Back from the veil

Chapter 8 : Home is were you are

The next day Sirius started giving Harry lessons which went really well. Harry even accepted to do occlumency after he explained to him that it was quite a thing in the Black family because as they were considered like one of the "sacred 27 pure blood families" so they were teaching occlumency to their children so ce they were little to be sure they won't put dirt on the noble Black name. Sirius joked that in his case occlumency wasn't sufficient to provide him from putting the name Black in the dirt by being sorted in Gryffindor. He wrote to Dumbledore to ask if he could borrow the pensive so that they could practice more efficiently. He was surprised to see Dumbledore's response was positive and that he encouraged Sirius to give Harry occlumency lessons.

Harry and Sirius began by practising non verbal spells. Harry was already very skilled with verbal spells so Sirius thought it would be a great idea to go beyond his level with newt level magic already. Harry rather quickly managed to accio things with a non verbal spell and Sirius was really proud of how quickly Harry was progressing

"Okay Harry now that you managed non verbal accio let's do something more difficult with protego it's the same process but you have to concentrate more and really visualize the shield as you do when you conjure it verbally but by doing this like that your opponent can't anticipate your move so it will be more difficult for him to touch you. I'll try to touch you with a basic spell, concentrate and shield it" explained Sirius.

Harry concentrated as much as he could but not even a spark happened and he was indeed touch by Sirius's spell and send to the ground immediately

"Argh, I'm useless" growled Harry while taking Sirius's hand to get up

"I would have been beyond impress if you did succeed on your first try. It's very advanced magic you know so it's normal to fail multiple times before succeeding it" encourages Sirius

"Yeah well when I have to face Voldemort again I won't really have the opportunity to fail blocking his jinxes which will be more powerful than a basic cast" responded Harry with a frustrated look

"But it won't happen anytime soon and until then I'm 100% positive that you'll have master this and more powerful spells" Sirius tried to hide the fact that he was indeed worried about Harry facing Voldemort again. Even though he swore to himself to do anything to protect his godson, the prophecy was clear. He still was the only one who will face and let's hope so defeat Voldemort.

"What if I'm not good enough? What if I fail and more people I care about got hurt or worse because of me? I'm afraid Sirius, I never want to feel like I felt that night in the department of mystery again" admitted Harry

"Harry, anyone would be afraid in your position. Most wizard can't even pronounce Voldemort's name or hearing it without shivering. You know you'll have to face him again and even though you're not backing away. You wan't to fight for what you believe in and that's very brave. You know most of the terrible things people did during the first war weren't because they were evil. They were so afraid that they were willing to do anything to survive. Look at that pathetic rat. He got his bestfriends killed out of fear. You're only 15 and you still manage to think properly. You even faced him 4 times already and are still there to tell the tale. That's more than most wizards you know. Even your parents who were very skilled wizards could not get out alive the fourth time but you did. Even though you weren't in your right state of mind when you faced him you found the courage to knock him out of your head" conforted Sirius

"But that was out of luck every time. The first time was thanks to my mother's protection and not really me. I would have clearly died along with Ginny the second time if Fawkes haven't given me the sorting hat with the sword in it. The fourth time I may have survived but Cedric did not so it still a failure to me. As for the last time if Dumbledore did not come I would certainly be dead too. Even though you managed to come back from the place in between you still kind of died because of me so I really think I'm not up to the task" sighed Harry who was looking very afraid and sad at the moment.

"Even if luck played a role that doesn't change the fact that you are a really skilled wizard ready to fight for what you believe in. I don't know a lot of fourteen years old who would have succeeded every Triwizard tournament tasks. as for Cedric's death it's awful but it's not your fault, if it's anyone's fault it's Batry crouch junior's, Voldemort's or Wormtail's but not yours. As for me, well you'll not going to be rid of me that easily, I'm afraid you're stuck with me at least until marriage" answered Sirius with a comforting tone even though he was also very anxious about the next time Harry would face Voldemort. That last sentence managed to get a small smile out of Harry

"That works for me even though I might ask Remus for better ideas on how to get you out of the bathroom in less than 3 hours" smirked Harry who was happy to be able to switch on a lighter subject and looked already in a better mood.

"Hey after 12 years in prison I think I'm allowed to enjoy endless hot water. Maybe that will give me back my charm and good looks so I'll even be able to steal more spotlight from the "chosen one" in the daily prophet's headlines" joked Sirius

"Like all of that isn't already the case" smirked Harry who actually thought that Sirius's post Azkaban traits were almost becoming unoticeable since he was eating normally and not in hiding his face was not looking like a skull anymore his hair were slowly becoming shinier again, his eyes less haunted and as he was gaining weight again. He did not look sickly anymore. He was really starting to look like the handsome man Harry had seen on his parent's wedding pictures only more mature as years had passed. But still he did not seem like 10 years older than he was like he looked after escaping the prison. Harry smiled thinking that this change was somehow related to them living together.

"What do you say we take a break by eating those leftover pancakes?" Asked Sirius

"Absolutely in" answered Harry with a smile

During their lunch Harry thought of how easy things were it this house and how something as simple as eating pancakes on the couch while listening to music and chatting with a relative would have absolutely never happened with the dursley's. The feeling he had on his first day here of really being at home was getting stronger everyday and even though he knew some dark things awaited him, this feeling was really putting his anxiety about it at ease and for the first time he felt really lucky. He finally had a family and a home. Althought it wasn't the kind of family one would think of instinctively, for him having Sirius as his guardian and living with him was enough to make him feel at home. He finally had someone who cares about him.

"I was wondering, Harry what would you say about a little city trip somewhere before your birthday?" Asked Sirius after finishing his pancake

"Wait, like going on a holiday together you mean?" Asked Harry astonished that this was a possibility

"Yeah undercover for safety matters and by muggle way. I was thinking of a weekend somewhere not to far like Dublin if we want Dumbledore to agree and it could be good to really be disconnected of everything for two days especially if we want to start occlumency soon"

"I'll be thrilled ! I have never been on a holiday before !" Harry almost jumped off the couch with excitement like a five years old by saying that

"Wonderful, I'll manage things with Dumbledore and book us a little trip then !"

"You think he will agree then?" Asked Harry worried that it would not be the case.

"Well I'm not exactly planning on asking him the permission. I'm your legal guardian I think I can take you on a weekend without anyone's permission but I guess if I don't tell him he or Moony will probably end up murdering me. Besides even though I am not happy with his choices I think he somehow cares about your safety" asked Sirius

"You're almost sounding like a mature grown up person, what happened to you?" Joked Harry

"Apparently parenting does that on a person, who would have thought that?" Replied Sirius with a smile

Author's note

I have always pictured that if they got the chance to live together Sirius would help Harry becoming stronger. I also think that "dying" and almost loose Harry during the department of mysteries battle made a switch in him and that even though he will still make loads of mistakes and act reckless and immature sometimes, he would try harder to be a proper guardian to Harry. In my opinion we were robbed of what their relationship could have become if he had survived and I always thought that loosing him was too cruel for Harry. Even thought Sirius's acting in ootp wasn't really good for Harry, not having him at all is worse in my opinion and I truly think he would have done better with time