AN: Another chapter down! I would have gotten it up yesterday but I had to go to chruch. I'll be posting as often as I can. Sorry, no Snape yet. tears up But soon, I swear it!

Chapter III

Harry forced himself to smile as he slowly walked up the steps onto the front hall of Hogwarts. Ron, Neville, and Ginny beside him talking excitedly about this next year. Hermione having ran off as soon as the carriages had stopped. Neville was once again carrying a plant under his arm and Ginny was cooing over the brilliant red blossoms. They headed for the Great Hall and the boy-who-lived slowly strode behind them.

"Harry! Harry, wait!"

Harry turned to watch Hermione running towards him. He silently waited for her to reach him, watching the movement of her body with slight disgust. She held onto his arm as she gasped for breath. He waited patiently for her to speak, resisting the urge to throw her arm off of him.

"Sorry, Harry," Hermione smiled gently.

"It's okay, 'Mione. What was it that you wanted to say to me?" Harry cocked his head curiously.

"Headmaster Dumbledore wants to speak with you in his office before the Sorting. Go on now, shoo," she made vague motions with her hands. "I'll make sure that we save you a place. See you at the Welcoming Feast."

Harry just shook his head and turned to walk down the opposite corridor than the one that the brunette witch took. As he walked he gazed at the paintings and statues, marveling on how familiar this particular route had become over the past few years. He heaved a sigh when he reached the two gargoyles sat guarding the hidden stairway. He thought for a moment.

"Lemon drops," the dark-haired teen was rewarded with the sound of the spiral staircase opening up. He quickly got onto the top step and rode it up to the door of the Headmaster's massive office. He opened the door without knocking, knowing that Dumbledore alreay knew he was there, and strode straight to the desk. Fawkes trilled a greeting before sweeping down majestically to land on his shoulder.

"Ah, Harry my boy," Dumbledore smiled, bright eyes twinkling as always. "I see you've already greeted Fawkes. Well, there's someone else here I'm sure you would be happy to greet."

"Huh?" Harry looked up at the old wizard confused. Suddenly he was knocked to the ground by a big black furry creature trying desperately to lick his face. Harry burst into laughter and threw his arms around the large dog with the first genuine smile since the last school year.

"Sirius! It's you!" Harry stood back and watched at the large dog suddenly changed into a tall man with long black hair and large dark eyes filled with humor, his face not nearly as gaunt looking at it had once been. He stepped forward to hug Harry tightly.

"Of course it's me," Sirius said happily. "It's so good to see you again, Harry."

"I reassure you that I return the notion," Harry replied quickly. Dumbledore smiled at the two and presently left his office with a muttered comment about readying for the feast.

"I missed you after you left back to you aunt and uncle's house. Remus wanted to come with me to see you too, but he had some work for the Order to do this week. I'll probably bring him by as soon as he's finished."

Harry nodded as Sirius sat in one of the chairs in front of Dumbledore's large redwood desk. The dark-haired wizardling sat too.

"That'll be nice. I look forward to it. I so wished that I had gotten to stay with you two during the summer instead of going back to the Dursleys'. Oh, Padfoot, have you been cleared of charges yet? I know that they caught Peter, but I didn't get a chance to hear about his trial."

"Yes, well, he finally told the truth and named a few names. He was trying to get protection from Voldemort. All charges against me were finally dropped and now I'm a free man. There are those that think I really am a death eater, but I never pay them any mind." Harry nodded, then noticed a gleam out the corner of his eye, it was on Sirius's left hand.

Harry got up and, as sudden as if he were snatching the golden snitch, he caught Sirius's wrist. The older wizard was momentarily startled, Harry studied the golden ring with interest. He looked up at Sirius with a arched eyebrow in surprise. Padfoot blushed and ducked his head, but a small smile still played over his lips. Harry grinned back.

"Who finally proposed? You or him?"

Sirius laughed heartily, "Me. Though we decided that the ceremony wasn't going to be until this summer. When your sixth year is over and you come to stay with us."

The boy-who-lived blinked large green eyes owlishly before smiling even broader.

"That sounds good." Sirius smiled again, stood, and held out a hand to Harry.

"What?"

"Come over here. I have a present for you." Sirius led Harry over to a large travel bag, digging in it to find Harry's gift.

"But Sirius, I don't need a present everytime you see me. You didn't have to get me anything." Harry leaned against the wall with a frown. The brunette wizard sighed, continuing to search anyway.

"I didn't buy this and you should have it. Moony agrees with me. He found it when he was digging through your father's things for some papers. It's in excellant condition. James placed it in an enchanted box designed to keep it safe from almost any kind of damage," Sirius clicked his tongue as he pulled out a small hand-sized silver wrapped box. He hurriedly enlarge it.

Harry looked at the box then up at Sirius, "Here it is. Go on, Harry, open it."

The sixteen year old wizard hesitantly took ahold of the offering and smiled. He tore off the silver wrapping paper and looked down at an old leather bound book with crisp pages. A coat of arms was imprinted in the cover, a stag in a meadow. Harry gently traced the symbol of his lineage, ignoring the urge to giggle as a light tingling sensation swept through his body. The boy's green eyes glanced up to meet the darker eyes of his godfather.

"What is it?"

Sirius cleared his throat, "That was James's journal. He was always writing in the blasted thing, night and day."

Harry felt his throat close and he tightened his grip on the old tome on his lap. Sirius smiled as he retreated into his thoughts, the teen not even noticing as he stroked the leather lovingy.

"You know he once told me that it was a family heirloom in which the Potters' had passed down knowledge and wisdom for generations. . . He got it from his father in his sixth year too."

Harry smiled, hardly noticing the tears streaming down his face when he gently set the book down and ran to throw his arms around Sirius's neck. Sirius returned the embrace, "Thank you, so very much. I-I. . . "

Sirius chuckled, "I know, yes, yes. . . Now isn't there a certain feast that needs attending? Come on. I'll be here the whole of the week. We can continue talking later."

The boy-who-lived nodded, wiping away his tears of joy as he picked up the old tome, "Of course, Padfoot. Let's go before we are late."

Together the two exited the Headmaster's office and made their way to the Great Hall. Entering just as the first years were led in by Professor McGonagall. Harry smirk at Sirius as they parted company, and the Sorting began.

TBC. . .