With a soft click the door of the room closed. Harry sighed turning to his godfather. They had led Lady Malfoy up to a room after she had broken down in tears again at Sirius promise. She hadn't brought out much more after that and they had brought her up to a spare room, making her go to sleep. Kreacher was ordered to bring her what she needed and also to bring her a calming draught. The woman had seemed thankful for the possibility to retreat and gather her dignity.

Sirius raised his hand, ruffling the black unruly hair of his heir. In response, Harry's face lit up brightly with a smile.

"I'm proud of you Prongslet. You did well down there." They made their way down the corridor towards the stairs. Harry beamed at him, while their quiet footsteps were muffled by the thick carpet. The painting to either side was still asleep and snored lightly.

"She looked so sad, I just wanted to help, I'm sorry." He looked a little down at his feet. Sirius placed his warm broad had on Harry's shoulder, squeezing it, while they reached the stairs and started climbing it. The second floor was the guest floor and they made their way up to the third floor, the family floor. Kreacher had reached the corridor, starting to clean and had already light the everlasting candles in the lamps. Sirius smiled shaking his head.

"Don't apologize. It was very kind asking for her to be sheltered here. I wanted to ask you anyway if that would be okay for you when she told her story." Harry raised an eyebrow. Looking over at him, while they reached the end of the stairs.

"Really? Why would you ask me, I mean it is your house and..." Sirius raised his hand, stopping Harry halfway through his ramble. He pulled Harry into a half-sided hug and pointed down the corridor.

"No, Harry, this isn't my house. This is OUR house. Yours and mine. I don't decide what happens here, we decide together." Harry raised his left arm, pulling Sirius a little closer.

"Are you sure?" The caution and low self-esteem in the young boy's voice made Sirius' heart ache. He would, for the rest of his life, prove to this wonderful child, that he was loved and protected, with all his strength. He had sworn it time and time again, the first time when he had held him as a newborn, only minutes after his birth. He remembered it vividly, in all its wonder. Lils had been in labour for a few hours and dear Merlin in that time she had been vicious. James had been by her side the whole time and he, the rat and the Longbottoms had been in the waiting room. Remus hadn't been there, it was the night of the full moon. Of course, being Mooney, he blamed himself, felt like he let Lils and Prongs down. It had taken a firm word by the future mother to deter him from his first plan. He had tried to find a strong steel cage, so he could be at least near them. It had been the most reckless plan Mooney had ever come up with and only when Lily had yelled at him for suggesting to bring a werewolf at full moon into St Mungos their friend had grumbly left to find a quiet room. Sirius understood quite well why he had been this way.

Sirius looked up at the clock on the far side of the room. They were here for twelve hours. The Longbottoms had only joined them about an hour ago. They were still in St Mungo's after their son Neville had been born yesterday. Alica looked still kind of pale and weak, sleeping in a chair, but when they arrived Peter had worryingly asked her if she might want to go back. Frank had made a cutting gesture behind her, but the damage was done and for ten minutes poor Wormtail had been berated about the duty's of a godmother, that Lily had spent the night before in the same way, waiting for little Neville to be born and who he thought he would be telling her what to do.

Sirius had sniggered at the way Peter had shrunk into his chair, his eyes wide and trying to escape the wrath of the new mother by turning into a puddle on the floor. That had been a mistake since he redirected Alica's fury to himself and was the same way berated. After another ten minutes, the woman had deflated into a comfy armchair Frank had conjuncted and fallen asleep in an instant. Her husband sat next to her brush through her hair with slow careful motions.

"How long do you think will this go on?" A voice had whispered next to him. Sirius raised his head looking over to his good friend. Peter had wrung his hands, looking down at the tiles. He looked so lost at that time like he felt not well. Back then Sirius hadn't known what was wrong and just assumed this was due to the fact of war and tiredness. He had shrugged.

"I have no idea, Peter. It can't be long now." Frank Longbottom had raised his head too, looking at the two friends. He was a few years older than them and neither of them was really close to him. Mostly Lily was best friends with Alica and therefore James was friends with Frank by default.

"I think Sirius is right, but this is something very uncertain. Birth takes its time. Some are born after 10 hours, others take 20 or more. It's all quite confusing and all, women stuff you know." He had lowered his voice leaning over. "But don't tell Alice I said that." He had winked while he had said that, making Sirius chuckled at him. They have sat there quietly again. All the subjects and talk had run their course hours ago. Sirius had realized it was difficult to keep up a conversation with Peter all on their own. Normally he had been mostly with James or Remus. He had only rarely been on a one on one base with Peter and the guy had always been on the quiet side.

A few minutes later the door to the birth room had been slammed open and James stumbled outside. He had had deep bags under his eyes, his hair had been even more in disarray than ever and his clothes had been utterly crumbled. He had just stood there, blinking into the room, his hand hanging low on the sides of his body, staring at them.

Sirius had risen from his chair, slowly stepping a step closer.

"Sooo?" He had inquired, waiting till James' gaze had turned over to him. With still a blank face, James had sighed.

"I'm a father." And with these words, the grin had spread over his face and they all had run to him, hugging and congratulating their friend. James had laughed and smiled, thanking them, before he ushered them inside. Propped on the bed had been Lily, her hair damp and sweaty, she looked exhausted and quite frankly just tired. But she had smiled when they came in, raising her eyes from the bundle in her arms. Sirius own gaze had been pulled magnetically to the small frame on her arms. Only his face could be seen, with all the sheets around him. A little red, the mouth had been a gap open, the small guy, this adorable boy had just slept.

Sirius had fallen in love in an instant. While Alice had been ushered forward, taking the babe from Lily with careful hands, Sirius had frozen, just staring at the boy. His head had been empty, but his heart filled with such warmth. He couldn't pull his gaze from the small boy. He had never considered children, always thought babies were annoying and unfinished humans. This point of view had been utterly shattered in that room. Only Lily's voice had pulled him out of his daze.

"Sirius." He had shaken the thought of, blinking at the wife of his best friend, she had this big smile on her face, which had reached her green warm eyes.

"Huh? What did you say?" He had stumbled out, not sure what she had been telling him. Her smile had grown even wider, happiness had poured out of her.

"I want you to meet your godson, Harry James Potter. Take him in your arms." James had taken the boy from Alice and brought him to Sirius. The man had taken a step back, raising his hands.

"Wh-No! What if I drop him? What if I-"

James had snorted holding stepping next to him, putting the infant into his arms, moving his hands in the right places.

"Shut up Padfoot." He had just smiled and at the same moment, Sirius had looked down and had felt the goofiest grin spread on his own features. That was the moment when he had known that this boy, this wonderful combination of his best friend and the girl who was close to him as a sister, that he would do everything for him, for the rest of his life. And in his head, he had promised it to the little fellow.

"One hundred per cent sure, Prongslet." And his smile rose to his face again. Harry swallowed hard at the notion and smiled himself. No one has ever taken him into account and it would take time to get accustomed to this treatment. Sirius nudged his side slightly and they walked down the corridor. Harry couldn't stop himself from smiling and felt this warmth in his chest about being in this house, being with Sirius. He had in the weeks since the end of school dreamed of this moment but at the same time, he had always swatted down the dream, worried it wouldn't be the way hoped it would be. And he was right. This was even better.

They stopped in front of the door that led to Harry's room. Harry's room! This alone felt weird, having a room given to him, not getting one because the Dursleys had been worried about what he could do. Sirius smirked raising his wand.

"There is a little piece missing." He tapped the door and on it, a brace plaque appeared.

- Prongslet -

Harry smiled wide, hugging Sirius in a wave of affection. The black-haired man chuckled and brought his arms around the boy. Harry let the warmth and comfort rush over him like a sea of happiness. After a moment they stepped back, Sirius still placing his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"How about you make yourself bed ready and I come over to tuck you in..." Then his face faltered a little. "I mean I am sorry, at thirteen you probably are too old for that."

Harry got a shy look, smiling embarrassedly to himself.

"No, I would like that. N-No one has ever tugged my in, ever, not even Mrs Weasley." A red blush appeared on Harry's face and he shuffled uncomfortably. Then he raised his head, realizing he had asked for something for himself and waved his hands rapidly.

"You don't have to I am sorry I shouldn't have-" Again he was pulled into a comforting hug by Sirius, who smiled into the black hair of his godson, placing a kiss on the top of his head.

"Get ready for bed, I will tug you in." Sirius smile didn't change one bit while he said it.

Again Harry's face was almost cut in half by his smile and he hurried inside, quickly discarding his clothes and putting on pyjamas. He then made his way into the en-suite, finding a toothbrush and toothpaste. While he brushed his teeth he thought about the day. So much had happened since he had woken in his room. The wait for Sirius trial, this strange talk with Aunt Petunia, the attack of the Dementors, Sirius showing up, Uncle Vernon getting punched by his godfather, Dudley's strange goodbye, coming here, learning all this about Sirius and then there were the visits of Madam Bones and Draco's mother. He rinsed, washing his face and made his way over to the bed.

His hand brushed over the thick crimson duvet and he looked around the room. It really looked like his room in Hogwarts, the only difference there wasn't a snoring Ron in the bed next to him. He brushed over the sheets again thinking tomorrow he would definitely write him and Hermione. They both had been eager knowing about the trial. Ron probably knew already about the outcome but still, he would write to him.

A soft knock came from the door and Harry called out.

"Come in." He felt the smile return to his face when his godfather stepped through the door, closing it quietly behind himself.

"Hey there." He had a smile on his face. He walked over to the bed, sitting next to Harry. He still wore his robes, the simple once he had worn to the trial, still no time to redress. He would have Kreacher get new clothes early in the morning. For Harry and Narcissa too. He corrected the scruff of his sleeve, there was still the blood of Vernon Dursleys face splattered around. His knuckles were slightly bruised but he refused to heal it. These were bruises he earned for Harry, he wouldn't simply cast these aside.

"What are you thinking about?"

Harry's face turned a little thoughtful, while he looked down at the carpet. His finger played with the edge of the sheets.

"I just think about the day. So much has happened and with Draco's mom now."

"Are you uncomfortable with her here? I know you and her son are not really happy with each other." Harry shook his head slowly.

"No that's not what I meant. I don't know her enough to say anything and she needs us right now. It's just so much today and...and I feel like this is all a dream and any moment I wake up because Dudley slams a door or Aunt Petunia calls me down for chores." He sighed heavily. Sirius snuck his arm around the shoulders of his godson, pulling him into a side-hug. He pressed his lips against the side of the boys head for a moment.

"It's okay, today was a lot. This is not a dream. I can't promise we will never fight or have arguments, or that every day will be a happy one, but I promise you, this is no dream, I want you being here with me and you will NEVER EVER have to go back to these people."

Again a small tear appeared in the corner of Harry's eye, he swallowed hard, nodding. Sirius smiled and let go. Then he grabbed the blanket pulling it back.

"Now in you go. Like a said it was a long day and you need sleep." Right on cue Harry yawned and noticed his eyelids getting pretty heavy. Mumbling an okay, the boy shuffled into bed and Sirius placed the thick warm blanket over the boy. He felt a lot of glee at this, hadn't done this in over a decade. He runs his fingers through the wild black hair on top of the smiling boys head.

"Good night Prongslet." He all but whispered, looking down at this wonderful child James and Lily entrusted to him. A trust he had failed for years to live up to but had every intention to uphold now.

"Good night Padfoot." the boy mumbled, already his eyes closed and closing in on sleep.

Sirius rose and quietly made his way to the door. He turned of the lights in the room with a flick of his wand and stepped outside. As quiet as possible he closed the door behind himself.

Hedwig ruffled her feather on the stand for a moment, opening her eye at the click of the door for a moment, but the boy in the bed was already sleeping and didn't notice.