Life Debt

"I don't care what you say, Professor Dumbledore. I am never going back to the Dursley household again." Yelled an angry teenager with green eyes and black hair.

"Harry…" Spoke a soft tone from an old man sitting at a desk.

"No. I won't hear it, Headmaster," The boy, Harry, refused. "I have asked you, year after year, not to send me back there and you insist that I am safe." He stated. "Don't you think a student, begging you consistently, warrants a valid reason as to why? The minute I bring up this particular topic, you immediately shoot it down and say that I have no choice."

"You don't. I am your magical guardian with your godfather imprisoned and your parents no longer of this world, Harry. As such, I place you with your muggle relatives and it's-," The man started again.

"Don't you tell me I'm safer!" Harry glared at the man. "I am NOT safer. Professor, I get treated like a slave. I get abused and starved. Worse now than ever before I learned I was a wizard." He informed. "It's not just punishment for me acting out because I'm not, sir. Did you know, up until after my first year at Hogwarts; I was living in a cupboard under the stairs since I was two? Do you know that I have to clean that house, top to bottom, every day. Did you know I get smacked, punched, kicked, and whipped if there is so much as one thing not to their standards? Did you know they don't feed me? Do you know that I live in the smallest bedroom of the house, having only space for a cot and nightstand? That I don't have any of my own clothes except school ones?" He raged.

"No." The headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, sighed. "But Harry, the blood wards from your mother's sacrifice are what protect you from he who must not be named."

"I've only ever been attacked here at the school, I think I'll be okay. But to send me back to the Dursley's, knowing what you do now, Professor Dumbledore?" Harry said, calming down. "Please, sir…I'm begging you. Pleading you…Please don't send me back there. I can't take the abuse anymore…I can't…" He looked down, tears forming in his eyes. "Sirius Black is innocent and you know he is…I can go before the ministry, submit my memories of Peter admitting to what he did. Question Sirius under truth serum…Please, sir. Please? I'll take my chances outside the blood wards. I think I'll be okay."

Albus sighed heavily. "I will see what I can do about clearing Sirius's name and you residing with him."

"Thank you." Harry sighed out in relief.

Harry bid his headmaster a goodbye and left the office to return to Gryffindor Tower. There was only a week left of his third year and boy had it been a crazy one. To start, Harry Potter learned a dangerous criminal, Sirius Black, had escaped Azkaban prison to find him and it turned out that Sirius was actually his godfather. Harry found out that Sirius was his father's best friend and had been innocent and had been framed for something he didn't do. On top of this, the real traitor, Peter Pettigrew, who had been a friend of Sirius and his father, was revealed and unfortunately, got away. Harry also learned that another one person in his life had been a friend of his parents, Remus Lupin, who had come aboard Hogwarts as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, was a werewolf. Overall, a crazy year, but at least he hadn't been attacked by Voldemort; the dark lord who had killed his parents twelve years ago. Harry had faced Voldemort's soul in his first and second years and won each time. Right now, Sirius was back in prison awaiting the final date of when he should be given the Dementor's Kiss, which was to say his soul would be sucked out. Harry had pleaded Albus to stay it off and fight for the man's innocence. But of course, that turned into Albus telling Harry that even if Sirius was set free and cleared; he'd have to stay at the Dursley's again. Harry refused this time, sick of his life there. All Harry could do now was wait and see what happened, one thing was for sure was that if Albus couldn't stop Sirius from being kissed, Harry was already forming a plan to break the man out.

. . .

It was a week later and breakfast time. At 10:00 am, the students would be taken through Hogsmead to get to the train station for their ride home to start their summers before next year started in September. Right now, it was about 8:30 am as Harry sat with Ron and Hermione, his two best friends and they were eating their food.

"I can't believe it's the end of our third year already." Hermione stated.

"Only four more," Ron replied. "You alright, Harry?" He asked his friend, who was just sitting there sadly because he never heard from Albus about clearing Sirius's name…Which meant he was going back to the Dursley's.

"Yeah, just fine…" Harry replied.

The doors to the hall opened as Remus Lupin walked in and approached Harry, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Harry, don't look so glum." The man told him.

"Sorry, Professor Lupin," Harry said. "Not in a good mood right now."

"Well then…Maybe an early birthday present might change that?" Remus offered as Harry arched a brow at him then Remus stepped aside and motioned for Harry to look towards the doors.

Harry sighed and looked; his fork dropped from his hand and his eyes widened. Sirius was standing there in a rather nice-looking suit, all cleaned up from the last time Harry saw him just a few weeks before. Harry looked at Remus, who smiled and nodded.

"Hey. Long time no see, kiddo." Sirius said gently. The room had gone quiet, so it was easy to hear.

"Sirius…" Harry got off the bench. Sirius smiled and opened his arms wide. Remus gave Harry the slightest push forward as Harry broke into a run and got his arms around Sirius's figure. "Sirius!" Sirius laughed and hugged his godson back.

"You certainly know how to make an entrance, my old friend," Remus chuckled.

"Oh, shut it, Remus." Sirius rolled his eyes. "Nothing beats this feeling and Harry's reaction."

"You're here! You're out of Azkaban and here! This isn't just a dream, r-right?" Harry asked.

"No dream, Harry. I'm here, pup," Sirius promised. "A free man, at last."

"Y-You are?" Harry looked up at him, hoping the tears that had formed didn't fall down.

"I am." Sirius nodded. "Cleared of all charges, all my vaults unfrozen, plus reparations from wrongful imprisonment. I'm free, Harry…All thanks to you."

"I'm so glad…" Harry relaxed in the embrace.

Sirius kissed the top of his head. "Now, there's just one question I have for you…" He asked after the hug broke. Sirius kept his hands on Harry's shoulders. "My offer stands, godson…Would you like to come live with me?"

"Merlin, do you even have to ask?!" Harry smiled. "YES!"

Sirius laughed as he pulled Harry into another hug. "Would you like to ride the train home with your friends, or come now?"

"Go on, Harry. Spend time with your godfather, we'll keep in contact with letters and we demand to visit!" Hermione said firmly.

"Of course, Hermione." Harry nodded. "I want to go now. I have to get my stuff."

"I have it, cub," Remus patted his pocket.

"Then let's go!" Harry pleaded excitedly.

"Albus, can I take him now?" Sirius inquired.

"You may. Happy early birthday, Harry! Enjoy your summer." Albus nodded.

"Thank you, Headmaster." Harry looked at Sirius. "Alright, how we getting there?"

Sirius pulled off his ring and gave it to Harry. "Hold this in your hand and say home." Sirius told him, a hand on his shoulder as Remus took hold of the other one.

Harry closed his hand around the ring. "Home!"

In a flash, Sirius, Remus, and Harry were gone from the middle of the great hall.

"Wait a minute…Sirius Black is Harry's godfather?" Ron looked at Hermione, as if just realizing it.

"Yes, Ronald…Try to keep up. Harry's parents named Sirius Harry's godfather when Harry was born," Hermione sighed. "And Remus is Harry's unofficial uncle." She added. "Good for him! I've never seen Harry look happier."

"I think he was about to cry." Ginny giggled.

"Probably was." Hermione nodded.

. . .

Harry landed hard and nearly lost his footing, but Sirius and Remus made sure he stayed upright. Harry looked around to find himself and the other two males standing in a small room with no windows.

"Woah, what was that?" Harry asked.

"Portkey," Remus informed. "It enchants an object to instantly take someone, or a group, if touching one another, to a specific location."

"In this case, right to the one room in my house that allows for transportation methods within its secure charm." Sirius added. "Portkeys and Apparition being the two methods of transport."

"Cool," Harry admired. "Oh, here's your ring back." He gave Sirius the piece of jewelry.

"Ah, thank you." Sirius slid the ring back on. "It's the Black family lordship ring. Only passed down through the males, of course. It makes me lord of the Black family, an automatic portkey to the most ancient and noble house of Black." He informed.

"Lord?" Harry asked.

"Like how…Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father, is known as Lord Malfoy." Remus offered as an example.

"Ooh, so head of the family?" Harry inquired.

"Yes, exactly. It's very popular among pure-blooded families." Sirius said. "I believe the Potter's have one too, it would have belonged to your father last."

"So…I could be Lord Potter one day, or no because I'm only half-blood?" Harry looked at the males.

"You are the last of the Potter line, so it would go to you. Blood status doesn't matter really. You probably can't claim it until you're sixteen, I believe. I'm not sure." Sirius told him calmly. "Now, come on. Let's give you a tour and get you settled." He chuckled.

"Okay." Harry agreed.

Sirius and Remus took Harry through the whole house and Harry was just amazed by it all, but more just excitement that he didn't have to live with his muggle relatives anymore. After a good thirty minutes, the group settled on the first floor sitting area.

"So Harry, where would you like your room to be?" Remus smiled.

"Rather, what floor do you want?" Sirius questioned.

"Fl-Floor?" Harry blinked.

"Harry, there's six floors here. Surely you don't think anyone but us will be living here?" Sirius chuckled. "Your friends are welcome to visit, stay over. You need your own space! Yes, you can pick a whole floor, pup." He informed. "Remus doesn't have a whole floor, but he's got a room here on the second floor. You took over the master room, didn't you, Remus?" The werewolf nodded to Sirius. "I'm on the fourth, but it's where I've always been. Along with my brother's room, but that's been untouched since his death in 1979. I felt it was the least I could do to honor him." He shrugged now.

"I suggest he takes the first floor bedroom, then has access to this room as both a hangout and office for himself. I'm sure he has summer work to complete before next year, and this counts as a small library. It has everything he needs, including a bathroom." Remus suggested.

"Excellent idea, Remus!" Sirius nodded. "Yes, Harry. Take this floor for yourself. It has everything you could ever need. Like a small apartment, minus a kitchen. And access to the floo network."

"I mean, if you guys are sure…" Harry looked at them.

"Completely!" Remus and Sirius said together.

"Alright then, I'll take it." Harry nodded.

"Wonderful!" Remus pulled out a couple things from his pocket and set them down on the floor, then used his wand to unshrink them all.

"Your owl should be coming soon. I asked Dumbledore to send her with his letter of checking in on you." Sirius said. "So you're free to get all settled and unpacked. Lunch will be around noon and dinner will be around 6:00 pm. I'll introduce you to the Black family house elf later."

"Okay, Sirius. I'm just so glad to be here and away from the Dursley's…" Harry sighed softly.

"I promised you I'd find a way to get you away from them. I know you didn't like it there." Sirius smiled. "You're home now, Harry. We promise as your father's best friends to always be here and look out for you."

"Thanks," Harry hugged them both and then backed up. Remus and Sirius left the room to talk as Harry got started on opening his trunk up and pulling things out.

Harry spent most of his day unpacking his Hogwarts things. Harry got his books put away on the shelf, organized by year and then set out his pictures too. Harry put away his clothes, what little he had and set up the desk near the windows. Harry ended up going out with Remus and Sirius for lunch, then ended up shopping for clothes and other necessity items. So after all that, Harry ended up with more to put away but didn't mind because he finally had his own things. Harry finally finished before dinner time and was pleased with everything and how it looked. Hedwig arrived too and Harry had a little spot set up for her near another window. Harry was in love with his new space, but nothing beat the fact he was living with his godfather, who was now a free man. Yes, things were indeed looking up for Harry and he couldn't wait to see what else would happen.