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Jessie Quirk: Agreed but do remember Grief is the hardest for one to truly overcome. Especially when paired with one's pride.
James, although not fully going out in public, began to sober his attitude up and focus on his son. It was a scene that made Sirius smile after he returned home one day of seeing James sitting in the living room with Harry reading a book. In fact he leaned against the door frame and just watched him do it even when Amelia returned home as well. They both watched until Harry made a noise.
"Oh? What is wrong buddy?" Gently closing the book James sat it to the side as he lifted Harry up to look at him. With the slight turn it became obvious that James was still wearing that metal mask. "Ah I see. You're getting fussy because you need a diaper change don't you." He took a quick sniff of the air and wrinkled his nose. "Oh yes you did." He grunted out coughing.
"I can do that for you James." Amelia spoke up finally and began to approach.
"Thank you Amelia." He handed Harry up to her slowly.
"Ah don't worry about it. Besides….Harry loves his Auntie Amy more. Don't you Harry?" She asked the baby as she carried her into the changing room on her hip. James noticed how much Sirius was watching her and he coughed to get his friend's attention.
"Making you want one Padfoot?"
"Maybe not right now but…. Maybe after Susan and Harry get a bit older. When they start Hogwarts perhaps? Just…"
"I know… Thank you both for all you've done for Harry and me." James smiled up at him.
"You're welcome Prongs." He sat down beside James. "You know you don't have to move out yet." James over the past month had begun to show major improvement and it made Amelia and Sirius feel less worried about him and Harry. However, they did have slight concerns about if he'd still be this way on his own with Harry.
"Sirius…I'll be okay." James sighed softly. "Talking to Moody consistently this past month has helped me… and… I think Mum and Dad's portraits would love to be there for Harry. You know that they are still able to order the house elves of Potter Manor in order to help with upkeep and in the benefit to those that live there."
"Still don't you think you're rushing into doing this?"
"Actually Sirius… no.' James said as he rubbed the mask. "I actually think that I am looking at this more logically than I have in quite a while to be honest."
"Have you looked at her?"
"No Sirius. I haven't. I'm… I'm not there yet but I am here enough to be here for Harry like I should be…"
"Are you sure about this?"
"I haven't been more sure about anything else besides marrying Lil…..Lily."
Sirius looked at his friend for a long moment judging, guessing, examining and at some point he began to nod in realization of what he was seeing.
"If you need anything We will floo over in an instant." Sirius smiled at him and placed a gentle hand on James' shoulder.
"Thanks Siri." He grinned. "And do know I'll call you for babysitting service if i need them."
"For my Godson anytime."
"Yeah yeah Dogfather." James rolled his eyes but the fact there was a small smile present on his face gave Sirius some hope. James was healing…not healed but… maybe it was enough to begin anew.
Amelia soon returned with both Harry and Susan on opposing hips.
"What are you boys talking about?"
"Oh nothing dear." Sirius grinned as he took Susan in his arms and Harry went back into James' arms.
"So how's the new station Head of The D.M.L.E.?" James asked Amelia who sighed and laid her head down in Sirius' lap softly.
"Would be better if two of my Aurors weren't leaving me." She said with an inch of spite clear in her voice though it was all in good nature. "Is there seriously nothing I can say to try and convince you to stay? Even as a desk job?"
James sighed as they had this conversation the previous weeks as well. "No Amelia. I'm going to take care of Harry… which is why I am giving you my proxy for the Wizengamot."
"What?..."
"I need to focus on Harry right now and not be lost in work. My family has enough money where I didn't even technically need to work. Not to mention all the investments my family has both here and in the muggle world. Right now… He needs me."
"I can't blame you for that…" Amelia sighed as Sirius pulled the hair out of her face softly. "If you need anything-"
"I know you'll both be there for me." James responded automatically.
"Ah so he's already given you the talk." Amy grinned.
"Yes, I have to admit I am quite impressed how you've trained this mutt."
"Oi." Sirius barked and scowled playfully causing both the others to laugh which caused the children to giggle as well officially leaving Sirius all by himself. This kept on going until there was a pop and a house elf appeared.
"Tilly? What is it?" Amelia asked as she turned on her side letting Sirius sit Susan infront of her so she could learn balance by leaning against Amelia.
"Mistress Bones," The house elf named Tilly began. "There is a call on the floo from Madam Tonks. She insists that it is an emergency for Heir Black to come to her residence."
"Huh…If Andromeda thinks it's big…" Sirius said and kissed Amelia gently. "I'll let you know what's up as soon as I find out." He rose and followed Tilly to the floo hearing Amelia yell at him.
"Be safe or I'm putting you in the dog house!" Sirius chuckled lightly though he knew she was …..probably fifty percent serious. As he approached the green flames he quickly said the password.
"Solidarity." And thus he reappeared inside the Tonks' Home. "Andi?" Sirius called out before seeing her come into the living area.
"Sirius…" Andi sighed softly. "Thank the heavens you didn't bring Amelia with you."
"Of course I'd co…. I'm sorry? Can you repeat that?" Sirius raised an eyebrow as he looked at his favorite cousin. Seeing the look on her face he began to scowl. "Andi…. Why do you look like me when I got in trouble at Hogwarts?"
"You can't tell anyone about what you see here Siri….Swear it!" Andi spoke adamantly to him which took him off guard.
"I…." He began before seeing her look and sighing knowing that Andromeda probably had a good reason. "I, Sirius Orion Black, Heir of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, swear to not speak of what I see here today unless given the freedom to do so by Andromeda Tonks nee Black or unless I feel that a danger to her, her husband, or her child's life is in effect, so mote it be."
Andromeda sighed at the ending but completely understood why he was giving himself room to say things like that. "Very Well Siri… I, Andromeda Irma Tonks nee Black of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, accept the oath sworn to me by my Heir of House Sirius Orion Black, so mote it be." A quick flash of their wands showed that the oath had been taken and was to be honored by magic. "Come quickly." She gestured for him to follow him.
"Andi, what is going on?!" Sirius asked but followed nonetheless.
"You'll understand when you see." Andromeda quickened in her step until she stopped at a door.
"This is your guest room isn't it?"
"Yes, now…. Sirius, I need you to have an open mind before I open this door."
"Okay… Andi you're scaring me." Sirius looked at her his eyes full of concern as if waiting to be told that she had dragon pox or something.
"Just…" She sighed and gently began to open the door until they could peek in. The room looked as if it was moved around to block the window as if someone thought that someone would bust through. The mattress from the bed up on the wall for cushioning. The wooden frame for the mattress was up slightly and he could see movement under it.
He looked at her and she gestured for him to continue. Sighing Sirius dropped to his knee and finally saw the movement under the bed. He dropped to his other knee as well before sliding to his belly to look under and his eyes widened. Andromeda could tell he saw the moment she saw the muscles tense in his shoulders. Even as a human it was clear that much of Sirius' animagus form had merged with his human side when it came to showing his alertness. The ball under the bed dashed under it and pulled the mattress down between herself and the door.
"Jesus what happened to her…"
"I can only assume years of torment…"
"Andi she isn't acting like a normal human being… Yes you're a skilled mind healer but she needs another."
"No! You know what'll happen."
"She'll be sent to Azkaban…"
"And?"
"And any hope you have in her coming back will disappear." Sirius understood. "You're still being the Protective younger sister."
"Of course I am Sirius."
Sirius sighed and looked back at the mattress and saw the eyes look at him for a moment before diving back below view. "Let me try to speak to her…" He slowly began to approach as if she was a wounded animal. Slow, bent at the knees, his hands up in the air and his voice calm but straight. "It's okay… I'm not going to hurt you." He said as he approached and began to lower the mattress. Sirius looked upon the woman softly and gently pushed his hand forward to pull the dark hair out of her face. He memorized the strong jaw, the thin mouth, the long eyelashes. Her hooded eyes now open and wild as if expecting danger at any moment.
"I have you." Sirius said softly as he gently took her hand and sat beside her. "I have you."
Finally a flash of recognition went through her eyes. Her voice came out slow as if it hadn't truly been used for a while though he knew differently from the many times they dueled over the years in the war.
"Si…..Si…Siri…..Sirius…?"
He smiled as he heard it and remembered their youth when Arcturus would demand a family get together mostly just so he could interact with his Grandnieces and his grandson. They'd always team up to hide from the old man. She was the one that had sent him the book on becoming animagi with a note saying that this would be the last help he'd ever receive from her… Was she asking for help in a weird way? Was he so daft to miss the signs? He began to feel even more ashamed in his youth.
"That's right." Sirius saw her eyes light up before tackling him there as he wrapped both his arms around her tightly. "I got you Trixie… I got you…"And for the first time in years… He heard her cry.
He heard Bellatrix Black cry.
Albus paced back and forth in his office in thought. A Lot had changed in his plans and the way the wizarding world would find out. He had expected James Fleamont Potter to die with his wife three months ago. That's not to say he influenced their decision in choosing the Secret Keeper to be Peter Pettigrew but he hadn't told them not to either. He hummed gently to himself as he looked at the instruments he had tied to the child. Harry James Potter.
He sighed and shook his head as he looked at them. The blood wards he had planned on using at the Dursleys now were null and void to the point he had decided to scrap those instruments in favor of a health checking one. He would have to make sure the boy-who-lived lived for now. He had also introduced another instrument to monitor James' health as well. Who knows. If James felt ill he would rush in to care for the young Heir.
Now? His influence on this child would begin with none. No desire to impress due to a sense of obligation… No desire to beg to not go back to the Dursleys, though he assumed that there was no real reason to suspect that the Dursleys would harm the boy. He couldn't take Magical Guardianship of the boy either since James had survived and Amelia's influence on Sirius had made him not rush to confront Peter so even then Sirius had a claim as the sworn Godfather. Maybe he should begin to spread his aim to a different one.
Neville Frank Longbottom. Another contender for the prophecy that he could influence… no somehow the child had survived the torturing of his mother and father, being found in the closet no less with no evidence of him ever being discovered or harmed. In Fact there had been detections of a silencing charm on him probably to make sure his noise didn't alert the Death Eaters… but if Frank and Alice were being tortured who cast the spells on Neville? The only one who was not captured that night was Bellatrix Lestrange. He suspected that now she would disappear into hiding and wait or search for her master.
Yes. Lord Voldemort, Tom Marvolo Riddle, The Darkest Wizard since Gellert Grindelwald, so called as he was, lived. Where the man had disappeared to he could not be assured but there had been no body. No clear and present evidence that Tom was indeed dead. Albus suspected over the coming years he would aim to regain strength but for now he hadn't worried about him. Perhaps keep a grazing eye to be safe but nothing more until the signs become more clear.
He reached into his holster and gently let his hand graze along the side of the Elder Wand. His Elder Wand he had to remind himself. By conquest… Which he'd have to keep an eye on Harry. This was a full victory in the eyes of magic and thus Harry could eventually claim the title of Lord Slytherin due to the Claim of Conquest. Same could be said for the House of Gaunt…though that claim would most likely be one no one would want. Why was he worried about this though? Harry would have to face Tom twice more and the likelihood that would happen were too little to think it a possibility.
Albus coughed out a laugh at his own foolishness at the ideas in his mind. Perhaps it was getting late for him. Either way he gently reached over and pet the Phoenix that rested on its perch beside his desk. The Phoenix had appeared during the war by his desk and had even aided him in battle. After a long discussion Albus had found this bird's name to be Fawkes. Besides now he should clear his mind and refocus his efforts on getting his influence expanded. He was being considered for Supreme Mugwump and Chief Warlock for the Wizengamot. That was not to mention how apparently the Queen of England would also name him Grand Sorcerer. A title given to those who in an incident involving the Muggle World and the Wizarding World he would become almost a General of sorts to lead both sides.
But that was the future. A future he had time for and with. For now he would focus on his duties as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
James looked around his old family home slowly. He had asked Amelia to watch Harry as he prepared the place accordingly for him. He had begun in the living area and headed through the entire house. Even without him being here it seemed that the house elves had done their duty to the family and kept the house completely stopped very briefly to say hello to his mother and father's portraits but did not halt in his examination. Whether it was to hide from the questions he could see on their faces or in residual shame from his scars and the mask he could not tell.
After examining everything he cleared his throat. "Samual." A house elf appeared. "Samual please gather all the mirrors in the house except for one inside an adjacent room to my old room for Harry's use when he is older. Once you have them, place the mirror before me." With a quick nod the elf disappeared and slowly but surely a minor hill of mirrors sat in front of him. He slowly took in a deep breath looking at them.
The mirrors would not show his guilt… would not reveal his folly! Never again will they show him the face of the man who failed Lily Potter.
He pulled his wand back before thrusting forward.
"Bombarda Maxima!"
Once he was sure the glass was nothing but dust and sand he looked to Samual.
"You may clean it up now Samual… Thank you for your service. Prepare the house for Harry and me. We shall be moved in by next week."