Author's Note: Hello all, here is this week's chapter. It's happiness and a break from the craziness of the world around this little family of folks. Thanks to everyone who has favorited or following the story. I appreciate it. I haven't had a month with a hit count over 10K in over a decade, it's made me a bit giddy. MNF
Chapter 8:
Family
"Harry, why are you out here cooking?" Hermione asked as she neared the young man, grilling meats on Remus's outdoor grill. "Our friends are arriving."
"Your mum and Remus have the kitchen covered, and they can both cook. Sirius wanted to grill the meat. Remus suggested I be the one to do it," Harry answered.
"What's wrong with Sirius doing it?"
"Hermione, he spent the last year eating out of rubbish bins. I watched him incinerate over-easy eggs this morning. Everything would be burned on the outside and raw on the inside with how he cooks. We are safer with me," Harry said with a small laugh. There was a comfort to speaking with Hermione that he relished. He also noticed how pretty she looked in the sundress that he'd insisted she get when they went on their shopping trip the other day. He wanted to give her something to show his appreciation for her faithfulness throughout the school year.
"Sounds like we are," Hermione said with a smile, handing Harry a bottle of orange squash. "How did your appointment go this morning?" Harry shrugged, and Hermione gave him one of her trademarked looks.
"It was nothing I didn't expect," Harry confessed. "I'm underweight, too short, need muscles, had too many broken bones that haven't healed well. My magical overload did something to my heart, so she did an EG something -"
"EKG, an electrocardiogram, it's a way to monitor your heartbeat and see if there are problems with it. Did you get any medications for it?" Hermione enquired.
"I don't think so, but there are lots of vitamins and supplements. Remus wants me to take the Muggle ones, while Sirius wants to order potions for me," Harry continued to explain.
"What do you want to do?" Hermione asked kindly.
"The stuff she prescribed is fine," Harry said. He had yet to look at his friend, instead poking at the steaks and chops. Hermione and Ron knew how dreadful things had been at the Dursleys house, although there were situations he kept from Ron that he'd confided to Hermione about.
"Were you honest about the way you were treated at the Dursleys? How you ended up with those broken bones and your scars?"
"I told the doctor and Remus and Sirius about the physical abuse, Hermione," Harry shot back. He did not want to talk about this at what was supposed to be his party.
"What about the mental stuff?"
"Hermione," Harry said sharply, looking at her the first time. "I told them a little bit, but it's nothing compared to what I hear with dementors or sometimes dreams about. So can we drop this, please?"
"Yes, but you need to tell them all of it," she said gently. "You look great in your new clothes." She wasn't lying; Harry looked fit in his khaki shorts, which fell just above his knees, and the dark green polo style shirt.
"Thank you," Harry replied. "I burned everything from the Dursleys house," Harry said, displaying how happy it made him with a wide smile. "It was very freeing." Susan and Neville exited the house, poor Neville in robes. Harry raised his hand, and the other two teens came over and began discussing what happened at Hogwarts after Harry and Hermione had left.
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Sirius ensured everyone had something to drink, be it alcoholic or non. Remus spoke with Hermione's parents about what they found out at the doctor's appointment that morning. Amelia and Augusta discussed Ministry politics with Moody when Sirius caught Amelia's eye. She excused herself and walked over to Harry's godfather, soon-to-be father.
"Thank you again for bringing over all those papers," he said gently. "You have no idea how much it means to Harry and me."
"No, I think I do," she said just as quietly. "I have always wanted to adopt Susan, but I feel like it would be a betrayal to my brother and his wife. They are Suzie's parents, and I wouldn't ever want to replace them."
"I worry about that too," Sirius confided, "but Harry has had such a hard life, I want the rest of it to be better, and I definitely want him to know he's loved." The pair was quiet for a moment, and then Amelia reached for his hand.
"I owe you an apology," she said, her eyes staring at a knot in the flooring. "I knew you, or I thought I knew you, better than anyone, and when you were brought in, I just didn't - I never thought about anything but your guilt. Crouch said you were guilty, and he was my boss and …"
"Amy, I was raving and out of my mind with grief. I'm quite certain you looked at me and found it easy to believe what they were telling you. I don't blame you at all for thinking I gave up James and Lily. What hurt was that you never, in all these years, looked into why I didn't have a trial." Their hands were still connected, and he was gently rubbing her ring finger. "We were talking about getting married."
"Sirius, when Voldemort disappeared, everything was in chaos. We were just trying to keep our heads above water. It's not an excuse, but you were in Azkaban, and I didn't think about why you'd not been brought in like the rest of the suspected Death Eaters. Then life resumed, and I had Suzie to take care of and my career. It isn't an excuse; it's just what was. When I went to find your file today, I discovered a Notice-Me-Not Charm on the file. It was degrading, but I was able to determine Dumbledore was the one to cast it."
"That bastard! He did it so he could send Harry - and he was -" Sirius had turned red and dropped Amelia's hand. She felt the angry prickles of his magic wicking at her and took a step back. "Harry suffered horribly because of him."
"What? Where?" Her Auror cap was back on her head.
"His aunt and uncle, Lily's sister. Dumbledore placed him there but, she hates magic, and Harry was treated worse than a house-elf and physically abused. I suspect there was some terrible emotional and psychological abuse too, but he's kept that close to his vest. I know they called him 'freak' because he could do magic."
"Sirius, I need to open a case file for the Children's Welfare Department," Amelia said, and Sirius began shaking his head. "Why?"
"Harry doesn't want to bring them up on charges."
"It isn't up to him," she stated. "Abuse of a magical child by non-magical guardians is an indictable crime. We don't need Harry's permission. The department is currently on hiatus, but I'll put together the basics and contact Madame Pomfrey for any findings she has."
"We took him to the Muggle doc today," Sirius explained. "Her report is devastating to read."
"If you can get me a copy, we can include it."
"Thank you, Amy; they need to pay for what they did to him," Sirius said and then retook her hand. "Thanks for what you said, too. Freeing me, bringing me the adoption papers, all is forgiven. Maybe, someday we could get together to -"
"Sirius, my life is very complicated right now, as is yours," she hastily added. "Let's just give it time." He nodded, although a bit disappointed. There hadn't been a day of his life that he'd not thought about her. Harry came through the door from the back garden with a platter laden with meats and added it to the hastily created buffet, and everyone headed to eat.
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The actual signing of the adoption papers took mere moments, but Sirius wanted more for Harry than a flourish of a quill. It was decided that Sirius would blood adopt Harry, making him his legally adopted son and his blood-sworn one. This would make Harry the heir to the Black bloodline, ensuring the name continued into the future. Harry's end of the bargain was to give a son the last name of Black somewhere in the future, although after he had an heir to carry on the Potter name. Harry agreed although he didn't want to think about fatherhood anytime soon. Should Sirius ever have a son of his own, Harry would surrender his heirship, but Sirius said it was doubtful he'd ever sire a son and left it at that.
"I wasn't sure if you knew where your chalice and athame were, Sirius," Augusta Longbottom said when the signing was over, "so I brought the ones that James and Lily gave Alice and Frank as their wedding gift. I thought that it would bring you good fortune." Sirius looked at the woman and nodded his agreement. He took the beautifully carved oak box and opened it, taking out the intricately designed two-handled chalice and the silver knife. Sirius then invited everyone to the back garden.
"Harry, Neville's mother, Alice, was your godmother," Augusta explained as they went outside to make a circle. Ceremonies such as this were always done in nature. "You and Neville were the best of friends when you were toddlers, and your parents and his were very close. Frank and James were cousins, which makes you and Neville cousins as well, although you are separated by several degrees. It is my hope that whatever is happening in our world now will provide you with time to renew and strengthen that relationship."
"Neville stood by me all year, regardless of what happened. I won't forget that Lady Longbottom," Harry said politely. Augusta nodded before Harry joined Sirius and noticed several plasters sticking out of his shirt pocket. Sirius had 'dressed up' for the occasion by buttoning up his shirt, although he was still wearing a Queen tee-shirt and black jeans.
"Guess we won't be healing our wounds magically," Harry whispered.
"We can put a poultice on it tonight, but for now, the Muggle way will do. Now, I know we talked about this. Are you sure you want to go through the ceremony? By our wills and magic, I am your father, and you are my son through signing the magical scroll. So we don't need to do this," Sirius said.
"No, I want to do this. It's important to me, Sirius, and I think it's good we look to the future," Harry replied.
"Alright then," Sirius said and hugged his son. "Friends, we are grateful you could join us today, especially given the transportation issues for some of you. Harry and I have selected you because you are special and meaningful to one of us, or both. Augusta told me this chalice and athame were gifts from James and Lily to Alice and Frank at their wedding. It is a beautiful reminder that Harry's birth parents support us and support us. This is also better than the athame and cup we'd have pulled out of Harry's potions kit to use." There was laughter at the comment, putting Sirius and Harry at ease.
"We are here today to welcome Harry into the Black family through Blood-Sworn Adoption," Amelia said. She would officiate as Minister for Magic, although anyone could walk the two men through the ceremony. This was a private, family celebration, but Amelia added a level of legitimacy that might be needed in the future. Harry ran the athame over his finger, and a few drops of blood went into the vessel. Sirius repeated the action. A golden thread of magic burst from the chalice and soon had circled Harry and Sirius. The pair began to glow.
"Harry, what name have you chosen?"
"From this day forward, I will be known as Harry James Alphard Potter," Harry answered.
"Sirius Alphard Black, do you accept this name?" Amelia asked, but everyone could see the broad smile on the Marauder's face.
"I heartily do," Sirius answered.
"Then by intent, magic, and blood, you are father and son." Magic reacted to the pronouncement and flared brightly in Harry to everyone's astonishment. He was almost too bright to look at, and the warmth of it spread through the assembled group. Harry was joyful, and he made everyone else feel the same.
"That was a rather powerful magical response, Pup," Sirius whispered to him as he handed him a plaster which Harry unwrapped and put on the small cut on his finger. Sirius was doing the same.
"It felt a bit like the power I felt in the graveyard, only this was happiness instead of anger and fear," Harry answered.
"We'll need to discuss this more," Sirius said hastily as people were coming over to shake their hands and hug them. Harry hadn't had many truly happy days in his life, but he was so overjoyed at this turn of events he suspected that it was about to change.
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The following morning the pattern the gents had settled into was running smoothly. They were all up between seven-thirty and eight, Remus being up first and Sirius up last. They showered in succession, although not too quickly after each other or there was no hot water, and then ate breakfast and discussed what they wanted to accomplish that day.
"We need to fill your prescriptions today, Harry," Remus said.
"Okay," he said. "I also want to get some running shoes and gear so I can start exercising like the doctor wanted. I have plenty of trainers, but none of them were designed for running, and I know from experience bad trainers can lead to blisters when you run."
"Yes, but you can just use a spell to -," Sirius began, then stopped realizing what he was going to say. "Can't use spells, huh. New running trainers it is."
"I also have the name of a therapist that the Grangers know from their uni years. So I'm going to give him a call to set up an appointment for you," Remus added.
"That's fine," he said quietly. "Do we need to go to Gringotts, Sirius?"
"Yes, I just wish I didn't have to go down Diagon Alley today," he answered. "I know the Prophet put it on the front page that I'm innocent, but it's still going to be awkward."
"I thought of that last night," Remus said, "and I asked Dan Granger for a few stands of his hair and explained why. Since he's at the office all day, he had no problem with you looking like him while you were in wizarding London. It's a good thing I had some Polyjuice Potion on hand." He handed Sirius the little phial and a small zip-lock baggie with three strands of greying hair.
"Grey hair?" Sirius moaned
"Balding too," Harry added, and Sirius groaned again. Harry plated the bangers he'd grilled up, and Remus put a platter of toast on the table. There was a pot of strong coffee and a carafe of even stronger coffee. Sirius had yet to find a juice to replace Pumpkin that he enjoyed, while the other two had a glass of orange juice, and the three dug into their breakfast. There were also apples and bananas in a basket, and the men encouraged Harry to have one with his breakfast each day.
"Have you looked at that stack of papers Madame Bones brought you yesterday?" Harry asked between sips of tea.
"I haven't," Sirius said, sliding his chair back and walking to the coffee table where he'd left all but the adoption certificate. That Remus had framed and hung on the wall. Once back at the table, Sirius started flipping through them and stopped when he reached the deed.
"Merlin's baggy y-fronts, I inherited my grandfather's house. House isn't the right word; mansion might be better. It's huge, and it's not far from here."
"Sounds like we need to take a road trip!" Harry said excitedly.
"Diagon Alley and then to Sirius's mansion. Sounds like a plan for the day," Remus concluded before he reached for another slice of toast.