Sirius Black was on the brink of explosion, suffocated by repressed feelings through Occlumency that pushed him towards insanity. The pain of witnessing his brother, dead, tossed in the corner of the room like a ragdoll haunted him too much. In the other corner of the room lay the body of Peter, the traitor. Climbing the stairs and facing the search for Lily and Harry was a terrifying ordeal, but he understood the necessity.
Raising his wand, he uttered "Expecto Patronum," but the combination of movement and words did not produce the desired spell. Sirius was not surprised by the failure; after all, that enchantment thrived on positive thoughts, of which he lacked at that moment.
Abandoning the attempt to send a message to Dumbledore, he gathered strength and ascended the stairs, heading to the room marked with the letters "HP" on the door. There, standing in front of the entrance, he took a deep breath several times before turning the doorknob and encountering a surreal scene. Two adult bodies lay on the floor, while a child slept peacefully in the crib. Lily was reclined at the foot of the crib, as if sitting, her face sporting a smile, as if she had fulfilled her duty as a mother before departing.
Voldemort's body was the strangest sight of all, sprawled on the floor with lifeless eyes, his once-pale skin now taken over by a grayish hue. His wand remained firm in his hand. Incredulity took over Sirius in the face of the scene; the war was over, and the price he paid was haunting.
His eyes fixed on the crucial point of the room, where Harry slept peacefully in his crib. A vivid contrast to the surrounding calamity. The only notable alteration was the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
Now, Sirius had a mission: to take care of Harry and provide him with an excellent and comfortable life, fulfilling his role as a godfather.
The next few hours passed in a whirlwind for Sirius: testimonies, numerous letters sent and received. His luck was having the assistance of Remus, who, despite being shaken, kept focused; Dumbledore, the facilitator of bureaucracy; and Minerva, in charge of Harry. And so, morning arrived before he realized.
The Daily Prophet of November 1st, 1981, was marked by a large article celebrating the end of the war. Magical Britain was finally at peace, bringing brighter colors to a significant portion of the population. Many speculations arose about Voldemort's death, with the most improbable being that a baby not only survived the Killing Curse but also reflected it back at the Dark Lord. An absurd theory in itself, but the press published it, and the people, desperate for a hero, gladly accepted it, nicknaming Harry Potter "The Boy Who Lived."
The deaths of James and Lily represented a drastic turning point in Sirius's life, completely altering his routine and bringing with it the responsibility of caring for Harry. The boy required tireless attention, which soon resulted in a significant change: the transition from his apartment to a spacious house. This process proved surprisingly smooth, as the mere mention that this residence would be the future home of Harry Potter, the hero of magical Britain, caused prices to plummet. Despite Sirius's persistent refusals, the final decision fell on a country house on the outskirts of London. This choice provided ample protection, a vast area, and sufficient proximity to the city.
The second major change lay in Sirius's professional career. Although he had enough resources in the family vault to sustain several generations, inactivity did not appeal to him, and returning to work as an Auror was out of the question. An idea arose while he and Remus unpacked moving boxes. In one of them, rescued from the Potters' house in Godric's Hollow, was one of James's Quidditch awards: the MVP medal from the International Magical Schools League. The historic final played by the Thunderbirds in that season was truly magical. The team operated in perfect harmony, tactics were flawless, and the individual skill of the players was undeniable. All of this under the leadership of James Potter, a relentless scorer and leader who held the record for the most goals in a single match.
Lost in reflections and memories, a voice brought Sirius back to reality.
"Digging through old memories?" Remus asked, organizing his own belongings.
"It was a good time. Winning that tournament was a beacon of hope amidst all the darkness of that period," Sirius admitted, sighing and seeking to alleviate the pain welling up in his chest. "We wanted to pursue it professionally, travel the world, win titles, get called up for the national team. But school ended, and the war began."
"Why not get back into that world?" Remus suggested.
"Are you mad?" Sirius exclaimed, immediately snapping out of the trance of memories. "Even if it were possible, I wouldn't drag Harry into that tumultuous and hectic life."
"Well, it doesn't have to be as a player. You could sponsor a team, open your own shop, or launch a brand. You have the money, knowledge, and motivation," argued Remus.
"Yeah, maybe it's not a bad idea. I could work practically from home, make a few trips, at least until Harry is old enough to accompany me," Sirius admitted, quite excited about the idea. "Moony, you're a bloody genius."
"Watch your language, Padfoot, and yes, I am a genius, thank you," Remus exclaimed teasingly, internally pleased to see his friend, practically a brother, excited again.
After this brief conversation and some more time spent unpacking the rest of their belongings, Sirius went upstairs to check on Harry, who was sleeping peacefully. As he contemplated Remus's suggestion, he spent the afternoon and evening exploring various possibilities and sketching out an initial plan.
In the following days, a series of letters were sent. Recipients varied, from the bank to magical real estate brokers, craftsmen specializing in magical items, and experts in Spells and Enchantments. Despite being an exceptionally challenging task, Sirius was convinced it would be worth it. After all, working in what he loved while still being able to spend time with Harry was a valuable goal. Somewhat reluctantly, Remus joined forces in this endeavor. Unlike Sirius, he was never the practical sports type, feeling a natural inclination towards theory. During his years at Hogwarts, he delved into studies, even sharing some ideas with James regarding tactics.
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Over a period of six months, Sirius and Remus balanced their time between taking care of Harry and planning the details of the shop. Given the amount of bureaucracy involved, they made the decision to recruit additional help to boost the process. This was where Alice Davis came into the picture, a witch born to Muggle parents. After completing her studies at Hogwarts, she chose to attend a college in the non-magical world, specializing in Business Administration and Management. Her contribution was of great importance to the ongoing progress of the projects, and she wholeheartedly immersed herself in this venture.
In addition to Alice, other professionals joined the team. Daniel Taylor, an experienced magical craftsman who previously worked independently, saw potential in the shop idea and decided to get involved. Alongside him came James Ward, a craftsman in the early stages of his career but notable for his tireless dedication. Furthermore, the Turner brothers also joined the team. Coming from a renowned Quidditch equipment company in the USA, they had left that position due to outdated concepts of the company. The project and the philosophy of progress presented by Sirius won them over, but they agreed only on the condition of bringing their own team.
Thus, the team behind the Celesty store and brand, specializing in Quidditch articles, was skillfully assembled.
With the opening scheduled for January 1, 1983, the team had just over seven months to develop an initial sales catalog. After numerous meetings with all team members, it was decided that they would start with the basics: complete uniforms and protective equipment for all positions. These products would be the original pieces, while others would be resold initially until they could produce their own creations. During the store's planning phase, Sirius financed a trip for the entire team to Madrid, Spain, with the intention of attending the World Cup football final. Although he claimed it was a research trip, Remus had a more nuanced understanding of the situation, knowing that Sirius loved football.
Additionally, Celesty also had an additional project underway: a children's broom, conceived at Sirius's request with Harry in mind. However, this item was still far from the shelves, as his godson was not yet old enough to use it, and the project required extra attention as the product was designed for children.
Speaking of Harry, Sirius harbored the hope that, after the store's opening, he would finally have the free time he had longed for since embarking on this venture. His desire was to enjoy moments with the little one, who became increasingly lively as he grew.
At the age of five, Harry radiated contagious vitality. He explored the house and backyard with nimble flights on his children's broom, participated in lively football matches both at home and at the non-magical school he attended with his uncles. Additionally, he engaged in intense Quidditch matches with friends from the wizarding community, most of whom were the children of Sirius and Remus's friends. Even at his tender age, Harry demonstrated remarkable skill in the sport, executing challenging maneuvers, despite the limitations imposed by the protective enchantments on his broom.
During this enchanting phase, Sirius and Remus guided Harry through a series of events in the wizarding community, providing him with the experience of thrilling matches in the British Quidditch League (BQL) and the European Quidditch League (EQL). In that specific year, Harry was about to experience his first Quidditch World Cup. In this special edition, the English national team enjoyed the prestige of sponsorship from the Celesty brand. The company, already renowned in sports endorsements, stood out as one of the main sponsors of the Puddlemere United team in the BQL. This connection allowed Sirius to secure prime seats for his enthusiastic godson.
Harry's passion for the sport blossomed from the first official game he witnessed. The high speed of the players, the ecstatic crowd, and the chaotic atmosphere didn't intimidate him; on the contrary, he felt completely at ease. His passion grew exponentially after the game when, back at home, Sirius and Remus shared fascinating stories about how both his father and Sirius were international champions for the school team. Harry's enthusiasm kept them up late, eager to hear more of these magical narratives.
At a mere ten years old, Harry devoted most of his time to his broom "Lightning I," proudly of the same brand as Sirius. His life practically unfolded in the skies, flying tirelessly except when he was at home. In his home, Remus didn't hesitate to scold him and impose endless punishments if he tried to take flight indoors. Two years earlier, expressing the burning desire to follow in his godfather's footsteps and become a Quidditch player, he found the perfect mentor in his godfather. Sirius took on the mission to train him and enlisted Remus's collaboration in this endeavor. The only condition in this agreement was that Harry had to continue getting good grades in school. Differing from his father and godfather, Harry chose to be a Seeker instead of a Chaser. Thus, his training was intensely focused on developing speed and sharp reflexes. However, Harry didn't overlook other essential aspects, especially the tactical ones, meeting his uncle's insistence in that regard.