Padfoot and his Pup

19. | Meeting the Godfather- Part V

With less than eighteen hours to go for the hearing, Harry was starting to get nervous.

As he drew nearer to the ballroom, he could hear the soft notes of the piano coming from inside.

No wonder Sirius hadn't heard him come home through the floo.

He paused at the entrance and saw Sirius playing. The man was thoroughly engrossed and didn't seem to notice Harry standing at the entrance.

Only last week Harry had discovered this particular talent his guardian possessed. He'd come back one evening from Ron's to find Sirius seated at the piano in the manor's ballroom.

Sirius had told him it calmed him.

Harry didn't want to  disturb him. He stood there and watched as the man's fingertips danced across the keys, every touch creating a beautiful sound that resonated in the large empty room.

As he listened to the sound, he felt himself relax and the knot in his chest loosened slightly.

Harry had tried his hand at the piano but had discovered that he wasn't very good at it.

It was only when Sirius was finished that Harry went inside.

His godfather looked up at him and smiled softly. "You're back early."

Harry shrugged with feigned casualness. "I wanted to come back home." I'm scared.

The man saw right through him.

Sirius scooted to make room for Harry on the bench. "C'mere, kiddo."

Harry sat down next to the man, tucking one leg up. He brought his finger down on a key and the soft note echoed across the room. He did it a few more times, tapping different keys.

Sirius allowed him time to talk and for that, he was grateful.

He wanted to tell the man exactly what was going on inside his head. He wasn't just nervous, he was bloody terrified for the trial.

That morning after breakfast, he had headed over to Ron's and wasn't supposed to be back until tea. But even Quidditch with the Weasleys had failed to distract him.

He tried to formulate the words so that he could convey them to Sirius without sounding pathetic.

He finally gave up. "I'm scared."

The man made a sound to indicate that he was listening and smoothed a hand over his godson's hair, gently entangling his fingers in the thick, unruly mop. Harry leaned into his hand and relaxed some more.

Harry had been denied the basic human need for affection all these years. He practically craved it now.

It had taken the boy a while to initiate a hug without any insecurity or embarrassment. Once Harry had realised that his godfather had no qualms about his behaviour, he'd all but turned into a cuddle-monster.

"Which part?" Sirius asked, running his fingers through Harry's hair.

He shuffled closer to Sirius.