Disclaimer: I do not own or have any rights to Harry Potter.

I hope you enjoy this story that I got from katie13 (yes another one) that she said that she had never put up on this site.

Chapter 31

As soon as they had reached the garden, Harry sat down on the tire swing. Sirius complied and pushed the swing, sending Harry "flying". Harry laughed in delight at this game and Sirius was sure that he had never been on a swing before.

"Higher!" Harry exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Alright, hold on tightly! Are you ready? Great!"

Neither Harry nor Sirius tired of this game for almost three hours, Harry laughing and screaming 'Higher!' all the time, and Sirius smiling because Harry wasn't scared anymore. After that, Sirius' arms felt about ready to collapse, and he sat Harry down on the grass next to him.

They sat in content silence for a while, and watching his godson from the corners of his eyes, Sirius realized that he had never seen Harry look that happy before. The thought brought a silly smile to his face.

"Dad?" Harry asked finally, breaking the silence.

"Yes, Harry?" Sirius answered, nursing his tired arms.

"Why did we have to stop?" Harry wanted to know, his innocent green eyes wide.

Sirius ruffled Harry's hair and got up: "Because, kiddo, its lunchtime."

"No!" Harry said in dismay.

The exclamation almost made Sirius smile, but he held it back and forced himself to look stern: "Don't you remember, Harry? You don't have a choice because you need to put on weight."

Harry sighed, but looking into Sirius' eyes and seeing the resolve there, knew that it was pointless to even try to protest. He nodded.

"Kiddo, would you like to eat outside?" Sirius asked, feeling a little bad for the resigned expression on Harry's face.

Harry considered this, but had to admit that after a few hours outside under the slightly gray, cloudy sky, he did feel a little cold: "No, its cold." Harry decided.

Sirius nodded and pulled Harry up, and then the two of them went into the house together.

Sirius made them lunch while Harry was watching TV. Harry seemed fine now, and Sirius watched him cautiously for any signs of how the Dursleys treated him. Every time Harry smiled or laughed, Sirius felt very warm inside. He realized that he was treating Harry like the son he, Sirius Black, had never had.

Harry was oblivious to his godfather's scrutiny and spent the whole afternoon playing or watching TV. As dinnertime grew closer, Sirius noticed that Harry was getting into a quiet, thoughtful state. He sat on the floor motionlessly with his crayons, and Sirius knew that Harry would talk once he was ready.

"Dad?" Harry asked finally when Sirius had almost given up hope.

"Yes?" Sirius replied, pretending to be surprised.

Harry chewed on his bottom lip for a few moments before phrasing his question: "Why do you love me?" he asked quietly.

Sirius' breath hitched in his throat at the question, and with white, hot anger he realized that probably nobody had ever told Harry that he was loved before.

Sirius forced himself to smile at his godson and shoved all angry feelings aside, letting Harry know with both his voice and eyes that he was sincere.

"Because I do," he answered cheerfully.

"Why?" Harry insisted.

Sirius shook his head firmly and stroked the small child's cheek: "I answered that question," he said with finality.

Harry sighed slightly and ducked his head. "Alright," he said in a small voice.

They sat in a slightly uncomfortable silence for a few moments.

"Kiddo, why did you ask?" Sirius wanted to know.

Harry sighed and drew his knees up to his chest, staring off into space: "Because, I, I wanted to know why Aunt Petunia hated me so much," he said in a small voice.

Sirius' heart almost broke at the sight. He pulled his godson into his lap and placed a kiss on Harry's forehead.

"I don't know why Petunia did not like you," he said softly. "I don't think she had any good reason at all. Try not to think about it, alright, Harry? I love you and that is all that matters right now."

Harry smiled and leaned back in his godfather's arms: "Alright," he whispered happily.

They sat in content silence again, Sirius rocking Harry slightly in his arms until Harry's eyelids were beginning to get heavy. Noticing this, Sirius got up and gently set the tired child to his feet.

"What would you like for dinner, Harry?" And Sirius dragged Harry off into the kitchen.

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