{A good portion of this chapter was inspired by this superstition my mom would tell me. Dogs can repel ghosts because they can see and sense ghosts she would tell me. Perpare for feels people!}

"I'll read." Andromeda said picking the book up as Ted placed little Dora on his lap.

Chapter 15. Hello Again

She looked shocked at the next line.

Sirius Black was sad he missed another Christmas with his son.

"More Sirius angst." Alice said sadly. Sirius blushed.

"Remus why can't I go see the boys?" Sirius asked. "You need to get your health back up." Remus said.

"Too right you do." Andromeda said interrupting herself. She didn't notice her sisters rolling their eyes at her.

Sirius looked down. He was still painfully skinny, but he was much healthier thanks to Andy's potions.

"Thank you Andy." Sirius said. "As if I would let you go without." She said.

"I've made progress." Sirius insisted stubbornly.

Dorea and Charlus shared a look. He never changes…

Remus opened his mouth but then an owl came in. Remus picked the letter up and the owl took off. "It's from Hogwarts." Remus said as he paled.

"WHY!?" James asked dramatically. Lily rolled her eyes at him.

Sirius snatched the letter away and read it.

"You always do that." James and Remus intoned. Sirius just ignored them.

Remus,

I think you might want to come down here.

Leo, Aries and Harry just showed up

Completely terrified and freezing.

I think you should talk to them.

-Hagrid

"I'm going too." Sirius said.

Sirius showed Remus the letter. "I'm going with you." Sirius said.

"Told ya." "Shut up Paddy."

"Sirius." Remus said. "They're my boys." Sirius insisted.

"You sounded more like a mother at that moment." Regulus joked. Sirius stuck his tongue out.

"Leo's my godson." Remus said. "I know, and I'm going with you." Sirius said.

"You should rest." "You can't stop me Moony." "Why am I friends with you idiots?"

"Sirius" "I know the plan was to wait until I was back at my full strength before making my freedom publicly known, but I'm going to see the boys." Sirius said fiercely. "Sirius if you don't stick to the plan, we lose our upper hand." Remus said.

"I hope we get one up on Dumbledore." Sirius cackled much like his oldest cousin. Arcturus smirked. He's still a Black.

Sirius frowned before pacing. "Why don't I go as Padfoot?" He asked. Remus looked contemplative before nodding. Remus went to go get his warmest coat and Sirius shifted into his animagus form before Remus apparated them to Hogwarts.

"Didn't you forget his leash?" James asked. "OI!"

They saw Hagrid at the border moving a fallen tree off of the bridge. "Remus!" Hagrid greeted. "Hello Hagrid." Remus said with a smile. Padfoot barked. "I take it yeh got me letter." Hagrid said gruffly.

Many people nodded their heads fondly at the half-giant. The rest rolled their eyes.

Remus nodded. They followed the half-giant down towards his hut. "It was a shock fer me to find 'em shiverin' on me doorstep." Hagrid said. Sirius was wondering why the hell they we're out in the cold.

"Because Dumbledore keeps messing with the boys." Charlus snarled.

They got inside and the hut was really warm. Sirius padded over and saw the three on the large bed under a thick quilt. Harry and Aries were snuggling Leo, and Sirius tilted his head when he saw tear marks on their faces.

The women were cooing at how cute they must be.

Padfoot barked and touched his nose against Harry. Harry grumbled before snuggling Leo more.

Sirius was looking at James, who was whistling suspiciously.

"Pups were lost." Sirius heard. He turned his head and saw a large boarhound.

"You can talk to other animals?" Barty asked in surprise. "To an extent. Depends how smart the animal is. The magical ones are more eloquent." James said.

"Lost?" He asked. "Forest. Evil. Never Die." The boarhound said. Sirius whined.

Many people shivered.

Soon Remus walked over and shook the boys awake. Sirius barked like a laugh at their hair. Harry had James' mess of hair, Aries had choppy hair that was sure to have put Reggie in a fit and Leo had half of his hair long and the other half was choppy and uneven.

Many people snickered.

He saw some strange steam cling into strange clouds around the boys.

Shizuka frowned.

"Moony?" Leo asked with a yawn. Remus smiled. Sirius pushed his muzzle closer towards Leo. Leo began to scratch him behind his ear. "Hello, who're you?" Leo asked with a tired smile. "I recently got him out of the pound. His name is Snuffles." Remus said.

"Oh you are an arse." Sirius said to the smirking werewolf.

"Can I talk t' yeh, Remus?" Hagrid asked. Remus nodded. "Can you watch the boys, Snuffles?" Remus asked with a smirk. If Sirius could he would roll his eyes, so he just barked at him.

"I bet he insulted me." "Most likely." "You two know me so well."

He kept blinking, his eyes kept going foggy for some reason.

Shizuka's frown deepened.

Soon Sirius was sitting outside with the boys. He was shocked at how much Aries resembled Regulus, and Harry to James. When Sirius looked at Leo he could still see Shizuka in his features.

Everyone had sad smiles.

Sirius' eyes fogged again and he shook his head to clear his vision.

"Did Azkaban mess your eyes up too?" Andromeda asked the book in concern.

"Lee I'm so, so sorry." Aries said guiltily. "I know you didn't mean it." Leo said with a sharp smile.

Regulus and Sirius couldn't look at each other then.

"I think I know why I did though." Aries said. "What?" Harry asked. "I remember reading about spells that can make a person do what you want." Aries said.

Dark looks sifted through.

"But who would want you to say THAT?" Harry asked. Sirius tilted his head in confusion. "Dumbledore was there." Aries said. Harry paled.

"If he did I will have his head roll." Dorea hissed. Charlus and James leaned away in fright.

"But how do you know it was him?" Leo asked with a tilted head. "I saw him put his wand away." Aries said.

"That proves nothing." Lily said quickly. Liliana made tight fists, but Shizuka kicked her ankle.

"What?" Leo asked in shock. "That's not all." Harry said. "We think the Dursleys were paid and magicked to take us in." The green eyed boy said with a frown. Leo was gaping.

And most of the room's occupants looked pissed at the conversation that was previously had.

"So not only is there Voldemort drinking unicorn blood, the sorcerer's stone mess, but those-those" "Hateful, spiteful, vindictive, abusive, uncultured swines?" Aries supplied. "What he said, have been tricked and paid to take us in?" Leo asked in shock.

Remus growled fiercely.

Sirius growled. They looked at him in shock, before Harry scratched his back.

His friends snorted. Overgrown puppy…

"They almost let that fat git kill you, and they're probably stealing the money our families left us." Aries spat. Sirius was going to have to go back if he ever found the bastard who tried to hurt his son!

"There are ways to cover it up." Arcturus said sagely. Sirius had a wicked look in his eyes.

"So anything else we'd like to share?" Leo asked with a hard look at Aries.

"Please don't have another fight." Alice begged. "No fighting." Nymphadora said with a pout.

Aries swallowed thickly. "I can do stuff." He said uneasily. "Do what?" Harry asked. "I can… feel other people's emotions." Aries confessed. Sirius was shocked. He just thought he was a sensitive toddler.

Regulus looked contemplative.

"Really?" Leo asked with wide eyes. "That quidditch game, everyone had really strong emotions that day, and it made me feel sick." He said with reddening cheeks.

"Nothing to be ashamed of." Regulus said.

"Is that all?" Harry asked. Aries shook his head. "If someone's…hurt I can take their pain for myself." He said lowly.

"I hope he never uses that again." Narcissa said with a pained look. Many nodded in agreement.

Sirius was shocked. He knew this wasn't something he got from his family. He remembers Saorise briefly.

Regulus was the most eager to hear about this.

She was a sweet woman, odd as all hell but sweet.

Sirius thought she might be a good balance for his stick in the mud brother.

He remembers Regulus being really protective of her. He just thought his brother was a romantic git, but if Saorise could do those things…

Regulus went a bit pink at the smirks he was getting.

"I can do stuff too." Harry said. Sirius turned his head towards his godson. "Remember that trip to the zoo?" Harry asked. Aries and Leo nodded with grim expressions. "I talked to the snake that escaped." Harry said. Harry was a Parselmouth?

"Si." Liliana said.

Sirius wracked his brain. Didn't Lana say her Nanna was a snake-talker? She also said her two older brothers could.

"They can." Liliana said. Many people looked contemplative.

"That is so cool." Leo said. Sirius whined. Harry needed to keep that a secret here in Britain. Pareseltongue is a stigma here.

"Not in Italia." Liliana said with a frown. "Why not?" Lily asked suspiciously. "I believe there was a snake goddess who had the power to heal." Liliana said with a thoughtful expression. "With the exception of certain monsters, most cultures view snakes as powerful and helpful beings. Most of the stigma towards them is in the western world." Shizuka said. Lily looked abashed.

"I can see things." Leo said. "We can all see things. Except for this specky midget." Aries said. Sirius barked a laugh as Harry spluttered.

Many people chuckled.

"No, like the world goes grey, and I can see these colors around people and things. Heck I see dead people." Leo said in a ramble.

"Why does he have your tact?" Remus asked dryly. Sirius shrugged.

"What do you mean, like ghosts?" Harry asked. Leo nodded. "So that's what happened in the corridor." Aries said. "You were talking to a ghost about…the Sorcerer's stone?" Aries asked. What the hell?

"My thoughts exactly." Sirius said making many groan.

Leo nodded uncomfortably. "Who was it?" Harry asked. Leo looked down. "Lee you can tell us." Harry said. "This is our girly touchy feely moment don't waste it." Aries joked.

Many snorted.

"Uncle Regulus." Leo said softly. Everyone went rigid.

Everyone in the room winced painfully.

Regulus? Sirius' mind was spinning. "Da?" Aries asked in shock. Leo turned his head and Sirius was shocked to see his eyes glow silver. He has Shizu's aura reading, Sirius realized.

"I should be there to help him." The Japanese witch sniffed.

"He's here, next to you and Padfoot." Leo said.

"Great." Barty said uncomfortably.

Sirius stiffened. He turned his head and sure enough he saw a hazy looking Regulus.

Everyone was flabbergasted. "HUH!?" Sirius asked loudly. "It's because you're a dog." Shizuka said. "Dogs and most animals and young children can see ghosts." She said. Sirius paled. Why did he have to look like a grim, the dog associated with death?

Sirius yelped. Regulus gave him a smile before ruffling Aries' choppy hair. Sirius was shocked how come he could see him!?

"I already explained."

Suddenly there was a hand in his fur and Padfoot was looking at the ghost of Shizuka Kagawa Black.

Sirius went teary eyed and Shizuka hugged him.

Sirius whined sadly at her sad smile. "Dogs can see ghosts." She whispered. Leo froze, and turned to see his mother's ghost.

"Oh this can't end well." Alice said.

He jumped and crawled backwards. Shizuka smiled sadly at him.

Shizuka was trying not to cry.

"Lee?" Aries asked in shock. "Mama?" Leo asked quietly. She nodded.

She sobbed loudly, and no one could blame her.

Sirius froze. How many times did he hallucinate seeing them in Azkaban? Or James and Lana? Or were they…

Everyone paled.

He turned his head towards Harry and saw James and Lana next to him.

Dorea hugged her son and future daughter-in-law tightly.

Sirius barked at them. James smiled briefly and Liliana was trying to hug Harry. "Oh gods." Leo said in horror. "Harry your parents." He said pointing to the ghosts behind Harry.

"Why is he seeing them now?" Lily asked. No one had an answer for her.

Harry stiffened and went teary eyed. "Leo?" Aries asked in concern. Leo began to panic, before he ran off again.

Sirius whined.

Sirius instinctively ran after his son in the Forbidden forest. Sirius followed his nose and found Leo curled up into a ball near an old oak tree.

Sirius wished his son was here with him now.

Sirius shifted back into his human form and walked over towards his son. "Leo?" Sirius asked in concern. Leo looked up at him with glowing eyes filled with unshed tears. "Papa?" He asked in shock.

Sirius smiled bitterly.

Sirius knelt down and pulled his son into a tight hug. Leo was rigid for a moment, before he hugged back tightly and Sirius could feel his robe dampen. "Papa." Leo sobbed. "I got you, Leo." Sirius said.

Sirius felt his eyes sting.

Leo looked up at him with a heartbroken expression. "Why? They-they weren't there before! Why now?" He asked brokenly.

Sirius wished he could have an answer for his son.

Sirius hugged his son tighter. Sirius felt his son grow more distraught. "What happened, Leo?" Sirius asked. "Mama- Mama said a se-seal was broken." Leo sobbed frantically.

Shizuka sniffled.

Sirius hugged Leo tighter. "It's okay Leo. It's okay." He said softly. He just kneeled there until his son cried himself to sleep.

No one was in any mood to try and lighten the heavy atmosphere.

Sirius cradled his son to him and he sat against the old tree. He felt like he was made of broken glass. They're ghosts. All of them. Sirius had a decade to accept their deaths, but Leo had all of this happen to him now.

Sirius wiped his eyes furiously.

A seal, did someone put a block on this? He remembers Shizuka saying that children were the most capable of seeing ghosts. Sirius frowned.

Andomeda looked sadly at Regulus.

He remembers once when Aries was little he was babbling to a piece of open air saying 'Da' every now and then, was he talking to Regulus?

"Probably." Shizuka said quietly.

Sirius was pulled out of his thoughts when Harry and Aries came running of them drew their wands. "Who're you?" Aries asked coldly.

Moody knew these boys could be excellent fighters one day.

"Sirius Black." He answered. They both went rigid. "Really?" Harry breathed. Sirius nodded. He looked up at them and gave a wryly smile. "You boys sure have grown." He said. Aries and Harry ran towards him and got smothered in a hug. Sirius was shocked.

Sirius smirked weakly.

"Where were you during Christmas?" Aries asked. "I was still recovering from Azkaban." Sirius said. "My cousin wouldn't even let me leave the bed until she couldn't see my ribs." Sirius said.

Many winced sharply.

"Thanks for the presents." Harry said lowly. Sirius smiled. "I wanted to give you boys more, but I was bedridden." He admitted.

"I'd probably spoil them rotten." He admitted.

"I thought you boys might've liked those wedding photos." Sirius said. He made Remus dig through all the old photo albums he could get and found those three photos. Sirius smiled when he tried to explain his wedding photo to Leo in his letter. His son might've been wondering about the outfits.

Shizuka giggled wetly.

"Is Lee okay?" Aries asked. Sirius sighed. "I think his aura reading and mediumship developed more. He's probably drained and he worried himself out." Sirius said. "You know he can do those things?" Harry asked.

Many people nodded.

"His mother could too." Sirius said. They both looked at the sleeping first year. "Medium…" Aries trailed off.

"That's what Firenze called him!" Frank said in realization.

"It's a person capable of talking to the dead." Sirius said. "He saw our parents." Harry mumbled. "They're always watching over you boys." Sirius said thickly.

Many people smiled sadly.

Soon there was another pair of footsteps and Remus walked towards them. "Sirius." Remus said. "Sorry Moony." Sirius said sheepishly.

"He never listens." Remus and Shizuka said in unison.

"Hiya." Aries mumbled wiping his eyes. "I believe the last time I saw you three together like this, Sirius here was covered in baby food." Remus said jokingly. Sirius gave him a smile. "And when you watched them, you were covered in soap." Sirius said. Aries and Harry chuckled.

As did many people in the room.

Leo woke up after his nap. He hugged Sirius tighter. "Can't you stay?" He asked sadly. Sirius frowned. "Sorry, I can't." Sirius said. Aries and Harry were giving him sad looks too. "I need to get better, and get our house ready for you boys." Sirius said.

People began to smile brightly at that ray of hope.

They all looked up at him in shock. "You want us?" Harry asked in shock. "Of course!" Sirius said, shocked that they would think otherwise.

"I'd take 'em in a heartbeat." Sirius said seriously.

They all looked gleefully at him. "I hope to have you boys home for the summer." Sirius said with a smile.

"And away from the muggles!" Bellatrix cheered. Lily frowned and Liliana was trying so hard not to let it bug her. "I'm sure my sister isn't that bad." Lily defended. "Your sister is a puttana." Liliana snarled. Lily glared fiercely at her. "Girls!" McGonagall warned. James placed a comforting hand on the Italian's shoulder, and Lily felt her stomach twist with an ugly emotion.

They all smiled warmly at him. Soon they heard Hagrid coming closer. Sirius mimed for them to be quite and he shifted into Padfoot. The boys were shocked.

Many people snickered at what they thought their faces looked like.

"There yeh, are." Hagrid said. "We we're lookin' fer yeh." The half-giant said worriedly.

The Gryffindors smiled at Hagrid's caring heart.

"Sorry, Snuffles here wandered off and we went to go get him." Leo said rubbing his eyes. "Yeh okay Leo?" Hagrid asked in concern. "I just got some dirt in my eyes." Leo lied. Hagrid nodded believing it.

Then the Gryffindors sighed. He was a bit gullible.

"Well we gotta get going. And if I hear you boys are wandering the forest after curfew you will get an earful." Remus huffed. Sirius barked as the boys nodded.

"Moony would scold them. Paddy would just tell them to be sneakier next time." James said with a snort. His friends looked at him. "You know us so well." The choired.

Soon Remus and Sirius walked off the grounds and apparated back to Remus's place. "Moony we gotta talk." Sirius said grimly.

"Too right we do." Sirius huffed. Andromeda closed the book and placed it onto the table.

{Sorry that this chapter was shorter than usual! I had to end it quickly or I'd be stuck with crying my eyes out for hours. (; _ ;) Hope you enjoyed it! P.S. I'm going to try and update quickly because I'm going on a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Orlando, Florida! Hopefully I get more inspiration to continue this while I'm there.}