Chapter 47
Sirius Black stood at Platform 9¾, the hustle and bustle of students and their families a comforting, familiar chaos. He watched his godson, Harry Potter, say goodbye to his friends and prepare to board the Hogwarts Express. It was moments like these that made Sirius grateful for his freedom, the chance to be there for Harry and support him as best he could.
As he scanned the crowd, his eyes caught sight of a familiar, yet distant, figure. Narcissa Malfoy, his cousin, stood with her son, Draco. It had been years since Sirius had last seen her, and the sight brought a mix of emotions. The Malfoy family had always been a point of contention, but family ties, no matter how strained, held a certain weight.
Gathering his resolve, Sirius approached them. "Narcissa," he called out, his voice carrying over the noise of the platform.
Narcissa turned, her expression initially one of surprise before it morphed into something more composed. "Sirius," she replied, her tone guarded. "It's been a long time."
Draco stood beside her, looking every bit the polished, proud Malfoy heir. Sirius couldn’t help but notice the resemblance to Lucius, both in appearance and demeanor. "Draco," Sirius acknowledged with a nod.
Draco inclined his head slightly, his expression inscrutable. "Black."
Narcissa’s eyes softened as she looked at her son, pride evident in her gaze. "Sirius, you'll be pleased to know that Draco is engaged to Astoria Greengrass."
Sirius raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Engaged? At his age?"
Narcissa’s smile was thin, but genuine. "It’s an arrangement that benefits both families. Astoria is a wonderful match for Draco."
Draco stood a little taller, clearly relishing the attention. "It’s an honor, really," he said, his tone just shy of smug.
Sirius tried to hide his skepticism, but it was difficult. The idea of arranged marriages and family alliances was something he had always rebelled against. "Congratulations," he said finally, trying to keep his tone neutral.
Narcissa’s smile didn’t waver. "Thank you, Sirius. It's a good match, and we’re very proud."
The conversation felt stilted, the years of estrangement and differing values creating a chasm that was difficult to bridge. Still, there was a part of Sirius that couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia for the simpler times, before family politics and allegiances had driven such deep wedges between them.
Sirius glanced back at Harry, who was now chatting animatedly with Ron and Hermione. The sight brought a smile to his face, a reminder of why he fought so hard to be here. "I should get back to Harry," he said, nodding towards his godson.
Narcissa followed his gaze, her expression softening slightly. "He's grown into a fine young man," she remarked.
"He has," Sirius agreed. "I'm doing my best to make sure he stays that way."
Narcissa nodded, a look of understanding passing between them. "Take care, Sirius."
"You too, Narcissa. Draco," Sirius added, giving his cousin and her son a final nod before turning back to Harry.
As he walked away, Sirius couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. It was Draco and Harry’s final year at Hogwarts, and the world seemed more uncertain than ever. But for now, he focused on what mattered most: being there for Harry and helping him navigate the challenges ahead.