Harry was floored by Rose's progress with her animagus form. They resumed their lessons after Christmas and when prompted, Rose managed to nearly transform into her phoenix form. The only real flaws in her transformation were her beak and wings. Harry had trouble on his wings too; he considered them to be the hardest part of the transformation. Still Rose was progressing faster than even Harry did, and Harry had the advantage of being supercharged by the Potter Rune Chamber.
Rose also had the advantage of a constant phoenix companion with Harry and could reference his form any time she needed to. Harry didn't have that luxury since, after Dumbledore's death, Fawkes had left this world with the aged headmaster.
"Ok, Rose," Harry began. "How about we take a break for some lunch? You look knackered."
Rose nodded wearily and followed Harry back into the house. She had initially questioned Harry's logic in practicing outside. For one, it was the middle of winter, and two she rather wanted to keep her transformation a secret from…well…everyone. She understood the logic behind keeping it a secret from those that wanted her dead, or would use the knowledge against her. She also understood the logic behind keeping it a secret from the ministry. After all, an illegal animagus charge carried with it up to five years in Azkaban and up to a ten thousand galleon fine.
But mostly, she was simply selfish. She wanted something that she and Harry could call their own…beyond the obvious. She saw their animagus forms as being the perfect, and perhaps most romantic thing possible beyond getting married. She blushed as her imagination carried that train of thought onward.
But Harry's reasons were sound. Should she managed to complete the transformation, she would be able to fly immediately if she chose, and she was pleasantly surprised to find that the cold didn't bother her at all. Harry told her it was because phoenixes were creatures of extreme temperature, more specifically heat, and because of that their human bodies would become more resilient against cold and heat as well.
"I still can't believe that you're letting Harry teach you how to become an animagus," Lily's voice broke through Rose's daydreaming. "And an illegal one at that!"
Harry couldn't resist the urge to smirk at the guilty look on Rose's face. Since Christmas Harry and Rose had gotten to know their parents well, and the one think Harry noticed above all were Lily's similarities to Molly Weasley.
They were both doting mothers and loving wives to their children and husbands respectively. They both had fiery tempers and both passed those same tempers down to their daughters. Harry personally thought it had to do with their red hair. The only real differences between the two women was one was alive the other was a portrait.
Lily hadn't been this caring and smothering back in Harry's original dimension. Harry attributed it to the fact that here in this dimension, Lily technically had two children, though Harry and Rose didn't see each other as siblings. It didn't matter to Lily though, and James by proxy. Harry's parents just saw he and Rose as closer than normal for siblings.
"What exactly are you smirking at Harry James?" Lily snapped.
"Nothing mother," Harry dutifully responded. Then before Lily could berate him for his cheek he said, "If you'll excuse me, I need to make lunch for Rose and I. Fish and chips ok?"
Rose nodded at Harry and tried to follow him into the kitchen but Lily caught her. "No you don't, young lady. Your father and I need to have a little talk with you."
Once in the kitchen, Harry couldn't contain his mirth for much longer and finally broke down laughing. He knew what they were going to talk about. His father's portrait had tried to give him 'the talk' when he was finally activated the first time, but Harry managed to teach James a thing or two about the birds and the bees. While James had been impressed by Harry's knowledge, Lily had been almost disgusted.
Harry called Rose into the kitchen to eat as he finished frying the last fish filet. Rose entered, her face nearly glowing in her embarrassment. "Have a nice talk with Mum?" Harry asked cheekily, as he handed Rose a plate.
"You knew didn't you?" Rose growled, snatching the food from Harry.
Harry simply smiled at Rose as they sat down and ate in silence; Rose eating in a very unladylike manner. "I want to congratulate you on your animagus training," he said after a while. "If you keep this up, I think you might have it down pat in a few weeks at the most."
Rose looked up sharply, her mouth stuffed with potatoes. She ate ravenously after an animagus session. Harry had warned her that the constant transforming took a lot from one's body, and she knew now that he wasn't exaggerating. She took a moment to swallow before speaking. She may be eating like Ron, but she had better manners. "Really?"
Harry nodded. "You're making better progress than even I did when I learned. Then again," he said, scuffing his fingernails on his jumper. "I didn't have Harry Potter as a teacher, so it's to be expected."
Rose laughed and threw a fry at Harry. "You're a prat!"
Harry laughed too and threw a fry back at her and she showed him up by catching it in her mouth with a mischievous grin. Soon, their chips were being used as ammo in their food fight that left them laughing in each others arms. Harry gave Rose a soft kiss when he noticed her eyes droop. "Why don't you go get some sleep," he suggested. "I need to go shopping anyway."
Rose nodded wearily and kissed Harry back before staggering up to her room. Harry watched her go fondly and a little perversely as he stared at her shapely bum. Smiling to himself him then apparated to London to start shopping.
Harry's first stop was actually in muggle London. He needed to buy some groceries. Both he and Rose preferred muggle brands to wizard, and Winky found that she enjoyed cooking with them better was well. So, Harry exited Diagon Alley through the Leaky Cauldron with a friendly wave to Tom. Tom stared at Harry like he was a complete stranger, which he was technically.
Once in muggle London, Harry hailed a cab. It was then that he noticed that he was being followed. He had no idea who it was but the presence made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. The only other people that made him feel even remotely like he was now were Voldemort's inner circle members. The difference here was, the person, or people following him today didn't feel as black and evil as the death eaters did.
Still, if Mad-eye taught Harry one thing, it was 'Constant Vigilance'. Harry made sure that his path was winding and as hard to follow as possible as he ducked into as many crowds as he could find. Once he reached his destination, the grocery store, he quickly hid behind a display and observed. Sure enough, he hadn't managed to throw his pursuer. He cursed silently to himself as he watched the man.
He looked to be in his mid thirties with a medium build and dark hair and eyes. Rather non-descript, Harry thought. The only reason Harry knew him from Adam was because Harry could sense magic to an extent. He couldn't see auras or anything, but in such a magic devoid environment such as a muggle supermarket, a wizard's power stood out like a sore thumb.
After a few minutes, the man cursed silently and left the store. Harry, realizing that it may be a ruse, followed the man at a distance until he apparated away. Harry finally released the breath he had been holding since he entered the store and went back in to finish his shopping. However, his mind wasn't on it, and he didn't notice that he was picking things up that he didn't need until he saw a jar of pigs feet in his basket.
Frowning in disgust, Harry put the jar back on the shelf and finished his shopping. He needed to think on this latest threat with a clear mind and he couldn't do it while shopping. After he left the store, Harry found a secluded alley and apparated back to his home in Hogsmeade.
While he placed the items in the shelves and cooler, he thought about the man who was following him. He compiled a list of things to find out. Who was he? Who does he work for? What does he want? Why on earth did the man feel so powerful?
Call it a hunch, but Harry had the distinct feeling that the man had something to do with the sudden spikes of energy that he and Rose felt when they looked at each other. Harry had learned long ago to trust his hunches.
He wasn't sure though, but he would find out. And when he did, he would stop them. Nothing and no one would come between him and Rose.
Ever.
(((o)))
The second term had started and Rose went back to the castle. Rose had immediately clung to Harry like a weepy little girl sobbing about how she would miss him. Harry consoled her as best as he could, telling her that they would still have their morning and evening lessons if Rose still wanted. She enthusiastically agreed.
Thus Rose found herself in the great hall for the welcome back feast. She pointedly ignored the glances that the headmaster was giving her and stared sullenly at her plate. She hadn't been separated from Harry for more than a few hours now, but she missed him terribly. Over Christmas, when they had solidified their relationship into that of something more than friends, she had been ecstatic. It may have been a bit odd, and slightly narcissistic to have ones self as their first love, but Rose was certain of one thing. She loved Harry.
Now she had to suffer, yes suffer, through another term at Hogwarts with all the stares, whispers and backstabbing that was sure to occur without his comfort and support.
Rose realized that she was being a bit mulish, and that she would see him every morning for animagus and sword combat training. He also reassured her that he would be there to support her at the last two tasks as well. But Rose felt that she was entitled to something more. After all, her life sucked, to put it bluntly. She could only hope that her life would be normal after this year was over, and she could enjoy the rest of her teenage years with her boyfriend. Perhaps get married after she graduated and start a large family of messy haired, green eyed children after she finished her career.
Her daydreams were interrupted by a cold sensation running down her spine. It was the same one she got every time she thought she was being watched. She glanced around the hall, trying to catch anyone observing her. Sure enough, Professor Moody had his magical eye trained on her while he conversed with Professor Dumbledore.
But when the eye swiveled away from her, the feeling remained. She resisted the urge to shiver as she continued looking around the room, but she didn't notice anyone else looking her way.
She was broken from her reverie by Hermione, who was poking her in the shoulder. "What?" Rose snapped, perhaps a little more harshly than she had intended. Hermione flinched as if burned. "I'm sorry," Rose said hastily. She didn't want to jeopardize her still fragile friendship with the bookworm.
"Are you feeling alright?" Hermione asked cautiously.
Rose sighed. "Honestly? No…"
Hermione blinked in shock. Rose never truthfully told anyone that she wasn't doing 'fine'. "What wrong?"
Rose opened her mouth to say, "Nothing," but then thought better of it. Perhaps she could find out now if Hermione was relaying stuff back to Dumbledore. Quickly formulating a plan in her mind, she said, "I can't talk about it here. Meet me tonight in the common room?"
Hermione nodded quickly, overjoyed to finally be getting something from her best friend.
At once, the cold sensation returned and Rose whipped her head back and forth, trying to catch the person who was staring at her. She knew now that it wasn't Moody doing it, as he wasn't even in the hall anymore. She decided then to contact Harry.
"Harry?" she asked. "Are you there?"
"Always," came the happy reply. "What do you need?"
"Well, two things actually," Rose said. "First thing, I keep getting the feeling that I'm being watched and not by Moody."
Harry was silent for a few minutes, and Rose wondered if he closed the link before he said, "I'm sure you are."
"What?"
Harry sighed. "While I was at the supermarket the other day, I was being followed by a very powerful wizard," he explained. Rose could tell that Harry was a bit reluctant to let her know this, and tried not to frown. "I didn't feel any malicious intent from him, but he seemed dead set on tailing me for some reason."
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" Rose asked worriedly.
"I didn't want to give you anything more to worry over," Harry answered meekly.
Rose scowled as best as she could over the link. "What should I do then?"
"Just keep a low profile. If you feel like you're being watched, leave immediately and go find a teacher or something."
"You want me to tell a teacher?" Rose asked incredulously.
"No, just find one. Preferably McGonagall or Flitwick."
Rose muttered something about Harry being a hypocrite, unfortunately out loud, and caught Hermione's attention. "What?" Hermione asked.
Rose just waved her off mouthing 'later'. "The other thing was, I'm going to find out if Hermione is reporting to the headmaster-"
"Be careful Rose," Harry warned.
Rose was a little angry that Harry interrupted her to warn her needlessly but understood none the less. "I will," she said. "I won't tell her anything she shouldn't know already."
"Okay then, anything else?" Harry asked. Rose shook her head mentally. "Have fun in class then; they should be a breeze for you now." Rose giggled and Harry paused awkwardly. "I…I love you Rose."
"Ohhh, I love you too Harry!"
Hermione blinked bemusedly as a huge grin broke over Rose's face. She was truly confused to how her best friend could go from sullen and moody to happy and elated in the blink of an eye. "What's the grin for?" she asked. Rose giggled girlishly which perplexed Hermione even more. Rose was about as tomboyish as possible until she met…Harry. Suddenly the pieces all fit. "How long have you been communicating with him mentally?"
The grin vanished from Rose's face. She should have seen it coming; Hermione was much too clever to not figure it out on her own. But Rose wasn't sure just how much Hermione actually knew. She needed to find out. "Come on," she whispered harshly, grabbing Hermione by the upper arm and dragging her bodily from the great hall.
"Where are we going?" Hermione asked worriedly. Rose ignored her and continued up the stairs to the second floor.
Hermione staggered along with Rose's quick clip until they were nearly to the sixth floor before digging her heels in and wrenching her arm from Rose's iron grip. It was amazing just how strong the formerly slight and scrawny girl had become in four short months. "Rose Potter, I am not going anywhere with you until you tell me where you are taking me," she stated furiously.
Rose stopped and sighed. She rubbed her face wearily before looking at Hermione with a pleading expression. "I'm taking you somewhere that no one can overhear. We have a few things to discuss," she said, turning back to the stairs and continuing her climb.
"Obviously," Hermione muttered as she followed along.
They eventually reached the seventh floor across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy and Rose paced in front of the wall thinking about a secure place to question Hermione.
"What areyou doing, Rose?" Hermione asked imperiously. "Are you…lost?"
Hermione trailed off as the door to the room of requirement grew into existence. Rose entered the room and held the door open for Hermione. "Well, come on!" Rose snapped impatiently.
Hermione followed Rose into the room, which had configured itself into something similar to a muggle interrogation room, complete with spotlight, metal table and uncomfortable chairs, making Hermione's hair stand on end. Rose seemed to be a bit subdued by the room too and she snapped, "I didn't want to interrogate her! Just ask some questions!" Instantly the room reconfigured itself into a comfortable sitting room with two plush armchairs on either side of a coffee table. On the coffee table there was a tea kettle and two cups along with a plate of scones waiting for the two girls. "That's better."
Then Rose went to the door and threw the deadbolt, a curiously muggle deadbolt, and locked the door. "What do you know?" she asked from the shadows of the entryway.
Hermione, honestly confused, sat down heavily in one of the armchairs. "About what?" she asked timidly.
"Don't 'about what' me, Hermione. You know what I'm talking about," Rose snapped angrily. She then blinked and stumbled over to her own chair and slumped in it. She honestly didn't know why she was so angry. It seemed that lately her temper had been getting the best of her over and over again. "I- I'm sorry, Hermione…I honestly don't mean to be so angry."
Hermione got up from her seat and went to sit next to Rose. The two slight girls easily fitted into the one huge armchair. Hermione put a sisterly arm around the redhead's shoulders. "It's okay, Rose. I understand what you're going through."
"Do you really?" Rose laughed ruefully with tears in her eyes. "Because if you do, I'd like you to explain it to me."
Hermione just hugged Rose until she calmed down. "Why don't you tell me what's going on? Maybe I can help out?"
Rose sniffed and wiped her eyes. She quickly used what little occlumency she knew to compose herself and turned to face Hermione. "First, I need to know what you know about Harry," she said seriously.
"Okay," Hermione said hesitantly. "I know that he is cute and seems nice enough from what I know of him. He lives in Hogsmeade and just recently moved there. He's rather mysterious and no one knows much about him other than he's really powerful and teaching you what he knows. Honestly I'm really jealous of you."
Rose blinked. She honestly couldn't think of any time that Harry had shown of to anyone other than her. "How does everyone know how powerful he is?"
Hermione adopted her 'professor' position. "Hogwarts: a History states that you can't apparate through the wards, yet they two of you did at the Yule Ball. There was so much power in that apparation that you and he set the air on fire. Then before that, he apparated off the grounds after the first task.
Rose's lips made an 'o' as she thought about this. While Harry may have apparated off of the grounds after the first task, no one else knew about their animagus forms so couldn't put the flaming teleport together with them. Rose decided to leave it that way. "Okay then, what else?"
"Well, tonight at the feast confirmed for me that the two of you can communicate telepathically," Hermione went on. "You would always space out and no one knew why, but then when you did it at the dance, I started putting the facts together. Then tonight, when you reacted as you did when I told you what I thought, it confirmed it for me."
Rose mentally cursed at herself for letting something she thought so trivial slip. She figured that it would be the best course of action to tell the truth…what of it she could. "We'll you're right." Hermione's eyebrows shot up into her hair. "About the mental talking thing…it's a spell Harry knows."
A familiar glint appeared in Hermione's eyes and Rose decided to move on before the bookworm could begin to ask any questions. "What else do you know?"
Hermione paused to think. "Nothing much," she said. "I figured that you'd tell me when you were ready."
Rose nodded. She decided for the direct approach. "Did you tell Dumbledore what you know?"
Hermione's face turned red and she huffed indignantly. "What?!" she screeched. Ok, the direct approach was bad. "How could you think that I would be spying on you!? After what has been going on this year, and finally getting your friendship back, you think I'd jeopardize it on something as stupid as-"
"Hermione, I'm sorry," Rose blurted before Hermione could get going too far. She took the other girl's hands in hers. "There's just…things…I want…need to tell you and I can't if I wasn't certain that you wouldn't go to Dumbledore with them."
Hermione's righteous anger deflated as she blushed looked apologetic. "Sorry," she muttered. "I just…don't want to lose your friendship again."
Rose hugged Hermione. "I know, and I don't want to lose you again either."
"So, what did you want to tell me about?"
Rose chewed her bottom lip as she pondered whether or not it would be ok to tell Hermione anything. She decided to wait until she could ask Harry personally. "I can't tell you here and now," she said seriously. "But I can tell you that Harry isn't who you think he is."
(((o)))
The next two weeks passed quickly and uneventfully, beyond Hermione nearly begging Rose to tell her about Harry. Rose stayed true to herself and didn't bother Harry to let him know about Hermione's loyalty. The Friday night before the first Hogsmeade visit of the term, Rose received a letter from Sirius at dinner. It was a short note, reminding her to be at the Hogs Head tavern at eleven.
The next morning Rose awoke bright and early with butterflies in her stomach. She had every reason to be nervous. She had no idea just how her godfather would accept Harry. As she made her way down to breakfast, her mind was replaying different scenarios with Sirius and Harry. In one, Sirius accused Harry of being a death eater and the two of them dueled to the death in the middle of the tavern. Another had Sirius breaking down in tears from the resurrection of his best friend.
She was so engrossed in her fantasies that she just stared at her empty plate as Hermione sat next to her. She didn't notice that Hermione was trying to get her attention until she felt the other girl poke her in the shoulder. "Huh?"
"Are you feeling alright?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"Oh, yeah."
Hermione's brow furrowed in thought. "Worried about your date today?" she asked.
Rose shook her head. She desperately wanted to tell her best friend what was going on, but she promised Harry that she would let him take care of it. Still, Hermione would most likely pressure her into answering one way or another so Rose decided to bend the truth a bit. "I just had a nightmare last night."
It wasn't too far from the truth. Rose had indeed had a nightmare the previous night in which she was standing in a room and surrounded by mutilated bodies. What was the worst part of the dream was, she knew that it was all her fault. She had killed the people.
Hermione sighed and put some bacon on Rose's plate. "You should still eat though," she said kindly.
Rose smiled at Hermione and nibbled on a strip of bacon. She was glad that Hermione was her friend again. She really had missed the girl's bossy attitude.
Before long, it was time to leave for the village. Hermione opted to stay behind, saying she wanted to get caught up on her homework. So after being viciously jabbed a few times by Filch's probity probe, Rose trekked down the path to the village. Harry had agreed to meet her at the gates to the Hogwarts grounds and walk with her to the Hog's Head to meet her godfather.
Since she had nearly mastered her phoenix transformation, her human body had begun to show the improvements that all animagi show. Sirius had heightened senses of smell and hearing. McGonagall could stay as silent as a breeze and had excellent night vision. Both Harry and Rose however, being magical animagi almost completely assimilated their animal form's abilities into their human forms. They could flame teleport, had enhanced vision, hearing and smell, resistance against extreme temperatures and could almost instinctively fly on their brooms.
So, with just a little squinting, Rose could clearly make out Harry waiting at the entrance to the village, a little over half a mile away. He was dressed comfortably; a pair of black jeans and a blue 'Weird Sisters' t-shirt and was leaning casually against one of the stone warthog statues. He looked up the road toward her and waved; clearly he could see her too.
She quickened her pace and kissed him warmly when she arrived. "Hey gorgeous," he said softly. "You ready for this?"
"Are you?" she asked back. She knew this would be Harry's first meeting with Sirius since Harry's Sirius fell through the veil.
Unsurprisingly, Harry seemed hesitant. "Well…I guess."
Rose knew exactly what Harry was hesitant about. He was afraid of rejection. She reached up and placed her hand softly on Harry's cheek to get his attention. When he looked her in the eyes she said, "He'll be overjoyed to meet you, Harry. If anything, he'll faint from the shock. I'm sure he'll be happy to have a Prongslet as well as a Rosebud now."
Harry smiled confidently. "You're right," he said after a moment. "Let's go."
The two walked hand in hand to the Hog's Head, both of them ignoring the jealous glances they received from the other students. They entered the dingy pub and took a seat in a dimly lit corner to wait for Sirius. Harry ordered three drinks; a butterbeer for Rose and two fire whiskeys for himself and Sirius when he arrived. Rose fidgeted nervously as she sipped her drink. She looked over at Harry and saw him smirking knowingly at her. "What?" she snapped.
"He's not going to mistake me for Dad," Harry said softly. Rose's eyes widened almost comically.
"It's almost like we can read each other's minds," she said after a moment.
"Technically…" Harry began.
"Oh, shush!" Rose chided with a smile.
"Well, we are pretty much the same person," Harry said seriously. "We do kinda know how the other thinks." Rose nodded, and then Harry couldn't resist one cheeky jab. "It'd be great for a marriage."
Just as he thought, Rose turned the color of her namesake and tried to drown herself in her butterbeer. She muttered something through the liquid and all Harry could make out was, 'love too' and 'too young'.
Harry smiled lovingly at the girl. "I know," he said softly. "And I would too, but we have to take care of some things first."
Rose couldn't stop the exuberant smile from growing on her face. Harry had essentially just promised himself to her. She felt like she was floating through the clouds and her mind was filled with fantasies of her and Harry's wedding and future family.
"There he is."
Rose came crashing back to earth almost painfully. She looked around the pub in a panic but didn't see anyone new. "Where?" she asked.
Harry pointed across the room at a blurry shape standing in the far corner. Rose saw it immediately thanks to her enhanced eyes. She waved him over, figuring that Sirius was waiting for some sort of acknowledgement from her. Sure enough, once she waved, the disillusioned form approached the table. But before either Rose or Harry could say anything, Sirius spoke up.
"Where did you first meet me?" he growled.
Rose, slightly taken aback by the sudden hostility glanced over at Harry who nodded slightly. "Uh, in the shrieking shack, last year, with Professor Lupin and…Wormtail."
Sirius canceled the spell on himself and lowered his hood, smiling warmly at his goddaughter. Rose made to give him a hug but he held her at arms length. "Wait, how do you know I'm really me?"
"Want to blow his mind?" Harry asked Rose mentally.
"Yes. Yes I do…" Rose answered back.
"Ask him where he lives. He should answer that he can't tell you. Then you should threaten to leave, and he will say he lives at 12 Grimmauld Place."
Rose didn't know what 12 Grimmauld Place was, but decided to go along with Harry's plan. "Where do you live?" she asked.
Sirius looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a lorry. "I- I can't tell you that," he said.
It took everything Rose had not to smile triumphantly and break out in laughter. Harry really did know Sirius too well. "Then I'm leaving," she said as nonchalantly as possible.
"Wait!" Sirius said in a panic. Harry and Rose watched his face. First was the sign of confusion, which Harry explained was Sirius wondering just how Rose knew about 12 Grimmauld, then came a constipated expression as he fought through the fidelius charm to tell her the information that she asked for.
"Twelve…Grimmauld…Place."
"Snuffles!" Rose cried and threw herself into Sirius' arms and hugged him for all she was worth.
It took Harry everything he had not to do the same. When he first saw this Sirius, a multitude of emotions sprung up in him. Disbelief came first, followed shortly by jealousy as he watched Rose hug the man. Finally, acceptance and happiness managed to beat back the negative emotion. He sat silently and waited to be noticed by the older man.
Sirius held Rose out at arms length and looked her up and down appraisingly. "Damn, Rosebud, you've grown," he breathed. "You look just like your mother."
Rose blushed at the thinly veiled compliment. "Thank you, Sirius," she whispered.
"Now, in all seriousness," Sirius said. Harry had to stop himself from chuckling at the stupid joke. "How the hell did you know about…the…place?" He was unable to force himself to say the address again.
"What place?" Rose asked innocently. She really had no clue, not having been clued in by Dumbledore, the secret keeper.
"Where I live," Sirius explained.
"Oh!" Rose exclaimed as if she just remembered something. "Harry just told me to ask." She pointed at the corner of the booth and Sirius noticed Harry sitting there for the first time.
"Holy crap!" he exclaimed. "You really do look like James"
"Watch this," Harry told Rose mentally. "I should. He is my father after all."
Sirius nodded, acting like Harry had just said that it was a nice day that day. "So, would you mind telling me what…wait…" Sirius paused and stared directly at Harry. "What?"
Rose snickered at the gobsmacked expression on Sirius' face. "Sirius, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Harry James Potter."
Disgust warred with disbelief for dominance on Sirius' face. His first thoughts were that James had been unfaithful to Lily, but that was quickly quashed. James would never have been unfaithful. His second thought was that Rose was dating her brother, but that was killed by the first argument in his head. James and Lily had only one child; Rose. Finally, he settled on the fact that it was all a prank that Rose had decided to pull on him.
"Ha, ha, very funny," he said at length. "You can drop the illusion now."
"What illusion, Padfoot?" Harry asked. There was an uncomfortable pause.
"You're serious?"
Rose couldn't resist. "No you are. That's Harry."
Harry couldn't hold it in any longer and nearly fell off the booth he was laughing so hard. "The look on your face," he managed to gasp out between peals of laughter.
Rose sighed and guided a shell shocked Sirius to the table. "Sit down, Sirius; we have a lot to tell you."
Once Harry managed to calm down, he and Rose told Sirius about their relationship and what was going on with the tournament. It took Sirius nearly an hour and three whiskeys to finally finish processing everything. Rose looked at Harry questioningly. "What about the rest of it?"
"I really don't want to repeat myself a third time later," he explained.
Rose squealed excitedly, making Sirius look at her like she was crazy. "You mean we can tell Hermione?" Harry nodded and Rose threw herself across the table to give Harry a passionate kiss. Sirius couldn't hold his chuckle.
When Rose was done and properly mortified Harry said, "I will tell her. I want you to set up a meeting time and let me know. I'll bring Sirius and let them both know."
Finally, "Merlin, you really do look like James." Sirius said while watching Rose bounce excitedly in her seat. He hadn't the first clue was to why she was so happy, but if Harry was the reason for the changes and happiness in his goddaughter, he wasn't going to be the one to stop it.
"That's it?" Harry asked incredulously. "That's all you have to say?"
"Well, it is a lot to take in all at once," Sirius explained.
"So you won't tell the manipulative old man?" Rose asked.
Sirius shook his head a bit drunkenly. "You two definitely look happy. And it's kinda like a huge prank on ol' Dumbledore, isn't it?" He said with a wistful smile. "So, I approve."
"You haven't heard the half of it, Sirius," Harry said with a smirk. Sirius looked crestfallen that there was more.
Rose glanced at her watch and squawked. "I need to get back to the castle to talk with Hermione," she blurted. She gave Harry yet another passionate kiss, one with lots of tongue and pulled away breathlessly. Harry looked a bit dazed by the kiss. "I'll see you in the morning hot stuff."
Once Rose left the pub, Harry turned back to Sirius who was looking at his empty whiskey glass a bit despondently. "So, how'd you like to come live with me?"
Sirius' only response was and enthusiastic nod.