Without Voldemort behind the scenes, Hogwarts remained simply a school. There was no troll, and no urgent quest to save the Philosopher's stone. Rose simply learned magic, and had a great year with friends of her own, and the safety that she deserved. It was peaceful.

On the last week of school, after end of term exams, Rose was called to Dumbledore's office.

Harry, as always, joined her.

Rose slowly ascended the stone staircase and through the open door to the Headmaster's office.

Inside was the ever older Albus Dumbledore, sitting at his desk, and a man in high quality robes. He had black hair, and aristocratic features. His eyes were gray, and his face had the look of a trouble maker, someone who smiled a lot.

His eyes were slightly sunken, someone who hadn't been eating or sleeping well, but was starting to recover.

"You wanted to see me, Headmaster?" Rose asked carefully, all too aware of Sirius' presence. His story had been in the paper for months.

"Yes, Miss Potter. Thanks to your companion, Sirius here is free of Azkaban after his wrongful imprisonment. As he is your godfather, he has all the right in the world to ask you to visit or live with him. He asked me to arrange a visit with you, and I happily agreed."

Rose was uncertain, and concerned. Even so, she stepped forward and held out her hand.

"I'm Rose." she said firmly. "And you are Padfoot."

Sirius grinned. "Who told you about that old nickname? I wear it proudly."

"Harry here." Rose said, pointing out the thunderbird on her shoulder.

"Harry?" Sirius asked. "That's what James wanted to name you if you had been a boy."

Rose didn't know what to say to that.

"Uh, Rose?" Sirius said. The silence was awkward. "I was just wondering... if you wanted to come live with me? I mean, I'm your godfather, and all... I promised your parents I'd take care of you."

He stumbled through words more and more, even as Rose's face lit up in a smile. "Sirius! I'd love to!" she cried happily.

He smiled. "That's great!" he cheered. "Er, did Harry..." his face made it clear the name was strange on his tongue. "Tell you why I'm called Padfoot?"

Rose shook her head. "He wouldn't tell me." she said with a frown.

Sirius' smile was suddenly that much more mischevious.

In a flash, a large black dog was in his place and he slobbered happily all over the office.

"Sirius." Dumbledore said warningly. "You'll ruin my office like that."

Sirius whined and scratched his ear with his back leg, which made Rose giggle.

Line Break

Sirius as a free man was different from his own. For one, Grimmauld Place was still locked down, as he wasn't desperate. Instead, he bought a flat near Diagon Alley that was big enough for the both of them.

For another, Sirius had some level of suspicion towards him. Not negative, or anything. He seemed paranoid about how a thunderbird named Harry who stayed with his goddaughter was the cause of his exoneration.

Too much of a coincidence, Harry guessed. Even so, he was determined to stay in his animagus form forever, unless something came up. Given his magic skills being nearly as easy in thunderbird form as in human, it seemed like it'd have to be a big something.

Rose, like himself, wouldn't trust people so easily. Often times, the force that pushed him to help people was mysteriously helpful in what it did. He had been in his animagus form when he arrived here, so that was the form that was necessary.

"Are you an animagus?" she asled, pulling him sharply piut of his thoughts.

He turned to look her in the eyes immediately. 'What?' he asked.

"Are you an animagus?" she asked again. She was scarily calm.

He nodded. He never lied, except by omission, and then only by not volunteering information.

She sighed. "Somehow I figured." she admitted. "Will you change?"

He shook his head.

"Why not?"

'It's hard to explain if you aren't an animagus. You could ask Sirius. It's almost like being able to relax a muscle that you never realized is tense.'

Rose thought about it for a while, before sighing again. "Why have you been pretending to be a pet? Or... whatever?" she asked.

'Pretending? I was being your friend. If I decided to be a bird while I did so, doesn't mean much.'

"Who are you?"

'My name is Harry. Harry Potter. I am someone who travels between dimensions and helps people who are wishing for it.'

Rose didn't speak for a while, her thoughts racing.

"Change." she ordered. "Please."

Without pause, Harry sat where his thunderbird form had, resting casually in a wooden chair

She inspected him, looked him up and down. "You look just like me." she whispered.

"I am you, in a way." Harry replied.

"Why did you come to me?" she asked.

"You wanted someone to help. I am who the universe sends."

"You helped me because you had to?"

Harry laughed. "The universe sent me because I want to help. I came, because I want to help."

"What happens now?" she asked sadly.

Harry smiled. "I'm your friend, Rose. If you want me to stay with you, I will. If you want me to leave, I'll go. If you want me to be a thunderbird, I will, and if you want me to stay a man, I can do that. I have all the time in the world. In all the worlds."

"You'd stay with me?" Rose asked. "Just because I wanted you to?"

"Of course." Harry answered. "Without hesitation."

Her eyes watered, and she ducked her head as she started crying. Harry hesitated for a moment, and then stepped forward and embraced her. She clutched to him tightly.