Chapter 9



"What made you want a dog?" Harry asked lazily, as he lounged in a hammock in the garden. 



Sirius shrugged as he stroked Padfoots head, as he laid back in the grass, "I saw him in the street, a old women was selling him. So I guess it was a spur of the moment decision." 



Harry nodded, "What did mother say when you brought him back?" 



"She didn't actually know I'd bought him at first, she thought he was a stray, considering as I accidentally forgot to mention it to her, and she found him chewing her favorite shoes," Sirius grinned smugly, "She acts like she doesn't like him but I know different."

Harry roared with laughter at the thought of his mother finding a strange dog chewing her shoes, "What did father say?" 


"He loved the little fella, he just pretend not to like him, or he would be the one in the dog house," Sirius cackled. 



The two men lay in silence; the only sound was Padfoot's tail wagging, as Sirius stroked his stomach. 



"What's this about Remus and Tonks?" Harry asked, breaking the silence. 



Sirius grimaced. "When we went to the Chang's ball," Sirius paused seeing Harry wince slightly at the name, "I introduced Remus to Tonks. I was only doing it for a joke because I knew Tonks fancied Remus, but I thought Remus was... you know... gay. But all through the night they didn't stop talking, a few weeks after the ball. Remus tells me he's been seeing Tonks occasionally and that he asked her father, if he could court her, and guess what her old man said? He said yes. I couldn't believe it at first, I thought he was joking; I fumed over it for days, but finally calmed down when I realized how stupid I was being. So he's been courting her for a year." Sirius finished, picking at the grass. 



"So Remus isn't gay?" Harry asked in awe. Ever since he was old enough to understand what gay meant, he always thought Remus was gay. 


"Nope" Sirius answered. "I do wonder when he's going to ask her to marry him... he's taking it too slow if you ask me, he's almost forty." 



Harry nodded, grinning, "What about you then? Ever going to settle down?"

Sirius looked at Harry, his face horrified, "I will pretend I didn't hear them words out of your mouth Mr. Potter."



"Oh come on Sirius, you must of thought of it at least once." Harry urged. 


Sirius sighed, dropping his head. "I have once or twice, but I realized I'd never find something your dad has, or Remus. They both have true love. Which I never was looked for, I was just looking for a true shag, and boy did I get it." Sirius grinned. 


"Eww too much information!" Harry yelled. 


Sirius roared with laughter causing Harry to burst into a fit as well. 



"But seriously Harry, you may not see it but that red head you brought home, she's a keeper. So if I was you I'd keep an eye out for her." Sirius grinned, winking at his godson. 


Harry shook his head furiously, "No way, she's too much hassle." 



"Denial" Sirius sang. "I think I see your nose growing, telling lies again Harry?" Sirius cackled.

Harry huffed, glaring at his godfather. "I seriously wonder why my parents put up with you." 



Sirius grinned laying back down his arms crossed under his head, "I've asked myself that a thousand times. It's because your father loves me too much." 



Harry rolled his eyes at Sirius and stared up into the darkening skies. One question stuck in his mind. 'Do I really love her?' 



Xxx


"So" Lily began, smiling at Ginny as they sat around the lake, which lay near the house. Alice had left them, telling them both she was going to see if James had finished speaking to Draco yet.

"How did my son treat you aboard the ship?" 



"He was a jerk," Ginny answered scowling, but blushed once she realized she had insulted Harry in front of his mother, "I mean..." 



"No don't lie on my account darling, I understand he acts like a jerk but he truly isn't he's just had a bad spot with women." Lily spoke smiling sadly. 



"Bad spot with women?" Ginny asked, raising a eyebrow at the older women. 



Lily nodded, "A few years ago, Harry was courting a woman who lived near the port. He was very smitten with her. Alice had set them up and they instantly started courting. A year and a half after they had been together, Harry had asked her father for her hand in marriage. Her father agreed. Harry being a gentleman had planned it out so he could propose properly. As he went to find her, to ask her to dinner he found her in the stables with her a close family friends son, Cedric Diggory." Lily glared at the water in front of her. Obviously imagining the women who had hurt her son dearly. 


"It seemed she had been seeing Mr. Diggory whilst she was courting Harry. He was heartbroken when he found out and turned into a shell of who he used to be. It took me months before I could get him to speak to me, Alice still blames herself for it, she felt so guilty knowing she had been the one who had set them up." Lily smiled sadly at Ginny. "He tends to push people away." 



Ginny smiled sadly, but on the inside she was shocked, the man who she was used to, turned out to be a nice guy? 



"So dear, if he's cold towards you or tries to push you away. It's because he's scared of getting close to anyone."

Ginny nodded smiling as Lily pulled her into a hug. 


A sudden clasp of thunder sounded causing both women to jump. 



"Quick inside before it pours down." Lily said quickly, pushing Ginny gently towards the house. 



Ginny nodded, running alongside Lily as they dashed towards the huge house.

A/n: So you finally find out what's wrong with Harry.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and to my beta… who's put up with me. :D
See you all soon.