Chapter 21
"How many games have you been too?" asked Harry as he sat in the Burrow with the lads he was now growing up with it.
"Well, dad usually tries to take us once every six months or so. We can't go every time because... but we've been to a good few. I'm sure by the end of the year you will have caught up with us," said Ron to Harry. Sirius was determined of that.
Hopefully, Ron thought, he might even get to go to a few more with them. He was acutely aware of the fact that Harry and his family had a lot more money than they did. He didn't understand why it was they did not have a lot of money – all he knew was they didn't. But none of that mattered that day.
"Right boys, we have got to be off. You ready?" asked Sirius as he came round the corner.
"Sirius, why is Remus not coming?" asked Ron. The more time the werewolf had spent with the Weasley's, the more they had got too used to him being around and the odder it was for him not to be there.
"He just wasn't very well last night – he needs a bit of a rest."
Harry looked deep in though. Remus had been unwell last month as well.
"Remus never seems to be very well when I get back from being with Severus," Harry realised.
Sirius wanted to say something like it was a coincidence. But when he learned the truth, which he was going to in time, Harry would remember that he had been lied to. He was never going to lie to him.
"Yes, he does seem to be, doesn't he? But that is a conversation for another day. Right now, we have to get to the game and when we are there, I want you to stay with me – stay very close. It is going to be busy."
Sirius remembered a time not so very long ago when he would not even be able to consider taking Harry into a big crowd. But that was long before he had got used to having a godfather who loved him and brother like he could turn too.
He was ready for this now.
For the first time that day, Harry was also going to be using a port key. He was used to apparating from going to seeing Severus, but due to the fact that so many of them were travelling that day, it had seemed to make sense to go by port key.
Molly waved them off from the front door; she was clearly looking forward to a relatively quiet day. God only knew she deserved some quiet. In the end, the match goers were Sirius, Harry, the twins, Ron and Arthur. For some reason he did not know, Percy did not seem to be even trying to warm up to him and Harry. Molly did not want Ginny going with them when she was still so young. Ted Tonks would met them at the game and so it was a real lad's day out.
Even though Sirius had told Harry it was going to be busy, he thought when they got there that even he had forgotten just how busy Quidditch matches got. Or perhaps it was because he had the added responsibility of a child now. The last time he had been he had been a young man of twenty and he had gone with his friends. He had been with James. And quite frankly it would have been rather funny if he had lost him.
But if he were to lose Harry when he were there... well, he did not even like to think about it for fear of how far it could set him back depending on what happened. It was far better that he just kept him close.
Arthur had enough on his plate with the boys - especially when then twins were going with them. The two of them were a handful all on their own. Between them though, they would look after the kids well enough.
"Right, I am going to go and get the butterbeers and pasties in for us!" said Ted as they made their way towards the stands.
"Ok, we will wait over there until you've got them," said Sirius, pointing to a clear space just away from the queue. Ted nodded and together, Sirius and Arthur ushered the four boys with them over to the clearing.
"So who do we think are going to win today! The Kestrals or the Harpies?"
"The Harpies!" Ron and the twins replied without even having to think about it – Harry could only assume they were the better team by the behaviour of the others who knew so much more about it that he did, so he just followed their lead.
"Yeah, the Kestrels smell of dog poopie," Ron announced.
"Well, I guess that is one way to put it," said Sirius with a shrug.
The debate was rather one siding as they stood there together as the twins and Ron continued to explain why the Harpies were so much better. Arthur and Sirius gave one another what could now be well and truly called a knowing look.
They had been standing there at least a couple of minutes when Sirius saw Arthur expression change. It was one of concern.
"Now, he does not look as if he has any one with him does he?"
Sirius turned to see a boy who could not be a lot older or a lot younger than Harry looking about.
"Do we think he has got lost?" the two of them had drawn the same conclusion.
"I think he is," said Arthur and then he went over to the lad. As a parent he knew how scared one of his own kids would be if it happened to them. He would want someone to lend them a hand until he got to them. "You lost your mum and dad, little one?"
"No, I have not. Stay away from me."
From that very moment, Sirius took against the lad. There had been no need what so ever to talk to Arthur like that when he had been trying to be kind. He knew he had to be freaked out a bit as he clearly had lost his mother and his father but he should keep a civil tongue in his head.
"There is no need for that lad," he said to him as he put a hand on Harry's shoulder. The young boy had clearly got the twins and Ron's back up as well.
"Well, I did not ask for your help, did I?"
There was something familiar about this lad that made Sirius dislike him even more. For a while, he did not think he was going to be able to put his finger on it – in fact, he would rather it stayed that way. But then it became only too clear to him why he was familiar.
This boy was part of his family.
The cool grey eyes and blonde hair were nothing to do with the Blacks – but the way he spoke... Everything about him told him this was Cissy's boy. This had to be Narcissa son. She had sent him an owl when the boy had been born– he had been cast out but no doubt when she had given the Malfoy's an heir, she had wanted to tell even those who had been disowned by their family that she was the perfect wife.
This was exactly the sort of lad he had wanted to keep away from Harry and suddenly, he had no idea why he had thought it was going to be a good idea to bring him to a Quidditch match.
What a stupid idea that had been.
It was only then he realised he had been looking at Harry as he held on to him – and it did not take long for the vile little brat in front of him to work out why. He knew this was Harry Potter.
Even though he as a rule loved kids, he had never had a lot of interest in his cousins son. Now he knew why.
Harry turned to him for help. He knew the lad was going to say something to him – something mean and spiteful – but at that moment, confirmation about what Sirius suspected came.
"Oh thank god," He heard a voice say as for the first time since he had left Hogwarts, he set eyes on his cousin.
The years had been kind to Narcissa. She retained her long blonde hair, her smooth skin and her slender figure despite childbirth and motherhood. And it seemed to him that she had got a lot softer. He did not want to credit that to the little lad, who was clearly just horrible.
But it was the only thing he way he could explain it. "Why did you run off?"
"I did not, mama," Sirius heard the tone in his voice change instantly. He was at once more respectful. "I just turned about and you are papa were gone."
Narcissa sighed as she kissed her sons forehead drinking him in.
"Thank you," she said as she rose. She was a lot more polite than her son was Sirius noted.
But then that was before she knew who it was she had been saying thank you too.
As she saw him, she was clearly shocked. Just as the rest of the world knew he had been realised so did she, she had to have known too. But she had made no acknowledgement of it.
Until now; when she had too.
"Sirius," she had no idea what else she was meant to say.
The fact he had got out of jail had had no effect on her or her life. Why should it? The two of them had never got on. But ... they had grown up together.
"You want to hold on to your boy a bit closer, Cissy."
"They run off at every chance that they get. You must know that now you're playing daddy full time," She said as she eyed Harry Potter.
"Talking of daddy's, are you still playing the trophy wife to your beloved?" he asked.
This time it was Narcissa who pulled her boy closer to her.
"Not in front of the boys," Arthur interjected before it went any further.
"Come on Draco's - why don't we go and find daddy? He'll be worried," said Narcissa to her son turning away from her cousin before glancing back.
In spite of the argument they had nearly just got into, she looked as if she was trying to saying something else. Something which was not a comeback but a –
"Mother?"
"I am coming, darling," she said as she turned for a final time.
XXX
"It was as if she wanted – well, I dunno but I do not think she wanted to go," said Sirius once they got back to Andromeda's.
The game had gone well but he did not think he had focused on it as much as he had wanted to when they were on the way... because he had kept thinking about Narcissa. The two of them were never going to have a huge effect on one another's lives. But they were always going to be related.
"Well, she went didn't she? It is not as if she does not have a choice," sighed her sister.
It had been a long time since Andromeda Tonks had had any sympathy for her sister. She had dreamt when the two of them had been younger that they might grow back together. That Narcissa would see that she had been a fool when she had fallen in love with – that thing – that odious man.
That she would see there was another way. But she had not.
"Do you know the thing that annoys me most about her?" Andromeda asked. "It is that it seems to me there is just nothing to her. She does as she is told and she lets the world past her by. I do not think she even believes in pure blood mania that strongly. She just does not have the passion in her to break away from it all."
"But she does believe it."
"Oh, yes, she does – but you can't say it was on the same scale as Bellatrix. Not that her passion was put to good use. But, do you understand what I am saying? I just do not know what she wants and what she believes in. Not really..."
Sirius looked on her with pity. She knew she was not acting the way she wanted people to perceive her - as if she did not care about her sister. But she did. She wanted her back. She had not grown up on her own and she did not wish to be without them.
She had been so used to having sisters.
Deep down, it like him and Reg – he hated him for what he had done and what he had been. But he knew deep down, in his heart of hearts, he still had a lot of love for his kid brother.
If he could have made it so they could be together as real brothers, as he had been with James, then there was not a lot he wouldn't have done. But now – there was no chance of that.
"She is not a little girl any more. She makes her own choices for herself and her son, who is by the way a horrible little sh-"
"Not in front of the little ones please, Sirius." Arthur muttered.
"That is my nephew – the one I know nothing about!" Andy sighed as she picked up the tray she had brought the tea through on. Footsteps followed her. "Why is it Sirius, that asides from me, you, Ted, Dora, Harry and Remus our family is so buggared up?"
Sirius shrugged. "If you think about it, that is our family in its entirety now. So perhaps it is not so messed up at all."
It was not the answer she had expected and nor one she really wanted. What she wanted was a reason. Yet, there was no way to wave a magic wand and make them all get along, to get Narcissa away from Lucius, to give Bella actual morals and to bring back Reg from the dead.
She looked at him and sighed. Crossing the room, he took her in his arms. "When you think about it, it was only ever really been me and you against the lot of them, kiddo."
She nodded, turned and wiped her eyes. "So did Harry enjoy the game?"
"Yeah, I think that he did... Sat between me and Fred. You know, if I am glad I have done one thing, it is involve the Weasley's in all this. You were right; those lads are just what Harry needs. He has brothers in arms now, just as I had in James."
"Well, I am glad."
"Me too."
XXX
Remus had been relaxing on his own when he heard the knock on the door. He had not anticipated being interrupted that day but that did not mean he was not glad to be.
Suddenly, he was not a very solitary being.
Getting up of the sofa he went to open the door. It was probably a good thing that someone had called. He was going to be heading over to Molly and Arthur's in a while. He had not wanted to go to the Quidditch game that day as he had thought it was going to be a bit much, but he would be having dinner with the others.
"Ahh, Severus, to what do I owe the honour?" asked Remus as he clapped eyes on the potions master, in a much more cordial way than he might have before hand. The respect between Severus and the marauders was formal, but it was present in a way it had never been before.
"Dumbledore sent me... but I wanted to come, I need to talk to you Lupin. I –" Severus swallowed his pride. "I need you to do me a favour Lupin. It might be beneficial to us both."
Remus nodded. "Why don't I call, Sirius?" he said moving to the fire. "He can come back if this is about Harry before we go to dinner with the Weasley's."
Did he not listen? "This is nothing to do with Sirius or Harry."
"Well, in that case, you had better come in – let me get you a tea," said Remus well and truly surprised. Severus followed him into the kitchen. "I hope Harry was good for you last night," said Remus not that he had a lot of doubts over that.
"As ever, he conducted himself very well," Severus replied as he was greeted by Jamie with a low growl.
"Get out of it Jai," Remus said to him. "Sorry. We're still house training him, just ignore him when he does that," Remus explained.
"Trust me, I will," Severus drawled as he sat down at tone of the free kitchen chairs.
"So if this is not about Harry, then what is it about?"
"A new potion I am working on at the moment; Wolfsbane."
By the end of the conversation, Severus had given Remus a lot to think about. It had been a long time since he had hoped for anything so – so evolutionary. It would change every full moon. Of course, it was not going to stop the change from hurting or prevent it; but to be him his own mind when he had changed...
That was more than he had dreamt of. It meant he was going to be a lot more like Sirius in Animagus form. He was not just going to be a wolf... he would be tame. The wildness would leave him as long as he had the potion. It was not without risks. This had never been gone before.
But it had to be worth a go. Like it or not, Severus had done a lot for him already. The way that he had been with Harry, the help he had given them...
"There is no guarantees this is going to work, Lupin."
"No, but I would like to give it try none the less."
There would have been a time when he did not think he would have been willing to try just because it was Snape - but Severus was not going to hurt him because he did not want to hurt Harry. He trusted him due to his love for Harry.
"Thank you."
If Remus had said 'no' then he would have gone on the hunt for a werewolf – something he had not relished. As a rule, they were not all like Remus. They did not want to raise kids and be part of society. They could be vicious. The bond between them, Harry, ensured this was something Severus did not have to worry about with Remus, who had ever fought against who he was.
It was with the promise that the werewolf was going to let him essentially experiment on him which the potions master went back to Hogwarts with – and for that he was grateful. If he had had a choice in what he had wanted to be, then he would not be at Hogwarts as Potions master. He would have chosen to work with potions; but not as a teacher... if only he had had a choice...
But as it was, Hogwarts was not a bad place to live. Even he felt something in his heart when he saw the castle illuminated at night... even after all this time.
He apparated to Hogsmeade and then walked up to the school, making his way down to the dungeons. It was going to be dinner time soon. He would quickly mark a few roles of parchment before he went up to the Great Hall.
Walking into his apartments, he threw off his travelling cloak and was about to make his way to the office when something caught his eye.
Harry's jacket.
He was extremely annoyed, instantly, that he had not seen it earlier that day. Had he, then he would have taken it back to the house with him when he had gone to see Remus. He'd just take it back another day now...
But then what if he needed it that night? Surely, they would have even needed it that day when they had been at the match... it was warming up...but still it got cold at night.
Severus did not want Harry be cold or get sick. When he had turned into such a softy, he did not know, but he turned around and put his clock back on.
He'd have to go to the Burrow now.
XXX
Once that the Quidditch goers had met up with Andy and had a quick drink to refresh themselves at her house, they made their way over to the Burrow. Sirius only wished that little Dora had been home that day. He had had a good day, but his spunky little cousin's presence would have made it almost perfect he mused as he walked over to the house with Andy, Ted as well as Arthur.
Harry run ahead with the other lads.
"Did you see how he was when I offered to get him a drink today, Sirius?" said Andy proudly. "He told me what he wanted and then he told me all about the game. I think at long last he is beginning to realise I am not a wicked witch!"
"And you know that is because he met Cissy today. Now he knows what a real wicked witch looks like," teased Sirius. "No, he was always going to warm up to you in the end. Just takes Harry a little while longer than most kids, is all."
All in all, it had not been a bad day for Sirius Black, he guessed. But an interesting one. It was a lot like any, he guessed, full of contradictions. He knew the decisions Narcissa had made were ones she had made for herself from her own set of beliefs. But he wished they were different still.
As they got nearer to the Burrow, he saw Ginny come running out to met the lads, yet for a second she seem to split into three as the twins, Ron and Harry merged into two little lads...
Just for a moment, he saw the five Black cousins, the way they should have been.
He blinked.
Still, if the future did not improve on the past then there was no hope for any of them was there?
By the time they got there, Remus had already arrived and was animated in conversation with Molly Weasley, 'his new best friend', as Sirius had teased him just a few nights before. Harry got a hug off Remus as the werewolf took a beer from Molly. They would all enjoy a cottage pie before retiring to the front room to watch the newest talent show that Ginny had roped the boys into.
"Right kids, come on, to the table," Molly called to the hungry little troopers at last. It had been a long day and it seemed as if the pasties which they had got at the game had been a long time ago now.
The children were going to eat first – and then the adults. Just as Harry got to the table, a knock was heard from outside the door and Andromeda went to get it.
"Severus?"
"He keeps popping up today," Remus said to Sirius where the stood across the room, so quietly only he could hear it. "We need to talk when we get back tonight."
"Why, don't I like the sound of that?"
"No, it's nothing bad." He said reassuringly.
"Percy, will you please come downstairs?" Molly yelled up the stairs as the potions master came in.
"I found this on my return to my apartment," he said showing Harry's jacket to Sirius. "I did not know how soon he was going to need it, so I thought it best to bring it straight back."
"Ahh, thank you. We wondered where that got to, didn't we mate?" he said as he gave Harry a wink.
"Yeah, Thanks uncle sev," Harry added without needing prompting. Getting up, from where he had sat between George and Ron, he went over to Severus and cuddled him.
As much as the potions master was careful not to show too much affection, it was clear his young charge had no such scruples. "And did you have a good time at the game today?"
"It was so much fun, I want to go again! But we saw a funny lady there who Sirius did not like very much," he said as he turned to the elder marauder.
"Narcissa." Sirius said in a one world explanation.
Severus nodded, and bent down to kiss Harry on the forehead goodbye. He always did so and if he did not then he knew Harry was going to be confused.
"I'll see you in a few weeks."
"Do you have to go?"
"I am afraid so. You need to eat your dinner and so do I."
It was then that Percy came into the room. "Daddy, I don't think Scabbers is very well!"
The squealing rat bit the boy, yet Percy's grip remained firmed until Arthur took him in his hands.
"Arthur, I think you need to get the kids out of here," Remus breathed, fiercely aware of the suddenly murderous Sirius at his side.
Silence fell.
"What's going on?" Harry said as he looked up at his godfather.
Only Harry could have brought him back to earth then. With a shaking hand, Sirius smoothed down Harry's hair.
"Do as Moony say. Andy, please, take him back to yours."
His cousin nodded, understanding something much bigger was going on here.
Molly wore a look of confusion. "But the children are just about to sit down to dinner."
"Molly," Andy said as she got up. "I'll get pizzas in."
"I know but-"
"GET OUT OF HERE!" Sirius roared at last. "GIVE THE RAT TO SNAPE, ARTHUR, JUST DO IT! DO IT!"
Maybe it was his stance; maybe it was the tone of his voice; maybe it was a combination of the two, but it was not long until what Sirius' order had been followed. Only Remus and Severus remained, two wizards who could account for themselves. Two men who had seen torture and murder before.
As the kids left, Percy and Harry's faces were the last faces he saw. Percy was in floods of tears and crying he did not want to leave his pet, while Harry had never seen his godfather in such a rage. He had never wanted to.
Finally, Peter Pettigrew was left alone in the Burrow with his two old friends and his arch enemy. He had taken the lives of James and Lily Potter. Now his would be taken from him.
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