Disclaimer: I hereby state that J.K. Rowling and the publishers of the books have all rights to the characters and plots in J.K's wonderful books. Only the idea for this story is mine, and I am making absolutely no profit from the writing of this story.
Q&A: K. Here's more.
I also hope you keep sticking fairly close to canon (meaning Order of the Pheonix-wise and history-wise), so things don't get too confusing. I am trying, but obviously there are events that are going to change, but only because Harry's circumstances, and Sirius's, are changed. You will see Quirell, the basilisk, and so on. It's just that events may or may not change by who Harry grows up to be.
I'm guessing that being a doggie will please Harry and thus Sirius will turn into it more often; resulting in his discovery that Dementors can't sense him in his animal form. I have only briefly mentioned it in previous chapters. Sirius already knew, from several years prior, but it was a self punishment for himself that he not turn into Padfoot. Sirius also makes allusions to the fact that Harry's presence wrapped around him is like being in his animagus form.
Will Dumbledore think about Azkaban? Would you? Then again, you're probably not over 150 years old. Still...
Will they find out about the child abuse at the Dursleys? Yes, especially because of the Veritaserum in Petunia's tea. I only say this because you will not actually see the scene with the Veritaserum in the tea.
Warning: Small bit of fluffiness coming...and Fudge (sorry).
Sirius sat calmly on the floor as Harry gently combed his hair from the bottom to the top. Harry was sitting on the bed, above Sirius. He was happy with Harry, as Harry had finally gotten the courage to ask the house elves for something, specifically the comb so Harry could comb Sirius's hair. Sirius allowed Harry to do so as it gave Harry something to do, once again. Harry was going excruciatingly slow so as to not hurt Sirius any, but Sirius was getting board. Still, Harry was more than halfway done and Sirius would put up with anything for Harry, even the monotonous boredom. Having Harry groom him simply reminded him of how wonderful it would be to soak in a long, hot, bath. Neither he, nor Harry, had that luxury. They simply made do with the washcloth that was there at their disposal. Like their toothbrushes, which were self-pasting, the washcloths were self-soaping. The charms always needed updating after several months, and that was why his old toothbrush didn't have such charms on it anymore, nor had his old washcloth. He was simply lucky that his items had gotten replaced when Harry had gotten his items. He supposed it was the logic that they didn't want to risk Sirius using Harry's items because his weren't the best anymore. He also understood why the items were never replaced for prisoners. What sort of prisoner in Azkaban would care about brushing their teeth or combing their hair? They were mad. They were crazy. They were insane. They simply didn't have the sanity or intelligence enough to care anymore. Sirius, himself, had even given up until Harry showed up. Now, he did it to set an example for Harry. It wouldn't be right for him to allow Harry's teeth to rot out of his head. He let his thoughts drift on for a little while longer.
"I'm done."
Sirius turned around so he could face Harry, who had a proud grin on his face. Sirius felt his hair. It still felt exceedingly grimy, but for the first time in over three years, his hair didn't feel matted or full of tangles. Of course, his beard still did, the bloody, annoying thing it was. How he wanted to cut off the hairs above his upper lip. "Thank you, Harry. I think you have done a wonderful job. Now all I have to do is wash it."
Harry smiled. Harry didn't have the problem Sirius did, as Sirius would typically use the washcloth on Harry's hair on occasion, and not just the boy's body. Sirius simply couldn't be bothered with his hair as it was already too much of a mess. Perhaps now would be a good time to care for it. Now, he just had to worry about his bloody beard!
He turned to face where two house elves had just popped in, the same two that he had to deal with on a daily basis, and the same two he typically wished to strangle. Both of them were motioning for him to go over to the corner they were in, furthest from Harry. He complied.
"We got it!" Topsy gave a little happy jump.
"Got what?"
Sirius watched as Mildy turned so he was at Sirius's side, apparently making it so Topsy was not visible to Harry. It was then that Topsy pulled out a small package from behind her back.
"We has taken your advise, Sirius Black, and got permission from the goblins to use your vault as they knew we was being honest with them and they is not caring of the business of ministry wizards. We's have drawn one hundred galleons from yous's fault to use on occasions. We's got these as you have been wanting for Mr. Harry Potter Sir."
Sirius sat on the stone floor, making certain Harry could not see what he had in his hands, and unwrapped the brown package. Inside, there were two black books. As he opened them, he saw that they were both blank and, while thin, held ten times the amount than each book's size suggested. There was also a long, black, case. Within the case were ten drawing pencils of different sizes and two quills. There was also a pencil sharpener.
"The quills, Sirius Black, are self inking and is guaranteed to last ten years for a writing scholar. They is so you can teach Mr. Harry Potter Sir to write proper. The pencils are for Mr. Harry Potter Sir's drawing."
"These are wonderful. Thank you!" Sirius truly was amazed. He didn't actually think that the house elves would do this, even if it was for Harry.
"We has also gotten something else for Harry Potter Sir, though you did not say anything of these items." It was Mildy who whispered this.
"What?"
"A bag, for any of Harry Potter Sir's items, and playing cards that make no noise or explosions. The bag is made of wizard space so it holds more than it looks to hold. It is so Harry Potter Sir's items cannot be spotted so easily."
"Oh." Sirius supposed this made sense. The house elves did not want anyone to find out that Harry was here. To be frank, Sirius did not want anyone to find out Harry was here. If they did, Harry would surely be sent back to the Dursleys'. At the same time, Sirius did not want Harry raised in Azkaban, even if he did want to keep the boy to himself.
"But we is not letting Harry Potter Sir have these items until it is his fifth birthday, Sirius Black. They is to be his birthday presents."
Sirius smiled. "I like that idea. How much further until July 31, anyhow."
"It is in three days, Sirius Black."
"Perhaps he could have cake as well."
Topsy and Mildy both nodded vigorously. "We is wanting to make him chocolate cake, but we is going to be needing to purchase the ingredients with the galleons from the Black vault. It should not be more than one galleon for all ingredients."
"Alright, then." He carefully wrapped up Harry's gifts back in the brown paper and handed them back to Topsy.
As fast as they had come, they had left again.
Sirius thought back to what they said. In three days, Harry would be five. Sirius still thought Harry looked three. He walked back to Harry, who he could tell was actually spying at his actions. Though there was no way Harry could hear his and the House elves hushed voices over the moans and groans of other prisoners, there was no doubt Harry was curious.
"You weren't fighting."
"Nope." He smiled.
"But you always fight with them."
"Not this time." He took a grab at Harry and started tickling him.
Harry was bursting with laughter. "S-stop! S-Sirius!" His meager complaints were cut off by Sirius doubling his efforts. Sirius only stopped when he saw that Harry was struggling to breathe thru all the laughter.
----
Harry took in a deep breath once Sirius stopped tickling him. He loved and hated it when Sirius tickled him. On the one hand, it was one way that he knew Sirius liked him, but on the other hand, he hated being so ticklish. He looked up to where Sirius was sitting beside him while he laid on the bed.
"W-why did the house elves come?" He was still trying to catch his breath.
"Oh, they just needed to show me something."
"What?"
"Nothing."
He sighed in exasperation. "Can't be nothing!"
Sirius smiled down at him. "Why can't it be nothing?"
"Because! Something is not nothing!" A slight whine could be heard at the end of the sentence.
Sirius just let out a deep chuckle that was becoming more and more common with every week that passed, especially as the dementors could barely affect him with Harry holding him anymore.
"Why my wise little godson is correct! Something cannot be nothing!"
Harry let out a little growl before sitting up and staring right into Sirius's eyes. A fierce scowl was placed on the four year olds' face, or at least as much as one could exist on a child. Harry watched as the gray eyes belonging to the man sparkled in glee. Harry was beginning to get bold, but he knew he would back down if Sirius showed anything but happiness in those eyes. As long as Sirius didn't care that he was glaring, than Harry wouldn't mind showing a little bravery. Changing actions, he crossed his arms and pouted.
"You'll find out in a few days." Sirius ruffled Harry's hair.
Harry upped the ante and began to mimic the puppy dog eyes that Sirius had given him only two weeks prior.
"No! Not the eyes! Not the puppy dog eyes!" Sirius covered his eyes with his hands and fell back on the bed.
Harry jumped back in surprise, as Sirius's body made the bed jump, at Sirius's obviously fake reaction. "Sirius?" Harry crawled over to where Sirius's head landed. Harry squeaked as Sirius grabbed Harry and stood up. Harry wrapped his arms around his godfather's neck.
"Three days and you'll find out, Harry. Think you can wait that long?"
Harry nodded. Three days was easy to wait. He'd done it before when waiting for food from his aunt and uncle. Still, Sirius never made him wait if he could help it. He put his head against his godfather's shoulder.
----
"...birthday to Haaarrryyy! Happy birthday to you!" Sirius sung the song quietly into Harry's ear as the boy sat on his lap. The two house elves were sitting across from them, and a small, but very chocolaty, cake was between them. Upon the chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and shaved white chocolate curls were five tall, but thin, candles. Each one of them had a different colored flame to match the candle's color. One was blue, one was green, another was yellow, one was red, and one was purple. The flames weren't even on a wick, but rather floating a mere centimeter above the candle.
He watched as Harry immediately blew out the candles, then grinned up at him. The house elves immediately extracted the multicolored candles from the cake and went about cutting two pieces and putting them on plates. After pulling Harry out of his lap, he accepted one plate for himself and Harry claimed the other. Both of them dug in.
"You aren't having any?" Sirius looked to the house elves that Harry had just spoken to. Harry had gotten better about speaking to the two of them, if only because he was so used to their presence now. When speaking to them, though, he used the quietest voice he could without whispering.
Mildy looked startled and wide eyed at the question. "Oh, NO, Mr. Harry Potter Sir! Its would not be proper for us! We is already being improper by sitting with you! No, Sir! We's cannot possibly eat with you!"
Sirius looked down at Harry who was looking up at him questioningly. Sirius knew Harry dared not ask anymore questions of the house elves. "House elves typically serve wizards, Harry. They are servants. While they are not my servants, they feel that they are yours. Because they are servants, there are rules they follow. One rule is that they don't eat with wizards."
The house elves nodded in agreement with him.
"What's a servant?"
"It's someone who does work for others, such as household chores and cooking."
"Like I did at my aunt and uncle's?"
Sirius swallowed hard as he recalled exactly how much work the two muggles had made a four year old do. "Kind of. Only they do everything."
"Oh."
"Hm. Finish your cake, Harry. I'm sure Mildy and Topsy here will be eating the leftover cake once we are all finished with how much we have. Right?" He turned specifically to the house elves at his single worded question.
"Oh, yes, Mr. Harry Potter Sir! We is most looking forward to enjoying the cake in the kitchen!" Topsy nodded her head emphatically. Sirius could not tell whether or not she was actually being honest. He never did know what house elves did with extra food. At the same time, he mentally shook his head at Harry's long title... very different from how they addressed him. They were much more respectful and awed by the now five year old than they were of the Azkaban prisoner that he, Sirius, was.
"...was surprised...late... -nual visit...still..."
Mildy and Topsy's eyes got wide and Mildy grabbed Harry's two wrapped gifts and the cake and cleared plates before disappearing.
"Yes, well, the whole...-th Harr...tter has..."
Topsy made a reach and pulled Harry to her and then disappeared with him, leaving Sirius sitting alone in the cell. He realized why the house elves had taken everything away, including Harry. He stood and walked over to the bars. Stretching his vision as far as it could go, he could see the minister beginning to walk down his corridor with two aurors. Sirius took a quick look around the cell, making certain that it looked as though there was only one blanket and one wash cloth and one toothbrush. He quickly hid Harry's and his toothbrush under the wash cloths, leaving only the toothbrush Harry used to paint the floor with in the glass that sat on the sink's shelf. The two blankets already looked to be one. Silently, he amazed himself at how unwilling he was for Harry to leave Azkaban... but he could not allow him to go back to the Dursleys. He could not risk himself being kissed by the dementors. No. The only way Harry would leave would be if he, Sirius, knew that Harry would not be heading to the Dursleys. He gripped the sink's sides as he allowed the thoughts to run through his head. He was being selfish in keeping Harry here, but it was also to keep Harry safe.
The minister was right near him now, just on the other side of the bars. He could hear the minister and aurors conversing about the prisoner across from him.
Sirius's head shot to look to his right to look at the man. He gave the man a sneering grin. "Minister. What a pleasant surprise."
Sorry, couldn't help with the ending, no matter how cliche.