Chapter Three
"Discussions"
Before Sirius could say anything, Harry had his wand trained on his chest, watching his every movement closely.
"Harry…" Sirius started moving closer to Harry in hopes to calm his godson down.
"Don't you dare come any closer." Harry said gripping his wand even tighter making his knuckles turn white.
"Harry, it's me I swear." Sirius said eyeing Harry in concern. Had Dumbledore told the boy nothing before sending him?
"Sirius just died a little over an hour ago, you Death Eaters must think I'm daft."
"Harry…" Sirius drawled, desperate to make him listen "I'm alive."
"Prove it's you then!" Harry spat his wand twitching in agitation. "What did you tell me in my third year just before you left with Buckbeak?"
"The ones who love us never truly leave us," Sirius started, taking in his godsons facial expression as it softened "you can always find them, right here," Sirius continued and took that opportunity to stride to his godson and place his hand over the young boys heart "in your heart" he finished
Harry's eyes were bright as he quickly hid his face in Sirius's robes, muttering almost incoherently into his godfather's chest.
"I thought I lost you." Harry whispered
Sirius tightened his hold on his godson. "I know Harry, I'm sorry." Sirius said as he stroked the back of Harry's head in attempt to comfort the boy. Sirius managed to maneuver the boy over to the couch. Sirius sat there rocking his troubled godson.
Sirius glance down at the mess of black hair and sighed "Will you EVER have a normal year at Hogwarts that WON'T almost give me a heart attack?" Sirius asked as he attempted to lighten the atmosphere. It worked; his godson looked up at him and smiled.
"I'm afraid this may be as normal as it gets Padfoot."
Sirius chuckled. "You scared me tonight kiddo." Sirius managed to say.
"I know, I'm sorry." Harry said "I almost lost you! I'm so sorry, Sirius, I almost got you killed!" Harry said biting his lip
"It doesn't matter, what matters is we are both very much alive and well." Sirius said cutting off anymore apologies that harry would try to voice.
"Where is that old man?" Sirius asked glancing at the clock on the wall and then to the fireplace. It had already been an hour since Sirius himself had arrived in the office.
"Well he and the Minister have some things to discuss." Harry said shifting slightly "Voldemort was at the Ministry when the employee's started arriving.
"You fought Voldemort?" Sirius yelped
"Well… err… Yes and no… Dumbledore arrived shortly after Voldemort appeared.
Sirius relaxed slightly, though he took his opportunity to scan his godson for any visible injuries.
"You're ok though, right?" Sirius asked in concern
"I'm fine; I'm more worried about the others. It's my fault they got hurt." Harry said, a look of guilt crossing his face.
"It most certainly is not. You did not force them to travel to the Ministry, you did not force them to stay and fight now did you?" Sirius said as Harry shook his head.
"But…"
"No 'buts', it is not your fault." Sirius said firmly "Do you understand me?" Harry nodded to his lap, avoiding eye contact with Sirius "Harry look at me." Harry's green eyes snapped up to stare into Sirius's gray ones. "Do you understand?" Sirius repeated
Harry nodded, this time looking his godfather square in the eye.
"Good." Sirius sighed "You have got to stop blaming yourself for everything, Harry." Sirius said.
The two stayed silent for a moment before Sirius broke the silence again.
"Why didn't you use the mirror Harry?" Sirius asked.
"Mirror?" Harry asked confused.
"Yes, the package I gave you before you went back to school?" Sirius prompted.
"Oh. I um… forgot about that." Harry said, rubbing the backside of his right hand.
"What is that Harry?" Sirius said, as he caught a glimpse of pale white skin.
Harry's eyes widened as he attempted to hide the hand. "It's nothing."
"Harry James." Sirius drawled "Let me see your hand.
Harry, very hesitantly placed his right hand into Sirius's open palm.
Sirius read the words that were engraved into the back of his godson's hand, his anger flaring as he reread the words that glistened in the early morning light.
'I must not tell lies'
"Who did this to you?" Sirius said letting go of Harry's hand as he rubbed his temples trying to calm his ragging temper.
Harry bit his bottom lip "Sirius it's nothing."
"Harry James, it is not 'nothing'." Sirius said "Now who made you use a blood quill?"
"Professor Umbridge." Harry said cautiously
"I should have known." Sirius said, shaking his head in frustration, "If I ever get my hands on her…." He said.
Harry snorted "You might not have to, last time I saw her she was being hauled off by the centaurs. Can you believe that she insulted them? I mean really, they were already revolting against wizards, but then she proceeds to assault them with magic." Harry said shaking his head as Sirius gaped at him in amazement.
"Really? Am I to assume that my well behaved godson, snuck into the Forbidden Forest?"
"Hey! It was Hermione's idea!" Harry defended
"Haha! Prefect Hermione, broke the rules?" Sirius laughed
Harry smiled "Not the first time she broke the rules, mind you. Don't let her tell you any different either." said Harry
Sirius simply laughed as he gave his godson a one armed hug.
It was then, that Dumbledore made his appearance in a whirl of green flames.