A/N Hello everybody.

Since we are getting more reviews from you guys, we are also updating faster. Sorry if this chappy is really mushy, but we thought that the story needed this Harry-Sirius bonding. Don't worry, they are still getting closer during the story, Remus and Harry as well, but we thought that we needed to start from somewhere and it won't be all happy either. Harry has a lot of issues to work through and he'll need both of the marauders' help. You don't live through all the things Harry had and then walk out of there unscathed. So there's still a lot more in store for him. It is pretty hard to write a ten year-old with the memories of a teenager/nearly adult but as the story progresses Harry will have to learn how to be a child again.

Please do review, cause you guys are making our day.

We thank:

Fk306 animelover and gaul1 for their reviews on the fifth chapter.

Oh and Sirius and Remus just share a brotherly friendship, whereas Harry regards Sirius as a mixture of father, godfather, brother and friend. Sirius loves Harry like a son. We just though we'd make this clear right from the beginning.

Enjoy and remember: Nothing is our own!

Chapter 6 – Reunifications

When Dumbledore and Sirius returned to Hogwarts a few hours later, neither of them spoke. It seemed that Sirius was drinking in every detail of his surroundings, now that he had finally escaped Azkaban.

Fudge in the meanwhile, had made orders to pay Sirius Black a three million galleons worth compensation and offered him the position as head of auror department. Sirius though had declined and told him coldly that he didn't want anything else to do with the ministry anymore. He just ordered Fudge to contact him once Pettigrew had been caught and Fudge had hastily agreed.

Now as the headmaster and his former pupil were striding up the stairs to the big oak entrance door Dumbledore broke the silence.

"Sirius, there's something you should know about Harry." Sirius stopped dead in his tracks and his face went pale.

"Did anything happen to him Albus? Is he alright?"

"Something did happen indeed Sirius and we're not sure if he's alright. He's currently staying at the hospital wing." Dumbledore explained calmly.

"But his birthday isn't until in a few weeks." Sirius said dumfounded. "What is he doing at Hogwarts already? And why is he at the hospital wing?"

"That was what I wanted to talk to you about. You see Harry arrived here yesterday, knowing everything about our world, his parents, you and me."

Sirius looked at him questioningly.

"How can that be a bad thing? He grew up with Remus, so he should know all about his world."

"No Sirius." Dumbledore said gravely. "You don't understand. He didn't grow up with Remus…he was sent to live with the Dursley…actually I sent him to live there."

"You!" spluttered Sirius, not trusting his own ears. "You sent him to live with muggles who despised Lily and James, only because they were magical! Dumbledore!"

"I know now Sirius, that I made a very great mistake. I thought that maybe the fact that he was Lily's son and therefore family would be enough for Petunia to get over her grudge. However I was mistaken."

Sirius couldn't keep his calm any longer.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WERE MISTAKEN! IT'S HARRY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT! ALBUS FOR MERLIN'S SAKE! YOU HAVE TO STOP TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING GOOD IN EVERYONE!"

"If I had done this Sirius, you would have been given the dementor's kiss years ago." Dumbledore said sharply.

It took Sirius a few moments to get over what he had just said.

"So what are you telling me Albus?" he asked through gritted teeth. "Did they mistreat him?"

Dumbledore bowed his head.

"Yes they did but that's not all. Like I said, Harry appeared at Mrs Figg's with much more information, than he originally should have had, he had… well he still has the memories of a seventeen year old boy…a seventeen year-old I might add, who had destroyed Voldemort for good in the end but has lost everything in the action.

Sirius was shocked. Of all the things Dumbledore could have told him that was something he had definitely not expected.

"It is my belief." Dumbledore went on, obviously sensing that Sirius wasn't about to speak anytime soon, "that my future self has sent him back in order to give him a second chance. From the memories I have witnessed, Harry was a broken man after defeating Voldemort, without anything to go on for. He simply had nothing left."

"How do you know all this?" Sirius asked weakly.

"Legilimence. With Harry's approval, I took a peak inside his head while he was under the influence of Veritaserum. That's also the reason why he is in the hospital wing right now. You know Sirius, that people under the influence of the truth potion can't block out any of their thoughts and can be forced to witness even their worst memories all over again."

Sirius shot him a filthy look but before he could interrupt Dumbledore continued.

"I didn't know at this time what kind of horrors, young Harry had already faced in his past, otherwise I wouldn't have given him the potion. Remus is sitting with him right now, but I think he will be out of the hospital wing by tomorrow. He refused to talk to Remus about all the things that had happened to him though. I think the only person who has a chance to get him to open up will be you Sirius."

Sirius remained a blank expression at this statement, not being able to decide if this was a good or bad thing.

"He might have the memories of a seventeen year-old Sirius" Dumbledore pressed on. "But he is still a child and he needs to start acting like one. As his godfather I would like to ask you if you would take it upon you to care for him. Remus would be delighted to assist you."

Sirius couldn't help but smile. "Where do I sign?"

Harry was trashing in his bed, reliving the happenings at the department of mysteries.

Only one pair was still battling, apparently unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light; he was laughing at her.

"Come on, you can do better than that!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room.

The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.

The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock. It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall: his body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the ragged veil hanging from the arch.

Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather's wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment aas though in a high wind, then fell back into the place.

"SIRIUS!" Harry yelled. "COME BACK! SIRIUS!"

Remus was shaking Harry, but the boy would not wake.

"Harry wake up! Harry!"

Nothing, Harry was still trashing in his bed, yelling for his godfather on the top of his lungs.

Suddenly the door flew open and Sirius Black came running inside with Dumbledore on his heels.

"What's the matter Moony? What happened?" Sirius asked in a panicked voice as he knelt down beside Harry's bed.

It took Remus a few seconds to realize who had just entered the room. The use of his old and beloved nickname brought a rush of warmth to his insides, but he ignored it, Harry was more important right now.

"He fell asleep and seems to be having a nightmare, I just can't seem to wake him up."

Sirius focused his attention on his godson. He was groaning now and tears were streaming down his face.

"HE IS NOT GONE! SIRIUS!"

"I am here kiddo. Come on pup, wake up, please!" Sirius' begging voice seemed to achieve what Remus had not managed to do. Harry's groaning and screaming stopped and he opened his eyes, blinking around disoriented

"S-Sirius?" Harry asked shakily, not willing to belief his eyes.

Even though he had known that Sirius was still alive, when he woke up as his ten year-old self the day before.

"Yes kiddo, I'm here!" Sirius replied, opening his arms waiting for Harry to hug him but to his confusion, Harry backed away from him.

"You're not real. You can't be. I just saw you die…" Sirius shot Remus a questioning look, hadn't Dumbledore just told him that Harry was aware of the ongoings, even more that he himself had explained them to the headmaster and his best friend.

"You already left me once." Harry said quietly, more to himself but Sirius caught his mutterings. It suddenly struck him. Harry did know what was going on, he was just afraid to accept it, scared to let someone in his heart again after he had lost all of his loved once.

"Harry!" Sirius said gently. "I'm here and I'm not going to leave you…ever. Thanks to you I was released from Azkaban and I am going to stay…here…with you!"

"You died because of me" Harry sobbed. "Because I was idiotic enough to fall for Voldemort's trick. Only because I didn't bother to practice Occlumency. It was all my fault!" He turned away, still sobbing.

"Harry look at me." Sirius demanded concernedly. "I am here, I didn't die. And even if I had, it would never ever be your fault. Harry, pup, I love you."

These little words, seemed to destroy all the self restraint Harry still had and he threw himself into his godfather's arms, clinging to him as if he never wanted to let go again.

"I am so sorry Sirius!" he cried.

"There's nothing you should be sorry about Harry." Sirius croaked and tears were now obstructing his view as well. "It is me who should be the one apologizing, I shouldn't have landed myself in Azkaban at a time you needed me most. But this will never happen again Harry, from now on I will look after you, I promise."

Harry nodded into Sirius shoulder, not letting go of him for a moment.

When Harry had finally fallen back asleep Sirius and Remus went out of the hospital wing to have a quiet word.

At first they both didn't know what to say, both staring at their feet embarrassedly. Then Remus suddenly launched forward and drew Sirius in a strong brotherly hug.

"It's so good to have you back Padfoot!" Remus said quietly, not trusting his voice.

"It's good to be back Moony!" Sirius said and Remus released him.

They looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
"You know if I keep that up" Sirius said jokingly "I could pass as Moaning Myrtle's boyfriend."

Remus chuckled. "You know, she always had a crush on you."

Sirius hit him playfully on the arm. "Shut up Moony" he said affectionately but then suddenly became all serious again (no pun intended). "Tell me what happened to you in the last few years…"

The two newly reunited marauders spend half of the night talking quietly together, sitting at Harry's bedside and falling asleep in the early hours of the morning.

When Harry awoke in the morning, it took him a few moments to realize where he was and what had happened.

He felt embarrassed for falling apart like this in front of Sirius…Hang on… Sirius was alive again!

He snatched his glasses from the nightstand and put them on, he had to smile when he saw his godfather sitting in one of the chairs in front of his bed, Remus Lupin right beside him. They must have fallen asleep sitting there, watching over him.

This thought brought a smile to his face.

Sirius' death had hit Harry harder than anyone could have expected and realized. He had pulled himself together in his sixth year, pushing the memory of Sirius' death as far from him as possible, with so much happening at Hogwarts this hadn't even been too hard. Than after Dumbledore's death the whole burden of the prophecy had been lasting on his shoulders so he had done his best not to fall apart in front of the others, people who knew that their lives depended on him.

Hermione and Ron of course were not fooled this easily and the trio did have a very long talk before going off on the hunt for the Horcruxes.

Splitting up with Ginny had been very hard on Harry and he knew he couldn't have lived on, if this had meant that Ron had ended their friendship. Surprisingly he had been very understanding of this matter and told Harry in no uncertain terms that he didn't care what had happened between his sister and Harry as long as Harry didn't hurt her deliberately and he knew that Harry would never do this.

When his life had finally began to look up again, he had lost everything in the final battle and even though he had killed Voldemort, he felt like he had lost, felt as if he had let everyone he cared for down.

After having to be strong for so long it just felt brilliant to have someone look out for you. Some of the guilt he had been feeling constantly since Sirius death had been lifted and right now he couldn't think of any other place in the world he'd rather be at the moment.

He heard Sirius moving.

"Good morning kiddo. Had a good sleep?" Sirius was smiling at him.

"Yeah, never slept better." In a somewhat embarrassed voice he added. "Look Sirius about last night, I…"

"Don't worry, kiddo. It's ok really. You had every right to be upset." Sirius said earnestly. "Now about your living arrangements..."

A glimmer of hope started to sparkle in Harry's eyes…was Sirius really saying what he thought he was…?

"Are you prepared to move in with two of the worst cooks of the country?" Sirius asked cheekily.

"Are you proposing what I think you are proposing?"

"If you think that I am proposing that you're going to move in with two of the infamous marauders and are going to be spoiled rotten by us, than yes, that's what I am saying."

Harry just hugged him in return.