Chapter Three Crossing the Lake It was a warm night in the house just outside of Portree. Summer was always pleasant on Skye, but for what reason no one had ever been able to work out. Chrystal had just finished adding the final touches to the dinner she had prepared when Sirius appeared into her kitchen. 'Right on time Mr Black,' she remarked 'Well. I'm a sucker for punishment,' Sirius grinned. 'I need one last feed before I die. By the way, I'm picking up Harry tomorrow; I have to have dinner with his Muggle family.' Chrystal laughed. 'That will be entertaining, from what Lily has told me I'm sure that'll be a pack of laughs. I wonder if they're really as bad as Lily made out.' 'I think they're worse from what Harry has told me. One year they gave him a coat hanger for Christmas, poor boy. Anyhow, I intend to enjoy it. I love poking fun at Muggles and anyhow, I want to know what sort of people have been taking care of my godson. And they think I'm a murderer so I think I'll have a bit of fun with that.' 'Will you ever grow up Sirius?' was the immediate reply to that statement. Sirius turned and stared at her face 'You'll have to convince me,' was the very serious answer. He gazed deeply into her eyes. He wondered what it would take to pin her down. He had never been the settling down type, but that was after Lily and before Azkaban. Sirius felt as if he'd gone through some type of transformation. He could not believe how beautiful she was. Somehow she had transformed over these years from a shy little creature into a goddess, like grains of sand coming together to form a beautiful crystal. Sirius could not resist her any longer. He grabbed her, pulling her close to him and kissed her. 'I've wanted to do this for so long. It's been absolute torture. Why can't we pick up where we left off, what's so wrong with that?' 'Sirius, I don't want to get into an argument about it. I'm just not certain how much you feel for me. I mean, you've been a dog for the beast part of sixteen years; anything would look attractive to you. Besides I don't want to spoil dinner given that you'll practically be untouchable for the next couple of weeks.' 'Chrys, that's hardly fair. After being in Azkaban, anything that isn't a Dementor is attractive! And besides, I won't spoil dinner. I promise not to transform once!' 'I've heard that one before,' she replied. Despite the laughter that followed there was a notable tension in the air. Chrystal just wasn't sure if Sirius loved her enough. She'd never been sure. Despite the time that was lost, she felt she could wait a little while before she became too wrapped up in him again. As he was getting ready to leave Chrystal asked; 'What are you going to tell Harry about us? I assume you're not going to ignore me just because you've got your godson staying, but I also acknowledge that you won't want me just popping in anytime I choose. In fact, I take it I won't be able to use Floo to get there and I'll probably have a lot of difficulty if I try to apparate.' 'Yes, well for security reasons, I have taken my fireplaces off the Floo network, and you will have trouble apparating. It's just a formality really, Dumbledore's taking care of it as we speak, I mean, given that Harry's staying. Despite Harry demonstrating that he's able to look after himself, I don't want to take any unnecessary risks. He was protected at his aunt and uncle's and I want him to be just as safe with me. At the same time I don't want him to feel like he's in prison. And about us, I haven't considered what to tell him yet. I don't exactly know where things are going and neither do you. I don't suppose he knows exactly everything that went on. He has been told bits and pieces and put them together. Mind you I did get a rather inquisitive look when you kissed me the day of the hearing.' 'Well Sirius, you have to consider that he's not a boy anymore, he's a man. And you don't know how difficult it is to be a father to a man,' she snapped. 'You don't either. In fact I couldn't imagine you ever knowing what it's like to be a father.' It was just like in the old days. She would snap at him and he'd make a joke of it. She turned to him and said; 'Shut up and kiss me before you leave Sirius, then you can owl me when you're ready for us to meet. Remember, we are going to be teaching together and the students may talk, whether or not the talk is rumour or fact, they'll have a bit of fun when they discover we went to school together. Your godson will be one of those students, Sirius.' 'Don't remind me,' was the quick reply. He kissed her goodbye and then disappeared into thin air after hearing her say, 'Keep your eyes open for Peggs.' She sighed as he left. Why couldn't things just go back to the way they had been before, when James and Lily were still around and Sirius had never spent twelve years in Azkaban. 'Lily' she thought 'I wonder if that's why?' Life was complicated enough without Voldemort on the loose. *~* Harry's last night at the Dursley's was a reasonably quiet affair. Having mustered up the courage to ask if his aunt had any photos of his mother, Harry was surprised not only that his aunt agreed to pull them out but also that she appeared very nostalgic. Petunia sat all three men down and told them stories about when she and Lily were young, before Lily had gone to Hogwarts. Harry was surprised by the brightness of her eyes. Just like his. Lily's eyes were like no one else's in the family. They were what made Lily unique. There was something about Lily Potter's eyes that he just couldn't put his finger on. Tears began to well in his eyes, as he listened to his aunt talk about his mother. They had spent so many wonderful hours together as little children, then Petunia had begun to grow up, a gap began to form between the two girls. Then Lily found out she was a witch. Harry sensed from the way his aunt had always referred to Lily that she had been jealous, but Harry began to think it might run much deeper than that. Something bad had happened to destroy the bond they had. Something much more than Lily being a witch. Listening to the stories Harry became sad. He missed her; he missed both his parents. It seemed like a strange feeling given that he couldn't really remember them. All he had was bits and pieces of information that people had told him, memory flashes of the night they died and a few photos. Petunia saw that Harry appeared to be quite upset. She came around and held him close. She finally spoke in a whisper, 'You can take some of these with you if you like. Consider them a birthday present. I miss her too.' The tears welled in his eyes. 'Thanks,' was the barely audible reply. *~* Sirius arrived on time for dinner the following night. Harry had wondered at the prospect of how Sirius had acquired a driver's licence before he turned up, but Sirius arrived by walking up to the front door and knocking. After Harry had answered the door and saw there was no car he gave Sirius a confused look. 'I, um couldn't arrange a car licence and my sister would not let me borrow her without one, doesn't trust me you see, so I apparated to the village, walked here and we'll catch The Knight Bus back so we can take everything you want to bring with you,' explained Sirius. Harry invited Sirius in. Sirius on seeing Petunia strolled right up to her, 'Sirius Black, Harry's Godfather. You must be Petunia. Glad to finally meet you at last.' Petunia gave a quick reply and showed him into the dining room. Harry watched as she eyed him over. She looked slightly disappointed, as if Sirius did not quite look the way she expected. Not quite roguish enough. Harry wasn't surprised at her reaction; he knew that his respectable aunt and uncle were dying to know what a convicted murderer looked like. They had been whispering things like 'Do you think he'll have a tattoo?' or 'Do you think we should allow Dudley to meet him?' all day. Harry hoped that dinner wouldn't be too painful. He couldn't imagine what his aunt and uncle could possibly talk to Sirius about. Harry hoped it wasn't Uncle Vernon's drills. It turned out to be far worse. Sirius opened the conversation, after praising Petunia on her wonderful meal. 'Tell me, I've missed so much of Harry's life, can you fill me on his first thirteen years.' By this stage both Petunia and Vernon had had a bit to drink, so they were more than willing to tell Sirius about some of his exploits. 'Remember Vernon, how I used to try and cut Harry's hair and it would just grow back overnight, so the next day it looked as though it hadn't been cut?' 'Or what about the time, do you remember Petunia, when Dudley and his friends were chasing Harry and he just ended up on the roof?' 'What about the time when he freed that snake at the zoo?' 'Or the time when he exploded Aunt Marge?' The night continued on like this, Petunia and Vernon describing episodes of Harry's accidental magic. Harry was surprised that they were laughing. Sirius seemed extremely amused. Harry was secretly glad his aunt and uncle were a little drunk otherwise they'd probably be telling them how bad he was and how they'd really wanted to send him to a school for the incurably criminal boys and in fact had told everyone that that is where they had sent him. Finally Sirius announced that it was time to leave. Sirius thanked the Dursleys for the wonderful dinner and for taking care of Harry all these years. Harry said his goodbyes, firstly a formal one to Uncle Vernon, thanking him for his hospitality, then he received a boyish slap on the back from Dudley, asking him to keep in touch and to remember to send him that love potion. Petunia came and gave him a big hug. She whispered into his ear; 'Harry, I know that you will find this hard to believe but I am sorry to see you go. I know we haven't always treated you right; your cousin was kind enough to point that out to us. Perhaps one day I'll be able to explain more, there's a lot more to your mother than I think you fully understand. Sirius may be able to fill in some of the gaps. I am very proud to call you my nephew, Harry, despite you being a wizard. Whether of not Vernon will ever accept it, I don't know, but I would be devastated if you did not keep in touch. Take care of yourself, if not for you, please do it for Lily' His aunt's nostalgia was extremely bizarre and Harry seriously wondered if someone had put the entire family under the Imperius. He waved goodbye and walked out the door, noticing that it was dark outside. They walked out of the house with all of Harry's things, when Sirius cast a quick spell on his trunks. 'It makes them lighter,' Sirius explained. Sirius led Harry to what looked like a deserted park and then he stuck out his wand arm. A familiar bang sounded and The Knight Bus appeared. Harry gazed at the gold lettering as the familiar face of Stan Shunpike appeared from behind the door. 'Ah, It's young 'Arry Potter and Sirius Black. Or are ya Neville Longbottom tonight son?' Stan winked at Harry as he began to laugh. 'Hope you enjoy this trip more than ya did the firs' lad.' Stan then looked at Sirius. 'Long time since I've seen you in person Sirius,' he said. 'Seen your ugly mug on the news a fair bit. Thought you'd look a bit more 'aunted than ya looking. Good to see you again' Stan laughed. 'Really, that's very interesting' Sirius replied. 'Last time my godson rode this bus I believe you said something along the lines of me being mad, a big supporter of You-know-who and you were glad I was in Azkaban.' Sirius looked extremely angry for just long enough for Stan to get uncomfortable enough to mutter an apology, when Sirius laughed and suggested if he had been in Stan's shoes he'd have probably have said the same thing. 'How much do we owe you?' Sirius asked. Where are you off to tonight?' Stan asked. 'Padfoot's Manor, it's on the other side of the river from Godric's Hollow, you'd be best to let us off next to the lake.' 'That'll be 'bout fifteen sickles each' Stan replied. 'Hey Ern, look 'hoo's 'ere!' Ernie looked around and gave Harry a wink. 'Nice ta see ya Neville,' he said. Sirius pulled out some sickles, paid Stan and then headed towards their beds. Sirius saw his godson's eyes fill with inquiry at the mention of Godric's Hollow. Sirius had never mentioned to Harry how close he had been from his parents when they had been killed. He looked at his godson seriously before he spoke, 'Harry, I know that there's a lot that we need to talk about, but I think it's important that you get your rest tonight, so that I have your full attention. I promise you I will explain everything, I don't want there to be any secrets between us. Okay?' Harry nodded. Sirius went to tuck Harry in, a gesture that seemed both strange and necessary; it demonstrated a bond between the two did not need to be spoken. People on the bus looked in amazement as they saw a middle-aged wizard tucking in a nearly fully grown one, but no one stared long enough to ask any questions. Not having to worry about people having just blown up his aunt, Harry enjoyed this trip on The Knight Bus a lot more. He enjoyed seeing different parts of the United Kingdom, which he hadn't spied before, before long however he was struggling to keep his eyes open. Sirius was right about Harry being tired, once he shut his eyes, he fell asleep fairly quickly. About an hour later, Sirius gently shook him to wake him to tell him they had arrived. 'Harry, we're here. Come and have a look at your new home.' Harry opened his eyes, peered out the window to see where the bus had pulled over. They were next to a lake, and over the other side Harry could see parts of a building. In the darkness he couldn't make it out. Sirius leant over and said 'It's much easier to see from closer up. It's just safer to get out here. Come on, I'll levitate your trunks over, grab Hedwig's cage and I'll show you how to cross the lake.' 'It's a bit tricky,' said Sirius when Harry emerged from the bus. 'You have to step on the right Lilly pad and then you can cross safely. See this one here, that's got a slightly different colour?' Harry nodded 'You touch that with you wand and it will let you cross. Just a little magic burglar alarm that Remus created for me. Keeps the Muggles away and some uninvited witches as well.' Harry observed Sirius. When his foot touched the Lilly pad a small footbridge emerged from the water. Harry was glad, as he didn't really feel like swimming, and the lake itself was not by any means a small lake. Suddenly Sirius told Harry to wait. He glanced up ahead, as if looking for something. Harry looked around, but he couldn't see anything. Perhaps Sirius was just being overly cautious. Satisfied that nothing dangerous was ahead, Sirius continued crossing. When they finally reached the other side, Harry got a good glimpse of Sirius's house. It was a kind of cottage, but perhaps maybe slightly too big to be called a cottage. His attention was drawn to a sign next to the door, visible from the oil lantern that was burning outside the cottage. The sign indeed said Padfoot's Manor. Harry chuckled at the sign. Whatever you may call this house it certainly wasn't a manor. Malfoy would have a field day if he saw that. Harry could just picture it. 'Your godfather's house is called Padfoot's Manor, Potter. It's not even a manor, its' a tiny cottage. Has he been taking lessons out of the Weasley Book of home design!' That's what Malfoy would say. 'I'll take you straight to your room, so you can get some sleep. We'll talk in the morning.' Sirius showed Harry upstairs to his room, which was bigger than Dudley's room at Privet Drive. It was a very rich room, full of deep colours. The curtains and matching rug were a deep scarlet colour, the four-post bed with a matching quilt. In a sense it reminded him of the Gryffindor common room. There was a fireplace, which had a couple of logs burning to warm up the room, with a comfortable chair sitting next to the fireplace. A table was sitting next to chair in case someone had wanted to sit in front of the fire and drink or read. A desk had been placed underneath the window, and Sirius must have dug out a few of his old school books and placed them on the nearby bookshelf. The books looked almost new, Sirius had probably never opened them. It appeared to Harry as though Sirius had gone to a lot of trouble to make the room nice, yet homely and suitable for Harry's needs, yet just grand enough for to spoil Harry a little which was a lot more than he had ever been spoilt at Privet Drive. Sirius left Harry to get ready for bed. Harry looked around the room, when an object caught Harry's eye. It was a silver photo frame with a picture of Harry and his parents on his first birthday. Sirius had thought of everything. Harry located his pyjamas from his trunk and headed straight for bed. Sirius was right; it had been a long day. Sirius headed downstairs and gazed out the window. He shook his head in astonishment. The chestnut horse was still there, as if it had been watching their every move. Then just as suddenly as it appeared, it had vanished.