Chapter 4 – Catching Up

Harry embraced Sirius for a full minute before pulling back to examine his godfather. Sirius looked the same as he had the last time Harry had seen him, except for the fact he had shaved recently. He didn't appear to have aged at all. While Harry didn't see any changes in Sirius, the opposite was true for his godfather. Sirius looked at his godson and couldn't believe how much more he looked like James. He was still several inches shorter than Sirius. His face had refined with solid cheekbones and a strong chin that guaranteed that Harry Potter was not a man whose emotions would be easily swayed. His hair was longer, but still managed to look slightly unkempt. His eyes were the same green like his mother's, but they had a depth that spoke to the pain he had seen in his short life. As they hugged, Sirius also realized that Auror training had hardened his body. He was not bulky, but Sirius could tell that great strength lay within.

As Sirius and Harry stood looking at each other, Quisi popped back into the room with the tea tray. That brought the both of them back to the present and they turned to look at Ginny and Hermione as the four of them sat down for tea. Just as Quisi began pouring, Ginny pulled her wand out of her pocket and it seemed to be buzzing.

"Oh, looks like I need to go collect our next surprise for Sirius, I'll be right back."

Sirius looked a bit puzzled and began to sip his tea as he tried to figure out what Ginny had meant. Just as realization hit, Ginny reappeared carrying a small bundle. Sirius almost dropped his tea cup as his face lit up. Ginny crossed the room and knelt down in front of her husband and Sirius. She turned the bundle around and the small, sleepy baby looked up at his father as Ginny made the introduction.

"Sirius, I'd like you to meet our son. This is James Sirius. He was born seven weeks ago."

"James…Sirius? Really? He's beautiful."

Sirius stretched his hand out to caress the baby's cheek. Ginny reached and handed her son to his namesake. Sirius carefully took the baby into his arms and stared at him with a look of unwavering awe and devotion. Ginny stood and returned to her seat, smiling at Hermione who was dabbing her eyes. The conversation that had been about to start waited while Sirius marveled at James. Several minutes later the baby began to fuss and Sirius looked alarmed.

"What did I do? Is he okay?"

Ginny laughed and got up to retrieve her son.

"He's fine Sirius. Just hungry. I was going to feed him, but thought you should have a couple of minutes."

Ginny settled back onto the couch and pulled a blanket over her chest and the baby as she began to nurse her son. Sirius turned and looked at Harry.

"You named your son after me. I'm honored. And stunned. He's amazing."

"Thanks Sirius. We're quite smitten as well. Now, I've got a million questions. When did you arrive back? How?"

Sirius picked up his tea and began the tale of his waking up on a remote beach in Indonesia, being jailed in Jakarta, rescued by a local witch within the British consulate, then traveling back to the Ministry where Hermione finally confirmed the news that no one had been able to believe. He still wasn't sure how it had happened. He had no memory of his missing six plus years.

Harry turned to Hermione. "Do you know anything more from the Ministry?"

"No Harry. They received word less than two days ago. I have some guesses and I'm going to pull some favors to try to get some information out of the Unspeakables. Kingsley will help if we need him to. Which reminds me, I sent him a note telling him that I confirmed Sirius was back and that we were coming here. He's due back from Spain shortly, but the owl I sent has the ability to find him wherever. I don't know for sure, but he may show up here later."

Ginny groaned and called for Quisi. The elf popped in and looked at her mistress for instructions.

"Quisi, we have guests for dinner tonight. We will need food for five."

The elf nodded and popped out as Ginny turned back to Hermione.

"So Hermione, you said you had a guess. Given your reputation, you're probably correct. So, what are you thinking?"

"Time travel. Somehow that arch, whatever it is, transported Sirius through time."

Everyone stopped to consider what Hermione had said and it seemed to make sense. It still didn't explain how Sirius had ended up in Indonesia.

After a few moments contemplation, Sirius looked over at Harry and broke the silence of the room.

"Alright, so I know that I've been gone for almost seven years and a lot has happened. You might as well take the time we have now to start educating me. Hermione mentioned something in passing about 'after the war'. I have to assume Voldemort is gone from what I saw at the Ministry. I want to know the full story. Please don't try to protect me. I've already missed out on enough."

Harry sighed and waved his wand at a nearby cabinet. The doors opened and a selection of bottles and glasses were displayed.

"Alright Sirius, I'll tell you everything, but it will take some time. You should also have something a bit stiffer to drink. Firewhisky?"

Sirius nodded and Harry floated out a bottle and several glasses. Everyone except Ginny took one and downed their first shots before Harry took a deep breath and began back at the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. He continued on with the details of his sixth year at Hogwarts and what Dolores Umbridge did while the Ministry tried to deny Voldemort's return. Then he covered the details of how the Ministry fell and the Death Eaters took control, leading to Harry, Ron and Hermione going on the run. Harry began to detail the story of Tom Riddle's past and the horcruxes. Around that point Sirius poured second shots for everyone. Next, Harry explained about the hallows and how their story interwove with the horcruxes. Next was the story of Malfoy Manor. Then Harry told Sirius about their breaking into Gringotts and fleeing on a blind dragon. That caused Sirius to take a deep, whistling breath. Finally, Harry came to the Battle of Hogwarts and found that it was easier to tell those details than it had ever been before. It had been nearly four years since Harry had told the story in such detail. At the end Harry had to look into Sirius' eyes and give him the news of all who had been lost, including Remus and Tonks. That revelation caused his godfather to cave in on himself as he hunched over and tried to contain his grief, unable to hold back the sobs. Harry put a hand on Sirius' arm and the room went silent to let everything settle in Sirius' mind. Eventually Sirius looked up and his haunted eyes seemed to look somewhere in the distance.

"Sorry Harry. I didn't know it would be that hard. I knew of course that it had to have been bad, but to hear about Moony, that I didn't anticipate. I can't believe I'm the last Marauder left. Remus Lupin was always the bravest of souls. To continue on with as normal a life as possible despite his affliction and then to fight for justice continually. James and I were always the loud ones. We were brave and we let the world know. Moony had a quiet strength to him. You said he and Dora were together when they died? I know she had a crush on him. He tried to keep her away, but I always thought he would lose that battle."

Harry smacked his forehead with his palm. "There's something else I haven't told you. Something incredibly good and wonderful from that last year. Tonks did wear Lupin down. They married a few months before the end of my sixth year. Then Tonks got pregnant. Lupin was distraught about that, but he came around. Their son Teddy was born shortly before the final battle and I'm his godfather. He's actually a frequent guest here."

"Moony, a father? That's incredible. I'm happy he got that chance, even if it was only for a brief time. I'd like to see the boy. If I could?"

"That shouldn't be a problem Sirius. I know Andi would be supportive."

"Andi? That would be Andromeda, Dora's mother, my cousin?"

"Yes. She's raising Teddy, although we try to help as much as possible. Her husband Ted was killed before the battle so Teddy is the only family she has left."

Sirius just sat, still looking dazed. He took another shot of firewhisky and downed it.

"Alright Harry, so that's what happened up to the battle. What has happened since?"

"Well, right after the battle everything was just strange. The three of us hung out around the Burrow for a couple of weeks, not knowing what to do with ourselves and trying to deal with grief. Ron had it the hardest, losing a brother. During that time Ginny and I got back together and Ron and Hermione finally declared their feelings. After a couple of weeks, we came out of a sort of fog and slowly started to figure out how to move forward. It wasn't easy. Ron and Hermione went to Australia to recover her parents. Hermione can tell you that full story. Meanwhile, I stayed and worked with the Ministry in a junior Auror capacity. I hadn't officially been trained, but a lot of Death Eaters were in hiding and they needed all the help they could get. I also took hold of my inheritances from my parents and you. When I wasn't away with the Aurors, I moved in here. Ginny visited a lot and began to help me clean and redecorate. Kingsley authorized a couple of the Aurors to help after hours. Then Ginny and Hermione returned to Hogwarts for their final year. Ron and I opted to take modified NEWTs and the following January we both had our official Auror training. I've been working in the department ever since. I became a senior lead investigator two years ago. Ron stayed with the Aurors for about a year and a half. He spent every free moment helping George at the shop and finally decided that he preferred that to being an Auror. He manages the Weasley Wizard Wheeze's branch in Hogsmeade now. Ginny and Hermione finished their last year at Hogwarts and Kingsley was waiting the next morning with an offer for Hermione. You've seen how well she's done. After school, Ginny spent four years playing Quidditch with the Harpies. She was traveling a lot, but every chance I had I would go meet her wherever she was playing. A couple years in I finally convinced her to marry me. Once she retired, we decided to start a family. She works part time with George as well now. His shop has four branches and keeps going. It was hard at first, but we all realized that to truly defeat the Death Eaters the best thing we could do was to move on, live, love, fight for justice and make happy lives for ourselves. My work isn't easy and Ginny worries a lot, but she's amazingly supportive and I feel like I'm making the world better for our son."

Harry finished and looked over to smile at his wife. The room was quiet for a few moments when Sirius spoke.

"Well, you've certainly done well Harry. I'm glad you found a good woman. So, Hermione, you and Ron are together now?"

Hermione sighed and shook her head. "No, not anymore Sirius. We were together for several years. As our careers accelerated we gradually grew apart and mutually decided to end our intimate relationship. We've made a point of communicating frequently and remain good friends. We've been through too much together to not remain close. He has a flat over the Hogsmeade shop and is living with his girlfriend, a Hufflepuff four years younger than him by the name of Chrissy. She's nice, tolerates Ron's moods better than I ever did. I think she may last, but Ron isn't ready to settle yet."

"Well, I guess it happens. Everyone grows up at a different pace. Moony once insisted that James and I would never grow up. How about the other Order members? How is everyone?"

Ginny was about to answer that question when a knock at the door stopped her. Harry rose quickly and went to answer it. A minute later Harry returned with Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister of Magic, following behind him. Sirius stood and looked at Kingsley as he entered. The two men took a moment to analyze each other. Then Kingsley's face lit up in a slow grin as he reached to take Sirius' hand.

"Sirius. I heard the news, but couldn't believe it. Then when Hermione wrote to me and said that she had confirmed it was you, well then I knew it had to be. Still, what a shock. Welcome though it is."

"Indeed Kingsley. And the shocks keep coming. We've been talking now for over an hour as I try to absorb everything I've missed. I think I'll be processing it for a long time yet. I must say, the news that you've been made Minister is welcome. I don't envy you the task, but I've seen a bit of how the Ministry is thriving under your care."

At that moment Quisi popped into the room and announced that dinner was ready.

Kingsley smiled. "My timing has always been impeccable. I haven't eaten since early this morning."

Harry chuckled as he took Ginny's hand and they led their guests to the dining room.

During dinner Sirius relayed his story to Kingsley and the Minister provided Sirius with a few more details on Order members. Kingsley stayed for a few minutes after dinner, but then had to leave for the Ministry. Ginny wondered what the Ministry needed him for at almost eight in the evening, but he was the Minister and he had been out of town for several days. Hermione stayed for another hour and filled in more details for Sirius, including her trip to Australia to recover her parents. She left about nine and Harry turned to Sirius.

"Well Sirius. I know you've had a long couple of days. I wish I could offer you your old bedroom, but I'm afraid we took your room and the small bedroom next to it and combined them into our master suite. We do have a guest room. I think you'll enjoy the decor."

"Whatever Harry. This is your home now. Truthfully, it never really was my home. I was never happy here. All I need right now is a bed."

Harry gestured for Sirius to follow and they made their way up to the second floor. The floor had four bedrooms total and Harry led Sirius to the second on the right side. Sirius stepped in and smiled. The room was one that his mother had once used as her sewing room and boudoir. In his mother's time the room was decorated in ghastly brown and pink wallpaper with sickly roses, although the walls were mostly obscured by the racks of garish robes she collected. Now the room was mainly occupied by a large four poster carved out of a light cherry with a footboard carved with lions. The bed covering was plush brocade in shades of burgundy and gold. The walls of the room were papered in a cream wallpaper with a faint gold embossed pattern. The ceiling was a very deep burgundy accented in magical, twinkling gold stars. It was as different from anything his mother had ever designed as night was from day.

"Wow Harry. This room is gorgeous. Gryffindor colors of course. I think I will be quite comfortable here."

"Well, it's yours for as long as you like. Ginny will be happy you like it. She's quite a designer."

"You're very lucky Harry. She's a special woman and you have a beautiful family."

"Thank you Sirius. The family is more complete now that you're home."

Harry turned and left his godfather before he could see the tears in Sirius' eyes. Wiping them away, Sirius stripped to his boxers and made his way to the bed. He had no other clothes, but decided that problem was one to be dealt with in the morning. He pulled back the covers, slipped into the very comfortable bed and was instantly asleep.

o-o-o

Thanks to all my readers and reviewers. The constructive and positive comments have been welcome as this and another story of mine have been receiving some venomous reviews lately and it's been frustrating. I am constantly working on improving, especially with my dialogue. I started writing about three months ago and I've learned a lot, so please let me me know what you think.