Epilogue

'Are you ready, sweetheart?' Sirius called to Ariadne as he looked in the bathroom mirror, buttoning his shirt collar and adjusting his Muggle tie, feeling as though he was being strangled by the bloody thing. He couldn't understand why they were so popular. He much preferred his wizard's robes, but he somehow doubted that they would go down very well in the middle of Surrey.

'Yes, nearly,' Ariadne replied, her voice muffled behind the closed bedroom door. She'd spent the last hour experimenting with various dresses, trying to find one that didn't make her hips look too big, didn't have huge orange and brown flowers all over it, didn't reek of mothballs and wasn't striped like a deckchair.

Women were far too picky, Sirius thought. She looked beautiful in everything she had tried on. He had asked her to try to find something as Muggle-ish as possible, but smart, that was all. It was only for the Muggles' benefit anyway, not for his. He didn't think it was that big a task, but obviously he had underestimated the number of dresses that Ariadne had managed to accumulate.

'I don't even know if Muggles think it's appropriate to wear dresses like this in the day.'

Sirius just stood there, framed in the bathroom doorway, stunned. He had never seen her in anything Muggle other than her jeans, but this… She wore delicate black sandals and a very pretty short-sleeved, wrapover yellow dress peppered with little flowers. Hanging around her neck and resting just on her décolletage was a delicate silver cauldron.

'Oh, it's not that bad, is it?' Her face crumpled with disappointment as she ran her hands self-consciously over the soft fabric. 'I can't go to Little Whinging in my robes or jeans. I don't have anything "smart", I haven't had anywhere to go in twelve years. I have a shawl to go around my shoulders though. Do you think it's too low?'

He stepped towards her, silencing her with a finger against her lips. Only then did she notice his eyes were shimmering as his finger moved from her lips down the line of her neck to the silver cauldron.

'You still have this?' he asked, his voice no more than mere breath. 'After all these years?'

'Of course I do,' she said with a soft smile. 'You gave it to me, Sirius.'

'For your fourteenth birthday.'

She nodded. 'I kept everything you ever gave me.'

He smiled, blinking away the tears of nostalgia and intense, overwhelming affection for her that had flooded his chest.

'You look beautiful, Ari,' he managed to say as his hands gently caressed her hips.

'Thank you. I'm so glad that you're here with me.'

He pulled her into his arms and for a long time they just held each other. Wishing that the moment could last.

'I suppose we should be going,' she said after a while.

'Yeah... This is what we've been working so hard for, isn't it? Then you go and come out here, looking so beautiful, distracting me.'

'Oh,' she chuckled, 'you old flatterer, you. You look pretty good yourself, you know.'

'Well…thank you.'

Sirius was wearing his own, tailor-made Muggle suit that he had bought a couple of days ago at Knightsbridge in London. He'd had to Apparate up there to register his animagus form with the Ministry anyway, and to collect Buckbeak's and his official pardon papers from the Office of Magical Law Enforcement and the Department for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.

Despite Malfoy's interference, Pettigrew had nonetheless been arrested for the murders of the twelve Muggles that Sirius himself had been incarcerated for and was currently awaiting a date to be set for the trial in Azkaban prison - as were Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. The other Death Eaters who had been present that night had managed to slip through the Ministry's fingers and there was little anyone could do about it because of the lack of evidence. The three who had been caught had refused to speak to anyone about the events at the manor house, even under Veritaserum, so it came down to Erytheia, Snape and Lupin to testify against them. Unfortunately, Sirius was not considered a particularly reliable witness because he had been bleeding so badly at the time everything had happened, but also a little because there was still some wariness of him among some members of the Ministry. Sirius hadn't minded particularly because he didn't really trust them either. Though he, Snape and Lupin had all voiced their grave concerns over Erytheia being forced to give evidence at the Wizengamot. Yes, she was probably tougher than most kids her age, but it was still a daunting experience for adults, let alone children. Still, there was time for that. Hopefully, they could manage to work something out with the Ministry so she wouldn't be forced through such an ordeal.

His thoughts had turned to Peter over the past few days too, but not quite in the same way. Sirius pitied him and even empathised with him to an extent - no one knew what Azkaban could be like as he did and he really didn't know if someone like Peter would cope particularly well with it. Even after everything Sirius had been put through because of him, he still couldn't bring himself to wish a fate like the Dementor's Kiss on his old friend. He wouldn't wish it on anyone, even though he was sure that Pettigrew would have been more than prepared to see him condemned to it. But, Sirius supposed, that's what had always made Peter that bit different to the other Marauders - he had always been more concerned with himself than anyone else and now he was paying for it. Perhaps, Sirius considered, when the time felt right, he would go and see him. Not so much for his own sake, but for James'. James would have wanted it. James would have forgiven him, even if Sirius would never quite bring himself to go that far. That's what mattered.

Merlin, he didn't know what was coming over him. He was getting far more tolerant as he got older. He would never have dreamed of forgiving Pettigrew once, when he'd been sitting in that dark cell, replaying his life, cursing the man with his every breath.

Perhaps it was happiness. Somehow, all the pain that had existed before just didn't seem to matter now. It was as though it had happened in another lifetime, to someone else.

'Anyway, you're right,' he continued, slipping from his reverie, 'we should be going. You ready?'

'As ready as I'll ever be.'

Sirius took her hand, closed his eyes and felt the familiar disorientation and momentary nausea as he usually did when Apparating.

They had chosen a spot just off Magnolia Crescent not too far from where Sirius had first glimpsed Harry more than a year ago. It was midday when they arrived and the sun was unforgiving as it beat down on the deserted tarmac pavements and well manicured gardens around them.

'It's eerily quiet around here, isn't it? Even for Muggles,' Ariadne said as she reached for Sirius' hand. 'Where is everyone?'

'I think this is one of those middle class places that Muggles live in. Most of them are at work all day which means that about this time is great if you don't want to attract any attention. Harry should still be home though. From what he's told me, the Muggles don't let him venture far.'

'Oh, let's hurry up and get him out of here. This place is like a ghost town. No character, no colour, all the houses and gardens exactly the same…it's just…eerie.'

Sirius chuckled. 'Yeah, I have to say I agree, although I'm probably not in a place to do so. Everywhere looks good to me after staring at stone walls for twelve years.'

'So much for you loving my "cosy little cottage" then!' she teased, playfully elbowing him in the ribs. 'Or was that just your attempt to butter me up?'

'Hey, I've always loved your home, Ari,' he replied, squeezing her hand. 'Because you're in it.'

'Mmm, nice recovery. I'll forgive you,' she relented with a smile. 'So, which house is it?'

They were on Privet Drive now, although there was very little difference between this and Magnolia Crescent to note it. It was just as well that the Muggles labelled their streets or a person could very well wander in and never find their way out again. This place was worse than the Minotaur's Labyrinth.

'Here it is,' said Sirius, pointing at the faux-gold lettering on the door, 'number four.'

'He doesn't know we're coming, does he?'

'Well, not exactly. But I know he reads The Prophet, and I did promise him that when I was cleared, I would come for him. I'm so looking forward to seeing him again. I've really missed him. You won't believe how much he looks like James.'

They walked up the driveway and Sirius pressed the doorbell.

'Yes, can I help you?' said the woman who answered the door, her lips curling in a feeble attempt at a smile. Even Snape could have managed to make it look more convincing than that.

'Mrs Petunia Dursley?' Sirius asked.

'Yes, that's right.' Her smile slipped a little, becoming more strained and cautious as she began to glare at them through narrowed eyes. 'If you're selling something, then I'm not interested.'

Sirius smiled his best, most sincere, most polite smile. 'No, I'm not selling anything. My name is Sirius Black, Mrs Dursley. I'm sure Harry's mentioned me. I'm his godfather.'

The colour drained from Petunia's cheeks, her eyes widened in terror and she gave a short, sharp exhalation as she stumbled backwards, her hand grasping for purchase on the dado rail running along the wall beside her.

'Oh! No, I... D-don't hurt my Dudley! Harry's fine, he's j-j-just had his lunch! A good lunch! It was...er...ham and…'

'Mrs Dursley, please calm down. The reports of my psychopathic tendencies are greatly exaggerated, I assure you. I haven't had an episode now for almost a week.'

Ariadne jabbed him playfully in the ribs with her elbow. 'Sirius...'

'Look, you can take the TV! Or the stereo! I have m-m-money in my purse, you c-can take that, too! Just please don't hurt me!'

'Mrs Dursley, I have absolutely no intention of hurting you, your husband or your son. Contrary to popular belief, I am not a maniac.'

'No, I...I didn't say that you were. It's just that - '

'Just because a man occasionally loses his temper because his godson has been mistreated and starts throwing things - '

Mrs. Dursely gave a sharp gasp and started glancing around at her expensive ornaments.

' - Mostly curses rather than the furniture, not to worry.'

Petunia didn't seem to be reassured. Her horse-like face was still contorted in abject fear. She looked as though she were face-to-face with Lucifer himself. 'W-what do you w-want?' she managed to stammer.

'From your good self? Nothing at all,' said Sirius with a smile. 'Actually, I'm here to do you a favour. First of all, how rude of me, I didn't introduce my friend, did I? This is Ariadne Snape...currently my partner, shortly to be my wife.'

Ariadne was trying very hard not to giggle at the effect that Sirius' presence seemed to be having on this ridiculous woman. As if anyone could honestly believe that Sirius was some axe-wielding psychopath.

'Hello, Mrs Dursley,' Ariadne said politely, extending her hand, 'I'm very pleased to meet you.'

Petunia looked at Ariadne's hand as though it were a poisonous viper about to strike her dead. 'Are you…one of…them?'

'One of what?'

'A witch, sweetheart,' Sirius informed her. 'Mrs Dursley suffers quite an aversion to witches and wizards, I'm afraid.'

Petunia let out another exclamation of horror at the use of those words under her own roof.

Ariadne was still struggling very hard not to laugh. Petunia was reacting to her the way that most people in the wizarding world reacted whenever Voldemort's name was mentioned. She would almost have felt sorry for Petunia Dursley, if Sirius hadn't told her what a loathsome, cruel creature she was.

'Anyway, Mrs Dursley,' Sirius continued, 'I'm here, as I said, to be of assistance to you. You'll be pleased to hear, I'm sure, that my 'Wanted' status has been lifted and I am now in a position to offer Harry an alternative home, should he desire it. In short, I am here to take custody of my godson.'

Petunia lowered her very white, shaking hand from her mouth and stared at Sirius. 'You're…you're here to take Harry?'

'I am. If he wants to come, of course. I know that you're probably aware of Dumbledore's stipulation that he should remain here with you until he comes of age, but I assure you that there is nothing for you to worry about. Dumbledore is quite happy for Harry to come with us now.' As though she really would be worried about him anyway. 'May I please see him?'

'He's…he's upstairs, in his bedroom. Because we made sure he had a room, Mr Black, you see…a very nice room. He has a view and a nice, clean bed and plenty of room to do his s-s-school work - '

'He's inside on a beautiful day like this?' Sirius glowered at her.

'He wants to be, Mr. Black. He likes the quiet of his room. It's the neighbours, you see…very noisy…'

'Right,' Sirius said, rolling his eyes at Ariadne when Petunia looked nervously up the staircase. Ariadne had to cover her mouth to stifle a giggle. 'You won't mind if I go up?'

'No, of course not, Mr Black. He's in the front bedroom, top of the stairs, far left.'

'Good. Marvellous. Thank you. We'll be out of your way in just a few moments, Mrs Dursley.'

'Oh yes, of course. It's no trouble…no trouble at all…'

She watched Sirius and Ariadne as they climbed the stairs and as soon as they had disappeared onto the landing, she slumped down onto the telephone chair in the hallway, a slow smile creeping across her face as she gasped for breath with her hand clutched to her chest. Just like someone who had been told that she has won the lottery, and is slightly afraid of showing it in case people start asking her for money.

The door was closed when Sirius arrived upstairs. He tapped on it.

'Harry?'

The wooden door opened just a crack.

A teenage boy with dark, unkempt hair and bright green eyes shining from behind round-rimmed glasses appeared in the gap. As soon as he saw Sirius' face smiling back at him, he threw the door open wide and launched himself at his godfather.

'Sirius!' Harry exclaimed happily, his thin arms wrapping themselves around Sirius' neck. 'When I heard the doorbell, I thought Uncle Vernon was back from work early! Oh, Sirius, it's brilliant to see you! I was so pleased when Hedwig brought me The Prophet yesterday that said you'd gotten your release papers! You have no idea how desperate I've been to talk to you!'

Sirius hugged him back, closing his eyes against the immense and unexpected tide of relief, joy and immeasurable grief for James that crashed over his soul in that moment. He was powerless to prevent the tears slipping over his cheeks as he held his best friend's son and realised that he couldn't love or need Harry more if he were his own. No-one knew more than Sirius did how it felt for a child to be starved of affection and he was going to make sure that Harry never wanted for such things again.

'How did you manage it? I heard you'd been injured and I really wanted to come and see you, but I had a letter from Dumbledore telling me I had to stay here until you were better. I nagged him, but he wouldn't listen and I've just been going mad here wondering what's been going on. Did you catch Wormtail yourself? And how did Malfoy's dad get arrested? How did you get past Aunt Petunia? And are you taking me to the Quidditch World Cup? Because I really want you to, Sirius. I've been so looking forward to it since Ron and Hermione mentioned it in their last letters.'

'Whoa, there now, Harry! That's a lot of questions in one go! There's so much we have to talk about and there will be time for that, but I'm sure you want to get out of here first, don't you?'

'Are you serious? Of course I do! Is this really it this time, Sirius? I can live with you now? I don't ever have to come back here?'

'Not unless you want to. Dumbledore has said it's okay for you to leave now. You'll be quite safe at Ari's house, he's already set all the necessary protective wards for you.'

'Ari? Who's…oh,' Harry stuttered, finally noticing the woman Sirius had brought with him. He smiled. 'Hello. Are you an auror?'

'Hello, Harry,' she beamed back at him, shaking his hand as he offered it to her. 'No, I'm not an auror. I'm a friend of Sirius'. My name is Ariadne Snape.'

Harry relaxed smile suddenly became tense and a little forced. Somehow, it stopped touching his eyes. He glanced at Sirius for an explanation, but Ariadne had already noticed his apprehension.

She chuckled as she let his hand go. 'I can tell by the look on your face that you've heard the name. I think you've met my brother. He takes your potions classes.'

The smile suddenly dropped completely, his eyes narrowing in a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. 'You're...you're Professor Snape's sister? I didn't think he had any family.'

'There's no need to look so worried, Harry. I'm not quite as…well…I'd like to think that I'm a little more...friendly,' she smiled. 'He doesn't do much to endear himself to people sometimes, I know, but believe me, I wouldn't be as fond of him as I am if his heart wasn't in the right place. He's been a bit tough with you, I hear.'

Harry laughed awkwardly, his thin fingers reaching up to rub the back of his neck as his gaze drifted down to his feet. 'Well…it's just that…I'm not very good at Potions and he…er…'

'It's alright, Harry,' she smiled warmly, 'you don't have to explain. I know how he can be sometimes. If he gives you anymore trouble, just come and tell me. I'll put him back in his place.' She winked at him and squeezed his shoulder. 'Besides, he should be a bit more agreeable this year, with his daughter attending Hogwarts from September, too.'

'Professor Snape has a daughter? Oh, wow, we really do have a lot to catch up on,' said Harry. 'And you and Sirius...you're…together?'

'We are, yes,' Sirius replied with a proud smile as he put his arm around Ariadne's shoulders. 'We were before I went to prison. I'm very pleased to say that she still wants to put up with me now.'

Harry was trying hard to stifle the grin that was pulling stubbornly at the corners of his mouth. 'I bet Professor Snape is happy about that.'

'Well,' said Sirius, not sure how to respond until Ariadne started laughing.

'He wasn't for a while, but he's calmed down a lot,' said Ariadne. 'They only curse each other twice a day now, so that's a definite improvement.'

Harry chuckled, glancing at the half-scowl on Sirius' face and the mischievous glint in Ariadne's. 'It sounds as though we'll be the rest of the summer catching up on all this!'

'At this rate, yes, we will, so we'd better get you packed,' said Sirius, moving past Harry into his bedroom.

Hedwig hooted loudly and nibbled at the padlock on her cage as she saw Sirius pulling out his wand, ready to try to make some semblance of order out of the chaos that was Harry's room.

'Did those bloody Muggles lock that poor owl in her cage?'

'Well…they don't like me letting her out in the daytime in case someone sees her,' Harry replied.

'Mmm. We'll see about that,' said Sirius, taking off his stuffy Muggle jacket, loosening his collar and tie and rolling up his shirt sleeves. 'Alohamora!'

The padlock on Hedwig's cage snapped open and Harry quickly pulled it out of the hasp and opened the door for her. She hooted gratefully, landed on his shoulder and affectionately nipped at his earlobe before she took off towards the window and out into the bright sunshine.

'Where exactly are we going, Sirius?' asked Harry as he pulled up the loose floorboard beneath his bed and grabbed the pillowcase stuffed with all his school books, his wand, parchment, ink and quills.

'Ariadne's cottage. Up north, in the Lake District,' said Sirius, flicking his wand over Harry's chest of drawers so that all the clothes within them started leaping out, folding themselves neatly and landing in little piles on the bed. 'You'll love it up there, it's really beauitful. Although Ari and I have been talking about the idea of moving somewhere a bit closer to Hogwarts. We'll be needing a bit more space than we have at the moment, with you and the baby both needing your own rooms, too.'

'Baby?'

'Oh, didn't I mention that? Ari and I are expecting…in April.'

'Really? Oh, that's great! Congratulations!' said Harry, throwing the pillowcase into his trunk.

'Thank you,' said Sirius with an affectionate smile for Ariadne. 'We're very excited, aren't we, Ari?'

'Definitely,' she agreed, ruffling her fingers through his hair as he passed her with an armful of Harry's clothes to go into the trunk.

'Do you know if it's a boy or a girl yet?'

'No, not yet. We didn't really want to know anyway, we'd rather it be a surprise.'

'Ari would rather it be a surprise,' said Sirius. 'Personally, I'd like to know if I was going to have a son or a daughter.'

'Don't start,' Ariadne warned, but her eyes were twinkling as she finished putting the last few bits and pieces in Harry's trunk.

'This too,' said Harry, handing Ariadne a small, leather bound book. 'It's my album.'

'Ooh, are your parents in here?'

Harry nodded.

'Do you mind if I take a look?'

'No, not at all,' said Harry, pleased to share his parents with people who didn't cower at the mere mention of them. 'Did you know my mum and dad well?'

'Yes, I did. I was at school with them,' Ariadne sighed sadly, her fingers running over the creases in the leather before she opened the book. She smiled as she flicked through the pages and occasionally giggled at the photos of a younger, longer-haired Sirius. 'Oh my, look at Remus! He looks so young! Oh, Sirius, your motorbike! Whatever happened to that?'

'Hell knows. I lent it to Hagrid to bring Harry here before I got arrested and…well… I don't know what he must have done with it. Probably sold it for scrap, I expect.'

'He wouldn't have done that, Sirius,' said Harry. 'Hagrid never gets rid of anything. I'm sure he would have just stowed it away somewhere.'

'Yeah, maybe,' he replied, but he didn't sound particularly convinced. 'Anyway, a bike's no good for carrying a family around.'

'I suppose not,' Ariadne chuckled. 'All the same, I did love you on that bike, Sirius. You were very handsome in those leathers.'

Sirius eyed her with a wicked grin, but bit his tongue - more for Harry's benefit than anyone else's. He wasn't sure the planned retort would have been suitable for his young ears.

'Your parents were both wonderful people, Harry,' Ariadne continued, closing the album and handing it back to Harry to place into the trunk. 'They loved you very much. I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am for what happened.'

'Thank you,' Harry murmured, offering her an appreciative smile.

'Right then,' said Sirius, 'I think that's everything, isn't it?'

'I think so. How are we getting up there? Did you bring Buckbeak?'

'No, we didn't want to give your aunt a heart attack,' said Ariadne. 'That's why we're dressed like a couple of Muggle salespeople.'

'And what would you know about Muggle salespeople?' asked Sirius with a grin.

Ariadne raised her eyebrows at him. 'You'd be surprised at what I know, Sirius Black.'

He laughed and pushed a tender kiss into her hair. 'No, Harry, we didn't think it would be a good idea to bring a hippogriff into the middle of suburban hell. I'd rather not get arrested again. We thought we'd fly.'

'On what?'

'These,' said Ariadne, pulling out two small brooches from her bag and putting them onto the floor. With a quick flick of her wand, she had transfigured them back into broomsticks.

'You still have your Firebolt, Harry?' asked Sirius.

'Of course I do!'

'Right then...well, you'd best go downstairs and say goodbye to your aunt.'

'I'd rather not bother,' said Harry. 'She probably won't even notice that I'm gone.'

'Come on now, I know you don't like them, but it's courteous just to let her know you're leaving. We can come back in a few days to get anything you might have forgotten,' said Sirius.

Harry sloped off to tell his aunt and, what seemed like literally seconds later, Sirius heard him coming back up the stairs.

'As I expected…totally distraught,' said Harry.

'What did she say?' asked Ariadne.

'"Don't forget to take that bloody bird, and mind you don't take anything that belongs to us."'

'Oh, Harry,' she sighed, smoothing her hand over his hair. 'I'm so sorry.'

'Hey, it's fine. I couldn't care less about her either. The sooner we get out of here, the better. We're ready?'

'We certainly are,' said Sirius, mounting his broom. Harry's trunk was tied between his and Ariadne's.

Hedwig's empty cage swung from beneath Harry's Firebolt, which was hovering in mid air beside his bed, waiting for him to mount.

'Alohamora!' said Ariadne, waving her wand over the other half of the window which shot wide open.

Three Disillusionment charms later, Sirius, Ariadne and Harry glided out through the open bedroom window of number four, Privet Drive into the stiflingly hot late summer day. As they flew higher where the air was cool and refreshing on his face, Harry couldn't resist one last look down at the house beneath him that was rapidly becoming little more than a tiny, insignificant dot. He smiled to himself, his chest feeling as though it might explode with the sheer joy that was pumping through his heart in that moment.

This was it. It was over. He finally had a home…a family. It was too good to be true. Everything he had ever hoped for, everything he had ever dreamed of…his, at last.

Voldemort might still be out there somewhere, but somehow, with Sirius and Ariadne beside him and the prospect of someone who would be as good as his own little brother or sister coming his way, the old wizard didn't seem to matter quite so much. The fear was disappearing to be replaced with something else he hadn't felt in a very long time.

Hope.

The future was his and whatever it might bring, he would no longer fear it.

The End

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