Serenity turned back to Sirius with a smile, "Looks like you'll get to come home, Padfoot."
"So it seems. Now...if you were so sure I'd been wronged, why'd it take you so long to come?" Sirius asked.
"Other priorities. Like getting Harry back where he belonged," Serenity explained, "Dumbledore went through a lot of work to try to keep Harry hidden. But where Harry was hidden was not in his best interests. I've found him obviously. Moony's with him now."
Sirius let out a little growl of his own at what Serenity implied, causing Serenity to put a hand up to stop the auror from coming at Sirius.
"Good you got him," He sighed, "Moony's been alright with you all this time, right?"
Serenity winced at Sirius' question, "Not exactly. I left him a month after the attack on Lily and James because he was moping around in grief while I had already started searching for Harry," Serenity looked down in shame, "Time wasn't kind to him on the full moons."
"Well as far as I can tell, the two of you have more than just nicely made up recently," Sirius sat back smugly.
"Huh?" Serenity looked up at him in confusion, "But we haven't done more than.."
Sirius only tapped his nose then pointed to her neck with a smirk.
"He scent-marked me? Reasserting dominance over you through me, I bet." Serenity muttered about men.
Sirius chuckled, "You never noticed the significance in the difference between how he'd scent-mark you compared to how he marked me and James, did you?"
"What are you talking about?" Serenity raised an eyebrow at him.
"When he marked me and James, it was always on a full moon where his wolf had control. But in your case, only once was on the full moon. All the other times were not on the full moon, but his wolf would have control just long enough," Sirius pointed out.
"That's why his eyes were always amber after…" Serenity trailed off, "But what does that mean? Other than the fact that for a while, I was the only female in the pack until Lily joined us."
"It means, he's warning others away from you specifically for one reason and one reason only, Luna." Sirius leaned close, "Moony has claimed you as a mate, in a pre-mating sort of way."
Serenity's eyes grew wide as the implication of the news Sirius had just dropped on her settled in, "That explains...so much… It was just a couple of days before a full moon when I'd left him. If Moony saw me as a mate, he would've been upset over my leaving and would've taken it out on Remus at the full moon."
Sirius frowned, "Hey, don't blame yourself. You didn't know."
"But if I'd known...I would've stayed," Serenity whispered.
Sirius shook his head, "To be honest, how sure are we that Remus himself knows?"
Serenity looked at him with a sad smile. Before she could respond, Amelia returned, with a smile on her face.
"Good news then?" Sirius questioned.
Amelia pulled out a roll of parchment and set it on the table, "A full pardon with compensation from the Ministry to be deposited into your vault immediately."
"I'm free?" Sirius asked in shock.
Amelia nodded and gestured to the other auror to release Sirius from his cuffs. The auror grunted but did as ordered. Sirius immediately hugged both women tight.
"Thank you both," Sirius said as he stepped back.
Amelia nodded in understanding, "You make sure to get seen by a healer. And for now carry your pardoning papers with you."
"I'll make sure a healer sees him as soon as possible," Serenity volunteered, "He'll be staying with me."
Amelia nodded and walked Serenity and Sirius back down to the ground floor so they could retrieve Sirius' wand before the trio stepped outside. Immediately, Serenity handed both Sirius and Amelia slips of parchment giving the address of her home on it. She watched as they both read it and nodded in approval as Sirius burned his immediately after.
Amelia was confused for a moment before she took a look again at the slip and realization dawned on her, "Fidelius?"
Serenity nodded, "Besides Sirius, I also have someone else in my care who would benefit from such protection while he's at home. But I figure if you need to follow up on Sirius' care, it'll be easier if you have access. Plus the added benefit of somewhere else you can bring Susan for safety if needed."
"You should probably make sure to adjust for animagus by the time you get Peter here. Or at least make sure he can't transform in some way at least," Sirius added, "It's a good way to stave off dementors but his form is small and can easily slip out."
Amelia nodded and burned her slip as well, "I'll keep that in mind."
Serenity nodded and put an arm around Sirius, "Come on Padfoot. Let's get you home," With that, she apparated both herself and Sirius right into the living room of her manor.
Remus was sitting nearby with Harry, teaching the boy how to play Wizard's Chess.
Serenity grinned in amusement as she pulled her arm from around Sirius, "How many rounds have you two played in the time I was gone?" She asked just as Harry's knight took out Remus' queen.
"Aunt Luna!" Harry jumped up and ran to hug her.
Serenity hugged him back with a smile, "Good to see one of you missed me," She teased
Remus snorted, "Just because he moved faster than I can, doesn't mean he's the only one that missed you," He said as he stood up and looked at them.
Remus's eyes flashed amber upon seeing Sirius standing with Serenity. Sirius, upon noticing the flash, tilted his head in deference. Remus, recognizing the move for what it was, nodded in approval. Sirius took a breath before getting down on one knee, facing Harry.
"Hey Harry. I'm Sirius. Your father was my best friend and he made me your godfather," Sirius looked at him hopefully.
Harry looked at Sirius, up at Serenity, over to Remus and then back to Sirius, "Part of the pack right?" He glanced at Remus hesitatingly.
Sirius nodded, "Basically. Remus told you about his furry little problem, huh?" He chuckled.
"Yep. Means you're Padfoot, right?" Harry questioned.
Sirius gave a barking laugh, "That's right kid. You got a strong backing right here. You can come to any of us for anything, okay?"
Harry grinned, "Got it."
Serenity nodded before calling her house elves to explain to them about Sirius and let them know the typical meal settings would now be for four before watching as the elves disappeared to get back to work. She looked at the three males, "Dinner will be ready within the hour. Padfoot, come with me and I'll show you to your room. You're also getting a bath, you overgrown mutt."
"Could've been worse," Sirius grinned, "You could've gotten me when it was raining."
Serenity narrowed her eyes before hitting him in the arm, "You can't be…" She cut herself off as if realizing just what she was about to say, "Nice try, Padfoot. Let's go. Sooner we get you upstairs, the better." She started for the stairs.
"You always were good at catching yourself, Luna." Sirius chuckled as he followed after her.
Harry watched them in confusion before looking up at Remus, "Uncle Moony, what are they talking about?"
Remus chuckled and ruffled Harry's hair, "Padfoot has a tendency to make puns regarding his name because of the word, serious. Serenity has always been the one to catch herself in time before saying the word so he couldn't make the pun. Now, how about we try to finish this last chess game before dinner?"
Harry nodded and headed back to the table where the game was set up, Remus following and making his next move.