A/N: *crawls out of college cave* Hello all! I have survived finals! Here is the next installment of Raising Harry. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! I apologize for everyone I didn't respond to, I've just been insanely busy, what with school, work, and the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition. But I should be able to post more over the next few weeks!
One big shoutout - Lupinesence, I think you actually read my mind. Stop doing that!
For anyone who was wondering - Golden Trio will not be happening anytime soon. As I said before, the Weasleys don't really fit with the Sirius I plan to write, and Hermione is a Muggleborn. But Neville will definitely show up, and I'm a big fan of Draco coming in. And no romance yet! They're a year and a half, two at most. Not happening. That's just wrong.
Anyway, enjoy!
Remus set a worn out Harry on the couch in his living room, Sirius looking over his shoulder worriedly. "He's a child, Padfoot. He gets tired. Don't worry about it."
"But he's my child. I'm worried about him." Sirius sat down beside the boy, wrapping an arm around him. "Hey, Prongslet. Want some dinner?"
"'Kay."
"What do you want to eat?" The werewolf moved to Harry's other side and met the emerald eyes. "You can have anything you want."
"'Kay." Shifting onto his side, Harry let out a tiny, adorable yawn and leaned himself into Sirius's side.
Sirius ruffled his hair gently. "So what do you want?" Harry simply shrugged and pressed himself into the cushions. "Come on, champ. There has to be something you really want."
"No."
"Sirius." Leaning over Harry's head, Remus met Sirius's gaze. "Let him be. I'll order a couple of pizzas for us. Why don't you go give him a bath?"
"No baff!"
Both men looked down at the child in shock. "Why don't you want a bath?" Remus asked gently.
"No good." The toddler buried his head in his arms and began to cry softly.
"Baths are fun! Come on, let Padfoot show you." Lifting the boy into his arms, Sirius gently cradled him in his arms. "We'll have fun. And I'll be gentle. If you don't like it then I'll spell you clean. How does that sound?"
"'Kay."
"Good boy." The two men exchanged a significant look as Sirius left the room with Harry over his shoulder. Even though both desperately wanted to pay the Dursleys' a visit, they also knew that right now, Harry needed them.
U_U
Sirius set a subdued Harry on a chair by the kitchen table. "Here we are. Squeaky clean. Wasn't that fun, Prongslet?"
"Yes."
"See? Not so bad." The man ruffled the child's damp hair and turned to Remus. "What's the ETA on dinner?"
"Five more minutes or so." Looking up from his new book, Remus inclined his head towards the piles of parchment obscuring most of the table. "I've been researching some theories."
"Such as?" Sirius handed Harry one of the new toys they'd purchased earlier in the day, effectively turning his attention elsewhere. "You got a lot of books today."
"I was looking into your strange behavior. Yours and James's."
The Animagus gave him a sideways look. "What do you mean?"
"You two changed. Even now, you're very different." Meeting the other man's gaze, he tapped the end of his quill on a line of the current book he was looking at. "You and James would never have assumed I betrayed you before. You also became harder, colder. There were a number of signs."
"I never noticed," Sirius replied quietly.
"I know. I don't blame you, either of you." His head jerked up as the doorbell rang. "There's dinner."
"I'll get – Harry, what's wrong?"
The child was sitting on the chair, clutching a plush dragon with wide, fearful emerald eyes. "Aunt 'tunia an' Unca Bernon."
Remus sighed. "No, Harry. Petunia and Vernon cannot touch you anymore. Sirius officially adopted you. No one can take you away from him. Ever."
"Really?"
"Really."
Trying to break the tension, Sirius scooped up his godson in his arms. "And now it's time for dinner! How does that sound?"
"'Kay."
As the other two walked to the door, Remus began to clear his books and parchment. After Harry went to bed he'd discuss his theory with Sirius.
U_U
Sirius smiled to himself at the sight of a very content Harry curled up on the couch against Remus's side, listening to the man read a book about cats in hats. When he got his hands on the Dursleys…he shook his head. What was with him? As Moony had mentioned before they'd gone to the will reading and earlier, this wasn't him. Already Sirius could feel something different, something…clearer. No, he was not going to go make up with his parents. For one, his father was dead, and for another, Walburga was simply mad. As mad as Bellatrix, if he was comparing. Even Regulus was gone, for some reason that he had never found out. But he no longer felt the urge to be an Auror. Now that he thought of it, he didn't know why he had ever even thought of joining them. It was a brilliant job, but he was a Pureblood. There was no reason for him to do it.
"That's it, Harry. Time for bed," Remus announced, closing the book.
Leaning over, Sirius scooped up the toddler. "Who's ready for bed?!" He wrapped his arms around Harry's waist, holding him like an airplane. "Zoom!"
The pair flew into Harry's light blue room and Sirius gently tossed him onto the snitch-covered bedspread. "There we go. I'll tuck you in and then you'll be all ready for bed."
"Stay." The boy held onto Sirius's sleeve, emerald eyes wide. "No go."
"You want me to stay here? With you?" Sirius ruffled Harry's hair as he nodded. "No problem. Under the covers, now."
Harry did as he said, struggling to pull the heavy comforter over himself. Chuckling, Sirius helped and stretched himself out beside him. The child was already beginning to get tired, his eyes drooping. "Hey there, Prongslet. You're looking tired."
"Seepy," Harry affirmed with a yawn.
"Yeah, I figured. It's been a long day for you." He reached over and picked up a picture frame from the nightstand. "Hey. This is you and your mom and dad."
"Mommy? Daddy?"
Sirius smiled sadly. "Yeah, that's Lily and James. By their wedding. I was the best man, you know?" He looked down at Harry, who had his head pressed into Sirius's side. "Oh. You're asleep. Good night, then."
Giving Harry one last look, Sirius left the room.
U_U
Remus looked up as Sirius entered the living room. "He's asleep?"
"Would I come out if he wasn't?" The dog animagus sat down beside the werewolf, looking at the book in his hands. "What are you researching?"
"Mind control," Remus replied simply.
"Still on the personality changes thing?"
"Yes. It isn't only you and James. Why didn't Alice and Frank try to get Harry? Lily always wanted to go for her Mastery. Why didn't she?" Setting his book on the coffee table, Remus looked at Sirius. "The common denominator is Albus."
"Dumbledore?!" Sirius raised an eyebrow. "How could you think that way?"
"Think about it!" Remus stood up, his hands spread. "Dumbledore insisted that I go on those ridiculous missions! Dumbledore wanted Lily and James to go into hiding! Dumbledore made Peter the Secret Keeper! If he's the head of the Light, how didn't he know about Peter being evil?"
Sirius got to his feet too. "I don't know! But – "
"But nothing! I'm not saying that it has to be him, but everything points to him. Don't you see it?"
"I…guess so." Dropping back down on the couch, Sirius buried his head in his hands. "I can't believe this."
"I know. It sounds mad. But it all adds up." Remus sat down and tentatively wrapped an arm around Sirius's shoulders. "We'll get to the bottom of this."
"He ruined lives. Our lives. Harry won't go to sleep by himself because Albus decided to send him to the Dursleys!" Sirius fisted his hands in his lap. "I just can't believe it. Albus?"
"I know, it – " He looked up sharply as the doorbell rang. "It's rather late, who could that be?"
Pulling his wand out of his jean pocket, Sirius cautiously approached the door. "You go cover Harry. It could be a Death Eater."
"I know. I'm going." Remus nodded at him and left the room.
As he pulled open the door, Sirius kept his wand trained on the opening. "Who is it?"
"Severus Snape," came the voice.
"And how do I know you aren't lying?"
There was a sigh. "I know what Lupin is."
"Many people do," Sirius shot back.
"I learned about it when I followed you to the Whomping Willow based on some clues you decided to drop." Severus shifted, the tip of his wand peeking out of his sleeve. "Now are you going to allow me in or do I have to call the wolf?"
"Fine. Get in here." Sirius pulled open the door to allow the man in. "Remus! It's Severus!"
Remus entered the room and held out a hand to Severus. "It's good to see you."
"I cannot say the same." Severus kept his hand on his wand.
"So why are you here?" Sirius butt in.
"I want to be a part of Harry's life."
