9) Future
Harry, Sirius and Remus got used to living
together.
Sirius had his problems though. He couldn't stand to
be alone but it was impossible for him to face people. Harry and
Remus from time to time Sebastian and Dumbledore was all he could
stand.
When he had gone to the ministry to sign some papers he had
to use all his strength not to turn back around.
Harry learned to do magic and he was good. Remus and Sirius had gotten him to promise not to try anything on his own. But he was aloud to be with them on the full moon nights as long as he waited until Remus had transformed.
On Harry's birthday Albus Dumbledore gave him his Hogwarts letter in person. Harry had always known he would go to Hogwarts. He was excited but also a little sad. He had just gotten Sirius back and now he would only see him when terms ended. What would Remus do without Harry to care for? Harry and the fight for Sirius had been his whole life.
Sirius had been thinking about that as well. Remus would not take money, he didn't like pity. But Sirius could give him a job! Remus Lupin, registered werewolf was going to be the financial advisor of the Black inheritance! Sirius thought it fitting. A creature his family would have looked down on was holding the strings.
The
Animagus knew he had to go out one day but
he kept finding excuses. It couldn't go on like this. Harry needed
his school supplies and he wanted to go with Sirius.
That's why
the two of them stumbled into the Leaky Cauldron on a rainy day.
The pub was filled to the last chair. Sirius wanted to kick himself. Of course he would choose a busy time.
The witches and wizards looked at him shocked. Everyone knew he was innocent but his presence scared them. He had stayed in Askaban for five years and one became crazy in there after just a few weeks. And they let Harry Potter go with him! The hero of the wizarding world in custody of a madman!
'At least,' Sirius thought, 'they leave Harry alone because they are too scared of me.'
Sirius dragged Harry into Diagon Alley and when the wall closed itself he leaned on it panting. He had had the feeling of the walls closing in on him and the peoples eyes seemed to say "It is your fault".
"Are you all right, Sirius?"
Sirius shook his head. Harry didn't know anything else to do but to sit down next to his godfather.
Quite by chance they got helped by a wizard with flaming red hair.
Arthur Weasley was a Ministry Wizard and knew Sirius from Hogwarts even if he was a bit younger. He was on the way to his wife Molly who was buying school supplies with their kids when he saw Sirius and Harry.
"Hallo, Sirius."
Sirius looked up clearly confused. He needed a moment to recognise the man in front of him.
"Arthur, hi." Sirius got up shaking. Arthur had to grab his arm to steady him.
"You look horrible. Come on you two. I am meeting Molly and the kids in the ice-cream parlour. A bit of a break will do you good."
Sirius nodded. Florian Fortescues ice-cream parlour was just a few meters away and the little shop would get them out of the open.
Because
of the bad weather only the Weasleys and Florian Fortescue himself
were there.
Molly Weasley started immediately to mother the two.
After a while Harry sat together with the youngest son, Ron and was
introduced to wizards chess while Rons little Sister was looking at
him strangely. Sirius was recovering with a cup of hot ice.
"Sorry
to be a bother. There were just so many people…" It was hard for
Sirius to show how much Askaban had affected him.
Arthur hid his
shock. Sirius had always been such a lively, outgoing boy. Something
had broken in the man in front of him.
"Don't worry about it, Sirius. It will get better with time don't overdo it like that. Molly is done with the shopping for our lot. She can go with Harry and we can talk about the old times and make sure the twins don't burn down the shop."
Sirius looked over to Harry.
"It's okay Sirius, really."
So Molly and Harry went into the now crowded alley. He was lucky that Molly met a friend in front of Ollivander's and sent Harry in by himself. The wand that chose him was powerful and on top of that the brother of Voldemorts. Mrs. Weasley would have probably fainted.
"Thanks Molly."
"Harry is such a nice boy. I am living with Fred and George after all."
Harry turned red. Sirius and he were getting ready to leave.
"We will see you in September then?"
"Thanks Arthur, we will call you."
Harry went to bed satisfied. He thought he had found a first friend in the wizarding world in Ron.
Of course he had been shocked that his wand had the same core as the one that had been used to kill his parents. But Sirius had said magic was only as black and white as the one using it and Harry was sure he would never turn dark, never!