Title: Any Suggestions?
Summary: James and Sirius get another chance at life, only weeks after Sirius' death. Book 6 disregard. SBJP HPDM.
A/N: I'm disregarding anything that was revealed in book 6 unless I make a particular reference to it. Also this is slash; if you don't like it, don't read it.
Enjoy!
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The trio consisting of Dumbledore, Sirius and James stopped just short of the fireplaces that lined the Entrance Hall of the Ministry of Magic building. Sirius noticed with a smirk that people began to turn towards the recently resurrected pair with looks of curiosity and shock.
"I think it may be better to return to Hogwarts first, so we can what has happened recently before we go back to Headquarters where Harry has been for the past two weeks. I will also send messages out to Order members, informing them of the meeting that will be moved up to tonight. I believe that this is news that requires a lot of our circle to be present. Anyway, the fireplaces at Headquarters are protected, so we couldn't floo directly there anyway, the only grate with direct access is my own."
Sirius and James nodded and followed Dumbledore into the flashing emerald flames, the swirling smoke curling around them for a moment before they were spat out on the rug of Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore seemed unperturbed by the rather abrupt ejection from the fire and strode out gracefully, Sirius did a spectacular cartwheel (managing to avoid the mantle somehow) and landed right next to the chair he intended to sit on. James was less successful and ended up comically sprawled on the rug, glasses askew.
"Would you care for a seat, gentlemen?" Dumbledore asked, dropping into his own winged armchair. James and Sirius took the seats opposite, Sirius ran his fingers over the small engraving in the wood arm reading 'Sirius Black, Marauders Forever', he had in scratched into the mahogany in his seventh year, two days before the end of term. One of the last marks he left on the school.
"Sirius, James, it is excellent to see you alive again, though I am quite curious as to how it happened, I believe it can wait for the Order meeting tonight." He paused for a moment, as if dreading to ask the next question. "James, how much do you know about what has been going on in the Wizarding world since you have been gone?"
James paused. He though back to what Sirius had told him while they were waiting in Limbo.
X Flashback X
The Guardian had just disappeared a few minutes ago, and Sirius and James were sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaning against the stone walls.
"Sirius, what's Harry like, I know he survived, and you said that you died in the fight to rescue him after he'd been tricked into thinking you were in danger, so he sounds like a real Gryffindor, but I don't know anything about him. When did he do his first piece of magic? What was it? When did you get him his first broom? Can he fly? Does he play Quidditch?" James' eyes lit up in excitement at the prospect of his son playing a game he had always loved. Sirius' heart broke at all the things he had missed in Harry's life.
"James, hang on for a moment. I don't know when he did his first bit of magic, I didn't even get him his first broomstick. He does play Quidditch though, rather well in fact. Seeker." His eyes lit up momentarily, remembering the first time he had seen his godson flying. He'd been even better than James.
"James, after Wormtail betrayed us, and…you…died, I was a fucking mess." Sirius' voice rose a few notes. "I couldn't even think straight, I mean, I found your bodies, and I couldn't handle it. And Hagrid took Harry to Dumbledore, so I decided to go after go after Peter alone, and the little bastard got the better of me, he screamed how I betrayed you, then he cut of his finger, blasted the street behind him away, transformed, and scurried away. I was sent to Azkaban. And you have to know Prongs, I'd never betray you," Sirius' voice took on a frantic quality.
"I'd never, I promise, I didn't mean to, I didn't know, I'm so sorry, so so sorry, I thought it was perfect, I though we were perfect, I didn't know you'd die. I never wanted you to die, I love you, I always have, I'm sorry I killed you, I'm so sorry-" Sirius was sobbing hard, his words becoming disjointed, catching on each jagged breath. Tears flooded down his face, dripping down onto the cold floor, where they gathered like pools of liquid pain.
James was at his side, embracing his love in a comforting hug, whispering to him that it wasn't his fault, that he didn't kill him, that there was nothing to blame him for, and that he was sorry that he had to go to Azkaban. Over a half hour of gentle reassurances later, and Sirius had stopped crying, his head was resting on James' lap, long fingers running calmingly through his hair.
"Siri, how long were you in Azkaban for?" James hated himself almost instantly as Sirius inhaled deeply, and almost took the question back with an apology, but Sirius started to speak.
"Eleven years, eight months, and six days, I found out after I escaped. It doesn't really matter exactly how long. The days in there, they just blend together, you see, there's no light there. No windows. Just stone walls and bars that face onto other cells. Other prisoners. I was lucky enough to be opposite Bella."
"I'm so sorry Sirius, really, I am." A pause. "You said you escaped…so people, they still think you did it?"
"Why not? The evidence was rather damming, don't you think? No one even knew we were Animagi, Dumbledore thought I was your secret keeper, and don't forget, I'm a Black." He sighed, and sat up, taking a deep breath. Then sitting next to James, shoulders touching and fingers wrapped together, Sirius began to tell him of everything that he knew about Harry, everything that had happened to him after his escape from Azkaban and the world after James' death. Needless to say it took a while.
"-James, I know it was stupid to go to the Department of Mysteries, but I couldn't leave Harry there. And that house, James, that house was doing what twelve years in Azkaban had failed to. It was driving me crazy."
"I know Siri, I know. I'm sorry you had to go back the house. I promised after you ran away that you'd never have to go back. I'm just so fucking sorry." Anger infused his words. Anger at Molly Weasley for sniping words and disapproving glances. Anger at Snape for sneered insults. Anger at Dumbledore for sending him back to his lover back to his childhood prison. Anger at Remus for thinking Sirius could have ever done sold out to Voldemort. Anger at Peter for his ultimate betrayal.
"It's not your fault. You didn't make that house what it is and you certainly didn't make me go back there." They fell into a heavy silence, each man occupied with his own thoughts.
"What are we going to tell Harry?" Sirius asked after many moments had passed.
"The truth." James replied simply. "What else would we tell him? Do you want to lie to him?"
"No, but what if he doesn't take it well?"
"We'll deal with that when and if we come to it. I'm not starting of my relationship with my son by lying to him. He deserves to know." James finished firmly, looking Sirius directly in the eyes.
"You're right. We should tell him the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help…us God." James chucked softly as Sirius raised his right hand to go with the paraphrased swearing-in lines.
"I should never have let you watch those Muggle crime dramas." He stated, remembering how Sirius had claimed that they were good research for his Auror training. Auror training.
"When we get back, you're going to rejoin the Auror squads, aren't you?" James asked, though it was barely a question. More like a resignation to the fact. Sirius had joined the Auror Forces for training (which during the war had only lasted six months) the day after their Hogwarts graduation, while James had decided to start his training as a Healer. James had never liked Sirius occupation, but he completely understood why his lover had chosen it. Also, they had both, along with most of the Gryffindors graduating that year, joined the Order of the Phoenix as soon as possible, to play as much a role as possible in the fight against Voldemort.
"If Moody will have me back, and so long as it's okay with you, then yes, I will." That was the other thing, Sirius was one of the most headstrong and stubborn people to ever enter Hogwarts, but if James adamantly disagreed with him being an Auror, his dream job, he would give it up for him.
James had not yet told him to quit, and he never would, even if it killed them (again), because being an Auror was what Sirius was meant to do, and it would destroy his soul to sit on the sidelines, even if those sidelines involved lots of Order work. Sirius had to be in the middle of it all of the time. James had (somehow) understood that when they met, he had understood that when they got together, he understood that when they decided to live together, and he understood that now, which his why his only response to Sirius' answer was an excepting nod.
X End Flashback X
"Headmaster, I believe Sirius told me everything he knew. I think I am as up to date as he is."
"Oh good, well, there have been quite a few changes in the last two months. The Ministry had finally recognised that Voldemort is indeed alive, and while this is relatively good, Voldemort now sees no reason to keep his activities as secret as before, so the Death Eaters have began attacking again. The Order and Ministry are doing their best to keep it under control, but, well, I don't need to lecture you two on what war does.
"Also, after the battle, the Ministry had to also conclude your innocence, Sirius, and add Mr. Pettigrew to their list of known and active Death Eaters. They were no too pleased with the turn of events.
"To the world at large, that is all that has changed, but when we go to Headquarters, you will no doubt realise there are a more people who have taken up a summer residence.
"Harry, along with Hermione Granger, Ron and Ginny Weasley and their parents stay there permanently, though I believe the twins, who have been inducted, often remain as well. Also, Lucius Malfoy, who has been a spy for the Order since the first war stays there when not on missions, and his son Draco has moved in for the remainder of the summer." James and Sirius' mouths dropped open at the thought of Lucius Malfoy as a good guy.
"Professor," Sirius began, "Are you sure that they can be trusted? I was, erm, acquainted with Malfoy when I was a teenager, hell, he married one of my cousins, he never even gave the slightest indication he was anything other that Voldemort-kissing-bastard."
"Sirius, I trust Mr. Malfoy completely, even if I don't wish to disclose why, and as for his son, Draco is implicitly loyal to his father, and anyone else he deems worthy of that loyalty. Wait until you meet the man to pass judgement." Sirius nodded, accepting his former-Headmaster's assessment, for the moment at least.
"Right James, if you could just read this," Dumbledore handed him a piece of paper which had just been written in his own elegant script, detailing the position of Headquarters, "And we can be on out way to Headquarters."
When James had finished reading the scrap of paper and handed it back to Dumbledore, who burned it with a wave of his wand. James looked at Sirius, mentally asking whether or not he was willing to go back to Grimmaud Place. Sirius nodded almost imperceptively and the trio stood, Dumbledore paused as they neared the fire, holding the younger men back for a second.
"I believe I have somethings that belongs to you gentlemen." With a wave of his wand to pieces of polished wood appeared in his hand out of nowhere. James and Sirius instantly recognised them.
"Our wands." James half-whispered in awe, taking his and running a tentative finger along the smooth stick. Sirius was performing a similar examination on his own.
"I thought you might like them back." With that Dumbledore activated that grate with floo powder, and the group stepped in, the Headmaster's voice directing them to Twelve Grimmaud Place.
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Right, this is amazingly late, but my Dad decided to rope me into installing decking the past week, so I haven't had as much time as I'd like to write. Next chapter will be up within the week, hopefully before Monday. As always, I live for reviews, so please, leave a comment, especially if you have a suggestion for a title. Thanks to everyone who reviewed last time.