Chapter 13: Godfather versus Godfather
The healers in charge of Sirius Orion Black were satisfied with their charge's progress. They weren't necessarily surprised because they knew he used his Animagus form to minimize the damages the Dementors would have otherwise caused to his sanity but he still made an impressive progress. The only thing they didn't like was that mysterious letter from a Fred Weasley and a George Weasley. The mystery was because the closest Sirius Black ever got from being acquainted to either of them was hearing of them as two of the sons of a fellow member of the Order of the Phoenix. As they detected no curses, jinxes or hexes of any sort, they allowed Sirius to read the letter.
"What do you think of the patient's reaction?" One healer asked another.
"I'm worried he's having a relapse." The other healer answered. "That's exactly how he reacted upon seeing those killed muggles back then."
"Sorry about that." Sirius said once being compared to the nervous wreck Pettigrew once turned him into. "I'm just surprised my old pranking group became known to the current generation of pranksters."
"Pranking group?" The healers asked in confusion and Sirius explained about the Marauders, feeling happy upon remembering everything (other than the shack incident) they did to Severus Snape. "Snivelly never saw it coming no matter how much he spied on us." He then became sad. "Blokes who only know of me as one of their pranking idols wrote me a letter but my godson didn't. Do you think Snivellus is prohibiting Harry from contacting me?"
"Honestly, Mr. Black, I think you should refrain from using derogative words to refer to your godson's guardian." A mind healer advised him.
"False guardian!" Sirius shouted. "Snivellus must have made some underhanded deal with Crouch and that's why I was denied a trial."
"I don't think Harry Potter will react well to these conspiracy theories, Mr. Black." Another healer suggested.
"Maybe so, maybe not, but I must rescue my godson before Snivellus makes his displeasure over Prongslet becoming a lion instead of a snake known." Sirius explained.
"Are your worries based on personal experience, Mr. Black?" A healer who knew of his family's history and tradition asked.
"Let's just say my parents weren't very pleased that their firstborn became a Gryffindor." Sirius hesitantly replied.
"For Harry Potter's sake, won't it be better if you and Severus Snape reached some sort of compromise?" Another healer suggested.
"Yes." Sirius said. "Snivellus can hand Harry over in exchange for not being sued over whatever underhanded deal he and Crouch made."
After that session was over, Sirius Black decided to take a walk through Diagon Alley, where he was upset at seeing people afraid of him. He was fine with people afraid his wrongful stay at Azkaban caused some permanent damage to his sanity but he overheard people still believing him to be a Death Eater who cheated justice. Sirius then noticed Severus Snape's potion shop and decided to approach him.
"How may I help you, Black?" Severus asked with a frown.
"You can make things easier for the both of us by simply handing my godson to me before I sue you and Crouch for the underhanded deal that put him under your snake fangs, Snivellus." Sirius threatened.
"There was no underhanded deal, Black." Severus stated with a sneer. "Crouch merely informed the Dursleys there's someone wanting to take Harry in. I cannot give a firsthand testimony of that conversation but Crouch's telling of it gave me the impression they'd have handed him over to the first person who asked no matter who he or she is."
"Harry being on your slimy hands proves it, Snivellus." Sirius teasingly commented albeit he begrudgingly admitted to himself it sounded like something he could expect from Petunia.
"Black, why don't you accept he's doing fine with me?" Severus asked. "You can visit us on occasion if you give up on trying to take him from me."
"Nice try, Snivy." Sirius arrogantly replied. "My forced time with the mind healers is just delaying the unavoidable. Once I'm declared sane, you'll not be able to stop me."
"After all those years I've been raising Harry, why do you think I'll be forced to hand him over to anybody else, Black?" Severus defiantly asked.
"I am his real Godfather and you're just a wannabe Death Eater using the excuse of repaying a life debt to James Potter to gain access to his son." Sirius angrily said. "Your attempt to turn Harry into a snake already failed. Hand him over to me and I'll use my authority as Harry's real Godfather to call off the debt."
"You still haven't grown up, Black." Severus commented. "If you won't compromise, I'll have to keep Harry away from you for his own sake so he won't become a bully like you or James."
"Dumbledore will vouch for me, Snape." Sirius threatened.
"Just like he vouched for your guilt, Black?" Severus teased. He couldn't help but smirk at Sirius.
"Okay, Dumbledore made a mistake that time but it's low, even for a snake like you, to bring it up." Sirius commented.
"Frank and Alice will vouch for me, Black." Severus declared.
"My friends might have sided with you while the Dursleys were the only other option but things have changed." Sirius replied. "They're true Gryffindors unlike Wormtail."
"We'll see about that, Black." Severus said with a frown but he was smirking at the inside. He had previously talked to the Longbottoms about the guardianship issue and they agreed a change of guardianship wouldn't be good for Harry. 'I'll so want a Pensieve memory of Black's meeting with them.'
"You just lost the easy way out, Snivellus." Sirius commented. "I wish I didn't have to show your true colors in court but you forced me. I actually like the idea of destroying your facade but this time I didn't want it to be necessary. Goodbye, Snivellus."
"Goodbye, Black." Sirius snorted.
End chapter.