As Good As a Father to Me

Summary: Sirius may only be a godfather, but to Harry's he's good as.

AN: This is a different spin on my fic The Closest Thing to a Dad with a few of the same pieces from the story.

Father's Day was fast approaching and the day had arrived when Students would be sent home letters, cards, and gifts their father. The letter or the cards would include a little note saying just how much they loved them and how much they meant to them. For Harry, days leading up to Father's Days were days of false smiles and bitterness, keeping his voice in a monotone of 'I'm fine,' or 'I'm okay," when his friends would ask how he was doing.

Harry would admit he was jealous on days like today. Jealous of his friends who would happily prepare their letters, cards, and presents and send them off to their fathers when he didn't have one. He couldn't help the pangs of jealousy and sadness flare up when he would get a peek at someone kissing the end of their letter or watching someone wrap up their present.

Father's Day used to be a day where he would find a private place in the castle and take the photo album with him. He had done the same on Mother's Day, gazing longingly at the picture of a red-headed woman with the same emerald eyes as him and cry. On Father's Day, he would gaze longingly at the picture of a man with messy black much like his own. As it was now a known habit of his to Ron and Hermione, they would be waiting for him when he returned to Gryffindor tower.

The last time, they had Dobby bring them hot chocolate and spent the evening talking and attempting to cheer Harry up. Much to Ron and Hermione's relief, it had brought a smile to Harry's face.

But now, Father's Day had come again and a lot had changed for Harry over the year.

His godfather came back into his life and now, Harry lived with him. Sirius and Remus both had stepped into the place of 'parents' to Harry, not wanting to take James and Lily's place.

But in the time that Harry had been living with Sirius and Remus, Harry had found the fatherly love had been so badly neglected. Sirius had said many times he didn't want to take James's place, but Remus had told him many times that Harry looked to him as a father figure, one he desperately needed.

Since the day Harry came home from Hogwarts last year, Sirius had been trying and amazingly succeeding at being a father figure to Harry. He had taken care of Harry when he got sick, he helped him when he needed it whether it was with homework or another project he was doing. He had Harry to the healers to restore his health, even though he needed to see on too, Sirius said that Harry was and will always be his first priority.

He had taken Harry to places that Harry only dreamed of going. Sirius had told Harry one summer morning to write down all the places he would want to go to. Most of the items on the list were simple, like going to the coast and seeing the ocean, playing in the sand and in the water.

Sirius never realized how badly Harry had been neglected until he got the list. And they did them all.

They even squeezed in a Quidditch match before the World Cup and Harry would visit with Ron with stories of his adventures. Molly watched from the kitchen and when Sirius came to pick him up, she told Sirius 'Thank you for giving that boy a better life.'

To see Harry now, you would have never known the horrors he faced living with his relatives. Thanks to creams and balms, most of the scars had faded or disappeared. Harry no longer looked like a starving child, but rather a happy and healthy teenager. Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey were happy to see the change in Harry's appearance and his health. They had Sirius to thank.

Now that Father's Day was approaching Harry had been thinking about what to get Sirius. Even though Sirius was his godfather, to Harry he was good as a father to him.

He went with Ron and Hermione when they went to Hogsmeade, looking for some ideas of what to get Sirius. He had written to Remus for some ideas. In Remus's reply, he had told him that Sirius still had many of his possessions as he had been the one to pack up the flat when Sirius was arrested. He had been living with Sirius and had kept what little he had at the flat with him until they were reunited last summer.

But Remus did mention to Harry there was a picture he had lost that he would like to have back if they could find a copy. It was a picture of Sirius holding a barely hour old Harry. He was looking down at Harry with a smile on his face so big his cheeks probably hurt and Harry was looking back up at him.

Realizing he had the picture, Harry needed to figure out how to make a copy. He decided to find a nice frame for it in Hogsmeade. It was black, very basic as the others in the shop looked too feminine for Sirius. Harry had asked Ron and Hermione's opinion and they both agreed with Harry that Sirius would like the black frame better.

Now, it was time to put the picture in the frame, only Harry still needed to make a copy of the picture. Since Hermione was more convenient he took the frame and the photo album down to the common room. Luckily the common room was empty with only Ron and Hermione. They both had picked up something for their fathers and were fixing them to send off next week.

"Hermione, can you make a copy of a photo for me?" Harry asked, bringing himself to his friends' attention.

"Sure, Harry, which one?"

Harry opened the photo album, flicking until he came to the picture of him and Sirius when he was a baby.

"Aw, is that you?" Hermione cooed.

"Yes, Hermione," Harry said, blushing three shades of crimson suddenly very grateful that someone had wrapped him in a blanket.

"Is that Sirius?" Ron asked, looking at the picture.

"Yeah, it is. Remus said that Sirius had a copy of the picture, but lost it in the mess that followed when he was sent to Azkaban. Remus was staying him and had pack up everything and move out since it wasn't his place. He didn't realize it was missing until they went through the stuff Sirius had that Remus kept until last summer. When I asked Hagrid, he said that one of the people he had written for pictures was a friend of Mum's. I think he said, Hestia. She had a copy and sent it to Hagrid."

"Wow!" Ron exclaimed. "And Hagrid was kind enough to include this because when he made this, he thought Sirius was a…."

"He said when he and Sirius talked he did at first, but considering how much Sirius cared for me, he didn't think Sirius had done it."

"Sirius will love this, Harry. How are you going to give it to him?" Hermione asked.

"I thought I'd send it by Hedwig. She could delivery it that morning with the post," Harry answered.

"I think that's a great idea."

Hermione handed Harry the copy and the original and went back to working on her own present for her father. Ron was putting the finishing touches on his and it would be sent with his brothers and sister's present as a group.

Very carefully, Harry laid the photo in the frame, carefully putting it together and then closing the back.

"Do either of you have any leftover paper?" Harry inquired.

Hermione handed him the brown paper and spello tape. Ron handed him a pair of scissors and Harry got to work wrapping the present for Sirius. Ron found some string left from his own present and handed it to Harry to use once he was done to make it easier for Hedwig to deliver the present to Sirus.

Harry knew Sirius would like it.

Finishing the package, he took the box upstairs and sat it beside his trunk under his bed. He decided to go down on Saturday to give the package to Hedwig instead of Friday with Ron and Hermione.

"Are you spending the day with Sirius?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Harry replied. "I think we're going to the cemetery on Saturday."

Harry had been to his parents' grave one-day last summer. Since then, they've gone to James and Lily's grave on their birthdays and Mother's Day and Sirius promised they'd try to go for Father's Day.

"Thanks for the help guys," Harry said when he came back down from hiding the package for Sirius.

Hermione smiled, giving Harry a hug. "You're welcome, Harry.

"Anytime, mate," Ron added.

As they walked down to the Great Hall for dinner, Ron and Hermione shared a look between them. They were both happy for Harry that he now had a better life and a loving family. They had Sirius to thank for it all.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Here, Hedwig. Take this to Sirius in the morning," Harry instructed the owl. "Think you can do that for me?"

The owl hooted in reply. Harry petted her head, giving her a treat for her trouble, knowing next time, Hedwig would nip his fingers next time he would want to send any mail in the post.

He left the owlery and headed back to Gryffindor tower. Filled with excitement, Harry found he couldn't sleep

"Do I need to knock you out?" Ron asked. Apparently, Harry had been tossing and turning making the springs on his bed squeak.

"No, I'm fine."

Harry evidently went to sleep, dreaming of the day he would have with Sirius.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Sirius entered the Great Hall the next morning and made his way to the head table. Sitting down, he pulled the teapot towards him and poured himself a cup. He looked up as students entered the Great Hall for breakfast, listening to the mindless chatter around him.

Minerva asked him something and he didn't quite catch it.

"I'm sorry, Minnie. What were you saying?"

Professor McGonagall gave him her thin one line lip looks and repeated her question.

"Are you taking Harry to Godric's Hollow today or not?"

"We went yesterday," Sirius replied. He smiled as he thought of the time he and Harry had spent after visiting the cemetery. They had stopped at a little pub for lunch. On their way back to the house to apparate back to Hogsmeade. It was during lunch, they talked about the plans for this summer. Harry wanted to go back to the coast and Sirius decided to continue with Harry's list of things he wanted to do.

Sirius also needed to get in to see Healer Morris before September at some point. He also decided to find an eye healer to see about getting Harry new glasses and a second pair. The ones he had had been repaired so much that Sirius was sure he would repair them one time and they would break permanently.

He smiled at seeing Harry, Ron, and Hermione enter the Great Hall and sat down at their usual spot at Gryffindor table. They switched it up on who sat on which side. Today, Ron and Hermione sat on one side and Harry sat on the other.

Making himself a plate of breakfast, Sirius made conversation with Professor McGonagall and Professor Moody, discussing the plans for the week and the upcoming Third Task in the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

As Sirius finished his breakfast, the owls arrived with the morning post. An owl landed at the head table with The Daily Prophet. Sirius took his copy and was looking over the first page when Hedwig landed in front of him.

"What's wrong Hedwig?" Sirius asked. He glanced towards the Gryffindor table to find Harry when he noticed what Hedwig was carrying. He found Harry and mouthed 'What's this?'

"Open it," Harry mouthed back.

Sirius took the package from Hedwig, giving her a piece of bacon once he had relieved her of her package. Carefully, he pulled off the note Harry had attached. Unfolding it, he began to read.

Sirius,

Thank you for being the father I didn't have and didn't know I needed.

I realized because now I have you. I know we've only known each other for almost a year, but I consider you the closest thing I have to a Dad. I know you don't want to take his place, Sirius, but I think he'd appreciate you looking out for me and taking care take of me.

You and Remus have been the biggest support system through this year and the Tri-Wizard Tournament. You don't know how much your support means to me. Over the past year, you've been there when I needed. Whether it was when I had a nightmare and couldn't go back to sleep or on a night when I couldn't sleep at all. You'd stayed up with me, made me hot chocolate, and waited until I was ready to talk or we watched a late-night television show that neither of us heard of.

You've taken care of me when got sick from a simple stomachache to the flu last November. Sorry again for throwing up on you. You've helped me get healthy again and even when the potions made me sick or gave me stomach cramps, you stayed with me until I was better.

I don't think I could thank you enough for everything you've done over the last year. Because of you, I have a family with you and Remus.

I hope you'll like the present I got you. Actually, I know you'll like it.

I don't know if I could ever thank you enough for all you've done for me. But I will try. Thank you, Sirius, for everything. You mean the world to me, and I'm really glad you found me.

Happy Father's Day, Sirius. I love you.

Love,

Prongslet (Harry)

Carefully, Sirius unwrapped the paper away from the small box. Pushing the paper away, Sirius opened the box and paused at seeing the picture frame. Picking it up, he carefully turned it around. He gasped softly when he saw the picture in the frame. It was the picture he had thought he'd lose forever. One that was taken on the day when Harry was born and he and Remus had come into the room after waiting out the labor to see Harry.

Remus had been the one who had taken the picture and had given a copy, unknowingly to Sirius, to Hestia Jones, Lily's best friend. She had been Lily's pick for godmother, but they had unable to tell Hestia before they went into hiding shortly after Harry was born. When she visited after Harry's birth, things had been so busy that Lily never told her. But Remus had shared a copy of the picture with her.

Getting up from the table, Sirius walked over to the Gryffindor table. Without warning, he tackled Harry into a bear-like a hug.

"Thank you, Prongslet. I love the present. You really didn't have to get me anything."

"I wanted to," Harry said, voice muffled by Sirius's shoulder.

"Having you is all the present I needed."

Harry smiled up at him. "I'm glad you liked the present."

"Was that picture in your album?" Sirius asked.

"Yes, it was," Harry confirmed.

"Thanks for this, Pup. I love it and I love you."

"I love you too, Sirius. You're as good as a father to me."

Sirius smiled, hugging Harry to him, taking advantage of an almost empty Great Hall for more public displays of affection between godfather and godson. From that day on, anytime Harry had even Sirius a present he would add that little saying to end of each and every card. You're as good as a father to me.

Happy Father's Day!