Chapter 21: Some Fluff, Some Sirius

Note: Please try to forgive any incorrect Farsi (Persian) in this story, as I understand much more than I can speak. Thank you.

Harry watched Hedwig fly off toward London in the early morning light. The sun had just peaked over the horizon. It would be a beautiful day as no rain was expected. They would have Sirius over a meal in three days' time, and he was invited to bring Remus Lupin, as well. Harry was highly pleased with this, but was anxious about Tara and Tim. Would they feel he was trying to replace them? He was not planning to do so as Tara and Tim felt like his parents now, while Sirius and Remus seemed like long lost uncles. Harry contemplated calling them Mum and Dad now, and they had invited him to do so, but it still felt somewhat strange to him although he had known them for an entire year. The first anniversary of the loss of his leg had occurred the day before. He had discussed the anniversary with his Mind Healer before the Easter Holidays, and felt he handled it well.

This was the first visit home since he had been able to truly walk again. He revelled in it. It remained odd that he could not feel his prosthetic leg, but it had also become normal to him. He felt confident in nearly every step he took, and because he cared about others, he wished that Muggles had access to magical prosthetics, particularly abused children. He tucked the idea into the back of his mind for someday.

Harry went to Hermione's room to see if Hermione was awake yet. He peeked through the crack in the door and saw she was reading Austen's Northanger Abbey. She reread it at times she needed comfort.

"Sobhakheh, Mione," he said as he knocked on the door frame and let himself through. He was still wearing his pyjamas, but he had been so eager to send the note he had written the night before to Sirius, that he was up early to pull on his leg and head down to their makeshift owlery. He went to sit on the chair next to Hermione's bed. Hermione did not say anything as she was still occupied in finishing a chapter but scooted over a bit and motioned to Harry to join her under the warm duvet. He did so as he removed his leg again, just because it was more comfortable. He noticed that Hermione's crutches were out and against the wall nearby. Maybe Mione was trying to be more relaxed, rather than putting on her brace the moment she woke up, as she had done for the past year. He had, instead, been the one to put his leg on first thing this morning.

"Sobhakheh, Harry joon," Hermione said as she closed the book after marking her place. She smiled at him. "It's nice to have a break. I never give myself a break. I feel I must learn everything as quickly as possible, but sometimes it is too much. That is why I don't often re-read fiction. I have seen it as a wasted chance to learn new things, but - - but Mum helped me figure out some things a few weeks ago. She helped me see that I am just perfect as I am, and that I need to accept that while things aren't perfect, I don't need to obsess over finding solutions to problems if there are no solutions to be found. There may be solutions in the future, but I should try to live for NOW. I've not been doing that. That's what you were doing last year and all of fall term. You weren't letting the lack of a - a - cure stop you from enjoying life."

"No, I reckon not, because what good would that do?" Harry asked thoughtfully. He could have given up a year ago, but then he would not have the life he had now.

"I thought that, too, but then when I saw you walking so well, maybe you were going to pass me by, and walk better than me," Hermione replied, and thought it did not make sense they way she tried to explain it.

"You know, Hermione, that I walk just about as well you do with your charmed brace. It's not a – er – a competition." Harry said, trying to think of the appropriate word for what the situation was not.

"I know," she said with a sigh. "I just do best when I feel in charge and know everything, and everything goes the way I want."

"Me, too," Harry said, and they both started giggling. How in the world did they get along so well together? "Mione? You want me to change the colour of your crutches?" he asked, and laughed aloud, shaking the bed. Hermione slapped his hand under the covers.

"I know how to do it, too, now," she said, still giggling. "I've been trying to decide on an appropriate colour. Yours are red, so I don't wish to copy you. Perhaps gold? What do you think? Or perhaps gold with a few thin red stripes. It would look very Gryffindor!"

"Yeah, gold with stripes sounds nice," Harry said supportively, and then was quiet. Hermione glanced at his thoughtful face and took his hand.

"Are you alright, Harry?"

"Yeah, I'm alright. I can't wait to meet Remus. I –" he stopped and looked at Hermione's face. "I feel like I am being disloyal to our family. It doesn't feel right to find out more about my original parents when I have you, Tara, Tim, Tina, but I am so excited and happy to learn more about my parents. And I want to call Tara, Mum, and Tim, Dad. Then I feel disloyal to my first mum and dad. It's confusing, because I think of your parents as my mum and dad," he finished with a sigh.

"Mum and Dad would be so happy if you started to call them Mum and Dad. I think Dad's worried that Sirius is going to come here and take you away from us, because he doesn't have magic," Hermione said.

"If I call him Dad, then he won't worry so much, right?" Harry said. He was not going to let Sirius and Remus take him away, that much he knew.

"Right, and maybe Dad will make friends with Sirius and Remus. There must be something they have in common."

"Music! Dad loves music, and so does Sirius. He told me in the letter he owled yesterday. Sirius doesn't know U2, really, but he knows so many others that were popular in the '60s and '70s. I bet he would love Dad's stereo, even if it isn't magical. My first dad introduced him to non-magical music when they were students," Harry said, heaving a deep breath, anxiety lowering back down to normal levels.

"Brilliant," Hermione commented happily and snuggled down under the covers again.

"I am happy to be home," Harry murmured, trying to more fully relax. "I just wish we could use our magic here.

"We may be able to get away with it, since Mum uses magic," Hermione said.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Although I really just want to fly on my broom, but the neighbours will see me. Unless Mum knows an invisibility spell? I have the cloak, but I'm not certain it will work while I am in the air."

"Honestly, Harry," Hermione commented. "I don't understand what you like about flying so much."

"I feel free," Harry said. "I feel weightless. It makes up for not being able to run." He still missed running but flying was better any day. It was one of things that he loved so much about the magical world, and it made him feel twinges of anger all over again, with Dumbledore, because he took Harry away from the magical world for so many years. He sort of understood better now why Dumbledore thought it was a good idea after he finally realized exactly how famous he was. Two months before, the Daily Prophet did another story on him (there had been a few speculative ones in the fall after other students mentioned Harry and the gossip going around in letters), in which it was assumed that Harry's leg had finally been healed, and he was 'whole' again. Harry found these articles both anxiety-provoking and hilarious in turn. They had not asked him, and others, like Minerva, had refused to comment out of respect for Harry's privacy.

"Not me." A brief shiver ran down Hermione's spine. She did wish she liked it better, because she could see what Harry meant, but it was just not for her.

After a bit, they made themselves get up as they were hungry for breakfast. Since it was there, Harry put his leg back on, and stood up. Hermione sighed and scooted herself across the bed to retrieve her crutches. She had decided she was going to give the brace a rest, just to see if she could. It would be a relief not to wear it all the time, as she was always aware it was there. Sometimes she was just tired of it, and now she was able to admit it.

Tim, seated at the table with a plate containing toast and eggs, looked up from the newspaper as the children entered the room. He smiled, pleased to see Hermione was following her mother's excellent advice. Hermione needed to learn how to loosen up a little bit, take a bit of a break every now and then. He was amused to see Harry had his prosthetic on, as Harry had no problem taking a break if he felt he needed one. Tim kept his thoughts to himself as Harry anxiously announced,

"I want to start calling you Dad."

"Nothing would please me more, son," Tim said, his voice cracking a bit. He rose from his chair and drew Harry to his chest. Harry snuggled close, no longer flinching away as he used to.

"Dad," Harry said after a few moments. "It feels good to say that."

"It is good to hear," Tim replied.

Sirius Black had arrived at Grimmauld Place, the Black family home in which he had grown up rather unhappily, and he had not been sure he even wanted to enter it. When he finally did, Kreacher, the ancient house elf was quite unhappy with him. Sirius was a traitor in Kreacher's eyes, mainly because Sirius' mother's portrait said so, loudly and often. The first thing Sirius did was cover up the portrait, which helped the cause immensely. The second thing he did was order Kreacher to start cleaning as he had never cleaned before, particularly the kitchen. Kreacher grumbled and muttered under his breath, though he did, in fact, clean.

Sirius himself began by finding his old bedroom. Ah, just as he had left it! With a few flicks of his wand, he cleaned the room of dust and changed the sheets on the bed. He gazed at a photo of his friends for a few moments, but then then turned away to figure out what to do next to this shabby, but grand house. Remus would need a room if he wished to stay overnight. He was on his way now. They could look for the locket together. He would apologize to Remus, because Remus had been generally more peaceful, and had tried to stop he and James from going after Severus during their school years, but they never listened. Sirius remained unsure if he could get along with Severus, although their brief talk at Hogwarts had been quite interesting. Severus had asked for Sirius' help, and though Sirius knew he was not told the entire story, Severus had let it be known that it was important to find a locket in Grimmauld Place, placed somewhere inside by his brother Regulus. It was to help Harry, however, and that was the most important thing. So, he began to look, cleaning rooms as he went along. He searched his brother's bedroom, finding little of interest.

Remus arrived then and they had a pleasant reunion. Remus looked a little worse for wear. The full moon had been only two nights before, and Sirius felt bad that he had not been around all these years to support his friend. It also perhaps looked like Remus was down on his luck. Mostly likely it had been hard for him to find and keep a job. Sirius planned to offer to let him live in Grimmauld Place. He noticed that perhaps he had matured more than he thought he had in the years in Azkaban. Remus had noticed too and commented on it. They finished their reunion with a good meal together in the freshly cleaned kitchen of Grimmauld Place.

Two days later, whilst they cleaned, Sirius found a locket in a drawer in the drawing room, where he had been throwing out rubbish right and left (to Kreacher's great discomfort.)

-Break-

Minerva brought out the chess set that she and Albus always played with. It was her favourite game and she quite enjoyed winning. Albus was good at many things, but not chess, and perhaps not working with children anymore. Yes, he was teaching some of the Defence classes now, with Severus filling in for the remainder, and quite competently, too, but she saw his heart was not in it. He had been so preoccupied for years with Voldemort, and now that perhaps it was going to be completely over soon, he was at loss as to what to do next. He was not interested in improving the school for the better, to make it accessible, to modernize it.

Her plan was to gently suggest that he retire. Albus would be welcome to remain at Hogwarts as Headmaster Emeritus, and if he really wanted something to do, he could teach Transfiguration in her stead. If not, she would hire a new professor for Transfiguration, in addition to a competent professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts. Perhaps two professors, if the money could be found. She also wished to add several courses of study that Hermione had discussed with her. Instructors for these courses would also need to be added. Albus just looked at her blandly when she had mentioned a few of these ideas in the last several months.

Albus Dumbledore knocked softly at Minerva's door a short time later. Minerva invited him in and offered him tea. As they seated themselves around the chess board, Minerva gathered her courage to ask,

"Albus, have you considered retirement?"

"My dear Minerva, yes, I have considered retirement, and as soon as the horcruxes have been dealt with, I do plan to retire, and you will become Headmistress," Albus said with a relaxed look on his face. "It is already agreed upon by the Board of Governors."

"Ah, that is a relief to know, Albus," Minerva said with a smile. Better than planned. "You may remain at Hogwarts if you like, to live, and teach if you so feel the desire."

"Dear Minerva, I was hoping you would allow me to stay, and I will take the offer. However, I also plan to do a bit more travelling provided I feel up to it, so no, I will not take up a regular teaching schedule. Perhaps I can be available for students for a bit of tutoring on occasion," Albus said, his eyes twinkling at the prospect of the future. Minerva observed a look of real excitement over the future come briefly across Albus' face.

"Very well, that will be fine," Minerva said. "Has the Board made a decision about whom the Deputy position may be filled?" She placed her nearly empty teacup aside and turned to the chess board. Although this was a conversation of great import, she still intended to win at chess. Albus chuckled and began to consider his first move.

"That is up to you, Minerva," he replied, "when you come into the position. I assume it will be around the end of this term, as I suspect that Harry and his friends will find the remaining horcruxes."

Minerva smiled as she already knew whom it would be, but she asked anyway.

"Who expects to become the next Deputy Head?"

Albus chuckled lightly at this question. "Filius was interested several years ago, but in recent years he has mentioned to me that he would rather start a proper Dueling Club. If you don't select him as Deputy, then I assume you will assist him in this endeavour."

"I do plan to make several changes in Hogwarts, Albus, as you well know," she replied, with a pleasant yet challenging expression on her face. "I will add this to my list."

"I assure you I will not stand in your way. I recognize that changes need to be made, but I am too old, and I have been too preoccupied for many years. I fought you on this, and for that I apologize. I will need to speak to Sirius Black and apologize as well."

"Yes, Albus, please do," Minerva said, and took her turn. She was already on her way to winning. "Meanwhile, what do you think about Severus for the Deputy position?"

"Minerva, he would be an excellent choice. He is young, and you will be able to convince him to follow your lead. He is extremely intelligent, as you well know," Albus said, his eyes twinkling again, as he took his turn at chess. "You might, perhaps, put him in charge of assisting Filius with Dueling Club."

"Indeed, I may," she replied. She had much to think about now that it appeared her plans would come to fruition!

- Break -

Draco woke up on his first day of Easter holidays with a plan already in his head. The night before, after he had arrived home to the Manor, his father announced that he was going to be away on business in a few days' time. Draco held back a snort, because though he loved his father, he would not miss him in the least. As it was, he rarely saw his father. His mother preferred to spend time with him, which he appreciated a bit more now that he had been away from her at Hogwarts.

Meanwhile, Draco was always welcome in the Manor Library. He was quite well-read when it came to wizarding literature, but after meeting Harry and Hermione, he was unwilling to claim to be well-read anymore. There were a few non-wizarding books in a corner of the library that were apparently well-known in the Muggle world, but his father claimed that the writers of the books were most likely wizards, so they had a place in their library. He would begin with reading those titles, and then ask his mother as she occasionally read non-wizarding titles that she charmed, so his father would not notice that it was a muggle book. Perhaps he would owl Hermione, but he did not wish for his father to discover quite yet that he was friends with Half-Bloods against his direct instructions.

So on this day, with his father in the house, Draco wandered nonchalantly into the library ostensibly to find a book to help with his studies. His father was nowhere to be seen, but mostly likely he was in his study preparing for the business meetings. He wandered about a bit, scanning the titles, so that if his father happened upon him, he would not appear suspicious. His eyes swept over the book spines, and after a bit, wandered closer to the books on dark magic. It logically seemed that should be a place where something belonging to the Dark Lord would be located.

He did not see anything immediately that popped out as something suspicious, and he could not yet don his dragon hide gloves and search through the books until his father was out of the country. Instead, he walked over to the shelves of books that he meant to start reading. He might as well pick one out to read.

Draco slowly looked through the books, trying to decide which he should attempt to read first. He was shuffling around amongst aged copies of books by Charles Dickens, trying to decide which one to read, when he noticed a small nook behind the bookshelves. There was a singular book without a title on the binding. He looked around, no one had discovered his presence in the library just yet, although he was certain the house elves knew of his location. As much as he wished to reach in and pull out this mystery book immediately, he had to wait.

When his father was away, he would don the gloves, find out if wards were guarding this space, and then take it away to Snape and Dumbledore. Meanwhile, he would read a book by Dickens, who may or may not have been a wizard.

-Break-

Sirius stood in front of the fireplace in Grimmauld Place, thinking about the address where Harry lived with his new family. It was time to go, and behind him, waiting his turn, Remus cleared his throat.

"Shall I go first?" Remus asked calmly, although his scarred face looked pleasantly excited at the prospect of seeing Harry for the first time since he was a baby. Sirius shook his head.

"I'll go. You have the address?"

"Right here," Remus said, patting his pocket. "I have it memorized, too."

"Alright," Sirius said anxiously. He grabbed the floo powder and named the address clearly. Very quickly, he saw he was standing in a modern kitchen in front of a very old fireplace hearth. It was not dissimilar to his own. He had begun updating the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. In front of him, two children sat at the table.

"Sirius, you're here!" Harry said happily, rising from the table. "This is my sister, Hermione. Is Mr. Lupin coming?"

"He should be along any moment," Sirius said, reaching out to hug Harry. After he and Hermione shook hands, the fireplace roared to life and out came Remus Lupin. He stepped out quietly, brushing off his brown jumper before addressing Harry.

"Harry, I haven't seen you since you were this big," Remus said as he measured out a very small size with his hands while he smiled.

"I've seen photos," Harry said with a grin. "You were about the same size."

"Ah, already joking with me," Remus said, smiling back at Harry. "This must be your sister?"

"Yes, she is Hermione, and she is the top of our year at Hogwarts," Harry said, proud of his sister, and had little desire to move up from third place.

"Pleased to meet you, milady," Remus said, bowing briefly to Hermione. She laughed.

"Pleased to meet you, sir," Hermione said, holding her head high. "Welcome to both of you. Would you care for something to drink? Mum will be right down. Dad will be home from work shortly. Our Aunt Tina is coming, as well."

"I see there is tea on the stove already," Sirius said. "Some good Persian tea, perhaps?" Remus agreed.

"Shall we go into the lounge?" Harry asked when Hermione signalled to him that he ought to ask and that she would bring the tea itself.

"Alright," Sirius said happily. He and Remus could see that the two kids were trying their hardest to be polite for company. They were both proud of Harry, although Remus felt bad, particularly, because he was not able to raise Harry as he would have liked.

As they settled down, both Sirius and Remus looked eagerly at Harry, who was seated once again in his favourite chair. His green eyes were extra bright as he gazed back at them. "Mr. Lupin, are you going to say that I look like both of my parents? Everyone else does."

Remus laugh aloud, something he had not done in many years. "Of course, how can I not? And please, call me Remus."

"Remus, what is so secret about you? I was told you could not have taken me in when I was a baby," Harry asked, getting straight to the point. Remus did not hear any malice in the boy's voice, just pure curiosity.

"I am a werewolf, Harry," Remus said, mixed feelings showing on his scarred face. He had been one since he was a child, and now had to explain this to the 11-year-old son of his best friends. "I turn into a werewolf once a month on the full moon, but I don't hurt or bite anyone else. I take wolfsbane to keep my human mind."

"Oh, yes, we read about wolfsbane!" Harry exclaimed. "Hermione and I have been reading ahead." He then added more solemnly, "I read about my parents and myself in books before starting at Hogwarts. Perhaps we can talk more about that later?"

"Of course!" Remus and Sirius said together, both sadness and excitement their expressions.

Hermione and their mum entered the room with tea and biscuits. Tara introduced herself to Sirius and Remus, and then set about pouring the tea. Hermione offered the Persian biscuits to the two gentlemen, and Sirius took a few with a grin.

"Nan-e Berenji! I haven't had these in years," he nearly shouted in his elation. He had not eaten well in Azkaban and hadn't even realized that he had been craving them. "How did you know?"

Tara answered, laughing. "Harry joon told me that you two discussed Persian food, and my maman and baba often had them on hand for celebrations. So, I taught Harry how to make them earlier today. Today was my day off from work at hospital since I worked Sunday." She passed steaming cups of tea to Remus and Sirius.

"We have made kabob and rice, too, but Aunt Tina is bringing the kashk-e bademjan," Harry said. "She makes it the best and promises to teach me her recipe in summer."

To be continued.