AN: A nice long chapter for you. :) Now, the italics below have been ripped directly from JK Rowlings book; 'Harry potter and the Half Blood Prince.' I claim to own nothing of that little bit. Please enjoy and thank you all for your wonderful reviews, as always they make me an extremely happy author.

"You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be." – Albus Dumbledore

"Now, Draco, quickly!" said the brutal-faced man angrily.But Malfoy's hand was shaking so badly that he could barely aim.

"I'll do it," snarled Greyback, moving towards Dumbledore with his hands outstretched, his teeth bared.

"I said no!" shouted the brutal-faced man; there was a flash of light and the werewolf was blasted out of the way; he hit the ramparts and staggered, looking furious. Harry's heart was hammering so hard it seemed impossible that nobody could hear him standing there, imprisoned by Dumbledore's spell...if he could only move, he could aim a curse from under the Cloak-

"Draco, do it, or stand aside so one of us-" screeched the woman, but at that precise moment the door to the ramparts burst open once more and there stood Snape, his wand clutched in his hand as his black eyes swept the scene, from Dumbledore slumped against the wall, to the four Death Eaters, including the enraged werewolf, and Malfoy.

"We've got a problem, Snape," said the lumpy Amycus, whose eyes and wand were fixed alike upon Dumbledore, "the boy doesn't seem able-"

But somebody else had spoken Snape's name, quite softly."Severus ..."

The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.Snape said nothing, but walked forwards and pushed Malfoy roughly out of the way. The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even the werewolf seemed cowed.Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.

"Severus ... please ..."

Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore."Avada Kedavra!"

A jet of green light shot from the end of Snape's wand and hit Dumbledore squarely in the chest. Harry's scream of horror never left him; silent and unmoving, he was forced to watch as Dumbledore was blasted into the air: for a split second he seemed to hang suspended beneath the shining skull, and then he fell slowly backwards, like a great rag doll, over the battlements and out of sight.

XXX

Down in the lowest rooms of the castle a room burst into light, candles flickered in sconces upon the damp walls, a torch danced frantically as if it too could sense the darkness haunting the castle. As the flames in the torch snapped and crackled there was a sudden, choking gasp from within a stone coffin, a white hand appeared on the edge as something pulled itself upright, coughing and choking as he tried to draw breath. Sirius blinked and gazed around the small, dim room with wide silver eyes, he looked down at himself and checked that he worked properly. When he had steadied himself he climbed out of his coffin and made his way towards the door, it stood open and he frowned. From above him he could hear cries and shouts, screams and explosions...he looked up at the vaulted ceiling, his mind still trying to assimilate what was happening.

XXX

Remus darted around a corner as green light made the wall explode by his head, he gasped in a breath and shot his own retaliatory spell back. There was a scream and a loud curse and suddenly everyone heard someone speak; "It's over, time to go!"

None of the Order bothered to try and attack Snape, they had no idea what had happened but he was obviously trying to get his blond student out of the brunt of the fighting. Remus ran down a corridor, slipping behind a tapestry as spells rocketed over his head. He slid easily down the stairs, skipping one and landing lightly on his feet at the bottom of the staircase. He glanced back over his shoulder and saw that no one had followed him, with a heavy sigh he slumped down onto a stair and peeled back the sleeve of his robes, there was a horrible looking gash there and it hurt him to move his fingers, he held it tightly as he winced.

In the brief silence he heard footsteps...quickly he leapt to his feet, his wand in his uninjured hand pointing down the corridor, he narrowed his eyes, backing slowly and silently into a wall as they drew closer. They were slow steps, as if whoever made them was tired, but Remus wasn't about to underestimate his opponent.

A figure appeared around the bend, Remus acted without thought and fired a powerful spell, the figure cursed softly and deflected it with a strangely familiar grace that made his heart leap into his throat...

Sirius stood before him wearing dusty robes, his hair reached his elbows but his face looked as if it had been preserved. He looked no older than twenty-one, his body as hale and strong as it had been when they had last seen each other. His grey eyes glittered behind his fringe as he smiled slowly. "Remus!" He gasped and stumbled forward, he caught himself on the wall and slid down it with a soft curse. "I feel like I've been asleep forever..." He muttered.

Remus stepped back, his eyes wide and uncomprehending, he had a scratch down one cheek and more scars covering flesh. His hair had silver threaded through its thick strands and he had stubble over his chin and upper lip. Sirius grinned at him but it faltered as he realised Remus didn't seem to be aware that he had only been sleeping, slowly he stood and held up both his hands, holding out his wand for his friend to inspect. "I promise you Remus, It's me."

Remus gazed down at the elaborate wand, it was made from ebony with inlays of mother of pearl and ivory in the shape of vines and flowers. He had admired it when he had first seen it, it was unusual in that Ebony was not a popular wand wood as it was powerful but fickle, it rarely chose an owner. He touched it gently, running his fingers over its smooth surface and feeling the core within vibrate with familiarity. He looked up with tears in his deep brown eyes. "Sirius!" He breathed and the two friends met in the middle of the corridor, their arms locked firmly around each other as they held on tightly.

Sirius pulled away with a low chuckle, his smile was slow as he asked the question Remus had been dreading since he had first realised that Sirius was real and not a hallucination. "Where's Jamie?"

Remus extracted himself carefully as the sounds of battle died from above their heads. "Sirius...James disappeared two years after we buried you." He whispered hoarsely. "We haven't seen him since...but I'm sure he's alright, in fact, now I'm certain he is. With you alive and well, how can he be dead?"

"He left?" Sirius asked with a frown, he looked Remus over carefully, studying every new line, every new strand of grey. "How long have I been sleeping?"

Remus grimaced. "Nine years, Siri...you've been dead for nine years."

Sirius' eyes widened. "Nine...? Wow..." He breathed. "You look...old..."

"And you look exactly how I remember you. It's so good to see you again, Padfoot, old friend."

Sirius' confusion cleared from his eyes and he embraced Remus again. "And you, Moony." Suddenly a feline patronus appeared at the top of the stairs, it sat there and flicked its tail before speaking;

Meet us in Hospital Wing, members of the Order hurt. Awaiting instruction from Albus.

Remus turned to Sirius with a weak smile. "I suppose it's time we caught you up on matters and I think it's about time you met your Godson..."

"Harry? Harry's here?" Sirius bounded up the stairs, feeling his cold disappointment at James' absence ease away in light of seeing his Godson. "How old would he be now?"

"Sixteen."

"Wow! What does he look like? Is he exactly like James? Ah...I bet he is! A bloody trouble maker and good with the ladies...I bet he's an excellent flier on top of that!" Sirius continued a long, uninterrupted stream of chatter about his Godson as they wended their way through secret passages and short cuts to find the Hospital Wing.

When they reached the doors and opened them only a few people looked up, there was a woman with mousy, shoulder length hair and a heart-shaped face that seemed vaguely familiar to Sirius, as well as several bright haired Weasley's and a blond dreamy looking girl along with a brown, bushy haired girl neither of whom Sirius knew. When they entered several of the gathered people looked up, most of them returned their gazes to the occupant of one of the beds except the bushy haired girl and Arthur Weasley who stood there in open mouthed shock while his wife ignored whatever else was going on in the room.

Sirius shuffled closer to his friend on instinct as the scent of blood filled his nose, he didn't like the way everyone was looking at him.

"What happened?" Remus asked, striding into the room and deflecting any questions by moving towards the bed.

"I-It's Bill..." Said one of the younger red-heads.

Remus looked down at the wounds and even Sirius could tell immediately what they were. "Werewolf." He whispered softly, reaching down and touching his wrist, Remus caught the movement and grabbed his hand, his fingers squeezing a silent apology for a wound inflicted in their fifth year.

"Greyback." Remus croaked and they shared a significant look, Sirius hissed in pity.

Once again the doors to the Wing opened and Sirius turned to see James walking in, he took an abrupt step forward but felt Remus grab his arm in a vice-like grip and pull him back, he leaned close and whispered; "Harry." And Sirius' eyes began to note the differences, Harry was shorter than his father had been at that age, but only by a minute amount, he had the same features except his eyes...his eyes were as green as gem stones and could only ever have belonged to one person.

Harry seemed to be unaware of the new comer, he only had eyes for Bill Weasley lying in the bed as Madam Pomfrey dabbed some ointment onto the long bite wounds. Sirius could feel Remus shifting uncomfortably at his side, he knew that soon the questions would begin and after a brief explanation as to what had happened they did. The young boy Weasley asked if he would be a fully fledged Werewolf, forcing Remus to explain that really they couldn't know. Only Sirius seemed to recognise the signs of distress in his friend, it was in the stiffness of his shoulders, the way his eyes darted around and the way he spoke with a rigidity that only his closest friends could hear.

It wasn't long after McGonagall arrived that Harry broke the news to them, and it was only then that Remus showed a sign of grief. He cried out and fell into a chair, covering his face in his hands, Sirius was there, crouched before him and muttering consoling things. Remus rarely showed his emotions in public, he rarely let others see what was really going on inside his head.

It was after McGonagall had called Harry up to her office that people began asking about Sirius, it was the bushy haired girl who spoke first, breaking the silence in a voice thick with tears. "E-excuse me...but aren't you Sirius Black?" she asked.

Sirius turned slightly from where he was still crouched, smoothing Remus' hair from his face, he straightened with a small smile. "I am, and who are you?"

"H-Hermione Granger...I read about you in some old court records."

Sirius pulled a face. "They hardly show me in my best light." He muttered, pushing hair from his eyes absently.

"Black? You're dead!" Arthur exclaimed. The two had never met before but both purebloods knew their family trees.

"Well...Dumbledore wanted people to think I was dead for...certain reasons...but no, definitely still alive." Sirius tried a smile but no one else returned it so he let it fall awkwardly, he looked down at his feet for a moment.

"Is it true then?" Hermione asked, her eyes searching his face carefully. "That you're Harry's Godfather?"

There was a gasp from the others as Sirius nodded, a smile growing across his face and his eyes lighting up like stars. "Yeah, I am. Jamie made me Godfather when he was born...He was so tiny!" He sighed happily at the memory, but then realised how inappropriate that was and let it fall from his lips again. He realised that actually he couldn't seem to feel much grief for Dumbledore's death, he felt slightly worn out and fatigued and he did feel sad but he wasn't stricken or quite as sad as he knew he probably should be. Remus' shoulders were shaking, even as the heart-shaped faced girl comforted him. Sirius eyed her for a while and suddenly realised where he knew her from, he frowned. "It can't be!" He said softly and she looked up at him, recognition dawning in her dark eyes as she looked him up and down. "Little Dora...? Is that really...wow...you've grown!"

"No one calls me Dora anymore." She said softly. "It's Tonks."

She looked very much like her father, and the only thing 'Black' about her were her eyes. "You've grown up...I must be getting old."

"Last I heard you had died, mum was really upset...she'll be glad to know you're not."

"Actually...about that...It's best we keep it a secret, yeah? I mean...There are certain people who would love to get their hands on me, so for now it's probably safer for everyone if I remain a corpse..."

"What are you going to tell Harry?" Remus asked and slowly looked up at him, Sirius shook his head.

"No idea." Sirius watched Remus and Tonks for a while and couldn't help but smirk softly to himself, the way she touched him, the way he looked at her, it was so blindingly obvious he was astounded that there wasn't a great big flashing sign above their heads saying; WE'RE IN LOVE! It made him glow with a gentle warmth to see Remus smiling in that way, a way he had only ever smiled at him, he was happy for him.

XXX

Harry was sat in his dorms, alone with the locket in one hand and the paper in the other. Dumbledore's funeral was going to happen the very next day and he still couldn't fully digest what had happened, he was about to stand up when the dorm door opened, he assumed it was Ron until he heard an unfamiliar voice.

"Um...I'm not disturbing you am I?"

Harry turned his head and saw a tall man with long black hair, it shone slightly blue beneath the lamps, his eyes were twin pools of pure moonlight and he felt a jolt of recognition in his stomach. Slowly he frowned. "No..."

"Excellent...good..." Sirius entered the dorms and gazed around them, his eyes softened as he looked over the familiar hangings around the four poster beds, he ran them through his fingers and smiled to himself before returning his attention to Harry. "Do you know who I am?" He asked.

"I...I feel like I should..."

Sirius was glad Hermione had neglected to mention it to him, slowly he moved and sat down on Ron's bed, he gazed hungrily at his Godson, his eyes taking on a darkness that seemed to consume them. "Harry Potter..." he breathed. His eyes searched the bed and he spotted a crumpled peice of parchment, a frown dawned on his face and he reached for it. "May I?" He asked, his eyes scanning Harry's face.

"I really don't think..."

"I know this writing." He said and picked it up, turning it over in his fingers and reading the familiar script...

To the Dark Lord

I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.

I face death in the hope that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more.

R.A.B.

As he read it over again Sirius felt his hand shake almost imperceptibly, Harry watched from eyes as green as Lily's but Sirius swallowed and looked up. "Wh-Where did you get this?" Harry shook his head slowly, refusing to answer. Sirius leaned closer, his eyes pleading. "Please, Harry...tell me where you got this! I need to know. I promise you, you can trust me, I will explain everything..."

"I can't...I'm sorry...Do you really know who wrote it?"

Sirius gazed back at his brother's handwriting and felt tears sting his eyes. "Yeah...he was my little brother."

"R.A.B?"

Sirius got out his wand and began etching a name into the air between them. "Regulus Arcturus Black."

"Who are you?" Harry breathed.

"My name, Harry, is Sirius and when you were just a tiny baby your father named me your Godfather..."

"Sirius...I know that name...I know you, don't I? You were the same age as me...how...?"

"Magic is cool, isn't it?" Sirius said, handing the note back to Harry. "It was a simple potion, it reduced my age so that I could meet you under a disguise, you see I was prevented from seeing you for security reasons, but in the end I couldn't stay away..." He reached out and touched a lock of that perfectly messy hair and smiled as he moved to sit at the sixteen year olds side. "You're James...so much your father...It's a little scary."

"People tell me that a lot..."

"It's true. You look like your father, but your eyes..." He tipped Harry's head up so their eyes met, his finger rested under his chin. "They're all Lily, she was beautiful and kind and generous..." Suddenly he released Harry and stood up, pacing slightly as if agitated. "Anyway, I'm sure you must have questions..."

"If you're my Godfather...then why do you look so young?" Harry asked.

That wasn't the kind of question Sirius had had in mind but he shrugged. "That is...not a topic we should discuss right now, I'm sorry." He smiled to reassure Harry that he could continue to ask questions.

"What was he like?" Harry whispered, almost as if he was too afraid to discuss his father so openly.

Sirius smiled and sat down at his side. "He was brilliant. Brave, funny, powerful..." The way his Godfather's voice had gone when he had spoken the word 'powerful' was soft, it had come out as almost a moan of desperate longing and the tone made all the hairs on Harry's body stand on end, when Sirius looked at him his eyes glittered in his face and Harry looked away, unable to hold the intensity for very long.

"He was also kind in his own way." Sirius' smile changed, it became softer and Harry felt safer looking him in the face. "James Potter was my soul mate, my brother, my best friend...he was my world...still is for that matter."

"What about my mum?"

"Ah..." Sirius chuckled. "We hated each other in school." Harry smiled softly at his obvious joy. "She was wickedly intelligent, her charms skills went almost unrivalled in our year, she was working on seventh year stuff in fifth while James and I lagged behind...But her temper was fiery, like her hair, she set fire to my robes in our second year, had to run into the bathroom to put them out and ended up smelling of burnt hair for the rest of the day." He chuckled at the memory causing Harry's smile to widen. "Of course, I deserved it...even Remus laughed that day...I had hexed some spotty little Hufflepuff because he was there and I was bored...James was really the only person who found that funny..." He glanced at Harry's surprised expression and went on quickly. "We were twelve, we were stupid and arrogant...your father grew up, and ended up marrying your mother in the end, putting that rivalry and hatred behind them."

XXX

"Remus! He's brilliant!" Sirius exclaimed as he threw himself down on the sofa beside his best friend. "Harry's amazing."

Remus smiled fondly. "He is. He has his mother's gentleness, his father's courage...a perfect combination."

Sirius smiled. "Yeah..."

"I think you should go have a bath, Siri, you're still dusty." Remus said with a smirk as he lifted a hank of his long hair. "And get it cut, isn't it annoying being so long?"

Sirius nodded slowly. "It is a bit ridiculous...Oh..." He looked up and narrowed his eyes at Remus. "What is this I heard about you and my baby cousin?"

Remus' face remained impassive but his cheeks heated with embarrassment. "I...I...Well you see...it's..." he stuttered himself into silence as he saw Sirius smirk deviously.

"Have you deflowered her, Remus? You bad boy."

Remus' face deepened in colour and he looked down at his hands. "It was a mistake." He whispered. "I knew I should never have...but she was soft and willing and...and she looked so much like you that day."

Sirius' face fell slightly. "Does she know?" He asked.

Remus shook his head quickly. "Of course not, how could I tell her that I slept with her for that reason? It would be too cruel..."

"What about now? Do you like her for her?"

There was silence until Remus looked his friend in the eyes. "She is funny, intelligent, brave and kind...and she doesn't even care that I am a monster."

Sirius grinned again. "Then go for it! I'll give you my blessing..."

"You don't understand, Sirius!" Remus jumped to his feet and began pacing, Sirius watched him in confusion. "I like her, I truly do...But we cannot be together. It would never work. I'm much too old, too poor, too monstrous! She doesn't truly understand what I would be able to do to her, what my reputation would do to her family! I...I can't do that to her..."

"You're a fool, Moony." Sirius said slowly. "If she loves you none of that will matter at all, she wants you for who you are...let her in, let her make you happy. You are not a monster."

"Not a..." Remus spun around and climbed practically into Sirius' lap, his eyes flashed amber as he grabbed Sirius' wrist and drew it up, his sleeve slid down to reveal several deep gouges; claw marks. "...That night I nearly killed you." He whispered. "My best friend, the man I loved and I nearly tore you to shreds."

Sirius' eyes darkened with the memory, he remembered how hard it had been to hold onto his transformation yet knowing that if he didn't he would contract Lycanthropy. He remembered feeling that coiling, twisting terror as the wolf had turned on him, broken his leg, his arm and very nearly torn his hand off...even though at the time it had been a paw. Slowly he took Remus' hand and let his sleeve cover the scars, with his own yelping screams echoing in his head and half remembered terror he kissed Remus' fingers. "You could have, but you didn't. We all knew the risks we were undertaking those nights, it was only difficult to gain the wolf's trust but when we had it was easier."

"We had to lie through our teeth to Dumbledore...It was dangerous and stupid..."

"And I'd do it a million times over." Sirius smiled gently and pushed hair from Remus' lined face. "Because we love you Remus, we're your best friends, and we would die for you. If Tonks wants you, knowing her mother the way I do, nothing will stop her from getting what she wants...just give in and for once in your life let yourself be happy, you great fool."

XXX

Sirius lay in the deep bath and gazed up through the steam at the vaulted ceiling of the teacher's bathroom. He had one long leg dangling casually over the edge of the white tub while bubbles floated around him lazily. He sighed and sank deeper remembering his last conversation with the venerable headmaster...

"This is the Draft of Living Death, I had Professor Snape brew you some, although he is unaware of why I asked for it...we also have another potion that will preserve you and prevent your body from starving or actually dying. Now, please drink both."

Sirius sat down on his bed and gazed at the two bottles, one was full of soothing lilac liquid and the other was a gentle grass green. Slowly he reached for the green bottle and lifted it, he removed the cork and raised it in a mock toast. "To Prongs." He muttered to himself and downed the bitter liquid, with a wince he dropped the bottle and picked up the next. "To Moony...I hope you're happy." He muttered with a frown and drank the potion within, it tasted pleasantly like liquorish.

"Now then, remember that you will wake when I release you or when the potions leave your body..."

Dumbledore continued to speak but Sirius could no longer focus on his soft droning voice, his breathing was coming slower and his body lost feeling, his vision blurred horribly as he let himself fall back into the cushions. He could feel his heart slowing down and felt a sudden upsurge of panic. "Dummledor..." He slurred and the old man looked at him.

"This is perfectly normal, Sirius. I promise that no harm will come to you."

Sirius tried to nod but his eyes were becoming heavy, slowly they closed and his last thoughts were of James as he slipped into the deepest sleep. Dumbledore gazed down at the young man, his black hair splayed elegantly across the cushion and his hand by his slightly turned face, his fingers curled inwards. His chest moved once, twice and stopped. Slowly he arranged him into a less relaxed pose and sighed softly. "I am so sorry, Sirius."

He opened his eyes as the hot water cooled around him, he splashed around for a moment, grabbing handfuls of bubbles and blowing them into the air just to watch them float back down again. He grinned happily to himself, giggling like a child before realising what he was doing and stopping abruptly. He sighed and closed his eyes, cushioning his head against the rim of the tub, he had one arm dangling over the side and he let his mind wander, he thought back to his last encounter with James in the Forbidden Forest, he remembered his gentle touches, his soft whispers and felt heat flare in his groin. "Jamie..." He whispered as he let his other hand glide down his wet chest and abdomen. He could see those hazel eyes glowing with passion, as he heard James' moans in his head he wrapped his hand around his growing erection and steadily began moving it.

The candles around the room flickered, wax dripped to the stone floor steadily as they burned and the air was full of fog and the soft sounds of heavy breathing and moving water.

XXX

"Professor?" Sirius knocked as he entered the rounded office, his eyes lingered on the portrait of his hated ancestor before swivelling away and seeing McGonagall sitting behind Dumbledore's desk.

"Mr. Black, do come in..." The stern witch said as she waved her hand airily in the direction of the large wing backed chair opposite. "Ginger Newt?" she offered him a tin of newt shaped biscuits, Sirius declined with a shake of his head.

"Can I ask what this is about?"

"You can, but I will be unable to give you a proper answer. It was not me who called you here but..." She turned her head to a large painting sat on the wall in the space behind the desk, Sirius followed her gaze and saw Dumbledore smiling down at him.

"Albus..." Sirius said softly with a small smile, he remembered the man's elaborate funeral and all those who had shed tears for him.

"You look well, Dear boy." The man said quietly. "Minerva, would you be so kind as to leave us alone for a moment?"

"Of course."

When McGonagall had left Dumbledore sighed softly. "I regret many things, Sirius." He said with twinkling blue eyes. "But nothing more so than allowing James to leave...I do, however, happen to know where it was he went. Before my unfortunate death I asked Fawks to tail him, he was last seen in Bolivia as healthy and well as one can be when the love of their life dies. I have asked Minerva to call him back to us."

Sirius felt his heart soar and a grin split his face. "Brilliant!"

"In exchange, I would have something of you."

"Anything Albus." Sirius agreed.

"I want you to take Harry under your wing, we have very little time until he turns seventeen and in that time I wish you to teach him all you know."

"Everything?"

"Everything, Sirius. It is imperitive he is armed with the knowledge from one who has created a Horcrux himself, I know of no other. I wish Harry to be taught defence, advanced defence...You have not only learnt to defend against the Dark Arts but actually practised them, your knowledge will be imperitive in his development."

Slowly Sirius frowned. "Sir, are you asking me to train Harry, a sixteen year old boy, to become a Soldier?"

"You were not much older yourself."

"No, but the fights ruined me." Sirius muttered, running fingers through his shorter hair. "Albus, I'm really not sure if i..."

"If you do not, Harry will die." Dumbledore said slowly, his voice low yet full of warning.

"but he's..."

"He can no longer hide behind the protection of others, he is nearly a man and he must take on the responsibilities of adult hood, not only that but Voldemort forced him into this the moment he marked him with that scar...Sirius, you remain his only hope."

"Fight fire with fire." Sirius said absently as he leaned back in the chair and watched the portrait from heavily lidded eyes, the eyes of a killer. "Very well, I'll do it."

"Thank you, dear boy...You may be able to save his life."