Harry aged 10
"He's not going to get here any sooner by staring at the clock" Sirius quipped as he entered the parlor, book in hand. Harry was sprawled across the couch, one arm hanging off to rest against the rug on the floor as he stared at the clock on the mantlepiece opposite.
"It's taking forever" the child complained, sitting up and looking over at his godfather.
Sirius smiled, "it'll take longer if you watch the clock" he teased. "What do you two plan on getting up to this weekend?" he asked. The pair were anticipating the arrival of Harry's closest friend, Ron Weasley, who would be spending the weekend at Grimmauld Place.
Harry smiled back at this, "can we go to Diagon Alley?" he asked hopefully.
Sirius frowned in thought, Remus would be coming over this afternoon to take the boy's to a quidditch match. It was a surprise they'd been planning, and they hadn't told Harry yet. "Not today" he answered, but at Harry's frown he quickly added "I'm sure we can go tomorrow".
"Why not today?" Harry complained. It didn't make any sense to have to wait until tomorrow if they could just go today.
"I have a few things to do here this afternoon. Tomorrow we'll have all day to spend out in London" Sirius explained.
Harry shook his head, "what do you have to do around here?" he asked, annoyance evident in his tone.
"We will go tomorrow" Sirius answered, shooting a pointed look at the child to advise him to dop it.
Huffing, Harry stood and stalked out of the parlor and upstairs to his room. It wasn't fair that they couldn't go today. He and Ron had planned to have a Saturday night midnight feast, and they needed to be able to stock up on supplies by going out this afternoon. He plucked his money box of the shelf above his desk and sat down on his bed, tipping the box upside down and shaking it as the sickles came out.
"Harry! Ron's here!" he heard his uncle call from downstairs, and he quickly jumped off the bed. Throwing his bedroom door open, Harry went crashing down the staircase in excitement.
"Hey" Harry smiled, sliding into the room as his socks glided across the polished wood floor.
"Hey" Ron replied, holding a large duffle in one hand and a pillow in the other.
"We're going up to my room" Harry quickly said to his uncle before grabbing Ron and rushing up the stairs to his room, Ron following happily.
Harry put Ron's duffle down on his bed for him, "so what do you want to do first?" he asked.
"We could go flying?" Ron offered.
Harry's eyes widened with excitement, why hadn't he thought of that? "Brilliant! Let's go ask Sirius".
The two boys bounded down the stairs to find Sirius in the living room, reading a book. He looked up when the boys entered, smiling at the infectious grin plastered on both their faces.
"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed, bouncing on his feet. "Can Ron and I go flying in the garden?".
Sirius closed his book and set it aside, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Flying, huh? Well, we'll have to make sure the Muggles can't see you. The garden isn't exactly hidden".
Ron's excitement dimmed slightly. "Oh yeah, that's true. And I don't have a broom, so…"
Sirius grinned, standing up and stretching out his back. "No stress, Ron. I've got an extra broom you can use". He turned to Harry, "and as for the Muggles, I'll cast a few spells to keep us hidden. Give me a minute".
Harry and Ron followed Sirius to the backdoor and watched eagerly as he pulled out his wand and began casting incantations. A shimmering barrier appeared around the garden before disappearing.
"There we go," Sirius said, pocketing his wand. "Now, let's get you boys some brooms".
He led them to a cupboard under the stairs, where he pulled out two brooms. One was Harry's own, and the other was an older but well-maintained broom that Sirius handed to Ron.
"This was my old broom," Sirius said with a smile. "It's a bit older, but it's a classic" he added with a wink.
Ron's face lit up as he took the broom reverently. "Thanks, Sirius! I'll take good care of it".
After some time, the boys tired and windswept trudged back into the house feeling famished.
"You two are naturals" Sirius praised, ruffling both heads of hair as he took the brooms and placed them back into the cupboard. "If you keep this up, you'll both be playing for Gryffindor in no time".
Harry and Ron were sprawled out across Harry's bed, mugs of hot chocolate resting on the night stand next to them. The thrill of flying was still present, and the heat of the hot chocolate provided some welcome warmth after the chilly evening air.
"Merlin, Harry" Ron said, looking around the room. "You're so lucky to live here. The whole house to yourself, plus Sirius is pretty much the coolest parent ever".
Harry shrugged, sitting up to take a sip of his hot chocolate. "Yeah, Sirius is great" he agreed, "but it can get kinda lonely. It's just the two of us, so if Sirius doesn't want to play, I get bored".
Ron sat up a bit, his eyes wide. "Bored? Are you kidding? This place is huge, there's always something to do. And be honest, Sirius is always game to hand out. That's way better than loads of annoying brothers".
Harry frowned, setting his mug down again. "But that's the thing, Ron. You have brothers, so there's always someone around to play or talk to. It must be fun having a big family like that".
Ron shook his head, clearly not understanding. "Fun? You've got to be joking. Fred and George are always getting into my stuff, and Ginny never leaves me alone. It's impossible to get any peace. I'd trade places with you in a heartbeat".
The room grew somewhat tense as both boys stared at each other, each thinking the other was being ungrateful.
"You don't get it Ron," Harry said, his voice rising slightly in frustration. "You don't know what its like to have nobody to play with. I'd give anything to have a big family like yours".
"And you don't get it, Harry" Ron shot back. "You've got space and don't have to share your things. It's not all fun and games having a bunch of siblings crowding you all the time".
Their disagreement grew louder, and just as Sirius was walking by he poked his head into the room.
"What's going on in here" Sirius asked, stepping inside and looking between the two boys.
Ron and Harry both fell silent, looking down at their laps in embarrassment of their outburst. Sirius sighed, patting each boy on the knee.
"Alright, what's this about?" he asked gently.
Harry spoke up first, his voice small. "Ron think's its cool to live here with you, and I do too! I just think it would be cooler to have loads of brothers to play with at the Burrow. I guess we both think the other has it better".
Sirius nodded thoughtfully, a small smile playing on his lips. "You know, boys, its natural to think the grass is greener on the other side. But there's something important about having a best friend" he paused, making sure both were listening. "When you're best friends, you start to share family. Ron, you're always welcome at Grimmauld Place, and to call it your second home. And Harry, you know you're always welcome at the Burrow too".
Harry and Ron looked at each other, the tension easing from their faces.
"Really?" Ron asked, looking at Sirius with wide eyes.
"Absolutely," Sirius replied. "Family isn't just about blood. It's about the people who love and care for you. You two are like brothers, and that means you share everything, including family."
Harry nodded slowly, a smile creeping onto his face. "So, I can think of the Burrow as my second home?"
"Exactly," Sirius said, ruffling Harry's hair. "And Ron, you can think of Grimmauld Place as your second home too."
Ron grinned, feeling the weight of their argument lift. "Thanks, Sirius. That's pretty awesome."
Sirius smiled, then his expression turned a bit nostalgic. "You know, Harry, your dad and I were best friends too. When things were tough at my own home, I moved in with him and his family. It always felt like home to me because they treated me like one of their own. That's what true friendship is about."
Harry's eyes lit up at the mention of his dad. "You lived with my dad?"
Sirius nodded, a fond smile on his face. "Yes, I did. The Potters were like a second family to me. James was my brother in every way that mattered. We shared everything, including our homes."
Ron looked at Harry, then back at Sirius. "So, Harry and I… we're like you and his dad?"
"Exactly," Sirius said, his voice warm with affection. "You two are lucky to have each other. And you'll always have a place to call home, no matter where you are."
Harry and Ron exchanged a look, their friendship solidified even more by Sirius' words. They both smiled, the earlier tension completely gone.
"Thanks, Sirius," Harry said, his voice filled with gratitude. "You always know what to say."
Sirius chuckled, giving both boys a hug. "That's what I'm here for. Now, how about we find something fun to do before bedtime?"
The boys nodded eagerly, their spirits lifted. They spent the rest of the evening playing games and sharing stories, feeling more like brothers than ever.