Chapter SEVEN

Finally Coming Home

...

As they sped through the Floo network rushing past multiple fireplaces Harrison felt the ring on his finger warm slightly before suddenly they were coming to a stop and he was being gripped on his left arm by his godfather preventing him from losing his balance as they stepped into their new home.

He gasps slights when he opened his eyes and took in the room in front of him. They had stepped out into a medium sized room with comfortable looking sofas and high-backed chairs, with beautiful art decorating the walls. The room was colored in creams and browns, giving a warm and inviting feeling.

"This is the main greeting room, anyone who comes in through the Floo network, will end up here, or they can Apparate to outside the front gates if they have been added into the wards by the Lord of the house. Until you turn 15 and take up the Potter Lordship, the Ward holder will be me as your magical Guardian," Sirius said directing him through a set of double doors and out into a beautiful bright grand foyer adorned with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling above a small round table beautifully decorated with a bouquet of flowers and double staircases to the second floor, with a set of open doors leading into what Harrison could clearly see as a comfortable looking library.

"Down here you will find, the kitchen with breakfast nook, formal dining area, family room, a formal sitting room, Powder room, along with 2 guest suites, the library with attached office off to the side and greeting room that we just came through.

There are two sets of French doors off the kitchen and dining rooms, that lead out to the back yard and the gardens. There is also a small quidditch pitch that your grandfather had bult for your dad when he ended up joining his house team, and swimming pool with outdoor seating off the back patio. Upstairs has four suits, meant for family only. The master suite, which will be yours if you want it, or there is the Heirs suite, and 2 spare suites with an adjoining bathroom. The other suites have their own bathroom. You pick whichever room you want pup; this is your house and I want us to be happy here." Sirius told him as he gave him a quick tour from memory, having been here a few times in his teens when Charlus and Dorea had still been alive.

"um…You can have the Master suite, I'll take the Heirs suite," Harrison stuttered getting a bit overwhelmed that this house and lands were his and where he was going to grow up.

"If you're sure pup," Sirius said placing a hand on his boys' shoulder and guiding him to his new room. "Why don't you get settled and explore your new room, maybe see what you want changed or updated while I look at the Master across the hall for a bit. I'll come get you in an hour, and we can head down to the kitchens and meet the house elves and have a late lunch?"

Harrison nodded and entered his new room with wide eyes. His room was almost twice the size his aunt and uncles' room back at his old house. To his left sat a double four-poster bed set in the center of one wall, with two bedside tables on either side. On a wall in between two large windows that were floor-to-ceiling sat a desk in the same dark wood as the bed. He had a sitting area in front of a fireplace -that had two more large windows set on either side bringing in lots of natural light- directly across from his bed and two large bookcases on a wall in between two doors directly across from his desk and to the right of his bedroom door.

He had entered through a door that faced the sitting area making the main part of his room slightly L in shape.

He checked out the rooms behind the doors on either side of his bookcases and found a large walk-in wardrobe and Large an-suite bath.

The room was clearly decorated with an older teen or young adult in mind, so Harrison knew he was going to have his godfather make a few changes. He liked the dark wood, white walls, and grey carpeting, but the cream curtains and bedding he wanted to replace with a deep royal blue.

He would add books from his already growing library that was currently stored inside his shrunken trunk after lunch at the same time as he unpacked his clothes into his new wardrobe and get wall decorations later when he figured out what his favorite teams were. They had discussed the only sport in the Wizarding world 'Quidditch' on one of his visits over the past few weeks, but having never witnessed a game, Harrison didn't have a favorite team or player to support yet. Sirius had promised they would go to plenty of games over the next few years, so he was sure his walls would be full soon enough.

Before he knew it, the hour was up, and Sirius knocked on his door and entered.

"Ready for some lunch pup?" the man asked with what Harrison had come to learn was his usual smile. After receiving a nod, they headed downstairs and into the Large kitchen where three houseleves were hard at work until they recognized exactly who it was standing before them.

"Little Master has returned! We is waiting for yous to come home, and yous has!" They yelled happily running over to greet their little master. "Master Sirius yous bring little master home at last?"

Laughing Sirius replied, "yes, yes Harrison and I will be living here from now on, the house won't be empty any longer," he promised them, having always gotten along well with the Potter elves unlike the one he grew up with.

After the three elves introduced themselves to Harrison as Blippy -who was the Head elf- and Tod and Bindy they were ushered over to the breakfast nook and served lunch.

HPSBHP

The first few days in their new house were some of the best that Harrison had ever had. He spent time exploring the grounds with his godfather in his Animagus form or laughing until he couldn't breathe as they played fetch; Padfoot chasing after whatever Harrison could find to throw.

Sirius started teaching him how to swim in the pool on their third day of living in their new home and had insisted on a nightly routine on the fourth day. So, every evening after dinner, he would send Harrison to go shower and get ready for bed, then the two of them would either read in the sitting area of Harrisons room, or Sirius would sit on the edge of his bed, while Harrison got comfortable and tell him a story about his parents or of the Marauders and some of the adventures they got up to in school.

While it is true that Harrison is 10 years old and might be considered too big to be told bedtime stories or tucked in at night. He was relishing in having sometime to do those things for him finally. Having watched his aunt and uncle dote on his cousin for years, he was finally getting to experience what it means to have a parent that cared for him.

Along with exploring the grounds and house and getting settled into their daily lives, Sirius had registered Harrison for Muggle home schooling, and set up a schedule for them to work a few hours each afternoon with a Muggleborn tutor. They had figured out relatively quickly that Harrison was ahead of peers his own age and after having him take an aptitude test bumped him up to seventh grade for more of a challenge.

HPSBHP

Almost two months have gone by since the trial. Harrison had had his first experience in wizarding traditions and Holidays with the celebration of Samhain with his godfather and it was now coming to the end of November, the first snowfall covering blanketing the grounds and trees outside effectively turning any view from the back windows as if it were a beautiful winter wonderland.

On this day Sirius was sat in the office off the Library going over paperwork on both the Potter and Black accounts sent over by their account managers. He had requested a detailed list off all transactions going and coming from both accounts over the past 9 years. He wasn't expecting much from the main Black accounts. Only the yearly allotted allowances and investments should be all the activity it had seen, but he was concerned about the Potter accounts, he had his suspicions that the Dursleys might have been paid to take care of Harrison and had failed to do so and was getting more and more angry as being proven right.

Sirius created copies of the account statements, and letter from Sharpclaw to be sent off to Cadmus to be added to the other evidence they had compiled over the last couple months, for when the man formally went and charged them with neglect and abuse. Their Lawyer had told Sirius the week prior, that he was sure they had enough to take it to court and would be formally pressing charges on their behalf the beginning of December.

In other news, Sirius was extremely pleased when Sharpclaw had informed him in his newest letter, that all items had been retrieved from Dumbledore and returned to the Potter vaults along with compensation in the amount of 9000 galleons. 1000 for every year that he had been Harrisons Magical Guardian and used it to rifle through and remove items that weren't his to touch.

This was a relief and a weight off his shoulders, because among the items returned was a specific article of fabric. A priceless heirloom passed down from father-to-son for generations. The Potter family Invisibility cloak. Knowing that it was now safely stored inside the Family vault, and Dumbledor would no doubt be in battle with the Goblins over his breaking of their laws for some time, gave Sirius some peace of mind. He knew the man wouldn't stay away forever but he was sure they at least had until Harrisons first year before they would need to worry about dealing with him.

HPSBHP

Sirius looked up from the files he was going over when he heard a knock on the open door and smiled at seeing his godson coming into the room. "All done your schoolwork for the day pup?"

Harrison nodded as he sat down on one of the chairs in front of the desk, "Yes, we finished almost a half hour ago, I got a snack before coming here. You wanted to see me?" he asked curiously.

"Yes, there are a few things I wanted to talk to you about. You know that I received word from my friend Remus a few weeks ago, and have been in contact with him through letters since then?"

Seeing Harrisons nod of confirmation, even if it he could also see apprehension in the boy's eyes. "I have set up a lunch meeting with him tomorrow afternoon as its Saturday and I wanted to know if you would like to be there? I know he has a lot to answer for when it comes to both of us pup, especially you. He should have tried to contact you, been there for you even if he couldn't enter your aunt and uncles house, he knew where Lily's sister lived. We all did, and he could have stayed in the neighborhood and watched over you that way. So ill understand I you would rather hold off on meeting him, but I wanted to give you the chance to confront him now if it's what you wanted."

Harrison sat there thinking hard. He wasn't sure what he wanted honestly. He said before he would wait to see what excuse the man had for disappearing and abandoning him after that night, but now that the man was here and ready to meet in person? Harrison wasn't sure he could bring himself to go. He didn't think he could listen as the man told him excuses for why he abandoned him, because that's what he did. He abandoned Harrison when he had just lost his parents.

Harrison knew that there was a very high chance, that if he went and confronted him today, before he was ready, then it was more than likely he would lose his temper. That was something he wanted to avoid, because while he didn't want anything to do with the man right now, he didn't want to ruin Sirius chance at reuniting with the only friend he still had alive.

So, with all that in mind he spoke. "um...I..I think I will stay home. I'm not ready to meet him yet." He told Sirius finally. "Maybe next time?"

"That's completely understandable pup, and I want you to know that just because I'm meeting him tomorrow, that not all is forgiven, okay? He still has a lot to make up for and I will always be on your side."

"Thank you, Siri." The boy whispered back biting his lip.

"I wanted to talk to you about your time with the Dursleys, I know we went over a few things on our visits and even over the last couple months, but the affect living with them has had on your health worries me pup. You understand what they did to you was wrong, but I don't think you have grasped the extent of it. On top of being hit by a dark curse when you were a baby, I'm worried. So, I set you up an appointment with the Goblins to see one of their healers to do a thorough health scan on Monday. Then I want you to see Healer Thomas and talk to him, I want to make sure you are 100% healthy, okay? Can you do all that for me without argument?"

Harrison sat with his eyes wide and listened to everything Sirius was saying. He figured he would be forced to see someone eventually but had hoped to put it off longer. He didn't want to talk about his time with the Dursley's with anyone but his godfather. He knew logically it was best, and he needed to do it. He wasn't an idiot by any means, far from it in fact. But he was still nervous about talking to someone he didn't know. Someone who he didn't trust. But he agreed to do it reluctantly, knowing It needed to be done, and it would ease some of his godfathers worries. He would do anything for the man who had taken him away from his old life and spent every day making sure Harrison knew he was wanted and loved.

"Thank you pup, I promise, it will be worth it and once it's over, you can put it all behind you."

Sirius stood from his seat and pulled his boy into a tight hug, proud of how brave he was for agreeing even though he could clearly see the doubt and nervousness in the boy's eyes.

HPSBHP

The following morning Sirius stepped into a private room at the Leaky Cauldron 5 minutes before 11am when he was supposed to meet his old friend.

He removed his outer robe and sat at the table in the center of the room and tapping the menu with his finger and silently requesting strong black tea to be delivered.

At couple minutes later and with two minutes to spare, the door opened and in walked Remus Lupin looking older and shabbier than the last time they had stood in the same room. Sirius stood and greeted him as he approached the table grasping his hand in a firm shake. "Moony, it's good to see you."

"Pads…. I, yeah, it's good to see you too. You are looking healthy." He stammered a bit awkwardly. Now that he was finally standing in front of his only living friend again, he was at a loss of what to do or say.

"Yeah well, daily potions, and meetings with a mind healer twice a week will do that." Was the blunt reply cause Remus to wince slightly.

"How have you been? How's Harrison?"

"Harrison is brilliant, incredible. Lily and James would be proud of him, I know I am. He didn't want to come today, he isn't ready to meet you yet. Feels you abandoned him, and he isn't ready to hear excuses yet." Sirius sat back in his chair and gestured to the seat across from him. He was being a bit short with the man, he knew, and while he could and would eventually forgive him for believing he betrayed James and Lily, he couldn't let him off for disappearing and abandoning his pup so easily, however.

Remus lowered his gaze to the table, unable to meet Sirius eyes. "I couldn't, Dumbledore told me about the wards on the house, you know what I am. I'm a dark creature, and they kept out all dark magic. Creatures include."

"That's an excuse and you know it Remus. Did you actually go and try to see him? See if the 'wards' truly kept you out? And so, what if you couldn't get into the house, or on the property. You knew exactly where he was living, we both did. The rest of the magical world might be deluded to think Dumbledore had him hid away somewhere under the fidelis charm, but we both knew he was with Petunia and that they have lived in the same house since Lily's parents died when she was seventeen. You could have moved to the neighborhood, watched over him that way, volunteered at his school, worked in the town library, anything to give you access to him; but you were a coward and ran away."

"I just lost three of my best friends and believed another betrayed them, I didn't take it well Sirius, what do you want me to say?" Remus pleaded desperately.

"HARRISON HAD JUST LOST HIS ENTIRE FAMILY!" Sirius yelled, "And was ripped away from the world he should have grown up in! You could have given him a part of his family. Told him stories about his parents, made sure he knew how much he was loved. Helped guide him, raise him where the Dursley's failed. You could have been what prevented them from neglecting and abusing him. If you had moved closer, let them know you were watching, they might not have treated him the way they did. They would have hated and feared you sure, but he wouldn't have grown up the way he did.

I can forgive you a lot of things Moony, and you and I will be good after a while, but I can't forgive abandoning Harrison, he needed you and you weren't there." Sirius stated lowering his voice, as the door opened, and his tea was brought in. "You better be prepared to work to earn his forgiveness and trust, because It won't come easily. I can promise you that."

Remus nodded in understanding, determined to win the trust of the boy. He regrets the choices he made all those years ago, and will do whatever he has to, to make up for it. Because he knew everything Sirius said was right, if he had just over come his insecurities and fear, moved to the area, and watched over Harrison that way, then so many things could have been better. For both of them.

Seeing his old friends' determination, Sirius relaxed and turned the conversation to safer topics for the time being, and they spent the next hour and a half catching up.

HPSBHP

When Sirius returned home, later that afternoon, he found his pup hard at work in the library as per usual. He knew that Harrison was going to be a bookworm like his mother but knowing how active he could be when he put his books away, Sirius mad a quick stop into the Alley before coming home and picking him up a surprise. "Hey Pup, come outside for a bit, I've got something to show you." He grinned before hurrying out to the back yard where his surprise was waiting for them.

When Harrison arrived, he grinned in excitement when he saw two new broomsticks hovering beside the man he was slowly looking to as a true parent.

"Wanna learn to ride a broom kiddo?" His godfather asked grinning at him.

"YES!" Harrison yelled immediately, causing the dog Animagus to laugh loudly, before he instructed him how to mount and dismount the broom. Then showing him how to lean forward to go and pull up on the broom to slow down or stop. Once he was sure the boy got the basics, they hopped on and flew carefully over to the quidditch pitch and spent the afternoon, racing each other around the perimeter with Sirius keeping a close eye on his boy the entire time, in case he needed to grab him if he fell or lost control. But after seeing him fly for only a few minutes, he didn't think he would need to, as he was coming to realize the 10-year-old Potter was as much of a natural flyer as his Dad had been.

"I hope you're watching this Prongs' he thought to his friend silently as he kept his gaze locked onto the boy zooming confidently around the pitch. Looking to the world as if he belonged there. A smile wide on his face and a carefreeness radiating off him, his entire being screaming that there wasn't anywhere else he wanted to be.

"Give it time and I think he will even outfly you, Jamie."

Giving himself one last moment to feal the grief that crashed over him as he thought of his friend, Sirius made him a promise to do him and Lily proud, before he put his thoughts to rest in favor of focusing on his boy.

"Race you to the end and back Pup," he yelled before they both shot off, loudly laughing the whole way.