A super long one this time, enjoy! Also I apologize if you reviewed the last chapter! I always answer my reviews but for some reason they aren't showing up on my story to allow me to reply to them. Even if I go to my email and try to reply through the reply url that they give me it tells me that the link cannot be found. I'm assuming that this is a glitch with the site and that it will work itself out and if that's the case I will reply to you all then. Just know if you did review that I appreciate it and that it's your reviews that make me want to update as quick as I possibly can :) And like I said - enjoy this one!


He quickly ventured down the long dark hallway. He knew that he was being reckless. He knew that he should turn around before he got himself into a horrible situation.

The outside was calling him though.

Despite the fact that the ground was still covered in snow and that it looked absolutely frigid out, the sun was shining brightly.

He was sure that if he just stayed in the forest he would go completely undetected.

He paused for a moment at the end of the passage. He said the incantation causing the tree to freeze for a moment before quickly transforming and leaping out of the small hole.

He didn't waste time looking around to see if anyone had spotted him, instead he took off, running as fast as he possible could towards the forest.

It wasn't until he was deep in the thick trees that he slowed to a stop. He turned around looking back in the direction of the castle and stood perfectly still listening for sounds of someone following him. After several long moments of silence he breathed a soft sigh of relief and then happily rolled around in the snow before running even deeper into the trees.


"Are you sure that you have everything?" Snape asked.

Harry nodded as he adjusted his satchel on his shoulder. His guardian had asked him the same question nearly a dozen times so far this morning. After Snape sent most of Harry's Christmas presents back to Hogwarts by magic, Harry had packed up his school books and clothing on his own. He wasn't even sure why it was such a big deal if he left something behind. "If not I can always just floo back for it can't I?"

"You could," Snape nodded. "However I am trying to avoid that as excessive traveling by floo can often steal some energy from young bodies."

Harry wanted to point out that traveling home once to retrieve something he forgot wasn't excessive but he refrained. He was still in awe over how amazing the previous day had been. Harry hadn't been expecting anything let alone a small mountain of presents from his guardian. Harry was sure that he couldn't remember a nicer holiday. Though perhaps the best part was that not only did he receive a hand-made sweater from Mrs. Weasley, but Snape received one as well with a giant S knitted onto the front of it. Harry had hardly been able to keep a straight face when his guardian opened it and then had spent a good portion of his day attempting to get Snape to wear it and failing miserably.

"I have everything," Harry assured the man. "I even remembered the socks that were under my pillow."

"Why in heavens name were they under your pillow?" Snape asked with a hint of antipathy in his voice.

"I can't sleep with socks on," Harry replied as if his words explained everything perfectly.

"That does not illustrate how they ended up under your pillow," Snape responded as he picked up a handful of floo powder from the glass bowl on the mantel.

"Well if I put them there then I know where they are in the morning," Harry justified his actions with a sheepish grin.

"Of all the ridiculous…" Snape muttered softly as he waved a hand ushering Harry into the fireplace. "Come on then. I would like to be back before lunch."

Harry stepped into the fireplace resisting the urge to point out that they had only just eaten breakfast and lunch was still hours away.

Snape stepped into the fireplace next to his young charge before dropping the floo powder at their feet and loudly stating their destination.

"Go and unpack your things," Snape instructed as he and Harry stepped into their small parlor at Hogwarts.

"In my dormitory?" Harry asked. He hoped his voice sounded as nonchalant as he wanted it to. He also hoped that somehow Snape had forgotten about his punishment.

"Restriction," Snape spoke the single word.

"I've been good," Harry pointed out as he leaned against the side of the fireplace. He was inches from the door leading to the castle. He hoped his guardian would agree and allow him to return to the Gryffindor Tower though he had to admit that as far as punishments went, having to stay with Snape wasn't all that bad.

"For all of a week," Snape responded as he walked across the room. He leaned over his desk as he shuffled through a tall stack of papers. A moment later he glanced back up at Harry who hadn't moved an inch from his spot. He couldn't help but feel slightly sympathetic for the child. After all, he had endured days of a dreadful potion and he looked absolutely remorseful. "You will unpack in your room down here," Snape instructed refusing to give in to his emotions, "as you will be staying down here for quite some time."

Harry's shoulders slumped a considerable amount but he didn't argue. Instead he pulled himself from his position of leaning against the brick structure and began walking in the direction of his bedroom. It wasn't that he minded staying with Snape, but of course he would rather be in his dormitory. He hadn't expected his guardian to reconsider but he figured it was worth trying for.

"That being said," Snape continued as his attention went back to the stack of papers, "when you are done unpacking I may permit you to venture out of these quarters if you have a reasonable destination in mind."

"Really?" Harry asked in an excited voice as he stopped dead in his tracks. "Can I go visit Hagrid?"

Snape considered this request for a moment. He wasn't thrilled with the idea of his child venturing out of the castle when the grounds were so desolate.

"You may," Snape nodded as he looked up at his young charge once more. "However, you will have Hagrid walk you back to the castle when your visit is complete. I will walk you to his hut."

For the second time in minutes Harry's shoulders slumped. "I'm not a baby," he said softly. "I can walk by myself you know."

"Not alone," Snape shook his head firmly. "Not while the school and the grounds are as empty as they are and certainly not while Sirius Black is still at large."

Harry felt the tips of his ears burn at the thought of asking Hagrid to walk him back to the castle.

"I'm sorry but the answer is no," Snape repeated despite the fact that Harry hadn't argued. "Hagrid will understand and if you are unable to ask him to accompany you back to the castle then you may find something to do that doesn't involve going outside."

"What about Seamus?" Harry asked as his friend suddenly popped into his head.

"Mr. Finnigan?" Snape questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"If he wants to go with me can we go without someone walking us?" Harry asked in a hopeful voice. "And without Hagrid walking us back?"

Silence reigned for several long moments as Snape considered the request. Finally he nodded in agreement. "If Mr. Finnigan would like to accompany you then yes, the two of you may walk there and back together."

"Thanks," Harry smiled brightly.

"Go unpack your things first," Snape replied. "And be sure to take your heavier coat. It's quite brisk outside."

Harry smiled softly as he once more started in the direction of his room. One of his favorite things about Snape was how the man showed his affection in hundreds of ways that weren't overdone, such as instructing him to take a heavier coat. Snape was always saying things like that. Making sure he got enough sleep or insisting that he eat fruit or vegetables. Harry was sure that to his friends who had had parents their whole lives these reminders were annoying but to Harry they were brilliant.

Harry pushed open his bedroom door. The presents that he had received for Christmas were on his bed taking up nearly the entire thing. A cheeky grin swept over his face as he spotted the large package of chocolate frogs. He had been surprised when he had opened them yesterday morning. His guardian was always so insistent that he didn't need sugary sweets that he would have never guessed that the man would have bought them for him. He was even more shocked to find that they were on his bed and not tucked away in the kitchen where Snape could control how often they were eaten.

Harry removed his satchel from his shoulder, placing it on his bed before he quickly picked up the chocolates and, walking across the room, shoved them in the top drawer of his desk. He wasn't sure if their ending up with his other presents was accidental but he wasn't going to give Snape the chance to see them and realize if it was.

He walked back to his bed and picked up the stack of Quidditch books that Snape had given him and placed them on his desk as well. The silver lining of his restriction was that he would have the opportunity to read them at night before he went to bed. In his dormitory he was always much too consumed with his friends for such things.

He quickly retrieved the miniature play Quidditch pitch that Snape had given him and placed it on top of his wardrobe.

He had tried several times to imagine Snape shopping for Christmas gifts for him and every time he had fallen short. He was nearly certain that his guardian had to have sent someone else to shop for him though Harry wasn't sure who.

In record time he managed to unpack all of his new belongings along with his school books and his clothing. He quickly plucked his heavier coat from the hook behind his door and ventured back towards the parlor.

"That was quite quick," Snape mused without looking up from his work. "You're sure you unpacked everything?"

"Yes," Harry replied as he glanced at a small plate of custard tarts that were sitting on the table.

"If I go check it will be orderly as well as clean?" Snape asked as he now looked up from the papers stacked in front of him.

Harry nodded in reply.

Snape glared at him for a moment before his face softened. "Take a tart and go."

Harry grinned widely as he quickly grabbed a tart from the plate before the man could change his mind. He headed towards the door as he took a large bite.

"You have two hours," Snape instructed before Harry reached the door. "Do not be late."

"I won't," Harry promised after swallowing his food. He didn't look back at his guardian but he could almost feel Snape's eyes boring into the back of his head.

Snape debated adding some sort of threat to his words but quickly thought better of it. He was sure that at this point Harry was aware of what he expected and so he did not feel as though a threat was necessary.

He waited until the door closed behind the child before turning his attention back to his work. Despite the fact that it had been only days since Harry had been in trouble for wandering the halls in the middle of the night and stealing, Snape felt as though something had shifted. Somehow he felt as though the discussion that he and his young charge had had after his punishment had changed the seriousness of the matter. Snape noted that it would do him well to remember that swift discipline wasn't always the best route. Sometimes he would need to speak with Harry and get to the root of the problem as well. Snape made a mental note to perhaps try to do so before warming the child's backside.

He couldn't put his finger on why, but he sensed that the days of Harry blatantly ignoring the rules and putting his life in danger had come to an end and he couldn't have been happier about it.


He glanced up at the sun perceiving by the position of it that it was now mid-morning. He wasn't sure if Remus was planning on visiting him for lunch but he was sure that if he did and did not find him in the shack his old mate would not be pleased.

Quickly Sirius darted through the forest, ignoring the instinct to stop and smell a dozen tree branches along the way. He was ready to race across the grounds and back through the concealed hole at the trunk of the tree when he suddenly skidded to a stop.

His heart began beating widely.

He would have recognized him anywhere. He looked so much like his father that had Sirius not known better he would have sworn that it was James himself walking across the snow covered grounds.

He didn't know who the boy was beside him but Sirius was sure that it wasn't the Weasley boy that Remus had told him his godson was friendly with. He had known both Molly and Arthur years ago and he was sure that any child of theirs would have ginger colored hair, not the sandy color this child was sporting.

Sirius found himself taking several steps back and attempting to conceal himself behind a large tree as the boys walked closer to the forest.

He was hit with an overwhelming urge to race towards his godson. He fought the temptation with everything he had in him. Despite the fact that he wanted nothing more than to talk to the boy, he knew he couldn't approach him while he was with a friend.

His heart hammered on faster, if possible, as he heard Harry laugh loudly in response to something the other child had said. He had waited so long to hear that laughter that it nearly felt like a dream to him.

He watched silently as the two boys approached the small hut at the edge of the forest. It warmed Sirius' heart to realize where his godson was venturing to. He and James had always been quite fond of Hagrid and Sirius was pleased to see that it appeared his godson was too.

Moments later the two boys disappeared inside the small hut. Sirius knew that this was his chance to get back to the shack but he couldn't bring himself to move. Eventually his godson would head back to the castle and he wanted to see him when he did – even if it was only from a distance.


Snape looked through the large pile of books in his desk twice before accepting the reality that the book he needed was not there.

He stood up, his back cracking quietly as he did. He knew that he could wave his hand and summon the book without ever having to leave his parlor, but he also knew that a quick walk would do him good. He had been hunched over concentrating intently on his work for over an hour now and it was beginning to make him a bit cantankerous.

He glanced up at the clock on the mantel, noting that Harry had twenty minutes before he was to return. Deeming this plenty of time to make it to his classroom and back Snape walked out of his quarters and down the long hallway leading to the staircase.

He walked up the stairs and then headed down another long hall. He was nearly to his classroom when his colleague spotted him, waved, and then walked towards him.

"Remus," Snape nodded a hello.

"I didn't know that you and Harry had returned," Remus forced himself to smile widely. He instantly noted that with the Potions teacher back on the property he would need to be extra careful about visiting with Sirius. It was one thing to fool Sibyll or Minerva with tales about getting extra rest or visiting a friend in London, it was quite another to fool a man whose main concern was protecting Sirius' godson.

"We only arrived just this morning," Snape explained. He silently hoped that this conversation wouldn't be prolonged. His only concern was retrieving his book and having lunch with his son.

"Had a nice holiday I presume?" Remus questioned.

"Quite enjoyable," Snape replied. "Now if you'll excuse me, I was on my way to collect a book from my classroom."

"Of course," Remus grinned as he stepped to the side allowing his old classmate to pass him.

Snape walked past the man thankful to be on his way once more.

"Oh but I did mean to ask you," Remus continued. "Do you know when Albus will be back in the castle?"

Snape turned back to look at Remus. "Several weeks I believe," he answered honestly. "He is traveling at the moment, doing a bit of research and visiting with some old friends. He won't be back until well after classes have resumed."

"Is that so? I wanted to speak with him about end of the year exams but no matter, I have plenty of time," Remus replied. He could feel his palms dampening at his dishonesty. Ever since his childhood days he had never been one that could lie with ease.

For several days now he had been debating speaking with the man about Sirius. He imagined that he could sit him down and explain things in a calm and rational way. Surely as Harry's guardian he would see that Sirius had been framed. He would have to see how important it was for Harry to have a relationship with his godfather. Remus also thought that by talking to him he could warn the man that Sirius wanted custody of Harry and that he would likely eventually try and fight him for it.

Despite the fact that Remus loved Sirius dearly, he knew that Harry did not belong with his godfather. Azkaban had stunted the boy he had grown up with. Sirius was nothing more than an overgrown child. Harry needed love and Remus had no doubt that Sirius loved him deeply but the boy was also in need of someone to hold him accountable for his actions and discipline – two things that Remus was sure Sirius was not capable of. No child could or would benefit from a parent figure that acted as though they were an older sibling.

It didn't matter though because Remus did not have the fortitude to tell Snape anything.

To think that the man would react calmly was absurd. Sirius would be back in Azkaban before the night was over. Remus was absolutely positive that his best strategy was to speak with Albus and to keep Sirius as far away from his godson as possible until he did.

"I believe the last week of January at the very earliest," Snape added clarifying his earlier statement. He couldn't help but notice that the man looked a little flushed. "Are you feeling alright?"

Remus nodded, "Feeling wonderful actually. I'll let you get on your way though. I have some grading that I need to complete."


"Did you even notice that I was five minutes early?" Harry asked as he slid into his seat for lunch.

"I did," Snape nodded. "I will have the clock sent out after lunch to be inspected and fixed." Snape paused as Harry threw him a curious look. "If you were five whole minutes early it is obviously defective," he continued a moment later.

The curiosity turned to a scowl. "Snape," he complained with a hint of a whine.

"Absolutely not," Snape shook his head. "I heard enough whining last week to last me a lifetime."

Harry blushed involuntarily at these words. When he had woken yesterday morning his guardian had declared that he was done with the dreadful potion. The two of them had enjoyed a lovely Christmas morning together somewhere around lunch though memories from the past week had crept into Harry's mind. He couldn't believe the way he had whined excessively at his guardian nor could he believe that he had acted badly enough to manage to be scolded and sent to his room in front of Dumbledore. Despite the fact that Snape had assured him that the Headmaster was well aware of the effects that the potion had, Harry was sure that he would never be anything less than mortified in Dumbledore's presence ever again.

"Are you still working?" Harry asked changing the subject completely. He could still feel the tips of his ears burning and he was praying that Snape hadn't noticed and wouldn't comment on it.

"I am," Snape nodded. "I will be doing so all afternoon. It would do you well to find a quiet activity such as reading to entertain yourself with."

"Can I go hang out with Seamus?" Harry asked in a hopeful voice. He had his new Quidditch books that he was eager to read but he could do that tonight before bed. He didn't want to spend the whole afternoon stuck reading.

"I believe you are on punishment," Snape said firmly. "Allowing you to visit with Hagrid this morning does not invalidate that fact."

Harry felt his face fall at these words. Given all his transgressions before the holiday he knew that he deserved to be grounded for a bit. Still, he couldn't help but feel sorry for himself. It wasn't as if Snape hadn't walloped him with a paddle. Besides it was a school break, being grounded over a school break wasn't fair at all.

"It's the holidays," Harry tried in a sorrowful tone. Snape fixed him with a stern glare causing him to quickly try another approach. "I was early coming back from Hagrid's too. I listened to you about that."

"A moment of obedience and you expect it to just erase all of your misbehavior?"

"Well no," Harry said softly as lunch appeared on the table. Cornish pasties – Harry usually loved them but the prospect of spending the rest of his day holed up in the parlor was putting a damper on his appetite. "But it wasn't just one moment. I listen to you lots of the time. And it is the holidays." Harry paused for a moment as he picked up his fork and proceeded to push his lunch around on his plate. "Besides you walloped me with a paddle for what I did too," he added in a whisper. He could feel the tips of his ears burning once more.

"I should have used a strap," Snape countered causing Harry to noticeably cringe at the thought. Snape was silent for a moment as he willed himself to be gentler with the child. He silently reminded himself that it was the pile of work he had left to do and the pile he had completed that were responsible for his bad mood, not Harry. He cleared his throat softly. "As it is I have an exceedingly large amount of work that I need to complete before classes resume," Snape explained. "That being said I suppose that permitting you to visit with Mr. Finnigan would be acceptable."

"It would?" Harry asked in an excited voice. "Really?"

"With rules of course," Snape nodded, "Which you will follow without debate."

Harry nodded quickly. "I will. I promise I will Snape!" He couldn't believe that his guardian was actually going to allow him off of restriction. He was sure that he would follow any rule Snape set it if meant that he wouldn't have to sit in their quarters all day long.

"You will not leave this castle without my permission. If I catch you so much as one step outside…" Snape trailed off before he could verbalize his threat.

"You won't," Harry quickly promised.

"I mean it Harry," his guardian warned once more. It was only when Harry nodded his understanding that he man continued. "You will be permitted to go to the Gryffindor Tower or the library. If you want to go anywhere else you will need to come back down here and ask me."

Harry wanted to argue that he should be allowed to go anywhere in the castle but he quickly thought better of it and instead nodded his agreement.

"Regardless of where you are going you will only be allowed to do so for two hours. After the two hour mark is up, I expect you to come back down here and check in with me."

Again Harry resisted the urge to argue with Snape's rules. It made absolutely no sense to him. If he was in the Gryffindor common room with Seamus and planned on staying there why in Merlin's name would he walk all the way back down to the dungeons just to tell Snape that? He wasn't daft though. He knew that if he argued he would likely be spending his whole afternoon reading or doing schoolwork and that was the last thing he wanted.

"I will," Harry nodded. "Every two hours, I promise."

"I warn you now that if you are late you will be an exceedingly remorseful boy."

Once more Harry's ears burned however this time his cheeks did as well. He was sure that he knew exactly what sort of punishment Snape was referring to. He hated that the man could make his stomach feel as though he had just swallowed a live eel with one simple sentence.

"Yes Sir," Harry forced out the words. "I won't be late."

"Good. Now stop pushing your lunch around your plate and eat it before I decide to change my mind and have you do school work until supper."

Immediately Harry cut into his lunch and ate a large forkful of his food. Snape picked up his knife and fork and ate a bite of his own meal. His head was beginning to throb. He decided instantly that the moment he was done his lunch he would take something to ease the pain. He was exhausted and it was only noon. It was already a formulated plan that the moment he was sure his young charge was asleep that evening he would venture into the Forest once more to look for signs of Black. That task paired with the mountains of paperwork he had yet to complete was enough to put his nerves on edge. He did not regret putting off his work to spend quality time with Harry over the past week; he only regretted taking out his annoyance on the child. The stress of Black having yet to be captured was beginning to weigh on him. He made a mental note to have more patience with Harry.


Harry walked out of Snape's quarters feeling a mixture of both annoyance and affection for the man. He was pleased that he had been allowed out but he couldn't help but feel a bit hurt by how Snape had spoken to him. He had been on time after all, didn't that count for anything?

He walked up the staircase at the end of the hallway as his ears burned as he thought of Snape's threat. He hated when the man threatened him like that. Several weeks ago over a private dinner Harry had mentioned to Snape that he hated it. Snape's only reply had been that if Harry behaved he wouldn't have a reason to do so which had caused Harry to grimace. His guardian had also gone on to add that that particular punishment seemed to be the only thing that managed to keep Harry out of trouble for more than a day at a time and that threatening him with it worked nearly as well. Harry had wanted to argue with his guardian about his reasoning but by the time Snape was done talking Harry was sure his face was going to burn right off his skull. Instead of arguing he had quickly changed the subject to a much safer topic.

He walked down the long hallway that led to the back staircase completely consumed in thought. He sincerely hoped that Seamus was in their House. He didn't want to have to go back to his guardian and ask permission to go find his friend. He was too sure that Snape would say no.

He was so deeply in thought that he didn't notice the large hand that came out of the wall until it had grabbed him by the back of the shirt.

Harry instantly struggled but he was no match for the hand's strength and a moment later he found himself being pulled through the wall.

Harry looked around finding himself in a large room that was filled with what appeared to be junk. There was everything from an old broken armchair to a pile of teacups so tall that they reached the ceiling.

Harry reached into his back pocket for his wand suddenly realizing that he didn't have it with him. He turned quickly on his heel and instantly the blood began to drain from his face.

He felt his ability to breath disappear as he looked up at the man.

"No," he quickly shook his head as he took a step backwards. He glanced over his shoulder at the wall he had just come through hoping to see a door that he had somehow missed seconds ago before he turned his attention back to the man. "No," he repeated the word once more.

"Harry," the man breathed his name.

Harry took another step backwards nearly tripping over a muggle tricycle as he did. "Leave me alone," he managed to say. He wanted his voice to sound threatening but he knew that it had come out in a pitiful begging sound. "I'll…I'll fight you," he continued in the same pathetic tone. "I swear I'll knock you on your arse."

The man tilted his head to the side as a hurt look swept over his face. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You want to kill me," Harry countered as he reached for his wand once more praying that somehow it had appeared in his back pocket. When he realized it wasn't there he put his hands up in front of his face, balled up into tight fists. He was sure that Snape was going to bloody murder him for getting into such a predicament without his wand.

Sirius shook his head. "I don't," he said softly.

"HELP!" Harry screamed loudly, praying that someone was walking down the hallway on the other side of the wall.

"No one can hear you in here," Sirius said in what sounded to Harry like a hurt voice. "It's designed that way – its sound proof."

Harry ignored his words. He was absolutely sure they were dishonest. Instead he screamed for help once more.

"I'm sure that you have read the newspaper articles," Sirius spoke loudly to be heard over the boy's screams. "But I promise you that they aren't true." He paused for a moment as Harry yelled loudly once more. "If you would just let me explain," he continued when the child paused for a breath.

Harry threw a fist in the man's direction. He missed his face completely but managed to hit him square in the shoulder.

Sirius looked down at his shoulder and then at his godson. He couldn't have imagined this going any worse.

"I was just a baby," Harry tried to explain in a nervous voice as he took another step backwards now pinning himself against a large bookshelf. "I don't know how I survived and I didn't mean to do it. Just please don't kill me."

"Has it occurred to you that if I wanted to kill you I would have done so already?" Sirius asked in a hurt voice.

Harry silently considered these words. His heart was still beating at a pace ten times what it normally did but he was beginning to feel less like he was about to die any second.

"I don't want to kill you," Sirius shook his head. "You are my godson." The man paused and Harry watched as he took a step backwards and sat down on a stool. "I never wanted to kill you. I would never kill anyone."

"But you did," Harry dared to shoot back at him. "You killed all those muggles! You are the reason that my parents are dead too!"

Harry watched as the man looked like he had just been slapped across the face. Sirius shook his head sadly. "You've got it all wrong Harry. I don't blame you for it; nearly everyone has it all wrong."

Harry felt his heart beat begin to regain normality. He was starting to wonder if perhaps the man sitting across from him wasn't as dangerous as everyone thought. After all, like Sirius had said, if he wanted to kill him he could have done it ten times by now. "Wrong how?" He asked feeling a bit braver than he had a moment ago.

"I was your parent's secret keeper," Sirius nodded. "That much is true. At the last moment though I passed the duty on to someone else, someone that I felt would be less obvious. That person then told Voldemort and as you know he took their lives." He paused for a moment and Harry was sure that he saw tears clinging to the man's eye lashes. "I was framed Harry. Your father was like my brother. I loved your parents dearly. I would never have given them up. I would have been tortured and killed before doing so."

"Who was it?" Harry asked in a curious voice. "The person that you made their secret keeper I mean?"

"An old schoolmate of ours," Sirius replied. "His name was Peter Pettigrew."

Harry felt the blood drain from his face once more. "He's been in the castle," he quickly said. "I saw him on the map and –"

"The map?" His godfather questioned as he jumped up off the stool. "What map?"

"The Marauder's Map," Harry tried to explain. "It's this map that shows everything in the castle. It can show-"

"I'm familiar with the map," Sirius smiled kindly. "It's in your possession?"

Harry shook his head sadly. "I got in a bit of trouble with it not long ago. Rem- er Professor Lupin took it from me."

Sirius blanched at these words. He couldn't imagine Remus reprimanding James' son nor could he imagine him confiscating the map. They had used it numerous times during their school days. Had a teacher taken it from them they would have been livid.

"Remus has it then?" Sirius questioned.

Harry nodded. "Yeah he should; unless he gave it to Professor Dumbledore."

Sirius couldn't imagine such an occurrence. They had spent too many hours perfecting the map to hand it over to the Headmaster.

Sirius eyed his godson as the realization of what was happening hit him like a ton of bricks. For the second time in minutes he swallowed back his tears. He couldn't fathom that he was finally talking with his godson. He had waited for this moment for years.

"You look so much like your father," Sirius said softly. "Except for your eyes, those are all Lily."

Harry couldn't help the grin that spread across his face.

"They loved you dearly you know," Sirius continued. "As do I. I always have Harry. I thought of you every moment of every day."

Harry felt a pang of sadness at his godfather's words. He tried to imagine a life in which the man hadn't been framed. He tried to imagine what it would have been like had Sirius raised him. Would he make sure he ate his vegetables and did his homework? Would he tuck him in at night, running a hand through his hair before dimming the lights? Would he teach him defensive spells? Would he take care of him when he was sick and cure his nightmares? An image of Snape filled Harry's mind but he quickly forced it out. His guardian would belt him if he knew where he was and what he was doing. He couldn't think about that right now.

"When the Ministry knows the truth they will find Pettigrew and I will be a free man," Sirius continued. "Albus will make sure of that."

Harry resisted the urge to question how Sirius was so sure.

"Have you been living in this room?" Harry asked.

Sirius shook his head. "In the Shrieking Shack." He watched as his godson made a horrified face. "It's not nearly as bad as the legends make it sound. It's not haunted either."

"How did you get into Hogwarts then?" Harry questioned.

"Through a passageway," Sirius responded. "I was once a student here myself remember?"

Harry gave his godfather a small smile before walking across the room and sitting on an old beat up armchair. "What was my dad like?" Harry asked in a whisper. He knew that he should go. He knew that he should run back to Snape's quarters as quickly as his legs would carry him and tell his guardian everything. At the very least he should tell Sirius that he couldn't stay and talk.

He couldn't help it though. The man had been his dad's best friend. He had been named his godfather. He was a new part of his history that he hadn't known he had.

"Your father was amazing," Sirius replied with a grin causing Harry to smile widely.


Snape stood in the parlor starring at the clock. Harry was exactly four minutes late and if another minute passed before the boy arrived Snape swore to himself that he was going to venture out and find him. He was exhausted both mentally and physically. His mood was foul to say the least. Harry's tardiness was not helping his situation either.

The second hand creeped up past the seven when the door opened and Harry burst through, "I'm sorry," he practically yelled.

"Already late," Snape said sternly as he strode over to the boy.

Harry looked up at his guardian who was now towering over him. "I'm sorry," he said once more. "We were talking and I didn't realize how late it was. The second I realized I ran all the way back here."

Snape slowly and silently counted to ten forcing his temper to remain under control. He was tempted to put the child over his knee and tan his backside until he was sure that he would never be late for anything every again. However he knew his annoyance wasn't solely Harry's fault.

Harry held his breath as he waited for a reaction from the man. Snape's words ran through his mind. His guardian had promised that he would be sorry if he was late and he never went back on his word. Harry was expecting the man to grab him and wallop him at any second.

"You are done for the day," Snape said firmly. "Do not ask me to leave these quarters again until tomorrow. You will go get your schoolbooks and work quietly in this parlor until supper."

Despite the fact that Harry was thrilled that he wasn't about to be physically punished, he couldn't help the shocked expression that took over his face.

"If you find doing so too difficult you will stay in your bedroom until supper and return there immediately after," Snape continued.

Harry quickly shook his head as he hurried in the direction of his room.

He rushed down the hallway and pushed his bedroom door open. Quickly he retrieved his satchel of schoolbooks from its place on his desk chair before hurrying back to the parlor.

Snape was sitting at his desk, hunched over a stack of papers. Harry instantly sat on the floor using the table in front of the couch as a work space. He opened his Potions book and started reading where they had left off in class.

His brain was able to concentrate for all of ten seconds before the afternoon's events creeped into his mind.

He had promised his godfather that he wouldn't tell anyone that he had seen him let alone talked to him. He knew that if his guardian knew how long he had stayed with Sirius he would be lucky if he wasn't murdered. Still Harry couldn't shake the dreadful feeling of guilt that was filling his body at keeping such a secret from Snape.

He tried to think rationally about how Snape would react. He could tell him how Sirius had grabbed him and how he couldn't get back out of the Room of Requirement. He could explain how Sirius hadn't killed him when he had the chance so he let the man tell his story. He could make Snape see that Sirius was innocent.

He had been without his wand though. That alone would earn him punishment. He had been late because he was talking to Sirius and not Seamus too. He had gone a whole fifteen minutes now without telling Snape. Harry was sure that his guardian wouldn't be pleased with that.

Harry cringed slightly as he remembered the paddling he had received. He had gotten himself into that predicament by lying to Snape for days. He couldn't do that again. He was sure of it.

Besides, he knew that Snape would be mad at him if he confessed right now but no madder than Harry had seen him before. He didn't want to be walloped but he could handle it. What he couldn't handle was Snape being disappointed in him for lying. He couldn't handle the look in the man's eyes when he finally learned the truth and realized that Harry had been lying.

Harry cleared his throat softly.

When Snape didn't react to it he cleared it once more, louder this time.

"Did I not just explain to you that if you are unable to control yourself and work quietly than you will do so in your room?" Snape asked in a cross voice as he looked up from his work.

"Yes Sir," Harry nodded. This was all wrong. Snape was already angry and he hadn't even talked to him yet.

"Do you need to relocate to your bedroom?" Snape asked sternly.

"No Sir."

"Do you need to have your backside warmed in order to listen properly?"

Harry quickly shook his head. "No Sir." He couldn't help the fact that Snape's words hurt. He didn't know why his guardian was in such a miserable mood but he hoped it wasn't just his tardiness that had been the cause of it.

"Are you ill? Is that why you are clearing your throat?" Snape asked.

Harry noted that although he didn't sound as cross with his last question he didn't sound any less annoyed. "No Sir," Harry replied quietly.

Snape fixed him with a glare. "This is your last chance Harry. You will work quietly or you will find yourself sitting at your desk in your bedroom with a sore backside. Am I clear?"

Harry nodded as he felt his face burn at the words. It has been ages since Snape had threatened him for something so minimal.

One thing was for certain, guilty feeling or not, it was the wrong time to tell the man about Sirius Black. Harry decided that the morning would be much better. He could explain things over breakfast and then everything would be fine.

TBC...