She had refused to meet him in the hospital wing. Dumbledore set up a special room for them, he called it the Room of Requirement. Harry kept a firm arm around her shoulder as he supported her down the hall to the room where Sirius waited. Lucy was dressed in a fresh robe which she wore over a long black skirt and white blouse. They paused outside the door.
"Are you ready?" he asked her.
"I'm so nervous," she whispered. Harry squeezed her shoulder.
"It will be all right. He'll love you I'm sure of it." Harry pushed the door open and guided Lucy inside. The room had a soft rug and a table and three chairs. Sirius sat in one of the chairs but rose to his feet as they entered. He was staring at Lucy in wonderment. Lucy was looking at his godfather nervously.
"Sirius," Harry said. "This is Lucy. Lucy, Sirius Black." Sirius stepped forward and took both of Lucy's hands.
"Lucy," he said softly. "My god, you look so much like your mother. I swear when the two of you walked in I thought I was looking at James and Lily"
"It's very nice to meet you Sirius," Lucy said quietly.
"Why don't we sit down," Harry said. He helped Lucy over to a chair. Once they were seated they sat in silence for a long time.
"Harry said that you've been looking for me," Lucy said finally breaking the silence. "That you didn't believe I was dead."
"You are Lily's child. I knew that if you were anything like her you would have found a way."
"But why would you look for me? Why would you want to have anything to do with me? My father killed your best friends. He tried to kill your godson. It's because of him that you spent twelve years in Azkaban."
"It's true your father did all these things," Sirius said laying his hand over Lucy's. "But you my child, did none of these things. You think I would judge you by where you come from. No. My family was like that. They judged everyone on their heritage. I hated them for it. That's why I ran away from home. I believed a wizard's actions should say more about him or her than who their ancestors were. You risked your life to save Harry. That says more to me about your character than who your father was." Lucy looked down at her lap.
"Thank you," she said.
"The day before your mother and James went into hiding, Lily said something to me that didn't make sense until now. We were in the kitchen, she was holding Harry very close to her. She was afraid, I could tell. I tried to comfort her. She said she wasn't afraid for herself and she looked down at Harry. I told her not to worry, and that nothing would happen to Harry as long as I breathed. She looked at me, kind of sadly and said "I know Sirius. I know that if the worst should happen my children will be safe with you." I thought that her fear was making her confused in what she was saying, soI didn't think much of it. But when I got Dumbledore's letter, I knew that she was telling me about you, whether she meant to or not." Lucy reached up and brushed a tear away.
"You don't know what that means to me, Sirius"
"Lucy," Sirius said very seriously, "I know that you no longer require it, but I do believe that Lily would have wanted me to be your guardian"
"It's true, I do not require a guardian," Lucy said. "But I don't mind if you want to think of me as your goddaughter. From what I read in mother's diary, I think it's what she would have wanted."
"That means a great deal to me my dear." No one spoke again for a while.
"What will happen now?" Lucy said. "What will happen to Harry?"
"Dumbledore will speak to the ministry about you. It should notbe difficult to convince them that you are truly Harry's sister, you resemble Lily too much for there to be any doubt.Now that the Dursley's are no longer Harry's only living relatives, there should be nothing to stop you from gaininglegal guardianshipof Harry. If that's what you want of course."
"Of course it is," Lucy said. Harry's heart soared. He didn't have to go back to the Dursley's. He could live with his sister.
"It's just such a shame that he can't be with you," Lucy continued. "I know that it's what mother and James wanted, but even with Voldemort gone..."
"Yes," Sirius said. "I am still a wanted man."
"Wait," Harry said jumping up. Both Sirius and Lucy jumped. It seemed they'd forgotten he was there.
"Pettigrew's body! The ministry would have seen it when they came to investigate. That'll prove your innocense, Sirius." Sirius's face fell.
"There was no body Harry," he said.
"What."
"Peter's body was destroyed when Voldemort was killed. There was no evidence of Peter ever being on that roof." The joy that Harry had felt only seconds ago suddenly deflated like a balloon.
"Then there's no proof," Harry said. "Now you can't ever be free."
"There is proof," Lucy said her eyes lighting up. Both Harry and Sirius looked at her questioning.
"Oh why didn't I think of this before? Harry," she said. "Get mother's diary." Harry was confused but did what he was told. He ran up to his dorm and grabbed the diary from his bedside table and hurried back to the Room of Requirement. He handed it to Lucy who swiftly opened it to the last page.
"Here," she said pointing to the last entry.
"Of course!" Harry exclaimed wondering why he'd not thought of it himself. Sirius took the diary from Lucy and read the entry.
"Mother wrote it in her diary that you weren't their secret keeper," Harry said. "That proves it. Fudge will have to believe you're innocent now."
"I don't know Harry," Sirius said. "Fudge tends to believe whatever he likes"
"But it's worth a try isn't it?" Lucy said. Sirius grinned.
"It's definitely worth a try."
What do you think? Should Sirius get custody of Harry or should Lucy? Or should they share custody? HMMMMM! Decisions decisions