"Alew"
"Chapter Four: Forgery"
Sirius' breath hitched as he loomed over Marlene in bed. Her hands gripped his shoulders, her head tilting back with her eyes closed as he moved inside of her. It had been weeks since they had been intimate. The longest they had probably ever gone since they moved in together when they were nineteen. Sirius bit his lip, knowing he wouldn't last long given their dry spell. His head ducked down to capture her lips against hers.
Being with Marlene just made sense. She was the only one who could make him forget the shitstorm around them, making him believe that everything would be all right in the end. Marlene was like the sun and he couldn't help but orbit around her, finding comfort knowing that she was always shining bright. Positive and funny and caring and gorgeous. Sirius didn't know how he had survived without her in his life. She had been a constant, someone who kept him grounded and halted his more reckless tendencies.
Release came, sending Sirius floating in ecstasy as his forehead connected with hers. Her fingers tickled along his jaw, sending little shockwaves through his body. As he caught his breath, his hand reached down between them. He needed her to feel as good as he did.
"MAMA! DADA!"
Sirius' fingers froze over her folds, his eyes glancing over at the clock on the bedside table. It was half past ten. Harry was up earlier than normal. He normally didn't call for them until one or two in the morning. Had they been too loud? Was he sick? Did something happen?
"Go," Marlene breathed. "I'm fine."
Sirius eased out of her and wiped his wet fingers against her thigh to clean them. She let out a small huff, her head shaking as her eyes sparkled. Sirius shot her a small smile before he rolled out of bed and grabbed his boxers off the bedroom floor. Shoving his legs in, he darted out of the bedroom and made his way across the hall.
Harry stood in his cot with his fingers curled around the top, tears pouring down his chubby little cheeks. Sirius smiled warmly at him as he crossed the room. He slipped his hands underneath his armpits and lifted him out of the cot. Harry settled on his hip, the kid immediately wrapping his arms around Sirius' neck. His cheek pressed against Sirius' collarbone.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Sirius asked, his hand pressing against the back of his head.
One of Harry's arms slipped from around Sirius' neck. His fingers tracing along the black ink on Sirius' chest. Pressing a kiss on top of the kid's messy hair, he turned and made his way back to his bedroom. He knew Harry didn't have the communication skills to tell him what was wrong. Harry had been living with Sirius long enough for him to know that Harry wouldn't go back to sleep in his cot. Though Sirius hated to admit it, he couldn't help but think Harry was having nightmares about Halloween.
Entering the bedroom, he saw Marlene sitting up in bed in one of his t-shirts. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as she gazed up at him. Sirius couldn't help but think she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. His chest expanded pleasantly as he eased down on the bed, plopping Harry between them like he always did. Marlene brushed Harry's hair off his forehead.
"Are you all right, love?" Marlene asked in a soft voice.
Harry didn't say anything as he scooted closer to Marlene, his little arms wrapping around her waist as he pressed his head against her small bump. Marlene carded her fingers through his hair.
"There was a broom," Marlene sang just a tad off-key. "In the middle of the sky. It was the fastest broom. That you ever did see. And the Quaffles fly all around and around. And the Quaffles fly all around."
It wasn't the first time Sirius had heard the little song. He had heard it when he was a kid, but nobody had ever actually sung to him when he was little. But James had sung it to Harry on multiple occasions in the past like the Quidditch-obsessed berk he was. A hard rock settled in the pit of his stomach.
"There was a Snitch," Marlene continued to the next verse, her fingers still stroking through his hair. "In the middle of the sky. It was the shiniest Snitch. That you ever did see. And the Quaffles fly all around and around. And the Quaffles fly all around."
Marlene laid down onto the bed, gently tugging Harry down with her. She covered them both up, tucking the blanket underneath Harry's chin. Most nights, Harry clung to him like a permanent sticking charm. Tonight, however, he only wanted Marlene. Her soft singing seemed to soothe him as she brushed his hair with her fingers. Sirius sat mesmerized on the bed, soaking in the scene in front of him.
Sirius couldn't see Harry's face, but he knew the kid was close to falling back asleep if he wasn't already. Marlene ran her finger gently down Harry's nose, a soft smile dancing on her face. Her singing ceased as her eyes flickered up to Sirius. Harry's soft breaths filled the room.
"You all right?" Marlene whispered, her hand reaching for him.
Sirius wrapped his fingers around hers, giving them a gentle squeeze. Ever since Halloween, Sirius had felt like there had been a storm raging inside of him. His heart ached for his best friends, but he had also grown so used to Harry being a part of their everyday lives. It seemed cruel in a way that Sirius enjoyed Harry living with them so much. While it had only been a few short weeks, Sirius couldn't imagine the kid not being with them. It was like the couple of years when it was just him and Marlene living in the cottage were a distant memory. He couldn't even remember what it was like not to have their godson always around.
"I'm all right," Sirius assured her, slowly easing under the covers so he didn't disturb Harry.
"You're thinking very loud," Marlene replied, her thumb brushing along his knuckle as her arm rested against Harry's hip.
The right side of his mouth quirked up. "Do you ever feel guilty?" he whispered, gazing at her over Harry's wild hair.
Marlene frowned. "About what?"
Sirius swallowed. "Enjoying this. Having Harry with us."
"No," Marlene replied in barely above a whisper. "I don't feel guilty, Sirius, because this is what Lily and James asked of us. To love Harry like he was our own. To be his parents if they couldn't. We have loved Harry since the day he was born. I won't feel guilty for loving my godson and giving him the life that Lily and James wanted him to have."
"It shouldn't be us that gets to give him that life," Sirius reasoned, his eyes searching her face.
"But it is," Marlene insisted, her voice cracking. "While he will only remember us being his parents, we won't let him forget Lily and James either. We'll make sure he knows he was lucky enough to have two sets of loving parents," she explained in a soft voice. "We'll make sure our child knows how amazing they were as well. The godparents they never got to meet."
A flicker of a little girl flashed in front of Sirius' eyelids. Tall with silky dark hair and dazzling hazel eyes. She grinned like James and laughed like Marlene. Sirius ached for her to be real. Harry would be such a great big brother, fiercely protective and kind, and always attempting to make her laugh. They'd be a force to be reckoned with, causing more trouble than James and Sirius could have imagined.
"I wish they were here," Sirius said, his voice cracking. "James and Lily. They deserve to be here."
"They do, love. They really do," Marlene agreed, a single tear running down her cheek. "But life doesn't always work out in the way we want it to."
Sirius hated that fact. His gaze dropped down to Harry's sleeping form. The kid looked so small and innocent when he slept. When Harry was really little, Sirius used to love rocking him to sleep. He was always the first one to volunteer if they were over at the Hollow. It's why Sirius always took bedtime duty now. It was special to Sirius. His hand reached out, brushing the kid's hair off his forehead. Harry groaned, his body burying deeper into Marlene.
"Is he all right?" Sirius whispered, eyeing how Harry had his knee shoved into Marlene's bump.
"You are such a Harry hog," Marlene teased. "He chose me tonight. Back off, Black."
Sirius grinned before adjusting his pillow and laying his head down. "Goodnight, Marly."
"'Night," Marlene replied.
While Marlene's eyes slid closed, her arm wrapping around Harry's body, Sirius only watched at the pair sleep. At some point, Harry rolled onto his back and sprawled out across the bed. His little hand rested on Sirius' arm. He couldn't help but place his hand in Harry's, his thumb brushing along the side of the kid's hand. Sirius stared at the lightning bolt scar that ran from Harry's hairline down through his brow, his stomach clenching at the very sight of it.
He knew that his family each had their own agenda by showing up to the custody hearing. Bellatrix's was probably the most nefarious of the bunch. There had been whispers that she had been Voldemort's favorite, one of his most loyal. If there was one thing Bellatrix was, it was loyal. Once she devoted herself to a person or a cause, there was no tearing her away. She had been so vehemently proud to be a Black. When Sirius broke away from the family, it seemed as though Bellatrix took it personally. She loathed him, not holding back anytime he had seen her. Seeing her sitting in the courtroom so silently was discerning. Sirius couldn't help but wonder what exactly she was planning.
Sirius barely slept that night. He didn't know whether it was because he couldn't shut off his brain going through his family's motivations or because he didn't have Harry's comforting weight against his side. Or maybe it was because he was going to try to figure out a way to come clean about James, Peter, and himself becoming Animagi at fifteen. The thought of Peter out there, lurking and potentially waiting to harm Harry sent him into a full-blown panic. Peter could slip in undetected, anywhere, while as Wormtail.
When it came time to leave to meet with Remus and Magnus the next morning, Sirius couldn't help the guilt that ached in his chest as he sat crouched down to Harry's height. The kid sobbed into his shirt and his little fingers clutched his leather jacket. Sirius could only rub his godson's back, trying to soothe his fears of Sirius leaving the house. He looked up at Marlene standing before him with her hand pressed on top of her little bump.
Maybe it was stupid for Sirius to leave Harry so soon. But Remus' words of Peter being able to sneak around as Wormtail undetected had haunted his thoughts for the past several weeks. He needed to come clean about what they had done as teenagers. Sirius would like to avoid jail time, so he agreed to seek legal advice from Magnus. Sirius was confident Magnus would keep his secret and help him figure out a way to register without any major consequences.
Glancing down at his watch, he knew he needed to leave now in order to meet Magnus at his home on time. But Sirius had no idea how he was supposed to leave his crying godson. He should have suggested the meeting at the flat, but he hadn't thought his leaving would cause this much anxiety in his godson. Besides, he thought it was better if he met Magnus and Remus somewhere else since Harry was always so weary of strangers.
"I'll be back later," Sirius assured the kid, willing his guilty heart to stop bloody aching.
"See-See!" Harry gasped out between sobs.
Sirius pressed a kiss on top of Harry's head before gently prying the kid away from his body. Harry twisted and fought against the motion, desperately trying to dive right back into Sirius' arms. Marlene noticed the distress and knelt down in front of Sirius, tugging Harry towards her.
Once secure in Marlene's arms, Sirius cupped his godson's face. His thumbs brushed along the kid's cheekbones to wipe away the constant flow of tears. A heaviness settled on Sirius' chest, so heavy that he could barely breathe. Flashes of Harry screaming for him on Halloween night flashed in front of his eyes.
"I promise you, I will be back," Sirius said, his voice thick with emotion as he refused to blink. "We'll have dinner together, like we have for the past couple of weeks. Can you help Marly cook? I'm thinking some bangers and mash, yeah?"
Harry sniffed, the tears still leaking down his cheeks faster than Sirius' thumbs could wipe them away.
"I'll pick up a treacle tart too, okay?" Sirius promised. "How does that sound? We can eat it on the balcony. You had fun doing that the other day, yeah? I'll cast some heating charms on it when I get back, so it's nice and toasty for dinner."
Harry's big emerald eyes still swam with tears, but he nodded at the compromise. Sirius smiled warmly at him, pushing down his own emotions as he brushed the kid's hair out of his eyes.
"I love you," Sirius choked out.
"Wuv you!" Harry parroted with a loud sniff.
Swallowing at the lump in his throat, he pressed his lips to Harry's forehead quickly before he rose to his full height. He needed to leave now or else he feared that he wouldn't be able to leave at all. If Harry started crying again, Sirius knew he'd be a goner.
"Be careful," Marlene said in a soft voice, the side of her face pressing against Harry's messy hair.
"When am I not?" Sirius replied with a smile.
Without further ado, Sirius turned and quickly left the flat before he decided against it. It's not like he could never leave Harry's side. That wasn't healthy. For either of them. It probably was a good thing for both him and Marlene to leave, so Harry would trust and know they'd always come back.
Sirius arrived to Magnus' late. Remus had already settled in and drank nearly half his tea. Sirius accepted a cup and took a sip as he sat down at the table next to his friend. Magnus looked between them, obviously intrigued about the meeting, as they made annoying small talk about the state of the Ministry for a few moments. He let Remus take the lead as his knee bounced underneath the table.
"Do you two want to tell me why you're here?" Magnus finally asked, steering the conversation away from bloody politics.
Remus cleared his throat, shifting in his chair. "What advice would you give someone who became an illegal Animagus and didn't register in a timely manner?"
"I'd ask them how untimely," Magnus replied. "And what the reasoning was behind not registering and why they'd want to do it now."
"Six years," Sirius replied, sitting down his teacup. "To help a friend and because they were a bloody dumb kid who thought it'd be fun. And was also too lazy to actually fill out the form."
Magnus sucked in a breath. "Just tell me the entire story."
Remus did. He explained that Sirius, James, and Peter started researching at thirteen how to become Animagi before they succeeded at fifteen. How it had been for Remus to help with his transformations. How imperative it was to come clean with Peter running free as a rat. Magnus nodded and looked pensive throughout the tale, one with incredibly too many details and could have been cut in half. But Remus was a chronic over-explainer.
"Normally, I would say that you were a minor and claim ignorance and ask for a lesser charge," Magnus said thoughtfully. "Fifteen is an impressive feat. But I wouldn't recommend that right now. Not with the Ministry arresting people left and right. Also, not with the last name Black."
"So, I keep quiet and let Peter get away?" Sirius asked in a dull voice.
Magnus pursed his lips. "Or… I know a very lovely and trustworthy witch who works in the Records Department at the Ministry of Magic who can slip in your registration papers and have it be an oversight you were never added to the official register. Filing issue. What's the Ministry going to do? Accuse you of breaking and entering to do such a thing? Send the man to jail whom they just granted custody of the Boy Who Lived for a victimless crime over a bureaucratic error?"
Sirius nodded absentmindedly. "Cressida would do this? She'd risk everything?"
"It's not like you murdered a bunch of Muggles or something, Sirius," Magnus replied with a shrug. "You were a dumb kid who made a dumb mistake. You didn't hurt anyone. She'd want to catch Peter before he could harm anyone else. I would suggest that one of you forge James' documents as well. Whichever one of you can copy his writing with near perfect accuracy."
"It'd have to be Remus," Sirius said, waving a hand in his friend's direction.
"Why me?" Remus asked, his attention snapping to Sirius
"I'm left-handed," Sirius reminded him. "You and James are right-handed. If they get suspicious and want to have the document analyzed, then they'll know it's a forgery when they can clearly see it was written by a lefty."
Magnus leaned back in his chair. "Sirius is right. They'll be able to detect transfer charms as well. It needs to be handwritten and needs to match his writing. Especially the signature. They may want to look into why it was filed but never recorded properly."
Sirius waved his hand in Magnus' direction as he shot Remus an I told you so look.
"So, what exactly is the plan, Sirius? You're going to go to the Aurors and tell them about Peter not registering when you did?" Magnus asked.
Sirius shared a look with Remus. "Yeah, figured I could play it stupid like I didn't know I wasn't actually on the registry."
"I'd make sure you go to an Auror in the Order," Magnus advised. "They're more likely to check the records before arresting you on the spot."
"You could go to Alastor," Remus suggested.
Sirius' face pulled. "Nah, I'll find someone else."
"Your mistrust of Alastor is highly misguided," Remus said, his head shaking.
"He looks at me like he expects me to start murdering everyone in the bloody room during an Order meeting," Sirius protested.
Sirius knew that Moody had a strong distaste for the Black family. He had a run-in or two with Orion and Arcturus in the past. There was a very deep mutual dislike between them that seemed to have extended to Sirius.
"Might I suggest Gawain Robards?" Magnus said, his hands folding on the table. "He has a good head on his shoulders. He will listen to you and not jump to conclusions."
Sirius vaguely remembered Gawain from Hogwarts. He was a few years older than Sirius. Even though he seemed exasperated half the time at Sirius' and James' antics, he always heard them out when he was head boy before he gave them detention.
"Sure, I'll meet with him," Sirius agreed.
"His partner is David Robins," Magnus explained. "He's someone who follows the book to the letter. If Gawain pulls him in, make sure you have your bloody story straight before you even think about opening your mouth. If he expects foul play, he will try to slip you up."
Brilliant. Sirius would try to stick to the truth as much as he possibly could.
Magnus looked over at Remus. "The quicker you two can get me the forms, the better. It's nearly December. Pettigrew could be anywhere now."
"I have some old letters from James," Remus explained in a tight voice. "I'll start tonight."
Magnus smiled. "Excellent. Now, let's talk logistics."
They did, plotting and planning what Sirius would say, how they were going to file the documents, what potential legal consequences there could be. It was like plotting one of their grand pranks back when he was a teenager. That wasn't a pleasant thought. When Sirius glanced over at Remus, he saw the slightly pained expression etched his face. Sirius knew he was thinking the same damn thing.
Marlene woke up to see Sirius and Harry were already up for the day. She didn't want to leave the bed, because it was her first day back to work after taking a leave of absence. It seemed impossible that she was going to leave Sirius and Harry home alone all day. She had grown accustomed to them always being together and hearing Harry's childish laughter and babbles all day long. For the first time ever, she started to think Sirius was right about quitting her job to be a freeloader with him.
They didn't need the money. Sirius had inherited a small fortune from his Uncle Alphard, more than enough for them to live comfortably off of until they die. While she hadn't inherited as much money as Sirius had, she still had a very comfortable savings that they hadn't even touched. In fact, Sirius had commented they should take that money to set up accounts for the kids because they didn't need it to survive. So, it definitely wasn't a money issue.
But her parents had instilled the value of handwork in her from a very young age. Both excelled in their careers. She wanted to make them proud. Except they were dead. She had just adopted her traumatized godson and had another baby on the way. She'd have to take another leave of absence from work in several months anyway.
Sighing, Marlene dragged herself out of bed. Maybe she would just try it for a week or two. It wasn't like they had to juggle two jobs and childcare. Sirius had zero interest in working, claiming he'd be the best househusband and stay-at-home dad in all of England. Oddly enough, Marlene believed he would be. Sirius cared so deeply about his loved ones. He'd do anything for anyone he deemed his family, craving their love and acceptance more than anything. Marlene knew it was a byproduct from his less-than-stellar childhood where he only received conditional love.
Marlene entered the kitchen to see Sirius sitting at the table, filling out a piece of parchment. Harry sat on his lap, munching on strawberries. She crossed the room, bending down so she could squish Harry's chin between her fingers and give him a kiss good morning.
"Mawlee!" Harry chirped happily.
Marlene smiled at him before she turned her attention to Sirius. She wrapped her fingers around the base of his neck and leaned in close to see what he was working on. It was his Animagus registration form.
"Merlin, there's a lot of questions," Marlene observed.
"Yeah, and right now I hate my fifteen-year-old self for being a lazy and moronic berk," Sirius muttered.
Marlene laughed. "Want more coffee?" she asked.
Sirius handed over the coffee mug with a thanks before she made her way over to grab some tea for herself and some more coffee for Sirius.
"What time did you two get up?" Marlene asked.
"Hmm… around five thirty," Sirius replied.
Marlene arched an eyebrow, turning around to look at her godson. "Harry, love! Why did you wake up your godfather at such an unreasonable hour?"
Harry only shoved a piece of strawberry against Sirius' lips to force him to eat it. Sirius accepted it without complaint, his eyes never leaving the form in front of him. Marlene noticed that the strawberries were cut up into tiny pieces. Sirius always chopped up fruit into smaller than necessary pieces. He had always been worried about Harry choking.
Marlene carried the two cups over to the table, setting one off to the side of Sirius' parchment. He thanked her, dropping his quill so he could pick up the cup. Marlene wrapped her fingers around her steaming cup of tea and observed Sirius carefully.
"I start back at work today," Marlene said, watching as his face pulled.
Sirius glanced over at her, his chin pressing against the side of Harry's head. "I remember. Are you sure you want to go back?"
Marlene sucked in a breath. "I like my job," she argued. "I know it'll be hard going back with Harry with us now, but… I like thinking and breaking curses. No offense, but I don't think I could sit at home all day like you can."
Sirius nodded, a closed mouth smile crossing his face. "None taken. I'm just worried."
Marlene took a sip of her tea. "About what?"
"You'll be going to London five days a week on a very set schedule," Sirius reasoned, wrapping both arms around Harry. "You would make a very easy target."
Marlene resisted the urge to sigh. Sirius' paranoia apparently hadn't ceased with Voldemort vanishing.
"Sirius, I will be fine," Marlene insisted, speaking each word with a punch. "It's not like I have Harry with me."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "It's public knowledge that we adopted Harry," he argued, his brows pinching. "Any lingering Death Eaters could take you to gain information on where Harry is. Not to mention, my deranged family is obviously plotting something. You saw them in the courtroom."
Marlene squinted at him. "The Ministry is making daily arrests," she reasoned. "Attacks are down dramatically. Death Eaters still lingering are scared to act and get caught without Voldemort's protection. As for you family… look, Sirius, I know you probably don't want to hear this, but they're bitter old people who are probably sorry for the way they treated you. Arcturus and Melania's only son is dead, as well as their grandson. Walburga has lost her son and her husband. You are the only one left. I think they probably have some very big regrets."
Sirius laughed bitterly, his head shaking. "Look, your optimism is cute, but you're way off. The Blacks don't have regrets. They only have manipulation and seizing opportunities."
"Sirius, you are so clouded by your hatred for them that you can't help but see the worst-case scenario," Marlene reasoned in a gentle tone. "I don't blame you for wanting nothing to do with them. Not after everything they've done to you. But I don't think them banding together that day at the Ministry was anything nefarious like you perceive it to be."
"You're too damn trusting for your own good," Sirius said in a flat tone, his face slipping into one of his stoic expressions that Marlene hated. "I know you have a hard time fathoming that the Black family operates in the way it does. You grew up with two loving and doting parents. You had a brother who would have done anything to protect you. You had grandparents and cousins who just so happened to be the Potters surrounding you your entire life. Not all families are like yours. There are some families where there is no love, just obligations. I grew up in, in an organization. We weren't seen as family members but as members that needed to be groomed into whatever role was decided for them. The Blacks are an institution, not a family. Those exact words were spoken to me by not only Orion, but Arcturus as well. They're out of heirs, so they're begrudgingly trying to drag me back."
"Sirius…" Marlene trailed off, not knowing what to even say.
"If I don't go back willingly, I know they'll try to force me," Sirius said in a soft voice. "If you're out in the open and an easy target, I worry they'll go after you to get to me."
"You really think your mother is going to kidnap me and what? Torture me until you agree to her demands?" Marlene said in a skeptical tone.
Sirius sucked in a breath and held it. "You don't know them like I do. You don't understand just how cruel and twisted they can be. Walburga is a master manipulator. Not to mention, we know my family is filled with Death Eaters. We also know Bella is completely deranged. She'd gladly torture you to force me into submission so Walburga didn't have to get her hands dirty."
Marlene threw her hands up. "All right. I hear you."
Sirius' jaw ticked. "You don't believe me."
"I know your family was awful to you, Sirius," Marlene said in a sincere voice, her fingers wrapping around his forearm. "I'm not saying you should jump at reconciling with them or anything of the sort. But people can have regrets and they can change."
"Not them," Sirius spat out venomously.
Marlene only nodded, knowing that nothing she said was going to change his mind. She offered him a small smile before she commented she needed to get ready for work. Harry perked up when she rose from the table to slid off Sirius' lap. He galloped after Marlene to the back of the flat. Marlene situated him on the bed as she walked around the room getting ready, chatting away with him.
Harry's meltdowns didn't seem to ease over the course of the next few days when either of them tried to leave the flat. Sirius had started to take Harry down to the sea so Marlene could slip out undetected for work. There was a little bench that they occupied every morning. Harry would lean into Sirius and just stare out into the water. Sirius thought that Harry would enjoy a trip to the Black family holiday home in Agde. Maybe they could go in the summer after the baby was born. Just relax for a few months and be able to explore without fear of attack.
On Saturday, Sirius woke up extra early so he could meet with Gawain at the Ministry. Cressida had been more than happy to go along with their plan, stating that it would be a welcome change to be changing records for something good for once. She had slipped in both his and James' forms successfully two days prior. Sirius changed quickly before slipping out of the flat before Harry even woke up.
Sirius had been to the Auror Department plenty. Afterall, Sirius and James had been arrested several times over the past several years. Sometimes they were picked up after a scuffle with some Death Eaters. There were at least two public intoxication arrests on his record. One tiny vandalism arrest from when he was seventeen that had Fleamont laying into him for the first time in his life. Somehow, Fleamont had always gotten them off scot-free. He highly suspected that Merrick McKinnon had a heavy hand in dismissing all of the charges against them.
It didn't take him long to find Gawain's cubicle in the bullpen. Afterall, it was early on a Saturday. Gawain didn't look anything like Sirius remembered. The man looked older than twenty-four. It seemed as though Gawain had seen a lot in his short time as an Auror. He looked hardened.
"Gawain?" Sirius called, stopping short of his desk.
Gawain looked up, appraising Sirius for a few moments before speaking. "I'm sorry, I'm suddenly having flashbacks to you giving me some cock-and-bull story about how you were innocent of whatever the bloody hell you were accused of doing. I have the sudden urge to send you to detention."
Sirius smiled tightly, his fingers wrapping around the back of a vacant chair facing Gawain's desk. "Can we talk in private?"
Gawain tossed his quill on his desk. "What is this about, Sirius?"
Sirius sucked in a breath, his eyes never leaving Gawain's face. "I have some information on a suspected Death Eater."
Gawain raised his eyebrows. "Does this individual share a last name with you?"
"No," Sirius replied, attempting to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
Gawain nodded. "All right, I'll bite. Let's go to a conference room," he suggested as he gathered a quill and a file folder.
Gawain gestured Sirius to follow him to the back of the Auror Department. They entered a room with a long table. Sirius took a seat, his back pressed tightly against his chair. Resting his ankle on the opposite knee, he clasped his hands in his lap. Gawain rounded the table, dropping his things on the table before organizing them. He opened the empty file folder and picked up his quill.
"What's their name?" Gawain asked.
"Peter Pettigrew," Sirius replied.
Gawain looked up at him, his face scrunching up. His dark eyes observed Sirius carefully. Sirius didn't give him any reason to doubt him. He sat perfectly still as he waited for the next question.
Gawain nodded. "Dumbledore already came in and gave a statement about Pettigrew being the Potter's Secret Keeper," he explained, his fingers tapping on the table. "He's already on our watchlist."
"Peter is an Animagus," Sirius started, body muscles tensing. "I don't think he registered when James and I did."
Gawain blinked at him. "What?"
"He's a rat Animagus," Sirius continued. "He was always putting off the paperwork. He didn't submit when we did. I'm fairly positive he told us he missed the deadline based off pure laziness."
Gawain leaned back in his chair. "You're an Animagus as well?"
"Yes," Sirius replied. "A dog. It's on the record."
Gawain shook his head in the negative. "Nah, see I've looked at the registry plenty of times while working a case. I think I would have remembered your name on it."
"We registered when we were fifteen," Sirius insisted. "Fleamont brought us one weekend at the beginning of our fifth year. He helped us brew the potion the previous summer."
"Who did you register with?" Gawain asked in a flat tone.
Sirius stared at Gawain. Cressida had given him a name of an old senile Records Department employee who had died recently. It wouldn't be a stretch that he mucked it up. There would be no one to fact check the story with.
Sirius scrunched up his face. "Uh… something with a M? Marshall? Martin? He was an old wizard."
"Macall?" Gawain asked, his eyebrows raising.
"Maybe?" Sirius replied with a shrug.
Gawain sighed, his eyes searching Sirius' face carefully. Sirius had an excellent poker face. He had mastered the art when he was younger, always lying to his parents and grandparents to avoid trouble.
"Can you wait here?" Gawain asked, his palms pressing against the arms of his chair.
"Sure?" Sirius replied as he squinted up at Gawain. "Gawain, what's going on?"
Gawain pressed his hands to his hips. "I'm just going to check on something. Sit tight, yeah?"
Sirius was left in the room. Hitting his head against the back of the chair, he stared up at the ceiling. It seemed to be going all right so far. He thought he had successfully played the part of being clueless. The information from Magnus and Cressida had been essential to making his ruse believable. He owed them so much that Sirius didn't even know how to start to repay them.
The minutes dragged on. Sirius kept glancing at his watch to see five, ten, fifteen minutes had passed. He glanced around the empty room, trying to find something interesting to look at to pass the time. He should have brought a crossword or a book or something. Twenty, twenty-five, thirty minutes passed. Sirius started counting the bricks on the wall across from him. Thirty-five, forty. Sirius stretched his neck and cracked his knuckles. Merlin, what the fuck was Gawain doing? Forty-five, fifty. The door opened.
Gawain say across from Sirius with two folders in his hands. He dropped them down onto the table between them before he sank down into the chair. He opened one of the folders and Sirius saw the Animagus paperwork he had filled out a few days ago.
"So, it looks like your paperwork was submitted but never officially filed," Gawain explained. "I found yours and James' registration forms with all the other Animagus records, but you two were never officially added to the registry."
Sirius' brows knitted. "What does that mean?"
"It means somewhere someone messed up in properly filing your paperwork," Gawain explained.
"So… can this be fixed easily?" Sirius asked. "We never checked the register to ensure it was done. We just assumed that it was taken care of once we filed the proper paperwork."
Gawain ran a weary hand through his curly locks. "I'll figure it out. Fucking Macall," he mumbled under his breath. "You might have to come in to sign an affidavit or something, but it shouldn't be a big deal."
A weight lifted off Sirius' shoulders. He couldn't believe it fucking worked. He fucking loved the Shacklebolt family. Every single member of that family that he had met, he had liked immensely.
"Tell me as much as you know about Pettigrew's form," Gawain said, grabbing a quill and poising it over a fresh bit of parchment.
Sirius came prepared with pictures over the years of Peter in his Animagus form. He pointed out markings and gave as many details as he possibly could. Gawain took extensive notes, even marking up the photos to highlight every unique spot on him that set him apart. At the end of the meeting, Gawain shook his hand and thanked him for the information. Sirius left the Auror Department feeling rather smug.
He was more than ready to head home to Harry and Marlene so they could enjoy their weekend as a family. It was a good feeling to know that Peter hadn't outsmarted them completely. Sirius just wished they hadn't realized it too late. If he had seen it sooner, James and Lily would still be alive. Harry wouldn't be traumatized. He never would have ruined his friendship with Remus over nothing.
"Sirius," a deep, familiar voice called behind him.
Hearing his name turned his blood to ice. Thoughts of being a small child berated by the man behind him about what it means to be an heir flitted across his mind. Slowly, he turned around to come face-to-face with Arcturus Black dressed in black dress robes.
"How are you?" Arcturus asked, his bushy eyebrows raising up towards his salt and pepper hair.
"Can we not do the meaningless pleasantries?" Sirius asked in a cold tone. "Just tell me what you want."
Arcturus sighed. "Your mother has informed me that you have not accepted her invitation to dinner."
Sirius sneered. "It was more of a demand than an invitation."
Arcturus stuffed his hands into the pockets of his dress robes. "How long are you going to punish your family?"
Sirius couldn't help the scoff that escaped his lips. "Punish my family? Do you even hear yourself right now?"
"There was a time in your life where you actually appreciated your family and the things we did for you. Have you or have you not had every single opportunity presented to you dropped at your feet?" Arcturus asked, his gray eyes boring into Sirius. "You had the best tutors. You had the finest clothes. Anything you asked for, you were given without hesitation. Yet, still, your teenage rebellion got out of hand. No doubt a result of being spoiled as a child. Orion's and Walburga's response went too far, I will admit. Hands were forced on both ends, Sirius. But you are no longer a petulant child. You are an adult with a child of your own on the way. You've also adopted another child. It's time we put aside our disagreements and band together once more as a proper family."
Sirius let out a huff of breath, not believing his ears. Walburga and Orion had tried to force him into submission when he was only sixteen years old, leaving deep lingering scars that were both physical and mental. Sirius had never imagined that they would have gone as far as they did during that particular Christmas holiday. Years later, Sirius didn't understand how it had escalated so quickly.
"I wasn't allowed to be a person," Sirius whispered in a dangerously low voice, his heart hammering against his ribcage. "I wasn't allowed to have an opinion or disagree or make my own decisions. I was told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Instead of embracing my individuality, you all punished me for it. You only wanted to groom me into a mindless obedient heir. I had no interest in that. When Walburga and Orion realized that, they crossed the bloody line."
"You were given everything. Yet your vainglorious and recalcitrant attitude towards our family clouded your judgement," Arcturus hissed. "There have been plenty of members of this family who have made mistakes such as you, mistakes we have swept under the rug and dealt with in an appropriate manner. I am admitting they were wrong to take things as far as they did, but you were beyond reachable at that point in time. You had been brainwashed against us."
Sirius' jaw dropped, not believing his ears. "Brainwashed?" he uttered in barely above a whisper. "Is that what you all think? That I was brainwashed? Have you ever stopped to consider that it is your twisted morals and feelings of superiority that have driven members of this family away? Andromeda was condemned for loving a Muggleborn, a man who is a far better person than you could ever hope to be."
"This is not about Andromeda," Arcturus interrupted, his perfect mask falling into a scowl.
"It is!" Sirius hissed, a heat rising up his chest. "I loved her! She was my best friend! You took her away from me at the time I needed her the most!"
"Would you have rather been betrothed to her over Bellatrix?" Arcturus asked.
Sirius pulled his face in disgust. "No!" he exclaimed. "Merlin, no! She's like a sister to me! It was your flippant attitude towards members of the family you disagreed with! I know I was only kept around for so long because I was the bloody heir."
"Andromeda is not in my direct line of descendants," Arcturus replied in a lazy tone. "I had nothing to do with her being excommunicated from the family."
"Right," Sirius snapped bitterly. "Well, I care more about her than I care about you or Walburga or anyone else in the Black family. I'm not going to allow my child to be made to feel like I did growing up. I won't allow you to treat my godson as though he's a stain on the family for being a half-blood. Nor will I allow my children to hear you spew your disgusting rhetoric."
Arcturus jaw ticked. "Sirius, you could hold a position of immense power, yet you are squandering it over a few disagreements."
Sirius smiled tightly. "And you say I'm the brainwashed one."
Arcturus did not look amused.
"I need to go," Sirius announced, taking a step back. "It was… a displeasure to catch up with you. Like always."
Sirius turned on his heels and walked away from his grandfather, taking long and fast strides. He tried to regulate his breathing as he shoved his finger into the button for the lift, cursing it for taking so bloody long. He turned around to see Arcturus standing in the same spot as before, unmoving. The doors to the lift opened and Sirius slipped inside.
He'd have to be extra careful heading home. Who knows if Arcturus or anyone else in his family would try to follow him home to the flat. He'd Apparate around a bit, try to lose any potential tails he may have on him. He'll have to make sure Marlene starts doing the same.
Marlene couldn't help but bite her thumbnail as she watched Sirius button up Harry's green peacoat. The only time they had taken Harry anywhere had been for his parents' funeral and for the custody hearing. Twice in one month. Now, it was a third time. It seemed silly to take Harry to her baby appointment. But it was the gender appointment and she wanted Sirius to be there, and Sirius refused to leave Harry with anyone.
Ted had found her a new Healer, one not affiliated with St. Mungo's. It was a small wizarding hospital - more like a clinic in Sirius' words - in Wales. Ted swore that the Healer was trustworthy and wouldn't make anything public. But Marlene worried. She couldn't help it. While she'd never tell Sirius, she had been harassed at the Ministry by reporters who asked her personal questions that she never answered. She kept silent as she marched to and from her office, breathing a sigh of relief when she wasn't in the hallways being hounded.
"We're going to go see a baby healer," Sirius explained as he shoved a greet knitted hat Euphemia made onto Harry's head, the little flaps covering his ears. "You know Marly's having a baby, yeah? We're going to find out if it's a girl or a boy."
Harry offered his hand so Sirius could stuff it in a mitten. "Baby."
Sirius grinned. "Yeah, a baby. You're going to be a big brother."
Harry didn't make any acknowledgement that he actually understood what Sirius was trying to tell him. He only stuck out his other hand to be gloved. Sirius slid it on with little struggle.
"Listen to me, Harry," Sirius said with a heavy tone. "You are to stay with me the entire time we're out, okay? This is very important."
Marlene could only see the back of Harry's head, so she couldn't see his expression but she saw him nodding slowly. Sirius seemed satisfied though so Harry must have had a serious expression on his face. Sliding his hands under Harry's armpits, he lifted Harry into his arms as he rose to his full height. Harry settled on Sirius' right hip, the toddler's head resting against his shoulder.
"Ready?" Sirius asked her, his eyes shining with anxiety.
Ever since the prophecy had been revealed, Sirius had steadily grown more paranoid and anxious by the day. Since Halloween? They had both been a mess. Losing Harry wasn't an option. Neither one of them would be able to recover from that loss. But they had to leave the comfort of their home sometime. They couldn't lock Harry up for the rest of his life. He deserved to enjoy life with Voldemort gone.
Marlene sucked in a breath, a tight smile crossing her face. "Ready as I'll ever be."
They made their way out of the flat, passing their Muggle neighbors who bid them a brief hello. Marlene was friendly while Sirius only scowled in the most unwelcoming way ever.
"It wouldn't hurt you to be nicer," Marlene whispered as they made their way down the stairwell.
"We know nothing about them," Sirius reasoned, holding Harry a little tighter in his arms.
Marlene sighed. "They're Muggles."
Sirius arched an eyebrow. "So you think."
Marlene only rolled her eyes. They made their way to a hidden little alcove where they could Apparate. Anxiety shined in Harry's eyes, knowing what was about to happen. His arms wrapped tightly around Sirius' neck as soft sobs escaped his lips. Sirius rubbed Harry's back, his gaze locking with Marlene. It wasn't like they could take the Knight Bus or any kid friendly alternative. They were all so public and out in the open. They'd be swamped by people.
After Apparating, Harry sniffled and whined as they walked towards the healer's office. Sirius only whispered comforting words in his ear. Marlene pointed out a dog chasing a cat down the road and Harry giggled.
"What if I bought an automobile?" Sirius asked, turning his attention to Marlene.
Marlene sighed. "Sirius…"
"A nice Aston Martin," Sirius suggested. "It can be a convertible."
Marlene blinked up at him, her shoulders shrugging. "I don't know a word of what you just said."
"It's an automobile," Sirius elaborated as he pointed to the road where one passed by. "One of those!"
"I know what an automobile is," Marlene replied with a huff. "I just don't know what an Asher Marshall is."
"Aston Martin," Sirius elaborated, speaking slowly. "They're nice. It would allow us to travel around a bit without always Apparating. I mean, we can't drive everywhere but it would cut it down. Besides, you can't Apparate once you hit your third trimester. I don't think you can Apparate with a baby under the age of one."
Marlene observed Sirius carefully. She supposed an automobile would be better than the motorbike still at their old cottage. He hadn't brought it to the flat yet, not knowing when he'd ever use it with Harry with them. Marlene could tell he was practically itching to drive again.
"Fine," Marlene conceded.
"Yeah?" Sirius asked in surprise. "Admit it, you miss the bike too," he added with a grin.
"It was all right," she fibbed, knowing damn well that she liked when he flew the bike versus driving it on the road.
"Can we go shopping tomorrow?" Sirius pressed, hiking Harry up in his arms. "I'll let you pick the color."
Marlene laughed as they entered the healer's office. While she went to check in at the front desk, Sirius took Harry over to one of the sofas to sit down. Marlene gave her name, her gaze wandering to where Sirius helped Harry take off his winter gear. A smile crossed her face as she watched them. Sirius was so tender with Harry in a way he wasn't with other people. He was like that with Dora too, ensuring that he got down to her level and really listened to her when she talked. He was so good with children that it simply warmed her insides.
Once checked in, Marlene went over to sit on the sofa next to Harry. She carded her fingers through his soft hair and he gave her an anxious little smile in return. Marlene hated how reserved the kid had become since Halloween. It was like a piece of him had died right along with his parents.
When they were called back, the Healer introduced himself as Bilius Weasley. He was all smiles and obviously too happy for Sirius' liking. Marlene tried to swallow down the laughter bubbling in her throat when Healer Weasley reached behind Harry's ear and pulled out a lolly. Sirius grabbed the lolly with a scowl when Harry refused to accept it.
"Tough crowd," Healer Weasley said in a cheerful tone, not bothered by Harry's immense shyness. "Now, I hear you'll be a big brother. I can't pull a baby out from behind your ear, but I can make miracles happen from time to time so maybe we can at least see the baby, yeah?"
Healer Weasley gestured for Marlene to lay down on the exam table. She rolled up her shirt to expose her bump. When Healer Weasley had his back turned to grab whatever it was that he needed, Sirius shot Marlene an exasperated look.
"He's nice," Marlene mouthed.
Sirius widened his eyes and stared at her hard. Marlene mouthed at him to be nice. Sirius only rolled his eyes as he took his spot next to Marlene's head, still holding Harry in his arms with the lolly dangling between two of his fingers. Healer Weasley approached them with a flat iridescent blue stone in his hand. He placed the stone on her stomach and then tapped it with his wand. A pale blue light burst form the center and hovered in the air above. Silver swirls outlined the baby. A lump formed in the back of Marlene's throat as she fumbled behind her for Sirius' hand.
Healer Weasley turned the stone on Marlene's stomach, causing the image to rotate. "Everything seems to be developing nicely. We'll have to take some measurements but first glance says the baby is doing just fine. Now, do you two want to know the gender?"
"Yes," Marlene said without hesitation.
Marlene squeeze Sirius' hand as the stone rotated again on her belly.
"Ah, perfect blend," Healer Weasley said with a wide smile. "You already have a son and now you'll have a daughter too."
Marlene let out watery breath, her face splitting into a smile. Suddenly, everything seemed far more real. She was pregnant and going to have a child. While she always knew that, it was something else entirely to see the baby floating above her stomach with her little toes and fingers. Marlene could even see the swoop of her nose.
She pushed her head all the way back so she could see Sirius. He stared at the baby's image, tears brimming his eyes but not falling. Harry stared as well, his temple resting against Sirius'. Her thumb brushed against Sirius' knuckles, drawing his attention to her. He offered her a smile, a big one showing his teeth. He gave her hand a squeeze before he looked back at the image of their daughter. Daughter. They were going to have a daughter. A family of four, perfectly balanced. Marlene's heart swelled at the very thought of it.
Hope you enjoyed the newest chapter! Don't forget to drop a review. They motivate me to keep writing!
Special thanks to prewettpotter for all her help!