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Chapter Two: A Faceoff of Sorts:

Harry came into the infirmary to find a small boy with shaggy black hair and wide gray eyes waiting for him. Poppy had let him know that his godfather had been de-aged and would need to be cared for until he grew back up. Harry walked carefully to the boy and took a seat, he had heard from Poppy about the bruises and he got angry. His own parents had beat him and for what? Harry hated those who abused children, he knew what it felt like to be unwanted, oh dear aunt Petunia had never beat him but she made sure he knew how much she hated him. At least uncle Vernon stuck up for him, sort of, if not for him Harry was sure he would have starved and been required to do all the chores. Still he saw Vernon as spineless and henpecked and had no love for the man.

"Hey Sirius, how are you?" Harry asked.

"Fine sir." Sirius said looking up at Harry and taking in the bright green eyes, messy black hair and scar, he ducked his head as he had been so rude!

"Sirius you do not have to call me sir, in fact you are my godfather." Harry said, "I am Harry Potter, you were dear friends with my father."

"I was?" Sirius said.

"Oh yes, and you ended up in Gryffindor." Harry said.

"M-my parents would have killed me for that." Sirius said looking scared.

"Cygnus would have had a fit if they had, you know that." Harry said glad he had studied up on Black family politics. "He sent you a cloak with protection charms in fact."

"My parents hate me." Sirius said his lower lip trembling, he did not want to cry but he could not help it, "no one loves me!"

"Hey, Shh I love you Sirius, come here." Harry said.

Sirius found himself enfolded gently into strong arms that felt familiar and comforting. He held onto Harry who rubbed his back gently and actually hummed softly to him as he sobbed and did not call him weak or a burden as he sobbed. Sirius relaxed in his arms just as Severus came back to the infirmary, robes billowing with the headmaster right behind him. Harry looked up at the aged headmaster with his long silver beard and hair clad, today in robes of blue trimmed in pink. He had a pair of moon shaped spectacles on his long crooked nose and his blue eyes were twinkling. Sirius started to tremble in fear and Harry soothed him by hugging him close, this calmed the boy enough for him to not be so very afraid of Dumbledore.

"Hello Sirius, I heard what happened from Severus here." Dumbledore said taking out a small tin, "lemon drop?"

"No thank you sir." Sirius said.

"We were just talking and decided that since you will be the age you are for a time you can stay with Severus at Grimmauld place."

"No." Harry said softly, quickly adding before Severus killed him, "Severus would be great to take care of Sirius but not Grimmauld place, I know it's different but that would be too traumatic for Sirius. It would be like me being de-aged and sent back to Privet drive, even if the house were different and I had all of you to take care of me it would be very hard."

"What then Harry?" Severus asked.

"Well Godric's Hallow, my house, it has been rebuilt as you know, five bedrooms, four bath, library that sort of thing." Harry said, "Severus can bring Max and I have two elves as well that take care of the house and Mrs. Weasley can come to check on us!"

"Very well, that should work." Dumbledore said.

Severus was really doing all he could not to lose his temper, he had not agreed to this at all! Yet here were Dumbledore and Harry-the-brat-who-still-lived-and-could-be-so-annoying acting as if he did. Still he did like Godric's Hallow, the house was very nice and fully restored and it had ward stones to offer protection at the edge of the grounds and in the cornerstones. It was a pleasant place and he was sure Max would not mind, besides Rita and Charity were off on vacation to the States for a few weeks and this would ensure they might never find out that Sirius had been de-aged. Still, they called Slytherins cunning, well clearly not as much as a bloody Gryffindor! He gave a forced smile and sat down by Harry and looked down at Sirius, really how much trouble could two eight year old boys be when one was his own son?

"That would be fine, I will let Max know and we will be there tonight." Severus said getting up to leave not counting on Sirius jumping up and attaching himself to his leg.

"Let me come please I don't want to be alone!" Sirius begged.

"Hey I will be here." Harry said to the boy.

"I want Severus!" Sirius said, "please don't leave me!"

"I think he likes you." Harry said grinning, "how about I bring Max? You can get settled in, master suite is mine though. However feel free to raid the fridge, watch the telly, check out the library though I still have to finish warding the potions lab."

"Very well, tell him what happened." Severus said.

"Of course, he will think this is grand you know." Harry said, "Sirius should not be too much different than he was as an adult."

Harry ducked as Severus went to swat him gently upside the head and Harry left doing his best not to laugh. He walked out onto the grounds and to the gates and Apparated back to Grimmauld Place. He found Ron seated with Max playing chess with the young boy. Two heads, one red headed and one raven haired bent over the chess board concentrating fiercely. Max had grown and was at least four feet tall now, he looked much like his father with black hair, black eyes and thin lips, but his hair was soft and wavy and he wore it tied back. His nose was smaller and instead of sallow skin his was lightly tanned and he was clad in jeans, tee shirt and hoodie.

"Hey Max, Ron, I see another chess champion in the future." Harry said.

"Yes, I nearly beat Ron earlier." Max said smiling up at Harry.

"Good job imp," Harry said taking a seat by Max, "there was a bit of an accident at school, your dad is alright, but it's Sirius."

"What did he do this time?" Ron asked not looking up from the chess board.

"He managed to get doused in a potion." Harry said, "de-aged himself right and proper and well as he is an Animagmus a special potion has to be made before he can be turned back to his adult form."

"How old is he?" Max asked, "I mean mentally he is younger than me most days…"

"Max that was not nice!" Harry said.

"What it is true." Ron said, "Max is very smart to know that about dear Sirius."

"Well we had to take him to Godric's Hallow as this was not a happy home for him as a child." Harry said, "I invited you and your father to stay."

"Wicked!" Max said his face lighting up, "but Padfoot is not a baby is he?"

"No he is about your age." Harry said, "shall we go pack?"

"I better pack, your packing charms need work Harry." Max said.

Harry glared at Ron as he gave out a roar of laughter than followed Harry up to Max's room. Max packed quickly and very neatly, just like his father and slung the satchel, magically expanded and lightened so he had as many books (lots of these) toys (a few of these) and clothes (Harry had to make sure he packed enough he was a little boy after all) and they took the floo out to Harry's fully restored home.

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So Sirius will be at Harry's home, with Severus and Severus's son. Grimmauld Place is not healthy for Sirius at this time, not in child form. He will need lots of love and as he is so cute lots of cuddles too as he did not have a great childhood.