Chapter 3: Severus

It was nearly midday and Sirius was going mad in the house. Dark clouds had descended over Little Whinging and rain looked imminent, as it always did. It would have been nothing since he never minded getting his paws dirty, but Harry wasn't out and it didn't look that he was likely going to be.

He was at the kitchen table, waiting for the water for tea to warm up while precariously balancing himself on the two back legs of a chair, his head tilted back to stare up at the shadows on the ceiling.

James and he would sit for hours like this, with Remus doing his homework, timing them with a well-meaning frown, and Peter gawking at them as every minute went by. He always won because Lily would come into the common room and James would fall back on his arse like a complete prat.

Sirius smirked at the memory. Evans, because she was always Evans in his memories then, would roll her eyes in disgust and walk off to bed, leaving poor Prongs on the floor, with his mouth hanging open almost as comically as Wormtail before him.

Wormtail.

Sirius felt his lips curl around his teeth, felt his heart start to pound and fingers start to flex as if getting ready to wrap around his thick throat. The Daily Prophet, delivered at a time even Merlin himself would not rise, ran a story by that bitch, Rita Skeeter, about Harry going to Hogwarts and how James and Lily would be so proud. Of course it mentioned that there was no news on the infamous traitor, Peter Pettigrew but that was to be expected. There were many places a rat could hide.

Before he could finish that train of thought a knock on the door, which he had charmed so he could hear it anywhere in the house, alerted him to a visitor. He pushed forward lightly and righted himself, stood up and walked to the door.

He opened it without checking the wards or the little peephole and found Remus's frowning face staring back at him.

"Well, hello," he greeted, "Do come in."

"How do you know who I am?" The other man asked and Sirius frowned.

"Because…you're Remus John Lupin and I know you're ugly mug better than I know my own most days." He tried to grin but Remus's face was still dark.

"You were an Auror, Sirius. You didn't think to check the wards, or ask me something only Remus would know? If I iwere/i a Death Eater and you opened that door, you'd barely have enough time to blink before I killed you."

Sirius rolled his eyes, "I knew who was coming. And the Death Eaters don't know where I am."

"But Remus does. What if he was attacked? He's easy to find and could be Imperiused to give your location. This," Remus gestured to the tattered clothes he was wearing, "Could be a well brewed Polyjuice Potion."

He tried to hide the shudder as he spoke, "Obviously you're not. No Death Eater would bother explaining to me all of this."

"No, they wouldn't. They'd probably just drop a few Unforgivables before either deciding to do you in or use you."

"That won't happen." Sirius said, his frown deepening.

"It won't," Remus agreed, "Because you'll think better won't you? Or are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Sirius ignored the barb and stepped aside, "Come in?"

"I'd feel better if you asked me something only Remus would know."

"You are Remus."

"Still?" Remus said and he looked at once like the young boy who would try to coax Sirius and James into studying when they wanted to go off with the Maurader's map instead.

"In fifth year you got us out of detention with Sluggy by doing what?" Sirius asked with a raised eyebrow.

"By asking about his most proud member of the Slug club and he kept me there for three hours because he couldn't decide between Ambrosius Flume and Barnabus Cuffe. And you lot didn't come back and get me."

Sirius laughed, "We were there the whole time. James took out his cloak and we waited there. I'm surprised you didn't hear us laughing."

Remus shook his head and stepped inside, "Good to see you again," he said, dropping the dark demeanor of before.

"Then why the shaky start?"

"Just because you're hidden doesn't mean you can't be found." Remus said sadly and Sirius swallowed hard and followed his friend to the kitchen.

"Tea?" he asked as Remus sat down at the table.

Remus nodded and Sirius set two cups out.

"Do you know what tomorrow is, Moony?" he asked with a grin as he carried the mugs over to Remus.

"September first, right?"

Sirius sat down in the chair and wrapped his hands around the warm tea, "Harry'll be going off to Hogwarts tomorrow."

Remus smiled, the corner of his mouth coming a bit up but it was not reaching his eyes. He must have read the article as well.

"I plan on sending a howler to Rita Skeeter," he said conversationally.

"I do believe that is a good idea. Try to conceal your voice though? The last thing we need is a sensational article." Remus took a sip of his deep and held it to his face, his lip almost resting on the edge.

Sirius wondered when he had reached the age where he and his friend would sit around for tea and not a game of chess like they once had. He knew more that circumstance and situation rather than age played a big part on their behavior. It was hard to relax and talk as if nothing had happened, even if it was eleven years ago. He told himself to better try to work on that.

"Do you remember your first ride on the train, Remus?" he asked suddenly, staring out at the dark sky behind the dirty window.

The other man broke into a smile, placing down the mug and rubbing his hands together, "How could I forget? That was the first and last time I'd ever seen you so shy."

"I was not shy!"

Remus thought for a moment, "No, I don't think that's the word. Cautious, maybe? You had just come into our compartment, where- where Peter and I were staying and you and James were still testing each other out, I believe. After the sorting, you two lost all of that and acted as if you had known each other since birth."

Sirius smiled at that, "Well, I didn't know much about you all yet, did I? I was taught by my mother to like only purebloods and mostly if not always pureblood Slytherins. I was half caught between wanting to be the good little son and finally figuring out that I had some freedom."

"What else do you remember?" Remus asked with a small smile on his face as he folded his hands around the mug.

Sirius snorted, "James and I had shared a compartment with Snape and Lily for about ten minutes. It is so very weird that the first few people I meet on the train should come to mean so much later on." he said the last part softly, not bothering to really explain what he meant, especially about Snape. What did the other man mean to him really? He was a pain in his ass, there was no denying that, but there was also a shared experience in those few months and even before Lily and James had been killed and it wasn't something he could accurately put into words.

Remus didn't say anything and Sirius sat there and let his tea grow cold.

He realized how much their conversation jumped in starts and skips but that was his thought process lately. He would think of a memory or an idea and let it pass until something else came to mind to either distract him or let him wade in his own misery, "I've a bet with Severus that Harry will be in Gryffindor rather than Slytherin."

Remus got up and took their cups, not commenting on the most of the liquid still sloshing around in Sirius', and said, "Slytherin?"

"Well, because of the Geminus Heriditas, Slytherin's in his blood now." Sirius tried not to grimace at the thought that still caused him to shudder sometimes even if he had come to terms with it as best as he could.

"At the rate you two are going, he'll be in Ravenclaw."

Now Sirius did grimace, "Didn't think of that."

Moony chuckled and sat back down, slowly.

"Hey, why don't on the next full moon we go out for a bit?" He fought himself from using 'marauding' because they never really would get a chance to do that again, would they?

Remus looked down at his scarred hands that were probably still that way from the last full moon, "I don't think so, Sirius."

"Why not?" he asked, sitting more close in his chair so that he could lean in a bit, "It would be-" he tried to search for a word. He honestly didn't know how it would be since they hadn't gone out on a full moon since just before Lily and James were killed. He knew it would be better than watching Remus scar himself and better than he being all alone.

"It would be what? Fun? Like old times? For who, Sirius? You or me?"

"I just thought it would be easier, mate. We don't have to go out but at least don't let-" he paused for a second as a thought occurred to him, "You're punishing yourself, aren't you?" When Remus didn't say anything, Sirius just stared, "What do you have to blame yourself for, Moony?"

Remus, who had been staring blankly at something behind Sirius turned his gaze to the man in front of him. Sirius noted something he had failed to notice before; Remus looked much older than thirty two.

"And you don't?" Remus asked.

"I don't what?" Sirius asked, ready to throw his hands up in the air. Sometimes talking to Moony was a bit like talking to a goblin; full of riddles and hard to follow sentences.

"Blame yourself. Why don't you ever go out and do things? Meet people?"

Sirius felt his mouth drop a bit. He shrugged it off though, "I can't. I have to watch Harry. But we're not talking about me, Remus."

"Yes we are, Sirius. And you're not watching Harry when he's in school. Or what about now that he's going to Hogwarts? How can you claim that you're watching him then?"

"It's not that simple, Remus. I-"

Remus didn't let him finish, "Don't say that Dumbledore ordered to you because I know exactly what Dumbledore said. You are not to talk to Harry but that does not mean you can't talk to anyone else." Remus said, his voice stern.

Sirius almost had a flashback to sixth year after the prank that almost destroyed their friendship. Remus hadn't talked to him for almost two months and when he did, it was with the same disappointed, world-weary voice.

"You could go to Muggle London or Diagon Alley. It's not as if you're forbidden."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sirius muttered, his eyes downcast.

"Oh come off it, Sirius. Learn to live a little and maybe I'll do the same."

Sirius glanced up then, the words causing him to narrow his ideas, "Live a little?" he said, his voice raising a bit as his shoulders tensed, "Yeah, I'll live a little. When Peter's in Azkaban or better yet, dead. Or maybe when I can see my godson and actually talk to him. And what about James and Lily, Remus? Are they living a little?"

There was a look of hurt in Remus' eyes as he sighed, "That's not fair, Sirius and you know it. They wouldn't want you wallowing in your own self pity. Get up and do something productive."

Sirius relaxed, his shoulders slouching as he smiled just a bit, "You sound like Snape."

Moony shook his head and sat back in his chair, calming a bit, "I'm sure he'll love to hear that."

They were quiet for a moment and each in their own thoughts. Finally, Sirius spoke up, his tone wistful, "If you promise to go out on the full moon with me, I'll promise to go to Diagon Alley?"

Remus rolled his eyes, probably reminiscing about how many of these sorts of deals the three of them had made in the past, "Fine then, dog."

Sirius' eyebrows shot up, "Woof."

It was hard looking at Diagon Alley the same way as he had before James and Lily had been murdered. It was even hard to look at it the same way as he had before Harry had been taken away from them. It was brighter then and softer. Now all of the shadows were in focus and every sound, every look in his direction, he took to have a deeper meaning. He could allot it to world weariness and the idea that he was more cautious than he was back then but he knew it all added up to the fact that it just wasn't fun anymore.

Quality Quidditch reminded him too much of James and the hours his best mate would spend precariously studying every supply in there. Flourish and Blotts reminded him too much of Lily because she could be just as infuriating as James and spend hours perusing the shelves without once getting bored while he himself was bored to tears.

Then there was Florean Fortescue's. Sirius was proud to say that he had given Harry his first ice cream. Just days before Dumbledore took his godson away, Severus and Sirius took him to Diagon Alley. They had been nervous that day but had protected Harry with a small glamour that should have kept his scar from being too noticeable. While Severus was in the apothecary, Sirius snuck the baby off to Fortescue's and they enjoyed treacle tart flavored ice cream for a good ten minutes before Severus burst in.

The potion's master would never admit it but Severus knew that he'd nearly had a heart attack when he couldn't find them. On the way back to the house Sirius was lectured on the irresponsibility of disappearing like that, especially given the history and the little boy under their care. Sirius knew the other man was just a scared parent who, for a couple minutes that must have seemed like a lifetime, he couldn't find his child. It was all these reasons, reasons that reminded him of Harry, James and Lily that he found going to Diagon Alley so hard.

Yet here he was. His hands stuffed in his cloak, walking slowly down the crowded walkways, taking in new additions and trying to push away memories of the old ones. He wondered if just being here would suffice or did he have to buy something? It was crowded with last minute shoppers, all getting ready to send their children to Hogwarts tomorrow. He passed parents screaming at their children, children screaming at their parents. He even thought he heard one girl arguing with her mother that it might be best if she had just stayed home from Hogwarts because she was way too nervous.

He sighed and was about to get ready to apparate back home when a familiar voice, stopped him.

Bloody perfect.

"If it isn't the white sheep of the Black family." Lucius Malfoy crooned mockingly, a tight smile on his face and his eyes gleaming with some malicious intent. Sirius wondered how long he had to escape the Aurors if he just hexed the man right here and got it over with.

He decided he could do nothing for Harry if he was in a cell in Azkaban and blinked instead of raising his wand, "Hello Lucius." he said, trying to imitate Severus's perfect fuck-off-drawl.

"You don't usually see anyone in Diagon Alley who isn't a parent or a student, Sirius? Here for something important?" Sirius marveled at the man's voice. How it could sound so genuine in places, but laced with a dark undertone that matched something in his facial expressions.

"No, actually. Just thought a bit of fresh air would do me good. How about you? Your son is going to Hogwarts this year, too? Isn't the train leaving soon?" Sirius pretended to check his nonexistent watch and looked up to smile.

"Yes, Draco will be attending Hogwarts. I will be taking him there soon but had a few things to pick up. I am happy I ran into you though. I hear that you are leaving Grimmauld Place alone and have taken up another residence? Narcissa would love to have a look at some of the old Black heirlooms and-"

"No."

Malfoy's smile shrank ever so slightly, "It would be a favor to your family, Sirius."

"I don't owe Narcissa any favors, iLucius/i." Sirius said, trying to keep his voice smooth like Malfoy's as to not let his anger take over. It wasn't really working.

"Well, then let us owe you a favor, hm? There is a certain rat that we so unfortunately have in our acquaintance and I know how auspicious it would be to know his whereabouts. Especially since your godson is also attending Hogwarts this term, am I correct?"

Sirius felt himself snarl, not at all surprised at how like Padfoot he was in that moment, "Don't you dare-"

Lucius' wax like features split into another smile, "I was just offering. Keep it in mind?"

Then as quickly as the conversation had started it ended. Malfoy disappeared behind a few students rushing into Madam Malkin's and Sirius was left with the urge to curse something.

Severus usually was able to turn off his emotions and immerse himself in brewing potions quite easily. All it took was the solitary confinement of the back room of the classroom, a dim setting and some sort of drink, usually some kind of malt although he never really drank it. Its mere presence and the continuation of his routine was enough for him to delve deep into his projects.

Today, however, he was finding it quite hard to keep his mind on task. He had occluded several times already and had even taken a few swallows of the malt in order to focus better. It was of no use. His thoughts kept going to the boy, his son, and every time he imagined Lily's voice talking about him. Whenever the subject of Harry's housing at Hogwarts had come up Sirius and James had immediately agreed that it had to be Gryffindor but Lily would just tickle the baby's cheek and coo at him.

"We'll be proud of whatever house he gets sorted into, won't we Sev?"

He always scowled at her for using her name for him in front of Potter and Black but his face would soften eventually.

"Of course."

And now his son was days away from coming to Hogwarts. He was days away from seeing his son face to face for the first time in ten years. He'd see those bright green eyes again and see if Lily was correct in saying that as he grew up the Geminus Heriditas would cause Harry to develop some of Severus's features. He didn't think so. Potter's looks would be more pronounced, as James was the real father, not him.

He didn't want to admit to himself how apprehensive he was to meet Harry. Would there be any connection? Would he be able to act indifferent to the boy? He already tried to around Sirius although he knew the mutt saw through it. That didn't mean he could not continue to try to act that way.

He had resolved to act as he would to any other student and even though he would feel pride if Harry were to be sorted into Slytherin, he silently prayed that not be the case. It would be so much easier to stay distant to Harry if he were not in his own house. It would be easier to pretend to hate his son. He had a part to play and he knew that it would be better if he could do that as the git head of Slytherin rather than Harry's head of house.

"Why now, Severus shouldn't you be preparing for the feast?" A voice broke his concentration and Severus looked up sharply to see Lucius Malfoy leaning on his back room door threshold.

"Lucius," he inclined his head and stepped away from the counter where the Pepper Up potion was set to stew for five minutes, "Is everything set for the incoming first years?"

"As pitiful as it is to admit, yes, the Board of Governors had no complaints. Hogwarts is ready to open its doors." The man held up his cane and inspected the snake head, "I ran into Sirius Black in Diagon Alley earlier today." The Death Eater said, as if it were insignificant and had just come to his mind.

"Did you?" Severus turned his back for a moment and frowned, reaching for vials for the Pepper Up potion.

"Yes. I was rather surprised to see him out. I would have thought that Dumbledore would have kept him on a shorter leash."

"I'm sure Black disregarded Dumbledore's request. He was never one for orders." Severus said and occluded his mind while stirring the potion.

"You're still being sentenced to meet with him?" Lucius asked. Severus had always had a hard time of deciding on what half truths to tell others and meeting with Sirius was one of them. He knew he would have to explain it sooner or later because it would be too risky if Lucius or any of the others found out on their own. So he wove a tale of how he was helping Black search for Pettigrew. He added the rat's name in there in the hopes that Lucius would provide some illumination on the subject but none came.

"He believes he's found a lead on the rat."

"And are you going to continue now that term has started again?" Malfoy asked as his eyebrows rose to his hairline, "Will Dumbledore subject you to it any longer? I know how you loathe the man."

If only you knew, Severus couldn't help but think, "I believe that if I work on trying to get close to Black in time I can get close to the boy."

Lucius's face split into a smile, "Brilliant plan. Someone should avenge the Dark Lord."

Severus felt his hands tighten into fists and knew that Albus' request that Harry not know about him and Sirius was sound. There was a lot more than Voldemort they needed to protect him from.

"Have you heard of the break in at Gringotts?" Lucius asked smoothly as to change the subject.

He had. Albus was quite concerned that the day Hagrid had been sent to retrieve the Sorcerer's Stone from the vault; someone would also try to break in and steal it. It was safe however, deep inside the castle, "Yes."

There was a moment of silence in which all that could be heard was the bubbling of the potion.

"And?" Lucius said with the same impatience Severus had seen him have with Draco.

"And what? I do not know who broke into the vault or what was in it. Do you believe Dumbledore trusts me completely even after everything?" Severus asked, taking a ladle and preparing to pour some potion into the vials.

"So it was Hogwarts' business? Strange coincidence? Something mysterious is going on at this wonderful school while Harry Potter is about to start his first year?"

Severus put down his first vial and narrowed his eyes at Lucius, "I do not believe there is any correlation at all. We both know that Dumbeldore is a meddlesome old fool and could be involved in a number of things that would peak the interest of someone willing to break into Gringotts."

Lucius shook his head and pushed away from the threshold, "There's been talk."

Snape snorted, "From the likes of Mulciber or Avery? Yes, very reliable. Any time there's a storm, they'll talk."

Malfoy took a deep breath, "I feel something in the air, Severus. Something I haven't felt in eleven years."

A clocked chimed and Severus couldn't help it but jump just a tiny bit. Lucius looked at his own wrist, inches down from where the end of the dark mark was, "Narcissa and I have to bring Draco to the train now. I expect you'll see him soon?"

Severus smirked as thoughts of the sorting came back to him, "Of course."

The other man nodded and then turned around, walking swiftly back the way he came. Severus swallowed and tried to put the Death Eater's words aside.

Uncle Vernon stood at the door for a full ten minutes, staring out the peephole to make sure not one of the neighbors were outside before he allowed Harry to go out to the car. Dudley was ushered into the car by Petunia, who had a bag of all her 'Diddykin's' favorite treats for the terrible car ride to the King's Cross Station and then his trip to the hospital to get the tail removed.

Uncle Vernon looked around as he opened the back of the car and hauled Harry's trunk inside, "Take care of that ruddy bird," he told Harry with a jerk of his head in the direction of the car. Harry slid in and set Hedwig on the seat between him and Dudley, where his cousin was whimpering in pain due to the ache of his new appendage.

Uncle Vernon pulled out of the driveway cautiously before picking up speed down the road. It wasn't until they were half way down the street that he slammed on his breaks and let out a string of swears.

"Padfoot!" Harry yelled as he saw the dog was inches away from the front of the car and bearing his teeth.

"Honk at it Vernon. We don't want to miss Dudley's appointment." Aunt Petunia said and Dudley shrunk lower into his seat.

Uncle Vernon rolled down the window and waved his one hand. Honking with the other, "Move you mutt!"

The dog growled louder but turned slowly to walk away. Before the dog could fully turn its back on the car, Harry was certain he saw it wink in his direction before trotting off across to a neighbor's yard.

As Uncle Vernon sped off down the street, Harry shifted so he could stare at the retreating form of the dog, but Padfoot was gone. There was only the outline of a man where Padfoot once was and Harry thought he might've been Padfoot's owner.

"Well there you are, boy. Platform nine—platform ten. Your platform should be somewhere in the middle, but they don't seem to have built it yet, have they?"

Harry was not staring at the signs like Uncle Vernon wanted him too, he was too busy staring at the dog that looked too much like Padfoot . The dog was feet away by a rubbish can staring at every passerby with interest and when the steady stream of them went by, he would stare at Harry too. There was something strange about it but before he could think about it more, Uncle Vernon snapped his hands in front of his face.

"Have a nice term," he said, grinning in a distasteful manner and left without saying anything else.

And then Harry was alone. He turned around to see if the dog was there and he was not. Suddenly, since this whole thing had started Harry felt a bit scared.

What if this was some sort of joke? Or, what if they had made a mistake and the Platform was only seen by real wizards and he wasn't one? His heart started to pound when a group of people passed him, "—packed with muggles of course—"

Harry straightened up and pushed his cart forward. Maybe there was a way onto the platform after all. Just as he was about to follow them more closely he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye of a big black dog and if it were possible he'd have said the dog was smiling.

A/N: Happy New Year everyone! I just wanted to take a moment to thank you guys for all of the alerts and favorites. It's wonderful! Perhaps I could coax you into reviewing as well? I really love writing this story and I hope you enjoy reading it and it would make my day if a a few of you could let me know what you think! Also, I apologize for a few mistakes I've made with canon. For the purposes of this story, let's just leave everything as is, okay? And if you didn't notice anything then disregard this last bit. So Happy New Year!