A.N. Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Keep up the good work! I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm sure you'll like the ending. *evil grin *

Mal

Dear Remus,

It's hard to believe that Harry is five, isn't it? Really, it seems just like yesterday he was only beginning to walk, and now I can barely get him to stop moving! Today we had Sandy and her daughter, Cameron, over for a small birthday party. Harry was elated, because he's never had a real birthday party (except the one we threw for him on his first birthday). Cameron's his little friend who we write to every couple of weeks. They became friends while Harry had chicken pox. Have you ever heard of them? It must be some sort of Muggle disease, because I'd never heard of it before! Well, I got it too, and actually had to be hospitalized because of it.

Have you caught that rat yet? You know who I'm talking about, or has he hidden away? Anyway, I know you can't reply to this, because you have absolutely no idea where I am, but I hope that you're quite well. Oh, and we've enclosed a couple of presents for the Christmases and Birthdays we've missed.

Your friend,

Sirius

Below the letter sat a picture with stick people and a house with a goofy looking sun floating in the sky. Remus shook his head. Another sad attempt to make Sirius believe him. And Chicken Pox didn't even sound like a real disease! Honestly, Sirius could make up anything…
Remus looked at the presents that he had also found on his front stoop. They would probably blow up if he opened them. Remus threw them in the garbage without even opening them, along with the torn up pieces of the letter…

~*~

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!" Sang Sirius, Cameron, and Sandy. Harry had a wide grin on his face, and a paper crown that he'd made on his head. Harry had insisted on making all of the decorations for his party, so there were bits of paper taped to various places on the walls, and a banner that was made with blue paper stuck together and said "HAPEE BERTHDAE HARRY!"

They were sitting in Harry and Sirius' kitchen, the lights were off, and a chocolate cake with five candles was sitting in front of the grinning five-year-old. Sirius had attempted to make a cake with magic, but he somehow set the frosting on fire and the whole thing went up in smoke.

"Happy Birthday dear Harry! Happy Birthday to YYYOOOUUUU!"

"Make a wish Harry," Cameron said, clapping her small hands together.

Harry closed his eyes and then blew out all of his candles, sending them all into complete darkness.

Cameron and Sandy cheered, while Sirius stumbled around, looking for the light switch. Once he had found the switch, Sirius and Sandy dished out cake to the two kids, who immediately began to stuff it in their mouths ("Cameron! Use your fork! No! Turn it right-side up!"). Sirius and Sandy took a small piece each, and watched as Harry and Cameron giggled about something that only five-year olds seemed to understand.

Sirius and Sandy had remained friends, even though Sandy was not at all sexually interested in him at all. Sandy actually sort of reminded him of Lily, in some odd, twisted sort of way. Perhaps it was the way she smiled, or laughed, he didn't know. Somehow he also knew, that if they did become a couple, it wouldn't last too long. Not many people knew, but Sirius and Lily had gone out a couple of times before she fell in love with James. Needless to say, it didn't work out too well. They were too good of friends and knew too much about each other.

"Sirius! Can I open presents now!" Harry asked. He had some frosting on his nose, and the remainder of his cake didn't appear to be eaten, just spread messily around his plate.

"Sure, birthday boy," Sirius grinned, grabbing a napkin to wipe the frosting off of his godson's nose. Harry and Cameron screamed happily and went dashing out into the living room, where a small pile of presents sat on the coffee table.
"Wait!" Sandy called. "Let me get the camera!"

Well, Sandy had just enough time to get the camera, before Harry started to rip the presents open (with the help of Cameron). Minutes later the floor was strewn with torn up wrapping paper. Cameron had some bows and ribbons from the presents, balancing on her head. Harry was playing with a Muggle action figure that Sirius had gotten him, while Cameron provided the sound affects and played with him with her doll.

Sirius attempted to clean up the messy kitchen table, while Sandy took pictures of Harry and Cameron playing.

It was nine o'clock before Sandy decided that it was time to be leaving. Cameron was sprawled out on the floor, her doll in one of her hands, and some ribbons still in her hair. Harry was leaning against the couch, his crown lopsided.

"Cammy-bunny!" Sandy said softly, nudging her daughter. "It's time to go home and go to bed."

"But I'm not… tired," Cameron mumbled, not bothering to open her eyes.

"Harry, you should get to bed soon as well," Sirius said from the kitchen, as he dried a few of the plates.

"I'm not tired either…"

"Thanks for having us, Sirius," Sandy said, picking up her daughter from the floor.

"Thank you for coming," Sirius said. "Hope to see you soon!"

"Happy birthday Harry!" Sandy said. Cameron mumbled something as well, before dropping her head onto her mother's shoulder and dozing off again.

Harry had already fallen asleep and didn't respond.

After the two of them had Disapparated away, Sirius walked out into the living room and picked his godson up, carrying him to his room. A minute later Harry was dressed in his bedclothes and tucked into bed. Sirius planted a light kiss on the top of his head and started to leave before he heard Harry's voice mutter, "Siri? Tomorrow will you tell me…about… my… par…"

Harry had slipped into slumber before he could finish the question, but Sirius still knew what he meant to say.

~*~

Harry bounded into the kitchen the next day, full of his usual energy. He plopped down in his usual chair and looked up at Sirius expectantly.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Sirius asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Are ya gonna tell me?" Harry replied, not answering Sirius' question. "About my parents?"

Sirius winced slightly. He knew Harry was practically desperate to know about his family, and Sirius had told him lots about his family, just not… this…

He sighed and sipped his coffee. "Are you sure you want to know everything now, Harry?"

"Yes!" Harry said, his eyes getting wide. "Tell me!"
Sirius turned and pulled down a half-eaten box of Cheerios from the shelf. He didn't say anything while he prepared Harry's breakfast, and remained silent until he set the cereal in front of Harry. Then he sat down across from Harry and began to explain…

Remus ran his fingers lightly over the picture frame. It was the picture that they had taken right before seventh year, while they were getting on the train to go to Hogwarts. Somehow they managed to squeeze 5 people into one train window, and took their picture. It was the Marauder's and Lily, all waving and grinning as James' father took the picture. Sirius was currently crossing his eyes and making bunny ears on Peter. They were so care free and innocent (Except for maybe Sirius)… why did things have to change? And now, nearly four years after Lily, James, and Harry's deaths, Sirius was no where to be found but still found time to annoy him with absurd letters, and Peter and him were going on a double-date.

Could it get any worse?

Harry just stared at the table, with his eyes open wide and a sort of blank look on his face. Sirius sipped his coffee and watched his godson.

"What're you thinking, Harry?" Sirius asked slowly, placing his cup on the table.

Harry gulped and hesitantly opened his mouth. "I-I killed Voldemort?"

"No, Harry. I don't think he's actually dead. He's just… disappeared," Sirius sighed, running a hand through his black hair.

"So he might come back some day?" Harry asked, his eyes getting even wider.

Sirius paused. "Yes, he might. But don't worry about that now."

"Will he try and kill me?" Harry's lower lip trembled.

"Harry, I don't know," Sirius said. "But you're safe with me. I'll take care of you. Don't worry."

"But everyone thinks you betrayed Mummy and Daddy!" Harry said, his voice getting panicky. "They'll try and find you and take me away! I don't want to go away, Sirius!"

"Harry, you won't go away!" Sirius said, standing up. He hurriedly scooped his godson up into a hug.

"I don't want-"

"Shh… Harry, I know, I know…" Sirius mumbled, giving his godson a tight squeeze. "Voldemort isn't back yet. We don't have to worry about that."

Harry pulled back for a moment and stared at his godfather with watery emerald eyes.

"Will I go to Hogwarts and learn magic, so I can fight him?" Harry asked softly.

"I don't know."

"Can you teach me, Sirius?"

Sirius looked taken aback. Harry was asking him to teach him magic? He was five years old! He was far too young to be learning magic, especially the defense magic that he probably wanted to learn.
"Harry, I-"

"Please! I'll be really careful and I won't blow anything up, like you do in the kitchen," Harry begged.

"And where will you get a wand?" Sirius asked, standing up and crossing his arms.

"We could go to Diagon Alley and get one!" Harry said, looking rather excited about the idea.

"And what would happen if someone recognized us? You could be taken away, like you said."

"We could wear disguises!"

"We need magic to make a good disguise, and you don't have a wand!"

"You do."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Harry, you're not getting a wand yet."

"Can I use yours, then?"

"Harry, no!"
"Please Sirius! I really want to learn!" Harry jutted out his lower lip and open his eyes really wide. "Pwease?"

"Harry I-"

"PWEASE!"

Sirius gave an exasperated sigh. "…All right."

"Yay! Let's go!" Harry started to run out of the kitchen, but Sirius grabbed him.

"Whoa, we're not going today!" Sirius said. "We'll go in two days. August 3rd. Now, go get ready for daycare."

~*~

Remus walked down the crowded street, pushing past wizards and witches, in order to get to the Leaky Cauldron. It was August 3rd, the day of the double date. Remus glanced at his watch, before entering the small pub.

Sirius Black and Harry Potter walked into the Leaky Cauldron from the door that led out to the Muggle World. They had Apparated there just moments before. Harry was dressed in ordinary muggle clothes, while Sirius was dressed like a normal wizard, in robes. He also had a hat on his head, with a wide brim that covered part of his face when he wanted it to. Harry had been transfigured, and now had red hair, and bright blue eyes. Sirius himself had sort of strawberry blonde hair and was wearing dark glasses, to hide his eyes.

"Now, er… Steven. Do you remember what I told you to say to Mr. Ollivander?"

"Yep!" Harry said.

"Good." Sirius took the boy by the hand and walked him through the pub, and out into Diagon Alley. He didn't even notice the two wizards who were sitting across from each other, who he used to go to school with…

"Peter! How're you doing?" Remus asked, leaning across the table.

"Wonderful, my friend," Peter said, grinning. "The girls should be here at any minute. Meanwhile, why don't you fill me in on what's been going on in your life?"

Remus gave a short laugh. "What life?"

Neither of them noticed the tall man and the five-year old boy who disappeared through the back door.

Harry was utterly enthralled with his new surroundings. He hadn't been in the Wizarding world since he was an infant, and of course he didn't have many memories of that period of time. Harry was turning his head right and left, looking at the different store windows.
"Sir-er… Daddy!" Harry said, catching himself. "Look! A broom!"

"Yep," Sirius replied, keeping an eye on the few people who were staring that them. Harry squealed with delight as he saw the owls.

"Can we get one!?"

"Not right now, Steven," Sirius replied. "Let's go to Gringotts and then you can get your wand."

"Yay! My wand!"


Sirius and Harry walked up to the white building, and walked inside. Harry was staring at the goblins, and hid behind Sirius as he went to exchange Muggle money for Wizard money. The goblins stared at him with its piercing eyes. Then it handed over the Wizard money in a small bag, without saying anything. They glared at him as he took Harry by the hand and they walked out.

"All right, Ollivander's is right over there," Sirius pointed. "I'll be two doors down at Flourish and Blotts. You know what you're supposed to say. Come straight to the Flourish and Blotts as soon as you're over. Here's some money. That should be enough."

Sirius clapped Harry on the shoulder and Harry grinned, before running into the wand store. It was quiet, almost like a library.

"Hello?" Harry called. "Is anyone in here?" An instant later a man appeared behind the store desk.

"Hi!" Harry said. "My name's Steven. My mommy says that I'm a big boy, and I can buy my own wand!"

The man behind the counter grinned, his gray eyes squinting slightly. "Well, my boy. Let's find out what wand suits you."

Ollivander disappeared and reappeared at the counter, holding a box. He opened it and inside was a wand.
"13 inches, Oak and phoenix feather, try it out-"

Harry uncertainly gave the wand a wave, but before anything really happened the wand was snatched out of his hand.

"No, no, that won't do-" Ollivander said. Harry was watching the man, his eyes wide. "Here, try this wand-"

Harry gave that a wand and it was snatched away from him.

Fifteen more wands later, the five-year old was getting frustrated.
"Why can't the wands make up their minds!" Harry exclaimed. Ollivander gave a short laugh as he pulled down another box.

"This one's a long-shot, but we might as well try it. Holly and Phoenix feather, eleven inches-"

Harry gave that wand a short wave and golden sparks went shooting out of the wand.

"Oh brilliant! Quite wonderful, yes… but… odd…"

Harry was too excited to listen to Ollivander. "Yay! My wand decided!"

Ollivander was staring at him curiously, before taking the wand out of the boy's hand and wrapping it up for him. He didn't say anything else besides how much it cost, before Harry left the shop.

The date couldn't have been worse. Peter's girlfriend was… well… talented. She managed to shoot milk from her nose three times, completely drenching their food. She could also take a noodle and put it though her mouth and up her nose, and pulling it back and forth. She talked for five minutes about how she was able to do this. Remus' date wasn't much better. She was quiet the whole time, and nearly had an asthma attack when she met Remus. Now she was just staring at her plate, not exactly touching her food.

Remus was trying to send get-me-out-of-here-vibes to Peter, but it didn't seem to be working, because he kept starting up new conversations.

"Er, will you excuse me? I have to go to the bathroom," Remus said, standing up. Peter waved him away, while Remus escaped from that living hell.

Harry went bounding up to Sirius, who was already standing outside of the bookstore, waiting for him.

"What to you so long, kiddo?" Sirius asked.

"My wand wouldn't decide," Harry said simply. "But I got one! It's made of Holly and phonis feather."

"I think you mean phoenix."

"Yeah! That's it!"

"Come on, let's get out of here," Sirius said, grasping Harry by the shoulder. "People have been giving me bad looks since I got here. I think they're a bit suspicious."

"What'd you get?" Harry asked, pointing at the bags that Sirius clutched in his hands.

"Some books," Sirius said simply. "Some are for you. You can look at them when we get home."

"Let's hurry then!"

The two of them walked back to the Leaky Cauldron. The doorway closed behind them as they passed. They walked into the Leaky Cauldron, and were nearly knocked over by the men's room door opening right in front of them.

"Sorry," Sirius said, backing up.

"No, it was my faul-" Remus said, before stopping in mid-sentence. Even though they hadn't met in four years, Remus instantly recognized him.

"Black," Remus hissed, while going for his wand.