Dysfunctional

5 - The Revelation

Sirius left Dumbledore's office and quickly transformed into his Animagus. He didn't need unsuspecting students yelling murder at him and Padfoot's senses were of much use in tracing Harry. He followed the familiar scent out of the Entrance Hall, a couple of students shrieking at the sight of a giant dog his size.

Padfoot paid them no mind as he trotted onto the grounds which were relatively empty at the early hour. The lone boy in school robes walking away from the castle was enough for him to deduce that it was Harry. He gave a loud bark and Harry turned to look at him. He bounded forwards and sniffed his hands. Harry understood the gesture as he patted his head and he continued walking in his intended direction with Padfoot beside him.

When they reached the lake, Harry found a secluded spot behind a couple of bushes and sat down. Sirius shuddered involuntarily at the sight of the lake. The last time he had been here, he had been surrounded by hundreds of Dementors ready to Kiss him and his godson had saved him. Guilt surged in Sirius; he should have been the one saving his godson, he was the one who was charged with protecting Harry. And he hadn't been able to do the single thing James and Lily had entrusted him with.

He changed to human and sat beside Harry. They sat like that in comfortable silence for a long time, each in their own thoughts, each taking silent strength from the other.

After about half an hour (it felt like ages to Sirius), Harry spoke, "Can we just run away somewhere? Out of the country?"

Sirius' steel-grey eyes were swallowed in sadness. "If you wanted to, we could do that."

"But that doesn't change anything, does it?" said Harry, pulling at the blades of grass.

Sirius sighed heavily. "No, it doesn't."

Harry looked thoroughly dejected as he mumbled, "It's just - I didn't want this - I just wanted to be..."

He sighed, unable to put his thoughts into words.

Sirius understood; it was really tempting to take Harry out on his suggestion and away from this war. He was certain James and Lily would have wanted their son to have a normal life with the only thing worrying him being homework and exams and girls. If everything he heard from Remus were true, his godson had not had a single normal year at Hogwarts. But it was also out of his hands. Voldemort had made Harry out to be his mortal enemy and there was no hope of changing that.

He wrapped an arm around Harry. "Look, you're not alone. I promised your parents I would look after you. Now I know I wasn't in your life for entirely too long, but I intend to keep that promise. I would die rather than let you face him alone."

Harry shook his head and spoke in a strangled voice. "Don't say that. I don't want you to die for me too! When I saw you in that vision, for a good couple of hours I thought... I thought you would be gone!"

Sirius was startled to see Harry's eyes were rather bright and he pulled Harry close to him. "But I'm here now, so don't you worry. It's going to be alright. You'll see."

Harry found himself believing Sirius though only half-heartedly. He heard people streaming out into the grounds, talking and laughing. He felt so isolated from them all; he had always been and always will be a marked man...

He dreaded returning to Privet Drive in a week's time. For the first time, he felt very opposed to going there again. He did not want to leave his godfather, not when he could be with him in Grimmauld Place. He didn't think anyone but Sirius could understand what he was feeling and the idea of staying away from Sirius was unappealing.