Chapter 8
When Sirius woke up on Monday morning, he forgot for a minute where he was. And then it all came back to him. This weekend was the wildest couple of days since the day his best friends were murdered and he got sent to Azkaban for the crime. His mind was a mess of emotions, heartbroken for Remus, James, Lily and a little bit himself, that they never got to see Harry and Teddy grow up. But also, unbelievably happy that everything turned out okay for his godson and Moony's boy. He would just have to get used to Harry being his age. He was finding it really difficult not to think of James, though, every time he looked at him.
Speaking of James, the fifteen-year-old brought even more memories of his dead best friend back. He was a little menace and Sirius loved that. He couldn't wait for July, when the summer holidays and the real bonding with the Potter kids could begin. By the time Sirius made his way downstairs, Harry had already left for work, so Sirius spent some time chatting to Ginny, who worked from home whenever there wasn't a Quidditch match going on. Mid-morning brought two owls delivering post. One from Harry, letting him know that the ministry department of records had been informed of Sirius' return, and the newspapers would be very quickly distributing this information, as well as a reminder that Sirius was an innocent man. He'd have to get back into the swing of being a free man. It had been nearly forty years since he'd been able to roam about without causing public panic (okay, 15 years for Sirius but he liked to be dramatic).
The second letter was from Molly Weasley, addressed to Ginny, Harry and Sirius himself. Apparently the Weasley family was invited back to the Burrow for afternoon tea and cake to welcome Sirius back to life. According to Molly, it was all George's idea. This was brilliant. Sirius loved the Weasleys and loved attention – what could be better than a party just for him?
The day passed slowly, but at 5 o'clock Sirius and Ginny flooed to her childhood home, where he was immediately ambushed by Molly's crushing hug. He had seen her for a bit on Saturday, but she was still incredibly suspicious of the man suddenly appearing in her home and scaring her family, so this reunion was extra sweet. She'd clearly missed him, as shown by the ridiculous amount of food that was shoved towards him upon his arrival. An hour into being at the Burrow, George hadn't shown up yet but nobody really noticed. Percy and Hermione were both also missing because of work commitments, but they'd be coming later.
All in all, it was a very grown-up affair with its fair share of laughter and drinks. Sirius was just thinking back to the wildness of Grimmauld Place when the Weasleys took over when a bright orange firework streaked across the garden and exploded into a giant orange 'W'.
'Looks like George is here,' laughed Ron. 'The prick needs to have an entrance.'
'Ronald,' hissed Molly at her son's profanity.
It seemed like George had kept up the love of fireworks that Sirius had seen in the teen long ago. But what he didn't expect was two brooms carrying two seemingly identical gingers on them criss-crossing through the colourful smoke trails. Sirius looked at Harry. Wasn't Fred dead too? He was afraid to ask, but then noticed Ron's expression. His eyes were wide, and he looked a lot younger than thirty-eight. Slowly, all the Weasleys present stiffened as they noticed what was going on. Arthur was clutching onto his wife's shoulder as Molly covered her mouth, and Ginny slipped her hand into Harry's as the show finished and two freckly men, one frozen in time, stepped off their brooms, windswept.
'Did you see his flying?' Fred asked. 'I've been dead and buried for twenty years and he's still the slower one.'
'Shut up, Fred.'
Ginny was the first to unfreeze. She hurled herself at her baby-faced big brother, a teary mess. Fred soon became invisible in a big ball of orange hair (and Arthur's shiny head). George looked like he was in a state of euphoria.
Bill unpeeled himself from the Weasley jungle, and pulled up to George. 'Is it really him?'
George nodded. 'Vic found him last night roaming Hogwarts. I still can't believe it, but it's him.'
A wet chuckle came out of the elder brother. 'I need to send her letters more often'
Well over an hour later, Molly and Arthur still hadn't left their son's side, telling him all about their grandchildren and reminiscing on stories of everyone together. The energy of the Burrow was through the roof, only quieting when a newcomer stepped out of the Burrow, carrying several books with one hand and trailing a small bespectacled girl behind him.
'Can someone help me find my specs? They fell off as I was coming out of the floo and Molly says she can't see them!'
One devious look at one another from the twins and everyone knew exactly how Fred would reveal himself to Percy.
'I'll help!' shouted George, as Fred sauntered over to his older brother.
'Cheers, mate,' Percy muttered as he dumped his enormous pile of books onto an armchair and got on all fours, squinting.
'Daddy,' said Molly, 'Uncle George looks funny.'
'He always looks funny Moll, he runs a joke shop. Aha!' Percy dusted off his blue horn-rimmed glasses from the soot that coated them, and with a triumphant grin, turned to face his brother.
'What happened to you? De-aging potion at the shop go wrong?'
'Actually, a wall exploded and I died, apparently.'
Percy's grin promptly faded. 'Not funny, George. Why would you-'
He faltered when Fred pointed at his ear. His completely whole and healthy ear which was fully attached to his head, unlike his twin's. George took that moment to walk through to the living room and squeeze Fred's cheeks, to much protest.
'Isn't he adorable, Perce?'
Percy was almost translucent at that point. George reminded him to breathe. 'Is it really… just like Sirius… you can't just… Freddie?'
The much younger Weasley gave his brother a cheeky grin which Percy recognised straight away. For the sixtieth time that day, Fred was crushed under some more red hair. 'Perce, you git, I can't breathe,' Fred wheezed.
Percy's horn-rimmed eyes met the twins' eyes, looking rapidly between them. 'Fred and George,' he chocked out, 'Haven't said that in a while.'
It was then they all remembered 8 year-old Molly still standing behind her dad. 'Daddy, you're being silly now! Freddie's at Hogwarts. This is funny-looking Uncle George.'
They all had a good laugh as Fred introduced himself to the youngest of the Weasley brood. Molly was somehow unfazed by the idea that she now had a new uncle and immediately began telling Fred all about her pygmy puff, Geraldine. Making their way outside, the Weasley men noticed a mood shift as an otter patronus dissipated away from Harry.
'That was Hermione,' he said, expression unreadable. 'A few aurors found Mad-Eye Moody walking about in London. This is bigger than we thought.'
