Sirius rubbed his eyes as he sat up in the bed he was laying in. The sun streaming into the bedroom was blinding, causing him to blink several times. Sirius looked to his left, smiling at the blond tuft of hair barely visible from underneath the comforter. Looking towards the door of the hotel he was staying in, Sirius summoned the paper that was waiting for him.
THE MIAMI HERALD, July 30, 1987.
Already almost his birthday, Sirius thought. Harry had been living with Sirius for about a year now. He had grown four or five inches in that year, and put on about seven pounds. He looked so much healthier and happier than when he had been found. He still had nightmares, but mostly of "that green light and lady screaming". Sirius was proud of his god-son and how far he had come in that year.
Sirius also felt a pang of regret. Harry and Sirius had been on the move since the conversation with Dumbledore, Snape, and Remus over seven months ago. I wish Remus could be here with us. He deserves to be able to celebrate Harry's birthday too. Another voice in Sirius' head told him, your exile is self-imposed. If you would like to go back to that, go ahead.
Sirius was torn, and he had been for months. He knew what Dumbledore speculated, but there was no concrete evidence that Harry was a horcrux. That's what Sirius had to keep telling himself to make this easier. How could you love someone so much, when Voldemort was part of their soul? It made no sense. Harry wouldn't be so lovable if he had any part of Voldemort in his body. Obviously Dumbledore is wrong and is just trying to tear our little family apart again, Sirius reminded himself, trying to calm himself.
Since they had been on the run, Sirius and Harry had been using glamour charms to hide their identities. They continued to change their location, every week or so. They didn't stay in places for long, due to Sirius' paranoia of being found. Harry was willingly going on the trip with Sirius under the guise that they were just seeing the world for a year. Christmas had been spent in Paris; New Years in Madrid; bouncing amongst sunny places around the world. Harry's hair was now charmed blond, and his face was splashed with brown eyes. Sirius also had charmed himself to have blond hair and brown eyes. They could easily pass as father and son, and often times did.
Now, they were in Miami, FL. They were only here for a few days, mainly to watch the American Quidditch match tonight. It was supposed to be one of the biggest games of the year - Florida versus Michigan. Sirius enjoyed following American Quidditch, as some of their players appeared to be better than most of the players in the European league. Sirius had scored Harry and himself a box at the game tonight, and he could hardly contain himself. Harry had also taken an interest in American Quidditch and was especially excited to see Jake Andrews, the seaker for Michigan, play tonight. They had caught some highlights in a wizarding newspaper they got a hold of in Salem, and Harry had been enthralled by the story.
Sirius flipped through the newspaper that spoke of a crime spree in the area, the beach weather, and tourism. He wasn't that interested in what the paper had to say, but sometimes it provided him with fun ideas for him and Harry to do in the area. If it were just him, Sirius knew that he would be picking up women and laying on the beach all day. Unfortunately, with an almost seven year old in tow all of the time, it limited his opportunities to have adult time.
Next to him, Harry stirred in the bed. "Hey, Harry," Sirius murmured, reaching over to fluff the blond hair.
"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed, throwing his blankets off of him. "Sirius!"
"Yes?" Sirius' voice was confused, and somewhat alarmed. Harry never woke up like this.
"I had the best dream ever!" the young boy exclaimed, standing on his feet and beginning to jump. Sirius pulled his knees to his chest so that Harry wouldn't trip over his ankle as he bounced around.
Sirius' eyes watched with intent as Harry bounced around on the bed, up and down... up and down. "What was the dream about?" Sirius asked cautiously.
"About my birthday! It's tomorrow, in case you forgot!" Harry exclaimed, plopping on to his behind.
"Uh-huh," Sirius responded. His head was starting to hurt. Harry could go from zero to 100, and Sirius didn't quite feel equipped for it every day.
"Yeah! We're going to go to Hogwarts! We're going to see Remus!" Harry informed his god-father.
Sirius immediately felt his stomach clench, not thinking that it was the best ideas. He didn't want to have to face what Dumbledore thought. He wanted to escape forever. He didn't want to have to face his friend that, for the second time since knowing Remus, he had abandoned. He wanted nothing more than to just let the earth swallow him up. Perhaps I do belong in Slytherin; the moment that this got hard, I ran away. I protected my interests before I was willing to be brave and face them.
"I don't know if that's possible," Sirius said delicately. He didn't want to hurt his god-son. Everything I do is for you, he thought, frustrated. Can't you make an easier birthday wish?
"It is," Harry said. Sirius blinked, marveling at how sure he sounded. "We're going to go and have cake with Remus and he'll have balloons for me."
Sirius sighed, closing his eyes. The mental image of seeing Remus again - he was terrified Remus would take one look at him and then use the killing curse. I'm just trying to best figure out how to raise James' son. I am just trying to do my best, he reasoned, trying to convince himself that running away to protect Harry was the only possible option. But, another voice in his head reminded him, if this is true, you could find the Horcruxes and destroy them. If you destroy them, Voldemort can't come back. Sirius opened his eyes. Maybe Dumbledore would have worked out a plan by now.
"Fine," he relented, his voice sounded wary.
Harry jumped up and wrapped his arms around Sirius' neck so tight, Sirius thought his head was going to explode. "I love you so much!" Harry exclaimed, kissing Sirius on the cheek. The young boy then bounded off the bed and towards the bathroom of the hotel. "I have to get ready for Quidditch and can I have my brown hair back yet?" he yelled from the bathroom. Sirius shook his head, unable to respond as the water to the shower was turned on. Today had been a whirlwind of emotions, and it was only just getting started.
Hours later, Harry and Sirius were sitting in a private box, watching the two American quidditch teams play. The game had started nearly two hours ago, with no sign of the snitch. Florida was barely winning, with a score of 50-40. Their lead chaser had just been pulled off the field by medi-wizards after one of the beaters from Michigan had hit a bludger towards him; it had connected with his skull in a crack that Sirius was sure the who arena had been able to hear. The quidditch player had fallen to the ground, only to be magically slowed by the responding medi-wizards who were on standby at the side of the pitch. It had been a clean hit, all things considered, and hadn't caused the beater to be tossed from the game, much to the chagrin of the Florida fans.
"Sirius! Look!" Harry exclaimed excited, pointing his finger towards the Michigan chaser who had stolen the quaffle from Florida and was hurriedly flying towards the opposite side of the field.
"I see!" Sirius exclaimed, leaning forward to watch the play. The chaser threw the quaffle. It happened almost in slow motion; the keeper lunged for it as another bludger came flying towards the keeper. The keeper dodged the bludger by inches, and the quaffle soared through the middle ring.
"Ten points for Michigan!" boomed the announcer's voice over the loudspeaker. The voice was almost drowned out by the cheering crowd. Although the game was taking place in Miami, many people in the stands were wearing Michigan colors - green and black. Miami's team wore a bright blue and coral color.
Harry jumped up and down, screaming with the excitement that only a six year old could manage. Sirius glanced at the clock; it was already 8:30 PM. If the game went too much longer, they wouldn't be able to stay for the ending. "Harry, it's almost your bedtime," Sirius reminded his god-son gently after Harry stopped his celebration.
"But, Sirius!" Harry protested, looking up at Sirius with his chocolate brown eyes.
"But Sirius nothing," Sirius reminded him firmly. "You better say a prayer to Merlin that the snitch is caught soon, or we'll have to go. You don't get to stay up late, just because it's your birthday... especially if you're wanting me to magic us back to Hogsmede for your birthday."
Harry pouted, trying to convince his god-father that it was going to be a-okay. After realizing that it wasn't going to work, he turned his grumpy mood back towards the game. Another player - this time on the Michigan team - was hit hard with a bludger, but they were able to hold on to their broom and make it safely to the ground. The player was cradling his arm in a manner that suggested there might not be a bone left.
And then, out of nowhere, both seekers zoomed past the box that Harry and Sirius were occupying. "Sirius!" Harry exclaimed, pointing his finger towards the gold glint of the snitch. It was flying lower and lower, enticing the men chasing it to dive rapidly.
The two seekers were both engaged in a nose dive. I hate this part, thought Sirius as he watched the two men, probably younger than him, spiral towards the ground at breakneck speeds. Thank Merlin that I'm not the one on that stupid broom, he reminded himself.
Without warning, the snitch shot back towards the sky and - if Sirius was seeing correctly - was now hovering behind the keeper for Florida. The crowd erupted in cheers as the two men raced towards it, the keeper oblivious to where the two men were heading. And then, as if time slowed and then sped up quickly, the seeker for Michigan collided with the keeper from Florida, sending the two men spiraling towards the ground. The seeker from Florida dove rapidly as the two falling men reached for their brooms.
The seeker from Michigan was able to grasp the handle of his broom, slowing his fall. Sirius watched wide eye'd as the seeker was able to pull himself back onto his broom. The keeper continued to fall towards the ground, seemingly picking up speed the farther he fell. And then, as if out of nowhere, his broom appeared and he was able to hoist himself back on to it.
"But - Padfoot - where's the snitch?" Demanded Harry, who hadn't pulled his eyes from the action since the first glint of gold had been seen.
As if it was in response to Harry's question, the seeker from Florida held up his hand, victorious. Fighting against his fingers was a barely visible snitch. The Florida crowd erupted in to cheers as the team gathered in the center of the pitch. The young men on the team seemed joyful as the Michigan team quickly collected themselves - and their egos - and sulked their way off of the field.
"This was the worst game ever!" cried Harry, stomping his feet.
"Why do you say that?" Sirius asked, shocked. The game had been rather good; there had been blood and injuries and a surprise ending. He had thoroughly enjoyed the game.
"Because the wrong team won!" Harry exclaimed, exasperated at his guardian. It was as if Sirius knew nothing, by the tone in his voice.
Sirius chuckled and then shook his head. "I think it was a brilliant game. I think that you're mostly mad because your team didn't win. But, Harry, remember, life isn't all about winning. They played a good game, and I respect them so much more for playing fair. Maybe we just need to get you back to Hogsmede so you can get some sleep?" Harry shrugged in response, which Sirius took to signal that he was correct in his assessment.
Sirius picked up his god-son and they began to fight the crowd to leave the stadium. Sirius would have much rather been able to apparate from the box that they had been in, but the area around the stadium was a no apparation zone. Before they had even crossed the street outside of the stadium, Harry's body was limp in Sirius' arm. His god-son had fallen asleep shortly before leaving the stadium, even with all of the noise in the air. He's so gentle, Sirius reminded himself. That's how I know that he can't be part of what Dumbledore thinks. He's too pure.
Sirius walked for several blocks, getting away from the crowd. Although he and Harry were still disguised, he still worried that someone would be able to recognize them. It hadn't happened yet, but Sirius remembered the words of a friend from the Order of the Phoenix. Constant vigilance!, rang Mad-Eye Moody's voice in his head. The saying had saved his - and James' - asses more than once during the war. With a sigh, Sirius took in his surroundings. When content with the fact that there was no one else on the dark street he had chosen, he apparated with Harry in his arms.
Sirius stared up at the house he owned in Hogsmede, feeling a weird sensation. It was late. The street was quiet and still. Pulling his house keys out of his pocket cautiously, as to not wake Harry, he found the correct key and opened the front door to the house that Harry and Sirius had chosen to live in together. Sirius placed his house keys on the kitchen counter as he continued to hold Harry. Without a second thought, he started towards Harry's room.
A light in the house flicked on, and he was met with a wand in his face. His still brown eyes were staring in to those of a disgruntled - and sleep deprived - looking Remus Lupin.
What? No welcome home? Sirius wondered as he put his hand up to steady Remus' anger.