Author Notes: I am really sad, that even after putting so many efforts on this story, it has received only 10 reviews. I will not know how you feel about this story till you write to me about it. So please review.
Chapter 8 continues where we left at Chapter 7 and goes where Harry has started to learn that he can have friends, and a loving family.
Chapter 8 – Friendship, Love and Family – Part 2
The next Wednesday, Sirius was present in the muggle court room before 10:00 AM. He had chosen a pristine Navy Blue colour suit for the occasion as he might be questioned as the new guardian of the boy and wanted to look immaculate business man as he was introduced to muggle social services team and police who had interviewed him during the week. Amelia and Ariana were also present for the hearing.
When Ariana Johnson had reached the muggle social services children division staff at Dursley's the behaviour of Dursleys and their comments towards Harry were sufficient to satisfy both women and police personnel about the neglect and abuse that had occurred. In fact, Vernon had tried to threaten them both and the police officer in plain clothes and was immediately arrested for threatening the government officers during the course of their duty and a police officer. Further rant by him and Petunia towards Harry had resulted in her arrest as well and Dudley being taken away by the social services team to an orphanage till, they could find a foster home for him.
The testimony of the aforementioned officers was sufficient for the judge, who was a mother of 2 kids, to find Dursleys guilty of the charges. It was also found that the Dursleys had been receiving a monthly stipend from a trust setup by Potters to raise Harry, which they had never used for him. In fact, Harry had been forced to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. Sirius was however questioned on his reasons to seek custody of Harry as the judge wanted to be sure that Harry would not have to go through another such incident.
With help of Ariana and his attorney, Sirius had been able to convince the judge on his cover story of being a friend and a partner of Harry's father and that he had earlier conceded custody to Dursleys on assumption that Petunia being his blood will raise him with ample care, and that he had been travelling constantly to Europe and Americas for business around the death of Potters so he could not have been the right choice for raising the young child. He told the judge that he had immediately returned to England when he was informed on this unfortunate event and he felt guilty of not taking the boy with him earlier.
The judge also asked about how he intended to raise the child. Sirius informed the court that, he had decided to settle in England to raise Harry as the companies which he had in partnership with Harry's parents were doing well and he could devote his attention to his godson who will be inheriting the business on his 18th birthday as he himself did not have any family.
Judge seemed happy to hear that Harry will be well taken care of and granted custody of child to Sirius Black.
Amelia had been very happy to see a genuine smile at Sirius' face. She was happy that he will get to spend time with Harry when he wakes up and will legally have Harry's custody in both muggle and magical world. She hugged him which he happily returned.
They thanked Ariana and Sirius' attorney (who was none other than Ted Tonks) and apparated to Ministry of Magic from a nearby abandoned alley. They walked from the apparition point at ministry to Amelia's office. The witch usually who was at the door outside the corridor was absent. Amelia had given most of staff a day-off and had cleared her schedule for the day.
Sirius opened the door for her and both entered her cozy office. He reached her and pulled her into a kiss. Amelia pushed him into her seat and sat in his lap.
He said to her, "I love you, Amelia."
She smiled at him and then proceeded to snog him senseless.
When they came up for air, she got up from his lap and sat into the chair next to him.
She said, "I have always loved you too Sirius, even while you were in Azkaban."
Sirius smiled at her and said, "I am really grateful to you for that and I wanted to talk to you about certain things and I need a favour."
She asked, "what would you want to talk to about? and know that I will do anything for you, my love. You just have to ask."
Sirius said, "First, I do not want to stay at Black family home in London, and I have spoken to Goblins about a new house where I intend to live with Harry. Goblins will share a couple of options by end of this week. I would want you and Susan to come and stay with me when it is ready."
Amelia was touched by his request, but she told him she will not be able to be stay there as she will be required to be available and accessible to her team at all times. Also, finding such a property may take time and further may require time to put in place the best wards which were offered by Goblins and even a Fidelius charm and other requirements for safety of Harry. She reminded him that if she thinks what Sirius had told her was right, Harry was essential for the survival of all of the magical world, as she too had heard from an unspeakable friend that there was a prophesy in the 'Hall of Prophesies' at the department of mysteries at the ministry related to Dark Lord and probably Harry Potter. She told him in stern tone that he cannot take risk with life of the young boy and his own which he had just got back.
She said, "Sirius, I can understand that you do not want to live at the Black House, especially when Harry wakes up, he will need a nice and friendly environment, I want you to move into Bones Manor till you have built a relationship with Harry and he would be comfortable to move to a new house. In fact, both Harry and Susan are of same age and could benefit from that."
Sirius agreed to her proposition and continued "Second, Voldemort is not really dead and will be back someday. I just want to make sure that I am always there for my godson. I am also aware that Harry will one day need to fight that bastard and I want to remain prepared and in shape when it happens so that I can be by the side of Harry then."
She asked him a question that had been nagging her since her first discussion with Dumbledore, "Why would Harry need to fight the dark lord. He is just a kid. What does he have to do with it?"
Sirius responded, "I can't really tell you the details due to an oath I had to give to Dumbledore, but Harry for sure is in thick of it. When Voldemort returns, he would want to finish what he started. He could never be able to forget that his reputation was tarnished by a mere boy of one year. He will come back to kill Harry and I cannot allow it. I would rather die fighting that bastard than allow him to harm my godson."
Amelia paled at the implication of Sirius' statement. She had never thought that the poor child will have to live with such a threat. He cannot really live till dark lord is either finally killed or he would kill Harry. Her heart went out for Harry and Sirius and she leaned into his chest to get some strength from him.
Sirus told her, "Third, I need a favour, since Hogwarts' new session will start in a week on 1st of September, Harry is required to be moved to St. Mungo's without anyone to know of this. It would not go well with people to find that their saviour was kept at an undisclosed location by Dumbledore and now the child is in a coma and may die. Also, we cannot afford to give a chance to Death Eaters to strike at him when he is most vulnerable."
Amelia nodded and immediately made a Floo call from her fireplace to a healer she knew at St. Mungo's. A private room was arranged at the hospital for Harry immediately under a false name. Harry was secretly moved by Dumbledore and Sirius to the room at St. Mungo's. The healers who will be looking after him were sworn to a magical oath of secrecy. In event there was any change to Harry's condition, Amelia, Sirius and Dumbledore were to be informed immediately. Dumbledore had also placed his best resources as security outside Harry's room, without them knowing who they were really guarding. Since they were used to such requests from Dumbledore, they did not question it either.
Sirius would spend most of his time by Harry's side at St. Mungo's, whose condition was yet to change.
As requested by Amelia, Sirius had moved into Bones Manor. She had extended the invitation to Remus, who had politely declined the offer, stating his new job as the reason. He had recently found a job at an apothecary in Diagon Alley. The owner was a close friend of Dumbledore and was aware of Sirius' condition. Another benefit that he was offered besides the additional 2 paid days on monthly basis, was availability of Wolfsbane potion. The owner had a flat above the shop and had offered the same to Remus at a minimal rent.
It had now been months since Harry had been rescued from his relatives and was yet to wake up. Sirius was still hopeful that Harry will wake up once his mind and body are ready again.
He had started to spend a lot of time with Amelia and Susan. He had gotten to know Susan well and found that both Harry and Susan have had similar tragedy in their lives and he made sure that he gave her and Amelia sufficient time besides what he spent with Harry. His relationship with Amelia which was for now not known publicly was going well.
Susan was a brilliant child. She was intelligent and observant. She had liked Sirius from the day he had met her and was sad to find Harry was still to wake up. She wanted someone her age to be there to play with her and with whom she could talk about things she would not tell her aunt or Sirius. She felt that Sirius could be like a sibling she did not have. Sirius had taken her to see Harry at the hospital and was sad to see him lying there with various tubes attached to his body and machines monitoring his stats.
Harry Potter had just left his parents and relatives in afterlife after spending close to 72 hours in the realm. He woke up suddenly and opened his eyes. He found that he could see without his glasses. He also felt better than he had ever in his life. He could breathe well and somehow an ache that had always been his wrist was now gone. He also felt his head clearer than ever. Then the memories of last 72 hours in afterlife flooded his brain.
Harry Potter concluded that he must have been in a hospital as there were multiple tubes that were connecting him to multiple monitors which constantly beeped. He was confused as to how he reached there and he was mostly scared that he must have been very sick to be taken to a hospital and Vernon will be angry again and he will be beaten and starved as Harry was not to be taken to a doctor or hospital ever. Dursley's were scared that if Harry was taken to a hospital people will know the truth.
He slowly moved his head which ached and found a man sleeping in a chair nearby his bed. He somehow knew the man. But he was not sure how. He looked closely and shocked spoke before he collapsed again, "Uncle Siri! Is that you?"
Sirius had immediately woken up and called healer Adelicia Lerouge, who had been assigned to Harry's care, to check upon Harry. She had been vouched by Poppy who had done her mastery in healing magic along with Adelicia. He told her that he had felt as if Harry had woken from his long sleep and called out for him.
She immediately ran some scans and smiled at Sirius. She confirmed that Harry was no longer in coma but now asleep due to exhaustion from all the brain function that they had recorded. Sirius was relieved and immediately Floo called both Dumbledore and Amelia.
Dumbledore told Sirius that it was a very good sign and to call him once Harry was fully awake; and Amelia was really happy for Sirius as she was aware that how relieved he must be feeling now. She told him that she will be there as soon as possible.
Harry woke up again later that day and found that almost all of the tubes that had gone into him were now no longer there. He looked again at his bedside and found a familiar face smiling down at him.
"Welcome back to the living pup", said Sirius as he smiled at his godson. He asked him, "Do you remember me, Harry?"
Harry tried to focus and replied, "Uncle Sirius?"
Sirius nodded at him and told him, "Yes Harry, I am your godfather Sirius Black"
Harry asked, "what happened Uncle Siri?".
Harry calling him by the nickname he had given him when he was one-year old, brought tears in Sirius' eyes. He composed himself as he needed to have a very important conversation with his godson. Sirius spent next hour explaining to Harry starting from what had happened at Dursleys and how he had been in a magical coma for last 5 months. Harry was surprised how about 72 hours in afterlife realm could be so long in the realm of living.
Even though Harry had been up for only a couple of hours, he was exhausted again, and healers gave him some dreamless potion for him to sleep. He was asleep as soon his head had hit the pillow.
To keep the anonymity for Harry, Amelia had to be discrete when she reached St. Mungo's. She asked to meet the patient, giving out the fake name given for Harry. She was then sent to the secured room in the hospital.
When she reached Harry's room, she saw Sirius lovingly running his hands through Harry's hair who was sleeping peacefully. Sirius smiled at her which she returned with equal fervour. She was so happy to see Sirius like this. She smiled at the thought that 'one day Sirius would be a great father.'
Next day Harry was visited by Dumbledore and Amelia. Harry had been told by his parents that Dumbledore was a master manipulator and therefore he was not very happy to see him, as he was aware from his discussions with Sirius that it was him, who had left Harry to suffer at Dursleys with not even once checking on his wellbeing. However, Sirius had tried to assuage his concerns by telling him that Dumbledore was now trying to mend his ways and will be a great help in fight with Dark Lord, a thought that had been echoed by his parents.
Amelia had been introduced to Harry as the one who managed the wizarding police. Harry had been only 5 years old but he had an intelligence which was above par and he was mature beyond his years, which was clearly visible in his captivating emerald eyes.
He also had keen observation skills which had allowed him to survive at Dursleys for so long. Also, his discussion with his parents and others about things that no 5 years old had to hear in the Afterlife realm had forced him to grow up much faster.
While he had been lying in the hospital bed, he had been observing the silent conversation between his godfather and Amelia, and had concluded that there was more to what met the eyes. He was happy that his godfather after his time in prison had some chance at love in his life. He raised an eyebrow at his god father and Sirius and Amelia both blushed. They were also shocked by the rare display of that expression by Harry who was just 5. Sirius and Amelia both immediately understood that Harry was much mature and smart than he seemed.
Dumbledore had also arrived at the room to see Harry. He had seemed genuinely happy to see Harry up and talking animatedly with his godfather. When Dumbledore introduced himself, Harry felt a rage building within himself to see the person who had left him in the hell that was No. 4 Privet Drive, for those years to bear the brunt of Dursley's rage and hatred. However, he kept his temper under control. He wanted to see what Dumbledore had to offer, even as an explanation, and he could wait to decide how to go forward with the old man. Living with Dursleys and his experience at primary school he had gone to and the neighbors at Privet Drive, he had developed a lack of trust for the adults, and a lot of patience too.
Dumbledore tried to keep a mask of a face with a smile as he greeted Harry, Sirius and Amelia, Harry, however, could see an underlying feeling of regret and guilt which he was trying to hide. Lily had told him clearly that Dumbledore will be a key ally in defeating Voldemort, hence he had decided to let his anger go and hold on to his anger on old man till he had listened to him.
As expected, the adults wanted to know as to what had happened to Harry from his own point of view. Harry patiently explained what had happened from his point of view at Dursleys till he had lost consciousness. He also explained to them about his experience in Afterlife experience, while withholding information on being declared an heir by all the founders as well as Merlin. He however told what he had learnt from the founders, and Merlin.
Dumbledore had been the master of Elder wand, the wand given by Death itself to the Peverell brother, since he had defeated Grindelwald and had become an icon of light. He however had been having trouble with the wand since Harry had been in coma.
He could only infer one thing from it.
Potters had been rumored to have descended from the Peverell's. The allegiance of wand had seemed to changed. Wand had definitely chosen a new master, which was rare as Harry had not bested him.
His fear was confirmed by the answer from Harry's discussion on Hallow's with his ancestor. Harry was already the owner of the invisibility cloak as Dumbledore was merely a keeper of it. James had left it with him on Dumbledore's request before he had died. He will return it to Harry at the right moment. Wand also had chosen Harry as its master without its owner being beaten, but that could be a clause with Death and the Peverell brother about a rightful heir. Not much was known about the hallows. Only thing to find and the boy will be the master of death. Harry then proceeded to tell Dumbledore that it did not give the title as is rumoured. The owner of all three actually become immune to anything that could kill the owner before his right time. When the time comes, Death itself will come and take him to afterlife as a friend.
Dumbledore thanked Harry for the explanation and told him that both the wand and invisibility cloak will be kept for him till he can take them rightfully at age of eleven.
Harry also explained that he could feel a lot of information in his head that he had inherited from Tom and imparted by founders and Merlin himself. He acknowledged with grace that he needed help to learn to use it properly. He also sheepishly confirmed that he could feel a lot of power constantly trying to get away from him, which he needed help controlling to avoid any catastrophe for himself and others.
He also confirmed that there were certain things which he could not divulge as requested by the one imparting the information had prohibited to do so till Harry had confidence in the person and a level of trust was built. He also explained his parents' logic that he will need to learn more than what Voldemort ever knew on dark arts, even though he had received great deal of knowledge of dark arts from Salazar Slytherin himself.
Dumbledore thanked him for his honesty and told him that though he was not happy that Harry at such a young age would need to start learning dark arts, but he will help with whatever was in his power to prepare him with whatever was needed to destroy Voldemort for ever.
Harry thanked Dumbledore for his honesty and said, "I can see that we can build a level of trust where we can talk freely on anything. I will make all the effort from my end, and I am happy professor that you too are willing to go that mile."
Dumbledore smiled and nodded. Sirius and Amelia were horrified though on such declaration related to dark arts. Sirius told them that he had in fact run away from his house at an age of 16 years due to his parents expecting him to practice dark arts and join Voldemort. His brother had infact joined Voldemort shortly thereafter and was later killed by Voldemort due to having developed cold feet. He had however like promised Harry that he too like Dumbledore will do everything in his power to help him get rid of Voldemort. Blacks had a huge library at their disposal in their family home and Dumbledore told Harry that he would provide him access to his personal library when Harry will be at Hogwarts.
Dumbledore meanwhile had spoken to the healers and guards and thanked them profusely. The healers had confirmed that Harry will soon be walking and running in coming weeks as there were no physical injuries. His muscles just needed adjustment due to lack of use for months that he had spent in bed. He then wished Harry, Sirius and Amelia a goodbye and left for Hogwarts.
3 weeks later, Harry was finally declared fit to leave St. Mungo's. Harry and Sirius expressed their gratitude towards the healers for taking care of him.
Sirius brought Harry to Bones Manor to live with Sirius, Amelia and Susan till they can get a property which Goblins were looking for. However, as of now there had been no progress on that front.
When Harry reached Bones Manor, he had been amazed at the size of the manor which could easily house at least 10 people. Bones were not as well off as Blacks or Potters but they had done well. Amelia had told him to call her Aunt Amelia instead of Madam Bones, which Harry had tried with minimal success initially and Sirius has requested that Harry use his nick name that he had given him as a toddler.
He was also introduced to Susan, who he had immediately liked. She was cute and she was smart. He was able to get along with her instantly and both had started to behave like siblings. This had pleased both Amelia and Sirius to a great extent. Later, Harry also asked Sirius if he could invite Neville who was his godbrother. Sirius told him that he will meet and discuss this with Augusta Longbottom, who was Neville's grandmother.
Soon Neville also became a regular visitor at Bones Manor and both Harry and Neville became very good friends. Before meeting Harry, Neville had been a very shy boy, however with Harry who was now getting out of his shell that he had been used to while living with Dursleys, had a positive effect on Neville. Augusta was extremely pleased with this and had invited Harry and Susan to visit Longbottom Manor at any time. Both Harry and Susan, however had found the old lady a very strict and powerful woman and spent most of their time at Bones Manor.
Sirius and Amelia had celebrated Harry's 6th birthday when Harry had become relaxed around Amelia and Susan, as he had been in coma during end of July. He had been very happy to receive so many gifts for the first time and had profusely thanked Amelia and Sirius for celebrating his birthday.
Sirius had given him a framed picture of his parents which Harry had immediately kept at the table beside his bed and had hugged Sirius tightly thanking him. Amelia had given him a journal and a self-inking quill, which Harry was thrilled to see. He decided to write his thoughts about everything in the journal. He thanked Ameila with a hug, which brought tears in her eyes as Harry had previously never initiated a hug. He had rather flinched when touched suddenly. Both Amelia and Sirius cursed Dursleys for this.
Susan had given Harry a Card that she had made herself and which said, 'To my best friend on his birthday'. Harry had been touched with the gesture and had thanked her also by telling her that she was his first ever friend.
Neville had also given him a picture which had been taken during his and Harry's parents time at Hogwarts. The five friends in the picture were smiling and Alice and Lily hugged each other while Frank and James shook hands. James was finally seen hugging Sirius and Lily and Alice smiled at the love between the brother like friends. The picture will again go back to the loop.
It was the first ever birthday celebration after his parents' death as Dursleys never ever even acknowledge the date and he had never been given a gift. Susan was in tears when she had heard from her aunt, how Harry had been treated by his muggle relatives and promised to be a great friend for him.