Chapter 18 A visit from Sirius

The end of the year was approaching very fast. Harry didn't know what was going to happen to him. Since Lucy was alive it meant that the Dursley's were no longer his only living relatives. He was afraid to mention it to Lucy though. He didn't know how she would react if he asked if he could live with her. He didn't even know if she had a place to live. Dumbledore hadn't said much about it. He'd been spending every minute that he could with her, telling her about the Dursley's who were also her relatives, his first few years at Hogwarts, the happy time he'd had a t the Burrow, and mostly about Sirius. She told him about the wizard who'd adopted her, and how she came up with some of the potions she taught them in her class, her progress with the potion that would fix Wood's sight. She blushed whenever he asked her about Wood. He sat now with Ginny in the courtyard. Her head was against his shoulder and his fingers were tangled in her hair. The sun was setting over the horizon making the sky as orange as Ginny's hair.
"How is Lucy?"
"She's getting stronger," Harry said. "She was able to walk a little bit today. Just to the door and back but it's progress. Wood is with her now." Ginny laughed.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"The way you said 'Wood'. In that overprotective brother voice"
"Overprotective?" Harry said incredulously. "Why would I feel overprotective of Lucy. She's a powerful witch, and not only that but she's seven years older than me"
"It doesn't matter," Ginny said. "She's still you sister and he's the boy who's in love with her. I know what I'm talking about Harry. I've got six older brother's who will pound you to a bloody pulp if you ever break my heart"
"What!" Harry asked astonished. "Even Ron?"
"Blood runs thicker than friendship."
"Well how do you like that?" Harry said. "Well Ron's lucky that Hermione's an only child. He doesn't have to deal with overprotective brothers"
"Oh, Wood already told Hermione that he'd beat Ron for her, if he ever breaks her heart." Harry laughed and kissed her forehead.
"Well I don't know what I'm worried about. I'll never break your heart." Ginny smiled and leaned up to kiss him.
"Harry Potter!" The quickly broke apart as McGonagall strode over where they sat.
"The HeadMaster wants to see you in his office." Harry stood up and pulled Ginny with him. Together they walked back into the school. Ginny left his side to go to the dormitory and Harry headed to Dumbledore's office.
"Oh what's the password this time," he wondered. "Um, fizzing whizbee?" The gargoyle slid to the side and Harry made his way up the stairs. He gasped in shock when he saw the man standing beside the Headmaster's desk.
"Sirius!" he cried. Sirius looked better than when Harry had seen him last. His long black hair was clean and his dark robes fresh. Sirius rushed forward and embraced him.
"Thank heavens you're safe," he said.
"Sirius, are you crazy?" Harry said pulling away. As delighted as he was to see the man, he was taking an awfully big risk.
"What if someone sees you"
"Fear not Harry," Dumbledore said. "Sirius is in no danger from the other professors. After the attack on Miss Granger, I spoke to all of the teachers. I told them the truth about what really happened the night your parents were killed"
"Did they believe you?" Harry asked hope gripping his heart.
"Most of them. I believe some of them may still have their doubts. All Sirius has to worry about is the Ministry and I promise they will not be making any visits to Hogwarts for a while. They are far too busy sorting out Voldemort's demise and dealing with the dementors. I will leave you two alone"
"Dumbledore told me that you defeated Voldemort," Sirius said once the headmaster was gone.
"Yes," Harry said. "He's gone." Sirus sighed and looked at him hard.
"And Lucy?" Sirius said. "She is truly all right"
"Yes," Harry said bewildered. "Lucy is fine." Sirius sighed and fell heavily into a chair.
"I just cannot wrap my mind around it. To think I've been searching for her and she's been here all this time"
"Searching for her?" Harry asked astounded. "You mean you knew about Lucy? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know about her until very recently Harry." Sirius said. "I knew about your mother being raped of course. It pains my heart whenever I think of it. About a month after you and Hermione helped me escape, I recieved a letter from Dumbledore. He told me about the child that was concieved from that rape, and of the prophecy and the orphanage where the child was taken. I was shocked. Shocked and pained that Lily had to go through all of this alone"
"Did Dumbledore tell you that Lucy had run away from the orphanage and they believed her dead"
"Yes," Sirius said standing and pacing around the room. "Dumbledore thought I that Lily would have wanted me to know, but he held out very little hope that Lucy was still alive. But I refused to believe her dead. Not a child of Lily's. So I've been searching for her since I left you"
"Sirius," Harry said. "why didn't you tell me about Lucy"
"I had no doubt that Lucy was still alive, but after fourteen years, I had very little hope of finding her. I would never have given up, I would have searched until the day I died, but still, and you had so many burdens already"
"I want you to meet her," Harry said. Sirius bowed his head. "I'm a stranger to her, Harry"
"What if I asked her?" Harry said. "You can ask, but if she doesn't want to..." Harry was already out of his chair and hurrying down the passage to the hospital wing. He burst through the door and ran to Lucy. His sister sat reading a book but looked up as he sat down beside her.
"Harry, what's going on?" she asked.
"Sirius is here," he said trying to catch his breath.
"Sirius Black?" Lucy said. "Your godfather"
"Yes," Harry said. "Dumbledore asked him to come. He's been searching for you"
"For me."
"Yes," Harry said. "Dumbledore told him about you, last year after Hermione and I helped him escape. He didn't believe that you were dead. He's been trying to find you all this time. Lucy will you meet him?" Lucy stared at her hands.
"I can't believe he's been searching for me. I mean I'm nothing to him really. James was his friend."
"So was our mother," Harry said. "Please Lucy, will you meet him?" Lucy swallowed hard.
"Yes," Lucy said finally. "I will meet him."