Harry Potter and The Secrets he Kept

Chapter 6

"MERLIN'S MOST HOLEY UNDERGARMENTS!" Sirius yelled.

Ten minutes ago...

Sirius grunted as Remus shoved a cup of scalding tea into his hand. Harry imagined that the grunt was actually Sirius saying 'Thanks'.

Sirius had dragged himself downstairs not two minutes before, garbed in his favorite red and gold silk pajamas. He was apparently too lazy to even pull on a dressing gown when he first got up.

Moony and Harry exchanged looks of amusement.

"FOOD!" Sirius yelled suddenly when Jibber placed a plate in front of him. Sirius had just finished his second plate of pancakes when an owl pecked at the window. Jibber let the owl in, and it flew straight to Sirius.

Sirius looked annoyed, but took the letter. "Give the bird an owl treat, would you Jibber," he muttered as he popped open the Ministry of Magic's seal. He yawned slightly as he started to read the letter. His eyes widened and began to move faster, flicking back-and-forth as he read.

Present time...

"What do Merlin's undergarments have to do with anything, Padfoot?" Remus asked, munching on a piece of bacon.

Sirius' mouth was hanging open in shock. "Since my cousin Narcissa has been convicted of harboring a Death Eater, and her husband Lucius Malfoy has been convicted of being a Death Eater, as head of the Black family I now have custody of their son..."

"Draco," Harry groaned. "That figures."

"I'm supposed to pick him up at the Ministry sometime this afternoon when they are done questioning him about his parents," Sirius said. "He has a godfather but it's Snape, and he's still on probation with the Ministry."

"Yes," Remus said, "The only reason Snape isn't in Azkaban for being a Death Eater is because he turned spy and Dumbledore vouched for him after you destroyed Voldemort, Harry." He paused a moment, then said, "I wonder what Draco is like," his brow furrowed.

"Every other word is what his dad says, it's like he doesn't know how to think for himself," Harry said. "He also called Hermione a Mudblood last year."

"Are you okay with him coming here, Harry, or would you rather I take him somewhere else," Sirius asked, looking concerned.

Harry looked thoughtful for a long moment. "If he's anything like Dudley, then he's just saying what he's heard all his life, and doesn't know any better. If we bring him here, maybe we can show him the truth about Muggles and Muggleborns. Teach him to think for himself. Mind you, it won't be easy," Harry said.

Sirius looked green. "He sounds like my brother, Regulus."

"You have a brother?" Harry asked in shock.

"Had," Sirius said. "He turned his back on me when I was sorted into Gryffindor. The Blacks are a lot like the Malfoys, Slytherin to the core. My whole family shunned me after I was sorted into Gryffindor. Anyway, Reggie joined the Death Eaters when he finished at Hogwarts. He changed his mind and did something to piss off Voldemort though, because a year later he was murdered by him."

Harry looked thoughtful. "So if Regulus could change, doesn't that mean that Draco could too?"

"Yes, Harry, it does," Remus said, smiling kindly. "You are very much Lily's son. She always felt that Snape could turn to the light, and he did."

Harry blushed, ducking his head.

Sirius sighed. "Well, it looks like we're going to have an addition to our family. After all, it isn't the little snot's fault that his parents are Pureblood Supremists who taught him that he was better than everyone else when he's not." Sirius stood from the table. "I'm going to go get dressed, then I think we'd better spend the morning finishing our shopping as we won't want to do it when Draco gets here." He left the room.