Chapter 10

With the diary destroyed, Harry brought up the question of how he was going to keep Sirius safe. And Remus after third year. He was stunned when Julian offered his home, saying the spare rooms need to be filled.

'You're sure?! I mean… Remus was the werewolf I was talking about. And Sirius may not like you much if he knew you were in Slytherin.'

'I'm sure Harry. The wolfsbane potion can be bought easily enough. And I'm pretty good at making friends, regardless of which house they were in' Julian replied.

Harry had hugged him, saying he was the best dad in the world.

After checking off some more items on the summer fun list, as Julian had called it, which after last summer had dropped down to a page and a half, it was time for Harry to head to Little Whinging to bring Sirius back. With a glamour on he appeared in Privet Drive and headed to the park. He sat down on the swings to wait for Sirius to appear. The wind picked up slightly and moved the play equipment. He glanced over at a rustle in the bushes, smiling slightly when the familiar black dog appeared. He stood up and, checking around for any magic folk hiding, took down his glamour.

'Sirius. It's me. Harry. I'm not here to fight with you. I know it was Pettigrew that was really to blame.'

Padfoot froze in his tracks. Then warily he crossed the road and came over. Harry reached out and petted the black dog, letting it sniff him, and in a heartbeat his godfather was hugging him tightly.

'Harry… Pup… I'm so sorry…'

'It's ok' Harry whispered back, tears in his eyes.

The veil wasn't getting Sirius this time. Neither was the ministry, or Dumbledore.

He felt his godfather move back and kneel down.

'Oh Harry look at you. I haven't seen you since you were a baby, you've grown up well. You look just like your father.'

He wiped Harry's tears away.

'And your mother's eyes. She always said you got her best quality.'

He then frowned and took Harry by the shoulders.

'How do you know about Pettigrew? Have you seen him? He's out to get you Harry. He's in leagues with you-know-who.'

'I know Sirius. I'll tell you everything, but first we need to get you somewhere safe. Are you feeling ok to apparate?' Harry replied.

'I think so. But Harry I don't know where to go. Well I do but people may be there. People who think I'm guilty.'

'Sirius I can apparate. I know a safe place. I meant are you ok so I could take you there.'

That had dumfounded his godfather, but he nodded and held Harry close. With a pop they were gone.

Julian was waiting for them. Harry was able to get a dazed Sirius into the house before too many questions were asked. Only when they were in the sitting room did Harry start to talk.

'Sirius this is Julian Heartright. He knows you're innocent and he said you can live here.'

'Where is here? Harry what's going on? A twelve year old shouldn't be able to apparate.'

'I promise I'll explain everything. But you look exhausted, and hungry. And you'll probably want to take a bath' Harry said.

'Oh Merlin I haven't had a bath in years! And I'm starving! I've been living off scraps' Sirius exclaimed.

'I've made a big dinner. It can be kept warm while you bathe. Or we can eat now and let you bathe then sleep' Julian said.

Sirius glanced at him suspiciously. Then signed heavily.

'A bath. I can hold on for a while longer with food but I really have to feel clean again.'

Harry brought him to the bathroom, grinning when Sirius fawned over the huge bathtub. With his godfather happily bathing, Harry went out to find Julian preparing some clean clothes. They had gone out a few days earlier and bought some clothes Harry hoped would fit Sirius. He sat them on the counter, along with shaving equipment, and his wand.

'He looks shattered. I can't believe he managed to survive that long in Azkaban' Julian mentioned.

'I know. He told me he stayed sane by transforming when the guards weren't there, and by thinking of me and Remus.'

'Um… I'm curious. Where he and Remus…together?' Julian asked.

Harry smiled and nodded.

'Yeah. I kinda found out the hard way. Not that I was bothered, but there wasn't exactly enough clothes to leave room for the imagination.'

His dad laughed as they sat to wait.

'When Sirius died Remus was heartbroken, but he was able to find love again. It was good to see him smiling. I'm not sure what will happen this time round. Especially as Remus had a son with his new partner' Harry continued thoughtfully.

'I guess we'll just have to wait and see. You never know what can happen' Julian said.

Sirius showed almost an hour later. He looked much better in his new clothes, and the shave had made him look more his age rather than haggard. They went through and sat down to dinner. Julian had outdone himself. There was plenty of fresh crispy salad with crumbly cheese mixed through. For the main he'd prepared enough pasta bolognese for ten people, with lots of garlic bread and mozzarella. There was orange and lemonade in large pitchers, plenty of thick whole meal bread and butter, and for dessert he'd tried his hand at donuts sprinkled liberally with sugar and filled with fresh cream. It was delicious. By the end they were all rubbing their full stomachs.

'I have no idea who you are. But your cooking is heavenly' Sirius sighed.

Julian laughed.

'That's quite a complement. Thanks.'

With a flick of his wand the leftovers went back in the fridge with preservation charms and the dishes went to the sink.

'Harry why don't you and Mr Black head to the sitting room while I wash up and you can start explaining' Julian suggested.

He declined Harry's offer to help, saying with his elements it would literally take a couple of minutes. Smiling Harry and Sirius went back through and sat by the fire.

'Would you rather I waited until tomorrow?' he asked, noticing Sirius' eyes drooping.

His godfather shook his head.

'I'll stay awake for this. Whatever you're going to tell me sounds like it's important. Go for it pup.'

Harry started from the beginning. About his true age, and his trip back in time. About Julian, though he didn't say Professor Snape was his other father. He spoke of Dumbledore, and what happened last time. And he told Sirius what he had achieved so far. He even showed his memories from a pensieve that he'd bought last year at Julian's insistence that he would be better keeping them safe for evidence. When he finished Sirius looked astounded.

'So you're really…not their son…?'

'I am. Lily and James blood adopted me. It's like I have three dads and a mum. And you' Harry replied.

Sirius glanced to the side and frowned, then he looked at Julian.

'But... You look way too young. What age are you?'

Julian then proceeded to tell him what happened with Voldemort, bringing up the other father at the end. As predicted it set Sirius off.

'What! That git actually had the nerve to… to do that to you!? That bloody rapist I'll kill him. I knew he was bad to the bone. All Slytherins are!'

'Mr Black I was in Slytherin! And I will not have you bad mouthing someone who was forced to do what he did. I explained what happened, stop twisting my words' Julian replied firmly.

Sirius gaped at the younger man.

'But you… But he… How could he be the one that was forced? He's a git!'

'Mr Black you are being immature. What happened between Severus and the marauders happened in school. And yet all of you are still acting like kids over it. I'm the one who got raped. And I'm the one that says Severus did not want to have sex with me. My falling pregnant when I was that young was unfortunate. But I wouldn't change it. Not when I know Harry is the product. I have very few rules in this house Mr Black as you will find out. But my rule for you is you will not bad mouth those I care about.'

Harry had never heard that tone before. But he felt Sirius needed to hear it. He and Severus both needed to grow up.

'How can you tell for sure that he didn't want to? He could have been tricking you?' Sirius tried to reason.

Julian looked sternly at him. Then he sighed.

'I hate werewolves. They're disgusting horrible creatures that would rip you to pieces as soon as look at you. I've heard your friend Mr Lupin is such a creature. How could you possibly be friends with him? He's a bloodthirsty savage. He has no heart.'

'How dare you! Remus is the kindest most caring person I know!' Sirius snarled.

'And how do you know that? How do you know he wasn't just tricking you, waiting for the right time to kill you?' Julian retaliated.

'Because I know what kind of person he is. He can't help being a werewolf. He was forced! Do you really think he likes being called a monster?! If you can't accept him for who he is then you and I are going to become fast enemies' Sirius growled.

Harry jumped to his feet as his godfather came towards his dad. He couldn't figure out why Julian was saying such things. It wasn't like him at all. His dad sat calmly, and held a hand up to Sirius.

'Mr Black. Before you come any closer. I'd like you to do something for me.'

He waited for Sirius to stop, the older man sneering at him.

'I'd like you to put the name Severus, in place of the word werewolf in that argument.'

That wiped the sneer off Sirius' face. He gaped at Julian, then sat back down heavily as he thought over their words.

'It's not the same.'

'It's exactly the same Mr Black. And I hope you'll forgive me for using Mr Lupin as an example. I have nothing against werewolves. Look. You and Severus got off to a bad start. You both gave the same amount of grief to each other. The marauders however, had the advantage of playing four to one. Now I know Severus is a good duelist, but that doesn't help make it even. And just because Headmaster Dumbledore let you off and not him, does not make you in the right. That was school life. And in school it should have stayed. You're not doing yourself any favours by acting the same way this far out of school' Julian said.

Harry looked wide eyed at his dad. That was genius. He glanced at Sirius to find the man stunned. Clearly this had got to him.

'He's still a git' the man mumbled.

Julian laughed.

'I agree with you, he can be a git on occasion. But then, he still calls you a mutt. They're just names Mr Black. I've been called a fair few myself. It's the way you take them that make them insults. You don't have to like the man. You certainly don't have to be friends with him. But accept that he is not as bad a person as you first thought, and we'll have no more fights.'

Sirius gave him a smile.

'I get the feeling you could get your point across no matter who you're talking to.'

'Believe it or not, but it is a quality Slytherins are usually very good at. And while we're on the subject. Slytherins are not all bad people. They just have the unfortunate luck of having a crazy evil wizard grow up in their house' Julian replied.

Sirius barked out a laugh.

'Alright I get it. Can't really argue with you can I? Not with both Pettigrew and Dumbledore coming from Gryffindor.'

He rubbed the back of his neck.

'I can't believe Albus is a bad guy. I can't believe he let me rot in Azkaban when Pettigrew was really to blame.'

He turned to Harry.

'Pup I'm with you. Thanks for telling me.'

Harry smiled and went over, hugging his godfather.

'I'm glad you saw reason.'

The man cackled against his shoulder. Then he moved away and grinned at Julian.

'Ok Heartright. Let's see these elements of yours. Then you can explain why I saw a green deer with a branch on its head outside. And call me Sirius will you. You're making me feel old.'

After that things went smoothly. Sirius was overjoyed to be staying at Hidden Hearts, though Harry figured that had more to do with the good food and the huge bath. He had chosen the back right room, next to Harry, as his own and they got it decorated and furnished to his liking. They also took him out shopping. Thankfully Julian sufficiently terrified him enough for him not to go exploring in the forest alone. He thought Harry, and Julian's animagus forms were brilliant, jokingly asking Harry if he preferred pup or kit. With third year coming up they decided to head on one last day out, and promptly took Sirius, in glamour of course, to the cinema. The man loved it, spending a small fortune on confectionery and picking the closest seats. Then nearly falling out of his when the movie started.

Harry's birthday came and, with the arrival of a third person, he was able to have a small party. Julian made a point to find out Sirius' birthday when the man hinted at how much he loved the cake, putting the older man's name against the eighteenth of June. Harry received a book on pranks Sirius had bought when they were out, and a hand drawn picture in a carved frame from Julian, depicting Vixie, Ebony, Hedwig, Padfoot, Prongs, Lily as a doe, and a wolf to represent Remus. He had also put Wisdom and Swift in it as well. When Harry looked carefully, he could also see a faint outline of a large black cat in the background. Julian told him its name was Shadow, and that he would say no more on the matter. Harry thanked them both, hanging the picture up next to his bed and going through the book with Sirius to find pranks he could pull on his friends. Though he seriously doubted Sirius would be able to prank Julian. As the saying went, his dad was as crafty as a fox.

Harry placed the last item in his trunk and closed the lid. He knew Sirius was in good hands with Julian. And by next summer, Remus will be here too. While he knew Remus wasn't actually in danger at the moment, he was someone Dumbledore wanted to control. And because of the ministry's laws he had very little money or possessions to call his own. With enough money to buy the wolfsbane, and Padfoot there to comfort Moony, Harry knew Remus would be taken care of.

'Ready to go pup?'

Harry smiled at his godfather.

'Yep. Ready to stay on your own with Julian?'

The man shuddered playfully and they laughed.

'Hey. Be extra polite with Snape will ya? Drive him mad for me.'

'I'll do my best' Harry replied with a grin and they headed downstairs.

Julian handed him his lunch, and they headed outside. His dad hugged and kissed him and his godfather ruffled his hair and hugged him. And Wisdom and Swift nuzzled him before he apparated to the station.