Chapter Four: Breakfast and an Invitation:

The next morning Harry woke up early as he was always an early riser and went to check on Sirius. He did not find the boy in bed and he nearly panicked. Then he grinned and walked to Severus's room and opened the door. Sure enough, there, curled up with his father was Max and right next to him was a shaggy black little puppy. Severus woke slowly and sat up seeing his son still asleep by him and he saw a shaggy little bundle by the boy. He dearly hoped that bundle of puppy fur was house broken or he was not going to be a happy wizard. He saw Harry in the door grinning and he glared at him for all he was worth, he was not amused at all to be found to be this nice! Max woke and yawned and Padfoot woke too and realized where he was, at once there was a pop and a little trembling boy took his place.

"Good morning, did you boys sleep well?" Severus said, he had been about to scold Sirius but at the look from two pairs of wide innocent eyes that is what came out. "What do you say to breakfast?"

"I can cook," Harry said getting Severus to raise an eyebrow at him, "I learned when I was about seven, made my aunt mental, on one had I was the best cook on Privet drive but I enjoyed it, she had to let me cook and I really do love to cook."

"Harry you are full of surprises." Severus said.

"So what would you boys like, I can make waffles with chocolate chips in them!" Harry said grinning at the look from Severus, "fine with fruit and whipped cream too."

The boys cheered and went to get dressed while Harry headed down to make breakfast. Severus did not know whether to strangle Harry or chop him up in potions ingredients, he was making him far too soft! He took a shower, shaved and dressed for the day in his sweeping black robes and headed down to breakfast to find the boys helping Harry. It seemed Sirius had potions training from a very young age as did many pureblood children (this was so when they got to Hogwarts they would not spend all their studying time not on potions but other more noble arts as the purebloods saw it). He was very careful as he measured out the chocolate chips into the stand mixer and watched with rapt fascination as the mixer did its job. Max was carefully stemming and cutting up the strawberries.

"Can I help?" Severus asked from where he stood leaning against the wall arms folded.

"Sure, can you set the table please?" Harry asked, looking over at Dobby who was watching with arms folded. "You can sort the library all by yourself okay Dobby?"

"Very well master Harry." Dobby said grinning.

"You spoil that elf." Severus said as soon as Dobby popped out to sort and stock the library.

"Hey he works really hard and he deserves to be happy, all good house elves do, which is what 99.9 percent of them."

"Kreacher was not, he hexed me." Sirius said then froze in fear, he was not suppose to say that he was is such trouble! He dared not run and he flinched when Harry got down on his level. "I'm sorry sir…"

"Hey Sirius, no-one will ever hex or curse you here, not even the house elves, your parents were wrong to have Kreacher hurt you, you are safe here, neither Severus or I will allow you to be hurt alright?"

"Alright." Sirius said.

"Good, now let's get breakfast on the table shall we?"

Max was sad to hear that Sirius's parents had been so cruel to him, they had made a house elf hex him to punish him? Even when his dad was mad at him and he was really bad he might get taken over his knee and spanked but it was a few swats and that was it. Never would he do anything else! Soon the four wizards were at the table enjoying Harry's cooking. They had just finished up and Harry had called Dobby to let him clean up the kitchen (creating a very happy elf in the process) when Ginny popped in literally. She brushed a lock of her flaming red hair back from her face and got a good look at a de-aged Sirius. She did the most logical thing she could think of, she scooped him up in her arms and gave him a hug while he squirmed in her arms and looked up at her.

"I heard what happened, he is really so cute!" Ginny said smiling at Sirius, "hello Sirius, I am Ginny Weasley, soon to be Ginny Potter."

"I am not cute!" Sirius said.

"Yes you are, and so sweet too." Ginny said.

This was too much for Max burst out laughing, until Ginny turned on him and gave him the same treatment she had Sirius. Harry grinned and even Severus smiled as he finished his morning coffee. The boys fled to the relative safety of the family room and Ginny sat down at the kitchen table and took the cup of coffee Harry prepared for her.

"Poppy has isolated the compounds completely thanks to your quick thinking Severus." Ginny said, "in a few weeks she should have an antidote."

"Good, she was always the best with antidotes." Severus said, "she taught me all I know about them."

"Sirius seems to be doing well." Ginny said.

"He is, Severus is an old softy." Harry said grinning.

"Mr. Potter do like chasing your ears down the hall?" Severus asked him silkily.

"No sir, not really." Harry replied.

"Well mum wants you to bring Sirius and Max over, no arguments." Ginny said, "she is making your favorite lamb curry."

"That is a bribe, and she knows it." Severus said, "we will come."

"I love her lamb curry, she want me to bring anything?" Harry asked.

"Harry you don't have to cook you know." Ginny said. "Just bring yourself this time."

"Will do." Harry said.

He walked into the family room with Ginny and curled up on a couch with her. He loved his girlfriend and looked forward to marrying her in a year or so once she was out of Hogwarts. She was as fierce as her mother and so very strong, she had finally started to talk about her time under the control of Riddle and Harry found out just how strong she was. She was making a name for herself as she was on the Hollyhead Harpies team and she was not even a seventh year yet! She would be when school started in two months. She watched the boys play and smiled, Sirius looked so happy playing with Max and she knew he would have fun that afternoon at the Burrow.

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So there is Sirius settling in with Severus and Harry and learning he will not be beat. Just wait until he meets Mrs. Weasley, he will see how a real mother treats children. I was having lamb curry and love it so that is why it will be on the dinner menu here.