Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter


Sirius Black is standing just inside the Forbidden Forest. He's not entirely sure why, perhaps he's just missed being outside, and this place has always represented freedom.

At least to him.

A thousand memories of the Marauders messing about in here, both in animal and human form, flitter through his mind. He almost misses the sound of familiar footsteps approaching. Almost.

"It was risky to come here, Peter." Sirius turns to find his old friend standing there.

"I know but, I wanted to thank you." Sirius observes him for a moment with a frown.

"I don't forgive you, Peter." Peter nods.

"I know." That seems to be all that needs saying on that subject, Sirius just nods.

"What will you do now?" Peter has a sad smile, yet a determined glint in his eye.

"I'm going to find you-know-who's horcruxes, find a way to destroy them. Then he can't come back." Sirius raises his eyebrows in surprise, Peter shrugs, "It seems like the right thing to do. Besides, the least I can do for James and Lily is make sure he can never harm their son again." Sirius nods again.

"Good luck, Pete." Peter smiles.

"Have a good life, Sirius." With that, he walks away. Somehow, Sirius just knows, he won't ever see his old friend again.

"Probably for the best, that," He says to himself.

Then he too walks away.


Later that night, Harry sits in front of the Mirror of Erised with his eyes closed, once more.

"Back again, Harry?" Harry opens his eyes and looks over to see Dumbledore standing in the doorway.

"Bit late for a stroll, isn't it, Headmaster?" Harry asks conversationally, Dumbledore smiles lightly, taking a seat beside Harry.

"I find myself too paranoid to fall asleep I am afraid. A year of having no idea or control over what happens in my castle will do that."

"You couldn't have known it wasn't really Moody, Sir."

"You did," Dumbledore points out, Harry gives a half smile.

"No, my scar did." Dumbledore raises an eyebrow, "It reacts to Voldemort, it sensed enough of him on Jr to warn me something was off."

"Hmm. Tell me, why do you sit here without looking?" Harry shrugs.

"I'm afraid of what I will see, Sir. Whatever it is, it won't be right, it won't be enough."

"The mirror shows you-"

"Your innermost desires, I know," Harry says, "But if it shows me my parents again, it will be insinuating that my Uncles aren't good enough, and that's just not true. If it doesn't show them, then it's like I've replaced them, and that's not okay. So it might show me my heart's desire, but it will never be what I want to see." Dumbledore seems proud, which surprises and confuses Harry immensely.

"Then why come at all?" Harry shakes his head.

"I don't know Sir. I suppose just knowing that the knowledge of what I want more than anything is right before me helps put everything into perspective."

"I think you will find that knowing the desire itself will help a great deal more." Harry frowns at his headmaster for a moment, then takes a deep breath, and finally looks into the mirror. He stares at what he sees, in shock, in confusion, in overwhelming want. He smiles, ever so slightly, "What do you see Harry?" Harry meets Dumbledore's gaze in the mirror.

"I see myself, Sir. Holding a pair of socks." Dumbledore's eyes twinkle in amusement as he nods.

"Come, Harry. I think it is time we both left this place. For good."

As Dumbledore and Harry leave the room, Harry takes one more glance at the mirror, currently appearing to hold all of his found and chosen family, and his parents, and people he assumes are also related to him. In the centre is Harry, his Uncle Padfoot and Uncle Moony have a hand on each of his shoulders, his parents are directly behind him, and just to the side of Moony is Uncle Wormy. A person stands on either side of Harry, both holding a hand of his each and beaming at real him.

On his left is Ginny Weasley.

On his right is Draco Malfoy.

Harry thinks it might be time to have an awkward conversation with Uncle Padfoot and Uncle Moony.


"Are you all right Harry?" Hermione asks as they sit on the train coming back from Hogwarts, Harry nods.

"You know what the last two years have taught me the most?"

"What?" Harry smiles at them both.

"I already had a family anyway. Met them on a train four years ago." Ron and Hermione exchange looks before they both look back to him.

"That's right, Mate," Ron says, Hermione smiles, nodding.

"You'll always have family in us."

"Harry! Oh Merlin, Lily. No, no, pull yourself together, get Harry out, then get that damned traitor."

"Padfoot."

"Harry, it's all right, I've got you. Be strong Harry, be brave."

"Who's there?"

"Hagrid, it's me!"

"Hullo Sirius. Dumbledore says I'm to take 'Arry somewhere safe while all of this is sorted out."

"Right, of course, brilliant idea. Here, take my bike."

"Padfoot."

"Don't worry Harry, just remember, you are loved. I'll be back for you, I promise. Me and Uncle Moony, we'll look after you. You'll always have family in us."

Harry leans against the window of the train, smiling lightly.

He has a family, he always has.

"You are loved Harry. Mama loves you, Dada loves you Harry, Harry you are so loved."

And he won't ever forget it again.


NOTES:

Thanks so much for reading!

Also, forgot to mention, there's gonna be a sequel to this story :)