Sirius studied the and ins and outs of the ritual for several hours and didn't stop until Harry began fussing for lunch. He pushed the heavy tome aside and order Kreature to make a lunch that was both kid-friendly and editable. "How am I suppose to pick a name for you kiddo?" Reaching down he picked up the boy sat him on his lap facing him. He studied Harry's face and blinked away the tears that threatened to fall; he looked so much like James that it wasn't even funny. And he had his mothers eyes. "According to old pure-blood tradition I am expected to honor my fallen brother." Making a face he smiled when Harry let out a giggle. "You're gonna be stuck with Regulus but I think it'll make a suitable middle-name."
Kreature appeared and disappeared in a matter of seconds leaving behind a plate of what looked to be editible food.
Picking up a piece Sirius took a bite, determined that it was chicken, and offered a small portion to the boy on his lap. "First name is going to be difficult because I'm sure mother is going to be very vocal about what I pick. But it doesn't matter because you're my kid and not hers." He hadn't even realized what he had said as his eyes wondered to the family tapestry that took up most of the wall space in the parlor. He knew all the names that had been blasted off by heart. "I have no idea what I'm going to call you. James, Lily, and I spent months going through all the baby books until they finally settled on Harry James. Harry after Lily's father and James after himself but also his father. He wanted you to have your own identity and not be likened to him no matter how good of a man he was. And he was the best. The entire Potter family were made up of good people. Not a bad apple in the entire lot. Charlus and Dorea took me in when I was a boy. I couldn't take living here anymore and had nowhere else to go…." He sighed. "Seems that I got to know more of your family than you. It's a shame that you're the last or were…." Pausing he considered that thought for a moment. "I'll have to owl a solicitor about keeping your title. I don't want the Potter line to die out completely not when they were so good to me."
Harry listened to his Godfather talk and took comfort in the familiar voice. He was confused about where his mommy and daddy were but having good old Padfoot here would do. "Pa'oot!" He squealed as he shoved a piece of the chicken into his mouth and chewed happily. "Pa'oot go?" He asked.
Sirius sighed. "Afraid not pup we live here now or we will very shortly." Godric's Hollow had been completely destroyed and by his hand no less. He had removed the bodies of James and Lily and then burnt the house to the ground. It seemed only fitting at the time. Fire was suppose to be cleansing and if any place needed cleansing it was the Potter house. The dark magic was so thick when he first entered that he was surprised to find Harry alive and crying. He'd have to take Harry there someday when he was older. He had been so caught up in his memories that he didn't realize how late it was. And it wasn't until a chime sounded throughout the house, signaling the return of Mistress Black, that he pulled himself out. The ritual was easy enough to memorize so all he needed to do was get his mother to witness the adoption so that the Ministry couldn't deem it illegal when he went to register his new son.
"Well?" Walburga demanded as she untied her traveling cloak and let Kreature take it away.
Gritting his teeth Sirius took a deep breath to calm himself; it wouldn't do to snap at the old snake. "I was just waiting for you mother." He stood, with Harry in his arms, and moved across the room to where his fathers old writing desk sat. It only took him a moment to find one of the many Black family daggers that bore the family crest. While there, juggling both toddler and sharp pointy object, he quickly wrote a message to the family solicitor adding just a tiny drop of Harry's blood as confirmation that he spoke the truth and sent it off with the ever present family owl; Osiris.
Walburga watched her son with disinterest knowing that he was trying to prolong the inevitable. "Well get to it!" She snapped.
"Yes mother." Sirius growled as he moved back to the center of the room.
"Here!" Walburga held out her hand which contained a vile of red liquid. "Don't think I didn't notice."
Sirius eyed the vile for a moment before taking it. "No point in me asking who it belongs to?" He asked resigned.
Walburga sneered. "For now it shall be my little secret, I think."
The thought of not knowing who his sons mother was going to be didn't thrill him but there was nothing that could be done. "Very well." Sirius focused his attention on his Godson, memorizing his fathers face and hair and his mothers eyes. "Please forgive me James." He whispered one last time before he passed Harry to his soon to be grandmother to hold while he performed the ritual.
"You must be still child." Walburga told the struggling boy and tightened her hold slightly as not to drop him.
Sirius took the dagger first making a slice across the palm of his hand then quickly did the same to Harry. He ignored the boys screams of pain as he took hold of the smaller injured hand with his own. Then he began to chant and move his wand over their locked hands in a series of precise motions. Coming to the end of the chant he used his teeth to uncork the vile and released his grip on the smaller hand just enough that he could pour the unknown blood into the mix then retightened his grip. Once the final words and wand movements were complete a blinding light filled the room, rendering the occupants momentarily blind and disorientated, before fading just as fast as it appeared.
Walburga was the first to recovered and quickly summoned Kreature to help her get Sirius to the sofa; he looked ready to faint. Once Mistress and House elf accomplished the task and she placed the now still boy in his fathers arms she set about filling out the forms that appeared upon completion of the ritual. She was able to complete all but name and birth date which she left blank for her son to fill in.
Blinking Sirius automatically tightened his arms around the small body. He groaned and fought down the urge to throw up. His hand felt like it was on fire but upon inspection with blurry eyes he could tell the cut was healed just leaving behind dried blood. Once his eyesight cleared he took a moment to observe his sleeping go….son; he'd have to get used to calling him that. At least he didn't appear to be in any kind of pain or distress. "Mother?" He called out.
"It would appear that you completed it correctly." Walburga answered the unasked question. She then motioned to the papers she was filling out. "These arrived moments ago and I suggest we send them back as soon as possible."
Sirius swallowed again and gently laid the toddler onto the couch as not to disturb him. It was only then that he got a clear look at the chances caused by the ritual. Gone was the messy black hair and in its place wavy black curls. James' features were replaced by the more aristocratic bone structure of House Black. "What needs to be filled out yet?" He asked looking at his mother.
Walburga dipped the quill into the inkwell. "Name and birth date."
"Syrus Regulus Black and July 31, 1980." Sirius said tiredly. "It's only for the Ministry's records. We'll be sure to celebrate his birthday on August 1st just to be safe."
"Syrus?" Walburga tested the name and found it acceptable. "Very well." She rolled up the forms and carried them to Osiris who had just returned from wherever Sirius had sent him. "Take these to the Ministry." She turned and approached her son who was just standing and staring at the boy, no at Syrus. "Lets have a look at him then." Leaning over she had to bit back a gasp. Her grandson was the perfect replica of Sirius when he was his age.
Harry, now Syrus, felt people staring at him so he opened his eyes and yawned. Then he raised his arms to be picked up.
"Hey there kiddo." Sirius gathered the boy into his arms. "Did you have a nice nap? Hm?" He began rubbing soothing circles on his small back and pace the room; something he had seen James do more than once. It didn't escape his notice that vivid green eyes had been replaced by grey; his eyes. Even the shape changed to one not entirely new. It was a familiar shape that he just couldn't seem to place. Shaking his head he continued to whisper soothing words.
Walburga watched her with an indiscernible look in her eyes. It would appear that her son was a natural father. Something his own father wasn't nor did he strive to be. Orion had one goal in life and one only; produce a male heir. And the goal was achieved not once but twice. Actually caring for the boys had been left to Walburga who in turn left them to Kreature. She never regretted her life or how things turned out but seeing her son like this gave her pause. "He'll have to be introduced to the family as soon as possible if we wish to cement his place as heir."
Sirius frowned. "He'll need time to adjust mother. Otherwise he might slip and either ask for his father or call me Padfoot. We'll keep things quiet for now and when I think he's ready then I'll consider exposing him to the wolves."
Her son did make a valid point and argument but there was protocol to be followed. "Too many questions will already be asked with your sudden reinstatement to the family. Without mentioning Syrus the explanation will cause suspicions. For now I will tell them that upon the death of his mother, a pureblooded witch that you briefly courted, you discovered that she had kept the boy from you in hopes of using him to gain special favors in the future from not only you but the family as well. That should satisfy those that would ask why he wasn't announced upon his birth as is tradition. But it won't satisfy them for long. Proof of his existence will be demanded especially when it's discovered that he'll be the next head of the family." Walburga frowned. "You'll get the time you get and no more." With that said she swept from the room and headed for her bedchambers.
"Welcome to the Black family Syrus." Sirius told the boy sarcastically as he continued to sooth him.