Prompt: "Have you ever used a hammer before?" "And why should that stop me?"

This drabble is an A/U where Sirius lives and Harry gets to to live with him after his fifth year. Sirius, Harry, and Ginny take on a task that no one had been able to accomplish at Grimmauld Place all year until now. This drabble is rated T.

Note: this prompt is on my bingo card.

"Have you ever used a hammer before?" Harry asked dubiously, watching as Sirius gripped his sledge hammer tighter.

"And why should that stop me?" Sirius questioned.

"I mean you could knock yourself out with that thing for how big and heavy it is." Ginny chimed in from beside Harry. "Did you pick out the largest hammer the store possibly had?"

"Oh, hush you two, I do in fact know how to use a hammer! One summer when I was fourteen, I spent part of the summer going over to your grandparents' house to help James build a new shed for Monty. He didn't allow us to use magic to build it, so we has to build it the old-fashioned Muggle way with hammers and other implements of destruction." Harry and Ginny just stared at him. "What? You don't believe me?"

"It's not that I don't believe you, but I'm wondering if the shed was even functional if you were building it."

"Hey, I said we built a shed, I didn't say it stood the test of time. Coincidentally, it got struck by lightning and caught fire before Monty could even use it so he just decided to build it back himself. He took it as a sign to not let us build shit again. But this isn't building a shed, it's time for us to end the stain that remains on these walls after over a year of cleaning this place. You two ready for this?"

Harry and Ginny gripped their own hammers, looking at each other. Ginny gave Harry a nod who then in turn replied, "We're ready,"

"Remember, wait for when I give the signal. Then start swinging away." The couple nodded in acknowledgement. "Alright, let's get started then."

Sirius flicked his wand at the curtains on the wall, causing them to open wide.

"Scum! Bloodtraitors! A stain upon our noble house!" The portrait of Mrs. Black started yelling at the three once she realized the curtains had been moved.

"Hello, Mother! Time for you to finally make your leave of this house!" Sirius said over cheerfully.

"You! How dare you threaten me, this is my house! The house of my ancestors, the noble, pureblooded Blacks!" Mrs. Black's portrait screeched.

"Oh contraire, Mother, this is my house now, I am the head of the House of Black now! Meaning, I can do whatever I want to to this dump, including getting rid of you!"

"You can't get rid of me, you pathetic excuse for a son, I made sure Kreacher made it so I can never be taken down off the wall! And I've already watched you try so many times over the last year and fail each time! I can't wait to watch you fail again just so I can laugh at you and insult you more!" Mrs. Black's portrait started to laugh maniacally. Sirius started to laugh along with her which caught her off-guard.

"What's so funny?" She demanded to know.

Sirius kept laughing for a few more seconds before answering, "I never said anything about using anymore magical methods."

Mrs. Black's portrait was silent for a second, clearly confused at her son's answer. The look changed to one of panic when Sirius shouted, "Now!" and three hammers came at her.

"Nooooooooo!" She wailed, but it was futile as the hammers connected with her portrait.

Harry, Ginny, and Sirius kept swinging their hammers at the portrait and the wall. Bits of old wallpaper, drywall, and wood were flying around them as large pieces of debris collected under where Mrs. Black's portrait had been only a few minutes earlier.

"Okay, stop, I think that should be enough!" Sirius called out. Harry's hammer connected one last time with the drywall having been mid-swing already.

The sight before them showed the extent of their carnage to the wall. Mrs. Black's portrait was no longer in existence along with most of the wall behind and around her. There was now a large hole in the wall that let one look directly into the dining room where they could see Kreacher muttering to himself about the destruction. A few studs were still in tact, although a few were now damaged from their swings.

"Well, um, shit. Okay, that did work, but now I have no clue on how to fix this. Um, I'll go see about asking Arthur if he knows of any contractors that can fix this." Sirius waved his wand over the mess on the ground, banishing it out of existence. He headed towards the stairs that lead to the kitchen, leaving the couple alone.

Ginny turned to Harry. "You know, when you invited me over saying that we'd be doing something fun, I didn't expect to be destroying your house."

Harry smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry, Sirius said he had something fun planned and that I should invite you over because you'd enjoy it too. I didn't think it would be taking Mrs. Black's portrait down with sledgehammers."

"I mean it was fun, getting to swing a hammer at that wall and painting was a great way to get some pent up anger out. And plus I hated that bint, so I'm glad to see her go."

"Yeah, me too. With her gone, it actually feels a bit lighter in here now, like some evil presence is gone."

"It does feel less dreary in here now. Hopefully this means you and Sirius will be able to really turn this place into a real home."

Harry closed his eyes at Ginny's last sentence. Home. It was what he always wanted; a real home where he felt wanted and loved. And now he was on that pathway towards that dream.

"I still can't believe I never have to go back to the Dursleys ever again." Harry said in amazement for what was probably the hundredth time, but it still didn't feel real sometimes.

Ginny cupped his cheek in her hand. "Believe it, this is your home now. As quirky as Sirius can be at times, he loves and cares for you. As do I."

He leaned in to kiss her, letting himself sink into the feeling of her lips moving against his. He pulled back after a couple minutes. "Did I mention to you that I found a secret, hidden alcove in the library the other day?"

Ginny raised her eyebrows in intrigue. "No, I believe you didn't mention that little detail."

Harry started leading her up the stairs. "Well, instead of telling you about it, why don't I show it to you?"

"Lead the way, it is your home after all."