Chapter 2

Seriously, you're a father

Sirius was lounging in his dog form. It helped against the cold, as well as the dementors, nor was the guilt as overwhelming. It was his personal escape in the hellhole that had become of his life.

This day was much like any other day, at least there was no indication that something major was about to happen. The Dementor patrols were constant, but he didn't need to worry about those. It was for the human patrols he needed to change back, even after all these years he didn't plan on sharing that little secret with them. Luckily for him the human patrols announced their presence with their patronuses, plus they kept a regular time schedule, one to which his internal clock had accustomed itself.

So when he saw a shining lynx pass in front of his cell and hold still he was confused. It wasn't the normal time, nor one he recognized. Sirius changed back all the same. He recognised those who had a corporal patronus and passed by regularly easily enough. But he couldn't place the lynx. The man that appeared didn't ring a bell immediately either. He certainly wasn't one of his regular visitors. The black man—Ha Black— was followed by another man and two women, one of which he recognized, and one of the wardens.

"—Long-time no see Hestia. So kind of you to visit me." Sirius gave her his most roguish grin. "I would offer you refreshments but sadly they don't provide me any—I must say the room service here is absolutely horrendous."

If looks could kill he would be dead. It must be the smell Sirius thought. She was about to spew vitriol at him but was stopped by the black man. Shaggythingy was his name, or something. He was one of Charles's aurors he remembered.

The death of uncle Charles and aunt Dorea had been a thousand times harder than when he was told about his father's death or when they informed him his mother had been found dead.

"You are Sirius Black correct?" Shaggythingy asked.

"That's me, although I've been told that being serious isn't my strong suit."

Shaggythingy rolled his eyes. "I'm auror captain Kingsley Shacklebolt. I don't know if you remember me?"

Sirius nodded. "It took me a few moments. Although for the life of me I couldn't remember your name. I knew it was something with shagging."

He heard a giggle and a couple snorts, one of which was even from Shacklebolt himself. In different circumstances he would probably like to drink a few with the man.

The man reached in a pouch hanging from his belt and retrieved two pairs of shackles. "Do you know what these are?"

Sirius nodded. A shiver ran down his back. Dementors were one thing, they forced you to face your own demons, being cut off from your magic however was simply unnatural.

"I want you to put these on. We're taking you away from here."

Shacklebolt's companions were just as, if not more, startled as Sirius. "Why?" was the only thing he could ask. The same question Shacklebolt's companions had.

"I'll tell you when we arrive at our destination." Meanwhile he threw the shackles through the bars. "—Put them on."

Sirius didn't hesitate to put them on. No matter where he was going a change of scenery was welcome, even if he had to wear magic inhibiting bracelets.

They left Azkaban island on a flying carpet and after a suitable distance, judged by Shacklebolt, they activated a portkey.

Sirius was slammed against the ground on arrival. He didn't know if it was the cuff's or if he was just out of practice but it bloody hurt. His bloody nose was broken. Hestia was kind enough to fix it for him. Something she probably only did because of the pain it brought him.

"So answers now—Where are we?— Why am I here? – And can you take these things off?" Sirius whined, while rattling the cuffs.

"For the first: we are in an auror safehouse, that we use for miscellaneous reasons. Now we use it to house a prisoner that is deemed too risky for a ministry holding cell. For the third: No you'll have to keep them on for the foreseeable future, I don't know exactly how long. Much is unknown at the moment."

"—Can I at least get a drink then. Being drunk helps with the feeling."

"How did you discover that?" Shacklebolt asked, genuinely curious.

"Uncle Charles, he told us. He had a set at home and we tested it. It still wasn't a pleasant feeling but a buzz takes the edge off."

Shacklebolt nodded while looking wistful for a moment. "How about we sit down and I'll tell you about the second after you tell me your story about the Potters betrayal and Peter Pettigrew."

Kingsley rummaged around in a cabinet to the side and produced a bottle of Ogden's finest and poured a full glass for Sirius.

Sirius was startled, no one had bothered to ask him about those events, but he told his side of things. How he had thought himself so clever by choosing Peter as secret keeper. How he felt responsible for Lily's and James's deaths. How his confession had been made out of grief.

"Thank you Sirius. That corroborates a lot—Two days ago Director Bones got a missive for a meeting with your grandfather the Lord Black…"

Sirius listened enraptured to Kingsley's story, letting out a growl when the rat's name passed.

Hestia was crying by his side and took one of his hands. "—I didn't know— I didn't know Siri. Can you forgive me?"

Sirius felt empty, spent. He gave Hestia's hand a squeeze in lieu of words, he didn't blame her, everyone believed him guilty—Except… His grandfather was coming to his rescue. Not one of his friends, no his grandfather. How he had despised the man and now his salvation would be by his hands. It left a bitter aftertaste.

"Sirius there is something I didn't mention yet. When we met it wasn't only your grandparents there—"

Sirius thoughts however started racing. Why hadn't he mentioned the other person before? Could it be that Andromeda had put something in motion, or Remus after all?

"—There was also a boy."

Sirius thoughts stopped dead in their track. "A boy?"

"A boy." Kingsley nodded in confirmation that Sirius heard right. "—your son."

His heart stopped while racing at the same time, the same for his mind, it was all a jumble. "What?" He couldn't have heard that right.

"We speculated if you knew about him because there was nothing in your file about a marriage or an acknowledged child…"

A son. "—What of his mother, who is she?" His mind was racing through all the possibilities. He was pretty sure he hadn't married anyone, at least not legally binding. A bastard child was a possibility although normally he was pretty careful with contraceptive charms, ever since the first pregnancy scare that was.

"I don't know. I don't know his age, around eleven/twelve if I had to guess. I only know his name for certain: Orion. That he vehemently believes in your innocence. And that he takes quite a bit after you physically, only with startling green eyes."

Even though his father also bore the name Orion he did like it for his son. It made it more real, as if he was somehow a part of his life even though they had never met.

He pictured a younger version of himself with lily's eyes and felt a genuine smile creeping on his face.

He had never made a move on Lily and he never made it any closer than an accidental kiss on the mouth. He didn't desire Lily in that way, James had staked his claim early on in their Hogwarts career. But a version of her had played a role in his fantasies, fantasies about a family of his own, children, a wife. Their children playing and growing up together. Lily screaming at them when he and james made a mess of things.

The first tear was solitary. The second as well. The third was the beginning of a flood. Sobs wracked his body. Guilt, grief, anger, love, all of it found its way to the surface. He lost track of time and himself. He was completely drained and didn't know anything anymore.

When he woke up he didn't register it at first, a part of him felt like he was still dreaming. He was far too comfortable to be in his cell in Azkaban. He was warm and he could feel a soft bed beneath him. His stomach growled and he stirred, opening his eyes to see the sun streaming in through the window.

"Hey sleepyhead, finally awake."

It took him a moment to process what he was seeing. "It wasn't a dream?"

Hestia shook her head.

"You really came for me."

Now a nod of her head.

I'm really getting out?""

Now she hesitated before reaching for his hand. "I hope it, I really do." Tears were falling from her eyes. "I believe you."

He was about to reply but his stomach made a more urgent concern known. The tension broke and he burst out laughing in which Hestia joined. He had a son and a beautiful goddaughter who he hadn't seen since she was one year old. For the first time in a very long time he felt hope for the future and that there was something left worth fighting for.

When the hysterics wore off he had to ask. "Is there something to eat? I'm starving."

She regarded him with a soft smile. "I'll bring something up for you to eat while you take a shower—you reek." She stuck out her tongue at him before slipping off.

Sirius laid still for a moment, savouring this new sense of hope. He found that he could think of opportunities again. Things he might want to do. Life held a promise again.