Sirius stared blankly at the cold, grey block wall. He didn't even move when a witch and wizard approached his cell.
" Mr. Black?", the witch asked sharply. Slowly, Sirius turned his head. " Bones.", he acknowledged her before looking at the wizard. " Fudge.", he said. Minister Fudge nervously played with his bowler hat.
" I have been going over all the Death Eater trials, making sure everything was as it should be. Imagine my surprise when I couldn't find your records and found out you had no trial. We are here today to rectify this mistake. I will give you a dose of truth potion and ask you some questions. Do you understand what I am telling you?", Bones asked.
" Yes.", Sirius answered, his voice cracking from lack of use. Sirius slowly stood up and came to the cell door. Bones gave him the potion and then asked a few test questions to make sure it was working.
" Are you a Death Eater?", she asked immediately. " No.". " Have you ever supported the one who calls himself Voldemort?". " No.". " Were you the Potters secret keeper?". " No.". " Who was?". " Peter Pettigrew.". " Did you kill Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles?". " No.".
Bones and Fudge looked at each other. This was not what they expected.
" Why were you not chosen for the secret keeper?", Bones asked. " James and I thought that I would be too obvious, so we decided on Peter.", Sirius replied, his tone dull. " Explain what happened the day you were arrested.", Bones said. " I finally tracked Peter down and confronted him. We attracted the attention of the non-magi. Peter started shouting that I was a traitor. He cast a Bombarda, but my shield charm saved me from serious injury. The non-magi weren't so lucky.", Sirius said.
" How did Peter escape?", Bones wondered. " Peter is a rat animagus.", Sirius responded. " He is not registered.", Fudge said. " Are you an animagus?", Bones asked. " Yes.", he answered. " I don't remember seeing a registration for you.", Bones narrowed her eyes. " I'm registered with the ICW.", Sirius stated blandly. Bones sighed. " Thank you for your cooperation Mr. Black. A great injustice has been done to you. We will have you out as soon as we clear your name.", Fudge said.
Sirius watched the two walk away before going back to his corner. He transformed and went to sleep, not really expecting anything to come of this meeting, but planning on what he would do as soon as he was free, whenever that may be.
" Mr. Black, you are being released.", a guard said from his cell door. Sirius looked at him before slowly standing. How long had it been since that last unexpected visit? He walked to the now open door and stepped out. The guard closed the door and escorted him outside. He blinked at the boat waiting for him, but got in without a sound.
They reached the main shore. Fudge and Bones were there waiting for him. Fudge had him sign some papers before he handed him a paper that gave him a full pardon while Bones gave him another that stated he had received one hundred thousand galleons in compensation. Sirius just nodded at them before walking away. Once he was sure he was alone, he stepped into the shadows and disappeared without a sound.
He reappeared in a dark alley beside Gringotts bank. Shifting his features slightly and transfiguring his prison clothes with a thought, he walked inside.
" Greetings Teller. May your enemies bow beneath you and your day be profitable.", Sirius said respectfully, if a bit raspy. " You as well, wizard. What can Gringotts do for you today?", the teller asked.
" I need to speak to account manager Ironhook as soon as possible.", Sirius stated. " Very well, please wait over there and someone will be with you shortly.", the teller said. Sirius moved aside and waited for only a couple of minutes before he was lead to an office.
" Sirius Orion Black, you look like Death.", the goblin sitting behind the desk in the office drawled. " Azkaban has that effect on a person. How are you Ironhook?", Sirius sat down in a chair opposite the desk. " I can not complain. What do you need?", he asked. " Healing and to be brought up to speed.", Sirius answered. Ironhook nodded and called another goblin.
Sirius was checked over thoroughly before undergoing a cleansing ritual. He felt a lot better afterwards, but would still be on a potion regime for a while to correct the damage from Azkaban. Sirius was determined to be in the best shape possible so that he could get his Godson. He'd been in that hellhole for over nine years and he would be damned if anything kept him from Harry. He had made a mistake that night when he gave Harry to Hagrid, he wouldn't do it again.
He went into a time chamber the goblins had deep under the bank. One year inside would be one month in real time. In that time he was brought up to speed on what had transpired while he was gone. He also filled out, loosing the gaunt look and exercised. When he came out he looked even better than he did before going to prison. After claiming his lordship, he left the bank.
Sirius went to Grimmauld Place. Though he hated it, it had the best protections for Harry. He would just remodel the place.
" Who dares to break into the House of Black?!", a portrait yelled. " Hello, Mother.", Sirius grinned at the portrait. " You! Blood traitor! Filth...", Walburga Black went silent as she caught sight of the ring on her son's finger. " Ah, so you see. I am Lord of this House now and I will make our name great again. You will stop acting in such an unbecoming manner or I will destroy you. Understand?", Sirius's eyes glowed silver and Walburga just nodded. This was not the same son who walked out on his family. This man was dangerous.
" Kreature!", Sirius commanded. " Filthy blood traitor calls Kreature?", the house elf's eyes widened when he saw the ring. " You will cease that kind of behavior at once. I want this place cleaned from top to bottom, inside and out. If you need assistance then get it. All harmful dark artifacts will be taken to Gringotts to be cleansed. Anything beyond repair will be replaced. There is a small room that never gets used beside the kitchen. That will be your new living quarters and if we have to buy another elf it will be their room too. Do I make myself clear?", Sirius asked, his tone firm. " Yes, Master.", Kreature said before popping away.
It took just over two weeks to get the place looking respectable again. Sirius had been busy, not only with the house, but with filing for guardianship for Harry. He had a copy of both Potters will stating that he should be the one to take care of Harry. The minister was only too happy to sign off on it. Finally he could bring his Godson home. Thanks to the goblins he knew Harry lived with his non-magi family.
Sirius arrived at Number Four, Privet Drive, just in time to see a walrus size man stop a small, raven haired, boy with glasses from getting into a car. After a moment the man got into the car and so did the boy. Sirius transformed and followed the car. It finally parked just outside the London Zoo.
He waited until they were out of the car before approaching.
" Mr. and Mrs. Dursley?", he asked as neared them. " Yes?", Vernon asked gruffly. " My name is Lord Sirius Orion Black. Do to some unfortunate circumstances, I was unable to contact you earlier.", Sirius took the paper stating he had full guardianship of Harry. " I am Harry Potter's Godfather and his legal guardian. Here's a copy of the paperwork. I've come to take him home with me.", Sirius continued.
Harry looked at the tall man with shoulder length, slightly curly black hair and silver eyes. He seemed vaguely familiar, but that didn't matter. No more Dursleys! This was like a dream come true. And on Dudley's birthday no less! Sure the man was a stranger, but anything had to be better than his so called family.
" If' you'll just sign this paper here then everything is set.", Sirius indicated another paper he brought saying the Dursleys were give up guardianship. " So we just sign this and we get rid of the little freak forever?", Vernon looked like Christmas had come early.
Sirius inwardly snarled at the walrus, but no emotion showed on his face thanks to his occlumency.
" If that's the way you want to look at it, then yes.", Sirius replied. Vernon quickly signed the paper before giving it to Petunia. Petunia hesitated. " You're one of them aren't you?", she asked. " One of what?", Sirius asked. " A..a... wizard.", she spat the word out.
Harry's eyes widened. A wizard? Like a magician? " Yes, I am. Harry was suppose to be with me from the beginning, but I made a mistake which I have been paying for for over nine years. I know you don't like our kind, so just sign the paper and hopefully you never have to deal with our world ever again.", Sirius said.
Petunia signed the paper and gave it back. Then without a backwards glance, the family left Harry there and went inside the zoo.
Harry just stared after them sadly. He knew they had never liked him, sometimes they downright hated him, but they just left him there. While it had always been Harry's dream to get away from them, a part of him had still clung on to the hope that maybe one day they could get along. Now it was like a piece of himself had died. They didn't even check to see if this man was telling the truth.
" Well, it's a good thing you no longer have to associate with people like that. The nerve of them! I could have been anybody! James and Lily would have hexed them both if they were here right now.", Sirius shook his head in disgust. He looked at Harry and knelt down in front of him. Emerald eyes, Lily's eyes, looked at him with so much hurt. He looked so lost. Sirius did the only thing he could, he reached out and drew Harry into a hug.
Harry stiffened, but when after a few moments he wasn't being hurt, he relaxed. The tears he had been holding at bay started running down his face. Clutching the man's shirt, Harry buried his face and cried. Silent sobs racking through his thin frame. It had been so long since he had let his emotions overwhelm him, but this was just too much.
Sirius held him as he cried, not once letting go of him. It seemed a long time later that he finally was able to calm down.
" I-I'm s-sorry, s-sir.", Harry stuttered as he collected himself. " Not to worry, we all need to let it out every now and then. Now I'm sure you have lots of questions, but is there anything you would like from your relative's house?", Sirius asked. " I don't own anything.", Harry said truthfully. Again Sirius was glad for his mental shields. Damn Dursleys! " Very well then. I'll take you to your new home.".
Harry looked longingly at the zoo. Sirius noticed. " We will come back another day, I don't fancy running into your relatives again.", he said. Harry agreed with that, best to come when they're not around. " Alright. Do you know anything about magic?", Sirius asked. " There's no such thing as magic.", Harry repeated what his uncle had told him.
Sirius sighed. " This is going to be more difficult than I thought.", he muttered. " Come on.", he said before taking Harry's hand and guiding him to a shady area. " This might be a little disorienting.", Sirius warned before the shadows wrapped around them and they disappeared without a sound.
Harry's eyes widened as they reappeared in what appeared to be an updated parlor that had cream colored walls and charcoal trim. " Now first things first. We'll do a tour before eating lunch and then we'll talk.", Sirius explained. Harry just nodded, too busy taking in everything to try to speak.
Across from the parlor was the kitchen which had a large eat in area for more cozy meals. Next to that was the formal dining room. Under the stairs there was a powder room and coat closet. Another door led downstairs to something called a dueling room and potions lab.
The second floor had four large bedrooms with their own bathrooms and the Black library while the third floor held the master suite and Lord's study along with the Heir's room which was apparently Harry's new room. He gaped at the size of it. It had a large black four poster bed with matching furniture, his own bathroom and his own study.
They went back down to the kitchen. " Kreature.", Sirius called out. Harry jumped when a little being around three feet tall with large eyes and long ears appeared out of thin air. " Harry, this is Kreature our house elf. House elves need our magic to thrive, so they bind themselves to us. They truly live to serve us. In the past I wasn't the nicest to Kreature, but I'm working on that now. You should always treat any being as you would want to be treated. It took me a long time to really understand that, but it is sound advice.", Sirius said.
" Kreature, this is Harry James Potter, my Godson and Heir to the House of Black. You will treat him with respect and obey him. If he asks you to do something that you think will cause us harm, you will come to me and tell me.", Sirius commanded. " Yes, sir.", Kreature bowed. " We will have lunch now.", Sirius led the way to the kitchen.
Lunch was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Harry only managed to eat half of his mashed sweet potatoes, snap peas and roast beef. After the meal, Sirius led Harry back to the parlor where they made themselves comfortable.
" So, Harry, what do you know about your parents?", Sirius began. " They died in a car crash.", Harry replied. Sirius pinched the bridge of his nose. " No Harry. I suppose I should start at the beginning.", Sirius sighed before he began. Harry listened with rapt attention as Sirius gave a brief background of his parents, Voldemort, a prophecy and how his parents really died.
Harry blinked and took a deep breath at all the new information, quickly sorting it in his mind into different categories, something he started doing when he first started school.
" I know this is a lot to take in right now. Perhaps you would like some time to yourself before dinner. Here are a few books to introduce you to the magical world.", Sirius said as he handed Harry An Introduction To The Wizarding World, A History Of Magic: The Real History, and Hogwarts, A History along with Hogwarts: School Rules and Your Rights. Harry thanked him before going up to his new room, still processing the information he had just been told.
Sirius sighed again as Harry went upstairs. He felt drained and this was only the beginning. Tomorrow he would need to take Harry to Gringotts and take him shopping, the poor boy needed everything. He could actually use some time in the special time chamber to heal.
Harry laid down on his new bed and closed his eyes. While the information Sirius had shared with him seemed not possible, he had to face the fact that this was the truth and deep down he knew that, he just needed a little time to accept it. He opened his eyes and began reading, determined to understand the world he was now in.
Meanwhile Sirius was in the master suite, thinking about his next move. A small pop and Kreature stood before him, some sort of locket in his hand.
" Master Regulus tasked Kreature with destroying this, but I's not able to.", he said. Sirius prodded the locket with his magic and quickly recoiled. " Take it to the goblins and have them take care of it. Tell them I'll pay them an extra thirty percent on top of their normal fee.", Sirius said. Kreature nodded and left. Sirius didn't know what exactly what was wrong with that locket, but he had an idea. It was better for the goblins to deal with it.
Sirius found Harry still in his room, deeply absorbed in one of his books, when he went to retrieve him for dinner. " Time for dinner, Harry.", he said from the pre - teen's doorway. Bright green eyes looked up at him before closing the book and following him downstairs.
" I suggest we have an early night. Tomorrow we will be going to Gringotts in Diagon Alley and shopping afterwards.", Sirius said after they ate. Harry yawned before he could stop himself. " Yes, sir.", he agreed tiredly.
After breakfast the next morning, Sirius shadow walked them to the same dark alley he had been to before. They went inside Gringotts and Sirius requested a full health check-up on Harry as well as time in the chamber again. Sirius was livid when he found out there was a horcrux inside Harry, but thankfully the goblins were able to transfer it to something else to destroy it.
During the year in the time chamber, Harry got healthier, exercised and learned from his Godfather. Harry was now five feet tall, his raven hair shoulder length with auburn highlights and no more glasses.
Harry received his Hogwarts letter while still in the time chamber thanks to Kreature bringing it to him. When they left the bank, they took care of all his shopping including getting a few owls. Hedwig, a beautiful snow white owl with amber eyes, would be going with Harry while Alak and Kali, two eagle owls one in shades of grey while the other was in shades of black, would be Sirius's owls.
It was now September first. Harry was quite nervous about leaving Sirius. For the first time in his life he had someone who cared about him and he wasn't keen on being away from him when he just got him.
" Everything will be fine, Harry. You have the two way mirror and can call me anytime you need me. Hopefully by the time Yule break comes around you can meet Remus.", Sirius said as they arrived at the platform.
" I love you Padfoot.", Harry whispered as he hugged him. Sirius held him tight. " I love you too.", Sirius kissed his forehead and his heart constricted a little as Harry got on the train.
Harry found an empty compartment in the very back of the train and hoped he wouldn't be bothered by idiots on the way. Honestly what were people thinking?! A baby defeating a full grown wizard? What utter rubbish! Harry had no doubt that his mother had done something to protect him, even if it shouldn't be possible.