"So pup, are you ready to leave?" Asked Sirius. Harry nodded, albeit shyly. Sirius had wanted to take his godson clothes shopping. But that was a surprise so he just told Harry that he had some important work in Diagon Alley. Harry took hold of Sirius' arm lightly, not wanting to upset the man. On Sirius' encouraging nod, he held on tightly and the two of them disappeared with a CRACK.
They reappeared, not in Diagon alley though. Harry looked up at his godfather with a quizzical expression but Sirius just smiled down at him, affectionately. "Where are we Sirius?" Asked Harry, ready to move away in case he was going to be beaten for asking. "We, oh dear godson of mine are in muggle London. I need to get you some proper clothes. You won't be wearing those rags anymore."
Harry's eyes widened. He was going to get knew clothes. As of now, Sirius seemed like the best person on this planet according to Harry. He had taken him in, promised him a home, allowed him to cry and had held and soothed him instead of punishing him. And now, he was going to get new clothes. He just didn't know how to repay the man. "Thank you thank you thank you!" He gushed, throwing his arms around Sirius' waist and burying his face into his godfather's broad chest. He pulled away after a bit and grinned sheepishly at Sirius.
Shopping had never been better. Sirius took Harry to every store in sight and made him try on almost everything on the shelves. The boy was too shy to ask for anything by himself so for now, Sirius was perfectly alright with choosing things for his pup as Harry nodded his approval hesitantly. When they were finally done, Sirius had made sure that Harry had a whole knew wardrobe collection including casuals, formals, nightwear and underwear. Lunch was also quite fun. Harry started to open up, bit by bit and soon the duo was laughing away.
"Today was brilliant. Thank you so much Sirius." Said Harry, thanking his godfather profusely for the umpteenth time. "You're welcome puppy. Now, I think there are new clothes that require unpacking so why don't you hop to it?" Said Sirius. Harry's face fell a little but nonetheless he still went towards the staircase. Sirius noted Harry's expression. "What's the matter pup?" He asked gently. "Well... I was hoping we could ... play a game of chess together if you ...uh don't mind."
Sirius' heart soared at this. His godson was already warming up to him and though Sirius wanted to play very much, he didn't want Harry procrastinating. "How about we both put away your clothes together? And then we can play? Hmm?" Harry nodded eagerly and headed upstairs while Sirius followed him.
As they put away clothes, Sirius plonked down on Harry's bed and patted the space next to him. "Come sit beside me pup. I need to talk to you."
Harry froze. It all started with a talk. "Relax pup. I promise you that you're not in trouble." Reassured Sirius. At this Harry walked towards the space Sirius had patted and sat down. The older wizard wrapped an arm around his godson's shoulders and drew him closer. Harry stiffened, the tensed demeanour that had disappeared during their little outing was back again.
"Harry, are you happy over here, living with me in Black Manor?" he asked, rubbing Harry's arm reassuringly. "Yes Sirius. I'm really very happy here. Thank you." answered Harry, sincerity lacing his words. Sirius couldn't feel any happier. Despite everything the boy had gone through, his godson seemed like the best child on the planet. "I'm glad to hear that."
That night, even dinner was an enjoyable event. Sirius sent Harry upstairs at ten o'clock since that was the idea bed time for an eleven year old according to Sirius.
As Sirius was just reading through a book, he heard a muffled crash from his godson's room and rushed up the stairs, his heart beating at a crazy pace. He threw open the door and saw a glass vase that stood near Harry's study desk had somehow fallen down and shattered itself. That wasn't what worried him though. At the farthest end of the room, Harry was curled up in a small ball, hands covering his head and sniffles coming from his small form.
In three long strides, Sirius crossed the room and pulled the sobbing boy into his arms. It was then that he noticed them. Since his godson hadn't buttoned his night shirt up yet, Sirius very clearly saw the white faded scars on his stomach and shoulder. Those pathetic muggles! How could they!
"Sshh puppy. It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you. Please stop crying pup." Sirius said, as he softly stroked the boy's hair. Harry didn't look like he was going to stop crying anytime soon so Sirius lifted Harry off the ground, gasping at how light the boy was and sat himself on Harry's bed, with his godson on his lap. Harry's rigid body seemed inconsolable. He kept begging for forgiveness and mercy.
Unsure of what to do, Sirius simply held the boy close as Harry cried himself out. Once the boy had calmed down, he apologised once more. "You have nothing to apologise for. Like I said, I'll never hurt you puppy."
Harry for one, simply couldn't understand what was going on. He had broken something, cried and blubbered like a baby, getting his godfather's shirt all wet but Sirius hadn't even raised his voice at him, let alone his hand. He remembered the last time he had woken up from a nightmare. He had been about seven years old at that time and what had followed his nightmare had been even worse than the dream itself. That night Uncle Vernon had whipped him with that belt until Harry had become numb.
"Harry, I'm going to ask you a question and can you promise me an honest answer?"
Trust him. Said the little voice in Harry's head and listen to it he did. Despite all that he had been through, Sirius felt different. He wasn't aggressive and rough like his Uncle nor was his godfather nosy, like his Aunt. He gave Sirius a jerky nod. "Did your aunt and uncle ever hit you?" Even though Sirius was asking, there was something in his voice that let Harry know that he knew.
He knew. He knew. That was the only thought that ran through Harry's mind as Harry sat on his godfather's lap. He knew that Harry was a freak, a weakling and an ungrateful brat who was a disgrace to the hardworking family he had lived with. "Please don't send me back Sirius. I promise I won't be a freak from now on. I'll be good, I promise. I'll accept whatever punishment you want to give me but please let me stay. I promise to do all the chores, I'll go back to sleeping in a cupboard and you won't even know that I'm here." The desperation with which Harry was pleading tore Sirius's heart. Harry looked so fragile and young, more like an eight year old as he sat there, ardently begging for mercy.
"Harry James Potter, you are most certainly not a freak. I never want to hear you talk like that again and I promise that I will never ever send you back puppy. You don't have to do any chores and you most certainly will never have to sleep in a cupboard again. I love you very much pup. You are completely safe here. I promise." Said Sirius, fiercely hugging Harry as he tried to quell his anger at those wretched Dursleys. Harry couldn't believe it. He was loved and wanted! It was all that he had always wanted and now he had it. "Thank you." Was all that he could manage, his voice, thick with emotion as he felt himself being hugged tighter. Was it all really true? With the love that was surrounding him, Harry couldn't ask for anything more.
"How about some sleep now pup?" He asked Harry. His godson nodded sleepily as he yawned. Sirius tucked Harry in securely and kissed his forehead. "Goodnight puppy, love you." And with that the man extinguished the lights and walked out of his pup's room.
As Harry lay on his bed, for the first time in forever, he felt truly happy. Sirius loved him and he didn't have to go back. The insecurity was still there but that would also dissipate eventually. With only happy thoughts going on in his mind, the young wizard fell asleep, with a smile on his face.