"Alew"
"Chapter Ten: Ottery St. Catchpole"
Sirius had his hands full, which was something that he had grown accustomed to over the past five months. His nearly two-year-old godson sat situated on his right hip while his little five-month-old-daughter sat on the opposite hip. At his side, carrying a large tote with ease, was Marlene. They walked down a dirt road in Ottery St. Catchpole in tandem.
To a wandering eye, they would have looked like an ordinary little family. Marlene with her long dark hair pulled back in a high ponytail, wearing a black sundress. Sirius with his shorter hair, wearing trousers in the July heat with a white t-shirt. Harry with his wild hair and bright lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Little Maia with her little tuft of black hair who watched everything around her curiously, looking like she had a lot to say but couldn't yet.
Sirius saw the pond first, knowing they were close. He had only seen the cottage once three weeks ago to ensure he was happy with the way Dumbledore had secured the home. Andromeda then went to work decorating the home, instructing the furniture company where to put all of the brand-new things that she and Marlene had bought mostly through catalogs.
Rounding the large yew tree, Sirius spotted the modest two-story cottage. As they walked up the dirt drive, childish laughter rang in the distance. Harry craned his neck, trying to see where the noises of delight came from.
"See-See," Harry chirped, pointing towards the pond. "Look!"
Sirius turned around to see a crooked house that was easily four or five stories high. He squinted at it, realizing he hadn't noticed it before when he had first looked at the new house. It seemed impossible to be standing on its own. His eyes roamed around the garden to see children running about. He couldn't make them out too well to know their ages, but there was quite a few of them.
Marlene paused next to him, holding the tote with both hands in front of her. He looked down at her to see the furrow in her brow. The shrieks of the children grew louder.
"Did you ask who the neighbors were?" Marlene asked, her chin tilting up so she could see his face.
Sirius shrugged. "Probably just some Muggles, if I had to guess. Although, Dumbledore said the Weasleys, Lovegoods, and Diggorys all lived on the outskirts of town. I have no idea where though."
Marlene hummed.
Sirius looked back at the house. "Amos Diggory works at the Ministry in the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. We should warn Remus about him, you know, if he ever comes to visit," he finished in a bitter tone.
Remus had kept his distance for reasons Sirius didn't fully understand. In fact, Sirius hadn't even seen him since the night in the hospital when Maia was born. He had just up and disappeared once again, something Remus was rather good at. Sirius supposed they were just going to keep the status quo of avoiding one another, even though they now knew who the real spy had been. Just thinking about Peter made Sirius sick to his stomach, knowing he was out there somewhere.
Marlene's face pulled. " Sirius."
Sirius squinted at the pond. "Am I wrong?" he asked, glancing down at her.
Marlene let out a heavy sigh. "Let's go inside and unpack a bit so the kids have their things for bedtime."
Sirius nodded before he made his way towards the house. Marlene opened the door, holding it wide open for Sirius to enter. He bent down, dropping Harry to his feet. The kid stayed close to Sirius' leg, his little fingers wrapping around the fabric of his trousers. Marlene sat the tote down by the stairs before reaching to take Maia. Sirius handed her over with a practiced ease. Marlene started pointing things out to Maia as she walked deeper into the house. She called for Harry to join them, but he stayed rooted in his spot.
Harry favored Sirius when he was scared. New places were always a trigger for Harry. But Sirius was convinced the country air would be good for him. A chance for him to have a garden and to play outside a bit. Buy him playset with a boat attached to it.
Crouching down until he was as close to Harry's height as he could get, he wrapped his palm around the side of Harry's neck. His big green eyes shone with worry, the excitement of the pond and laughter disappearing from his face. Sirius offered Harry what he hoped was a reassuring smile, knowing the kid suffered deeply from anxiety. From being locked up his entire life with little contact with the outside world, to witnessing his mother's death, to listening to Marlene being tortured while locked in a toy chest certainly hadn't helped matters.
"This is our new home," Sirius explained. "Remember Marly and I told you we were going to move to a new house? This is it. Do you like it?"
Harry looked around the entryway, his body leaning into Sirius' side. He wrapped an arm around the little boy, patiently waiting for him to become comfortable.
"Harry, look what I found!" Marlene's voice called from the parlor.
The little boy looked up at Sirius.
"Want to go check it out?" Sirius asked, holding out his hand.
Harry accepted it, his fingers wrapping tightly around Sirius' palm. They made their way into the parlor to see a large gift basket on the coffee table filled with chocolate and biscuits. Marlene stood next to it, reading the card, while Maia swung in her baby seat.
"It's from Auntie Andy and Uncle Ted," Marlene explained, turning towards them with a big smile on her face. "Do you want some chocolate, love?"
Harry broke away from Sirius, his little feet stomping as he ran towards Marlene. She settled on the ground and Harry immediately pressed himself into her side. While Marlene undid the plastic on the basket, Sirius soaked in the room. Andromeda had gone above and beyond, already decorating the house with pictures and various trinkets to make it feel more like a home and not just a house.
Sirius' eye caught the picture above the fireplace. It had been taken at the hospital when Maia was born. They were all squished on the hospital bed with Harry in the middle. He was half-holding Maia, though Marlene's hand was under the baby's head and Sirius had another hand under her bum. Their little makeshift family. While Sirius' heart still ached for James and Lily, over the past nine months of having custody of Harry, the kid no longer felt like his godson but rather his son. Sirius had slipped right into the role of father with a surprising ease, loving the kid fiercer than ever.
Turning around, Sirius couldn't help the smile that split across his face. Harry sat on Marlene's lap, munching on a chocolate frog. She smoothed down his wild hair, to no avail, before pressing a kiss onto the kid's temple. Knowing Marlene loved Harry as much as he did made things infinitely easier. She was the only one he truly trusted.
The day went by quickly as they tried to unpack as much as they could. Harry was a massive help, babbling with Maia in her swing or laying down on the floor next to her playing with rattles and other small baby toys. When it came time for them to unpack Harry's room, Marlene took Maia downstairs to make dinner while Sirius expanded box after box after box filled with Harry's clothes and toys.
Harry squealed when he found his box of stuffed animals, dragging out the stuffed stag and black dog. He held them close to his chest, following Sirius like a shadow around the room as he put away various things. Sirius wanted the bedroom done, to feel like home, even though he doubted that Harry would sleep in his own bedroom. He hadn't slept in his own room since before Maia was born.
"Look at this, mate," Sirius gestured to the toddler bed. "No more cot for you. You're officially in a big kid bed."
Harry looked down at the Magpies bedsheets for a moment before he plopped down on the bed. He tucked in his stuffed animals.
"You going to sleep in your room tonight?" Sirius asked as he lowered himself to the floor. "With your cool Magpie sheets? Look at that, is that a Quaffle?" he asked, pointing to the printed Bludger.
"See-See!" Harry giggled as he pointed to an actual Quaffle on the sheets. "Waffle!"
Sirius smiled, reaching out to ruffle the kid's hair. "You're smart, kid."
They had nearly finished Harry's room when Marlene called them for dinner. While Harry ate very little of the pasta, he filled up on more than his weight in bread. Harry watched in glee as Marlene fed Maia peas for the first time and giggled when she spit them out.
After dinner, it was more unpacking. A bath for Harry. Though they hadn't found his bath toys, Sirius made bubbles out of water for Harry to smash between his hands. When bedtime rolled around, there was no calming Harry in his new room and new bed. The kid clawed at Sirius' shirt, harsh sobs wrecking his little body. Sirius walked up and down the hallway with Harry in his arms for a good hour, but the kid wouldn't cave to sleep. He only held onto Sirius' neck tightly. Eventually, he carried Harry into his bedroom.
Marlene lounged in bed while she fed Maia a bottle. She raised her eyebrows at him but Sirius only shook his head. Sirius eased the kid onto the bed and he immediately scooted closer to Marlene.
"Lay down, love," Marlene whispered. "We'll go to bed soon, all right?"
Sirius readied himself for bed, putting on pajama bottoms but no top. He waited patiently for Marlene to finish feeding Maia so he could lay her in the cot next to their bed. Sirius glanced out the window as he waited, seeing all the lights lit up in the crooked house across the pond. He couldn't help but wonder who lived there.
"Sirius," Marlene whispered.
Turning around, he saw Maia asleep and the bottle discarded on the bedside table. He carefully hoisted Maia out of her arms so he wouldn't wake her before he settled her in the cot. Holding his breath for a few moments, he celebrated his success silently. Tiptoeing around the bed, he eased under the covers. Harry was already snuggled against Marlene's side with his thumb in his mouth, her fingers running through his hair to soothe him.
"We'll get there," Marlene whispered as she looked at him over Harry's head. "It's a new place."
Sirius only nodded, wondering when that would be. He wanted Harry to become comfortable. Not wrought with fear and anxiety all the damn time. He was far too little to be so scared of everything. But Sirius supposed that he should be happy that he and Marlene could at least calm the kid down.
Harry slept most of the night, only waking up when Maia began to cry at around two in the morning. While Marlene tended to her, Harry practically climbed on top of Sirius to sleep. Sirius could only wrap an arm around the kid, rubbing his arm to soothe him back to sleep.
In the morning, Sirius fed Maia some porridge while Harry sat on the counter next to the stove as Marlene cooked. His heels hit the cabinet in a rhythmic beat, waving a spatula that Marlene asked him to hold. It was nice and peaceful, normal even, until someone knocked at the front door. Harry immediately burst into tears, a panicked look crossing his face. Marlene immediately abandoned the food to gather Harry up in her arms before he fell off the counter, rocking him and rubbing his back. Sirius could only assume the extreme reaction was due to being in an unfamiliar house.
"It's okay," Marlene said, her gaze catching Sirius'. "You're all right. Marly's got you."
"Stay here," Sirius instructed as he made his way out of the kitchen, pulling his wand from his pajama bottoms.
Peering out the little pane of glass next to the front door, Sirius saw a short redheaded woman standing there with a basket of treats and a baby on her hip in a cloth sling. Exhaling, he shoved his wand back into his pocket and opened the door, making sure to block entry into the house.
"Can I help you?" Sirius greeted with a stiff smile.
"Oh! Sorry!" the woman squealed, a deep blush crossing her face. "I didn't mean to intrude!"
It was then that Sirius realized he wasn't wearing a shirt. Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned against the doorframe.
"Nah, you're fine," Sirius replied. "Can I help you?"
The woman seemed to be concentrating on keeping her eyes on his face. "Yes, well, we noticed you were moving in yesterday. We live across the pond, so my kids saw you arrive. Well, I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood and introduce myself," she said in a warm voice. "We baked you some little tarts and biscuits, because my kids said they saw you had kids. Thought it'd be a nice welcome."
The woman held out the basket to him. Sirius accepted it with a smile.
"Thank you. That's very kind," Sirius said as he held out a hand. "I'm Sirius, by the way. Sirius Black."
An inquisitive look crossed her face. "Molly Weasley."
Sirius stilled at the name. The forced smile on his lips falling.
"You're Gideon and Fabian's sister," Sirius said.
Their hands dropped. Molly's face turned stony.
"Oh, so you're one of them," Molly said in a stiff voice, her hands wrapping protectively around the little baby in her arms. "I was hoping the last name was just a coincidence."
Sirius frowned. "I'm not…" he trailed off, his jaw tightening. "I hate them. My family. I don't have anything to do with them."
Molly appraised him for a few moments, her grip not loosening around the baby. If Sirius had to guess, she looked to be around one.
"I was friends with Gideon and Fabian," he added. "We knew each other through… certain channels."
He had no clue what Molly knew of the Order of the Phoenix or her brothers' involvement in it. Not that it was vital to keep it a secret any longer with Voldemort gone and her brothers dead, but Sirius didn't feel like talking about the war.
"Oh," Molly replied in a still hesitant voice, tears brimming her eyes. "They were…" she trailed off, clearing her throat. "They were marvelous people."
Sirius nodded. "They were."
Molly sniffed. "I'm sorry. I just got nervous when I heard the name Black."
Sirius forced a tight smile on his lips. "Yeah, well, I'd probably run for the hills if one of them moved in next door to me too."
Molly nodded stiffly, not laughing at Sirius' joke. "Well, uh, my husband Arthur and I live next door," she said in an awkward tone. "This is our daughter, Ginny. She'll be one next month. We also have six boys."
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Seven kids? Bloody hell, and I thought I had my hands full with two under two."
"Well, seven is the same as two honestly," Molly explained. "It all feels the same anyway. Controlled chaos as I like to say."
Sirius' eyes widened. "Yeah, I don't know how that's true, but I'll take your word for it," he replied with a grimace. "Marlene, my wife, and I have a boy who is turning two next week and a five-month-old girl," he explained, shifting his weight. "If it makes you feel any better about living next door to a Black, my wife is a McKinnon, so I can't be that bad if a McKinnon married me."
Molly didn't find that joke funny either, but she did loosen her grip just a tad around Ginny. The McKinnons had been widely liked and respected by the masses, much like the Potters had been. Two of the purest wizarding families to ever exist.
"We have a son, Ron, who turned two in March," Molly explained. "Our boys will be at Hogwarts together. You should all come by for dinner. We can eat out back and the kids can play."
Anxiety swarmed in the pit of Sirius' stomach. Surely, Molly Weasley knew he had custody of Harry Potter. The custody hearing had been all over the papers back in November when he and Marlene filed. They had sat in front of the entire Wizengamot, which was excessive and unheard of. There had been pictures in the Daily Prophet of Marlene and Sirius walking in the Ministry of Magic with Harry in his arms, the little boy's face buried into the crook of his neck. Sirius had held his head steady, making sure no one could get a picture or even a peek of Harry.
But Molly didn't let on that she knew anything about Harry. Maybe she hadn't paid attention to the names in the articles or perhaps she had been too busy with her seven kids to even read the papers.
"I'll talk to Marly," Sirius settled on saying. "Thank you for the housewarming gift. I don't mean to rush you, but we were eating breakfast."
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Molly bustled. "I just wanted to welcome you."
Sirius lifted the basket filled to the rim. "Thank you, again."
With a final goodbye, Sirius shut the door. He made his way towards the kitchen with the basket in hand. When he entered the room, he saw Marlene knelt down on the floor with her arms around a hyperventilating Harry. He was a snotty mess with tears all down his red face.
"See-See!" Harry exclaimed, bolting from Marlene's arms upon seeing him.
Sirius crouched down, setting the basket next to him. He caught Harry in his arms, an inquisitive gaze lingering on Marlene. Harry clawed as his back, almost as though he were trying to bury himself into Sirius.
"He was scared someone was hurting you," Marlene explained with a deep frown.
Sirius' stomach dropped to the floor. "Hey, hey, I'm all right," he insisted, pressing a steady hand against Harry's head. "It was just the neighbor saying hello," he explained, pulling back so he could cup Harry's face in his hands. "We're safe here, okay? I made sure of it."
For the rest of the day, Harry clung to Sirius like a Sticking Charm. Sirius couldn't even use the loo in peace without Harry wanting to stand in the doorway where he could see him. Ever since Bellatrix had attacked their last home five months ago, Harry had been even clingier than he had before. It seemed like everything had just compounded for him tenfold. The kid was clearly traumatized from all the awful events he had witnessed in his short life.
"He needs therapy," Marlene whispered in bed that night as Harry slept cuddled into Sirius' side. " We need therapy. We need advice on how to help him cope with everything. I thought he seemed better the past month or so, but now he's back to being an anxious mess. Maybe we shouldn't have moved."
"And what? Tell a Muggle Mind Healer everything that happened?" Sirius whispered back. "Yeah, our godson has nightmares about green flashes of light since his parents died. Then, he has nightmares about his godmother being nearly tortured to death while he was locked in a toy box. They'll take him away from us!"
Marlene sighed, her hand reaching out to smooth Harry's hair. "We could take him to someone in the wizarding world."
Sirius scoffed. "Have it get out? Have the newspapers print where he is once a week at a specified time? We'd have a hard time protecting him if we're swarmed by people. Not to mention, that would give Harry a downright panic attack. You know how he is around strangers."
"We can't let him suffer like this!" Marlene argued in a hushed whisper. "It's not normal for a toddler to be scared all the time like this."
Sirius knew what Marlene was saying was true. But he didn't know how they could take Harry to see someone. The Muggle world wouldn't understand. The wizarding world was just downright anxiety inducing. Sirius felt so ill-equipped, wondering why in the world James ever thought Sirius would be a good father-figure. He only felt like a failure in that moment.
Luckily, the next week passed without any panic attacks from Harry. The kid slowly became more comfortable in the house. He even left his godparents' side to play by himself as long as one of them was in the room with him.
Harry spent a lot of time sitting in front of the bay window, watching the Weasley children play across the pond. He dashed over whenever he heard their voices waft through the open windows. Sirius always took Harry outside when he lingered by the window for too long. He watched as Harry rode his little toy broom that Marlene had forbidden from being ridden inside the house. Sometimes, Sirius chased him around the garden or they attempted to throw a Quaffle back and forth. But Harry's gaze always wandered over to the pond.
They celebrated Harry's second birthday at home with cake and presents. A gift arrived from Walburga's owl, but Sirius had immediately burned it without even opening it to see what it was. Andromeda, Ted, and Dora stopped by. Harry seemed normal for once, bounding around the parlor with Dora. His laughter filled the house for the first time since they moved in. Sirius thought they should have the Tonkses over more.
"You know, Sirius used to carry me around like this all the time when I was younger," Dora commented as she carried Harry on her back.
"Dora, be careful with him!" Andromeda said in an exasperated voice as she rocked baby Maia in her arms.
"He doesn't hold on all the time," Sirius added. "Harry, hold on, all right, mate?"
"Good thing she's short," mused Ted. "In case he falls."
Marlene chuckled. "She clearly didn't inherit the Black height," she teased, bumping hips with Ted. "Must be a Tonks gene."
Ted laughed. "My grandmother was the very embodiment of a little old lady."
Sirius laughed, though he kept a close eye on the kids with his fingers wrapped around his wand so he could cushion Harry's fall just in case. Though, luckily, his wand was never needed. Before long, the pair were at Harry's kitchen set making a bunch of weird food together. While Andromeda and Marlene chatted, Sirius slipped out of the house with Ted.
Ted handed him a cigarette and Sirius lit it with his wand. Sirius took a long drag, his head titling back to look at the night sky. He hadn't had a smoke in what felt like forever. Merlin, it seemed to instantly calm his nerves. He had been on edge for far too long, just treading water.
"Nice house," Ted commented, lighting his own cigarette. "Last year at this time, I wouldn't have thought you'd be married with two kids."
Sirius swallowed. Last year at this time, Marlene's entire family had just been murdered and the Potters were still alive.
"I wouldn't have either," Sirius replied, taking a long drag.
Ted put the cigarette out on the railing and then flicked it into a bush. "I don't know why you like those so much. Bloody disgusting."
"You didn't have to smoke with me, Teddy," Sirius explained, leaning his forearms on the railing and looking across the pond at the Weasleys' house.
Ted clapped him on the back. Since Sirius was a kid, Ted had always treated him like he was a younger brother to him. He and Andromeda were the only family Sirius cared to claim as his own. Andromeda certainly acted like his overbearing, overprotective, and mothering older sister and not his cousin. While Sirius would have rolled his eyes and snapped at her a year ago, he appreciated her a lot more now given the state of his life.
"Arthur and Molly Weasley live there," Sirius said in a casual tone, his head inclining at the house across the pond. "They invited us over for dinner. They seemingly have no idea Harry is here. Harry watches the kids playing from the window. There's seven of them."
Ted leaned his forearms against the railing as well, mirroring Sirius. "I don't think it's a bad idea to expose Harry to more people. Dumbledore suggested this town because he trusted the wizarding families that do live here. It might help break Harry out of his shell a bit more."
"What if those kids know all about that Boy Who Lived tosh?" Sirius asked, turning his head to look at Ted. "Harry's too little to understand. He's finally stopped asking for his mum and dad. Questions could only upset him again."
Sirius' heart twisted in his chest. Harry had cried for James and Lily for months. Now, he only cried for Sirius and Marlene. Somehow, that seemed wrong. Godparents replacing parents. This wasn't how their lives were supposed to turn out.
"Merlin, I can't even…" Ted trailed off, his thumbnail scratching his cheek. "That little boy is so lucky to have you and Marlene. The way you two care for him…"
Sirius only nodded. Honestly, Sirius felt lucky to have Harry. The kid had helped him through a very dark time. Losing James had been unfathomable. But knowing Harry needed him kept him going, helped him focus on something other than his grief. It was why Sirius was so hesitant to expose Harry to, well, anyone. He wouldn't survive if he lost the kid.
Two days after Harry's birthday, an owl arrived. Sirius had never seen it before. But he put on a smile so Harry wouldn't become upset by the mysterious newcomer. It must have worked or Harry wasn't bothered by strange animals, because he continued eating his lunch while half-talking and half-babbling to Maia.
Opening the window, Sirius let the owl in. He untied the parchment before tossing the bird a treat. He unrolled the letter and began to read.
Dear Sirius,
It's Molly, from across the pond. Arthur and I wanted to extend an invitation for dinner for this Saturday to you and your family. We can eat outside, so the kids can play.
Let me know if that works,
Molly
Sirius sucked in a breath as he handed the letter to Marlene. They exchanged a look. They had discussed the Weasley family before when Molly had initially introduced herself. Marlene had been much more open to befriending the family, stating she thought it would help Harry break out of his shell and sounding a lot like Ted. Sirius just didn't trust anyone, even notorious blood traitors who he was certain had zero ties to any Death Eaters still roaming free.
"They'll find out eventually we have Harry if they don't already," Marlene reasoned in a soft tone. "He needs interaction from people other than us."
"He has Andy, Ted, and Dora," Sirius argued.
"He sits by the window listening to those kids play, Sirius!" Marlene protested. "Harry has the opportunity to have somewhat of a normal life right now. We don't have to hide that we're wizards. The Weasleys are as good as a family gets. I think we should trust them. They are related to Healer Weasley, after all."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah, that just makes it all better."
Despite his hesitation, Sirius found himself walking around the pond to the Weasley house after dinner that evening. They couldn't just show up with Harry and expect zero reaction. Sirius didn't think Harry would deal well with all of the attention on him.
Knocking on the front door, Sirius could hear the commotion inside. Laughter and rough housing. The door opened and a frazzled Molly appeared.
"Oh! Sirius, hello!" Molly greeted.
Sirius offered her a closed-mouth smile. "I came by to talk to you about your dinner invitation. Is Arthur home? I'd like to talk to both of you."
Molly looked a little uncertain but gestured for him to enter. Sirius caught sight of two identical boys running around the sofa. A little boy around Harry's age jumped on said sofa and cheered on the other boys. A slightly older boy with glasses glared at his brothers with a book in his lap. He lost sight of them when Molly led him to the kitchen where Arthur sat with little Ginny in his arms.
"Oh, hello!" Arthur greeted, shifting the baby on his lap to extend a hand to Sirius. "How can we help you?"
Sirius accepted the hand. "My name is Sirius Black. I live across the pond."
"Ahh, yes, Molly told me she met you," Arthur replied joyfully.
"Would you like some tea, Sirius?" Molly asked, walking over to the kettle.
Sirius sucked in a breath. "I'm fine, thank you. I came by to talk to you two before accepting your dinner invitation."
Molly poured herself and Arthur each a cup of tea before sitting down at the table. Sirius felt awkward standing so he took a seat across from them.
"So, I don't exactly know how to broach this topic, but both Marly and I thought it was important information for you to know before we come over for dinner," Sirius started, his eyes flickering between their faces. "I told you we have a two-year-old son. He's technically our godson who we have custody of. His parents both died."
Molly and Arthur exchanged a glance. They knew. Of course, they bloody well knew.
Arthur cleared his throat. "When Molly told me who moved in next door, I recognized your name straight away."
"I didn't put it together at first," Molly admitted, her hands wrapping around her tea cup. "I mean, I knew there was that big Wizengamot hearing about custody for Harry Potter, but I didn't pay too much attention to it. I remember seeing the pictures in the paper, but I'm not sure I ever read any of the articles. Ginny was colicky and Ron was sick around that time. Then, of course, all the boys got sick. Arthur was so busy at work too. It all blurred together."
Sirius nodded. It wasn't a surprise, honestly. If they had sat on that information for over a week and nobody had bothered them, then that was a good sign that the Weasleys were trustworthy, wasn't it? Did it really matter at this point? He was all in.
Sirius cleared his throat. "He's a very shy kid," he elaborated, his gaze flickering between the two. "He's been isolated his entire life, only having contact with a handful of people. Small things can send him in a fit of tears. He's anxious in new situations. He…" he trailed off, sighing. "He witnessed his mother being murdered right in front of him. A few months later, we were attacked and Harry witnessed his godmother being tortured. We're trying our best to give him a more calm and normal life. The last thing we want is anyone ogling at him and causing him to have a panic attack. I mean, you have kids. He's far too little to even attempt to explain any of this to him."
"Oh, the poor dear," Molly said, pressing a hand to her chest.
"I daresay only our older three boys would know who Harry is," Arthur mused, sharing a glance with his wife. "We would definitely talk to them about not staring and treating him like any other child."
"We are very private, given our circumstances," Sirius added, leaning back in his chair. "I would hope that you would tell nobody about us living next door. If anyone found out and our safety was compromised, we'd have to uproot Harry again. If we were attacked and I found out it was you who told someone, well, let's just say that I have a very short temper when it comes to my family's safety."
Molly stiffened in her chair. "We would never harm a child!" she protested, very clearly offended.
"It needed to be said," Sirius insisted, resting his ankle on his knee. "I'm only trusting you because of my friendship with Gideon and Fabian. We were in the Order of the Phoenix together. I don't know how much you know about that. On top of that, Bilius was actually Marlene's Healer when she was pregnant."
Molly frowned, her thumb tapping against the side of her tea cup. Arthur shifted to sit a fussy Ginny down on the floor. She pulled herself up on one of the chairs at the table, her little hands hitting the wood.
"We are familiar with the Order of the Phoenix," Arthur said slowly. "We were never officially members, but I… funneled some information to certain members about some things I had seen in the Ministry."
Sirius licked his bottom lip, his gaze focusing on Ginny happily bouncing where she stood. "Then, we were both fighting on the same side. I hope we can continue to stay on the same side."
Arthur leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table. "Molly and I put great value on a human life," he said, his eyebrows raising above his glasses as he peered at Sirius. "We were both absolutely disgusted with You-Know-Who's rhetoric. It is not something either one of us have ever believed. I determine a person's worth through their actions and words, not by their blood. I hope you got that same impression from my brother. And, at the end of the day, all of our blood looks the same anyway."
Sirius' face scrunched up. "I don't think it was ever truly about blood, Arthur. I grew up in a house that spewed that rhetoric. The Blacks shoved it down my throat. They tried to scare me into bigoted views. I'll admit, I believed it when I was younger. How could I not? The terrible diseases and the Muggle kids stealing my magic fueled my nightmares as a child," he explained, his hands clasping tightly in his lap. "As I grew older and I questioned their logic, it became very apparent to me that it wasn't purity of blood they sought. It was power. They wanted power and they wanted to maintain it. The pureblood community wants a tyranny of the minority, to push their asinine agendas to give them even more power and make them seem more important than they really are. Blood is what merely links them. Sort of," he added with a shrug. "Most self-proclaimed pureblood families aren't actually pureblood anymore, after all."
Arthur observed Sirius carefully. "You sound like my mother," he said in an amused tone.
Sirius nodded. "I never met Cedrella Black, but I certainly heard about her. A cautionary tale of not toeing the line and losing the supposed prestige. I can only guess she saw through the utter bullshit like I did," he explained, squinting over at Arthur. "She may be amused to hear that Walburga actually burns the family tapestry when she disowns people. Hers was one of them. None of you were added. I'm sure there's a burn mark where I am on the tapestry as well now."
"Walburga is…?" Arthur trailed off.
Sirius' face pulled. "Let's call her my egg donor. I try to separate myself as much as possible from her. I believe she is Cedrella's… cousin's daughter, perhaps?" he said, trying to picture the damn tapestry that he had tried to burn from his mind.
"I'll be sure to tell my mother," Arthur replied, sounding incredibly amused. "Anyway, you said you were Harry's godfather?"
Sirius nodded. "I went to Hogwarts with Harry's parents. James was my best mate. His parents took me in when I ran away from home at sixteen. James was…" he trailed off, his head shaking as his chest ached painfully. "Well, it feels wrong to call him my best mate actually. He was my brother in every true sense of the word. Losing him was… it was incredibly hard. And Marlene was Lily's best friend and she's James' second cousin."
"It's amazing that you took in Harry," Molly insisted, looking a tad bit misty-eyed.
Sirius shrugged his left shoulder. "He's family. I've loved that kid from the moment he was born."
It really was as simple as that. Harry was his family in every way that mattered. He would die for the kid just like he'd die for his daughter or for Marlene. Harry was his son now. End of discussion.
"You have a daughter as well?" Arthur asked, his fingers brushing Ginny's hair.
"Yeah, Marly was pregnant when James and Lily died," Sirius explained, his stomach twisting into a painful knot. "They were going to be our daughter's godparents as well, but they never got the chance to meet her. Her name's Maia. Harry's completely enamored by her."
"We can't wait to meet them," Molly said with a warm smile. "And I would like to apologize for my behavior after I found out you were a Black when we first met. It was completely inappropriate."
Sirius waved her off. "Not the first time someone's judged me for being a Black. Honestly, I don't take offense. Most of them are awful."
Sirius listened patiently as Molly and Arthur told him all about their seven kids. Sirius knew he wouldn't remember any of it. There were too many names and personalities and the like. The only one he was sure he wouldn't mess up was Ginny, as she was the only girl. The boys all blurred together. It was like receiving a lesson in the members of the Black family tree – too many to even keep straight. Andromeda had always been good at remembering the family tree better than he had been.
Sirius wouldn't go as far as to say he was completely at ease with the Weasley family after meeting them, but he did feel slightly less panicked about the weekend dinner. He relied as much information as he could remember to Marlene that night as they laid in bed together. Sirius carded his fingers through Harry's soft hair, feeling the small puffs of air on his chest. Perhaps Harry would warm up quickly to the Weasley children like he had with Dora. Merlin, he hoped the kid would have at least a little fun.
The next day when the laughter from the Weasley children wafted into the parlor, Harry bolted from his kitchen set to clamber up on the little bench seat at the bay window. He folded his arms in front of him, his chin resting on his forearm. Sirius made his way over to sit next to him, his hand rubbing the kid's back.
"Would you like to play with them?"
Harry turned to look up at Sirius, his eyes squinting. "No."
Fuck.
Sirius brushed the kid's hair off his forehead, the lightning bolt scar glaring up at him. His thumb brushed along the scar that ran from his hairline down through his eyebrow.
"I met them," Sirius continued, a smile crossing his face. "They have a little boy that's your age. They even have a playmate for Maia."
Harry looked back out the window, his little body unnaturally stiff for a two-year-old.
"I knew the mum's brothers," Sirius barreled on. "They were my friends. The dad's brother is Healer Weasley. You remember him, yeah? They're all really, really nice."
Harry rested his chin on his arm again. "No."
" Harry," Sirius said, leaning down so he could see the kid's face.
"See-See, no," Harry said in a defiant tone, a frown etching deep into his little features.
Sirius didn't know what the bloody hell to do. Marlene seemed unconcerned when he told her about the window incident later that afternoon.
"He's two, Sirius," Marlene stressed. "He probably didn't even understand what he was saying no to."
Sirius hoped that Marlene was right.
The rest of the week, Harry continued to play in the parlor and watch the Weasley children from the window. Sirius didn't dare bring up a playdate again to him, hoping the kid would be fine when they went over on Saturday.
Every night that week, Harry refused to sleep in his bedroom. He'd scream as soon as Sirius tried to tuck him in. Marlene tried to read him a bedtime story, but he only bolted from the room. Sirius placed a blanket and pillow on the floor next to the bed, telling Harry that he'd sleep on the floor next to him. But Harry only ran to lay with Marlene across the hall. Sirius couldn't help but wonder if they shouldn't have gotten rid of his cot. Maybe he would have calmed down in a more familiar bed if Sirius stayed in the room with him.
When Saturday rolled around, Marlene dressed Harry in khaki shorts and a light-weight button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. She wrestled a comb through his hair, adding water and hair potion to try to get it to lay flat but it just plain refused to. Sirius watched from the doorway of Harry's room with Maia in his arms, a wide grin spreading across his face. Harry looked miserable.
"Mawlee, no!" Harry cried, stomping his foot. "Stop!"
"Harry, love, your hair is sticking straight up," Marlene argued.
Harry's little face scowled, his arms crossing over his chest. Sirius took pity on the kid and entered the room. He crouched down next to Marlene and sat Maia on the floor. He carded his fingers through the kid's hair, ruffling it around just like he had seen James do a million times before.
"Sirius!" Marlene exclaimed. "That took me ages to get it to the point it was!"
"He has Potter hair," Sirius stressed. "It's a lost cause. Right, kid?" he asked, holding his left hand up for a high-five.
Harry smacked his right hand against Sirius'. "Wight!" he exclaimed with a broad grin.
Marlene sighed. "They're going to think we don't take care of him."
Sirius arched an eyebrow at her. "Is that why he's dressed like a little ponce?"
"Don't say that!" Marlene hissed, hitting Sirius on the arm. "He looks adorable."
"Marly, they have seven kids. I doubt they're going to be dressed to the nines for a bloody outdoor dinner and playdate," Sirius argued.
Marlene chewed on her lip. "Yeah, well, we've been judged before for being too young to raise a kid."
Sirius frowned, remembering how certain members of the Wizengamot had tried to not so subtly suggest they were not fit guardians for Harry due to their age. He hadn't given a shit what they thought. He honestly hadn't thought about it since. They had taken exceptional care of Harry, ensuring he was always loved and every need was more than satisfied. Sirius didn't care what a couple of old wankers thought about them.
"Age is just a number, Marly," Sirius insisted, his hand reaching out to rub her shoulder. "We are the best guardians for the job."
Marlene nodded. "We're twenty-two years old with two kids."
"If it makes you feel any better, I'll be twenty-three in a few months," Sirius replied with a shit-eating grin.
Marlene chuckled, her eyes rolling. "Shut it."
Sirius leaned forward, pressing his lips against Marlene's temple. "It'll be fine, all right? Stop worrying so much."
Marlene didn't listen to him. She fretted for the next hour, adjusting Harry's collar and smoothing the wrinkles out of Maia's dress. She kept checking the cold cupboard to make sure her two home baked treacle tarts hadn't disappeared. Sirius couldn't decide if she was stressed about exposing Harry to new people or if she was afraid of being judged for being such a young parent.
"Are you going to change soon, so we can leave?" Marlene asked.
Sirius glanced down at his trousers and black t-shirt. "I was planning on wearing this."
"Sirius, please change into something more appropriate," Marlene pressed.
Sirius gestured to his outfit. "My wardrobe is ninety perfect trousers and shirts. The other ten perfect are leather jackets, one Muggle suit from James and Lily's wedding, and dress robes I wore to Harry's custody hearing. I'm not wearing a bloody suit or dress robes. I don't think a leather jacket is what you want either."
Marlene's eyebrows raised.
Sirius pressed his palms against her shoulders, bending down to her height. "Stop stressing so much. You look beautiful in your little dress. Harry and Maia look nice. They'll just judge me and I'm all right with that."
Marlene nodded.
Sirius gave her shoulders a squeeze. "Talk to me."
"I'm just nervous," Marlene admitted.
"Clearly, but I don't understand why," Sirius replied, his eyes searching her face. "You thought this was a good thing a few days ago."
Tears brimmed Marlene's eyes. "The kids don't know anyone," she whispered. "Since Maia left the hospital, the kids have only interacted with Andy, Ted, and Dora. No one else. It's scary, Sirius. It's just scary."
Sirius nodded, the corners of his mouth twitching down. He glanced over to his right to see Harry attempting to build Maia a block tower to knock down. The towers only made it to two or three high before Maia giggled and kicked her feet like a little maniac. Letting out a low breath, he turned back to Marlene.
"I know these past several months have been hard," Sirius started, his throat narrowing. "Not just for Harry, but for you too. Maia's birth was… traumatic. You have been so strong through it all. I'm constantly amazed by how you've kept yourself from just crumbling. Because I know I've felt like crumbling a lot since Halloween. But we don't have to be perfect. It's okay if we need a moment to breathe. But I need you to know you are an amazing woman and a fantastic mother and I will personally fight anyone who says otherwise, okay?"
A soft sob escaped Marlene's lips.
"I love you, Marly, all right?" Sirius said, needing her to know that she had helped keep him sane the past several months. "You and I are in this together. I'm here for you. I know I'm shit at talking about feelings and being all soppy, but that doesn't mean I don't care. Because I do care. I care a lot. I don't want to do this with anyone but you. I don't if I can. So, I am here for you. I'll always be here for you. You just need to tell me what you need, because figuring it out on my own isn't my strong suit."
Marlene's hands pressed against his cheeks and she shot him a watery smile. A shaky breath escaped her lips.
"I needed that," Marlene whispered, her thumbs brushing along Sirius' cheekbones. "I'm just worried I'm messing this all up."
Sirius nodded. "Yeah, me too."
Marlene sniffed. "I don't want to do this with anyone else either. I feel like… I feel like we lost everyone except for each other. I miss them so much. I want to do right by Harry and Maia."
"We will help Harry alleviate some of his anxiety. Maia will be a little shit because she's my daughter," Sirius said with a smile.
A watery laugh escaped Marlene's lips.
"But if you need a break, you need to tell me that," Sirius explained, his hands rubbing along her arms. "I'm good with both kids alone if you need a day out. Contact Mary or someone."
Marlene shook her head. "I don't want to leave you or the kids. We're safer together."
Sirius tugged Marlene closer to him, pressing his lips against her forehead. Her fingers trailed down his face until her palms pressed against his chest. He wrapped both arms around Marlene, crushing her to his chest. Resting his chin on top of her head, Sirius watched Harry tickle Maia's feet. In that moment, Sirius felt hope for the first time in a long time. They'd be all right as long as long as they had each other. Sirius was certain of it.
Fifteen minutes later, Sirius and Marlene made their way around the pond towards the Weasley home. Marlene wanted to bring the pram for Maia, but Sirius insisted he was fine carrying both kids if she could handle the tarts. The closer they got to the crooked house, the tighter Harry's grip became around Sirius' neck.
"Oi, mate, it's all right," Sirius insisted, pressing a kiss onto the kid's cheek. "We're going to have fun."
Small voices and laughter grew louder and louder. Molly and Arthur were both outside setting a large table underneath a canopy. Two older boys, the twins, and the younger boy chased each other around the garden. The boy who looked like one of the middle children sat on the grass with Ginny, helping her stand and bounce.
"Hello!" Arthur called, waving.
Molly and Arthur both abandoned their efforts at setting the table to greet them. Arthur pushed his glasses up his nose before wrapping an arm around Molly's shoulders. Harry buried his face into the crook of Sirius' neck.
"Let me take those, dear," Molly offered.
Molly tugged her wand out of her apron and flicked her wrist. The tarts lifted from Marlene's hands and floated over towards the table.
"Thank you," Marlene said, her hand pressing against her chest. "I'm Marlene Black. Of course, you already met Sirius," she continued, gesturing over at Sirius next to her. "These two little ones are Maia and Harry."
Marlene turned, her hands sliding underneath Maia's armpits and hauling the happy baby from Sirius' arms. She plopped Maia onto her hip, her gaze resting on Harry for a few moments. Sirius pressed his newly free hand against the back of Harry's head, his thumb brushing against the kid's hair.
"Sirius is Harry's favorite," Marlene pointed out with a fond smile. "As you can see."
Arthur chuckled. "Yes, well, all children do have their preferred parent. I'll have you know, it changes depending on the day of the week as well."
"All seven are ours," Molly pointed out, waving to the children playing in the garden. "Bill's the oldest. He's twelve and in Gryffindor. Next is Charlie. He's ten and he's completely lost without Bill at home. Then we have Percy. He's going to be six in a couple of weeks."
"He's six going on sixty," Arthur added with a chuckle.
Molly rolled her eyes, her head shaking. "The twins are Fred and George. They're four. Do not accept anything they give you. They are constantly pulling pranks. Then, there's Ron. He's two. Then, little Ginny will be one in a couple of days."
"I don't know how you do it," Marlene commented. "Tell me all of your secrets or we simply can't be friends."
"Oh, tosh, it's nothing special," Molly insisted, her neck tinting pink. "It'll soon be second nature, dear."
Sirius crouched down, attempting to haul Harry away from his body. The kid whimpered, his fingers clawing at Sirius desperately. Sirius held the kid at arms' length, bending down to try to look at Harry in the eye. Tears brimmed his green eyes, his little chest heaving.
"Hey, hey, kid, it's okay," Sirius insisted, attempting to speak in the softest voice he could manage. "It's okay, yeah? Marly and I are right here."
"See-See," Harry gasped, a loud sob escaping his lips. "Go home."
"Breathe with me, yeah?" Sirius insisted, rubbing the kid's arms soothingly. "We're with friends. They're like Dora and Uncle Ted and Auntie Andy. They won't hurt you."
Harry didn't calm down. Sirius could see the signs that the kid was going to start to hyperventilate at any moment. He felt powerless and completely helpless. Somehow, he imagined James would know what to do. James always knew what to say and do to make someone feel better. He had always been so gentle with Harry, knowing exactly how to calm the kid when he began to get upset.
A flash of red caught Sirius' eye. He glanced up to see the youngest boy suddenly beside Harry. He grinned and waved too close to Harry's face, causing the kid to jerk back.
"Hi, me Won!" Ron said in an enthusiastic tone. "Have one!" he shouted and held out a biscuit.
Harry looked at the biscuit and then at Ron and then back at the biscuit. Sirius tugged Harry towards him so that the kid's back was against his chest.
"Hi, Ron," Sirius greeted. "I'm Sirius. This is Harry."
"Hi!" Ron greeted and then frowned as he looked down at the two biscuits in his hand. "Not for you."
Sirius chuckled. "That's all right. I don't need one. But I'm sure Harry appreciates you offering him one. Right, kid?"
Harry didn't say anything. He only trembled in Sirius' arms. Sirius heart shattered into a million little pieces. Part of him wanted to haul Harry up in his arms and run back home. Before he could act on the impulse, Molly crouched down next to Ron. She smiled warmly at Harry as her fingers played with Ron's hair.
"Hello, Harry, my name is Molly. It's very nice to meet you, dear," she greeted, sounding so kind and gentle.
"Mummy hair," Harry whispered as he stared at Molly.
Sirius's heart skipped a beat. His grip tightened around Harry. Lily's and Molly's hair were completely different shades of red. While Lily's hair had been more auburn, Molly's was a bright copper. But Sirius supposed red was red to a two-year-old. Harry was, after all, adamant that black and gray were the same exact color.
"His mum had red hair," Sirius explained. "It was darker than yours."
Molly nodded in understanding, her smile only growing. "Well, there is no shortage of redheads here, so you'll be right at home."
"Wanna play?" Ron asked with a slight whine, obviously growing bored.
Sirius pressed his cheek against Harry's. "I will be right here if you need me, okay? Just yell for me and I'll come running. You're safe. I promise you, Harry," he insisted, holding up his pinky finger. "I solemnly swear, okay, mate? It's a godfather's promise. Those are basically like the Unbreakable Vow, so I can't break it."
Slowly, Harry's hand rose. He linked pinkies with Sirius. Pressing a kiss to the kid's temple, he urged him to follow Ron. Harry did. He didn't make it far before he turned around, his wide eyes filled with tears and apprehension. Sirius shot him two thumbs up and a big smile, his head nodding in encouragement.
"What a sweet boy," Molly sighed.
Sirius rose to his full height, his eyes never leaving Harry since the kid seemed to turn around every ten to twenty seconds to make sure Sirius was right where he left him. Marlene stepped up next to him, her shoulder brushing against his arm.
"This is good for him," Marlene concluded. "He'll be all right."
"Well, dinner is ready but I say we just put a Statis Charm on it all and let the kids play," Molly announced, watching as the two twin boys talked animatedly to Harry and Ron. "They'll grab us when they're hungry."
Sirius nodded. Marlene, Molly, and Arthur all chatted together. But Sirius found himself watching his godson slowly warm up to his new surroundings. The glances at Sirius became fewer and fewer. Soon, Harry was laughing and running around with the Weasley boys. Sirius' own worries seemed to disappear as he smiled softly at the shrieks of laughter.
Maybe their little family would be all right after all as they started the next chapter of their lives together.
That's a wrap! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter of the story. Please, don't forget to leave a review as this is the last chapter. I'd love to hear from you! I do have another story in the works for this universe that takes place five years after the end of this story (as well as a few one-shots to fill the space between the two stories). I'll have updates on the progress of that on my Tumblr.
Special thanks to prewettpotter for looking this over for me!