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Sirius closed the door silently behind him and hurried downstairs to check on the coffee, which he had completely forgotten about. After making sure it didn't boil over, he started to make breakfast, keeping in mind that Harry would eat less than he usually did. When everything was ready, he put a charm on the plates to keep the food warm and went upstairs to awaken Harry.

While he had been gone, Harry had curled up on his side, burying his head in his toy. With a small laugh, Sirius walked to his godson and grasped his small shoulder gently. "Harry… wake up kiddo."

The child curled up more and mumbled: "Coming Aunt Petunia."

Sirius frowned and bent over his godson, shaking him gently. "Come on, sweetheart, wake up."

At the sound of the unfamiliar endearment Harry opened one eye. It wasn't possible that his aunt was calling him sweetheart; she only called Dudley that. He was not disappointed when the dark figure of his godfather appeared over him. Sirius smiled when he saw the kid's eyes brighten. He was happy to know he could make Harry feel better by just being there. He bent down further and gently kissed the child's cheek. Sirius was a little startled when Harry wrapped his small arms around his neck, but didn't complain and returned the hug. After Harry released him, he pushed the covers down and lifted the child in his arms. "Need to go to the bathroom?"

Sirius laughed when Harry nodded vigorously and carried the child out of the room. Harry looked down the hall, to the closed door of Remus's room. "Is Uncle Remus ok?"

"Don't worry, Remus is fine. He's just tired. I'm sure he will join us this evening."

The man put Harry down and gave him a gentle nudge towards the bathroom. "I'll be downstairs. Call me if you need help. When you're finished, come to the kitchen. Breakfast is ready."

Harry pouted a little at that. He really wasn't hungry so early in the morning, since the Dursleys had often neglected to give him breakfast and he had somehow grown used to it. If Sirius saw the pout on Harry's face, he ignored it and left him alone.

Breakfast was a silent affair, Harry mostly pushed his food around the plate until Sirius took the fork out of his hand. Sirius patiently began to feed him, explaining to Harry that they wouldn't do anything before he had finished his breakfast. Harry obliged. This time he barely felt embarrassed about being fed like a little kid, reminding his fourteen-year- old self that he was now a little kid and there was nothing to be ashamed of as long a Sirius didn't feel uncomfortable. Once breakfast was finished, Sirius cleaned the kitchen and then went with his godson to the boy's room to dress him.

Harry watched pensively while Sirius made the bed. Sirius began to feel a little uncomfortable under his godson's gaze. Finally, after the bed was made up, he picked Harry up from the chair he had been sitting in and placed him on his lap, starting to change him in some blue shorts and a small T-shirt with a golden snitch painted on the front. When he was finished, he put on the child's boots, knowing that after the rain yesterday everything would be filled with water and mud. Then he held out Harry's jacket. "We're going for a walk outside, and you can tell me what's on your mind."

Harry titled his head, looking at his godfather with that same pensive expression, but didn't say anything. Sirius took his hand and they silently walked downstairs, where Sirius took his own jacket and put it on before opening the door and leading his godson outside.

For a while, Harry walked close to Sirius, clutching the hand of the older man, afraid he would be forced to go to Hogsmeade again. He was relieved when Sirius didn't take the road to the small town and instead started to walk in the opposite direction, into the woods. Harry walked carefully around the mud, trying not to get his clothes dirty. Sirius watched this, torn between amusement and annoyance. It seemed that in everything that Harry did, he had the fear that he would do something wrong and be punished for the transgression. Sirius knew who had planted these fears in Harry's head; the Dursleys.

Finally, after having rescued his godson from falling into a large patch of water while he tried to avoid walking through the mud, Sirius lifted him up in his arms and looked him in the eye, making the small child cringe as though he expected punishment for some imaginary crime. "Harry, do you know what boots are for?"

Harry looked down and nodded. Sirius gently lifted his head back up. "Then use them, it really is useless to wear boots if you're going to try and avoid the mud. We came out here so you could play." Remembering last time he had said that he quickly added. "It would also be greatly appreciated if this time you refrained from including me in the splashing game."

Harry blushed, but a small grin had appeared on his lips, and a mischievous glint twinkled in his eyes. After Sirius put him back on his feet, they walked for a while longer. This time Harry didn't look out for the mud and soon he was running around, letting the water splash his trousers, avoiding coming too close to Sirius, who did indeed appreciate not being splashed. Sirius watched him happily, once in a while reminding him to stay in sight and not get too far ahead.

Nearly an hour later, Harry came back to walk at his side. The child's cheeks were flushed and he was panting slightly. Sirius took his godson's dirty hand in his and they began to walk back to the house. The man looked down at his godson and gently spoke to the child. "Harry?"

The boy looked up. "Yes?"

"Can you tell me what was bothering you earlier?"

Harry's flushed face became even redder and he looked down. "Umm…I...well…I was wondering what I should call you."

Sirius stopped and looked down at his godson. "Why not Sirius? You've always called me that."

But the child shook his head. "That's not right."

"Ok, how about Uncle Sirius?"

"You're not my uncle."

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Remus isn't your uncle either."

Harry shifted a little. "I know, I meant you don't act like my uncle, you act like my..."

Suddenly understanding the problem, Sirius scooped Harry into his arms. "I act like your father?"

The kid nodded, still a little uneasy. "You don't want me to act like that?" Sirius could barely contain the hurt out of his voice but Harry shook his head fiercely. "No! I want you to act like my father, I mean, you nearly are."

Sirius sighed with relief. He wondered what exactly was bothering his godson. His eyes narrowed at a sudden thought. Looking down at his Harry, who was not reclined against his chest, he softly asked. "Harry, do you want to call me dad?"

Harry whimpered a little and buried his head in the older man's shoulder to hide his embarrassment, but Sirius saw him nod his head.

To be continued...

A/N: Thanks for all reviews. Thanks to my beta reader, LAHoney.