Disclaimer: Anything you recognize as cannon belongs to J.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore sighed in frustration; Hagrid had just brought him the news. James and Lily dead and Sirius had taken custody of Harry. The boy would be far better growing up away from all the magic until he was ready for Hogwarts. He frowned; unsure of how to address the problem. If he had to be raised in the magical community it would be better done by a light family. The Blacks were notoriously dark, and neutral at best. Sirius Black had been one of the biggest cause for headaches in school, with all his pranks and jokes. Then even after he'd joined the Order he'd refused to give all his information to Dumbledore. Yes this was a cause for great trouble for Dumbledore. He'd know have to pay a visit to Sirius and explain why he should give Harry up...
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Dumbledore stood at the door to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, he rang the bell and waited, before ringing again. After waiting for over ten minutes he drew his wand and broke through the wards. To his surprise they were a lot weaker then he thought they'd be. When he stepped inside he saw why. The entrance hall was dark and empty and a quick charm revealed that he was alone. Sirius must have relocated. Sighing Dumbledore stepped out and disapparated, heading for Gringotts, if he could get a list of the Black properties then he could figure out where they'd be.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
After many hours of frustrated research Dumbledore had discovered where Sirius was, he and Harry were living in one of the Black manors and estates on the other side of England. He quickly disapparated, reappearing in front of the gate. A quick scan proved his identity and he was let in.
As he walked he began to make a plan, he needed to take Harry off Sirius without antagonizing Sirius.
The door was heavily warded, but fortunately Sirius answered almost immediately.
"Is anything I can do for you Albus?"
His voice was hard and instantly told Albus that he knew why he was here.
"Ahh Sirius, I bring bad news. Unfortunately Voldermort has broken through the wards on Lily and James's cottage. They fought valiantly but here was nothing they could do. They're gone Sirius. However I believe Harry had survived, there was no body and somehow the Dark Lord is gone"
Sirius nodded, his face blank and emotionless. He knew were Albus was heading and he needed to stop it.
"But there is a problem, Harry seems to have dis-"
"Harry hasn't gone anywhere, except to his new family. James contacted me in his final minutes. I'm to look after and raised Harry. He's sleeping off the magical backlash right now."
"Ah, well Sirius you see the law states-"
"In their wills I am named Harry's guardian, I have already been to the ministry. Harry is now legally considered my son."
His attempt blocked Albus turned to a new method.
"Well Sirius wouldn't Harry be better raised with other children, the Weasley's would be perfectly happy to take him."
"Albus, Harry is now my son, you will never take him away. If when he is older he wishes not to live with me then that will be his decision. But for now he will be living and growing up with me. If he grows up a Potter raised with the knowledge of that night then when he comes of age and is Lord Potter he will have the knowledge to deal with it."
Albus nodded, as stubborn as he was he could tell when he had lost.
"Very well Sirius, just remember the offer stands. I'm sorry for your loss and I bid you good day."
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Six Years Later
A young black haired boy jumped out of bed, a wide grin on his face. He dressed quickly in a pair of casual blue robes with silver trimming. After attempting to tame his hair he left his wing of the house and strode into the main hall. Crossing into the informal dining room he found his godfather, Sirius Black.
"Good morning Harrison, Happy Birthday"
Harry smiled; it had become a tradition to act formally on his birthday.
"Good morning Lord Black."
Sirius finally allowed a grin to enter his features.
"Lets go and find Cascadia and the twins, then we can begin your presents."
Harry smiled and ran into the kitchen, his adoptive aunt, Cascadia Black née Langdon was cooking. Cascadia had long blonde hair and a fair complexion. She had piercing blue eyes, she was a blood relative to Dumbledore and had Geelay heritage. Geelay were the European counterpart to Veela, they had water powers and transformed into a serpent-like woman when angered.
In the corner rested a small cot, Giselle and Aslan, Sirius and Cascadia's children were sleeping. They were just over three, having been born 1884. They'd already shown magical heritage, with Giselle exploding every window in the house with accidental magic and Aslan being able to summon toys to him.
"Good morning Harry darling, Happy Birthday. Just let me finish making your crêpes. "
Another one of the Blacks traditions was that Harry be allowed his favourite food on his birthday, Cascadia was a skilled chef and Harry loved her creamy chocolate and strawberry crêpes.
"Thanks Aunt Cassie."
Harry ran into the next room where Sirius was waiting; even though it was his birthday Harry knew he'd have a short lesson planned.
"Ok, Harry, todays lesson is on the basic history of magic and a bit of Arithmancy."
Normally Harry hated learning about Arithmancy, but he knew since it was his birthday Sirius would keep it short and make it interesting.
"You're turning seven, along with eleven and seventeen it's one of the most important birthdays, do you know why?"
"Seven is the number that's comes up most in magical myths and legends. It's also the average age by which a witch or wizard would have their first bout of accidental magic."
"Correct, why is seven the average age?"
"As a witch or wizard grows their magic grows stronger, so does their willpower. The more will they have the less accidental magic, which often occurs as part of a tantrum. At seven the strength of the magic is finally strong enough to emerge, any younger and the magic is too weak."
"Well done, final question how does Arithmancy relate to other areas of magic?"
"In potions the ingredients and steps are often related to arithmancy, for example to number of stirs in ratio to the amount of a certain ingredient. In Herbology often the plants will grow more or less depending on certain times of month, day or year. In spells the wand movements are often affected by arithmancy."
"Good job and here comes Cascadia with your crêpes."
Sirius quickly left the room and returned with Cascadia, who was carrying a tray containing Harry's crêpes and starthistle juice. She placed the tray in front of Harry and Sirius pulled a pouch out of his pocket, which he tapped with his wand. The pouch quickly grew in size.
Harry began to eat and pulled out the first present, a Tebo skin book bag from Cascadia.
"It has an undetectable expansion charm and is weightless, Sirius has been giving you minor lessons on basic history, but you're going to have a tutor who will teach you other wizarding subjects. You'll continue to learn etiquette from me."
Harry smiled, knowing his parents would want the best for him and would only choose a good respectful tutor.
The next present was from Sirius, a Tinderblast broomstick. Harry had wanted a broom for ages but Sirius had put it off, insisting he learn to ride one of the child safe brooms that only went a few meters off the ground.
"It's not the fastest, but it'll do for you to learn on."
Harry was too busy grinning to care, now he could fly around the estate and explore.
His other presents included a box of sweets from his cousin Tonks, an assortment of prank products from the Lowe family and a charmed snitch from the Longbottoms.
"You'll be having lessons with Neville Longbottom and Jessica Lowe once a week, rotating between here, Longbottom Manor and the Lowe Mansion. I'll still be teaching you every Sunday morning, our lessons will be an hour longer and our Saturday session will now be spend teaching to to fly. Cascadia wants to enhance on your etiquette in the afternoons.
Harry smiled, he got along well with Neville, his god-brother, and Jess a family friend.
"Come one, it's time for your first flying lesson on your own broom."
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
"Ok, stand beside your broom and in a moment say 'up', you need to say it with confidence and demand, the broom needs you to be in control. Once you get that we'll do a few more ground exercises before taking off."
Harry stood next to the broom and looked down at it, the handle was gleaming and there wasn't a twig out of place. He held his hand out.
"UP!"
The broom flew upwards, touched his fingers before dropping down again.
"Brilliant, not many seven year olds can manage that. Try again."
This time the broom flew to his hand and Sirius had him try again. They repeated it until he could hold his hand at head height and the broom would soar to it without hitting him.
"Now you're going to move your hand around, but remember keep your voice controlling."
This time the broom flew upwards, but when it didn't encounter his hand it dropped back down. Once again they repeated it until it would stay in the air until it found his head. Sirius then had him use his left hand, once that was perfect he allowed Harry to rest, thinking-correctly- that he would have some questions.
"How does this help me learn to fly?"
"A broom is like a horse, it senses whether or not you want to fly. A well-made broom will never buck you off but the more control and confidence you have in it the better it will perform. These exercises teach the broom that you're in control, it also means that if you're running or moving your hand for some reason and you need to make a quick exit then the broom will come to you."
Sirius made him stand away from the broom and summon it before stepping out of sight. Harry was overjoyed when it made its way to him. He continued the exercises until he could run out of sight and the broom would still come.
"Ok, you've done amazingly. Now you can learn how to mount the broom."
They spent the next half an hour perfecting Harry's grip and position until Sirius was sure it was perfect.
"Now I know you want to fly, but that's going to have to wait until next time, Cascadia wants to review some of last weeks lesson with you."
Harry was disappointed but he knew not to let it show, he had been raised properly after all-and he could always sneak out.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Harry awoke that night and slipped outside. The moon lit up the grounds and he could see easily. He slipped into the broomshed and took out his broom. Placing it on the ground he held his arm low and commanded it into his hand. He then told it to hover and it stayed patiently at the perfect height for him to mount. He jumped on and checked his grip. Taking at deep breath, excited and terrified at his own daring he kicked off from the ground and into the air.
The broom turned instantly at his lightest touch and he glided, just over a meter from the dewy grass. He angled the broom up and leaned forward, it shot into the air and he held on, eyes screwed shut. Leaning forward he rebalanced the broom and looked below. The estate was laid out before him as he hovered, thirty meters above the ground.
Harry slowly flew around, heading near the horse stable when he found the first gust of wind. The broom swayed and he gasped, clutching the handle. When the second gust knocked him into the air he froze, terrified. Dragging the broom round he sped up, heading for the manor. His mouth was dry as he slowly made his way back. He was just above the shed when the most ferocious gust came. He huddled on the broom, willing it to land when there was a yell from the ground.
"Harrison James Potter, what the hell do you think you're doing up there! Get down this instant."
Sirius had realized he was missing; he probably had a charm set to alert him if someone opened the broom shed. Harry sobbed in fear and angled the broom to the ground. He misjudged the distance and angle and the broom sped down, hurtling towards the ground. It was only the gust of wind that saved his life, it swept him sideways and slowed his fall, he fell the last four meters and landed with a sickening thud.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Sirius hovered over his godson, terrified that he wouldn't wake up. Cascadia had done her best and repaired his broken arm and ribs but they had to call for a healer to fix his spinal cord and nerves in his arm. Then he had to explain to Cascadia what happened, she certainly was scary when she was angry.
"You what! You didn't explain it to him! You just told him you'd fly later-you fool Sirius we could have lost him. He's a young boy."
"I thought he'd understand, he knows not to play with brooms!"
"He's seven years old! You gave him his first broom stick what the bloody hell did you think he was going to do!"
"Alright, alright I know, I should have let him fly. I'm sorry."
Harry stirred and Cascadia was distracted. She bent over him, casting spells to check that he was ok.
"Harry, Harry are you still sore."
The raven-haired boy mumbled, but shook his head. He was lying in his bed, with no broken bones or major injuries, but Cascadia had left the bruises and cuts as a reminder.
"Harry, I'm sorry, I should have given you more information. Now you know. I was going to teach you how to fly today but given the circumstances you're going to have to wait."
"I'm sorry Sirius, I should have listened."
"It's alright now Harry, just don't do it again."
A/N Ok explanations. I had requests for Dumbledore's POV so there it is. I found this chapter really hard to write, having Harry disobey Sirius and also hints of Pureblood etiquette.
Harry can speak quite well, remember Purebloods are raised from birth to be formal and knowledgeable. Harry knows the answers to Sirius's questions off by heart but he only understands a bit of it. He is only seven. As he grows older he will understand it more.
Please review with critique, ideas and advice.