When you wish - "Quick, Padfoot, make a wish, dad, quick, look!" His Godson/son, pointed up at the starry sky with a beam, looking awfully proud of himself. "Hermione says that if you see a shooting star you get to make a wish, and stars will grant it for you." They did not usually stay out this late, Harry being the child he was often slept from early in the evening to about eight in the morning. Sometimes he had a nap in the afternoon too; he just did not understand it. He thought children were meant to fight tooth and nail against going to bed, not begging for it from about 6pm. Still, tonight was different, tonight was special, tonight they were watching a meteorite shower. For all his unlocked core power, that was a sight only nature could bring to Harry, and what a sight it was to see too... it only happened every four years, but God it was worth it.
"Do they now?" Sirius asked with a smile, lying down alongside Harry on the grassy ground of Arthur's seat. Sirius was glad that he had made a friendship with Hermione, it was just the sort of thing that bright young girl would say. Hanging around with her had increased Harry's confidence, and her spending time with him had made her inclined to act her age, the child she was. It was a win, win situation, and Andrew seemed to have forgiven him for the inappropriate way he acted towards his wife when they first met. It's not like he'd meant to hit on her or anything, it was just his marauder side kicking in and he always liked to get into a bit of mischief. It was not his lowest moment, that had happened a couple months prior with the schoolteacher.
Jane was an incredible person, truly. She was a mother that could rival Molly Weasley with her overprotectiveness and sheer instinct. When they went to the beach that weekend it was testament, the way her eyes followed the children with unadulterated love. She looked at him like that too sometimes though it always made him wonder what it was he was doing wrong that made her think him a child. Maybe it was when he fell asleep in the car or made a fuss about getting a flake in his ice cream or when he wore his swimming trunk inside out and did not notice until she pointed it out to him and by that point he had been in the pool for in the hour. Maybe it was the fact that he was young and only that and he was not going to argue, he was even younger by wizarding standards.
It was strange that Jane saw this before he did and she did not even know him or the world of magic and she saw he was young and he had already been through so much. She did not know for certain, she should not possibly, but when she looked at him with those soft eyes he could tell she knew he had been through so much, and he was young. So yes, maybe it was her, when she did his ironing and taught him the backstroke because he hated not seeing where he was going and demanded she stayed with him and held his head to stop it from going under the water and to tell him when to stop so he did not bash his head against the side of the pool. Its only looking back on that moment did he realize just how like a child he must have sounded.
He loved Jane. He admired her. He thought she was beautiful and her character was wonderful that she was loving and intelligent and had a superb daughter was an excellent friend to Harry, but he didn't want to have sex with her. He didn't feel anything remotely sexual for her, actually he didn't really have any thoughts like that at all, for anyone, and with all the other pressing matters in his life, his celibacy really did not bother him.
"Dad look, another one!" Harry called again, pointing to a few more meteorites he'd seen roaring through the sky. Harry was almost six years old now, six, it was hard to believe. Harry had been with him two years and he'd been out of jail for three. Harry had asked for him to be his dad and while they had not gone through the adoption process as that was not really possible, at least in the wizarding way, they considered each other father and son. Harry still varied what he called him, dad, daddy, Sirius, Padfoot, Paddy, Godfather – a mature Hermione saying that was dying out. He really did not care, as long as Harry was his, the child had taken his surname as well, he was now Harry Potter-Black, his heir, and he could not be happier about that.
"Two wishes, what are you going to wish for?" He did not really care; because there was little stars could do that he could not. Whatever a six year old wanted could probably be bought, but Harry was a happy child anyway, so he was not worried. He received an outraged cry about how he could not say his wish out loud or it would not come true. Stars he knew were more than the tiny pinpricks they appeared to be, but they were still just a dot to him. They did not have any conscious thoughts, no powers, how could they possibly grant him wishes? He still refrained from telling his misinformed child that out loud or not, the wishes would still not come true, one could get numinous feelings from the stars, but they held no celestial powers.
Still, it would be nice to think there was someone watching over him, someone who cared about his revolution. If one made wishes at all, then surely that was the first step to ensuring that these wishes came true. A life without wishes was a life without hope and dreams, and a life without hope and dreams was a life without purpose. Had he not said this to himself in Azkaban? H could not go back on that deep set mantra now he was out of there, of all things. I wish... I wish... went his magic as it coursed round his body, I wish... I wish... actually now he came to think about it there were an awful lot of things he wished for and he felt slightly disappointed that he could not say them out loud, because he wanted to scream them to those blasted stars.
He wished that Regulus was safe with the mission he was completing to do with the horcruxes. He had had never felt so grateful to the man than he did the moment he learnt he was sacrificing sleep and his health in order to find out what the horcruxes were and take steps to find them. They already had two in their possession, three if you considered Harry, and while none of them were... taken care of, he was purposely steering away from words such as destroyed and terminated, they were in their hold and they were not going to let him fall into the wrong hands. They were not going to lose the horcruxes, once they had them altogether they could work on how to get rid of them including the one in Harry's scar. That was his second wish, being able to get rid of the horcrux in Harry without hurting him.
He wished that he would catch Peter Pettigrew soon. Surely that rat could not remain hiding for the rest of his life... he had to slip up somehow. He just did not even know where to start looking; could the stars even give him a lead? If they did he would never doubt them again. Peter was the key to his release, and he really did want to be formally released (and apologised to). The driving need was not as forceful as it once was, seeing the light in the situation at hand, Sirius had discovered that while he was still officially a felon he was more feared, because the death eaters he was after believed this was fuelling his anger and need for revenge and justice. Furthermore, it was easier to be a vigilante when you were running from the law anyway.
He wished Harry wanted to stay with him forever. He wished he never got tired of hiding and wanted to go to school instead of being tutored by him and Regulus, and the only kid he saw being Hermione and her other friends, of which she had very few, and no other males. He knew it was being selfish keeping Harry to himself, although it was risky integrating him into society, especially with it being so easy for him to slip up somehow as he was only very young. He knew it was not easy living with him, Regulus and Kreacher and he knew he left him too often, but he was trying his best, all of his doing was for his future after all. Harry meant the world to him, that was another thing he wished for, Harry's everlasting peace, happiness and safety.
He wished Harry was as fine with his absence as he claimed to be because Harry was attached to him, as his saviour from the Dursleys and being ditched by your caregiver, you dad, for any amount of time, for any reason, understandable or not even to a child's mind was no easy feat to forgive, let alone disregard. He wished that calm tranquil moments like these where they simply lay side by side under the stars watching a meteorite shower together, making wishes that they could not voice and stars could not possibly grant anyway, could last forever. He wished that Harry loved him as much as he loved Harry and he wrapped an arm around him as they watched the stars fall like the celestial powers bringing his wishes down to the Earth to be enacted.
He wished... he wished that he could scream his wishes out loud at the top of his voice so that those stars all the hundreds and thousands of light years they were away would hear and grant him his heart's desires. "How many wishes did you make Harry?" He asked, wondering whether this question too was against the rules. He'd seen a great many of shooting stars this evening, easily enough to cover the number of wishes he'd made... not that he believed the superstition in anyway, but as he played along he did not want to break any of the rules.
"Just the one," Harry answered with a shrug. "After all, I can't hog them all to myself, how will anyone else make any wishes?" Sirius could not help but mull over those words... well he hadn't made that many wishes. They fell asleep under the stars that night as the meteorites rained on, the stars bringing their wishes to Earth.
He had one wish above all others too; it had been weeks since the shower and it burned brightly in his breast. Sirius really did not know what he was doing here, he kept trying to convince himself that everything was fine but still he was lying in wait at this little house all the same. He and Arthur Weasley had not been friends exactly, but neither had he ever played a prank on the calm and amusing Griffindor boy four years his senior. They grew into more than acquaintances when Regulus had seen them talking, assumed they were arguing when it was in actual fact shared ire about pure blood views on muggles and decided to teach him a lesson. This lesson turned out to be a bone breaking curse that Sirius had seen just in time to push Arthur out the way so it hit his wrist and not his back.
Needless to say Regulus was corrected and punished but ever since then Sirius kept a close eye on the redhead and had rather taken to protecting the calm boy who had for some reason grown more animated since that incident. A tentative friendship had formed to a point where he would not choose him over his fellow marauders, his brothers, but he would choose his company over being alone, even over a pretty girl. Even if he was a little eccentric and other people tended to shy away from him or else pass him off with a smile, once one bothered to get to know him and talked for a while, he was incredibly good company. He was a prefect and lived by the rules, not really one for pranks, he had received admonishing from him at times, but even if he was not a powerful ally he was an incredibly loyal and good friend.
Arthur had always been a good laugh and did not mind helping him with his subjects, especially muggle subjects which Arthur was incredibly interested in. He had even spent one short holiday with Lily and her family, much to James' ignored protests as a case study of sorts. Lily had always been so nice to everybody and Arthur was so polite, James had been pulling his hair out in worry for weeks, but it was soon clear nothing of a romantic nature had occurred but Sirius' protection had been needed even more. Sirius had been worried the eccentric child would be shunned given the reason for his visit, but the Evan's family with the exception of Petunia who was deep into her phase of hating everything magical thought the visitor had been highly amusing.
Sirius could not help but care for him, ever since that incident he'd gotten into helping him out. He was actually the one who had set him up with Molly Prewitt as was her maiden name, a hufflepuff girl his year. It was not on a whim, Arthur was fretting because he had no date for the Yule ball and was wringing his hands in worry. Sirius saw her flaming red hair and thought her bossy nature would be good with his calm and good mannered one and they'd make a good and amusing couple. Molly had never really liked him, she was the sensible kind, like Lily, mature, hardworking and motherly to the first years whether they wanted it or not. After a little time she felt a certain sort of grateful affection as she and Arthur had immediately hit it off.
Sirius had never expected them to get married the year after they left school, their wedding was but a week before another friend of his and he'd had a hard time recovering from the hangover in time to be a good guest. How was he to know that Arthur was going to challenge him to fire whiskey shots, that he won he will add? Arthur threw up after ten, he was not a light weight but Sirius was better and still had quick enough reactions even after eleven shots to maneuver him so he did not throw up on his shoes or his suit and cleaned the ground around them with a quick scourgify. Molly never knew what happened the night of her wedding, just like the hen and stag nights, in the after party after a few dances where everyone danced with the bride; the congregation had separated into men and women.
They had decided to keep that particular story and secret and he had graciously not used it against him in anyway and did not plan to, he was his protector, not a fiend. As expected, the short time he was given to get to know him was amusing, and he had no desire to bring havoc to their perfect little world. Molly gave birth five months after they were married which raised a few eyebrows especially as the baby was in no way underweight but because it was the Weasleys it just increased their popularity. They both joined the Order, as hosts and ministry officials and brains instead of fighters and grew even more loved in society. The Weasleys just had that vibe about them, you couldn't hate them and you couldn't fault them, even for their faults.
Molly was pregnant again a year after William was born, from where he was watching them now he knew they now had seven kids, the youngest was now three and at last Molly was not inclined to have anymore. It made him smile, they had mentioned she wanted a big family as she and Arthur had no siblings, it was a wonder they all fit in that small house, and income. The household was so full of love; those undoubtedly well raised kids would make excellent friends for Harry. He ground his teeth in indecision and twisted on the spot not knowing why he was still here instead of where he was needed. Maybe it was Regulus, the one who had unwittingly started their small friendship, returning that reminded him of the promise he made to himself regarding this family that made him come here again, either way he owed Arthur.
His best friends had forsaken him and he was still bitter about that, but Arthur had cared, he tried to get the ministry to see reason but his position was too low and he held too little sway. Arthur liked justice too, but eventually had to give it up; money after all often speaks louder than reason and justice especially in a ministry as corrupt as this one. The big boys at the top, the death eaters, thought it was hilarious that he was arrested for being Voldemort's right hand man and used their influence, which was a lot more than poor Arthur to make sure he got no trial. Regulus was God knows where, he did not know if he was even alive at that point. He was however, righting his past wrongs by aiding him in his revolution by hunting down the horcruxes they'd looked up and dreamt up, literally.
He was still worrying his lip over the revelation about Harry, but they had to cross one bridge at a time. The time would come when he had to deal with Harry and the dark magic within him, but he did not have to just yet. When the problem presented itself again he, the descendent of Merlin, protector and guardian of Harry, would find a way to sort it, he swore it.
His thoughts returned to Regulus, and the mission he had taken on today. While he would make an excellent partner, him going on less dangerous missions (as long as proper precautions were taken) was much preferable, after only just getting his brother back, he did not want to lose him to a stray curse so soon. Regulus was powerful, descendent of Merlin, but whatever the dark magic on the locket had done to him; despite training and meditation he was not able to unlock his core to the same extent as Sirius. While Sirius was certain he could protect his brother, he would rather not have the worry hanging over him and Reg would hate the idea of Sirius even contemplating protecting him as he was a full grown man and a powerful wizard now. Besides, he doing something different in his uprising made the quest go much swifter anyway.
Just as afternoon was fading into evening, and, two hours now passed, Sirius turned to head back to Harry who was left alone with no one but Kreacher for company (given the elf's indulgent tendencies around the boy Harry could not be happier about the arrangement) some movement caught his eye. It was only the front door opening but it made him stay and watch the happenings of the next few moments even so. One of the middle children stalked into the garden and started to hunt the garden gnomes, grabbing them by the ankles and slinging them over the fence with admirable strength for an eight year old, this was Percy, he believed. The child had taken after his mother, even though he was but an infant when he knew him he bossed around his indulgent older brothers in the games he dreamt up, and was the youngest known perfectionist.
There was a disgruntled expression on his freckled face; the young boy had probably earned this chore as a punishment for some wrongdoing. Sirius mildly wondered what the boy had done, talked back, broken a rule, gotten into danger recklessly perhaps... well boys will be boys. Sirius frowned, boys will be boys. Harry had been under his care for over a year and half now, but he had not put one toe out of the line. He followed Sirius wherever he went, unless strictly told to stay where he was, when asked not to leave his room because of some mission Sirius had to take, he stayed, he always did what he was told. He ate everything on his plate (his stomach had grown at last and he was now able to do so), he spoke when spoken to; he answered a question when asked.
Now of course Sirius knew that things would not be the same for Harry as it would any other normally raised boy. Normal boys spoke back, broke rules, got into trouble, were cheeky and mischievous, Remus had once said children often did this so they'd be assured that they'd still be loved even if they did not follow the rules. Lord knows he was a terror when he was a kid even though he was given very harsh punishments, most of them physical. However, compared to what Harry had been through at an age much younger than him he would not really call it abuse. Besides, he had always had Regulus there for him and the marauders, before him, Harry had had no one. He was beaten if he did not break a rule, he knew he was safe with Sirius, and was not intimidated by him, thankfully, despite how scary he knew he could be, but the ingrained respect and fear for his elders would not fade.
This red haired child had probably misbehaved somehow, and he wished Harry would do the same because that way he could enforce discipline and Harry would know that he could do something naughty and still be loved just as much. Still, it did not matter to him if Harry did not want to be a prank master and was instead rule abiding and prefect material, as long as he was happy, that was all that mattered, that he was safe and happy, the first clause of that statement was far easier to ensure. Percy shook his head in agitation making the unruly ginger locks bounce up and down but his scowl gently eased off his face and he dutifully continued his punishment. He smiled in appreciation of the idea, making a child do something productive was much preferable to a spanking or sending him to his room or making him go without supper.
After twenty minutes the boy was done and with a smile of pride wiped the sweat that was not there from his brow, despite the fact he thought no one was watching to admire his hard work. It seemed the Weasley parents had not neglected to teach their brood the satisfaction of a job well done. He reached into his pocket and brought out a piece of cheese, for a moment he thought the boy was actually going to eat the tiny morsel as if it would fill him any but he did not. With his other hand he drew a small rat out of his shirt pocket. Rats were highly intelligent creatures, the child smiled as it sat up on his arm, sniffing at the boy's other hand as it lowered down. As soon as it was in reach it grabbed the offered morsel with its forepaws and nibbled at it.
He knew it was probably his understandable dislike for rats doing this, but he could not help but draw similarities between this rat and the one he knew. There was something about that shade of grey which was its fur that was very much like what he knew. The way his whiskers were longer one side than the other like a deformity but was in fact Wormtail's weird moustache made him glare at the rat in Percy's hand. Its eyes were soft brown like Peter's eyes and even the way its tail curled around itself was a familiar action. Sirius' keen eyes went to its forepaws, examining the familiar way in which it ate and saw the cheese; it was missing a toe on its left forepaw. His eyes widened with disbelief, there was no string of similarities about it, this was the murderer Peter Pettigrew.
He refrained from doing what his instincts demanded and bursting into the garden and blowing it sky high, this matter required precision and a plan like everything else. He wanted to come back another day but he could take no risks with this situation. While that plan was practical he did not know whether Peter was planning on becoming a long term pet for this little boy. If so, then yes, he would still be here when he decided to come back for his vengeance. Peter certainly had no reason to leave where he was given protection and free bed and board but how was he to know the murderous traitor's intentions? But were the Weasley's in danger? Peter would not literally bite the hand that feeds him, but was he planning on staying there long term?
For all he knew he might be planning on leaving the very next day. Sirius knew he would never forgive himself if he let Peter get away a second time and he was strong enough to beat him without a second thought of any effort now. What if Peter decided to hurt one of the loving bunch, Arthur or Molly or one of the little ones? He would barely be able to live with himself with another death indirectly placed on his shoulders. No, it was best to go after Peter now just in case, at least then he'd know that he'd been dealt with and then he would be able to have his name cleared eventually, at least of the muggle and Peter murders and the betrayal of Lily and James. Being a vigilante wasn't exactly legal either but the ministry; eager to redeem themselves will probably forgive him that, and might even eventually come to thank him for it.
With a twist of his wrist in a 'come hither' motion, the rat came flying towards where he was hidden in the nearby woods with a silent accio. He misjudged the protective drive the boy had over the rat as with a startled and confused cry he jumped at the small mammal and wrapped his hands tightly around the little animal. The result was that Percy came flying towards where he was hidden in the nearby woods too. Within seconds the child slammed into him making him stagger and as the child locked wide eyes with his own, flashing with recognition, he panicked. There was probably a better way to handle the situation but whatever it was, it fled his mind so he did the first thing his instincts, which had never led him astray before suggested – he got them the hell out of there.
He was strong, but he was not sure he could face two protective parents which were his friends and the children they had which could do magic, without hurting any of them and not letting the rat get away, which it undoubtedly would once it saw him. Percy threw up as soon as they landed in his basement, the first place he could think of and then started crying with the shock and fear. He started backing away from Sirius frightened as he stalked towards him like a lion would a faun, he did not mean to terrify the child further but he was not to know that the murderous look was for the rat and not the boy.
His frightened wails got louder and more tearful and Sirius, who never could stand crying children decided that as even a rat could not escape this basement and Percy seemed to be clinging to him rather tightly, he could spend a couple of minutes dealing with it. He forced the murderous look out of his eyes and sank down to his haunches so he was the child's height. "I'm not going to hurt you child," he said softly, not looking away from the large, teary orbs in front of him, "I mean it."
Percy just continued to back away, "you're Sirius Black," he muttered, "why should I believe you?" He shouted each word in fear, not seeming to have control over his words and voice and he backed up until he found himself up against a wall and stopped moving. "You killed fourteen people and betrayed James and Lily Potter and now you want to kill me too, don't you!" It was more of an exclamation more than a question, so even the children believe he is a good for nothing traitor. He had the urge to prove himself to this kid, but knew there was no point, he would find out over the news in two or three days time anyway. "Stay away from me," he whispered, wails down to whimpers, sniffs and murmurs, "stayaway, stayaway, stayaway, stayaway."
"Stop crying," he said with a little more force, "I can't bloody stand crying children. I promised not to hurt you and I keep my promises, I don't hurt innocents or children." He did not know whether Percy believed him or not but he managed to stop crying, probably more out fear than anything else. "Right now that you have calmed down slightly perhaps you will let me explain things to you." He rose back up to his full height.
"What's there to explain?"
"Your rat, I need it."
"What do you need Scabbers for?"
"Interesting name, things aren't always what they appear to be. If I'm wrong," which I am definitely not, "I promise I'm not going to hurt it."
"What might you be wrong about?"
"That is not a rat, that is an animagus in disguise." The rat started to struggle violently. "Game's up Peter," he hissed at it, "you can't get out of here, there are wards up against apparating too, might as well transform for me now."
"You're scaring him," Percy whined, clutching him to his chest, the lengths he was willing to go to in order to protect this rat were admirable.
"Oh I know," he grinned maliciously. "I can make it painful Peter, just do it yourself and I promise I'll go easy on you."
"If I give you Scabbers, will you take me home?"
"Yes, I promise." Very slowly, his hands opened up.
Wish granted.