all got home. "We weren't expecting all of you."
Arcturus asked. "Where is Harry?"
She motioned. "Out in the garden. He was hoping to find the cat."
Wallburga smirked. "Not likely."
Arcturus cut her off. "Why don't you bring him in?"
Lucretia headed to the back of the house. "Okay."
Druella was in the den. "How did it go?"
Arcturus smiled. "Sirius is a free man."
Wallburga grumbled. "On his way home."
Druella looked at her sister in law. "It wouldn't kill you to admit you are happy your son is free."
Wallburga smirked. "I am well aware you shared my brother's opinion."
Druella didn't deny it. "Both Lucretia and I remained in his life."
Wallburga grunted. "I guess he deemed you good enough to keep in contact with."
Arcturus interjected. "This is not the time. We need to get Harry ready for his arrival."
Harry's voice came from behind. "Uncle Arcturus you came back. Who is coming? "
Arcturus turned. "My grandson Sirius will be here soon."
Harry paled. "Oh."
Lucretia assured him. "He is a very nice man."
Druella smiled. "You sleep in his bedroom."
Harry looked at Wallburga. "He is your son Aunty Wallis?"
Wallburga grunted. "He was."
Arcturus ignored her. "And your godfather."
Harry was confused so they had him sit down. He had been told Aunty Wallis had two sons but she never spoke about either of them. He had never even heard their names before. He was told that Sirius was his daddy's best friend, and had been named Harry's godfather when he was born. He had been trapped for a few years and they had been trying to set him free. They didn't explain much though they did mention the rat. Harry started shaking when he was told the rat had been a bad man. He didn't like the rat before and this worried him more.
As they spoke to him, Sirius appeared in the door. Lucretia smiled when she saw him and went to kiss him on the cheek. Like Druella who had accepted her daughter marrying a muggle born, Lucretia had always been more open minded. He had been close to her nephews.
Harry noticed the man. "Hello."
Sirius smiled. "Hi Harry."
Harry eyed him. "You are Aunt Wallis' son?"
Sirius smirked at the name but nodded. "I am."
Harry wondered. "I sleep in your bedroom. Am I going to have to sleep in a closet again?"
Sirius had a pained look. "No cub, you will have a new bedroom when we figure out what Potter house….."
Harry panicked. "A new house?"
Sirius knelt. "They belonged to your dad."
Harry looked at the women. "Will my Aunties come too?"
Sirius sighed. "I am sure they will visit."
Harry got up and ran to Druella. "No."
Druella held him. "You will not lose us."
Sirius tried. "Your parents wanted me to raise you."
Arcturus stepped in. "I see no need to move."
Wallburga was not happy. "There is no room."
Arcturus turned to her. "I will not remind you again."
The woman had to remember that she was not Lady Black and never would be. With the death of her husband before his father, it passed her. When Arcturus died, his grandson would inherit the Black estate and Harry after him. Sirius had named him heir and had no plans to change. Regulus' room was not being used, as were many other rooms in the house, there was plenty of space.
Sirius was not pleased. "I did not plan to move back in here."
Harry shook his head. "Home."
Dru held him. "You aren't going anywhere."
Sirius reminded his Aunt. "I am his guardian."
Lucretia said quietly. "And you know what of raising a child?"
Sirius growled. "I can do better than my mother ever did."
Wallburga snarled. "Ungrateful brat."
Sirius was angry. "I will not raise him in a home with…."
Arcturus snapped. "You know what type of magic we practice."
Lucretia reminded him. "Have you forgotten us so soon?"
Druella agreed. "If you have, either my daughters can vouch for me."
Sirius sighed. "I love you both. It is Her I do not want around Harry."
Wallburga grumbled. "I am done raising children."
Sirius spat. "Don't you mean the elves?"
Harry got upset. "No fighting, no fighting."
Arcturus watched the boy flee. "Sort this out."
Sirius sighed. "She will never change."
Wallburga spat. "I see either have you."
Lucretia tried to calm it. "She has not been hands on. Druella and I have taken care of him."
Druella added. "And he is extremely fond of your grandsire, and Alastor will be teaching him."
Sirius had very few happy memories as a child in this house. He may have been wrong that his parents were dark leaning, but the home was never happy. He didn't like the idea of Harry being raised in the home he had fled from years before. But he had always been close to both of his Aunts and his cousins as well. He could see Harry was very close to his Aunts, the way he had clung to them, and didn't want to hurt him.
Sirius grunted. "Fine, we will stay. If only to see mother dearest' face."
Harry had disappeared from the room and they let him go. They knew he needed to calm and there was not far that he could go. He knew not to leave the house except for the back garden. He had been told he could go back out, after they had come back from town earlier. They needed to sort out what was happening before they spoke to him. They didn't want him to get upset again by the fighting.
Harry went out into the back garden. He was very upset, he liked his home and he didn't want to leave. He didn't care if the man was Uncle Sirius. He loved his Aunties and didn't want to go. He knew Aunty Wallis was very sad when she spoke about her sons.
Harry was curled up under the tree when he felt something. "What?"
He was shocked when the kitty was next to him.
Harry reached out and pet him. "You came back kitty."
Kitty rubbed against him. "Meow."
Harry scratched his head. "They are going to send me away kitty."
Kitty just eyed him.
Harry was in tears. "I don't want to go away kitty."
Sirius answered from the door. "You won't have to."
Harry looked up. "Really?"
Sirius came to his side. "I promise."
Druella came over. "You are going to stay here."
Harry looked up hopefully. "Is he going?"
Sirius sighed. "No, I will stay here."
Harry shook his head. "You make Aunty Wallis sad."
Sirius smirked. "My mother? I doubt it."
Harry nodded. "She always is upset when I ask about her sons."
Wallburga was in the door. "Indeed."
Sirius had doubted the boy had even heard about him. He was not surprised Harry had not known he was his godfather or more. He had seen Harry's room, before he had come out here. He was surprised to find some of his childhood items were in the room. Any signs of his teen days were gone but his Aunt had told them they had been packed up. They had brought down what was good for a kid. He had believed any signs of him would have been destroyed when he had run away from home. It seems once again, he had not given his parents enough credit.
Wallburga did not like that being mentioned. Her sons had been nothing but disappointments to her. Sirius had run away from home and Regulus had taken the mark. She had heard her younger son was a spy and forced into the mark,
Sirius knelt. "I didn't mean to upset anyone."
Harry eyed him. "Really?"
Sirius nodded. "I love you, I want to be there for you."
Harry looked at Wallburga. "And you will be nice to your mum?"
Sirius grunted. "I will try."
Harry went to Wallburga. "You need to try too."
Wallburga grunted. "I do not take orders from children."
Sirius shook his head. "Easier said than done."
Lucretia promised Harry. "They will both try."
Wallburga saw the look. "He will watch his tongue."
Sirius sighed. "Nothing ever changes."
Druella shook her head. "She has a lot."
Sirius didn't buy it. "Cold and distant as always."
Druella shook her head. "Your father was not the only one you hurt when you left."
Sirius laughed. "She practically pushed me out."
Druella sighed. "She didn't have the benefit of Arcturus growing up. You remember your other grandfather?"
Sirius grunted. "Grandpa Pole axe."
Harry turned to him. "Uncle Sweet?"
Sirius actually laughed. "Never a term I thought to hear for him."
Harry remembered. "I am not supposed to call him that."
Sirius agreed. "He does not have a sense of humor."
Harry nodded. "He is even grumpier than Aunty Wallis."
Sirius knelt. "He is Aunty Wallis' dad, and my other grandsire."
Harry hadn't known. "Oh."
Sirius found the little boy would talk to him, as long as Druella was with him. He tried to tell Harry a little bit about James and Lily. Harry though told him all about his eyes, and about Mr. Moody, and Uncle Arcturus. Sirius was happy to see Harry smile, and knew there was time for the rest. Harry would grow up a proper little marauder, in spite of the fact Wallburga would be around. He was William Potter not Orion's grandson.
Lucretia motioned. "Maybe we should head in for an early dinner."
Harry nodded. "I guess kitty is gone."
Sirius stopped. "You have a kitty?"
Harry shook his head. "No. He just saved me from the rat."
Lucretia nodded. "A few times."
Sirius was relieved. "I am happy he did, but you were always a dog lover."
Harry was confused. "Draco has puppies, I like them."
Sirius grinned. "I meant Padfoot?"
Harry was confused. "Padfoot?"
Sirius nodded. "Watch."
Harry was frightened as he saw him turn. "No."
Lucretia knelt. "He is an animagus. He can turn back and forth."
Harry eyed the dog. "Can I pet him?"
Druella laughed. "I believe you used to ride him."
Harry pet the dog. "I will just pet."
Sirius turned back. "I am sorry I scared you."
Harry shook his head. "I kind of like. But can I have a kitty?"
Sirius grunted. "How about a puppy?"
Lucretia went to lead him in. "We will talk about it."
Sirius stopped. "That smell."
Wallburga watched him. "Fresh air."
Sirius shook his head. "Feline."
Wallburga reminded him. "The boy mentioned the cat."
Sirius shook his head. "It's not the cat."
Wallburga knew and suspected as the others did, that it was an animagus. Well they suspected before town, and now they knew. There was no reason or way a normal cat would have been at the hotel. But she had never really seen the cat and what she heard, confused her about the cat. She was not about to get up any kind of hopes, even if she had been that kind of woman. She had one son back even if not pleased by it.
Sirius though looked about. "I know my brother's scent anywhere. Have you known he was alive all this time? Have you?"
An: We will deal with Reg but Remus and Albus' first appearance will come.
