-A/N: I'm aware I have the timing wrong for this; the First Task didn't occur until November in the books, but I realized after I had posted the previous chapter that I wanted to focus on the holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, so sorry… the first task happened mid-October in this fanfiction. ALSO it's Sirius's birthday today (November 3!) -

Harry was on top of the world; the second task was months away, and though he had to eventually try and figure out the clues for it, it was the last thing on his list of worries. He had Ron, his best mate, back, and all the kids in the school had stopped picking on him; instead, most applauded him for skillfully capturing the egg from the dragon. The Hufflepuffs didn't feel sorely toward him anymore about stealing the "glory" from their champion, and were mostly excited that a Hogwarts victory was twice as possible, if not probable.

Sirius and Remus, on the other hand, were growing more and more nervous about Harry. They were both proud of him for making it through the first task, and promised to continue to help him for the rest of them, but they were still convinced that someone was after their boy. Sirius often vocalized this to Dumbledore, who agreed with their suspicions, and said that he was doing all he could to keep everyone, especially Harry, out of danger.

Though this wasn't enough for Sirius to feel confident, he accepted it and continued on, spending as much time with his godson as possible.


The weather got colder as Halloween approached. Hogwarts was decorated in spooky wizard paraphernalia and the ghosts seemed more active than usual. Most of the people in Hogwarts were excited for the holiday and the feast that would ensue in the Great Hall; most except for Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Harry Potter.

Sirius, who was usually a fantastic teacher with a wonderful personality and strong connection to his students, grew distant in his lessons. Remus took more time off than he felt necessary after the October full moon, silently grieving his late friends. Harry recognized both of his guardians grief, and his began to mirror theirs as the dreaded date approached. He grew distant of both of them for that brief time, wanting to give them time to mourn, and also not wanting to be seen by anyone himself.

Sirius noticed his godson's behavior almost immediately and knew how the boy had to be feeling. He imagined his own grief was not even close to the pain he knew Harry was in, and wanted to be there for him.

"Harry," Sirius said at dinner the night before Halloween. "Come with me tonight. Remus and I haven't heard from you in a week, we want to see you."

Harry didn't meet his eyes, but nodded. Ron and Hermione shot Sirius a look that conveyed their worry for their friend. Harry was usually okay during Halloween, not really registering that it was the night his parents were murdered; however, ever since Remus and Sirius had come into his life, it was harder not to think of his parents. His guardians had told him so much about them, and the closer he got to Sirius, the more he missed his parents, wanting them to be there with Sirius, Remus, and him too. He wanted things to be the way they could have been; Harry with a brave father, a loving mother, a fun godfather, and a wise uncle Moony.

Tears began to form in the corners of his eyes, and he looked down, not wanting anyone to see his weakness. Sirius sensed this, and gently pulled on his arm. "Come on, Harry," he whispered, urging him to move. Harry obliged and together they walked out of the hall. Harry dared a look at the other house tables, who all appeared concerned; that is, except the Slytherins, who appeared quite tickled that Harry was in trouble with his "daddy," as they maliciously coined Sirius. "Ignore them," Sirius said gently, following his godson's gaze and letting go of Harry's arm, to make the situation seem less forced. Harry nodded but still did not meet Sirius's gaze.

When they finally entered his quarters, Sirius gestured over to the living room, where a sick-looking Remus was sitting. Regardless, Remus smiled at Harry and placed a hand on his shoulder when he sat beside him. "Harry," Remus started gently. "Why have you been avoiding us?"

Harry shrugged, not really having a concrete reason besides that he wanted desperately to be left alone. The week after the first task was great, but the attention was again, annoying Harry, and with the anniversary of his parent's deaths coming up, Harry longed to be anyone but Harry Potter.

"Harry, you know what tomorrow is?" Sirius asked, sitting on Harry's other side and throwing an arm over his shoulders.

Harry nodded but still didn't look up. Sirius sighed, "I wish I knew a way that could make this easier for you. Heck, if I knew, I'd be using it as well."

Harry met his eyes this time. "Take me to Godric's Hollow."

Sirius and Remus both froze, not expecting this reaction out of Harry. Once he registered the request, Sirius's face grew dark and he looked down. "No." He said simply.

"Sirius…" Remus warned, confused.

"Why not?" Harry asked, growing angry.

"Because I said so," Sirius said, now staring at the floor so hard he thought he could burn a hole into it.

Harry gaped at him, but instead of yelling at Sirius, he ran out of the portrait hole through the castle.

"Harry!" Remus called, but didn't go after him. He was still too weak to chase him, and a part of him knew Sirius had to be the one to find him. "What was that all about, Padfoot?" Remus asked accusingly at Sirius. "The boy's never seen their grave and he trusted you enough to ask you to take him. What's wrong with you?"

Sirius looked up and Remus was surprised to see tears in his eyes. "I… I can't Moony. I've never been either and… I just can't." Sirius began to sob and Remus was so surprised he just stood there. Sirius never cried unless something was really wrong. Feeling a pang of guilt for snapping at him, Remus walked back over to the couch and put an arm around Sirius's shoulders. "Tell me, Padfoot."

Once Sirius's choking sobs ceased, he looked up into his friend's eyes. "They won't forgive me. I can't face it… the reason they're dead… the reason Harry was abused-"

"The fault resides in Voldemort, Pettigrew, and the Dursleys, and them alone, Sirius. Don't blame yourself." Remus said softly but sternly, hugging his friend.

"No." Sirius said, so quietly it sounded malicious.

"No?" Remus asked, pulling back.

"It's my fault, Remus. Can't you see that? I suggested Peter be the secret keeper. I went after him when it was too late to save James and Lily, leaving Harry to sit in his own personal hell for thirteen years. It's my fault." Sirius broke down again, and Remus didn't know what to do. He had expected that Sirius's grief only festered in Azkaban, but he never realized the extent that he blamed himself for his best friend, no, his brother's, death.

After a few minutes of sitting in silence, only listening to Sirius's heavy breathing and curses, Remus realized what he had to do. "Sirius, James would want you to take Harry to Godric's Hollow. James loved you, and I guarantee you he doesn't blame you for any of it. And Harry loves you, and needs you, Padfoot. He feels alone, he needs you to show him that he's loved and that he does have a parent - a godfather that his own, biological father appointed to care of him. James would want you to go to Godric's Hollow and Harry needs you to take him."

Sirius sat there for a few more minutes before he finally nodded. "I'm doing this for Harry, and for James. Not for me." Remus nodded, but had a feeling Sirius would change his mind once he got to the graveyard.

"Good... Now go find your godson." Remus said, patting Sirius on the shoulder.


"Harry?" Sirius whispered into the tunnel leading to Honeydukes. He had heard stifled sobs from behind the statue leading into the tunnel, and knew immediately that this is where Harry went to grieve while he was at school.

Harry silenced his sobs but didn't look up at his godfather. He wanted to be alone. His last hope at seeing his parents had been ripped from him by the one person he thought would never hurt him. He couldn't look at Sirius.

Sirius timidly stepped in the hole, not wanting to frighten or anger Harry more. "I know you're mad at me… hell, you have every right to be. But all I ask is that you hear me out. I'll take you to Godric's Hollow."

Harry's breath caught and Sirius knew it was safe to step over to the trembling boy. He sat beside him and threw a comforting arm around his shoulders, the way he always did. "I… I'm sorry, Harry. I'm sorry I've been so angry lately, I'm sorry I reacted the way I did earlier. This is not an easy time for any of us… but I just had some sense knocked into me by Moony, and I want you to know, I want to take you to Godric's Hollow. I just… it's my fault…" Sirius trailed off and sighed, looking down at the dirty floor in the tunnel, trying to decide the best way to phrase his guilt.

Harry realized his godfather's thought process immediately, and threw his arms around Sirius. It's not that Sirius wanted to keep Harry from the grave site, it was that he was scared to go himself. "It's really not your fault." He mumbled against his godfather, wanting Sirius to believe it as much as he did.

Sirius's breath caught as this boy, his wonderful, sweet, brave, godson, embraced him. At first he was ashamed; he was supposed to be comforting Harry, not the other way around.

After a few minutes of sitting there, Sirius returned the hug and smiled. He was terrified to go to Godric's Hollow, yes, but he knew that Harry needed it, and he would do anything for Harry.


"This is it." Sirius said once Harry and him had reached Hogsmeade. "You're sure?"

Harry nodded confidently and turned to meet Sirius's gaze. "Are you sure?"

Sirius smirked at him before grabbing his forearm and apparating to Godric's Hollow. Harry landed hard and stumbled, but Sirius caught him and chuckled. "Never done that before, huh?"

Harry got his footing and shook his head, then looked around. "So, this is it?"

Sirius nodded, and placed an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Yep, this is it. Let's walk to the center of the town. There's a lot of history here, you know. This is where Godric Gryffindor was born."

Harry gaped at his godfather, not realizing that the namesake of his beloved Hogwarts house was born in the same place he was.

The two walked on towards the center of the town by an old cathedral. Children in costumes walked around giggling and eating candy, reminding Harry again of what he could have had growing up. He felt Sirius squeeze his shoulder and knew they were thinking along the same lines.

They approached an old looking statue shaped like an obelisk, with memorials of those who died in a muggle war. However, to both Harry and Sirius's astonishment, the statue morphed into a memorial of James, Lily, and baby Harry. Harry stared up in awe at it before breaking the silence between his godfather and him. "Did you know this was here?"

"I… no, I didn't." Sirius mumbled, staring up at the stone statue of his late best friend. "You know Harry, it's been thirteen years, and not a day goes by that I don't miss your dad. He was… like a brother."

Harry nodded and looked back up at the happy family depicted in the statue. Harry noticed that his baby self looked extremely content in his mother's arms. After a few more minutes of studying the memorial, he felt Sirius squeeze his shoulder again. "Come on, there's a few more things I want to show you."

Harry nodded, but instead of taking him in the direction of the graveyard, Sirius brought him down a small cobblestone road. They approached a ruined cottage, and Harry realized where Sirius was taking him. "Is that…" Harry mumbled, staring in awe at the building that had been claimed by nature and devastation.

"Yes... this was your house." Sirius said, looking down at Harry. "I spent countless nights here with you and your family and when I found it destroyed that night…" Sirius trailed off and Harry bit back his tears. He knew how bad it was hurting his godfather to come here, and he was more grateful for him now than he had ever been.

Sirius sighed after a few minutes, and offered to walk back to the graveyard.

Harry nodded and they walked towards the graveyard in the village. Sirius opened the wrought-iron gate and led Harry through the names of those that once inhabited the tiny village. Harry read through the names as they passed and stopped his godfather after reading one that caught his attention. "Sirius… that says Dumbledore on it."

"Ah, yes, I believe Dumbledore grew up here." Sirius said, stepping to look at a headstone that read 'Ariana Dumbledore.' "That must be his sister, she died when he was young."

Harry frowned at the stone, but was quickly distracted by his godfather pulling him forward. "Come on, puppy, we're almost there."

Puppy. Harry smiled to himself. Sirius had been calling him that since he saved him from the Dursleys and it just seemed so right; it made him feel protected and happy, like he finally had someone that loved him.

Harry's thoughts were interrupted when they approached the old stone that memorialized his parents. Sirius kneeled down and Harry followed him, both reading the grave. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Sirius whispered. They both sat in silence for a few moments, studying their grave. After a few minutes, Harry realized that Sirius's head was bowed and- was he crying?

Harry stood up gripped his godfather's shoulder. "Sirius… it's not your fault. Know that please… you didn't condemn me all those years ago… you saved me this year. Come on…"

Hearing Harry's trembling voice made Sirius cry harder, but yet… he felt better. Better than he had since before James and Lily died. He wanted to wrap Harry in his arms and hug him, but he couldn't… he couldn't bring himself to do it, not here.

He's James's son… Sirius thought, feeling so guilty. Guilty that he had caused his friend's death, guilty that he left Harry… guilty that Harry considered him a dad now and not James.

All of the sudden, a refreshing breeze filtered through the air in the graveyard, and a white stag came leaping over to Sirius. "Prongs…" Sirius whispered, awestruck. Harry was standing behind Sirius, casting the patronus without even meaning to, but wanting, desperately, to help his godfather.

As Sirius watched the stag float toward him, he knew. This is what James wanted. He wanted Sirius to love Harry like a son and take care of him. He wasn't betraying his them at all by taking care of Harry; James and Lily wanted this for their son and their best friend.

Harry stepped closer to Sirius and let the patronus go. He leaned down and put a hand on Sirius's shoulder, but his godfather didn't look up at him. "Sirius… you're like my dad… it's okay. I know he wouldn't want you to feel this way…"

Before Harry could finish his remarks, Sirius stood up and embraced his godson. "Thank you," he whispered into Harry's ear and he meant it. His godson had truly saved him, and for that he was forever grateful.


Sirius and Harry aparated back to Hogsmeade that evening, confident that this had been the best Halloween they had experienced in thirteen years.

They walked back to hogwarts, arm in arm, excited to share with Remus the evening they spent together. They went into the Great Hall and Sirius headed up to the teacher's table, as the feast was still going on. Harry went and sat next to his friends, enjoying the evening and relishing in the fact that he was no longer alone, that he finally had the family he had always dreamed of.


Sirius woke up three mornings later to his godson jumping on his bed and Remus laughing. "What?" Sirius groaned, turning and putting his head in his pillow to block out the light.

"What do you mean, what?" Harry said, flopping on top of Sirius's back. "It's your birthday!"

"So?" Sirius huffed, attempting to throw Harry off him. Remus joined them by lying across Sirius's legs and smiled up at them.

"So? It's a big deal Padfoot. One year closer to being able to grow a beard like Dumbledore's, you old man." Remus said, laughing when Sirius attempted to kick him in the head.

Harry smiled at Remus and climbed off Sirius. "Come on, Padfoot, wake up already."

Sirius kicked Remus off him, turned into a sitting position, and smirked at them both. Harry reminded him of an excited child on Christmas and it made him happy to see the boy finally act his age and not like the weight of the world was on his shoulders; Sirius fleetingly remembered the prophecy about Harry, but shook the thought away, wanting to focus on the excited kid in front of him and not his destiny.

He followed Harry and Remus into the living room where they had set out breakfast and a few presents for him. "Hmm, pancakes? I seem to recall this being Harry's favorite breakfast." Sirius said, smiling at his godson when he plopped down beside him on the couch.

"Don't act like you don't like chocolate chip pancakes, Siri," Harry said, digging into his own.

"And I believe chocolate is Remus's favorite food too," Sirius said with a sly smile at Moony, who was scarfing down his own pancakes.

"Are you just going to sit there then? Old men need to eat too, you'll waste away!" Harry exclaimed dramatically, dodging a swat from Sirius. Remus laughed hard and Sirius threw a pancake at him, hitting him square in the face. Soon the three were in an all out food fight in the room, only stopping when a knock sounded at the door.

McGonagall answered, looking as strict as ever. "Merlin, Sirius, I know it's your birthday but you're going to wake up the entire school."

Sirius shrugged and gave McGonagall a sly smile. "It was actually Harry's fault, you think I should give him detention?" Harry threw a pancake at the back of Sirius's head in response, causing Sirius walk over, grab him, and throw him over his shoulder. "You're gonna get it, kid. Just give me one second to clear up things with Minnie." Sirius turned back towards McGonagall again, Harry flailing on his shoulder, trying to get down. "As I was saying," Sirius started before feeling syrup sliding down his hair and across his face. "Moony!" Sirius raged, turning back around to face the "traitor." Remus and Harry were both laughing hard, and Sirius turned back to McGonagall to see a smile come across her face as well.

"I suggest you put Mr. Potter down, Black. You aren't as young as you once were." McGonagall said, Remus and Harry continuing to howl with laughter in the background. Sirius gaped at her for a second, before smiling too and putting Harry on his feet. "Would you like to join us? We'll stop with the food fight and have the house elves bring up some more breakfast."

"Yes!" Harry yelled, before getting a glare from Sirius. "Nope, this time it's my favorite breakfast, kid. Toast."

"Toast?" Harry asked, gaping at him. "That's so boring."

"Well you know, Harry, old men like their food bland. They lose taste buds over time, go easy on him." Remus said, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder and sending a playful look to Sirius.

McGonagall laughed at the three boys, and shook her head. "I need to get going, Sirius, some of us younger folk will be enjoying a delicious breakfast of eggs and bacon in the Great Hall. Happy Birthday again."

Sirius stood there with his mouth open, staring after her and ignoring the laughter from Remus and Harry again.

"Oh, you two are going to get it." Sirius said, barking a laugh and chasing the two around the living room.

Harry slipped on the syrup that had fallen on the floor, and soon the three of them were wrestling each other on the floor, not a care in the world.