Demented Ch 27
"That's a wicked spell," Harry said, after undoing the spell that removed Sirius's ears. "Are you supposed to be teaching me that one?"
They were in the practice room again at Grimmauld Place.
"Hasn't Snape been teaching you defense?" Sirius touched his right ear, as if to make sure it was back properly.
"Well, yeah, sure, some," Harry said. "It's hard too. He's really strict. He makes me practice a million times before I learn a new spell. I had to relearn the whole second year first before he'd let me move on because Lockhart wasn't a proper professor; we've just gotten to harder stuff. He says it's sixth and seventh year. Not using words."
"And?"
"I'm … uh, still learning."
Sirius laughed. "Show me."
Harry concentrated and tried a wordless blasting curse. It barely caused a gust of wind. He huffed.
"It'll get better with practice," Sirius assured him.
In the quiet that followed, they started walking toward the door. Harry looked at his godfather. He wasn't sure why, but he felt ok about failing with Sirius where with Snape all he felt was frustration.
"Snape let me customize my room," Harry said, without warning.
"Your room?" Sirius looked confused. "In the manor?"
"No, the castle. I have a room in the castle."
Sirius nodded. As with Snape, he clearly didn't see why this was a big deal to Harry. Harry tried to explain.
"I saw it before, when we went there. When Snape took me there. But," Harry paused. He knew this was something he should have talked to Remus about, as his counselor, or maybe even Snape, as his guardian. But somehow he thought Sirius might understand. "It seems more real now. More permanent."
"Like with the visits to the infirmary?"
Harry shrugged.
"You know, Harry, I never got a chance to be your guardian. Not really anyway." He held up a hand to forestall Harry's protests. "It's okay. I get why I can't. I'd be rubbish at it. I see why now. I don't think it would have occurred to me to take you to the infirmary once, let alone twice. Unless you were sick, I mean. Snape notices things, you know?"
Harry did know. It was one of the most unnerving things about the man. There seemed to be nothing he didn't miss.
"He said I can come there whenever I want," Harry said, "that it's my room and they're my quarters."
"Harry," Sirius stopped, "why does this bother you now?" He put a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder. You knew about the room. You've known for a while Snape was going to be your guardian."
"I don't know, really," Harry said. "I think it's because it just seems real now, you know? Him talking about decorating the room at Hogwarts and when I can be there and inviting friends over. I never did that ever before. I had friends over, you know, for the first time ever. He said they can visit. It's just weird."
"Visit you?" Sirius had a funny look on his face. "In Snape's quarters?"
"That's the thing," Harry said. "Don't you get it? It's not just Snape's quarters."
"Right," Sirius said. "Well. I guess if it were summer, friends could come to your house. No other professors happen to have kids." He shrugged. "It's not really that weird. I think I remember one professor when I was in school …"
"No," Harry cut him off. "That's not what I mean. Well, yeah. That's weird too. It's me. I've never had a place to invite friends to. I never had a home before. Now I have two. The summer was one thing but it's kind of hard and there's security and the secret … you know. It's Unplottable. There's a Secret Keeper. You can't just drive up or Floo In."
"I understand, Harry," Sirius said. "All that security must be hard on you."
"I get it," Harry said. "Sometimes I'd just like to go for a walk to the village. Snape would kill me if I did that."
Sirius snorted. "He'd be … yes. Let's avoid that."
"But now, I can have friends over whenever," Harry said. "Well, almost whenever. If I want to have them somewhere private and not the crowded common room or dorm. We had somewhere else to go. Somewhere mine."
"And this is bothering you?" Sirius said. "Because you still don't trust Snape? Or because it's in the dungeons?"
Looking at Sirius to see if he was teasing, Harry could tell that his godfather wasn't. He was relieved. Although Sirius was often joking and tended to err on the side of playful, he was listening and might have even put into words what Harry couldn't say.
"Yeah," Harry said slowly. "I guess that's it."
"I get it, Harry," Sirius said. "My home life left a lot to be desired. Your dad and his family were a safe haven for me. It was hard for me to accept it as real, at first. I didn't have a good role model for a happy family."
He beckoned Harry closer and put his arm around him, pulling him into a one-armed hug. Harry leaned into the man, accepting the comfort and strength his godfather was offering. The summer had been nothing but upheaval, but Sirius was still there for him. Harry might have had his doubts before, about Sirius as well as every other person in his life. Now, in this moment, he was relieved that their relationship seemed stronger.
"It's going to be okay," Sirius said in a gentle voice just above a whisper. "Change is never easy."
They were quiet for some time. Harry wished that things had turned out differently, but things in his life had never been fair. Sirius was right. He was in for a rough year.
"Let's go see if we can find those friends of yours," Sirius said. "We'll go out to Muggle London. Pizza! How does that sound?"
"Really?" Harry asked. "It's okay?"
"Sure," Sirius said. "I'll take the blame."
"With who?" Harry asked, "Dumbledore? Snape? Mrs. Weasley?"
"It's okay, Kiddo," Sirius said. Harry thought there was a sadness in his eyes. "You deserve to live a little."
Although he was still worried, part of Harry agreed. He was still angry that his life was controlled by everyone around him. This was a feeling Sirius could relate to.
"Let's do it!"
With a cocky grin, Sirius made for the door. Within a shorter time than seemed possible he had rounded up Fred and George and they were out the front door. Harry took Sirius's arm and described the location to the twins, and they Apparated.
"Wicked," Harry said.
He had spent very little time in Muggle London. It didn't have the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley, but it had its own level of excitement. Of course, there were also cars everywhere. Harry was glad they were all in Muggle attire.
While Harry and the twins were wearing jeans and hoodies over T-shirts, Sirius looked attracted attention for an entirely different reason in a stylish leather jacket. Fred and George elbowed Harry.
"Your godfather's a heartthrob," they said at the same time.
"Who even talks like that?" Harry asked them, blushing and hoping Sirius, who was walking just ahead, couldn't hear.
They smirked at each other and poked him in the side. Harry glared at them and hurried to catch up with Sirius. He knew they meant well, but Sirius was unnaturally good-looking. Harry didn't think he'd ever catch up. He felt skinny and awkward next to his godfather.
None of that really mattered tonight though. Tonight he was just out to have fun. Harry smiled up at Sirius and drank in his godfather's infectious grin.
The pizza place Sirius had picked had games too. Harry knew the type. Dudley had described them to him, and he knew that his classes had gone on trips there in primary school. Harry had never been allowed on school trips of any kind, educational or fun, but this was one he'd always regretted missing.
The twins enjoyed the Muggle arcade games. Harry could almost see the wheels spinning in their heads as they thought up magical versions. As Harry tossed a ball at a ring next to Sirius, he couldn't help but think that Ron would have loved it here.
"Thanks for this," he said. "It's too bad the others couldn't come."
Sirius's face fell for a moment. "I know," he said softly. "It wouldn't have been a good idea."
"I get it," Harry said. "I'm glad we did this. And Fred and George are great. It's just … well, you know."
"I do know," Sirius said, "they're your friends. Just enjoy yourself and don't think about it."
Harry nodded. Then he smiled. He didn't need Hermione here complaining about how they were breaking the rules and Ron being jealous about how Sirius had money to buy him treats. He was just going to enjoy himself.
Harry hadn't had many Muggle junk foods. At his birthday party there had been some. The pizza place had more than pizza and fizzy drinks. It had a buffet with a dozen kinds of pizza and a machine where you could mix your own fizzy drink concoction. The twins spent ten minutes on that machine alone.
"This is disgusting," Harry said, taking a sip of the strangely colored drink they'd ultimately brought him. He wasn't even sure how to describe the taste. It was a mix of juice and cola with some kind of tea."
"We know," George started.
"Isn't it great?" Fred finished.
Harry shook his head and laughed, glad they had let him have the machine first to make a lemon cola mix that made much more sense. He took a sip appreciatively. He'd always looked longingly at Dudley's treats growing up. The all you can eat and drink buffet was like a dream come true.
"Are you having a good time, Pup?" Sirius asked, sprinkling cheese on his pizza. He'd chosen a meat combo.
"Yeah," Harry said, after he'd finished chewing his bite. He himself had slices of three different kinds of pizza on his plate. "This place is amazing. Thanks, Sirius."
Sirius socked him playfully on the arm and grinned. "You just think hard about where you want to go next time."
"What?" Harry asked.
"Well, the way I see it," Sirius said, "I've got a lot of … uh, lost time to make up for. For spoiling you, right? You can choose different friends each time, or just us."
"Oh, wow, Sirius, I don't know," Harry said, feeling ice in his stomach. "Will …"
Sirius saw the look on his face and seemed to anticipate the problem. "You let me handle 'Ol Soupuss," he said. "Remember, I'm still your godfather. People will forget about, we'll, you know. And my name is cleared now, so we might as well take advantage of it. Let him spoil you with sleepovers and I'll take you to the movies."
"Movies?" Harry asked.
"Sure, why not?" Sirius said with a laugh.
"Movies, wow," Fred said. "Take us, Harry!"
"Yeah," George whispered for the benefit of the Muggles who might find the conversation strange. "We've never been to a movie!"
"Me either," Harry said quietly.
"Very well," Sirius said, "I'll make the plans."
They continued eating and talking. Sirius surreptitiously cast a spell so that they could talk and Muggles wouldn't be able to understand the words. Harry couldn't think of a more perfect way to spend an evening.