Sweet girl, clever girl... happy birthday, you strong one! Harry and Ron wouldn't have survived two days without you xx

Hope you're all well-settled in Hogwarts now, ready for yet another remarkable year :)

Get ready for Harry to finally leave Hogwarts, around the same time that we wizards and witches are stepping foot inside... I open at the close, I suppose ;)

terribly sorry for the long wait, but that's what you signed up for, I'd say-- late but perfect updates! Hope you enjoy the read, lovelies ♡

Vote and comment, please, pretty please.

Under the moonlight, Remus clicked the lock of his house and stepped into the warmth of its walls. Sirius entered right after him, taking in the sight of any change that could have happened over the years. 

"It's just like I remember it, Moony," remarked Sirius in nostalgic awe, breathing in the scent of familiarity.

The entrance was split into two equally small halves: on one side was a bright kitchen with a round table of four, and on the other side was a dusty bookcase across a couch and an armchair. His regular seating site was illuminated by the shiny light of a long lamp and warmed up by the fireplace. By the end of the hall, which was only a few meters away, were what Sirius knew to be two bedrooms and a bathroom.

There was also a dark cellar underground, where Moony would lock himself in, and for a lifetime of the full-moon, he would try to break his way out to rip anything apart besides his own flesh.

"In years, nothing has changed-- much," remarked Remus, feeling his fairshare of uneasiness and shame from his fixed living conditions.

"Yeah, it feels just like yesterday," said Sirius with a small smile, "that we were all packed over here on this couch, coming up with plans or just, you know, talking."

Why had they taken the small moments that truly mattered for granted? It was a wish never to come true to rewind and freeze time on the good old days, back when together they had laughed till their stomach ached and water oozed from their twinkling eyes.

"I know." Remus sighed heartily, his gaze averting to the last friend he had left. And something told him that Sirius was thinking the exact same thing-- how lucky they both were for still having each other, beating all the odds.

"So, wanna pour me something to drink, or?" Sirius asked Remus, who was standing by the counter and handing him a steamy cup of tea. They pulled out two chairs from the table and made themselves comfortable, before Remus broke the silence.

"Right before we left, I spoke with Harry, and he told me that you--"

"I am not mad at him, okay!" Sirius cut him off quite defensively, provoking Remus' expression to shift to disbelief. "Or anything else for that matter."

"Right, of course," began Remus in a soothing voice, provoking Sirius to snort.

"Harry was just bummed that you're disappointed in him... his words, not mine," he added quickly when Sirius looked at him like he had grown an extra nose. "And I know you wouldn't want him thinking that."

"That kid needs to make better use of his brain cells." Sirius scoffed, feeling more frustrated than outraged. "I never said he disappointed me."

"Yet, somehow he felt it," said Remus calmly, sipping his tea while keeping a close eye on Sirius.

"He's damn wrong then!" Sirius exclaimed hotly, reaching for the mirror in his pocket, to find it empty. "Well, would you look at that!" He used his sing-song voice, smirking heavily.

Sirius cursed his luck when it hit him: he had personal belongings of value still residing in his own prison, most importantly the said mirror tucked safely in his bedroom drawer.

"I have to go back to Headquarters-- the mirror, I need it," said Sirius in a trance, his expression fixed in determination. 

"Not now, you won't," replied Remus, not really taken off-guard by the sudden shift of topic.

"But what if Harry mirror-calls me, and I'm just not there to answer?" Sirius implored, his worry taking charge.

He felt insecure of such a dreadful possibility happening again. Last time, it had cost Sirius more than he could bear, and he wasn't looking forward to explore its repercussions any further.

Remus tactfully unfolded the Marauder's map to prove to Sirius that Harry was surely tucked in his bed, sleeping soundly. However, they were both taken by surprise to find Harry, all alone, down in the common room instead, doing Merlin knows what.

"See?!" Sirius exclaimed swiftly, already getting to his feet. "I'm going to him."

"Sirius, hey, sit," said Remus in a firm tone, eyeing him carefully. "You can't just barge into his dorm."

"It wouldn't be the first time," Sirius shot back easily, his gaze lit with a gleam of madness, to which Remus let out a heavy sigh of disapproval.

"Listen, I'm sure he's okay, just maybe not much sleepy yet-- I don't know," said Remus, left with a frown of his own for not believing his own words.

"I don't buy that," replied Sirius, shaking his head. He grabbed a piece of parchment from the notepad at arm's length, dripping the quill with ink every now and then.

HARRY,
have you lost your senses? Don't you dare say I'm disappointed in you, ever again-- or I'll let Padfoot tickle you senseless till your sides burst! I'm serious, I've done it before, I can do it again... for you to remember that I've never been prouder of anyone more than you, Harry.

P.S. I'll keep the mirror on me at all times, I'm always a call away.

Snuffles.

"Yes, that will do," muttered Sirius, smirking as he finished off his letter, with words of assurance to his godson.

"Slight complication," came Remus' sorry voice, "I don't have an owl."

"Damn it!" Sirius cursed, groaning loudly. Remus frowned, his gaze set downward, and Sirius aimed to make him feel better. "The owl won't reach him in time anyway."

"Besides, it's just for the night," agreed Remus with a nod. "He's leaving Hogwarts tomorrow anyway."

"Fine, that's right," said Sirius, with a sigh, putting his mind to rest. He still slipped the letter into the upper pocket of his jacket, close to his chest. For now, Sirius backed down, although he didn't like it.

"Much better, good doggie!" Remus was about to pat his head playfully, when he got a grumpy glare in response. Remus chuckled, scratching his nose instead.

"Anyhow," Remus rested his back against the chair. "When you pick up Harry from the Express, you can head to Number 12 to get whatever you want. And in the meantime, I'll prepare lunch for three."

"Yeah well, about that..." For a moment, Sirius felt himself shaking in his shoes, with a bundle of nerves. "For two is more accurate."

"Wh-what?"

"Is that a firefly?" Sirius asked distractedly, looking out the window to not meet Remus' surely wide eyes.

"Sirius--" commanded Remus in exasperation, and Sirius sighed in preparation for a moment of truth.

***
Meanwhile, Harry failed to notice that he had spent almost an hour close to midnight in utter silence. He had his arms wrapped around his knees on the stuffed armchair, fixing his gaze at the flaming fireplace.

In the heart of the common room, he was heavenly exhausted from the weight of the past long days, but he just couldn't bring himself to actually fall asleep.

Flashing memories travelled within his mind; whenever Harry closed his eyes, his heart would fill up with shooting flashbacks of his gone parents, his godfather and his relieved friends. Even Dumbledore's warnings, along with the threat of Voldemort, did nothing to ease his worries either.

His heart racing on its own accord, Harry felt uneasy and cold. He rubbed his shoulder, a sharp weight sticking out of his pocket. Taking it out, he admired the two-sided mirror, attached to a short note from Sirius on its technical use.

The first thing Harry had done when he reached his dorm earlier, was search for that Christmas wrapper that had been in his trunk all this time... something he should have done from the very beginning.

Without knowing what he'd even say, Harry called his godfather's name over and over again.

"Sirius, Sirius! Er, Padfoot-- or uh, Sirius Black," he whispered as to not be overheard, glaring at his own reflection when only silent blackness greeted him.

Although no answer came, Harry still spoke in an anxious voice as though his words were heard. "I said I'm sorry, just answer me... please?" But still, he got nothing.

Reaching out and coming back disappointed, he felt even more stressed-out than before seeking any support.

Harry heaved a deep sigh, in frustration with his mind exerting control over him. Not knowing what else to do, he threw his head backward daring his thoughts to just fall off.

At long last, Harry tiptoed back to his dormitory, shutting the bed-curtains behind him. He closed his eyes forcing them to sleep, but his racing thoughts didn't give him a chance. His back against the soft bed, Harry shifted his focus to monitor his breathing in hopes of tricking his unresting mind.

"You alright, mate?" Ron mumbled with a sigh, waking up at his entrance.

Harry meant to nod before remembering he was hidden from sight, so he resorted to mutter a soft "yeah."

"If you need anything, I am here," said Ron quietly, worry still in his gaze, "okay?"

"I know, Ron," replied Harry, a small smile sliding on his lips.

Harry didn't know if it had been a few minutes or mere seconds before sleep started to overtake him, and he blissfully let himself go.

It was only when Harry's breathing slowed down and soft snoring took its place, did Ron relax and adjust his pillow to immediately fall asleep as well.

***
In the meantime, Sirius had dropped an explosive bomb at Remus, and poor Moony wasn't given the chance to fully react because he had to talk Sirius down.

"You're doing the right thing," said Remus meaningfully.

"I am not sure of that," replied Sirius, shaking his head slowly.

"Well, I am not fully convinced either." Remus spoke without censoring his words. He could see in Sirius' relieved expression and hopeful eyes that he was about to jump into that window of opportunity. "But, but I trust his judgement."

"Easy then, I don't really trust that he's always right, so," said Sirius lightly, a short laugh escaping him.

"Dumbledore wouldn't have asked you to do that, if it weren't absolutely necessary," carried on Remus logically, as though he weren't interrupted.

Sirius shook his head dismissively. "Nice talk, thanks," he said in a tone of finality, clapping Remus on the shoulder.

"It's not that simple!" Remus exclaimed helplessly, a frown etched on his face.

Sirius had merely inclined his chin in discontent.

"Remember what's at stake here-- Harry, it all comes down to his safety." Remus then adopted a softer tone, watching the challenging twinkle in his friend's gaze vanish. "You wouldn't want to risk that again, would you?"

"Not you too," whispered Sirius, closing his eyes and breathing heavily.

Hearing the judgement passed on by Remus felt like a sign to Sirius that he just had to go through with it, regardless of how awful he knew it would be. Remus was his last chance that could have turned this whole situation upside down.

Having Remus by his back, would have helped Sirius give free reign to the wild lion inside him constantly prancing for a meaningful adventure.

"Fine! I already had this small, very tiny part of my mind that knew it-- which, mind-you, I could have easily shoved away." Sirius spoke out of breath, his words hesitant.

Remus sighed heartily, sad yet relieved that Sirius lost hope in a full-blown rebellious mood.

"But," said Sirius firmly, and Remus immediately grew wary, "I'll do it my way." Sirius' jaw was set in determination, to which Remus reluctantly nodded.

Feeling much worse than he looked, Remus squeezed his friend's slumped shoulder.

"Padfoot, it's gonna be okay," he said soothingly, but dead silence met his words. "It will be over before you know it, and Harry-- he'll understand."

Sirius felt his eyes dart back and forth, and he forced his gaze to freeze with a soft tremble of his jaw.

"I don't want to break his trust again, by not standing up to my word, and I just--" said Sirius brokenly, allowing himself to pour his heart out.

"Oh, Sirius, no," replied Remus in a low voice, down-hearted.

"I'm scared my own godson will hate me for it, and rightfully so." Sirius continued in a mere whisper that could have been easily missed. "I'd hate me, if--"

"Harry won't," Remus started-off strongly, "Even if he wanted to, he truly can't even picture himself hating you."

"But, he'd think I--" Sirius' frantic voice was cut off.

"Nah-ah, none of this!" Remus broke in again, already on-edge, before speaking in a solemn voice. "You're Harry's go-to person... Sirius, you're his family. He wouldn't want to lose that."

"Yeah?" Sirius asked desperately, with a tearful smile, feeling a lump in his throat.

"Absolutely," said Remus, his eyes lit, to which Sirius released a shudder. "It takes more than just a setback to break the bond you have."

Sirius felt blessed for having Remus there for him, always at the ready to chase his terrifying thoughts away.

*****
From the opposite side of the world and after what felt like forever, Harry finally found himself in KingsCross Station. He stood alone in the heart of the crowd, waiting with heads-on expectations.

Harry was searching for his godfather in people's faces, and he bid his time that Sirius would indeed move past the crowd for him, but that didn't happen anytime soon.

He glanced up at the clock, but with a hazy sight he couldn't make out the time.

It was when people started to fade away from around him that Harry saw Sirius giving him his back.

Once Harry caught his attention, Sirius seemed to be more aloof than his normal demeanor, stirring the uneasiness that Harry felt in his gut.

"Oh... hey," said Sirius, averting his gaze to the side and running a hand through his hair.

"I am glad you could make it here," said Harry with an uncomfortable smile.

"Yeah, I wanted to make sure that you'll be alright," said Sirius, giving his godson a cold pat on the shoulder. His distant detachment sent a wave of negative vibes in the air. "See you around, Harry."

"No, no, wait! What the-- what's that supposed to mean?" Harry inquired without delay, his breath hitched. "Ain't I coming with you?"

Harry was terrified that his high-end expectations would indeed fall on him and snap his neck.

Sirius meant to scoff in surprise, but even he couldn't, due to the hurtful frown that spread across his face. "That's what you thought?"

"Not what I thought-- it's what you promised!" Harry exclaimed in fierce indignation, hot-foot. "You promised we'd be a family," and that was when his voice trembled.

Right there, Harry realized nothing hurt more than a broken promise. Being led on with deception, only to be turned down with cold-blood once he finally reached his destination.

"Just calm down, okay, you know that I care about your safety, right?" Sirius began in a sedative tone and waited for Harry to show any sign of response, but his godson only bit his lip in silence.

"But after all I've been through, I owe myself a chance to-- I am still trying to pull myself together." Sirius buckled in hesitation, as though he knew he'd hate himself from his next words. Harry swore he could see a watery twinkle of melancholy in his godfather's eyes before it was forced away.

"And for now, I am not fit to --I just can't-- take care of anyone else... not even you, Harry."

Harry shook his head in disbelief, his hurt yelling at the beat of silence. He inhaled a deep breath, trying to wrap up his mind around this turn of events.

"I thought I could get past everything, Azkaban and--" Sirius fell silent, unable to force any more words. "But I can't."

"Stop blaming your past for not wanting to take up a new burden... me!" Harry cut him off, his heart breaking from uttering the last word.

"Harry, I am as reckless as I could ever be, and you know that," continued Sirius as reserved as he could. "How can I protect you, when I am that weak?"

That, somehow, provoked Harry to erupt a humorless laugh that undercover blackened his soul.

"Besides, you could always come visit me, Harry," he said again with an anxious sigh, knowing that his hope was misplaced.

"NO! Oh no, I won't knock on your door even if I have nowhere else to go." Harry lashed out, but he didn't feel any better.

Sirius' only response was a broken nod, dropping his head low, as though he expected these words to be thrown at him.

Harry swallowed slowly, his face morphing into anger.

"And just so you know, you're not only reckless, you're selfish too and deceitful." Harry exclaimed in a forceful tone, his flashing eyes held down with a frown.

Whether the agony in his godfather's expression satisfied him or not, Harry didn't know.

"I just don't understand," Harry sighed heavily as the words came out. "Why, just why did you seem so hell caught-up and torn when you were stuck in Azkaban and then at your house?" With all the bold coldness he had within him, Harry looked at his godfather dead in the eye. "It surely wasn't because you couldn't be there for me in any possible way."

"Harry, look--" Sirius spoke in a low voice. Harry's direct glare shot him daggers.

"You obviously don't care about me, anyway," said Harry coldly.

"Now that's not fair," said Sirius, out of breath.

"You want fair?" Harry shot back, before his voice cracked, following the example of his heart. "Then, why did you act like I was the most important thing in your life-- just for you to do this now?"

"No, hey, you are. I just--" Sirius' eyes spoke volumes of the intense self-debate he was trapped in.

"Just, GO-- leave me!" Harry felt hot under his collar, all stormy. As Sirius turned to walk away, Harry knew his godfather was bowed-down and circled in sorrow... but this time, Harry was too hurt to care.

***
Harry, c'mon. A distant voice called onto him from what felt like the clouded sky, and a moment later, he felt himself being shook. Wake up, mate!

With a final pull, Harry frantically opened his eyes, startled from his dreamful sleep.

"Now get a move on, mate," said Ron, stepping back from his bed and throwing his red ties into his trunk. "We're gonna miss the train!"

"The train? so he didn't--" mumbled Harry with no coherence. A disoriented smile made its way up to his lips, and he breathed to himself, "he wouldn't."

Shaking his head, Harry wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. With no time to further contemplate over his dream, he too had to finish last-minute packing as fast as he could.

The dorm had an air of five beetles buzzing around. Half an hour later, they were all fully-dressed, fully-packed and had even joined Hermione and Ginny for the last ten minutes of breakfast by the Gryffindor table.

Sooner than he'd like, Harry had to say goodbye to his first home, Hogwarts, for the fifth time in a row. However, now, he hoped it wouldn't have to be the same old on him being forced to count and scratch out the days-and-nights to finally leave the Dursleys for the year. He was looking forward that, this time, it would be better.

Harry pushed his trolley, carrying his trunk along with his broom and Hedwig in her cage. Soon enough, Hermione jerked her head toward an empty train compartment, he and Ron followed, at once making themselves at home.

"So, yet again another wicked year, huh!" Ron exclaimed, pulling up his feet on the cushioned bench.

"That's become a constant for us by now-- honestly!" Hermione remarked, a grin etched on her face, shifting her gaze to Harry. "I'd be freaked out if just a mundane year came by."

"Yeah, at least it's over, so there's that," replied Harry with a content sigh.

"Excited to go home, mate?" Ron asked him in interest, provoking Hermione to slap his shoulder twice with her for-the-road book. "What the bloody hell was that for?" Ron rubbed a hand over his shoulder, astonished.

"For being insensitive, Ronald! You know Harry doesn't enjoy his stay with his relatives," replied Hermione in a furious whisper, with a roll of her eyes.

"Er, hello? I am right here," commented Harry, clearing his throat. As for sometimes, it mildly bothered him when people walked on eggshells around him, for his sake they'd say. He waved his hand dismissively at them, when he was effectively ghosted. "Oh, okay, guess I am wearing the cloak after all."

"Ha, wrong again, Hermione!" Ron exclaimed with a challenging twinkle in his eyes. "I meant with Sirius, now that he's free and all."

"Oh," was all Hermione felt like saying, slowly placing the book back on her lap. "Then, next time, make your point clearer," she insisted in a low voice, stiff-necked.

"I know the conclusions you jump to are always correct, most of the time, but don't spoil your luck," responded Ron strongly at first, yet his heart-rate picked up from the glare Hermione shot him with, rendering him speechless and fearful.

"Well, Sirius hasn't really told me that he'd take me in, from the Dursleys," began Harry before they could resume, his mind winding back to his dream that had felt so badly real. "Not since my hearing."

From the moment he woke up from his nightmare, Harry had wanted nothing more than to have Sirius shower him with guaranteed reassurance that his mind was only playing tricks on him, without any flicker of truth attached to his dream.

"Maybe Sirius just assumed it was too obvious and the right thing to do, so there was really no need to confirm it." Ron shook his head at Harry, all the while giving Hermione side-glances.

Though Harry could easily guess Ron's intention here was to cherish a momentary triumph on proving Hermione wrong, his words had actually made Harry feel loads better... with the affirmation that his dream was far from what could happen.

"Perhaps," sighed Harry, looking up at his friends to lessen his worry. "But we didn't exactly leave things on the best terms."

"Even so, he wouldn't just cast you aside, Harry," said Hermione, adding a flicker of common sense.

"Yeah, he cares too damn much! Even if you're bloody annoying as hell," Ron chipped in, his gaze lingering on Hermione for a moment too long before shifting to Harry. "It's written all over him, mate, in case you didn't notice."

Harry nodded, feeling a bit lighter-- since it's not like Sirius would ever walk out on him, his gut assured him, putting his worries to sleep.

As the scarlet steaming engine carried them away from Hogwarts to London, Harry felt hopeful to what his destination would bring into his life, for this time, the prospect of home was bound to be different.

Ron tilted his head close to Hermione and muttered something that sounded vaguely like, "Beat you," in a teasing demeanor.

"You really are a git, Ronald," whispered Hermione with a half-heartily scoff.

"Am not!" Ron exclaimed playfully.

"Are too!" Hermione shot back right away.

"Fine, I know," replied Ron easily with a shrug. "Whatever you say."

His bushy-haired friend stubbornly fixed her gaze on a right page in mid-chapter of her book. Ron, however, couldn't help but smirk at her with a fond shake of his head.

Harry slid his head on the warm window, resting his cheek on his hand. Slowly, he felt heavy-eyed to the smooth hum of the train and the calm buzz of his friends chattering, while the hissing echo of his thoughts left him in peace.

Last thing Harry saw was Ron offering Hermione a chocolate frog, before eating it himself just when she finally decided to reach for it.

*****
Sirius woke up from a rare dreamless sleep, earlier than he thought he would. Even Remus was still asleep, snoring lightly from the room next door.

Getting ready for the day ahead, Sirius headed for the kitchen, and just when he was about to dive into his self-catered breakfast, a familiar patronus came in for him.

The voice of Dumbledore delivered a message through his phoenix: "however you don't like what we agreed on, remember it's for the best."

In anger, Sirius tightly gripped a nearby cup that his knuckles whitened in effect. He despised that Dumbledore had managed to get him on board with something he wasn't entirely convinced with, at all.

Thanks to receiving such an unpleasant reminder, his mind was far from being at rest and his appetite was lost already.

Rubbing a hand over his forehead, Sirius had to distract himself from running into worst-case scenarios and dreadful reactions at play.

Thankfully, it was then that close footsteps added a flickering mix of noise into his wild mind.

In his pyjamas, Remus entered the living room, closing the door behind him. An instant smile was drawn on his lips, when he saw Sirius leaning on the counter.

"That Dumbledore!" Sirius exclaimed bitterly, with an exaggerated groan, glaring in Remus' direction for no particular reason.

Remus froze, sleepy eyes adopting his expression. "And good morning to you too, Padfoot," he spoke in a calm voice, yawning loudly.

"He just had to pull the Harry's safety card, to get to me-- because he knows I can't say no to that." Sirius carried on with his rant, his fist clenched. "He makes me do things I believe are wrong... and I hate this!"

"Again, hate it all you like, but trust that he's doing all he could to protect Harry and win this endless war." Remus spoke once more without agitation, to which Sirius scoffed in irritation.

"Yeah, right-- here," said Sirius, shaking his head, handing Remus a cup of coffee and placing the breakfast he had ready for him on the table.

Sirius resorted to play with his food by the spoon held loosely between his fingers, his gaze far-away. Sitting there, he felt last night's worries, even after being challenged to death, return to haunt him.

Through the silent indulging of food, Remus glanced sideways at his best mate, a seemingly lost-in-his-thoughts Sirius, and he was positive from the frown etched on his face that those thoughts weren't sunshine and daisies.

"Thanks," said Remus softly, adopting a small grin when Sirius broke his trance. "I missed this-- how you can be the biggest mother-bear when you want to."

"Oh, shut up," replied Sirius, rolling his eyes, his smile badly-hidden yet genuine.

"Nope, not in the mood for that," Remus felt a chuckle come over him.

"Fine by me, the mother-bear with a mischief mastermind, at your service here." Sirius spoke with proud air-quotation, his gaze nostalgic.

Remus only smiled fondly, glad to have replaced Sirius' worried frown with lively lightness. Mischief Managed.

*****
I thought of ending this chapter right after Harry's dream, before making it clear that it was in fact a so-called nightmare... but the evil writer me didn't win this time, though I wouldn't count on that for future reference xx Still, you're welcome.

Tell me though, would you have believed it to be a reality? At what point did you think and maybe panicked *ohmyGod, no, this is really happening*? Or were you fully convinced at all times that Sirius would never do that, abandon his godson without a fight? Be honest...

Hope you enjoyed reading, and stay tuned for so many updates. This story is just getting started, deer ones :D

Also, which of the Deathly Hallows would you choose to possess and why? Is it the Elder Wand to make you invincible? The Resurrection Stone to return a lost loved one? Or maybe the Invisibility Cloak to shield you from death?

And wow, that's a long chapter-- to make-up for the long wait with full gratitude for always being patient ♡♡