Strange Places (Discontinued)

One

 Sirius Black stared out of the window of his home. His friends and the rest of the order were finally convinced that it was really him and he was back. But they did not know how. Dumbledore had questioned him extensively, but Sirius could not tell him how he had returned.

He could not remember anything from the moment he fell through the veil. The last thing he remembered before waking up in Mundungus' bed was fighting Bellatrix. He could not even tell how he appeared in Mundungus' bed, though Dumbledore had told him it was probably because of the Black heirlooms that Mundungus had stolen from Grimmauld Place. His hovel was the only place other than Sirius' parental home which held so many Black heirlooms. And whatever enchantment caused Sirius to be sent back obviously could not get through the Fidelius charm on Grimmauld Place.

It was a good explanation, thought Sirius. But it still did not explain how he was still alive. And he could not understand how an enchantment powerful enough to reverse death could still not break the fidelius charm.

Sirius had attended two separate Ministry hearings to officially clear his name and to be legally registered as Harry's guardian. In spite of Dumbledore's many objections including his explanation of why Harry needed to be with his muggle relatives, Sirius had represented to the ministry to have Harry placed under his guardianship and his petition had been granted. Sirius had spruced up his house and had also invited Ron and Hermione for the summer, so Harry would have his friends with him.

He had acceded to Dumbledore's request to have Harry brought by the order members. Dumbledore had also placed a Fidelius charm on Sirius' house with himself as secret keeper.

"Professor," Sirius had said after his first meeting with the Headmaster as Dumbledore was about to leave. "Don't put it on."

Dumbledore had looked confused.

"You'll find something you've been searching for a long time," Sirius had said. "Do not use it. Just destroy it. Do not use it at any cost."

"What do you mean, Sirius?" Dumbledore had asked, his blue eyes sharp.

Sirius had shook his head, looking confused. "It just came to me," he had said.

Dumbledore had nodded, though he still looked at Sirius oddly, as if wondering if Sirius was completely sane.

That was a few weeks ago. Since then, Sirius had been kept extremely busy that he had not had any opportunity for a private conversation with Dumbledore. Moony had spent as much time with him as possible, and Sirius had welcomed his friend's company. It was just the two of them now. James waa gone, and Peter...Peter the traitor was still among the living.

Sirius looked up from his contemplation of the window as he heard the noise from the front door. His face split in a wide grin as he hurried to open the door.

Harry and his friends had arrived.

"Sirius!" Harry all but threw himself on him, and Sirius caught him, laughing. Merlin! The boy had grown. Sirius could feel the moisture in his eyes as he drank in the sight of Harry's face. It was the first time he was seeing Harry since his- resurrection- though not for want of trying. He would have run off to Harry as soon as he became conscious, but Remus and Dumbledore had stopped him. They had informed Harry and he had more important things to take care of, like clearing his name. Of course, nothing was as important as Harry, but he knew that meeting Harry could wait till he'd cleared his name and got his house cleaned up. The decision was made easier by the knowledge that Harry was not at the time residing with his muggle relatives, but with the Weasley family. But once the legal guardianship had been transferred to him, there was nothing preventing him from bringing Harry to his house.

"Sirius!" Harry was laughing too, though there was an odd catch to his voice. Hermione's eyes were bright with tears as she hugged him next. Fortunately, Ron only shook his hand, perhaps realizing that Sirius had all the hugs he needed for the time.

"I'll show you to your rooms," he said once Hermione decided not to hug him to death. "You three have really grown!"

"We can't have," Harry was grinning. "It has not been that long!"

Hermione punched him in the arm just as Harry blushed. Probably someone had warned him not to remind Sirius of his death, but Sirius didn't mind. It was Harry after all, and it was not as if Sirius could remember anything from his time beyond. He did not even know if he had really died inspite of everyone assuring him that he had indeed died. But since the last thing he remembered was battling Bellatrix, it did not affect him much when people talked of his death. The few days that he lost did not bother him much since he was certain that nothing significant might have happened in that time.

"Harry! Ron! Hermione!" Remus was also laughing as he greeted the three children. Sirius thought that he'd never seen Moony look so happy since their school days. Of course, none of them could stay out of things, and there was still a war coming, whether they wanted it or not, but for a few moments, he could pretend that Voldemort was not out there, that he could keep these children safe in here, that his friend would not need to go back into a world that did not want him.

Sirius smiled at his oldest friend as the two men took the trunks of the children, and took them to their rooms. The chatter of the three children, their palpable excitement and obvious joy was making him smile. He wished he didn't have to cast a pall of gloom over the joyous atmosphere, but Voldemort was out there, and they had so little time. Sirius frowned at the thought. But the thought refused to leave.

"So, Harry," he smiled at his godson, his son in all but blood. "Tell me about this prophecy that Voldemort wanted."