Author's note: See, I am sticking to my Daily Update plan! Just one more chapter after this, and that will be up tomorrow. Isn't it hard to believe that this fic will be finished tomorrow? One whole year from the start date.

And I would like to point out what a reasonable size this chapter is! I bet some of you thought I would make the chapters ridiculously short and rushed because of the DU; ye of little faith!

Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter (we all find out what a forgiving and adorable boy Harry really is!) and please do review!

Chapter Nine: Sirius finds out (at last!!!)

When the doorbell rang, Harry and Emerald both ran for it; trying to reach the door first. Sirius followed, a frown still present on his handsome face.

"Hi, Uncle Remus!" Emerald greeted excitedly.

"Hello Emerald…hello Harry." Remus's soft gaze dropped to Harry and he smiled gently. Harry beamed back happily.

"How is everyone?" Remus asked.

"Harry knocked over my table." Emerald got in, instantly.

"I didn't!"

"It was an accident." Sirius reminded her.

"It wasn't! I never touched it!"

Sirius shot a long-suffering look at Remus but Remus was sending a pitying and understanding look at Harry who looked slightly mollified that someone believed him.

"Did you see the Quidditch game this morning, Uncle Remus. We thrashed them!" Emerald exclaimed, changing the subject quickly.

"Only because McGregor caught the snitch!" Harry joined in.

"And he only just managed it." Remus agreed.

"We still won." Emerald said with a giggle.

"What do you think, Padfoot? Skill or luck?" Remus asked.

Sirius just looked at him vaguely. He had been completely distracted throughout the conversation. However, noticing the lull in the chatter and banter going on between the group he took advantage of it.

"Can I have a word with you in the kitchen for a minute, Moony?" Sirius asked.

"Sure." Remus looked puzzled, but oddly hopeful. Though only Harry understood why.

"Go up to your rooms and play for a bit please. While I have a little chat with Uncle Remus." Sirius directed. Which put both Emerald and Harry on edge.

Remus looked rather curious too, as he followed his friend into the kitchen.

"What's up, Padfoot?"

Sirius was silent for a second as he conjured up some tea and handed a cup to his friend, but then he sank down into a chair and burst into explanation.

"What should I do, Moony? I've tried corners and that obviously has no effect on him whatsoever. There's no way I'm going to smack him or anything like that. What else do you do when a kid is misbehaving?" Sirius asked in total despair, his fingers tightening around his cup of tea. "I've tried everything."

It wasn't hard for Remus to work out who his best friend was talking about.

"Have you tried talking to him?" Remus suggested, wondering when Sirius would wake up and realise his daughter was the one misbehaving.

"Of course I have!" Sirius snapped back.

"Maybe you could just send him back?" A small voice cut into their conversation.

Both men turned around to see Emerald leaning on the door frame, her eyes wide with hope. She had obviously not followed her father's orders to go to her room for a bit. Either that, or her definition of a 'bit' was radically different to Sirius's.

"Don't be ridiculous, Harry is here to stay. Whatever he does he is still going to be here with us. I would never turn my back on him." Sirius retorted. Sure, his daughter had put up with a lot these last few weeks but how could such a suggestion have even crossed her mind?

"Whatever he does?" Emerald repeated, a funny look on her face.

Her father nodded, Emerald turned round and dived up the stairs and into her room… throwing herself onto her bed. She had been a total bitch for weeks, she had completely bullied little Harry and had felt total disgusting and miserable because of it and it was all for nothing. Her dad was never going to get rid of him.

--

"Dad? Can I…can I talk to you for a second?" Emerald asked quietly, her face tear-streaked.

Sirius looked anxious and worried and had quickly excused himself, Remus left quickly; he knew exactly what was going to happen. It was about time.

--

Shouting hit Harry's eardrums and he cringed back against the wall, he hated it when people shouted. He was already scared enough, after Sirius' orders to wait outside his office he already knew this was the end. Sirius had had enough, he was going to send him back. Harry just knew it.

He wasn't sure why Emerald had also been made to stand outside the office though. Sirius had had a really scary look on his face when he had said he wanted to see her first. And now he was shouting, loudly.

He wondered half-heartedly what she had done, it made a change to see her get into trouble and as happy as Harry knew he should feel, he felt nothing but sorrow for the girl. He knew what it felt to have Sirius angry at you and he wouldn't wish it on anyone. Did Harry having something to do with Emerald getting shouted at?

The door suddenly flew open and Emerald ran out of the office and into her bedroom, the door shut after her with a bang. Sirius was leaning against the doorframe looking after his daughter with a strange expression on his face, Harry looked up at him fearfully.

"Come on, Harry." Sirius said, feeling his godson's eyes on him.

Harry entered the office obediently, wishing his legs would stop shaking.

Sirius went over to one wall and sat in a chair, Harry hovered near the doorway uncertainly.

"Come here, Harry." Sirius said softly, tapping his knee.

Harry's eyes widened in fear, Sirius was going to smack him. Harry was pretty sure he wouldn't use a belt but he knew it would still hurt a lot. He took a step backwards.

"Harry." Sirius said, his tone was very unexpected. He didn't sound angry, or scolding, more like…pleading.

Harry knew how this was done, he had been through this with the Dursleys more times than he cared to remember. He began to shuffle towards Sirius, the man waited patiently, a pained expression on his face. Was Harry really this scared of him?

The second Harry got close he pulled himself onto Sirius' lap and was just about to lie across it when he felt Sirius' strong arms wrap around him. Harry's head was leaning against the man's chest. This wasn't how it was done at all.

"I'm sorry, Harry, I'm so so so so sorry. How could I not have believed you? I'm so bloody blind." Sirius' voice was so full of hate for himself that Harry felt quite alarmed, he wasn't too sure what was happening.

"All of that horrible stuff she said you were doing and you never said a thing. Why didn't you tell me, Harry!?!" Feeling the boy stiffen in his arms he hurriedly added. "Not that it's your fault, none of it's your fault. It's all mine."

Relief flooded through Harry's little body, Sirius knew. Emerald had told him!

"I'm the worst godfather in the world." Sirius proclaimed mournfully.

"No you're not. You're the bestest godfather ever!" Harry argued loyally. He knew Sirius would never spank him, Sirius was great and lovely and… he was crying. Harry felt tears dropping down onto the top of his head, his cheerful, happy godfather was crying.

"You're such a sweet kid, I let you down again, didn't I?"

Harry stood up, balanced on Sirius' knees, so that he could wrap his arms around the man's neck. "You didn't, Sirius! You didn't! Please don't cry! I love you!"

Sirius tightened his grip around his godson. "You are the most loving and forgiving child I have ever met." Pure emotion shone through his voice.

Harry said nothing, he just buried his head into his godfather and knew that somehow, everything was going to be all right.

--

"I need to go and apologise to Remus." Sirius explained, setting his godson on the floor. "I won't be long and when I get back me and you will do something really fun together."

"What about Emer-?" Harry began.

"She will be in her room, she isolated you from the family so now she can see how it feels for a few days." Sirius interrupted.

Harry felt a pang for the older girl, it really hurt to be isolated.

"So you just play for an hour and then we can do something fun. I'm not leaving the house, okay? I'm just going to floo-call Remus, I'll be in my office if you need me."

Harry nodded, he watched as Sirius bent down and, after throwing in some floo powder, stuck his head into the green flames. He waited until Sirius had been in there for a minute or so, before coming out of the office.

He could play with his quidditch action figures now, he could read the dragon book Remus had given him, he could even play with his kids broom. All of the things he could do now he wasn't afraid Emerald would break them!

He decided to start with the broom and was just going to his room to get it when he heard a loud sob, he paused outside Emerald's door and listened hard, he could just about make out the muffled sound of sobbing.

Making up his mind quickly he pushed open the door, Emerald immediately looked up from the bed, and then jumped up when she saw it was Harry.

She began to charge towards him, to the absolute horror of Harry who was regretting his decision of entering the room very much now a teary thirteen year old was running at him.

He wanted to run, wanted to go into Sirius' office, but his legs were frozen, he couldn't move.

Emerald reached him.

He cowered as she threw herself at him, ready for the pain.

But she simply remained clinging onto him, her arms entwined around his neck. "I am so sorry, Harry, I'm so sorry. I just…Sirius is…I didn't want to share…it was really hard…I didn't mean to make you unhappy…I've been so awful and…you didn't deserve it at all…I was a bully and a c-c-coward because I didn't own up to dad and…"

"But you did in the end." Harry pointed out, finding the embrace more than slightly uncomfortable as the thirteen year old was nearly double his size.

"T-t-t-too late." Emerald choked, making Harry's clothes wet with her tears. "I'm…I'm really sorry, Harry. Really s-s-s-s-sorry."

"Maybe we can start again? Like pretend we're just meeting for the first time." Harry offered hopefully.

Before Emerald could answer the door flew open and Sirius stepped into the room, his eyes widening and his mouth dropping as he saw Emerald's strangle hold on Harry.

He was about to yank her off of him and tell her exactly what he thought, when he realised Emerald was sobbing into Harry's hair and that Harry was actually looking rather thrilled than in pain.

The stranglehold was simply an overenthusiastic hug. Sirius couldn't help the chuckle escaping his lips as his mood lightened at this new, promising development.

Emerald sprang off Harry at the sound and peered up at her father uneasily, a shy smile on her face.

"We can go out and play Quidditch now, Harry." Sirius announced, his heart light.

Emerald's face dropped as fast as Harry's grin grew.

Emerald sighed and walked slowly back to her bed, flopping down on top of it and fighting to keep her tears at bay.

Sirius turned abruptly before walking out of the room. Harry, face still lit up in a huge grin, scurried to follow. He turned in the doorway, and his grin faded as he looked at the distraught girl; tears were sliding down her pretty face.

"I want Emerald to play Quidditch too!" Harry announced determinedly.

This was certainly the cue for another hug, Sirius smiled fondly as he watched both of his children cuddled up so closely together.

Becoming a happy family seemed to be right around the corner.