Storytime with Rachel F Hundred

If there was a worst way of waking up than being woken up by a blaring magical alarm warning him his wards had been breached, Tony had yet to discover it.

He rolled over in his bed, eschewed dragging on his robe over his fleece pyjama pants, and padded bare-foot and shirtless into the living room, wand in hand.

He froze at the sight of Sirius Black standing in the middle of the room, pale and dazed.  There was a streak of blood across his forehead and a crying baby in his arms.  He looked impossibly young, younger than his actual twenty-one years at least which made Tony feel all the much older despite only five years between them.

Tony cancelled the alarm with a wave of his wand.

The action drew Sirius’ attention to him.  He swayed a little before going rigid as though he’d mentally and magically shored up his physical need to collapse.

“Lord Paddington,” Sirius swallowed visibly.  “I apologise for the unintended intrusion into your home.  I…” he looked around as though he couldn’t quite fathom where he was.  The baby wriggled and Sirius hushed him.  “It’s alright, Harry, it’s…” his breath caught again in his throat.

Tony frowned.  Something had clearly gone terribly wrong. 

Not too surprising given that magical England had been embroiled in a civil war for the last five years with a Dark Lord intent on creating a tyranny based on blood status.  If his family hadn’t died forcing Tony into the Lordship he’d have stayed in the States working as an Auror and avoided the whole thing. 

Or maybe not. 

Both the soulmate magic and his familial magic had been insisting he was needed in England since his graduation from the Baltimore Police Academy. 

“What’s happened?” Tony asked bluntly.

Sirius shook his head.  “I…”

Harry murmured and shifted. 

Tony’s eyes widened at the sight of blood on the child.  He immediately began to cross the room and halted as Sirius’ wand snapped up in response. 

Tony raised his hands.  “You’re both bleeding, Healer Black.  I mean no harm.  I just want to check you’re alright.”

Sirius’ hand trembled and he lowered his arm jerkily.  “Sorry,” he muttered, “reflexes. It’s been a terrible night.”  He closed his eyes briefly.  “Magic brought me somewhere safe.”

It felt like Sirius was trying to convince himself of the fact.

Tony approached carefully and gently took hold of Sirius’ arm, guiding him to the large sofa. 

“Here,” he said, coaxing Sirius into sitting.  He glanced over at the baby who was already sporting the slightly crazy Potter hair and Tony had only seen that shade of green in Lily Potter’s eyes.  “Are the Potters dead?”

Sirius nodded, tears turning his silver eyes into shimmering pools. 

Tony breathed in sharply even as he clasped Sirius’ shoulder in comfort.  “Voldemort?”

“Yes,” Sirius said hoarsely.

“Dumbledore declared to the Wizengamot they were under a Fidelius.  Everyone assumed with you as their Secret Keeper,” Tony said softly.

Sirius shook his head, wisps of black hair escaping the low bun he wore.  “We swapped to Peter – Peter Pettigrew.  Lily recast it after Albus left; James was the anchor for both spells and Lily did something to make sure anyone told the secret by me wouldn’t notice the switch.”

Tony’s mouth fell open a touch before it snapped back shut.  “Does anyone know that?”

Sirius bit his lip and shook his head.  “Not exactly.  James said he’d left a letter along with his will in his vault.”

Tony rubbed his head with his free hand.  “What happened tonight, Sirius?”

“I…I finished my shift at the clinic,” Sirius said, “and I thought I’d drop in on Peter, see how he was doing.”

Tony waited patiently as Sirius’s gaze took on the far-sighted expression of someone looking back into their memory. 

“He wasn’t there and…” Sirius grimaced.  “It just felt wrong.”  He adjusted his hold on Harry.  “I was going to go on my bike to the cottage in Godric’s Hollow – that’s where they’ve been hiding, but I just held onto it and apparated to the street outside the house instead.”

Tony shivered. 

The fact that Sirius could tell him that was a sign that the Fidelius had fallen – that the anchor was dead.  Tony’s emotions about James Potter were complicated and all tied up with Sirius, but he felt saddened at the loss of the wizard.  Potter had deserved better than to die so young at the hands of a Dark Lord.  He pulled his attention back to Sirius’ story as he continued.

“I just…I got there too late anyway,” Sirius said.  “The Fidelius was down and James was dead.  Peter tried to kill me…tried to stop me going up the stairs…”

“Did you kill Pettigrew?” asked Tony gently.

Sirius shook his head.  “There was a shockwave, tumbled us both off our feet, my stunner went wide…”

“And then?” asked Tony.

“When I got back up, Peter was gone,” Sirius said simply.  “I heard Harry crying and I ran upstairs and…” a sob broke through his voice and he lowered his gaze to the boy in his arms.  “Lily was…Lily was dead in front of the crib, half of the nursery was gone and…there was a bundle of clothes by the door…”

Tony squeezed Sirius’ shoulder in silent sorrow.  Lily had been a fierce and protective witch.  Tony had worked with her a few times at the Ministry and admired her intelligence and determination. 

“The crib was almost buried under rubble and I thought…but Harry cried and he was fine, sitting in a bubble of magic so I picked up Harry and…” Sirius closed his eyes.  “I heard someone coming into the cottage so I apparated to safety.”

He’d apparated straight to Tony.

Tony felt a warm satisfaction at that which he tried to squash.  Sirius had been through too much for Tony to revel in the fact.

“I’m sorry,” Sirius said, “I know I fucked up everything with you and our whole soulmate thing, and I’m probably the last person you want to see and…”

Tony hushed him.  He cupped Sirius’ face with one hand.  “I am nothing but grateful your magic brought you and Harry to me.”

Sirius gave him a searching look with damp silver eyes and nodded slowly. 

“You have sanctuary in my walls,” Tony said, “you and Harry.”

Sirius leaned forward and rested his forehead on Tony’s shoulder.  Tony didn’t hesitate to pull him into a closer embrace.

The baby squirmed between them. 

“We should get you both healed and cleaned up,” Tony said quietly.  “I’ll need to call Moody and report everything.  My Wizengamot oaths require it.”

Sirius shuddered but there was a nod against his shoulder.  “I should…”

“Stay here and look after Harry,” Tony said.  “Did the Potters state who was to be his guardian?”

Sirius lifted his head and looked at Tony squarely.  He took a deep breath.  “Me,” he said.  “I’m Harry’s godfather.”  He paused, hesitation written all over his face before taking another breath and ploughing on.  “And his third parent as per the Agenue Ritual.”

Tony’s eyebrows rose in shock.  The ritual was used in a triad to create a child of all three parents, but it required… “You were married to the Potters.” 

Sirius nodded.  “I promised James not to tell anyone, but I guess it doesn’t…doesn’t matter anymore; the vows…they died with James.” He grimaced.  “Severus Snape cursed James sterile in our fifth year.  The ritual…”

“…was the only way Potter could create an heir,” Tony completed.  And suddenly his past interactions with them all were beginning to make a lot more sense.

Sirius’ hold tightened on the baby in his arms.  “Harry’s mine.”

Tony felt the declaration resonate in his magic.  “Then it is my honour to help you guard your son, Sirius.”

Sirius slumped in relief. 

“Come on,” Tony coaxed.  “I have a bath with your name on it.”

If Sirius’ bark of laughter was tinged with hysteria, neither of them mentioned it.

o-O-o

Gringotts was quiet in the middle of the night.

Tony nodded at the guard in the Floo room and strode confidently out to the office where he was to meet with his own Account Manager, the Potter Account Manager and the Black Account Manager.  If he hadn’t been swimming in galleons he’d have winced at the outrageous fees he was going to have to pay for demanding the meeting.

He gave a brisk knock on the conference room door his Account Manager had snarled at him over the Floo and wasn’t surprised when it slammed open in response revealing three glowering Account Managers.  The presence of the elderly Lord Black was a surprise.  Nobody had seen Arcturus Black since his wife had died the previous year.

“Sir,” Tony said cautiously, entering and closing the door behind him.

“My Account Manager alerted me to this meeting,” Lord Black said resting his hands atop the shiny silver handle of his black ebony cane.  “I felt it prudent to attend since it involves a matter for my House.”

“Of course,” Tony said smoothly.  “I would have notified you myself, Lord Black, except your grandson believed you would not wish to be bothered by the matter.”

Sirius’ exact words had been that his grandfather had never cared about him, would never care about him, and his only reason for involving the Black Account Manager at all was to confirm Harry as Sirius’ own heir.

Tony was surprised when Lord Black allowed a flicker of chagrin to show momentarily on his aristocratic face.  The same silver eyes Sirius had closed briefly.

“My grandson is my own Heir,” Lord Black said, opening his eyes to look directly at Tony.  “I have many regrets about my past decisions with regards to Sirius, Lord Paddington, but explanations are owed to him not you even if you are his soulmate.”

Tony resisted the urge to respond in his usual flippant manner.  He gave a short crisp nod instead.  He turned to the Paddington Account Manager first.

“Praxes, I have granted sanctuary to Sirius Black, my soulmate,” Tony stated firmly.  “He and his child will henceforth be treated as cadet members of my magical House.”

“His child?” asked Praxes sharply.

“Harold James Potter,” Tony waved as the Potter and Black Account Managers shifted and Lord Black stirred, frowning. “I’ll explain in a moment.”  He turned to the Account Managers first.  “Sirius Black has given me legal proxy to act on his behalf.” 

He withdrew a rolled parchment from his outer pocket and handed it first to Griplock, the Potter Account Manager who handed it on to the Black Account Manager who then relayed it to Lord Black.

“All is in order,” Griplock said.  “Your instructions?”

“I assume the bank received notification of the deaths of James and Lily Potter a couple of hours ago?” checked Tony.

Griplock nodded, betraying nothing of his thoughts about the deaths on his craggy face.

“As the last remaining spouse of James Potter, Sirius requests an immediate execution of his husband’s will,” Tony continued formally.  “He has also requested that the letter attached to the will be retrieved.”

Lord Black huffed.  “They married?!”

“Yes,” Tony turned to face him.  “James Potter received a sterilisation curse shortly after he turned sixteen.  James swore Sirius to secrecy about the matter.  When Sirius was taken in by the Potters that Summer, Sirius offered to assist James in the creation of an heir as repayment of the debt.  They agreed and vowed it on their magic.”

The whole story had tumbled out of his soulmate during their planning session.

“If he had promised himself to another, he could not recognise the soulmate bond between you then,” Praxes said harshly.

“And he had no idea of it when he made his promises as his mother hid the matter from him while he was a minor,” Tony agreed, keeping all the angry frustration he’d felt since he’d discovered that when Sirius had turned eighteen out of his voice.         

Lord Black sighed.  “In respect of Walburga’s machinations, I do formally apologise, Lord Paddington.  I should have kept a closer eye on her handling of the boys and not assumed my son had it in hand.  She should never have kept your existence a secret from either Sirius or myself.”

Tony gave another nod.  “I accept your apology.”  He took a deep breath.  “It will not serve Sirius’ best interests if we are at odds going forward.”

“Indeed.  You should call me Arcturus or Grandfather,” Lord Black said.  “The Potter boy then…”

“Sirius is his third parent,” Tony confirmed.  “They all married a week after Voldemort tried to kill Potter for the second time in August ‘79.  According to Sirius, Potter realised that he couldn’t risk waiting until after the war for an heir.  Sirius noted that they considered themselves fortunate when Lily fell pregnant after their second attempt at the Agenue ritual.”

“I have a great-grandson,” Arcturus frowned.  “Why does the family magic omit him on our own familial artefacts?”

“I don’t know,” Tony admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.  “Your grandson is gifted though, so were his husband and wife.  If anyone could determine how to obscure their son from familial magic it would be them.”  He motioned at the Black Account Manager, Bagick.  “Sirius wants to formally name Harry his own heir and a recognised member of the House of Black.  It was why I requested your presence.”   

Griplock cleared his throat.  He knocked on the desk in front of him and a parchment appeared with a sealed envelope.  “This is the Will of James and Lily Potter.”  His coal black eyes glared at Tony and Lord Black.  “You will bear witness to the execution.”

“I solemnly swear,” Tony incanted in unison with Lord Black.

“All assets whether monetary, property or investments pertaining to the House of Potter are left to its remaining heir, Harold James Potter,” Griplock growled.  “Sirius Orion Black, spouse of James and Lily Potter, is named as Regent of the House of Potter, and guardian of the minor child Harold James Potter.  Full authority is given to him to ensure the health and wealth of the House of Potter until such time as Harold James Potter achieves his majority.”

“I have so witnessed,” Tony intoned.

Lord Black followed him.

Tony let himself relax a touch. The regency and the guardianship would automatically be recorded by magic into the appropriate registers at the Ministry.  It would provide Sirius and Harry with some protection.

“This envelope has the late Lord Potter’s personal seal,” Griplock handed it to Tony.  “It is to be turned over to the Head Auror, Alastor Moody, or if he was dead to the Minister herself.”

Tony frowned. 

Griplock knocked on the wood and the will disappeared.  “The House of Potter business is concluded.”  His gaze locked onto Tony’s.  “Inform Sirius Black that I expect to see him shortly to discuss the account in full.”

Tony nodded.

Griplock left without another word.

The door slammed shut behind him.

“Let it be known that I formally recognise Lord Harold James Potter as the son of my grandson Sirius Orion Black, second Heir to the House of Black behind him, and welcome him to the family magic of the House of Black,” Arcturus said formally to Bagick.

Tony breathed an inward sigh of relief. 

“Let it also be known that I formally recognise Anthony Christopher DiNozzo, Lord Paddington, as the magical soulmate of my grandson, Sirius Orion Black, and welcome him to the family magic of the House of Black,” Arcturus continued smoothly.

Tony felt the rush of cold magic stream through him as the familial magic of the House of Black settled into his magical core.        

He breathed out sharply.  “Thank you, Lord Black.”  He pressed his lips together.  “I feel I should have explained more fully that things are not yet settled between your grandson and myself in respect of our bond.”

“I assumed as much given Sirius has only just been widowed and there is a host of miscommunications and misunderstandings between the two of you given his previous promises to James Potter,” Arcturus agreed briskly.  “But I know my grandson and I do not believe you will turn your soulmate away in a fit of petty pique at the choices he made in the past; you would not stand before me now if that was the case.”

Tony inclined his head in acknowledgement of that.  All he’d wanted since he’d learned he had a soulmate was the opportunity to build a relationship with them.  He would have settled for friendship with Sirius if he’d only known the circumstances of Sirius’ relationship with the Potters.

“I should go to the Ministry,” Arcturus said, standing.  “I wish to ensure all is as it should be recorded.”

Tony nodded.  He raised the envelope.  “I have a Head Auror to find.”

Arcturus tapped his cane.  “Bring Sirius to Black Keep tomorrow for lunch.  We will all need to strategize if we are to control events from here.”

He swept out before Tony could offer a token protest, Bagick following in his wake.

The door slammed shut a second time.

Tony turned to his own Account Manager.  “Thank you for your time, Praxes.”

Praxes snorted.  “You’ve paid for it in full.”

And so he had.

o-O-o

Tony breathed out sharply at the sight of the cottage in front of him. 

To the naked eye it seemed fine; a picturesque country home with window boxes overflowing with flowers, a windy path to the oak front door through a neatly kept lawn bordered with more flowers.  The only signal something was amiss was that the front door was wide open and the small latch gate on the old picket fence which surrounded the building lay broken along the front path.

To mage sight, however, the cottage fairly oozed with wounds.  The remnant of the Fidelius shimmered along the border, wards were shredded, and there was a stench of Dark magic.

“You shouldn’t be here, lad.”

Moody’s grumpy voice had Tony turning to Moody with an arched eyebrow. 

“I needed to find you,” Tony said.  He handed over the envelope.

Moody’s false eye swivelled as it examined it carefully.  He tapped his wand on the parchment and the words ‘Seal of Lord James Potter’ smoked into the air.  He harrumphed under his breath and opened the parchment.  He read it silently before folding it closed.  He tapped it with his wand and the parchment triplicated.  He encased the original in an evidence bag, wafted one to Tony and pocketed the last.

Tony grabbed the copy and read it.  It was a signed statement from James and Lily Potter that their Secret Keeper was Peter Pettigrew.  It detailed how they had switched Sirius and Peter without Dumbledore’s knowledge.  It was proof that Sirius hadn’t betrayed them. 

“How is Black?” asked Moody.

“Grieving, worrying,” Tony answered.  “I should get back to him.”

“Tell him he shouldn’t worry; the Unspeakables are finishing up inside – apparently Lily did something which has them all excited in the nursery, but the forensics more than backed up Black’s account,” Moody stated gruffly, pushing his scarred hands into his oversize coat. 

“She died in defence of her son,” Tony posited.

“After trapping the old bastard into some kind of runic contract he didn’t see coming,” Moody sniffed.  “She was quite the witch.” He huffed.  “She wasn’t the only one either; Potter put up one hell of a fight before he got taken down; the foyer’s drenched in battle spell-work.”

Tony sighed.  Both Potters had defended their son’s life with their own.  “Will Sirius be able to claim the…the bodies for burial?”

“In time,” Moody’s magical eye whirled.  “I’ve had the Potters’ bodies moved to the morgue for examination, but Ducky’s initial analysis was overpowered AK in both cases; magical signature already identified as Voldemort’s.” 

Tony hummed. 

Magic rippled and they both spun around as the air in front of them blurred.  A second later a fuzzy shape sharpened into the huge lines of a man with giant blood.

“Hagrid!” Moody called out, his tone sharpening into annoyance.  “What in the name of Merlin’s bollocks are you doing here?!”

Hagrid.

The name sounded familiar.  Hadn’t his Great-Uncle Nigel gone to school with someone called Hagrid who had been expelled?

Tony cleared his throat as Moody continued to berate a more and more chastened-looking Hagrid about his sudden appearance in the street. 

“Moody?” prompted Tony nodding in Hagrid’s direction.

Moody huffed.  “Hagrid, Lord Paddington,” he waved a hand between them, “Tony, meet Rubeus Hagrid, groundskeeper at Hogwarts.” 

“Pleased to meet ya, Lord Paddington,” Hagrid said shyly.  “Sorry if I startled you.”

Tony accepted the apology politely.

“Now, back to my original question, Hagrid, what in Merlin’s bollocks are you doing here and who gave you that portkey?”

“Dumbledore gave it to me,” Hagrid said, puffing out his chest.  “He sent me to rescue young Harry from the rubble.”

Tony exchanged a flat unimpressed look with Moody.

“Did he now?” growled Moody.  “And why did he think that the boy needed rescuing?”

Confusion radiated from Hagrid and he scratched his head with its wild mane of hair.  “I don’t rightly know that, Moody.  It’s Dumbledore, you know?  He’s a great wizard.”

Yes, Tony mused inwardly, such a great wizard he’d sent a half-giant untrained in magic to collect an orphaned survivor of a terrorist attack instead of investigating himself.  Although that premise alone begged a number of other questions…

“Well, you can head back to Hogwarts, Hagrid, and tell Albus that I told you the boy’s safe,” Moody said.

Hagrid frowned.  “But I’m meant to bring Harry back to Hogwarts.”

“He’s not here,” Moody said firmly.  “He’s safe and that’s all I can say about the matter, Hagrid, for the lad’s own protection.”

Hagrid pulled on his beard, his gaze moving to stare at the cottage behind them as though he could see through the walls and check for himself Moody was telling the truth.  His face suddenly lit up.

“Is that Black’s bike?” Hagrid’s gaze darted around the street.  “Is he here?”

“He’s not here,” Moody said brusquely.  “And you shouldn’t be either, Hagrid.  This is a murder scene.”

Hagrid’s face crumpled, his eyes growing damp with tears.  “Then it’s true?  James and…and Lily and…” he pulled an oversize handkerchief from a pocket and blew his nose. 

Tony stepped forward because Moody looked ready to hex him.  “I was just leaving myself, Hagrid.  Can I apparate you back to Hogwarts?”

“Ah, no! No!” Hagrid shuddered.  “Don’t like to apparate, me.”  His expression suddenly brightened.  “Maybe I can borrow Black’s bike?”

“Crime scene, Hagrid!” Moody snapped.

Hagrid grimaced.  “Right.”  He took a step back.  “I’d best get going to the pub then.  I think they still have a Floo I can use.”  He lumbered away without another word.

Tony sent a bemused look in Moody’s direction.  “Is he always like that?”

“He’s got a good heart, but, yes,” Moody sighed heavily. 

“He said Dumbledore sent him to get Harry,” Tony mused out loud.  “How did Dumbledore know that there was an attack and that Harry survived?”

“Or conversely that James and Lily were dead?” Moody nodded.  “I was wondering that myself.”

“Or that it was safe to just send Hagrid to collect a baby?” Tony continued.

“Good questions all, DiNozzo,” Moody said.  “We could use you in the Aurors.”

Tony smiled with a touch of bitterness.  “You might think so, but you know Crouch didn’t want me.”

“He’s an arse,” Moody declared loudly.  He glanced up the road where Hagrid was just disappearing around a corner.  “You’d best be going.  Once Albus finds out his grand plan went awry, he’ll start poking his nose in everywhere.”

“Right,” Tony said.  He saluted Moody and apparated home.

His living room was empty.

He made his way to the spare bedroom and found his guests sacked out asleep on the bed. 

Tony watched them for a long moment before shaking himself out of his reverie. 

He should get some rest himself, Tony thought determinedly and ignored his own want to crawl onto the bed beside them to head to his own room.

o-O-o

Sirius was already in the kitchen watching Harry messily feeding himself some cooled porridge and ignoring his own serving when Tony staggered in feeling like he’d gotten no sleep.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee drew Tony like a moth to the pot and he poured himself a generous mug, doused it liberally with cream and sugar, and drank down a gulp with a sigh of satisfaction, closing his eyes in bliss.  He reopened them to find Sirius staring at him.

Tony raised an eyebrow in mute query.

Sirius blushed and dropped his gaze to his porridge.  “There’s some more porridge in the pot if you want some.”

Tony murmured his thanks and a wand-wave had the breakfast reheated and in a bowl in front of him, liberally loaded with jam.

“Stawbee!” Harry reached out with his hands and the pot of jam started floating towards him.

“You already had jam,” Sirius said plucking the pot from the air. 

Harry pouted.

He looked adorable.

Tony opened his mouth to…

“No,” Sirius pointed at him.  “You can’t give into the pout.”

Tony stuffed a spoonful of porridge in his mouth and shrugged an apology at the still pouting baby.  He watched as Sirius coaxed him into eating a banana instead.

“You’re a good father,” Tony commented.

Sirius’ face crumpled for a second before he rallied.  “I just hope I can be enough for him now.”

Tony cleared his throat and brought him up to date on the happenings at the bank and with Moody.

“Hagrid?!” Sirius looked dumbfounded.  “Dumbledore sent Hagrid?”

“Moody and I wondered at it ourselves,” Tony said dryly.  “Do you know how he would have known about the events of the attack?”

Sirius frowned.  “No, there were no monitoring charms or magical artefacts because they could compromise the Fidelius.  James checked the cottage after Dumbledore left to make sure he hadn’t left anything anyway.”

“How about outside on the street?” asked Tony.

Sirius shook his head but stopped abruptly.  “The batty old woman next door – the historian, Bathilda Bagshot.  She’s probably Dumbledore’s mole on the street.  She used to babysit Dumbledore.  Lily would take Harry round for tea before the Fidelius.”

“She could have told him that the Fidelius was down,” Tony theorised.

“Which meant he would know James was dead,” Sirius murmured. 

Tony hummed.  “He wouldn’t know about Lily dying or Harry surviving though unless she went into the house.  If she had been diligently watching, she would have seen your arrival, but not your exit, right?”

“Right,” Sirius rubbed his head.  The cut and bruise which had marred his forehead was fully healed but the gesture spoke to the lingering ache.

Tony pressed his lips together.  “You mentioned you heard someone enter which made you flee, but if she was there, I don’t know why she would say to Dumbledore that Harry was there.”

“The crib was buried by rubble.”  Sirius murmured thoughtfully.  “I don’t think Bagshot would enter the cottage, she barely left hers, but…Dumbledore had a spy in the Death Eaters.  We never knew who it was, but it would make sense that Dumbledore might have sent them as soon as the Fidelius went down.”

Tony nodded.  “Maybe they got disturbed before they could check if Harry was fine.”

“Or had instructions to simply check on James and Lily and get out,” Sirius said.  “They might have been concerned at leaving evidence of their presence there behind.”  He frowned.  “Dumbledore can be…cold sometimes.  Lily argued with him once because he wouldn’t let the…uh, the lot of us investigate Dorcas Meadows’ death; said it wouldn’t be any benefit to identify which of the bastards had killed her and was a waste of time.”  He waved a hand.  “Well, I’m paraphrasing – he used more flowery words than that, but that was the upshot.”

Tony still felt the whole thing stunk.

Sirius squirmed in his chair.  “We should talk about the soulmate thing,” he blurted out.

Tony raised an eyebrow.  “You lost your spouses yesterday, Sirius,” he said gently, “we don’t have to talk about the soulmate thing right now.”

Sirius shook his head.  “We should.  I should explain and…”

“I think I’ve worked most of it now,” Tony interrupted carefully. 

Sirius stared at him.

“Look, we already know that your mother kept my original request to your parents to be allowed a correspondence with you from you when I sent it,” Tony said.  “She also hid your own notification from the International Soulmate Registry from you.”

“It was easy for her,” Sirius admitted.  “I was at Hogwarts and already spending most of my holidays with the Potters.”

“Arcturus apologised to me for not keeping better control of her,” Tony said with a shrug.  “I chose not to challenge her though after my Uncle Clive told me about your estrangement from your parents; it was well known in British society.” 

He had been finishing his last year at the Academy and looking forward to starting work as an Auror.  He’d wrongly figured he had more time to reach out to Sirius and there had been the age consideration… 

“I chose to leave things alone until you finished Hogwarts,” Tony continued.  “But then my plans to approach you went sideways when my family were killed.”

Sirius sighed heavily and stared down at his coffee.

“Either way, from everything I learned yesterday, you vowed to James during the Summer when you were sixteen to help him create his heir due to his sterility in repayment of sanctuary, and he had already sworn you to secrecy about his condition,” Tony continued.  “The only way to successfully achieve any of the rituals you and he would need for conception of a child of his blood is through a bonded marriage, either in triad or as a male-only duo so that complication would have existed even if we had met as I had planned.”

Sirius looked up at him.  “If I had known I had a soulmate before that Summer…” he sighed again shakily and shook his head.  “I was dreadful to you.”

“Your mother tossed the information out that you had a soulmate as an emotional bomb to hurt you on your graduation and lied when she said that I had rejected you,” Tony said with a grimace, remembering how a bedraggled and hurt Sirius had turned up at Paddington Manor. 

He’d accused Tony of conspiring with Walburga Black; of being Dark.  He’d yelled that he was better off without a soulmate since Tony had been terrible enough to agree with his mother.  Sirius hadn’t been interested in anything Tony had tried to say and had apparated away.

“You had a right to be angry at the knowledge being kept from you and I told you when you apologised at the beginning of the year that I meant what I said in my letter to you; that you were entirely forgiven,” Tony said softly.

Sirius nodded slowly.  “I’ve treasured your letter.”

Tony pressed his lips together.  He’d waited a few weeks after their stormy confrontation to write Sirius a letter; he’d hoped it would clear the air and create a new beginning between them, but Sirius had remained silent.

“I just,” Sirius began hesitantly.  “I wasn’t brave enough to reply and when I talked with James about it…just letting you go seemed like the best option given how complicated it all was with the vows I’d made to him.”  He flushed red.  “I should have written to you if only to say that.”

Tony wondered exactly what Potter had said.  He was sceptical about whether the advice would have been in Sirius’ best interests since if Potter had acted with Sirius in mind, he would have released him from his vows once the knowledge Sirius had a soulmate was known to him.  The one-time Tony had approached Potter, over a year after the letter, hoping that perhaps Sirius’ best friend might help him, Potter had simply warned him away from Sirius; told him to let Sirius go.

Sirius sighed.  “And within the year I was married, and I figured that was it.”

Which probably explained Potter’s warning to Tony.  He had been protecting his marriage and the future of his House. 

Tony sipped his coffee and regarded Sirius over the rim of his mug.  The younger wizard was staring down into the depths of his own mug. 

“May I ask you a question?” asked Tony.

Sirius looked up, surprise in his silver eyes.  He nodded quickly.

Tony darted a look at Harry.  “Were you in love with them?”

“I loved them, of course, but no; not in the way you mean,” Sirius hurried out.  He grimaced, looking away from Sirius towards Harry.  “We were only intimate in ritual.”

Any sympathy Tony might have had for Potter disappeared in a snap.

“What?”  He lifted a hand as Sirius blushed bright red again.  “No, sorry.  You don’t have to answer that.  It’s none of my business.”

Sirius took a gulp of his coffee and avoided Tony’s gaze.  “I think James wanted to offer more to me but…Lily only really wanted James and I hate saying it but as a muggleborn, she didn’t really understand the magical contract between James and I.  As far as she was concerned, the marriage was nothing but an arrangement to create this little lad and…and any siblings.”

“Is that why you didn’t seek a divorce after Harry’s birth?”

Sirius nodded.  “Lily wanted a large family and James wanted to give her what she wanted.”  He shrugged.  “I figured if I couldn’t have my soulmate, it didn’t matter if I married and never divorced them.”

Tony breathed in sharply. 

“But after I helped you heal from the curse in January, I was miserable, especially because…” Sirius continued, looking up shyly, “James and I thought the witch who came to pick you up was your lover.”

“Abby?” Tony blinked in surprise.  “She’s a friend.” 

He had thought he and Sirius had left things on a better note and had been disappointed that Sirius’ sincere apology had not been followed up again.  Tony hid his grimace in his mug; he should have just gotten over the fear of being rejected, Tony told himself sternly, and gotten in touch with Sirius himself.

Sirius nodded, his fingers tapping his mug restlessly.  “Lily said as much when I finally confessed to her why I was so unhappy.” He absently picked up a slice of apple and put it on Harry’s plate.  “We sat down as a triad then and agreed I would help them have another child and after that, I would divorce them.”

“Was Lily…”

“No,” Sirius shook his head.  “We had one try at the ritual in the Summer which was unsuccessful, and then…Dumbledore told James and Lily there was a prophecy about a boy born in July the previous year who would have the power to defeat Voldemort.  According to his spy, Voldemort was going to hunt down the potential candidates and kill them.”

“That’s why they went into hiding,” Tony realised out loud.  He’d always wondered at the reason.

Sirius nodded.  “I’ll need to speak to Dumbledore about the prophecy.  He insisted that the meeting was only with James and Lily and we couldn’t think of a good excuse for me to be there.”

Tony frowned.  Between everything Sirius had said and Dumbledore sending Hagrid to get Harry, he suspected that Moody’s warning of Dumbledore poking his nose in was going to be true sooner than later. 

He shook the thought away and looked over at his tired and worn-looking soulmate.  He took a deep breath.

“Sirius Orion Black, I would be honoured if we could start afresh in the matter of our soul bond,” Tony stated clearly.  “With your permission, when your mourning period is over, I would dearly love to begin a soulmate courtship.”  

Sirius’ cheeks pinkened and his eyes went bright.  “Yes, that’s…” he caught his breath and straightened, looking directly at him.  “Lord Paddington, I accept your offer and give you my permission.”

Harry clapped his messy hands loudly, babbling brightly.

Tony grinned at his soulmate and Sirius smiled back at him as they looked at each other in wonder that they’d finally gotten past all their stumbling.

o-O-o

The summons to an emergency session of the Wizengamot had arrived mid-morning. 

There had been a quiet debate with Arcturus Black over the Floo on whether Sirius should attend, but ultimately all three of them agreed it was better for Sirius to remain guarding Harry.  They had added a few more security measures which made Tony happier about leaving them alone. 

Tony straightened the cuffs on the elegant grey suit he wore under his lurid Wizengamot robe.  He sat down in the Paddington seat.  Arcturus met his eyes briefly as he took the Black seat across the room.  They had agreed that it would be sensible to obscure Tony’s involvement for as long as possible.

Richard Bones slid into his seat looking like a child playing dress-up.  He had been barely graduated from Hogwarts when his older brother Edgar had fallen to Death Eaters. 

The war had taken a terrible toll, Tony reflected.

A furious-looking Frank Longbottom hurried into his seat beside Tony raising eyebrows all over the chamber.  Augusta Longbottom had sat proxy in the seat for months while the couple and their young child had gone on a retreat.

Across the chamber, Abraxas Malfoy swept in with his son and a gaggle of his dark compatriots in his wake.  Most wore polite masks of impassivity but a few looked worried; Goyle kept touching his arm as though it pained him. 

They all took their seats.

Albus Dumbledore swept in beside a disgruntled Bartemius Crouch Senior and the Minister, Millicent Bagnold.  Moody followed them in limping and looking like a man who had taken one too many Pepper-Up Potions.

The Chief Warlock Phineus Wriggleham banged the gavel and brought the chamber to order.  “Minister, you demanded this session: state your reasons.”

Millicent Bagnold had once been a beautiful woman and her beauty had simply matured as her face had aged.  Her grey hair was swept back into a high bun; her make-up and jewellery were discreet.  She was dressed well in a black blazer and skirt combination married with a pale blue blouse; the fashion for fussy bows and flouncy sleeves did not suit her.

She cleared her throat audibly.  “It is my grave duty to inform the Wizengamot that last night the House of Potter lost its Lord and Lady in a fight with the terrorist known as Lord Vol…Voldemort.”

There were startled cries around the room.

“As you can see,” Bagnold rallied, “his name is no longer taboo because he was also defeated in the confrontation.”

“How?” demanded Tiberius Ogden loudly enough that his voice carried.

Bagnold hesitated before she grimaced.  “Head Auror Alastor Moody has led the investigation.  I hand over to him to take you through events.”

Moody stepped up.  He reached inside his jacket and drew out two boxes he placed in front of him on the lectern.  “At eleven o’clock last night, the DMLE was informed that they had been an attack on the Potters at their cottage in Godric’s Hollow.  For those of us capable of understanding magical theory, the fact that the witness could tell me the location revealed that whatever Fidelius the Potters had in place had been destroyed with the anchor.”

Another murmur swept around the chamber.

Tony let his gaze wander, taking in who was in the know and who was not.

“At the site, we found the bodies of James and Lily Potter,” Moody continued.  “Forensic examination at the scene found that they had both been struck with the Killing Curse.  James Potter also showed the signs of magical exhaustion and had a number of wounds from cutting spells, bludgeon curses and such.”

Tony’s hand curled into a fist at the less than well-hidden glee from around the Malfoy contingent.

“Their child, Harold James Potter, survived the attack,” Moody said.  “Their attacker is believed to be the wizard known as Lord Voldemort aka Tom Marvolo Riddle.  His robes and wand were found at the scene, along with bodily ash bearing his magical signature.”

Tony watched with satisfaction as the glee was wiped away.  Significant looks were exchanged between some of the younger set although the older purebloods in that faction kept their stoicism.

“The Head of the DOM will explain.”

Moody stepped back and Tom Morrow stepped forward.  He wore a black suit and tie, his black robes of office draped elegantly over them. 

“Forensic analysis of the Potter cottage confirms that Lily Potter constructed a runic ward in the nursery, anchored by her son.  Voldemort activated the ward by stepping into the nursery with the intent to kill,” Morrow continued smoothly.  “When he killed Lily Potter, her magic charged the runic array and when Voldemort cast the Killing Curse at her son, the array protected her son and destroyed Voldemort.” He sighed.  “It was a brilliant piece of magic, typical of Lady Potter, and the world is less today because of her loss.”

Moody moved back to the lectern.  He tapped the first box.  “This is all that physically remains of Voldemort.  I’ll be tossing that into the Veil.”  He tapped the second box.  “This box contains the remains of the wizard Peter Pettigrew.  He was the Secret Keeper for the Potters.  He confessed to giving the secret to Voldemort of his own free will before he decided to commit suicide by Auror on a street filled with muggles two hours ago.”

Longbottom raised his wand and Wriggleham signalled for him to speak. 

“Where is Harold Potter?” demanded Longbottom, his eyes slashing angrily towards Dumbledore.

“Safe with his guardian, Sirius Orion Black,” Moody answered shortly.

Tony watched amused at Dumbledore’s visible shock before the grandfatherly wizard regained control of himself.

“Then he must be retrieved!” Dumbledore declared out of order.                

Arcturus lifted his wand before Longbottom could. 

Wriggleham gestured at him even as he glared at Dumbledore.  “Watch yourself, Albus.  Speak, Lord Black.”

“I’m interested to know the reason why the Headmaster of Hogwarts believes Harold Potter be taken from the safety of his legal guardian?” asked Arcturus pointedly.

Dumbledore puffed up importantly.  “There are matters of magic at work here, Lord Black, that you cannot comprehend, but simply; Harry Potter vanquished a Dark Lord and his followers will want retribution.  Your grandson was the original Secret Keeper for the Potters; we have no way of knowing his complicity in arguing for Pettigrew to take that role in order to open up a weakness for Voldemort to exploit.”

Arcturus didn’t bother to light his wand.  “Careful, Dumbledore!  Are you accusing my Heir and grandson of a crime?”

“And are you seriously claiming that Harry Potter did anything more active in defeating Voldemort than sit in the midst of his mother’s protective array?” added Griselda Marchbanks huffily.  “What?  Is a witch defeating a Dark Lord impossible to believe?”

Dumbledore raised a placating hand.  “I much admire the magic that Lily Potter constructed in the protection of her son, but the child anchored the array not she.”  He turned to Arcturus.  “And as for your grandson,” his expression turned grave, “I would not have thought Sirius capable of such treachery, but it could be the case that he was not acting under his own volition.  If he did fall foul to such manipulation, he is not an appropriate guardian for Harry Potter.”

Arcturus harrumphed.  “What you are proposing Albus Dumbledore is that this Wizengamot rule against the wishes of James and Lily Potter in their last will and testament; that we give permission for a child to be forcibly removed from a guardian he knows and loves after a horrendous trauma, and where he is despite your words safe, and hand him over to you.” 

Tony was pleased to see a flush of shame cross Dumbledore’s face.  He shifted position and scanned the rest of the Wizengamot.  Many of the members were looking disgruntled and some were openly sneering at Dumbledore.

“Well?  Do we want to set a legal precedent that the Headmaster of Hogwarts can walk into this chamber and demand for our stated legal wishes about the future of our heirs to be ignored or not?” demanded Arcturus.

“Not,” Tiberius said. 

Dumbledore turned to his old friend and Tiberius pointed at him.

“Even you cannot believe the Wizengamot would do such a thing, Albus,” Tiberius said dryly.

Dumbledore looked towards Wriggleham.  “I believe the will has not yet been executed.  A child’s safety is at stake; I swear my magic on it.  I ask for the Wizengamot to trust in all the years I have lived in the Light to understand and accept that I do this for the Light, for Harry’s safety.  The will must be sealed and Harry entrusted to me to see to his safety.”

Wriggleham held up his hand before anybody else could speak.  “The Potters’ will was executed last night.  Sirius Black was accepted as the regent and proxy of the House, and his guardianship is legally acknowledged and registered with the Ministry.  I saw the notifications myself before this emergency session was requested.”

Dumbledore blinked back his shock.

“And I have a letter written in James Potter’s own hand exonerating Sirius Black’s name; he wasn’t their Secret Keeper, and it was James who made the final decision,” Moody barked beside him.  “I already told you that!”  He pointed at the box containing Pettigrew.  “Not to mention this arse confirmed that he tried to kill Black last night!”

“Who executed the will?” Dumbledore demanded.

“I did,” Arcturus declared.  He raised an eyebrow at the wave of mutterings.  “It is as though you have all forgotten that the Blacks and the Potters are family.”  He stared back at a horrified Dumbledore.  “My grandson sought sanctuary, Dumbledore, and he and his son were granted it.”

“His son?” blurted out a stuttering Malcolm Avery down the row from him.

“Sirius was married to James and Lily,” Frank spoke up; his voice carrying around the chamber forcefully.  “Their son was created in ritual because James was sterile.  Harry Potter is biologically the child of all three parents.”  He sighed and motioned at Arcturus.  “Apologies for revealing Sirius’ secrets, Lord Black.  James told me that there was no-one more dedicated to ensuring James’ situation was secret than Sirius, but I rather think James would prefer the truth to be known and for Sirius and their son to be protected.”

Tony wondered if James had confided in Frank because of the custody concern; Alice was publicly recognised as Harry’s godmother and would have been the obvious choice to look after Harry after the deaths of James and Lily.

Frank turned to look at Dumbledore.  “If Alice and I had died last night at the hands of Voldemort, would you be here arguing to take Neville from my mother, Albus?”

Dumbledore regarded him sombrely.  “You know why I ask to see to Harry Potter’s protection, Franklyn.  It is my duty to see him safe.”

“No,” Arcturus cut in, “it is your duty to keep your long nose out of the private business of the Houses of Black and Potter.  Harold Potter is safe with his last remaining parent, and you have no right to interfere with that.”

“Where is he?” demanded Dumbledore.

“Even if I wanted to tell you, I couldn’t,” Arcturus said smugly.

Dumbledore blinked. 

“You’ve put them under a Fidelius,” Moody nodded.  “Smart.”

Tony raised his wand. 

Wriggleham recognised him.

“Perhaps we should vote on the matter and move on?” suggested Tony smoothly.  “If Voldemort is defeated than we need to focus on dismantling what was left of his terrorist organisation and capturing the remaining Death Eaters who committed crimes in his name.”

“Agreed,” Wriggleham said.  “The Wizengamot will vote on this single statement: the last will and testament of James and Lily Potter should be executed without interference; aye or nay.”

Tony breathed a sigh of relief as the vote carried almost unanimously except for a few who were clearly Dumbledore’s men.

“Your request is denied, Albus,” Wriggleham stated firmly.  “And do not test this body on the matter.” He pointed at the empty chair where Dumbledore usually sat as a recipient of the Order of Merlin.  “Either take your seat while we debate measures relating to wrapping up this war or remove yourself from the chamber.”

Tony watched as Dumbledore sat and turned his attention back to the debate.

o-O-o

It felt weird to be back to work like normal, Tony considered as he sent his latest report back to Magical Interpol.  He eased back from his desk and rolled his shoulders to ease the tension that had settled into his neck.

It had been a long couple of months since the Potters had died.  A Special War Commission had been created to dismantle the last of Voldemort’s organisation and Tony had been asked by Morrow to lead the DOM team assigned to it.  Several Death Eaters had proclaimed they had been inducted under duress, but most had been found guilty and charged.  Of course, some were just batshit insane and had gone down in a hail of spells – the Lestranges and Barty Crouch Junior amongst them.  Crouch Senior had resigned in the wake of his son’s death and Amelia Bones was a much-appreciated replacement.

Narcissa Malfoy had begged sanctuary in the House of Black for her son when she had been remanded to Azkaban since her husband and father-in-law had already been executed for the murder of Edgar Bones and his family.   Andromeda Tonks had agreed to take on the guardianship of the young Draco Malfoy.

He wasn’t the only pureblood Heir being raised by guardians; many of Draco’s young compatriots were in the same boat while their parents served time.

The clock across from his desk chimed.

It was New Year’s Eve and almost time to leave.  He and Sirius had a quiet evening with Harry planned for the turn of the year, turning down an invitation from the Longbottoms, who had been fantastic and staunch friends to them.

Tony’s eyes flickered to the locked drawer of his desk.  Frank had approached him in the wake of the emergency session with a letter from James Potter.  Sirius was aware of the letter – Tony would never keep such a thing from him – but he had never asked to read it and Tony hoped he never would.  Tony had memorised the content…

Lord Paddington,

Sirius moved out of the cottage today.

Tomorrow, I will anchor a Fidelius spell to hide my family from Voldemort – to hide my son from him.  I sit here and know with certainty that neither I nor my wife will survive to raise him.  Is it terrible that I sacrificed Peter to the role of traitor than know Sirius would be tortured to death in an attempt to hide us?

Premonition is a hard gift to carry.      

I offer my sincerest apologies for interfering in the soul bond between you and Sirius. 

I want to tell you that I did it all because of a vision of my son defeating Voldemort with my hair, Lily’s eyes and Sirius’ smile – and that is true but it’s not the whole truth.

I’ve loved Sirius from the moment we met on the train just as I fell in love with Lily.  When he promised to help me create a child, I thought I’d found a way to include him in my future forever; we would be a triad.  But then he found out he had a soulmate – you.

Sirius is an honourable man; he keeps his promises.  If I were more honourable, I would have let him go when you wrote to him before our marriage, when it was clear that you wished nothing more than to know him and for him to know you.  I should have given you both the chance to bond and love each other.

It’s become clear these past months that he yearns for you.

Sirius loves Lily and I – I’ve never doubted it, but while Lily loves him, she has never wanted a true triad between us outside of the rituals required to create our children.  He deserves to find a love that makes him whole.

He’ll come to you when we are gone.  I know you will give him these things anyway, but please love him, protect him, be his forever.

And if you can find it in your heart to forgive me, raise and love my Harry with him.

In your debt, James Potter    

A short rap yanked Tony out of his musings.  He recognised Morrow’s magical signature hovering outside the door and called for him to enter.

Morrow stepped inside and nodded at him sharply.  “Good work on the Arling case.  Our colleagues in France just arrested Sophia Arling’s uncle for her murder.”

Tony smiled.  “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”

Morrow nodded.  “I heard Bones made an offer to transfer you to the Aurors.”

Tony raised his eyebrows.  “I turned her down.”

“So she said when she came to demand that I change your mind,” Morrow said dryly.  “Truth be told I was surprised.  I know you came to the department only because Crouch refused your application to the Aurors.  You’re an outstanding investigator, Tony.”

Tony found himself blushing.  He waved a hand absently.  “It was kind of a surprise to me that when it was offered, I realised I didn’t want it.  I’m happy here, sir.”

Morrow nodded.  “Well, I’m pleased you’re staying.”  He turned for the door.  “Head home, Tony.  You deserve an early finish.”

“Thanks, sir,” Tony said sincerely.  “Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year,” Morrow smiled and left.

Tony packed up.  He was shrugging into his very special woollen coat – a Christmas present from Sirius which he adored – when his open doorway was filled with an elderly wizard.

“Lord Paddington, may I have a moment?” asked Dumbledore politely.

Tony glanced at him and saw the determined tilt of Dumbledore’s bearded chin.  “A moment,” he agreed calmly, settling the coat into place anyway. “I was on my way home.”

Dumbledore nodded and entered, closing the door behind him.  “I understand from Hagrid that you were at the cottage when he arrived to rescue Harry.”

Ah.

Tony was surprised that it had taken so long for Dumbledore to confront him on that, but clearly he’d only just found out.

“I was,” Tony said simply.  “Both Moody and I were surprised you sent him in such circumstances, but we guessed your spy, Snape was it?” That had come out during the Commission.  “Snape only stayed to verify Lily and James were dead and made no attempt to rescue Harry himself.”

“He feared that he would be accused of kidnapping given his circumstances,” Dumbledore replied with a touch of defensiveness.

Tony hummed.

“May I ask why you were there?” Dumbledore said sharply.  “Your position investigates mysteries not active criminal investigations.”

“Actually I do a lot of criminal consultation,” Tony replied mildly.  “However, you’re right; I wasn’t there as part of the investigation.  I was asked to deliver a sealed letter from James Potter to Moody.”

Dumbledore’s lips compressed with displeasure.  “Why you?”

“Perhaps because Sirius Black knew I could be trusted with the task,” Tony said dryly.

“You know where he and Harry are located?” pressed Dumbledore.

“Even if I did, I wouldn’t be able to tell you,” Tony retorted.  He reached for his cashmere scarf, a brief wave of his wand had it wrapped snugly around his neck and tucked into his coat. 

Dumbledore frowned at him.  “Harry must be kept safe…”

“You’ve been looking for him for over two months and have failed to find him,” Tony pointed out.  “I think he’s safe enough.”

“He has a destiny…”

“He is Sirius’ child,” Tony stated bluntly.  “The DOM already has a team working to find Voldemort’s disembodied spirit, Headmaster.”  It had been slightly horrifying when the goblins had confirmed Voldemort was still alive according to their magic.  “Perhaps Harry will still have a role to play in his ultimate banishment from this plane, but you would be better served helping the DOM than trying to impose your own view of how Harry should be raised on the boy and his father.”

A loud knock sounded on the door.

Frank Longbottom opened and stuck his head around it at Tony’s call.  “Ready to go, Tony?”

Dumbledore’s gaze sharpened on the former Auror.  “Frank.”

“Albus,” Frank said politely.

“All ready, Frank.  I believe we’re done, Headmaster,” Tony said evenly.  “Have a Happy New Year.”  He picked up his black satchel and waved a wand to turn the blinds down on his window.     

Dumbledore sniffed and left.

“That man is a menace,” Frank said, not even waiting until Dumbledore was out of earshot.  He waved his wand over Tony and declared him free of tracers.

“Thanks for the save,” Tony said agreeably. 

“Come back with me,” Frank offered.  “You can Floo from our place.”

Tony accepted the invite.  He stayed long enough at the Longbottoms to say hello to a bubbly Neville and a blooming Alice who was beginning to sport a visible pregnancy bump.  When they’d made the announcement the Longbottoms had jokingly pointed out that they’d had little to do in hiding.

Tony tumbled through their Floo and into the reception room of the small house he and Sirius had bought together. 

He glanced out of the window at the already dark sky with a sigh.  The room had a great view of the Scottish coastline and the ocean beyond when it was daylight.

He hung up his coat and satchel in the hall before he went in search of Sirius and Harry.

He found them in the large kitchen at the back of the house.  One side was kitted out with the usual cabinets, a lovely old Aga, and a deep farmhouse sink in front of a window which overlooked the back garden.  The other side had large French doors leading to the brick patio, a small round table where they ate most nights and a gated play area for Harry.

Harry was happily playing with a magical trainset and waved at Tony.

Tony stooped to offer Harry a kiss on his forehead and picked the boy up when he made grabby hands.  There had been a traumatic trip to a specialist clinic to deal with the scar and the remnant of Voldemort’s soul left behind and contained by the runic protection Lily had left behind.  The scar was hardly visible anymore and Tony was glad Harry would barely notice it when he got older.

Sirius turned from the stove, looking a little flustered.  “Hey, you’re early.”

“I think Morrow kicked the whole department out,” Tony said, walking over to greet Sirius.

They were taking things slowly and as much as Tony wanted to just lean in and kiss him, he refrained.  Instead, he looked at the meal Sirius was prepping and raised his eyebrow. 

“Mushroom risotto?” Tony sniffed appreciatively.  “Smells great.”

Sirius smiled shyly.  “Why don’t you put this little trouble-maker down for a nap and get changed?  It’s almost ready.”

The night slipped by easily.

The meal was lovely; the risotto accompanied by a crisp dry white wine from Italy.  There was even lemon gelato for dessert.

They retired to the cosy den with its walls of bookshelves and roaring fireplace to see in the New Year.

Harry fell asleep on Sirius watching an old movie and they popped him onto the rug covered with a cosy blanket.

Sirius returned to the sofa and cleared his throat.

Tony immediately gave him his attention, letting the movie play on the background.  “Everything alright?”

Sirius nodded.  “You’ve been very patient with me.  You’ve done nothing since I turned up on your doorstep but protect Harry and I; you’ve given us a home, looked after us – we’ve wanted for nothing.”

“It’s no hardship,” Tony said gently.  “You lost people you loved, Sirius.  You’re allowed time to grieve.”

Sirius nodded slowly.  “I know, but I also need to look forward not back, and…” he drew a box from his pocket.  “My grandfather agreed when I asked him for this and he came by this afternoon with it.  I would be honoured for you to wear it; for you to be a part of mine and my son’s life from now and always.”

Tony took the box with fingers which trembled a little.  He opened it and took in the sight of the official Black promise ring.  He cleared his throat.  “I’d be honoured to wear it.”

Sirius smiled warmly, his silver eyes swimming with unhidden relief.  “Let me.”  He took the ring from the box and slid it onto Tony’s finger; it fitted perfectly.  He looked at Tony with a hopeful expression.  “May I kiss you?”

“Any time you want,” Tony said with a breathless laugh.

Sirius grinned and then they were kissing.

It was soft and gentle sliding into heat and want quickly.  It was everything Tony had once thought he would never have with his soulmate.

Sirius eased back and they snuggled down onto the sofa, looking at the movie but not really watching it; taking comfort in each other.

The clock struck midnight.

Harry babbled in his sleep.

Sirius snickered under his breath.  “Happy New Year to you too, Pronglet.”

Tony kissed him gently.  “Happy New Year.” 

Sirius beamed at him and snuggled back into their cuddle.  Tony pulled him closer.

Dumbledore would be likely remain a problem for them, and if James Potter’s vision stayed true, Harry would have to face Voldemort in the future.  But Tony would be there for Sirius and Harry no matter what.

You didn’t have to ask, Tony thought loudly, hoping his words would travel to the spirit of James Potter; I’ll love them forever.    

fin.