Chapter 12 – Love

Your children need your presence more than your presents – Jesse Jackson

Sirius didn't know what to do. Harry was resting quite contently on his hip, holding his beaten up teddy bear. He wanted to take Harry out shopping, and spoil him rotten but Remus seemed to think that they should take Harry home and let him get comfortable with the house and with them. "Harry? What would you like to do?"

Harry looked at him, confused, almost as if he was scared of answering the question. "What do you mean sir?"

"Call me Sirius, Harry. Would you like to go shopping, or go home?"

"Shopping" Harry whispered, so quietly that Sirius almost missed it. Sirius had decided not to mention his painful shyness, or to ask too much about what the Dursleys did to him, for fear of scaring or upsetting him.

"Harry, this is going to feel really weird. It's going to feel like you're being squashed through a tube, okay? I promise it won't last long, alright?" Sirius asked calmly, painfully aware that apparation was not a comfortable experience. Sirius held out his hand for Remus to take and they both spun into the crushing darkness.

As soon as they arrived, Sirius glanced down at Harry. His eyes were wide and he was sniffing loudly. He obviously hadn't liked it but he obviously didn't want to tell Sirius. That would be those damn Dursleys. They'd obviously told him that he wasn't allowed to cry, and that he wasn't allowed to talk. Sirius shared a glance with Remus. He seemed to know exactly what was going through Sirius' mind, as he placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Calm down Sirius, think about what you'd lose if you did something rash" Remus cautioned. He glanced down at Harry and Sirius understood. He had Harry to think about now, and he would not let him go back to the Dursleys. Not while he had strength left.

"Harry, what's your favourite colour? So we can do your bedroom. And get you clothes"

Harry stared up at him in surprise. "Blue. Like the sky" Harry whispered, looking scared. He almost looked like he was scared of giving the wrong answer. He shared a glance with Remus, who frowned.

"Blue it is then. Clothes first, then toys and then stuff for your room, okay?" Sirius said, trying to maintain his cheerful demeanour. The three of them walked into the nearest clothes shop and proceeded to spend absurd amounts of money on clothes. Remus and Sirius still chose most of the clothes, Harry was too shy to do anything but sit in Sirius arms and look completely and utterly overwhelmed.

"Toys next Harry" explained Remus, his arms barely able to hold any more bags.

Harry's eyes widened. "I get toys?" Sirius felt his heart clench. The look of surprise on his face was heartbreaking.

"Of course you do Harry. Every kid needs toys" Sirius answered, trying to pretend that Harry's answer hadn't thrown him completely. He lifted Harry up higher and walked into the toyshop, followed by a bag laden Remus. Harry was trying not to show it, but Sirius could tell from the way that his eyes sparkled that he was excited. Hell, if Sirius had been his age he would have been excited too.

"Harry, you can go and choose some toys. Go on" Sirius gave Harry a tiny push towards the toys, and then followed after the boy, trying not to laugh at the excited little boy.

"Can I – I mean, am I allowed this?" Harry was holding up a small fluffy lion.

Sirius couldn't help the grin that spread over his face. He was pretty sure that Remus was grinning next to him. "Of course you can Harry. Do you want me to hold him for you while you look for some more toys?"

Harry grinned, handed him the lion and walked off again, trying desperately to remain calm.

"Who would have known that a simple lion could provide so much amusement?" Remus asked, failing to hide the smile in his own voice. Sirius smiled back at him and then felt the smile drop off his face as a thought that had been nagging him all morning returned.

"He's so like James"

"I know Padfoot. How much money are you planning on spending on him?"

"I think he needs a chance to be spoiled Remus"

"A lot then?"

Sirius' reply was interrupted by the return of Harry, who had two colouring books and a box of pencils balanced precariously in front of him. Sirius smiled at him and held his hands out to take the books and pencils. "Do you want anything else Harry? You're allowed as much as you want"

Harry shook his head, "They're brilliant sir, thank you"

"Sirius, not sir ok? Sir makes me feel old, and I'm very young" Remus snorted in amusement next to him and Sirius elbowed him. "I'll have you know that I'm very young Moony, I'm only 24"

"Not for long, its your birthday in a two weeks" Remus retorted. He had a point there. Sirius was the oldest of the marauders, his birthday being on Bonfire Night. Sirius stuck his tongue out at Remus and moved to the queue, ready to pay for Harry's things. Harry followed after him, obviously still overwhelmed by being taken out shopping to buy things for him. After paying Sirius swung Harry onto his hip, trying not to flinch as Harry stiffened and then relaxed.

"Lunch I think. I could eat a hippogriff" Sirius announced, one arm holding Harry and the other holding a large bag from the toyshop.

"Sirius!" Remus hissed in warning. They still hadn't explained magic to Harry and they had said that they were going to wait until he was comfortable with them before they did. Harry hadn't asked any questions about how they'd got there, even though he surely had to be curious. Sirius knew that he would have been. He looked at Remus apologetically and then walked into the small café in front of them.

"Harry, what would you like for lunch?" Sirius asked, having already known what he wanted. Harry looked at him confusion.

"I-I don't know. Aunt Petunia doesn't normally let me choose. I just get what I'm given"

"I'm not Aunt Petunia Harry, you get to choose what you'd like most" Sirius handed him the small menu, watching as his eyes narrowed at the words. Remus leaned over to help him read the menu. Remus was awfully good at this teaching thing. Sirius wondered whether Remus would consent to being Harry's teacher. It was likely that he'd need teaching on his own; he was probably the most famous person in the Wizarding World.

"Harry would like a ham and cheese sandwich, and I would like a Panini. I'll go and order" Remus announced, sliding out of his seat and walking up to the counter.

"Where do you want to go after lunch Harry, we can go home or we can carry on shopping?" Sirius asked, trying to coax Harry into conversation.

"Shopping?" Harry croaked. He looked nervous, like he was scared of giving Sirius the wrong answer. Sirius smiled reassuringly at Harry and then opened his mouth to answer.

"Righteo. We can get all the stuff for your bedroom, and then we can set it up for you later" The next thing Sirius knew was that he was nearly knocked off his seat when Harry threw himself at him, wrapping his tiny arms around Sirius' chest. He smiled; this was the first time that Harry had initiated contact. The smile slid off his face as he thought about the meaning behind Harry's excitement. He'd never had a bedroom with the Dursleys, and he was obviously excited at the prospect. He didn't understand how they could do that to a sweet little boy. His parents had never liked him, but he still had a bedroom. Sick bastards!

He hugged Harry back, rocking forwards again to place Harry back on his seat. Harry was smiling shyly at him and Sirius beamed back at him. Harry had always had Sirius wrapped around his little finger, and now he was just cementing that. Remus returned, managing to hold 3 glasses. "I've got water for you and me and chocolate milkshake for Harry. I figured everybody likes chocolate"

Harry smiled at Remus, and Sirius rolled his eyes. However, before Sirius or Remus could start a conversation, a pretty blonde woman walked over, somehow managing to balance three plates in her hands. She kept batting her eyelids at Sirius, and it was all that Sirius could do to avoid rolling his eyes. He knew that he used to be good-looking but as he was only two days out of Azkaban, he wasn't exactly in the best condition.

"One ham and cheese sandwich, one Panini and one burger with chips. Can I get you anything else?"

"No thanks" Sirius said, "Here you go Harry, enjoy" Sirius passed over the plate of sandwiches and then paused in reaching for a chip to glance at Harry. "Is it alright Harry? Do you need a hand?" Sirius wasn't quite sure how he could help Harry eat his sandwiches, but he offered anyway.

"No sir, can I start?" Harry asked quietly.

"Of course you can Harry, you don't need to ask"

Harry reached for his sandwiches, calmly and politely eating them. At least, he ate it calmer than Sirius ate his burger. He'd never realised how exhausting shopping could be, and he was utterly ravenous. Remus rolled his eyes at him and Sirius made a point of acting offended, much to Harry's amusement. Not that the little boy was keen on showing his amusement, he snorted once and then forced himself not to smile. Remus looked at Sirius. They'd have to change that.

OoOoOo

"Which one do you want Harry?" After lunch, the three of them had gone to a furniture shop and they were now staring at duvet covers, debating which ones to get.

"The light blue one please" Harry whispered. Sirius picked the blue set up, and added it to the trolley of other bedroom things. Harry was holding Remus' hand, and Sirius was pushing the trolley. Sirius paid for the things with the last of his Muggle money and packed them into bags. As he looked at the bags he cursed internally. There were a lot of bags and he wasn't sure that he'd be able to carry them all without using magic. And they'd agreed not to tell Harry about magic. Bugger.

He managed to balance the bags in his arms somehow and led the way out of the shop. Sirius smiled. He didn't care how hard it would be, in the slightest. As long as Harry was happy he couldn't care less what else was happening. He loved that boy, probably more than life itself. Though he didn't think he'd like to test that theory, mainly because that would mean that Harry would probably be sent back to the Dursleys. Harry was back with the people who loved him and that was all that mattered.

AN: I really hope you like this chapter, I had fun writing it :D Anyway, please leave a review – they motivate me to write more. See you all on Wednesday