Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Transfiguration was a highly complex subject Harry was beginning to realize. But as he began to study it in more depth, he also began to realize transfiguration was also not all accurate either. For every page he seemed to read in every single transfiguration book he had, there seemed to be restrictions on everything. Of course, he knew many things were illegal, like Human Transfiguration and Trans-species transformation. Harry shivered, suddenly imagining himself vividly as an insect.
In the books it showed how much energy one needed to cast different transfiguration spells, but each spell differed from each other. Each spell needed something different to be casted, the wand movements, the mass would be measured and taken into caution. But for Harry, he could do it without any of those things. All he needed to do was think. He didn't need a wand, the mass didn't matter either. It used to take a lot of his concentration to lift up his bed and other heavy things, but now with practice it was super easy
Harry now closed his eyes and imagined his charms book. He smiled as he felt something appear into his lap. He conjured the book, sort of, more like summoned it, but rather than flying towards him, it appeared to him from the last place it was lying in. It was much better than summoning, since summoning was messier and wasted more time.
Closing the transfiguration book he just finished, another thought occurred to him. He'd been in the Black Manor for a week now, and it was like a dream come true. And he was very scared of the dream ending. Harry smiled, remembering his first morning in the Manor.
Flashback
Harry was awake before all the occupants in the house as usual. The clock in his head always made sure of that, so he was always up by 6:00AM. He showered and got dressed. Then he went downstairs. He usually got a snack for himself, he long stopped making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for his family. At first, a few days after Voldemort attacked them, Lily asked the three year old Harry to make breakfast for Jace as she was preoccupied with cleaning the house. She preferred not having house elves as she was used to the muggle way and wanted the rest of the family to get used to it as well. Lily had seen Harry make food for himself once and decided he could handle it that day. And the next day and the days after that. A whole year had passed, but Lily soon stopped asking Harry to make food, and thinking she didn't want him to do it anymore, he decided to stop. For awhile he used to prepare the food food for his family, trying to please his parents, but with no thank you's, smiles, ruffles on the hair, and kisses on the cheek as Jace got without doing anything, Harry stopped, feeling like nothing he did would ever get him the same attention as Jace got.
Now Harry paused as he reached the kitchen. What if he prepared breakfast for Remus, Sirius, and of course Jace? He always made food for Jace (if Lily didn't already make it). That would make them happy right? In fact they might always remember him then, and if they forgot, he'd still make it. After all, Sirius and Remus already did so much for him. They remembered him when his parents forgot him. They took him in still and cared for him. Decision made, Harry began making breakfast. He rummaged the cupboards and fridge and came out with many fascinating things. Harry grinned. This could be fun.
Remus woke to the smell of a delicious aroma. His mouth watered as he thought he smelled bacon. Suddenly fully awake he jumped out of his bed. If Sirius was cooking, there would obviously be something burnt. As Sirius had released all of his family's house elves, Remus was the one who usually cooked, because he was way better than Sirius. Really the man had burnt water once.
Remus quickly threw on some clothes and practically flew down the stairs. He hoped Sirius was not close to burning the Manor, thank god for werewolf scenes, he knew nothing was burning yet. "Sir-" he stopped to find his childhoods best friends son, who was almost like his son, making breakfast. The boy turned, a smile appearing on his face when he saw his uncle. Said uncle was staring open-mouthed as he watched the five-year old flipping an omelet with ease on a burning hot pan, near an equally hot stove.
"Good morning Uncle Remus. Have you slept well?" Harry asked cheerfully. That shook Remus out of his shock and he rushed to Harry's side. He whimpered as Harry flipped another omelet on the pan. Harry seemed to finally realize something was off.
"What's wrong Uncle Remus?"
"HARRY!"
Both Remus and Harry jumped and turned around at the sound. Sirius's hair looked wild and his pajamas were ruffled. He was wide awake though, in contrast with his appearance, and his dark blue eyes were only focused on one thing. Harry.
"What are you doing," he cried, rushing towards them and tried to grab the pan from Harry.
"What's wrong," Harry's little brows furrowed as he wondered what Remus and Sirius were making such a fuss about. Did they not want breakfast?
"Harry please give that pan to Remus. I don't want you to get hurt," Sirius said, trying to sound calm.
"Um okay. I'm already done with the eggs though." Harry handed the pan to Remus, who was looking at him with a contemplating expression.
Sirius sighed in relief once the pan was out of Harry's hands.
"Okay now what were you thinking!" He rounded on Remus before Harry could speak, "Did you let him do this?"
"No, I just arrived a minute ago. I believe Harry though was up for a while now."
Sirius now looked at Harry, who was in turn watching him with a fearful expression. Sirius sighed and took a deep breath. Now was not the time to yell at the child, not while he looked like he was expecting to be punished.
"Now Harry, would you please explain to me why you thought using the stove was such a good idea?" Sirius examined the eggs. One eyebrow lifted in disbelief.
"It's wonderfully cooked by the way, but that's besides the point? Why did you do it? You could have gotten seriously hurt!"
Harry blushed softly, his parents had never complimented his cooking. Jace though made delicious moaning sounds, which usually made Harry smile happily.
"I just wanted to make breakfast for everyone. It's a thank you for you both for being nice to me and giving me a wonderful, beautiful room. I can't thank you both enough," Harry exclaimed sincerely.
Sirius winced as Harry beamed happily over being given things that everyone go. The things most took for granted. For the millionth time, he cursed Lily and James.
Remus on the other hand looked at Harry with a sad expression, wishing they rescued the child sooner.
"You've seem to have done this before," Sirius observed, recovering.
"Oh yes," Harry beamed eagerly. "I can make a lot of things. I used to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Lily, James, Jace, and for myself of course."
"Used to?" Remus piped in for Sirius who seemed to being getting angrier each second.
Harry shrugged. "They stopped asking me, so I stopped."
"THEY DID WHAT!" Sirius bellowed, "I'll kill them again! How dare they… make my godson cook for their goddamn arses!"
Harry looked bewildered that his godfather was screaming bloody murder at Lily and James instead of being mad at Harry like he had first thought. Why was Sirius mad at his parents? Didn't they used to be their best friends?
Sirius caught sight of Harry's confused expression and he clenched his fists. It wasn't fair. His godson should have been cherished, loved. He hated the expression on his godson's face. The child didn't understand that he deserved their love. He didn't understand because of all the adults who had wronged him in his short life. Well Sirius was going to change that. He wouldn't stop until every single demeaning thought his godson thought about himself was banished from his mind. He wouldn't stop until he heard Harry's sweet, delightful carefree laughter again. He wouldn't stop until his child behaved like a normal kid, without fear of getting punished. Sirius's thoughts were interrupted when Harry asked if Sirius was still mad at him.
"Huh?" Oh no kiddo. I'm not mad at all." Sirius looked at all the food his godson made. "Now can I try some of this. It smells delicious." Harry beamed.
Flashback ended
That day, for the first time in his life two adults had expressed their love for his cooking skills and moaned at every bite they ate. Then they made him promise not to cook without their supervision and told him that he didn't have to do anything for them. They also asked if they could prepare food with him. He was a bit confused at first, but shrugged it of. And as you could imagine, Harry was also left feeling very pleased.
For the past days Sirius played pranks (trying to get Harry to ease up) on everyone in the Manor (except Jace) and everywhere. Remus was pranked the most, but the enraged werewolf soon retaliated with Harry in tow. In one day Sirius was drenched in mud, became a blonde, sported green and silver polka dots, got his voice high-pitched, and had to wrestle his favorite dessert as it decided to run away from him. Harry was laughing all along after Remus reassured him Sirius wouldn't be mad and took pictures. Jace was clapping his hands and laughing so hard, Harry had been scared that his brother would start choking. By the end of the day, Sirius fell to his knees in front of a smirking Remus and and an unsure Harry and made a huge dramatic apology that had Harry in tears and Remus rolling his eyes.
Harry now had an idea. He would give Sirius a wake up call. After all Sirius did tell him that pranks were just for fun and it wouldn't hurt his or Remus's feelings. Harry closed his eyes and concentrated. A large empty pale blue bucket appeared in front of him. Harry grinned.
Harry tiptoed into Sirius's room. He levitated the now full bucket up in the air right above his snoring godfather. Shaking with silent laughter, Harry let the water fall.
"AGHHH!" Sirius woke up drenched in freezing laughter. He stopped cursing when he heard the laughter. It was music to his ears. His godson's laughter sounded like tiny ringing bells of joy. A smile stretched on the man's face. Without warning he roared jokingly and sprang up wrapping his godson with his dripping, wet arms. Harry squealed in surprise, now he was wet and cold as well. His godfather roared and Harry shrieked in fear and bolted out of the room with his soaking wet dogfather in tow.
The wet dog leaped on Harry and the boy collapsed near the stairs where Sirius started licking him all over his face.
"Ew Sirius. Gerroff me!" Harry cried. And that was how Remus found them.
After a hot shower and some drying spells they all went downstairs. Jace woke up a few minutes after Remus and yelled excitedly at the top of the stairs. "I wan'a go do'n wit' Har'y!" the little boy cried as Remus moved to lift him up. The three-year old pointed to himself and declared, "Mis'lf."
So at that Remus called for Harry. When Harry moved to carry his brother, the boy stamped his foot and again said, "Mis'lf." Remus stared confused. Harry though, understood. He explained to Remus, "He wants to get down the stairs himself."
"Oh," Remus nodded, his confusion cleared. Harry though was decidedly nervous. He clearly remembered the last time he helped his brother down the stairs. Remus saw Harry's nervous expression and asked what was wrong. Harry bit his lip and shook his head to show that nothing was wrong and Remus though concerned decided not to push for answers.
It seemed Harry was worried for nothing because he and Remus were by Jace's side the entire time the boy got down. They finally made it to a petulant Sirius waiting for them at the bottom, who complained, "Finally! I'm starving."
After breakfast, Harry downed one of his nutrient potions, Sirius decided they all should go outside.
"Where?" Remus asked. They didn't go anywhere for the past week as they were worried about the Death Eaters making a move once they heard that the adult Potters were dead. It was made to the public that Sirius now had custody of the boy-who-lived and his brother. A week later nothing happened and Sirius was getting restless. Both men finally decided they should take a break and go out.
In the end they decided the beach. Once everyone got their belongings and Sirius's collection of beach toys, they apparate outside the Manor's point and the odd group took a city bus to the beach.
Harry took of his shoes and let his toes feel the warm sand under his feet. Jace was patting the sand and messing around it with one of the sand buckets Remus packed. After Harry helped Remus lay down the blanket and Sirius took out the chairs and a huge umbrella for shade, Sirius grinned, "Well who's ready to get wet?"
Sirius dragged Remus into the water and held Harry and Jace's hands as they stepped into the water.
"Ack!" Jace cried, getting used to the freezing water. He was soon giggling and splashing water near the shallow.
"Wanna go deeper," Sirius asked Harry, who nodded excitedly. They both walked a few steps, Harry tripping a bit on the pebbles and sharp rocks. He shrieked when Sirius splashed the freezing water onto his face. His godfather smirked. "That's payback for the morning."
Harry was still a bit weak and very malnourished, Madame Pompfrey made him promise not to do anything strenuous, so he went back quickly, enjoying the warm sand touching his feet again. Sirius went back with him after Remus waved them of, pointing at one happy, oblivious Jace who was splashing around and picking up rocks and throwing them around.
Sirius helped Harry make a huge sand castle, Harry tried to shape it like Hogwarts. After a while Remus came back with Jace in his arms, who looked a little less energetic. The boy was pouting. "Go bac! Go bac Remy!" he wailed. An exhausted Remus looked pleadingly at Sirius. "You take him. I'll stay here with Harry."
"Wait can I go too?" Harry asked shyly.
"Yeah sure kiddo," Sirius said happily and took Harry's hand and lifted Jace with another. "Let's go!"
They ran back to the water and Harry washed the sand of his clothes, feet, and hands. Then Jace and him played a splash war with Sirius. They collapsed laughing all dripping wet. That's when Harry started wheezing. Sirius immediately ran towards him, lifting him up. With Jace, he ran towards Remus.
"What happened?" Remus cried, staring aghast at the wheezing child.
"I don't know," Sirius muttered worriedly. He quickly conjured an inhaler and put it into the child's mouth. "Breathe Harry," he said gently. Harry slowly puffed in and out with the inhaler and slowly the wheezing ceased. Sirius sighed in relief and stroked Harry's wild hair, sweeping stray strands of the boy's forehead. He pulled the child to his chest and rocked him. "Never ever scare me like that again kiddo," he whispered.
They went back to the Manor and Sirius dropped all the beach bags unceremoniously on the floor. "Well that was one hell of a beach trip," he stared at the bags, "And I've got to get a house elf."
Remus hissed at him, "Watch your language. There're kids here."
After they all took a shower (Harry and Sirius taking it twice), they ate lunch and then went to the lounge to well lounge around. Jace soon got tired and fell asleep on Harry's lap.
"So Harry, did you have fun today?" Remus asked, interrupting Harry from the book he was reading.
"Yeah. I had loads of fun. I've never been to a beach before."
"Well then, I guess we'll be having many more beach trips in the future," Sirius cut in.
Harry smiled happily. "Thank you Sirius, Remus for taking us to the beach."
"No problem Harry," Remus smiled warmly. "Would you like to go anywhere else?"
"Um well I always wanted to go to an aquarium. Jace went before and showed me the pictures. I sounds fun." He looked up shyly at the adults. "Can we go there?"
"Sure kiddo," Sirius ruffled his hair. "But why didn't you go with Jace."
"Oh," Harry smiled sheepishly, "I didn't realize until they were leaving. I was too late to get ready."
"Wait Lily and James didn't tell you? They just left without you!?" Sirius asked incredulously.
"It's my fault. I didn't hear them. I was too busy reading," Harry said sadly.
"Pup," Remus gently touched Harry's chin, "It was not your fault. James and Lily should have told you. You were but a child."
"But-"
"No Harry," this time it was Sirius who spoke, "they were wrong kiddo. They shouldn't have left you. They were bad to you, and Remus is right. It's not your fault, everything they did to you was their fault. Do you understand Harry. It was their fault. Not yours."
Harry nodded hesitantly.
"Good!" Sirius beamed and then opened his arms. "Come here kid." Remus took Jace of Harry's lap, and Harry scooted into Sirius's. "You know we'll never leave you behind right Harry?" Sirius said softly.
"You won't?" Harry whispered, clinging to his godfather. They wouldn't ever leave him?
"Nope. Never Harry. And if we ever do," Sirius grinned brilliantly, her white teeth showing, "I give you permission to knock some sense into us."
Harry choked back his tears. They wouldn't leave him. Sirius wouldn't. Never was what he said. Harry hoped with all his heart it was true.
"I'm so sorry I left you with Lily and James. I was stupid and I made a horrible mistake. But I'll never do it again kiddo, okay. I'm so sorry Harry. Can you forgive me?" Sirius murmured, his face buried in the soft raven-locks of his godson's hair.
"Yes Sirius. I was never mad at you anyway, so I forgive you," Harry snuggled more into Sirius's lap. "You should have been mad," Sirius said softly without Harry hearing him. But Remus did and the werewolf's sad brown eyes swiveled to his.
They sat there, the children on their laps soon fell fast asleep.
"Sirius, it's not your fault either. We thought they had changed one Voldemort disappeared."
"It is mine Remus!" Sirius whispered loudly. Harry moved a little, and Sirius's voice lowered. "We've seen them. How they neglected him. I should have known," Sirius shook his head angrily. "He's my godson and I should have been there for him. I left him all alone. You know what Albus said? When Harry was dying, he wrote with a broken quill on the wall, Goodbye Padfoot!" Sirius let his tears fall. "What type of godfather am I Remus? I failed him. We all failed him so bad Remus and- Merlin, in my nightmares I see what happens if Harry never woke up," Sirius wept brokenly.
"And that is why we have a second chance Sirius!" Remus squeezed his best friend's hand. "We have Harry right here and we can help him. Do not dwell on what would have happened. Yes he faced horrors that people our age could not face, and he's still so strong. Look at him, he can laugh, show compassion for others, and he's alive. You have a wonderful godson Sirius and you have a chance to raise him. And it's not your fault! Do you understand me Sirius, I won't let you drown in guilt again. Your strong and you will be stronger for Harry. I believe in you Sirius."
"Your right Remus." Sirius smiled. "You're always right," he laughed, "Your inspirational speeches are getting better Moony."
"Thank you Padfoot," Remus said exasperatedly. "I've had tons of practice." Sirius grinned brilliantly, looking much better, "Well it's good I have you Moony, otherwise I would never be sane. What would happen to the world with an insane, handsome Sirius Black on the loose."
Remus grinned, "God forbid. We'd all pray to Merlin." The two best friends laughed, the somber mood passed. They stared at the children who slept soundly.
"You know," Remus said breaking the silence, "They should spend some time with kids their age. It wouldn't do any good if we're all they talk to."
"Hmm. How do we do that?" Sirius asked sleepily.
"What about that school, for Britain wizarding children. I don't know the exact ages the children must be, but it's definitely is for pre-Hogwarts students. I heard some parents speak about it in Hogwarts about their younger ones."
Sirius stared blankly. "School?"
Remus face palmed himself.
Yay! I finished another chapter. Please review pretty please!.
