"Brumous"

"Chapter Twenty-Seven: Dueling Lessons"

When Sirius said that Harry would have private dueling lessons, Harry didn't think it would take place in the back garden of the Head Auror's house. Nor did he imagine that Mrs Robards would bring him a tall glass of ice water and biscuits. He certainly didn't think there would be so many other Aurors and Order members that would attend. Harry shifted awkwardly as Sirius laughed and chatted with everyone with ease. Sirius introduced him to everyone, even the people Harry was sure he had met before, with a light grip on his shoulder.

"Sutton, you've heard me talk about my godson Harry so now you finally get to meet him proper," Sirius said in a casual tone. "Harry, this is Sutton. Just Sutton. If you ever learn his first name and use it, he may kill you."

Sutton nodded, his eyebrow arching at Harry. "I've killed no less than five people in the past for that mistake."

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh, his head throwing back. Sutton joined in. Harry tried to decide if Sutton was joking or not.

"Merlin, you sound like my cousin," Sirius said, a broad grin on his face.

Sutton's face pulled. "Isn't she your niece?"

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "No, she's my cousin. Why'd you think she was my niece?"

"Uh, the age gap, I suppose," Sutton replied. "Well, that's a bit better though, considering your best mate is shagging her. Way better to be your little cousin than your niece."

When Robards announced it was time to begin, Harry was relieved yet completely anxious for the lesson. It wasn't at all what he thought it would be. There was no actual dueling. Instead, Gawain Robards and Tegan Robins taught him techniques and he practiced on an enchanted dummy that dodged his spells.

Robards twisted his wrist. "It's about precision and power. You're sloppy, starting your wrist in the same position with each spell you utter. Different start positions are the key to decimating your opponent."

"Try Expelliarmus again, starting with your wrist there," Mrs Robins instructed.

Harry did, swooping his wrist before starting the curl. The scarlet spark spell hurtled towards the dummy, hitting it square in the chest. The dummy rose from the ground, flipping twice before it flew across the garden. Harry's lips twitched, his eyes glancing to the sideline to see Sirius beaming as he said something to Sutton and Kingsley.

"They tell you at Hogwarts that Defense is all in the wrist," Robards said in a low rumble. "It's not just about the swift and gliding movements though. Sure, that gives some power. But it's really where you start and where you stop. Do it again, but I want you to finish here."

Robards stepped behind him, grabbing his wrist and showing him what position he needed to start at once more and then where his wrist should be when he finished. Mrs Robins flicked her wrist to set the dummy up once more. Robards stepped back and Harry could feel all eyes on him. He did the motion once, seeing how the motion felt with the new position. It would certainly take some getting used to, but he knew he could do it.

Pointing his wand at the dummy, his wrist turning to the correct position, he bellowed the spell once more. The scarlet jet seemed deeper and darker in color as it hurtled towards the dummy. The spell hit the dummy square in the chest and it lifted off the ground once more. Except it then ripped in half, two halves falling uselessly to the ground. Harry let out a little chuckle of disbelief.

Mrs Robins leaned in. "Don't worry, it won't actually rip a human in half. But it may crack a rib or two."

Robards clapped Harry on the back. "Sirius said you were a fast learner but fuck. You're only sixteen?"

Harry looked over at Robards. "Yeah, sixteen."

"Too bad. If you had continued to impress me all year, I wouldn't give a flying fuck what N.E.W.T.s you got if you can cast all your spells as powerful as that," Robards said. "All right, no more child's play. You're obviously more advanced than I anticipated."

Harry couldn't help but glance over at Sirius. His godfather didn't seem fazed by the praise. There was just a booming smile etched across his face as he chatted with his Auror friends. Harry's stomach swooped as he turned back to Robards.

"Show me your shield," Robards demanded, his lips twitching.

Harry cast the charm with ease, waiting for Robards to show him how to make it stronger. He did, twisting Harry's wrist into an uncomfortable position.

"Here, this is where you need to be," Robards explained. "It's sharper than disarming, steady and snappy. You had the snappiness factor, but you didn't have the sharpness to it. Try again."

Harry cast it again, the pale blue shield brighter and steadier than he had ever seen it before. It was amazing how a simple change in position or flow could affect the outcome of a spell so drastically. Harry realized he had been sloppy.

"Sutton, try to Disarm him. Give it all you got," Robards instructed as he grabbed Harry's wrist. "It's all about keep it steady. It's strong enough to block minor curses and hexes without you holding it. But this position, right here, is where you need to come back to mid-duel to keep your shield strong. It'll give it a boost."

Wordlessly, Sutton swooped his arm and twisted his wrist. A red spark hurtled towards Harry. It collided with the shield, and the force caused him to stumble back just a tad. But the shield remained solid, the spot where the spell hit a little whiter than blue.

"Now, this is where layering comes in handy," Robards explained. "Your shield will remain until it's broken, so that's why you need to re-up it every couple of spells. From where your position is now, holding your wrist nice and straight, go in for a disarm but snap it back into a shield. It will fix the weak spot on your shield and be ready for another hit. Then, you can go into whatever spell you want to next. You want a smooth and continuous motion to layer spells. Don't pause, just keep it flowing nicely. As you notice your shield start to fade in color or even see cracks in it, that's when you want to layer in another shield to make it strong again. Once you have a good foundation for a shield, you can keep fixing it. But if your shield is shit to begin with, well, then, you're fucked. You'll be scrambling the entire fucking duel."

Harry nodded. "So, shield first?"

"Shield first, always," Robards confirmed. "You need the foundation before you can build the house."

Harry let out a small breath. What he had learned about layering had been all on his own since Umbridge hadn't taught them any of the normal fifth year curriculum. But Remus and Sirius had made sure he received the appropriate books to study on his own. He had, probably for the first time ever, gladly taught himself. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had spent hours studying for Defense to make sure they didn't fall behind. It was important given the war. Harry was glad he did, or else Robards probably would have thought he was a lost cause.

"All right, let's duel," Robards announced. "Sutton, don't hurt the kid, all right?"

"What? You think I'm a fucking moron?" Sutton hollered, gesturing his head towards the group of spectators. "Sirius is right there. He'd fucking murder me with his bare hands if I so much as gave the kid a scratch."

Sirius laughed. "Damn fucking right, Sutton. You hurt my godson, and I'll hurt you."

Sutton grinned. "See! I told you. He's a lunatic murderer."

"I've killed people for a lot less, Beauregard," Sirius replied, a broad grin flitting across his face.

"Fuck off, Sirius!" Sutton snapped. "Don't piss me off right before I'm about to duel your precious kid."

Harry didn't know whether to laugh or not. When he heard Mrs Robins laughing behind him, he felt some of the anxiety leave his shoulders as he focused on Sutton. He adjusted his grip on his wand, keeping his wrist steady. Robards counted down and Harry did exactly what he told him to do. He swooped down to disarm Sutton before he strengthened his shield. Robards shouted, "Bombarda!" and Harry flicked his wrist to cast the spell.

Harry could tell that Sutton wasn't giving it his all, keeping it friendly. The spells were not that powerful. But it was enough that Harry had to focus keeping his shield up and then casting the slew of spells that Robards shouted at him. Some of the spells, Harry didn't even know and he felt himself grow hot with embarrassment when he stumbled across those ones. It was clearly a test of knowledge, Harry understood that, but he felt frustrated when he knew he didn't have the right wrist position or the correct motion. Some of the spells were puny, pathetic. While others glowed strong and steady.

When Robards finally called it, Harry felt weak and tired. His limbs twitched due to exhaustion, his sweaty hair flopping down onto his forehead. Robards clapped him on the back and Harry turned to see him smiling.

"Fuck, mate. You did good," Robards praised. "Tonks said she's going to give you her dueling handbook from Auror training. There's really great illustrations and pictures that show the correct starting and ending wrist position. It'll expand your spell knowledge too."

"I'll be ready for next time," Harry promised.

Robards laughed. "Yeah, I don't doubt it. All right, go get a drink of water and let's see what your godfather's got. Sirius, you ready? King, why don't you go against him?"

Harry followed Robards and Mrs Robins to the sideline. Sirius stopped him midway, gripping both his shoulders and holding him steady.

"I'm proud of you, kid," Sirius said with a grin, giving his shoulders a squeeze, before he moved to walk past him.

Harry stood next to Tonks who leaned over to tell him that the Auror book was already at Sirius' Hogsmeade house, apparently Remus had dropped it off for her earlier in the week. Harry thanked her, his eyes watching as Sirius and Kingsley bowed to one another. Robards counted down and then it was chaos.

They both put up their shields first before they hurtled a flurry of spells at one another. Harry couldn't even keep track of what spells were cast, since they both did it nonverbally and so fast that the colors all blurred together. Harry could tell Sirius was neglecting his shield, taking a more offensive route in the duel while Kingsley took a defensive approach. In the end, Kingsley's approach won because one good Blasting Curse shattered Sirius' shield with ease.

"Fuck!" Sirius shouted as he dove to the ground to avoid a Disarming Charm.

Robards leaned into Harry. "Sirius gets cocky, that's his downfall. He thinks, wrongly, if he can be quick with offensive spells that he'll succeed in breaking the shield first and it'll be an easy win. King knew this. He could tell that was Sirius' approach so he played the long game, letting him continuously neglect his shield and sending the right spells to shatter it as quickly as he could."

Sirius rolled behind a tree, using it as a physical shield. His chest heaved as Kingsley started maiming the tree, causing branches to fall and drive Sirius out from his hiding spot.

Tonks nodded on the other side of Harry. "It's not just about what spells you use or how strong your shield is. It's also about reading your opponent and understanding their dueling style. Sirius is impatient. He's a bit reckless, thinking he's better than a shield. King can be patient. He's one of the most patient duelers you'll ever meet, meticulous in what spells he chooses and the order in which he chooses them. See how he hasn't even really moved from his original spot? He knows he's maintaining a strong shield and he's relying on it."

Sirius tried to put up another shield, but he didn't have time to perfect it like his original one. It fell when two quick spells hit it and Sirius was vulnerable once more. Sirius was scrambling to break Kingsley's defenses while protecting himself. He was losing spectacularly.

"How do you defeat someone like Kingsley?" Harry asked, his eyes focusing on the Auror.

"Using your surroundings," Robards replied, his arms crossed over his chest. "You can't rely on just your typical dueling spells with a duelist like Kingsley. You need to make him sweat, force him out of his carefully protected spot."

Mrs Robins leaned in front of Robards to look at Harry. "You see that big boulder over there?"

Harry did. It was to Kingsley's left.

"If I was Sirius, I'd fling that boulder right at King," Mrs Robins replied. "He'll flinch on instinct, make him stumble in his layering. It would give Sirius an edge and put him right back in it."

"But Sirius is an arrogant duelist, so he won't think to do that. He doesn't have a patient bone in his body," Robards explained as he gestured to Sirius tripping over his own two feet to dodge one of Kingsley's spells. "He knows he knows his stuff. He knows he's powerful so he relies on sheer brute force when he duels. That's his downfall. Voldemort is the same kind of dueler. He knows he's powerful and conceited enough to think defensive spells are for the weak. You need to be patient and defensive like Kingsley, Harry. Make him think you're weak and then destroy him."

A spell hit Sirius square in the chest, knocking him back onto the grass.

"Match!" Robards shouted.

Kingsley ambled across the garden, stretching out a hand for Sirius to help him up. Sirius took it. Once standing, Sirius clapped Kingsley on the arm and congratulated him.

"I'll work with him," Tonks spoke up, cocking her head to the side. "I'll show him the error of his ways."

Robards snorted. "Yeah, well, good luck. He has nearly two decades of bad habits under his belt. He's won a fair bit of duels with that strategy because they were weaker than him so it's given him an inflated amount of confidence. It's why I paired him with Kingsley. I knew he wouldn't beat him and it'd knock him down a notch, hopefully make him realize he's too grandiose in his dueling."

"He just needs to appraise his opponents better," Mrs Robins said. "That strategy is great in some situations. But he can't use it every time."

"He's sloppy," Robards argued. "It's pure arrogance."

Sirius stopped short of the group, his hand carding through his sweaty black locks. "What's pure arrogance?"

"You," Robards replied, obviously not as kind to Sirius as he had been with Harry. "What the fuck were you thinking taking that approach with a duelist like Kingsley?"

Harry glanced between the two men. If Sirius was upset by the harshness in Robards' tone, it didn't show on his face.

"I thought I could take down his shield quick," Sirius reasoned.

"Yeah, I noticed, and you were wrong," Robards replied. "It's not all about being faster and more powerful. Sometimes it takes patience, which I know is something you very clearly lack."

Sirius let out a low chuckle, his hand gripping Robard's shoulder. "Yeah, you're right, Gawain. It's not all about power."

Robards scowled. "What's the point of giving you lessons if you're not willing to learn?"

"Piss off, Gawain, you know I'm willing to learn. I figured out my strategy was shit when it was too late," Sirius admitted, dropping his hand and shaking his head.

"You need to work on assessing your opponent," Robards continued. "Unskilled duelists often rely on the same strategies, like you clearly do with your use of force. You have dueled that way since I can remember. You need to branch out and learn different styles. We have a nice folder filled with dueling styles of known Death Eaters. It would do you well to learn them and adjust your own style accordingly."

Sirius nodded, shoving his hands in his trouser pockets as he glanced over at Harry. "And Harry?"

"He needs to strengthen his spells a bit and then we'll talk about dueling strategies," Robards replied, his eyebrow raising. "He's a clean slate. Hasn't picked up many bad habits. He'll be loads easier to train than you."

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh. "You're a ray of sunshine, Gawain, you know that, right? And I'm afraid we'll have to discuss all my bad habits later. I'm going to get Harry back to Hogsmeade and get him some lunch before he heads back to school."

"I'm training Harry to be an Auror," Robards continued. "I'm training you to survive and not make dumb fucking decisions like neglecting your first layer of defense."

Sirius waved him off. "Right."

"I'm being serious," Robards pressed. "You're powerful, Sirius, but you rely on your own power way too often. You're good at layering. You know all the tricks to make your spells hit hard. Fleamont taught you well. But you're also exceptionally confident in your abilities. Too confident for your own good. I knew you'd lose to King. We all did the moment we saw you take the offensive route. You didn't size up your opponent. You thought you could beat him with sheer brute force alone, but you were wrong."

"Look, I admitted that I knew I fucked up," Sirius argued, his jaw clenching. "I knew my approach was wrong."

"Why didn't you correct it?" Robards challenged.

Sirius didn't say anything. He only let out a breath and turned towards Harry, forcing a tight smile on his face.

"Ready to go, mate?" Sirius asked, extending his arm to Harry.

Harry nodded, stepping into Sirius' side and letting his godfather's arm drape casually around his shoulders. "Thank you," he addressed the group of Aurors. "I'll practice loads before next weekend."

Sirius bid his thanks as well before he led Harry around the house, making their way out of the wards. Harry leaned into his godfather's side, knowing that Sirius wouldn't let go of him until they were safely at his house in Hogsmeade.

"I thought you were brilliant," Harry whispered. "You shot off spells quicker than Kingsley did."

Sirius let out a small chuckle. "You're kind, kid."

"You were powerful," Harry reasoned, looking up at Sirius. "Way better than I was."

"Nah, Harry, you were brilliant," Sirius stressed, his hand rubbing along Harry's arm. "You held your own."

Harry shrugged. "Well, Sutton was holding back, wasn't he?"

Sirius glanced down at Harry before they slipped down a dead-end road. "At first, yeah, but you could tell he was testing you by the end," he said as he craned his neck to look behind them. "Ready to Apparate?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Harry replied.

Two steps later, they were gone. Harry had steadily become more and more comfortable with Apparition, especially when he was with Sirius. The sensation had become familiar and Sirius always made sure he had a good grip on him as they went. Sirius grounding him seemed to make him less sick.

They appeared in the back alley not far from Sirius' house. Harry bowed his head, keeping close to his godfather as they walked briskly along the cobblestone. Sirius drew his wand once they stepped up to the stoop, performing the unlocking pattern before ushering Harry inside. It was the first time he had been in the house since they had placed the blood wards on it, before it had furniture or decorations. Harry caught sight of a large picture of him and Sirius on the beach in Agde, a smile spreading across his lips.

"Andy decorated it all," Sirius commented, shrugging off his leather jacket and slinging it across his arm. "You keeping the hoodie on or you want me to hang it up?"

Harry turned to look at Sirius. "Nah, I'll keep it on," he replied as he walked deeper into the house, wanting to see more of it.

He noted the books on Transfiguration and Defense on the bookcase in the parlor. There was a framed picture of Sirius, Andromeda, and Alphard from over two decades ago being used as a bookend. Another picture with James on Sirius' back, the two grinning broadly in what looked like the back garden of Andromeda and Ted's cottage. Harry ran his finger along a globe on the end table and caused it to spin, but it wasn't a normal globe. Instead of countries, it was filled with constellations. On the coffee table sat an empty and dirty coffee cup. The entire house smelled like Sirius' woodsy and wet dog smell, like a home with Sirius should smell.

"You like it?" Sirius asked.

Harry turned around to see him standing in the doorway of the parlor, leaning against the jam with his arms crossed over his chest. The sleeves to his Henley shirt were pushed up, revealing the ink that wrapped around his forearms.

"It's really nice, Sirius," Harry commented.

Sirius shot him a small smile. "Want to see your room?"

Harry's brow furrowed. "My room?"

"It's our house, Harry," Sirius replied. "I know you may not spend much time here because we won't stay here the summer or even during the holidays, but… well, I don't know. Any house that I own will always have a room for you even if you don't use it often."

Harry broke out into a grin, a warmth flooding his chest. "Really?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Really. I don't care if you're fucking fifty with grown kids of your own. I will always have a room with your name on it, okay? Even if you use it once in a blue moon, you will have a room wherever I am."

Harry closed the space between them as he practically dove into Sirius' arms. A hand pressed against the back of his messy head as Harry rested his chin on Sirius' shoulder.

"I'll always have a room in my house for you too, Sirius," Harry whispered, his lips curving. "So when you're old and use a cane and need help doing mundane things, there's already a room ready for you."

Sirius laughed, tightening his grip around Harry. "You're a little shit, you know that, don't you?" he said in a teasing yet affectionate tone.

Harry swallowed at the lump in his throat, his eyes screwing shut. So many feelings swirled around inside of him, threatening to break free. He oddly felt like crying at the warm way Sirius talked to him. Sirius was often harsh with others, his tone clipped with a permanent frown etched deep into the crevices in his face.

But not with Harry. Never with Harry.

No, Sirius was like an entirely different person when he was with Harry. Sirius was far more patient, kind, and affectionate with Harry than he was with anyone else. He didn't bicker with Harry or shout at him. Nor did Sirius ever seem annoyed with him. Sirius laughed at his jokes and actually listened to him when he talked.

Harry was very aware that Sirius was everything he had ever hoped and wished for as a small child locked away in the cupboard under the stairs. Sirius was the family he had craved his entire life.

"I love you, Sirius," Harry whispered, tightening his arms around his godfather.

It was something Harry had said before to Sirius, very sparingly. But Sirius had always initiated those three small words. Harry was certain this was the first time he had ever said them first. He meant them, with every fiber of his being.

Sirius lips pressed against Harry's hair. "I love you too, son," he said in a thick voice before he cleared his throat. "Now, let's go see that room of yours."

Harry pulled back. They locked eyes for a few moments before Sirius tucked Harry into his side, holding him close before he led him upstairs.

The room was spectacular, decked out in reds and golds. There were little Quidditch trinkets, a bookshelf filled with books and pictures from his childhood. A picture of him probably just hours old in the hospital in his tired mum's arms and his dad sitting next to her beaming. A picture of him cuddling with a big black dog in front of a fireplace. A picture of him riding a broom and laughing as the legs of his father chased after him with his mum smiling in the background. A picture of him sitting on a back deck as a toddler pressed against Sirius' side as they pointed at something not seen in the frame. And lastly a picture of him being held by his dad who was surrounded by his mum, Sirius, Marlene, Fleamont, and Euphemia.

Harry made his way towards the bed next, his chest tight as he ran his hand along the soft Gryffindor duvet. His eyes stilled on even more photographs on the bedside table. These ones were more recent. A photo of him, Ron, and Hermione from last year during a D.A. meeting as they stood in front of a crowd. A picture of Ginny kissing him on the cheek as they snuggled together on the sofa at the Burrow. Lastly, a picture of Harry and Sirius smiling as they sat together on the back deck of the Black Villa. His throat clogged as he watched the little Magpie figurines diving around and above the pictures, playing some pickup game of Quidditch.

"If there's anything you want to change, just tell me," Sirius commented.

Harry blinked at the hand-drawn picture of Hogwarts hanging above his bed, the scribble of a name in the corner that Harry couldn't read. Against the adjacent wall was a desk with constellation decals pressed on the wall above. Harry reached out, touching the Sirius star on the wall.

"Andy went a little overboard by putting bloody Black shit around the house," Sirius said as he stepped up next to Harry, observing the constellations. "Although, I hate to admit it, I did always like how we were named after stars and constellations. My Uncle Alphard used to spend hours with us in the back garden when we were little and point out all of us in the sky. When things were deteriorating fast with my family, he gave me this little orb. I just had to tap my wand to it and all the constellations would appear on the walls and the ceiling of whatever room I was in. He said I just had to find his star in Hydra and know he was with me. Sometimes, I was naïve and thought it was some sort of Portkey to him. I used to climb on furniture to touch the star on the ceiling, thinking I'd go to him, but I never did."

"Do you still have it? The orb?" Harry asked, looking up at Sirius.

Sirius nodded. "It should be in the bedroom of my old cottage I shared with Marlene. Maybe one day I'll be able to go there and pick up some stuff."

"I could go with you," Harry offered.

Sirius swallowed. "Nah, I don't want you to see that place. It's pretty trashed. I destroyed it in a drunken stupor after, well, after I thought Marlene was dead. Your dad left hiding to drag my arse home with him. Your parents were worried about me when I didn't answer their mirror call." He let out a long sigh. "Andy was probably over there. The pictures on your bookcase were photos I had at the cottage. The one with you and me as Padfoot was in my kitchen in that same exact frame."

Harry turned to fully look at his godfather. "The one on the back deck. What were we doing?"

A faint grin crossed his features. "There was some festival in Godric's Hollow. We were watching fireworks. You were amazed. The noise didn't even scare you. Lily asked me to pick you up these ridiculous ear things that would block out the noise but you hated them and pitched them across the garden. You were fine, choosing to cuddle against me as we watched the fireworks. At that time, you were the only person who made me smile. It had been after the McKinnon deaths, after I nearly killed myself with alcohol in my cottage. I had stayed with your parents for a couple of weeks before I found somewhere else to live."

Harry sucked his bottom lip between his teeth. "Will you show me? In the Pensieve? I don't remember watching fireworks with you."

Sirius hesitated for a moment and Harry didn't fully understand why. But slowly, he nodded his head and steered Harry out of the bedroom and across the hall to what he assumed was his godfather's bedroom. There was a Pensieve on the dresser that Sirius peered into before frowning.

"Give me a moment," he said in a gruff voice.

He opened a draw and pulled out a vial. With his wand, the shimmering memory was pulled from the Pensieve and encased in the vial. Sirius sat it aside, a deep frown etched in his face. Scrubbing his hands over his face, he sighed.

"I'm sorry," he said, refusing to meet Harry's eye. "It's just… it's the memory from the night I found your dad…" Sirius cleared his throat. "It was Halloween. I didn't want either one of us to accidently see it."

Harry thought briefly about confessing that he had already seen it, in that very Pensieve in Grimmauld Place over the summer. But he didn't want Sirius to become upset with him for snooping where he shouldn't be snooping. Remus had told him it would be best not to let Sirius know.

Sirius pressed the tip of his wand to his forehead and flicked a new memory into the basin. He peered into it, the corner of his mouth twitching before he finally turned to Harry.

"You ready?" Sirius asked, holding out a hand for him.

Harry stepped into Sirius' embrace, leaning against his side, as the two tumbled into the memory. They landed on an unfamiliar back deck.

A very young Sirius crouched down in front of a small Harry. He cupped the toddler's face, brushing his thumbs along the smiling boy's cheekbones. Lily sighed as she used her wand as a light to look around the back deck while James searched the garden.

"He's going to get scared with the noise and it's going to start any moment," Lily huffed. "How could you let him throw them, Sirius?"

Sirius pressed his forehead against Harry's, the two sharing a knowing smile. "Oh, because he's going to be one hell of a Chaser so I had to let him practice a bit."

James snorted from the bushes. "You know, Lils, there are charms we can place around the deck to silence the fireworks."

Sirius pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead before he stood up to his full height, holding out a hand for Harry to take. "Yeah, I mean, we are three fully grown and highly intelligent wizards. I think we can manage."

Sirius led Harry to the steps and took a seat, motioning for Harry to sit next to him. He wrapped an arm around the small child, pulling him close.

"James, did you put a Warming Charm on Harry's coat?" Lily asked, brushing her long hair behind her shoulder.

"Fuck, no, I forgot," James sighed as he crossed the garden. "Sirius, mate, do you mind?"

Sirius pulled his wand from the inner pocket of his leather jacket, tapping Harry's deep navy peacoat. Harry kicked the backs of his trainers against the stairs, looking happily up at Sirius.

"Merlin, being a parent is hard work," Sirius said with a grin as he put his wand back in his pocket. "Coats and hats and protecting little ears from very loud noises and remembering Warming Charms. Prongs can barely remember to tie his shoes half the time."

"Very funny, Pads," James grumbled, carding a hand through his messy hair and leaning against the railing of the back deck.

"I told you before, you're always with me in all these memories," Sirius whispered. "Your parents didn't even try at this point when I was around."

Harry laughed. "Like I said before, you're still my favorite."

The fireworks boomed, lighting up the sky in an array of colors. Harry squealed with delight, pointing it out to Sirius. He only laughed, pointing out the fireworks back. Lily pulled a camera from her jacket pocket and snapped the picture.

Harry leaned his head against Sirius' shoulder, not bothering to watch the fireworks in the sky. Instead, he watched his younger self clapping and laughing, his little hands pulling on a smiling Sirius' arm to gain his attention. Harry's toddler self never left his godfather's side, not even for a moment. At some point, the toddler had crawled onto Sirius' lap, pressing against his chest and sliding his thumb into his mouth. Sirius shrugged off his leather jacket and laid it across the toddler like a blanket, running his hands through the boy's hair and rocking from side to side until the small child fell asleep in his arms.

More often than not, Harry tried not to think of the past or wish things had been different because they never would be. But sometimes when he saw how completely content his younger self was, how utterly loving Sirius was towards him, he couldn't help but wish that had been his life. He would give anything to have grown up with Sirius.

Sirius groaned, the sun peeking in through the curtains of his bedroom. He slung his arm over his eyes as he tried to go back to bed. Apparently, he had forgotten to close the curtains the night before. A warm body pressed up against his and he knew why he had forgotten. Tegan's nails traced over one of his tattoos. He concentrated to try to figure out what one. Moving his arm from his eyes, he looked down to see she was tracing Harry's initials on his side.

"I got that pretty quick after he was born," Sirius explained, his voice gruff with sleep. "I was really excited to be a godfather."

"You're so amazing with him," Tegan said, splaying her fingers across his stomach.

Sirius shrugged, resting his cheek against her head. "I just love him is all."

Tegan shifted until she propped herself up on his chest, her breasts pressing against him. It took everything he had in him to focus on her face. A smile quirked on her lips. Sirius couldn't help but reach out and cup her face in his hand, his thumb brushing along her jaw.

"You just keep checking off the boxes, don't you?" Tegan commented, her eyes sparkling.

Sirius' brows furrowed. "What does that mean, Tee?"

"Oh, I don't know. Extremely fit and tall. Funny. Good with kids. Caring and kind. Fiercely protective of the people you love. Broody and mysterious. Expertly knows how to pleasure a woman. I bet you made all the girls swoon in your younger days."

Sirius swallowed, a strained smile crossing his features. "I really never paid much attention. I'm more of a one lady at a time type of bloke."

"Oooh," Tegan said, wiggling her shoulders. "Chivalrous as well."

Sirius couldn't help but laugh.

"As much as I would love to show you my full appreciation for you this morning, I'm afraid it'll have to wait until the next time we meet," Tegan announced as she pulled away from him. "I have a meeting this morning."

Sirius propped his arm behind his head, sitting up a bit and admiring her naked body as she searched for her clothes on the floor of his bedroom. "I'll hold you to it. Luckily for you, I won't attempt to make you late because my meddlesome cousin is coming over today and I don't want her to drill you or me for details about what is going on between us."

Tegan raised an eyebrow at him as she fastened her bra. "Andromeda?"

Sirius nodded. "Yeah. We are going to visit my grandmother today to ask her about my mysterious nephew."

"Come see me tonight and let me know how it goes?" Tegan asked as she found her knickers slung across Sirius' boot. "I'll be home around six. If you bring takeaway, I'll supply the alcohol."

Sirius shifted on the bed, his tongue peeking out to lick his bottom lip. "I don't drink anymore."

Tegan turned around to face him, her hands on her hips as she stood in just her knickers and bra. "Oh? I guess I never… you don't drink at all?"

Sirius sucked in a breath. "I've had problems in the past. Trying to knock the habit because I'm a dad now. I'm not a… very pleasant or happy drunk. Is that a problem?"

Tegan shook her head. "What? No! I mean, I don't care if you drink or not. I mean, I fancy myself a glass of wine more often than not after a long hard day at work, but I don't go out getting drunk or anything at the pubs on a regular basis."

"I mean, I don't care if you drink around me," Sirius added. "I'm not like an alcoholic or anything. It's just… I like to drink when I'm…" he trailed off, scrubbing his hands over his face. "Fuck. Sorry. I just have a tendency to drink when I'm sad, which sounds utterly pathetic, but, you know, depression and alcohol go so well together."

Tegan blinked at him, her lips parting. Sirius fucked up. He knew it as soon as the words left his mouth. He was getting too bloody personal with her. They were shag buddies. Not girlfriend or boyfriend. But they were friends, so that counted for something, right? Sirius was so bloody confused that he didn't know what to even say.

After a few long moments, Tegan crossed the room and sat down on the bed next to him. She leaned forward, her fingers brushing along his face.

"I'm an Auror, Sirius," she said in a soft voice. "I know how the Dementors can make everything seem empty and hopeless. I always hated having to go to Azkaban. Even being around them for a couple of hours made me feel like all hope was lost for days. You were exposed to them for twelve years, nonstop. Of course, you're bloody depressed. Of course, alcohol helps quiet the demons in your mind."

Sirius held his breath, afraid to speak. He had spoken to no one about his battle with depression. Not Remus, not Molly, not Andy, no one. Anytime any of them brought it up, he had brushed them off by saying he was fine. Because as long as he pushed it all down, he was fine. It wasn't like he was a walking bundle of sadness all the damn time. It ebbed and flowed, sometimes when he least expected it, but it was never constant. If he could just learn how to keep it at bay all the time, then he really would be fine. Wouldn't he?

"I know someone who could help, Sirius," Tegan continued in a gentle tone. "The Auror Department has a mental health worker employed to talk with us when we need it. You know, after a particularly hard case or if the job just becomes too much. It may help you too, just to talk to someone."

Sirius swallowed, his eyes searching hers. "I'm fine."

"I think when someone knows they need help and they ask for it that it's very admirable," Tegan replied before she eased off the bed and bent down to grab her trousers. "It doesn't make you any less of a person to admit you need help. It makes you wise because it means you know what your limits are."

Sirius dropped his eyes, picking at the duvet. "Yeah, well, everyone thinks I'm still an arsehole murdering prick of a Death Eater. I'm sure there's a line of people willing to help."

Tegan pulled her blouse over her head, tugging her hair out from under the collar. "I'll arrest anyone who so much as gives you a hard time."

The corners of Sirius' lips twitched, his gaze meeting hers. "I think that goes against some Auror oath or something."

Tegan shrugged. "I'll find dirt on them, I'm sure."

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh, his finger pointing at her. "You know it's that kind of bullshit that got me locked up without a trial."

Tegan rolled her eyes, standing on one foot as she slid her foot into her ridiculously high heel. "Learn to recognize a joke, Black."

"Learn to tell one that's funny, Emerson," Sirius quipped back, his tone light.

Tegan slid on her other heel before she made her way back to the bed. She leaned down, her hand grabbing his chin and tilting his face up. Their faces drew together, her soft lips connecting with his in the briefest of kisses.

"Let me know if you want to talk to that mental health aid, all right?" Tegan said in a soft voice. "Nobody will bat an eyelid. I went to see one for a while after David died. Sometimes, when I really, really miss him, I go and see one," she continued in a strained voice, looking as though she were about to cry. "If it makes you feel any better, I've been on potions for nearly fifteen years for depression. I understand, Sirius, I really do."

She pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth before she stood to her full height. A hand wiped underneath her eye. Sirius stared at her, his chest expanding oddly. She made a motion to leave but he reached out a hand to grab her wrist to stop her from leaving. Pushing the covers off him, not caring that he was starkers, he rose up on his knees on the bed. He tugged her close to him, her arms draping over his shoulders. His hand snaked around her neck, gently pulling her closer to him until their foreheads connected.

"Thank you," Sirius whispered in a sincere voice. "I'll stop by tonight, all right?"

Tegan smiled. Sirius' heart pounded in his chest as he tilted his head to capture her lips against his in one final kiss. Things with Tegan were easy, effortless. She didn't shy away from his troubles. And Sirius had more baggage than could fit on the Hogwarts Express.

The deaths of James and Lily still haunted, the guilt threatening to drown him. He had loved James and Lily. Along with Harry, they were his favorite people in this entire fucked-up world they found themselves in. They were there one day and gone the next, slipping through his fingers like ash.

Then there was Marlene. Sirius couldn't even bring himself to think about her half the time. His brain refused to believe that she was even still alive. But she was. Even though she thought the worst of him, even though she had been manipulated so torturously, she was still there. Every time Sirius saw her or someone spoke her name, he felt the dagger in his heart twist just a tad.

"I'll see you tonight, Sirius," Tegan murmured against his lips before she pulled away.

Sirius watched her leave his bedroom. Collapsing down on his bed, stared up at the swirl pattern on his ceiling. His eyes slid shut, his mind rapid firing at the prospect that maybe he did need to see someone and maybe being on some potions wasn't the worst thing in the world. Maybe Tegan was right.

He could remember the last year of James' life so clearly, the way he had spiraled into a deep dark depression. James had worried incessantly about Harry, had struggled with the isolation, and had lost the will to even get out of bed in the morning. Sirius didn't want to spiral as deep as James had. Harry needed him to be at the top of his game, to be his best self. But after the deaths of his true family and spending twelve years in Azkaban, Sirius knew he was far from being his best self. Banging his head against the mattress, Sirius cursed himself.

Sirius didn't know how long he laid in his bed thinking about the past. But he had forgotten about Andromeda coming over until he heard a creak in the hallway and he whipped his head to the doorway to see his cousin standing there. Her hands moved to cover her face immediately and Sirius sneered as he grabbed his sheets to cover himself.

"What the fuck, Andy?" he shouted, his body tense.

"I'm sorry!" Andromeda cried. "I didn't mean to – why are you naked on your bed like that?"

"It's my fucking house!" Sirius continued to holler, his chest heaving. "You're supposed to fucking knock!"

"We're family!" Andromeda replied. "Are you decent yet?"

"No, I'm ruddy naked in my bloody bed in a fucking house I live in alone!" Sirius argued, his jaw tight as he bent down to snatch a pair of boxers off the floor. "Get the fuck downstairs!"

Andromeda rushed out of the room. Sirius grumbled as he scooted off the bed, getting dressed in record time before he made his way downstairs. He found Andromeda in the kitchen, making herself at home as she prepared tea. Sirius tried to keep his anger at bay as he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at his cousin.

"I would like it if you knocked from now on," Sirius said through clenched teeth. "I mean, for Merlin's sake, Andy, what if I was wanking or something?"

Andromeda's eyes grew wide. "Is that what you were doing?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "No, but I could have been. That's why you're supposed to knock. Or at least shout from the entryway that you're here!"

"We never knocked growing up!" Andromeda protested. "We always just let ourselves into Grimmauld Place or Uncle Alphard's cottage or wherever! Family normally doesn't knock."

Sirius clenched his jaw. "I'm telling you from now on, I would prefer if you knock and not just barge in, all right? New Black family rule. We. Fucking. Knock."

"Okay!" Andromeda agreed. "I will announce my presence from now on. I promise!"

Sirius let out a long sigh, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. He loved Andromeda, he really did. He was the closest to her out of the entire family, but sometimes she just exasperated him. She was always meddling and not knocking and just inserting herself into every single aspect of his life. Sometimes he just wanted a little bit of space.

"Do you still want to visit Melania today?" Andromeda asked, chewing on her bottom lip.

Sirius wanted to say no, but he also just wanted to get it over with. The sooner he met with her, the sooner he could write to Charlotte and have a clearer picture of what had happened to Regulus.

After a bit of whining, Sirius convinced Andromeda to stop for coffee for the trip to Melania Black's house. While he had ordered the largest coffee on the menu, Andromeda helped herself to a small cup of tea. Having coffee would certainly give him something to do. He could just sip his coffee instead of speaking, letting Andromeda take the lead instead of him.

When they arrived in Hodnet, Sirius stared up at the manor with his body stiff and jaw set. Andromeda pressed a hand between his shoulder blades, rubbing his back in a soothing manner. Her hand trailed down his back and then her fingers wrapped around his. She gave his hand a squeeze. He allowed her to pull him towards the house.

Sirius had always followed Andromeda since he could remember, delegating himself as her little shadow growing up. He had gravitated towards her like she was a beacon in a thick fog, her laughter calming and her voice soothing. He had sat next to her during family dinners, sought out her company when they were on holiday, and tagged along wherever she went, whenever she was around. Sirius had always viewed her as the big sister he had always wanted, desperate for her guidance. Andromeda had taken care of them all: Sirius, Regulus, and Narcissa. When Andromeda was blasted away from their family, they had all stumbled and started to rip at the seams.

Andromeda's hand left his as she grasped the snake knocker on the door. She turned towards him, offering him one of her best smiles. It didn't calm him as much as he had hoped. He only brought his coffee cup to his lips, feeling the hot liquid scorch his tongue.

The door opened and a house-elf appeared. "May Holly help you?"

Andromeda smile warmly. "Yes, we're here to see Melania Black. This is Sirius Black, her grandson. I'm Andromeda Tonks, her… cousin?"

Sirius snorted. Merlin, their family was so fucked up.

The house-elf nodded, stepping aside to allow them entrance. "Mistress Melania is having tea in the parlor."

Sirius and Andromeda followed the elf into the house. Andromeda kept close to him, her shoulder bumping against his as they walked. Rounding the corner into the parlor, Sirius held his breath as he caught sight of Melania Black sitting in an armchair and peering at them as though she had been expecting them.

"Mistress Melania, Mr Black and Ms Tonks are here to see you," the elf introduced before scuttling out of the room.

Melania sat her tea down on the table before she stood up, smiling at them as though they were on good terms. She made her way towards them.

"Sirius, it's so good to see you," Melania said in what sounded like an affectionate tone, her arms opening as though she expected a hug.

Sirius took a step back, his body rigid. "This isn't a social call."

Melania's arms dropped, her eyes flickering over to Andromeda who had stood her ground.

"Melania, it's been far too long," Andromeda said, side-stepping in front of Sirius and taking a step back closer to him. "I don't think I've seen you since I was seventeen, perhaps."

Melania forced a smile on her lips as she clasped her hands in front of her. "Yes, it has been far too long, Andromeda. What brings the two of you here if it's not a social call?"

"We heard about how you helped Charlotte escape the country and have been in contact with her and her son," Andromeda explained, her arm gliding back and fumbling for Sirius' hand. "Sirius and I would like to contact Charlotte to extend our support to both her and Cepheus."

Melania squared her shoulders. "You've been talking to Rosamond."

"Yes," Andromeda confirmed, leaving out the bit that it was just Sirius she contacted. "We hear he's a kind boy, raised away from the more unsavory pureblood traditions."

Melania arched an eyebrow, her gaze flickering beyond Andromeda to look at Sirius. "Alphard adored the both of you, especially you Sirius. He came here, you know, frantic a couple of days before you ran away for good. From what I heard, he, uh, well, he went to every single family member he could think of to try to get you out of that house."

Sirius tightened his grip around Andromeda's hand, squeezing so hard that her fingers squished together.

"Melania, we're not here to talk about the past," Andromeda replied in a stern voice. "We just want to help Charlotte and meet our nephew."

Melania let out a long sigh, her head nodding. She turned and made her way to the bookcase, pulling a black book from one of the shelves. Flipping through it, she made her way back over to the two of them.

"Regulus didn't want to join the Death Eaters," Melania explained. "But he did out of, well, duty, I suppose. I don't think it was quite what he imagined it to be. He seemed distraught more often than not, telling me how Alphard had taught him how to hide money in international accounts without the family knowing. When Charlotte fell pregnant, Regulus worried about what your father would do if he found out."

"Orion died a month before Regulus," Sirius commented in a tight tone. "He didn't have to worry about that for long."

Melania looked up from the book, her brows furrowing as she stared at Sirius. Her lips parted as though she were going to say something but thought better of it. She turned back to the book, flipping more frantically through the pages before she stopped on one. Ripping it out, she held it out to Andromeda.

"Thank you," Andromeda said as she accepted the paper.

"No one must know," Melania said in a clipped tone. "Cepheus' life is on the line."

Sirius narrowed his eyes at his grandmother. "Walburga and Orion are dead. They have no control over Cepheus."

"I wasn't thinking about them," Melania replied. "The Dark Lord will find Cepheus and claim him if he knows he exists."

"Because he's a Black?" Andromeda asked.

"Because of Cepheus' ancestry," Melania said, her lips pursing. "It's the same reason he wanted Regulus. The same reason he wants you, Sirius."

Andromeda stiffened, her chin jutting up. "Well, I suppose we should go. Thank you for the information."

"It was obvious, from the beginning," Melania spoke softly.

Sirius' brow furrowed. "What was?"

Andromeda turned around, her wide eyes boring into his. "Let's go, all right?"

Sirius only nodded, confusion settling deep within him. It was almost as though Andromeda and Melania had been having a veiled conversation that he had not been privy to. He wanted to ask questions, but he didn't even know where to start. Andromeda and Melania barely knew each other, after all. Mere acquaintances at large family gatherings.

Without further ado, Sirius allowed Andromeda to lead him out of the house. He pushed the odd interaction to the back of his mind. Like he wanted to know any more of the Black family dirty little secrets. Fuck them all for all Sirius cared. He was just happy they were leaving with Charlotte's address so he could write her a letter. He counted that as a victory.

Ginny couldn't keep the smile off her face as she giggled in Harry's arms, their noses brushing against each other's. They had snuck upstairs into his bed with no one being the wiser during dinner, deciding they wanted some alone time. As a precaution, Harry had stuck his curtains together and placed a Silencing Charm around his bed. Ginny's thumbs brushed along Harry's jaw, feeling the tiny prickles of a day's old stubble.

"I still think you should let me sleep here tonight," Ginny said, her lips pressing against the corner of his mouth. "No one would know." She pressed a kiss below his lower lip. "We just practiced those charms around your bed." Another kiss on his jaw. "I think you're just scared of Ron." She sucked on the sensitive spot below his ear.

Harry moaned. "Gin."

She smiled against his neck. The way he said her name had made the hair stand up on her arms. It was the most pleasant sound in the entire world.

"I sleep better when I'm with you," she reasoned, pulling back to look him in the eye.

"Your mum was upset last time," Harry replied.

Ginny's eyes grew wide, her lips parting. "Oh no, Harry! Is she stationed at Hogwarts now? Is she teaching? Did Snape keel over dead and she replaced him? She's going to show us how to fling knitting needles into someone's neck?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Gin."

"Har," she replied and then wrinkled her nose. "No, that sounds dreadful. H? Ew, no. Haz? Doesn't fit you. Merlin, your parents really didn't want you to have a nick name, did they? This isn't fair! I want to call you by a nick name too!"

Harry chuckled, rubbing his hands on her thighs. "I don't like nick names, so it's fine."

Ginny's face pulled. "You legit have called me Gin since I could bloody well remember. Since you were twelve and I was eleven."

Harry bobbed his head from side to side, a wince crossing his face. "I don't know. You're the only one I call by a nick name. I don't know why I do it. It just… comes out."

Ginny hummed, the corners of her lips twitching. Before she could say anything, Harry felt the familiar vibration in the back pocket of his trousers. He reached back to pull out his mirror to see Sirius' face in the glass. He gestured for Ginny to move away from him.

"Oi, I'm not allowed to say hi?" Ginny protested.

Harry frowned. "Not in my bed! I don't want to have another uncomfortable sex talk."

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Were Sirius and my mum plotting together? Because I received the mother of all talks before school started."

Harry's face pulled, looking more than just a tad uncomfortable. He grabbed his duvet and threw it on top of her. She laughed and collapsed onto the bed, her fingers wrapping along the edge and pulling it down so she could see over the top of it.

"Sirius Black," Harry answered the mirror.

"Harry, are you all right?" Sirius asked.

Ginny's toes peaked out from the duvet and brushed along his leg. Harry grew very still.

"Yeah, why?" Harry asked, visibly swallowing.

"Because you're in bed right after dinner?" Sirius supplied.

"Oh, that, it's nothing," Harry replied as Ginny pushed her toes up his leg and he swatted her foot away. "I was just doing some homework is all. It was loud in the common room and I didn't feel like going to the library. Is everything all right with you? You normally don't call this early."

"Yeah, I was calling to ask if I could borrow Hedwig for a few days," Sirius said.

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yeah, I can send her down to you tonight. Err… who are you writing?"

"I found out that I have a nephew," Sirius said in a heavy tone.

"A nephew?" Harry repeated, his eyebrows tugging down. "Like Regulus had a kid?"

"He's about two months older than you," Sirius explained. "Attends Beauxbatons. His mother fled England shortly after Regulus was murdered. I thought, I don't know, I could get some answers about what happened to Regulus and see if the kid is all right. He probably has questions about our lovely family."

Harry frowned. "Do you know anything about him?"

"Just that his name is Cepheus," Sirius continued and Ginny wished she could see his face to gauge his reaction. "I'm told he's a good kid and hasn't been indoctrinated into the pureblood lifestyle, so there may be hope for him yet."

Harry nodded. "Are you, er, going to go see him?"

"Maybe, I don't know," Sirius replied. "I don't want to leave England right now, not without you at least. Maybe we can… go to France for a few days over the Christmas holiday or something."

Harry's lips twitched. "If you don't want to wait that long, you don't have to. I promise I'll try to stay out of trouble when you're gone. I mean, it's not like I go looking for it. Trouble just usually finds me."

A low chuckle escaped Sirius' lips. "Maybe, I don't know. Anyway, how was your day?"

Harry shrugged. "It was fine. It's really different going from a packed schedule to having a lot more free periods this year."

"It is a weird adjustment, but it's so you can focus on your N.E.W.T. level courses and prepare for next year," Sirius told him. "Or, at least, that's what Euphemia told James and I. She said we should stop fooling around so much and actually study."

Harry snorted. "Did you?"

"Mildly. But not for the reasons she wanted us to," Sirius replied, his tone lighter than it had been. "Most people were hunkering down for their careers but James and I just saw the war approaching. We wanted to fight so we focused a lot on things that would help us do that. James started tutoring some of the younger kids, which is ironic that you formed the D.A. because you wanted to prepare kids as well."

"That was more Hermione," Harry admitted.

"Maybe it was her idea, but I think you enjoyed it immensely," Sirius reasoned.

Ginny tossed the duvet off, sitting up to shoot Harry a grin and nodding. He had enjoyed it, she could tell. Everyone could tell. He was good at it too. Harry didn't look at her, his gaze staying focused on the mirror in front of him. Ginny leaned forward, her fingers ghosting along his ankle. He jumped, pulling it away from her reach.

Ginny leaned her body back, pushing against the curtains. "Hi, Harry! Do you want to go for a walk?"

Harry snapped his gaze up as he shot her an exasperated look. "Hey, Ginny."

"Oh, are you on the mirror? I'm sorry! I had no idea!" Ginny replied, a smirk crossing her features.

Harry swallowed. "It's just Sirius."

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh. "Just Sirius. Way to make me feel special, Harry."

Ginny crawled across the bed to sit next to Harry, her face pressing against his. "The only one he makes feel special is Ron. Isn't that ruddy unfortunate?"

Sirius grinned, his head shaking. "You can't come between best mates, Ginny. You'll just have to deal. You'll always be the third wheel," he explained, carding his hand through his hair. "Just wait until Ron has a kid. Harry will be a goner."

Ginny laughed. "Who in their right bloody mind would marry Ron, let alone trust him to be a father?"

Sirius snapped his fingers, pointing at the mirror. "I used to ask that very same question about Harry's dad. There's a soulmate for everyone out there, I suppose."

Ginny pursed her lips to the side. "Who's your soulmate, Sirius?"

"I think when they were handing out soulmates, they forgot to give me one," he replied.

"Ahh, that's disappointing," Ginny replied. "I thought maybe it was Mrs Robins."

Harry jerked his head back, turning to look at Ginny. "Why in the world would you think that?"

"I don't know. They seemed close when I saw them the other day," Ginny replied.

Sirius kept a neutral face. "We are good friends. I don't fancy anyone."

Ginny nodded her head. "All right, just asking! It was all the gossip around my year since we were all heading to Herbology that day. You'll know that about ninety percent of the girls in the class thought you were rather fit."

Sirius' face pulled. "That's disturbing."

Ginny shrugged. "Girls dig older blokes."

Harry groaned. "Can we change the subject?"

"How about I let you two take a lovely walk to the owlery?" Sirius suggested, leaning back in his chair. "Can you have a talk with Hedwig too? She's always so… feisty when she's around."

Harry sighed. "Yeah, I'll talk with her."

Sirius grinned. "Thanks, kid."

"Night, Sirius," Harry replied.

"Night, Harry. Ginny," Sirius said. "Don't do anything I would do, all right?"

Harry rolled his eyes and disconnected the mirror. He shoved it into his back pocket and glanced over at Ginny. She smiled at him, her hand squishing his chin.

"Kiss me?" she asked.

He stared at her. "Do you not have any self-control?"

Ginny laughed. "Like you do? Merlin, Harry, it's fine. I doubt Sirius even cares."

"Gin, he basically told me not to get you pregnant as a sex talk but told me if I did that it's all right because apparently babies are never mistakes and only surprises," Harry explained, his face pulling. "It was mortifying."

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Oh, were you a surprise then?"

Harry blinked at her. "You think I was a mistake?"

Ginny pushed him in the chest gently. "No, a surprise. Your parents were really young, is all. Mum won't ever admit it but Bill and Charlie both were a surprise. Percy," she said as she made a face, "was planned. Fred and George were planned – well at least one of them was planned. Ron was a surprise. I was definitely a fucking surprise. Mum and Dad are very particular that we do not say the word mistake. Mum always says babies are never mistakes, just happy little surprises."

Harry frowned. "Sirius was very adamant that no baby is a mistake. He did focus on the pregnancy aspect more than anything else."

Ginny cupped his face in her hands. "I think we were both happy little surprises, Harry. How lucky are we that we're both here and found each other?"

Harry shifted. "Very lucky."

Ginny frowned. "Are you upset?"

"I just…" Harry trailed off, looking down at his hands. "Never mind. We can be happy little surprises together, I suppose."

Ginny grinned, her hands encasing his. "Let's go to the owlery. We can have a very stern chat with Hedwig to be nice to poor old Sirius."

Harry let out a laugh. "I need to start telling him all the things you say about him."

Ginny pressed her lips to his to shut him up. Maybe a quick snog was in order before they trudged all the way up to the owlery. Surely, Sirius didn't expect Hedwig right away. She was sure they could spare ten minutes for a good snog.

Hope you enjoyed the newest chapter! Sorry I didn't post last Sunday. If you follow me on tumblr, you knew I had a family emergency last week/weekend. But everything is fine and I'm back.

Special thanks to Bell for editing like always and being stellar! Special thanks to Kensie. It was her that made the Hermione and Ginny suggestion on tumblr that I crafted in last chapter!