Chapter Fourteen: Fitting into the Family:

Sirius had a lot to catch up on from his time being locked up. For one he had to settle his money affairs, that part was not so hard as Remus had never combined the Black and Potter accounts. He had found it too painful for him to even think of doing that and so he kept the accounts separate until Harry came of age and he could make the decision on the vaults. He had carefully invested monies from both vaults and so there was far more than there had been just a few years before. The first time Sirius came to Grimmauld place in nearly two decades he was nervous as he did not know what to expect. He entered the house and looked around in awe at the refurbished place. It was a bright cheerful home and nothing like the place that Sirius had grown up in. Remus lead him up to the sitting room where Harry was busy doing homework and Moody was waiting to speak with him. Sirius sat by the fireplace not sure where he fit in here at all.

"I am sure you are wondering where you fit into all of this." Remus said.

"I am, I mean you have done a wonderful job with Harry." Sirius said looking at his godson keenly. "That is all I could have hoped for you know."

"Well it was Remus who took the initiative you know." Moody said as Harry put down his quill and closed his workbook. "He marched into the nursery ward of St. Mungos and took Harry when he heard a rumor that Harry was going to his aunt and uncle."

"Brave of our little werewolf." Sirius said smiling. "I take it Dumbledore was not too happy at first?"

"No but he came around when I stepped in." Moody said. "Harry's aunt an' uncle are decent people, they just hate magic, well they fear it and that is not a good place to have a child with magic."

"I agree, so where did you raise Harry before you brought him here?" Sirius asked.

"Uncle Al's house." Harry said. "It was a brilliant place but uncle Al says this is safer."

"Well yea my father made sure of that." Sirius said. "How did Kreacher take you coming here?"

"He is brilliant." Harry said grinning, "he really is a hard worker, he really likes us."

"He is your elf, he will answer you." Remus said.

"Oi Kreacher!" Sirius said and the little elf appeared with a pop.

"Master Sirius called?" Kreacher said bowing.

"Yea I did, you look well Kreacher." Sirius said. "You do a good job here it looks like."

"Thank you master." Kreacher said. "Kreacher does his best to make master Harry's life good."

"I am grateful for that." Sirius said.

He allowed the little elf to leave and felt a bit sad and both Remus and Moody were concerned, Sirius had been through a lot and they knew he wondered where he fit into this family. Later that night as he lay brooding in his bedroom (redecorated in Gryffindor colors) Remus and Moody came to speak to him while Harry studied. Sirius looked so sad and it was clear he needed reassurance he was needed here. He curled up on his bed and put his head on his knees and Remus carefully sat on the edge of the bed looking at his old friend with concern. The betrayal of Peter had shook both men up badly, and how much worse was it for Sirius? For twelve long years he had brooded in prison about what Peter had done and when he got out he found out the magical world thought he had betrayed his friends. That had hurt the most and even now it wounded him to the core.

"Padfoot you know you are wanted here right?" Remus said quietly. "Harry is so happy to have you back."

"I know," Sirius mumbled. "However you two have done an amazing job raising Harry, how will I fit into that?"

"Well we did no' do it alone." Moody said, "we had lots of help, Molly Weasley, she was there an' Minerva an' Mrs. Longbottom, Harry has lots of aunts and uncles t' help raise him, the more the merrier really."

"I don't want to be a burden or do the wrong thing." Sirius said, "look what I did in trusting Peter, James and Lily are dead because of me."

"No that is not true." Remus said putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Peter fooled us all, how long he plotted to betray us all I do not know. He was clever, and I never realized just how clever he was in making us believe he was our friend."

"His talent was to get with the most powerful," Moody said, "use just enough of his own talent to make himself useful, when Voldemort came t' him he saw his real chance to gain the power he sot."

"I am glad he is dead." Sirius said. "That make me bad?"

"No boy it does no'." Moody said. "Now you need t' rest, there will be time fer ye t' get to know Harry an' to get yer life back."

"You think it is too late for me to start my own band?" Sirius said a slow smile coming over his face.

"Well we could." Remus said, "the Weasley twins are good with guitar, Harry too, of course you put me on drums and you croon to all the lovely ladies."

"Ah women, I miss them." Sirius said looking wistful. "You still a virgin Moony?"

"I am, I don't think I will ever find a woman to settle down with and marry." Remus said.

"Ye will boy, an' you will love her with all yer heart." Moody said. "Trust me I know, my dear Chloe was me world, when she died, well I was not as good a father first time around. But with Harry I kin make up fer that."

Sirius felt better talking to the two men and he realized he had a lot to learn. He was very much wanted here and he looked forward to getting to know Harry. For the first time in years he did not have nightmares and actually slept well. He learned that there were rules of the house even though it was his house Moody was the one in charge and as such he had to follow the rules just like everyone else. As an adult (something he vehemently tried to deny) he had to set an example for Harry. One thing he was not used to and did not particularly like was everyone getting along with his one time school enemy Severus Snape. Sirius Black could barely tolerate the man and the only reason he grudgingly did was the fact he made willingly the Wolfsbane for Remus. He realized Snape could have killed him in the shack and got away with it but when Harry and Remus asked him not to he didn't, instead he allowed Sirius to be taken to the castle to be questioned.

Sirius spent much of the rest of the school year between Grimmauld place, the burrow and Hogsmead visiting the Weasleys and Harry as often as he could. He became stronger and healthier as Moody took to training him and getting him into fine fighting form, both magical and muggle style, though mostly magical. Sirius did not have much time to get bored and though he was not very happy about seeing the portrait of his mother she at least did not shout at him. Finally after what seemed like a long time summer came and Harry was out of school along with Remus! Sirius was nearly beside himself with joy, and what was more he would get to change with Moody in the house when the werewolf turned to wolf form at the full moon. He was sitting at the kitchen table talking about a prank he had pulled with James and Remus in the school when Snape strode into the room.

"Charming, two mutts together again." Snape said shoving the goblet at Remus.

"Thank you Severus." Remus said taking the goblet and reaching into his robes and pulling out a bottle and tossing it to Snape. "I got you some more of the sunscreen you like."

"I got you a muzzle mutt." Snape said coldly to Sirius. "It should fit on your big mouth."

"Why you!" Sirius got up so fast and went for his wand only to find it gone, Severus had been gong for his and found his gone as well.

"No fighting!" Moody said slumping in pocketing the wands. "I will no' have that here from either of you."

"I would not harm him." Snape said smoothly, "I could not upset Mr. Potter like that, however I would transfigure his hair green."

"I like green." Remus said finishing his potion and handing back the goblet. "Oh and speaking of Harry the pepper up potion is not working very well, I am worried he has not been this sick sense he was a baby."

"I will bring something stronger back then." Snape said and turned to Moody. "Sir may I have my wand back?"

"Here, an' don't you dare use it against Sirius!" Moody said handing it over, then to Sirius, "same goes fer you boy, no' against Severus!"

Snape left and went back to the school to brew up something to help Harry out. As it was a relatively easy potion (for him) he was done in an hour and back at Grimmauld place once it cooled down and was bottled. He handed it off to Molly Weasley who had come to help take care of Harry, she would give it to him with her personal herbal remedy that would help along with Snape's potion. Moody had Snape come to the sitting room with him and Snape did knowing Moody liked him in his own way. After all years before he had saved Snape at the headmaster's request and after using Veritaserum on Snape he had found out alright what side the young man was on. He had become a kind of gruff mentor over the young man, keeping him in line as much as possible.

"Ye alright then?" Moody asked Snape. "Ye look stressed."

"I am and that stress is named Sirius Black." Snape said. "You have no idea how horrible a man he is."

"Well he was horrible in school I will no' deny that." Moody said. "No' I am no' going to make excuses fer him but he was badly abused as a child. He protected his brother from it an' bore the brunt."

"That does not give him an excuse for being so wicked." Snape said and smiled grimly, "I may have been a small scrawny scrap of a boy in school but I could defend myself. Well as long as I was not gained up three to one."

"How many times did that happen?" Moody asked.

"Once, most of the time the Gryffindors were too noble and went one on one against me." Snape said. "I gave more than I got, at least the Slytherins and Ravenclaws were on my side, then again the two smartest houses are Slytherin and Ravenclaw."

"Ye are correct in that, Slytherin is a grand house that is fer sure." Moody said.

"I lost the friendship of Lily Evens for a time after I called her a mudblood. I was upset when Harry's father and friends attacked me and lashed out. They never attacked like that again, well Sirius did when he tried to kill me."

"Ay he did at that." Moody said. "He damn near killed Remus too and now I look back on it Peter used that to drive a wedge between Remus an' Sirius damn him, wonder if he goaded Sirius to try an' kill you."

"We will never know." Snape said.

He sat back and sipped at the wine Moody had got out for him thoughtfully. He looked up as Molly came into the room and took a seat by the fire. She would be here a fire-call away from her own brood if needed as she tended to Harry. Snape was about to ask how Harry was doing when he heard a racket and looked up startled. There were sounds of barking, snarling growling and loud thumps coming closer and closer. Snape knew what it was, Remus and Sirius play fighting. Snape did not mind Remus in wolf form anymore, he had seen him that way in school this last year, first with McGonagall who was there while Snape got over his dreadful fear of the werewolf so much so that his Bogart changed. Now he could be around the werewolf as he knew Remus would never ever harm him again as he refused ever to be without his Wolfsbane. Into the room came the large shaggy black form of Padfoot/ Sirius, Moony/Remus right behind him. They began to wrestle in the room and Molly was at once on her feet screaming at them, both Moody and Snape put their hands over their ears.

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK YOU DO NOT RILE UP REMUS LIKE THAT HARRY IS SICK AND IF YOU KEEP RUNING THROUGH THE HOUSE YOU WILL WAKE HIM TURN HUMAN WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU!" She roared at him.

"But Molly he is fun to play with!" Sirius said turning human and grinning up at her, he saw Snape and growled. "What are you doing here Snape?"

"I am here to make sure Harry is alright." Snape said softly, "after all as the greatest potions master of this age I can give him the potions he needs to heal."

"Oh right, you just have to gloat you are a respected man now don't you?" Sirius said.

"Yes I do, not only am I respected, Remus is as well." Snape said.

"Ye will have t' find some work t' keep ye out of trouble." Moody said. "Ye are an adult now Sirius."

"I highly doubt that." Snape said as he absentmindedly scratched Remus' head. "Sirius Black is nothing more than a mutt and…."

"One more insult from either of you and you will be doing housework until neither of you can lift a wand!" Molly warned them her voice on the edge of normal range.

"I will behave Molly." Snape said.

"Sirius." Moody warned the insane Animagmus.

"Fine, I will too, but only because you wish it Molly." Sirius said.

Both Snape and Sirius glared at each other, their hatred cooled for a moment by the warnings of Molly Weasley. After a time Molly left the room to check on Harry and came back with good news, he was sleeping well and his fever was gone. Snape gave Sirius one last glare and left the house and headed back to Hogwarts to go to bed. He finished up his bath and had changed to one of his long dark gray night shirts when he felt a dull ache in his left arm. He shoved up his sleeve and stared in horror at the slave mark on his arm. It had gone from gray to black but not the red of a summons and it was not moving. However he knew what it meant and he threw on his inner robes and went up to the headmaster's office, gave the password and went up and knocked. He was admitted and Dumbledore rose at the look on Snape's face.

"My mark went black for a moment." Snape said in greeting. "It means only one thing."

"I was afraid of this." Dumbledore said. "You have not been summoned have you?"

"No, it did not turn red, but I know what it means as well as you, the dark lord is rising." Snape said. "We are running out of time."

As always, I want to thank all who have reviewed so far: Tumshie, The Geeky Quill, graypheonix, Lady Clark-Weasley of Books, JWOHPfan, AllMightyPen, DeliaDee, Rainbow2007, Charcoal Hunter Winston, danielle72679, HarrySirius Fan, Auralia Mortimer, world peace, kloette, excessivelyperky, Blueowl, Tristan Cartier, Frost Merry Darkness Luver, miss sophie potter, Black Dragin, jabarber69, murdrax, panther73110.

Yea Moody would take Snape under his wing, he would not be as nice to him as to Remus or Sirius because he knows Snape needs a firmer hand. Snape would not respect him if he treated him with "kid gloves". However Moody does know Sirius did try to kill him and it was not Remus' fault. McGonagall being with Snape when he saw Remus in wolf form would not be out of line either, both men needed to heal from what happened all those years before and this was the best way for them to do so. Snape and Remus have a lot in common, they are both monster as I have said before, Remus not by choice, Snape by his own choice he became a death eater though he did regret it later. They can help each other heal. As for Sirius and Snape, there is a lot of "Alpha Male Syndrome" going on with both of them.