The Squib and the Werewolf (book 2)

4. Like Father Like Son

When Raya woke up in Sirius's arms, she couldn't remember the last time she had felt so happy.
For a moment it was as if nothing had changed.
But reality soon set back in.
"You should really get going soon" said Raya, making no attempt to extract herself from her husbands embrace.
"I know. But I didn't realise how hard it was going to be, to leave you, once we'd been reunited" sighed Sirius.
"Perhaps you shouldn't have come then" replied Raya sadly.
"No, I'm glad I came to visit. Even if it is the last time I ever get to see you".

"I'm glad you came to see me too... You should put some fresh clothes on before seeing Jamie though. Once he's seen you, I'm going to give him a choice. He can talk to you if he wants, but I'm not going to make him" informed Raya.
"Whatever you think is best, you're his mother afterall" replied Sirius.
Raya looked over the edge of the bed and saw Sirius's old prison clothes lying on the floor, "You'll have to take those with you as well, unfortunately. Because I can't risk the Ministry seeing them. And the longer you stay free, the more worried they are going to get. I wouldn't put it past them to insist on searching the grounds for you at some point".
"Well they won't find me, because I won't be staying here" reminded Sirius.

"You should also take my grandmother's wand with you" admitted Raya, as she extracted herself from Sirius's arms and began to get dressed.
"Are you sure?" Asked Sirius, as he headed over to his own wardrobe.
"Well, it's of no use to me, since I can't do magic. It's just sitting in a box under the bed with some of my old Hogwarts stuff. Since you don't have your own wand any more, I want you to take mine, so that you can protect yourself" answered Raya.
"O.K, thanks"
"You're welcome".

"So, has anything big happened while I've been away?" Questioned Sirius.
"Depends on what you mean by big. Did you hear about Alice and Frank?" Quizzed Raya.
"Yes. I saw my deranged cousin as she got dragged into the prison. She wasn't exactly quiet about her crimes" revealed Sirius, through gritted teeth.
"What happened to the Longbottom's was a big shock for everyone. The world was just starting to get back to normal, when they were tortured. The attack scared everyone"
"I can't believe everyone thinks I'm as bad as Bellatrix. They think I'm a traitor and a murderer, just like the rest of the Blacks"
"What they think doesn't matter. The people who love you, know the truth, and that's what's important".

"What does Harry think? Does he blame me, like I blame myself, for his parents deaths?" Asked Sirius, as he began buttoning up his clean shirt.
"I don't know" admitted Raya.
Sirius frowned, "How can you not know? Haven't you asked him?".
"I haven't spoken to Harry since that night on All Hallows Eve, when he was a baby" explained Raya.
"Why? He's our godson, so why did you decide to cut him out of our lives? We promised James and Lily that we would look after him if something bad happened to them. Before we went and searched for Peter, we promised Hagrid that we were going to come back for Harry as soon as possible. Just because I couldn't raise him with you, it doesn't mean you couldn't do it yourself, just like you did with Jamie. So, why didn't you go and get Harry from the Dursley's?".

"It's not that simple" sighed Raya.
"Then explain it to me in terms I can understand" replied Sirius.
"Look, I wanted to take Harry in, and raise him as my own, just as we had planned on doing. I was going to make Harry my son, and make Jamie his brother. But I wasn't allowed" revealed Raya.
"Why not?" Demanded Sirius.
"Because Dumbledore wouldn't let me! He wanted Harry to stay with his aunt and uncle" answered Raya.
"Dumbledore kept you from Harry?"
"Yes. And no matter how much I argued with him, he refused to back down. He said he would fight me for Harry, if that's what if took. And I wasn't willing to become another one of Dumbledore's victims".

"Couldn't you have gone to the Ministry, and insisted that Harry be placed with you, you are his godmother after all?" Questioned Sirius.
Raya couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Do you really think the Ministry wanted to help me? I was undergoing an investigation to decide whether or not I was a traitor and a death eater. I nearly ended up in Azkaban. I was also a Squib with a werewolf brother and a husband in Azkaban. The Ministry were never on my side. And they didn't want the boy who lived having any contact with someone like me".
"So, you really haven't had contact with Harry at all?" Quizzed Sirius.

"No, Dumbledore forbade it. When Harry turned 11, I asked if I could see him, as originally Dumbledore had promised I could see Harry once he was at Hogwarts. But Harry had just stopped Voldemort's spirit from regaining a body, and the boy was traumatised. So, Dumbledore said I should wait. And then when Harry was in his second year, he stopped Voldemort again, by closing the Chamber of Secrets. Once again Dumbledore said Harry wasn't ready to meet me. He claimed that if I revealed myself to Harry, I would have to explain about you, and Peter, and how his parents really died. Dumbledore insisted that Harry was too young to learn about such things. He wants me to wait until Harry turns 17, before seeing him again" informed Raya.

"But he can't do that, we are Harry's godparents" reminded Sirius.
"Dumbledore doesn't care. He wants Harry under his control, and that is exactly what is going to happen. The more he pushes back my meeting with Harry, the more influence he has on the boys life. Dumbledore wants to be the only person Harry relies on and looks up to, which is why he doesn't want me in his life" admitted Raya.
"Isn't there anything we can do to stop him?" Questioned Sirius.
"You're currently a wanted criminal remember. You can't exactly storm into Hogwarts and demand to see your godson. Until your name is cleared, there is nothing we can do to get Harry back... However, there is one person you can see. So, let me introduce you to our son".

****

Raya knocked on Jamie's door before entering his room, "Morning".
"Eugh, it's too early" complained Jamie.
"Yes, I know it's the holidays and you don't like getting up early, but this is important" insisted Raya.
Jamie sighed and pushed himself up in bed, "What is it?".
"Well, there's someone I would like you to meet... Jamie, meet your father" announced Raya, before stepping to the side, allowing Sirius into the room.

Jamie's jaw dropped, and for a moment he just stared at Sirius, unable to say anything.
The two just looked at each other in silence, taking everything in.
"He has my eyes" mumbled Sirius.
"Yes, he does. And your hair colour" murmered Raya.
"But he has your facial features" replied Sirius.
"I know. He's like a perfect blend of the both of us"
"I didn't expect him to look so grown up"
"Well, the last time you were this close to him, he was still inside me"
"I guess that's why I'm having trouble seeing him like this".

Jamie still couldn't speak as he was flabbergasted at having his father in his bedroom.
"Your father arrived last night. He came a long way, and risked a lot to see us. But, if you don't want to speak with him, then that is fine. I don't want you to feel pressured into talking to him if you don't want to, especially as doing so technically breaks the law. The choice is up to you" informed Raya.
"I wanted to see you, just once, in case I don't get another chance. I would love to get to know you, but if I can't, then I am just happy that I got to see your face" added Sirius.

"Do I have to decide right now?" Questioned Jamie.
"I'm afraid so. Your father can't stay long. It's too risky for all of us, to have him stay for more than a couple of hours. If you want to talk to him, then it has to be now" answered Raya.
"O.K O.K. I want to speak with him then" replied Jamie.
"Great"
"But can I talk to him alone?"
"If that's what you want, then sure, I'll leave you two alone to talk. I'll be downstairs making breakfast if you need me. Just come down when you've finished chatting, so that you can both have something to eat, before Sirius goes".