Chapter 6: Reunion

Melissa and Lily were trying to comfort a crying Spica in her room, while James was doing his own private mourning under the pretense of reminiscing. Harry was in the library looking at the three books restricted that were actually mentioned.

Harry was reading through the Animagus book thinking about how he could trick Hermione into doing something illegal. But then again, it had been HER idea to start the D.A. He began to think if he should start it back up again.

Suddenly, he heard the door from the study crack open. He quickly hid the Animagus book under his invisibility cloak and picked up The Secrets of Hogwarts. He heard two people walking around the library.

"Just as I remember it." Remus' voice came.

"Moony? Why the bloody hell would MY godson be in a LIBRARY?!" another voice came.

"In case you've forgotten, Padfoot," Remus said to his companion. "Harry is also LILY'S son as well. You remember Lily. The Hermione Granger of our day."

"Do NOT tell me that without my guidance, Harry had begun to take after Lily."

"And you intend to break him of that?"

"Of course. Harry needs someone wise and responsible to raise him."

"So what are YOU doing here?"

Harry's heart was pounding in his chest. The other voice sounded like Sirius. Remus had even called him "Padfoot." But, Remus had been the first to tell Harry that Sirius was dead and that he wasn't coming back.

Of course, people had told him that his parents wouldn't return either.

POP

Harry snapped back into attention when he heard the familiar pop of an animagus. Suddenly, the excited bark of a dog sounded through the library as Padfoot caught the familiar scent of his godson. Instead of running to his godfather, Harry decided to really surprise Sirius, if it WAS him, and continue reading as if he hadn't been listening.

Besides, Harry thought it would be better if he was sitting if it was Padfoot.

The dog rounded the corner to see Harry sitting in a lounge chair reading. The dog barked again causing Harry to look up and drop the book. He knew that dog anywhere. He hadn't been hearing things. He wasn't dreaming.

Sirius was back.

"Sirius?" Harry whispered.

The dog ran to the teen and jumped on his lap and started licking Harry's face. Remus came around the corner of the shelf to see the reunion of godfather and godson.

"Thank Merlin." Remus sighed when he saw Harry.

"Padfoot!" Harry gasped as Sirius continued licking him. "Stop it!"

The dog got off of Harry.

POP

Harry wiped his face and saw his godfather looking very relieved to see him.

"Harry." Sirius sighed as he embraced his godson. "Thank Merlin we found you. When Moony told me you were kidnapped…"

"Kidnapped?" Harry asked looking between the two Marauders. "I thought "kidnapped" was when a child was taken from his or her home against his or her will. I went willingly. Not to mention I'm NOT a child."

"Of course you're not a kid and went willingly." Sirius said. "ANY place is better than the Dursley's. Except Grimmauld."

"How did you know to find me here?" Harry asked.

"Harry." Remus said kneeling down to Harry's level and taking Harry by the shoulder. "When Sirius was pushed out of the veil, on top of me I might add, and I told him, he suggested…how the bloody hell did you find out about Potter Manor?"

"Dad told me. Well, he brought me here first before telling me. Then we found out that Mum beat us here. While they were…having their reunion, I explored a little."

"Dad? Mum?" Sirius asked feeling Harry's forehead. "Harry. Your parents are dead."

"So are you." Harry argued.

"Could they be alive?" Sirius asked Remus.

"Well, considering who Dumbledore brought back to Head Quarters with him, and the fact that you were right about Harry being…in…Potter…Manor." Remus said before trailing off. "That did NOT sound right."

"What didn't sound right?" Sirius asked.

"The fact that you were right." Remus joked.

"I have been right before." Sirius argued.

"Name ONE time." Remus challenged as Harry started laughing quietly.

These two were JUST as bad as his parents.

"I was right about…no wait…there was the time…no…how about…I was wrong then too…Peter was alive."

"But you had thought before he was dead." Remus said.

"You just don't want to be wrong, Professor." Sirius teased.

"Well neither do you."

While those two were bickering, Harry snuck up to the second landing and left the library through the door to the hallway. He ran to his bedroom where he found his father.

James was looking at an old picture.

"Dad!" Harry exclaimed excitedly

James quickly looked up and brought his head back down when he saw his son. He then brought his hand to his eyes and wiped them.

"Dad?" Harry repeated. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." James said. His voice sounded broken. Like he had been crying.

Harry could tell that Lily had been right. James was trying to stay strong for Harry, but was really broken up about Sirius.

"Do you want to talk?" Harry asked. "When I told you about what had happened, it really helped me."

James sighed as he debated with himself. Harry knew EXACTLY what his father was going through. He had gone through the same thing. If James talked, then that might bring out the emotion and show weakness. On the other hand, he knew that if he didn't talk, the emotions would build up and it would be seventh year all over again. (Lily had informed Harry of what had happened when his grandparents died. See prequel, coming soon (so soon, it's already written))

"Close the door." James told his son.

Harry looked out into the hallway to find that the others were probably STILL bickering about Sirius' ability to be right. He obeyed his father and took a seat next to him on the bed.

"This was taken the day we formed the Marauders." James informed Harry as he handed him the picture. "Frank Longbottom took it."

Harry looked and saw four eleven year old boys waving at him. One looked a little sickly. Harry knew immediately that he was Remus. There was also a small, plump boy that Harry recognized as Peter. Harry was amazed to see how young and healthy Sirius looked in the picture. The teen nearly had a heart attack when he saw his father in the picture.

Save for the scar, eyes, and minor details, he was starring at himself at that age.

"Wow." Harry whispered. "I DO look like you."

"More than you realize." James said putting an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Back in those days, Peter was a good guy, we didn't know Moony was a werewolf, I wasn't crushing on your mother, and all we had to worry about was being caught by McGonagall and/or Filch. If you had told me what would have happened in the future, I would have laughed."

"No wonder." Harry said. "You four look really happy."

"We were." James told him. "Which is what hurts a little."

Harry looked at his father.

"I know you mother told you about the depression I went in after my parents were killed." James told Harry.

"You not going to go through that again are you?" Harry asked.

"No." James said. "Because then, Sirius had moved out and on, your mother still refused to date me, I was the only Marauder without a girlfriend, and I was alone in the world. Or so it seemed. This time, I know I have your mother's love, and…I have you."

"I'm glad your back Dad." Harry said putting his arm around James and giving him a one-armed hug.

James looked down at the picture to see Sirius give a peace sign behind Peter's head to make it look like he had bunny ears.

"Was Sirius ALWAYS like that?" Harry asked seeing the action.

"No." James said. "At least, not in public. He could be really, pardon the pun, serious in private. We used to tease him in private about Sirius being serious. In public, I remember one time, your mother told Sirius to be serious. He said that he was. Once, Spica asked him if he was serious about something he was joking about. He told her that's what it says on his birth certificate. She poured pumpkin juice over his head after that. That got old after a while though."

"I bet." Harry said with a laugh before deciding to drop the bomb. "Dad. Moony's here."

Or at least, half the bomb.

"He is?" James asked looking at the door. "How did he know to look for us here?"

"I guess the Order is desperate in their search for me." Harry said.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

"There you are!" Sirius told Harry (but looking at James). "Why the bloody hell did you leave us like that? Do you WANT to give me a heart attack? You came pretty darn close when Moony told me you went after Bellatrix. Not to mention when I heard that you went to the Department of Mysteries last month, and when I found that you had been "kidnapped"…."

"Lift up your bangs." Remus instructed as he entered and saw the two Potters.

"Moony. I don't need to see that scar again. It was bad enough the first time…." Sirius told the werewolf as he turned to look Remus in the eyes.

Harry did to reveal the scar while Sirius continued to ramble. He turned to see his father still in shock over being yelled at for something he didn't do by his dead best friend. So, Harry used his other hand to lift up James' bangs to reveal just skin.

Remus gasped in shock when he realized that he was looking at the father and son duo he had seen 15 years before. This time, Harry was no longer a baby. He then smirked as he realized that Sirius had been scolding the wrong Potter.

"Sirius." Remus interrupted his friend's rants about that Halloween night when he lost custody of Harry.

"What Moony?" Sirius asked. "Can't you see I'm ranting and raving here?"

"Yes." Remus said as walked up to Sirius and moved him in front of the real Harry. "But, if you want to scold, scold the right person please. You go on and tell Harry how you almost had a heart attack when you saw him gone from the chair, and I'LL have a reunion with James."

"Who was I scolding before?"

"Considering the fact that you were scolding a Harry-look-alike, and I JUST said "James"…"

Sirius still looked clueless.

"At this is the guy who got seven OWLs and NEWTs." Remus told Harry.

James snapped out of his shock and smirked at his best friend. Harry could see the tears of joy well up in James' eyes.

"You idiot." James said.

Sirius looked at James. His eyes went wide as he looked back and forth between James and Harry.

"How the bloody hell…" Sirius started to asked.

James stood up from the bed.

POP

A stag was standing in James' place.

"Prongs?" Sirius asked.

POP

James had transformed back.

"Padfoot?" James asked.

POP

A dog was in Sirius' place.

POP

Sirius was human again.

The two embraced as Harry and Remus watched.

"What happened?" James asked as they released each other. "Harry told me you were dead."

"And Remus and Dumbledore told ME." Harry added in his defense.

"Well," Sirius said thinking of the best way to tell. "To put things plainly, I was causing such a…ruckus behind the veil, they…kicked me out. Said that the living can deal with me. Basically the people behind the veil are people who were killed before it was their time. When that day comes, they go on. Since I had so much left to do, and knew it, I gave them reason to push me out of the veil."

Silence

"I am SO sorry." Sirius whispered looking at the floor.

"For what?" James asked confused.

"I was the one who suggested Wormtail. Remember?"

"You didn't know." Remus said. "None of us did."

Sirius wasn't paying any attention. All he was focused on was getting his friend's forgiveness.

"James." Sirius said. "I need to know. Do you blame me even a little?"

"No Padfoot." James said taking his friend by his shoulders.

As James looked at Sirius in the eyes, he realized something:

Flashback

"He took your deaths pretty hard" Harry said. "Azkaban didn't help."

"How WAS he though?" James asked.

"Okay considering all that had happened." Harry explained. "He felt guilty though."

End Flashback

Harry had not been exaggerating Sirius' condition. If anything, he was understating it.

"Sirius Black." James said to his friend knowing that this would end the conversation. "I know for a fact that you would NEVER hurt me Mistakes were made. We're only human. But just so you can put your mind at rest: I forgive you."

"Thanks Prongs." Sirius said hugging James.

"Hey Padfoot!" Harry said. "Think you can let Professor Lupin have a small reunion?"

"Harry.' Remus sighed. "I am no longer your professor. You don't have to call me that anymore."

KNOCK KNOCK

"Who's there?" Harry asked.

"James is letting Harry see him depressed?" Melissa voice came from the other side of the door.

Remus went pale at the sound of her voice.

"Come in." James said cheerfully

The door opened to reveal Lily and Melissa.

"Lunch is…ready." Lily said before seeing the reunited Marauders. "I think we're in trouble, Mel."

"Oh no." Melissa said sarcastically. "The Marauders are back. The world is no longer safe."

"Ha. Ha." Sirius laughed sarcastically. "I missed you ladies too."

"Not as much as Bushtail." Melissa said rolling her eyes.

"That gives me an idea." Lily said running into the room and grabbing Sirius by the hand and dragging him out. "Harry, James. You two go on down to lunch. Mel. You and Remus have that little make-out session you told Spica you'd have."

"WHAT?!" Remus and Melissa asked in shock.

"When did I say that?!" Melissa asked.

"The night after the OWLs after I told James I'd rather date the squid." Lily said before she ran back to Spica's room with Sirius in tow.

"We were fifteen!" Melissa argued. "I just said that I'd kiss Remus when Spica kissed Sirius and she kissed James."

"Well." Harry said. "Considering the fact that Mum MARRIED James Potter and Spica had been engaged to Sirius for 17 years…"

"WHAT?!" Remus asked. He had not been told about that. "I'm going to have a word with that mutt."

"C'mon Harry." James said teasingly. "Let's leave these two ALONE."

0000

KNOCK KNOCK

"Go away." Spica said.

Lily opened the door anyways. Someone walked in.

"I'll leave you two alone." Lily whispered as she left the room.

Spica felt a dip on the bed before feeling a hand on her back that started to rub it in a comforting manner. The same way Sirius did when her parents and the Evans were killed during the first war.

"Spica?" a man's voice came.

It was Sirius' voice.

Spica turned her head to the direction of the speaker. Through her blurry eyes because of the tears, she saw the face of the man she loved.

Sirius was alive.

"Sirius?" she asked sitting up.

He smiled and nodded.

She touched his face and felt that he was solid. Her hand then moved to his chest just over his heart.

She felt a few heartbeats.

"Oh Sirius!" she exclaimed as she embraced him and cried on her shoulder.

"Shhh." He comforted as he returned the embrace. "It's okay. I'm here."

She only held him tighter. They were together again, and this time, NOTHING would part them.

"I missed you." He whispered.

"I missed you too." She said in his ear.

After a few minutes, she pulled away wiping her eyes.

"So," She asked. "About the wedding…?"

"Is it still on?" Sirius asked nervously.

"Of course." She said. "But I was thinking…we've waited 17 years. Why wait any longer?"

"Surely everyone told you of what had happened." Sirius argued.

"Yes."

"And you STILL want me?"

"I don't care. Everyone makes mistakes."

They embraced again.

"And I'm going back to America in September to talk to the Ministry there to get their help…" she said as she pulled out.

"You want me to tag along?" Sirius asked.

"You WILL tag along." She corrected. "Even if I have to club you over the head and DRAG you."

They embraced AGAIN

0000

At lunch a few minutes later,

Lily were sitting down to join the others for lunch when the door opened to reveal Sirius and Spica.

"Well." Melissa said sarcastically. "Look who decided to leave her room."

"Ha, ha." Spica laughed half-heartedly as she sat in-between Sirius and Lily. "So, did I miss anything IMPORTANT?"

"Just Melissa and Remus having a…romantic reunion." Harry teased.

"It wasn't THAT romantic." Melissa argued.

"Hey guys." Remus said. "If I could talk Dumbledore into it, think we can let the Order move into Potter Manor?"

"Can we?" Harry and Sirius asked James and Lily.

"If you can talk Dumbledore into it." James said.

TBC