Chapter 18: Chapter 11
Summary:
The Finale!
Notes:
Omg we are finally here
Although I have a side quest regarding the goblins, but we'll see it it makes it out of my brain and onto paper. For now, I'm happy where I'm at
I'm sorry if this chapter feels rushed out, I deeply apologize, but life is chaos And I either finished and posted this tonight or it would have been left to rot until the new year
Anyway let me know what you think, if you like it, if you spot mistakes due to my lack of coherence
I really hold this fic dear and near my heart, so each comment and kudo and bookmark are joyous things that truly keep me going
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Thankfully Healer Katara's brief descriptions of what she had discovered and heard about his godfather and his partner were enough to differentiate the two men.
The information wouldn't have been enough to recognize them in the wild, but in a close encounter worked fairly well.
His godfather was named Sirius Black, he had grey eyes and black hair, possibly shortened significantly due to the presence of fleas in the prison he had been locked unjustly in, and he had several tattoos on his arms, and had what Healer Katara had called an aristocratic nose.
"Due to good genes that survived inbreeding," she had claimed.
Remus Lupin, his partner and "honorary" godfather, was as tall as a "human can be without looking foolish and without having giant blood in the line." He had sand-coloured hair and a kind face. She also explained that he was a werewolf and that, depending on the phases of the Moon, he might be a bit tired or a bit moody, so Harry shouldn't take any momentary "grumpiness" as a sign that he was being a burden or wasn't wanted.
Healer Katara stressed quite well that point.
Yet, Harry thought privately, even if she hadn't mentioned their appearances, he might have been able to know who either was. He couldn't really explain how per se, which was a long-running track in his life and had probably something to do with magic anyway, but he felt a weird pull at the bottom of his stomach as soon as Guard Anouk opened the door to let them in the General's office.
It was a mixture between nerves, which he knew all too well, and something other, something older, something stronger.
As soon as they were all together in the room, Harry knew he was safe. And he knew that there was someone who had endured hell on Earth for him.
He had to try to avoid acknowledging all the emotions that swarmed the room, lest he got toppled by them.
Instead, he focused on the two men, the two wizards.
Healer Katara had warned him that his godfather might still bear the effect his imprisonmet had had on him, yet, despite being a wrongfully committed inmate locked in prison for something he had not done for six years, Sirius Black didn't look too bad.
Granted, he didn't look too good either: his clothes were large on his tiny frame and he was fidgeting with the sleeves in a way Harry could relate to, using the fabric to cover his hands like he himself had done countless times at school; his hair wasn't short, it had been shaved off completely and was slowly regrowing, but it was clear he didn't feel comfortable with the naked head by the expression he made, and Harry himself had been victim to Aunt Petunia's hatching one time too many, had to correct the ruined haircut with what he now knew was magic, so he recognised the way Sirius seemed to be scratching at the regrowth, even if his hands remained by his sides; his godfather had deep purple bags under his eyes and a haunted look in them that spoke of horrors and fear and hopelessness.
"His godfather", a concept that he still couldn't really grasp.
Still, the moment Guard Anouk let him through the door and his grey eyes met Harry's green ones, his face had broken into a wide grin and he immediately looked much better, as if he was finally being able to stand under the rays of the Sun after a cold winter, or to feast after being starved.
And in that moment, all of Harry's fears about being unwanted or unloved loosened a bit.
He switched his gaze to the other man who had passed through the door, unable to sustain all that happiness in one go.
He eyed wearily the tall and thin frame and the worn-out clothes that had been mended one time too many, if the fraying around the edge of his patches was anything to go by. He tried not to stare at the several long scars, mostly healed, that ran over his face, fully aware of how annoying it was to be gawked at for them. Harry thought Remus Lupin might have more under the fuzzy jumper and jeans he wore but that was alright, because Harry too did hide a few that Uncle Vernon's had been careless with. He risked meeting his gaze, even if the General had warned him against locking eyes with trained wizards even if he had "natural occluding shields", and saw the way his irises slowly morphed from brown to gold in a way that made the colour look alive and raw and powerful.
Remus too, just like Sirius, looked just as Dudley did on Christmas morning, before he was awake enough to be mean. His eyes sparked and his relief was palpable, even if there was a hidden rage in his gaze.
Harry knew that the anger wasn't directed at him, so he didn't focus much on it, not wanting to miss their big smiles of raw glee.
The weight inside Harry's chest disappeared completely under their joyous and just-so-happy looks.
Here they were, two people who wanted him and cared for him and had been unable to be there for him. And who were willing to remedy the damage done by their distance.
Yet that much attention, after having been starved of it for so long, almost made Harry topple on the ground, but he managed to keep his posture and simply held tight on the General's hand, who seemed to find amusement in the scene.
"Look at you two, presentable despite the rumours!" he joked loudly, pulling the wizards' attention momentarily away from Harry, for which he was immensely grateful.
"General Longsword Silverfang, sir," Sirius Black said, bowing slightly, voice full of gratitude and other raw emotions that Harry chose not to focus on, to avoid the avalanche he would inevitably have felt if he dug too deep. Sirius' eyes kept on shifting from the General to him, as if he couldn't bear a single second passing without seeing him. "I thank you from the bottom of my newly restored Black soul for what you have personally done for me and for my godson."
The General made a dismissive motion with his hand, motioning for the wizards to take their seats as he pulled a chair close to his for Harry: "I simply saw the opportunity to wreck that old goat and took it, you were merely an excuse I couldn't avoid using."
He then winked at Harry, which made him giggle a bit. Based on the story he had told him and Healer Katara at breakfast, it was a bit of an understatement, but he liked having a secret with the General, especially when it made a dumbfound expression appear on his godfather's face.
"Regardless of your motivation," Remus croaked a bit, then looked at them with a weird but not unkind gleam in their eyes, before clearing his throat, "You have done a great service to our communities. And to us, personally."
"There is little need for gratitude on the matter, I did what I ought to," the General exclaimed, cutting the topic short brusquely, "I believe we have a much more important matter to settle."
He then placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, which helped steady his fast-beating heart a little: "Gentlemen, I present to you, freshly awaken from a long and restorative sleep and thoroughly disoriented from a meeting with his newly assembled army of Gringott's managers and lawyers, Heir Harrison James Potter!"
The wizards' gaze on him returned a tenfold, their eyes boring into him with the intensity of a thousand suns.
He knew he had to make a good impression. It was his chance, the moment he had been waiting for his entire life. He was finally completely free of the Dursleys. He knew in his heart that these people had agreed to become his guardians because they cared for him, because they might even grow to love him. It was the time to dazzle them, to make them understand that he wasn't a lost cause, that he was worthy of their affection.
Yet all he could do was say a meek and shy "Hi," while waving his hand a bit pathetically.
He immediately cringed at his own action, shifting inward in annoyance, but Sirius's big smile became impossibly bigger and Remus' eyes softened in such a happy and kind way Harry had never seen in his life. Not directed at him at least.
"Hello Harrison," Remus said softly, while Sirius' face morphed into so many emotions it was hard to keep track of. "I am sure the goblins have told you a bit about us, and didn't keep the many unflattering parts out," he continued, ignoring the other man who was now choking on air, apparently, "But my name is Remus and this mess of a human being is my partner, Sirius."
That seemed to spur Sirius back into reality, for he immediately yelped in disapproval and tried to shoo Remus away with his hands in a very theatrical way.
"Do not believe a word out of his mouth," Sirius exclaimed, pointing accusatorially to Remus who simply shrugged, probably used to his antics, "this one is the mess. And a liar and a thief to boot!"
Remus sighed deeply, definitely used to the other's antics: "You were asleep and the hot chocolate would have grown cold. It would've been a waste. It was a simple and logical action without nefarious reasoning."
He then looked at Harry and winked, causing him to laugh softly.
Sirius didn't seem to care about any logic or reason. He simply stabbed his finger on Remus' side, causing him to yelp: "And you know dozens of reheating charms and temperature-stabilizing spells!"
"You always complained about reheating charms!" Remus defended himself, looking up at the ceiling in fake exasperation.
The General chucked at the scene: "They bicker like an old married couple, don't they?" he said, with a pleased expression on his face that Harry couldn't help but mimick, all of his worries gone for good at the scene.
It wouldn't be easy, living with them, but at least it would be fun!
"I apologize for my partner, he has never been able to behave like an adult," Remus said suddenly, neatly stashing a long stick, which Harry assumed was a wand, up his sleeve as Sirius flayed his arms in equal part annoyance and disbelief, unable to open his mouth. Harry couldn't help but giggle at the scene: the way his godfather's lips were basically glued together and the pure saintly expression on his partner's face were absolutely comical!
"May I call you Harry?" Remus asked kindly as his giggling had subdued.
Harry nodded eagerly, still unused to his full name: "Yes, please, sir!"
"None of that, you can just call me Remus," he said softly, with a small smile on his lips and a sparkling gleam in his amber eyes, "Or Moony, if you will."
A weird feeling rushed through Harry as he heard that nickname. It wasn't a memory, not completely. It was more like an echo of one, of bouncing on someone's legs, of stories full of magic and wonder, of warm sweaters and joyous laughter and fireplaces and chocolate.
He sounded the name out before pronouncing it fully, savouring each letter as if it was a long lost-treasure finally making its way back to him, as his heart reprised his frantic rhythm.
"Moony," he uttered, warmth spreading all over.
A smile matching his own appeared on Remus' face, and even Sirius stopped wailing around.
"You can call me Padfoot, Harry," he exclaimed, both excitedly and reverently, all at the same time, after having removed whatever charm Remus had placed on him.
Again, the echoes of memories washed over him. Letters that had been uttered once, even if a bit butchered, resurfaced on his brain and lips. The image of the big dog appeared as he said the name out loud, mixing in a comfortable way with the faint memory of the smell of leather and long black hair and piercing grey eyes.
He couldn't stop himself from asking: "Did we have a dog named Padfoot?", too wrapped out in the similarities.
Both Remus and Sirius laughed at that, a wet sound that hid pain well enough. Over what, Harry didn't really know, but he could guess.
"Your mum had a cat, an atrocious half kneazle that had a personal vendetta against me and absolutely adored you," Sirius said, lost in the memories but somehow managing to spell them out for him, "but in a roundabout way you also had a dog."
He apparently thought it was enough as an explanation, but Remus took one look at his undoubtedly lost expression and had pity on him: "Do you by chance remember the dog, Harry?"
He could only nod, trying to force all the details out of the back of his mind.
Then, something weird and wicked and magical happened: one moment Sirius was there, smiling softly and being shoved by Remus and encouraged to "let him see in a controlled environment," even if Harry thought that the last part wasn't intended for him to hear; the next, in Sirius' place, right on top of the chair, appeared a big, albeit a bit beaten down, black dog!
Well, "appeared" wasn't the proper word, as Sirius morphed into the dog seamlessly, his torso shortening and his mouth lengthening and his ears beginning to stick out of his hair, as it turned into fur. But, still! He had changed into a dog!
Magic was really amazing!
"How did you do it?" Harry asked excitedly, all his shyness going out of the window at such wonders. He was finally comfortable enough to ask questions and he was sure either Remus or Sirius, or even the General, would have answered him, so there was no point in biting his tongue and stifling his curiosity.
"It's a complicated process that involves several very risky steps," Remus rushed to say, effectively cutting off whatever explanation Sirius was about to give and adding a meaningful look to boot, "One that I will be more than willing to explain to you once you have a better grasp of magic theory."
"Not to mention, only once he's old enough," the General intervened, stopping him from asking more and causing his cheeks to heat up a bit.
It wasn't his fault magic was so fascinating and he wanted to know everything, after all!
"Do you have any questions for us, Harry?" Sirius asked quite out of the blue, breaking the stall that was created around the topic and pulling the attention towards himself, once again in human form.
In truth, he had countless questions, even more than he had had when discovering his heirships from the General.
He wanted to know more about magic, he wanted to know more about them and their lives, he wanted to know everything he could about his parents. He had as many questions as an encyclopedia had nouns, probably.
In reality, though, only one was pressing enough to be asked: "Can I really come and stay with you two?"
Sirius' face did some convoluted movements, sadness seeping out of him, but he breathed deeply and pushed his hands slowly for Harry to grab. His palms were warm against his clammy ones, and the contact sent sparkles of recognition up his spine, as reassurance spread through him.
"Of course you can," he replied, earnest and honest, his eyes full of affection and care, "We would love nothing more. All those years away from you have been a torture, more painful than any Dementors'. The events have kept us separate, unfortunately, but know that you would have been stuck with me, if meddlers had kept their hands off our businesses."
Harry had to swallow down the tears that threatened to spill out of his eyes, unable to stomach such raw honesty.
"Cariad, I know you have had issues with your previous guardians," Remus began to say, interrupted immediately by Sirius' mumbling: "And it's a good thing the General here took care of them, otherwise I would be convicted of a real crime this time."
"Hush, you!" the werewolf exclaimed, playfully shoving the other wizard in a mixture between real and mock annoyance.
But Sirius was relentless: "I meant kidnapping! Even if it wouldn't be a kidnapping, cause Harry would have come with me. Right, mate?"
He then winked at Harry at the same moment as Remus let out a deeply exasperated sigh.
And Harry could do nothing to stop the wet giggles that came straight from his heart, happy and relieved.
Remus' face softened once more and, with one final playful shove to his partner, resumed talking: "What I meant to say, before I was rudely interrupted," he added a purposeful look directed at Sirius, "is that you do not have to worry anymore about them. We are not even remotely like them, as you can see for yourself. Merlin knows I would rather roll a boulder uphill forever than resemble even slightly Petunia Evans. You won't have to hide yourself anymore to fit with their gross idea of normal and we solemnly swear we will try to do our best to do right by you. And to show you how a proper family works."
"Even if there isn't much "proper" about us," Sirius commented, probably unable to live up to his namesake and remain serious.
Harry laughed to himself, not sure if it was proper to share his pun yet, while Remus deadpanned: "Sirius can sleep in the doghouse, if he becomes too bothersome."
"We don't have a doghouse!" came the indignant reply.
"We will build one, then," Remus said, without missing a single beat, "Right, Harry?"
"Right!" he exclaimed, full of purpose and enthusiasm. He had no idea how to build one, but he was very eager to try, especially with Remus' encouragement and with Sirius' seemingly fake disgruntlement, if his ear-splitting smile was anything to go by.
"Excellent! Then we can go and buy the materials, as well as all the necessities you might need."
"And more!" Sirius intervened, a wicked gleam in his eyes at the prospect of buying things. The General had called him a Heir, meaning that he had had access to family vaults and money since his early childhood. Shopping with him might turn out to be a nightmare, just like shopping alongside Aunt Petunia and Dudley had been, or, Harry reasoned, recognising the gleam for excitement and care, it might be a dream.
"You're going to be spoiled rotten by the Black Vaults," his godfather finished, purposefully, puffing out his chest as if "spoiling him rotten" was the highest honour his family vaults could receive.
"What a weird guy," he couldn't help himself from thinking fondly.
Remus nodded along, his fingers moving as if he was tallying something mentally: "And I do have to do a few grocery runs, since my flat is a bit empty at the moment. I've had to play nurse for this one, you see."
"Wait a moment," the General, who had remained quiet and witnessed the scene in front of him unfold, suddenly spoke up, causing their attention to shift back to his imposing frame, "What do you mean with the word "flat"?"
His tone was reproachful and left absolutely no room for escape and Harry was glad to not be in Remus and Sirius' shoes, for the look he levelled them was quite telling of what would've happened if their answer displeased him.
"Oh, just my accommodation, I cannot exactly call it anything else," Remus chuckled, a bit hesitantly and nervously, before worrying his bottom lip, as a red blush coloured his cheeks in embarrassment. Harry could immediately sympathize, having used the same attitude and tone whenever someone asked about details from his life and he had to either hide or downplay the real situation. The only time he had ever mentioned sleeping in a cupboard to someone he had been accused of lying, so he was used to the masquerade.
"It is a bit run down, but there is no danger," Remus hastened to say, trying to make the situation better, "and there is no mould anymore. I've been preoccupied with Sirius and I could not look for a different housing with such short notice, especially considering my funds and condition, so it's going to have to do for the time being."
To Harry, it sounded wonderful, especially if it was on the smaller side. He liked the idea of having his guardians in such close quarters, not really used to space himself. Besides, he had read a lot of things about mould and even learnt how to remove the harmful ones successfully, after a bit of trial and error, so it wasn't a real issue.
The General, however, didn't share his views: "Absolutely not! This will not do!" he bellowed, slamming his fist on the table and causing both Sirius and Remus to jump up at attention. "I will not have this boy shoved into a shoebox of an apartment in a neglected and nefarious part of any town."
"I wouldn't call it nefarious…" Remus trailed off, a nervous tilt to his tone and a worried frown on his brow.
Sirius' brow was furrowed too, his in thought though: "Isn't your next-door neighbour a hag?" he asked dejected.
"A hag?!" the General exploded, before trying to recompose himself. It was a miracle Harry wasn't shaking in fear with all the sudden yelling, but he attributed that to the fact that he trusted the General and that, despite everything that had transpired between them all, he trusted the General with his well-being much more than his newly minted guardians.
He was just a bit disappointed about how it was all going down, but he shouldn't had expected anything else.
Every time he got his hopes up, except when arriving at the Bank, he had been disappointed. It was wishful thinking to believe otherwise.
The old goblin sighed and flattened his hands against his desk: "Mr Lupin, you cannot believe I will relinquish this wonderful child to your care in good faith."
"Hold on. Do not even attempt to keep him from us or I will swear…" Sirius started, but he was cut off immediately by Remus' hand on his forearm and by the General's piercing gaze.
"Heir Black, you are in no condition to threaten me and it would do you well to remember that you owe your freedom to me."
Remus tried a more diplomatic approach, understanding that outbursts would lead nowhere: "General, we wish only the best for Harry,"
"Which is why I cannot let him live in squalor!"
"He wouldn't!"
"This discussion is leading us nowhere," Remus cut in the middle of their screaming match, glancing briefly at Harry with worry written all over his face, "Our shared priority is Harry's safety and happiness. What can we do to assure you that he will be taken care of properly?"
"For starters, choose a place that does not house hags and hasn't had a "mould problem" in the last ten years!"
If Remus had had glasses, like Harry, he'd have bet he would have taken them off to rub at his forehead. As it was, though, he simply had a pained expression plastered on his face, sorrow and shame seeping out of him.
"I do not have access to those places, General. One look at me and every single landlord worth their name, magical or not, would not even consider speaking with me, not to mention the inaccessible prices most places in the wizarding world offer."
"We can take the money from my vault, though," Sirius intervened before Harry could mention that the results of his Inheritance Test had shown several properties and vaults. He was sure they'd be able to find a solution, he knew that, but he might have spared them a bit of yelling.
Unfortunately, though, between the General's comments and Sirius' rush of sentences, he couldn't get a word in hedge wise: "Once I'm able to search for said place myself, I will drain my trust fund to get Harry the place he has dreamed of, with a tower and a garden and a magical wishing well and a Quidditch pitch! A library full of books, if he takes after his mum. Even a greenhouse or ten! Everything he has ever wanted or needed, he'll get. I just need to get steady healthwise. I cannot rush down the tunnels in the carts to get the coin myself, my healers have barely approved this visit on the obligation that I don't do magic and overexert myself. And they're both pretty important in house hunting. I still have to remain at St Mungo's full-time for another week at least, I cannot search for a place yet. But we will. It's just a little setback. Once I'm back on my own feet, we will remedy the problem."
The General seemed to calm down a bit at the incessant blabber: "There is a much easier solution," he said evenly, breathing in deeply.
"Harry is coming with us," Sirius exclaimed instantly, his tone harsher than before, "Right now."
"If he wants to, of course," Remus said then, looking at Harry for confirmation that it truly was what he desired.
Confirmation which he gladly gave: "I do! I swear I do! And mould is not an issue, the cupboard had some before I cleaned it up, so I'm used to it."
Remus' face morphed into an expression of heartbreaking kindness, his brows lowering in defeat.
"We will discuss your willingness to accept a mouldy place later, Cariad," he sighed deeply, this time running a hand over his face and scrunching up his hair for good measure. When he glanced back up, he looked downright devastated: "You are right, General. I have been foolish and hasty. My flat is not suitable for Harry to stay in, even for a short time."
"But…!"
"No, Sirius," he stopped him before he could even process the second syllable, "We have to realise that our wishes come second to Harry's needs. And what he needs is much more than we can offer at the moment."
Sirius' crestfallen expression undoubtedly mirrored Harry's, whose chest was starting to ache.
He trusted the General with his life, but the joy at being able to move in immediately with Sirius and Remus was slowly being replaced with sadness at another rejection, even if it wasn't his or their fault per se.
"What would be your solution, sir?" Sirius asked evenly, his voice betraying no emotion behind an impassible expression, once he recomposed himself.
"General, please," Harry said meekly, causing all the adults to look at him. "I truly want to live with them!"
"And you will," the General said in a surprised tone, as if he had never expected Harry to believe otherwise, "Whoever said anything on the contrary? I might require you to visit me, either here or in my house, but these fine wizards will be your guardians and caregivers starting today. They are being just a bit thick."
He then winked once more only for Harry to see, causing the knot over his heart to loosen.
He stared a bit at Remus and Sirius, watched their dumbfounded expression as they tried to understand what the General meant with his words, and proceeded to realise that, indeed, they were being just a bit thick.
Just as he was about to mention the properties that had been listed on the test, even to simply run a few ideas to them, Sirius spoke up, disheartened: "I don't really like riddles."
"I believe no one in England at the moment, Death Eaters included, dislikes Riddle," the General chuckled to himself, as if it had been a fine joke that had missed its audience. He then levelled the two wizards a meaningful look that caused both of them to flinch, "Regardless, you two are idiots."
While Sirius spluttered in indignation, Remus closed his eyes and breathed evenly.
"Lily always claimed so, yes," he said calmly, looking one bad news away from desperation, "May we know why, in this instance?"
The General took pity on them and didn't beat around the bush. Not too much, anyway. "Heir Black," he exclaimed, causing Sirius' spine to straighten immediately, "Emphasis on the Heir part. Have you considered using one of the countless abodes your family disposes of?"
"I am not raising my godson in Grimmauld Place and that is final," he replied immediately, his voice icy and leaving no room for argument.
The General nodded, understanding, and didn't press the issue further: "Very well, what about the others?"
"Others?"
Sirius looked just like an owl who had just woken up after a long, long nap, blinking in disbelief and complete and utter cluelessness. Remus wasn't faring much better behind him, his eyes flying between the General and his partner, before settling on Harry's and shrugging once.
His mum had been right, Harry thought as he snickered at the scene, they were a bit silly!
He couldn't wait to spend more time with them.
"Never you mind," the General said, waving his hand around as if to cleanse the air from the topic, figuring that it would lead them nowhere, "This will be a longer and more in-depth conversation once you gain complete access to your inheritance and lordship. There is time, and the current manager for the Black accounts is quite busy at the moment."
He then opened one of the drawers on his massive desk, rummagging through parchments as he spoke: "I can think of at least three properties on the Potter side alone that fit the necessary criteria to raise a child in, in addition to access to wards and a forest where you might run the Full Moon, Mr Lupin. They might require a house-elf or two to maintain, but they are all in mint condition and ready for you."
"Dumbledore had told us that they had all been wrecked by Death Eaters, once they had gone into hiding."
"I will not waste breath commenting," came the deadpan acknowledgement, just as the General found the parchment he had been looking for and brandished it as if it was a trophy, "They are all perfectly habitable, I had a clerk scope them out the moment that old coot was out of the picture. And they were all under stasis and heavily warded, which makes his decision to force them into that tiny cottage incredibly reckless. Regardless, even if Harry's inherited properties weren't, the donations are."
Now it was Remus' turn to blink owlishly: "Donations?" he croaked out, as if the word was too big for his mouth to deal with and required a lot of effort.
Harry too shared the same feeling, but he had decided to trust the goblins to deal with everything involving vaults and properties and taxes and whatnot, which meant he could simply ignore it all. The simple knowledge that he was not unwanted and alone any longer was already toppling as it was, he had chosen to ignore the amount of Vaults and properties he had read about.
Ignorance was bliss, or so was the saying went, even if it had never truly applied to Harry before.
"Another long issue for the future and one of the main reasons behind a Gringott's team fully dedicated to this little munching here," the General rushed to say, eyeing the panicked expression on two-thirds of his audience and ruffling Harry's perpetually messy hair for good measure.
He then levelled both Sirius and Remus with a powerful look, serious and purposeful: "What do you say, gentlemen, are you amenable to move?"
"We are!" they both exclaimed happily, wearing matching blinding smiles.
Harry couldn't help but mimic them as the General turned to him, placing a hand on his shoulder with kindness and affection.
"What about you, child? Do you want to choose your new home with your new guardians?"
"Yes, please!"
"Very well. It's simply a matter of choosing, then, and the options are quite extensive. I have here a copy of the descriptions, if you would like to peruse them, or if you would take my suggestion…"
Harry tuned them out a moment studying the unshed tears of joy that were visible at the corners of both Remus and Sirius' eyes, their happy smiles. They were the picture of joy, hunching over the parchments and reading about rooms and acres.
And Harry too must have looked similar.
He had come a very long way from the boy who had started the day of his seventh birthday expecting nothing but pain and sadness, used to rejection and isolation.
Finally, all was well.