After the court was dismissed, Harry hurried down the steps and stopped awkwardly in front of Dumbledore and Sirius Black.
He did not know what expression his godfather would wear when looking at him.
Would he dislike him?
Dumbledore gently patted Sirius's shoulder, silently prompting him to turn around.
"Hello," Harry said stiffly.
Sirius straightened and turned.
He saw Harry.
Those vivid green eyes, filled with hope, tension, and unmistakable unease.
Sirius froze.
If not for Lily's unmistakable eyes, Harry was James all over again.
For a brief, dizzying moment, Sirius was transported back to his youth, back to the reckless, radiant days when he and James roamed the corridors of Hogwarts like kings of the world, laughing, daring, alive.
Then weakness surged through his body, dragging him back to reality.
James was dead.
Dead because of his own foolish decision.
Dead because of Peter's betrayal.
"Harry…" Sirius said, equally uncertain.
In truth, he knew almost nothing about the boy before him. Only that he had been James's best friend. Only that he had been named godfather before Harry was even born.
Eleven years in Azkaban for a mistake he believed was his own. That alone proved how deeply he had loved James.
But would Harry accept him?
Both of them fell silent.
Dumbledore, smiling kindly, broke the tension.
"Sirius, it has been more than ten years since you last saw Harry."
"Yes… yes, it has." Sirius nodded and gestured with his hand. "The last time I saw him, he was about this small… Harry, I even held you back then. You grabbed my hair."
He looked at Harry carefully, still holding himself back, and added softly, "You know… I'm your godfather."
"I know," Harry replied.
"Your father appointed me your guardian." Sirius swallowed. "I failed James and Lily before. I failed you. But now my name is cleared. I want to make up for it. If you're willing… we could live together. I could take care of you."
Harry felt like his heart had taken flight.
"Leave the Dursleys? Of course! That would be brilliant! My parents left me some money. We could buy a small house somewhere quiet, "
"A house?" Sirius suddenly straightened, a spark of confidence flashing through him. "Harry, I'm not short on money. And I own plenty of properties. Do you prefer London? Or Yorkshire? Liverpool? Anywhere you like."
For a fleeting moment, they were already planning their new life.
And then Dumbledore stepped in, the gentle destroyer of beautiful dreams.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible," he said calmly. "Harry cannot leave the Dursleys."
"Why?!" father and godson demanded at the same time, identical outrage flashing across their faces.
"For Harry's safety."
A silencing charm had already formed around the three of them.
"Voldemort was defeated," Dumbledore continued quietly, "but he is not gone. He will return. And when he does, Harry will be his target."
"I'll protect him!" Sirius burst out. "With my life!"
"Sirius…" Harry felt warmth flood his chest. It was the first time he had ever felt something like this.
"But if Voldemort returns," Harry pressed, catching a flaw in the logic, "wouldn't I be more vulnerable at the Dursleys'?"
"No," Dumbledore shook his head. "You will be safest there."
He explained patiently.
"Lily sacrificed her life to cast an ancient magic. It is that magic which saved you. It still lives in your blood. That is why you can resist Voldemort in ways others cannot."
"To maintain that protection, you must return to your aunt's home once every year and continue to call it home until you come of age."
Silence.
Both Harry and Sirius struggled to process it.
At last Sirius spoke, reluctant but resigned.
"I understand… But I can visit him, can't I? Take him out for a few days now and then?"
"That is perfectly acceptable," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "Last year Harry spent part of the summer at the Burrow."
"The Weasleys?" Sirius laughed faintly. "Old friends."
"Are you finished?" came a cold voice from behind them.
Sirius turned, and his smile vanished.
"Snape. You're still here?"
Despite Snape's testimony helping him, Sirius had no intention of offering gratitude.
"I'm responsible for returning Potter home," Snape said flatly. "Unless you would prefer to do it yourself?"
He glanced pointedly at Sirius's prison-worn appearance.
"Perhaps change your clothes first. The Dursleys may not appreciate their nephew associating with someone who looks like an escaped criminal."
"I'm in too good a mood to argue with you," Sirius shot back, though he did glare.
Then he turned to Harry and squeezed his shoulder.
"Go home for now. I'll sort myself out and come to see you soon. Number Four, Privet Drive, right?"
"Right. See you soon," Harry replied reluctantly.
Snape wasted no time dragging him out of the courtroom.
Dumbledore watched them leave, smiling faintly.
"Severus is a good man, in his own way."
"Do you feel guilty saying that?" Sirius snorted, already slipping back into his familiar reckless tone now that the worst was over.
"Oh, and there's something else I wanted to ask."
"Yes?" Dumbledore turned.
"I'd like to thank Tom Riddle in person," Sirius said earnestly. "If he hadn't discovered Peter through that map, I'd never have seen Harry again. I'd never have known the traitor was still alive."