Disclaimer: Don't own it, except for Anna.

Chapter Two: Promises

"If you are cold at night, let the promise of my love cover you like a warm blanket."

--Matthew White

"So what happened?" Harry asked quietly.

They were siting in the living room in front of the roaring fire after the Order meeting, which had been called because of Sirius's sudden reappearance. Remus and Harry were sitting on either side of Sirius on the soft lounge, and Anna was on the floor in front of the couch, her back pressed against Sirius's legs, her hand resting on his knee and her arm coiled around his leg.

"I fell," Sirius answered eventually. "For the longest time, I just kept falling. Everything was so dark, I kept forgetting everything, everything was just trickling away... just like in Azkaban. I felt so utterly alone.

He took a deep breath. "I don't know how long I fell, but when I landed I was in this garden. Lily was there. She was wearing all white and she glowed, like an angel. And she knelt beside me and told me that I was in a place between life and death and that I wasn't supposed to have died. She told me that I was being sent back to take care of Harry." Sirius nudged his godson with his shoulder. "Then she told me how proud she is of you, Harry." Sirius watched a small tear roll gently down the young man's face.

"And then," he continued, "I woke up in the middle of London. I asked some bloke for the date, freaked out, as you can imagine, when he told me it was late February and then walked her, which in hindsight was probably a pretty stupid thing to do, seeing as I'm a wanted criminal – "

"Wait," Remus interrupted, "didn't anyone tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Sirius, you were pardoned. You're a free man."

Remus nodded at Sirius's shocked face.

"Yeah, about a month after you disappeared some Auror saw Pettigrew," Harry explained. "Knowing that Pettigrew was supposed to be dead, he thought it was pretty odd so he brought him in. They gave him Veritaserum, held a trial, found him guilty and pardoned you right after. They tried to make this big memorial for you but Remus told them to piss off, in slightly less eloquent language. I can't believe no-one told you!" he finished incredulously.

"And Pettigrew?"

Remus grimaced. "Bloody rat escaped Azkaban with the rest of Voldemort's Death Eaters a few months later when the Dementors joined with Voldemort."

Sirius frowned and then exhaled a long, slow breath.

"You mean it? I'm really free?"

"Yep."

"Shit."

"I know."

Sirius turned to Harry. "You know what this means, right? I can adopt you, become your legal guardian."

Harry looked at Sirius, his green eyes sparkling merrily. He grinned like a little boy in a candy store. "I know."

"Do you want me too?" Sirius asked quickly.

Harry nodded.

"Really?" he questioned, grinning like a fool.

"Really. Oh, as long as you don't want me to become "Harry Black," I can't imagine it would go down to well with my fan club."

Sirius snorted and threw an arm around the boy. "Of course not, that would just be weird. Oh, I meant to ask earlier, what happened to the portrait of my mum?"

Remus snorted. "You should ask Harry that."

Sirius turned expectantly to Harry, who flushed and looked away.

"Oh... um... well, you see... It was during the summer holidays after you, well, you know... and she was sorta bad mouthing you, you know, the usual stuff and I ah... sorta got a bit angry... and made her explode."

"What?" Sirius spluttered.

"Scariest thing I've ever seen," Remus said, chuckling quietly. "He was just standing there with his fists balled up and this expression on his face while she screamed and then poof! there she goes. Didn't even lift a finger. Gave me a bloody heart attack. I'll warn you know, Sirius, don't ever get Harry angry. Must be from Lily, she had a horrible temper, too."

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh, clapping Harry on the back. "Ah, good on you, Harry. I'll tell you what, tomorrow I'll take you shopping, make up for the birthday and Christmas I missed."

"Okay, Sirius."

"Hey, Padfoot, I think Anna's asleep on your knee."

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Later in the night, while he was lying in the circle of Anna's arms, Sirius felt an immeasurable amount of content for the first time in years.

"This is going to be so great, Anna. I can buy a house for him and he can finally have a family like he was supposed to."

"I know, Sirius. I knew it when you told me twenty minutes ago, as well."

"Oh."

"Hey, Anna?"

"Mmm?"

"Marry me?"

"Okay."


A/N: Aaahhhhhh.... (contented sigh). Review!!!!!!