DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Harry Potter.
The Fire of the Phoenix
Whatever You May Need
Sirius reread the letter he received that morning for what could be the hundredth time. Dumbledore set the trial date for July, 20th and the Dursleys would be judged by the whole Wizengamot, not only by the Department of Magical Families and Homes like normally happened because it was about The-Twins-Who-Lived and of course something had to be different. Sirius was dreading the moment when he told them they would have to see their abusive Muggle relatives again, after him explicitly promising they wouldn't have to. Unfortunately, the Muggles still had the right to defend themselves. Would the twins think Sirius and Remus were sending them back? That their godfathers didn't want them anymore? Sirius worries were interrupted when there was a knock on the door.
'Come in.' He said looking up from the desk where his hands were supporting his head. These have been quite stressful days.
'Hey Uncle Sirius.' Regulus said poking his head inside of the bedroom before entering. He didn't know how to act, you could count in only one hand the number of times he entered his Aunt Narcissa and Uncle Lucius' bedroom, and he was very little.
'Hey Reggie.' Sirius smiled at his nephew ignoring the pain in his heart. Regulus, his brother, was fourteen and Sirius sixteen when they acted like real brothers for the last time.
'Don't Regulus.' A young Sirius said coolly to his little brother as he closed his last suitcase. 'You saw what father did to me. Tonight was the last straw; I won't take it a little longer.'
'But Sirius...' Regulus looked into his brother's grey eyes so much like his own pleading.
'Don't beg Regulus, it doesn't look good for a Death Eater.' He said bitterly and Regulus tried to mask his hurt. They've been growing apart since Regulus was sorted into Slytherin and made friends with Death Eater's children. The stupid house prejudice acting again. No one talked to a Slytherin but a fellow snake, who would he be friends with? Regulus wasn't a Death Eater and he didn't want to be.
Sirius shrank his bags – living in a pureblood household had its privileges – and put them on his pocket. He was too proud and hot headed to apologise to his brother. He left his bedroom after making sure the bikini-clad muggle women and Gryffindor banners were safely stuck on the wall without looking back. He tried to ignore the pain on his limbs and the nausea he was feeling – courtesy of the Cruciatus – and headed to the drawing room where there was a fireplace located, taking one last look at the Black Family tapestry that soon would have another face burned off. He grabbed a pinch of Floo Powder-
'Please don't go Siri.' Regulus used his brother's nickname that he long ago stopped using, making Sirius turn back. 'I-I need you here.' His voice betrayed his emotions though he tried so hard not to let it happen.
'Easy for you huh? It wasn't you that suffered their wrath for the last five years or who's hated by your own family. Their little Prince* this, Regulus that. You are the perfect pawn to be given to Voldemort, you know that? I hope you realise what they are turning you into because there'll be no turning back. I love you Reggie, I really do. Please don't do anything stupid and sort out who your friends are. Don't go out with the next Dark Lady like that Cassandra Crouch, she's as dark as her eyes.' Regulus was about to protest but didn't. Sirius hadn't said he loved him for a long time. 'Bye Regulus. Take care of yourself.' Sirius shouted Potter Manor after throwing the magical powder on the fireplace and was gone with a whoosh of flames. 'Love you too, Siri.' Was the last thing he heard.
'Uncle Sirius?' Regulus called waving his hand in front of his Uncle's face.
'Huh? Oh, sorry Regulus. I dozed off for a moment.' Sirius said coming back from his flashback, he's been getting them a lot now that he was free of the Dementors.
'I came to tell you that there's a letter for you downstairs. It looks like it's from the Ministry.' Sirius smiled inwardly. It was something related to the adoption. He sent a letter to the Ministry two nights ago after he talked to Harry. Normally a trial would be required but with Dumbledore's influence, Lily and James' will and the fact that Sirius was already their guardian and adding the abuse that made it all easier.
'Thank you Reggie. Why don't you sit? I wanted to talk to you, actually.' Regulus gulped and sat down on his Uncle's armchair. 'You did nothing wrong, don't worry. It's just that we've barely talked since you arrived here. It must be difficult for you to adjust into a whole new life.
'Not really. Don't worry about me Uncle Sirius. I know that Harry and Phoenix need you more than ever right now.' Regulus said with a small smile and looked down.
'Hey-' Sirius knelt down in front of his nephew and lifted his chin up. 'I want to be there for you. I love you too Regulus. I want you to know that okay?'
'I-I know that Uncle Sirius.' He cursed his shaky and surprised voice.
'See? That's my point Regulus, you don't. I want to share good and bad memories with you. I want you to be comfortable enough to come to me to ask about your dad, school things and even girls. You remind me so much of your dad, not just your looks but the way you treat people and know exactly what they are feeling.' With that sentence Regulus confirmed his suspicions that his Uncle heard everything he said yesterday. 'But you remind me a lot of my younger self too. Brought up in a pureblood family, being labelled a blood traitor because you didn't share their beliefs. I understand more than you think, pup. Let me be there for you and give you the love you want so badly.' Regulus could only nod. Sirius opened his arms and the younger boy buried his head in his Uncle's chest shamelessly. He didn't cry nor speak; he didn't feel the need to.
Sirius pulled away, his eyes wet. 'You know, there was this one time when...' Sirius then launched himself on a tale of when he and Regulus' father put mice in the bedroom where Narcissa was staying in Grimmauld Place.
That afternoon you could find them all together in the drawing room. Phoenix was reading a book called The History behind Hogwarts – The truth about the founders written by a witch called Odette Lawstern which she borrowed from the library after Remus reassured her it was okay when he saw her reading the same book for the third time. Remus was writing something on a parchment – which was already reaching the floor – concentrating. Regulus and Sirius were playing a rather violent game of Wizard Chess and Harry was sitting next to his sister reading a book about Quidditch that Regulus offered to loan him.
Finally an owl arrived, this one carrying the documents for the adoption. The owl that arrived earlier that day brought another form that needed to be filled to request the documents much to Sirius' disappointment. The barn owl dropped a thick envelope adorned with the Ministry seal on Sirius' lap and he opened it with shaky hands oblivious to his surroundings.
Magical Adoption
I, Sirius Orion Black, born in January 17th, 1960 adopt Harry James Potter and Phoenix Lily Potter son and daughter of James Henry Potter and Lily Marie Evans Potter murdered on October 31st, 1981 and swear on my magic to protect them at all costs. I understand and accept the responsibility that comes with raising magical children and swear to support them as long as I live.
Under that was the place where they would sign.
'What's that Padfoot?' Remus asked looking at his long time friend. Sirius handed Remus the document and ran a hand through his hair nervously as he read. Remus beamed at him and stood up to give his friend a hug. Then, they both turned to the teenagers that were looking at the confused.
'Harry' Sirius said with a solemn expression that made Harry nervous. 'Do you remember what I told you two nights ago?' The small boy nodded hesitantly. 'Did you tell your sister?' Just as Sirius suspected his godson shook his head. He was about to ask why when he realised the reason. 'Harry, I'm not going back on my word. I still want to adopt you both; I love you like you're my own children since I held you for the first time that summer night. I want you to know this is real and that I won't leave you not now, not for a very, very long time. I want to take care of you.' Sirius paused to take a breath and to prepare himself for what he was about to say. Remus and Regulus had long left the room. 'I'm not trying to take James' place, I wouldn't be able to do that nor want to. James was like a brother to me and he-he told me that if anything happened to him I was to take care of you like you were my own. Nothing will change if you don't want it to. This is just my way to reassure you that we are family and are together until the end.'
Only then Sirius noticed that tears were streaming down not only his face but the twins' too. 'I won't pressure you to do that. You don't have to... I mean it's too soon. You barely know me a-and-' Sirius babbled when the twins didn't say anything, they were trying to process the information.
'D-Do you mean it?' Phoenix asked quietly.
'I promise.'
She smiled and for the first time it reached her eyes like did Harry's. 'What do we do?' Harry asked and Sirius gave him the parchment and a quill that were on the table behind him. They both signed with shaky hands, neither of them noticed when a tear fell from their eyes and stained the parchment. Then Sirius signed and each of them let a drop of blood fall where their names were written to authenticate it.
'W-Will you be our dad now?' Phoenix asked half scared half hopeful her emotions were shinning on her piercing green eyes... Was it really happening? Or was it just product of their imagination?
'I will be whatever you need me to be.' Sirius smiled, all would be well.
A/N: So, this chapter is really short but I didn't feel like I could add anything more to it without losing focus. I hope you like it anyway. I wrote it on my Chemistry notebook lol
DO YOU WANT PHOENIX AND HARRY TO CALL SIRIUS DAD AT FIRST OR THINGS TO GO SLOWLY?
*Regulus means Prince :) (I have a thing about the meaning of a name)
I want to say a special thank you for my friend Corbin (RaveNRebel); you're brilliant and thank you for your support. And also thank you for everyone who reviewed, favourited and subscribed, I really appreciate it. Review? ;)
