Chapter 4: The Contract

After his conversation with Remus Lupin, Harry headed towards his bedroom. Waiting for him was Ron and Hermione who looked anxious to tell him something. Ron and Hermione had quickly filled him in on what they had heard coming from May's bedroom.

'You should have heard Sirius! He was furious!' Ron exclaimed. 'He demanded that May let him in. When she told him to go away…he pounded on the door with such strength, that I swear he almost broke the door down!'

'Fortunately nothing happened,' explain Hermione, as if it was a small matter. 'Since there was no more yelling, we can safely assume that May had opened the door for him.' Harry looked at her as she said this with such calm, like she had heard of these situations before.

Then Hermione rounded up on Harry. 'Aren't you going to tell us what happen downstairs?'

'Hermione!' scolded Ron in shocked.

Harry just smiled at his two best friends and then proceeded to inform then of what he had discovered.

'You mean to tell us that there is a killer on the loose, who is still working for You-Know-Who?' asked Ron, a bit surprised. 'Even after everyone thought he had been destroyed?'

Harry nodded his head and looked towards Hermione in hopes that she knew why the killer was after May. It was not that he cared, but it was more out of curiosity. After all, it didn't hurt to know more about Voldemort and his followers.

Hermione looked deep in thought and didn't say anything. Harry figure that she was trying to figure things out like she always did whenever there was trouble. The only things that bothered him was that after a few moments of pondering, Hermione had a look in her eye that revealed that she knew something he didn't. Harry was about to ask what was on her mind, when Mrs. Weasley had come in.

'Oh…there you are!' exclaimed Mrs. Weasley as she stood with a broom in one hand and a feather duster in the other. 'I am going to need some help from the three of you.'

When it came time for dinner, Harry felt like he had been worked to the bone. Mrs. Weasley had made them add an extra bed to their room and if that was not all, she had also made them clean the room from top to bottom. During the time that Harry and Ron did most of the work, Mrs. Weasley and Hermione had enjoy a nice conversation with each other, as they watched them clean. Hermione had asked relevant questions as to who might be staying with them. All Mrs. Weasley had said without revealing too much information, was that the boy was related to Sirius and that he was their age.

With this knowledge both Harry and Ron had wondered who this boy might be and how is he related to Sirius? After all, the only boy he could think of was Draco Malfoy! Harry kept looking at Hermione as they were helping setting up the table, hoping that she would tell him that it was not Malfoy that was coming to stay with them.

At the moment Harry was about to approach Hermione directly, May had come in to the kitchen to offer her assistance to Mrs. Weasley. Harry notice that she had dyed her hair black, which would have made her look pale if it wasn't for her tan. Her wet hair was brushed down nicely behind her, creating a wet spot behind her green tank top, which she wore with a loose pair of black pants.

Lupin, who at the time was helping them setting up the table, sat and watched May in amusement. May sat across from him at once after being turn down by Mrs. Weasley and began to talk to him.

'I see that you had dye your hair again.' Lupin commented.

May laughed before answering, 'Old habits dye hard.'

'Then let's just hope we are like those old habits.' commented Sirius as he entered the kitchen. Sirius was now sober and looked in better shape then the last time Harry had seen him. Sirius then ran a hand through his wet hair with a smile before sitting beside May.

May looked uncomfortable as Sirius sat beside her and even more uncomfortable as he put an arm around her. Lupin grinned at this and Harry just scowled.

Sirius and Lupin continued to talk about old times. As for May she just kept quiet and smiled from time to time. Harry sat down beside Lupin as he observed both May and Sirius. May still looked uncomfortable and moved a strand of hair from her face and placed it behind her ear. That's when Harry saw a small dark figure on her left arm, which he couldn't make it out.

Harry was about to ask May about it when the doorbell rang. Harry frowned, why was it that every time he meant to ask something...someone had to interrupt? Mrs. Weasley came out of the kitchen in a hurry to open the door, but as usual the portrait of Sirius's mother began to yell. Mrs. Weasley yelled to the portrait to be quiet on her way to the door, but there was no use.

Before the portrait could continued her rampage, Sirius had gotten up and yelled to the portrait to be quiet. 'Mother, be quiet is it just Alexander!' His mother stopped yelling at once. Everyone was surprised except for Lupin, who just smiled.

Harry heard the door opened and then he heard the worst sound of all.

'Sorry we are late but Alex here, wanted to make sure he knew his way around the school before we left.' Snape drawled.

'Hello Mother, I see that you're no longer wearing that ridiculous colour.' said a boy about Harry's age as he entered the kitchen. Harry could almost assume that this boy was Alexander. Harry didn't like him at all because Alexander had the same air as Draco Malfoy and even the tone of his voice was almost a perfect match.

'Alex!' said May excitedly as she got up from her chair and run to embrace him. Alexander just scowled but let his mother hug him just the same.

Harry, at the moment, felt a small stab of jealousy but didn't brew much about it. Then Sirius got up and had a good look at the boy and Harry could see pride written all over his face. Again, Harry felt another stab. Harry didn't need a crystal ball or Hermione to tell him who Alexander was, since it was plain to see on Alexander's face. Alexander was almost the spitting image of Sirius Black.

'Hello Father.' said Alexander respectfully, after May had let go of him.

Sirius smiled and made a move to hug Alexander but Alexander just stood there. Sirius looked hurt and quickly began to introduce everyone in the room. If it had been Harry he would have gladly hug his father, but unfortunately he was not given that opportunity. Harry watched Alexander closely as he politely nodded his head in acknowledgement to those who were present. Then Alexander looked towards Harry, who had been the last one to be introduced.

'Alex, this is Harry Potter my godson,' said Sirius with a warm smile as he looked at Harry. 'Harry meet my son, Sirius Alexander Black.'

'Hello Harry, please call me Alex.' requested Alex with a smile, but Harry could tell that Alex was sizing him up.

Harry could tell that Alex didn't like him just like Harry didn't like Alex. Harry nodded with the same air of arrogance that Alex had showed, for he wanted to give Alex a taste of his own medicine. Alex didn't show any trace of surprise in the manner that Harry had treated him.

'I had better be going,' commented Snape as he stood behind Alex.

'Please stay for supper.' begged May as she touched Snape's shoulder.

Snape smile at her, 'No thanks, but I will only request that you meet me at the usual place tomorrow night.'

May only smiled and nodded, which Snape took as a good sign and then departed, much to Harry's relief. Sirius, on the other hand, was furious with May and didn't say anything - but his face showed otherwise.

Once everyone was seated, Mrs. Weasley began to serve dinner. Dinner was awkward since Alex kept complaining about dinner and Mrs. Weasley kept giving May nasty looks. Harry could have sworn that if Alex continued to murmur about how bad the food was, Mrs. Weasley would have given him a good hex. If that wasn't all, Sirius was constantly being rejected by Alex's cold manners. Harry could tell that this affected Sirius greatly and it hurt Harry to see Sirius in this manner. Couldn't Alex just answer a simple question with a bit of warmth in his voice? As for May, Harry blamed her for raising such a git.

After dinner was over, Harry had learned almost everything he needed to know about Sirius Alexander Black. May's family had raised Alex when she had worked for the Ministry of Magic in the United States, as an Auror. Harry also learned that May's father had been the Minister of Magic there.

As the adults talked in the kitchen, Harry, Ron and Hermione had been asked to show Alex to his room. Alex was not happy that he had to share his room with Harry and Ron, so he made sure to voice his opinion.

'I didn't think I was going to be sharing a room. I should at least get my own room since I have to live here.'

Hermione quickly became fed up with Alex and quickly turn on him. 'Live with it!' exclaimed Hermione and then left the room, leaving Harry and Ron to deal with Alex.

It was not long before it was time for bed and for Alex to stop boasting about how great his grandfather had been when he had been alive or how he was allowed to be taken as apprentice by an Auror, who had been a family friend.

Mrs. Weasley had come in to remind them that it was time to sleep to which the boys promptly obeyed, except for Alex who just took his time. Once they were all in bed, May came into the room along with Sirius. Harry and Ron quickly pretended to be asleep except for Alex who had began to snore softly. At seeing that they were sleep, May then proceeded to tuck Alex in and she placed a small blanket in Alex's hand, which he quickly clasped. May then kissed Alex forehead and then proceeded to do the same with Harry, with the only difference that Harry didn't get anything to hold onto at night.

Harry felt weird being tucked in and to have been kissed in the forehead by a woman he didn't like. As Harry opened his eyes, he saw Sirius put an arm around May's waist almost possessively and place a kiss on her cheek, as they walked out of the room whispering about something. Harry then just closed his eyes and hoped that today had been a nightmare of which he could just wake up from.

The next morning Harry awoke to see that Alex had already left their room and only Ron was with him.

'Morning!' said Harry cheerfully.

'Morning!' answered Ron with a smile and then he bust out laughing as he saw the small blue blanket laying on Alex's bed.

Harry also laughed. 'I bet Malfoy has a teddy bear.' He suggested to Ron

Ron stopped laughing for a second to digest what Harry had just said before another attack of laughter overcame him.

In not time both of their beds have been made, they got themselves wash-up and dressed. After they were all done they had no choice but to wait for Hermione. Hermione didn't disappoint them for she showed up just in time for them to go down for breakfast.

Breakfast had been an improvement from last night since Alex had not showed up and May was not at the table with them. Halfway through breakfast, May showed up and went straight towards the kitchen without saying a single word. Harry saw that she didn't get enough sleep for she had dark circles under her eyes, which she didn't bother to cover with makeup. A few seconds later May emerged with a sandwich, which lay in a garnished plate. Harry quickly assumed that this plate of food was not for her but for Alex. Harry was not wrong in his assumption, since Sirius had gotten up from his chair and blocked her path.

'Please let me through.' May quietly requested and didn't look pleased with Sirius at the moment. It didn't help that her voice sounded hoarse like she had shouted all night.

Sirius took the plate from her hands, 'If he wants to eat he will come down here and eat the same food we are eating.' Sirius told her, his face showed no sign of compassion.

Harry smiled, Sirius was finally putting his foot down. May looked angry as though she were ready to explode. She then closed her eyes for a moment as her fits shocked in rage. After May had opened her eyes she looked straight at Sirius.

'How dare you tell me how to raise my son! Have you forgotten why I decided to keep you out of our lifes?' May said harshly to him as she made one more attempt to get the plate from him.

Sirius quickly moved the plate out of her reach and yelled at her to go tell their son the rule he had just imposed. May quickly left without another word. Once she had gone Sirius sat down, placing the sandwich in front of Harry.

Later during the day, Harry heard shouting coming from May's room and it didn't take a genius to figure out who were the parties involves.

'They are at it again,' mumbled Ron as he made his head more comfortable in Hermione's lap. 'There is not a single moment that those two aren't at each other's throats.'

'On the other hand I can understand why Sirius is acting this way. It is not like he likes the idea of having a Death Eater at his home.' Stated Hermione.

Both Harry and Ron looked at her as if she had gone mental. Hermione rolled her eyes before continuing speaking.

'Didn't you see that May had the dark mark yesterday? It was in plain sight and it is not like she tried to hide it. Seriously you two are so dense...and Ron...didn't you say in our first year that all the Slytherin's had joined You-Know-Who?' she claimed, as she began to run a hand through Ron's hair.

'The dark mark?' asked Harry now remembering about the small dark spot in May's left arm.

Hermione nodded, 'I believe this is the reason why Sirius has May on such a short leash, that he has even moved from his bedroom into hers. You should have heard Alex yesterday, he wasn't happy.'

'When has Alex ever been happy?' stated Ron as he closed his eyes.

'Anyways, I think this explains why Snape told her yesterday to meet with him today.' said Hermione thoughtfully.

Harry nodded, 'Do you think they are meeting with Voldemort tonight?'

'Maybe,' said Hermione, 'but I also think that there is more to tonight's meeting. It is a shame that we can't be in the Order meeting this afternoon, otherwise we could find out what Snape and May are up to.'

'I see what Hermione is saying,' stated Ron wide eyed. 'Dumbledore wouldn't have let May set foot in this house unless he thought she was useful. Now with her in tow, Snape can't screw up because she will be there to cover him.'

'But this is also a double-edged sword,' began Hermione resting her hand on Ron's shoulder. 'What if both Snape and May are working for You-Know-Who instead?'

All this questions Harry had contemplated before about Snape but now with May, things where not just so simple. Harry wondered what Sirius thought about all of this and also if Alex knew about his mother's nightly activities.

As eight o'clock arrived everyone was in the study. Harry and Ron enjoyed a game of wizard's chess as Hermione read some old books from the Black's library. Alex was also reading but during his reading he had began to flirt with Ginny, who ignored him most of the time. Fred and George where locked in their room as they worked on another invention. Sirius was speaking with Mr and Mrs. Weasley when a grunt of frustration could be heard coming from the main entrance.

Sirius quickly got up, and was later follow by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Alex, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. In the Main Entrance there was a hooded figure, who had the door opened but seemed unable to get out. The intruder kept hitting and prodding the invisible barrier that seemed to prevent its exit. At seeing this display, Sirius chuckled as he approached the intruder. The intruder turned around at hearing Sirius, and that's when Sirius removed the hood to uncover their intruder.

May was furious, her face was red and her eyes looked wild. 'Why can't I get out?' she demanded. 'Is this your doing?'

Sirius laughed and then signalled her to follow him to the kitchen. 'If you want to know why you can't get out, you'd better come with me.'

May looked reluctant at first but after she had given the open door one last glance, she followed Sirius. Once inside, May saw Sirius open a bottom drawer and pulled a small box. Inside the box laid Sirius's most precious possessions, which were made up from friendship pins to May's childhood love letters.

Harry was not impressed to see that May's letters were there but what really touched him was that he kept photos of his parents and of him. Harry may have been just a baby in those pictures but what counted was that Sirius always considering him one of his prized possessions. At the bottom of his boxed lay an old piece of paper, where the seal had been broken.

'Mr. Weasley if you please,' said Sirius handing Mr. Weasley the document.

Mr. Weasley looked at the document with surprise before opening it and then began to read it.

'We, James and Lily Potter, authorize Sirius Black and May Aztec to be the legal guardians of our son Harry James Potter. According to the rules of qualifications, we required that both Sirius and May live under the same roof, to which they should become inseparable in order to fulfill their duties as guardians. Within this document we seal a charm that once Sirius and May decide to take upon themselves the duty of guardianship of our son, Sirius would not be able to go anywhere without May and vice versa unless they are married according to the laws of the Ministry of Magic.' Mr. Weasley read.

Once Mr. Weasley had finished reading May screamed in frustration. This brought a surprised look from Alex and a grin from Sirius.

'You knew about this!' May accused Sirius. 'This is why you offered your home until I found a place? I should have known better! You knew that once I stepped into this home with Harry, I wouldn't be able to get out, unless it was with you? You know very well how much I hate you Sirius Black!'

Harry looked towards Alex, but he didn't even flinch at what was being said. On the other hand, everyone else looked shocked. Sirius then approached May until he was standing nose to nose with her, though he was taller than her by at least four inches.

'Your lies had never suited me.' Sirius told her. Sirius then grabbed May by the face and forcefully kissed her.

May resisted him, but in the end she responded. After the kiss was over she slapped Sirius with all her might and ran out of the kitchen crying. Alex looked towards Harry and winked at him before going back to the study. Harry looked towards Sirius, who had begun to put his things away before following after May.

'Things just keep getting more interesting, don't they?' Ron asked Harry, who just nodded.