Eternal Ties

Sirius Black stood in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place, glancing around the room that had changed so much over the years. The dark, oppressive atmosphere that had once clung to every corner had slowly been lifted, bit by bit, with the help of Remus, Harry, and even a few members of the Order who had pitched in. The heavy drapes had been pulled down, the grim portraits removed, and the air felt lighter than it had in decades. Still, Sirius hated the house. No amount of improvement could erase the memories that clung to the walls. But he tolerated it—for Harry’s sake.

“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Sirius said, a small smile tugging at his lips. He leaned against the table, watching as Remus Lupin fussed over a piece of parchment. “Feels like just yesterday Harry was taking his first steps, and now we’re about to take him to Diagon Alley for his Hogwarts things.”

Remus nodded absently, scribbling something down on the list in front of him. “I know. I’m still not sure how I feel about him going away for so long. Hogwarts is a big place.” He rubbed his temple, looking thoroughly worried. “He’s never been apart from us for more than a day.”

Sirius chuckled softly, though he felt the same twinge of anxiety in his chest. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Moony. Hogwarts is the safest place he could be, and you know he’s going to have the time of his life there. Besides, we’ll visit often. He’ll be fine.”

Remus set down the quill, sighing. “It’s not just that. It’s…” He shook his head, a look of fond exasperation crossing his face. “I’ve grown used to having him around. The house will feel a bit empty without him.”

Sirius glanced around the kitchen, imagining it without Harry’s laughter echoing through the halls. He couldn’t deny the pang in his heart at the thought of Harry being away at school for months at a time. They had spent years keeping him safe, raising him in this protected world, and now he’d be going off to Hogwarts where they wouldn’t be able to watch over him as closely.

“I know what you mean,” Sirius admitted, running a hand through his hair. “It’ll feel strange not having him here. But, Merlin, I’m proud of him. He’s a bright kid. James and Lily would’ve been proud too.”

Remus nodded, but his brow furrowed as he continued to scribble on the parchment. “Do you think he has everything? Uniforms, books, cauldron… I don’t want to miss anything important.”

Sirius laughed at Remus’s obvious fretting. “Relax, Moony. We’re just going shopping. It’s not like we’re sending him off into the Forbidden Forest. And besides, anything we miss, we can always send later. You’re going to give yourself grey hairs at this rate.”

“More grey hairs, you mean,” Remus said dryly, though there was a twinkle in his eye. “But I just want to be sure. It’s Harry’s first year. I want everything to be perfect.”

Sirius smiled softly, appreciating Remus’s constant care and attention. “You’ve done a great job, Remus. I couldn’t have raised him alone—not without you. Hell, I can’t even imagine what my life would’ve been like if I’d had to do it on my own.” He paused, a more serious look crossing his face. “We couldn’t find Peter, and that’s something I’ll never stop regretting. But I’m grateful every day that I was able to take care of Harry. He’s… he’s everything.”

Remus’s face softened. “You’ve done more than enough, Sirius. You’ve been the father figure Harry needed. And we’ll keep looking for Peter. We’ll never stop.”

Sirius nodded, though the familiar anger simmered under the surface at the thought of Peter Pettigrew, the rat who had betrayed them all. But for now, the focus was Harry, and he pushed the darker thoughts away. “You’re right. Let’s not worry about that now.”

He glanced at the parchment Remus had been writing on and grinned. “By the way, we’ll need to get him some Gryffindor gear while we’re there. He’s definitely going to be in Gryffindor—like his dad.”

Remus gave Sirius a look, his tone half-reprimanding. “Sirius, you can’t just assume Harry’s going to be in Gryffindor. He could end up in any house—Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff… even Slytherin.”

“Slytherin?!” Sirius looked scandalized, though there was a playful glint in his eyes. “There’s no way Harry’s going to be in Slytherin. Have you met the kid? He’s pure Gryffindor. Brave as his father, with a heart as big as his mother’s.”

Remus sighed, shaking his head with a small smile. “You’re impossible. Harry will end up where he belongs, and you shouldn’t push him toward any house.”

“I’m not pushing,” Sirius said, raising his hands in mock defense. “I’m just predicting. You’ll see, Moony.”

Remus rolled his eyes, but his smile widened. “We’ll see.”

Sirius grinned, feeling a sense of peace settle over him despite the lingering nerves. Harry would be fine. He had to be. But just as he was about to suggest they head out, a thought struck him.

“Speaking of which…” Sirius looked around, suddenly realizing the house had gone quiet. “Where is Harry anyway?”

Remus blinked, looking up from the list, and then glanced around as well. “I thought he was in the living room. Maybe he’s upstairs?”

Sirius frowned. “I’ll go check. Knowing him, he’s probably off getting into some kind of mischief.”

With that, Sirius headed out of the kitchen, a bemused smile tugging at his lips as he went in search of his godson.

Sirius paced through the hallways of Grimmauld Place, his worry mounting as he searched every room without finding Harry. He paused outside one of the bedrooms, running a hand through his hair and muttering under his breath, “Where is that boy?” 

Suddenly, a thought struck him—the library. How could he have forgotten? Of course, Harry would be in there. He headed toward the door at the end of the hallway and stopped just short when he heard voices on the other side.

"Come on, Kreacher," Harry's voice carried through the thick wooden door. "Just a little more help, and I’ll give you a whole stash of chocolate frogs."

Sirius raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into an amused smile. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the strange dynamic between Harry and the Black family house-elf, Kreacher. The two seemed to share a bizarre love-hate relationship, one that revolved heavily around Harry bribing Kreacher with sweets and Kreacher finding creative ways to twist the boy’s orders. Kreacher, in turn, had developed an odd sort of grudging respect for Harry, though the elf still maintained his outright disdain for Sirius and Remus—especially the latter, given Kreacher’s deep-rooted prejudices against werewolves.

Sirius sighed and pushed the door open just in time to see the tail end of Harry’s latest bargain with Kreacher. The house-elf held a worn, dusty book in his gnarled hands, a glint of mischief in his eyes. Before Sirius could intervene, the book levitated above Harry’s head, wobbled uncertainly, and then came crashing down, landing with a dull thud on the boy’s head.

Kreacher let out a cackling laugh, his voice high and grating. "Master didn’t specify how Kreacher was to keep the book levitated! Kreacher follows orders, oh yes, but Master Harry is so unclear!" The elf doubled over in hysterics.

Harry rubbed the top of his head, wincing but grinning. “Fair’s fair, I guess,” he muttered. “I should’ve been more specific.”

Sirius, however, was less amused. “Kreacher!” he barked, his voice filled with exasperation. “You could’ve seriously hurt him!”

Kreacher gave Sirius a withering look, his grin fading into a scowl. “Kreacher follows orders. If young Master Harry’s brain is too thick to give proper ones, that’s not Kreacher’s fault!”

Harry stifled a laugh and turned to Sirius. “It’s fine, Sirius. I wasn’t hurt. Besides, I didn’t make the instructions clear enough.”

Sirius opened his mouth to argue, but before he could, Remus walked in, frowning. His eyes darted between Harry and Kreacher, then settled on Harry. “You’re still doing wandless magic?” Remus asked, his tone laced with concern. “Harry, that’s not something most wizards your age can do. You need to be careful.”

Harry shrugged, not seeing what the fuss was about. “Kreacher was just showing me how to levitate the books without a wand. It’s not like I’m doing anything dangerous.”

Remus sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Even so, wandless magic is incredibly rare, especially at your age. You shouldn’t be learning it from… well, from Kreacher.”

The elf shot Remus a glare, clearly displeased with the insinuation, but Harry waved it off. “Come on, Remus, it’s just a bit of fun. Kreacher’s taught me a few tricks here and there. I mean, it didn’t quite work out today,” he said, pointing at the fallen book, “but it’s all part of learning.”

Remus exchanged a glance with Sirius, worry etched into his features. “You should be careful with magic like that, Harry,” he said gently. “It’s powerful, but without proper guidance, it can be dangerous.”

Sirius groaned dramatically and slumped against the doorframe. “He’s going to end up in Ravenclaw, isn’t he?” he said, shaking his head.

Harry’s eyes lit up as he bounced on the balls of his feet. “Oh! That reminds me!” he exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement as he turned to Remus. “I’ve been reading this amazing theory on levitation magic—did you know that it’s not just about the incantation or the wand movement, but also the intention behind the magic? It’s why some wizards can levitate heavier objects more easily than others!”

Remus’s face softened into a fond smile, clearly proud of Harry’s curiosity. “That’s absolutely right, Harry. It’s all about the magic within you—your willpower affects the strength of the spell.”

Sirius let out another exaggerated groan, though there was a twinkle in his eyes. “Oh no, he’s definitely a Ravenclaw. James is rolling in his grave right now.”

Remus chuckled. “Sirius, we don’t know which house Harry will end up in. He could very well be a Gryffindor like James… or even a Hufflepuff.”

“Hufflepuff?” Sirius teased, grinning at Harry. “You reckon you’ve got it in you, kid?”

Harry laughed. “I don’t know, Sirius. I’ll just have to wait and see, I guess.”

Before Sirius could respond, Remus glanced at the clock and let out a small gasp. “Merlin, we’re running late. Harry, you’d better go get dressed. We’re meeting the Weasleys at Diagon Alley for your school shopping.”

Harry’s face lit up even more at the mention of the Weasleys, and he bolted toward the door. “I’ll be ready in five minutes!” he called as he disappeared up the stairs, Kreacher snickering behind him.

As the door swung shut behind Harry, Sirius turned to Remus, shaking his head. “That boy is going to give me a heart attack one of these days.”

Remus smirked. “You? You’re the one always encouraging him.”

Sirius grinned. “Well, someone has to. Just wait till he gets sorted into Gryffindor. I’ll be unbearable.”

Remus chuckled. “We’ll see.” 

And with that, the two of them waited for Harry to rejoin them, their minds already racing with the adventures ahead at Diagon Alley.

-- 

The bustling energy of Diagon Alley greeted them as Sirius, Remus, and Harry stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron. The sunlit cobblestone streets were packed with witches, wizards, and magical creatures darting in and out of the shops. Harry had never seen anything like it, and his eyes grew wide with wonder.

“Blimey,” Harry whispered, his excitement barely contained.

But before he could take in too much of the scene, a crowd began to gather. People in the street started pointing, whispering, and craning their necks to get a better look at him. The attention made Harry shrink back a little, unsure of how to react.

Sirius noticed immediately and placed a protective hand on Harry’s shoulder, pulling him closer. “Alright, folks, give the boy some space,” Sirius said with a sharp tone, his eyes flicking to Remus for backup.

Remus, ever watchful, stood close by, his face betraying discomfort at the growing crowd. He never liked how much attention Harry drew—fame was an exhausting burden for a boy so young. “Let’s keep moving,” he said quietly, gently guiding Harry through the throng.

They made their way quickly toward the familiar redheads of the Weasley family, who were waiting near Flourish and Blotts. Molly Weasley waved enthusiastically, her wide smile lighting up her freckled face as she spotted them.

“There you are!” Molly exclaimed, bustling over to greet them. “Oh, Harry, it’s so good to see you!” She immediately began fussing, adjusting Harry’s hair and brushing off invisible dust from his shirt. “Look at you, all grown up. And to think, you’re off to Hogwarts soon!”

Before Harry could respond, Fred and George swooped in, grinning mischievously.

“Harikins!” Fred said with a mock bow. “We’ve been waiting for our dear friend, the Boy Who Lived, to make his grand entrance.”

“Indeed, we were almost about to alert the Daily Prophet to send reporters,” George added, giving Harry a dramatic wink.

Harry laughed, the playful banter easing the tension he felt from the crowd earlier. “Very funny.”

Just then, Ginny approached, her face turning a deep shade of red as she caught sight of Harry. Fred and George noticed immediately and wasted no time pouncing on the opportunity.

“Oh, look at Gin-Gin,” George teased, elbowing her gently. “Still hasn’t gotten over that little crush, has she?”

“Not a bit better, poor thing,” Fred chimed in, shaking his head mockingly.

Ginny glared at her brothers, her face flaming as she tried to stammer out a response. “I—I don’t—” But the twins’ teasing only made her blush harder.

Sirius chuckled at the scene, exchanging a look with Remus, who smiled but was clearly more focused on the crowd still lingering around them.

“Come on, boys, leave your sister alone,” Molly scolded the twins, but her smile showed she wasn’t too upset by their antics. Turning her attention back to Harry, she asked, “Excited for Hogwarts, dear?”

Harry nodded enthusiastically, but before he could answer, Ron burst in, unable to contain his excitement. “It’s going to be brilliant, Harry! You’ll love it—Hogwarts is amazing! The Great Hall, the moving staircases, and the food! You’re going to have the best time ever.”

As they made their way through Diagon Alley, Sirius found himself surrounded by Fred and George, eagerly soaking up his mischievous advice. Harry walked a few steps behind, listening intently, but keeping quiet—until he heard something that piqued his interest.

“You know, the key to a perfect prank is never letting the blame fall on you,” Sirius was saying. “Always have a diversion, and make sure the evidence points to someone else—preferably someone already in trouble.”

Fred and George nodded in agreement, hanging on Sirius’s every word. “A diversion…” Fred muttered thoughtfully.

“How about a swarm of enchanted paper airplanes?” Harry piped up from behind them, his voice a little uncertain. “You could make them fly around the castle, and everyone would be so distracted by trying to dodge them that they wouldn’t notice what you’re actually up to.”

There was a moment of silence as the three seasoned pranksters turned to look at Harry. Then, identical grins spread across Fred and George’s faces.

“That’s brilliant, Harry!” George said, eyes gleaming.

Fred nodded vigorously. “Absolutely! Enchanted paper airplanes... simple, but effective.”

Sirius was beaming with pride, his chest puffing out as he slung an arm around Harry’s shoulders. “What did I tell you? He’s a natural!” Sirius exclaimed. “You’ve got the mind of a true Marauder, Harry. I think it’s time we start the Junior Marauders Club.”

Fred and George’s eyes widened in excitement. “A Junior Marauders Club?” Fred asked, grinning from ear to ear.

Sirius nodded, looking more pleased with himself than ever. “Of course! With me as the president, naturally, and you three as founding members. We’ll pass on the wisdom of the original Marauders to the next generation.”

George pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. “We’ve taught him well, Fred. We couldn’t be prouder.”

Fred placed a hand over his heart. “To think, little Harry has already surpassed our wildest expectations!”

Harry laughed, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment at the approval of his godfather and the twins. 

“I can’t believe we’re talking about starting a club for pranks,” Remus muttered dryly from behind them, though there was an unmistakable twinkle in his eye. “You do realize you’re encouraging all kinds of future chaos, don’t you?”

Sirius just grinned wider. “Of course! It’s in his blood. He’s a Potter, after all.”

Before they could continue discussing the details of their future club, Molly Weasley’s voice cut through the air, sharp as ever. “Sirius Black! Fred, George! What on earth are you all conspiring about now?”

Sirius straightened up immediately, looking far too innocent. “Oh, nothing, Molly. Just discussing some harmless... educational plans.”

Molly shot him a stern look. “If those ‘plans’ involve mischief, I’ll have words with you later! And as for you two,” she added, pointing at Fred and George, “you’d better not get any more ideas, or I’ll make sure Professor McGonagall hears about it.”

Fred and George exchanged a mischievous glance but nodded obediently. “Of course not, Mum,” Fred said sweetly.

“We wouldn’t dream of causing trouble,” George added, trying his best to look innocent, though the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth gave him away.

Molly narrowed her eyes at them, clearly not convinced. “I’m watching you,” she warned before turning back to the rest of the group and said  “Let’s split up. I’ll take Harry and Ron to get new robes, and you boys can go get the rest of the supplies.”

Sirius groaned theatrically. “What? And have Harry miss out on more conspiring?” But he winked at Fred and George as he said it.

Molly gave Sirius a stern look, though there was a hint of affection in her voice. “And stop whispering with those two troublemakers while you’re at it.”

Sirius laughed and waved her off, but he did cast a sideways glance at the twins, who looked entirely too pleased with themselves.

With that, the group separated, and Molly led Harry and Ron toward Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions.

As they made their way down the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley, Harry walked alongside Ron and Molly, the bustling atmosphere vibrant with energy. Harry felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety as he took in the sights—wizards and witches were all around, chatting and laughing, and shops were filled with magical wares.

“Can you believe we’re finally going to Hogwarts?” Ron exclaimed, his face beaming with enthusiasm. “I can’t wait for Quidditch! Did you know we’ll have flying lessons in our first year?”

Harry glanced at him, surprised. “Really? We get to learn how to fly?”

“Of course! It’s brilliant!” Ron replied, practically bouncing on his feet. “You’ll love it. I’ve been waiting for this since I was a little kid. Just imagine soaring through the air on a broomstick. It’s going to be the best!”

“Do you think they have good food there?” Ron continued, his eyes gleaming. “I’ve heard Hogwarts has the best feasts! I can’t wait to try everything. My brothers always come home raving about the pumpkin pasties and treacle tart!”

Harry chuckled. “I’ve never had any of that. What other food do they serve?”

Ron launched into a detailed description of the various dishes, excitement practically bubbling out of him. “They’ve got everything—roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, and you can get all sorts of sweets, too. I can’t believe I’ll get to eat as much as I want! I’ll probably need a bigger robe by the end of the first week!”

“What about the subjects? What do we even learn?” Harry asked, intrigued.

Molly smiled at the boys, her heart swelling with fondness. “You’ll learn a lot of interesting subjects, Harry. There’s Charms, Transfiguration, Potions… and Defense Against the Dark Arts! Each subject has its own unique challenges and experiences.”

“Do you know who our teachers will be?” Harry inquired, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity.

Molly thought for a moment. “I’m not sure about all the teachers, but I do know that Professor McGonagall teaches Transfiguration, and she’s excellent. Then there’s Professor Snape for Potions—he can be a bit strict, but he knows his stuff.”

Ron’s eyes widened. “I hope we get someone cool! It’ll be a disaster if we end up with someone boring!”

Molly chuckled, remembering how eager and curious both Lily and James had been at that age. Harry’s excitement reminded her so much of them. She thought about how Harry had inherited the mischievous streak of James—probably encouraged by Sirius—and the brilliance of Lily. She didn’t envy the teachers who would have to keep Harry in line.

“Oh, and Ron,” she added, her tone slightly firm, “you won’t be flying until you’re old enough. No broomsticks until you’ve had proper lessons at Hogwarts, understood?”

Ron groaned. “But Mum, I want to fly now!”

Molly shook her head. “You’ll just have to wait. It’ll be worth it when you can actually learn the right way.”

Harry nodded, having already heard a similar lecture from Remus. “I haven’t flown before, either. Remus won’t let me. He’s worried about having me exposed like that, especially with everything that’s happened.”

“Don’t worry, Harry! Flying lessons are going to be epic! You just have to promise me you won’t be scared to give it a go,” Ron encouraged, his excitement growing by the second.

“Alright, I promise to try it. But what if I’m terrible?” Harry asked.

“You won’t be! Trust me. Once you’re up in the air, you’ll feel like you’re flying! It’s like riding a bike—once you learn, you’ll never forget,” Ron reassured him, a grin spreading across his face.

As they approached Madam Malkin’s shop, Ron let out a long sigh. “I can’t believe I’m getting hand-me-down robes from Fred and George,” he grumbled, his shoulders slumping slightly.

Molly shot him a reassuring smile. “Now, Ron, it would be wasteful to toss aside perfectly good robes. You can still get new shirts and trousers, can’t you?”

Ron sulked, crossing his arms. “Yeah, but it sucks to be the youngest brother. I always get the leftovers!”

Harry chuckled, nudging Ron playfully. “At least you’ll have the coolest stories attached to those robes!”

“Great, just what I need—more pressure!” Ron replied, rolling his eyes.

“Alright, you two, let’s head inside,” Molly said, ushering them into the shop. “We’ve got robes to get, and I want to make sure you both look presentable for Hogwarts!”

Harry and Ron exchanged excited glances before stepping into the shop. The shop was cozy and bustling, filled with students getting their Hogwarts robes fitted for the new school year. Harry watched as Ron was called up to be measured first.

As Harry waited, the door to the shop creaked open, and a boy with slicked-back blond hair and a sharp, pale face strolled in. He carried himself with an air of arrogance, glancing around the shop as if he owned it.