Hello! I've been ill, but I'm back, please enjoy
Castles in the sand – Harry needed a friend, a real one his age, mentally and physically, though given what he'd been through, that was going to be hard to find. He needed someone he could love and joke around with and get into mischief with, he wanted to get him used to socialising before sending him to school. When he was Harry's age he'd had his little brother to play with, not to mention his cousins, and once he went to school he gained three more brothers. He could not wait until his son was eleven to get him a friend and as he did not go to school yet it was up to him. All Harry had was Kreacher, of course he could play with his father too and of course the two had promised to go over and see Arnold and Clara every once in a while too.
So he took a leaf out of muggle parenting and took Harry to a play park. Kids were great with things like these; there were slides, swings, large expanses of places perfect for football or Frisbee. All Harry needed to do was pick something to do and start a conversation with someone and he went straight to the sandpit. While he was building it a girl came toddling over to him to say hi, she had been playing by herself looking rather alone as the other children tried to veer away from her but she seemed to be interested in the newcomer to the park. She had bushy blonde hair and large hazel eyes, and was one of the only children in the park smaller than Harry on accounts of her being a little girl instead of male – though the same age thereabouts.
"Come on Harry," he urged under his breath, "she's walking over to you, say something to her." Harry did not even seem to realise that it was his cue. Sirius felt a fond smile crawl over his face, this was easier than expected. The child tripped over something in the sandpit and knocked over Harry's castle on her descent and Sirius' smile fell off his face. He saw his godson's bottom lip tremble dangerously, he was only small, and god help the other child if she laughed, but before he made a sound, the girl, much to his surprise, teared up herself. "I'm sowwy," she cried, taking a couple of steps away, rubbing the sand out of her eyes and mouth as it had stuck to her when she'd fallen. "I only wanted to help," she said in a quiet voice and looked at him beseechingly, asking for forgiveness but not expecting to receive it.
It was rather sad; Sirius wondered if she was bullied where she went to school, for whatever reason. The sight of the girl crying and the sound of someone apologising to him, him of all people knocked the tears right out of Harry's eyes and he stared at her curiously, wondering if she was being sincere. Sirius gathered that after so long of being bullied himself and apologising for things he had not done, the behaviour of this child was welcome and confusing at the same time. After a while Harry guessed that she was being sincere after all and he offered her a small smile. "It's ok," he said in a voice even quieter and softer than her own, making her stop her quiet apologies and crying and peer at him searching for truth of redemption.
Sirius watched the scene with curiosity and pride, his son was a natural. It was to be expected; James had pointed to Lily on the Hogwarts Express on their first day of school as eleven year olds and said 'that's the girl I'm going to marry'. He had accidentally made her hate him and then managed to turn around so fast she went to from hate to marrying him in a year. "You didn't mean to, it was an accident," Harry went on to say with that small smile still in place and that gentle voice to soothe her. "Do you want to make a new one with me?" He offered, handing her a spade that was lying around in the sandpit, some child must have left it behind before.
Sirius had not exactly had a boring sex life himself, he had to keep reminding himself he was talking about four year olds here. The bushy haired girl stared at him incredulously before throwing her arms around him as if it was the most natural thing in the world and stepping back graciously accepting the spade in answer. "My name is Hermione," she said, immediately settling down to model the sand. He heard Harry introduce himself and just like that they were talking and bonding. Sirius smiled, glad he'd made a friend so quickly and looked up to see a pair of muggles look on adoringly, glad that their daughter had made a friend too. They looked up, feeling eyes on them and nodded to him warily. The woman caught on first and gestured towards Harry questioningly. Sirius nodded and walked over to them, smiling.
"Adam Tanner, it's a pleasure," he introduced himself, extending one hand to each parent in a gesture that would look stupid if anyone but him did it, they took them with a smile. They introduced themselves as Mr and Mrs Granger and were quick to point out they were dentists though he had no idea why they decided it was so important.
"Your son looks so much like you," Mrs Granger said in a way that was meant to make him like her, and it worked.
"He always has," he answered, "though I haven't got the foggiest why, then again, his father and I always looked alike. He's adopted," he added at their questioning gaze.
"Does he call you dad?" Again, that seemed like a weird question, but then again they were muggles, what else were they going to talk about, good old days at Hogwarts? If they did not talk about their kids, which was the only reason why they were talking now, they would end up talking about the weather, and once that subject was over it would just be awkward between them.
"Sometimes," he offered, "sometimes Padfoot instead, family joke, or Paddy for short, or just my name, I don't really mind."
"I'd feel awkward if my daughter called me by my name," Mrs Granger chuckled, "though I would not put it past her." Sirius glanced down at the children, the girl, Hermione, was teaching Harry about all the different shells, they were now on the decorating castle stage, she was an intelligent girl, and he was not at all abashed at saying so. "She can already read," Mrs Granger answered, beaming in pride, "she loves books and knowledge of all sorts. I would love to see the two of them on the beach."
"That could certainly be arranged," Sirius answered immediately, "I've been thinking of taking Harry to the beach on a holiday." He then caught their unsure expressions, "oh, I am not suggesting anything in the near future," he said and they relaxed. You've only known me a few minutes I would not expect you to trust me so explicitly. Perhaps after a couple of play dates we can all go to the beach together for a day or two," he smiled. They still looked unsure. "Why not, it is only two days, one weekend, stop thinking about all the planning and take a risk." They were quickly brought into his charm and hesitantly nodded.
"Harry, would you like an ice cream?" He asked and the boy looked up at him with shining eyes and nodded vigorously, then before either Granger could speak he turned to the girl and asked her the same question.
"Yes please mister...?"
"Padfoot, you can call me Padfoot. Flake ok?" He didn't wait for the positive answer before walking casually over the ice cream van and went to buy five ice creams. The adults went and relaxed on the bench, each male either side of Mrs Granger, while the children chased each other round the swings, lost in their own world.
"Careful," he said, "you're dripping," he nodded to Mrs Granger's melting ice cream where it was dripping onto the bench. Then with absolutely no warning he bent down and licked the offending cone to mop it up. Mrs Granger blushed and smiled somewhat embarrassed and flattered but did not push him away. Mr Granger was less than pleased and threw a protective arm around his wife's shoulders, but said nothing. It was not like Sirius was trying to woo her away from her husband, he just thought it was funny to tease them; she was married so it was not like she was going to take it seriously. "I brought a picnic with us it is such a nice day," he said, "perhaps you will join us?" He had already seen the picnic basket by them, so he'd already known they'd accept.
By the end of lunch, Harry and Hermione were holding hands. Harry was plucking sand from her hair and smiling at her. Hermione was smiling too, clutching onto his hand in return and they were nattering on about the filling in their sandwiches. All Harry had was tuna mayonnaise and sweet corn, the best sandwich filler in his opinion. Hermione had visited America earlier that year and had brought back with her a desire for peanut butter and strawberry jam – together. It seemed ghastly to him but Harry and Hermione dutifully swapped half their sandwiches and they both enjoyed what they ate. Harry gave him a meaningful glare and with an eye roll Sirius made a mental note to tell Kreacher to invest in peanut butter and jam.
He smiled as the two children once they had finished their picnic started running off together once again and Sirius was loathe tearing them apart. They both looked extremely upset and it ended with numbers being shared. Getting what he came for it was alright to take him home and they both waved until their respective guardians had dragged them out of sight of each other, promising to meet up again soon. He'd never dreamt that one visit to a muggle park would yield such favourable results, and the muggles he'd befriended were thinking the same thing.
"Well what did you think?" Mrs Ganger turned to her husband smiling.
"The child was delightful," he said guardedly.
"Yeah," she missed the undertone completely somehow. "Remember what you said once Hermione had made friends with him? Quick Jane let's take him and run! The funny thing is, you were only being semi joking."
"It's not every day she makes a friends like that, they hit off immediately and didn't want to leave each other, we might even be looking at the beginnings of toddler romance. But his father, well guardian is a frickin' psycho. I'm glad he is adopted so he won't inherit that."
"You're just mad because he was being flirtatious."
"And you did not exactly discourage him."
"Trust me more Andrew, you are the only one I love, you know that."
"Oh? Well if you feel like that than let's put Hermione to bed early tonight."
Jane smiled, "I like your thinking."
"You do?" His eyebrows shot up.
"Of course."
"Mummy, when can I see Harry again?"
"We've only just left the park dear."
"But I want to see him again!"
"We'll organise a trip for the weekend, how's that?"
"We can go the beach?"
"We'll see."
"But that means no."
"Well... I guess we're free for that weekend and if Mr Tanner says it's alright then why not just go for it and go to the beach."
"Jane I don't-"
"Oh hush dear; what's the worst that could possibly happen?"
Andrew sighed and hung his head in his hands, "I wish you wouldn't say that," he groaned, his wife just grinned and headed for the bedroom.
"When can I see 'Mione again Padfoot?"
"Not until the weekend when I'll badger them to come to the beach with us."
"Can I see her now?"
"Like the last 36 times for Merlin's sake Harry, no. She needs to go home with her parents and have dinner and sleep and so do you."
"But I'm too excited to sleep."
"The sooner you sleep the quicker the weekend will come. Now what do you want for dinner?"
"Peanut butter and jam sandwiches."
"Sorry we're fresh out of peanut butter and jam sandwiches, bedsides you had sandwiches for lunch you should have something hot."
Harry thought for a moment, "Spaghetti Bolognaise?" He tried again.
"Sure I can do that, well Kreacher can," he turned to the lingering elf, "can't you Kreacher?"
"Yes masters, it will be ready soon."
"Wonderful, now how about a game of exploding snap before tea?"
Harry couldn't wait for the weekend to come and truth be told neither could Sirius because Harry was insufferable so he called them on Friday instead of Saturday to get an answer faster and was surprised when they agreed immediately. "I was not expecting you to be so cooperative," he said that afternoon as they were all piling into the Granger's car. It was a seven seater but as the children both needed car seats which took up a lot of room Sirius ended up sat between the two kids. This did not stop them from reaching across him to chat and pass messages and giggle at their own private jokes.
"Well," Mr Granger started in answer, "Hermione has been absolutely insufferable, and if she asked just one more time if we were going to see Harry again soon then she would not have lived to see the weekend."
Sirius laughed, "oh the joys of parenting, we have something in common there."
"Are we there yet?" Both children cried at the same time.
All three parents chuckled, "this better not last the whole trip."
An hour later Mrs Granger turned to the back to see that all three people in the back were asleep. "Well this calls for a picture," she said digging out her camera, "we'll call it something along the lines of 'all three kids asleep in the back."
"Imaginative," Andrew mentioned dryly.
"I mean it, look at Mr Tanner, just take a moment to look." They had pulled into a service station so they could grab something to eat and go to the loo. She brushed the hair out of his face, "he is so young. Once you look past his serious facade, you can see that he can't be a day over twenty five, something aged him too early. He looks so peaceful and innocent now, he has a child himself, he is looking after Harry, he is barely more than a boy himself."
"Always the maternal one Jane."
"I can't help it, that's what comes of being a mother. Let's let him sleep for a while, we can wait here until he wakes up, until they all wake up, you know how disgruntled Hermione gets when you wake her from a nap anyway."
"Yes, she says so, using those words," Andrew said indulgently brushing Hermione's blond bangs back behind her ears while she slept, her head tucked up against Sirius' side thumb in her mouth. Harry was the other side of him tucked underneath his arm which was wrapped protectively around the child, he also had his thumb in his mouth, his messy black hair falling into his eyes. Jane did not reach out to stroke his hair, from what she knew of Harry, which was very little, just what Adam had told her, he was rather shy and sensitive to contact. It would be cruel to wake him up when he looked so peaceful, she did seem to recall Adam mentioning he often got nightmares. "Well dear," Andrew said walking off, "this seems more than a cat nap and I really do need the bathroom so maybe you could watch the kids until I get back."
The kids woke up as soon as warm hot chocolate invaded their noses; Sirius had to be shaken, much to Jane's pleas not to. It was Harry who said that if he was left he would not wake until it was time to go home again and they would not enjoy the beach. Sirius did not turn red but he did vehemently deny that he had fallen asleep because it is entirely inappropriate for one of the adults to fall asleep, although he was not driving at least. Because they had left rather early they arrived at the beach at noon and while Andrew had wanted to camp they were checking into a hotel which Sirius had said he'd pay for because he had more money than the rest of the residents put together and going to the beach together had been his idea.
Sirius doubted Andrew really wanted to camp and had rather suggested it because it sounded like a manly thing to do. Sirius was not even going to pretend to be that proud and while he was not opposed and even used to rougher nights he did not like the idea of Harry and Hermione being as young as they were under canvas. Jane did not look like she wanted to camp either and while she said nothing the expression on her face was more than enough to get her view on the matter. Why camp when there were seven perfectly good hotels to choose from mere minutes from the beach? There was one with Jacuzzis, swimming pools, entertainment, a mini bar in each room, there was no way he was giving that up for a tarpaulin.
Sirius dug out some money on his way over to the front desk throwing down about 50 galleons that he drew out of his pocket; the woman looked between him and them uncomprehendingly. Suddenly realising what he'd done, he hastily gathered them back up again. "Sorry," he offered with a lopsided smile, "I've been out the country for a little while; sometimes I forget to switch between currencies, "how much will two double rooms for two nights be?"
The woman shook her head at the funny little man who had offered her those strange looking coins. They took most currencies, that was how a business became international, and she had travelled the world with work a load of times, but that was something not even she recognised. "Well we have two rooms that are next to each other on the third floor, if you want to pay the whole sum in advance then that will be £180."
Andrew opened his mouth to ask if they had a room that was not so steep in price but Sirius had already paid by this point and had turned to him placating him with a winning smile. "Don't worry about it," he said, quirking his lips at him in amusement, "it's my treat." He'd spent more than this on a meal before, of course it had been a meal for himself, the marauders and the Weasleys who were the only Order members he could form friendships with, but it had just been a meal, he could cover it. He reached out and took the keys held out to him and profusely thanked the woman for her help for no other reason than to make her feel a little uncomfortable, he was a marauder after all, his antics were met by a blush.
He did not know how it happened but Harry and Hermione got into a walking race, walking as fast as possible along the corridor to get to the lift first. Eventually it turned into running and Jane's voice for them not to run in the hallways was lost to the children as they turned the corner. Sighing, the three adults took off after them, walking as fast as they could go without actually running. They heard a yelp and turned to see Hermione on the floor having fallen over when someone coming out of the lift they had stopped rather close to came out. The woman who had towels piled up in her arms moved them out the way of her face when she heard the yelp to see the child on the ground. She immediately put the towels down and dropped to her knees to make sure the adorable little girl and her friend were ok.
"I'm sorry dear," she said, looking as the little girl's knee which she was holding, "I didn't see you there, are you ok?" Hermione nodded her head but she was biting her lip to stop child tears as she looked at the already formed bruise on her leg. The woman drew out a pocket first aid kit from her handbag, "I have a little boy about your age," she told the children, "and he's always getting into little accidents like this." There was the tiniest blob of blood on her knee and the woman put a bit of cream and a plaster on it. She helped Hermione to her feet and beamed, "there we go," she said, "all better, does it still hurt?" She beamed further when Hermione shook her head, "wonderful, I guess I'll see you around."
At that moment the Grangers and Adam Tanner turned the corner and locked eyes with the woman talking to the children. She looked up and her purple eyes locked onto Sirius and they widened in disbelief. He cursed for not placing a glamour on himself, it was just his luck he had to run into her, now, after everything was going so well too. "Siri?" She squeaked making the Grangers look at him questioningly as that was most certainly not his name. He wanted to incline his head and say she must be mistaking him for someone else but that would be like mistaking any child for Harry or any deer for Prongs. He hung his head in aggravation, well she wasn't firing hexes at him or shouting expletives, she seemed to waiting for him to explain.
"Hello Andy," he said, "what a pleasure to see you again," sounding about as displeased as he could get, "what are you doing here, I didn't know you worked in a hotel?"
She walked up to him, grabbed his arm and started to tug him away, "excuse us," she said to the Grangers as the passed.
Sirius threw them the keys, "I'll be along later I promise," he said just as he was tugged out of sight by his cousin.
"Right, spill," she ordered, pushing him up against the wall, "everything. Oh and don't try anything either, I've got a wand."
"What do you want to know?" He asked.
"Everything, from why you did what you did to how you escaped and what you plan on doing, because you did not seem all that dangerous back there, and if I am satisfied I may refrain from sending a patronus to Dumbledore."
Sirius sighed again. "I did not kill all those people Andy," he said sorrowfully as the loss of Lily and James Potter made itself known once more in his throat. "I wasn't the secret keeper Andy, I was too obvious a target, I suggested Peter be made it in my stead so he could go into hiding too and I was the decoy. I thought it was the perfect plan, Peter was too cowardly to be targeted, it turned out he was too weak to turn away from you know who as well. He was the traitor and the spy, not me and not Remus like I thought. The night they died I knew what must have happened and I made a grand mistake. Instead of rushing to the house to see if little Harry at least was alive, I tracked down their murderer instead to get revenge."
"I went for his wand first but he was quicker. He cut off his own finger and then called out that I betrayed Lily and James Potter and then killed all those people before turning into a rat, yeah he's an animagus, all us marauders were, and escaping down the sewer. When Fudge came all I could do was laugh, it was just all so surreal. Well there was so much evidence apparently I was arrested with no trial, the ministry was so desperate to appear competent and I had so many enemies in high places and no family to speak of I was just locked away." He let venom seep into his voice; his experience in Azkaban would never leave him. "I was condemned to never see the light of day again, me, an innocent man."
"And that is what made me so bitter Andy. I was left to rot and what did those who knew me do? Nothing. Remus who knew me like a brother assumed I was capable of such a crime, as did Minerva, Dumbledore, Hagrid and... you. You did nothing, all of you, nothing, so I did what I had to, I escaped that hell. I knew it was up to me, no one else was trying to get me justice, none of the people I once loved, it took me just over a year but I did it. there was one man who tortured me the whole year I was there, almost killed me at points, well I killed him in return, I think, I haven't heard any statement from him in the Daily Prophet anyway."
"I went to check on my godson because he's the only one I have left. I arrived to find your precious warrior of light Dumbledore had locked him in a viper's nest. He was beaten within an inch of his life, he'd been worked like a slave and he was ill with pneumonia, locked in a cupboard. If I'd arrived at that house minutes later, he would have died, minutes Andy! I saved his life and have been looking after him ever since, that black haired boy you saw next to Hermione was Harry Andy and I think you can verify he looks just fine and happy. I am the one who got Lucius arrested and I plan to do the same to every death eater I know. I will not allow anyone to stand in my way of my revolution so consider yourself forewarned."
"Now if you don't mind I just want a nice peaceful weekend with my friends and Godson, good day." He bowed his head in her direction before sliding out of his favourite cousin's grip and walking back to the lift.
"Don't turn you back on me, Sirius!" He heard movement behind and him and knew immediately she had just drawn her wand. He heard the curse fire, she had just fired a stun spell on him, not a very strong one, just as a reprimand, but she was out to get him, obviously she had not fully brought his story, she preferred to believe the ministry was as competent as they pretended to be.
Sirius turned around just in time block the shot with Protego, a regular one. "Not here Andy," he reprimanded ignoring the look of shock on her face with his wandless magic. "Now as much as I'd like to stay and chat about why you have a muggle job and all, I have a place to be, I really do want to just enjoy my weekend, so stay out of my way."
"I don't think so Sirius, we're going to Dumbledore, you can have veritaserum and we'll have this whole business sorted out."
"No Andy, it is not that I don't want my name to cleared or I have something terrible to hide, but I just don't trust you. I used to, but not anymore, Dumbledore either, or even Remus, not anymore after the betrayal. The minister already knows I'm innocent; he's one of the first ones I proved it to, but because he does not want the world to know how bad a minister and man he is, he's covering it up. That is why I'm to be kissed on sight or killed, that is why the search has not been called off, so don't tell me all you want is to prove my innocence. I'll catch Peter myself and everyone who once followed 'you know who' and then the world will know. Until then I'll have you know I'm actually quite enjoying my vigilante life. See you around Andy."
"I'm not going to let you walk away from me Sirius!"
Sirius turned around, "oh contraire dear cousin, that is exactly what you are going to do, because I'm not giving you a choice." He clicked his fingers and an invisible force kept her pinned to the wall nearest them. "Now, this is what is going to happen, you are going to take the weekend off work and go live with Remus for a bit or something and forget this whole horrid experience unless of course you want me to make your forget," his words were met with a vigorously shaking head. "I am a lot stronger than I used to be, I have powers you could not imagine, what you have seen is a mere glimmer of what I can do now I am in touch with my core."
"You don't scare me Sirius," she said.
"Well I should!" He bit right back. "Do not get in my way or anger me, I already beat up Remus, I do not mind doing the same to you if I am pushed, cousin or no, I still love you deep down but betrayal is a large thing to get over, do you understand?"
It dawned on her she was out of her depth and she nodded a small nod of acceptance. He released her and walked away, this time she did not call after him. When he arrived at the room the Grangers and Harry were just about to head to the seaside but had not wanted to leave him with no way to get into the room and not knowing where they were. "What took you so long?" Jane asked, walking up to him, concern etched on her features.
"That was my cousin Nymphadora, but she likes to be called by her surname Tonks or Andy after her mother's name, Andromeda, I haven't seen her for a very long time, I was unaware she was even in the county, it was a surprise for both of us."
"Your cousin? Will we be seeing her around?"
"Unfortunately no. You see she told me she does not usually work on weekends; she was just covering the morning shift for a friend before getting home to her family. It's a shame, I'd have liked to catch up, but my life keeps me very busy. I'm guessing my room is next door, oh look they adjoin," he said, delighted as he found a door that led from that room to his and Harry's. He threw off his top and he walked through the doorway and then rootled around in the suitcase that had been brought up for him for his swimming trunks. He was going to take the advice he gave to his cousin and enjoy this weekend. Given the bleak nature of his revolution he was going restart straight after, both he and Harry deserved it.
He walked back into their room dressed in nothing but swimming trunks and sunglasses, a towel thrown over his shoulder. Jane forced herself to stare at his face so she would not look at his eight pack but she had to admit it was rather impressive. Andrew stared down at his chest which was also bare in derision, he was not pigeon chested but he would never match up to Adam. Still, the flirting that had gone on the play park seemed a onetime event; Adam did not even glance at his wife as he picked up Harry and led the way to the swimming pool. Sirius wanted to make sure Harry was comfortable in the water and wanted to know how good Hermione, who by default was also considered in his eyes his responsibility before taking them to the sea which was a lot less predictable and safe.
He did not consider himself inadequate protection for the children, indeed one would find it hard to find someone who was more confident. He could handle any muggle of group of thugs that tried to hurt him or the children in his charge and most wizards as well. Whether it was Adam Tanner or Sirius Black somebody wanted to mess with, they could not best him, not now. Still, it was always nice to know what he was landed with and what to prepare for. He cast a glance at Hermione, the sweet little girl who had latched onto Harry so strongly and quickly was like a daughter to him already. He welcomed her into his pack simply because she was a cub his cub may very well have chosen as a life partner, even if it was just as a friend. He looked at Jane and Andrew, her birth parents, that protection was extended to them by default.
After this they could go and warm up in the Jacuzzi before heading out and having a late lunch of fish and chips or peanut butter and jam sandwiches, whichever they asked for. Then they could go down to the beach and make castles in the sand, the activity that had formed their friendship before heading back to the hotel for dinner and movies and drinks from the mini bar. Tomorrow they'd... well who knew? They'd take each day as it came and make sure they had a load of fun. He could give them practically anything they asked for. The important bit is that Harry and Hermione became good friends so they each had someone and Harry had a good time to make up for how much time Sirius was forced to neglect him to hunt down the death eaters and make his future world a better and safer place.