Secrets
Sirius froze and started silently cursing himself for being so careless. Harry's eyes were open and staring at him.
"You're the man from my dream." The boy frowned, "Am I still asleep?"
Sirius's mouth moved before his brain did, "No, you're awake. You were then too."
Harry sat up and started looking around frantically.
Sirius cast a quick privacy charm. He could only imagine what Madame Pomfrey would do if she found them now. That done, he turned back to his godson. "Looking for Shadow?"
His head snapped up, eyes wide and filled with tears. "W-where is he? What d-did you do t-to h-him?"
"I'm right here, Harry. I'm still right here."
"Wh-what?"
He sighed, there was no point in hiding it now. Sirius shifted back into his Animagus form. Harry slowly moved closer, "Shadow?" Sirius licked his cheek and slid back into his human form.
"You can't tell anyone, Harry. They'll take me away if you do."
"Yo-you're- but, how?"
"Promise you won't tell?"
He nodded.
"I'm an Animagus. I can change into a dog at will. McGonagall's one too. She's a cat."
"Why did you pretend?" The tears had started to fall from the boy's eyes, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Sirius ran his fingers through his hair, "This isn't how I wanted you to find out. I was going to tell you, really I was. But, I'm a wanted man, pup. I was framed for something I didn't do and I broke out of prison to find you. I'm sorry I couldn't get to you sooner."
Harry sniffled. Sirius pulled him close and pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
"I wanted to be part of your life. Until I can clear my name, this is the only way I can." He pulled back a little so he could look at Harry's face, "I'll understand, if you want me to leave. I did lie to you, so say the word, and I'll go. Promise."
"Are you really my godfather?"
"Yes."
"So you knew my parents?"
"I did. Your dad and I were best friends all through school."
"Do-" He looked away, blushing. It took him about a minute before he could continue, his voice barely more than a whisper, "Do you love me?"
Sirius pulled him close again, "Oh, Harry. Of course I love you." He gently rocked the boy for a minute or two, "Did you know I was one of the first people to hold you?"
Harry looked up and shook his head.
"Your dad came out of the delivery room with the biggest smile. Your Uncle Remus and I were in the waiting room and Remus was terrified that he would break you." His voice dropped to a whisper, "I was too, but don't tell him that."
A small smile touched Harry's face.
"James was just so eager to have one of us hold you. Since Remus practically backed against a wall when he tried to get him to do it, I volunteered. You were so tiny." He brushed Harry's hair from his eyes, "I wish they could see how well you've grown."
"If I don't tell, and you stay with me, will you tell me more about them?"
Sirius grinned, "Absolutely."
Harry swallowed, "Can I tell my friends?"
"If you want to. But I think Hermione and Draco will want to tell a teacher."
"Probably."
"It's your choice, Harry. But if they react poorly, I might have to leave anyway."
"Okay." He was quiet for long enough that Sirius started to think that he'd fallen back to sleep when he spoke again, "I don't even know your real name."
"Sirius. My real name is Sirius."
Harry nodded, "Sirius? Tomorrow, can you tell me more about my parents, and who 'Uncle Remus' is?"
"Alright, pup. But now you need to sleep."
"Will you be Shadow again when I wake up?"
"Yes."
Harry sighed, "Okay. But, I''m gonna have a lot of questions for you tomorrow night."
Sirius squeezed him a little, "I wouldn't expect anything else. Now, go to sleep." He let go and changed back into his Animagus form.
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Harry's friends were loud. Sirius had been sound asleep when they'd come barging in and woke him up. Harry looked happy to have them there, so Sirius thought that losing a bit of sleep wasn't so bad.
"Are you okay?"
"How much longer do you have to stay in here?"
"Is everything people are saying about what happened between you and Quirrell true?"
"I can't believe-"
"You'd go do something so dangerous-"
"Without us!"
Harry told them that he was fine and that he was sorry for worrying them. "Honestly, I'll be out by the feast tomorrow at the latest."
"But what happened?" Ron repeated, frowning, "I mean, there's tons of rumors going around, but we can't really trust them, can we?"\
Draco scowled at Ron before turning back to Harry, "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to."
"It's fine." Harry took a deep breath, "So, after I went through the black flames..."
As Harry told his friends about what happened between him and Quirrell, Sirius found himself growling softly. He couldn't believe he hadn't been there for his godson for something like that. Harry had basically killed someone, and Sirius hadn't been there to stop it. When Harry noticed Sirius growling, he starting petting him, to make him stop.
"Wow, mate." George breathed, "You're amazing."
Harry blushed, "I'm really not."
"Trust us, you are." Fred insisted.
Hermione squeezed his hand, "We will fight you on this."
He smiled at her.
"So, the Stone's gone then? For good?" Ron frowned.
"Yeah. Professor Dumbledore said Flamel had enough to get his affairs in order and all before he's gone."
"I wonder how long it will take before someone else makes another one." Draco mused, "I mean, now people know it can be done, someone's bound to try and do it again, right?"
"Let's just hope they don't manage it anytime soon." Hermione said, "It seems to cause more trouble than it's worth."
"That depends on who you're talking to."
Harry rolled his eyes, "Enough about the Stone. I want to know what happened to you three."
"Oh, right." Draco blushed.
"Well, we brought Ron round- which took a while- and we were just dashing up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall." Hermione explained.
Draco cut in, "He apparently already knew- just said 'Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?' and ran off to the third floor. If he knew, why didn't he go sooner? Or do you think he just guessed because we were the ones to go get him? Makes me wonder what would've happened if we'd gone to him for something else."
"He probably would've guessed it." Harry shrugged, "I think he knows more or less everything that goes on in the school."
The twins shared a look, "I'm not sure how to feel about that."
"Nor am I." Hermione scowled, "What if you'd been killed? Shadow dragged you out, not Dumbledore. What if he'd been too late or something?"
"He wasn't."
"He could've been!"
Madame Pomfrey came over then, "You've had nearly fifteen minutes and you're riling up my patient, now OUT!"
Reluctantly, his friends said their goodbyes and left. Sirius sighed in relief, Harry hadn't told them. At least, not yet. He meant it when he said it was Harry's choice, but he didn't think they would take it very well and he still wanted to stay close to Harry. Honestly, he was stunned the boy hadn't flipped out yet. He guessed it was because Harry had trusted him as Shadow and some of the trust had carried over. Or perhaps Harry wasn't totally convinced he hadn't been dreaming. Sirius sighed, Harry would question him again tonight. Who knew, maybe Sirius would get a couple answers too.