Sirius Black, Harry's godfather

Harry got the chance to officially meet Sirius Black only two months later.

It was the last day of October and Harry was spending the day at the Weasleys. Molly thought that since the day wasn't a joyful one for him, it could be good for him to be out of Hogwarts during that time and not see how people liked to celebrate this day whether for muggle or wizard reason. Harry refrained from telling her that he already spend the day in the magical school for six years, because the number was the same as Sirius Black's unfair imprisonment.

His dad dropped him in the Three Broomsticks and he used the floo network to the Burrow, speaking clearly as Bill and Percy instructed him while Charlie told him to not wander to their room as it pleased like he did so freely for Hogwarts castle. After a sooty swirl, he arrived to the house of the Weasleys family.

There weren't only gingers in the audience, though. The Weasleys made sure to invite their neighbours to put Harry at ease and not be the only guest. It was also one of the condition Harry gave when the couple was apologizing to him and wanting to make it up for him, somehow, by invitating him to their house and introduce him new friends. Harry wanted to meet wizards families, not just students, but better if said families had children around his age.

From what he could see, they were two others family.

Three blond hair and three dark hair. The Lovegoods and the Diggorys, Molly introduced them. The Fawcett couldn't make it because they were celebrating in their own way, and they weren't home.

"The Diggory had a son, two years older than you. The Lovegood a daughter a year younger than you. We had Fred and Georges, Ron and Ginny, each matwhing you ages!"

So not a guest children could feel left out, nice.

Once alone, the Weasley siblings couldn't help but gape at Harry after he introduced himself. Yes, he was Harry Potter, yes, he had the scar, and yes, their brother Bill was the one who arrested a death eater that passed for their other brother Percy's pet though not the one who uncovered the animagus with the animagus reversal charm. And yes, he loved creatures of all kind, so he was eager to have a look of the ghoul in their attic or the pigs in the farm. And even the family owl Errol. None were animagus, Arthur and Molly made sure to check on that immediately coming home after the disaster with Scabbers.

Despite being very interested of what Luna Lovegood was saying about those unheard magical creatures that she and her father were searching for ages, Harry's attention got picked when the boys were about to start kid-friendly Quidditch match.

The brooms were transfigured by mrs Diggory at her son's demand who had brought his own golden snitch, because seeker was his position, according to his dad. And soon enough the Weasley siblings with Cedric and Harry were playing Quidditch on low levitation thanks to the charm mrs Lovegood (Pandora, she had told them to call her) cast. Luna was the commentator, having no particular want to play the famous sport, and her commentary were very funny as she was often exchanging with her father rather than commenting seriously on the game. Then again, it was only kids playing around.

Harry played all three positions between seeker, chaser and keeper with Fred and Ron, switching whenever the other two complained about something of their positions but he was mostly glad to be playing.

When it was time for lunch, with the foods cooked by Molly Weasley, Harry grouped with mr Diggory (Amos, he insisted), mr Lovegood ('sir' is OK) and Luna to talk about magical creatures as the former worked in the ministry for the department for the regulation and control of Magical Creatures. It was a really informative talk and he nodded along and asked questions with Luna because it's good to form children's curiosity (sir Lovegood's words).

Despite not having any intention to go into any of the children's room as Charlie advised him against, he got interested to see Ron playing wizard's chess and his chess set dearly gifted by his grandfather -who married a Black- was in his room, on the fifth floor, right before the attic. Of course, the children had already climbed to the attic to visit the ghoul but no one had time to notice the room they passed while Harry was really curious now.

Before Harry got the chance to play a really strategic board game, he was beckoned to greet a late guest that came with mr Weasley who got back from his day at the ministry.

The tall dark hair man with striking grey eyes introduced himself as Sirius Black.

When they were left alone in the courtyard to talk before dinner, Harry tried really hard to ignore the curious onlookers hung on the window of the burrow and instead paid extra attention to this man, said to be his parents' best friend.

"Hello, Harry, I'm Sirius, your godfather."

Well, that was a new piece of information.

"Due to circumstances, I wasn't ablo to raise you after your parents, uh, passed, six years ago. And for that, I apologize for being absent for all your seven birthdays. Now, that I'm free, I promise to be present for every ones in the future."

"OK. So you were my father's best friend? Remy's memories showed you always by my father's side while Remy was more of my mother's friends, did you knew each other before Hogwarts?"

"Oh, no. With Moony, or Remy as you call him, we met your father, who was nicknamed Prongs, on the first day of our first year at Hogwarts, as we're all sorted in Gryffindor."

"What was your nickname?"

"Padfoot, because my animagus form was a big black dog."

"That's right, did you register your animagus statue?"

"I did, it's true that in hindsight, it could have saved us tons of problems, but with James and... with James, we figured it gave us more freedom and also because with your father's form, anyone could have guessed it was him at one glance. He's a stag."

Harry nodded slowly, having kind of understood that people did not choose their animal form, nor their patronus though it could be closely related as showed with professor McGonagall. 

"So, what are you doing now? I heard from dad that you were an auror before Azkaban, did you get to become one again?"

Sirius tensed, whether from the question or the mention of Azkaban.

"I...was adviced to go see a mind healer to check on my mental state after those long years of imprisonment. They also told me that it could take time before I could return to my duties, if I wish so."

Harry stared at him for a moment, eyeing him up and down but stopping eventually on his eyes, or rather under. Though he expected big eyebags according to the rumors around Azkaban, Sirius didn't come up as disastrous as he was supposed to be, albeit the eyebags were definitely there. And it's been two months since his release, so he had time to put some weight before the meeting.

"Does that mean you're the Black heir? I heard that your parents passed not long ago and you're now the only heir available. The Black are also said to be quite load."

"Oh no, I've been disowned when I was 16 by my own mother and both my grandfathers are still alive...and they both hold some power in this household since they were lord before. And I'm saying both, because-"

"I know how the Black family tree work, I read and asked around about it. Your parents were distant cousins and both had the last name Black. But did you know that the Weasleys were also Black descendant? Mr. Weasley's mother is a Black."

"Oh yes, dear aunt Cedrella, she got disowned when she married Septimus Weasley. Actually, the Weasley are kinda closely related to the Black. My aunt of my father's side, as in his actual sister by the name of Lucretia, married Ignatus Prewett, who was Molly's dear uncle. Not that Molly got even an ounce of Black's blood, but yeah, everyone basically knew everyone."

"So, you're cousin once removed?"

"With Arthur Weasley, indeed. Twice removed with his offsprings, I guess."

"I also heard that one Black also married a Potter."

"Oh, aunt Dorea. I also looked into it when I became friend with your father, but it was another branch than your father's, so unfortunately, we're not related."

"Are none of them alive anymore? I heard nothing of any of them."

"Last I heard of a Potter other than your close family, it was in 1979 and it wasn't good news. Listen, Harry, I heard from Moony that you were almost put under the care of your mother's side, her muggle sister Petunia, but thankfully it wasn't the case as I can see you're more fit with wizard family."

"Dad said it was because I got attached to him and refused to be left in the muggle world, so dad decided to raise me at Hogwarts since he works and lives there. Remy appeared not long after and it was a good addition because dad had to work around Hogwarts, so Remy's also my dad but when I was 3, he started to work outside of Hogwarts and would be back only for a week before looking for other work."

At that, Sirius tried to swallow naturally but only got himself a lump in the throat.

"Yeah, he's having it hard."

"That's why I asked if you're the Black heir, so you can use the huge amount of money to help whatever Remy's working so hard for. He always said it's for my comfort, but I'm missing of nothing, dad had everything covered. Of course, the broom toy and books he gift me every years are the best, but he really doesn't have to."

"Oh, I, I can use my own inheritance to help Moony, of course. But I was also, I mean, Harry, I know after what I said, I'm not the best placed, but as your godfather, I was wondering if I could take some place in your life now that I'm here?"

"I don't see why not. You're going to live at Hogwarts with dad and me?"

"I could do that, yeah. Thank you."

"It's not me you should thank, though. The headmaster's the one to grant permission of who could live on the campus."

"Right, the headmaster. It's good, you're bringing him up. During those two months after I was free, I had to go through tons of tests to see if I fit in society again, but I was also allowed to retrieve some of my possessions that were sent to the Black family, as they were unfortunately my kin, and I got things for you. You could say they belonged to you rightfully."

Sirius handed him a box and Harry settled on the ground to open the package. Inside, there were a cloak of sort, a letter and a mirror.

"Try it, it belonged to your father who got it from his father. It's a family heirloom."

"And it was at the Black's hands?"

"Well, not this piece of momento, the cloak was kept in security with the headmaster for some reason."

Harry gasped after wearing the clothe as the whole of his covered body vanished from naked eyes. When he pulled out his hand of the fabric, it could be seen again, but disappeared once more when under the cloak.

"It's an invisibility cloak, but a special kind, it's the mythical from the tale of the Brothers. It seemed that your family is descendants of one of the Peverell brothers."

"Wow, I have one of the deathly hallows as family heirloom?"

"Indeed, it's yours as your father was the legal owner before...before he passed."

Harry ignored once again the stutter and went to reach for the mirror. As such, Sirius pulled his from his pocket and waved it.

"It's a pair. I have the other set, it was something I shared with your father since the time we met. You just have to call my name and we will be able to communicate into it. Way more fast than letter send by owl."

"You don't say. With something like this, I could have easily found dad everytime we got lost to each side of Hogwarts, or I could talk to Remy anytime."

"Yeah, you could. It's just quite the rare artefact."

"I'm sure magic could help us create more, after all it existed thanks to magic."

Harry didn't hear whatever Sirius was saying as he went to take the last piece in the box. The letter. The writing was round and elegant like a scholar would have, reading the content, Harry's eyes widened like saucers the more he took in.

By the end of the letter, he was sniffling to hold in his tears.

"It's OK to cry, Harry. I know that you do not have much belongings from your parents and this is not much, but I wanted you to have this letter from your mother."

Harry tried to hold in it. He wasn't usually a crybaby because his dad made him quite the dauntless and Remy helped him get used of the memories of his dead parents, but actually having a material proof that he had loving parents was too much.

So he cried and cried, shedding tears that he didn't know having so much.

He faintly realized that Sirius wrapped his arms around him so they can cry together, but couldn't make himself to care as he kept sobbing, holding those last mementos of his parents with dear life.

 

edited post 24-13-23

Harry got the chance to officially meet Sirius Black only two months later, almost three.

It was the last day of October and Harry was spending the day at the Weasleys.

Molly thought that since the day wasn't a joyful one for him, it could be good for him to be out of Hogwarts during that time and not see how people celebrating this day whether for muggle or wizard reason. Harry refrained from telling her that he already spend the day in the magical school for six years, because the number was the same as Sirius Black's unfair imprisonment.

Early morning, but after breakfast, his dad dropped him in the Three Broomsticks Inn and he used the floo network to the Burrow, speaking clearly as Bill and Percy instructed him while Charlie told him to not wander to their room as it pleased like he did so freely for Hogwarts castle. Because he liked to go against Charlie's words, he will just do that, all the while knowing it was only a light joke between them. After a sooty swirl, he arrived to the house of the Weasleys family.

There weren't only gingers waiting for him, though. The Weasleys made sure to invite their neighbours in Ottery St. Catchpole to put Harry at ease and not let him be the only guest. It was also one of the condition Harry gave when the couple was apologizing to him and wanting to make it up for him, somehow, by invitating him to their house and introducing him new friends. And sure, Harry didn't know much children around his age.

From what he could see, they were two others family.

Three blond-haired and three dark haired. The Lovegoods and the Diggorys, Molly introduced them. The Fawcetts couldn't make it because they were celebrating in their own way, plus they weren't home.

"The Diggorys had a son, two years older than you. The Lovegoods a daughter a year younger than you. We had Fred and Georges, Ron and Ginny, each matching your ages!"

So not a guest children could feel left out, nice.

Once alone, the Weasley siblings couldn't help but gape at Harry after he introduced himself. Yes, he was Harry Potter, yes, he had the scar, and yes, their brother Bill was the one who arrested a death eater that passed for their other brother Percy's pet though not the one who uncovered the animagus with the animagus reversal charm. And yes, he loved creatures of all kind, so he was eager to have a look of the ghoul in their attic or the pigs in the farm. And even the family owl Errol.

None were animagus, Arthur and Molly made sure to check on that immediately coming home after the disaster with Scabbers.

As he promised, Harry went into each of the Weasley children's room, to see the ghoul, for one, and because he got interested to see Ron playing wizard's chess and his chess set dearly gifted by his grandfather -who married a Black- was in his room, on the last floor, right before the attic. And not his fault if only the children's door room were opened, by Fred and George who insisted to give him a tour (that he did not reject, mind you, but neither did Cedric nor Luna), mostly because they knew it'd annoy Percy who was on the same floor than them, the second. Only Ginny was spared as she was on the first floor and for her youngest position. Luna was the only one invited to see it. Third floor was the eldest's room and the fourth's the parents. And Ron the attic room, despite being on the fifth floor before the attic. Harry was especially fascinated by the room decorated by the Cannon of Chudley's colors and impressed by Ron's deep knowledges about the Quidditch team, more than Harry could ever have. He's little embarrassed to call himself a Quidditch fan when he couldn't say any player's name.

He could recite all the magical creatures known to wizardkinds and their features, though. Which got immediately Luna and Cedric's interest. The first because her and her father were passionated creatures' enjoyer and the second because it was his father's line of work. But however interested he was of what Luna Lovegood was saying about those unheard magical creatures that she and her father were searching for ages, Harry's attention got picked when the boys were about to start a kid-friendly Quidditch match.

The brooms were transfigured by mrs. Diggory at her son's demand who had brought his own golden snitch because seeker was his position, according to his dad. And soon enough the Weasley siblings with Cedric and Harry were playing Quidditch on low levitation thanks to the charm mrs. Lovegood (Pandora, she had told them to call her) cast. Luna was the commentator, having no particular want to play the famous sport, and her commentary were very funny as she was often exchanging with her father rather than commenting seriously on the game. Then again, it was only kids playing around.

Harry played all three positions between seeker, chaser and keeper with Fred and Ron, switching whenever the other two complained about something of their positions. Of course, as he had told Charlie, his preference was seeker position but he was mostly glad to be playing. And winning, since Cedric had more problem getting Ginny and George to agree on their position since Guiny was so young.

When it was time for lunch, with the foods cooked by Molly Weasley, Harry grouped with mr. Diggory (Amos, he insisted), mr. Lovegood ('sir is OK') and Luna to talk about magical creatures as the former was a ministry employee in the department for the regulation and control of Magical Creatures. It was a really informative talk and he nodded along and asked questions with Luna because it's good to form children's curiosity (sir Lovegood's words).

 

In the afternoon, Fred and George got once again everyone's attention by presenting them their last inventions of entertainment. Once the display done, they collected the audience's opinion to stimulate their prankster's mind, quickly boring Harry and Ron. One, because Harry had Remy's memories of some of his father's prank that he never found funny and two, because Ron was usually on the other side of the prank and he was done of being their guinea pig, not today. So the two wandered back to Ron's room where the owner proposed a round of chess but before Harry got the chance to play (and lose, not that he'd know but he did have a foreboding) a really strategic board game, he was beckoned to greet a late guest that came with mr. Weasley who got back from his day at the ministry.

The tall dark hair man with striking grey eyes introduced himself as Sirius Black.

When they were left alone in the courtyard to talk before dinner, Harry tried really hard to ignore the curious onlookers hung on the window of the burrow and instead paid extra attention to this man, said to be his parents' best friend.

"Hello, Harry, I'm Sirius, your godfather."

Well, that was a new piece of information.

"Due to circumstances, I wasn't able to raise you after your parents, uh, passed, six years ago. And for that, I apologize for being absent for all your seven birthdays. Now, that I'm free, I promise to be present for all the ones in the future."

"OK. So you were my father's best friend? Remy's memories showed you always by my father's side while Remy was more of my mother's friends, did you knew each other before Hogwarts?"

"Oh, no. With Moony, or Remy as you call him, we met your father, who was nicknamed Prongs, on the first day of our first year at Hogwarts, as we're all sorted in Gryffindor."

"What was your nickname?"

"Padfoot, because my animagus form was a big black dog."

"That's right, did you register your animagus statue?"

"I did, it's true that in hindsight, it could have saved us tons of problems, but with James and..." Again, with the choking on his words as if remembering at the last moment. "with James, we figured it gave us more freedom and also because with your father's form, anyone could have guessed it was him at one glance. He's a stag, you see."

Harry nodded slowly, having kind of understood that people did not choose their animal form, nor their patronus though it could be closely related as shown with professor McGonagall.

"So, what are you doing now? I heard from dad that you were an auror before Azkaban, did you get to become one again?"

Sirius tensed, whether from the question or the mention of Azkaban.

"I...was adviced to go see a mind healer to check on my mental state after those long years of imprisonment. They also told me that it could take time before I could return to my duties, if I wish so."

Harry stared at him for a moment, eyeing him up and down but stopping eventually on his eyes, or rather under. Though he expected big eyebags according to the rumors around Azkaban, Sirius didn't come up as disastrous as he was supposed to be, albeit the eyebags were definitely there. Then again, it's been two months since his release, so he had time to put some weight before the meeting.

"Does that mean you're the Black heir? I heard that your parents passed not long ago and you're now the only heir available. The Black are also said to be quite load."

"Oh no, I've been disowned when I was 16 by my own mother and both my grandfathers are still alive...and they both hold some power in this household since they were lord before. And I'm saying both, because-"

"I know how the Black family tree work, I read and asked around about it. Your parents were distant cousins and both had the Black name. But did you know that the Weasleys were also Black descendant? Mr. Weasley's mother is a Black."

"Oh yes, dear aunt Cedrella, my gramp's cousin. She got disowned when she married Septimus Weasley. Actually, the Weasley are kinda closely related to the Black. My aunt of my father's side, as in his actual sister by the name of Lucretia, married Ignatus Prewett, who was Molly's dear uncle. Not that Molly got even an ounce of Black's blood, but yeah, everyone basically knew everyone."

"So, you're cousin once removed?"

"With Arthur Weasley, indeed. Twice removed with his offsprings, I guess."

"I also heard that one Black also married a Potter."

"Oh, aunt Dorea, another of gramp's cousin. I also looked into it when I became friend with your father, but it was another branch than your father's, so unfortunately, we're not related."

"Are none of them alive anymore? I heard nothing of any of them."

"Last I heard of a Potter other than your close family, it was in 1979 and it wasn't good news. Listen, Harry, I heard from Moony that you were almost put under the care of your mother family's side, her muggle sister Petunia, but thankfully it wasn't the case as I can see you're more fit with wizard family."

"Dad said it was because I got attached to him and refused to be left in the muggle world, so dad decided to raise me at Hogwarts since he works and lives there. Remy appeared not long after and it was a good addition because dad had to work around Hogwarts. So Remy's also my dad but when I was 3, he started to work outside of Hogwarts and would be back only for a week before looking for another work."

At that, Sirius tried to swallow naturally but only got himself a lump in the throat.

Eventually, he replied in a soft voice. "Yeah, he's having it hard."

"That's why I asked if you're the Black heir, so you can use the huge amount of money to help whatever Remy's working so hard for. He always said it's for my comfort, but I'm missing of nothing, dad had everything covered. Of course, the broom toys and books he gift me every years are the best, but he really doesn't have to."

"Oh, I, I can use my own inheritance to help Moony, of course. But I was also, I mean, Harry, I know after what I said, I'm not the best placed, but as your godfather, I was wondering if I could take some place in your life now that I'm here?"

"I don't see why not. You're going to live at Hogwarts with dad and me? And hopefully, Remy too."

"I could do that, yeah. Thank you."

"It's not me you should thank, though. The headmaster's the one to grant permission of who could live on the campus."

"Right, the headmaster. It's good you're bringing him up. During those months I was set free, I had to go through tons of tests to see if I fit in society again, but I was also allowed to retrieve some of my possessions that were sent to the Black family, as they were unfortunately my kins, and I got things for you. You could say it actually belonged to you rightfully."

Sirius handed him a box and Harry settled on the ground to open the package. Inside, there were a cloak of sort, a letter and a mirror.

"Try it, it belonged to your father who got it from his father. It's a family heirloom."

"And it was at the Black's hands?"

"Well, not this piece of memento, the cloak was kept in security with the headmaster for some reason."

Harry gasped after wearing the outer garment as the whole of his covered body vanished from naked eyes. When he pulled out his hand of the fabric, it could be seen again, but disappeared once more when under the cloak.

"It's an invisibility cloak, but a special kind, it's the mythical one from the tale of the Brothers. It seemed that your family is descendants of one of the Peverell brothers."

"Wow, I have one of the deathly hallows as family heirloom?"

"Indeed, it's yours as your father was the legal owner before...before he passed."

Harry ignored once again the stutter and went to reach for the mirror. As such, Sirius pulled his own from his pocket and waved it.

"It's a pair. I have the other set, it was something I shared with your father since the time we met. You just have to call my name and we will be able to communicate into it. Way faster than sending letters with owls."

"You don't say. With something like this, I could have easily found dad everytime we got lost to each side of Hogwarts, or I could talk to Remy anytime."

"Yeah, you could. It's just quite the rare artefact."

"I'm sure magic could help us create more, after all it existed thanks to magic."

Harry didn't hear whatever Sirius was saying as he went to take the last piece in the box. The letter. The writing was round and elegant like a scholar would have, reading the content, Harry's eyes widened like saucers the more he took in. There wasn't a signature as the letter looked to be torn by the end, but the content was enough to let him know it was his mother, Lily Potter.

By the end of the letter, he was sniffling to hold in his tears.

"It's OK to cry, Harry. I know that you do not have much belongings from your parents and this is not much, but I wanted you to have this letter from your mother."

Harry tried to hold in it. He wasn't usually a crybaby because his dad made him quite the dauntless and Remy helped him get used of the memories of his dead parents, but actually having a material proof that he had loving parents was too much.

So he cried and cried, shedding tears that he didn't know having so much.

He faintly realized that Sirius wrapped his arms around him so they can cry together, but couldn't make himself to care as he kept sobbing, holding those last mementos of his parents with dear life.