Author's Note:
SURPRISE! Bonus chapter of the week!
Reviews and Comments: To Zarathos Morgenstern: Thank you! To Marauder0716: I think the retrieving of the soul was meant to be less anti-climatic, at least by my book. It's the next part that's tricky. Thank you very much! To scrappy8: Thank you! Yes, we now have to find Sirius. To MrsHJSnape: Thank you! It was fun to bring in James and Lily and Misha for a quick hello. Of course Ron introduced himself to James lol. Thank you so much for saying this is your favourite Harry Potter fanfiction. No, I haven't published any original work. Maybe one day. Thank you! To minerdude: Ha, I promise the next fourteen chapters will not cover the next twenty-four hours only haha. You think Sirius, Harry, and Zee will all end up alive in the end. Interesting guess. Thank you. No, it was a quick visit. It would have been nice for Harry to have more time with his parents, but it wasn't plausible. He was on a mission for Sirius' soul. Thank you! To charmshield7: Thank you. I do think the moments with Remadora, Hinny, and Romione were all needed. Yes, the confrontation between Harry and Sirius… I hope you like it. Thank you! To darkhk: Thank you very much! To Guest: Aw, thank you for getting emotional over my author's note. It is crazy to think the story will have an ending. Thank you so much for coming back to my world years later and still loving it. I'm happy you had so much to read! I'm sure I'll still be around the fanfiction world. I often take breaks for a few years and then return, but you never know. As to how the story will end, you will have to wait and see, but I love all of the questions about who will live and who die and how it all plays out. Thank you very much!
To Read and Fly: Just a little cliffhanger lol. I did think of having it be more dangerous, but the idea of having a Reaper there to meet them is how they were able to steer, to get where they needed to go without issue. But they had to get Sirius soul and the Reaper is only a guide. Sorry to have made you cry, but that's how I like to think an afterlife is as well, just somewhere you already know and love, full of people you love who do watch over you when they can. I think time flows differently in the afterlife too so it is only maybe like a day or two since Sirius vanished for them despite it being months for us. I don't plan on writing a story about the afterlife no. Thank you very much! To George Raison: Thank you very much for saying this story is "totally riveting, just as much as the previous two." Thank you very much! To alix33: Thanks for finding the arguing while having sex conversation between Baxter, Harry, and Ron so funny lol. Thank you! To Nightwing2013: The Magical Intelligence Agency in my world is the law enforcement for the International Confederation of Wizards. What is the DFDL? Do you mean the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? Yes, a lot of steam! Thanks for loving the reunions and yes, I thought it was kind of cool how Misha wrapped Harry's arm and the handkerchief went back with him. Does Misha's knowledge indicate that he is also a reaper? No, but a fascinating idea. Thank you! To Nan001: Sorry to make you cry, but thank you for saying it was beautiful and extremely sad. Thank you very much!
To Bruck27: Thanks for loving this trilogy. I'm honoured that you're going back to reading ASC again. Thank you! To Charlotte: Thank you! Ha, you'll take those odds on Sirius not blowing up? Good to know! Yes, Ron and Hermione are back together and happy. Thank you! To EllyAnn13: Yes, Harry is brave and stupid lol. No, we haven't met Raven before. Yes, Sirius has only been gone a short while according to James. Time flows differently over there. Thank you! To Lance Kumazuki: Well, they definitely do deserve to be brought "to the edge of death and when they beg for the end, let them suffer at the brink." Thanks for saying the twists and turns in this story are amazing. Yes, Ron and Hermione do deserve each other as much as Harry and Ginny, thank you very much! To saucyswimmer: Thank you! Sorry you're review didn't post in time, that is odd, but you weren't the only person to say that. Thanks for loving seeing Ginny taking care of Harry after the boys' night. I love Tonks being protective over Harry. Ha, Remus would prefer Harry to be a librarian lol. Thanks for loving Ron introducing himself to James and Harry getting to see his parents. Ha, the stern looks are understood lol. Thank you very much! To CrazyWithABook: You're welcome and thank you! To The cat with blue eyes: Yes, they managed to retrieve it. That was the easy part lol. Thank you! To tim2604: Yay! Thanks for catching up! The soul thing is amazing, I think, and thanks for loving the Orpheus reference. Yes, Sirius choosing his Animagus form almost was like he didn't really want to hurt Harry. Thanks for loving Harry and Ron's bond, they are best mates and I love showing them get along so well with Baxter and Higgins. Thank you very much! To OptimusMaximus: Ron does deserve closure as well. Thank you!
To briana_t: It wasn't a short lol. Of course both Ginny and Lily have told Harry if he dies, they will kill him lol. I miss Misha too. Thank you! To DeadFish37: Thank you. To AQuickRead91: Thank you for sticking it out for so long! Harry and Ron are definitely both idiots lol. I think you're right, I do think Remus would have looked back. Thank you very much! To GABRIELAGPGP1988: Thank you! To MABK_Potter_Fan: Thanks for my loving my descent into the underworld. It was fun to write and explore a different area. I love Ron having Harry's back. To me it goes without question. Yes, Ron and Hermione have found their way back to each other. Thanks for loving my Hinny smut and fluff. Thank you! To marauders_mowopapr: You're welcome lol. I love Ron overhearing Ginny moaning for Harry. Thanks for loving how "this connected back to the first chapter with Sirius being pulled." It's how I wanted to show it. Yes, Harry getting to see his family is a cause to be teary-eyed. Nervous for those who survived from my author's note is a fair assessment. Yes, the end is in sight! Thank you very much! To Arabella_SG: Thank you for loving the bit with James, Lily, and Misha while they retrieved the soul. Harry has Sirius' soul back now comes the hard part. We will have to see what Tonks has planned and if it will work. Thank you very much!
To Guitarcin: Tonks and Remus are definitely naturally worried and ha, Remus absolutely wishes Harry could do something less dangerous. Though to be fair, if Harry was a librarian he would probably somehow still get into trouble with some dangerous book or something lol. Ha, yes, Ron and Hermione overhearing Harry and Ginny shagging was fun to write. Thanks for loving how "hot that Hinny smut was." You're welcome! I love them having a conversation in the midst of it all, it's very them in my opinion. Thank you very much! To BigMackie: Yes, " ️ ️ ️'s everywhere, we love it " — I'm glad! Thank you very much! To Mrs_Norway: Ha, Harry would agree that the chapters are always great, thank you LOL. I'm glad you enjoyed how they collected the soul. Now they have to give it to Sirius. You're wondering how fast Sirius will die and will Harry have a chance to say goodbye? We will have to see. Thank you very much!
My posting schedule: Weekly.
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Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
The One With the Old Abandoned Farm
Ginny and Hermione had stayed up after the boys left, curled together on the sofa in the living room drinking hot chocolate. Neither of them felt like they could simply go to sleep while they waited and Ginny knew that her friend had to be feeling as anxious as she felt.
"What do you think about all of this?" Ginny asked.
Hermione blew out a long breath. "I think it's complete madness."
"Me too," she admitted. "But I can't imagine letting Sirius die without his soul. That's just so cruel. He escaped the Dementors in Azkaban all those years ago and to lose it like this now… without even really remembering Harry or anything. He doesn't deserve that. Harry doesn't deserve that."
"No, no one does. That's one of the best things about the crypt in my opinion. Removing the Dementors as a punishment… life in prison is punishment enough. I don't believe that we have to kill people as well."
"Me neither," Ginny said. "But I will admit that I think that some people are better off dead."
"I won't argue with that," Hermione said, absently running her fingers over the horrible scar on her arm.
Ginny gestured towards the scar. "How are you doing with that? Are you talking to anyone yet?"
Hermione shook her head, pulling the sleeves of Ron's jumper down. "No. I… I'm not ready."
Ginny watched her for a moment before she spoke. "I know it's scary, but you should consider it."
"I know," she whispered. "It's just… it's hard."
Ginny's face was full of sympathy. She understood that completely. "The first time Bill and Charlie made me see Na'eemah, I protested. I sat there for almost a full hour and just stared at her. I don't think that we said a single word to each other. It's hard to talk to someone. I get that. But trust me, you can't hold it all in either. Look at Harry. McCraight is really helping him."
"He is," Hermione agreed. "The stress of this case alone is a lot and he's dealing remarkably well."
"Well, he's dealing in a typical Harry fashion, which isn't exactly good, but talking to McCraight is helping him: A lot. I can see it. Especially after a night like tonight, just knowing that McCraight is going to be available to him after whatever happens… he's going to need that."
Hermione bit her lip, leaning forward in her seat. "Do you really think that he can do it, Ginny? Do you really think that he can return Sirius his soul?"
Ginny bit her bottom lip. "I think that if anyone is stubborn enough to pull it off, he can."
Hermione half smiled at that. "Harry? Stubborn?"
Ginny chuckled. "Your sarcasm is noted." She took a sip of her hot chocolate, carefully watching Hermione.
Her hair was in a messy bun of curls and she was wearing bright blue cotton sleep shorts and one of Ron's old Weasley jumpers in gold and maroon. It was large on her, but she looked cozy despite the stress she knew they were both feeling about the situation.
"How are you doing?"
"Hmm?"
"How are you doing?" Ginny repeated. "You and Ron have worked things out?"
Hermione nodded, sipping her hot chocolate. "Yes. We're… good." At Ginny's look, she sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cut you and Harry out when we… took a break, it's just… I didn't want to bother you with everything you had going on and Harry is… I love him more than anything, but he and Ron are so close and I didn't want to make him choose sides."
"He wouldn't, Hermione."
"Not intentionally," she said. "But he and Ron have a bond that I would never want to break. I know he loves me but the two of them… no, I would never even try to get between them."
Ginny understood what Hermione meant by that. Harry and Ron had grown closer over the years and the two of them were so close. Harry would never intentionally pick one of them over the other, but Hermione was right — he and Ron just had something extra special between them. She studied Hermione for a moment before she cleared her throat.
"Will you tell me now? What happened that is?"
Hermione hesitated before she nodded. "I… I thought I was pregnant."
Ginny's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my gods! Really?"
She nodded. "I… I thought Harry would have told you."
"He didn't," Ginny said, shaking her head. "I can't believe he didn't tell me!"
"Ron probably told him not to," Hermione told her. "I… I wigged, Ginny. Completely. I went a bit mental to be honest. All I could see was how I wasn't ready for this. I was terrified and angry because Ron and I have been careful and I do want kids some day, but not yet."
"Was my brother a prat about it?"
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "He was… wonderful. It was all me. I lost my mind and I completely overreacted and I pushed Ron away. I pushed him away and I wigged and… it was a false alarm and I still went mental. Ginny, I was so angry that I could be pregnant and then when I wasn't, I was… heartbroken. I didn't understand it myself."
"Oh, Hermione," she said, reaching out to touch her friend's arm.
"I messed everything up. I pushed Ron away instead of talking to him and I just messed it all up. I'm so lucky that he even talked to me again let alone gave me a second chance. But we talked constantly for a full week about everything. Just talked with some snogging."
"And then?"
She blushed. "Well, and then he was going out to celebrate his birthday at pub night and well…"
"Well…?"
Hermione's cheeks heated more. "On his birthday, I always give him a birthday blowjob."
"Hermione Granger!" Ginny exclaimed with a laugh.
"I didn't want to let it pass," she admitted. "I thought ignoring it was a sign that we'd broken up and I wanted to show him that I was all in. So… I did. Afterwards we made plans to do more the next night, but he's been so busy with everything and tonight was… it was the first time since we've gotten back together and it was wonderful. Both times."
Ginny smiled. "I'm so happy that you two are together again. When February came along and the two of you still weren't talking, I was worried."
"Me too. My mum's the one who gave me the push I needed. She likes Ron."
"I love you and Ron together."
Hermione finished her hot chocolate and put the cup on the coffee table. "So do I. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You and Harry are good? Hogwarts? Quidditch? No false alarms for the two of you?"
Ginny nodded, finishing her own drink. "We're amazing and no, no false alarms, thank Merlin. Harry and I are both taking the potion which adds an extra layer of protection as long as we're diligent. I want children some day too, but not quite yet. Quidditch and Hogwarts are stressful, but worth it. I miss having you lot around, but also I barely even get to see Luna and Colin. The two of them are so good at helping me keep up on my schoolwork and we study together as often as I can. Having matches tends to make that harder."
"I don't know how you do it, play so many matches every week."
"It's incredible. I love the exercise, the practices, the matches… it's only the post match interviews that can be intense, but Harry is incredible and he makes everything better."
Hermione's lips curved. "Yes, Ron and I heard him making it better earlier. You two were rather loud."
Ginny blushed. "Oh, Merlin! You heard us?"
"We did. I put a charm around us and distracted your brother with my body before he lost his head. Where were you?"
Ginny's cheeks were even darker than before. "In his grandfather's old potions study. We've been trying to work our way around the house, you know?"
"I know," Hermione said. "You told me that you were planning on it months ago. How's that coming along?"
"Slowly," she said. "But worth it. We did it on the stairs two weeks ago."
"On the — how?"
Ginny shrugged. "Balance was precarious and goddess, I had so many bruises in places I didn't even remember, but it was brilliant."
"On the stairs!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes wide.
Ginny grinned. "It was worth every bruise. Watching him lose control with me is just… amazing. I can't explain it, Hermione. It's just that after everything that happened with Tom in the Chamber and all of my fears and panic and worries, he's always treated me like I was the most precious thing in the world to him. He's always been gentle and careful and never doing anything to hurt me. When we make love it's always perfect and now… he's still perfect and gentle and I know that he will take care of me but at the same time, he's not afraid to bend me over a railing and roger me until I've come so many times I can't breathe."
Hermione's cheeks heated. "Oh… my."
Ginny chuckled. "He's my everything."
"I know and you're his."
Ginny nodded. "I haven't said anything to him, but I think that's been part of my stress over everything, you know? His pain is my pain and what he's been feeling over losing Zee, over not losing Zee, over Sirius being back and everything… my heart aches because his aches and I wish that I could make it better for him."
"Being there with him makes it better," Hermione told her.
"I know. I just wish that I could do more. Like tonight… with Voldemort and the war, I was by his side and now…"
"Now, it's his job and you can't be."
"Sitting back and waiting is the hardest part of all of it."
"Agreed," Hermione said. "Ron said something about that when we were having a row… that I don't trust him to do his job without my help and I told him that wasn't true. It's not. I know that he and Harry can handle being Aurors, the two of them always made an incredible team. I told Ron that it's his own lack of faith in himself. He still sees himself as not good enough in a lot of ways and if I'm honest, him being an Auror and not partners with Harry, is a really good way to show him how powerful he is and how capable. But not being there to help them, even though I have no desire to be an Auror, is harder than I imagined. It's not that I think they can't do it without me, it's that they're out there having these adventures without me. I feel like I'm being left behind."
"I can understand that."
She nodded. "And well, they both look extremely fetching in those robes."
Ginny's eyes heated. "Tell me about it! I've never wanted to rip Harry's clothes off more than the first time I saw him in his Auror robes."
Hermione chuckled. "Understood."
Ginny watched her push the sleeves up of Ron's jumper and she caught the ugly scar again. "Have you thought of something for that?"
Hermione looked down at her arm, tracing the ugly scar with her fingertips. "I don't know. Cursed scars are… well for life. I mean, ideally it will fade a bit, but wearing short sleeves is impossible."
"It's not impossible."
"No," she admitted. "But it's not ideal. People stare at it and it makes me uneasy."
"Have you thought about covering it?"
"I do a glamour when necessary, but it doesn't work great on cursed scars as you know… oh, you mean like with a tattoo?"
Ginny nodded. "You have no reason to be ashamed of it, Hermione. It's a battle scar that shows your bravery above all else. Hiding it all the time, you don't have to do that. Be proud of all you fought for, but if you can't do that, then maybe a tattoo is a good idea."
Hermione wrinkled her nose. "It's not the scar so much that bothers me as much as the word. I can't wear short sleeves and let people see it, but I don't think I'm a tattoo person either."
"Are you just going to wear long sleeves for the rest of your life?"
She hesitated. "I don't know."
"I think you should consider getting a tattoo, only so you don't keep it hidden," Ginny said. "It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. You could get some vines or something, just enough to disfigure the word if you wanted."
She nodded. "I suppose. What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "Would you ever consider getting a tattoo?"
Ginny shrugged. "Maybe. I love Harry's tattoos. I didn't expect to, but they're really sexy."
"Speaking of his tattoos, is he going to change the one with Sirius?"
"Eventually," Ginny said. "But we have no idea what's going on so until he knows for sure, it will keep the same; a memory of the father he lost and when."
Hermione nodded. "Makes sense." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I did always think that it would be fun to get something of my favourite books on me or something. I just never thought I was brave enough or the kind of person who would get a tattoo. They seem so… dangerous."
Ginny laughed. "Dangerous?"
"You know, like a bad boy thing."
Ginny stifled her laughter with her hand. "A bad boy thing?"
"I don't know!" Hermione exclaimed. "I mean, Zee has-had tattoos but she was like this… badarse magizoologist and I'm just… well as Ron always says, a bookish swot."
"Ah," Ginny said. "Well, I think that depends on what you get. If you tattoo skulls across your knuckles or get the Dark Mark, we might have to chat, but a few books or flowers or a maybe cuppa? I think you'll still be our sweet, bookish Hermione who might be a bit of a swot."
Hermione smiled. "I suppose you're right." She looked pensive for a moment, her eyes on her arm. "I don't know. Maybe I should consider it?"
"I just want you to not be afraid to show yourself," Ginny told her. "If a tattoo helps, do it. A glamour works like your said, but it always leaves that fuzzy look if someone tries to look too closely and cursed scars are impossible to fully glamour successfully. It would be a pain to do it all the time."
"It is," she admitted. "It's why I just started wearing long sleeves most days."
Ginny nodded. "Well, that's something then."
Hermione looked at the clock and sighed. "It's almost one, do you think that they made it back yet?"
Ginny shook her head. "I don't know, but I have a feeling that it's going to be a long night."
"Do you have practice in the morning?"
"Yeah," Ginny said. "But only practice. Thank Merlin there's no match, I doubt I'm going to sleep much tonight.."
"In that case, how do you feel about going down into the cellar to find some wine?"
"I'm definitely on board with that," Ginny said with a grin. "White or red?"
Hermione smiled. "You pick. I just don't want to be alone tonight."
Ginny reached out to squeeze Hermione's hand in hers. "Me neither. Come on. Let's go explore the Potter wine cellar."
~ TTTC ~
Sirius was sitting outside smoking when the large dog Patronus arrived in front of him. It was the spitting image of his own Animagus form and he frowned as he stared at it.
Then Potter's voice spoke from the dog.
"It's time for us to talk. No more games. No more pretences. You have questions and I have answers. Let's stop playing around. Meet me at these coordinates in twenty minutes if you're brave enough. I'll give you your answers and if you don't like them, we'll finish this. Once and for all."
Sirius lifted an eyebrow as he made note of the coordinates before the dog stared at him a moment. When it spoke again, he was surprised.
"Don't be a coward. Show up."
Then the Patronus vanished into the air and Sirius blew out a long breath of smoke.
"I'm not a fucking coward," he hissed into the air.
"And you're not very intelligent either if you're going to fall for that trap," Belladonna said from behind him.
Sirius didn't turn, he merely took another hit of nicotine. "You're the one who's been saying that I need to face Potter once and for all."
"Yes, but not on his bloody terms."
Sirius put his cigarette out and stood up, turning to look at the blonde standing in the doorframe. "I told him that the next time I saw him, I would kill him. He knows what he's asking from me."
Belladonna scoffed. "Do you really think that he'll be there alone? He's not stupid, Sirius!"
"No, he's not," Sirius agreed. "But neither am I. He has the answers I want and if he doesn't give them to me, I'm going to kill him as promised."
"I'm coming with you," she said. "I'm not going to let you screw up everything we've worked for in getting our revenge on Potter!"
"Don't trust me, love?"
Belladonna's dark eyes met his. "I think I trust you as much as you trust me."
Sirius' lips curved. "It's a match made in heaven then."
He grabbed his leather jacket from the chair and pulled it on.
"Are you going to wake the others?"
"No," she said. "Because if you screw up, we need to get gone."
"I'm not going to screw it up," he assured her.
Belladonna grabbed her own cloak as she stared at him. "We'll see."
Then they Disapparated to the coordinates that Harry's Patronus had given them, give or take a few degrees to check the area.
The last place Sirius had expected to find himself was in an old abandoned farmstead somewhere in the English countryside. It was dark, with open fields in every direction. Belladonna seemed to be surprised as well because she didn't speak as she followed him towards the exact coordinates. There was a light ahead and when they got closer, Sirius could see floating candles outside of a broken down barn illuminating Harry standing in the middle of the dirt.
He was dressed in his Auror robes, but he had one sleeve rolled up with some kind of bandage tied over his arm. His wand was in his hand as he kept his eyes peeled and they narrowed when they spotted Sirius.
"I told you to come alone."
Sirius shrugged. "Well, I told you that the next time we met, I would kill you. You didn't really think I'd come alone, did you?"
Harry swallowed. "I want to talk."
"I doubt that you have anything left for me to hear."
Harry turned his attention on Belladonna. "Professor."
Sirius lifted an eyebrow at her and she shrugged.
"An old alias."
"One of many," Harry corrected. "She's killed a lot of people. A lot of men specifically. The people you're with are murderers."
Sirius licked his lips. "Where's your backup, Potter?"
"I didn't bring any," Harry said. "I told you, I just want to talk. I came alone."
Belladonna lifted her wand and pointed it at Harry. "That was incredibly stupid of you, Potter."
"Maybe," Harry said. "Or it was smart."
He flicked his wand and an anti-Disapparating spell covered five kilometres in every direction and Belladonna's eyes narrowed.
"He's not alone."
"No, he's not," a voice said from behind them.
A flash of light shot from Belladonna's wand towards the Auror at their back and Sirius took a step towards Harry.
"Thought you wanted to talk, Potter?"
"Not to her," Harry said, lowering his wand. "To you, Uncle Sirius."
Sirius' eyes darkened. "I'm not your bloody uncle, Potter. I'm not the man you seem to foolishly think I am. I came here to kill you and I always keep my word."
Harry took a few steps closer until they were only an arms length apart. "Yeah, but you're forgetting one thing, Uncle Sirius," he whispered. "So do I."
Sirius' wand flung him off of his feet before he could move and Sirius marched towards him.
"Game on, Potter."
~ TTTC ~
Harry scrambled to his feet, his arm burning. The power of the soul riding in his arm was taking a lot of energy out of him. It was only going on two hours since he'd returned with it in his body and he could already feel it draining him. His arm felt like it was on fire and it was making his fingertips numb. He was grateful that it was in his left arm and not his right so that he could still hold his wand steady.
His eyes fell on Sirius and the cruel smile gracing his lips almost made him pause. Never in his life had he ever imagined the man he loved as a father could look at him with such cruelty. But the look in his eyes right now told Harry that he was through talking.
He was going to kill him unless Harry killed him first.
He heard a shout and saw another flash of light in the distance. He knew that Baxter and Higgins were taking care of Belladonna, but he didn't dare look to see what was going on. He kept his focus on Sirius, his wand gripped tightly in his hand.
"Expelliarmus!" he exclaimed.
Sirius caught his wand when it flew out of his hand and he smirked. "Is that the best you can do? A disarming spell? Where's the All Powerful Harry Potter I've heard so much about? Crucio!"
Harry wasn't fast enough. The curse hit him and he bit his lip to stop himself from screaming. Knowing that Sirius felt enough anger to successfully perform an unforgivable on him somehow made it that much more real.
This Sirius wasn't the Sirius he knew.
The Sirius he knew would never willingly hurt him, not like this.
He clasped his hand over his burning forearm. He wasn't going to let Sirius die without being Sirius again. No matter what it took.
A shout came from his right and large red blur body slammed Sirius into the ground. Harry caught his breath and scrambled to his feet in time to see Sirius fling Ron off of him with a well timed spell.
"I was told that I have to make you suffer," Sirius said. "So I can't make it too quick, but seeing as how you lied about coming alone, it might have to be quicker than I planned on. Crucio!"
Harry dove out of the way and sent a stinging hex at Sirius' right hand. He dropped his wand with a hiss before he rolled to grab it from the grass. Harry belly crawled across the grass and grabbed Sirius' ankle, yanking him closer.
Sirius let out an 'oof' of surprise before he kicked. Harry barely moved his head in time to avoid a boot to the face. It allowed Sirius to get to his feet and he shot a cutting curse towards him. It sliced through Harry's right calf and he gasped.
Sirius smirked. "A little pain's good for the soul. Or so I hear."
He made to slice the other side, but Harry lunged at him. Sirius' eyes widened in surprise half a second before Harry's body collided with his and they crashed to the grass.
"What the fuck?" Sirius exclaimed. "I heard that you were a powerful wizard, Potter, and you want to wrestle with me? I admit, I'm disappointed."
Harry pinned him into the dirt. "Worried I'll take you?"
Sirius' fist plowed into his cheek and he tasted blood, but he slammed his knee into Sirius' stomach. He ripped the wand from the man's grasp and tossed it across the grass.
"I think you don't really want to kill me as much as you claim you do," Harry said, grappling for control as Sirius tried to buck him off.
Another punch caught his shoulder, making his already screaming arm feel like it was going to tear off at the seam. It was enough for Sirius to gain the upper hand as his fist plowed into the side of Harry's head. He groaned in pain as he stumbled back just as Sirius scrambled away to grab his wand. The wand pointed at him and Harry transformed into his Animagus form; a tall beautiful dark Tamaskan with bright green eyes.
Sirius lifted an eyebrow before he smirked. "Oh? Like that is it."
Half a second later, Sirius was in his own dog form, teeth bared. Then he was diving at Harry.
Their jaws snapped towards each other, barks loud in the night. Sirius' teeth grazed his neck and Harry bit down at Sirius' shoulder. The dog howled and bucked Harry off before the two animals circled each other. They dove again, crashing into each other as claws grappled and teeth clicked. Sirius managed to wrap his jaws around Harry's neck and pain shot through him as he bit down. Harry shoved him off, wincing at the blood dripping down his neck and jumped him.
His strong paws slammed Sirius down into the earth, pinning him. Sirius' maniacal laughter erupted from below him as he changed back into a man and suddenly Harry was flying through the air. He crashed back into a tree, knocking the wind out of him as he howled in pain. He barely stumbled to his feet and transformed back into himself in time to block whatever spell Sirius had sent his way.
He could feel blood dripping down his neck and when Sirius' shot another spell at him, he blocked it and sent Sirius tumbling to the ground. Harry flicked his wand and a huge wave of energy pulsed out of him, funnelling into Sirius and sending him flying back into the side of the abandoned barn. When Sirius tried to stand, Harry flicked his wand again and he was flung back to the ground.
Sirius laughed, wiping blood from his mouth. "Now that's what I'm talking about. There's the power I've heard so much about."
Sirius made to move towards him and Harry blocked his movement, holding him against the wall of the barn, suspended. Sirius hissed and shifted, trying to break free but Harry's spell was too strong. Harry moved closer to him, keeping his wand trained on him.
"You don't know anything about how powerful I am," Harry said into the night. "It just so happens I need you alive."
"Or what? I'd be dead already?" Sirius taunted. "You can't kill me, Potter."
"I can," Harry said, his eyes darkening. "But I won't."
Harry let the spell go and Sirius fell to the ground. He watched as Sirius scrambled to get up and without thinking, Harry threw himself down on top of him. He needed to get closer if he was going to do this. Sirius couldn't be frozen in place or petrified. He had to be the way he was which meant Harry had to keep him still the old fashioned way. He hissed when Sirius attempted to buck him off, but Harry shoved him harder, punching him in the face to quiet him.
Sirius laughed. "That all you got, Potter?"
Then his fingers dug into the bite on Harry's neck and Harry howled in pain, finding himself flat on his back with Sirius hovering over him.
"I expected more of a fight if I'm honest," Sirius taunted. "Guess we better make it quick than."
Harry shoved him and the two wrestled as they each attempted to gain the upper hand, rolling around on the grass like animals. When Harry finally slammed Sirius back into the earth, Sirius gasped at the impact and Harry took advantage of the opportunity. He was breathless and sweaty. His neck and leg were bleeding and hurt like a bitch, but it was nothing on the pain of Sirius' soul in his arm so he refused to let go. Harry locked his legs around Sirius as he attempted to reach for the dagger at his hip, his whole body quaking as the pain in his arm seemed to tremble worse than the rest as if it was trying to escape and reach its destination on its own. He gripped the dagger tighter and held it to Sirius' throat.
Sirius' grey eyes widened. "I didn't think you had it in you, Potter. Do it."
Harry froze for a half a second before he pushed the dagger a bit tighter against Sirius' throat. "Don't move."
Then he pulled the dagger away from Sirius and in one quick move, tore open the bandage on his arm, revealing his silver glowing skin.
Sirius' eyes widened in alarm as he attempted to scramble out from under Harry. "What the fuck is that?"
"Your soul," Harry spat, tightening his legs around Sirius.
He gripped the dagger tighter and ripped Sirius' jacket open, cutting through his shirt as Sirius tried to push him off.
"Keep that fucking thing away from me!" Sirius shouted, his fist connecting with Harry's face hard enough to break his nose.
Harry swore, tears in his eyes as he heard the crack. His glasses flew off and Sirius half scrambled away before Ron appeared, slamming Sirius back into the ground and pinning his legs down with his own.
"I got him!"
Sirius turned and somehow managed to get his legs free. He kicked Ron in the head and he went down like a stone as Sirius tried to crawl away. His fingers were inches away from his wand when Harry tackled him again.
"If I could petrify you to do this, I would," Harry panted. "Stay fucking still!"
The dagger sliced across Sirius' chest and he screamed and then suddenly his hands were wrapped around Harry's throat. Harry gasped and tried to grip them, to tug them free so that he could breathe, but the grip tightened. All he could see was Sirius' grey eyes alight in rage while his hands locked around his throat. His fingers dug into his neck and Harry tried to grasp for breath, but Sirius' grip was too strong.
Harry let his hands fall away from his throat and in one last ditch effort, he poked his finger into the cut on his arm and slammed his arm across the cut on Sirius' chest. Sirius' hands tightened around his throat even more and black spots danced in front of his eyes before everything exploded white around him.
~ TTTC ~
Despite the bad that Belladonna Brambilla had brought, she wasn't a great duellist. Baxter had her pinned to the ground without her wand in less than five minutes. Higgins searched her person and found two vials of a potion they assumed was probably poisonous and to be precautionary, Tonks ordered them to clean her lips with a cleansing charm.
With her reputation, Tonks wouldn't put it against her to have worn her trademark poisonous lipstick in an attempt to get out of spending her life in prison. Baxter hauled her to her feet and cuffed her.
"It gives me great pleasure to arrest you, bitch," Baxter said. "You have a lot to answer for. Belladonna Brambilla, you are hereby being arrested for murder in the first degree of more names than I can list, for the crime of being a Death Eater and follower of the known terrorist Lord Voldemort aka Tom Marvolo Riddle, for the assault and attack on Zahira Zacarias, for performing necromancy on the body of Sirius Black and bringing him to life to do your bidding, for committing grave robbery, for treason against your government, and a whole shit ton of more crimes that will be thrown at your feet when the International Confederation of Wizards gets a hold of you. You do not have to say anything, but, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence…"
Higgins grinned. "Well said."
"Thanks," Baxter replied.
"Take her to the crypt holding cells," Tonks ordered.
Then she turned to head towards Harry and Sirius. They seemed to be grappling on the ground and when she saw Sirius' wand was nowhere in sight, she relaxed a bit. Sirius kicked out at Ron and when he went done, she ran to him, rolling him over. When she felt a pulse, she let out a sigh of relief and called for a mobile healer to check him over. Her eyes widened when she turned back to Harry and Sirius and realized that Sirius had his hands locked around Harry's throat.
Tonks jumped to her feet and moved towards them to stop Sirius from strangling Harry, but before she could reach them, Harry's arm slammed against Sirius' chest and white light exploded between them, sending her flying backwards. She hit the ground so hard, her teeth rattled and the shock of it made her tailbone sting. Her breath was knocked out of her and it took her a second to move. Atwell scrambled towards her in an attempt to help her sit up and Tonks looked over at where the white light was still burning up ahead.
The light was so blinding that it was like an open flame before her, as bright as a flash of lightning. It covered Harry and Sirius in a protective ball that no one could pass or see through and it burned so bright that it hurt to look in their direction.
"Is Harry all right?" she demanded.
Atwell shook her head. "We can't see shit! We've patrolled the whole area. There's no sign of Lestrange or Crouch anywhere."
Tonks swore as Atwell helped her stand, her legs shaky. "That would have been too good to be true, I suppose."
The two of them attempted to walk closer to the blinding ball of light and Tonks' bottom lip trembled. The closer they got, the hotter the light was and Atwell gripped Tonks' arm.
"Dora… neither of them could have survived that."
"No," Tonks whispered, shaking her head. "Harry! Harry! You get out of there!"
But there was no answer.
All they could do was hold each other and watch the white light burn hotter as they waited.
~ TTTC ~
Hot flaming liquid seared into his every pore. It was like his body was burning from the inside out and all he could see was blinding white light coming from every direction. It flowed through his veins and sent every nerve ending on full alert. His fingers and toes straightened and pointed painfully, even his cock was standing at full attention as his whole body vibrated in hot, all consuming flames.
He screamed.
It was like he was burning alive, but there was no smell of burning flesh, no smoke, just the pain of fire. All he was could see was dancing white flames. All he could taste was something metallic and warm and when he finally breathed in a lung full of breath, he coughed like he was choking on the air.
White light continued to glow around him, but it dimmed as he finally began to take in his surroundings. His body wasn't burned. In fact, if it wasn't for the pain, he looked completely unscathed except for a cut across his chest by his heart. It was only then that he felt the warm body that was collapsed nearly on top of him.
The figure had messy black hair with blood all over his face and neck, a broken nose, and visible hand prints around his throat. It took him a second and when he did, Sirius blanched. He shot up like a rocket, grabbing Harry and pushing him onto the ground. His hands immediately fisted over his chest and he began to pump over his heart, tears in his eyes.
"Prongslet? Harry! Wake up! I said, wake — fucking — up — damn it!"
Arms grabbed him from behind and he elbowed them back, tears flowing down his cheeks as he kept pumping his chest and when Harry coughed, he cried out.
"Harry! Oh! My Harry!"
Harry blinked his eyes open slowly, absently wiping blood from seeping into his eyes as he attempted to sit up. "Ow."
"Prongslet!" Sirius bellowed, enveloping Harry in his arms and pulling him into his lap to cradle him. "Oh fuck, Prongslet, I thought you were… Harry! Fuck!"
Harry's fingers gripped Sirius' arms as he pulled himself back to blink at him. "Uncle Siri?"
Sirius' face broke out in a huge grin and he nodded. "Who else would it bloody be, Harry?"
Harry's green eyes widened in shock as he stared up at the man who was cradling him, his heart pounding in his chest.
~ TTTC ~
Harry couldn't keep the prickling of tears from welling up in his eyes. Everything in him wanted to sob like a baby, but this wasn't the time for that. He needed to be strong; he needed to figure out what the hell all of this meant before he let those tears consume him. He felt as if he'd cried more in the last year than he had in his whole life and at the same time, he felt like he still was holding it in; afraid to truly let go. If he let the dam burst, Harry wasn't entirely sure that he would be able to stop. So instead, he forced them back, swallowing his tears as he clung to the warm arms cradling him on the grass. The feel of that strong grip, the smell of forest and leather and cigarettes a comfort he couldn't let go of.
"Harry?" Tonks said, stepping closer to them.
"Tonks!" Sirius exclaimed, reaching a hand up to her. "You look great! Feels like it's been years since I've seen you."
Tonks' face turned sheet white and Harry understood her reaction completely. "Sirius?"
Sirius gave her a puzzled look. "Yeah. Why does everyone keep saying my name like that?"
Harry choked on a half laugh, half cry before he let Tonks help him stand. A healer hurried over to him and he stood still as she healed his nose, his throat, and the cut on his leg. She mentioned something about there being no damage to his throat, but it was best to let it heal naturally. It was going to be tender for a bit she told him.
Sirius frowned. "What the hell happened? Who tried to strangle you? I'll kill him."
"You did, Sirius," Tonks whispered.
Sirius gave her a bewildered look. "Don't be bloody ridiculous, Tonks."
The healer left Harry alone and examined the cut on Sirius' chest. She healed it in two seconds, leaving a thin pink line over his heart, and hurried off, leaving Sirius, Tonks, and Harry alone in the field.
"It worked," Harry breathed. "Tonks, it really bloody worked."
Tonks nodded. "How did he survive it?"
"I-I don't know," Harry whispered. "I mean, we knew that there was a chance, it just… it was so slim I never even considered the possibility of it…"
Tonks frowned. "We have to take him in."
Harry nodded. "I know."
"Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?" Sirius demanded. "Where are we? What the fuck's happening? What are you two whispering about over there?"
Harry put his hand on Sirius' arm. "We'll explain everything. I promise."
Sirius put his arm around Harry's shoulders and tugged him close. "All right."
He kissed Harry's forehead and every single part of Harry wanted to curl into his arms like he had as a child. But he stepped back. Atwell lifted the Anti-Disapparating spell and Harry took Sirius' hand and they Apparated to the Ministry of Magic. Sirius was led to an interrogation room and while he looked curious, he didn't protest. Harry promised to be back in a few minutes before he closed the door behind him and turned to look at Tonks.
"He's back."
Tonks reached out to hug him. "Merlin, could this get any more bloody complicated?"
He snorted. "Now's not the time for jokes."
"Can't help it. I use humour as a defence mechanism."
They both looked up when Ron hurried towards them.
"Ron! You're supposed to be resting," Tonks exclaimed. "He took a pretty serious blow to the head!"
"I'm fine," Ron assured her. "My head is harder than a rock. I heard it worked and he's… back?"
Harry nodded. "I don't even know where to begin. He doesn't seem to remember anything, but I don't know what that means."
"But his soul is back and he's alive?"
"It sure looks like it," he whispered.
Ron swore under his breath. "Bloody hell! What are you going to do about Zee now?"
Harry closed his eyes, his whole body aching as his heart clenched in his chest. "I don't bloody know."
Ron reached out to pull Harry into his arms. "It's going to be all right."
But Harry wasn't even sure if Ron believed his own words.
~ TTTC ~
Harry stood outside of the interrogation room looking through the charmed glass as he watched Sirius sit at the table. They had led him inside over half an hour ago but no one had entered the room since. Harry watched him through the glass. Sirius was examining his hands and he looked thoughtful. He looked like the man that Harry knew.
He rubbed a hand over his left forearm. The cut would scar the healer had told him, but he didn't care. He would carry that scar with pride every day because that scar had carried the soul of Sirius Black from the other side and had returned it to his body.
A hand clasped his shoulder and he didn't have to turn to know it was Ron.
"Have you gone in yet?"
Harry shook his head. "No."
Higgins approached from the left with Arcanums Silver, Paddington, and Gold with him. Baxter took up the rear, closing the door to the adjoined room behind them.
"Thanks for coming," Harry said, extending his hand to them.
"Of course," Paddington said, looking through the glass at Sirius. "He's disoriented?"
"Yes. Doesn't remember anything as far as I can tell, but he's alive."
Paddington nodded. "Re-souling someone is a nasty business."
"But he survived?" Harry asked, still skeptical of the words. "I thought it was impossible."
He had been ready to take on the task, knowing it would most likely kill the man who had raised him. He'd expected it. He'd been ready for it, knowing that his death would save the only mother he'd ever had. Instead, he'd survived and Harry was ecstatic and horrified at the same time.
Silver cleared his throat. "Nearly impossible. It was always a possibility, albeit an extremely slim one. Only two recorded people in a thousand years have lived through a re-souling process."
"So… what happens now?" Harry demanded.
"Well, that's up to you," Silver said. "But he will need guidance. His mind is going to be confused. His memories will come back in trickles or flashes."
"But he does remember."
"No," Paddington said. "He remembers his life. I'm talking about his memories of living without his soul."
"That's where the trouble might be," Gold said. "Remembering what he did when he was soulless can take a toll on the body and the mind. It could drive him mad."
"Could?"
Silver shrugged. "If he's strong enough, if he has enough will to work through it, he will be all right."
Harry trembled. "He'll be all right?"
Paddington nodded. "Yes. You saved his life, Auror Potter. If he can handle the mental onslaught of this, he will be fine. He'll be his normal self again."
"Alive and whole?"
"Yes. You saved him, Auror Potter. As I said, even if he goes mad, he will live a long life. He's back and he's whole and he's very much alive," Paddington assured him.
"We'll want to speak with him," Gold said. "Not right away of course, but no one has successfully re-souled a wizard in over five hundred years. It has to be recorded and discussed and analyzed. We'll want access to his medical records and everything."
"I'll allow that to some extent, but it's his choice if he wants the rest," Harry insisted.
"Auror Potter —"
"— It's his choice," Harry interrupted.
The Arcanums nodded and Baxter promised to give them the file once they'd started it. When they left, Higgins let out a slow breath.
"All right, Harry, are you ready to go in?"
Harry looked at Higgins and swallowed. He desperately wanted to run inside that interrogation room. He wanted to throw his arms around Sirius and never let go. He wanted to talk to him. He wanted all of it, but at the same time, all he could think about was Zee lying in a hospital bed in St Mungo's in a coma because giving back Sirius his soul had saved him and not her.
"Where's Tonks?" he asked.
"Lupin and Atwell are dealing with Brambilla," Baxter said. "Do you want Lupin in there with you instead of Rex?"
Harry started to say yes before he shook his head. No, it was better that they were separated. He and Tonks were too close to this and having them both in there with Sirius wasn't wise. He knew that.
"No, Rex is good."
Ron squeezed his shoulder again. "Baxter and I will be out here if you need us."
Harry nodded and opened the door to the interrogation room. Sirius' head shot up and his grey eyes filled with warmth.
"Harry! Blimey! I thought maybe you'd forgotten about me."
"No," Harry said, sitting in the chair across from Sirius as Higgins took the chair next to him.
Sirius' eyes roamed over him before he frowned. "Shit, you look… you've got five days worth of stubble on your face and… bloody hell, are those real muscles under those robes? You don't… why are you dressed like that? How… What happened? How did I end up in that field?"
"What's the last thing you remember, Lord Black?"
Sirius' gaze shifted to Higgins. "I know you… Higgins, right? Tonks' partner?"
"Auror Rexford Higgins, yes. Answer the question, Lord Black."
Sirius leaned back in his sear, his eyes taking in Harry again as if he was seeing him for the first time. "We were in the Department of Mysteries trying to stop Death Eaters from gaining the prophecy. I remember duelling Bellatrix and… Zee! Fuck, she's pregnant! Where is she?"
Harry paled.
The Department of Mysteries.
Zee's pregnancy.
His memories had truly reverted back to his life.
"Lord Black, do you remember how you ended up in that field?" Higgins asked, trying to keep Sirius' attention on him.
"No," Sirius spat. "I was in the Death Chamber, duelling my cousin and then… there's nothing. Tell me what the fuck is going on?"
Harry swallowed. "Uncle Siri… Uncle Padfoot."
His lips twitched before his eyes darkened. "You called me Dad. You were screaming it and everything hurt and I…" He shook his head, reaching across the table to grab Harry's hand. "Prongslet?"
Harry's heart grew in his chest at the old nickname and he squeezed Sirius' hand. "I was screaming your name," he whispered. "Because Bellatrix hit you with a vicious spell and…"
"And what?" Sirius demanded.
"You died, Lord Black," Higgins said quietly. "You died on the eighteenth of June, 1996."
Sirius looked bewildered. "No, I didn't. What are you on? I'm fine. Harry, is this some kind of joke?"
Harry shook his head. "No, it's not." Harry opened his robe to show off his Auror badge. "Today is the fourteenth of March."
Sirius blinked. "What?"
"1999," Higgins finished.
Sirius' mouth opened before he closed it again, shaking his head. "That's impossible. We were just fighting in the Department of Mysteries yesterday. I was duelling my cousin."
"And she murdered you," Harry said.
Sirius shook his head. "No, she didn't."
Higgins opened the folder in front of him, taking out photographs. "This is your tombstone, Lord Black. It's in Godric's Hollow."
Sirius stared down at the marble headstone, shaking his head in denial. "No. I-I didn't… this is ridiculous! Harry, please tell me the truth."
Harry's gaze met his and the swirl of emotions he saw in those grey eyes hurt more than he could bear. "That is the truth, Uncle Siri. You… you died. My dad died. We buried you. We mourned you. Bellatrix killed you right in front of me."
Sirius shook his head. "No."
"You asked about my current attire and my look… Higgins is my partner, Uncle Sirius. I'm an A1 in the Auror Department along with Ron. I'll be nineteen this summer. And Zee… she gave birth on New Year's Eve of 1996 to two amazing twins, a boy and a girl. She named them Mina and Leo. They just turned two and they are handfuls and a half."
Tears welled up in Sirius' eyes. "No. It's not true… I didn't miss that. Tell me I didn't miss that."
"Voldemort's gone," Harry whispered. "I killed him and the war is over, but a few Death Eaters still managed to escape. Bellatrix, Crouch, and Brambilla and the three of them performed the darkest of magic and…"
"They brought you back to life," Higgins finished, making Sirius' gaze turn to him. "That was four months ago."
"But I don't…" Sirius closed his eyes, still shaking his head in denial. "But I don't bloody remember any of that."
"We know," Harry said. "But you will. It just… it might take a while."
Sirius stared at them, his gaze moving back and forth between them like a Bludger ping-ponging back and forth. "How long?"
"That we don't know," Higgins admitted. "But I suggest that when the memories do start to return, you talk about them. There's a concern that with everything coming back and what you went through that if you don't deal with it properly, you'll go mad."
Sirius touched his bottom lip with his tongue. "I'll go… I've been back for four months?"
"Yes," Higgins said. "And you've been associating with Bellatrix Lestrange, Belladonna Brambilla, and Barty Crouch Jr who are known Death Eaters and the top three most wanted Undesirables by the Ministry of Magic. As far as we can tell, you were laying low with them, but being in their company is something we'll need to look into as well."
Sirius frowned. "I… I don't remember that." He looked around the interrogation room. "Why am I in here? I want to go home. I want to see… I want to meet my babies. I want to see Zahira. Am I under arrest?"
Higgins shook his head. "Not under arrest, Lord Black, but we will be holding you to make sure that you're physically all right after the ordeal you went through, as well as to keep an eye on you."
"Keep an eye on me? Why? What the bloody hell did I do?" Sirius demanded, his eyes flashing in anger.
Harry stood up. "We're going to send a healer in to examine you. Please just… trust me, okay?"
Sirius' grey eyes were tumultuous as he stared at him but then he nodded.
"We'll be back soon," Higgins said before he followed Harry out of the room.
When they stepped into the hall, they found Healer Galibrath waiting with Ron and Baxter.
"His soul has been returned?"
"Yes," Harry said. "He's confused but otherwise he seems all right."
Galibrath nodded. "I'll be thorough."
When he went inside, Harry moved into the adjoining room to listen in, flicking the charm on to make the sound from the room play in his.
"Did you listen?" Harry asked Ron.
"Yeah, Eric and I both did. You all right?"
"I don't know," he admitted, his eyes on Sirius through the glass. "I just don't know."
Twenty minutes later, Galibrath found them.
"He's in good health. Strong heart, body's functioning normally, though he's exhausted. His soul is back and working as it should, but he needs to eat and he needs to sleep. Living without a soul takes a lot out of the physical body. Once he crashes, he could sleep for days."
Harry nodded. "And his mind?"
"Completely in tact," Galibrath said. "His brain is working as it should, but as the memories start to unfold, he may start finding it hard to cope. I think if he talks about it, understands it, and sees a good mind healer, I have every faith that he will heal well."
"So, he won't… go mad?"
Galibrath gave Harry a small reassuring smile. "Not if he takes care of himself."
"How much can we tell him?" Harry asked.
"All of it," Galibrath said. "The more he knows the better. It's not like he took a bump to the head that requires a delicate hand. He had his soul stuffed back inside of his body. He'll need time, but the more information he has the better he'll process it as the memories come forward."
"And his soul? Will it… hurt him?"
"No," Galibrath said. "It's back where it belongs and it's safe and working as it should. He will scar where the shallow cut was across his chest and it will be permanent, but his soul is safe, I assure you."
Harry nodded. "That's… good."
"Agreed," Galibrath said. "I took a sample of his blood and we'll run some tests. I'll have the results for you as soon as I can. In the meantime, if you have any other questions, please owl me."
"Thank you, Healer Galibrath," Harry said, shaking his hand.
"It was my honour, Auror Potter."
When he left, Higgins turned to Harry.
"All right, Potter. What do you want to do?"
"What?"
"Technically we can hold him here for twenty-four hours, but as Galibrath said, he's exhausted. I think that you should find him a bed instead of tossing him in a holding cell."
"Yeah?"
"Do you want him to stay in a holding cell?" Higgins asked, examining Harry carefully.
Harry shook his head, relief coursing through him. "No, of course not, I just… I don't know if he should see Black Cottage yet. I guess I'll take him to my place, get him some sleep and some food."
"I already spoke to Lupin and Robards. He hasn't been accused of any crimes. He hasn't done anything that we know of outside of associate with known Death Eaters. He's innocent in all of this outside of his attack on you this morning which I'm going to assume you won't be pressing charges against him for."
"No, definitely not," Harry said.
Higgins nodded. "So, orders are for you to take a few days off. Keep an eye on him and when he wakes up, we'll talk to him again."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I can… yeah."
Higgins clasped Harry's shoulder. "If you need anything, you owl me or send a Patronus."
"Thank you, Rex. For everything."
Higgins smiled as he squeezed Harry's shoulder. "You're a hell of an Auror, Harry. I'm proud of you and if all keeps going well, you're going to get that A2 badge next month. I'll make sure of it."
Harry thanked Higgins again, pride swelling through him at the compliment, then looked through the glass to stare at Sirius once more, still feeling like everything was surreal.
Ron nudged him with his shoulder. "Well, what do you want to do? Are we taking him home, mate?"
"Yeah," Harry said. "I guess we are. Can you let Hermione and Ginny know while I go talk to him?"
"Of course," Ron said. "Whatever you need."
"Thanks," he said before he grabbed Ron's arm. "Wait, can you also get Kreacher for me. He'll need toiletries and whatnot and Kreacher can grab some of my clothes for him for now and… Kreacher will know what he needs."
Ron nodded. "I'll take care of it."
He watched Ron head off before he took a slow breath and headed back inside the interrogation room. Sirius looked up when he entered.
"How long are you keeping me in here? What was that healer going on about my soul for?"
"I'm taking you home," Harry said. "You need to eat and get some sleep and then we'll talk more."
Sirius frowned. "I want to see Zee and… my kids."
"You will," Harry assured him. "But you're physically and mentally exhausted, Uncle Sirius. Let's take care of that stuff first, all right?"
Sirius looked like he wanted to argue, but when he yawned long and hard enough to make his jaw crack, he nodded. "All right."
Harry moved to remove the handcuffs that kept him hooked to the table. "You have to stay with me if I take the cuffs off."
"I'm not going to bolt, Harry. You have my wand anyway and I'm sure you already placed a charm on me to stop me from transforming."
"I did," he admitted. "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that you've been through a lot and I'm trying to keep you safe. Lestrange and Crouch are still out there."
Sirius nodded. "I trust you, Prongslet."
The warmth of that statement had Harry moving forward. He took off the hand cuffs and watched as Sirius rubbed his wrists a moment. When his gaze met Harry's, he nodded.
"After you, Auror Potter."
Harry's cheeks heated at the words, but he took Sirius' arm and led him out of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Once they reached the Apparition zone, Harry turned to him.
"Hold on."
Sirius did and Harry Apparated them both to Somerset, just outside of the protective wards of the property. Since he and Remus had worked on everything to change the wards, it meant that Sirius couldn't access it on his own. However, Harry could bring him inside the wards himself. It just meant that if Sirius left, he would never find it again. It's why Harry knew that he would never be able to find Black Cottage without him.
He kept his hand on Sirius' arm and led him through the front gates and up the path. Sirius froze halfway, looking up at Clevedon Court and frowned.
"Why are we here?"
"It's where I live," Harry told him.
Sirius looked surprised by this before he masked it. When they stepped in the front door, he looked around in wonder. Harry knew that the place had changed since Sirius had last seen it. Harry had made it his own and it showed. Sirius' eyes were moving everywhere, taking in the changes in silence as they walked towards the stairs. Harry led Sirius upstairs to the old bedroom his grandparents had once presented to Sirius as a teenager. He'd never changed it, seeing no need to change a bedroom that wasn't being used. Sirius walked in, his eyes wide.
"Thank you."
Harry nodded, not sure what else to say. "The bath is across the hall as you know. It's um, already ready with your toiletries and clean towels and some clothes. After you clean up, I'll have food for you."
Sirius nodded and headed into the bathroom. It was only a moment later before Harry heard the shower turn on. Kreacher appeared in the hall, wringing his hands together nervously.
"Master Harry, Sir, is Master Sirius really back?"
Harry let out a slow breath. "I think he is, Kreacher. It's… complicated. Thank you for going to get his soaps and whatnot. I wanted him to feel like himself."
Kreacher nodded. "Can Kreacher take orders from him, Sir?"
Harry hesitated. Sirius was back, but part of him was still wary of it still. "How about you bring it to me first for now? Just until we figure some things out."
"Kreacher will do that, Sir. I'll go get some food for Master Sirius, Sir."
Harry watched the elf hurry off as Hermione came up the stairs. He opened his arms when she moved to hug him and he held her close.
"How are you holding up?"
"Honestly? A bit like a piece of frayed rope holding me above water."
Hermione pecked his cheek. "What can I do?"
Harry pulled back and brushed a hand over his face. "Nothing right now. We're going to get him to eat and sleep and go on from there. Is Ginny at practice?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "You just missed her. She'll be back by lunch. She doesn't have a match today."
He nodded again. "All right. Thanks."
Hermione kissed his cheek once more before she headed to her own room. He briefly wondered if she would be moving back in officially any time soon, but decided he had enough to worry about for now.
He stayed outside of the bathroom until Sirius finished and when he came out dressed in a pair of Harry's lounge pants and a white tee, he nodded.
"How about that food?" Sirius asked.
"It's coming."
Harry gestured for Sirius to go first and just as they stepped into Sirius' old bedroom, Kreacher appeared at the door with a plate of food. Harry thanked him as Kreacher snuck a look around at Sirius before he hurried off.
Harry put the tray on the bed. "Why don't you eat?"
Sirius moved towards the food as he yawned, helping himself to the full breakfast that was there.
"Can we talk while I eat?"
"A little," Harry relented, taking a seat in an armchair and moving it closer to the bed. "I want you to be fully rested before we really get into it all. You've been through a lot."
"I guess I can understand that," he said. He took a drink of the orange juice before he cleared his throat. "So, you don't live at Black Cottage anymore?"
"No," Harry said. "I moved out in September. Zee cried."
Sirius' lips curved. "Sounds about right."
"Ron and Hermione are living here too. Mostly."
Sirius nodded. "And you're an Auror now?"
"Yes. I'm hoping I can write my exams to be an A2 next month. Higgins is my partner and trainer."
He let out a slow breath. "Bloody hell. You're really not a kid anymore. You have biceps and a freaking beard. When did it stop being all patchy?"
Harry chuckled. "About a year ago, I guess. I don't want it any longer, I just like this few days worth of stubble look."
"A bit thicker than I wear it, but it suits you," Sirius said, taking him in. "And an A1… bloody hell, I missed a lot, eh?"
"A bit," he admitted.
"You look good," Sirius said, taking him in. "All filled out and… a man."
"It's been three years, Uncle Siri."
Sirius shook his head. "To me it was yesterday. It's… a lot."
"I bet. It's a lot for me, too."
"Yeah," Sirius said. "So… Voldemort?"
"I defeated him."
"How?"
"Technically, I killed him with a strike of lightning, but it was a long duel."
"Lightning?" Sirius exclaimed. "Well, that's… bloody brilliant."
Harry smiled. "You gave me the idea in a dream."
"And the scar on your cheek?"
"Yeah, courtesy of Voldemort. I have a lot of scars now."
Sirius finished off his breakfast before he put the empty tray on his night table. "You look good, Harry. Tired, but you look good. I think that you might even be more handsome than Jamie was at your age."
Harry's cheeks heated, making Sirius smile.
"Yeah, very handsome indeed," he said. "And Ginny?"
"She's great," Harry assured him. "We're great."
Sirius nodded and yawned again. "Good. That's good."
"Get some sleep, Uncle Siri," Harry said, standing up. "Once you're rested, we'll talk more: About everything. I promise."
"All right," he agreed. "And then I can see Zee and… Mina and Leo?"
"Yeah," Harry said. "I'll tell you all about them too."
Sirius let out another yawn as he crawled under the covers. "All right. Goodnight, Harry."
"Goodnight," Harry whispered.
He was snoring before Harry closed the bedroom door. Harry stood there a moment, just staring at him and wondered how he could be so excited and so happy to finally have his father back and so sad and angry at the same time.
With Sirius alive, Zee couldn't be.
With Sirius being whole again, it meant that it wasn't an obvious choice anymore — it was a problem — and one that Harry had absolutely zero idea how to solve.
How was he supposed to choose between his mum and his dad?
It was impossible and he had no idea what he was supposed to do next.