Chapter 10

Sirius looked at the little boy with a smile. It was hard to take in that Harry was Rigel and the son of his brother and not James. He had always known Harry was adopted and that had never mattered to him or Remus. Their best friends had loved the little boy and that was all that they cared about. His brother was right when he commented he thought of Harry as his nephew, the Potters had all but adopted him as a teen. And he realized now the little boy was his nephew in blood, well when they removed the blood adoption. If James and Lily were alive it may have been hard but they weren't. Remus reminded him the couple would be happy that their beloved little boy was safe with his family. And Lily herself would have returned Harry if she had known he wasn't an orphan. As painful as it would have been and torn her to pieces, she would have. She knew what it was like to lose a baby and she'd never have done it to another person on purpose.

Rigel looked at the man with curiosity. He looked like man who said he was daddy, well one of men who say they are daddy. He not sure, it little confusing, he not sure how have two daddies. He not sure what to call them either, daddy and daddy, he was very confused.

Sirius knelt down. "Hi Rigel, I'm your daddy's big brother Sirius. You can call me Uncle Padfoot."

Rigel looked at him in curiosity. "Uncle Paddy?"

Sirius smiled. "Here watch."

Rigel screamed in terror when Sirius turned into a puppy. "No, no, no."

The little boy scrambled to get away but Regulus caught him up in his arms. "It's okay prince, it's okay, you're safe."

Rigel just buried his head against the man's shoulder and held on for dear life. He wasn't making a sound, but Regulus could feel his little boy's sobs. Of course Sirius couldn't have known Rigel was scared of dogs, he had seen the boys playing with puppies. Harry had always liked to ride him when he was a baby. But Rigel was too young to have any memories of back then, and he was far too new to magic as well.

Sirius turned back into human form and had a pained look on his face. It was definitely not the reaction he was hoping for from his godson. He knew he may not be godfather any more but Harry or Rigel always would be in his heart.

They went inside and Rodolphus went to his husband and kissed their son. "It's okay Rigel, I promise your Uncle didn't mean to scare you."

Rigel looked up just a bit. "He turn into a doggy. He turn into doggy."

Regulus sat down with him. "There are some humans, who can turn into animals, in form. But they still think and feel like humans."

Rigel looked over at his Uncle and back. "Really?"

Rodolphus nodded. "This is your Uncle and he'd never hurt you. I recall hearing when you were a baby you used to ride him."

Sirius saw his little surprised face and knelt down in front of him. "You did. I won't turn into a dog if you don't want, but Padfoot is gentle."

Rigel wasn't sure. "Maybe."

Sirius warned him first this time but he transformed again. Rigel didn't freak this time and he pet the big dog, but little more than that. They were reminded that he preferred cats and his reaction was part of it. They had been explaining magic as best as they could since he had woken up. There were a lot of things like talking paintings he didn't know about, but with time they hoped he'd become more comfortable with it all.

Rigel remained tight in daddy number 1's lap, he decide to number them, he not sure what else he could do. He was told this man, his Uncle, think like a human when look like a dog. He still not sure he likes Uncles though, his old Uncle hurt him very bad, but blond man Uncle Luc.

Severus stood with Lucius as they watched. "I need to go, I have to go to France to check on Arabella, before I return to school."

Lucius agreed. "I'd hate her to be at risk because of the help she has given us. I believe the wards are safe where she is."

Severus agreed. "She is close enough to the Delacaurs, and the veela woods. She'd be safe among them if needed. Jerome knows of her."

Rigel seemed to have raptor hearing when it came to Arabella. "You see Mrs. Figgy?"

Severus turned to the little boy. "I am. I'm sure she will be happy to hear you're safe. Her and her kitties are living in France now."

Rigel was happy she was safe. Miss Figgy always very nice to him. She take care of him when Aunty and Uncle out. She never hit him, and she always make him good food and let him play with her kitties. He had been very scared when he heard them talk before. He not sure who the Albus man was, but he very mean, to want to hurt a nice old lady and her kitties.

Lucius shook his head when Severus wondered if Sirius would remain. "I will help him create a new life, what he does with it I have no idea."

Severus had paid a visit to Arabella in France. The woman was quite happy in her little cottage which was on the edge of a quaint little town. The Delacaur estate was down the road, and the forest even closer. The village was a mix of muggles and wizards, but a lot of it was intentional. The wizarding world on the continent was far less removed from the muggle than in the UK. Many of the families in town were families of muggle borns, so a lot of the muggles would know about magic. Arabella and her talking to kneezles was not going to be considered a sign of dementia here. She wouldn't miss Surrey, she only remained so long to keep Rigel safe as best as she could. Severus and Arabella had a surprise in store for Rigel. He hadn't gone thinking of it but Arabella had a great idea. He'd not be back in Canada for some time, but sent it with Dobby.

Severus returned to England as quickly as possible. He knew how many risks he took choosing to continue to live here. Like Lucius he could easily find work and a new life in Canada. But he worried about his Slytherins, and he knew the work of the real Order was not done. He had all of his Prince money in foreign accounts just in case. He and Lucius had both known since they became spies it might become necessary. Lucius had a wife and son to risk, why he left. Severus loved his godson but he had no family of his own.

Minerva saw him return to the school. "I'd steer clear of Albus if I could."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Indeed."

The woman sighed. "Something about wolves and muggles, he has been on a bit of a tangent."

Severus knew it had to be bad when the woman was complaining. "I had no intention to leave my lab till fall."

Minerva went to leave. "I was surprised you left the school."

Severus didn't like her prying any more than Albus. "It is summer Minerva and I'm an adult."

He barely left school even in the summer time. Sometimes he did retreat for a few weeks to his own home. No one knew where it was, it was under the Fidelius charm and Lucius was keeper for him. He had made the place a fortress beyond the charm, closing off all apparition and floo as well, and wards as strong as the school and bank. The war may be over but he had no intention of lowering those defenses.

He was not surprised when he was in his lab for about an hour before the door opened. He knew the old man would come looking. He seemed to think Severus was still his spy. Severus liked to remind him he had a full pardon and didn't need this job/

Severus didn't look up from the potion he was working on. "Is there something I can help you with Albus?"

Albus moved into the room. "And you accuse me of having eyes in the back of my head."

Severus looked up as he finished a task. "No, just you are the only one who barges in without knocking first."

Albus simply took a seat on the stool. "I was curious to where you disappeared."

Severus lifted an eyebrow. "I don't recall the last time I had to answer to where I was, unless I was missing class."

Albus of course knew this but that didn't stop him from meddling. Severus pretended to allow him to get away with it during the war. Albus needed to know in case something happened and the Order had to go in for him. Of course Albus was a fool to believe he always knew where he was even during the war. Severus trusted the man as far as he could throw the school, with a spell he could throw the man too far.

Albus eyed him. "Remus has vanished."

Severus continued on to the next step. "And you think I know where the wolf went?"

Albus eyed him. "I know you have a long memory. I'd think you'd be concerned about him."

Severus looked up. "I know the wolf well enough to know where ever he is, he is safe."

Albus went to leave. "Not that I don't think it a good idea he has left, but he has refused to see sense before."

Severus had no concern the man might find out from him where Remus was. He was not able to fall victim to mind tricks or even vertiserum. He had covered all of his traces of his involvement with both Remus and Arabella. Albus would get no answers from him on either of them. He knew once again what he risked being here but he'd remain as long as he could. There was also a chance Draco and Rigel would come to school here.

Albus stopped in the hallway and thought to himself. 'You'd be smart to keep that blasted wolf where ever he is, if you want him alive.'