Chapter Twenty One:

A painting viewed ten times…

At Grimmauld Place:

It was just after breakfast, and everyone had left except for lily and molly that were cleaning up, like mothers do.

Lily set to work cleaning off the table while molly started to cast the spells on the dishes so they would clean themselves. All was silent, it was not a necessary awkward silent but it had a certain ounce of uncomfortably, the two did not know each other well but they both had the hopes that they could be great friends.

Molly had just finished the charms and had gone to help lily clean off the table.

"Thanks" Lily said simply with a smile on her face.

"Oh you're welcome dear" Molly said a smile dancing on her face as well.

"Not just for this but for everything you have done over the years for Harry when I… when I couldn't I was not there for him but you were and I…" lily stopped there and burst into fresh tears.

She was instantly wrapped in one of Mrs. Weasley's famous hugs, with the women comforting her, "shh its all right dear, really you don't need to thank me it was my pleasure and don't worry Harry will come around soon he always does." Mrs. Weasley's how he had at first felt slightly uncomfortable imposing on their family but it did not last long she would not let it, and if it came to it she would make sure that Harry amalgamated with his family. Yes she would make sure.

James made a quick exit after breakfast he headed into the den and looked around to make sure nobody was around before he headed through the floo to Dumbledore's office, he had something important he needed to talk about with him, well more than just one thing the point being he and Dumbledore needed to have a little chat.

Harry climbed the stairs his hand enlaced with Ginny's, Ron and Hermione had also made quick of their exit claiming they had some homework that they needed to do, though they all knew that it was a lie it was really code for 'we are going to the attic to snog but that was irrelevant for all that mattered now was that Ginny and Harry were alone once again.

They went into buck beaks room, where they had been previously sitting earlier this morning. They sat in silence for a while before Ginny asked a question that she had been wondering since she found out that Harry's parents were back and such.

"So what's it like, with them back?" Ginny asked uncertainly she did not really know how he felt about it nobody did he so far had kept it tight lidded.

She did not think that he was going answer but then after a minute he did.

"I feel that happiness, the one that people feel when all of a sudden their paths have turned but I feel empty as well like their there is a gap in my life were my parents should stand, where their memories should stand but I don't have any memories and my parents well lets face it I only met them yesterday can I really call them my parents?" Harry rambled unknowingly he was filled with different emotion and what he expressed and spoke was only half of it, because truly he did not know how he entirely felt. The whole situation was very much like a book good parts and bad and some that just remained a mystery.

Harry had decided that for now he was just going to just avoid that whole issue he did not want to deal with it at the moment he wanted to get to know his family and all those thoughts well they did not matter at the moment, but he knew that he could not hide them forever, if he did he would be living a lie once again.

Ginny did not know what to say to this so instead pulled Harry into a comforting hug, one that he needed.

A few minutes later they broke their hug, and started the inevitable, snogging…

Sirius was sitting in his bedroom, the old marauder photo albums laid in front of him, tears falling from his eyes as he stared at every picture.

Each picture held a different memory starting with first year and ending the last time that they were all together before all the chaos entered their lives.

He flipped through page by page looking down into the faces of his friends and himself, James was standing tall and proud with a smile on his face and waving his hand at the camera, one arm slung around Lily's shoulder, lily herself was smiling as well and rolling her eyes at himself who had just made a funny face in the picture in which Remus who was standing behind him quickly swatted him over the head for before they all laughed.

And then down in the middle of the picture was peter, the rat, the traitor the one that had destroyed all their lives, a smile on his chubby face and his hand which at the time bared all its fingers waving high at him from in the picture.

Sirius could think back on all those times, all those times when they all thought there futures were bright and happy how wrong they had turned out to be, how great could their lives be?

With James and lily missing most of their sons life, his horrible life.

With Peter running off to the death eaters and Voldemort and turning against all his friends for a bit of power.

With him ending up in Azkaban for years before finally escaping and now being on the run from the ministry.

And then finally with Remus losing all of his friends and going through his condition and everything by himself.

How he wished that it could all be made up for and that they all would get what they deserved.

Lily and James would get their family back and together, Harry would get a family, peter would hopefully get the death that he deserved, he could be cleared and free once more, and Remus could finally find someone to share his life with and they could all stop the pain that had been drowning them for years, that was the only wish he asked for, oh and that old moldieshorts would finally get his arse where it belonged that is six feet under.

James brushed the soot off of his clothes before peering around the office that was the same it had been the last time he had ventured here, the time that he had learnt the prophecy about his son.

He and lily knew the prophecy and they knew that Harry knew the prophecy but they could understand why he did not share it with them it was horrible to think about, and he barely knew them, though hopefully that would change soon.

"Hullo" he called out, waiting for a reply.

"James" Dumbledore called from the door in which he had just stepped out of, "should you not be at headquarters with your son?" he asked.

"I needed to take care of a few things with you"

"Well by all means take a seat" Dumbledore said seating himself in his own chair.

"Lemon Drop" they both said in unison, 'Dumbledore is so predictable' James thought.

They both smiled and chuckled before clearing there throats.

"So you wanted to speak to me?" Dumbledore said with a twinkle that threatened to overtake his eyeball.

"Yes about a few matters"

"By all means"

"well first of all I was wondering if it is possible that lily and I could clear Sirius' name he should not have had to go through any of that and after all he has done over the years for me, lily, and Harry it is the least I owe to him so?" James said quickly.

Dumbledore smiled brightly he too wanted Sirius' name and was glad that his past student and now close friend could finally be free. "that is fine James but you would have to at the same time have to expose your presence to the wizarding world again but I do not think it is wise for you to do so just this minute, It may take a month or so but I have no argument against it and I am sure Sirius will be thrilled." Dumbledore said smiling brightly.

James sighed dramatically in relief and grinned as well, his friend deserved the happiness of freedom and he was going to make sure that he got it.

"Good now about this dursley situation what were you thinking sending him to them, they are worse than dirt they are" James said enraged at the Dursley's, they had the nerve to treat his son, the nerve to treat a potter like they did well they were going to pay.

"Now James I know that I made a mistake there"

"You got that right"

"But- but if I had given him to anyone else than Harry would not be alive"

"What do you mean?"

"He was protected while he was there via an ancient blood magic, it was not until recently we learned what those horrible muggles were doing to the boy, and when we did we immediately removed him from the house, and he is not going back there again."

"He damn well won't" James said furious beyond belief.

"No he won't" Dumbledore said he to was livid with the Dursley's, he had blamed himself for not removing Harry from their hostile hospitality sooner.

"Well have you talked to Harry about coming back with you tomorrow?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not yet I don't know if he is ready for it, I don't know if he wants to

" I could not believe it Albus all those things he has done all those things he had gone through, he has done more then I ever have, I ran away from my problems and he faces his and doesn't give up well that just goes to show who the stronger person is" James spoke more to himself than to Dumbledore.

"don't doubt yourself James, you and lily are more like Harry than you realize in time I am sure Harry will tell and trust you more, and you will come to realize just how alike you really are. " Dumbledore said with a twinkle back in his eye.

James looked disbelieving for a minute before he finally nodded his head in acceptance he would wait; he smiled at his former headmaster and stood up.

"Thank you sir"

"My pleasure James, and if you want my advice talk to Harry about coming tomorrow it will do him good"

"I will Albus" James said before walking over to the fireplace and going back to Grimmauld place.

Harry and Ginny later met up with Hermione and Ron and they all proceeded into Ron's and Harry's room to play some wizards chess.

Ron was beating the crap out of Harry and Ginny the crap out of Hermione.

"What is it with Weasley's and chess" Harry muttered as Ron check mated him.

Lily's tears had dried and she was sitting across the table from Mrs. Weasley now, they were on more comfortable terms now and were talking as if they had known each other forever.

They mainly talked about their children, lily learnt that the Weasley's had seven children in all, she learned about how bill had been working in Egypt for gringotts but had recently returned and was now working at gringotts and for the order while dating his steady veela girlfriend Fleur.

Charlie was working in Romania with the dragons, and often popped by for order meetings and such.

She learnt about Percy and how he had betrayed his family and left them for his job and had yet to return, she herself had to comfort molly when she had broken in tears at this part of their conversation.

She learnt about Fred and George, the twins who had followed in her own husbands and friends footsteps and now ran a joke shop that had been going well so far, she vaguely remembered mention of it a few days before when they were going to meet Harry, it sounded like a sanctuary for people like James and Sirius.

She learnt about Ron and how he was Harry's best friend and was the one that had initially brought Harry to the Weasley clan, he had been her son's best friend since their first train ride and stuck by him through thick and thin.

She then learnt about Ginny who was Harry's girlfriend and had been since the ending weeks of their last school year, she learnt about how Ginny was very possessive of Harry and him very protective of her they were a perfect match just like she and James, she was very interested in spending time with her and getting to know her better.

She also learnt of Hermione, Harry's other best friend who had been the one that had gotten him and Ron out of a lot of trouble over the years and was one of the best friends either could ask for, she also heard that she had a pretty good slap when it was needed.

In turn molly heard about the other potter children, she learnt about Brandon who was a minute older than his twin sister. She learned how he was very into sports and loved mischief, while his sister, Isabelle, was similar but different, she was also very into sport the whole family was including Harry, and she had a talent for mischief but she loved to learn as well and knew many a more charms and curses then her brother which really helped her win the 'friendly' duels against her brother.

After hearing all these things about the potter twins she had no doubt that with time Harry would get along perfectly with them, she knew that Harry would adapt to all of this and finally be happy hopefully.

A few minutes passed in which the two continued to talk it was nearing the late afternoon now and they started to prepare dinner while continuing on their chatter when they saw a green flame produce in the fireplace and James fell onto the floor in front of them.

He got up dusting off his clothes once again and repaired his broken glasses, Mrs. Weasley was instantly reminded of the first time Harry had traveled via floo, those two no three were so much a like it was obvious with out the appearances that they were related.

"Hello" James greeted them, waving at molly and sweeping his wife into his arms and planting a kiss on her lips.

"Where have you been?" lily asked.

"Just to see Dumbledore" James said and then gave her look that said he would say further later.

"Well that's good you better go get cleaned up dinner is going to be soon" she said wiping a little bit of soot off of his nose.

"In a minute we need to talk to Harry if we are going back tomorrow" James said simply.

"Oh yes I forgot completely about that, we have not seen him or any of the others for hours at least, wonder what they are up to?" Lily said.

"Oh I will go get him if you like" Mrs. Weasley's said.

"If you don't mind" James said, with a grin before he sat down.

Mrs. Weasley got up from her seat and walked out of the room and up the stairs.

"So why were you at Dumbledore's?" Lily asked condemningly.

James then proceeded to tell her in short of what they discussed their and lily was overjoyed at the factor of getting Sirius free, but promised to keep it quiet until it was the right time to tell.

A minute or two passed and molly came back downstairs with Harry following her.

Harry was wondering why in fact he was being called out of his game, not that he minded he as losing for the tenth time and it was getting to be a bit embarrassing to say the least to lose that many times to your best friend and worst your girlfriend.

"Hi" Harry greeted his parents simply before sitting down at the table.

"Hi Harry" they returned with.

"Mrs. Weasley's said you wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes, well we uh… we were wondering if you would like to see your brother and sister tomorrow, umm…" James said eagerly awaiting his reaction.

Harry's face took a look of thought. 'Do I want to meet them? Well of course I want to meet them but now? Will they like me what will I do if they don't what are they going to think what are they going to act like? How should I act?' questions like these ran through his mind and it soon became evident that if he did not answer them soon then his brain was going to explode so he mad e his decision.

"Okay sure but um… do you think it be okay if Ginny, Ron and Hermione and Sirius come as well?" Harry said, he wanted to meet them but he needed the support of his friends and such he couldn't do it with out them.

Well that was a give in, "how about this Harry, we can invite everyone to come down and make a day of it" Lily said knowing that her son was nervous and would probably prefer not to have the attention solely focused on him, in that way he was just like her she unlike her husband never really did like to be the center of attention.

Harry smiled, "that would be great" he said, feeling that with everyone there to back him up the nervousness would ease up a little but he was still nervous beyond belief, he had had dreams, dreams about what his family might have been like had Voldemort not killed them when he was little, and he sincerely hoped that this was not a dream now.

The potters beamed at their son; 'soon' they thought 'soon we will all be a family.'

Sirius blew his nose and wiped his tears. He stored his books away for another day hopefully a day in which his wishes came true but he could not be sure just yet.

He straightened up and took a deep calming breath; he heard a light knock on the door and the voice of Harry coming through it, and "Sirius" he called.

Sirius headed towards the door to let his godson through, "Harry, what's up" he asked casually.

"Nothing, are you okay Sirius"

"Oh I am fine, how about you are you fine?" Sirius asked in return.

"Sort of, I don't know I don't know if I am fine" Harry said truthfully.

After hearing such a truthful answer, Sirius could not lie and answered truthfully, " okay I lied I'm not entirely fine, it is hard to see them again after so many years of trying to put them behind me, it is hard to resurface all those memories when they have stayed hidden for so long."

"it is hard, but will get through it, we're survivors after all" Harry said with a light smile on his face, he and Sirius had taken to calling each other the survivors it fit them well.

With Harry surviving all those horrible things in his past surviving Voldemort and all those adventures. And then with Sirius who survived so much emotionally, survived twelve years in Azkaban, and then the last couple of years while on the run, yes they were the survivors.

Sirius chuckled and ruffled Harry's hair, "come on kid, lets get down stairs I can smell the food from here"

Harry shook his head and followed his godfather out the door and down the stairs.

A.N. love to readers and reviewers.