Disclaimer: Nope. Not a single original character. Sorry. All copyrighted.
A.N: Off to an incredibly slow start. Don't worry, eventually it's going to
get relevant, just be patient.
The intense discomfort Harry felt when he arrived at Grimmauld Place had dissipated slightly over the two days that he had spent there. Everything he touched, everything he saw reminded him of Sirius, and how much it hurt that he was gone.
"Cake, Harry dear?" offered Mrs. Weasley, shoving a gooey piece of chocolate birthday cake under Harry's nose. "Thanks," replied Harry, snapping back to reality.
Harry had never experience an actual birthday party. He had spent all of Dudley's birthdays at Mrs. Figg's house. He didn't know if the fact that Mrs. Figg had been trying to make him miserable made him feel better or worse. Above the table, a large red and gold banner, bearing the standard "Happy Birthday, Harry!" was suspended over the table. Ron was chattering happily about Quidditch next year. "...I talked to Angelina and she wants to let me stay on as Keeper!" Ron was saying excitedly. "I've been practicing all summer, and Bill thinks I've really improved!" "That's great, Ron!" said Harry earnestly. He really was happy for him, Harry was just feeling a little bit distracted.
Harry tore the wrapping paper off of a large box of fireworks. "Wow!" he exclaimed, looking up at Fred and George. "Thanks!" Fred and George both nodded, smiling contentedly. "We thought they might come in handy sometime," said Fred. "I hope things don't get too boring at school now that we've left," said George, grinning mischievously. Harry glanced up at Mrs. Wealsey, who was eyeing the box of "Weasley's Wildfire Whizbags" with stern disapproval.
By the time Harry had finished unwrapping his presents, it was almost 11 o'clock. Mrs. Weasley hastily shooed everyone up to bed, but Harry was stopped at the bottom of the stairs but Lupin. "Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you Harry," he said, ushering Harry down the hall.
Lupin pushed open a creaky door next to the kitchen, which opened to reveal a surprisingly clean, but relatively empty room. Dumbledore was seated behind a dark wooden desk with his hands folded. Sitting on the desk next to him was a large stone basin which cast flickering pools of silver light onto the wall next to it—Dumbledore's Pensieve. Harry stared at the scene quizzically.
"Harry." Dumbledore gestured to a plain wooden chair on the opposite side of the desk. Harry sat down warily, remembering the last time Dumbledore had decided to share serious information with him. Lupin turned to leave but Dumbledore stopped him. "This concerns you as well Remus," said Dumbledore. He gestured to the empty seat next to Harry. Lupin sighed but obediently took his place next to Harry.
"Harry," Dumbledore began, "every member of the Order of the Phoenix was required to create a last will and testament after they had been inducted." Harry's eyes widened. Sirius's will? That was what this was about? Dumbledore continued. "Our mission is extremely dangerous and it was—and is—imperative that we sort out our affairs before we take on any active duty. You—and Remus--," Lupin frowned slightly. "—are the sole benefactors of Sirius's will. If you are ready, you may view Sirius's will in the Penseive. However, if you do not feel ready, you may wait a little while longer. I felt that given past circumstances, it was important that I give you this choice." Dumbledore leaned back and stared at Harry gently through his crescent spectacles.
For a moment, nobody spoke. Harry's mind was racing. "Yes." He said finally. "Harry, you don't have to--" "No," Harry said firmly, cutting Lupin off. "I want to. I'm ready." Dumbledore stood up. "Very well," he said calmly. "Lupin will assist you. I will return a short while, I have some business to attend to." He clicked the door shut behind him.
Lupin pulled out his wand and prodded the Pensieve. He looked thoroughly miserable. He placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Ready, Harry?" he asked. Harry nodded. "Alright, here we go." The Penseive began to swirl and Harry soon felt a familiar tipping sensation as he tumbled head first into someone else's memory.
Harry was surprised to find himself in the exact same room of Grimmuald Place. Lupin was standing next to him, looking straight ahead and apparently not aware that he was still clutching onto Harry's shoulder. Harry turned to face the direction Lupin was staring in. It was Sirius. He was busy chatting with Dumbledore. Harry stared blankly at him. He thought seeing Sirius again would make him feel better, but instead he felt as though the pain inside him had doubled.
"Really, this is pointless," Sirius complained. "What could possible happen to me? I'm not allowed to leave the house!" Dumbledore responded by shutting the study door. Sirius gave a defeated sigh and sat down at the desk. For the first time, Harry noticed two placards sitting on the table—one labeled "Harry" and the one next to it labeled "Remus. "Stand by your name," whispered Lupin, not taking his eyes of Sirius. Harry moved towards his name card.
Sirius finally spoke. "Well, if the two of you are here, I guess that means I'm...dead...I have no idea how I could possibly die when I'm not allowed to leave the house--" He glanced at the door. "Perhaps I could choke on dust...Old Snivelly would love that...Anyway--" he turned his attention towards Harry. "If I am dead...Harry I'm sorry. As your godfather, I should have been there to take care of you—but I haven't been. At all." Sirius was staring at the "empty" space which now contained Harry. "I can't imagine the pain your in right now. To lose your parents, and then---Harry, I just want you to know that you're everything your parents ever hoped you to be. Everything I would ever hope for in a son. You've dealt with so much adversity, but you've always found yourself equal to any hardship. Don't forget that you have so many people in your life who still care about you. I love you. Your parents love you. And we'll always be proud of you."
Harry stared at the table top and blinked furiously. Sirius turned to Lupin. "Moony, my old friend. How does it feel to be the last of the Marauders? Well, the last of the true Marauders, anyway..." Sirius scowled darkly. "I have a two final requests. The first is: Kill Wormtail for me. I really had hoped we could do it together but, I guess that's not going to work out..." Sirius leaned back on his chair. "On the other hand...maybe he's dead already! But I'm being optimistic...unless he shows up at the door I don't think I'm going to get a crack at him..."
"Second request: Look after Harry for me." Harry glanced quickly at Lupin, who was staring intently at his late—and last true friend. "I think James and Lily would have wanted you to. I don't know if anyone ever told you this but I'm fairly sure Lily wanted you to be Harry's godfather." Sirius gestured in mock outrage. "She seemed to think you were more responsible than me. I of course have no idea why, especially after the motorcycle incident..." Sirius snickered. "All those prefect patrols together must have impressed her somehow..." Lupin rolled his eyes but Harry could tell he was struggling to suppress a grin.
"Anyway, on to business!" Sirius leaned forward in his chair and landed with a dull clunk in front of a large stack of papers. "Now here we have a list of all my assets...except of course for my charming personality and good looks—those I take with me to the grave!" Sirius was grinning. Harry gave a small smile despite himself. Having Sirius treat the whole last rites process as a bit of a joke made the process feel almost unreal.
Sirius lifted a paper off the top of the pile. "I, Sirius Black, do hereby will all my worldly possessions, including this disgusting rat hole I have the misfortune of calling home--" Sirius glanced around the study in distaste. "to Harry J. Potter, my godson."
Harry reeled. He hadn't actually considered the fact that he was the most likely candidate for ownership of Order Headquarters now that Sirius was gone. What the hell was he supposed to do with all of his godfathers "worldly possessions"?
AN: All right, time for a new chapter. Next Sirius gives away his family's money! Yay...
The intense discomfort Harry felt when he arrived at Grimmauld Place had dissipated slightly over the two days that he had spent there. Everything he touched, everything he saw reminded him of Sirius, and how much it hurt that he was gone.
"Cake, Harry dear?" offered Mrs. Weasley, shoving a gooey piece of chocolate birthday cake under Harry's nose. "Thanks," replied Harry, snapping back to reality.
Harry had never experience an actual birthday party. He had spent all of Dudley's birthdays at Mrs. Figg's house. He didn't know if the fact that Mrs. Figg had been trying to make him miserable made him feel better or worse. Above the table, a large red and gold banner, bearing the standard "Happy Birthday, Harry!" was suspended over the table. Ron was chattering happily about Quidditch next year. "...I talked to Angelina and she wants to let me stay on as Keeper!" Ron was saying excitedly. "I've been practicing all summer, and Bill thinks I've really improved!" "That's great, Ron!" said Harry earnestly. He really was happy for him, Harry was just feeling a little bit distracted.
Harry tore the wrapping paper off of a large box of fireworks. "Wow!" he exclaimed, looking up at Fred and George. "Thanks!" Fred and George both nodded, smiling contentedly. "We thought they might come in handy sometime," said Fred. "I hope things don't get too boring at school now that we've left," said George, grinning mischievously. Harry glanced up at Mrs. Wealsey, who was eyeing the box of "Weasley's Wildfire Whizbags" with stern disapproval.
By the time Harry had finished unwrapping his presents, it was almost 11 o'clock. Mrs. Weasley hastily shooed everyone up to bed, but Harry was stopped at the bottom of the stairs but Lupin. "Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you Harry," he said, ushering Harry down the hall.
Lupin pushed open a creaky door next to the kitchen, which opened to reveal a surprisingly clean, but relatively empty room. Dumbledore was seated behind a dark wooden desk with his hands folded. Sitting on the desk next to him was a large stone basin which cast flickering pools of silver light onto the wall next to it—Dumbledore's Pensieve. Harry stared at the scene quizzically.
"Harry." Dumbledore gestured to a plain wooden chair on the opposite side of the desk. Harry sat down warily, remembering the last time Dumbledore had decided to share serious information with him. Lupin turned to leave but Dumbledore stopped him. "This concerns you as well Remus," said Dumbledore. He gestured to the empty seat next to Harry. Lupin sighed but obediently took his place next to Harry.
"Harry," Dumbledore began, "every member of the Order of the Phoenix was required to create a last will and testament after they had been inducted." Harry's eyes widened. Sirius's will? That was what this was about? Dumbledore continued. "Our mission is extremely dangerous and it was—and is—imperative that we sort out our affairs before we take on any active duty. You—and Remus--," Lupin frowned slightly. "—are the sole benefactors of Sirius's will. If you are ready, you may view Sirius's will in the Penseive. However, if you do not feel ready, you may wait a little while longer. I felt that given past circumstances, it was important that I give you this choice." Dumbledore leaned back and stared at Harry gently through his crescent spectacles.
For a moment, nobody spoke. Harry's mind was racing. "Yes." He said finally. "Harry, you don't have to--" "No," Harry said firmly, cutting Lupin off. "I want to. I'm ready." Dumbledore stood up. "Very well," he said calmly. "Lupin will assist you. I will return a short while, I have some business to attend to." He clicked the door shut behind him.
Lupin pulled out his wand and prodded the Pensieve. He looked thoroughly miserable. He placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Ready, Harry?" he asked. Harry nodded. "Alright, here we go." The Penseive began to swirl and Harry soon felt a familiar tipping sensation as he tumbled head first into someone else's memory.
Harry was surprised to find himself in the exact same room of Grimmuald Place. Lupin was standing next to him, looking straight ahead and apparently not aware that he was still clutching onto Harry's shoulder. Harry turned to face the direction Lupin was staring in. It was Sirius. He was busy chatting with Dumbledore. Harry stared blankly at him. He thought seeing Sirius again would make him feel better, but instead he felt as though the pain inside him had doubled.
"Really, this is pointless," Sirius complained. "What could possible happen to me? I'm not allowed to leave the house!" Dumbledore responded by shutting the study door. Sirius gave a defeated sigh and sat down at the desk. For the first time, Harry noticed two placards sitting on the table—one labeled "Harry" and the one next to it labeled "Remus. "Stand by your name," whispered Lupin, not taking his eyes of Sirius. Harry moved towards his name card.
Sirius finally spoke. "Well, if the two of you are here, I guess that means I'm...dead...I have no idea how I could possibly die when I'm not allowed to leave the house--" He glanced at the door. "Perhaps I could choke on dust...Old Snivelly would love that...Anyway--" he turned his attention towards Harry. "If I am dead...Harry I'm sorry. As your godfather, I should have been there to take care of you—but I haven't been. At all." Sirius was staring at the "empty" space which now contained Harry. "I can't imagine the pain your in right now. To lose your parents, and then---Harry, I just want you to know that you're everything your parents ever hoped you to be. Everything I would ever hope for in a son. You've dealt with so much adversity, but you've always found yourself equal to any hardship. Don't forget that you have so many people in your life who still care about you. I love you. Your parents love you. And we'll always be proud of you."
Harry stared at the table top and blinked furiously. Sirius turned to Lupin. "Moony, my old friend. How does it feel to be the last of the Marauders? Well, the last of the true Marauders, anyway..." Sirius scowled darkly. "I have a two final requests. The first is: Kill Wormtail for me. I really had hoped we could do it together but, I guess that's not going to work out..." Sirius leaned back on his chair. "On the other hand...maybe he's dead already! But I'm being optimistic...unless he shows up at the door I don't think I'm going to get a crack at him..."
"Second request: Look after Harry for me." Harry glanced quickly at Lupin, who was staring intently at his late—and last true friend. "I think James and Lily would have wanted you to. I don't know if anyone ever told you this but I'm fairly sure Lily wanted you to be Harry's godfather." Sirius gestured in mock outrage. "She seemed to think you were more responsible than me. I of course have no idea why, especially after the motorcycle incident..." Sirius snickered. "All those prefect patrols together must have impressed her somehow..." Lupin rolled his eyes but Harry could tell he was struggling to suppress a grin.
"Anyway, on to business!" Sirius leaned forward in his chair and landed with a dull clunk in front of a large stack of papers. "Now here we have a list of all my assets...except of course for my charming personality and good looks—those I take with me to the grave!" Sirius was grinning. Harry gave a small smile despite himself. Having Sirius treat the whole last rites process as a bit of a joke made the process feel almost unreal.
Sirius lifted a paper off the top of the pile. "I, Sirius Black, do hereby will all my worldly possessions, including this disgusting rat hole I have the misfortune of calling home--" Sirius glanced around the study in distaste. "to Harry J. Potter, my godson."
Harry reeled. He hadn't actually considered the fact that he was the most likely candidate for ownership of Order Headquarters now that Sirius was gone. What the hell was he supposed to do with all of his godfathers "worldly possessions"?
AN: All right, time for a new chapter. Next Sirius gives away his family's money! Yay...