Author's Note: I do not own Harry Potter

"Ah, well of course, Mr Black… we… ah that is to say that we all are truly, terribly sorry about all of this nonsense. I mean really! To think that Pettigrew was… and all this time." The portly Minister at least seemed to be genuine in his apology, but to Harry, Sirius Black just looked like he wanted to be anywhere else.

"12 years I spent there, Fudge. 12 years all I thought about was getting out. To freedom."

"I assume Mr Black has his full freedom now, Minister," Dumbledore spoke coolly from beside Sirius. "I do believe that he has paid his dues and then some."

"Ye- yes, quite right." He coughed fake and loud into a closed fist, his other hand twisting and pulling at the bowler hat he had worn the last time Harry saw him with what seemed to be so long ago. "However, and I do find it strange to say all this, unfortunately you will be unable to be fully compensated for all 12 years spent there. There will be 6 years' worth of monetary compensation – the Ministry must be seen to pay its dues of course – and I believe that we will front the bill for treatment for you. There will be some other things that I believe we can help you with, but for now let us just leave it at that shall we?"

"6 years?" muttered Harry, a little confused. 'Although to be fair, all of today has been one confused mess.' "Why 6 years?"

"And Mr Potter, don't think we've forgotten about our treasure for one second! Minerva and Mr Lupin will also be justly rewarded, but I'm not sure what we should do for you. Assisting in retrieving an old Death Eater, someone who placed a poor, innocent man into such hell. English Seeker, pride of the country, and of course destroyer of Dark Lords! But to your question," He turned back to Sirius now his pomposity was returning to him. "6 years only, Mr Black. Unfortunately, as one of my assistants has kindly informed me, you have committed 3 crimes that actually are punishable by imprisonment."

"3?" Sirius blinked dumbly. His hands were shaking, and his eyes would dart around the room, but always constantly finding their conclusion on Harry's tiny form. "I don't think there was 3?" Harry had also noticed that for someone who spent so long around those demons, he was of strangely sound mind. "Was their 3? 1 maybe. You know, on account of the who dog thing…"

"Yes, well that in itself lands time in Azkaban. However, you have also fled the custody of our Auror's, which as you should know, is a crime in of itself. There is even the burglary I believe you have been involved in as well as the act of violence before your arrest that had many muggles die because of it. Yes, I understand that it was for a good cause, but your actions still caused what happened to happen and I cannot in good conscience look away from this. The fleeing of Azkaban can be removed as your time served should have been over by then, so congratulations for that!"

Harry's eyes narrowed at the man. He was still so lost. He wanted his bed and his friends, and he wanted the warmth that Katie could bring with her soft embrace. He was tired and moody; he wanted to sleep and forget about this for the night. 'At least no one died this time,' he thought, creating a brief flicker of a smile to appear.

"I have a request, Fudge."

He bristled slightly at the disrespectful tone but deigned to answer politely. "Of course, Mr Black. What is it?"

For Harry, time stood still. "What?" he whispered, full of hope. "What did you say?"

Sirius repeated his demand, firmer, and more forcefully. "I want to take Harry. I am his Godfather, it's what James and Lily wanted if anything were to happen to them. And it did, and I failed spectacularly for so long. But I'm here, and I want him."

"Mr Black, I cannot in all good conscience just let you have the Boy-Who-Lived!" Harry bristled, a barely perceptible flinch at the title he disliked. Sirius gave him a stare that seemed so familiar but so unknown at the same time. "Your mind-!"

"His mind is clear, Cornelius," Dumbledore interrupted.

"Albus, you can't be serious!"

"No, that's me!"

Harry let out a cross between a hiccough and a snort at the out of place pun, which was received very well by the man who made it.

Dumbledore let out a trademarked grandfatherly chuckle as his eyes closed. "Sirius has staved off most of the effects of the Dementors, it seems, by his proficient use of the Animagus Transformation. Such things hardwire the brain, nullifying the negative effects far more effectively. Not only that, but I am familiar with the willpower of the Black's. Such traits exist in bloodlines. Stubbornness and a high amount of mental fortitude has been evidenced extremely well in the Black family for many generations. Sirius Black is no exception in this case."

"The public will have my head for this, Albus."

"I promise to feed him and take him on long walks," Sirius joked. He turned to the boy they were discussing. "Would you like to come with me, Harry? Of course, it would only be for the holidays. You need to come to school still." He grimaced at the thought but was stood ramrod straight.

'No more Dursley's'. But he could be an enemy. 'Would be any worse?' He could. 'He's been around me all year, protecting me. Looking out for me. He's been disguised, yes, but he's true. It could be all a lie. 'I refuse to believe it. I refuse to accept it. I won't listen to you. Not now. Not anymore.'

"Harry, my boy." Dumbledore appeared to be quite aloof to the situation unfolding but beamed wide and true at him. "If you are worried about what I would say, do not fret. I am supporting this decision. Now, some may call me mad," Sirius snorted loudly, a brief, single 'hah' filling the gaps in speech. "But I truly believe that Sirius can look after you, nay, that he will look after you. Far better than anyone else. He is nothing but loyal, as we can all clearly see. And what's more, you will be able to help him far better than I or anyone else could ever do."

"My family home is warded to the teeth. I hate that place, but no one in their right mind would ever even dream of storming the Black home." He grinned, coming to life with each passing second, and Harry could feel his spirits roar and rise as the waves of acceptance washed over him. "So, what do you say? Remus would be there with us, as much as he can. And Professor Dumbledore, and Minnie could come whenever she wanted to, if you're afraid of being alone in a strange place with a strange man. Hah! I get it don't stress yourself! And if you wanted your friends over, well, then have them over!"

"Yes." It was pleading and strained, a whisper on the wind. But Sirius stopped and stared, a radiant smile encompassing his whole being as he took stock of what Harry had just said. "Yes."

"Splendid!" clapped Dumbledore, startling the others out of their reverie.

"Yes," Fudge muttered, "Yes, this could be good. I can see the headlines now. 'Boy-Who-Lived reunited with guardian at last.' With Ministry help, of course."

"Mr Black will of course require some form of Healer."

Fudge nodded absentmindedly. "Yes, yes, of course, of course. I will just use the floo, get one here as soon as possible. We'll have you tip top in no time, Mr Black."

"I can't wait," Sirius said sourly.

Dumbledore turned as the Minister left, weariness seeming to settle as he brought Harry and Sirius into his field of vision. "Now I believe it is high time I left as well. I must get those ghastly creatures off of school property and back to their nests." With a whistle on his lips, but a slow strain to his gait, Albus Dumbledore left the two alone.

"So… tell me about school?"

There was an easy form of conversation that they fell in to. Within minutes Harry was giggling and smiling as he sat on the chair next to Sirius' bed within the hospital wing, looked over by the school's hawkeyed nurse. The night did not drag, but hours had passed and soon the morning sun creeped over the horizon to cover the face of a groggily slurring Harry Potter.

"Get some sleep, Harry." He wringed his hands in the folds of his bedsheets. He had learned much over the year from his observations of the boy, and had come to several conclusions, but his fears were finalised with his talking with his Godson. "I won't be going anywhere. I'm still going to be here when you wake up."

Harry simply nodded, getting into the bed next to Sirius' at the behest of Madam Pomfrey.

"I would have put you in your designated bed, Mr Potter, however it appears to be occupied at the moment."

A barking laugh resonated inside the room, "Ah, but Pommy, I thought this was mine!"

"Once, maybe, but with you gone, only Mr Potter has been gifted his own bed here."

Harry could only enjoy the banter as his eyes drooped and he entered the doorway to dreamland.

The days after would go smoothly. The whole school was in a state of shock when they heard the news of Sirius and Pettigrew, but to some there was only concern. Harry's friends had to form a queue outside the hospital wing when they found Harry was in there, only to be turned away by an entering Remus Lupin.

"He is well, just tired and resting. I'm sure you can talk to him later."

They cornered him in the Common Room, but there was only affection there. Each one knew how much Harry had desired a place to call his own, and a family to come with it.

"I have a family now," he told them. "I never realised it before, but I have one, and that is all that matters."

He felt it inside the deep parts of his soul. He had brothers and sisters. Aunt's and Uncles. Each one had wormed their way into his life and filled the holes that had been torn into him by the world and its unfairness. But now he had Sirius, and even though the time he had come to truly know him was so brief, he was quickly becoming this thing that was so integral to his new outlook and life.

A mind healer had visited Sirius, with a visit from a stern woman calling herself Amelia Bones, and gave him the all clear to be able to officially take Harry as his own. There were some stipulations, such as twice-weekly trips to St Mungo's for what amounted for Wizarding Therapy, and a vast number of other things, but come the end of the school year, Sirius was to be reunited with Harry.

"It'll be alright, Pup. These next few weeks are part of the deal. They want me to have some sort of treatment at Mungo's to get myself ready. Plus, I need to sort my, our, home out. Hah! Never thought I'd be going back to that place, but here we are."

Dumbledore was to be the one to escort him to his treatment and was currently giving them some privacy as Harry began to feel the emotions well up inside. 'A home…'

Sirius' arms enclosed around him as he crouched down. Harry wondered if this was what a father's hug felt like. It was tender and protective, a barrier against all ills of the world.

"I'll be seeing you soon, Pup." He pulled back, looking over at Katie Bell who was standing just a few feet away from the pair. "Look after him."

She nodded, stepping forward to replace his warmth, her arms encircling Harry neck, her chin resting atop his as she stared Sirius dead in the eyes. "Always."

Harry saw Sirius flinch, looking distantly away, but smiling sadly at a thought he did not share. "Good. You've got good friends, Pup. Good family."

Harry looked down, the burning behind his eyes matching Sirius'. "I know."

Sirius ruffled his hair, an act that over the last few weeks of getting to know his Godson, was secretly immensely enjoyed by the boy.

With a wink and a nod, he turned and walked away, saying something to the Headmaster that had him chortling away.

Katie's grasp upon him tightened, and Harry revelled in this warmth, finding a form of serenity mixing with loss at the same time. She kissed the top of his head, finding her voice to be the first to speak. "Come on then, Harry." She took his hand in her own, lacing their fingers together and pulling him back towards the castle. When he dutifully followed, she loosened her grip on his hand and began to idly stroke his fingers with her thumb. "The others are waiting."

With one last glance behind him, Harry leaned closer to his friend, a beatific smile on his face, and never before had Katie found his joy to be so beautiful to behold.

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Harry knew that Sirius would be watching him, his letters had told him so at least. Yet it was still a large surprise when he saw him in private box at the top of the stadium, Albus Dumbledore and Filius Flitwick flanking either side of him. Harry could hear the whooping and Hollering of the man, and in doing so raised Harry higher than ever before.

Harry flew as if dancing, nothing but grace filling his being as the Firebolt beneath him was nothing more than an extension of himself. The crowd vanished in his eyes and heart, with the only passing thing remaining being the knowledge of those he cared for. His apathy for all else grew stronger and stronger, creating a beacon of oneness that disregarded all else.

There had always been joy in the air, feeling the harsh kiss of the sky, the speed of his blood pumping in his veins, and the electric heat massaging everything inside of him. However, this was different. A gap that had existed before he even knew about it was now filled, and he could not explain it for the life of him.

The opposing Seeker, apparently only 19, one of the youngest in the world alongside himself, was smirking in a friendly way. His grin was warlike but not hostile. He knew that this would be a strong contest and had concluded already that Harry was not going to be an easy opponent.

Apparently, according to Fay in his pre-match pep talk with the girl back at Hogwarts a few days before, Poland had a history of playing fast, and playing to win. This was the furthest the nation had ever got in the World Cup and they were aiming for victory.

The Polish Seeker nodded his head in respect, to which Harry responded in kind; there was a drop in sound and iron could be tasted in his mouth as the world around him faded from view. His senses seemed heightened, and time appeared to slow to a crawl as the Snitch was released from its confines. He could imagine the twins cheering as loud as Sirius was right then, and Flitwick jumping on his seat with an English flag wrapped across his body. He could almost see Fay jumping from her seat screaming at the wireless in his support, Oliver Wood doubling the volume to vast levels. And there, Katie was staring intently at the machine broadcasting the match to the world, her hands clenched into fists as she was mouthing words that he could not hear.

The whistle's vibrations were strummed through air and rain, the clouds descending low above them within the French mountain-based arena. He inhaled slowly, methodically exhaling as he calmed and became at peace. His eyes crawled open, green glowing in the grey haze of the world. The golden ball fled from sight, but he was ready. In this moment, once more, he was no longer Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived. He was Harry Potter, Seeker for the English Quidditch Team.

Magic thrummed the strings of his body, commanding the actions he took. Instinct guided him as the match took longer and longer to play. Hours went by. More. And more. Until the day became night and Harry could fly no longer, being replaced by the reserve Seeker, an older girl who had never expected to be flying in the semi-finals.

More time passed them by, and Harry awoke as rested and refreshed as could be. The score was almost even, with England just barely in the lead as both teams were almost equally matched. He could see Sirius lolling in his seat, Flitwick napping where he sat, and when he returned to the air, he bellowed a stream of boyish laughter at the sight of Albus Dumbledore in a transfigured, luxurious king-sized bed, a nightgown and facemask on as he slept dead to the world.

The Polish side had also swapped out their Seeker, to a woman who was darting in and out of the English and Polish Seekers, arm held to her chest in what appeared to be pain.

It lasted for 19 more goals and several more hours but then it was over. Harry had a weakly fluttering Snitch held tightly in his tired hands and a smile on his face which grew ever wider when he saw Sirius sprinting toward him looking so much healthier than when he had seen him last.

"Harry that was amazing! Insane! Albus told me how brilliant you are, but to see it for myself!" Sirius laughed freely, picking a smelly, sweaty, and exhausted Harry up by his armpits, spinning him in a circle before bringing him in for a tight hug.

It brought Harry warmth; there was a unique feeling that he had only experienced with one other and it was almost intoxicating. When Sirius put him down, a hollowness began to open up inside him, before being immediately clamped down. He was too happy to listen to the demands of his head, and instead chose to let his heart do his thinking.

"C'mon then, lets get you back to Hogwarts. I'll be seeing you in a few days anyway." Harry sighed in contentment as he remembered that for once, just once, the Dursley's were no longer an option. "Owl me what you want to eat that night. I'm thinking definitely a takeaway, but what is the question! It's been so long since I've had Thai, but there's nowhere that I know nearby… Or Chinese! How about it?"

"I… I've never had it? Is it good?"

"Hah! Is it good?" They came to the floopoint to head Harry back to Hogwarts. Along the way they had been almost cornered by photographers and journalists attempting to swarm the two. It was the timely intervention of the security of the stadium, and the interaction of the three passing English Chasers that stopped a scene from unfurling. Harry was famous, and Sirius' story had reached even here over the Channel. "Harry, look at me." He had not meant to shout at the boy, but he was excitable, especially now when the thing he thought most of all in the last 12 years was becoming a true reality. "I'm not them. I never will be them." He placed a still thin hand upon his Godson's shoulder, and Harry accepted the strange warmth that he had craved since he could remember. "I can't be an uncle, never can and never will. And I can't be your dad… I could never take that away from James. Never." His eyes softened and Harry drew closer to the man, this strange bond they had formed in such a short amount of time may have disagreed with many, but Harry trusted this man. And Harry was slow to trust, and his observational powers of insight were near second to none.

"I know, Sirius, but," his voice trailed to a whisper, a serene look gracing him. "I am still happy."

Their goodbye was short, as it was a 'see you late' as apposed to a farewell. When Harry stumbled out of the Hogwarts floo and into the Headmasters office, he was immediately greeting with congratulations from the Headmaster's portraits. He nodded in thanks, and trudged out of the room, down the winding stairs, and back into the main sections of the school.

The students parted like a ship on the waves, melting around him as he walked. Hushed whispers followed him as he took step after step in the direction of his bed. Hopefully, the twins would have taken food directly from the kitchens because he was starving and the thought of eating so close to his final destination felt too appealing to pass up.

The roar was deafening when he stepped through the portrait hole, traversing from quiet into thunderous in a split second.

It dawned on him quickly. Angelina sped up to him, draping a scarf around his neck decked out with the English colours of red and white. She pecked both of his cheeks with some vigour, whooping away with the rest of them. Fay was just as vicious and just as excited. Her lunge toward him nearly bowled over a dozen cheering students who had to come close to reverently pat him on the back or attempt to shake his hand.

Katie sidled up to him as Fay held on to him like a limpet, crying tears of wonder at how she was friends with such a person as he.

Katie shook her head with an amused smile as the music began to play and the smell of firewhiskey and butterbeer wafted throughout the room. Her right hand cupped his cheek as her thumb gently began brushing against his face. She leaned in, placing a long kiss upon his brow followed by a whisper in his ear that he could not make out due to the noise.

Harry was dragged to an armchair by the fireplace, roughly had a butterbeer shoved into his hands by a waiting Oliver Wood who was bouncing up and down in delight. His stomach rumbled and he turned to ask where the twins were. They were up to him in a second, and after explaining his hunger, they exchanged equal looking grins and vanished into the crowd. About 30 minutes later, they reappeared with baskets of food to a much appreciative Harry.

He smiled wide, bright, and content as the food settled in his stomach and the soothing heat of the flames touched his face. The butterbeer glass slid from his hand slowly, clattering to the floor. Katie and Neville turned to the sharp noise and relaxed when they saw the look of pure happiness on their friends face as he quietly snored away, oblivious and dead to the world.

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The train ride back from Hogwarts at the end of the year was almost an anomaly to Harry – for a start, the Circle was separated amongst the train.

In the last few days, Harry was constantly swarmed by the student populace, congratulating, and welcoming him with a near unmatched severity like he had never experienced before. It was getting so bad that he was forced to hole himself up in his dormitory each day so as to avoid the adoring fans. That wasn't to say that he did not appreciate the attention, he just found it all so draining that he could not cope with it anymore.

Katie, Neville, and Fay had been his bedrocks in those solitary hours. Fred and George would alternate bringing him his meals from downstairs, whilst the rest attempted to direct the rest of the world away.

It was on the night before leaving that Harry was playing a form of catch with Neville, sitting on their own beds facing each other as they tossed a fluttering snitch between the two of them. "So… tomorrow."

Harry raised an eyebrow at his friend. Neville looked sheepish and rubbed the back of his head. Harry knew his friend was still awkward around people, living with a domineering relative as his own would be most likely the cause, but Harry had known Neville long enough to know what he wanted to say without him even saying it.

"Sirius will be picking me up from the station."

Neville nodded once. "And then you'll be heading back with him? How do you feel?"

"Like I'm about to burst?" Neville laughed quietly at his friend's honesty. "It'll be okay, Harry, trust me. I can't wait for you to be able to have a home, one that's away from what you lived in before."

Harry jumped in, a squeak in his words as he verbalised his thoughts. "But what if he doesn't like me living there? I can't go back, Nev. I won't go back there."

Neville agreed with him. The anticipation of living with Sirius had made Harry appear almost lighter in spirit.

However, Neville was two carriages away, sat with Fay and some Hufflepuffs. Neville saw the logic in their separation – if the students are hunting for Harry, then the first places they would look would be for the places where those who are usually found with him would be. Harry appreciated the thought, but felt almost empty at the lack of boisterousness and joviality and peace that everyone would usually bring him. Fay had agreed with him wholeheartedly, as she was dragged almost kicking and screaming away from Harry's current compartment by a laughing Fred and George.

The twins were their own style of madness, but the whole idea of this was their own. As the train trundled on, they were inflicting their own brands of chaos for the sole purpose of distracting others away from their 'Ickle Harrikins.'

The others were basing themselves with their other friends, happy to help Harry, as well as hang out with students outside of Harry's Circle. Cedric Diggory stopped by a couple of times, once to simply say hello as he walked past, and another to sit and chat for a while. Harry enjoyed the boy's company and wondered if their growing friendship would extend for another year.

Katie, however, refused to leave his side. Yes, she had other friends, and even a best friend in a girl called Leanne in her year, but nothing could rip her away from 'Her Harry' on his way out of school. She sat close to him the whole time, doing everything she could to tear his mind away from what was going to happen. He had been nervous since getting on the train, as even Tracey and her friend Lilith Moon could tell by his constant fidgeting in their shared compartment on the way home.

In almost no time at all, with shared glares to each other forgotten by Katie and Tracey, the four of them disembarked the train, with a surreptitious hug thrown onto Harry by Tracey just before exiting through the door. Harry breathed deeply, his face contorting to pure joy when he saw a much healthier Sirius Black standing robed on the platform, parents and students alike giving him a wide berth as they talked behind their hands.

"Harry, Pup!" he shouted excitedly as Harry quickened his pace to give his new guardian an embrace. "You ready to go?" Harry nodded and turned back to where he knew his friends would be looking at him. Sirius gave a perceptibly nod to Katie, who smiled at the duo and blew a slow kiss at his Godson who reddened in return. "A ladies man just like me, hah, making me proud already, Pup."

Harry could feel tingles in his chest at such words. Hearing them from a teacher, from a friend, established different emotions that what was happening to him now. "Thank you, Sirius. I mean it, I really do. For taking me in, and for wanting me…"

"Never thank me for this, Pup. This has been my dream for years. To look after James' son, to have him like mine own. I told you before that I won't replace James, but that doesn't mean you aren't as a son to me as any child I could ever have."

Harry nodded, face blank but inside was a whole different story.

"And who is that over there who keeps looking at you?" Harry turned behind him to see Tracey, red-faced as she greeted two people who must have been her parents. She gave Harry a tiny wave and a small smile before following the woman away from the bustle of the crowded platform. Sirius gave a low whistle, a grin forming as he looked at Harry. "A Slytherin, eh? A real ladies man now. Hmm, give the girl green eyes instead of brown and she would look just like Lily, or as close as possible I guess." He took Harry's trunk from him, trundling it behind them as they walked away.

Harry waved and mouthed his goodbyes as he passed his friends. Arthur and Molly Weasley walked up to them as they were leaving, their children following in their wake. Molly gave him a powerful, slightly uncomfortable, but much appreciated hug, while Arthur gave a gentle pat on his shoulder and quick handshake to follow his goodbye.

As they entered the wall, coming out onto the Muggle platform, Harry stood with shock when he saw the Dursley's waiting for him. A thousand thoughts flew through his head, each one becoming darker than the last, until…

"Oh, Mr Dursley, and Petunia Evans? It has been so, so long since I last saw the two of you. How have you been? Keeping well I hope." His grin was palpable, and Harry was starting to catch up. "It must have slipped my mind, because you see, I've heard a lot of things about you. Don't worry, good things, or not. But anyway, Harry's coming to live with me now, so don't worry your pretty little heads about him anymore, got it?"

"Now listen here you Freak!"

"Sorry, what? I can't hear you." Harry giggled when Sirius silence his uncle when his hand slid into his sleeve, covering everything except the tip of what could only be his wand. "Anyway, gotta go, need to show Harry around and all that. Plus, I've got a couple of people for him to meet that really can't be put off." His finger went to his chin as he paused for a second. "And there's Chinese tonight too! I've got the menu's but can't decide what to have. I'm hoping Ted will be enough help."

They exited the station, Sirius leading Harry by his arm, moving at Harry's pace instead of his own. "Have you ever apparated before, Pup?"

"Is that why you're taking me into this alleyway?"

"Don't make it sound so seedy," Sirius groaned. "But yes, we need to be out of view of Muggles before we do this. So, um, I'm guessing you haven't then?"

"It's a good thing I'm here then isn't it?" came a voice from deeper down the path.

"Professor Lupin!" cried Harry in surprise.

The man simply chortled good-naturedly. "It's Remus now, Harry. It turns out that Severus was most displeased with Sirius, being my friend, was released from custody. You were within the dorms I believe when word started to spread about my, ah, condition."

"Fucking Snivellus."

"Sirius, language!"

"Bite me wolfie, you know I speak English."

His only response to that was an audible slap to the head and a pitiful whine. Remus shook his head and took in the son of his best friend. He frowned at the sight of the overly large clothes that seemed more like rags and cast offs than anything else. "Sirius can only barely apparate right now, so I'm not trusting him with anyone else right now, so it's going to be me that takes you to home today." Remus reached into his pocket to reveal a piece of parchment. "Here, Harry, you need to read this before we go. There's external anti-apparition wards built into the house's foundation and a Fidelus in place, so we can't go straight into the property. Have to go in through the front door instead."

Harry read the parchment that was now in his hands. "Grimmauld Place?"

He was unable to speak as he felt as though he was in multiple places at once, thrown about this way and that until he found his feet buckling beneath him as he collapsed into Remus' waiting arms.

"Never again," he moaned, finding severe distaste with what had just happened.

Sirius was chuckling loudly alongside Remus, his arms coming around both their shoulders as he stared at a door that was appearing before him out of nowhere. "Reminds me of James, you remember, Wolfie? How he would bitch and moan about Portkeys and Apparition. But Lily, she took to it like a fish to water, always bouncing this way and that…"

Harry was silent, not just because he was trying to catch his breath still, but also that strange addiction to finding out information on the two people he still could not make his mind up on. "You live here?" he said when he found his voice once more.

"No, Pup, we live here."

Sirius opened the door, putting his finger to his lips as he pointed at what appeared to be a sleeping portrait. He had already pre-warned Harry on the menace to his peace and quiet, but it did not hurt to remind him. They crept down the hallway, stopping in front of a large set of double doors, which Sirius opened slowly and carefully. He ushered Harry in, Remus bringing up the rear with Harry's belongings. Even Hedwig was being silent, following her human's lead as she refused to utter a sound.

The door closed behind them and Harry felt the brush of magic over his skin as he recognised the silencing wards kick in. He surveyed a living area, three figures dotting the room all staring at the new entrants.

"Harry," Sirius spoke softly to him, both hands on his shoulders as he stood behind him. "Id like you to meet some important people."

"Important?" he asked warily.

"Oh, ignore him," came a kind voice from the eldest female of the new trio. She had welcoming eyes and a small, natural smile that set him at ease almost instantly. "I'm Andromeda, Harry. Sirius," she shot her eyes lovingly but exasperatedly at the man, "is my cousin, so we'll be dropping by every now and then if that isn't too much for you."

"Um, no, of course not, Mrs Andromeda."

Her laughter was bell-like, but not unkind. "No, no, it's Andromeda, or Andi if you prefer. I had to put up with that manic buffoon calling me that for so long, I think I've almost missed it."

"It's good to finally meet you, lad," the new man said.

"And this is my husband, Ted. Trust me on this, you'll soon get bored of Siri and his ways, so you'll probably be more familiar by the week's end."

"Andi, you wound me," Sirius cried out dramatically, eliciting a quiet giggle from Harry as he began to settle his nerves.

"And this," Andromeda gestured to a young woman who was getting up from what must have been a very cosy chair, "Is our daughter, Nymphadora."

The now introduced Nymphadora walked over to him, her hair cycling through a variety of colours before settling on an emerald green. "'Wotcher, Harry, name's Nymphadora but please, please, don't call me that."

"How did you do that?" he asked, politely but with not a little bit of awe.

She smirked, growing and shortening her hair, her eyes flickering from a deep blue to a sickly yellow to a bright purple. "I'm a Metamorphmagus, Harry. It means I can change my appearance no problem at all. No wand, no potion. Just a thought and…" Her hair changed to a bright white, straightening out and growing to just above her waist, "ta da!"

"That's so cool," he muttered.

"I should be saying this about you. You have no idea how much the Auror's talk about you. I mean, dragging us kicking and screaming into the finals! No idea how long it's been since that happened but holy hell it's brilliant."

He blushed bright red, and not just because the girl had got very close into his personal space. "Ye-yeah, thank you, Dora. I'm not as great as that, I just like flying and, well, I guess I'm just good at it. But thank you. Really."

"What did you just call me?" she asked suddenly. "Did you just call me Dora? No one calls me Dora. Its always Tonks. That's what everyone knows me as, not Dora."

Harry almost dropped; his vision began to darken as an anxiety blew up throughout his being. He could see the nice woman, Andromeda, begin to move toward him, Sirius' face was becoming a snarl as he glared at Nymphadora with a growing rage. 'No. No. No. Not again. Not again. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry!"

Without any warning he was pulled face first into the girls' chest, having the life squeezed out of him. His breath stuck and he went limp as he believed that maybe he had traded one prison for another.

"I love it! Oh, my days, aren't you just so cute!" He almost went into shock, not quite believing what he was hearing. His heartbeat began to slow as he understood that this was a good thing that was occurring to him. The now named Dora pulled him back enough to get a good look at his face, her lips pursed as she took her time to think. A smile formed as she looked at him, which was mirrored by Harry as they stared at each other unblinkingly. She turned to look at the adults in the room, pulling Harry into another death hug, her grip increasing as she felt small shakes from his tiny body. "I'm keeping him, Sirius. Harry's mine now." She stuck her tongue out at the man and turned back to Harry. "I've always wanted to have a little brother!"

Harry's boyish laughter was one of the sweetest things the girl had ever heard, and the sound of it was music to Sirius' ears.

Author's Notes:

So, book 3 is finally over. Book 4 will be coming at some point, but I'm in no rush at the moment. The story of Harry and company will continue, but I need to go over my notes as to how I am going to proceed. Like, I have a template down for the key things I want to write, I just need to introduce some little things to flesh them out. Still, it's going to be great fun… eventually.

Next Chapter: World Cup