A/N: Hello everyone! This is my first ever fanfic. I've always wanted to explore the idea where Harry utilizes Sirius's mirror, allowing Sirius to survive OotP and be there for Harry during HBP and DH.

I am not an experienced writer nor British (I'm American) so please let me know it there are typos in my story. I will also try my best to keep the characters of each person, but you may see someone once in a while being OOC, as I admit I do not know the full extent of how a character will act in certain situations.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter as it belongs to J.K. Rowling. Anything that can be recognized from the book are not my own; I plan on using snippets of the books from time to time, and have no intentions of passing them off as my own; it is rightfully Rowling's works.

I am hoping to expand this fic all the way to DH if life doesn't get in the way. Updates may be slow, but I promise not to abandon this story to the best of my ability!

Please enjoy!


This AU takes place in Chapter 24 of Order of the Phoenix after Harry learns that he must take Occlumency lessons from Snape.

After the encounter with Snape, Harry wondered how much effect Snape's goading would have on Sirius. His curiosity was answered during dinner that night, as Harry noticed that Sirius wore an ugly expression on his face; Harry wondered whether or not he should tell Sirius to take Snape's word with a pinch of salt. Sirius must have noticed the dazed look on Harry's face as he mused, because, after Harry's failed attempt at trying to help Mrs. Weasley with the dishes, which she insisted Harry go up and relax, Sirius beckoned Harry aside.

Harry followed Sirius up the stairs to the ground floor, but they did not stop there. Instead, Sirius began climbing the stairs; Harry assumed Sirius wanted to talk in the privacy of Harry and Ron's bedroom, as Ron was currently downstairs, but when Sirius ignored the bedroom Harry and Ron occupied, Harry opened his mouth to question him. It was as though Sirius knew what he was thinking; without even noticing Harry's questioning look, Sirius said softly, "We're heading to my bedroom." Sirius finally turned and glanced around before saying, "I doubt Molly would approve of what I want to say."

When they finally reached the fourth floor Sirius walked towards the door closest to the stairs and pushed it open. Harry noticed at once the gaudy Gryffindor banners that adorned the room, which was clearly Sirius' statement that he was unlike the rest of his family. Before Harry could scrutinise his godfather's room any further, Sirius' eyes met his own. Despite Sirius' features having improved over the past year, as his face was no longer sallow and gaunt, his grey eyes still had a dullness in them, something Harry had not noticed last year, even when Sirius survived on rats and dwelled in a cave. Harry wondered if being imprisoned at Grimmauld Place was the reason for his lacklustre gaze.

"Are you alright? You were sort of broody during dinner." Sirius started, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.

Harry stared at Sirius, then forced a chuckle at the irony of the situation.

"No — er —" he said, unsure on how to approach the subject he wanted to talk about. "Look, Sirius, Snape was being a downright git, you shouldn't really heed what he said all that seriously," Harry blurted.

Sirius looked surprised. "That's it?" he let out his usual bark-like laugh, but Harry could tell it was not genuine. "Honestly, what Snivellus said went in one ear and out the other. I really didn't care what the prat said."

"Okay," Harry started. He thought that how Sirius acted during the moment contradicted his words, but decided not to brood on it any longer. "I noticed you weren't all that happy during dinner though," he stated, hoping to give Sirius a chance to explain his behaviour without actually questioning it.

"Yeah, I wasn't," Sirius admitted. He took his hands off Harry's shoulders and walked to a drawer near his bed where he started digging through the contents. Harry was surprised at how easily Sirius conceded. He curiously watched as Sirius finished with the first shelf and pushed it shut and began pursuing the second shelf underneath. "I'm just worried about Snape's treatment of you." Sirius finally stopped his search as he pulled out two identical mirrors, each about the size of a book. "I want you to have this with you when you go back to Hogwarts." He thrust one of the mirrors into Harry's outstretched hands.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"A way of letting me know if Snape's giving you a hard time. Just say my name into it, and you'll appear in my mirror and I'll be able to talk in yours. I'll keep mine in my pocket at all times, just in case you need me."

"Thanks," Harry said. "Can I use it whenever I just want to chat with you? Not only when I'm in trouble?

"No one says you can't." Sirius gave a grin that didn't quite reach his sombre eyes. "James and I used to use them when we were in separate detentions all the time."

"Thanks," said Harry, clutching the mirror in his hands. He was glad to have a way of communicating with Sirius while he was at Hogwarts, but vowed to himself to never inform Sirius whenever he and Snape clashed. Harry would not be the one to tell Sirius of anything that troubled him, especially after his godfather had proven on multiple occasions that he had become increasingly reckless ever since he was stuck in Number 12, Grimmauld Place.