AN: So, sorry this was late. There were some technical difficulties that forced me to retype the last part again then when I tried to upload it, it didn't happen like it should have. But, nobody cares. Enjoy the last bit of me ripping a little bit of my own soul out. (I STILL LOVE YOU JAMES!)
Love, Jess
An Unbreakable Vow seemed a bit much, I will admit. Not that I am throwing out any accusations, but Lily might or might not have gone over the edge for a few years there. But it was not a promise that I had issue making. I could never abandon Harry now. I simply did not have it in me to leave.
Remus, of course, thought we had BOTH gone mental when I requested he be our Bonder.
"Death, Sirius. Do you know what you are getting yourself into? If you leave you will DIE for Merlin's sake."
I rolled my eyes, "Don't be so melodramatic, Moony. I am not going to leave. Besides, if this is what Lily needs to make her trust me then I am perfectly willing to do it."
"You have both gone mad, you know that right?" He questioned incredulously.
I chuckled, "Some would argue that I started out that way and, well, we all know Lily wasn't far behind me."
"This is serious business. I wish you would think this through."
"Well of course it's my business. I could die for Merlin's sake, Moony old pal." I laughed, elbowing Remus good-naturedly.
"Sirius," He growled as warning.
I sighed, "Listen Moony, I know this is insane but it's just one of those things that I have to do. It's the only thing she has asked me to do since James died and I'll be damned if I let her down now. If ever I throw away the only family I've got left then maybe I deserve to die."
Remus huffed slightly but nodded, "I just hope you know what you're doing."
Lilly's hand was too cold and too small. I clasped her hand and immediately faltered. It was like glass. I was terrified that I would break her if I held it too hard. But then I remembered that Lily Potter had been broken already and I held onto her with everything I had in me.
Remus took out his wand and gave us both a solemn look.
"Are you ready?"
We nodded and he gently pressed the tip of his wand to our hands.
Lily took a deep breath, "Do you, Sirius Black, vow to keep James Potter in your heart and take it upon yourself to see that he has a place in Harry's as well to the best of your ability?"
"I do."
"And do you vow to protect and care for Harry James Potter as long as you are capable?"
"I do."
"And lastly, do you vow to stay with this family as long as you are able?"
"I do."
With every spark of Remus's wand I could feel the strength of the vow that I was making. I could feel the band around my heart constricting. It filled every part of me with red-hot adrenaline. I could do this. True, I could never be the father that James would have been but I could love Harry more than anyone else. I could protect Lily-I could help her heal, see her happy again one day. This was the first commitment I had ever made and now it was one that I would be bound to for the rest of the life.
A year before I would have been terrified to promise to stay with one person forever. But the death of my best friend took me, first, to a very bad place and then lifted me above that and taught me to love with everything in myself. Even from the grave James Potter was making me a better person than I could have ever hoped to be without him.
"Are you okay?" Lily asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
When I looked into her eyes she looked guilty, like she knew how crazy she was being and was silently apologizing for it.
I smiled, "I am fine. Now, why don't we go relieve Hagrid from babysitting duty before he breaks the couch or busts a hole in the ceiling, yeah?"
Lily forced a laughed and I tossed my arm over her shoulder, "Lighten up Lily Flower. Everything is going to be okay. I promise."
AN: Done. Now go forth and drop us a comment. Mostly because Ryan STILL hasn't given me a new challenge and I need something to distract me from how much I hate my job.
Or because you love us so very much. I know ya do!
Jess