Author's Note: I want to thank my beta, Arnel, for her quick turnaround on this chapter. I am so lucky to have had her for all these years. I also want to thank everyone who takes the time to read and review. I truly appreciate you and I am getting to answer reviews today. I know it seems this chapter cuts off abruptly, but I'm saving family magic for a few more chapters. I promise I will explain both the Black and Potter magics. MNF

Chapter 25:

A blood-curdling scream rent the house, and Sirius was awake, wand in his hand and exiting into the hallway within seconds. Remus joined him a heartbeat later. Another equally excruciating scream was heard, and the two men charged into Harry's bedroom only to find him twisted in his sheets, panting, and covered in sweat. Sirius knew his son was gripped in another nightmare and gathered him up and held him as Harry gained consciousness.

"Sshh, it's alright, I'm here," father whispered to son. "Nothing is going to hurt you tonight." Sirius remembered doing the same with his little brother when they were smaller. Harry was significantly larger than a seven-year-old Reggie, especially since the growth potions had been doing their job. Harry's breathing regulated, and Sirius wasn't sure when he'd awoken, but was thankful it was a progressive release from slumber rather than something shocking. His boy had enough of that for one night.

"Dad?" Harry asked blearily.

"I'm here," Sirius said, shifting some of Harry's weight off his lap and back onto the bed, although his arms remained around the teen. "You had a nightmare."

"You can say that again," Harry muttered.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Er," Harry thought about what his dad was asking, and then thought about the nightmare, which was really more of a memory than anything. "I guess, but you can't get upset because the people involved were already punished."

"Your aunt and uncle?"

"Yes, but not really. Uncle Vernon has a sister, did you know that?" Harry asked.

"Only because of legal issues. What about her?" Sirius asked, his stomach dropping as he thought his son might have been abused by yet another adult and no one had done anything.

"She raised dogs, ugly and mean bulldogs. Something was said earlier, and it made me remember something from when I was about four."

"Really? One of my aunties had a bulldog, although I can't remember which one. Why don't you tell me about her."

"Marge was the female version of Vernon, right down to the elephantine physique. She was terrible to the poor dogs, the females were kept in cages and forced to have litters of pups over and over, which she sold very quickly. The males, they were supposedly trained as family pets, but they really were just nasty guard dogs.

"She was visiting one summer, I think I was four, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I was clearing the table and I spilled something on the tablecloth. Aunt Petunia went to get a rag to clean it up, the whole while chastising me for spilling, which was normal. Suddenly Marge whistled and the three dogs she brought with her were chasing after me. I dropped the dishes and ran into my cupboard. I couldn't lock it from the inside, so I was holding the handle shut. The dogs kept coming at me, scratching at the door and jumping up to where the slats were for air. I was terrified." Harry let the words flow out of him, reliving the story as he told Sirius.

"Uncle Vernon locked the door, and I backed up into the darkest corner and stayed there the whole night, the dogs slept on the floor in front of my cupboard. They didn't let me out for three days." Sirius pulled Harry tighter to him and squeezed, hoping the love he had for the teen would be enough to push the fear out of him.

"Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry," was whispered into the younger man's hair.

"It isn't your fault."

"In a way, it is. I never should have gone after Wormtail. You were my priority; you were in my arms, and I never should have let Hagrid take you. If I'd held onto you, then you would have lived with me. We would have been safe behind the walls of Potter Manor, and you'd have had a family to grow up with. I will never forgive myself for giving you up."

"I've forgiven you," Harry said quietly.

"What?"

"I could have been very upset at you, but I figured it didn't do me any good to be like that, so I forgave you," Harry explained. "The way my therapist tells it, we were all – even my first mum and dad – were played by HIM." Harry still would not say any part of APWBD's name. "It was his fault you had to hand me to Hagrid. If I had been your focus, not your anger, then you would have made different choices. Amy would have known, and then the DMLE would have gone after Wormtail. Hermione, Neville, and I think that HE wanted you to either be killed or some other way, like prison, removed from being able to take care of me. He wanted me to be dumb, weak, and dependent on the first people I met in the wizarding world – that was Hagrid, Mrs Weasley and Ron. Thank goodness Hermione joined us, she kept my head on for the last few years." Sirius pulled Harry tight again and let his hand caress the back of Harry's head. When he released the teen, Sirius looked deeply into his green eyes.

"You know, it isn't only your mother's eyes that you were given by her, you have her insight and patience with people. Your desire to forgive, that was something that Lily excelled in."

"Tell me something about her; something special just between you two."

"When your grandparents were killed, Lily was nearly ready to pop you out. She couldn't Apparate or take the Floo, because she fell over, and Portkeys were saved for emergencies. James was out of his mind with grief, and he was managed by Frank and some of the other guys from our team the night after their burials. I stayed with your mum while your dad drowned his sorrows at the Longbottoms. Your mum was sewing up a storm, and all that she had to finish was this little blanket she was going to use to bring you home in. She wanted to put something on it that represented the people who were going to raise you – your dad, her and," Sirius paused to take a deep breath, "me."

"They had already asked me to be godfather and it's a binding responsibility in the wizarding world, but Lily explained to me that in the Muggle world, or at least in her religion, it was the person who helped to guide your soul. I had decided long before that night that my soul was damaged beyond repair; how could it not be with everything my parents had done to me.

"Your mum, she put her sewing aside and took my face between her hands and wouldn't let me break her gaze. She then told me something that I carried with me, even in Azkaban. She said that I was named after the brightest star in the sky and the light from it travelled millions of miles to get to us. If it came all that way and even the smoke of London couldn't dim its light, then I should behave like my namesake. What others might have tried to do to me had not dimmed my light, I shouldn't either. Then she started crying, which wasn't uncommon with her and Alice at that point. Then I cried with her, and it was a cathartic thing."

"Sounds kind of sentimental if you ask me." Harry said, taking the micky from his dad. Sirius gave Harry a lopsided smile, making Harry smile wider.

"It was. But most nights I searched out the light of Sirius and it always made me think of that night with your mum. I loved her like a sister. She helped keep me sane in Azkaban. That, being a dog and remembering the best times with your dad and Remus. I think the memories worked as a sort of mental patronus, along with my natural Occlumency. I don't understand why I didn't go mad in there."

"You said your family were skilled in the mind arts. Remus keeps working with me on my Occlumency shields, but I just don't get what he's saying," Harry admitted.

"Well, his mind is almost impossible to break into because of the wolf. The one time he had me try to read his thoughts I swear that I saw a giant wolf, not his werewolf form mind you, prowling around the fortress his thoughts were safely behind. He'll be more useful when you want to learn Legilimency, as he's very good at it," Sirius explained. "In the morning, after we have both rested, I will work with you using the Black Family magic and Occlumency shields."

"That's great, thanks, dad," Harry said, hugging Sirius again. Neither seemed to get enough of holding each other. Sirius knew it grounded him, much like Monty's touches after he'd run away from home at sixteen.

"You going to be able to sleep?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah, usually after I tell you about something that happened as a child the stupid memory lacks the punch it had before," Harry said softly. "Dr Phillip is right, talking and writing really are the best ways to handle things."

"Sounds like he's a good fit for you. Lady Lyddian is a much better fit for me."

"That's just because you like chatting and flirting with women," Harry joked, and Sirius looked at him surprised.

"She's older than Gran Augusta," Sirius rebuked.

"You still flirt with her."

"The cheek on you." Sirius ruffled Harry's hair and went toward the door, flicking the light at the end of his wand out.

BB*BB*BB*BB*BB

The next morning Sirius and Harry met in his office. No one was expected until the afternoon, which gave the pair time to talk.

"Family magic isn't like wanded magic, Harry. When you're doing spells with your wand, you're using your wand to focus the magic. Familial magic comes from your bloodline, or in your case bloodlines. Think of your body having a well of magic inside of you. Most of the time you use your wand to point the direction you want your spell to go. With familial magic, especially the Black family magic, you're pulling your magic from your gut and moving it to your mind to protect it. Do you understand?"

"Er, I think so. I'm taking magic that I already have and I'm making a helmet for myself? Is that right?" Harry asked.

"In very general terms, yes. It's more like Shield Charm inside your head, but you have the general idea. The other significant difference with familial magic is that you are supported in it by your ancestors. In the case of Black mind magics, people like my uncle Alphard, my grandfather Arcturus and my dear Aunt Cassie were masters in the skill, and everything they learned will eventually be passed on to you."

"That's cool, but," Harry hesitated.

"What? You can spit it out, we don't have secrets, remember?" Sirius prompted.

"What about the crazy in your family? No offence, but I don't want to learn anything from your mother." Sirius laughed.

"No, you certainly do not. Nor would you want any of Bellatrix's madness. One of the reasons familial magics is different is the magic itself can choose not to respond. I witnessed Bella being unable to withstand standard Auror tactics, which she should have had no trouble with. My mother and father were also susceptible to Auntie Cassie's manipulations, which they hadn't been in their youth."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I think it's because they all bent a knee to that madman. We are not meant to bow to anyone, or at least that is what my family has believed for generations. Family lore states the Blacks were the greatest of the great families in the Magical Britain. Personally, I never bought that load of crap and it made my immediate family upset with me. I met families like the Potters and the Shacklebolts who used their name and wealth for good. Those were families with real power, they had respect. The Blacks only had people listen to them because they were feared."

"Interesting," Harry said.

"Very. I want to start teaching you about your family and the great and admittedly not so great folks who bear the Potter name. But that will be after the World Cup and into the fall. For now, let's focus on protecting your mind. First, get comfortable. I don't care if it's sitting, leaning on the floor, or lying down."

"Okay," Harry said laid in front of the great window and looked out.

"Why there, if I can ask?" Sirius inquired.

"I like to be able to see outside. I like the clouds, even if it looks like it will storm."

"I can understand that. Now, do your best to clear your mind. Take a deep breath…"