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She hurried over to their table, leaning down slightly. "Are you two here because you've heard the news?"

Harry and Hermione exchanged confused glances. "What news?" Harry asked.

Mary hesitated for a moment, glancing around the room as if she wasn't sure whether to say more. Finally, she leaned in closer. "I think Padfoot would prefer to tell you himself."

Harry's heart skipped a beat. Sirius. Something big was happening.

Without another word, Mary straightened up and left, leaving Harry and Hermione staring at each other in shock and anticipation.

Harry and Hermione stared at each other for a few long moments, each searching the other's eyes for a sign of what to do next. Then, with a sudden resolve, Harry jumped to his feet.

"Mary!" he exclaimed, taking off in a flash, feeling Hermione right behind him.

As he dashed toward the exit of the Three Broomsticks, he nearly collided with Ron, who was walking in with Lavender, Parvati, Padma, and Viktor Krum. Ron, taken aback by Harry's hasty exit, gave him a questioning look. "Hey, Harry. I thought we were supposed to meet here. Is everything alright?"

Harry skidded to a stop, his mind racing. "It's about Padfoot," he said, the urgency in his voice clear.

Ron's expression changed from surprise to concern in an instant. "Is he alright?" he asked, stepping closer, his voice low so the others wouldn't hear.

"I ... I think so," Harry replied, glancing toward the door where Mary had disappeared moments earlier. "But there's apparently news." He paused, weighing the situation.

Ron looked over at Lavender, who was standing a few feet away with a curious expression, not quite able to hear their conversation. He then turned back to Harry, his brow furrowed. "Where are we off to then?"

Harry smiled at Ron and reached out to clasp his shoulder. "Thanks, mate. But you should stay here with Lavender and the others. Hermione and I will handle this, but if I need you, you'll be the first to know."

Ron hesitated, clearly torn. "You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," Harry said, his eyes sincere. "If anything happens or should we need you, I'll let you know straightaway. Just enjoy your time here."

Ron nodded slowly, though it was clear he wasn't entirely at ease with letting Harry go without him. "Alright ... but just remember, you just need to ask and I'm there for you mate."

"I know," Harry said, giving his friend a grateful pat on the back. He then glanced through the doorway and spotted Mary watching him from beside the building across the street before turning and heading off in the direction of her shop. "I've got to go," he said hurriedly, and without another word, he took off running again, Hermione keeping pace right behind him.

As they reached her shop, Harry caught up to Mary just as she was stepping inside. He and Hermione followed her in, and as soon as they crossed the threshold, Mary swiftly reached behind them, flipping the sign to "Closed" and drawing the curtains over the door. The dim light inside the shop made it feel secluded, hidden from the rest of the bustling village outside.

"Come on," Mary said, her voice quiet but steady as she led them toward the back of the store.

Harry's heart was racing now, not just from the run but from the mounting concern swirling in his mind. What could have happened? Was Sirius in trouble again? Why hadn't he known sooner?

They entered a small, cramped supply room at the back of the shop, filled with a variety of Quidditch gear and odd magical trinkets he had no idea what they did. Harry's breath caught in his throat as he stepped inside. His godfather, Sirius Black, was there, just completing his transformation from a large black dog into his human form. He looked a little scruffy as usual, but slightly improved since last time.

"Sirius!" Harry gasped, rushing over to him without hesitation. He threw his arms around his godfather in a tight embrace.

Sirius looked taken aback by Harry's sudden appearance. "Harry?" he said, surprise in his voice. "What on earth are you doing here?"

Turning to Mary, Sirius raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were just heading to the Three Broomsticks to grab some food for the two of us. Looks like you brought back some riffraff with you as well." He grinned at his own joke, though his eyes softened as he looked back at Harry.

Mary shook her head with a smile, opening the box of food she had brought back from the pub and handing a portion to Sirius. "I saw them in the Three Broomsticks," she explained. "I thought they'd want to hear the good news as soon as possible."

Sirius took the food and smiled gratefully at her. "Good thinking. Thanks, Mare." He turned back to Harry, placing a hand on his godson's shoulder. "You've got nothing to worry about, Harry. I'm alright."

Harry took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly at the sight of Sirius safe and sound. But the tension in his chest didn't leave him entirely. Something was off, and he could feel it lingering in the air as he looked back and forth between Mary and Sirius.

"What's going on?" Harry asked, the concern in his voice betraying the flicker of doubt he still felt. "What's the good news?"

Sirius smiled wryly, a glint of mischief flashing in his eyes. "Well, there are two things actually…" He paused, his gaze drifting toward Harry and Hermione. His eyes shot up slightly as he took in the closeness between them, how their shoulders were almost touching. He chuckled.

"When did that happen?" Sirius asked, his tone light but teasing as he pointed a finger between the two of them.

Harry froze. For a second, he felt the blood rush to his face, his ears turning red as his blush deepened. He hadn't expected that. He opened his mouth, then closed it, stammering awkwardly. "It's...uh...it's recent," he managed to get out, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Just before the Yule Ball. And then...uh, we had a brilliant time at the ball, actually, and—"

He caught himself, shaking his head to clear his rambling. "Don't distract me, Sirius!" he said, his embarrassment fading as he regained focus. "Tell me your news first, and then I'll answer your questions."

Sirius's grin widened, and he wagged his eyebrows playfully at both of them before shrugging. "Alright, alright. I suppose I can wait for the juicy details later." He leaned back, crossing his arms with a dramatic sigh. "But you've gotta admit, it's pretty funny."

Harry rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but crack a small smile. Hermione, too, was pink-cheeked but smiling, her hand subtly brushing against Harry's as they waited for Sirius to continue.

"So, there are two things," Sirius began again, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "The first is that I've been in contact with Dumbledore. He found my cave—where I've been hiding—and just showed up out of the blue." Sirius laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Scared the hell out of me, to be sure. But he explained that he'd had a chat with you, Harry, and—get this—he believes you."

Harry's eyebrows shot up. "He does?"

Sirius nodded, his expression softening. "He does. Dumbledore said he's been thinking it over, and he's sorry. He admitted he didn't look into things as deeply as he should have—letting me spend years in Azkaban when he could've pushed harder to clear my name." Sirius's voice faltered slightly at the memory of his time in prison, but he quickly continued. "Anyway, he let me know that he's got a meeting with Amelia Bones coming up in the middle of this week."

"Amelia Bones?" Hermione interrupted, her brow furrowed. "The head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement?"

"The very one," Sirius confirmed. "Dumbledore thinks she might be willing to help reopen my case. If all goes well, he's hoping to use her to go around Fudge and work on getting me cleared. But we need proof. He's working on that part, but he's confident Amelia will at least grant him access to the Ministry's records about my case."

Harry felt a flicker of hope. It wasn't much, but it was something—a real chance to free Sirius from his unjust imprisonment.

Sirius smiled, his eyes lighting up with humor again. "He even offered to bring me to the meeting, in case Amelia needed some convincing."

Hermione gasped, her eyes wide with alarm. "That's a terrible idea! The Ministry still has a kill on sight order for you, Sirius. If you show up, what's to stop Madam Bones from attacking you on the spot?"

Sirius waved her concern away with a dismissive hand. "Amy and I go way back. She wouldn't fire off a Killing Curse before asking what's going on first."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "You know Amelia Bones?"

Sirius winked. "We had some ... interesting times back in the day. She's always been a tough one, but I've got a bit of charm left in me. I'm pretty sure my good looks and natural charisma will stop her from hexing me right away."

Mary, who had been leaning against a shelf listening quietly, snorted with laughter. "You sure about that, Black?" she teased, arms crossed. "Because right now, I'm tempted to hex you myself."

Sirius grinned at her, completely unbothered. "Ah, but you won't. You secretly adore me."

Mary raised an eyebrow, giving him a playful shove. "Don't push your luck."

Hermione shook her head, though she couldn't help but smile at their banter. "Still, I don't think it's wise for you to go, Sirius. Amelia Bones may be fair, but the Ministry...they won't take kindly to seeing you out in the open."

Sirius's expression sobered slightly. "I know. Dumbledore agreed. He didn't push the idea, but he's going to do what he can to sway her without me being there. If anyone can, it's Dumbledore. She respects him, and I think he might be able to get her to see reason."

Harry exhaled slowly, his mind working through the possibilities. The idea of Sirius finally being free—of no longer having to hide—seemed almost too good to be true. But if anyone could make it happen, it was Dumbledore.

"What's the second piece of news?" Harry asked, bracing himself for whatever might come next.

Sirius glanced over at Mary, who gave him a small nod of encouragement. "The second bit of news is more relevant—or at least, it has the biggest impact right now," Sirius said, his voice lowering slightly. "One of the other things that Dumbledore wanted to talk about me with is where I'm staying."

"Really?" Harry asked as he blinked, before looking over to Hermione and exchanging a curious glance, waiting for Sirius to continue.

Sirius sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as if the thought made him uncomfortable. "I've been moving around a lot, as you know," he admitted. "Before I came up here and found the cave, I didn't want to stay in one place for too long. Being on the run means you're always looking over your shoulder, and I didn't want to make myself an easy target by setting up in one place for too long."

Harry nodded; the thought of his godfather living in a cold cave, without any real comfort or security, had been a constant source of concern.

"Right now, I'm still staying out of that cave," Sirius continued, "but …" He paused, glancing around the small shop as if unsure whether to go on. Finally, he sighed and shrugged. "Dumbledore convinced me to move into my family's house at Grimmauld Place."

Harry blinked in surprise. Not at the negative tone but more so the fact that his godfather had been convinced.

"Your family's house?" Hermione asked, her eyes widening slightly. "I thought Harry said that it was ... uh ..."

"A pathetic pureblood paradise," Sirius finished for her with a grimace. "Yeah, it's not exactly my idea of home sweet home. But protections have been added for generations—wards, enchantments, all that pureblood fanaticism—and Dumbledore thinks I'll be safer there."

He looked uncomfortable as he said it, his fingers tapping restlessly against the arm of the chair. "Dumbledore's even going over there today to check on the place, make sure it still belongs to me. I don't think anyone ever got around to actually removing my name from the deed after I got kicked out and had to move in with your father and his parents, Harry, but Dumbledore thought he'd check just to make sure."

Sirius chuckled darkly. "Imagine that. My family did everything they could to try and disown me after I told them I was done with their blood purity nonsense. And yet somehow, they forgot to stop me from inheriting the house. My mother would be turning over in her grave if she knew ... how I wish I could see the look on her face when I claim the house." He laughed bitterly, shaking his head.

Harry bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing outright, knowing that Sirius would be regretting those words the moment he walked through the front door and came face-to-face with his mother's portrait.

Not noticing the look on Harry's face, Sirius went on, his voice softening. "But in all honesty, it might actually be good for me to be in a safe place for a little while. Maybe finally manage to get a good night's sleep without having to keep one eye open while laying on the floor of a cave." He leaned back in his chair, looking at Harry more seriously. "But the only reason I'm even considering this is that Dumbledore promised he'd key me into the wards at Hogwarts. In case of an emergency—and only in the case of an emergency—I'll be able to apparate directly into the Headmaster's office."

Sirius pulled a face. "Not that I'm eager to end up in the headmaster's office. That's never really been a place I've enjoyed finding myself, if I'm honest." He smirked, his mischievous spirit momentarily brightening his features.

Then, more earnestly, Sirius met Harry's gaze. "But that's up to you, Harry. I wouldn't do it unless you were comfortable with it. I'd only move if you felt safe without me being near by. I don't want to have you worrying about …"

Before he could finish his sentence, Harry surged forward, wrapping his arms around Sirius and tackling him in a tight hug. "I'll be fine, Sirius," Harry said, his voice muffled against his godfather's shoulder. "I'm just glad you're looking after yourself. I'm pretty sure if my dad saw his best mate living out of a cave just he would be able to stay near me, he'd hex your backside."

Sirius and Mary laughed heartily at that, Sirius's deep, rumbling laugh echoing through the small room. "Your dad probably would," he said, still chuckling, though his voice softened with affection at the mention of his old friend.

As the laughter settled, Harry felt a warmth spread through his chest. For the first time in a long while, there was a sense of stability when it came to his godfather situation—however fragile—in knowing that Sirius would be somewhere safe. Grimmauld Place was certainly far from ideal for Sirius, but it was better than a cave, and if it meant keeping Sirius out of the Ministry's clutches, Harry would take it.

Smiling to his godfather, Harry nodded. "For what it's worth, I honestly think it's a good idea, Sirius," he said earnestly. "Grimmauld Place might not be the most comfortable, but it's got to be safer than being out in the open. And we can still communicate."

Sirius nodded, his expression more serious now. "Yeah, that's what Dumbledore and I thought. Still, it'll be strange being back there after all these years ... but if it finally means I can get a good sleep, I'll try to deal with it."

He paused, looking back at Harry and Hermione, his mischievous grin returning as he raised his eyebrows. "Well, enough about me," Sirius said with a playful glint in his eyes. "Now, let's get back to you two. So, tell me, Hermione—how exactly did Harry manage to trick you into this?"

Harry's face immediately flushed, the blush creeping up his neck as he opened his mouth in mock outrage. "Tricked her? I did not—"

But before he could defend himself, Hermione, smiling fondly, cut in. "It wasn't a trick at all, Sirius." She turned to Harry, her eyes softening as she spoke. "It was actually the sweetest thing." Her voice was gentle, but the warmth behind it made Harry's heart skip a beat.

Sirius leaned back, raising an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh, really? Do tell."

Hermione glanced at Harry before looking back at Sirius, her face glowing with a light blush. "Well ... before the Yule Ball, Harry showed me some memories he had of me. It was ... it was incredible," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The first time we met, the times he came to visit me in the hospital wing, memories of times when I didn't even realize he saw me studying. Some of them were from years ago—just small moments, things I'd forgotten about." She trailed off, her gaze going distant for a moment, as though lost in those memories.

Harry felt his own face heat up even more. He hadn't expected her to feel comfortable sharing—those memories had been private, intimate glimpses of moments that meant so much to him.

Sirius grinned but said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

"And then," Hermione went on, "after showing me those memories, he asked me to the Ball." A dreamy look crossed her face as she spoke, a soft blush deepening on her cheeks. "The Ball itself ... well, it was perfect. A perfect evening."

Sirius raised his eyebrows even higher, looking delighted as he let out a low whistle. "I bet it was," he teased, his voice dripping with amusement. "Sounds like young Harry's got quite the romantic side. Who knew?"

Harry was about to groan in embarrassment when Mary, standing behind Sirius, smacked him lightly on the back of the head. "Oh, hush," she said, laughing as she rolled her eyes at him.

Sirius rubbed the back of his head, but the grin never left his face. "Alright, alright," he said, still chuckling. "No need to get violent, Mary."

Mary shook her head and turned to Harry and Hermione, her expression softening. "Honestly, though, Harry," she said, her eyes full of warmth. "Your mum would be so proud of you."

Harry froze, the warmth of the moment catching him off guard. The mention of his mother brought a bittersweet ache to his chest, and he felt a lump form in his throat.

Sirius's teasing grin softened into something more thoughtful, his eyes briefly flicking to the floor. "Yeah," he said quietly, his voice losing some of its playfulness. "She would be. Lily would have been thrilled to find out you had it in you, Harry."

Hermione squeezed Harry's hand gently, and he glanced over at her, grateful for her presence.

"I just wish they were here," Harry said, his voice barely above a whisper. He hadn't meant to say it out loud, but now that the words had left his mouth, he felt exposed, vulnerable.

Sirius reached out, resting a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I know, kid," he said softly. "I know. But they are with you—in more ways than you realize. And you're not alone."

Harry nodded, swallowing hard. He had always known that Sirius was there for him, but hearing it said aloud meant more than he could express. And now, with Hermione by his side, the ache of loss was still there—but it was tempered by the love and support of those who cared about him.

Harry opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Mary's gaze softened even more. "You know, I promised you I'd tell you more about your mum," she said, her voice gentle yet filled with purpose.

Harry nodded and his heart sped up at the thought of learning more about the mother he never knew, and he gripped Hermione's hand tighter, silently asking for her support.

Hermione leaned closer. "I'll head to the Three Broomsticks, to see Ron and the others," she said softly, her tone careful but caring.

Harry turned to her, surprised. "You don't have to go. You can stay," he offered, unsure he wanted to face this alone.

But Hermione shook her head with a kind smile. "This is for you, Harry," she said, squeezing his hand one last time before gently pulling away. "You can decide later what you want to share."

There was a moment of hesitation before Harry nodded. "Alright," he whispered, feeling a pang of loss as she let go of his hand.

Hermione gave him a final, reassuring look before turning to Sirius, who had been watching the exchange with a knowing smile. "Shall we?" she asked, motioning toward the door.

Sirius, who had been quiet for a moment, straightened up and gave a dramatic wave of his hand, trying to lighten the mood again. "Alright, I'll head out if its going to get sentimental in here," he said, though his voice was still tinged with affection. "Just make sure to save me a seat at the wedding, alright?"

"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed, his face turning bright red again. "We're not—we're not even—"

Hermione laughed beside him, and Harry couldn't help but smile despite his embarrassment.

Mary, laughing along, shook her head and swatted Sirius on the arm. "Don't start planning the wedding just yet, Sirius. Give them time."

Sirius grinned unrepentantly. "Time? Sure, but you can't blame a man for getting ahead of himself. I mean, look at them."

Sirius shot Harry a wink before following Hermione out, leaving him alone with Mary.

Once they were gone, Mary glanced around the room and then, with a wave of her wand, conjured two comfortable-looking chairs and motioned for Harry to sit.

"Come on," she said, her voice warm and inviting. "Let's sit and talk."

Harry moved toward the chair, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and nerves. He sat down and looked at Mary, who settled into the chair opposite him. For a moment, she didn't say anything, simply studying his face as if she was weighing her words.

Finally, she broke the silence. "I first met your mum on the train to Hogwarts," Mary began, her eyes lighting up with the memory. "It was my first year too, and to be honest, I was terrified. But your mum ... she was something else."

Harry leaned in, already captivated by the sound of her voice as she described his mother.

"She was possibly the most excited person I'd ever met," Mary continued, a nostalgic smile pulling at her lips. "From the moment she stepped onto the train, it was like she was already in love with Hogwarts. She couldn't stop talking about it. She'd read all our course books before she even arrived at the platform—every single one of them. She told me that within the first five minutes of our conversation."

Harry smiled at that, picturing a young Lily Evans, vibrant and eager, her nose buried in books about magic long before she'd even set foot inside the castle.

"She was practically vibrating with excitement," Mary said, chuckling. "I'll never forget it. I'm not sure how you were but most of us first years were nervous, maybe even a little scared, but not Lily. She was ready. She already felt like she belonged in the magical world. And she had this way about her—this energy that made everyone around her feel like they belonged too."

Harry's chest tightened. He'd heard stories of his mum's brilliance, her warmth, but hearing it from someone who had actually known her made it feel more real than ever.

Mary smiled at him, reading the emotion on his face. "Lily was one of those people who was impossible to ignore. Even at that young age, you could tell she was special. And she didn't just keep her head in the books—although Merlin knows she loved to study—she also made friends with anyone and everyone. She could make you feel like the most important person in the room just by giving you her full attention."

Harry swallowed hard as he looked at her.

"She was brave, your mum," Mary continued. "She didn't back down from anyone. Not even James."

Harry's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and Mary laughed at the look on his face. "Oh yes, they had their moments. James Potter may have been brilliant on the Quidditch pitch, but your mum wasn't about to let him coast by on his charm. She made him work for it."

Harry grinned at that. "I've heard stories about how she hated him at first."

Mary chuckled. "Oh, she did. She thought he was insufferable—too full of himself, always showing off. But there was more to James than just the cocky exterior. And eventually, Lily saw that, or maybe she knew it was there all along. She saw the depth of his loyalty, his kindness, and his courage. And once she did ... well, the rest was history."

Harry felt his throat tighten as he thought about his parents falling in love. It was bittersweet, hearing about it now, when they were no longer here to share their stories with him directly. But in some way, these stories made him feel closer to them, like he was finally getting to know them as people, not just as the names he'd always heard people mention.

"But most importantly, your mum was always pushing herself," Mary continued, her voice softening. "Never satisfied with just being good—she wanted to be the best. Not out of pride, but because she believed she owed it to herself and to the people she cared about to give everything her all."

Harry leaned back in his chair, overwhelmed.

Mary gave him a warm smile, seeming to sense the effect her words were having. "I know it's not the same as having her here with you," she said softly. "But I hope this helps a little. Your mum was amazing ... she was my best friend."

Kind Regards,

FavoriteAuthor

If you like this content do not hesitate to smash that like button and subscribe. Haha but seriously if you do enjoy the story - do favorite it, other than messaging me or leaving a comment it's the only way I know if you are enjoying the stories and chapters.

Story Note 1 – Moving Sirius's story along, but while the move will be done off screen, felt it important enough to mention what was going on. Plus it helped frame the rest of the chapter. However, Sirius arcs will be coming up but with Harry and without ... I wonder if there is anything in Sirius's house that might be of interest to Harry.

Story Note 2 - I really look forward to hearing all the takes on the chat between Harry and Mary. Spent alot of time thinking on how I would have written Lily and then described her from Mary's perspective, I hope the chapter came out well.

Thanks to those of you out to those of you who enjoy my stories, I promise to keep updating the stories as long as you enjoy them, and a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to leave feedback or reach out to me directly.

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Jasmine Lucas, PotterverseFan18MaizyGreenbery, Lucy Elizabeth Dawson, Hudy Leak 613, Rebell 01, jkarr - Thanks so much for the review and I am happy to see you are enjoying the story!

Fenrir070 - Thanks, of course I tried to write as many of the characters as close to their canon conterparts as I could, but certainly some changes needed to be made. As for the return point, it took a while to collect enough reasons that it would make sense but I certainly think it would make sense based on those reasonings, its really nice to see when someone who has been reading other stories gives another one of the stories a chance and binges their way through it. Looking forward to the continued comments!

Firesparq - Thanks for the heads up!

rishi547 - Enjoy the binge! Will certainly get a rewrite at some point. This was my first big fic and as such writing style has definitely changed as the story has gone on.