Chapter 3:

"What-What do you mean I'm free, how..?" Sirius trailed off, he was very clearly confused, and rightly so, Remus and Harry still didn't get the chance to tell Sirius what happened at Number 4 Privet Dr.

Remus looked at Sirius, "We caught him Sirius, alive, he was waiting at the Dursleys trying to capture Harry we assume, and we caught him."

Sirius just looked stunned, after a few minutes of absolute silence, a big grin erupted on his face, he threw his arms around Remus and Harry. "FINALLY! I can't believe it!"

He stepped back to look at both of them, "We can finally be a family, a real one."

Harry almost didn't want to believe it, this was to good to be true, and nothing good ever stuck when it came to Harry's life, so he didn't want to allow himself to become hopeful. Harry looked around, everyone was ecstatic, thrilled that Sirius was finally free.

A woman named Tonks whom he met briefly at the Durlseys slammed a bottle on the table. "This calls for a celebration!"

With a flick of her wand glasses popped in front of everyone. Sirius poured an amber colored liquor in his glass first before filling Harry's.

"I don't think-"

"Molly," Interrupted Remus, "I think for tonight, we can let the kids celebrate with us, a drink wont hurt."

Molly paused and nodded reluctantly.

"What is this" Harry asked.

"Firewhiskey, try it" Sirius responded, already pouring himself another glass. Harry took a sip of the liquid, it tasted of cinnamon and a campfire, woodsy and warm, he definitely liked this. The next few hours were spent drinking and telling stories of everyone's time at Hogwarts. Dumbledore had left after his first drink stating he had staffing issues to attend to. Eventually all that was left around the table was Sirius, Remus, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George.

"Do you remember that one time in 5th year when James and you had the bright idea to make the Slytherins har flash gold and yellow for a week? No one could figure out how to reverse it." Sirius howled with laughter.

"Professor Lupin, playing a prank, No, I would never believe it." Guffawed Fred.

"Hey! Moony here was quite the prankster back in the day, also one of the brightest of our age, well him and Lily anyways."

Sirius's face softened, Remus had a sad smile on his face, as he remembered his best friends.

"Well you and Prongs could have gave everyone a run for their money with your natural abilities, but you were to busy pranking the Slytherins rather than study."

Remus turned to Harry, "they we're the best duelers in the school."

"Enough about us! We want to hear stories about you guys! About your first few years!" Sirius boasted, pretty tipsy at this point.

"Didn't you hear about our first few years from Dumbledore and other professors?" Harry was confused, and really didn't want to talk about it.

"Well yes of course! But we want to hear about it from you!" Yup, Sirius was definitely a little drunk, his words were slurred and he was leaning a little to much in his chair.

"Maybe tomorrow Padfoot, I think it's time we got you to bed." Remus stopped drinking before anyone else, he was the only sober one at the table, Ron was almost passed out, Hermione looked not to far behind, Fred and George seemed a little tipsy but otherwise not too bad, and Harry was definitely feeling the effects of the fire whiskey.

This wasn't his first time drinking, there had been many parties in the Gryffindor common room, but then again he didn't drink firewhiskey at those parties. Harry agreed with Remus's reasoning that it was time for bed, but not just for Sirius, for everyone.

"Yeah I think we're going to turn in anyways Sirius, we'll tell you all about our first few years at another time, maybe tomorrow."

Remus was already helping Sirius to his feet. "Ugh, fine."

Sirius shuffled around the table with the help of Remus but he stopped when he got to Harry, he pulled him in roughly for a hug. "I love you kiddo, and we are going to be a family, i promise." Harry couldn't say anything as emotion welled in the back of his throat, and just shook his head, Sirius held on for another second before letting go and giving him a watery smile.

"Good night kids!" Remus called as he helped Sirius up the stairs to his room.

"Night." They all called back.

Fred and George each grabbed under Ron's arm and picked him up, following up the stairs to the rom that him and Harry shared, Ginny and Hermione following behind slowly, and Harry carrying up the rear. The twins dumped Ron on his bed while saying goodnight and trudging to their room, Hermione also said goodnight and turned to hers and Ginny's room across the hall. All that was left was Harry and Ginny in the hallway.

"So, Sirius is free. You don't seem as happy as I thought you would."

Harry was going to argue, but he knew there was no point, somehow Ginny just knew, he just looked at her and sighed. "I want to be happy, but I don't seem to remember a time when things have ever just worked out for me. I should be happy like every fucking other person, I just can't bring myself to it. It's so much to deal with in such little time. The prophecy and now training, and now to top it off Sirius is free, I just-." Harry felt like the ground beneath him was going to fall away, dropping him into a black hole of abyss and nothingness. Ginny wrapped herself around him, grounding him to here and now.

"I can't say I understand, because I haven't been through even a quarter of what you have been through. But I am here for you Harry, we all are, the good, the bad, everything." She removed her arms from around his waist and brought her hands to either side of his face. "We all love you a tremendous amount Harry. I cant promise everything will work out, but I can promise we will be here with you, to help with however this goes." Ginny dropped her hands and took a small step away, "goodnight Harry." Ginny turned and walked into her room leaving Harry to process everything. Maybe, just maybe, he could let himself feel a little joy, a little hope. Harry was finally being told about what was going on with this war, he was going to get training, and wormtail was finally caught. Harry kicked off his shoes, pants and shirt, just willing himself to feel some semblance of happiness and hope, though there was still the same small thought that was nagging at the back of his head, was it just coincidence that the Dursleys left right when Wormtail was coming to ambush him. Harry fell asleep with a mix of images of Voldemort, his parents, and a life that could be with Sirius.