A noise escaped from the back of his throat as he rolled over, his legs stretching down the length of the mattress as he burrowed his face further into the soft cotton of his pillow. The cool morning air ghosted across his bare back, and his loose curls tickled his nose.
The bed shifted to his right, and a moment later, the light scratching of fingernails travelling up his spine made him shiver in delight, his mouth twitching as he did. The soft pads of her fingertips followed, and the feathering of gentle kisses that trailed along his shoulder blades almost drove him over the edge.
One of her fingers wrapped a curl around it as she moved her soft lips along the back of his neck and up toward his ear, which she nibbled and whispered sweet nothings into breathily. His eyes snapped open, and he spun, her delighted squeal echoing in the master bedroom as he positioned himself over her.
He pinned her wrists above her head, and his free hand trailed the tantalising curve of her thigh up to her hip bone. Her hair was splayed out on the pillow, like a golden halo of blonde as hazel eyes stared up at him, dark with desire.
Her chest heaved, and he grinned to himself, lowering his own lips to her neck as she arched into him – he could feel everything, with his own weight holding her in place. Every twitch of her stomach, every breath taken, and every tensing of her legs.
She could have thrown him off – after all, there was nobody that got the best of his wife – but in these moments, where she would stare at him with that familiar hunger that had ensnared him so all those years ago, he felt the familiar warmth spread throughout his chest, threatening to undo him before he'd even began.
She gasped into his ear as his lips trailed along the part of her neck that always made her tremble beneath his fingers and grinned victoriously to himself as he felt that familiar shudder beneath him. His thigh was placed between her own, and within moments, she was grinding against him, panting with need as he released her wrists. Her hands immediately threaded themselves into his hair, her nails raking along his scalp until they descended down his back.
He hissed as he felt the skin break, but it brought with it a pleasant tingle. His kisses began to run lower, along her collarbone, and down to the valley between her bare breasts. She writhed beneath him, murmuring his name softly as his own hands ran down the lengths of her thighs – they were soft to the touch, smooth and without a blemish, and corded with taut muscle as they squeezed at his ribs.
His tongue darted out, dancing along her skin lightly, the salty sweetness of her skin an ambrosia to him. She smelled of a million promises fulfilled, and so perfectly like her. His teeth pinched at a nub, his tongue darting to lick the pinched flesh before blowing on it softly; she arched into him, moaning his name deliciously.
Her stomach was next, taut, and flat from a career that demanded physical excellence, though personally, he could wait to see it full and round, swollen for the entire world to see. Just the thought of feeling the tiny kicks and feeling the magic of his future child almost brought a tear to his eye.
She squirmed beneath him as his short beard tickled her navel – her breathing was erratic, and her magic thrummed all around her with a heady need, a want that only he could fill. A sense of pride flared in his chest, that he could reduce her to such, and the desire he felt for her grew to almost painful new heights.
He was hers, and she was his.
How long they lost themselves in each other's bodies, he couldn't say – only that once they were both fully sated, Sirius felt like he needed to return to his pleasantly interrupted slumber. Perhaps, if he were lucky, she would wake him the same way.
His arm tightened around her shoulders, and he smiled at the finger that absently drew small circles in the small hairs on his chest. The sun shone through the large window, large golden beams filtering through the large panes, and small particles of dust danced about in the air.
His free hand reached down; his calloused fingers gently trailing over the smoothness of her thigh absently as his eyes darted about the room. It was a room at Blackwall that he was still getting used to occupying – The Lord's Chamber.
With the death of Arcturus, he had risen to be the head of one of the most powerful families in Britain – his name commanded respect, and he had more wealth at his fingertips than even his great-grandchildren would be able to make a dent in. Not only that, but he had the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife.
Despite the tragedies of the year, life couldn't get much better.
He had regrets, of course – Arcturus being the primary one. How many times had he walked into Arcturus's study, now his study, looking to speak to the man, to ask him his advice or even just to talk to his grandfather? He'd lost count of the number of times he had looked to Arcturus's empty chair at the table.
Without Amelia, without Remus, he would have been swallowed by his ever-growing grief. Arcturus had been his salvation; he had forged him into the man that he had become. He had been far more rash and stupid in his youth, content to whittle away his holidays at Rosestone Castle with James, Charlus, and Dorea, while Arcturus had been confined to a bed.
He regretted the years lost and treasured the ones with the man after his trial – of raising Harry between them, watching him grow and flourish as only Harry could. Arcturus would be proud of the man that he was becoming – he was the best of all of them; James, Lily, Arcturus, Remus, and himself.
Oh, he would wring his neck the second he returned from school, there was no doubt about that – Harry had thrown himself headfirst into danger, regardless of what could have been waiting for him down there. As it turned out, he had returned safe and sound – exhausted, but alive.
That it had been a near thing was something that still haunted the corners of his mind, the echoing voices of James and Lily terrorising his darkest dreams in the middle of the cold nights. His only salvation was the woman next to him.
She held him while he wept, and she kissed him when he begged forgiveness to those he had long-since outlived, her hands stroking his hair as she tucked his head beneath her chin.
Her thigh moved higher up his body, and he found himself blinking at the sudden movement. He felt her toes brushing through the dark hair of his legs, and listened to her breath deeply through her nose, an almost purring noise ghosting through her lips as she stretched languidly against his side.
"Enjoying yourself?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as he glanced down at her. She tipped her head back and smiled lazily up at him, her eyes still darker than usual.
"Immeasurably." She purred, craning her head to ghost kisses along his jaw. He chuckled to himself and removed his hand from her thigh to cup her cheek, the pad of his thumb trailing over her cheekbone back and forth as he looked into her eyes. "What is it?" She asked, quietly, leaning into his touch. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing." He said after a heartbeat, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to the tip of her nose. "Everything is perfect."
"That's a bold claim." Amelia answered him with an arched brow, rolling on top of him. The sheet that had, somewhat, preserved their modesty fell away and pooled around his hips. His eyes raked her body hungrily, and as she looked down at him, she smiled smugly as she felt his desire beneath her. She leaned forward, propping herself on her elbows on either side of her.
Her nose brushed his, and he could feel every breath she took on his lips. She captured them slowly and melted into him. She tasted of sweet things, with just the faintest hint of something fruity. A hand worked its way into her hair, it felt like the finest silk.
She pulled away slowly, grinning and biting her bottom lip between white teeth as her eyes sparkled in the morning light. "Good morning, my lord." She purred, peppering his jaw with kisses.
"The best of mornings." He answered, wrapping a hand around her waist, and pulling her flush against him. She squealed in delight and buried herself in the crook of his neck. He could feel her smile against his skin, even as she trailed soft kisses along it. "What has you in such a good mood today, hm?"
"I can't simply enjoy my husband?" She murmured between soft kisses. "It is what I keep you around for, after all."
He chuckled and lightly pinched her arse, earning a yelp and a soft swat to his shoulder. "I'm not complaining, of course. We should wake up like this every morning."
"You wouldn't be able to walk." She hummed, her fingers trailing along his jaw as she kissed him beneath his ear. "What use would you be to me then?"
"I wouldn't be able to walk?" He scoffed, looking down at her. "I distinctly remember-"
"Finish that sentence, Sirius Black, and you'll not be leaving this room with your cock." She sniffed, tapping him on the cheek with her finger. "I'm not afraid to take away your favourite toy."
"Yes dear." He sighed with a roll of his eyes.
"You're learning – it's good, in your old age." She grinned, pushing herself up enough that she could look at him in the eye. "It seems old dogs can learn new tricks."
"Old?" He sputtered, sitting up as she laughed wonderfully – he pressed his lips together tightly and huffed in indignation. "Old my arse." He muttered.
"You'd have slept in if it weren't for me." She grinned at him, tugging on one of the curls that framed his face lightly.
"I'm pretty sure we have slept in."
"It's not even breakfast yet." She smiled at him, climbing from the bed slowly as she padded her way across the bedroom. Sirius watched her move, his eyes glued to her sensually swaying hips the entire time.
"What time did you get in last night?" He asked, pulling the sheet up to his waist and scratched the back of his head absently. He yawned as she looked over her shoulder and tried to hide it behind the back of his hand.
"Two." She hummed, opening a set of drawers, and pulling out her underwear. During their courting, when they had grown more than comfortable with one another, Sirius had thought it hilarious to pull a little prank. It was a stupid thing, really, but he'd charmed all of her underwear to be black – for his name, and now hers.
It hadn't been his smartest prank, nor had it been his most subtle – it had been a little bit of fun between the two of them, that had become a small, private joke that made him smile a little each morning as he'd watch her dress.
"That's later than normal – is everything okay?" He asked, resting his head against the headboard.
"Better than okay – we finished the mapping yesterday, just before Harry had to go to curfew. I spent some time at the office making sure it was all filed properly and made sure to give everyone that worked on it a small break."
"That's generous of you." He remarked.
"No less than they deserve." She shrugged. "They all worked long, hard hours. There could have been anything lurking in those tunnels – luckily, our Harry defeated the only thing down there." She said, fastening her bra.
"Our Harry – I like the sound of that." He smiled, his eyes losing focus for a moment.
"I bet you do." She smiled over her shoulder, turning to face him fully as she approached the bed. "Just you think – someday, there'll be little ones all of our own running around."
"He'll spoil them rotten; you know." He grinned as he pulled himself from the bed, snatching his discarded pyjamas from the floor and shimmying them up to his hips.
Amelia appeared in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck, and he found his hands playing with the top of her underwear at her hips as she kissed him languidly. "Keep up what you did this morning, and I'll spoil you rotten." She grinned, bumping her nose with his playfully.
"I could get used to that." He smirked, sliding his hands around to her posterior. She gave a contented sigh and kissed him one last time.
"I'll bet – come on, let's eat, and then we can get ready for the day."
"Don't you have work?" He asked, cocking a brow.
"I have the week off – Nymphadora will keep things in line while I'm gone." She smiled, picking up her robe and throwing it around her shoulders – it was a thin thing, made of Acromantula Silk, and shimmered a tantalising cream colour in the morning sunlight. She cinched it around her waist and threw him his own.
He shrugged it on with a pout and followed her out the door. Their soft footfalls were the only sounds in the living areas of Blackwall, and his heart lurched a little as they passed Harry's empty room.
They padded down the stairs slowly – it was a Friday, and in truth, he didn't have much to do. There was an event at Hogwarts in the evening that they would be attending, as would half of the Ministry and the Press, but until then, there was truly little that required his attention, other than his gorgeous wife.
The sounds of the House Elves working could be heard from the kitchen, and as they wandered into the dining room, Sirius caught Remus sitting in his usual chair with his paper opened in front of him, and spotted Kreacher popping about the table, placing food.
Remus peered over to the doorway, no doubt sensing their presence, or hearing them – or, Merlin forbid, smelling them. "Late start?" He asked, casually.
"Shut it, Moony." He muttered, levelling the Werewolf with his best glare. Remus, for his part, was content to chortle away as he turned back to his paper.
Sirius pulled out Amelia's chair for her, and tucked her in, just as he always did, before grabbing a chair for himself. The aromas from the table were simply to die for, and his stomach growled in agreement. He pilfered a pair of warm croissants and layered them with a generous helping of strawberry jam, before leaning back in his chair and moaning happily.
"Where have I heard that noise before?" He heard Remus mutter, and so, Sirius tossed a balled-up napkin at him, despite his quiet chuckles. To his left, he saw the light pink that appeared on Amelia's cheeks, and suddenly wondering just what it was he hungered for more.
Food, or his wife.
"One day, when you grow up big and strong, you'll find a pretty witch for yourself." Sirius nodded solemnly, ignoring the way Remus rolled his eyes as he folded the paper.
"That'll be the day."
"I hear Nanette Sprutton is single." Amelia shrugged innocently.
"She's one of your Aurors." Remus sighed, leaning back in his chair, and sipping at his tea. "Taking an interest in the personal lives of those you pay the wages of now, are we, Amelia?"
Amelia shrugged as she took a bite of her toast, and Sirius chuckled to himself. It was a side of the woman he loved that very few ever got to see, but she truly was a romantic at heart. By day, she was the stern, formidable head of the DMLE, tasked with delivering justice to those that broke the law – in private, she was a woman that loved to see people flourish together.
She'd told him – bragged, really – that she was secretly responsible for half of the marriages in her department since she had become an Auror. Everyone needed a hobby.
"I simply give a nudge where I'm needed." She sniffed, sipping at her orange juice.
Sirius watched Remus as he placed his mug down on the table and interlocked his fingers over his stomach. "Well, I appreciate it, Amelia, but I assure you, I'm doing just fine, thank you."
Sirius could barely hold in his snort, though when he felt Remus's amber eyes on him, he recovered quickly and pretended to have had a bit of food go down the wrong way. "I'm fine." He wheezed, patting his chest.
Remus hummed, and levelled him with a look, but said little else. The food disappeared from the table quickly after that, and eventually, Sirius sat back and gave a mighty stretch, relishing in the way his muscles trembled and the tightness in his back disappeared.
Amelia had finished before him and had contented herself with reading the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. She had shifted in her seat, so that one leg was tucked beneath her, and she held her mug of coffee in one hand as she read the articles. He watched as she would scrunch her nose at this article or that or purse her lips at something he couldn't see.
He glanced over at Remus and smiled wearily – he knew what was coming now. "Alright, lay it on me." He sighed, shaking his head slowly.
"There's not much, honestly." Remus said, pulling out a small notebook and flicking it open. "You're expected at Hogwarts tonight, as a member of the Board, but you already know that. You've had a few bits of mail, nothing too important and I can handle those for you – oh, and House Selwyn has expressed an interest in a meeting."
"Did he say what for?"
Remus shook his head. "No – something to do with the Wizengamot, I would imagine."
"Alright, did he give a time?"
"One this afternoon, if that would suit you." Remus shrugged, pursing his lips.
"Let him know I agree to it – you'll meet him at the door and take his wand."
"Of course."
"That meeting's going to be a chore, isn't it?" He sighed, running his hands down his face slowly. Before Remus could open his mouth to say anything, however, the familiar form of Lispy appeared at his side, bouncing from foot to foot with a small envelope in her hands. She disappeared with a small pop as he took it from her small hands.
It was a nondescript one, besides the seal stamped proudly into the red wax on its back – the seal of Hogwarts. His eyes darted up to meet Remus's across the table, and darted to his left to his wife, who had turned to look at him, her hazel eyes darting between his own and the envelope.
He tore it open quickly, and unfolded the piece of parchment inside, his eyes darting back and forth over the loopy, flowing letters. He frowned a little and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he blew out a sigh. Without looking at her, he handed Amelia the letter and looked at Remus.
"I need you to go to Gringotts at some point today and arrange a meeting to discuss donating more funds to Hogwarts."
"How much more are we talking?" Remus asked, pulling out his little book and a pencil from the spine. Sirius hadn't even noticed he'd put it away.
"At least quadruple." He muttered, scratching at the scruff on his chin. "Likely more."
"Is there something I should know?"
"Well, you'll definitely be at Hogwarts come September." Sirius scoffed, glancing at his wife.
"Sirius…" Remus sighed. "I thought we'd talked about this."
"No, you talked about it – my mind was made up."
"I'm not a teacher."
"You tutored Harry for years – right?" Amelia asked, glancing between the two of them. "I don't know what the problem is; you're one of the smartest people I know – I've had to stop myself from trying to get you into my department once or twice. You'd make a terrifying Auror."
"I'm a Werewolf, Amelia." Remus replied, shaking his head sadly. "I can make myself safe here – I can't promise the same thing at Hogwarts. How do you think the other parents, the other families will react to the news, hm?"
"Fuck the other families – the most they can really do is complain. This is House Black; we only answer to House Potter and to The Council." Sirius scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"Merlin, you sound just like you did when we were at school." Remus sighed, rubbing his temples. "Look, at the end of the day, I'm classed as a dangerous creature – if you weren't responsible for Harry, would you really like the idea of me teaching your children?"
"You know I wouldn't give a shit." Sirius scoffed. "If I gave a damn about everyone's opinions on Werewolves, we wouldn't be friends." He added, waving a finger back and forth between them. He smiled slightly at the little up-tick in the corners of Remus's mouth.
"Werewolves and Vampires police themselves for the most part – it's rare we ever get any call-outs." Amelia added. "Honestly, outside of looking over Harry, this could do a lot for Werewolves everywhere."
"What do you mean?" Remus asked, looking at her curiously.
"You went to Hogwarts – as far as I know, the only Werewolf to attend the school."
"Aye, Dumbledore vouched for me himself. My father was a friend, I think."
"And to teach at one of the most prestigious schools in the world…"
"Would be a boon to Werewolves everywhere." Sirius finished, glancing between the two of them. "It could really change things." He muttered, his fingers tapping the table as his mind began to work through the possibilities, weighing the benefits like Arcturus had taught him.
"I don't know why you're both so adamant about this…" Remus sighed, picking up his tea once again. Sirius watched him take a long sip, though he noticed the sag in his shoulders as he did so.
What had happened to the boy that he'd known as a child? The one that dreamed of being a teacher, of passing on everything he learned to untold generations of children like him? Remus had always been bookish, and his mind was as sharp as Mithril because of it – regardless of his own desires to have Remus in the school, there was no better teacher that those children could have.
"Because I remember that you always wanted to be a teacher." Sirius said, softly, smiling at his best friend across the table. "It was all you talked about for the first three years."
"You did?" Amelia murmured, leaning forward. "I never knew that."
"I gave up on that dream years ago, and you know that, Sirius." Remus answered him, placing the tea back on the table. "It was a dream, nothing more."
"Did the teachers ever treat you differently? No, they gave you the highest marks and made you Prefect – Remus, they trusted you to keep the rest of us in line, even knowing you were a Marauder."
"That was a different time, Sirius."
"I fail to see the difference."
"We were at war."
"With the way things are going, it might not be long until we are again." Amelia said, slowly. "The rumours coming out of Hogwarts for the last two years are circulating around the Ministry already. Arthur's department is finding more and more dark artefacts on the market."
"Weasley? Arthur Weasley?" Sirius frowned, pursing his lips. Amelia nodded, and he blew out a breath. "Look, Remus, at the end of the day, Harry needs somebody on the staff he can turn to if he needs to – there's nobody at Hogwarts he trusts more than you."
"It'll look like you're trying to influence the students, placing me there." Remus tried, throwing his arms up. "The other families won't like it."
"Aye, they won't, but they will like the seventy-odd other staff members that will be joining the school alongside you."
Amelia choked on her drink at his side before picking up the letter she'd placed on the table. "There's nothing about that in here." She managed, patting her chest.
"No, that's just confirmation that Hogwarts will require more funding – that confirmation came two weeks ago." Sirius grinned. "You were at work."
"And you didn't tell me?"
He shrugged. "I wanted to see your reaction."
"Seventy-odd…" Remus murmured across from him. Sirius turned to look at him. "How did you manage that one without me knowing?"
"I am a Marauder, Moony." Sirius answered in a flat voice. "I can be sneaky when I want to be. Besides, we've seen this year what can happen with a subject when a teacher is incapacitated – it only makes sense for the classes to be split up, and more teachers on-hand."
"We're going to have words later." Amelia sighed, reaching around the back of his neck, and tugging one of his curls enough to make him wince. "Strong words."
"Yes dear." He grimaced, ignoring Remus's snickers across from him. "Look, all I did was suggest one or two improvements to the school – there's less than half that were there when we attended the school. The Board did most of this by themselves – they'll be conducting interviews throughout the summer."
"I-" Remus began, only to be cut off by Sirius raising his hand.
"Your place is already secure." He said, standing up slowly and making sure his robe was still securely tied around his waist. He stepped around his chair and pressed a kiss to Amelia's hair. "Besides," He began, quickly making his way to the door. "You'll be the Head of the Defence department!"
He scurried from the room, grinning the entire way as he took the stairs two at a time. Remus's shout followed him, bouncing off of the walls. "Sirius!"
The high, vaulted ceiling of the Great Hall of Hogwarts was bedecked with the banners of all four of the Hogwarts Houses, with Gryffindor and Slytherin in pride of place closest to the raised dais where the Head Table was usually located.
Rows upon rows of chairs had replaced the long, trestle tables and each one was filled by either a student, a member of the Press, or a representative of the Ministry of Magic. He smiled softly as he took in the countless faces staring back at him, young, and full of energy and life.
Without warning, his mind was thrown back to a time when he felt like he had all the energy in the world – there were so many things he had wanted to do, and people he had wanted to do them alongside. How many times had he and James talked about changing the Wizengamot, or of reforming the Ministry?
Ghosts flittered across his vision, as they did every time he stood in the Great Hall of Hogwarts – he saw himself, James, and Remus sat where the Gryffindor table usually was, huddled together, ready to discuss the next great prank.
He could see James, in his mind's eye, staring slack-jawed across the table where Lily would sit with her friends, pouring over some book or another. Laughter reached his ears, and the teasing words of Remus as they poked fun at the love-struck boy.
Before his eyes, the ghosts grew larger, older, more serious as the world around them changed, darkened. He could remember sitting at the table, after hours, and holding James as he wept for his parents, weeping right alongside his friend – for a man and woman, kind beyond anything anyone could ask for, taken from the world far before their time.
None could understand the grief James and he had shared over the loss of Charlus and Dorea. Charlus had been strong, powerful – a well-built, proud man that inspired those around him. He had been a leader, always speaking softly, but when he did, everyone listened. Dorea had been mischievous, playful, and it hadn't been a surprise that James had inherited that from her – even Harry had her smile.
There were other images that appeared before him – the many times he had sat with Amelia at the Hufflepuff table, and the many feasts they'd all had as the years ticked by. He smiled to himself privately, his hands clasped before him as he rocked gently back and forth on his heels.
Now, instead of looking up toward the Head Table, with its large, golden throne, and the golden, owl lectern that had far too many candles on it, he was looking down at the room, with over a thousand pairs of eyes blinking up at him.
Cameras clicked and flashed quietly in the background, and to his sides were the Board of Governors of Hogwarts – men and women of all ages, and all walks of life that were trusted to watch over one of the most prestigious schools in the world.
In the past, it was no doubt a position of the utmost trust, and one of immense responsibility – now, it was all about power and influence. After all, how many could say that they had a say in the day-to-day running of Hogwarts?
There were a few other noteworthy names on the Board – Augusta Longbottom, for one; a staunch ally of his, and someone that had been almost as affected by the death of Arcturus as the family had as the two of them had put their differences and history to rest. She stood to his left, three members down, resplendent in an ivy-green dress, and, thankfully, without her vulture hat.
There were other names, like Finni, Tatlow, Halliwell, Nash, Dickman, and Furniss, all Noble Families in their own right – though none held the power and influence of Black and Longbottom. The only one on the Board that could have come close was Malfoy, and he'd been removed from the Board the moment his threats had come to light – that had been a satisfying Tuesday afternoon.
Along the far wall were the professors, all standing tall with their hands clasped before them and looking proud – though none looked quite so proud as Minerva, Hope, and Poppy. He smiled down at them and threw a wink in the direction of Minerva; even from where he was, he could see the Deputy Headmistress roll her eyes, though not without her lips twitching as she fought to maintain her stern façade.
There were five students not in the Great Hall – the whole thing had been assembled in their honour, of course, and would be led in by the Headmaster himself – straight down the middle to the dais he was currently on. Along the front row, he spotted Remus and Amelia, both sitting proudly, as well as Andromeda, Ted, and not-so-little-anymore-Dora with her vibrant pink hair.
There were others, of course – Castor and Thalia Greengrass with little Astoria bouncing giddily in her seat, and Oliver and Evelyn Davis; all looking proud as they talked quietly amongst themselves. Sirius didn't know Tracey's parents well, but if their little girl was anything to go by, they must be quite the pair.
He smiled to himself as the large doors opened, and the Headmaster appeared – his long, white beard and hair combed neatly, and his lilac robes flowing about his legs. He still wasn't thrilled with the man, especially after everything that had happened during Harry's first year, and less than pleased with the fiasco with the Chamber, but appearances had to be maintained.
Dumbledore was a powerful and well-respected man, even if the House he presided over was to go extinct with the deaths of he and his brother – another Ancient and Most Noble House that would fade into history. Even as he walked down the central aisle, with Harry and his friends in tow, heads turned to gaze upon the man that had saved them from Grindelwald's war.
He tore his eyes from the powerful wizard, and grinned down at Harry, who was paler than normal – his bright emerald eyes darting this way and that as he tried to take everything in. He walked with his back straight, and his shoulders squared – Arcturus would have been proud.
Neville was next – his slightly chubby cheeks, which were less chubby than the last time he'd seen him, were rosy and his eyes constantly darted toward Augusta, which amused Sirius to no end. Augusta was a stern woman, with high hopes for her grandson – he couldn't imagine constantly being under her watchful eye.
Daphne followed, dressed in a flowing gown with intricate patterns running all along the bodice, skirt, and long sleeves. Her dark hair was arranged in another complicated up-do, with loose ringlets framing her face. He didn't notice immediately, but there were small gems woven into her hair. Castor and Thalia beamed proudly at their little girl, while Astoria whispered excitedly to her parents.
Tracey was just behind Daphne, also in a dress, though it was less complicated than the Greengrass heirs. Her hair was loose, flowing down her back, and a small, giddy smile was on her face as she waved at her parents, who quickly flashed a camera of their own.
Hermione was the last in the procession, surprising him with her appearance. She was in a dress of her own – a slate blue, sleeveless gown with little white gemstones woven into the bodice. It took him a moment to place why it seemed so familiar, until he remembered Harry describing the dress Daphne had gifted her at Christmas. It suited her, as did her hair falling in soft ringlets around her face. An excited grin flashed in his direction, and he returned it with a quiet chuckle.
The five children took up position on the other side of the dais – they would receive the award from Dumbledore himself, and then they would proceed along the stage, shaking hands with each of the Board, and receiving quiet words of congratulations from each of them. He glanced down at Amelia, who was looking at him with a coquettish smile. He winked down to her.
"Greetings students, faculty, members of the Press, and esteemed representatives from the Ministry of Magic." Dumbledore began, causing all other noise to vacate the large, vaulted room. Sirius breathed in through his nose nervously and clasped his hands at the small of his back. "It gladdens me to see so many familiar faces among our visitors."
Dumbledore paused as he looked over the audience. "We are here tonight, to recognise the extraordinary actions of five students in the face of overwhelming odds. As many of you are no doubt aware, we here at Hogwarts operate on a point-based system divided between four separate Houses – these brave young students, have shown such commendable qualities, that to merely offer them points, would be to do them a disservice."
"While many of you have no doubt heard the rumours, it settles my heart to be able to stand before you all tonight, and assure you, that no such threat will ever befall the halls of Hogwarts ever again. These five students managed to do what none of us could do, and everything that we should have done – ladies and gentlemen, students, members of the Press, it is my honour tonight to reassure you all; The Chamber of Secrets, and the creature within, have been vanquished."
Applause deafened the room for minutes, and Sirius found himself clapping along with them politely. Unlike many of the Board, and it seemed, many in the Hall, Sirius knew the truth of the Chamber – of who had opened it, and what it had nearly cost to close it.
It had nearly cost his little boy.
Sirius breathed deeply as his eyes flittered about the Hall, darting this way and that as he watched people – student and adult – cheer loudly as cameras flashed here and there amongst the pandemonium. Eventually, it died down.
"Yes, yes, a remarkable achievement for any age, and doubly so for the incredibly young, though, I feel, these are remarkable times we live in. I am an old man, who has seen all sorts of students pass through this very hall we're all gathered in. Many of our staff, I taught at some point or another; but not once have I ever had the pleasure to meet such fine individuals as these – students who put the wellbeing of others before themselves, with no thought of reward, or recognition."
Sirius watched as Dumbledore's mouth twitched beneath his beard, and he held a hand toward Harry and his friends. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our heroes of Hogwarts, Mister Harry Potter," Dumbledore called as the cheers and applause renewed. "Mister Neville Longbottom, Miss Daphne Greengrass, Miss Tracey Davis, and, finally, Miss Hermione Granger!"
The applause continued for some minutes, and as Sirius peered around his fellow members of the Board, he chuckled merrily at the pink flushes of the children. He caught a flash of light from Andromeda out of the corner of his eye and grinned down at her as she continued to flash the camera happily.
"Now, as some of you may know, to be awarded a Special Award for services to the school, their names will forever go down in the history of Hogwarts, currently kept up to date by the esteemed Miss Bagshot, and an identical plaque will be held in the school in perpetuity to shine as examples to future generations that inside all of us, is the courage and temerity to do great, and wonderful things."
Dumbledore picked the first plaque off of a small table – Sirius smiled excitedly as the engraved, golden plate caught the candlelight. "Harry Potter, if you could step forth and receive your award."
Sirius beamed proudly as Harry stepped forward and shook Dumbledore's hand as he accepted his award – cameras flashed, and Harry's eyes darted among the crowd, but Sirius couldn't be prouder of his boy. His chest swelled with pride, and in that moment, he doubted there was anyone who clapped for Harry as enthusiastically as he did.
The Headmaster released Harry, and within moments, Harry was walking down the line of the Board, shaking hands, and nodding politely to each one he came to. When it was his turn, Harry grinned up at him, his eyes dancing in the warm light of the Hall. Before Sirius could say anything, Harry had leapt at him, throwing his arms around his waist.
Sirius could do nothing other than chuckle and return the hug. "Well done, Harry – I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks, Padfoot." Harry murmured into his chest, giving him one last mighty squeeze before releasing him.
"Go on, get moving – the others might complain I'm taking up all their allotted Harry time." He smirked, enjoying the little eye-roll Harry gave him before moving on. Moments later, Neville arrived, and Sirius held out his hand.
"Well done, Neville – you earned this."
"Thanks, Sirius – still feels a bit weird."
Sirius chuckled and clasped his hands before him, his eyes quickly glancing over Neville's head to sweep across the audience. "You'll get used to it – eventually. Go on, Augusta's been bragging about you all evening."
Neville hurried on after that and was soon replaced by Daphne – her arctic eyes peering up at him from behind dark lashes. "My, what have we here? A lady amongst this rabble?"
"Hello, Sirius." She smirked at him. He pressed his lips tightly together in a feeble attempt to remain straight-faced as he bowed at the waist and kissed her knuckles.
"You've done well, Daphne – your parents are incredibly proud."
"I know." She smiled, her cheeks taking on a subtle, pinkish hue. "It's all they've talked about since I told them we were getting the awards."
"And you deserve every second of praise." He smiled. She offered him a short curtsey and moved on to the next in line.
Tracey bounced up to him a second later, her smile wide and bright, and her face was flushed an adorable red as she curtsied to him – he chuckled and bowed in return. "Well done, Tracey – I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of witch you become."
"Thanks, Sirius!" She said with a faint giggle – she looked like she was going to say more and bit her lip for the briefest of moments before shooting out her hand. He chuckled, having heard of some of the teasing Harry had given his friend, and quickly brushed his lips against her knuckles. If it were possible, she turned a deeper shade of red and quickly hurried to the next in the line.
As he returned to his full height, Hermione appeared before him, her face beaming with pride and excitement as her brown eyes looked up at him – every now and then, however, her eyes would dart to the right. Sirius followed her gaze and spotted Harry moving down the stairs to a small area where the Press would ask them questions. As Hermione was the last of them, he didn't mind spending a little more time with her – for research purposes, of course.
"So, I heard a little rumour." He said as he kissed Hermione's knuckles lightly. "That you kissed our Harry on the cheek." He continued, watching as Hermione's face flushed. "Between the two of us, I think he could do with a little more of your influence." He added with a wink.
"I-" She tried, her voice catching in her throat before she cleared it. "We're going to write each other over the summer."
"Good luck." He grinned. "And well done, Hermione – really, well done."
She nodded quickly, her cheeks a bright pink, and moved to the next in the line, and Sirius took the remaining time to search out Amelia, who, as it turned out, was looking at him in exasperation – honestly, anyone would think she thought him up to something.
As Hermione made her way off of the stage, the members of the Board followed in her wake, accompanied by Dumbledore himself down to the cordoned section of the Hall, while little pops and cracks of the Hogwarts House Elves echoed throughout the room, no doubt offering refreshments to everyone.
The little cordoned area was already overflowing with journalists and photographers, each of them eyeing the children curiously, though none more so than Harry himself, who was awkwardly fending off pre-emptive questions from eager wizards and witches.
As Harry's guardian, Sirius positioned himself just behind his boy, and gently clasped him on the shoulder – letting him know he was there with him. Harry glanced up at him for a moment and grinned up at him, before the flashes of light made them both wince.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have time for a handful of questions before we get into the rest of the evening." Dumbledore said, peering over his spectacles at the assembled journalists. "Please choose your questions carefully. Let us begin with the Daily Prophet, hm?"
A woman with shockingly blonde, shoulder-length hair, and the brightest red lipstick that he had ever seen stepped forward, her eyes peered at Harry behind large, jewelled glasses. "Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet." She smiled, and Sirius counted three golden teeth – he knew who she was: she'd been a thorn in Amelia's arse for years. "Our readers are curious, as they have a right to be, on whether or not the loss of your parents has fuelled your commendable drive to throw yourself headlong into danger?"
Sirius felt Harry tense beneath his hand, and his own magic trembled to be unleashed on the insolent witch.
"Now, Rita, that was hardly called for." Dumbledore admonished with a frown. "I think we'll move on, after that." He said, gesturing to another journalist quickly.
Sirius narrowed his eyes at the blonde woman, who had a scowl on her face and rolled her eyes at the Headmaster of the school – perhaps, once the ceremony was completed, he'd see about reminding The Daily Prophet just what was an appropriate question and what wasn't.
"Xenophilius Lovegood, for The Quibbler – is it true you're a Parselmouth, and if so, did that have anything to do with your victory over Salazar's beast?"
Harry glanced up at him over his shoulder, his eyes unsure – Sirius simply nodded down at him and squeezed his shoulder as reassuringly as he could. Whatever Harry chose to say, he would support him.
"Your brother is Lord Xenophon, correct? And Luna is your daughter?" Harry asked, turning to look at the white-haired wizard – he was willowy, and his hair was wild, untamed. His yellow robes were garishly bright, and it took everything within Sirius not to grimace at the sight.
"She is." Xenophilius nodded proudly, standing a little taller.
Harry was quiet for a moment before he nodded. "I am a Parselmouth – and it did help, yes, but not nearly as much as my friends. If it weren't for Hermione Granger, Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, and Neville Longbottom, then I'm sure the school would have been closed by now."
Sirius smiled proudly as he glanced at Harry's friends by his side – all blushing at the praise, but standing tall and proud, with their chins raised, and their plaques held tightly in their hands before them.
"Question for the Miss Greengrass, from the Wizarding Evening Times!"
The platform was bustling with activity as the children disembarked from the Hogwarts Express, dragging their trunks along behind them, and in the case of most of them, trying to simultaneously corral their Familiars in whichever direction they were heading in.
Parents, from all walks of life, be they Muggle or Magical, stood patiently, their eyes scanning the crowd of youthful faces carefully in a bid to spot their child, or children, in the case of many of them.
Sirius, Amelia, and Remus remained off to one side, beneath a large archway inset into the large wall behind them – it was an old habit from the war, and one that Sirius didn't feel like getting rid of, for not only was he scanning the growing crowd for the familiar face of his little boy, but also for any possible danger.
It was the ingrained instinct from his time with Alastor that drove him to be able to see all incoming threats – sometimes, he wondered if he weren't going as mad as his instructor himself. At his side, Amelia rested her head on his shoulder, and held his hand between both of hers, squeezing it reassuringly every now and then. It helped to ground him, to remind him that he wasn't fighting a war, and there were likely fewer men and women that wanted to kill him than usual. Wasn't that a pleasant thought?
Remus was on his other side, thankfully not resting his head on his other shoulder, but instead peering into the crowd with his heightened senses, his amber eyes darting from face to face with such an intensity, that it made Sirius shiver for a moment. The full moon was coming up in just four days, and Remus's furry little problem was rearing its head.
He spotted Daphne first, though he would be hard-pressed not to spot the Greengrass heiress with her thick, long hair and her elegant dress amongst the rabble that was on the platform. There was a timeless elegance in the young Daphne that he hadn't come across before – he looked forward to seeing what became of her.
Tracey was close behind her, rushing into the waiting arms of her parents as her father spun her around excitedly, the small Davis family chatting excitedly amongst themselves; he chuckled as he watched Tracey pull her Chinchilla from her jacket pocket and held it up to her parents waiting faces.
Neville was next, ambling toward Augusta without a care in the world as she stood a little ways down from them, her stern eyes sweeping the assembled children and adults around her so severely, there was a small area around here where none ventured. She was a force all unto herself.
He spied Harry and Hermione leaving the train together at the same time Remus did, the two blushing children talking quietly among themselves and sharing small, private smiles with one another.
It was strange, being able to compare Harry, who was so different, yet, at the same time, so similar to his father. There was that same way that he would smile, how one side of his mouth would lift ever so slightly more than the other, and the way his eyes sparkled, even from a distance.
But it wasn't just that; it was the way he carried himself, the set of his shoulders and the commanding presence as he walked among his peers. Even without doing anything, and with his attention solely focused on the young witch at his side, other students turned to watch him pass, though none said a word.
There was an energy around Harry that Sirius had only ever seen with James. That wasn't to say there weren't differences between the two – James had been brash, arrogant in his youth, the same way he himself had been. In hindsight, and on more than one occasion, their playful pranks had pushed the boundaries into bullying. Harry had none of that – yes, he could be an arrogant little lordling, Harry always had his mother's temperament to balance it out; he was kind, thoughtful, and hated bullies.
Perhaps it had been a result of the ceremony, seeing him standing proudly before the assembly in the Great Hall, or perhaps it was a result of seeing Harry looking so weak, and finding out just how closely he'd come to dying, but he couldn't help but picture Harry as an adult.
He would be tall – taller than James, even, with broad shoulder and a charming smile for the ladies; James would accept nothing less, and, by extension, neither would he – standards had to be maintained, of course. His already razor-sharp wit would leave the Wizengamot scrambling, and those in the Capitol in envy, and his magic…
Harry was already so incredibly powerful, it left him staring at the canopy of the bed some nights. He could remember all those years ago, sitting with Arcturus as Harry summoned the Phoenix toy to his hand. There were other incredible feats he had performed, of course – such as his meeting with The Council, defeating that Mountain Troll and surviving Voldemort three times already!
There was nothing Harry wouldn't be able to do in the future – he was sure of it.
Neville and Daphne would be by his side for the rest of his life; Sirius knew that. The three were as close to siblings as was possible – perhaps as close as he and James had been. Would Tracey and Hermione remain at their sides throughout it all? He knew better than most that friendships fade, or, in his personal experience, were obliterated entirely.
Watching as Harry and Hermione walked in their direction, laughing quietly amongst themselves, he liked to think it would survive whatever was to come. With a quiet, amused huff, he wondered just what James and Lily would think of Harry's friends and the things they had accomplished already – James would be proud as anything; Lily would likely immolate him for letting Harry come so close to danger.
Hermione broke off and hurried to her own parents, who were standing a little down the wall from them, and Harry jogged the rest of the way. Sirius removed himself from Amelia's gentle grip and swept his boy up into his arms, spinning him happily as he pressed kisses into his dark hair.
"There you are!" He chuckled, placing Harry down on his feet. If it were possible, Harry's eyes were brighter than he could ever remember, and there was a happy flush to his face as he grinned at him. Sirius cupped his face and pressed his forehead against Harry's. "You're home."
"Not yet I'm not." Harry grinned, closing his eyes as he breathed in deeply. "When we get to Blackwall I will be."
"And you won't have to worry about a thing until September." Remus chimed in, ruffling Harry's hair as he drew him into a hug of his own. "Welcome back, Harry."
"Moony." Harry sighed, wrapping his arms around the other man. Sirius smiled as Remus smiled softly at the boy in his arms. "I missed you."
"It's only been a few days since the ceremony." Sirius chuckled with a raised eyebrow. "Daphne picking on you that much, is she?"
Harry rolled his eyes with a scoff as he looked up at him. "You know what I mean – it's good to be away for the summer."
"The break will do you good." Remus nodded and patted Harry on the back. "Have you seen Susan?" He asked as the three of them turned back to the alcove – Amelia was gone, likely looking to see where the young girl had wandered off to.
Harry shook his head. "No – barely seen her all year, to be honest. Outside of class, that is."
Sirius frowned at that. He was well aware of Susan's absence all year round, and it had been something he and Amelia had discussed at extensive length over the months – suffice to say, Amelia wasn't at all pleased with her niece either.
"Harry!" A familiar voice called, and he turned to see little Astoria charging toward them, her Familiar close on her heels as she leapt at the boy. Sirius chuckled and steadied Harry as he stumbled backwards, but otherwise let the youngest Greengrass have her moment.
While the two children were talking, his eyes swept the crowd and landed on the familiar head of blonde hair. She was standing with Thomas Abbott, his daughter and heir, Hannah, at his side as she talked with Susan.
He glanced down to look at Harry and Astoria – she was bouncing from foot to foot, while Piper, the black and orange fox, who had grown considerably since the wedding, danced around their feet, panting with his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth as his bushy tail swept back and forth.
"Astoria!" Castor called, and the young girl cringed before swallowing Harry in another bone-crushing hug that had Sirius wincing – a hurried goodbye later, and the dark-haired girl was back, darting through the crowd around them.
Sirius tracked her with his eyes carefully and waved to Castor when they caught one another's eyes. "Piper's grown a bit." Harry said, drawing his attention. "Hard to believe how small he was at the wedding."
"He's still wearing that bow." Remus chuckled, slipping his hands into his pockets.
"Do you think the two of them separate for anything?" Sirius asked with a raised brow. He couldn't imagine one without the other.
"Probably not." Harry snorted. "Hogwarts won't know what hit it come September."
"Hogwarts won't, or you won't?" He chuckled, pulling Harrying into his side, and ruffling his loose hair.
"Am I allowed to say both?" Harry asked, glancing up at him briefly, before looking back out into the crowd.
Sirius was content to simply smile as he gave Harry another squeeze, before his eyes darted toward John and Jean Granger, who, he saw, were glancing in their direction as Hermione gesticulated about something or another. "What's this I hear about you and Hermione writing to one another over the summer?"
Harry tensed beneath his hand, and Sirius had to fight the urge to laugh – something Remus was happy to do; quietly, mind. "How do you know about that?"
"Oh, a little witch told me." He hummed, pursing his lips. "So, going to tell me what it's all about?"
"We're going to talk to one another." Harry shrugged, purposely not looking up at him – Sirius could already see the tips of his ears had gone bright red. "She missed out on a lot, these last few months."
Sirius watched as Remus nodded solemnly, though his eyes sparkled with humour – he himself had to press his lips tightly together for a tense moment, lest he lose the cool, curious façade. "That's very good of you, Harry." Remus said, patting him on the back of the head. "Why don't you go and say goodbye to her – we'll stay here and wait for Amelia and Susan."
"Really?" Harry asked, suspiciously. "Why do I feel like there's a prank in the works?"
"No prank – Marauder's honour." Sirius said, making a cross over his heart with a finger. "Go on – you might not see her for a while."
Harry nodded and placed his trunk on the floor by his feet. He watched as the young boy took a deep, steadying breath, before making his way over to his friend and her family. The two of them watched him go, and Remus sidled up to him slowly, his hands in his pockets as he rocked back and forth on his feet. "Twenty Galleons says he's besotted by fifth year."
"Thirty says he does something like James did." Sirius muttered out of the corner of his mouth, smiling, and waving as the Grangers waved at them. "Forty says it's in sixth year."
"You're on." Remus said, offering his own wave and smile.
"The two of you are up to no good again." Amelia sighed as she appeared with Susan at her side. Sirius turned and grinned at his wife, holding a hand to his chest. "And thirty says the middle of fourth year." She added with a mischievous, lopsided smile.
"Mischief managed." He grinned, quickly kissing his wife on the cheek before smiling down at Susan. "Hello Susan."
"Lord Black." She curtsied, politely, her cheeks taking on a similar shade as her hair.
He waved a hand and grimaced. "None of that – please, just call me Sirius, or whatever makes you feel comfortable."
Susan just nodded quickly and pressed her lips tightly together while she shifted her trunk from one hand to another. Not a few moments later, Harry returned, a lazy smile on his face and a light flush to his face, which only deepened when they all turned to look at him.
"I'm uh, I'm ready." He coughed into his fist, awkwardly as he picked up his trunk. Remus chuckled quietly as he placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and disappeared with a resounding crack. Sirius could hear Amelia sigh to his side and a familiar crack signalled their departure.
With a crack of his own, Sirius left the platform, and barely a heartbeat later appeared before the front door of Blackwall, where Remus, Harry, Amelia, and Susan were waiting for him – though Harry and Susan looked more than a little queasy.
Before the door, stood proudly in a line, were the House Elves; Milpy, as the Head Elf, was the first on the left, followed by Lispy, Deeny, Woopy, Goldey, and finally Kreacher, with his long, hooked nose and drooped ears.
Lispy was bouncing happily in place, while her fingers worried the flesh of her large ears, and tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. Sirius grinned and gestured for Harry to go and meet her. The House Elves all crowded around the boy, even Kreacher joined in, though Harry scooped Lispy up in his arms and hugged her for all he was worth – his laugh was worth it, and to see the Elves so happy, regardless of his personal opinions on Kreacher, made his heart swell.
"Welcome back, Lord Black." Milpy said, bowing toward him. He smiled and offered a short one back.
"It's good to have everyone home. Can you see to taking their things to their rooms for them?" Sirius asked, and within moments, both Susan and Harry's trunks were gone. Remus hurried into the house, no doubt to see to something or another before they ate. He glanced at Amelia, who nodded silently at him and steered her niece into the house as well. "Harry." He called, watching as he put Lispy down and looked at him, confused. "Come on, we need to have a chat."
"Shit." He heard Harry mutter as he waved at the Elves. Sirius began walking along the path toward the gardens, and Harry soon appeared at his side, nervously glancing up at him every now and then.
The gardens were filled with the smells of the many plants that were attended to by Goldey – even the large Whomping Willow on the far side was visible over the high hedges that sat just behind the flower beds. The longer they walked in silence, the paler Harry became, until, as they passed a nondescript stone bench, Harry came to a sudden halt.
"Harry?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder at him. Harry approached the bench slowly and placed a trembling hand against its surface, breathing in deeply as he did so. "Something wrong?"
"This is where I talked to her." Harry murmured quietly; his eyes closed. "That night, after the Chamber."
"Lily." Sirius sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he walked over to him. Sirius clasped Harry on the shoulder and pulled him into his side. "There's not a day that goes by where I don't miss them – but you have to understand, Harry; there's no way to talk to the dead."
"I know, I just…"
"I know, pup." Sirius murmured, placing a soft kiss in Harry's hair. "Come on – the more we linger, the worse it'll be to leave, trust me."
"Can I – can we stay? Just for a minute?" Harry asked, and Sirius smiled down at him sadly, his lips pressed tightly together before he nodded once.
"Just for a minute." He allowed, watching as Harry's hands traced the stone slowly. "Have you had similar dreams? You haven't said anything about them when we've talked in the evenings."
"Not since I woke up with you there. Sometimes I just dream of the night of the wedding – everything was so simple, and it was fun."
Sirius nodded slowly. "I dream about it too – it was a memorable night." He grinned. "You made me very proud."
Harry smiled at him but said nothing. After a few seconds, he breathed in deeply and stepped away from the bench, though with obvious reluctance on his face. Harry stepped past the bench and let out a breath, his shoulders sagging from the effort. He placed his arm around Harry's shoulders as they continued their walk, lazily meandering along the various paths as the gravel crunched beneath their boots.
"You wanted to talk about something." Harry said, eventually, breaking the silence.
"True." Sirius smiled slightly, inclining his head. "Is it so wrong of me to enjoy having you here with me again, though?"
"Normally, I'd say no, but I don't think I'm going to enjoy this, am I?"
He pursed his lips and chuckled to himself, though it lacked any real humour. "Probably not, no."
"Excellent." Harry sighed, his shoulders sagging just that little bit more. The two of them rounded one last corner before they came to a halt at the latest addition to the garden, a flower bed dedicated to various Mediterranean flowers, all with large, brightly coloured, and impossibly shaped petals – they were Amelia's idea; she loved the bold colours and the sweet, tangy scents.
Sirius led Harry to a nearby bench and let out a quiet sigh as he lowered himself onto it. He patted the space next to him, and simply stared at the flower bed for a moment, wondering how best to say what he needed to.
"I'm equal parts proud and disappointed in you this year, Harry." He said, eventually, deciding to just dive right into it. "You were reckless, arrogant, and foolish. Yet, you showed outstanding bravery, selflessness, and loyalty. I don't know whether to ground you until you're twenty or not."
"I'd rather not be grounded…" He heard Harry mutter to his side, and Sirius had to fight the urge to snort.
"You threw yourself into danger unnecessarily, you trapped yourself in the Chamber of Secrets, and, what's worse – you nearly died, Harry." He said, looking at the boy beside him. Harry was staring at the gravel beneath his boots as he toed the small stones. His shoulders were hunched, and he could just make out Harry biting his bottom lip worriedly. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been this year?"
Harry shook his head, silently.
Sirius turned to look at him properly. "You're a child, Harry."
"I know." Harry whispered, pressing his lips together tightly.
He breathed in deeply, and pulled Harry into his chest gently, his hand threading through Harry's hair. "You have to let us do our jobs and look after you, hm?" He felt Harry nod slowly as he let out a breath. Merlin, where was James and Lily when he needed them? His eyes darted to the blue sky, and the handful of white, fluffy clouds that drifted lazily overhead. "No more being the hero. Your punishment will be to have a fun summer – be a teenager. Ride Arlan, play with Clara and Hedwig, invite your friends over. Have fun."
"But-"
"No buts. You'll deal with the Wizengamot, and one or two other things that I won't be able to deal with on my own, but that'll be the extent of it. You hear me?"
"What about Arpton? Are we going there?"
"We will." He nodded. "And, if I deem that you'd had sufficient fun, and you've been enough of a boy, I might even let you train with Felix and Sulyard again."
Harry bit his lip as he sat up slowly, before nodding his agreement. "Excellent." Sirius grinned, clapping him on the back. "Now, onto the next thing."
"There's more?" Harry groaned, running his hands down his face. Sirius couldn't help the smirk that appeared on his lips.
"You're aware, of course, of how you were treated by your classmates this year?"
Harry nodded reluctantly as his tongue darted out to wet his lips nervously. "What about it?"
"Well – is there anyone you can think of that should have been by your side, that wasn't?" When Harry shook his head slowly, a confused look on his face, Sirius sighed. "Susan, Harry – she should have been there for you. Amelia's having a talk with her now; better we get these things out of the way sooner rather than later."
"But-"
"What did I say about buts? House Bones are allies with both of our Houses – she is closer to House Black because of my marriage to Amelia, but believe me, she should've been there for you. There were more than a few that should've stood by you." He grunted, thinking of the various Houses that had children at Hogwarts – there would be consequences for many of them.
"I didn't expect-"
"No, you didn't." He muttered tiredly; idly, he wondered how successful Amelia was being with her niece. "She will grow up here until she's old enough to take control of the Bones family – she's my niece after all, that means she's family. I don't expect the two of you to get on as well as you do with Neville or Daphne, but I want you to try, okay?"
"What if she doesn't like me?" Harry said, quietly. His voice was soft, barely audible, even in the quiet of the Blackwall grounds.
"If she gets to know you half as well as I do, she'll love you." He said, squeezing his boy around the shoulders. "You're a remarkable person, pup – she'll see that. You just have to remember to live in the present and stop looking behind you." He added, flicking Harry on the nose. "It's your worst habit."
"I'm trying to get better." Harry said with a sniff. "It's just… hard."
"I know, Harry – Merlin, I know."
