prologue, of a sort
Sirius wasn't sure how to feel.
On the one hand, he was elated that Harry was free to spend more time with him. They could bond, Sirius could take care of him like he had from the start, everything would be almost like James and Lily had wanted.
On the other hand, this was all because Harry had been expelled. He knew his godson was absolutely devastated, and it felt wrong to be so happy about this. Harry could no longer go to Hogwarts, could no longer legally learn magic, could no longer see his friends for the majority of the year.
At least his wand hadn't been snapped. When it became clear what the verdict was going to be, Dumbledore had argued that because of the Tournament, Harry was legally an adult, and could not have his wand snapped unless convicted of a serious crime.
So, yes, Sirius was conflicted.
Harry had shut himself away in his room- or, well, the room he was sharing with Ron- (Sirius would have to help him pick out an actual room later), the Order was arguing about what to do now, and Sirius was sorting through junk.
If his godson was going to live here (and really, where else would be go? The Dursleys? Over his dead body) then Sirius was going to damn well make it safe.
Actually safe.
He hissed in pain as he accidentally stabbed himself on a particularly sharp letter opener, watching as his blood dripped down on an old trunk. Truth be told, he wasn't that concerned- he was a Black, the worst the trunk could do was-
Unlock. Like it just had.
He sighed as he picked up the trunk, opening it. It was a dark void inside, and Sirius stuck his hand in. It was much roomier than expected. Definitely space-expanded, then.
The only thing inside the trunk that he could feel was a portrait frame. He wrinkled his nose at the thought of having to interact with one of his ancestors, but at the very least he should get this portrait, whoever it was, into the Portrait Room. Nobody, except perhaps his parents and definitely Voldemort, should have to live in pure darkness.
Pulling it out, he leaned it against a wall as he peered into the trunk again. Nothing else. Huh.
"About time someone got me out of that trunk. Though, I must say, you look significantly worse than the last time we saw each other." Sirius froze as he slowly looked at the portrait, his heart sinking and swelling at the same time.
"And that's saying something, considering the last time I saw you, I'd just jinxed you to have purple spots all over," the portrait of Regulus Black mused. "Do tell, brother, what have I missed? I'm sure a good deal of things must have changed since I died."