Chapter 41
Family Reunited
Sirius' POV: Meeting Harry and Marlene
Sirius Black stood outside the door of his private room at St. Mungo’s, his heart racing. Today, he would meet Harry, his godson, and Marlene, someone he hadn’t seen since before Azkaban. The weight of everything hit him hard—the years lost, the friends gone, and now this unexpected reunion.
The door creaked open, and there stood Harry Potter, his messy black hair a mirror of James, and those green eyes—Lily’s eyes—looked back at him with curiosity and warmth. Harry had grown so much, and yet, there was something familiar in his expression that made Sirius’ chest tighten with emotion.
“Hi,” Harry said, his voice casual, though the curiosity in his eyes couldn’t be missed.
“Harry,” Sirius replied, his throat tight as he took a step forward, unsure of how to approach him. Should he hug him? Shake his hand? The surreal nature of the moment washed over him.
Harry raised an eyebrow and smirked, the playful spark in his eyes so reminiscent of James. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Or, you know, your wrongfully imprisoned godfather.”
Sirius couldn’t help but chuckle at the sass. “Well, I guess you’re right. You really are James’ son.”
Before Sirius could hesitate any longer, he pulled Harry into a hug. Harry stiffened slightly but soon relaxed, patting Sirius’ back awkwardly.
“Good to see you too,” Harry muttered, though a small smile crossed his face.
Just then, there was a soft knock at the door, and Marlene McKinnon entered, her eyes misty with unshed tears. She hadn’t seen Sirius in over a decade, and the years apart seemed to melt away as she looked at him.
“Marlene,” Sirius whispered, his face softening into a smile. He moved toward her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“You idiot,” she whispered into his shoulder, her voice trembling. “We thought we’d lost you for good.”
“Not yet,” Sirius murmured, pulling back and gazing at her with a gentle smile. “I’m back, Marlene. I’m back.”
As they settled into the room, Harry observed the two, still somewhat awkward with all the emotion. Marlene turned her attention to Harry and smiled warmly.
“You’re taller than I imagined,” she said, ruffling his messy hair. “But you’ve got that spark your parents always had.”
Harry rolled his eyes, smirking. “Yeah, I’ve heard that a lot.”
---
The Truth About Alex McKinnon Black
As the conversation shifted, Sirius' face grew thoughtful. "So, Harry," he began, glancing at Marlene, "I hear you've been spending time with someone named Alex McKinnon Black. A bit of a mystery, that one."
Harry nodded. “Yeah, he’s been helping me a lot. He’s... kind of intense but really smart.”
Sirius raised an eyebrow and looked at Marlene. “McKinnon Black? I didn’t know your family had any direct ties to the Blacks.”
Marlene’s expression darkened as Sirius spoke. She remained quiet, her gaze darting toward Harry, then back at Sirius. The moment felt heavy, the air thick with unspoken tension.
Sirius noticed the shift in the atmosphere. “Marlene? What’s going on?”
Taking a deep breath, Marlene turned to Sirius, her voice trembling slightly. “There’s something you need to know, Sirius. Something I never told you because... well, you made me forget.”
Sirius blinked, confused. “Forget? What are you talking about?”
Marlene clenched her fists as she looked at him. “Alex... Alex is our son, Sirius.”
Sirius froze, his mind racing. He stared at her in disbelief. “Our son? That’s impossible, I would’ve—”
“You don’t remember because you asked me to block the memory,” Marlene interrupted, her voice filled with sorrow. “It was after the attack on McKinnon Manor. You were worried about Alex’s safety. The Death Eaters were targeting families close to the Order. You thought the only way to protect him was for you to forget, so no one could ever use you to find him.”
Sirius staggered backward, his knees weak. “No... no, that can’t be. I... I would never forget something like that.”
Marlene reached into her pocket and pulled out her wand, pointing it gently at his temple. “The memory block is still there, Sirius. But I can break it if you want.”
He was silent for a moment, processing everything. Finally, he nodded.
With a whispered incantation, Marlene lifted the spell, and the memories came flooding back into Sirius’ mind. He saw flashes of a baby, of nights spent holding his son, of the difficult decision he made to protect Alex. It all hit him at once—the overwhelming love, the pain of leaving him behind, and the haunting decision to forget.
Sirius’ breath hitched, and he collapsed into a chair, his face buried in his hands. “Merlin... Alex. I... how could I have forgotten?”
Marlene knelt beside him, her hand on his shoulder. “You did it to protect him. We both did.”
---
Conversation Between Alex and Sirius
Later that evening, Sirius sat alone in a private room at St. Mungo’s, still trying to process everything. The door opened slowly, and Alex McKinnon Black walked in, his expression guarded.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, the silence thick and uncomfortable. Sirius didn’t know what to say. How do you speak to the son you’ve just remembered?
Finally, Alex broke the silence. “So... you remember now.”
Sirius nodded slowly, his throat tight. “Yeah. I do. And I’m so sorry, Alex.”
Alex crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “You don’t need to apologize. It was a dangerous time. I get why you did what you did.”
Sirius’ eyes softened. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, but... I just want you to know how much I—” His voice cracked, and he paused, gathering himself. “I loved you, Alex. I never wanted to forget. I only did it because I thought it was the only way to keep you safe.”
Alex stared at him for a moment, then sighed, his posture relaxing. “I know. It’s not like I grew up without knowing anything. Marlene told me about you. But... it’s still a lot to take in.”
Sirius swallowed, nodding. “It’s a lot for me too.”
After another moment of silence, Alex sat down across from him. “So, what now? We just... pretend like the last ten years didn’t happen?”
Sirius chuckled, though there was a sadness in his voice. “I don’t think that’s possible. But I’d like to try to make up for lost time, if you’ll let me.”
Alex looked at him, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “Maybe,” he said quietly. “We’ll see.”
---
Daily Prophet and Dumbledore’s Mention
As the days went by, the news of Sirius Black’s innocence spread like wildfire, and the Daily Prophet was full of reports about the trial and the scandal that followed. People were demanding answers, and the Ministry was under heavy scrutiny. Fudge’s reputation was teetering on the edge, and even Dumbledore was brought into the conversation, with many wondering how he could have allowed such a miscarriage of justice.
In private, Dumbledore expressed concern over Harry’s safety. He still believed that Harry’s protection lay with his mother’s blood relatives and the blood wards around the Dursleys’ home.
When Sirius mentioned taking Harry away from the Dursleys, Dumbledore remained firm. “Harry’s safety is paramount, Sirius. The blood wards keep him safe from Voldemort. Until we’re sure that threat is gone, I believe he must remain there.”
Sirius wasn’t convinced. He wanted Harry away from the Dursleys, but for now, he had to focus on his own recovery and rebuilding the relationships he had lost—starting with his son, Alex.
---
Family Moments and a Sassy Harry
The reunion was filled with bittersweet moments, laughter, and memories shared. Harry’s sass shone through as he quickly grew comfortable with Sirius, throwing quips and jokes that made Sirius laugh more than he had in years.
And though the family was far from perfect, there was a sense of hope. With Alex now part of his life and Harry by his side, Sirius felt something he hadn’t in a long time—a sense of belonging.
Together, they would face whatever challenges came their way, and Sirius, for the first time in years, allowed himself to hope for a better future.