Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry potter series, any of its characters, settings, ideas, plotlines or other such things. All of this belongs to the AMAZING J.K. Rowling!

Sirius and Remus arrived back at the burrow to find Harry playing quidditch in the front garden. Ron and he seemed to be having fun. The boys' smiling faces reminded Sirius of how things had once been, of how things should be. He felt a little guilty, depriving Harry of open spaces and playmates. Though he was glad Harry wished to live with him, he couldn't help but wonder if he would've been happier at the Burrow. Selfishness prevented him from even asking. He would not risk losing his godson.

"Sirius!" Molly welcomed from the doorway, pulling the man into a loose embrace.

Sirius feigned a smile, pushing Lupin into the woman's awaiting arms.

"And Remus!" she greeted, not having been awake when the men had dropped Harry off earlier.

"I didn't expect you to return so soon!" she fussed "I would have made you some lunch had I known!"

Sirius shrugged, still a little down after their meeting with Harry's uncle. He wished he could have 'done the man's head in'. If only he had had a crowbar, or a knife.

"Oh don't be silly Molly!" Remus assured, nudging Sirius "We can't stay long anyhow."

Sirius nodded, realizing that the day had only just begun. Remus was taking Harry out for lunch, buying him some new clothes and things of sorts. Seeming as Sirius was technically a wanted criminal; he was to be staying home... alone. If only Albus would hurry up and clear his name. Surely, being the most powerful wizard in the world, he could track down a rat.

The man looked up to find Remus and Molly amid a conversation about parenting. Fred and George had apparently misbehaved and landed themselves quite a bit of trouble. Molly seemed unable to keep her voice down, more than a little frustrated as it seemed. Remus was simply nodding, laughing on occasion. He had grown quite fond of the twins during his stay at Hogwarts, he had bragged about their being the 'mini Marauders' on many occasions. Sirius doubted that they were even remotely comparable to their greatness.

Realizing that neither Remus nor Mrs Weasly appeared overly bothered by his presence, Sirius walked over to where Ron and Harry were setting down their brooms. The green grass and good weather made it a perfect day for Quidditch. Sirius wouldn't be surprised if the boys had begun cursing their arrival, after all, even Sirius would've preferred to be playing a little one-on-one.

"Who won?" the man bellowed, smiling up at his godson and red headed friend.

Harry's eyes immediately flicked up from the ground, a wide grin spread across his face.

"Ron's a hopeless seeker!" He bantered "There's no way he could've beaten me!"

Sirius chuckled, pulling Harry into a 'bro-hug'.

"That's my boy!" he stated proudly, ruffling Harry's hair as he did so. Harry flinched a little, still not overly comfortable with contact from adults. Remus and Sirius had been attempting to show affection towards the boy but it seemed to be getting them nowhere. Harry didn't seem to be making a great deal of progress. Sirius wished, if for no one's good but his own, that Harry would warm to him a little. It killed him to think that Harry feared him. He would do everything within his power to regain the boys trust, even if it meant reestablishing his trust in society as a whole.

"So are we going then?" Harry asked timidly, pulling away from his godfather ever so slightly.

Sirius shrugged, gesturing over toward Remus and Molly, "Who knows!"

Ron laughed a little, moving to shake Sirius' hand.

"It's good to see ya mate!" he stated wholeheartedly, slapping Padfoot on the back for emphasis.

"And you Ron!" Sirius replied, glad that the boy had taken the time to acknowledge him.

Looking back toward Moony and Molly, Sirius realized that he was being summoned. Remus was obviously growing a little tired of Mrs. Weasley's babbling and wished to leave.

"I think that's our cue to leave!" he chuckled, leading Harry towards the front porch.

Though Harry attempted to wriggle free of his grasp, he did not seem to be panicking. That was at least a start.

oOo

Sirius sat staring at the clock, counting down the minutes until his friend and godson returned home from their shopping trip. He had accomplished next to nothing over the course of the day, the Dursley visit being his only real feat. The remainder of his day had been spent looking over old photographs and wallowing in self-pity. He was angry at himself for not taking better care of Harry. If only James could've seen him now. Somehow Sirius doubted he would've approved. Not only had Sirius failed to keep his son safe, but failed to properly punish those that had harmed him. Sure, Vernon was unlikely to ever lay a hand on Harry again, but that was hardly enough was it?

"FUCK!" he exclaimed, throwing a pile of moving photographs to the ground.

Rummaging through a box of his old things, Sirius found himself choking back tears. How had he allowed thing to get this messed up? Why had he gone after Pettigrew? Why hadn't he thought to escape earlier? Why hadn't he seen the signs earlier after he had?

A sixth year version of himself smiled up at him, its gangly arm placed around James Potters shoulder. The pair looked so unbelievably carefree, he had looked so unbelievably carefree. So much had changed since then.

Flipping through a new stack of photo's, Sirius felt anger welling up inside him.

A Fifth year James stood grinning at the camera, his smile mischievous and true. He playfully punched Peter as the pudgy boy pushed him away.

Why James?

A slightly younger, healthier Sirius sat at the Potter's dining table, party poppers being set off in the background. A young Harry giggled in his arms, reaching towards whoever was behind the camera. The boy turned to Sirius for a moment, running his hands through his mustache.

Why Harry?

A second Year Padfood pulled a face at the camera, his hands waving around his ears in a taunting manner.

Why him?

How had things gone so wrong? Nothing seemed to have gone in their favor. James was dead, Harry was abused, Sirius was imprisoned. Someone certainly seemed to have it out for them; perhaps they were simply pawns in some sick, perverted game.

Ripping up the photograph of James and Peter, he threw the torn pieces into the fireplace. He refused to reminisce about peter, no good memories coming to mind when he thought of the boy. How they had even become friends in the first place was beyond him. It was unsettling to think he had once trusted the boy, horrid to believe they had been close. He would have given his life for Peter once... now? Not so much.

Clenching his hands into tightly formed fists, the man did not hear another enter the room. Green flames engulfed the fireplace, a rigid figure standing within the shadows.

"Good afternoon Sirius," the man mused, Sirius continuing to stare down at his hands.