The morning of the twenty-first dawned bright and clear with the sun poking through the curtains into the Bedroom where Harry slept in a chair in order to keep an eye on Theo. As Theo began to stir Harry looked at him with a mixture of concern and joy. He looked at Theo and asked, "are you alright?" Theo slowly sat up, and gave his boyfriend a playful grin, "never better now that I'm here. "Harry nodded, "you were crying last night. You don't have too, but if you want, we can talk about what was causing that." Harry looked at Theo with big green eyes and he couldn't help the way he wanted to tell Harry everything. It took a few minutes for Theo to raise his occlumency shields and keep the memories from spilling forward. He just couldn't do that, not in front of Harry again. Standing up slowly in order to prepare for the day Theo said, "I'm sorry about that, you shouldn't have had deal with that."

Once both of them had had the chance to shower and change into sweaters and jeans with red and green turtlenecks representing their respective houses. They descended into the foyer and made their way into the kitchen where Sirius already sat with a cup of coffee in his hand. As soon as they were seated a cup of coffee with creamer in it floated to Harry while Theo was sent a cup of Earl Grey Tea.

Sirius grinned, "perfect timing boys Amelia and Susan should be here soon!" Catching his godfather's grin, Harry smirked, "is there something that I should know?" Sirius sighed, "It's complicated during the war a lot of us got married or engaged young. Amelia was my fiancé when I lost my temper and went after the traitor. Now that she has the means to clear my name, we are hoping to get to know each other again." A silly lopsided grin spread across Harry's face, one that made Sirius's heart clench with nostalgia.

Turning to Theo Sirius smirked, "thank you young man for everything that you have done to support my godson. Know that the House of Black is owing to you a great debt. If there is anything that we can do to help you please do not hesitate to ask."

Theo nodded, "Well Sir, considering everything that happened yesterday, I don't doubt that I am about to find myself disowned. Not that it matters too much since father dearest always viewed me as a disappointment." Sirius nodded, "I understand that all too well." He pointed to where a portrait hung covered by a set of drapes. Sirius continued, "My hag of a mother behaved and thought similarly of your truly. I ran away when I was sixteen and stayed with Harry's dad. The only rule for you both staying here is that the doors are open when your together. Is that understood?" Both boys nodded in the affirmative their faces turning thing color of holly berries.

As they went back to sipping their morning drinks the floo flared green and out stepped Amelia and Susan. The duo joined the table just as the food appeared on the table. It was a feast that could rival any that Harry had ever seen at Hogwarts. His eyes widened as he took in the pancakes, French Toast, scones, scrambled eggs, and bacon. The group settled in and began to eat. Amelia smiled and clinked her cup of Tea with her spoon, "I have an announcement that I think everyone here will be happy to hear. Sirius should be officially cleared after the first of the calendar year." Sirius grinned, "Thanks Ami." She shot him a look that if looks could kill would have been just as effective as an avada kadavara.

Harry started to fill Sirius in on more of the goings on while Amelia listened. He began with a lengthy list of the educational decrees. "She is horrible, the most incompetent teacher we have ever had. Which I'm sorry says something. So, we have been doing some self-study. That is to say Theo, Susan, Hannah, Ernie, and I have. Everyone else seems too scared to do anything. She's driven Dumbledore from the castle. Given that he always paid too much attention to me, and interfered too much for my liking in my life I don't care too much, except he could have kept her in check. At least more people believe me now than back when they thought I was the heir of Slytherin in second year." Harry shot a meaningful look at Susan who looked down at the ground and began to fidget.

Amelia looked over at her niece and shook her head, "Susan Amelia Bones what do you have to say for yourself? "Susan gulped, "Auntie it wasn't just me it was the whole school really." Theo shot a look across at the Hufflepuff girl, "not the whole school. Plenty of people I know didn't believe it. It is plainly obvious that Harry wouldn't have opened the chamber. Why would he want to get rid of muggleborns? The person at the time who was his best friend, and his mother were muggleborns. It really just means that you didn't bother to think for yourself." That just made Susan blush in embarrassment, "I'm sorry Harry."

Sirius looked at the students, "How are you guys managing to self-study?" The students exchanged glances, but it was Harry who answered, "well we learned about a hidden space and have been using it as a place to meet and practice spells. Other than that, I have done a lot of research in the library and such. I assume the others have been just expanding our spelling repertoire as well. Using the map and my dad's old cloak to make sure that we don't get caught."

Sirius guffawed," It sounds like the sort of thing that we would have loved to do." Amelia snorted, "at least they're using it for something other than sneaking around the castle unnecessarily and getting extra snacks, Sirius Black!"

They continued in friendly banter for most of the day. As evening fell, they enjoyed another sumptuous meal. There was chicken and turkey, potatoes, beans, and rolls. They each indulged in some butterbeer or fire whiskey, and relaxed. As the sun set the group prepared to head out to perform the ritual.

The meal finished, they all moved into a private space in the back yards where the fire pit had been placed by one of Sirius's ancestors. They lit the Yule log after casting a proper circle and lighting the candles. Soft chanting could be heard from each member of the circle and then each pricked their finger letting just a drop of blood and a little of their remaining food from dinner drop onto the log and they settled into watch for the sun to rise.

The following day led to a vary lazy atmosphere in number twelve Grimwald Place. Harry and Theo were once more settled in Harry's room studying. Harry sitting in his desk chair and Theo sprawled on the bed. The comfortable silence broke like the sound of a breaking goblet on the stone floor. Harry looked up at Theo, "It's all right you know? You don't have to be perfect and strong all of the time. I want to know everything about you."

Theo looked at Harry's green eyes, and chucked, "you don't want to know what my life was like. Trust me you really don't." Harry just rolled his eyes and Theo realized that there was no getting out of this conversation and sighed.
Theo relaxed against the headboard and thought about it for a moment. He finally began, "You know that I asked you to kill my father, right?" Harry nodded unsure of where this was going, so Theo continued, "There is a reason that I don't care about him. He's a monster Harry. He's the reason that I don't have a mother. I could only watch when he killed her. I was only eight years old. He thinks that's I'm weak and he doesn't like that I don't share his views on blood purity. He tortured my mother in front of me on more than one occasion, and you have her to thank for the fact that I'm sane."

Harry nodded, "at least you had her for a while so that she could protect and keep you somewhat sane and teach you things." Theo nodded and whispered, "sometimes I wonder though if that was almost worse. To know what it's like to have someone care and help build your base of knowledge and morals and then have them taken way." I don't know the specifics, "but I know that you didn't have it easy where you were before. I'll never push you to share but I'd like to know too."

Harry shivered unsure where to start, "I was forbidden from asking questions. I didn't know that I was a wizard until Hagrid showed up with my letter. I also was told that my parents were drunks who died in a car crash." He could see fire dancing in Theo's eyes in that particular lie.

Theo hissed, "that is a lie that should see them charged with slander. It is so scandalous." Harry nodded and continued, "I didn't know my own name until my aunt was forced to enroll me at the local primary. They just called me 'boy' or 'freak'." Theo nodded so that Harry understood he was following, "none of the clothes that you saw me wearing for actually bought for me. Theo chuckled, "I knew that just from observing."

Harry joined in the laughter and then executed, "I was punished whenever I did better than my cousin at school. Punishments were no food, staying in my room or cupboard originally, and beatings." Theo nodded, "I can understand that "my father's idea of punishment is similar only he prefers to use cures and blood quills to physical beatings."

As the conversation drifted into silence once more it was as though the sun was reborn and a new beginning had come for both of them, A new understanding fueling their growing relationship. Harry leaned in and brushed Theo's lips in a brief kiss and they returned to studying. After all the OWL exams would come soon enough.

A/N: Hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter. I know it was a lot, but I really wanted them to bond.