Chapter 1700 - Ch: 1-4

Summary:

The Hero They Needed By prodessorquill101

What would happen if Sirius took care of Harry instead of going after Pettigrew? How will Hogwarts react when an Americanized, anti-hero Harry it forced to return to England? Can they handle his take no shit, gives no fucks attitude? Harry/Tonks.Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Fantasy/Romance - Chapters: 24 - Words: 91,686 - Reviews: 165 - Favs: 1,095 - Follows: 1,448 - Updated: Feb 26 - Published: Dec 1, 2023 - Harry P., Sirius B., Andromeda T., Ted T.

Chapter 1

In a small flat buried among the maze of streets that was Muggle London, Sirius Black sat on his couch, staring deep into the flickering flames of a dying fire. It was all Hallows Eve, and while Muggle children walked door to door with their parents all across the country in search of sweets, the dark-haired young man brooded silently with only a bottle of gin and his worries to keep him company.

All night, something had felt wrong. A feeling of impending doom hung over him like dark clouds threatening a storm. Sirius had tried for hours to put off his worry, convincing himself it was just paranoia. Now, as the clock neared ten, it became too much. Setting his half-empty glass on the stand, he stood and made his way over to the fireplace. He paused to grab a handful of grey, sparkling powder from a vase on the mantle and threw it on the glowing logs. Instantly, the fire roared back to life, bright green flames licking at the entrance of the chimney.

"The rat's nest," he called out loudly.

Dropping to his knees, Sirius closed his eyes and thrust his head into the flames. When he opened them again, he was looking around a dark, dingy living room.

"Peter!" he shouted. "Peter!"

Sirius waited several seconds for a reply but heard nothing. His heart began hammering in his chest as he pulled his head back and stood. Grabbing another handful of powder, he tossed it in carelessly.

"The rat's nest!" he yelled.

The moment the flames turned green, Sirius stepped into the fireplace, arms held tight across his chest. He started spinning as grate after grate flashed by, giving him a momentary glimpse into another witch or wizard's home. After a mental count of six, he bent his knees and prepared to land. In one smooth motion, he came to a stop, stepped forward into the living room he'd been looking at moments before, and drew his wand.

"Peter, are you here!?" Sirius shouted. "Peter!"

Making his way through the small, two-bedroom home of his childhood friend, he swiftly made his way towards one of the bedrooms, hoping to find Peter passed out on his bed. With a flick of his wand, he threw open the door with enough force that it cracked down the center and stopped in the doorway, his stomach sinking.

The room was empty. No Peter, no sheets, and no personal effects lying about. One of the wardrobe doors hung half open, revealing the inside to be as bare as the bedroom.

"No," Sirius whispered, his heart rejecting what his brain was screaming.

Spinning around, he raced back to the living room and lit his wand, peering keenly around the room. There were no signs of forced entry or a struggle. Another wave of his wand and a mumbled incantation showed the Wards Lily had cast were untouched.

Tightening his grip on his wand, he turned and sprinted towards the front door. A flick of his wand sent it flying off the hinges and into the yard. Running as fast as he could, Sirius reached the end of the driveway and twisted, his body curling in on itself until he vanished with a pop. Back in London, an identical pop sounded at the same time as he stepped out of thin air.

Barely breaking stride, Sirius sprinted to a canvas-covered lump sitting just outside his apartment building. Wrenching it off, he revealed a sleek, black motorbike underneath. He threw his leg over the seat, knocked the helmet off the handlebars, and righted the bike. A single kick made the engine roar to life. Heedless to the looks directed his way, he knocked the bike into gear and twisted the throttle.

Accelerating down the street, he turned at the first available alley, locking up the rear tires with a screech. The alley was just big enough for the bike and sidecar but it was short. Not quite long enough for a normal take-off.

"Fuck it," Sirius growled.

Gunning the engine, he popped the clutch and shot off down the alley. Knocking the bike into second, he accelerated rapidly towards the solid brick wall. Letting out a roar that matched the sound coming from his bike, Sirius wrenched back on the handlebars and flicked a switch with his thumb. He grunted as the bike lurched into the air and slammed tire first into the wall five feet up. In complete defiance of gravity and physics, the bike drove effortlessly up the wall. Shifting into third, he raced as fast as he could toward the edge of the roof. Flicking another button just as he cleared the roof, the bike continued on and disappeared into the inky black sky.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Sirius pinned the throttle and ran through the gears as he headed North towards the village of Godric's Hollow.

"I swear to Merlin, Peter, if anything happens to them because of you…," he growled under his breath.

The trip, even on his magically enchanted bike, seemed to take forever. That high, the air was cold and crisp, necessitating the use of several Warming Charms. Mercifully, the village lights came into view, and he began his descent. Uncaring about the Muggles that might see him, Sirius landed his bike in the middle of the street. Driving on the wrong side of the road and looking left, his heart dropped as James and Lily's house came into view.

A large section of wall was missing on the second floor and the front door was hanging crookedly, only the top hinge still connected. Bringing the bike to a screeching halt, Sirius leapt from the bike, his wand drawn, and through the wide-open doorway. Scanning around for threats, it took him a moment to notice the body lying crumpled at the bottom of the stairs.

"James!" Sirius yelled.

Racing forward, he slid on his knees and rolled him over. Brown eyes stared back at him blank and lifeless. A lump formed in Sirius' throat, his eyes burning as he stared at his best friend's face. Before he could drown in his grief, the sound of a baby crying had his head snapping up to look up the stairs.

"Harry," Sirius said.

Letting go of James, he took the stairs two at a time, wand held aloft. The air felt thick with magic as he peeked around through the door, ready and anxious for a fight. What he saw both shocked him and broke his heart. Lily lay in front of the crib, her green eyes just as lifeless as her husband's. The wall to the left of the crib was completely missing with bits of drywall and roofing tile littering the floor. Voldemort was nowhere to be seen but, miraculously, Harry was alive.

Sitting in his crib and crying, Harry only had a small cut on his forehead.

"It's okay, Harry, I've got you," Sirius said.

Stepping carefully around Lily, he picked Harry up and held him to his chest. Rubbing his back soothingly, Sirius glanced down mournfully.

"I'll take good care of him," he said tearfully. "I swear to you, James, Lily, I'll protect him with my life."

Wiping his face, Sirius left the room and down the stairs. He knew if he didn't get out of the house soon, he'd break. As he stepped past James' body, grief started to turn to rage. It was time to go rat hunting.

"Come on, Harry," Sirius said, pressing his godson's head to his chest so he didn't look around. "Time to go see Aunt Andy."

Stepping outside, he walked past the open gate just as a massive figure appeared out of nowhere. Drawing his wand, a deadly curse on the tip of his tongue, Sirius paused when he recognized the new arrival.

"Hagrid," he called, lowering his wand. "What are you doing here?"

"Dumbledore sent me," Hagrid said, his face unusually serious. "Said he felt the wards fall. I'm glad to see Harry's alrigh'. Where are James an' Lily?"

"Gone," Sirius said, swallowing thickly.

"Gone?" Hagrid asked, his beetle black eyes swimming with tears.

At Sirius' nod, he sniffled, tears falling into his thick, bushy beard.

"You know what 'appened?" he asked, choking back a sob.

"No," Sirius said, shaking his head. "Lily must've done something, though. The nursery's a wreck and You-Know-Who wouldn't have left Harry alive if he could help it. I hope she killed the bastard."

"If anyone could it, it'd be Lily," Hagrid sniffled. "Poor Harry. Havin' to grow up without 'is parents."

Sirius nodded but said nothing, the grief shutting him down. In looking for a change of subject, he caught on to something that bothered him.

"You said Dumbledore sent you?" he asked.

"Yeah," Hagrid said, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and blowing his nose loudly.

"Did he say why he didn't come himself?" Sirius asked, disguising the suspicion in his voice as a curiosity.

"I didn't ask," Hagrid admitted. "Just came to me hut and told me something had happened to the Potters. Gave me a Portkey and told me to bring Harry to 'im."

"Just Harry?" Sirius asked, his eyes narrowing. "I wonder how he knew he was alive."

"Some kinda spell I s'pose," Hagrid shrugged.

"Yeah," Sirius said, his mind working frantically.

"Well, I better get Harry back to Dumbledore before the Aurors show up," Hagrid said, stepping closer.

Sirius held Harry tighter and took a step back. Hagrid looked at him curiously.

"I'm his Godfather," he said, knowing he needed to leave quickly. "I should take care of him."

As far as the world was concerned, he had been James and Lily's Secret Keeper. He'd never catch up to Peter if he spent Merlin knew how long being interrogated by Crouch. For a moment, he considered just giving Harry to Hagrid, but his suspicions about Dumbledore held him back. Something was wrong here.

"It's Dumbledore's orders," Hagrid shrugged.

Thinking quickly, Sirius turned like he was going to hand Harry to him. Behind his back, he flicked his wand towards the house, sending one of the chairs tumbling across the kitchen loudly. Hagrid froze with his arms outstretched, his face raised to look over Sirius' head. Sirius clutched Harry tighter, wand held aloft as he backed away from the house, and from Hagrid.

"What was that?" he asked, adding a bit of panic to his voice.

"Dunno," Hagrid muttered, his eyes narrowed as he scanned the house. "Squirrel maybe?"

"Sounded too big for that," Sirius said. "I didn't check the house that well. I just grabbed Harry and got out. You mind taking a look? I don't think I can go back in there."

"I'll check it out," Hagrid said, puffing up his chest.

As he strode towards the house, Sirius backed slowly towards his bike. The moment Hagrid ducked inside, he turned and sprinted. Setting Harry in the sidecar, he waved his wand, transfiguring the seat to conform around him. Using a couple of more charms to protect him from the cold and wind, he hopped on and started the engine. Hagrid came rushing out just as he took off down the street.

"Sorry, Hagrid!" Sirius yelled.

Before the half-Giant could react, Sirius gunned the engine. A few seconds later, he took back off into the night. Glancing over at Harry, he smiled when he saw the boy waving at the passing stars overhead, his hand clenching and opening as if to catch them. Banking gently to the left, he headed for his cousin, Andromeda's house.

"Alright Harry," Sirius yelled over the sound of the wind and engine. "I'll drop you off at Aunt Andi's. You can play with Nymphadora. You remember Dora, don't you?"

Turning away from Harry, he grit his teeth and went even faster.

"Then Uncle Padfoot needs to go see an old friend," he growled.

It was almost midnight by the time Sirius pounded on Andi's front door. Harry, now under a Silencing Charm, had fallen asleep halfway over Bristol.

"Who's there?" she called. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"It's me," Sirius called back.

"Sirius?" Andi asked, undoing the locks on the door. "I swear to Merlin, if you're drunk –"

Andromeda broke off as she opened the door and stared at the baby in his arms with wide eyes. Andi was a tall, beautiful woman with dark, gently curling hair. Her grey eyes and sharp nose spoke strongly of her Black heritage.

"Is that Harry?" Andi asked, pulling her housecoat tightly around her curvy figure.

Sirius nodded, and her face dropped.

"Come and tell me what happened," she said, stepping to the side.

"I can't stay," Sirius said, walking in and heading towards the living room. "I need to find Peter before he leaves the country."

"Peter?" Andi asked, confused.

"He betrayed us," Sirius growled, laying Harry gently down on the couch. "He was their Secret Keeper. I went to check on him tonight and he was gone. He sold them to You-Know-Who."

Straightening up, he turned to leave, only to find himself staring down the business end of Andi's wand.

"Funny, last you told me, you were their Secret Keeper," she said, narrowing her eyes.

"Oh, come on, Andi!" Sirius yelled. "You can't think I would do that!"

"No, I don't," Andi said, her stern features unmoved. "Which is the only reason I haven't cursed you yet. Now, explain."

"I don't have time for this!" Sirius shouted frustratedly. "Peter-"

"Can wait," Andi interrupted. "Explain. Now."

"Andi? Is everything alright?" Ted, her husband asked as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

Ted was a short, plain-looking man with a head full of straw-colored hair. There wasn't anything exceptional about the man, but he was nice enough.

"No," Andi said. "James and Lily are dead, and Sirius here is just about to explain what happened."

"Ah," Ted said, looking between the two for a moment. "I'll just put some tea on, shall I?"

"Thank you, dear," Andi said, never even glancing away from Sirius.

Once Ted was in the kitchen, and Sirius realized he wouldn't be leaving without explaining, he threw his hands up in frustration.

"Fine," he barked. "Something felt off all night, so I Flooed Peter to check on him. When he didn't answer, I Flooed over and found his place empty. Peter was gone and so were all of his belongings. There was no sign of forced entry and the wards were intact."

"He had his Floo connected?" Andi asked, brow arched.

"Everyone knows if you want to hide you need to get off the Floo," Sirius sighed. "We didn't want to draw any attention to him. No one knew he was the Secret Keeper and out of the three of us, he was the least likely to be chosen."

"Not a bad idea, but risky," Andi said. "It's possible someone followed him, hoping he knew who the Secret Keeper was."

"But why take his clothes?" Sirius asked, shaking his head. "No, Peter left on his own and if You-Know-Who found James and Lily, that means he told them."

"You're probably right," Andi admitted. "What happened next?"

"I Apparated back to my place and grabbed my bike," Sirius continued. "I flew as fast as I could to Godric's Hollow."

"Why not just Apparate there?" she asked suspiciously.

"I couldn't," Sirius replied. "I made Lily obliviate the Apparition coordinates from my mind. I was supposed to be a distraction. I didn't want the Death Eates to find them from that if I was caught. I only knew the general direction and a few landmarks to look for."

"I'm impressed," Andi said, cocking an eyebrow. "This is quite well thought out for you."

"Not well enough," Sirius growled. "That rat led him straight to them. James and Lily were already dead when I got there. The nursery was missing a wall and Harry was crying in his crib. I don't know what Lily did, but it must've been amazing. You-Know-Who wouldn't have left Harry alive. I think she might've killed him. I could practically taste the magic in the air."

Sighing, Sirius sat in a chair heavily.

"Then, as I was leaving to bring Harry here, Hagrid shows up," he said.

"Hagrid?" Andi asked, eye narrowed.

"Yeah," Sirius said, still unsure what to think himself. "He said Dumbledore sent him to pick up Harry and only Harry. Hagrid mentioned something about the wards alerting him, but it still doesn't make sense. Why send Hagrid when you know You-Know-Who might be there? Why not come himself?"

"Those are very good questions," Andi said, finally lowering her wand.

Ted came back from the kitchen, a tray of tea floating in front of him.

"Do we still have Nymphadora's old crib?" she asked, taking a cup.

"It's in the attic," Ted told her.

"We'll get it down tomorrow, then," Andi said. "I'll transfigure something for the night. Harry can stay with Nymphadora. Sirius, you can take the guest room."

"Thanks, Andi," Sirius said, levering himself out of his chair. "But I really need to-"

His words were cut off when he was knocked back into his seat, his wand ripped from his pocket and roped snaked around his chest.

"What the hell, Andi!?" Sirius yelled.

"You're going nowhere," she told him sternly. "The Aurors will know what's happened and they'll be looking for you. If you go after Peter now, you'll end up in Azkaban."

"He killed them!" Sirius shouted angrily, struggling in vain to free himself.

"I know," Andi said softly. "But you need to think about Harry. I have no legal standing with him. What happens to him when Dumbledore comes knocking and his Godfather is sitting in prison?"

Sirius opened and closed his mouth twice before slumping back in his chair.

"Fuck," he muttered.

"Language," Andi scolded. "Now, are you going to behave, or do I need to keep you tied up all night?"

"I'll stay," Sirius sighed.

"Good," Andi said, releasing the ropes and tossing him his wand. "Now, first thing tomorrow, you need to go to the Ministry and explain everything that happened. Volunteer to take Veritaserum, that should speed things up."

"Alright," Sirius nodded. "Probably for the best. Maybe I can get Crouch to let me go after Peter once I explain everything."

"I'd say you're too close to the case, but I've seen that man make far worse decisions," Andi told him.

Walking over the couch, she gently picked up Harry and cradled him to her chest.

"I'll put Harry to bed," she said. "Try to get some sleep, Sirius."

"I doubt it," Sirius muttered. "Thanks, Andi. For everything."

"It's what family's for," Andi said, giving him a smile.

You can find more of my work through the link in my profile.

Chapter 2

Sirius didn't sleep at all that night. Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw James and Lily's, cold and lifeless, staring back at him. He sat for hours on the couch, watching the minutes tick by as he waited for the sun to rise. Guilt and sadness ate him up on the inside, gnawing painfully at his heart.

A part of him was glad to be alone, but another part wished Andromeda had stayed. But, then again, she hadn't known James and Lily that well. Andi had only met them a couple of times before they'd gone into hiding. Sirius wished he could call Remus, but he was still away talking with the Werewolves and wouldn't be back for a few more days.

Unless the news reached him sooner, in which case Sirius worried he might try to kill him. He was really regretting keeping his 'brilliant' plan to himself. It was stupid now that he thought about it, but the thought of Voldemort getting to James and Lily was so unthinkable he hadn't even considered it an option. In hindsight, he should have told someone, anyone, they all trusted.

"Did you get any sleep?"

Sirius looked up so fast that his neck popped painfully. Andi came walking down the stairs in a worn, pink bathrobe, eyeing him critically. Blinking, he glanced out of the window and was surprised to see the sun rising over the horizon. After hours of watching and waiting, the damn thing had managed to sneak up on him.

"A couple of hours," Sirius lied.

"I'm sure," Andi replied, unconvinced. "Well, since you're up, you might as well come with me to the kitchen. You're going to need to learn how to cook if you're going to take care of Harry."

Groaning and rolling his eyes, Sirius got to his feet and followed her into the kitchen. Grabbing a carton of eggs and a pack of sausages from the refrigerator, as well as a can of beans from the pantry, she showed him how to make a simple breakfast.

"I hope you can at least make toast," Andi said, handing him a loaf of bread.

"I'm not that bad," Sirius grumbled, snatching it from her hand. "I've been living on my own for years now, you know."

"You live above an Indian restaurant for a reason," she said knowingly.

"Well, they do have great takeaway," Sirius admitted.

Laying out ten pieces of bread on the counter, he toasted one side, then flipped them with a charm to toast the other. While he was doing that, Ted ambled into the kitchen sleepily and headed straight for the coffee maker.

"Morning," Ted yawned, kissing Andi on the cheek.

"Morning, dear," Andi smiled. "Are the kids still asleep?"

"Yep," he replied, smiling softly. "I checked on them before I came down. Nymphadora must've woken up in the night and moved her bed closer to the crib. She's laying with her hand through the bars, and Harry's got a death grip on her finger."

"That girl," Andi said, shaking her head as she moved the last of the eggs onto a platter.

"Should I go wake them?" Sirius asked.

"Oh, you poor man," Andi said, patting his cheek. "You have so much to learn. If the kids are still asleep, eat, then wake them. Things get chaotic at the table when kids are involved, especially with Nymphadora."

"Right," Sirius said, looking over at Ted, who chuckled as they sat at the table.

"Nymphadora didn't want scrambled eggs yesterday," he said. "Her accidental magic dumped the whole bowl over Andi's head. Took her an hour to get it all out of her hair."

Sirius snorted but couldn't bring himself to really laugh. It felt like doing so would somehow be disrespectful to James and Lily. Eating mechanically, he got through half his plate, never tasting what he was eating before an owl flew in with the morning paper. Ted dug a Knut out of his pocket to pay for it and took it from the impatient bird. As it flew back out the open window, he opened the paper and immediately choked on what he was eating.

"What is it?" Andi asked.

Coughing to clear his throat, Ted set the paper on the table. On the front page was a picture of James and Lily's house in Godric's Hollow, Ministry workers swarming the scene. The title of the article stood out in big, bold letters.

Boy-Who-Lived Defeats Dark Lord! Sirius Black Wanted for Kidnap and Murder!

"What!" Sirius yelled, jumping to his feet.

"It gets worse," Ted said. "The Ministry has started a nationwide search. They have orders to kill you on sight. And there's a ten thousand Galleon bounty for information leading to your capture."

"Shit!" Sirius said.

He nearly knocked over his chair as he got to his feet and began to pace back and forth in the small kitchen.

"I was their best friend," Sirius growled, running a hand through his long, dark hair. "How could they think I'd murder them and then kidnap my own Godson."

"Because you told everyone you were the Secret Keeper," Andi pointed out. "What about Harry? Does the paper say anything about him?"

"Let's see," Ted replied, scanning the article. "They know he was alive when Sirius took him. Good Lord, they're saying Harry killed You-Know-Who in a burst of accidental magic."

"Ted," Andi said, giving him a brief glare.

"Right. Sorry, dear," he said. "Um, they believe Sirius is either going to use Harry in a ritual to bring You-Know-Who back to life or raise him to be the next Dark Lord. One that he controls so he can take over magical Britain. Some believe Harry is already dead, and Sirius has already fled the country."

"Alright," Sirius barked angrily. "Okay, here's what I'll do. I'll go to the Ministry and tell them what really happened. They won't kill me until they know where Harry is, right?"

Ted and Andromeda shared a look that didn't boost his confidence.

"Sirius, I hate to say this, but I think as soon as they have you, they'll use Veritaserum to find out where Harry is and then have you Kissed," Andi told him.

"They would administer the Kiss to someone just like that," Sirius said, though the words felt like a lie even as he said them.

"They already have," Andromeda told him, her face solemn. "Ted, tell him about those cases you're working on."

Sighing, Ted folded the paper and set it aside.

"My firm is working on two cases where the Ministry arrested two 'known' Death Eaters and had them Kissed before they could be questioned," he said. "Neither of them had the mark, and they went missing days before they suddenly reappeared and committed heinous crimes. The families believe they were put under the Imperious Curse and forced to do those things. With the current climate, it's been nearly impossible to find a sympathetic ear in the Wizengamot. I've been holding off on filing the cases. If I do it now, I have no doubt I'd lose."

"It was Crouch, wasn't it?" Sirius asked, his heart racing as he started to pace again. "I knew that fucker was no good."

"If you go into the Ministry now, it's almost certain you won't be coming back out," Andi told him bluntly as she shared a look with her husband. "We need to think of something else."

"What if I grant you custody of Harry and make a public statement?" Sirius asked. "I can hide out someplace long enough for the public to hear my side of the story, and Harry will be safe here. They'd have to put me on trial just to clear things up, right?"

"Maybe," Ted said, stroking his chin.

"It won't work," Andi said, shaking her head. "The Ministry lost this war, everyone knows it. It's only because of whatever happened at the Potters last night that it's over. They won't allow anyone but themselves look like the hero now. Kill you, save Harry Potter, and they're back as everyone's savior. Not to mention, there are still Death Eaters in the Ministry that would still love to see you dead. You'd never live long enough to see a trial. Ted, I think it might be time for plan B."

Ted stared at Andi for a long moment, his normally jovial face dropping into a frown as he finally nodded.

"What's plan-"

Sirius was cut off by a loud knock at the door. Everyone froze, staring at each other until they knocked again.

"Just a moment!" Andi yelled, dropping her voice as she turned back to the men in the kitchen. "Ted, Take Sirius and the kids and hide. I'll tell you when it's safe to come out."

"I have a better idea," Sirius said.

Dropping down onto all fours, he transformed into a big black dog. Andi and Ted's shocked looks lasted for only a second.

"That'll have to work," Andi said just as the person knocked again. "Ted, go!"

Nodding, Ted quickly and quietly made his way up the stairs. Sirius heard a murmured incantation before the house fell silent.

"Coming," Andi called.

Sirius followed her to the door so he could see who it was. When Andi opened the door, he wasn't too surprised to see Dumbledore standing there in a dark blue set of robes that sparkled in the morning sun.

"Good morning, headmaster," Andi said respectfully. "What brings you here this early?"

"Hello, Andromeda," Albus said, smiling tiredly. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm afraid I have grave news. Have you had a chance to read this morning's paper?"

"No, it arrived while I was making breakfast," she said, looking up at him worriedly. "What's happened?"

"Voldemort found and attacked the Potters last night," Albus told her, his face dropping. "James and Lily are dead. Miraculously, Harry survived, but Sirius removed him from the house before I arrived. I'm afraid there's evidence to suggest he was involved in giving away their location. You haven't heard from him, have you?"

"That's terrible," Andi said, her acting perfect. "No, I haven't heard from Sirius in weeks. But I can't imagine him doing anything to hurt James, Lily, or Harry."

"Until last night, I would've said the same," Albus sighed, taking off his glasses to give them a quick clean. "Please, if you hear from him, let me know immediately. It's imperative Harry is found and returned to his family."

Sirius perked up at that. James didn't have any family, and Lily's only living relative was her Muggle sister. Surely he wouldn't put Harry with that magic-hating shrew, he thought. Andromeda caught his movement out of the corner of her eye and spoke up just as Dumbledore started to turn.

"I wasn't aware James had any family left," Andi said.

"Indeed, Harry is now the last remaining Potter," Albus told her. "Fortunately, Lily's sister has agreed to take him in. It's the safest place for him. Sorry to bother you so early, Andromeda. Please let me know if you hear from Sirius."

"Of course, headmaster," Andi replied while Sirius fought back the urge to growl.

She closed the door slowly, giving them just enough time to see Dumbledore Disapparate before the latch clicked into place. Sirius instantly transformed back into his human form.

"What the hell is he thinking!?" he raged. "Petunia hates magic! She wouldn't even come to James and Lily's wedding! And how can he think I'd ever do something to hurt any of them!? That sanctimonious, self-righteous son of a-"

"Sirius!" Andi yelled, slapping his shoulder. "First of all, don't use words you don't understand. Secondly, you told everyone you were the Secret Keeper, remember? Is there anyone that knows the truth? Is it in James or Lily's wills?"

"No," Sirius grumbled. "We didn't want to chance anyone finding out the truth. We didn't even tell Remus because of how much time he spent around the other Werewolves."

"You could've told me," Andromeda told him, crossing his arms.

"I didn't want to put your family at risk," Sirius replied lamely.

"Bellatrix is my sister, and I married a Muggleborn; I've always been at risk," she told him angrily before pausing to take a deep breath. "This isn't getting us anywhere. Do you trust Dumbledore enough to tell him the truth? Do you think he'll listen to you?"

"I don't know," Sirius said, running his hands through his hair. "I used to, but something changed. He's been making really odd decisions the last few weeks. It was like he'd given up. He was really focused on James, Lily, and Harry for some reason. James told me some of what was happening, but I didn't let him tell me everything in case I got captured. Merlin, I'm an idiot."

"You were in a tough situation," Andi said, giving him a hug. "If we can't trust Dumbledore, then we have no choice but to deal with this ourselves."

"Is this that plan B you were talking about?" Sirius asked.

"Yes," Andi said. "Let me go get Ted and the kids, and I'll explain."

Patting his shoulder, she turned and made her way upstairs. Sighing tiredly, Sirius walked over to the couch and collapsed onto it heavily. He dropped his head into his hands, feeling like the whole world was collapsing around him.

"I can carry him," Nymphadora said loudly from the top of the stairs.

"You're not carrying him down the stairs," Andi said annoyedly.

"You can sit with Harry on the couch, okay?" Ted asked.

"Okay!" Tonks cheered. "Thanks, Daddy."

Sirius smiled slightly as Nymphadora came racing down the stairs, her hair bright yellow. The energetic four-year-old ran right past him and climbed up onto the other end of the couch. She was waiting impatiently before Ted and Andi, with Harry in her arms, had even reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Ted, can you call Meredith?" Andi asked, setting Harry next to Nymphadora, who grabbed his hand and started gabbing away.

"Sure," Ted replied.

Kissing his wife on the cheek, he made his way over to the Floo. While he was grabbing a handful of Floo powder and getting on his knees, Andi sat across from him.

"I think the best option right now, for all of us, is to get out of Britain," Andi said.

"I can't ask you to do that," Sirius said, shaking his head. "I was thinking I could just take Harry and go to Black Island. I don't want to put your family in the middle of this."

"We're already in the middle of this," Andi told him. "Ted and I have been talking about this for a while. Even with You-Know-Who gone, we still have to worry about the Death Eaters in the Ministry. You know as well as I do that people that powerful aren't going to see the inside of Azkaban. Besides, without that monster holding Bella's leash, there's nothing to stop her from coming here. Add to that the way our government is treating you. We think it's time to leave. Ted has family in America. We've had arrangements set up for months."

"But how do we get there?" Sirius asked. "We can't just walk into the Ministry and ask for an International Portkey."

"We have a Vanishing Cabinet upstairs connected to Ted's uncle's house in Nevada," she replied. "I made plans to leave as soon as Bella married Lestrange. I knew it would only be a matter of time before she came after us. She's made her opinion of Ted quite clear over the last few years. Ted's talking to a friend of his right now. She's a Congresswoman in MACUSA. She'll make sure you're given a fair trial there. You know how much the Americans like a good headline."

"We're leaving?" Nymphadora asked, hugging Harry tightly.

"I'm afraid so, sweetheart," Andi said softly. "It's not safe for us here anymore, especially for Harry."

"He's coming with us, right?" the little girl asked, morphing her eyes to make them look slightly bigger.

"Yes, Harry and Sirius are coming with us," Andi smiled, looking at Sirius as if daring him to argue.

"Yay!" Nymphadora yelled, kissing Harry's head as he tried to squirm out of her grip.

Ted pulled his head out of the fire and sat on the arm of Andi's chair.

"We're all set. Meredith will meet us at the house with a couple of Aurors in a few hours," he told them. "They'll need to question him under Veritaserum, but it will all be public, and I'll be with you the whole time. She's also sending a Healer to take a look at Harry. Bagnold is claiming he survived the Killing Curse last night."

"That's ridiculous," Sirius scoffed. "No one can survive that curse."

"Maybe not," Andi said, drawing the incredulous stares of both men. "I checked on his cut after I laid him down for the night. Whatever caused it is some of the darkest magic I've ever seen."

"But there's no way… I mean, Harry's only a baby, right," Sirius said. "I know he showed magic early, but accidental magic can't stop a Killing Curse, can it?"

"I didn't say he did it on his own," Andi corrected him. "We all know how brilliant Lily was. I'm sure she had something to do with it, but Harry survived some powerful magic last night. Of that, there's no doubt."

"Is it hurting him?" Sirius asked, glancing over at the toddler in concern.

"No," Andi replied quickly. "Besides a cut, he's perfectly healthy. Still, it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion."

"I hate to interrupt, but we really should get packing," Ted butted in.

"Right," Sirius said, getting to his feet. "Well, looks like I'll have to go with what I'm wearing. They'll be watching my apartment. I just need to figure out what to do with my bike."

"You rode that death trap all the way here? With Harry?" Andi asked angrily.

"I didn't have a choice," Sirius said, waving her off.

"Idiot," Andi muttered. "Where did you leave it?"

"I parked it behind the petrol station on the corner and put it under a Disillusionment Charm," he told her.

"At least you hide it well," she sighed. "If Dumbledore had seen that… Alright, Ted, you go get the bike and see if you can shrink it. I don't want Sirius going outside the house. They could be watching it. Sirius and I will start packing."

"Mummy!" Nymphadora yelled. "Harry made a stinky!"

"Correction," Andi smirked. "I'll start packing while Sirius changes his Godson."

"I don't know how to change a baby!" Sirius said, looking alarmed. "And I don't have any diapers."

Andi's smirk never faltered as she summoned a piece of parchment and transfigured it into a diaper before it even reached her. Catching it, she handed it to him and patted the top of his head.

"Time to learn," she told him.

Ted chuckled as he headed towards the door while Andi took Nymphadora by the hand and led her upstairs to pack. Sighing, Sirius pulled off Harry's pants and wrinkled his nose at the smell.

"Urgh, what did you eat?" he asked.

Sirius turned his head to the side for fresh air, trying and failing to open the diaper. Giving up, he drew his wand and vanished it.

"Shit," he cursed.

Using a couple of more spells to clean the mess on Harry and the new one on the couch, Sirius grabbed both of the toddler's feet gently in one hand and lifted him up. Harry giggled while Sirius grabbed the diaper and slipped it under him. Tilting his head to the side, he turned it back and forth a couple of times.

"I don't suppose you know which part is the front, do you?" he asked.

Picking the side he thought was right, Sirius set Harry back down and folded the diaper over before realizing he didn't know how to close it.

"How the bloody hell does this thing work?" he asked no one.

After struggling for a few more moments, he once again resorted to using his wand. Two quick Sticking Charms left the sides attached quite securely. Putting Harry's pants on was even more of a struggle. The lad seemed to take great joy in yanking one leg free while Sirius tried to cloth the other. After several minutes of struggling, he finally managed to get them on and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"I hope you're not always this difficult," Sirius said, lifting Harry up and holding him to his chest. "Now that that's done, ready to go cause some mischief in America?"

Find more of my work through the link in my profile.

Chapter 3

Sirius stepped into the Vanishing Cabinet, and Andi closed the door behind him. He felt pressure on his entire body, his ears popping, and then the feeling left. Sticking his pinky in his ear, he wiggled it around and worked his jaw as he opened the door and stepped out into his new home. The house was like nothing he'd ever seen before. The front of the house, where the living area was, was made up of bare white walls and minimal furniture. An open floor plan left him with a clear view of the kitchen, and the back wall was made almost entirely of glass panes from floor to ceiling.

Stepping out of the cabinet, he closed the door behind him and walked closer. Outside the window, all he could see was mile after mile of reddish sand with a few dry bushes and cacti dotting the landscape. In the distance, he could see a large hill with a massive city sprawling out on either side far behind it. It had been just after noon when he'd stepped into the cabinet, but here, the sun was just rising over the horizon.

"Sirius!" Andi yelled. "Stop staring at the scenery and help me start unpacking."

"Right," Sirius replied, shaking himself from his reverie. "This place is huge, and it's a second home?"

"Ted's uncle owns a software company," Andi told him, handing him the suitcases she'd brought with her. "Don't ask. I don't understand what it is, either. I do know he made a lot of money from it. He's getting on in age and doesn't come out here much. I think he spends most of his time out in California now."

"Does he know about magic?" Sirius asked, watching as she closed the cabinet, then opened it a moment later and started pulling out trunks and boxes.

"No," Andi replied. "The Americans are very strict about that sort of thing. We just told him there were terrorist attacks in England, and we might need to get out. He offered us this house as soon as we told him."

"Nice guy," Sirius commented.

Suddenly, they heard crying coming from the cabinet. The door opened, and Nymphadora stumbled out while Harry cried in Ted's arms.

"I don't think he liked the trip," he told them, bouncing Harry and rubbing his back. "It's all right. It's all over now."

"I'll take him," Andi said, taking him from Ted. "You two need to get ready to meet Meredith. She'll be here any minute."

The words had only just left her mouth when there was a knock at the door.

"Bugger," Ted muttered. "Sirius, give me your wand. Let me do all the talking unless they ask you a question directly."

"Why do you need my wand?" he asked, reluctant to part with it.

"it'll look better if you've already surrendered," Ted said urgently. "Sirius, trust me."

Huffing in frustration, Sirius handed over his wand and stuffed his hands in his pockets while Andi went to answer the door.

"Andromeda," came a woman's voice. "It's good to see you again. Can we come in?"

"Of course," Andi said, stepping aside and holding the door open.

A middle-aged woman with dark curly hair greying at the edges stepped into the house. Her dark, intelligent eyes scanned over the room while a small smile hovered on her lips. She wore a Muggle dress suit under an open, dark blue robe, the golden MACUSA insignia embroidered over her right breast. Behind her came two men. One was black, the other white, but they both wore matching suits and sunglasses, wands peeking out of their sleeves.

"You must be Sirius Black," Meredith smiled, looking him over. "You've caused quite the stir. Meredith Bennet, at your service."

"Pleasure," Sirius said, smiling shortly.

"Oh, don't be so nervous," Meredith chuckled. "If I really thought you were a threat, I'd've sent the MIB to pick you up. So long as you're telling the truth, we just need to take a trip to D.C., you give your testimony before Congress, and then you're free to go. I've already processed the Tonks' and Harry's request for asylum. Once you're cleared, I'll stamp yours."

"Has there been a request for extradition?" Ted asked.

"No, I doubt they even know you're here," Meredith told him. "Last I heard, the British closed all exits from the country until you're found. They've yet to contact other countries, which is why we need to move quickly. I'll need your wand, I'm afraid."

Ted handed it over, and Meredith nodded approvingly.

"The next session starts in less than an hour. I should have them home after lunch," Meredith said to Andi.

"Thank you, Meredith," Andi said gratefully. "I don't know what we would've done without your help."

"Don't mention it," Meredith smiled. "It's the least I can do after everything Ted did for Henry."

She gave Andi a brief hug and then walked out the door. Ted put his hand on Sirius' back, guiding him to follow her, the two Aurors wordlessly falling in behind. Sirius squinted from the bright sun as soon as he stepped outside.

"Bloody hell," he said, shielding his eyes.

"Jones," Meredith called, holding out her hand.

Reaching for the inside pocket of his jacket, the white Auror pulled out an iron horseshoe and handed it to her.

"This Portkey will take us to the Capital in Washington," she said, holding it out. "If you're ready to go, grab hold."

Ted reached out first, and Sirius took a deep breath before taking hold. The two Aurors moved in on either side of him before gripping his biceps and touching the horseshoe. Before Sirius could question them, Meredith tapped the Portkey with her wand, and they were off.

Tumbling through a wild swirl of colors, the trip lasted much longer than Sirius was used to. Just as he was beginning to wonder if it would ever end, the Portkey slowed, and he started to kick his feet. They landed under the cover of a bus stop, and the first thing he noticed was the sudden change in temperature. It was much colder in Washington, D.C., and there was a light dusting of snow on the sidewalk. In front of him was the Capital building, looking massive compared to the way he'd imagined looking at pictures in his History of Magic books.

Wrenching his arms free from the Aurors, Sirius gave them a glare and adjusted his leather jacket aggressively. The two men stood back, their faces impassive. He hated the fact their eyes were hidden behind those glasses.

"This way," Meredith said, marching forward without looking back to see if they were following.

Crossing the street, they walked past the Muggles, making their way into the building through the front entrance and down the side until they came to a metal door. Meredith tapped a pattern on the door with her wand, and the lock clicked open audibly. Yanking the door open, she strode inside. Ted put his hand on Sirius' back, directing him to go first. When Sirius stepped inside, he found himself in a long, wide hallway with doors on either side. Each door had an American flag outside of it and one or two others he wasn't familiar with. One he particularly liked was a yellow flag with a segmented snake across.

"We just need to make a quick stop at my office," Meredith said.

Walking a little further down the hall, she turned and opened one of the doors.

"Arabella, I'm back. Have we heard anything from Britain?" she asked.

"No, ma'am," replied a young Hispanic woman with a pretty face, her hair tied up in a bun. "Congressman Holmes stopped by a few minutes ago, though. He said everything is ready."

"Perfect," Meredith smiled. "Thank you."

Closing the door, she started back down the hall.

"Who's this Holmes bloke?" Sirius asked curiously, his paranoia getting the better of him.

"Congressman Edward Holmes from Texas, he's the speaker for Congress," Meredith told him. "You're lucky the Whigs took the majority after the last election. This would've been much harder if the Democrats were still in charge."

"Whigs?" Ted asked. "I thought it was Democrats and Republicans."

"Only on the Muggle side," Meredith told him. "In Muggle Congress, the Whigs were split on slavery, and the party fell apart in the 1840s. The Republicans formed in 1854 as the party against slavery. We never had that issue on the magical side. We agreed to end all slavery years before the civil war broke out."

"Huh," Ted said. "Wish Binns had taught us that."

"He probably did. We just slept through it," Sirius joked.

"You'll find Ilvermony has much better history lessons," Meredith said. "Every year, the sixth years come to Congress to participate in a mock session and meet their representatives."

Opening a door at the end of the hall, they stepped into a massive atrium. Sirius was struck by just how big everything was. Everything just exuded a level of power and wealth, and it was like they weren't even trying to put it on display.

Taking the stairs, Meredith turned right at the top and led them into a well-appointed waiting room.

"You and Ted can wait here until we call for you," she told him. "It shouldn't be too long."

With a reassuring smile, she turned and walked back out the door, the two Aurors taking up position on either side of the door. Ted took a seat and patted the chair next to him.

"Take a seat, Sirius, and try to relax," he said. "Everything will be just fine."

"Easy for you to say," Sirius said, dropping into the chair. "You're not getting sent to Azkaban if this goes wrong."

"You're not going anywhere," Ted told him, patting his knee.

"Are you sure we can trust Meredith?" Sirius asked nervously. "I've never met a politician I liked."

"She's a good woman," Ted replied. "I expect she'll use this to make some political move, but she genuinely wants to help."

"How do you know her, anyway?" he pressed. "What was that she said earlier about helping someone?"

"Henry," Ted said with a sigh. "Her son. He came to Britain a few years ago to study under a Potions Master. One night, he came across a wizard assaulting a Muggle woman. They got into a duel, and Henry ended up killing the man. Broke his neck when he knocked him against a steel staircase. That man ended up being Jonah Selwyn."

"Bloody hell," Sirius said. "I bet they threw a fit over that."

"Oh, they did," Ted nodded. "Not only was he American, but Henry's father is a Muggle, not just a Muggleborn, which would've been bad enough. Meredith being a Congresswoman made them even more irate. I was the only one who would take the case. No one else wanted to anger the darker faction, especially with the rising disappearances at the time. Nearly cost me my job at the firm. The trial lasted a week, and the Selywns used every trick in the book, but Henry walked free, as he should have. All the evidence was on his side."

"And this is Meredith's way of paying you back for that?" Sirius asked.

"I suppose you could look at it that way," Ted admitted.

"Thanks, Ted," Sirius said sincerely. "I really appreciate you doing all of this for me."

"Don't mention it," Ted smiled.

Smiling back, Sirius picked up a Quidditch magazine to read about American Quidditch teams while trying to keep control of his nerves. They waited for half an hour before there was a knock at the door, and a big, heavily bearded Auror stuck his head in.

"They're ready for Mr. Black," he said.

Sirius took a deep breath and stood, straightening his jacket. Ted was right behind him, hand on his shoulder as they walked towards the chamber. Sirius was very cognizant of the two Aurors following close behind.

"Just answer any questions they ask as best you can," Ted told him.

Nodding, Sirius walked into the Congressional chamber. It was easily ten times the size of the courtrooms the Wizengamot used for meetings, and every seat was filled. When he reached the front, a young man stood and motioned him to a seat in the center of the room at a long wooden table.

"Sirius Black," A tall wizard with a beard to rival Dumbledore's spoke from a raised podium. "I'm House Speaker Edward Holmes. You're here to declare your innocence and ask for asylum in the United States, correct?"

Sirius looked to Ted, who nodded.

"Yes, sir," he said, holding his head high.

"And you have agreed to be questioned under Veritaserum of your own free will?" Holmes asked.

"Yes," Sirius replied.

"Very well, the members have submitted their questions," Holmes said, ruffling a stack of papers. "Aurors, if you would administer the potion."

A side door opened, and an Auror came out with a wooden box in his hands. Walking over to the table, he set the box down and opened the lid. Inside was a single, tiny vial of Veritaserum. Taking it out, the Auror walked around to stand next to Sirius.

"Please tilt your head back and stick out your tongue," he said.

Sirius did, allowing the Auror to place three drops of the powerful truth potion on his tongue. A haze came over his mind, and he felt like a large part of himself was trapped underwater. The Auror pried open his left eye and looked at it closely, then stood back and cast a charm Sirius didn't recognize before turning to Holmes and nodding.

"He's under," he said.

"You are Sirius Black from London, England, correct?" Holmes asked.

"Yes," Sirius replied without even the thought of hesitating.

"Who was the Secret Keeper for James and Lily Potter?" he continued.

"Peter Pettigrew," Sirius answered, his emotions suppressed by the potion.

"Why does the British Ministry believe you to be their Secret Keeper?" Holmes pressed.

"That's what we told everyone," Sirius replied. "Everyone knew I was the most likely person to be their Secret Keeper, so we used that. The plan was for me to keep the Death Eaters busy looking for me while the real Secret Keeper, Peter, was completely safe at home. We didn't know that he was the traitor."

"Are you now, or have you ever been, aligned with the wizard known as Lord Voldemort?" Holmes asked.

"No," Sirius stated firmly.

"Why did you come to America instead of going to your own government for help?"

"The Aurors put out a kill-on-sight order for me," Sirius replied. "There's still enough Death Eaters hidden in the government that I didn't trust them not to kill me, even if I turned myself in. I was also worried about my Godson. Dumbledore has been acting oddly lately, and I don't trust that he or the Ministry has his best interests at heart."

"I'd like to enter into evidence the birth certificate of Harry James Potter," Meredith said, holding up the document. "It clearly declares Sirius Orion Black as his Godfather. According to British law and our own, Mr. Black is his legal guardian."

"Without objection," Holmes nodded, summoning the parchment to him. "Does anyone have any new questions they'd like to add? No? Then please give Mr. Black the antidote."

A vial was suddenly shoved in Sirius' mouth, and his head forcibly tilted back. He choked on the bitter potion briefly before he swallowed, and his mind quickly cleared. Reaching for a glass of water, he downed half of it to get the taste out of his mouth.

"That was quick," Sirius said, smiling crookedly. "Did I pass?"

A few members of Congress chuckled, and Holmes cracked a smile.

"I think your answers speak for themselves, but we still need to put it to a vote," he told him. "Now, this is not a court. We are merely to determine whether Mr. Black should be granted asylum or not. All those in favor of granting asylum, please raise your wands and say yay."

Sirius gazed around the room, trying to count the number of lit wands with what felt like a lead ball sitting in the pit of his stomach.

"All those opposed?" Holmes asked.

Wands were again raised, but he was relieved to note it looked like far less this time. Despite that, he couldn't stop his growing anxiety. Under the table, his leg bounced furiously. After an interminable minute, a young witch handed the tallied votes to Holmes.

"The clerk records the votes 182 yays to 34 nays," he announced.

Sirius let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding while Ted clapped him on the shoulder.

"Mr. Black," Holmes said, smiling when Sirius looked up and raised his gavel. "Welcome to America."

Bang.

As Sirius landed back in the Nevada desert, he was immediately overwhelmed by the sweltering heat.

"Blood hell," he said, taking off his jacket and squinting his eyes as the sun glinted off the windows of his new home. "This heat's going to take some getting used to."

"This is nothing," Ted smirked. "In the summer, it gets up to 49 during the day."

"Well, at least I'll get a tan," Sirius muttered. "Just remind me to flip over before I get well done. Oh, that reminds me, I need to try and get in touch with Remus."

"It might be best if you wait for news to make it across the pond," Ted reminded him patiently. "Tomorrow would probably be better. For now, let's go give Andi the good news and help her unpack."

Sighing, Sirius nodded and led the way to the front door. Swinging it open, he stopped and blinked as he watched a black and blue blur shoot from one side of the house to the other with a loud giggle.

"Harry Potter, you get back here, young man!" Andi shouted, racing after him.

She disappeared into another room, only for Harry to reappear a moment later, heading in the opposite direction. Nymphadora sat against the wall, laughing herself to tears as her harried-looking mother sprinted after him.

"Look out for the vase!"

Crash!

"Ah, home sweet home," Ted chuckled.

Check out the link in my profile for even more of my work.

Chapter 4

Sirius, Harry, and the Tonks quickly settled into their new lives in America. Within days, Remus had shown up on their doorstep after receiving a letter from Sirius. The reunion had been tearful, with apologies on both sides. With nothing left for him in England, Remus moved to America. He found a small house just a few miles away and, after discovering that American wizards weren't as prejudiced against Werewolves, found work on the magical side of the local post office.

Meanwhile, Sirius took an offer to join the MIB, often referred to as the Men in Black, though it really stood for the Magical Investigation Bureau. Ted set about learning American law as fast as he could. Within months, he'd passed the bar and started a law firm. While he'd intended to only take work as a criminal defense attorney, the small town they now lived in forced him to branch out into almost every aspect of the law, from personal injury to legal contracts. Andi, on the other hand, stayed at home watching the kids.

Harry and Nymphadora were attached at the hip. If she wasn't carrying him around the house, he was toddling after her as fast as his legs could carry him. He'd even taken to climbing out of his crib at night and sneaking into Nymphadora's bed, where the four-year-old cuddled him like a teddy bear.

While the family settled into their new lives, the British Ministry was notified, in front of the ICW, that Sirius Black and Harry Potter had been located and granted asylum in America. Of course, there had been quite the argument, followed by pointless threats from both sides. In the end, international law was clear on the matter, and there was nothing Britain could do to get them back.

For Sirius and Andi, the most surprising part was how quickly Dumbledore gave up the fight. He made a token effort at best and seemed content to let them stay in America. They talked about sending him a letter or arranging a meeting to hopefully find out why Voldemort was so set on getting to Harry, but in the end, they decided against it. If he hadn't told them before, he was unlikely to do so now. That, and the old man had a way of getting you to say more than you intended. In all likelihood, Dumbledore would gain far more from the exchange than they would.

Less than a year after their move, it was time for Nymphadora to go to school. While Ilvermorny was America's most prominent school, it was far from the only one. Unlike Britain, where magical children were either homeschooled or sent to Muggle schools, America had a dedicated magical school in every state. By law, from the ages of five to fourteen – when they could enroll at Ilvermorny – magical children were required to attend.

While America was less prejudiced against other magicals, they were much more stringent about hiding from Muggles. Magical children were taught from a young age how the Muggle world operated, how to blend in, and what laws they needed to know. Sending them to a school for magicals also let them make friends their age without worrying about them letting the secret of magic slip.

On a hot August morning, Tonks waited to be picked up for school while little Harry clutched her hand in a death grip.

"You know he's going to be heartbroken\ when he can't go with her," Ted whispered.

Andi sighed, "I know, but he'll just have to get used to it. In three years, he'll be able to go with her."

"Maybe you should take him out somewhere fun," Sirius suggested, tugging unhappily at the collar of his suit. "You know, take his mind off Dora."

"We'll see how he behaves first," Andi said sternly. "I'll not reward him if he throws a tantrum."

"Fair enough," Sirius nodded.

A loud bang from their left drew their attention to the dirt road leading to the house. A big yellow school bus sped down the road at an unnatural speed before slamming on the brakes in front of them. They all had to cover their faces from the sand and dust kicked up by the tires.

"Americans really use yellow school buses?" Sirius asked with a cough.

"I was surprised too," Ted told him. "I thought they were only in the movies."

The door to the bus folded open with a creak, and a large woman in her fifties with wild, dark hair tinged with grey looked at them.

"Nymphadora Tonks?" she asked loudly.

"That's me!" Nymphadora grinned.

"Well, hop on," the driver told her.

Stepping forward, Andi hugged her daughter.

"Have a good day, dear. And make sure to be on your best behavior," she said, taking Harry by the hand. "Come on, Harry. It's time for Dora to go to school."

Harry sniffled, his bottom lip quivering as Nymphadora kissed him on the cheek and boarded the bus. With only a few other kids aboard, they sat in a group, getting to know each other.

"I'll drop her off just after two," the driver yelled.

Closing the door with a creak, the bus took off with a bang, kicking up another cloud of dust and sand as it rocketed down the road. Andi covered Harry while Sirius and Ted turned their backs, using their wands to clear the air.

"Bloody hell, that's worse than the Knight Bus," Sirius grumbled.

"Language!" Andi hissed.

He rolled his eyes while Harry started to cry. Sighing, he checked his watch and saw he only had a few minutes to get to work.

"Don't worry, Harry," Sirius said to his Godson. "She'll be home before you know it. Sorry, Andi, I have to get to work."

"Me too," Ted said.

Kissing his wife on the cheek, he and Sirius Disapparated, leaving her alone with a crying toddler. Sighing, she picked Harry up and carried him back to the house.

On Harry's fifth birthday, the family held a party outside to celebrate. After the food had been eaten and the cake devoured, he got to open his presents. From Ted and Andi, he got a few magical board games. Remus had gotten him a few new books, including one about himself that had him and Nymphadora giggling like mad.

"Harry Potter and the Troll Bridge?" Nymphadora laughed. "Harry, you're the worst superhero ever."

"Hey!" Harry yelled. "You couldn't fight a Troll, either."

"Yeah, but they don't write books about me," Nymphadora teased, sticking out her tongue.

"Remus, where did you get that?" Ted asked with a frown.

"I found it at the bookshop," Remus replied. "They're not too popular over here, but the owner said they're a best-seller in Britain."

"Is that even legal?" Andi asked, brow furrowed.

"No, it isn't," Ted said, folding his arms over his chest. "I couldn't do anything about the name alone, but the fact that they describe him exactly, even his scar, is infringement."

"Are you going to sue them?" Nymphadora asked excitedly.

"I could," Ted answered when the others looked at him curiously. "I'd have to go back to Britain for a bit, but I have a better idea. Why don't I write them a letter and see if we can make a deal? Harry could get a share of the profits to save for the future, and we could make them add a disclaimer."

"That could work," Andi smiled. "And if they don't agree, we can sue the pants off them. I love it when you get all Slytherpuff on me."

Leaning in, she wrapped her arms around Ted and kissed him on the lips.

"EW!" Harry, nymphadora, and Sirius exclaimed.

"Oh, grow up, you three," Andi said amongst the laughter.

Once they settled, Harry opened his last present, which was from Sirius.

"Yes!" he cheered, pulling the broom from the long, thin box. "Thank you, Sirius! Thank you!"

"You're welcome, kiddo," Sirius said, hugging his ecstatic Godson.

"You just be careful on that," Andi said sternly. "If you get hurt, I won't hesitate to take it away."

"I will. I promise," Harry said, staring at the broom in his hands. "Can I fly it now?"

Before anyone could respond, Nymphadora pulled Harry close and whispered in his ear.

"Oh, right," he said. "I forgot."

"What are you two up to?" Andi asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," Nymphadora replied quickly. "We just got a present for Sirius we wanted to give him. I'll go get it."

As Andi opened her mouth to reply, Nymphadora dashed inside. Sirius patted Harry on the back and smiled.

"You know you're not supposed to get other people presents on your birthday, right?" he asked.

"We wanted to," Harry said with an innocent smile.

Sirius beamed, and Andi folded her arms over her chest. A moment later, Nymphadora came back outside, a large, poorly wrapped box in her hands.

"Here you go, Uncle Sirius," she said, handing it to him.

"Aw, you shouldn't have," Sirius said, pulling the bow loose and tearing the wrapping paper.

He never noticed the kids snickering silently as he pulled the lid off of the box.

"AH!"

Sirius let out a high-pitched scream and fell backwards off the picnic table bench as a rattlesnake poked up its head to look at him with a hiss. Coiling up in a ball, it rattled its tail threateningly. Harry and Nymphadora howled with laughter as Sirius scrambled back to his feet. Before anyone could get over their shock to yell at the kids, Harry turned to the snake and hissed. The snake stopped rattling and hissing and slithered out of the box and over to the boy.

"Harry, don't touch that! It's dangerous!" Sirius yelled, drawing his wand.

"She won't hurt me," Harry said, letting the snake climb up his arm where it draped itself calmly over his shoulders. "See?"

Giggling, Tonks stroked the top of the snake's head.

"Harry?" Andi asked shakily. "Can you… talk to it?"

"Uh-huh," he grinned.

"Awesome, isn't it?" Nymphadora asked.

"How?" Andi asked, furrowing her brow. "Sirius, did James ever mention anyone in his family being a Parselmouth?"

"No, never," Sirius said, staring at Harry dumbfoundedly.

Harry hissed to the rattlesnake again and set it on the ground. Giving a glance at the adults, it slithered off into the brush, disappearing quickly.

"Can I go flying now?" Harry asked.

"Sure," Sirius said, jumping in before Andi could respond angrily. "Dora, why don't you go grab your broom and go with him?"

"Okay!" Nymphadora smiled, dashing back inside.

"Sirius," Andi hissed threateningly.

"We need to talk about this, and I don't want the kids around," he whispered back. "Besides, I kind of deserved that for turning his hair blue."

"That was you?" Andi asked incredulously. "Dora thought he was a Metamorphmagus!"

"They started it with the water balloons," Sirius muttered.

Andi smacked him upside the head before rolling her eyes while Ted chuckled behind her. Nymphadora returned with her broom in hand. Without a word, Harry mounted his, and they took off into the air. Sirius smiled, seeing his Godson take to the air so naturally.

"Do you think we should tell anyone?" Andi asked with one eye on the kids.

"No," Sirius replied. "They might not care here, but Britain will vilify him. We'll have to tell them to keep a secret."

"But where did it come from?" Andi asked. "Parseltongue isn't something that just pops up like that. It's hereditary."

"Do you think it has anything to do with You-Know-Who?" Ted asked, continuing when they looked at him sharply. "Well, he was known to have the skill, and no one really knows what happened that night. Maybe he gave it to Harry, somehow."

"I don't even know if that's possible," Andi said, sighing.

"Even if he didn't, it doesn't mean anything," Sirius said firmly. "He's still Harry. That's all that matters."

At the age of eight, Harry went flying after school. He'd wanted Tonks to go with him, but she was stuck inside until she finished her homework. Pushing his training broom to its limits, he reached the nearby canyons after half an hour and grinned as he zipped between the narrow, jagged walls. Fortunately, there weren't many Muggles out there. It was the wrong time of year.

As he zipped along with the Colorado River rushing beneath him, he caught movement at the top of the canyon. Slowing down, he watched as a large bird hopped forward and plummeted towards the ground. With the sun ahead, he couldn't tell what bird it was, but he assumed falling wasn't part of its plan when it jumped. Shooting forward, Harry dove down, catching up to the squawking creature and catching it in his hands. With a closer look, he noticed that while it was pretty big, it was still young.

"It doesn't look like you're ready to fly yet, big guy," Harry smiled, slowing to a stop.

Chirping softly, the bird latched its talons onto the handle of his broom. Looking up, Harry spotted the edge of a nest handing over the top of the canyon. Flying up carefully, he hovered next to it and blinked at the size. The nest was massive, easily five feet wide. Inside, two other chicks chirped when they spotted him. The chick holding onto his broom responded in kind, chirping loudly. As the other two waddled over, a massive shadow passed quickly over Harry.

When he looked up, he caught sight of a blur of white feathers, much brighter than the grey of the chicks. As he looked around for the source of the shadow, something large and heavy landed in the nest. By now, Harry had an idea of what he was going to find and turned his head slowly. The massive Thunderbird flared her six wings wide and looked at Harry curiously, her sharp, yellow eyes traveling from him to the chick standing on his broom handle.

"Whoa," Harry breathed. "Uh, I was just bringing him back. He fell out of the nest."

The mother tilted her head as she stared at him, electricity crackling from the horn-like feathers on the top of her head. Swallowing nervously, Harry picked up the chick and quickly but gently placed it back in the nest without his eyes ever leaving the mother.

"I'll – uh – I'll go now," Harry said.

Chirping happily, the chick chattered with its siblings while the mother watched Harry slowly descend back into the canyon. Once he was safely out of sight, he grinned and laughed quietly.

"That was amazing," he said to himself, his heart hammering in his chest. "I can't wait to tell Dora. She's going to be so jealous."

Just then, Harry heard a loud chirp above him. He looked up just in time to see the chick spread its wings and jump out of the nest. Eyes wide, he watched as it plummeted toward the Colorado River.

"Not again," Harry said, rolling over and diving after it.

This time, he let the bird get as low as possible, hoping it would start flying on its own, before catching it in his hands. Squawking angrily, the little Thunderbird clacked its beak in annoyance as it gripped his broom.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it soon," Harry said.

Glancing up at the nest, he took a nervous breath when he saw the mother and the chicks watching him closely. Slowly, he flew back up and gently placed the chick back in the nest. This time, it was barely back in before it jumped out again.

"Oh, come on," Harry huffed.

Rolling over, he dove down and caught the bird again. As he reached the nest once more, the mother cawed loudly and took to the air. Harry worried for a moment that she was angry at him but relaxed when she flew up. Circling above him, she looked directly at him and cawed again. Cautiously, he flew up to meet her. As soon as he got close, the Thunderbird flew higher, and Harry followed, the chick chirping happily from his broom.

Suddenly, the mother screeched a frightening sound that echoed through the canyon below him. As she flew in circles, the air cooled, the wind started to blow, and Harry could smell rain in the air. In moments, the sparse, puffy white clouds overhead started to grow, gradually turning grey as they blotted out the sun. Lightning lit up the sky a moment before the rain started to fall. Harry watched in awe as the storm grew to cover the entire valley.

The wind picked up, and he had to actively work against it to stay in one place. The chick crooned happily and spread its wings wide. Letting go of the broom, he took to the air, pushed upwards by rising air currents.

"Yeah!" Harry cheered, laughing.

The chick chirped, flapping its wings furiously to fly around his head. Hearing more chirps, Harry looked over his shoulder and smiled when he saw the other two flying up to join them. When they did, the mother cawed loudly and began flying north. The chicks followed, and Harry trailed after them. His clothes were drenched, and he was buffeted by the wind, but the smile on his face never faltered.

As a group, they soared through the air until the sun started to near the horizon. Flapping her powerful wings, the mother shot into the air, heedless of the lightning striking its body. Spreading her wings wide, backlit by the continuous lightning striking around her, she cawed loudly, and the storm ceased. Harry laughed in amazement as she flew back down, the clouds already dispersing as the wind calmed. Turning, he followed them back to the nest.

"That was awesome!" Harry laughed, coming to a stop.

Reaching out, he petted the chick that had been so determined to fly, his cheeks hurting from smiling so much.

"I need to head back home before I get in trouble," Harry said to the mother, not sure if she could understand him or not. "I'll see if I can come back tomorrow. I have a friend that would love to meet you. Bye."

Waving, he started back home. The chick chirped and tried to follow him, but the mother stopped him gently with her wing. Grinning, Harry flew home as fast as he could, anxious to tell Dora everything.

"Let me get this straight," Andi said, staring at the young Thunderbird sitting on Harry's shoulder. "You made friends with a whole nest of Thunderbirds, never told us, and now this one wants to stay with you."

Nymphadora giggled as Harry and the Thunderbird looked at each other, turned back to Andi, and nodded in unison.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake," she cried, throwing her hands into the air. "Can't you ever do anything normal?"

Harry shrugged, looking up at her through his eyelashes in an expression Nymphadora had taught him to use when he really wanted something.

"Harry, I don't even know if it's legal to keep one," Andi sighed.

"Well, actually," Ted said, stepping forward. "Thunderbirds are a protected species. I had a client that lost his barn for eight months when one decided to make a nest on the roof. Technically, it would be illegal to make it leave."

"You're the luckiest kid in the world, Harry," Sirius said, shaking his head with a laugh.

"Where are we going to keep it?" Andi asked helplessly. "And what happens when he goes to Ilvermorny in a few years?"

"Oh, I'm sure they'll be happy to house it on the grounds," Ted assured her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You know how flashy Americans like to be. They'll probably make it the school mascot. And I doubt we need to worry about it staying here. This is where they live. I'm sure Harry's friend can take care of himself."

"We need to name him," Nymphadora said suddenly.

"I think it's a her, actually," Harry said, earning a loud croon from his companion.

"Aw, Harry has a girlfriend," Nymphadora sang.

"I do not!" Harry yelled.

"No fighting," Ted warned.

"Sorry," Nymphadora and Harry said in unison.

"What about Sparky?" she asked.

"Nah," Harry said. "What about Volt?"

The Thunderbird clacked her beak in disapproval.

"Voltron?" he offered.

"That sounds like a Transformer," Nymphadora scoffed. "Ooh, what about Pikachu?"

The Thunderbird cocked her head to the side curiously.

"I'm not naming her after a Pokémon," Harry said firmly.

"What about Levina?" Ted asked. "It's Latin for lightning bolt."

"Levina," Harry repeated, looking at the bird on his shoulder.

The newly named Levina threw her head back and cawed happily, bolts of electricity arcing from the horn-like feathers on her head.

Fourteen-year-old Harry hated Jacob, he decided. When he'd agreed to let Tonks invite her friends from Ilvermorny to his birthday party, he hadn't expected her to reveal the tall, spiky-haired, good-looking douchebag was her new boyfriend. Harry wasn't sure why he hated him, but he did.

They'd gone to Lake Mead, where he had to stop himself, several times, from pushing the dick into the water.

Only a couple of Harry's friends from school had been able to come, Marissa and Johnny. The rest were on vacation with their families. But, even if they'd been able to come, it wouldn't have made much difference. He only had two others in his class, and they weren't that close. Johnny Barktree was a tall, Native American boy. He tended to stay quiet unless he had something important to say.

Marissa was a shy little blonde that Harry had befriended when one of his classmates, Chris, had tried to bully her. He'd gotten in trouble for punching him in the nose, but it had been worth it. Aunt Andi had been mad, but Sirius thought he'd done the right thing. Unfortunately, the school had a no-tolerance policy for fighting. When Harry had pointed out that they were supposed to have a no-tolerance policy for bullying, and he'd actually done the school a favor, his principal had given him a three-day suspension.

"Hey, Harry!" Sirius shouted from the grill, wearing a 'Kiss the Chef' apron. "Foods ready!"

Sighing, Harry got to his feet and brushed the sand off of his shorts. As he got closer, he got another look at Dora in her blue bikini. She looked bustier than she usually did, and her hair was long and blonde, an unusual look for her. Aunt Andi thought she was growing up, but Harry didn't think so. He thought she was doing it to impress that asshole, Jacob. Putting a smile on his face so no one asked him what was wrong, he joined his friends and family.

As they ate and talked, more and more of Dora's friends started to show up. Harry cheered up a bit when he got to see so many pretty girls running around in bikinis. A rather short, busty brunette nearly popped out of her top twice, just getting into her seat. Unfortunately, Harry had only just turned fourteen, and all of Dora's friends were eighteen or older, so they didn't spare him a second glance besides wishing him a happy birthday.

After lunch, Harry opened his presents. Dora and a few others, including that shit-stain Jacob, stayed to watch while the rest went swimming. He got some new defensive magic books from Remus, Aunt Andi, and Uncle Ted got him a wizard's shaving kit, Dora got him candy and pranking supplies, and Sirius got him a new broom. Harry gaped at the brand new Lockheed Velocity. Officially, it was the fastest broom in the world, taking the title from the Firebolt just six weeks after its release. The Lockheed wasn't as nimble as the Firebolt, that was for sure, but it wasn't meant to be a Quidditch broom. It was designed to go like hell. Zero to sixty in just over two seconds with a top speed of one hundred and eighty miles an hour, it could leave the Firebolt in its dust.

"Holy shit," Harry said, earning him laughter and a scolding from Aunt Andi.

"Why don't you go take it for a spin?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah," Harry said, getting to his feet. "You want to come with me, Dora?"

He looked at her hopefully, but he could tell by the look on her face she didn't want to.

"You go ahead, Harry," she smiled. "I didn't bring my broom."

"Alright," Harry said.

Turning away before his emotions could show, he mounted his broom and rocketed into the sky. Trying to fly his thoughts away, he didn't even notice when Levina joined him. Impressively, his feathered friend managed to keep up with his new broom, but only just. By now, she'd grown to her full size, dwarfing Harry with her fifty-foot wingspan. As they shot across the surface of the lake, leaving splashing ripples in their wake, Harry spotted some new arrivals.

He paused above the beach, a little confused when he saw Dora get out of a Jeep and walk towards the beach. It wasn't until he looked closer that he realized it wasn't Dora but a girl that looked like her. They even had the same color bikini. Levina cawed and flew over to Sirius, looking for food, while Harry stealthily edged closer to the beach. The girl walked over to where Dora and Jacob were lounging on towels near the water. Smirking at Dora, she gave Jacob a flirtatious smile before walking a short distance away, her hips swaying exaggeratedly, and Harry wasn't the only one to be caught looking.

Looking over her shoulder, the girl smirked nastily.

"You know he's only dating you because I turned him down, don't you?" she asked Dora. "Nice hair, by the way."

Dora fumed as the girl walked away, her hair turning red and shrinking into her scalp until it was the short, pixy style she usually preferred. Jumping to her feet, she glared at the panicked-looking Jacob.

"I knew it!" she hissed furiously. "You said you never asked her out."

"Dora, it's not what you-"

"Don't you dare tell me it's not what I think," Dora growled. "And don't call me Dora, ever. The only people who can call me that are my family and Harry."

Her wand was out faster than Harry could blink, and with a flick, she banished Jacob out into the water, where he landed on his stomach with a loud splash. Storming off, Dora climbed on a boulder and sat with her arms around her legs, forehead resting on her knees.

Floating over, Harry landed behind her, set his broom down, and sat down beside her.

"You want to talk about it?" he asked.

Sniffling, Dora shook her head and scooted closer, resting her head on his shoulder. Harry sighed exaggeratedly.

"Thank Merlin. You know I'm shit at that," he said.

Dora snorted and smacked his bare chest. As she slid her hand back, she hooked his arm and hugged it to her chest. Harry did his best to ignore the way her breasts felt against his bicep.

His best was woefully inadequate. He just prayed they didn't have to get up anytime soon.

"I can't believe I let him fool me like that," Dora sighed miserably. "I swore I'd never change like that for anyone, and what do I do? The first time a good-looking guy asks me out, I turn myself into a blonde bimbo for him to drool over."

"I don't think it was the blonde hair he was drooling over," Harry told her, earning a snort. "Forget about Jacob. He's a dickhead, anyways."

"You barely talked to him," Tonks chuckled.

"I didn't need to," Harry said. "I'm an expert at spotting dickheads."

There was a beat of silence as what he said registered with both of them, and they broke out laughing.

"Please don't tell Sirius I said that. He'll never let me live it down," Harry laughed.

"Your secret's safe with me," Dora said, grinning teasingly as she patted his arm.

He knew she would tease him about this for years, but seeing her smiling again was worth it. Sighing, she looked back over the beach. When he saw her frown sadly, he followed her eye line and bit back a growl when he saw Jacob making out with the blonde skank. Looking over at the picnic area, he saw Sirius, Ted, and Andromeda talking, completely oblivious to what was happening.

"You want to get out of here?" Harry asked suddenly.

"I'd love to," Dora sighed. "But there's no way Mum and Dad would let me leave your birthday party early. It's fine. I can deal with it."

Looking over at Levina, who was drinking from the lake, he whistled quietly. The Thunderbird lifted her head and looked over at him curiously. Looking her in the eyes, he glanced up at the sky meaningfully. Nodding her head, Levina took to the sky with a flap of her wings and climbed in an upward spiral.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Dora asked.

He just smiled as thunder rumbled overhead. A moment later, the skies opened up in a downpour. The girls lounging on the beach screamed, the guys cursed, and everyone scrambled to get out of the sudden storm.

"Harry…," Dora whispered, turning back to him in shock.

Shaking her head, she smiled and kissed him on the cheek softly.

"Thank you," she said.

"It was a boring party anyways," Harry said.

Getting to their feet, Harry grabbed his broom, and they ran to the parking lot and climbed into Ted's old station wagon. Ted and Andi packed everything up magically to get out before the roads flooded, while Sirius stayed behind to make sure everyone got out alright.

It was a quiet ride home, with Ted filling the silence with tales from his latest cases. After a twenty-minute drive, they arrived home, where Sirius was waiting for them.

"Sorry we had to cut your party so short, Harry," he said, helping them unpack the car.

"It's fine," Harry smiled. "It's not like you can control the weather."

Patting him on the back, Sirius led the way back into the house. Once everything was inside, Dora begged off to her room, claiming she was tired.

"Boys, why don't you go throw the towels in the wash while Harry and I put the food away," Andi said.

Nodding, Sirius and Ted made for the washroom. Harry grabbed the cooler and set it on the table just as Levina landed in her nest on the hilltop in the backyard.

"That was a really nice thing you did," Andi said, pulling him into a surprising hug.

"Er, what?" Harry asked.

"Don't play dumb," she scolded him. "I saw everything. As much as I try to protect you and Dora, sometimes, teenagers need to make their own mistakes. I just hope Dora learns from this and finds a boy that wants to be with her and not what she can become."

"I'm sure she will," Harry said, the words tasting like sawdust in his mouth.

Smiling knowingly, Andi ran her hand through his hair in a motherly fashion and caressed his cheek.

"So am I," she said. "But until she does, you just keep looking out for her like you did today. Sometimes, a girl doesn't need you to solve her problems; she just needs you to be there for her to get over them herself."

Harry didn't know what the hell she meant by that, but he nodded anyways. Once they'd finished putting the food away, he went to his room, put his presents away, and laid down on his bed. Slowly, a smile stretched his lips. In just a month, he'd be going to Ilvermorny with Tonks.

For more of this, and my other works, check out the link in my profile.